STRONG DISCOVERY FUND II INC
485BPOS, 1995-07-07
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<PAGE>   1

 As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about July 7, 1995

                                        Securities Act Registration No. 33-45321
                                Investment Company Act Registration No. 811-6553

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington D.C.  20549

                                   FORM N-1A

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933                  [ ]
      Pre-Effective Amendment No. ______                                 [ ]
      Post-Effective Amendment No.   9                                   [X]

                                     and/or

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940          [ ]
      Amendment No.  10                                                  [X]

                        (Check appropriate box or boxes)

                     STRONG VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

          100 HERITAGE RESERVE
      MENOMONEE FALLS, WISCONSIN                               53051 
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                     (Zip Code)

      Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code:  (414) 359-3400

                                THOMAS P. LEMKE
                        STRONG CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.
                              100 HERITAGE RESERVE
                       MENOMONEE FALLS, WISCONSIN  53051
                    (Name and Address of Agent for Service)

                                   Copies to:
                                SCOTT A. MOEHRKE
                              GODFREY & KAHN, S.C.
                             780 NORTH WATER STREET
                          MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN  53202

     Registrant has registered an indefinite amount of securities pursuant to
Rule 24f-2 under the Securities Act of 1933; the Registrant's Rule 24f-2 Notice
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1994 was filed on or about January 27,
1995.

     It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate
box):

          [ ]   immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485
          [X]   on July 14, 1995 pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485
          [ ]   60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 485
          [ ]   on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 485
          [ ]   75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485
          [ ]   on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485

     If appropriate, check the following box:

          [X]   this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date
                for a previously filed post-effective amendment.
<PAGE>   2

                     STRONG VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.

                             CROSS REFERENCE SHEET

                          FOR STRONG DISCOVERY FUND II

     (Pursuant to Rule 481 showing the location in the Prospectus and the
Statement of Additional Information of the responses to the Items of Parts A
and B of Form N-1A.)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            CAPTION OR SUBHEADING IN PROSPECTUS OR
                   ITEM NO. ON FORM N-1A                    STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
                   ---------------------                    -----------------------------------
 <S>                                                        <C>
 PART A - INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 1.   Cover Page                                            Cover Page

 2.   Synopsis                                              Inapplicable

 3.   Condensed Financial Information                       Financial Highlights

 4.   General Description of Registrant                     The Fund; Investment Objective and Policies;
                                                            Implementation of Policies and Risks; Special
                                                            Considerations; Additional Information

 5.   Management of the Fund                                Management, Additional Information

 5A.  Management's Discussion of Fund Performance           *

 6.   Capital Stock and Other Securities                    Additional Information

 7.   Purchase of Securities Being Offered                  Additional Information

 8.   Redemption or Repurchase                              Additional Information

 9.   Pending Legal Proceedings                             Inapplicable

 PART B - INFORMATION REQUIRED IN STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 10.  Cover Page                                            Cover page

 11.  Table of Contents                                     Table of  Contents

 12.  General Information and History                       **

 13.  Investment Objectives and Policies                    Investment Restrictions; Investment Policies and
                                                            Techniques

 14.  Management of the Fund                                Directors and Officers of the Corporation

 15.  Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities   Principal Shareholders; Directors and Officers of
                                                            the Corporation; Investment Advisor and Distributor

 16.  Investment Advisory and Other Services                Investment Advisor and Distributor; Management (in
                                                            Prospectus); Custodian; Transfer Agent and
                                                            Dividend-Disbursing Agent; Independent Accountants; 
                                                            Legal Counsel

 17.  Brokerage Allocation and Other Practices              Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage

 18.  Capital Stock and Other Securities                    Included in Prospectus under the heading Additional
                                                            Information
                                                                       
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   3


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            CAPTION OR SUBHEADING IN PROSPECTUS OR
                   ITEM NO. ON FORM N-1A                    STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
                   ---------------------                    -----------------------------------
 <S>                                                        <C>
 19.  Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Securities        Included in Prospectus under the headings:
      Being Offered                                         Additional Information; and in the Statement of
                                                            Additional Information under the headings:
                                                            Investment Advisor and Distributor; and
                                                            Determination of Net Asset Value

 20.  Tax Status                                            Included in Prospectus under the heading Additional
                                                            Information; and Special Considerations; and in the
                                                            Statement of Additional Information under the
                                                            heading Taxes

 21.  Underwriters                                          Investment Advisor and Distributor

 22.  Calculation of Performance Data                       Performance Information

 23.  Financial Statements                                  Financial Statements
</TABLE>

*     Complete answer to Item is contained in Strong Discovery Fund II's
      Annual Report.
**    Complete answer to Item is contained in Strong Discovery Fund II's
      Prospectus.
<PAGE>   4

                     STRONG VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.

                             CROSS REFERENCE SHEET

                      FOR STRONG ASSET ALLOCATION FUND II,
                      STRONG INTERNATIONAL STOCK FUND II,
                           AND STRONG GROWTH FUND II

     (Pursuant to Rule 481 showing the location in the Prospectus and the
Statement of Additional Information of the responses to the Items of Parts A
and B of Form N-1A.)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            CAPTION OR SUBHEADING IN PROSPECTUS OR
                   ITEM NO. ON FORM N-1A                    STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
                   ---------------------                    -----------------------------------
 <S>                                                        <C>
 PART A - INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 1.   Cover Page                                            Cover Page

 2.   Synopsis                                              Inapplicable

 3.   Condensed Financial Information                       Inapplicable

 4.   General Description of Registrant                     The Fund; Investment Objective and Policies;
                                                            Implementation of Policies and Risks; Special
                                                            Considerations; Additional Information

 5.   Management of the Fund                                Management, Additional Information

 5A.  Management's Discussion of Fund Performance           Inapplicable

 6.   Capital Stock and Other Securities                    Additional Information

 7.   Purchase of Securities Being Offered                  Additional Information

 8.   Redemption or Repurchase                              Additional Information

 9.   Pending Legal Proceedings                             Inapplicable

 PART B - INFORMATION REQUIRED IN STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 10.  Cover Page                                            Cover page

 11.  Table of Contents                                     Table of  Contents

 12.  General Information and History                       *

 13.  Investment Objectives and Policies                    Investment Restrictions; Investment Policies and
                                                            Techniques

 14.  Management of the Fund                                Directors and Officers of the Corporation

 15.  Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities   Principal Shareholders; Directors and Officers of
                                                            the Corporation; Investment Advisor and Distributor

 16.  Investment Advisory and Other Services                Investment Advisor and Distributor; Management (in
                                                            Prospectus); Custodian; Transfer Agent and
                                                            Dividend-Disbursing Agent; Administrative Services;
                                                            Independent Accountants; Legal Counsel

 17.  Brokerage Allocation and Other Practices              Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage
                                                                                                
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   5


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            CAPTION OR SUBHEADING IN PROSPECTUS OR
                   ITEM NO. ON FORM N-1A                    STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
                   ---------------------                    -----------------------------------
 <S>                                                        <C>
 18.  Capital Stock and Other Securities                    Included in Prospectus under the heading Additional
                                                            Information

 19.  Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Securities        Included in Prospectus under the headings:
      Being Offered                                         Additional Information; and in the Statement of
                                                            Additional Information under the headings:
                                                            Additional Shareholder Information; Investment
                                                            Advisor and Distributor; and Determination of Net
                                                            Asset Value

 20.  Tax Status                                            Included in Prospectus under the heading Additional
                                                            Information; and Special Considerations; and in the
                                                            Statement of Additional Information under the
                                                            heading Taxes

 21.  Underwriters                                          Investment Advisor and Distributor

 22.  Calculation of Performance Data                       Performance Information

 23.  Financial Statements                                  Inapplicable
</TABLE>

*        Complete answer to Item is contained in each Fund's Prospectus.
<PAGE>   6

                     STRONG VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.

                             CROSS REFERENCE SHEET

                        FOR STRONG ADVANTAGE FUND II AND
                      STRONG GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND II

     (Pursuant to Rule 481 showing the location in the Prospectus and the
Statement of Additional Information of the responses to the Items of Parts A
and B of Form N-1A.)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            CAPTION OR SUBHEADING IN PROSPECTUS OR
                   ITEM NO. ON FORM N-1A                    STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
                   ---------------------                    -----------------------------------
 <S>                                                        <C>
 PART A - INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 1.   Cover Page                                            Cover Page

 2.   Synopsis                                              Inapplicable

 3.   Condensed Financial Information                       Inapplicable

 4.   General Description of Registrant                     The Fund; Investment Objective and Policies;
                                                            Implementation of Policies and Risks; Special
                                                            Considerations; Additional Information

 5.   Management of the Fund                                Management, Additional Information

 5A.  Management's Discussion of Fund Performance           Inapplicable

 6.   Capital Stock and Other Securities                    Additional Information

 7.   Purchase of Securities Being Offered                  Additional Information

 8.   Redemption or Repurchase                              Additional Information

 9.   Pending Legal Proceedings                             Inapplicable

 PART B - INFORMATION REQUIRED IN STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 10.  Cover Page                                            Cover page

 11.  Table of Contents                                     Table of  Contents

 12.  General Information and History                       *

 13.  Investment Objectives and Policies                    Investment Restrictions; Investment Policies and
                                                            Techniques

 14.  Management of the Fund                                Directors and Officers of the Corporation

 15.  Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities   Principal Shareholders; Directors and Officers of
                                                            the Corporation; Investment Advisor and Distributor

 16.  Investment Advisory and Other Services                Investment Advisor and Distributor; Management (in
                                                            Prospectus); Custodian; Transfer Agent and
                                                            Dividend-Disbursing Agent; Administrative Services;
                                                            Independent Accountants; Legal Counsel

 17.  Brokerage Allocation and Other Practices              Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage
                                                                                                
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   7


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            CAPTION OR SUBHEADING IN PROSPECTUS OR
                   ITEM NO. ON FORM N-1A                    STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
                   ---------------------                    -----------------------------------
 <S>                                                        <C>
 18.  Capital Stock and Other Securities                    Included in Prospectus under the heading Additional
                                                            Information

 19.  Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Securities        Included in Prospectus under the headings:
      Being Offered                                         Additional Information; and in the Statement of
                                                            Additional Information under the headings:
                                                            Additional Shareholder Information; Investment
                                                            Advisor and Distributor; and Determination of Net
                                                            Asset Value

 20.  Tax Status                                            Included in Prospectus under the heading Additional
                                                            Information; and Special Considerations; and in the
                                                            Statement of Additional Information under the
                                                            heading Taxes

 21.  Underwriters                                          Investment Advisor and Distributor

 22.  Calculation of Performance Data                       Performance Information

 23.  Financial Statements                                  Inapplicable
</TABLE>

*        Complete answer to Item is contained in each Fund's Prospectus.
<PAGE>   8





                                     PART A

                                   PROSPECTUS

                            STRONG DISCOVERY FUND II

Incorporated by Reference to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 7 to
the Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-45321), which was filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about April 24, 1995.

<PAGE>   9
 
   
                              DATED JULY 14, 1995
    
 
                            STRONG ADVANTAGE FUND II
 
   Strong Advantage Fund II (the "Fund") is a diversified series of the Strong
Variable Insurance Funds, Inc. (the "Corporation"), an open-end management
investment company, commonly called a mutual fund. The Fund seeks current income
with a very low degree of share-price fluctuation. The Fund invests primarily in
ultra short-term, investment-grade debt obligations, and its average effective
portfolio maturity will normally be one year or less.
 
   Shares of the Fund are only offered and sold to the separate accounts of
certain insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable annuity and
variable life insurance contracts. This Prospectus should be read together with
the prospectus of the separate account of the specific insurance product which
preceded or accompanies this Prospectus.
 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAP-
 PROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE SECU-
 RITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURI-
 TIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR
 ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO
 THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
   This Prospectus contains information that you should consider before you
invest. Please read it carefully and keep it for future reference. A Statement
of Additional Information for the Fund, dated July 14, 1995, contains further
information, is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus, and has been
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). This Statement, which
may be revised from time to time, is available upon request and without charge
by writing to the Fund at P.O. Box 2936, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201.
    
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 1
<PAGE>   10
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
      <S>                                        <C>  <C>
      THE FUND........................................    2
      INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES...............    3
      FUNDAMENTALS OF FIXED INCOME INVESTING..........    4
      IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICIES AND RISKS............    7
      SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS..........................   15
      MANAGEMENT......................................   16
      ADDITIONAL INFORMATION..........................   17
      APPENDIX A......................................  A-1
</TABLE>
 
   No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any
representations other than those contained in this Prospectus and the Statement
of Additional Information and, if given or made, such information or
representations may not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Fund.
This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell securities to any person in
any state or jurisdiction in which such offering may not lawfully be made.
 
                                    THE FUND
 
   
   The Fund is a diversified series of the Corporation, which is an open-end
management investment company. The Fund offers and sells its shares only to
separate accounts of insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable
annuity and variable life insurance contracts. The Fund does not impose any
sales or redemption charges. Strong Capital Management, Inc. (the "Advisor") is
the investment advisor for the Fund.
    
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 2
<PAGE>   11
 
                       INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
 
   The Fund has adopted certain fundamental investment restrictions that are set
forth in the Fund's Statement of Additional Information ("SAI"). Those
restrictions, the Fund's investment objective and any other investment policies
identified as "fundamental" cannot be changed without shareholder approval. To
further guide investment activities, the Fund has also instituted a number of
non-fundamental operating policies, which are described throughout this
Prospectus and in the SAI. Although these additional policies may be changed by
the Corporation's Board of Directors without shareholder approval, the Fund will
promptly notify shareholders of any material change in operating policies.
   The Fund seeks current income with a very low degree of share-price
fluctuation. The Fund invests primarily in ultra short-term investment-grade
debt obligations.
   The Fund is designed for investors who seek higher yields than money market
funds generally offer and who are willing to accept some modest principal
fluctuation in order to achieve that objective. Because its share price will
vary, the Fund is not an appropriate investment for those whose primary
objective is absolute principal stability. The Fund's investments include a
combination of high-quality money market instruments, as well as securities with
longer maturities and debt obligations of lower quality. Under normal market
conditions, it is anticipated that the Fund will maintain an average effective
portfolio maturity of one year or less. When the Advisor determines market
conditions warrant a temporary defensive position, the Fund may invest without
limitation in cash and short-term fixed income securities.
   Under normal market conditions, at least 75% of the Fund's total assets will
be invested in investment-grade debt obligations, which generally include a
range of obligations from those in the highest rating category to those rated
medium-quality (e.g., BBB or higher by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group or
"S&P"). The Fund may also invest up to 25% of its total assets in
non-investment-grade debt obligations that are rated in the fifth-highest rating
category (e.g., BB by S&P) or unrated securities of comparable quality. In
general, non-investment-grade securities are regarded as predominantly
speculative with respect to the capacity of the issuer to pay interest and repay
principal. However, because these securities compose the tier immediately below
investment-grade, they are considered the least speculative non-investment-grade
securities. (See "Fundamentals of Fixed Income Investing - Credit Quality.")
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 3
<PAGE>   12
 
                                FUNDAMENTALS OF
                             FIXED INCOME INVESTING
 
   The Fund may invest in a wide variety of debt obligations and other
securities. See "Implementation of Policies and Risks - Debt Obligations."
   Issuers of debt obligations have a contractual obligation to pay interest at
a specified rate ("coupon rate") on specified dates and to repay principal
("face value" or "par value") on a specified maturity date. Certain debt
obligations (usually intermediate- and long-term obligations) have provisions
that allow the issuer to redeem or "call" the obligation before its maturity.
Issuers are most likely to call such debt obligations during periods of falling
interest rates. As a result, the Fund may be required to invest the
unanticipated proceeds of the called obligations at lower interest rates, which
may cause the Fund's income to decline.
   Although the net asset value of the Fund is expected to fluctuate, the
Advisor actively manages the Fund's portfolio and adjusts its average portfolio
maturity according to the Advisor's interest rate outlook while seeking to avoid
or reduce, to the extent possible, any negative changes in net asset value.
 
PRICE VOLATILITY
 
   The market value of debt obligations is affected by changes in prevailing
interest rates. The market value of a debt obligation generally reacts inversely
to interest-rate changes, meaning, when prevailing interest rates decline, an
obligation's price usually rises, and when prevailing interest rates rise, an
obligation's price usually declines. A fund portfolio consisting primarily of
debt obligations will react similarly to changes in interest rates.
 
MATURITY
 
   In general, the longer the maturity of a debt obligation, the higher its
yield and the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Conversely,
the shorter the maturity, the lower the yield but the greater the price
stability. Commercial paper is generally considered the shortest form of debt
obligation. Notes, whose original maturities are two years or less, are
considered short-term obligations. The term "bond" generally refers to
securities with maturities longer than two years. Bonds with maturities of three
years or less are considered short-term, bonds with maturities between three and
seven years are considered intermediate-term, and bonds with maturities greater
than seven years are considered long-term.
   The Fund's average portfolio maturity represents an average based on the
actual stated maturity dates of the debt securities in the Fund's portfolio,
except that (i) variable-rate securities are deemed to mature at the next
interest-rate adjustment date, (ii) debt securities with put features are deemed
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 4
<PAGE>   13
 
to mature at the next put-exercise date, (iii) the maturity of mortgage-backed
securities is determined on an "expected life" basis, and (iv) securities being
hedged with futures contracts may be deemed to have a longer maturity, in the
case of purchases of futures contracts, and a shorter maturity, in the case of
sales of futures contracts, than they would otherwise be deemed to have.
   The Fund's average "effective portfolio maturity" will be calculated in
nearly the same manner as average portfolio maturity, which is explained above.
However, for the purpose of calculating average effective portfolio maturity, a
security that is subject to redemption at the option of the issuer on a
particular date (the "call date") which is prior to the security's stated
maturity may be deemed to mature on the call date rather than on its stated
maturity date. The call date of a security will be used to calculate average
effective portfolio maturity when the Advisor reasonably anticipates, based upon
information available to it, that the issuer will exercise its right to redeem
the security. The Advisor may base its conclusion on such factors as the
interest rate paid on the security compared to prevailing market rates, the
amount of cash available to the issuer of the security, events affecting the
issuer of the security, and other factors that may compel or make it
advantageous for the issuer to redeem a security prior to its stated maturity.
 
CREDIT QUALITY
 
   The values of debt obligations may also be affected by changes in the credit
rating or financial condition of their issuers. Generally, the lower the quality
rating of an obligation, the higher the degree of risk as to the payment of
interest and return of principal. To compensate investors for taking on such
increased risk, those issuers deemed to be less creditworthy generally must
offer their investors higher interest rates than do issuers with better credit
ratings.
   In conducting its credit research and analysis, the Advisor considers both
qualitative and quantitative factors to evaluate the creditworthiness of
individual issuers. The Advisor also relies, in part, on credit ratings compiled
by a number of NRSROs. "Appendix A - Ratings of Debt Obligations" presents the
ratings of three well-known such organizations: S&P, Moody's Investors Services,
Inc., and Fitch Investors Service, Inc.
 
   INVESTMENT-GRADE DEBT OBLIGATIONS. Debt obligations rated in the highest-
through the medium-quality categories are commonly referred to as
"investment-grade" debt obligations and include the following:
 
- - U.S. government securities (See "Implementation of Policies and Risks - Debt
  Obligations" below);
- - bonds or bank obligations rated in one of the four highest rating categories
  (e.g., BBB or higher by S&P);
- - short-term notes rated in one of the two highest rating categories (e.g., SP-2
  or higher by S&P);
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 5
<PAGE>   14
 
- - short-term bank obligations that are rated in one of the three highest
  categories by any NRSRO (e.g., A-3 or higher by S&P), with respect to
  obligations maturing in one year or less;
- - commercial paper rated in one of the three highest rating categories (e.g.,
  A-3 or higher by S&P);
- - unrated debt obligations determined by the Advisor to be of comparable
  quality; and
- - repurchase agreements involving investment-grade debt obligations.
 
   Investment-grade debt obligations are generally believed to have relatively
low degrees of credit risk. However, medium-quality debt obligations, while
considered investment-grade, may have some speculative characteristics, since
their issuers' capacity for repayment may be more vulnerable to adverse economic
conditions or changing circumstances than that of higher-rated issuers.
   All ratings are determined at the time of investment. Any subsequent rating
downgrade of a debt obligation will be monitored by the Advisor to consider what
action, if any, the Fund should take consistent with its investment objective.
 
   HIGH-YIELD (HIGH-RISK) SECURITIES. High-yield (high-risk) securities, also
referred to as "junk bonds," are those securities that are rated lower than
investment-grade and unrated securities of comparable quality. Although these
securities generally offer higher yields than investment-grade securities with
similar maturities, lower-quality securities involve greater risks, including
the possibility of default or bankruptcy. In general, they are regarded to be
predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer's capacity to pay interest
and repay principal. Other potential risks associated with investing in high-
yield securities include:
 
- - substantial market-price volatility resulting from changes in interest rates,
  changes in or uncertainty about economic conditions, and changes in the actual
  or perceived ability of the issuer to meet its obligations;
- - greater sensitivity of highly leveraged issuers to adverse economic changes
  and individual-issuer developments;
- - subordination to the prior claims of other creditors;
- - additional Congressional attempts to restrict the use or limit the tax and
  other advantages of these securities; and
- - adverse publicity and changing investor perceptions about these securities.
 
   As with any other asset in the Fund's portfolio, any reduction in the value
of such securities as a result of the factors listed above would be reflected in
the net asset value of the Fund. In addition, a fund that invests in
lower-quality securities may incur additional expenses to the extent it is
required to seek recovery upon a default in the payment of principal and
interest on its holdings. As a result of the associated risks, successful
investments in high-yield, high-risk securities will be more dependent on the
Advisor's credit analysis than generally would be the case with investments in
investment-grade securities.
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 6
<PAGE>   15
 
   The market for high-yield (high-risk) securities initially grew during a
period of economic expansion and has experienced mixed results thereafter. It is
uncertain how the high-yield market will perform during a prolonged period of
rising interest rates. A prolonged economic downturn or a prolonged period of
rising interest rates could adversely affect the market for these securities,
increase their volatility, and reduce their value and liquidity. In addition,
lower-quality securities tend to be less liquid than higher-quality debt
securities because the market for them is not as broad or active. If market
quotations are not available, these securities will be valued in accordance with
procedures established by the Corporation's Board of Directors. Judgment may,
therefore, play a greater role in valuing these securities. The lack of a liquid
secondary market may have an adverse effect on market price and the Fund's
ability to sell particular securities.
 
                      IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICIES AND RISKS
 
   In addition to the Fund's investment policies described above (and subject to
certain restrictions described herein), the Fund may invest in some or all of
the following securities and employ some or all of the following investment
techniques, some of which may present special risks as described below. The Fund
may also engage in reverse repurchase agreements and mortgage dollar roll
transactions. A more complete discussion of these securities and investment
techniques and their associated risks is contained in the Fund's SAI.
 
DEBT OBLIGATIONS
 
   The Fund may invest in any debt obligations. The Fund's authority to invest
in certain types of debt obligations may be restricted or subject to objective
investment criteria. For additional information on these restrictions, see
"Investment Objective and Policies."
 
   TYPES OF OBLIGATIONS. Debt obligations include (i) corporate debt securities,
including bonds, debentures, and notes; (ii) bank obligations, such as
certificates of deposit, banker's acceptances, and time deposits of domestic and
foreign banks and their subsidiaries and branches, and domestic savings and loan
associations (in amounts in excess of the insurance coverage (currently $100,000
per account) provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation); (iii)
commercial paper (including variable-amount master demand notes); (iv)
repurchase agreements; (v) loan interests; (vi) foreign debt obligations issued
by foreign issuers traded either in foreign markets or in domestic markets
through depositary receipts; (vii) convertible securities - debt obligations of
corporations convertible into or exchangeable for equity securities or debt
obligations that carry with them the right to acquire equity securities, as
evidenced by warrants attached to such securities, or acquired as part of units
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 7
<PAGE>   16
 
of the securities; (viii) preferred stocks - securities that represent an
ownership interest in a corporation and that give the owner a prior claim over
common stock on the company's earnings or assets; (ix) U.S. government
securities; (x) mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations,
and similar securities; and (xi) municipal obligations.
 
   GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. U.S. government securities are issued or guaranteed by
the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. Securities issued by
the government include U.S. Treasury obligations, such as Treasury bills, notes,
and bonds. Securities issued or guaranteed by government agencies or
instrumentalities include the following:
 
- - the Federal Housing Administration, Farmers Home Administration, Export-Import
  Bank of the United States, Small Business Administration, and the Government
  National Mortgage Association, including GNMA pass-through certificates, whose
  securities are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States;
- - the Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, and the
  Tennessee Valley Authority, whose securities are supported by the right of the
  agency to borrow from the U.S. Treasury;
- - the Federal National Mortgage Association, whose securities are supported by
  the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain
  obligations of the agency or instrumentality; and
- - the Student Loan Marketing Association, the Interamerican Development Bank,
  and International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, whose securities
  are supported only by the credit of such agencies.
 
   Although the U.S. government provides financial support to such U.S.
government-sponsored agencies or instrumentalities, no assurance can be given
that it will always do so. The U.S. government and its agencies and
instrumentalities do not guarantee the market value of their securities;
consequently, the value of such securities will fluctuate.
 
   MORTGAGE- AND ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES. Mortgage-backed securities represent
direct or indirect participation in, or are secured by and payable from,
mortgage loans secured by real property, and include single- and multi-class
pass-through securities and collateralized mortgage obligations. Such securities
may be issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities or
by private issuers, generally originators in mortgage loans, including savings
associations, mortgage bankers, commercial banks, investment bankers, and
special purpose entities (collectively, "private lenders"). Mortgage-backed
securities issued by private lenders may be supported by pools of mortgage loans
or other mortgage-backed securities that are guaranteed, directly or indirectly,
by the U.S. government or one of its agencies or instrumentalities, or they may
be issued without any governmental guarantee
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 8
<PAGE>   17
 
of the underlying mortgage assets but with some form of non-governmental credit
enhancement.
   Asset-backed securities have structural characteristics similar to mortgage-
backed securities. However, the underlying assets are not first-lien mortgage
loans or interests therein; rather they include assets such as motor vehicle
installment sales contracts, other installment loan contracts, home equity
loans, leases of various types of property and receivables from credit card or
other revolving credit arrangements. Payments or distributions of principal and
interest on asset-backed securities may be supported by non-governmental credit
enhancements similar to those utilized in connection with mortgage-backed
securities.
   The yield characteristics of mortgage- and asset-backed securities differ
from those of traditional debt obligations. Among the principal differences are
that interest and principal payments are made more frequently on mortgage-and
asset-backed securities, usually monthly, and that principal may be prepaid at
any time because the underlying mortgage loans or other assets generally may be
prepaid at any time. As a result, if the Fund purchases these securities at a
premium, a prepayment rate that is faster than expected will reduce yield to
maturity, while a prepayment rate that is slower than expected will have the
opposite effect of increasing the yield to maturity. Conversely, if the Fund
purchases these securities at a discount, a prepayment rate that is faster than
expected will increase yield to maturity, while a prepayment rate that is slower
than expected will reduce yield to maturity. Accelerated prepayments on
securities purchased by the Fund at a premium also impose a risk of loss of
principal because the premium may not have been fully amortized at the time the
principal is prepaid in full. The market for privately issued mortgage- and
asset-backed securities is smaller and less liquid than the market for
government sponsored mortgage-backed securities.
   The Fund may invest in stripped mortgage- or asset-backed securities, which
receive differing proportions of the interest and principal payments from the
underlying assets. The market value of such securities generally is more
sensitive to changes in prepayment and interest rates than is the case with
traditional mortgage- and asset-backed securities, and in some cases the market
value may be extremely volatile. With respect to certain stripped securities,
such as interest-only ("IO") and principal-only ("PO") classes, a rate of
prepayment that is faster or slower than anticipated may result in the Fund
failing to recover all or a portion of its investment, even though the
securities are rated investment-grade.
 
   LOAN INTERESTS. The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in loan
interests, which are interests in amounts owed by a corporate, governmental or
other borrower to lenders or lending syndicates. Loan interests purchased by the
Fund may have a maturity of any number of days or years, and may be secured or
unsecured. Loan interests, which may take the form of participation interests
in, assignments of, or novations of a loan, may be acquired from U.S. and
foreign banks, insurance companies, finance companies or other financial
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 9
<PAGE>   18
 
institutions that have made loans or are members of a lending syndicate or from
the holders of loan interests. Loan interests involve the risk of loss in case
of default or bankruptcy of the borrower and, in the case of participation
interests, involve a risk of insolvency of the agent lending bank or other
financial intermediary. Loan interests are not rated by any NRSROs and are, at
present, not readily marketable and may be subject to contractual restrictions
on resale.
 
FOREIGN SECURITIES AND CURRENCIES
 
   The Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets directly in foreign
securities. The Fund may also invest in foreign securities through depositary
receipts without regard to this limitation. However, the Advisor currently
intends to invest not more than 25% of the Fund's total assets in foreign
securities, including both direct investments and investments made through
depositary receipts. Depositary receipts are generally issued by banks or trust
companies and evidence ownership of underlying foreign securities.
   Foreign investments involve special risks, including:
 
- - expropriation, confiscatory taxation, and withholding taxes on dividends and
  interest;
- - less extensive regulation of foreign brokers, securities markets, and issuers;
- - less publicly available information and different accounting standards;
- - costs incurred in conversions between currencies, possible delays in
  settlement in foreign securities markets, limitations on the use or transfer
  of assets (including suspension of the ability to transfer currency from a
  given country), and difficulty of enforcing obligations in other countries;
  and
- - diplomatic developments and political or social instability.
 
   Foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy
in various respects, including growth of gross domestic product, rates of
inflation, currency depreciation, capital reinvestment, resource
self-sufficiency, and balance of payments positions. Many foreign securities are
less liquid and their prices more volatile than comparable U.S. securities.
Although the Fund generally invests only in securities that are regularly traded
on recognized exchanges or in over-the-counter markets, from time to time
foreign securities may be difficult to liquidate rapidly without adverse price
effects. Certain costs attributable to foreign investing, such as custody
charges and brokerage costs, are higher than those attributable to domestic
investing.
   Because most foreign securities are denominated in non-U.S. currencies, the
investment performance of the Fund could to a certain extent be significantly
affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The value of the Fund's
assets denominated in foreign currencies will increase or decrease in response
to fluctuations in the value of those foreign currencies relative to the U.S.
dollar. Currency exchange rates can be volatile at times in response to
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 10
<PAGE>   19
 
supply and demand in the currency exchange markets, international balances
of payments, governmental intervention, speculation, and other political and
economic conditions.
   The Fund may purchase and sell foreign currency on a spot basis and may
engage in forward currency contracts, currency options, and futures transactions
for hedging or any other lawful purpose. (See "Derivative Instruments.")
 
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
 
   The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with certain banks and non-bank
dealers. In a repurchase agreement, the Fund buys a security at one price, and
at the time of sale, the seller agrees to repurchase the obligation at a
mutually agreed upon time and price (usually within seven days). The repurchase
agreement determines the yield during the purchaser's holding period, while the
seller's obligation to repurchase is secured by the value of the underlying
security. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with respect to any
security in which it may invest. The Advisor will monitor, on an ongoing basis,
the value of the underlying securities to ensure that the value always equals or
exceeds the repurchase price plus accrued interest. Repurchase agreements could
involve certain risks in the event of a default or insolvency of the other party
to the agreement, including possible delays or restrictions upon the Fund's
ability to dispose of the underlying securities. Although no definitive
creditworthiness criteria are used, the Advisor reviews the creditworthiness of
the banks and non-bank dealers with which the Funds enter into repurchase
agreements to evaluate those risks. The Fund may, under certain circumstances,
deem repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government securities to be
investments in U.S. government securities.
 
DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
 
   The Fund may use derivative instruments for any lawful purpose, including
hedging, risk management, or enhancing returns, but not for speculation.
Derivative instruments are securities or agreements whose value is derived from
the value of some underlying asset, for example, securities, reference indexes,
or commodities. Options, futures, and options on futures transactions are
considered derivative transactions. Derivatives generally have investment
characteristics that are based upon either forward contracts (under which one
party is obligated to buy and the other party is obligated to sell an underlying
asset at a specific price on a specified date) or option contracts (under which
the holder of the option has the right but not the obligation to buy or sell an
underlying asset at a specified price on or before a specified date).
Consequently, the change in value of a forward-based derivative generally is
roughly proportional to the change in value of the underlying asset. In
contrast, the buyer of an option-based derivative generally will benefit from
favorable movements in the price of the underlying asset but is not exposed to
corresponding
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 11
<PAGE>   20
 
losses due to adverse movements in the value of the underlying asset. The seller
of an option-based derivative generally will receive fees or premiums but
generally is exposed to losses due to changes in the value of the underlying
asset. Derivative transactions may include elements of leverage and,
accordingly, the fluctuation of the value of the derivative transaction in
relation to the underlying asset may be magnified. In addition to options,
futures, and options on futures transactions, derivative transactions may
include short sales against the box, in which the Fund sells a security it owns
for delivery at a future date; swaps, in which the two parties agree to exchange
a series of cash flows in the future, such as interest-rate payments;
interest-rate caps, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to
make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates exceed a specified
rate, or "cap"; and interest-rate floors, under which, in return for a premium,
one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates
fall below a specified level, or "floor." Derivative transactions may also
include forward currency contracts and foreign currency exchange-related
securities.
   Derivative instruments may be exchange-traded or traded in over-the-counter
transactions between private parties. Over-the-counter transactions are subject
to the credit risk of the counterparty to the instrument and are less liquid
than exchange-traded derivatives since they often can only be closed out with
the other party to the transaction. When required by SEC guidelines, the Fund
will set aside permissible liquid assets or securities positions that
substantially correlate to the market movements of the derivatives transaction
in a segregated account to secure its obligations under derivative transactions.
In order to maintain its required cover for a derivative transaction, the Fund
may need to sell portfolio securities at disadvantageous prices or times since
it may not be possible to liquidate a derivative position.
   The successful use of derivative transactions by the Fund is dependent upon
the Advisor's ability to correctly anticipate trends in the underlying asset. To
the extent that the Fund is engaging in derivative transactions other than for
hedging purposes, the Fund's successful use of such transactions is more
dependent upon the Advisor's ability to correctly anticipate such trends, since
losses in these transactions may not be offset by gains in the Fund's portfolio
or by lower purchase prices for assets it intends to acquire. The Advisor's
prediction of trends in underlying assets may prove to be inaccurate, which
could result in substantial losses to the Fund. Hedging transactions are also
subject to risks. If the Advisor incorrectly anticipates trends in the
underlying asset, the Fund may be in a worse position than if no hedging had
occurred. In addition, there may be imperfect correlation between the Fund's
derivative transactions and the instruments being hedged.
 
WHEN-ISSUED SECURITIES
 
   The Fund may invest without limitation in securities purchased on a when-
issued or delayed delivery basis. Although the payment and interest terms of
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 12
<PAGE>   21
 
these securities are established at the time the purchaser enters into the
commitment, these securities may be delivered and paid for at a future date,
generally within 45 days. Purchasing when-issued securities allows the Fund to
lock in a fixed price or yield on a security it intends to purchase. However,
when the Fund purchases a when-issued security, it immediately assumes the risk
of ownership, including the risk of price fluctuation until the settlement date.
   The greater the Fund's outstanding commitments for these securities, the
greater the exposure to potential fluctuations in the net asset value of the
Fund. Purchasing when-issued securities may involve the additional risk that the
yield available in the market when the delivery occurs may be higher or the
market price lower than that obtained at the time of commitment. Although the
Fund may be able to sell these securities prior to the delivery date, it will
purchase when-issued securities for the purpose of actually acquiring the
securities, unless, after entering into the commitment, a sale appears desirable
for investment reasons. When required by SEC guidelines, the Fund will set aside
permissible liquid assets in a segregated account to secure its outstanding
commitments for when-issued securities.
 
ILLIQUID SECURITIES
 
   The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.
Illiquid securities are those securities that are not readily marketable,
including restricted securities and repurchase obligations maturing in more than
seven days. Certain restricted securities which may be resold to institutional
investors under Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 4(2)
commercial paper may be determined to be liquid under guidelines adopted by the
Corporation's Board of Directors.
 
ZERO-COUPON, STEP-COUPON, AND PAY-IN-KIND SECURITIES
 
   The Fund may invest without limitation in zero-coupon, step-coupon, and
pay-in-kind securities. These securities are debt securities that do not make
regular cash interest payments. Zero-coupon and step-coupon securities are sold
at a deep discount to their face value. Pay-in-kind securities pay interest
through the issuance of additional securities. Because such securities do not
pay current cash income, the price of these securities can be volatile when
interest rates fluctuate. While these securities do not pay current cash income,
federal income tax law requires the holders of zero-coupon, step-coupon, and
pay-in-kind securities to include in income each year the portion of the
original issue discount (or deemed discount) and other non-cash income on such
securities accruing that year.
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 13
<PAGE>   22
 
MORTGAGE DOLLAR ROLLS AND
REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
 
   The Fund may engage in reverse repurchase agreements to facilitate portfolio
liquidity, a practice common in the mutual fund industry, or for arbitrage
transactions discussed below. In a reverse repurchase agreement, the Fund would
sell a security and enter into an agreement to repurchase the security at a
specified future date and price. The Fund generally retains the right to
interest and principal payments on the security. Since the Fund receives cash
upon entering into a reverse repurchase agreement, it may be considered a
borrowing. When required by SEC guidelines, the Fund will set aside permissible
liquid assets in a segregated account to secure its obligation to repurchase the
security.
   The Fund may also enter into mortgage dollar rolls, in which the Fund would
sell mortgage-backed securities for delivery in the current month and
simultaneously contract to purchase substantially similar securities on a
specified future date. While the Fund would forego principal and interest paid
on the mortgage-backed securities during the roll period, the Fund would be
compensated by the difference between the current sales price and the lower
price for the future purchase as well as by any interest earned on the proceeds
of the initial sale. The Fund also could be compensated through the receipt of
fee income equivalent to a lower forward price. When required by SEC guidelines,
the Fund would set aside permissible liquid assets in a segregated account to
secure its obligation for the forward commitment to buy mortgage-backed
securities. Mortgage dollar roll transactions may be considered a borrowing by
the Fund.
   The mortgage dollar rolls and reverse repurchase agreements entered into by
the Fund may be used as arbitrage transactions in which the Fund will maintain
an offsetting position in investment-grade debt obligations or repurchase
agreements that mature on or before the settlement date of the related mortgage
dollar roll or reverse repurchase agreement. Since the Fund will receive
interest on the securities or repurchase agreements in which it invests the
transaction proceeds, such transactions may involve leverage. However, since
such securities or repurchase agreements will be high quality and will mature on
or before the settlement date of the mortgage dollar roll or reverse repurchase
agreement, the Advisor believes that such arbitrage transactions do not present
the risks to the Fund that are associated with other types of leverage.
 
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
 
   The annual portfolio turnover rate indicates changes in the Fund's
investments and may also be affected by sales of portfolio securities necessary
to meet cash requirements for redemption of shares. The turnover rate may vary
from year to year, as well as within a year. High turnover in any year will
result
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 14
<PAGE>   23
 
in the payment by the Fund of above average amounts of transaction costs. The
annual portfolio turnover rate for the Fund is expected to be between 200% and
300%. However, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate may exceed 300% when the
Advisor believes the anticipated benefits of short-term investments outweigh any
increase in transaction costs or increase in capital gains. This rate should not
be considered as a limiting factor.
 
                             SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
 
   The Fund is designed as an investment vehicle for variable annuity and
variable life insurance contracts funded by separate accounts of certain
insurance companies. Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code") and the regulations thereunder impose certain
diversification standards on the investments underlying variable annuity and
variable life insurance contracts in order for such contracts to be treated for
tax purposes as annuities or life insurance. Section 817(h) of the Code provides
that a variable annuity and variable life insurance contract based on a separate
account shall not be treated as an annuity or life insurance contract for any
period (and any subsequent period) for which the account's investments are not
adequately diversified. These diversification requirements are in addition to
the diversification requirements applicable to the Fund under Subchapter M of
the Code and the 1940 Act and may affect the composition of the Fund's
investments.
   Since the shares of the Fund are currently sold to segregated asset accounts
underlying such variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts, the Fund
intends to comply with the diversification requirements as set forth in the
regulations. The Secretary of the Treasury may in the future issue additional
regulations or revenue rulings that may prescribe the circumstances in which a
contract owner's control of the investments of a separate account may cause the
contract owner, rather than the insurance company, to be treated as the owner of
assets of the separate account. Failure to comply with Section 817(h) of the
Code or any regulation thereunder, or with any future regulations or revenue
rulings on contract owner control, would cause earnings regarding a contract
owner's interest in an insurance company's separate account to be includible in
the contract owner's gross income in the year earned. Such standards may apply
only prospectively, although retroactive application is possible. In the event
that any such regulations or revenue rulings are adopted, the Fund may not be
able to continue to operate as currently described in this prospectus, or
maintain its investment program.
   The Fund will be managed in such a manner as to comply with the requirements
of Subchapter L of the Code. It is possible that in order to comply with such
requirements, less desirable investment decisions may be made which would affect
the investment performance of the Fund.
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 15
<PAGE>   24
 
   The Fund may sell its shares to the separate accounts of various insurance
companies, which are not affiliated with each other, for the purpose of funding
variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts. The Fund currently does
not foresee any disadvantages to contract owners arising out of the fact that it
offers its shares to separate accounts of various insurance companies, which are
not affiliated with each other, to serve as an investment medium for their
variable products. However, it is theoretically possible that the interests of
owners of various contracts participating in the Fund through the separate
accounts might at some time be in conflict. The Board of Directors of the
Corporation, however, will monitor events in order to identify any material
irreconcilable conflicts which may possibly arise and to determine what action,
if any, should be taken in response to such conflicts. If such a conflict were
to occur, one or more insurance companies' separate accounts might be required
to withdraw its investments in the Fund, and shares of another Fund may be
substituted. This might force the Fund to sell securities at disadvantageous
prices. In addition, the Board of Directors may refuse to sell Fund shares to
any separate account or may suspend or terminate the offering of Fund shares if
such action is required by law or regulatory authority or is in the best
interest of the shareholders of the Fund.
 
                                   MANAGEMENT
 
   The Board of Directors of the Corporation is responsible for managing the
Fund's business and affairs. The Fund has entered into an investment advisory
agreement (an "Advisory Agreement") with the Advisor. Under the terms of the
Advisory Agreement, the Advisor manages the Fund's investments and business
affairs, subject to the supervision of the Board of Directors.
   
   The Advisor began conducting business in 1974. Since then, its principal
business has been providing continuous investment supervision for mutual funds,
individuals, and institutional accounts, such as pension funds and profit-
sharing plans. As of June 30, 1995, the Advisor had approximately $13 billion
under management. The Advisor's principal mailing address is P.O. Box 2936,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201. Mr. Richard S. Strong, the Chairman of the Board of
the Corporation, is the controlling shareholder of the Advisor.
    
   
   As compensation for its services, the Fund pays the Advisor a monthly
management fee. The annual fee is .60% of the average daily net asset value of
the Fund. Under the terms of the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor provides office
space and all necessary office facilities, equipment, and personnel for
servicing the investments of the Fund. From time to time, the Advisor may
voluntarily waive all or a portion of its management fee and/or absorb certain
expenses for the Fund without further notification of the commencement or
termination of any such waiver or absorption. Any such waiver or absorption will
have the effect of lowering the overall expense ratio of the Fund and increasing
the Fund's return to investors at the time such amounts were waived and/or
absorbed.
    
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 16
<PAGE>   25
 
   Except for expenses voluntarily absorbed by the Advisor or the distributor,
the Fund is responsible for all its other expenses, including, without
limitation, interest charges, taxes, brokerage commissions and similar expenses;
expenses of issue, sale, repurchase or redemption of shares; expenses of
registering or qualifying shares for sale with the states and the SEC; expenses
for printing and distribution costs of prospectuses to existing shareholders;
charges of custodians (including fees as custodian for keeping books and similar
services for the Fund), transfer agents (including the printing and mailing of
reports and notices to shareholders), registrars, auditing, and legal services
and clerical services related to recordkeeping and shareholder relations;
printing of stock certificates; fees for directors who are not "interested
persons" of the Advisor; expenses of indemnification; extraordinary expenses;
and costs of shareholder and director meetings.
 
   PORTFOLIO MANAGER. Mr. Jeffrey A. Koch joined the Advisor as a portfolio
manager and securities analyst in June 1989. For a brief period prior to that,
he was a market-maker clerk at Fossett Corporation, a clearing firm. Mr. Koch
earned his M.B.A. in Finance at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri in
1989. His undergraduate degree, awarded in 1987, is from the University of
Minnesota-Morris. Mr. Koch is also a Chartered Financial Analyst. Mr. Koch has
managed the Fund since its inception in June 1995.
 
                             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
   HOW TO INVEST. Investments in the Fund may only be made by separate accounts
established and maintained by insurance companies for purposes of funding
variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts. For instructions on how
to direct a separate account to purchase shares in the Fund, please refer to the
prospectus of the insurance company's separate account. The Fund does not impose
any sales charge or 12b-1 fee. Certain sales charges may apply to the variable
annuity or variable life insurance contract, which should be described in the
prospectus of the insurance company's separate account. The Fund may decline to
accept a purchase order upon receipt when, in the judgment of the Advisor, it
would not be in the best interest of the existing shareholders to accept the
order. Shares of the Fund will be sold at the net asset value next determined
after receipt by the Fund of a purchase order in proper form placed by an
insurance company investing in the Fund. Certificates for shares in the Fund
will not be issued.
 
   CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE. The net asset value ("NAV") per share for the
Fund is determined as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange
(the "Exchange"), currently 3:00 p.m. Central Time, on days the Exchange is open
for business. The net asset value will not be determined for the Fund on days
during which the Fund receives no orders to purchase
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 17
<PAGE>   26
 
shares and no shares are tendered for redemption. The Fund's NAV is calculated
by taking the fair value of the Fund's total assets, subtracting all its
liabilities, and dividing by the total number of shares outstanding. Expenses
are accrued and applied daily when determining the net asset value.
   Debt securities are valued by a pricing service that utilizes electronic data
processing techniques to determine values for normal institutional size trading
units of debt securities without regard to the existence of sale or bid prices
when such values are believed to more accurately reflect the fair market value
of such securities. Otherwise, sale or bid prices are used. Any securities or
other assets for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at
fair value as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors. Debt
securities having remaining maturities of 60 days or less when purchased are
valued by the amortized cost method when the Board of Directors determines that
the fair value of such securities is their amortized cost.
 
   HOW TO REDEEM SHARES. Shares of the Fund may be redeemed on any business day.
The price received upon redemption will be the net asset value next determined
after the redemption request in proper form is received by the Fund. (See
"Calculation of Net Asset Value.") Contract owners should refer to the
withdrawal or surrender instructions in the prospectus of the separate account
for instructions on how to redeem shares. Once the redemption request is
received in proper form, the Fund will ordinarily forward payment to the
separate account no later than seven days after receipt.
   The right of redemption may be suspended during any period in which: (i)
trading on the Exchange is restricted, as determined by the SEC, or the Exchange
is closed for other than weekends and holidays; (ii) the SEC has permitted such
suspension by order; or (iii) an emergency, as determined by the SEC, exists
which makes disposal of portfolio securities or valuation of net assets of the
Fund not reasonably practicable.
 
   DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES. The policy of the Fund is to pay dividends to the
insurance company's separate accounts from net investment income monthly and to
distribute substantially all net realized capital gains, after using any
available capital loss carryovers, annually. All dividends and capital gain
distributions paid to the insurance company's separate accounts will be
automatically reinvested in additional Fund shares.
   
   The Fund intends to qualify for treatment as a Regulated Investment Company
or "RIC" under Subchapter M of the Code and, if so qualified, will not be liable
for federal income tax on earnings and gains distributed to its shareholders in
a timely manner. If the Fund does not so qualify, however, it would be treated
for tax purposes as an ordinary corporation and would receive no tax deduction
for distributions made to its shareholders. For more information regarding tax
implications for owners of variable annuity or variable life insurance contracts
investing in the Fund, please refer to the prospectus of your insurance
company's separate account. See "Special Considerations" for a
    
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 18
<PAGE>   27
 
discussion of special tax considerations relating to the Fund's compliance with
Subchapter L of the Code, as an investment vehicle for variable annuity and
variable life insurance contracts of certain insurance companies.
   This section is not intended to be a full discussion of present or proposed
federal income tax law and its effect on the Fund and investors. (See the SAI
for a further discussion.) Investors are urged to consult their own tax advisor.
 
   
   ORGANIZATION. The Fund is a series of Common Stock of the Corporation, which
is a Wisconsin corporation. The Corporation is authorized to issue shares of
Common Stock and series and classes of series of shares of Common Stock. All
holders of shares of the Corporation would vote on each matter presented to
shareholders for action except with respect to any matter which affects only one
or more series or classes, in which case only the shares of the affected series
or class shall be entitled to vote.
    
   
   All shares participate equally in dividends and other capital gains
distributions by the Fund and in the residual assets of the Fund in the event of
liquidation. Generally, the Corporation will not hold an annual meeting of
shareholders unless required by the 1940 Act. Shareholders have certain rights,
including the right to call a meeting upon a vote of 10% of the Corporation's
outstanding shares for the purpose of voting to remove one or more directors or
to transact any other business.
    
   The insurance company separate accounts, as the record shareholders in the
Fund, have the right to vote on matters submitted for a shareholder vote. Under
current interpretations of the 1940 Act, these insurance companies must solicit
voting instructions from contract owners and vote Fund shares in accordance with
the instructions received or, for Fund shares for which no voting instructions
were received, in the same proportion as those Fund shares for which
instructions were received. Contract owners should refer to the prospectus of
the insurance company's separate account for a complete description of their
voting rights.
 
   
   TRANSFER AGENT, DIVIDEND-DISBURSING AGENT, AND DISTRIBUTOR. The Advisor, P.O.
Box 2936, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201, acts as transfer agent and
dividend-disbursing agent for the Fund. Strong Funds Distributors, Inc., P.O.
Box 2936, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201, an indirect subsidiary of the Advisor,
acts as distributor of the shares of the Fund.
    
 
   PERFORMANCE INFORMATION. The Fund may advertise "yield," "average annual
total return," "total return," and "cumulative total return." Each of these
figures is based upon historical results and does not represent the future
performance of the Fund.
   Yield is an annualized figure, which means that it is assumed that the Fund
generates the same level of net investment income over a one-year period. The
Fund's yield is a measure of the net investment income per share earned by
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 19
<PAGE>   28
 
the Fund over a specific 30-day period and is shown as a percentage of the net
asset value of the Fund's shares at the end of the period.
   Average annual total return and total return figures measure both the net
investment income generated by, and the effect of any realized and unrealized
appreciation or depreciation of, the underlying investments in the Fund assuming
the reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. Total return figures are
not annualized and simply represent the aggregate change of the Fund's
investments over a specified period of time.
   The Fund's shares are sold at the net asset value per share of the Fund.
Returns and net asset value will fluctuate. Shares of the Fund are redeemable by
the separate accounts of insurance companies at the then current net asset value
per share for the Fund, which may be more or less than the original cost. TOTAL
RETURNS CONTAINED IN ADVERTISEMENTS INCLUDE THE EFFECT OF DEDUCTING THE FUND'S
EXPENSES, BUT MAY NOT INCLUDE CHARGES AND EXPENSES ATTRIBUTABLE TO ANY
PARTICULAR INSURANCE PRODUCT. SINCE SHARES MAY ONLY BE PURCHASED BY THE SEPARATE
ACCOUNTS OF CERTAIN INSURANCE COMPANIES, CONTRACT OWNERS SHOULD CAREFULLY REVIEW
THE PROSPECTUS OF THE SEPARATE ACCOUNT FOR INFORMATION ON FEES AND EXPENSES.
Excluding such fees and expenses from the Fund's total return quotations has the
effect of increasing the performance quoted. The Fund will not use information
concerning its investment performance in advertisements or sales materials
unless appropriate information concerning the relevant separate account is also
included. Additional information concerning the Fund's performance appears in
the SAI.
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 20
<PAGE>   29
 
                                   APPENDIX A
 
RATINGS OF DEBT OBLIGATIONS:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                             Moody's         Standard &           Fitch
                            Investors      Poor's Ratings       Investors
                          Service, Inc.         Group         Service, Inc.        Definition
           ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                       <C>              <C>                <C>              <C>
LONG-TERM                 Aaa              AAA                AAA              Highest quality
                          Aa               AA                 AA               High quality
                          A                A                  A                Upper medium grade
                          Baa              BBB                BBB              Medium grade
                          Ba               BB                 BB               Low grade
                          B                B                  B                Speculative
                          Caa, Ca, C       CCC, CC, C         CCC, CC, C       Submarginal
                          D                D                  DDD, DD, D       Probably in default
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                 Moody's                     S&P                          Fitch
             ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>             <C>          <C>            <C>     <C>                   <C>     <C>
SHORT-TERM      MIG1/VMIG1   Best quality   SP-1+   Very strong quality    F-1+   Exceptionally strong
                                                                                  quality
                ---------------------------------------------------------------
                MIG2/VMIG2   High quality   SP-1    Strong quality         F-1    Very strong quality
                ---------------------------------------------------------------
                MIG3/VMIG3   Favorable      SP-2    Satisfactory grade     F-2    Good credit quality
                             quality
                ---------------------------------------------------------------
                MIG4/VMIG4   Adequate                                      F-3    Fair credit quality
                             quality
                ---------------------------------------------------------------
                SG           Speculative    SP-3    Speculative grade      F-S    Weak credit quality
                             grade
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMERCIAL      P-1          Superior       A-1+    Extremely strong       F-1+   Exceptionally strong
PAPER                        quality                quality                       quality
                ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                            A-1     Strong quality         F-1    Very strong quality
                ---------------------------------------------------------------
                P-2          Strong         A-2     Satisfactory quality   F-2    Good credit quality
                             quality
                ---------------------------------------------------------------
                P-3          Acceptable     A-3     Adequate quality       F-3    Fair credit quality
                             quality
                ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                            B       Speculative quality    F-S    Weak credit quality
                ---------------------------------------------------------------
                Not Prime                   C       Doubtful quality       D      Default
- --------------
</TABLE>
 
                             ----------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE A-1
<PAGE>   30
 
   
                              DATED JULY 14, 1995
    
 
                        STRONG ASSET ALLOCATION FUND II
 
   Strong Asset Allocation Fund II (the "Fund") is a diversified series of the
Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc. (the "Corporation"), an open-end
management investment company, commonly called a mutual fund. The Fund seeks
high total return consistent with reasonable risk over the long term. The Fund
allocates its assets globally among a diversified portfolio of equity
securities, bonds, and short-term fixed income securities.
 
   Shares of the Fund are only offered and sold to the separate accounts of
certain insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable annuity and
variable life insurance contracts. This Prospectus should be read together with
the prospectus of the separate account of the specific insurance product which
preceded or accompanies this Prospectus.
 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAP-
 PROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE SECU-
 RITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURI-
 TIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR
 ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO
 THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
   This Prospectus contains information that you should consider before you
invest. Please read it carefully and keep it for future reference. A Statement
of Additional Information for the Fund, dated July 14, 1995, contains further
information, is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus, and has been
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). This Statement, which
may be revised from time to time, is available upon request and without charge
by writing to the Fund at P.O. Box 2936, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201.
    
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 1
<PAGE>   31
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
         <S>                                      <C>
         THE FUND.................................    2
         INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES........    3
         IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICIES AND RISKS.....    4
         SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS...................   13
         MANAGEMENT...............................   14
         ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...................   17
         APPENDIX A...............................  A-1
</TABLE>
 
   No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any
representations other than those contained in this Prospectus and the Statement
of Additional Information and, if given or made, such information or
representations may not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Fund.
This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell securities to any person in
any state or jurisdiction in which such offering may not lawfully be made.
 
                                    THE FUND
 
   
   The Fund is a diversified series of the Corporation, which is an open-end
management investment company. The Fund offers and sells its shares only to
separate accounts of insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable
annuity and variable life insurance contracts. The Fund does not impose any
sales or redemption charges. Strong Capital Management, Inc. (the "Advisor") is
the investment advisor for the Fund.
    
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 2
<PAGE>   32
 
                       INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
 
   The Fund has adopted certain fundamental investment restrictions that are set
forth in the Fund's Statement of Additional Information ("SAI"). Those
restrictions, the Fund's investment objective and any other investment policies
identified as "fundamental" cannot be changed without shareholder approval. To
further guide investment activities, the Fund has also instituted a number of
non-fundamental operating policies, which are described throughout this
Prospectus and in the SAI. Although these additional policies may be changed by
the Corporation's Board of Directors without shareholder approval, the Fund will
promptly notify shareholders of any material change in operating policies.
   The Fund seeks high total return consistent with reasonable risk over the
long term. The Fund allocates its assets globally among a diversified portfolio
of equity securities, bonds, and short-term fixed income securities.
   Under normal market conditions, the Fund's net assets will be allocated
according to a benchmark of 40% equities, 40% bonds, and 20% short-term fixed
income securities. The Advisor intends to actively manage the Fund's assets,
maintaining a balance over time between investment opportunities and their
associated potential risks. In response to changing market and economic
conditions, the Advisor may reallocate the Fund's net assets among these asset
categories. Those allocations normally will be within the ranges indicated
below. However, in pursuit of total return, the Advisor may under-allocate or
over-allocate the Fund's net assets in a particular category. Furthermore, when
the Advisor determines that market conditions warrant adopting a temporary
defensive position, the Fund may invest without limitation in cash and short-
term fixed income securities.
 
                          ASSET-ALLOCATION CATEGORIES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        Percentage of Fund
                                            Net Assets
                                       --------------------
      Category of Investment           Benchmark     Range
<S>                                    <C>           <C>
- -----------------------------------------------------------
Equities                                  40%        10-60%
Bonds                                     40%        20-60%
Short-Term Fixed Income Securities        20%         0-70%
- -----------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
   Equity securities in which the Fund may invest include common stocks,
preferred stocks, and securities that are convertible into common stocks, such
as warrants and convertible bonds. Bonds purchased by the Fund will be primarily
investment-grade debt obligations, although the Fund may invest up to, but not
including, 35% of its total assets in non-investment-grade debt obligations.
(See "Implementation of Policies and Risks - Debt Obligations.")
   The Fund also has the flexibility to take advantage of investment
opportunities around the world by investing in foreign securities. While the
Fund may
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 3
<PAGE>   33
 
invest without limitation in foreign securities, the Advisor does not expect
that, under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest more than 40% of its
total assets in foreign securities. Foreign investments involve risks not
normally found when investing in securities of U.S. issuers. (See
"Implementation of Policies and Risks - Foreign Securities and Currencies.")
   Within the asset-allocation categories described above, the Advisor will
allocate the Fund's investments among countries, geographic regions, and
currencies in response to changing market and economic trends. In making
geographical allocations of investments, the Advisor will consider such factors
as the historical and prospective relationships among currencies and
governmental policies that influence currency-exchange rates, current and
anticipated interest rates, inflation levels, and business conditions within
various countries, as well as other macroeconomic, social, and political
factors. While there are no prescribed limits on the Fund's geographic
allocations, the Advisor anticipates that the Fund will generally invest in
issuers in industrialized countries and in major currencies, including the
United States, Canada, the countries of Western Europe, Japan, Australia, and
New Zealand. The Fund may also, however, invest in securities of issuers in
developing countries.
 
                      IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICIES AND RISKS
 
   In addition to the Fund's investment policies described above (and subject to
certain restrictions described herein), the Fund may invest in some or all of
the following securities and employ some or all of the following investment
techniques, some of which may present special risks as described below. The Fund
may also engage in reverse repurchase agreements and mortgage dollar roll
transactions. A more complete discussion of these securities and investment
techniques and their associated risks is contained in the Fund's SAI.
 
DEBT OBLIGATIONS
 
   IN GENERAL. The market value of all debt obligations is affected by changes
in the prevailing interest rates. The market value of such instruments generally
reacts inversely to interest rate changes. If the prevailing interest rates
decline, the market value of debt obligations generally increases. If the
prevailing interest rates increase, the market value of debt obligations
generally decreases. In general, the longer the maturity of a debt obligation,
the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates.
 
   TYPES OF OBLIGATIONS. Debt obligations include (i) corporate debt securities,
including bonds, debentures, and notes; (ii) bank obligations, such as
certificates of deposit, banker's acceptances, and time deposits of domestic and
foreign banks and their subsidiaries and branches, and domestic savings and loan
associations (in amounts in excess of the insurance coverage (currently
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 4
<PAGE>   34
 
$100,000 per account) provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation);
(iii) commercial paper (including variable-amount master demand notes); (iv)
repurchase agreements; (v) loan interests; (vi) foreign debt obligations issued
by foreign issuers traded either in foreign markets or in domestic markets
through depositary receipts; (vii) convertible securities - debt obligations of
corporations convertible into or exchangeable for equity securities or debt
obligations that carry with them the right to acquire equity securities, as
evidenced by warrants attached to such securities, or acquired as part of units
of the securities; (viii) preferred stocks - securities that represent an
ownership interest in a corporation and that give the owner a prior claim over
common stock on the company's earnings or assets; (ix) U.S. government
securities; (x) mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations,
and similar securities; and (xi) municipal obligations.
 
   RATINGS. Investment-grade debt obligations include:
 
- - bonds or bank obligations that are rated in one of the four highest categories
  of any nationally recognized statistical rating organization or "NRSRO" (e.g.,
  BBB or higher by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group or "S&P");
- - U.S. government securities (as defined below);
- - commercial paper rated in one of the three highest ratings categories of any
  NRSRO (e.g., A-3 or higher by S&P);
- - short-term bank obligations that are rated in one of the three highest
  categories by any NRSRO (e.g., A-3 or higher by S&P) with respect to
  obligations maturing in one year or less;
- - repurchase agreements involving investment-grade debt obligations; or
- - unrated obligations determined by the Advisor to be of comparable quality.
 
   All ratings are determined at the time of investment. Any subsequent rating
downgrade of a debt obligation will be monitored by the Advisor to consider what
action, if any, the Fund should take consistent with its investment objective.
Securities rated in the fourth highest category (e.g., BBB by S&P), although
considered investment-grade, have speculative characteristics and may be subject
to greater fluctuations in value than higher-rated securities. Non-
investment-grade debt obligations include:
 
- - securities rated as low as C by S&P or their equivalents;
- - commercial paper rated as low as C by S&P or its equivalent; and
- - unrated debt securities judged to be of comparable quality by the Advisor.
 
   HIGH-YIELD (HIGH-RISK) SECURITIES. The Fund may invest up to, but not
including, 35% of its total assets in non-investment-grade debt obligations,
also referred to as high-yield (high-risk) securities or "junk bonds." These
securities include those rated lower than investment-grade and unrated
securities of comparable quality. Although these securities generally offer
higher yields than investment-grade securities with similar maturities,
lower-quality securities involve greater risks, including the possibility of
default or bankruptcy. In
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 5
<PAGE>   35
 
general, they are regarded to be predominantly speculative with respect to the
issuer's capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Other potential risks
associated with investing in high-yield securities include:
 
- - substantial market-price volatility resulting from changes in interest rates,
  changes in or uncertainty about economic conditions, and changes in the actual
  or perceived ability of the issuer to meet its obligations;
- - greater sensitivity of highly leveraged issuers to adverse economic changes
  and individual-issuer developments;
- - subordination to the prior claims of other creditors;
- - additional Congressional attempts to restrict the use or limit the tax and
  other advantages of these securities; and
- - adverse publicity and changing investor perceptions about these securities.
 
   As with any other asset in the Fund's portfolio, any reduction in the value
of such securities as a result of the factors listed above would be reflected in
the net asset value of the Fund. In addition, a fund that invests in
lower-quality securities may incur additional expenses to the extent it is
required to seek recovery upon a default in the payment of principal and
interest on its holdings. As a result of the associated risks, successful
investments in high-yield (high-risk) securities will be more dependent on the
Advisor's credit analysis than generally would be the case with investments in
investment-grade securities.
   
   It is uncertain how the high-yield market will perform during a prolonged
period of rising interest rates. A prolonged economic downturn or a prolonged
period of rising interest rates could adversely affect the market for these
securities, increase their volatility, and reduce their value and liquidity. In
addition, lower-quality securities tend to be less liquid than higher-quality
debt securities because the market for them is not as broad or active. If market
quotations are not available, these securities will be valued in accordance with
procedures established by the Corporation's Board of Directors. Judgment may,
therefore, play a greater role in valuing these securities. The lack of a liquid
secondary market may have an adverse effect on market price and the Fund's
ability to sell particular securities.
    
 
   GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. U.S. government securities are issued or guaranteed by
the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. Securities issued by
the government include U.S. Treasury obligations, such as Treasury bills, notes,
and bonds. Securities issued by government agencies or instrumentalities
include, for example, obligations of the following:
 
- - the Federal Housing Administration, Farmers Home Administration, Export-Import
  Bank of the United States, Small Business Administration, and the Government
  National Mortgage Association, including GNMA pass-through certificates, whose
  securities are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States;
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 6
<PAGE>   36
 
- - the Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, and the
  Tennessee Valley Authority, whose securities are supported by the right of the
  agency to borrow from the U.S. Treasury;
- - the Federal National Mortgage Association, whose securities are supported by
  the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain
  obligations of the agency or instrumentality; and
- - the Student Loan Marketing Association, the Interamerican Development Bank,
  and International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, whose securities
  are supported only by the credit of such agencies.
 
   Although the U.S. government provides financial support to such U.S.
government-sponsored agencies or instrumentalities, no assurance can be given
that it will always do so. The U.S. government and its agencies and
instrumentalities do not guarantee the market value of their securities;
consequently, the value of such securities will fluctuate.
 
   SHORT-TERM FIXED INCOME SECURITIES. Short-term fixed income securities in
which the Fund may invest include, but are not limited to, debt securities
issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or
instrumentalities, commercial paper, banker's acceptances, certificates of
deposit, and time deposits. The Fund may invest in obligations of domestic and
foreign banks and their subsidiaries and branches.
 
ZERO-COUPON, STEP-COUPON, AND PAY-IN-KIND SECURITIES.
 
   The Fund may invest in zero-coupon, step-coupon, and pay-in-kind securities.
These securities are debt securities that do not make regular cash interest
payments. Zero-coupon and step-coupon securities are sold at a deep discount to
their face value. Pay-in-kind securities pay interest through the issuance of
additional securities. Because such securities do not pay current cash income,
the price of these securities can be volatile when interest rates fluctuate.
While these securities do not pay current cash income, federal income tax law
requires the holders of zero-coupon, step-coupon, and pay-in-kind securities to
include in income each year the portion of the original issue discount (or
deemed discount) and other non-cash income on such securities accruing that
year.
 
WHEN-ISSUED SECURITIES
 
   The Fund may invest without limitation in securities purchased on a when-
issued or delayed delivery basis. Although the payment and interest terms of
these securities are established at the time the purchaser enters into the
commitment, these securities may be delivered and paid for at a future date,
generally within 45 days. Purchasing when-issued securities allows the Fund to
lock in a fixed price or yield on a security it intends to purchase. However,
when the Fund purchases a when-issued security, it immediately assumes the
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 7
<PAGE>   37
 
risk of ownership, including the risk of price fluctuation until the settlement
date.
   The greater the Fund's outstanding commitments for these securities, the
greater the exposure to potential fluctuations in the net asset value of the
Fund. Purchasing when-issued securities may involve the additional risk that the
yield available in the market when the delivery occurs may be higher or the
market price lower than that obtained at the time of commitment. Although the
Fund may be able to sell these securities prior to the delivery date, it will
purchase when-issued securities for the purpose of actually acquiring the
securities, unless, after entering into the commitment, a sale appears desirable
for investment reasons. When required by SEC guidelines, the Fund will set aside
permissible liquid assets in a segregated account to secure its outstanding
commitments for when-issued securities.
 
FOREIGN SECURITIES AND CURRENCIES
 
   The Fund may invest in foreign securities, either directly or through the use
of depositary receipts. (See "Investment Objective and Policies.") Depositary
receipts are generally issued by banks or trust companies and evidence ownership
of underlying foreign securities. Foreign investments may include other
investment companies which may involve frequent or layered fees and also are
subject to limitations under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940
Act"). Foreign investments involve special risks, including:
 
- - expropriation, confiscatory taxation, and withholding taxes on dividends and
  interest;
- - less extensive regulation of foreign brokers, securities markets, and issuers;
- - less publicly available information and different accounting standards;
- - costs incurred in conversions between currencies, possible delays in
  settlement in foreign securities markets, limitations on the use or transfer
  of assets (including suspension of the ability to transfer currency from a
  given country), and difficulty of enforcing obligations in other countries;
  and
- - diplomatic developments and political or social instability.
 
   Foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy
in various respects, including growth of gross domestic product, rates of
inflation, currency depreciation, capital reinvestment, resource
self-sufficiency, and balance of payments positions. Many foreign securities are
less liquid and their prices more volatile than comparable U.S. securities.
Although the Fund generally invests only in securities that are regularly traded
on recognized exchanges or in over-the-counter markets, from time to time
foreign securities may be difficult to liquidate rapidly without adverse price
effects. Certain costs attributable to foreign investing, such as custody
charges and brokerage costs, are higher than those attributable to domestic
investing.
   The Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in the foreign
securities of issuers in developing countries. The risks of foreign investments
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 8
<PAGE>   38
 
are generally intensified for investments in developing countries. Risks of
investing in such markets include:
 
- - less social, political, and economic stability;
- - smaller securities markets and the lower trading volume, which may result in a
  lack of liquidity and greater price volatility;
- - certain national policies that may restrict the Fund's investment
  opportunities, including restrictions on investments in issuers or industries
  deemed sensitive to national interests, or expropriation or confiscation of
  assets or property, which could result in the Fund's loss of its entire
  investment in that market; and
- - less developed legal structures governing private or foreign investment or
  allowing for judicial redress for injury to private property.
 
   In addition, brokerage commissions, custodial services, withholding taxes,
and other costs relating to investment in emerging markets generally are more
expensive than in the U.S. and certain more established foreign markets.
Economies in emerging markets generally are heavily dependent upon international
trade and, accordingly, have been and may continue to be affected adversely by
trade barriers, exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency
values, and other protectionist measures negotiated or imposed by the countries
with which they trade.
   The Fund may also invest a significant portion of its assets in debt
obligations issued or guaranteed by foreign governments or their agencies,
instrumentalities or political subdivisions, or by supranational issuers
(collectively, sovereign debt). Investment in sovereign debt involves special
risks. Certain foreign countries, particularly developing countries, have
experienced, and may continue to experience, high rates of inflation, high
interest rates, exchange rate fluctuations, large amounts of external debt,
balance of payments and trade difficulties, and extreme poverty and
unemployment. The issuer of the debt or the governmental authorities that
control the repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to repay principal
or interest when due in accordance with the terms of such debt, and the Fund may
have limited legal recourse in the event of default.
   Because most foreign securities are denominated in non-U.S. currencies, the
investment performance of the Fund could be significantly affected by changes in
foreign currency exchange rates. The value of the Fund's assets denominated in
foreign currencies will increase or decrease in response to fluctuations in the
value of those foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar. Currency exchange
rates can be volatile at times in response to supply and demand in the currency
exchange markets, international balances of payments, governmental intervention,
speculation, and other political and economic conditions.
   The Fund may purchase and sell foreign currency on a spot basis and may
engage in forward currency contracts, currency options, and futures transactions
for hedging or any other lawful purpose. (See "Derivative Instruments.")
 
                             ---------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 9
<PAGE>   39
 
DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
 
   Derivative instruments may be used by the Fund for any lawful purpose,
including hedging, risk management, or enhancing returns, but not for
speculation. Derivative instruments are securities or agreements whose value is
derived from the value of some underlying asset, for example, securities,
currencies, reference indexes, or commodities. Options, futures, and options on
futures transactions are considered derivative transactions. Derivatives
generally have investment characteristics that are based upon either forward
contracts (under which one party is obligated to buy and the other party is
obligated to sell an underlying asset at a specific price on a specified date)
or option contracts (under which the holder of the option has the right but not
the obligation to buy or sell an underlying asset at a specified price on or
before a specified date). Consequently, the change in value of a forward-based
derivative generally is roughly proportional to the change in value of the
underlying asset. In contrast, the buyer of an option-based derivative generally
will benefit from favorable movements in the price of the underlying asset but
is not exposed to corresponding losses due to adverse movements in the value of
the underlying asset. The seller of an option-based derivative generally will
receive fees or premiums but generally is exposed to losses due to changes in
the value of the underlying asset. Derivative transactions may include elements
of leverage and, accordingly, the fluctuation of the value of the derivative
transaction in relation to the underlying asset may be magnified. In addition to
options, futures, and options on futures transactions, derivative transactions
may include short sales against the box, in which the Fund sells a security it
owns for delivery at a future date; swaps, in which the two parties agree to
exchange a series of cash flows in the future, such as interest-rate payments;
interest-rate caps, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to
make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates exceed a specified
rate, or "cap"; and interest-rate floors, under which, in return for a premium,
one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates
fall below a specified level, or "floor." Derivative transactions may also
include forward currency contracts and foreign currency exchange-related
securities.
   Derivative instruments may be exchange-traded or traded in over-the-counter
transactions between private parties. Over-the-counter transactions are subject
to the credit risk of the counterparty to the instrument and are less liquid
than exchange-traded derivatives since they often can only be closed out with
the other party to the transaction. When required by SEC guidelines, the Fund
will set aside permissible liquid assets or securities positions that
substantially correlate to the market movements of the derivative transactions
in a segregated account to secure its obligations under derivative transactions.
In order to maintain its required cover for a derivative transaction, the Fund
may need to sell portfolio securities at disadvantageous prices or times since
it may not be possible to liquidate a derivative position.
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 10
<PAGE>   40
 
   The successful use of derivative transactions by the Fund is dependent upon
the Advisor's ability to correctly anticipate trends in the underlying asset. To
the extent that the Fund is engaging in derivative transactions other than for
hedging purposes, the Fund's successful use of such transactions is more
dependent upon the Advisor's ability to correctly anticipate such trends, since
losses in these transactions may not be offset in gains in the Fund's portfolio
or in lower purchase prices for assets it intends to acquire. The Advisor's
prediction of trends in underlying assets may prove to be inaccurate, which
could result in substantial losses to the Fund. Hedging transactions are also
subject to risks. If the Advisor incorrectly anticipates trends in the
underlying asset, the Fund may be in a worse position than if no hedging had
occurred. In addition, there may be imperfect correlation between the Fund's
derivative transactions and the instruments being hedged.
 
MORTGAGE- AND ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES
 
   Mortgage-backed securities represent direct or indirect participation in, or
are secured by and payable from, mortgage loans secured by real property, and
include single- and multi-class pass-through securities and collateralized
mortgage obligations. Such securities may be issued or guaranteed by U.S.
government agencies or instrumentalities or by private issuers, generally
originators and investors in mortgage loans, including savings associations,
mortgage bankers, commercial banks, investment bankers, and special purpose
entities (collectively, "private lenders"). Mortgage-backed securities issued by
private lenders may be supported by pools of mortgage loans or other
mortgage-backed securities that are guaranteed, directly or indirectly, by the
U.S. government or one of its agencies or instrumentalities, or they may be
issued without any governmental guarantee of the underlying mortgage assets but
with some form of non-governmental credit enhancement.
   Asset-backed securities have structural characteristics similar to mortgage-
backed securities. However, the underlying assets are not first-lien mortgage
loans or interests therein; rather, they include assets such as motor vehicle
installment sales contracts, other installment loan contracts, home equity
loans, leases of various types of property, and receivables from credit card or
other revolving credit arrangements. Payments or distributions of principal and
interest on asset-backed securities may be supported by non-governmental credit
enhancements similar to those utilized in connection with mortgage-backed
securities.
   The yield characteristics of mortgage- and asset-backed securities differ
from those of traditional debt securities. Among the principal differences are
that interest and principal payments are made more frequently on mortgage-and
asset-backed securities, usually monthly, and that principal may be prepaid at
any time because the underlying mortgage loans or other assets generally may be
prepaid at any time. As a result, if the Fund purchases these securities at a
premium, a prepayment rate that is faster than expected will reduce yield to
maturity, while a prepayment rate that is slower than expected will have the
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 11
<PAGE>   41
 
opposite effect of increasing the yield to maturity. Conversely, if the Fund
purchases these securities at a discount, a prepayment rate that is faster than
expected will increase yield to maturity, while a prepayment rate that is slower
than expected will reduce yield to maturity. Accelerated prepayments on
securities purchased by the Fund at a premium also impose a risk of loss of
principal because the premium may not have been fully amortized at the time the
principal is prepaid in full. The market for privately issued mortgage- and
asset-backed securities is smaller and less liquid than the market for
government-sponsored mortgage-backed securities.
   The Fund may invest in stripped mortgage- or asset-backed securities, which
receive differing proportions of the interest and principal payments from the
underlying assets. The market value of such securities generally is more
sensitive to changes in prepayment and interest rates than is the case with
traditional mortgage- and asset-backed securities, and in some cases such market
value may be extremely volatile. With respect to certain stripped securities,
such as interest-only ("IO") and principal-only ("PO") classes, a rate of
prepayment that is faster or slower than anticipated may result in the Fund
failing to recover all or a portion of its investment, even though the
securities are rated investment-grade.
 
SMALL COMPANIES
 
   The Fund may, from time to time, invest a substantial portion of its assets
in small companies. While smaller companies generally have potential for rapid
growth, investments in smaller companies often involve greater risks than
investments in larger, more established companies because smaller companies may
lack the management experience, financial resources, product diversification,
and competitive strengths of larger companies. In addition, in many instances
the securities of smaller companies are traded only over-the-counter or on a
regional securities exchange, and the frequency and volume of their trading is
substantially less than is typical of larger companies. Therefore, the
securities of smaller companies may be subject to greater and more abrupt price
fluctuations. When making large sales, the Fund may have to sell portfolio
holdings at discounts from quoted prices or may have to make a series of small
sales over an extended period of time due to the trading volume of smaller
company securities. Investors should be aware that, based on the foregoing
factors, an investment in the Fund may be subject to greater price fluctuations
than an investment in a fund that invests primarily in larger, more established
companies. The Advisor's research efforts may also play a greater role in
selecting securities for the Fund than in a fund that invests in larger, more
established companies.
 
ILLIQUID SECURITIES
 
   The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.
Illiquid securities are those securities that are not readily marketable,
including
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 12
<PAGE>   42
 
restricted securities and repurchase obligations maturing in more than
seven days. Certain restricted securities that may be resold to institutional
investors under Rule 144A under the Securities Act and Section 4(2) commercial
paper may be determined to be liquid under guidelines adopted by the
Corporation's Board of Directors.
 
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
 
   The annual portfolio turnover rate indicates changes in the Fund's
investments and may also be affected by sales of portfolio securities necessary
to meet cash requirements for redemption of shares. The turnover rate may vary
from year to year, as well as within a year. High turnover in any year will
result in the payment by the Fund of above-average transaction costs. The Fund
has a wide investment scope and an active management investment policy. The
Fund's portfolio turnover rate may be as much as 400% or more. This rate should
not be considered as a limiting factor. The Fund may engage in substantial
short-term trading, which involves significant risk and may be deemed
speculative. Such trading will result in a higher portfolio turnover rate and
correspondingly higher brokerage costs.
 
                             SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
 
   The Fund is designed as an investment vehicle for variable annuity and
variable life insurance contracts funded by separate accounts of certain
insurance companies. Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code") and the regulations thereunder impose certain
diversification standards on the investments underlying variable annuity and
variable life insurance contracts in order for such contracts to be treated for
tax purposes as annuities or life insurance. Section 817(h) of the Code provides
that a variable annuity and variable life insurance contract based on a separate
account shall not be treated as an annuity or life insurance contract for any
period (and any subsequent period) for which the account's investments are not
adequately diversified. These diversification requirements are in addition to
the diversification requirements applicable to the Fund under Subchapter M of
the Code and the 1940 Act and may affect the composition of the Fund's
investments.
   Since the shares of the Fund are currently sold to segregated asset accounts
underlying such variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts, the Fund
intends to comply with the diversification requirements as set forth in the
regulations. The Secretary of the Treasury may in the future issue additional
regulations or revenue rulings that may prescribe the circumstances in which a
contract owner's control of the investments of a separate account may cause the
contract owner, rather than the insurance company, to be treated as the owner of
assets of the separate account. Failure to comply with Section 817(h) of the
Code or any regulation thereunder, or with any future
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 13
<PAGE>   43
 
regulations or revenue rulings on contract owner control, would cause earnings
regarding a contract owner's interest in an insurance company's separate account
to be includible in the contract owner's gross income in the year earned. Such
standards may apply only prospectively, although retroactive application is
possible. In the event that any such regulations or revenue rulings are adopted,
the Fund may not be able to continue to operate as currently described in this
prospectus, or maintain its investment program.
   The Fund will be managed in such a manner as to comply with the requirements
of Subchapter L of the Code. It is possible that in order to comply with such
requirements, less desirable investment decisions may be made which would affect
the investment performance of the Fund.
   The Fund may sell its shares to the separate accounts of various insurance
companies, which are not affiliated with each other, for the purpose of funding
variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts. The Fund currently does
not foresee any disadvantages to contract owners arising out of the fact that it
offers its shares to separate accounts of various insurance companies, which are
not affiliated with each other, to serve as an investment medium for their
variable products. However, it is theoretically possible that the interests of
owners of various contracts participating in the Fund through the separate
accounts might at some time be in conflict. The Board of Directors of the
Corporation, however, will monitor events in order to identify any material
irreconcilable conflicts which may possibly arise and to determine what action,
if any, should be taken in response to such conflicts. If such a conflict were
to occur, one or more insurance companies' separate accounts might be required
to withdraw its investments in the Fund, and shares of another Fund may be
substituted. This might force the Fund to sell securities at disadvantageous
prices. In addition, the Board of Directors may refuse to sell Fund shares to
any separate account or may suspend or terminate the offering of Fund shares if
such action is required by law or regulatory authority or is in the best
interest of the shareholders of the Fund.
 
                                   MANAGEMENT
 
   The Board of Directors of the Corporation is responsible for managing the
Fund's business and affairs. The Fund has entered into an investment advisory
agreement (an "Advisory Agreement") with the Advisor. Under the terms of the
Advisory Agreement, the Advisor manages the Fund's investments and business
affairs, subject to the supervision of the Board of Directors.
   
   The Advisor began conducting business in 1974. Since then, its principal
business has been providing continuous investment supervision for mutual funds,
individuals, and institutional accounts, such as pension funds and profit-
sharing plans. As of June 30, 1995, the Advisor had approximately $13 billion
under management. The Advisor's principal mailing address is P.O. Box 2936,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201. Mr. Richard S. Strong, the Chairman of the Board of
the Corporation, is the controlling shareholder of the Advisor.
    
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 14
<PAGE>   44
 
   
   As compensation for its services, the Fund pays the Advisor a monthly
management fee. The annual fee is .85% of the Fund's average daily net assets up
to $35,000,000 and .80% of the Fund's average daily net assets in excess of
$35,000,000. Under the terms of the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor provides
office space and all necessary office facilities, equipment, and personnel for
servicing the investments of the Fund. From time to time, the Advisor may
voluntarily waive all or a portion of its management fee and/or absorb certain
expenses for the Fund without further notification of the commencement or
termination of any such waiver or absorption. Any such waiver or absorption will
have the effect of lowering the overall expense ratio of the Fund and increasing
the Fund's return to investors at the time such amounts were waived and/or
absorbed.
    
   Except for expenses voluntarily absorbed by the Advisor or the distributor,
the Fund is responsible for all its other expenses, including, without
limitation, interest charges, taxes, brokerage commissions and similar expenses;
expenses of issue, sale, repurchase or redemption of shares; expenses of
registering or qualifying shares for sale with the states and the SEC; expenses
for printing and distribution costs of prospectuses to existing shareholders;
charges of custodians (including fees as custodian for keeping books and similar
services for the Fund), transfer agents (including the printing and mailing of
reports and notices to shareholders), registrars, auditing, and legal services
and clerical services related to recordkeeping and shareholder relations;
printing of stock certificates; fees for directors who are not "interested
persons" of the Advisor; expenses of indemnification; extraordinary expenses;
and costs of shareholder and director meetings.
 
   PORTFOLIO MANAGERS. The following individuals serve as portfolio managers for
the Fund.
 
   BRADLEY C. TANK. Mr. Tank leads the Fund's investment team and allocates the
Fund's assets among equities, bonds, and short-term fixed income securities. In
addition, Mr. Tank co-manages the Fund's bond component. Before joining the
Advisor in June 1990, he spent eight years at Salomon Brothers, Inc., where he
was a fixed income specialist and, for the last six years, a vice president. Mr.
Tank received his B.A. in 1980 from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and
his M.B.A. in 1982 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he also
completed the Applied Securities Analysis Program. Mr. Tank co-managed the Fund
since its inception in June 1995. In addition to his Fund duties, Mr. Tank
chairs the Advisor's Fixed Income Investment Committee.
 
Equity Component
 
   ANTHONY L.T. CRAGG. Mr. Cragg co-manages the equity component of the Fund.
Mr. Cragg joined the Advisor in April 1993 to develop the Advisor's
international investment activities. During the prior seven years, he helped
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 15
<PAGE>   45
 
establish Dillon, Read International Asset Management, where he was in charge of
Japanese, Asian, and Australian investments. A graduate of Christ Church, Oxford
University, Mr. Cragg began his investment career as an international investment
manager in 1980 at Gartmore, Ltd., where his tenure included assignments in
London, Hong Kong, and Tokyo. He has co-managed the Fund since its inception in
June 1995.
   RONALD C. OGNAR. Mr. Ognar co-manages the equity component of the Fund. Mr.
Ognar, a Chartered Financial Analyst with more than 25 years of investment
experience, joined the Advisor in April 1993 after two years as a principal and
portfolio manager with RCM Capital Management. For approximately three years
prior to that, he was a portfolio manager at Kemper Financial Services in
Chicago. Mr. Ognar began his investment career in 1968 at LaSalle National Bank
in Chicago after serving two years in the U.S. Army. He received his bachelor's
degree in accounting from the University of Illinois in 1968. Mr. Ognar has
co-managed the Fund since its inception in June 1995.
   RICHARD S. STRONG. Mr. Strong co-manages the equity component of the Fund.
Mr. Strong founded the Advisor in 1974. He began his investment career at
Employers Insurance of Wausau in 1966, after receiving his master's degree in
finance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison that January. He received his
undergraduate degree in 1963 from Baldwin-Wallace College. Mr. Strong has
co-managed the Fund since its inception in June 1995. In addition to his role as
co-portfolio manager, he is currently the Chairman of the Board, Director, Chief
Investment Officer, and a member of the Advisor's Executive Committee.
   RICHARD T. WEISS. Mr. Weiss co-manages the equity component of the Fund. Mr.
Weiss joined the Advisor in 1991 from Chicago-based Stein Roe & Farnham, where
he began his career as a research analyst in 1975. He was named a portfolio
manager in 1981. Mr. Weiss attended Harvard Graduate School of Business
Administration, where he was awarded his M.B.A. in 1975, and the University of
Southern California, where he received his bachelor's degree in business
administration in 1973. Mr. Weiss has co-managed the Fund since its inception in
June 1995. In addition, Mr. Weiss is a member of the Advisor's Executive
Committee.
 
Bond Component
 
   JEFFREY A. KOCH. Mr. Koch co-manages the bond component of the Fund. Mr. Koch
joined the Advisor as a portfolio manager and securities analyst in June 1989.
For a brief period prior to that, he was a market-maker clerk at Fossett
Corporation, a clearing firm. Mr. Koch earned his M.B.A. in Finance at
Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri in 1989. His undergraduate degree,
awarded in 1987, is from the University of Minnesota-Morris. Mr. Koch is also a
Chartered Financial Analyst. Mr. Koch has co-managed the bond component of the
Fund since its inception in June 1995.
   SHIRISH T. MALEKAR. Mr. Malekar co-manages the bond component of the Fund.
Mr. Malekar joined the Advisor in 1994. He was an international bond
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 16
<PAGE>   46
 
portfolio manager at Pacific Investment Management Company in California
for the previous three years. Prior to that, he was a bond trader at Harris Bank
in Chicago for one year and a bond trader at PaineWebber Incorporated in New
York and Tokyo for more than two years. He has an M.S. in Management from the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, an M.S. in Petroleum Engineering from the
University of Pittsburgh, and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University
of Bombay, India. Mr. Malekar has co-managed the bond component of the Fund
since its inception in June 1995.
 
Short-Term Component
 
   JAY N. MUELLER. Mr. Mueller manages the Fund's short-term component. Mr.
Mueller joined the Advisor in September 1991 as a securities analyst and
portfolio manager. For four years prior to that, he was a securities analyst and
portfolio manager with R. Meeder & Associates of Dublin, Ohio. Mr. Mueller
received his bachelor's degree in economics in 1982 from the University of
Chicago. Mr. Mueller is also a Chartered Financial Analyst. Mr. Mueller has
managed the short-term component of the Fund since its inception in June 1995.
 
                             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
   HOW TO INVEST. Investments in the Fund may only be made by separate accounts
established and maintained by insurance companies for purposes of funding
variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts. For instructions on how
to direct a separate account to purchase shares in the Fund, please refer to the
prospectus of the insurance company's separate account. The Fund does not impose
any sales charge or 12b-1 fee. Certain sales charges may apply to the variable
annuity or variable life insurance contract, which should be described in the
prospectus of the insurance company's separate account. The Fund may decline to
accept a purchase order upon receipt when, in the judgment of the Advisor, it
would not be in the best interest of the existing shareholders to accept the
order. Shares of the Fund will be sold at the net asset value next determined
after receipt by the Fund of a purchase order in proper form placed by an
insurance company investing in the Fund. Certificates for shares in the Fund
will not be issued.
 
   CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE. The net asset value ("NAV") per share for the
Fund is determined as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange
(the "Exchange"), currently 3:00 p.m. Central Time, on days the Exchange is open
for business. The net asset value will not be determined for the Fund on days
during which the Fund receives no orders to purchase shares and no shares are
tendered for redemption. The Fund's NAV is calculated by taking the fair value
of the Fund's total assets, subtracting all its
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 17
<PAGE>   47
 
liabilities, and dividing by the total number of shares outstanding. Expenses
are accrued daily and applied when determining the net asset value.
   The Fund's portfolio securities are valued based on market quotations or at
fair value as determined by the method selected by the Fund's Board of
Directors. Equity securities traded on a national securities exchange or NASDAQ
are valued at the last sales price on the national securities exchange or NASDAQ
on which such securities are primarily traded. Securities traded on NASDAQ for
which there were no transactions on a given day or securities not listed on an
exchange or NASDAQ are valued at the average of the most recent bid and asked
prices. Other exchange traded securities (generally foreign securities) will be
valued based on market quotations. Debt securities are valued by a pricing
service that utilizes electronic data processing techniques to determine values
for normal institutional-sized trading units of debt securities without regard
to sale or bid prices when such values are believed to more accurately reflect
the fair market value for such securities. Otherwise, sale or bid prices are
used. Any securities or other assets for which market quotations are not readily
available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors. Debt securities having remaining maturities of 60 days or less when
purchased are valued by the amortized cost method when the Board of Directors
determines that the fair value of such securities is their amortized cost. Under
this method of valuation, a security is initially valued at its acquisition
cost, and thereafter, amortization of any discount or premium is assumed each
day, regardless of the impact of the fluctuating rates on the market value of
the instrument.
   Securities quoted in foreign currency are valued daily in U.S. dollars at the
foreign currency exchange rates that are prevailing at the time the daily net
asset value per share is determined. Although the Fund values its foreign assets
in U.S. dollars on a daily basis, the Fund does not intend to convert its
holdings of foreign currencies into U.S. dollars on a daily basis. Foreign
currency exchange rates are generally determined prior to the close of trading
on the Exchange. Occasionally, events affecting the value of foreign investments
and such exchange rates occur between the time at which they are determined and
the close of trading on the Exchange. Such events would not normally be
reflected in a calculation of the Fund's net asset value on that day. If events
that materially affect the value of the Fund's foreign investments or the
foreign currency exchange rates occur during such period, the investments will
be valued at their fair value as determined in good faith by or under the
direction of the Board of Directors.
 
   HOW TO REDEEM SHARES. Shares of the Fund may be redeemed on any business day.
The price received upon redemption will be the net asset value next determined
after the redemption request in proper form is received by the Fund. (See
"Calculation of Net Asset Value.") Contract owners should refer to the
withdrawal or surrender instructions in the prospectus of the separate account
for instructions on how to redeem shares. Once the redemption
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 18
<PAGE>   48
 
request is received in proper form, the Fund will ordinarily forward payment to
the separate account no later than seven days after receipt.
   The right of redemption may be suspended during any period in which: (i)
trading on the Exchange is restricted, as determined by the SEC, or the Exchange
is closed for other than weekends and holidays; (ii) the SEC has permitted such
suspension by order; or (iii) an emergency, as determined by the SEC, exists
which makes disposal of portfolio securities or valuation of net assets of the
Fund not reasonably practicable.
 
   DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES. The policy of the Fund is to pay dividends to the
insurance company's separate accounts from net investment income quarterly and
to distribute substantially all net realized capital gains, after using any
available capital loss carryovers, annually. All dividends and capital gain
distributions paid to the insurance company's separate accounts will be
automatically reinvested in additional Fund shares.
   
   The Fund intends to qualify for treatment as a Regulated Investment Company
or "RIC" under Subchapter M of the Code and, if so qualified, will not be liable
for federal income tax on earnings and gains distributed to its shareholders in
a timely manner. If the Fund does not so qualify, however, it would be treated
for tax purposes as an ordinary corporation and would receive no tax deduction
for distributions made to its shareholders. For more information regarding tax
implications for owners of variable annuity or variable life insurance contracts
investing in the Fund, please refer to the prospectus of your insurance
company's separate account. See "Special Considerations" for a discussion of
special tax considerations relating to the Fund's compliance with Subchapter L
of the Code, as an investment vehicle for variable annuity and variable life
insurance contracts of certain insurance companies.
    
   This section is not intended to be a full discussion of present or proposed
federal income tax law and its effect on the Fund and investors. (See the SAI
for a further discussion.) Investors are urged to consult their own tax advisor.
 
   
   ORGANIZATION. The Fund is a series of Common Stock of the Corporation, which
is a Wisconsin corporation. The Corporation is authorized to issue shares of
Common Stock and series and classes of series of shares of Common Stock. All
holders of shares of the Corporation would vote on each matter presented to
shareholders for action except with respect to any matter which affects only one
or more series or classes, in which case only the shares of the affected series
or class shall be entitled to vote.
    
   
   All shares participate equally in dividends and other capital gains
distributions by the Fund and in the residual assets of the Fund in the event of
liquidation. Generally, the Corporation will not hold an annual meeting of
shareholders unless required by the 1940 Act. Shareholders have certain rights,
including the right to call a meeting upon a vote of 10% of the Corporation's
outstanding shares for the purpose of voting to remove one or more directors or
to transact any other business.
    
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 19
<PAGE>   49
 
   The insurance company separate accounts, as the record shareholders in the
Fund, have the right to vote on matters submitted for a shareholder vote. Under
current interpretations of the 1940 Act, these insurance companies must solicit
voting instructions from contract owners and vote Fund shares in accordance with
the instructions received or, for Fund shares for which no voting instructions
were received, in the same proportion as those Fund shares for which
instructions were received. Contract owners should refer to the prospectus of
the insurance company's separate account for a complete description of their
voting rights.
 
   
   TRANSFER AGENT, DIVIDEND-DISBURSING AGENT, AND DISTRIBUTOR. The Advisor, P.O.
Box 2936, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201, acts as transfer agent and
dividend-disbursing agent for the Fund. Strong Funds Distributors, Inc., P.O.
Box 2936, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201, an indirect subsidiary of the Advisor,
acts as distributor of the shares of the Fund.
    
 
   PERFORMANCE INFORMATION. The Fund may advertise "average annual total
return," "total return," and "cumulative total return." Each of these figures is
based upon historical results and does not represent the future performance of
the Fund. Average annual total return and total return figures measure both the
net investment income generated by, and the effect of any realized and
unrealized appreciation or depreciation of, the underlying investments in the
Fund assuming the reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. Total return
figures are not annualized and simply represent the aggregate change of the
Fund's investments over a specified period of time.
   The Fund's shares are sold at the net asset value per share of the Fund.
Returns and net asset value will fluctuate. Shares of the Fund are redeemable by
the separate accounts of insurance companies at the then current net asset value
per share for the Fund, which may be more or less than the original cost. TOTAL
RETURNS CONTAINED IN ADVERTISEMENTS INCLUDE THE EFFECT OF DEDUCTING THE FUND'S
EXPENSES, BUT MAY NOT INCLUDE CHARGES AND EXPENSES ATTRIBUTABLE TO ANY
PARTICULAR INSURANCE PRODUCT. SINCE SHARES MAY ONLY BE PURCHASED BY THE SEPARATE
ACCOUNTS OF CERTAIN INSURANCE COMPANIES, CONTRACT OWNERS SHOULD CAREFULLY REVIEW
THE PROSPECTUS OF THE SEPARATE ACCOUNT FOR INFORMATION ON FEES AND EXPENSES.
Excluding such fees and expenses from the Fund's total return quotations has the
effect of increasing the performance quoted. The Fund will not use information
concerning its investment performance in advertisements or sales materials
unless appropriate information concerning the relevant separate account is also
included. Additional information concerning the Fund's performance appears in
the SAI.
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 20
<PAGE>   50
 
                                   APPENDIX A
 
RATINGS OF DEBT OBLIGATIONS:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                 Moody's          Standard &         Fitch
                 Investors        Poor's Ratings     Investors
                 Service, Inc.    Group              Service, Inc.    Definition
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>              <C>              <C>                <C>              <C>
LONG-TERM        Aaa              AAA                AAA              Highest quality
                 Aa               AA                 AA               High quality
                 A                A                  A                Upper medium grade
                 Baa              BBB                BBB              Medium grade
                 Ba               BB                 BB               Low grade
                 B                B                  B                Speculative
                 Caa, Ca, C       CCC, CC, C         CCC, CC, C       Submarginal
                 D                D                  DDD, DD, D       Probably in default
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
               Moody's                       S&P                          Fitch
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>           <C>          <C>              <C>     <C>                   <C>     <C>
SHORT-TERM    MIG1/VMIG1   Best quality     SP-+    Very strong quality    F-1+   Exceptionally strong
                                                                                  quality
              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              MIG2/VMIG2   High quality     SP-1    Strong quality         F-1    Very strong quality
              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              MIG3/VMIG3   Favorable        SP-2    Satisfactory grade     F-2    Good credit quality
                           quality
              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              MIG4/VMIG4   Adequate                                        F-3    Fair credit quality
                           quality
              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              SG           Speculative      SP-3    Speculative grade      F-S    Weak credit quality
                           grade
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMERCIAL    P-1 Superior quality          A-1+    Extremely strong       F-1+   Exceptionally strong
PAPER                                               quality                       quality
              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            A-1     Strong quality         F-1    Very strong quality
              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              P-2 Strong quality            A-2     Satisfactory quality   F-2    Good credit quality
              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              P-3 Acceptable quality        A-3     Adequate quality       F-3    Fair credit quality
              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            B       Speculative quality    F-S    Weak credit quality
              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Not Prime                     C       Doubtful quality       D      Default
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
                             ----------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE A-1
<PAGE>   51
 
   
                              DATED JULY 14, 1995
    
 
                      STRONG GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND II
 
   Strong Government Securities Fund II (the "Fund") is a diversified series of
the Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc. (the "Corporation"), an open-end
management investment company, commonly called a mutual fund. The Fund seeks
total return by investing for a high level of current income with a moderate
degree of share-price fluctuation. The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its
total assets in U.S. government securities.
 
   Shares of the Fund are only offered and sold to the separate accounts of
certain insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable annuity and
variable life insurance contracts. This Prospectus should be read together with
the prospectus of the separate account of the specific insurance product which
preceded or accompanies this Prospectus.
 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAP-
 PROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE SECU-
 RITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURI-
 TIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR
 ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO
 THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
   This Prospectus contains information that you should consider before you
invest. Please read it carefully and keep it for future reference. A Statement
of Additional Information for the Fund, dated July 14, 1995, contains further
information, is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus, and has been
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). This Statement, which
may be revised from time to time, is available upon request and without charge
    
by writing to the Fund at P.O. Box 2936, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201.
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 1
<PAGE>   52
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
         <S>                                      <C>
         THE FUND.................................    2
         INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES........    3
         FUNDAMENTALS OF FIXED INCOME INVESTING...    3
         IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICIES AND RISKS.....    5
         SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS...................   12
         MANAGEMENT...............................   13
         ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...................   14
         APPENDIX A...............................  A-1
</TABLE>
 
   No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any
representations other than those contained in this Prospectus and the Statement
of Additional Information and, if given or made, such information or
representations may not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Fund.
This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell securities to any person in
any state or jurisdiction in which such offering may not lawfully be made.
 
                                    THE FUND
 
   
   The Fund is a diversified series of the Corporation, which is an open-end
management investment company. The Fund offers and sells its shares only to
separate accounts of insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable
annuity and variable life insurance contracts. The Fund does not impose any
sales or redemption charges. Strong Capital Management, Inc. (the "Advisor") is
the investment advisor for the Fund.
    
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 2
<PAGE>   53
 
                       INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
 
   The Fund has adopted certain fundamental investment restrictions that are set
forth in the Fund's Statement of Additional Information ("SAI"). Those
restrictions, the Fund's investment objective and any other investment policies
identified as "fundamental" cannot be changed without shareholder approval. To
further guide investment activities, the Fund has also instituted a number of
non-fundamental operating policies, which are described throughout this
Prospectus and in the SAI. Although these additional policies may be changed by
the Corporation's Board of Directors without shareholder approval, the Fund will
promptly notify shareholders of any material change in operating policies.
   The Fund seeks total return by investing for a high level of current income
with a moderate degree of share-price fluctuation.
   The Fund is designed for long-term investors who want to pursue higher income
than shorter-term securities generally provide, who are willing to accept the
fluctuation in principal associated with longer-term securities, and who seek
the low credit risk that U.S. government securities generally carry.
   Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund's total assets will
be invested in U.S. government securities. The balance of the Fund's assets may
be invested in other investment-grade debt obligations. While there are no
maturity restrictions on the portfolio, it is anticipated that the Fund's
average portfolio maturity will normally be between 5 and 10 years. When the
Advisor determines market conditions warrant a temporary defensive position, the
Fund may invest without limitation in cash and short-term fixed income
securities.
 
                                FUNDAMENTALS OF
                             FIXED INCOME INVESTING
 
   The Fund may invest in a wide variety of debt obligations and other
securities. See "Implementation of Policies and Risks - Debt Obligations."
   Issuers of debt obligations have a contractual obligation to pay interest at
a specified rate ("coupon rate") on specified dates and to repay principal
("face value" or "par value") on a specified maturity date. Certain debt
obligations (usually intermediate- and long-term obligations) have provisions
that allow the issuer to redeem or "call" the obligation before its maturity.
Issuers are most likely to call such debt obligations during periods of falling
interest rates. As a result, the Fund may be required to invest the
unanticipated proceeds of the called obligations at lower interest rates, which
may cause the Fund's income to decline.
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 3
<PAGE>   54
 
   Although the net asset value of the Fund is expected to fluctuate, the
Advisor actively manages the Fund's portfolio and adjusts its average portfolio
maturity according to the Advisor's interest rate outlook while seeking to avoid
or reduce, to the extent possible, any negative changes in net asset value.
 
PRICE VOLATILITY
 
   The market value of debt obligations is affected by changes in prevailing
interest rates. The market value of a debt obligation generally reacts inversely
to interest-rate changes, meaning, when prevailing interest rates decline, an
obligation's price usually rises, and when prevailing interest rates rise, an
obligation's price usually declines. A fund portfolio consisting primarily of
debt obligations will react similarly to changes in interest rates.
 
MATURITY
 
   In general, the longer the maturity of a debt obligation, the higher its
yield and the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Conversely,
the shorter the maturity, the lower the yield but the greater the price
stability. Commercial paper is generally considered the shortest form of debt
obligation. Notes, whose original maturities are two years or less, are
considered short-term obligations. The term "bond" generally refers to
securities with maturities longer than two years. Bonds with maturities of three
years or less are considered short-term, bonds with maturities between three and
seven years are considered intermediate-term, and bonds with maturities greater
than seven years are considered long-term.
   The Fund's average portfolio maturity represents an average based on the
actual stated maturity dates of the debt securities in the Fund's portfolio,
except that (i) variable-rate securities are deemed to mature at the next
interest-rate adjustment date, (ii) debt securities with put features are deemed
to mature at the next put-exercise date, (iii) the maturity of mortgage-backed
securities is determined on an "expected life" basis, and (iv) securities being
hedged with futures contracts may be deemed to have a longer maturity, in the
case of purchases of futures contracts, and a shorter maturity, in the case of
sales of futures contracts, than they would otherwise be deemed to have.
 
CREDIT QUALITY
 
   The values of debt obligations may also be affected by changes in the credit
rating or financial condition of their issuers. Generally, the lower the quality
rating of an obligation, the higher the degree of risk as to the payment of
interest and return of principal. To compensate investors for taking on such
increased risk, those issuers deemed to be less creditworthy generally must
offer their investors higher interest rates than do issuers with better credit
ratings.
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 4
<PAGE>   55
 
   In conducting its credit research and analysis, the Advisor considers both
qualitative and quantitative factors to evaluate the creditworthiness of
individual issuers. The Advisor also relies, in part, on credit ratings compiled
by a number of NRSROs. "Appendix A - Ratings of Debt Obligations" presents the
ratings of three well-known such organizations: S&P, Moody's Investors Services,
Inc., and Fitch Investors Service, Inc.
 
   INVESTMENT-GRADE DEBT OBLIGATIONS. Debt obligations rated in the highest-
through the medium-quality categories are commonly referred to as
"investment-grade" debt obligations and include the following:
 
- - U.S. government securities (See "Implementation of Policies and Risks - Debt
  Obligations" below);
- - bonds or bank obligations rated in one of the four highest rating categories
  (e.g., BBB or higher by S&P);
- - short-term notes rated in one of the two highest rating categories (e.g., SP-2
  or higher by S&P);
- - short-term bank obligations that are rated in one of the three highest
  categories by any NRSRO (e.g., A-3 or higher by S&P), with respect to
  obligations maturing in one year or less;
- - commercial paper rated in one of the three highest rating categories (e.g.,
  A-3 or higher by S&P);
- - unrated debt obligations determined by the Advisor to be of comparable
  quality; and
- - repurchase agreements involving investment-grade debt obligations.
 
   Investment-grade debt obligations are generally believed to have relatively
low degrees of credit risk. However, medium-quality debt obligations, while
considered investment-grade, may have some speculative characteristics, since
their issuers' capacity for repayment may be more vulnerable to adverse economic
conditions or changing circumstances than that of higher-rated issuers.
   All ratings are determined at the time of investment. Any subsequent rating
downgrade of a debt obligation will be monitored by the Advisor to consider what
action, if any, the Fund should take consistent with its investment objective.
 
                      IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICIES AND RISKS
 
   In addition to the Fund's investment policies described above (and subject to
certain restrictions described herein), the Fund may invest in some or all of
the following securities and employ some or all of the following investment
techniques, some of which may present special risks as described below. The Fund
may also engage in reverse repurchase agreements and mortgage dollar
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 5
<PAGE>   56
 
roll transactions. A more complete discussion of these securities and investment
techniques and their associated risks is contained in the Fund's SAI.
 
DEBT OBLIGATIONS
 
   The Fund may invest in any debt obligations. The Fund's authority to invest
in certain types of debt obligations may be restricted or subject to objective
investment criteria. For additional information on these restrictions, see
"Investment Objective and Policies."
 
   TYPES OF OBLIGATIONS. Debt obligations include (i) corporate debt securities,
including bonds, debentures, and notes; (ii) bank obligations, such as
certificates of deposit, banker's acceptances, and time deposits of domestic and
foreign banks and their subsidiaries and branches, and domestic savings and loan
associations (in amounts in excess of the insurance coverage (currently $100,000
per account) provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation); (iii)
commercial paper (including variable-amount master demand notes); (iv)
repurchase agreements; (v) loan interests; (vi) convertible securities - debt
obligations of corporations convertible into or exchangeable for equity
securities or debt obligations that carry with them the right to acquire equity
securities, as evidenced by warrants attached to such securities, or acquired as
part of units of the securities; (vii) preferred stocks - securities that
represent an ownership interest in a corporation and that give the owner a prior
claim over common stock on the company's earnings or assets; (viii) U.S.
government securities; (ix) mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage
obligations, and similar securities; and (x) municipal obligations.
 
   GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. U.S. government securities are issued or guaranteed by
the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. Securities issued by
the government include U.S. Treasury obligations, such as Treasury bills, notes,
and bonds. Securities issued or guaranteed by government agencies or
instrumentalities include the following:
 
- - the Federal Housing Administration, Farmers Home Administration, Export-Import
  Bank of the United States, Small Business Administration, and the Government
  National Mortgage Association, including GNMA pass-through certificates, whose
  securities are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States;
- - the Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, and the
  Tennessee Valley Authority, whose securities are supported by the right of the
  agency to borrow from the U.S. Treasury;
- - the Federal National Mortgage Association, whose securities are supported by
  the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain
  obligations of the agency or instrumentality; and
- - the Student Loan Marketing Association, the Interamerican Development Bank,
  and International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, whose securities
  are supported only by the credit of such agencies.
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 6
<PAGE>   57
 
   Although the U.S. government provides financial support to such U.S.
government-sponsored agencies or instrumentalities, no assurance can be given
that it will always do so. The U.S. government and its agencies and
instrumentalities do not guarantee the market value of their securities;
consequently, the value of such securities will fluctuate.
 
   MORTGAGE- AND ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES. Mortgage-backed securities represent
direct or indirect participation in, or are secured by and payable from,
mortgage loans secured by real property, and include single- and multi-class
pass-through securities and collateralized mortgage obligations. Such securities
may be issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities or
by private issuers, generally originators in mortgage loans, including savings
associations, mortgage bankers, commercial banks, investment bankers, and
special purpose entities (collectively, "private lenders"). Mortgage-backed
securities issued by private lenders may be supported by pools of mortgage loans
or other mortgage-backed securities that are guaranteed, directly or indirectly,
by the U.S. government or one of its agencies or instrumentalities, or they may
be issued without any governmental guarantee of the underlying mortgage assets
but with some form of non-governmental credit enhancement.
   Asset-backed securities have structural characteristics similar to mortgage-
backed securities. However, the underlying assets are not first-lien mortgage
loans or interests therein; rather they include assets such as motor vehicle
installment sales contracts, other installment loan contracts, home equity
loans, leases of various types of property and receivables from credit card or
other revolving credit arrangements. Payments or distributions of principal and
interest on asset-backed securities may be supported by non-governmental credit
enhancements similar to those utilized in connection with mortgage-backed
securities.
   The yield characteristics of mortgage- and asset-backed securities differ
from those of traditional debt obligations. Among the principal differences are
that interest and principal payments are made more frequently on mortgage-and
asset-backed securities, usually monthly, and that principal may be prepaid at
any time because the underlying mortgage loans or other assets generally may be
prepaid at any time. As a result, if the Fund purchases these securities at a
premium, a prepayment rate that is faster than expected will reduce yield to
maturity, while a prepayment rate that is slower than expected will have the
opposite effect of increasing the yield to maturity. Conversely, if the Fund
purchases these securities at a discount, a prepayment rate that is faster than
expected will increase yield to maturity, while a prepayment rate that is slower
than expected will reduce yield to maturity. Accelerated prepayments on
securities purchased by the Fund at a premium also impose a risk of loss of
principal because the premium may not have been fully amortized at the time the
principal is prepaid in full. The market for privately issued mortgage- and
asset-backed securities is smaller and less liquid than the market for
government sponsored mortgage-backed securities.
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 7
<PAGE>   58
 
   The Fund may invest in stripped mortgage- or asset-backed securities, which
receive differing proportions of the interest and principal payments from the
underlying assets. The market value of such securities generally is more
sensitive to changes in prepayment and interest rates than is the case with
traditional mortgage- and asset-backed securities, and in some cases the market
value may be extremely volatile. With respect to certain stripped securities,
such as interest-only ("IO") and principal-only ("PO") classes, a rate of
prepayment that is faster or slower than anticipated may result in the Fund
failing to recover all or a portion of its investment, even though the
securities are rated investment-grade.
 
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
 
   The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with certain banks and non-bank
dealers. In a repurchase agreement, the Fund buys a security at one price, and
at the time of sale, the seller agrees to repurchase the obligation at a
mutually agreed upon time and price (usually within seven days). The repurchase
agreement determines the yield during the purchaser's holding period, while the
seller's obligation to repurchase is secured by the value of the underlying
security. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with respect to any
security in which it may invest. The Advisor will monitor, on an ongoing basis,
the value of the underlying securities to ensure that the value always equals or
exceeds the repurchase price plus accrued interest. Repurchase agreements could
involve certain risks in the event of a default or insolvency of the other party
to the agreement, including possible delays or restrictions upon the Fund's
ability to dispose of the underlying securities. Although no definitive
creditworthiness criteria are used, the Advisor reviews the creditworthiness of
the banks and non-bank dealers with which the Fund enters into repurchase
agreements to evaluate those risks. The Fund may, under certain circumstances,
deem repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government securities to be
investments in U.S. government securities.
 
DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
 
   The Fund may use derivative instruments for any lawful purpose, including
hedging, risk management, or enhancing returns, but not for speculation.
Derivative instruments are securities or agreements whose value is derived from
the value of some underlying asset, for example, securities, reference indexes,
or commodities. Options, futures, and options on futures transactions are
considered derivative transactions. Derivatives generally have investment
characteristics that are based upon either forward contracts (under which one
party is obligated to buy and the other party is obligated to sell an underlying
asset at a specific price on a specified date) or option contracts (under which
the holder of the option has the right but not the obligation to buy or sell an
underlying asset at a specified price on or before a specified date).
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 8
<PAGE>   59
 
Consequently, the change in value of a forward-based derivative generally is
roughly proportional to the change in value of the underlying asset. In
contrast, the buyer of an option-based derivative generally will benefit from
favorable movements in the price of the underlying asset but is not exposed to
corresponding losses due to adverse movements in the value of the underlying
asset. The seller of an option-based derivative generally will receive fees or
premiums but generally is exposed to losses due to changes in the value of the
underlying asset. Derivative transactions may include elements of leverage and,
accordingly, the fluctuation of the value of the derivative transaction in
relation to the underlying asset may be magnified. In addition to options,
futures, and options on futures transactions, derivative transactions may
include short sales against the box, in which the Fund sells a security it owns
for delivery at a future date; swaps, in which the two parties agree to exchange
a series of cash flows in the future, such as interest-rate payments;
interest-rate caps, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to
make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates exceed a specified
rate, or "cap"; and interest-rate floors, under which, in return for a premium,
one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates
fall below a specified level, or "floor." Derivative transactions may also
include forward currency contracts and foreign currency exchange-related
securities.
   Derivative instruments may be exchange-traded or traded in over-the-counter
transactions between private parties. Over-the-counter transactions are subject
to the credit risk of the counterparty to the instrument and are less liquid
than exchange-traded derivatives since they often can only be closed out with
the other party to the transaction. When required by SEC guidelines, the Fund
will set aside permissible liquid assets or securities positions that
substantially correlate to the market movements of the derivatives transaction
in a segregated account to secure its obligations under derivative transactions.
In order to maintain its required cover for a derivative transaction, the Fund
may need to sell portfolio securities at disadvantageous prices or times since
it may not be possible to liquidate a derivative position.
   The successful use of derivative transactions by the Fund is dependent upon
the Advisor's ability to correctly anticipate trends in the underlying asset. To
the extent that the Fund is engaging in derivative transactions other than for
hedging purposes, the Fund's successful use of such transactions is more
dependent upon the Advisor's ability to correctly anticipate such trends, since
losses in these transactions may not be offset by gains in the Fund's portfolio
or by lower purchase prices for assets it intends to acquire. The Advisor's
prediction of trends in underlying assets may prove to be inaccurate, which
could result in substantial losses to the Fund. Hedging transactions are also
subject to risks. If the Advisor incorrectly anticipates trends in the
underlying asset, the Fund may be in a worse position than if no hedging had
occurred. In addition, there may be imperfect correlation between the Fund's
derivative transactions and the instruments being hedged.
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 9
<PAGE>   60
 
WHEN-ISSUED SECURITIES
 
   The Fund may invest without limitation in securities purchased on a when-
issued or delayed delivery basis. Although the payment and interest terms of
these securities are established at the time the purchaser enters into the
commitment, these securities may be delivered and paid for at a future date,
generally within 45 days. Purchasing when-issued securities allows the Fund to
lock in a fixed price or yield on a security it intends to purchase. However,
when the Fund purchases a when-issued security, it immediately assumes the risk
of ownership, including the risk of price fluctuation until the settlement date.
   The greater the Fund's outstanding commitments for these securities, the
greater the exposure to potential fluctuations in the net asset value of the
Fund. Purchasing when-issued securities may involve the additional risk that the
yield available in the market when the delivery occurs may be higher or the
market price lower than that obtained at the time of commitment. Although the
Fund may be able to sell these securities prior to the delivery date, it will
purchase when-issued securities for the purpose of actually acquiring the
securities, unless, after entering into the commitment, a sale appears desirable
for investment reasons. When required by SEC guidelines, the Fund will set aside
permissible liquid assets in a segregated account to secure its outstanding
commitments for when-issued securities.
 
ILLIQUID SECURITIES
 
   The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.
Illiquid securities are those securities that are not readily marketable,
including restricted securities and repurchase obligations maturing in more than
seven days. Certain restricted securities which may be resold to institutional
investors under Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 4(2)
commercial paper may be determined to be liquid under guidelines adopted by the
Corporation's Board of Directors.
 
ZERO-COUPON, STEP-COUPON, AND PAY-IN-KIND SECURITIES
 
   The Fund may invest without limitation in zero-coupon, step-coupon, and
pay-in-kind securities. These securities are debt securities that do not make
regular cash interest payments. Zero-coupon and step-coupon securities are sold
at a deep discount to their face value. Pay-in-kind securities pay interest
through the issuance of additional securities. Because such securities do not
pay current cash income, the price of these securities can be volatile when
interest rates fluctuate. While these securities do not pay current cash income,
federal income tax law requires the holders of zero-coupon, step-coupon, and
pay-in-kind securities to include in income each year the portion of the
original
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 10
<PAGE>   61
 
issue discount (or deemed discount) and other non-cash income on such
securities accruing that year.
 
MORTGAGE DOLLAR ROLLS AND
REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
 
   The Fund may engage in reverse repurchase agreements to facilitate portfolio
liquidity, a practice common in the mutual fund industry, or for arbitrage
transactions discussed below. In a reverse repurchase agreement, the Fund would
sell a security and enter into an agreement to repurchase the security at a
specified future date and price. The Fund generally retains the right to
interest and principal payments on the security. Since the Fund receives cash
upon entering into a reverse repurchase agreement, it may be considered a
borrowing. When required by SEC guidelines, the Fund will set aside permissible
liquid assets in a segregated account to secure its obligation to repurchase the
security.
   The Fund may also enter into mortgage dollar rolls, in which the Fund would
sell mortgage-backed securities for delivery in the current month and
simultaneously contract to purchase substantially similar securities on a
specified future date. While the Fund would forego principal and interest paid
on the mortgage-backed securities during the roll period, the Fund would be
compensated by the difference between the current sales price and the lower
price for the future purchase as well as by any interest earned on the proceeds
of the initial sale. The Fund also could be compensated through the receipt of
fee income equivalent to a lower forward price. When required by SEC guidelines,
the Fund would set aside permissible liquid assets in a segregated account to
secure its obligation for the forward commitment to buy mortgage-backed
securities. Mortgage dollar roll transactions may be considered a borrowing by
the Fund.
   The mortgage dollar rolls and reverse repurchase agreements entered into by
the Fund may be used as arbitrage transactions in which the Fund will maintain
an offsetting position in investment-grade debt obligations or repurchase
agreements that mature on or before the settlement date of the related mortgage
dollar roll or reverse repurchase agreement. Since the Fund will receive
interest on the securities or repurchase agreements in which it invests the
transaction proceeds, such transactions may involve leverage. However, since
such securities or repurchase agreements will be high quality and will mature on
or before the settlement date of the mortgage dollar roll or reverse repurchase
agreement, the Advisor believes that such arbitrage transactions do not present
the risks to the Fund that are associated with other types of leverage.
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 11
<PAGE>   62
 
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
 
   The annual portfolio turnover rate indicates changes in the Fund's
investments and may also be affected by sales of portfolio securities necessary
to meet cash requirements for redemption of shares. The turnover rate may vary
from year to year, as well as within a year. High turnover in any year will
result in the payment by the Fund of above average amounts of transaction costs.
The annual portfolio turnover rate for the Fund is expected to be between 200%
and 300%. However, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate may exceed 300% when the
Advisor believes the anticipated benefits of short-term investments outweigh any
increase in transaction costs. This rate should not be considered as a limiting
factor.
 
                             SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
 
   The Fund is designed as an investment vehicle for variable annuity and
variable life insurance contracts funded by separate accounts of certain
insurance companies. Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code") and the regulations thereunder impose certain
diversification standards on the investments underlying variable annuity and
variable life insurance contracts in order for such contracts to be treated for
tax purposes as annuities or life insurance. Section 817(h) of the Code provides
that a variable annuity and variable life insurance contract based on a separate
account shall not be treated as an annuity or life insurance contract for any
period (and any subsequent period) for which the account's investments are not
adequately diversified. These diversification requirements are in addition to
the diversification requirements applicable to the Fund under Subchapter M of
the Code and the 1940 Act and may affect the composition of the Fund's
investments.
   Since the shares of the Fund are currently sold to segregated asset accounts
underlying such variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts, the Fund
intends to comply with the diversification requirements as set forth in the
regulations. The Secretary of the Treasury may in the future issue additional
regulations or revenue rulings that may prescribe the circumstances in which a
contract owner's control of the investments of a separate account may cause the
contract owner, rather than the insurance company, to be treated as the owner of
assets of the separate account. Failure to comply with Section 817(h) of the
Code or any regulation thereunder, or with any future regulations or revenue
rulings on contract owner control, would cause earnings regarding a contract
owner's interest in an insurance company's separate account to be includible in
the contract owner's gross income in the year earned. Such standards may apply
only prospectively, although retroactive application is possible. In the event
that any such regulations or revenue
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 12
<PAGE>   63
 
rulings are adopted, the Fund may not be able to continue to operate as
currently described in this prospectus, or maintain its investment program.
   The Fund will be managed in such a manner as to comply with the requirements
of Subchapter L of the Code. It is possible that in order to comply with such
requirements, less desirable investment decisions may be made which would affect
the investment performance of the Fund.
   The Fund may sell its shares to the separate accounts of various insurance
companies, which are not affiliated with each other, for the purpose of funding
variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts. The Fund currently does
not foresee any disadvantages to contract owners arising out of the fact that it
offers its shares to separate accounts of various insurance companies, which are
not affiliated with each other, to serve as an investment medium for their
variable products. However, it is theoretically possible that the interests of
owners of various contracts participating in the Fund through the separate
accounts might at some time be in conflict. The Board of Directors of the
Corporation, however, will monitor events in order to identify any material
irreconcilable conflicts which may possibly arise and to determine what action,
if any, should be taken in response to such conflicts. If such a conflict were
to occur, one or more insurance companies' separate accounts might be required
to withdraw its investments in the Fund, and shares of another Fund may be
substituted. This might force the Fund to sell securities at disadvantageous
prices. In addition, the Board of Directors may refuse to sell Fund shares to
any separate account or may suspend or terminate the offering of Fund shares if
such action is required by law or regulatory authority or is in the best
interest of the shareholders of the Fund.
 
                                   MANAGEMENT
 
   The Board of Directors of the Corporation is responsible for managing the
Fund's business and affairs. The Fund has entered into an investment advisory
agreement (an "Advisory Agreement") with the Advisor. Under the terms of the
Advisory Agreement, the Advisor manages the Fund's investments and business
affairs, subject to the supervision of the Board of Directors.
   
   The Advisor began conducting business in 1974. Since then, its principal
business has been providing continuous investment supervision for mutual funds,
individuals, and institutional accounts, such as pension funds and profit-
sharing plans. As of June 30, 1995, the Advisor had approximately $13 billion
under management. The Advisor's principal mailing address is P.O. Box 2936,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201. Mr. Richard S. Strong, the Chairman of the Board of
the Corporation, is the controlling shareholder of the Advisor.
    
   
   As compensation for its services, the Fund pays the Advisor a monthly
management fee. The annual fee is .60% of the average daily net asset value of
the Fund. Under the terms of the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor provides office
space and all necessary office facilities, equipment, and personnel for
servicing the investments of the Fund. From time to time, the Advisor may
    
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 13
<PAGE>   64
 
voluntarily waive all or a portion of its management fee and/or absorb certain
expenses for the Fund without further notification of the commencement or
termination of any such waiver or absorption. Any such waiver or absorption will
have the effect of lowering the overall expense ratio of the Fund and increasing
the Fund's return to investors at the time such amounts were waived and/or
absorbed.
   Except for expenses voluntarily absorbed by the Advisor or the distributor,
the Fund is responsible for all its other expenses, including, without
limitation, interest charges, taxes, brokerage commissions and similar expenses;
expenses of issue, sale, repurchase or redemption of shares; expenses of
registering or qualifying shares for sale with the states and the SEC; expenses
for printing and distribution costs of prospectuses to existing shareholders;
charges of custodians (including fees as custodian for keeping books and similar
services for the Fund), transfer agents (including the printing and mailing of
reports and notices to shareholders), registrars, auditing, and legal services
and clerical services related to recordkeeping and shareholder relations;
printing of stock certificates; fees for directors who are not "interested
persons" of the Advisor; expenses of indemnification; extraordinary expenses;
and costs of shareholder and director meetings.
 
   PORTFOLIO MANAGER. Mr. Bradley C. Tank joined the Advisor in June 1990. Prior
to that, Mr. Tank spent eight years at Salomon Brothers, Inc., where he was a
fixed income specialist and, for the last six years, a vice president. Mr. Tank
received his B.A. in 1980 from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and his
M.B.A. in 1982 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he also completed
the Applied Securities Analysis Program. Mr. Tank has managed the Fund since its
inception in June 1995 and chairs the Advisor's Fixed Income Investment
Committee.
 
                             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
   HOW TO INVEST. Investments in the Fund may only be made by separate accounts
established and maintained by insurance companies for purposes of funding
variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts. For instructions on how
to direct a separate account to purchase shares in the Fund, please refer to the
prospectus of the insurance company's separate account. The Fund does not impose
any sales charge or 12b-1 fee. Certain sales charges may apply to the variable
annuity or variable life insurance contract, which should be described in the
prospectus of the insurance company's separate account. The Fund may decline to
accept a purchase order upon receipt when, in the judgment of the Advisor, it
would not be in the best interest of the existing shareholders to accept the
order. Shares of the Fund will be sold at the net asset value next determined
after receipt by the Fund of a purchase order in
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 14
<PAGE>   65
 
proper form placed by an insurance company investing in the Fund. Certificates
for shares in the Fund will not be issued.
 
   CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE. The net asset value ("NAV") per share for the
Fund is determined as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange
(the "Exchange"), currently 3:00 p.m. Central Time, on days the Exchange is open
for business. The net asset value will not be determined for the Fund on days
during which the Fund receives no orders to purchase shares and no shares are
tendered for redemption. The Fund's NAV is calculated by taking the fair value
of the Fund's total assets, subtracting all its liabilities, and dividing by the
total number of shares outstanding. Expenses are accrued and applied daily when
determining the net asset value.
   Debt securities are valued by a pricing service that utilizes electronic data
processing techniques to determine values for normal institutional size trading
units of debt securities without regard to the existence of sale or bid prices
when such values are believed to more accurately reflect the fair market value
of such securities. Otherwise, sale or bid prices are used. Any securities or
other assets for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at
fair value as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors. Debt
securities having remaining maturities of 60 days or less when purchased are
valued by the amortized cost method when the Board of Directors determines that
the fair value of such securities is their amortized cost.
 
   HOW TO REDEEM SHARES. Shares of the Fund may be redeemed on any business day.
The price received upon redemption will be the net asset value next determined
after the redemption request in proper form is received by the Fund. (See
"Calculation of Net Asset Value.") Contract owners should refer to the
withdrawal or surrender instructions in the prospectus of the separate account
for instructions on how to redeem shares. Once the redemption request is
received in proper form, the Fund will ordinarily forward payment to the
separate account no later than seven days after receipt.
   The right of redemption may be suspended during any period in which: (i)
trading on the Exchange is restricted, as determined by the SEC, or the Exchange
is closed for other than weekends and holidays; (ii) the SEC has permitted such
suspension by order; or (iii) an emergency, as determined by the SEC, exists
which makes disposal of portfolio securities or valuation of net assets of the
Fund not reasonably practicable.
 
   DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES. The policy of the Fund is to pay dividends to the
insurance company's separate accounts from net investment income monthly and to
distribute substantially all net realized capital gains, after using any
available capital loss carryovers, annually. All dividends and capital gain
distributions paid to the insurance company's separate accounts will be
automatically reinvested in additional Fund shares.
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 15
<PAGE>   66
 
   
   The Fund intends to qualify for treatment as a Regulated Investment Company
or "RIC" under Subchapter M of the Code and, if so qualified, will not be liable
for federal income tax on earnings and gains distributed to its shareholders in
a timely manner. If the Fund does not so qualify, however, it would be treated
for tax purposes as an ordinary corporation and would receive no tax deduction
for distributions made to its shareholders. For more information regarding tax
implications for owners of variable annuity or variable life insurance contracts
investing in the Fund, please refer to the prospectus of your insurance
company's separate account. See "Special Considerations" for a discussion of
special tax considerations relating to the Fund's compliance with Subchapter L
of the Code, as an investment vehicle for variable annuity and variable life
insurance contracts of certain insurance companies.
    
   This section is not intended to be a full discussion of present or proposed
federal income tax law and its effect on the Fund and investors. (See the SAI
for a further discussion.) Investors are urged to consult their own tax advisor.
 
   
   ORGANIZATION. The Fund is a series of Common Stock of the Corporation, which
is a Wisconsin corporation. The Corporation is authorized to issue shares of
Common Stock and series and classes of series of shares of Common Stock. All
holders of shares of the Corporation would vote on each matter presented to
shareholders for action except with respect to any matter which affects only one
or more series or classes, in which case only the shares of the affected series
or class shall be entitled to vote.
    
   
   All shares participate equally in dividends and other capital gains
distributions by the Fund and in the residual assets of the Fund in the event of
liquidation. Generally, the Corporation will not hold an annual meeting of
shareholders unless required by the 1940 Act. Shareholders have certain rights,
including the right to call a meeting upon a vote of 10% of the Corporation's
outstanding shares for the purpose of voting to remove one or more directors or
to transact any other business.
    
   The insurance company separate accounts, as the record shareholders in the
Fund, have the right to vote on matters submitted for a shareholder vote. Under
current interpretations of the 1940 Act, these insurance companies must solicit
voting instructions from contract owners and vote Fund shares in accordance with
the instructions received or, for Fund shares for which no voting instructions
were received, in the same proportion as those Fund shares for which
instructions were received. Contract owners should refer to the prospectus of
the insurance company's separate account for a complete description of their
voting rights.
 
   
   TRANSFER AGENT, DIVIDEND-DISBURSING AGENT, AND DISTRIBUTOR. The Advisor, P.O.
Box 2936, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201, acts as transfer agent and
dividend-disbursing agent for the Fund. Strong Funds Distributors, Inc., P.O.
Box 2936, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201, an indirect subsidiary of the Advisor,
acts as distributor of the shares of the Fund.
    
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 16
<PAGE>   67
 
   PERFORMANCE INFORMATION. The Fund may advertise "yield," "average annual
total return," "total return," and "cumulative total return." Each of these
figures is based upon historical results and does not represent the future
performance of the Fund.
   Yield is an annualized figure, which means that it is assumed that the Fund
generates the same level of net investment income over a one-year period. The
Fund's yield is a measure of the net investment income per share earned by the
Fund over a specific 30-day period and is shown as a percentage of the net asset
value of the Fund's shares at the end of the period.
   Average annual total return and total return figures measure both the net
investment income generated by, and the effect of any realized and unrealized
appreciation or depreciation of, the underlying investments in the Fund assuming
the reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. Total return figures are
not annualized and simply represent the aggregate change of the Fund's
investments over a specified period of time.
   The Fund's shares are sold at the net asset value per share of the Fund.
Returns and net asset value will fluctuate. Shares of the Fund are redeemable by
the separate accounts of insurance companies at the then current net asset value
per share for the Fund, which may be more or less than the original cost. TOTAL
RETURNS CONTAINED IN ADVERTISEMENTS INCLUDE THE EFFECT OF DEDUCTING THE FUND'S
EXPENSES, BUT MAY NOT INCLUDE CHARGES AND EXPENSES ATTRIBUTABLE TO ANY
PARTICULAR INSURANCE PRODUCT. SINCE SHARES MAY ONLY BE PURCHASED BY THE SEPARATE
ACCOUNTS OF CERTAIN INSURANCE COMPANIES, CONTRACT OWNERS SHOULD CAREFULLY REVIEW
THE PROSPECTUS OF THE SEPARATE ACCOUNT FOR INFORMATION ON FEES AND EXPENSES.
Excluding such fees and expenses from the Fund's total return quotations has the
effect of increasing the performance quoted. The Fund will not use information
concerning its investment performance in advertisements or sales materials
unless appropriate information concerning the relevant separate account is also
included. Additional information concerning the Fund's performance appears in
the SAI.
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 17
<PAGE>   68
 
                                   APPENDIX A
 
RATINGS OF DEBT OBLIGATIONS:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                             Moody's         Standard &           Fitch
                            Investors      Poor's Ratings       Investors
                          Service, Inc.         Group         Service, Inc.        Definition
           ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                       <C>              <C>                <C>              <C>
LONG-TERM                 Aaa              AAA                AAA              Highest quality
                          Aa               AA                 AA               High quality
                          A                A                  A                Upper medium grade
                          Baa              BBB                BBB              Medium grade
                          Ba               BB                 BB               Low grade
                          B                B                  B                Speculative
                          Caa, Ca, C       CCC, CC, C         CCC, CC, C       Submarginal
                          D                D                  DDD, DD, D       Probably in default
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                 Moody's                     S&P                          Fitch
             ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>             <C>          <C>            <C>     <C>                   <C>     <C>
SHORT-TERM      MIG1/VMIG1   Best quality   SP-1+   Very strong quality    F-1+   Exceptionally strong
                                                                                  quality
                ---------------------------------------------------------------
                MIG2/VMIG2   High quality   SP-1    Strong quality         F-1    Very strong quality
                ---------------------------------------------------------------
                MIG3/VMIG3   Favorable      SP-2    Satisfactory grade     F-2    Good credit quality
                             quality
                ---------------------------------------------------------------
                MIG4/VMIG4   Adequate                                      F-3    Fair credit quality
                             quality
                ---------------------------------------------------------------
                SG           Speculative    SP-3    Speculative grade      F-S    Weak credit quality
                             grade
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMERCIAL      P-1          Superior       A-1+    Extremely strong       F-1+   Exceptionally strong
PAPER                        quality                quality                       quality
                ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                            A-1     Strong quality         F-1    Very strong quality
                ---------------------------------------------------------------
                P-2          Strong         A-2     Satisfactory quality   F-2    Good credit quality
                             quality
                ---------------------------------------------------------------
                P-3          Acceptable     A-3     Adequate quality       F-3    Fair credit quality
                             quality
                ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                            B       Speculative quality    F-S    Weak credit quality
                ---------------------------------------------------------------
                Not Prime                   C       Doubtful quality       D      Default
- --------------
</TABLE>
 
                             ----------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE A-1
<PAGE>   69
 
   
                              Dated July 14, 1995
    
 
                             STRONG GROWTH FUND II
 
   Strong Growth Fund II (the "Fund") is a diversified series of the Strong
Variable Insurance Funds, Inc. (the "Corporation"), an open-end management
investment company, commonly called a mutual fund. The Fund seeks capital
growth. The Fund invests primarily in equity securities that the Fund's Advisor
believes have above-average growth prospects.
 
   Shares of the Fund are only offered and sold to the separate accounts of
certain insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable annuity and
variable life insurance contracts. This Prospectus should be read together with
the prospectus of the separate account of the specific insurance product which
preceded or accompanies this Prospectus.
 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAP-
 PROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE SECU-
 RITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURI-
 TIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR
 ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO
 THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
   This Prospectus contains information that you should consider before you
invest. Please read it carefully and keep it for future reference. A Statement
of Additional Information for the Fund, dated July 14, 1995, contains further
information, is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus, and has been
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). This Statement, which
may be revised from time to time, is available upon request and without charge
by writing to the Fund at P.O. Box 2936, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201.
    
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 1
<PAGE>   70
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
         <S>                                 <C>  <C>
         THE FUND.................................    2
         INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES........    3
         IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICIES AND RISKS.....    4
         SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS...................    9
         MANAGEMENT...............................   11
         ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...................   12
</TABLE>
 
   No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any
representations other than those contained in this Prospectus and the Statement
of Additional Information and, if given or made, such information or
representations may not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Fund.
This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell securities to any person in
any state or jurisdiction in which such offering may not lawfully be made.
 
                                    THE FUND
 
   
   The Fund is a diversified series of the Corporation, which is an open-end
management investment company. The Fund offers and sells its shares only to
separate accounts of insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable
annuity and variable life insurance contracts. The Fund does not impose any
sales or redemption charges. Strong Capital Management, Inc. (the "Advisor") is
the investment advisor for the Fund.
    
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 2
<PAGE>   71
 
                       INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
 
   The Fund has adopted certain fundamental investment restrictions that are set
forth in the Fund's Statement of Additional Information ("SAI"). Those
restrictions, the Fund's investment objective and any other investment policies
identified as "fundamental" cannot be changed without shareholder approval. To
further guide investment activities, the Fund has also instituted a number of
non-fundamental operating policies, which are described throughout this
Prospectus and in the SAI. Although these additional policies may be changed by
the Corporation's Board of Directors without shareholder approval, the Fund will
promptly notify shareholders of any material change in operating policies.
   The Fund seeks capital growth. The Fund invests primarily in equity
securities that the Advisor believes have above-average growth prospects.
   Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 65% of its
total assets in equity securities, including common stocks, preferred stocks,
and securities that are convertible into common or preferred stocks, such as
warrants and convertible bonds. While the emphasis of the Fund is clearly on
equity securities, the Fund may invest a limited portion of its assets in debt
obligations when the Advisor perceives that they are more attractive than stocks
on a long-term basis. The Fund may invest up to 35% of its total assets in debt
obligations, including intermediate- to long-term corporate or U.S. government
debt securities. When the Advisor determines that market conditions warrant a
temporary defensive position, the Fund may invest without limitation in cash and
short-term fixed income securities. Although the debt obligations in which it
invests will be primarily investment-grade, the Fund may invest up to 5% of its
total assets in non-investment-grade debt obligations. (See "Implementation of
Policies and Risks - Debt Obligations.")
   The Fund may invest up to 15% of its total assets directly in the securities
of foreign issuers. It may also invest without limitation in foreign securities
in domestic markets through depositary receipts. However, as a matter of policy,
the Advisor intends to limit total foreign exposure, including both direct
investments and depositary receipts, to no more than 25% of the Fund's total
assets. See "Implementation of Policies and Risks - Foreign Securities and
Currencies" for the special risks associated with foreign investments.
   The Fund will generally invest in companies whose earnings are believed to be
in a relatively strong growth trend, and, to a lesser extent, in companies in
which significant further growth is not anticipated but whose market value is
thought to be undervalued. In identifying companies with favorable growth
prospects, the Advisor ordinarily looks to certain other characteristics, such
as the following:
 
- - prospects for above-average sales and earnings growth;
- - high return on invested capital;
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 3
<PAGE>   72
 
- - overall financial strength, including sound financial and accounting policies
  and a strong balance sheet;
- - competitive advantages, including innovative products and service;
- - effective research, product development, and marketing; and
- - stable, capable management.
 
                      IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICIES AND RISKS
 
   In addition to the Fund's investment policies described above (and subject to
certain restrictions described herein), the Fund may invest in some or all of
the following securities and employ some or all of the following investment
techniques, some of which may present special risks as described below. The Fund
may also engage in reverse repurchase agreements and mortgage dollar roll
transactions. A more complete discussion of these securities and investment
techniques and their associated risks is contained in the Fund's SAI.
 
FOREIGN SECURITIES AND CURRENCIES
 
   The Fund may invest in foreign securities, either directly or indirectly
through the use of depositary receipts. (See "Investment Objective and
Policies.") Depositary receipts are generally issued by banks or trust companies
and evidence ownership of underlying foreign securities.
   Foreign investments involve special risks, including:
 
- - expropriation, confiscatory taxation, and withholding taxes on dividends and
  interest;
- - less extensive regulation of foreign brokers, securities markets, and issuers;
- - less publicly available information and different accounting standards;
- - costs incurred in conversions between currencies, possible delays in
  settlement in foreign securities markets, limitations on the use or transfer
  of assets (including suspension of the ability to transfer currency from a
  given country), and difficulty of enforcing obligations in other countries;
  and
- - diplomatic developments and political or social instability.
 
   Foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy
in various respects, including growth of gross domestic product, rates of
inflation, currency depreciation, capital reinvestment, resource
self-sufficiency, and balance of payments positions. Many foreign securities are
less liquid and their prices more volatile than comparable U.S. securities.
Although the Fund generally invests only in securities that are regularly traded
on recognized exchanges or in over-the-counter markets, from time to time
foreign securities may be difficult to liquidate rapidly without adverse price
effects. Certain costs attributable to foreign investing, such as custody
charges and brokerage costs, are higher than those attributable to domestic
investing.
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 4
<PAGE>   73
 
   Because most foreign securities are denominated in non-U.S. currencies, the
investment performance of the Fund could be significantly affected by changes in
foreign currency exchange rates. The value of the Fund's assets denominated in
foreign currencies will increase or decrease in response to fluctuations in the
value of those foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar. Currency exchange
rates can be volatile at times in response to supply and demand in the currency
exchange markets, international balances of payments, governmental intervention,
speculation, and other political and economic conditions.
   The Fund may purchase and sell foreign currency on a spot basis and may
engage in forward currency contracts, currency options, and futures transactions
for hedging or any other lawful purpose. (See "Derivative Instruments.")
 
FOREIGN INVESTMENT COMPANIES
 
   Some of the countries in which the Fund invests may not permit direct
investment by outside investors. Investments in such countries may only be
permitted through foreign government-approved or -authorized investment
vehicles, which may include other investment companies. Investing through such
vehicles may involve frequent or layered fees or expenses and may also be
subject to limitation under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act").
 
DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
 
   Derivative instruments may be used by the Fund for any lawful purpose,
including hedging, risk management, or enhancing returns, but not for
speculation. Derivative instruments are securities or agreements whose value is
derived from the value of some underlying asset, for example, securities,
currencies, reference indexes, or commodities. Options, futures, and options on
futures transactions are considered derivative transactions. Derivatives
generally have investment characteristics that are based upon either forward
contracts (under which one party is obligated to buy and the other party is
obligated to sell an underlying asset at a specific price on a specified date)
or option contracts (under which the holder of the option has the right but not
the obligation to buy or sell an underlying asset at a specified price on or
before a specified date). Consequently, the change in value of a forward-based
derivative generally is roughly proportional to the change in value of the
underlying asset. In contrast, the buyer of an option-based derivative generally
will benefit from favorable movements in the price of the underlying asset but
is not exposed to corresponding losses due to adverse movements in the value of
the underlying asset. The seller of an option-based derivative generally will
receive fees or premiums but generally is exposed to losses due to changes in
the value of the underlying asset. Derivative transactions may include elements
of leverage and, accordingly, the fluctuation of the value of the derivative
transaction in relation to the underlying asset may be magnified. In
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 5
<PAGE>   74
 
addition to options, futures, and options on futures transactions, derivative
transactions may include short sales against the box, in which the Fund sells a
security it owns for delivery at a future date; swaps, in which the two parties
agree to exchange a series of cash flows in the future, such as interest-rate
payments; interest-rate caps, under which, in return for a premium, one party
agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates exceed a
specified rate, or "cap"; and interest-rate floors, under which, in return for a
premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that
interest rates fall below a specified level, or "floor." Derivative transactions
may also include forward currency contracts and foreign currency exchange-
related securities.
   Derivative instruments may be exchange-traded or traded in over-the-counter
transactions between private parties. Over-the-counter transactions are subject
to the credit risk of the counterparty to the instrument and are less liquid
than exchange-traded derivatives since they often can only be closed out with
the other party to the transaction. When required by SEC guidelines, the Fund
will set aside permissible liquid assets or securities positions that
substantially correlate to the market movements of the derivatives transactions
in a segregated account to secure its obligations under derivative transactions.
In order to maintain its required cover for a derivative transaction, the Fund
may need to sell portfolio securities at disadvantageous prices or times since
it may not be possible to liquidate a derivative position.
   The successful use of derivative transactions by the Fund is dependent upon
the Advisor's ability to correctly anticipate trends in the underlying asset. To
the extent that the Fund is engaging in derivative transactions other than for
hedging purposes, the Fund's successful use of such transactions is more
dependent upon the Advisor's ability to correctly anticipate such trends, since
losses in these transactions may not be offset in gains in the Fund's portfolio
or in lower purchase prices for assets it intends to acquire. The Advisor's
prediction of trends in underlying assets may prove to be inaccurate, which
could result in substantial losses to the Fund. Hedging transactions are also
subject to risks. If the Advisor incorrectly anticipates trends in the
underlying asset, the Fund may be in a worse position than if no hedging had
occurred. In addition, there may be imperfect correlation between the Fund's
derivative transactions and the instruments being hedged.
 
ILLIQUID SECURITIES
 
   The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.
Illiquid securities are those securities that are not readily marketable,
including restricted securities and repurchase obligations maturing in more than
seven days. Certain restricted securities that may be resold to institutional
investors pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 and Section
4(2) commercial paper may be considered liquid under guidelines adopted by the
Corporation's Board of Directors.
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 6
<PAGE>   75
 
SMALL COMPANIES
 
   The Fund may, from time to time, invest a substantial portion of its assets
in small companies. While smaller companies generally have potential for rapid
growth, investments in smaller companies often involve greater risks than
investments in larger, more established companies because smaller companies may
lack the management experience, financial resources, product diversification,
and competitive strengths of larger companies. In addition, in many instances
the securities of smaller companies are traded only over-the-counter or on a
regional securities exchange, and the frequency and volume of their trading is
substantially less than is typical of larger companies. Therefore, the
securities of smaller companies may be subject to greater and more abrupt price
fluctuations. When making large sales, the Fund may have to sell portfolio
holdings at discounts from quoted prices or may have to make a series of small
sales over an extended period of time due to the trading volume of smaller
company securities. Investors should be aware that, based on the foregoing
factors, an investment in the Fund may be subject to greater price fluctuations
than an investment in a fund that invests primarily in larger, more established
companies. The Advisor's research efforts may also play a greater role in
selecting securities for the Fund than in a fund that invests in larger, more
established companies.
 
DEBT OBLIGATIONS
 
   IN GENERAL. Debt obligations in which the Fund may invest will primarily be
investment-grade debt obligations, although the Fund may invest up to 5% of its
assets in non-investment-grade debt obligations. The market value of all debt
obligations is affected by changes in the prevailing interest rates. The market
value of such instruments generally reacts inversely to interest rate changes.
If the prevailing interest rates decline, the market value of debt obligations
generally increases. If the prevailing interest rates increase, the market value
of debt obligations generally decreases. In general, the longer the maturity of
a debt obligation, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates.
   Investment-grade debt obligations include:
 
- - bonds or bank obligations rated in one of the four highest rating categories
  of any nationally recognized statistical rating organization or "NRSRO" (e.g.,
  BBB or higher by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group or "S&P"),
- - U.S. government securities (as defined below),
- - commercial paper rated in one of the three highest ratings categories of any
  NRSRO (e.g., A-3 or higher by S&P);
- - short-term bank obligations that are rated in one of the three highest
  categories by any NRSRO (e.g., A-3 or higher by S&P), with respect to
  obligations maturing in one year or less;
- - repurchase agreements involving investment-grade debt obligations; or
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 7
<PAGE>   76
 
- - unrated debt obligations which are determined by the Advisor to be of
  comparable quality.
 
   All ratings are determined at the time of investment. Any subsequent rating
downgrade of a debt obligation will be monitored by the Advisor to consider what
action, if any, the Fund should take consistent with its investment objective.
Securities rated in the fourth highest category (e.g., BBB by S&P), although
considered investment-grade, have speculative characteristics and may be subject
to greater fluctuations in value than higher-rated securities. Non-
investment-grade debt obligations include:
 
- - securities rated as low as C by S&P or their equivalents;
   
- - commercial paper rated as low as C by S&P or its equivalent; and
    
- - unrated debt securities judged to be of comparable quality by the Advisor.
 
   GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. U.S. government securities are issued or guaranteed by
the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. Securities issued by
the government include U.S. Treasury obligations, such as Treasury bills, notes,
and bonds. Securities issued by government agencies or instrumentalities
include, for example, obligations of the following:
 
- - the Federal Housing Administration, Farmers Home Administration, Export-Import
  Bank of the United States, Small Business Administration, and the Government
  National Mortgage Association, including GNMA pass-through certificates, whose
  securities are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States;
- - the Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, and the
  Tennessee Valley Authority, whose securities are supported by the right of the
  agency to borrow from the U.S. Treasury;
- - the Federal National Mortgage Association, whose securities are supported by
  the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain
  obligations of the agency or instrumentality; and
- - the Student Loan Marketing Association, the Interamerican Development Bank,
  and International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, whose securities
  are supported only by the credit of such agencies.
 
   Although the U.S. government provides financial support to such U.S.
government-sponsored agencies or instrumentalities, no assurance can be given
that it will always do so. The U.S. government and its agencies and
instrumentalities do not guarantee the market value of their securities;
consequently, the value of such securities will fluctuate.
 
WHEN-ISSUED SECURITIES
 
   The Fund may invest without limitation in securities purchased on a when-
issued or delayed delivery basis. Although the payment and interest terms of
these securities are established at the time the purchaser enters into the
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 8
<PAGE>   77
 
commitment, these securities may be delivered and paid for at a future date,
generally within 45 days. Purchasing when-issued securities allows the Fund to
lock in a fixed price or yield on a security it intends to purchase. However,
when the Fund purchases a when-issued security, it immediately assumes the risk
of ownership, including the risk of price fluctuation until the settlement date.
   The greater the Fund's outstanding commitments for these securities, the
greater the exposure to potential fluctuations in the net asset value of the
Fund. Purchasing when-issued securities may involve the additional risk that the
yield available in the market when the delivery occurs may be higher or the
market price lower than that obtained at the time of commitment. Although the
Fund may be able to sell these securities prior to the delivery date, it will
purchase when-issued securities for the purpose of actually acquiring the
securities, unless after entering into the commitment a sale appears desirable
for investment reasons. When required by SEC guidelines, the Fund will set aside
permissible liquid assets in a segregated account to secure its outstanding
commitments for when-issued securities.
 
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
 
   The annual portfolio turnover rate indicates changes in the Fund's portfolio.
The turnover rate may vary from year to year, as well as within a year. It may
also be affected by sales of portfolio securities necessary to meet cash
requirements for redemptions of shares. The Fund will not generally trade in
securities for short-term profits, but, when the Advisor determines that
circumstances warrant, securities may be purchased and sold without regard to
the length of time held. Under normal market conditions, it is anticipated that
the rate of portfolio turnover of the Fund generally will not exceed 150%. This
rate should not be considered as a limiting factor.
 
                             SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
 
   The Fund is designed as an investment vehicle for variable annuity and
variable life insurance contracts funded by separate accounts of certain
insurance companies. Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code") and the regulations thereunder impose certain
diversification standards on the investments underlying variable annuity and
variable life insurance contracts in order for such contracts to be treated for
tax purposes as annuities or life insurance. Section 817(h) of the Code provides
that a variable annuity and variable life insurance contract based on a separate
account shall not be treated as an annuity or life insurance contract for any
period (and any subsequent period) for which the account's investments are not
adequately diversified. These diversification requirements are in addition to
the diversification requirements applicable to the Fund under Subchapter M
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 9
<PAGE>   78
 
of the Code and the 1940 Act and may affect the composition of the Fund's
investments.
   Since the shares of the Fund are currently sold to segregated asset accounts
underlying such variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts, the Fund
intends to comply with the diversification requirements as set forth in the
regulations. The Secretary of the Treasury may in the future issue additional
regulations or revenue rulings that may prescribe the circumstances in which a
contract owner's control of the investments of a separate account may cause the
contract owner, rather than the insurance company, to be treated as the owner of
assets of the separate account. Failure to comply with Section 817(h) of the
Code or any regulation thereunder, or with any future regulations or revenue
rulings on contract owner control, would cause earnings regarding a contract
owner's interest in an insurance company's separate account to be includible in
the contract owner's gross income in the year earned. Such standards may apply
only prospectively, although retroactive application is possible. In the event
that any such regulations or revenue rulings are adopted, the Fund may not be
able to continue to operate as currently described in this prospectus, or
maintain its investment program.
   The Fund will be managed in such a manner as to comply with the requirements
of Subchapter L of the Code. It is possible that in order to comply with such
requirements, less desirable investment decisions may be made which would affect
the investment performance of the Fund.
   The Fund may sell its shares to the separate accounts of various insurance
companies, which are not affiliated with each other, for the purpose of funding
variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts. The Fund currently does
not foresee any disadvantages to contract owners arising out of the fact that it
offers its shares to separate accounts of various insurance companies, which are
not affiliated with each other, to serve as an investment medium for their
variable products. However, it is theoretically possible that the interests of
owners of various contracts participating in the Fund through the separate
accounts might at some time be in conflict. The Board of Directors of the
Corporation, however, will monitor events in order to identify any material
irreconcilable conflicts which may possibly arise and to determine what action,
if any, should be taken in response to such conflicts. If such a conflict were
to occur, one or more insurance companies' separate accounts might be required
to withdraw its investments in the Fund, and shares of another Fund may be
substituted. This might force the Fund to sell securities at disadvantageous
prices. In addition, the Board of Directors may refuse to sell Fund shares to
any separate account or may suspend or terminate the offering of Fund shares if
such action is required by law or regulatory authority or is in the best
interest of the shareholders of the Fund.
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 10
<PAGE>   79
 
                                   MANAGEMENT
 
   The Board of Directors of the Corporation is responsible for managing the
Fund's business and affairs. The Fund has entered into an investment advisory
agreement (an "Advisory Agreement") with the Advisor. Under the terms of the
Advisory Agreement, the Advisor manages the Fund's investments and business
affairs, subject to the supervision of the Board of Directors.
   
   The Advisor began conducting business in 1974. Since then, its principal
business has been providing continuous investment supervision for mutual funds,
individuals, and institutional accounts, such as pension funds and profit-
sharing plans. As of June 30, 1995, the Advisor had approximately $13 billion
under management. The Advisor's principal mailing address is P.O. Box 2936,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201. Mr. Richard S. Strong, the Chairman of the Board of
the Corporation, is the controlling shareholder of the Advisor.
    
   
   As compensation for its services, the Fund pays the Advisor a monthly
management fee. The annual fee is 1.00% of the average daily net asset value of
the Fund. Under the terms of the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor provides office
space and all necessary office facilities, equipment, and personnel for
servicing the investments of the Fund. From time to time, the Advisor may
voluntarily waive all or a portion of its management fee and/or absorb certain
expenses for the Fund without further notification of the commencement or
termination of any such waiver or absorption. Any such waiver or absorption will
have the effect of lowering the overall expense ratio of the Fund and increasing
the Fund's return to investors at the time such amounts were waived and/or
absorbed.
    
   Except for expenses voluntarily absorbed by the Advisor or the distributor,
the Fund is responsible for all its other expenses, including, without
limitation, interest charges, taxes, brokerage commissions and similar expenses;
expenses of issue, sale, repurchase or redemption of shares; expenses of
registering or qualifying shares for sale with the states and the SEC; expenses
for printing and distribution costs of prospectuses to existing shareholders;
charges of custodians (including fees as custodian for keeping books and similar
services for the Fund), transfer agents (including the printing and mailing of
reports and notices to shareholders), registrars, auditing, and legal services
and clerical services related to recordkeeping and shareholder relations;
printing of stock certificates; fees for directors who are not "interested
persons" of the Advisor; expenses of indemnification; extraordinary expenses;
and costs of shareholder and director meetings.
 
   PORTFOLIO MANAGER. Mr. Ronald C. Ognar, a Chartered Financial Analyst with
more than 25 years of investment experience, joined the Advisor in April 1993
after two years as a principal and portfolio manager with RCM Capital
Management. For approximately three years prior to that, he was a portfolio
manager at Kemper Financial Services in Chicago. Mr. Ognar began his
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 11
<PAGE>   80
 
investment career in 1968 at LaSalle National Bank in Chicago after serving two
years in the U.S. Army. He received his bachelor's degree in accounting from the
University of Illinois in 1968. Mr. Ognar has managed the Fund since its
inception in June 1995.
 
                             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
   HOW TO INVEST. Investments in the Fund may only be made by separate accounts
established and maintained by insurance companies for purposes of funding
variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts. For instructions on how
to direct a separate account to purchase shares in the Fund, please refer to the
prospectus of the insurance company's separate account. The Fund does not impose
any sales charge or 12b-1 fee. Certain sales charges may apply to the variable
annuity or variable life insurance contract, which should be described in the
prospectus of the insurance company's separate account. The Fund may decline to
accept a purchase order upon receipt when, in the judgment of the Advisor, it
would not be in the best interest of the existing shareholders to accept the
order. Shares of the Fund will be sold at the net asset value next determined
after receipt by the Fund of a purchase order in proper form placed by an
insurance company investing in the Fund. Certificates for shares in the Fund
will not be issued.
 
   CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE. The net asset value ("NAV") per share for the
Fund is determined as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange
(the "Exchange"), currently 3:00 p.m. Central Time, on days the Exchange is open
for business. The net asset value will not be determined for the Fund on days
during which the Fund receives no orders to purchase shares and no shares are
tendered for redemption. The Fund's NAV is calculated by taking the fair value
of the Fund's total assets, subtracting all its liabilities, and dividing by the
total number of shares outstanding. Expenses are accrued daily and applied when
determining the net asset value.
   The Fund's portfolio securities are valued based on market quotations or at
fair value as determined by the method selected by each Corporation's Board of
Directors. Equity securities traded on a national securities exchange or NASDAQ
are valued at the last sales price on the national securities exchange or NASDAQ
on which such securities are primarily traded. Securities traded on NASDAQ for
which there were no transactions on a given day or securities not listed on an
exchange or NASDAQ are valued at the average of the most recent bid and asked
prices. Other exchange traded securities (generally foreign securities) will be
valued based on market quotations.
   Securities quoted in foreign currency are valued daily in U.S. dollars at the
foreign currency exchange rates that are prevailing at the time the daily net
asset value per share is determined. Although the Fund values its foreign assets
in U.S. dollars on a daily basis, the Fund does not intend to convert its
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 12
<PAGE>   81
 
holdings of foreign currencies into U.S. dollars on a daily basis. Foreign
currency exchange rates are generally determined prior to the close of trading
on the Exchange. Occasionally, events affecting the value of foreign investments
and such exchange rates occur between the time at which they are determined and
the close of trading on the Exchange. Such events would not normally be
reflected in a calculation of the Fund's net asset value on that day. If events
that materially affect the value of the Fund's foreign investments or the
foreign currency exchange rates occur during such period, the investments will
be valued at their fair value as determined in good faith by or under the
direction of the Board of Directors.
 
   HOW TO REDEEM SHARES. Shares of the Fund may be redeemed on any business day.
The price received upon redemption will be the net asset value next determined
after the redemption request in proper form is received by the Fund. (See
"Calculation of Net Asset Value.") Contract owners should refer to the
withdrawal or surrender instructions in the prospectus of the separate account
for instructions on how to redeem shares. Once the redemption request is
received in proper form, the Fund will ordinarily forward payment to the
separate account no later than seven days after receipt.
   The right of redemption may be suspended during any period in which: (i)
trading on the Exchange is restricted, as determined by the SEC, or the Exchange
is closed for other than weekends and holidays; (ii) the SEC has permitted such
suspension by order; or (iii) an emergency, as determined by the SEC, exists
which makes disposal of portfolio securities or valuation of net assets of the
Fund not reasonably practicable.
 
   DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES. The policy of the Fund is to pay dividends to the
insurance company's separate accounts from net investment income quarterly and
to distribute substantially all net realized capital gains, after using any
available capital loss carryovers, annually. All dividends and capital gain
distributions paid to the insurance company's separate accounts will be
automatically reinvested in additional Fund shares.
   
   The Fund intends to qualify for treatment as a Regulated Investment Company
or "RIC" under Subchapter M of the Code and, if so qualified, will not be liable
for federal income tax on earnings and gains distributed to its shareholders in
a timely manner. If the Fund does not so qualify, however, it would be treated
for tax purposes as an ordinary corporation and would receive no tax deduction
for distributions made to its shareholders. For more information regarding tax
implications for owners of variable annuity or variable life insurance contracts
investing in the Fund, please refer to the prospectus of your insurance
company's separate account. See "Special Considerations" for a discussion of
special tax considerations relating to the Fund's compliance with Subchapter L
of the Code, as an investment vehicle for variable annuity and variable life
insurance contracts of certain insurance companies.
    
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 13
<PAGE>   82
 
   This section is not intended to be a full discussion of present or proposed
federal income tax law and its effect on the Fund and investors. (See the SAI
for a further discussion.) Investors are urged to consult their own tax advisor.
 
   
   ORGANIZATION. The Fund is a series of Common Stock of the Corporation, which
is a Wisconsin corporation. The Corporation is authorized to issue shares of
Common Stock and series and classes of series of shares of Common Stock. All
holders of shares of the Corporation would vote on each matter presented to
shareholders for action except with respect to any matter which affects only one
or more series or classes, in which case only the shares of the affected series
or class shall be entitled to vote.
    
   
   All shares participate equally in dividends and other capital gains
distributions by the Fund and in the residual assets of the Fund in the event of
liquidation. Generally, the Corporation will not hold an annual meeting of
shareholders unless required by the 1940 Act. Shareholders have certain rights,
including the right to call a meeting upon a vote of 10% of the Corporation's
outstanding shares for the purpose of voting to remove one or more directors or
to transact any other business.
    
   The insurance company separate accounts, as the record shareholders in the
Fund, have the right to vote on matters submitted for a shareholder vote. Under
current interpretations of the 1940 Act, these insurance companies must solicit
voting instructions from contract owners and vote Fund shares in accordance with
the instructions received or, for Fund shares for which no voting instructions
were received, in the same proportion as those Fund shares for which
instructions were received. Contract owners should refer to the prospectus of
the insurance company's separate account for a complete description of their
voting rights.
 
   
   TRANSFER AGENT, DIVIDEND-DISBURSING AGENT, AND DISTRIBUTOR. The Advisor, P.O.
Box 2936, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201, acts as transfer agent and
dividend-disbursing agent for the Fund. Strong Funds Distributors, Inc., P.O.
Box 2936, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201, an indirect subsidiary of the Advisor,
acts as distributor of the shares of the Fund.
    
 
   PERFORMANCE INFORMATION. The Fund may advertise "average annual total
return," "total return," and "cumulative total return." Each of these figures is
based upon historical results and does not represent the future performance of
the Fund. Average annual total return and total return figures measure both the
net investment income generated by, and the effect of any realized and
unrealized appreciation or depreciation of, the underlying investments in the
Fund assuming the reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. Total return
figures are not annualized and simply represent the aggregate change of the
Fund's investments over a specified period of time.
   The Fund's shares are sold at the net asset value per share of the Fund.
Returns and net asset value will fluctuate. Shares of the Fund are redeemable
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 14
<PAGE>   83
 
by the separate accounts of insurance companies at the then current net asset
value per share for the Fund, which may be more or less than the original cost.
TOTAL RETURNS CONTAINED IN ADVERTISEMENTS INCLUDE THE EFFECT OF DEDUCTING THE
FUND'S EXPENSES, BUT MAY NOT INCLUDE CHARGES AND EXPENSES ATTRIBUTABLE TO ANY
PARTICULAR INSURANCE PRODUCT. SINCE SHARES MAY ONLY BE PURCHASED BY THE SEPARATE
ACCOUNTS OF CERTAIN INSURANCE COMPANIES, CONTRACT OWNERS SHOULD CAREFULLY REVIEW
THE PROSPECTUS OF THE SEPARATE ACCOUNT FOR INFORMATION ON FEES AND EXPENSES.
Excluding such fees and expenses from the Fund's total return quotations has the
effect of increasing the performance quoted. The Fund will not use information
concerning its investment performance in advertisements or sales materials
unless appropriate information concerning the relevant separate account is also
included. Additional information concerning the Fund's performance appears in
the SAI.
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 15
<PAGE>   84
 
   
                              Dated July 14, 1995
    
 
                       STRONG INTERNATIONAL STOCK FUND II
 
   Strong International Stock Fund II (the "Fund") is a diversified series of
the Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc. (the "Corporation"), an open-end
management investment company, commonly called a mutual fund. The Fund seeks
capital growth. The Fund invests primarily in the equity securities of issuers
located outside the United States.
 
   Shares of the Fund are only offered and sold to the separate accounts of
certain insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable annuity and
variable life insurance contracts. This Prospectus should be read together with
the prospectus of the separate account of the specific insurance product which
preceded or accompanies this Prospectus.
 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAP-
 PROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE SECU-
 RITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURI-
 TIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR
 ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO
 THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
   This Prospectus contains information that you should consider before you
invest. Please read it carefully and keep it for future reference. A Statement
of Additional Information for the Fund, dated July 14, 1995, contains further
information, is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus, and has been
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). This Statement, which
may be revised from time to time, is available upon request and without charge
by writing to the Fund at P.O. Box 2936, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201.
    
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 1
<PAGE>   85
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
         <S>                                 <C>  <C>
         THE FUND.................................    2
         INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES........    3
         IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICIES AND RISKS.....    4
         SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS...................   10
         MANAGEMENT...............................   11
         ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...................   12
</TABLE>
 
   No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any
representations other than those contained in this Prospectus and the Statement
of Additional Information and, if given or made, such information or
representations may not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Fund.
This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell securities to any person in
any state or jurisdiction in which such offering may not lawfully be made.
 
                                    THE FUND
 
   
   The Fund is a diversified series of the Corporation, which is an open-end
management investment company. The Fund offers and sells its shares only to
separate accounts of insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable
annuity and variable life insurance contracts. The Fund does not impose any
sales or redemption charges. Strong Capital Management, Inc. (the "Advisor") is
the investment advisor for the Fund.
    
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 2
<PAGE>   86
 
                       INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
 
   The Fund has adopted certain fundamental investment restrictions that are set
forth in the Fund's Statement of Additional Information ("SAI"). Those
restrictions, the Fund's investment objective and any other investment policies
identified as "fundamental" cannot be changed without shareholder approval. To
further guide investment activities, the Fund has also instituted a number of
non-fundamental operating policies, which are described throughout this
Prospectus and in the SAI. Although these additional policies may be changed by
the Corporation's Board of Directors without shareholder approval, the Fund will
promptly notify shareholders of any material change in operating policies.
   The Fund seeks capital growth. The Fund invests primarily in the equity
securities of issuers located outside the United States.
   The Fund will invest at least 65% of its total assets in foreign equity
securities, including common stocks, preferred stocks, and securities that are
convertible into common or preferred stocks, such as warrants and convertible
bonds, that are issued by companies whose principal headquarters are located
outside the United States.
   Under normal market conditions, the Fund expects to invest at least 90% of
its total assets in foreign equity securities. The Fund may, however, invest up
to 35% of its total assets in equity securities of U.S. issuers or debt
obligations, including intermediate- to long-term debt obligations of U.S.
issuers or foreign-government entities. When the Advisor determines that market
conditions warrant a temporary defensive position, the Fund may invest without
limitation in cash (U.S. dollars, foreign currencies, or multicurrency units)
and short-term fixed income securities. Although the debt obligations in which
it invests will be primarily investment-grade, the Fund may invest up to 5% of
its total assets in non-investment-grade debt obligations. (See "Implementation
of Policies and Risks - Debt Obligations.")
   The Fund will normally invest in securities of issuers located in at least
three different countries. The Advisor expects that the majority of the Fund's
investments will be in issuers in the following markets: Argentina, Australia,
Brazil, Chile, Cambodia, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hong Kong,
Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New
Zealand, Norway, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, Singapore, South Africa,
South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and
Vietnam. The Fund will also invest in other European, Pacific Rim, and Latin
American markets.
   As market and global conditions change, the Fund will change its allocations
among the countries of the world, and nothing herein will limit the Fund's
ability to invest in or avoid any particular countries or regions. In allocating
the Fund's assets among various countries, the Advisor will seek
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 3
<PAGE>   87
 
economic and market environments favorable for capital appreciation and, with
respect to developing countries, economic, political, and stock-market
environments that show signs of stabilizing or improving. See "Implementation of
Policies and Risks - Foreign Securities and Currencies" for a discussion of the
special risks involved in investing in foreign securities.
   In analyzing foreign companies for investment, the Advisor will ordinarily
look for one or more of the following characteristics in relation to the
company's prevailing stock price:
 
- - prospects for above-average sales and earnings growth and high return on
  invested capital;
- - overall financial strength, including sound financial and accounting policies
  and a strong balance sheet;
- - significant competitive advantages, including innovative products and
  efficient service;
- - effective research, product development, and marketing;
- - pricing flexibility;
- - stable, capable management; and
- - other general operating characteristics that will enable the company to
  compete successfully in its marketplace.
 
                      IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICIES AND RISKS
 
   In addition to the Fund's investment policies described above (and subject to
certain restrictions described herein), the Fund may invest in some or all of
the following securities and employ some or all of the following investment
techniques, some of which may present special risks as described below. The Fund
may also engage in reverse repurchase agreements and mortgage dollar roll
transactions. A more complete discussion of these securities and investment
techniques and their associated risks is contained in the Fund's SAI.
 
FOREIGN SECURITIES AND CURRENCIES
 
   The Fund may invest in foreign securities, either directly or indirectly
through the use of depositary receipts. (See "Investment Objective and
Policies.") Depositary receipts are generally issued by banks or trust companies
and evidence ownership of underlying foreign securities.
   Foreign investments involve special risks, including:
 
- - expropriation, confiscatory taxation, and withholding taxes on dividends and
  interest;
- - less extensive regulation of foreign brokers, securities markets, and issuers;
- - less publicly available information and different accounting standards;
- - costs incurred in conversions between currencies, possible delays in
  settlement in foreign securities markets, limitations on the use or transfer
  of
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 4
<PAGE>   88
 
  assets (including suspension of the ability to transfer currency from a given
  country), and difficulty of enforcing obligations in other countries; and
- - diplomatic developments and political or social instability.
 
   Foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy
in various respects, including growth of gross domestic product, rates of
inflation, currency depreciation, capital reinvestment, resource
self-sufficiency, and balance of payments positions. Many foreign securities are
less liquid and their prices more volatile than comparable U.S. securities.
Although the Fund generally invests only in securities that are regularly traded
on recognized exchanges or in over-the-counter markets, from time to time
foreign securities may be difficult to liquidate rapidly without adverse price
effects. Certain costs attributable to foreign investing, such as custody
charges and brokerage costs, are higher than those attributable to domestic
investing.
   The Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in securities of
issuers in developing or emerging markets and economies, including Asia and the
Pacific Basin. Investing in securities of issuers in Asia and the Pacific Basin
involves special risks. Risks of investing in developing or emerging markets
include:
 
- - less social, political, and economic stability;
- - smaller securities markets and lower trading volume, which may result in a
  lack of liquidity and greater price volatility;
- - certain national policies that may restrict the Fund's investment
  opportunities, including restrictions on investments in issuers or industries
  deemed sensitive to national interests, or expropriation or confiscation of
  assets or property, which could result in the Fund's loss of its entire
  investment in that market; and
- - less developed legal structures governing private or foreign investment or
  allowing for judicial redress for injury to private property.
 
   In addition, brokerage commissions, custodial services, withholding taxes,
and other costs relating to investment in emerging markets generally are more
expensive than in the U.S. and certain more established foreign markets.
Economies in emerging markets generally are heavily dependent upon international
trade and, accordingly, have been and may continue to be affected adversely by
trade barriers, exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency
values, and other protectionist measures negotiated or imposed by the countries
with which they trade.
   Because most foreign securities are denominated in non-U.S. currencies, the
investment performance of the Fund could be significantly affected by changes in
foreign currency exchange rates. The value of the Fund's assets denominated in
foreign currencies will increase or decrease in response to fluctuations in the
value of those foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar. Currency exchange
rates can be volatile at times in response to supply and demand in the currency
exchange markets, international balances of
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 5
<PAGE>   89
 
payments, governmental intervention, speculation, and other political and
economic conditions.
   The Fund may purchase and sell foreign currency on a spot basis and may
engage in forward currency contracts, currency options, and futures transactions
for hedging or any other lawful purpose. (See "Derivative Instruments.")
 
FOREIGN INVESTMENT COMPANIES
 
   Some of the countries in which the Fund invests may not permit direct
investment by outside investors. Investments in such countries may only be
permitted through foreign government-approved or -authorized investment
vehicles, which may include other investment companies. Investing through such
vehicles may involve frequent or layered fees or expenses and may also be
subject to limitation under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act").
 
DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
 
   Derivative instruments may be used by the Fund for any lawful purpose,
including hedging, risk management, or enhancing returns, but not for
speculation. Derivative instruments are securities or agreements whose value is
derived from the value of some underlying asset, for example, securities,
currencies, reference indexes, or commodities. Options, futures, and options on
futures transactions are considered derivative transactions. Derivatives
generally have investment characteristics that are based upon either forward
contracts (under which one party is obligated to buy and the other party is
obligated to sell an underlying asset at a specific price on a specified date)
or option contracts (under which the holder of the option has the right but not
the obligation to buy or sell an underlying asset at a specified price on or
before a specified date). Consequently, the change in value of a forward-based
derivative generally is roughly proportional to the change in value of the
underlying asset. In contrast, the buyer of an option-based derivative generally
will benefit from favorable movements in the price of the underlying asset but
is not exposed to corresponding losses due to adverse movements in the value of
the underlying asset. The seller of an option-based derivative generally will
receive fees or premiums but generally is exposed to losses due to changes in
the value of the underlying asset. Derivative transactions may include elements
of leverage and, accordingly, the fluctuation of the value of the derivative
transaction in relation to the underlying asset may be magnified. In addition to
options, futures, and options on futures transactions, derivative transactions
may include short sales against the box, in which the Fund sells a security it
owns for delivery at a future date; swaps, in which the two parties agree to
exchange a series of cash flows in the future, such as interest-rate payments;
interest-rate caps, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to
make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates exceed a specified
rate, or "cap"; and interest-rate floors, under which, in return for a
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 6
<PAGE>   90
 
premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that
interest rates fall below a specified level, or "floor." Derivative transactions
may also include forward currency contracts and foreign currency exchange-
related securities.
   Derivative instruments may be exchange-traded or traded in over-the-counter
transactions between private parties. Over-the-counter transactions are subject
to the credit risk of the counterparty to the instrument and are less liquid
than exchange-traded derivatives since they often can only be closed out with
the other party to the transaction. When required by SEC guidelines, the Fund
will set aside permissible liquid assets or securities positions that
substantially correlate to the market movements of the derivatives transactions
in a segregated account to secure its obligations under derivative transactions.
In order to maintain its required cover for a derivative transaction, the Fund
may need to sell portfolio securities at disadvantageous prices or times since
it may not be possible to liquidate a derivative position.
   The successful use of derivative transactions by the Fund is dependent upon
the Advisor's ability to correctly anticipate trends in the underlying asset. To
the extent that the Fund is engaging in derivative transactions other than for
hedging purposes, the Fund's successful use of such transactions is more
dependent upon the Advisor's ability to correctly anticipate such trends, since
losses in these transactions may not be offset in gains in the Fund's portfolio
or in lower purchase prices for assets it intends to acquire. The Advisor's
prediction of trends in underlying assets may prove to be inaccurate, which
could result in substantial losses to the Fund. Hedging transactions are also
subject to risks. If the Advisor incorrectly anticipates trends in the
underlying asset, the Fund may be in a worse position than if no hedging had
occurred. In addition, there may be imperfect correlation between the Fund's
derivative transactions and the instruments being hedged.
 
ILLIQUID SECURITIES
 
   The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.
Illiquid securities are those securities that are not readily marketable,
including restricted securities and repurchase obligations maturing in more than
seven days. Certain restricted securities that may be resold to institutional
investors pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 and Section
4(2) commercial paper may be considered liquid under guidelines adopted by the
Corporation's Board of Directors.
 
SMALL COMPANIES
 
   The Fund may, from time to time, invest a substantial portion of its assets
in small companies. While smaller companies generally have potential for rapid
growth, investments in smaller companies often involve greater risks than
investments in larger, more established companies because smaller companies may
lack the management experience, financial resources, product
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 7
<PAGE>   91
 
diversification, and competitive strengths of larger companies. In addition, in
many instances the securities of smaller companies are traded only over-the-
counter or on a regional securities exchange, and the frequency and volume of
their trading is substantially less than is typical of larger companies.
Therefore, the securities of smaller companies may be subject to greater and
more abrupt price fluctuations. When making large sales, the Fund may have to
sell portfolio holdings at discounts from quoted prices or may have to make a
series of small sales over an extended period of time due to the trading volume
of smaller company securities. Investors should be aware that, based on the
foregoing factors, an investment in the Fund may be subject to greater price
fluctuations than an investment in a fund that invests primarily in larger, more
established companies. The Advisor's research efforts may also play a greater
role in selecting securities for the Fund than in a fund that invests in larger,
more established companies.
 
DEBT OBLIGATIONS
 
   IN GENERAL. Debt obligations in which the Fund may invest will primarily be
investment-grade debt obligations, although the Fund may invest up to 5% of its
assets in non-investment-grade debt obligations. The market value of all debt
obligations is affected by changes in the prevailing interest rates. The market
value of such instruments generally reacts inversely to interest rate changes.
If the prevailing interest rates decline, the market value of debt obligations
generally increases. If the prevailing interest rates increase, the market value
of debt obligations generally decreases. In general, the longer the maturity of
a debt obligation, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates.
   Investment-grade debt obligations include:
 
- - bonds or bank obligations rated in one of the four highest rating categories
  of any nationally recognized statistical rating organization or "NRSRO" (e.g.,
  BBB or higher by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group or "S&P"),
- - U.S. government securities (as defined below),
- - commercial paper rated in one of the three highest ratings categories of any
  NRSRO (e.g., A-3 or higher by S&P);
- - short-term bank obligations that are rated in one of the three highest
  categories by any NRSRO (e.g., A-3 or higher by S&P), with respect to
  obligations maturing in one year or less;
- - repurchase agreements involving investment-grade debt obligations; or
- - unrated debt obligations which are determined by the Advisor to be of
  comparable quality.
 
   All ratings are determined at the time of investment. Any subsequent rating
downgrade of a debt obligation will be monitored by the Advisor to consider what
action, if any, the Fund should take consistent with its investment objective.
Securities rated in the fourth highest category (e.g., BBB by S&P),
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 8
<PAGE>   92
 
although considered investment-grade, have speculative characteristics and may
be subject to greater fluctuations in value than higher-rated securities.
Non-investment-grade debt obligations include:
 
- - securities rated as low as C by S&P or their equivalents;
- - commercial paper rated as low as C by S&P or its equivalents; and
- - unrated debt securities judged to be of comparable quality by the Advisor.
 
   GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. U.S. government securities are issued or guaranteed by
the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. Securities issued by
the government include U.S. Treasury obligations, such as Treasury bills, notes,
and bonds. Securities issued by government agencies or instrumentalities
include, for example, obligations of the following:
 
- - the Federal Housing Administration, Farmers Home Administration, Export-Import
  Bank of the United States, Small Business Administration, and the Government
  National Mortgage Association, including GNMA pass-through certificates, whose
  securities are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States;
- - the Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, and the
  Tennessee Valley Authority, whose securities are supported by the right of the
  agency to borrow from the U.S. Treasury;
- - the Federal National Mortgage Association, whose securities are supported by
  the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain
  obligations of the agency or instrumentality; and
- - the Student Loan Marketing Association, the Interamerican Development Bank,
  and International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, whose securities
  are supported only by the credit of such agencies.
 
   Although the U.S. government provides financial support to such U.S.
government-sponsored agencies or instrumentalities, no assurance can be given
that it will always do so. The U.S. government and its agencies and
instrumentalities do not guarantee the market value of their securities;
consequently, the value of such securities will fluctuate.
 
WHEN-ISSUED SECURITIES
 
   The Fund may invest without limitation in securities purchased on a when-
issued or delayed delivery basis. Although the payment and interest terms of
these securities are established at the time the purchaser enters into the
commitment, these securities may be delivered and paid for at a future date,
generally within 45 days. Purchasing when-issued securities allows the Fund to
lock in a fixed price or yield on a security it intends to purchase. However,
when the Fund purchases a when-issued security, it immediately assumes the risk
of ownership, including the risk of price fluctuation until the settlement date.
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROSPECTUS PAGE 9
<PAGE>   93
 
   The greater the Fund's outstanding commitments for these securities, the
greater the exposure to potential fluctuations in the net asset value of the
Fund. Purchasing when-issued securities may involve the additional risk that the
yield available in the market when the delivery occurs may be higher or the
market price lower than that obtained at the time of commitment. Although the
Fund may be able to sell these securities prior to the delivery date, it will
purchase when-issued securities for the purpose of actually acquiring the
securities, unless after entering into the commitment a sale appears desirable
for investment reasons. When required by SEC guidelines, the Fund will set aside
permissible liquid assets in a segregated account to secure its outstanding
commitments for when-issued securities.
 
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
 
   The annual portfolio turnover rate indicates changes in the Fund's portfolio.
The turnover rate may vary from year to year, as well as within a year. It may
also be affected by sales of portfolio securities necessary to meet cash
requirements for redemptions of shares. The Fund's portfolio turnover rate is
expected to exceed 100%, but generally not to exceed 200%. This rate should not
be considered as a limiting factor.
 
                             SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
 
   The Fund is designed as an investment vehicle for variable annuity and
variable life insurance contracts funded by separate accounts of certain
insurance companies. Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code") and the regulations thereunder impose certain
diversification standards on the investments underlying variable annuity and
variable life insurance contracts in order for such contracts to be treated for
tax purposes as annuities or life insurance. Section 817(h) of the Code provides
that a variable annuity and variable life insurance contract based on a separate
account shall not be treated as an annuity or life insurance contract for any
period (and any subsequent period) for which the account's investments are not
adequately diversified. These diversification requirements are in addition to
the diversification requirements applicable to the Fund under Subchapter M of
the Code and the 1940 Act and may affect the composition of the Fund's
investments.
   Since the shares of the Fund are currently sold to segregated asset accounts
underlying such variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts, the Fund
intends to comply with the diversification requirements as set forth in the
regulations. The Secretary of the Treasury may in the future issue additional
regulations or revenue rulings that may prescribe the circumstances in which a
contract owner's control of the investments of a separate account may cause the
contract owner, rather than the insurance company, to be
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 10
<PAGE>   94
 
treated as the owner of assets of the separate account. Failure to comply with
Section 817(h) of the Code or any regulation thereunder, or with any future
regulations or revenue rulings on contract owner control, would cause earnings
regarding a contract owner's interest in an insurance company's separate account
to be includible in the contract owner's gross income in the year earned. Such
standards may apply only prospectively, although retroactive application is
possible. In the event that any such regulations or revenue rulings are adopted,
the Fund may not be able to continue to operate as currently described in this
prospectus, or maintain its investment program.
   The Fund will be managed in such a manner as to comply with the requirements
of Subchapter L of the Code. It is possible that in order to comply with such
requirements, less desirable investment decisions may be made which would affect
the investment performance of the Fund.
   The Fund may sell its shares to the separate accounts of various insurance
companies, which are not affiliated with each other, for the purpose of funding
variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts. The Fund currently does
not foresee any disadvantages to contract owners arising out of the fact that it
offers its shares to separate accounts of various insurance companies, which are
not affiliated with each other, to serve as an investment medium for their
variable products. However, it is theoretically possible that the interests of
owners of various contracts participating in the Fund through the separate
accounts might at some time be in conflict. The Board of Directors of the
Corporation, however, will monitor events in order to identify any material
irreconcilable conflicts which may possibly arise and to determine what action,
if any, should be taken in response to such conflicts. If such a conflict were
to occur, one or more insurance companies' separate accounts might be required
to withdraw its investments in the Fund, and shares of another Fund may be
substituted. This might force the Fund to sell securities at disadvantageous
prices. In addition, the Board of Directors may refuse to sell Fund shares to
any separate account or may suspend or terminate the offering of Fund shares if
such action is required by law or regulatory authority or is in the best
interest of the shareholders of the Fund.
 
                                   MANAGEMENT
 
   The Board of Directors of the Corporation is responsible for managing the
Fund's business and affairs. The Fund has entered into an investment advisory
agreement (an "Advisory Agreement") with the Advisor. Under the terms of the
Advisory Agreement, the Advisor manages the Fund's investments and business
affairs, subject to the supervision of the Board of Directors.
   
   The Advisor began conducting business in 1974. Since then, its principal
business has been providing continuous investment supervision for mutual funds,
individuals, and institutional accounts, such as pension funds and profit-
sharing plans. As of June 30, 1995, the Advisor had approximately $13 billion
    
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 11
<PAGE>   95
 
under management. The Advisor's principal mailing address is P.O. Box 2936,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201. Mr. Richard S. Strong, the Chairman of the Board of
the Corporation, is the controlling shareholder of the Advisor.
   
   As compensation for its services, the Fund pays the Advisor a monthly
management fee. The annual fee is 1.00% of the average daily net asset value of
the Fund. Under the terms of the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor provides office
space and all necessary office facilities, equipment, and personnel for
servicing the investments of the Fund. From time to time, the Advisor may
voluntarily waive all or a portion of its management fee and/or absorb certain
expenses for the Fund without further notification of the commencement or
termination of any such waiver or absorption. Any such waiver or absorption will
have the effect of lowering the overall expense ratio of the Fund and increasing
the Fund's return to investors at the time such amounts were waived and/or
absorbed.
    
   Except for expenses voluntarily absorbed by the Advisor or the distributor,
the Fund is responsible for all its other expenses, including, without
limitation, interest charges, taxes, brokerage commissions and similar expenses;
expenses of issue, sale, repurchase or redemption of shares; expenses of
registering or qualifying shares for sale with the states and the SEC; expenses
for printing and distribution costs of prospectuses to existing shareholders;
charges of custodians (including fees as custodian for keeping books and similar
services for the Fund), transfer agents (including the printing and mailing of
reports and notices to shareholders), registrars, auditing, and legal services
and clerical services related to recordkeeping and shareholder relations;
printing of stock certificates; fees for directors who are not "interested
persons" of the Advisor; expenses of indemnification; extraordinary expenses;
and costs of shareholder and director meetings.
 
   PORTFOLIO MANAGER. Mr. Anthony L.T. Cragg joined the Advisor in April 1993 to
develop the Advisor's international investment activities. During the prior
seven years, he helped establish Dillon, Read International Asset Management,
where he was in charge of Japanese, Asian, and Australian investments. A
graduate of Christ Church, Oxford University, Mr. Cragg began his investment
career in 1980 at Gartmore, Ltd., as an international investment manager, where
his tenure included assignments in London, Hong Kong, and Tokyo. He has managed
the Fund since its inception in June 1995.
 
                             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
   HOW TO INVEST. Investments in the Fund may only be made by separate accounts
established and maintained by insurance companies for purposes of funding
variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts. For instructions on how
to direct a separate account to purchase shares in the Fund, please refer to the
prospectus of the insurance company's separate account. The Fund
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 12
<PAGE>   96
 
does not impose any sales charge or 12b-1 fee. Certain sales charges may apply
to the variable annuity or variable life insurance contract, which should be
described in the prospectus of the insurance company's separate account. The
Fund may decline to accept a purchase order upon receipt when, in the judgment
of the Advisor, it would not be in the best interest of the existing
shareholders to accept the order. Shares of the Fund will be sold at the net
asset value next determined after receipt by the Fund of a purchase order in
proper form placed by an insurance company investing in the Fund. Certificates
for shares in the Fund will not be issued.
 
   CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE. The net asset value ("NAV") per share for the
Fund is determined as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange
(the "Exchange"), currently 3:00 p.m. Central Time, on days the Exchange is open
for business. The net asset value will not be determined for the Fund on days
during which the Fund receives no orders to purchase shares and no shares are
tendered for redemption. The Fund's NAV is calculated by taking the fair value
of the Fund's total assets, subtracting all its liabilities, and dividing by the
total number of shares outstanding. Expenses are accrued daily and applied when
determining the net asset value.
   The Fund's portfolio securities are valued based on market quotations or at
fair value as determined by the method selected by the Corporation's Board of
Directors. Equity securities traded on a national securities exchange or NASDAQ
are valued at the last sales price on the national securities exchange or NASDAQ
on which such securities are primarily traded. Securities traded on NASDAQ for
which there were no transactions on a given day or securities not listed on an
exchange or NASDAQ are valued at the average of the most recent bid and asked
prices. Other exchange traded securities (generally foreign securities) will be
valued based on market quotations.
   Securities quoted in foreign currency are valued daily in U.S. dollars at the
foreign currency exchange rates that are prevailing at the time the daily net
asset value per share is determined. Although the Fund values its foreign assets
in U.S. dollars on a daily basis, the Fund does not intend to convert its
holdings of foreign currencies into U.S. dollars on a daily basis. Foreign
currency exchange rates are generally determined prior to the close of trading
on the Exchange. Occasionally, events affecting the value of foreign investments
and such exchange rates occur between the time at which they are determined and
the close of trading on the Exchange. Such events would not normally be
reflected in a calculation of the Fund's net asset value on that day. If events
that materially affect the value of the Fund's foreign investments or the
foreign currency exchange rates occur during such period, the investments will
be valued at their fair value as determined in good faith by or under the
direction of the Board of Directors. The Fund's portfolio securities, from time
to time, may be listed primarily on foreign exchanges that trade on other days
than those on which the Exchange is open for business, (e.g., Saturday). As a
result, the net asset value of the Fund may be significantly affected by
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 13
<PAGE>   97
 
such trading on days when shareholders cannot effect transactions on their
accounts.
 
   HOW TO REDEEM SHARES. Shares of the Fund may be redeemed on any business day.
The price received upon redemption will be the net asset value next determined
after the redemption request in proper form is received by the Fund. (See
"Calculation of Net Asset Value.") Contract owners should refer to the
withdrawal or surrender instructions in the prospectus of the separate account
for instructions on how to redeem shares. Once the redemption request is
received in proper form, the Fund will ordinarily forward payment to the
separate account no later than seven days after receipt.
   The right of redemption may be suspended during any period in which: (i)
trading on the Exchange is restricted, as determined by the SEC, or the Exchange
is closed for other than weekends and holidays; (ii) the SEC has permitted such
suspension by order; or (iii) an emergency, as determined by the SEC, exists
which makes disposal of portfolio securities or valuation of net assets of the
Fund not reasonably practicable.
 
   DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES. The policy of the Fund is to pay dividends to the
insurance company's separate accounts from net investment income quarterly and
to distribute substantially all net realized capital gains, after using any
available capital loss carryovers, annually. All dividends and capital gain
distributions paid to the insurance company's separate accounts will be
automatically reinvested in additional Fund shares.
   
   The Fund intends to qualify for treatment as a Regulated Investment Company
or "RIC" under Subchapter M of the Code and, if so qualified, will not be liable
for federal income tax on earnings and gains distributed to its shareholders in
a timely manner. If the Fund does not so qualify, however, it would be treated
for tax purposes as an ordinary corporation and would receive no tax deduction
for distributions made to its shareholders. For more information regarding tax
implications for owners of variable annuity or variable life insurance contracts
investing in the Fund, please refer to the prospectus of your insurance
company's separate account. See "Special Considerations" for a discussion of
special tax considerations relating to the Fund's compliance with Subchapter L
of the Code, as an investment vehicle for variable annuity and variable life
insurance contracts of certain insurance companies.
    
   This section is not intended to be a full discussion of present or proposed
federal income tax law and its effect on the Fund and investors. (See the SAI
for a further discussion.) Investors are urged to consult their own tax advisor.
 
   
   ORGANIZATION. The Fund is a series of Common Stock of the Corporation, which
is a Wisconsin corporation. The Corporation is authorized to issue shares of
Common Stock and series and classes of series of shares of Common Stock. All
holders of shares of the Corporation would vote on each matter
    
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 14
<PAGE>   98
 
presented to shareholders for action except with respect to any matter which
affects only one or more series or classes, in which case only the shares of the
affected series or class shall be entitled to vote.
   
   All shares participate equally in dividends and other capital gains
distributions by the Fund and in the residual assets of the Fund in the event of
liquidation. Generally, the Corporation will not hold an annual meeting of
shareholders unless required by the 1940 Act. Shareholders have certain rights,
including the right to call a meeting upon a vote of 10% of the Corporation's
outstanding shares for the purpose of voting to remove one or more directors or
to transact any other business.
    
   The insurance company separate accounts, as the record shareholders in the
Fund, have the right to vote on matters submitted for a shareholder vote. Under
current interpretations of the 1940 Act, these insurance companies must solicit
voting instructions from contract owners and vote Fund shares in accordance with
the instructions received or, for Fund shares for which no voting instructions
were received, in the same proportion as those Fund shares for which
instructions were received. Contract owners should refer to the prospectus of
the insurance company's separate account for a complete description of their
voting rights.
 
   
   TRANSFER AGENT, DIVIDEND-DISBURSING AGENT, AND DISTRIBUTOR. The Advisor, P.O.
Box 2936, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201, acts as transfer agent and
dividend-disbursing agent for the Fund. Strong Funds Distributors, Inc., P.O.
Box 2936, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201, an indirect subsidiary of the Advisor,
acts as distributor of the shares of the Fund.
    
 
   PERFORMANCE INFORMATION. The Fund may advertise "average annual total
return," "total return," and "cumulative total return." Each of these figures is
based upon historical results and does not represent the future performance of
the Fund. Average annual total return and total return figures measure both the
net investment income generated by, and the effect of any realized and
unrealized appreciation or depreciation of, the underlying investments in the
Fund assuming the reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. Total return
figures are not annualized and simply represent the aggregate change of the
Fund's investments over a specified period of time.
   The Fund's shares are sold at the net asset value per share of the Fund.
Returns and net asset value will fluctuate. Shares of the Fund are redeemable by
the separate accounts of insurance companies at the then current net asset value
per share for the Fund, which may be more or less than the original cost. TOTAL
RETURNS CONTAINED IN ADVERTISEMENTS INCLUDE THE EFFECT OF DEDUCTING THE FUND'S
EXPENSES, BUT MAY NOT INCLUDE CHARGES AND EXPENSES ATTRIBUTABLE TO ANY
PARTICULAR INSURANCE PRODUCT. SINCE SHARES MAY ONLY BE PURCHASED BY THE SEPARATE
ACCOUNTS OF CERTAIN INSURANCE COMPANIES, CONTRACT OWNERS SHOULD CAREFULLY REVIEW
THE PROSPECTUS OF THE SEPARATE
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 15
<PAGE>   99
 
ACCOUNT FOR INFORMATION ON FEES AND EXPENSES. Excluding such fees and expenses
from the Fund's total return quotations has the effect of increasing the
performance quoted. The Fund will not use information concerning its investment
performance in advertisements or sales materials unless appropriate information
concerning the relevant separate account is also included. Additional
information concerning the Fund's performance appears in the SAI.
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROSPECTUS PAGE 16
<PAGE>   100









                                    PART B

                     STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

                           STRONG DISCOVERY FUND II


Incorporated by Reference to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 7 to
the Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-45321), which was filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about April 24, 1995.

<PAGE>   101





                      STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION



                            STRONG ADVANTAGE FUND II
                                 P.O. Box 2936
                          Milwaukee, Wisconsin  53201
                           Telephone:  1-414-359-1400
                           Toll-Free:  1-800-368-3863


   
         Strong Advantage Fund II (the "Fund") is a diversified series of the
Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc. (the "Corporation"), an open-end
management investment company designed to provide an investment vehicle for
variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts of certain insurance
companies.  Shares in the Fund are only offered and sold to the separate
accounts of such insurance companies.  The Fund is described herein and in the
Prospectus for the Fund dated July 14, 1995.
    

   
         This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus and
should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus for the Fund dated July 14,
1995 and the prospectus for the separate account of the specific insurance
product.  Requests for copies of the Fund's Prospectus may be made by writing
to the Fund, P.O. Box 2936, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201, Attention:  Corporate
Secretary; or by calling one of the numbers listed above.
    




   
        This Statement of Additional Information is dated July 14, 1995.
    
<PAGE>   102

                            STRONG ADVANTAGE FUND II

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>                           
                                            TABLE OF CONTENTS                                            PAGE
<S>                                                                                                      <C>

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3
INVESTMENT POLICIES AND TECHNIQUES  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  5
  Derivative Instruments  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  5
  Short Sales Against the Box   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
  Lending of Portfolio Securities   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
  Warrants  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
  High-Yield (High-Risk) Securities   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
  Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
  When-Issued Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
  Illiquid Securities   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
  Depositary Receipts   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
  Foreign Investment Companies  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
  Repurchase Agreements   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
  Borrowing   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
  Variable- or Floating-Rate Securities   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
  Temporary Defensive Position  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
  Loan Interests  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
INVESTMENT ADVISOR AND DISTRIBUTOR  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
CUSTODIAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
TRANSFER AGENT AND DIVIDEND-DISBURSING AGENT  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
TAXES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
FUND ORGANIZATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
GENERAL INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
LEGAL COUNSEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
APPENDIX  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  A-1
</TABLE>
    

                        ------------------------------

   
         No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any
representations other than those contained in this Statement of Additional
Information and the Prospectus dated July 14, 1995 and, if given or made, such
information or representations may not be relied upon as having been authorized
by the Fund.
    

 This Statement of Additional Information does not constitute an offer to sell
                                  securities.


                                      2
<PAGE>   103

                            INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

         The investment objective of the Fund is to seek current income with a
very low degree of share-price fluctuation.  The Fund's investment objective
and policies are described in detail in the Prospectus under the caption
"Investment Objective and Policies."  The following are the Fund's fundamental
investment limitations which cannot be changed without shareholder approval.

The Fund:

1.       May not with respect to 75% of its total assets, purchase the
         securities of any issuer (except securities issued or guaranteed by the
         U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities) if, as a result,
         (i) more than 5% of the Fund's total assets would be invested in
         the securities of that issuer, or (ii) the Fund would hold more than 
         10% of the outstanding voting securities of that issuer.

2.       May (i) borrow money from banks and (ii) make other investments or
         engage in other transactions permissible under the Investment
         Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act") which may involve a borrowing, 
         provided that the combination of  (i) and (ii) shall not exceed 33
         1/3% of the value of the Fund's total assets (including the  amount 
         borrowed), less the Fund's liabilities (other than borrowings),
         except that the Fund may borrow up to an additional 5% of its total 
         assets (not including the amount borrowed) from a bank for
         temporary or emergency purposes (but not for leverage or the purchase 
         of investments).  The Fund may also borrow money from the other
         Strong Funds or other persons to the extent permitted by applicable 
         law.

3.       May not issue senior securities, except as permitted under the 1940
         Act.

4.       May not act as an underwriter of another issuer's securities, except
         to the extent that the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter
         within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 in connection with 
         the purchase and sale of portfolio securities.

5.       May not purchase or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a
         result of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this
         shall not prevent the Fund from purchasing or selling options, futures
         contracts, or other derivative instruments, or from investing in
         securities or other instruments backed by physical commodities).

6.       May not make loans if, as a result, more than 33 1/3% of the Fund's
         total assets would be lent to other persons, except through (i)
         purchases of debt securities or other debt instruments, or (ii) 
         engaging in repurchase agreements.

7.       May not purchase the securities of any issuer if, as a result, more
         than 25% of the Fund's total assets would be invested in the
         securities of issuers, the principal business activities of which are 
         in the same industry.

8.       May not purchase or sell real estate unless acquired as a result of
         ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not
         prohibit the Fund from purchasing or selling securities or other 
         instruments backed by real estate or of issuers engaged in real estate
         activities).

9.       May, notwithstanding any other fundamental investment policy or
         restriction, invest all of its assets in the securities of a single
         open-end management investment company with substantially the same 
         fundamental investment objective, policies, and restrictions as the
         Fund.





                                       3
<PAGE>   104

The following are the Fund's non-fundamental operating policies which may be
changed by the Board of Directors of the Corporation without shareholder
approval.

The Fund may not:

1.       Sell securities short, unless the Fund owns or has the right to obtain
         securities equivalent in kind and amount to the securities sold
         short, or unless it covers such short sale as required by the current 
         rules and positions of the Securities and Exchange Commission or
         its staff, and provided that transactions in options, futures 
         contracts, options on futures contracts, or other derivative 
         instruments are not deemed to constitute selling securities short.

2.       Purchase securities on margin, except that the Fund may obtain such
         short-term credits as are necessary for the clearance of
         transactions; and provided that margin deposits in connection with 
         futures contracts, options on futures contracts, or other derivative
         instruments shall not constitute purchasing securities on margin.

3.       Invest in illiquid securities if, as a result of such investment, more
         than 15% of its net assets would be invested in illiquid
         securities, or such other amounts as may be permitted under the 1940 
         Act.

4.       Purchase securities of other investment companies except in compliance
         with the 1940 Act and applicable state law.

5.       Invest all of its assets in the securities of a single open-end
         investment management company with substantially the same fundamental
         investment objective, restrictions and policies as the Fund.

6.       Purchase the securities of any issuer (other than securities issued or
         guaranteed by domestic or foreign governments or political
         subdivisions thereof) if, as a result, more than 5% of its total 
         assets would be invested in the securities of issuers that, including
         predecessor or unconditional guarantors, have a record of less than 
         three years of continuous operation.  This policy does not apply to
         securities of pooled investment vehicles or mortgage or asset-backed
         securities.

7.       Invest in direct interests in oil, gas, or other mineral exploration
         programs or leases; however, the Fund may invest in the securities
         of issuers that engage in these activities.

8.       Engage in futures or options on futures transactions which are
         impermissible pursuant to Rule 4.5 under the Commodity Exchange Act 
         and, in accordance with Rule 4.5, will use futures or options on 
         futures transactions solely for bona fide hedging transactions (within
         the meaning of the Commodity Exchange Act), provided, however, that 
         the Fund may, in addition to bona fide hedging transactions, use
         futures and options on futures transactions if the aggregate initial 
         margin and premiums required to establish such positions, less the
         amount by which any such options positions are in the money (within 
         the meaning of the Commodity Exchange Act), do not exceed 5% of the
         Fund's net assets.

         In addition, (i) the aggregate value of securities underlying call 
         options on securities written by the Fund or obligations underlying
         put options on securities written by the Fund determined as of the 
         date the options are written will not exceed 50% of the Fund's net
         assets; (ii) the aggregate premiums paid on all options purchased by 
         the Fund and which are being held will not exceed 20% of the
         Fund's net assets; (iii) the Fund will not purchase put or call 
         options, other than hedging positions, if, as a result thereof, more
         than 5% of its total assets would be so invested; and (iv) the 
         aggregate margin deposits required on all futures and options on 
         futures transactions being held will not exceed 5% of the Fund's 
         total assets.

9.       Pledge, mortgage or hypothecate any assets owned by the Fund except as
         may be necessary in connection with permissible borrowings or
         investments and then such pledging, mortgaging, or hypothecating may 
         not exceed 33 1/3% of the Fund's total assets at the time of the
         borrowing or investment.

10.      Purchase or retain the securities of any issuer if any officer or
         director of the Fund or its investment advisor beneficially owns more
         than 1/2 of 1% of the securities of such issuer and such officers and
         directors together own beneficially more than 5% of the securities of 
         such issuer.





                                       4
<PAGE>   105


11.      Purchase warrants, valued at the lower of cost or market value, in
         excess of 5% of the Fund's net assets.  Included in that amount, but
         not to exceed 2% of the Fund's net assets, may be warrants that are 
         not listed on any stock exchange.  Warrants acquired by the Fund in
         units or attached to securities are not subject to these restrictions.

12.      Borrow money except (i) from banks or (ii) through reverse repurchase
         agreements or mortgage dollar rolls, and will not purchase
         securities when bank borrowings exceed 5% of its total assets.

13.      Make any loans other than loans of portfolio securities, except
         through (i) purchases of debt securities or other debt instruments, or
         (ii) engaging in repurchase agreements.

         Except for the fundamental investment limitations listed above and the
Fund's investment objective, the other investment policies described in the
Prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information are not fundamental and
may be changed with approval of the Corporation's Board of Directors.

                       INVESTMENT POLICIES AND TECHNIQUES

         The following information supplements the discussion of the Fund's
investment objective, policies, and techniques that are described in detail in
the Prospectus under the captions "Investment Objective and Policies" and
"Implementation of Policies and Risks."

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

         GENERAL DESCRIPTION.  As discussed in the Prospectus, the Advisor may
use a variety of derivative instruments, including options, futures contracts
(sometimes referred to as "futures"), and options on futures contracts for any
lawful purpose, such as to hedge the Fund's portfolio, risk management, or to
attempt to enhance returns.

         The use of these instruments is subject to applicable regulations of
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), the several options and
futures exchanges upon which they may be traded, the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission ("CFTC") and various state regulatory authorities.  In addition, the
Fund's ability to use these instruments will be limited by tax considerations.

         In addition to the products, strategies and risks described below and
in the Prospectus, the Advisor may discover additional derivative
instruments and other hedging techniques.  These new opportunities may become
available as the Advisor develops new techniques or as regulatory authorities
broaden the range of permitted transactions.  The Advisor may utilize these
opportunities to the extent that they are consistent with the Fund's investment
objective and permitted by the Fund's investment limitations and applicable
regulatory authorities.

         SPECIAL RISKS OF THESE INSTRUMENTS.  The use of derivative instruments
involves special considerations and risks as described below.  Risks pertaining
to particular instruments are described in the sections that follow.

         (1)     Successful use of most of these instruments depends upon the
Advisor's ability to predict movements of the overall securities and currency
markets, which requires different skills than predicting changes in the prices
of individual securities.  While the Advisor is experienced in the use of these
instruments, there can be no assurance that any particular strategy adopted
will succeed.

         (2)     There might be imperfect correlation, or even no correlation,
between price movements of an instrument and price movements of investments
being hedged.  For example, if the value of an instrument used in a short hedge
(such as writing a call option, buying a put option, or selling a futures
contract) increased by less than the decline in value of the hedged investment,
the hedge would not be fully successful.  Such a lack of correlation might
occur due to factors unrelated to the value of the investments being hedged,
such as speculative or other pressures on the markets in which these
instruments are traded.  The effectiveness of hedges using instruments on
indices will depend on the degree of correlation between price movements in the
index and price movements in the investments being hedged.





                                       5
<PAGE>   106


         (3)     Hedging strategies, if successful, can reduce risk of loss by
wholly or partially offsetting the negative effect of unfavorable price
movements in the investments being hedged.  However, hedging strategies can
also reduce opportunity for gain by offsetting the positive effect of favorable
price movements in the hedged investments.  For example, if the Fund entered
into a short hedge because the Advisor projected a decline in the price of a
security in the Fund's portfolio, and the price of that security increased
instead, the gain from that increase might be wholly or partially offset by a
decline in the price of the instrument.  Moreover, if the price of the
instrument declined by more than the increase in the price of the security, the
Fund could suffer a loss.

         (4)     As described below, the Fund might be required to maintain
assets as "cover," maintain segregated accounts, or make margin payments when
it takes positions in these instruments involving obligations to third parties
(i.e., instruments other than purchased options).  If the Fund were unable to
close out its positions in such instruments, it might be required to continue
to maintain such assets or accounts or make such payments until the position
expired or matured.  The requirements might impair the Fund's ability to sell a
portfolio security or make an investment at a time when it would otherwise be
favorable to do so, or require that the Fund sell a portfolio security at a
disadvantageous time.  The Fund's ability to close out a position in an
instrument prior to expiration or maturity depends on the existence of a liquid
secondary market or, in the absence of such a market, the ability and
willingness of the other party to the transaction ("counter party") to enter
into a transaction closing out the position.  Therefore, there is no assurance
that any hedging position can be closed out at a time and price that is
favorable to the Fund.

         For a discussion of the federal income tax treatment of the Fund's
derivative instruments, see "Taxes -- Derivative Instruments" below.

         GENERAL LIMITATIONS ON CERTAIN DERIVATIVE TRANSACTIONS.  The Fund has
filed a notice of eligibility for exclusion from the definition of the term
"commodity pool operator" with the CFTC and the National Futures Association,
which regulate trading in the futures markets.  Pursuant to Rule 4.5 of the
regulations under the Commodity Exchange Act (the "CEA"), the notice of
eligibility includes representations that the Fund will use futures contracts
and related options solely for bona fide hedging purposes within the meaning of
CFTC regulations, provided that the Fund may hold other positions in futures
contracts and related options that do not qualify as a bona fide hedging
position if the aggregate initial margin deposits and premiums required to
establish these positions, less the amount by which any such options positions
are "in the money," do not exceed 5% of the Fund's net assets.  Adoption of
these guidelines does not limit the percentage of the Fund's assets at risk to
5%.

         In addition, (i) the aggregate value of securities underlying call
options on securities written by the Fund or obligations underlying put options
on securities written by the Fund determined as of the date the options are
written will not exceed 50% of the Fund's net assets; (ii) the aggregate
premiums paid on all options purchased by the Fund and which are being held
will not exceed 20% of the Fund's net assets; (iii) the Fund will not purchase
put or call options, other than hedging positions, if, as a result thereof,
more than 5% of its total assets would be so invested; and (iv) the aggregate
margin deposits required on all futures and options on futures transactions
being held will not exceed 5% of the Fund's total assets.

         The foregoing limitations are not fundamental policies of the Fund and
may be changed by the Corporation's Board of Directors without shareholder
approval as regulatory agencies permit.

         Transactions using options (other than purchased options) expose the
Fund to counter-party risk.  To the extent required by SEC guidelines, the Fund
will not enter into any such transactions unless it owns either (1) an
offsetting ("covered") position in securities, other options, or futures or (2)
cash and liquid high grade debt securities with a value sufficient at all times
to cover its potential obligations to the extent not covered as provided in (1)
above.  The Fund will also set aside cash and/or appropriate liquid assets in a
segregated custodial account if required to do so by the SEC and CFTC
regulations.  Assets used as cover or held in a segregated account cannot be
sold while the position in the corresponding option or futures contract is
open, unless they are replaced with similar assets.  As a result, the
commitment of a large portion of the Fund's assets to segregated accounts as a
cover could impede portfolio management or the Fund's ability to meet
redemption requests or other current obligations.





                                       6
<PAGE>   107


         OPTIONS.  The Fund may also purchase and write put and call options on
securities, and enter into closing transactions with respect to such options to
terminate an existing position.  The purchase of call options serves as a long
hedge, and the purchase of put options serves as a short hedge.  Writing put or
call options can enable the Fund to enhance income by reason of the premiums
paid by the purchaser of such options.  Writing call options serves as a
limited short hedge because declines in the value of the hedged investment
would be offset to the extent of the premium received for writing the option.
However, if the security appreciates to a price higher than the exercise price
of the call option, it can be expected that the option will be exercised and
the Fund will be obligated to sell the security at less than its market value
or will be obligated to purchase the security at a price greater than that at
which the security must be sold under the option.  All or a portion of any
assets used as cover for over-the-counter ("OTC") options written by the Fund
would be considered illiquid to the extent described under "Investment Policies
and Techniques--Illiquid Securities."  Writing put options serves as a limited
long hedge because increases in the value of the hedged investment would be
offset to the extent of the premium received for writing the option.  However,
if the security depreciates to a price lower than the exercise price of the put
option, it can be expected that the put option will be exercised and the Fund
will be obligated to purchase the security at more than its market value.

         The value of an option position will reflect, among other things, the
historical price volatility of the underlying investment, the current market
value of the underlying investment, the time remaining until expiration, the
relationship of the exercise price to the market price of the underlying
investment, and general market conditions.  Options that expire unexercised
have no value.

         The Fund may effectively terminate its right or obligation under an
option by entering into a closing transaction.  For example, the Fund may
terminate its obligation under a call or put option that it had written by
purchasing an identical call or put option; this is known as a closing purchase
transaction.  Conversely, the Fund may terminate a position in a put or call
option it had purchased by writing an identical put or call option; this is
known as a closing sale transaction.  Closing transactions permit the Fund to
realize the profit or limit the loss on an option position prior to its
exercise or expiration.

         The Fund may purchase or write both exchange-traded and OTC options.
Exchange-traded options are issued by a clearing organization affiliated with
the exchange on which the option is listed that, in effect, guarantees
completion of every exchange-traded option transaction.  OTC options are
contracts between the Fund and the other party to the transaction ("counter
party") (usually a securities dealer or a bank) with no clearing organization
guarantee.  Thus, when the Fund purchases or writes an OTC option, it relies on
the counter party to make or take delivery of the underlying investment upon
exercise of the option.  Failure by the counter party to do so would result in
the loss of any premium paid by the Fund as well as the loss of any expected
benefit of the transaction.

         The Fund's ability to establish and close out positions in
exchange-listed options depends on the existence of a liquid market.  The Fund
intends to purchase or write only those exchange-traded options for which there
appears to be a liquid secondary market.  However, there can be no assurance
that such a market will exist at any, particular time.  Closing transactions
can be made for OTC options only by negotiating directly with the counter
party, or by a transaction in the secondary market if any such market exists.
Although the Fund will enter into OTC options only with counter parties that
are expected to be capable of entering into closing transactions with the Fund,
there is no assurance that the Fund will in fact be able to close out an OTC
option at a favorable price prior to expiration.  In the event of insolvency of
the counter party, the Fund might be unable to close out an OTC option position
at any time prior to its expiration.

         If the Fund were unable to effect a closing transaction for an option
it had purchased, it would have to exercise the option to realize any profit.
The inability to enter into a closing purchase transaction for a covered call
option written by the Fund could cause material losses because the Fund would
be unable to sell the investment used as cover for the written option until the
option expires or is exercised.

         The writing and purchasing of options is a highly specialized activity
that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated
with ordinary portfolio securities transactions.  Imperfect correlation between
the options and securities markets may detract from the effectiveness of
attempted hedging.





                                       7
<PAGE>   108
         SPREAD TRANSACTIONS.  The Fund may purchase covered spread options.
Such covered spread options are not presently exchange-listed or
exchange-traded.  The purchase of a spread option gives the Fund the right to
put, or sell, a security that it owns at a fixed dollar spread or fixed yield
spread in relationship to another security that the Fund does not own, but
which is used as a benchmark.  The risk to the Fund in purchasing covered
spread options is the cost of the premium paid for the spread option and any
transaction costs.  In addition, there is no assurance that closing
transactions will be available.  The purchase of spread options will be used to
protect the Fund against adverse changes in prevailing credit quality spreads,
i.e., the yield spread between high quality and lower quality securities.  Such
protection is only provided during the life of the spread option.
        
         FUTURES CONTRACTS.  The Fund may enter into futures contracts,
including interest rate and index futures. The Fund may also purchase put and
call options, and write covered put and call options, on futures in which it is
allowed to invest.  The purchase of futures or call options thereon can serve
as a long hedge, and the sale of futures or the purchase of put options thereon
can serve as a short hedge.  Writing covered call options on futures contracts
can serve as a limited short hedge, and writing covered put options on futures
contracts can serve as a limited long hedge, using a strategy similar to that
used for writing covered options in securities.  The Fund's hedging may include
purchases of futures as an offset against the effect of expected increases in
securities prices and sales of futures as an offset against the effect of
expected declines in securities prices.  The Fund's futures transactions may be
entered into for any lawful purpose such as hedging purposes, risk management,
or to enhance returns.  The Fund may also write put options on interest rate
futures contracts while at the same time purchasing call options on the same
futures contracts in order to create synthetically a long futures contract
position.  Such options would have the same strike prices and expiration dates.
The Fund will engage in this strategy only when the Advisor believes it is more
advantageous to the Fund than is purchasing the futures contract.

         To the extent required by regulatory authorities, the Fund only enters
into futures contracts that are traded on national futures exchanges and are
standardized as to maturity date and underlying financial instrument.  Futures
exchanges and trading are regulated under the CEA by the CFTC.  Although
techniques other than sales and purchases of futures contracts could be used to
reduce the Fund's exposure to interest rate fluctuations, the Fund may be able
to hedge its exposure more effectively and perhaps at a lower cost through
using futures contracts.

         An interest rate futures contract provides for the future sale by one
party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of a specific
financial instrument (e.g. debt security) for a specified price at a designated
date, time, and place.  An index futures contract is an agreement pursuant to
which the parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount of cash equal to
the difference between the value of the index at the close of the last trading
day of the contract and the price at which the index futures contract was
originally written.  Transaction costs are incurred when a futures contract is
bought or sold and margin deposits must be maintained.  A futures contract may
be satisfied by delivery or purchase, as the case may be, of the instrument or
by payment of the change in the cash value of the index.  More commonly,
futures contracts are closed out prior to delivery by entering into an
offsetting transaction in a matching futures contract.  Although the value of
an index might be a function of the value of certain specified securities, no
physical delivery of those securities is made.  If the offsetting purchase
price is less than the original sale price, the Fund realizes a gain; if it is
more, the Fund realizes a loss.  Conversely, if the offsetting sale price is
more than the original purchase price, the Fund realizes a gain; if it is less,
the Fund realizes a loss.  The transaction costs must also be included in these
calculations.  There can be no assurance, however, that the Fund will be able
to enter into an offsetting transaction with respect to a particular futures
contract at a particular time.  If the Fund is not able to enter into an
offsetting transaction, the Fund will continue to be required to maintain the
margin deposits on the futures contract.

         No price is paid by the Fund upon entering into a futures contract.
Instead, at the inception of a futures contract, the Fund is required to
deposit in a segregated account with its custodian, in the name of the futures
broker through whom the transaction was effected, "initial margin" consisting
of cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid, high grade debt
securities, in an amount generally equal to 10% or less of the contract value.
Margin must also be deposited when writing a call or put option on a futures
contract, in accordance with applicable exchange rules.  Unlike margin in
securities transactions, initial margin on futures contracts does not represent
a borrowing, but rather is in the nature of a performance bond or good-faith
deposit that is returned to the Fund at the termination of the transaction if
all contractual obligations have been satisfied.  Under certain circumstances,
such as periods of high volatility, the Fund may be required by an exchange to
increase the level of its initial margin payment, and initial margin
requirements might be increased generally in the future by regulatory action.





                                       8
<PAGE>   109


         Subsequent "variation margin" payments are made to and from the
futures broker daily as the value of the futures position varies, a process
known as "marking to market."  Variation margin does not involve borrowing, but
rather represents a daily settlement of the Fund's obligations to or from a
futures broker.  When the Fund purchases an option on a future, the premium
paid plus transaction costs is all that is at risk.  In contrast, when the Fund
purchases or sells a futures contract or writes a call or put option thereon,
it is subject to daily variation margin calls that could be substantial in the
event of adverse price movements.  If the Fund has insufficient cash to meet
daily variation margin requirements, it might need to sell securities at a time
when such sales are disadvantageous.  Purchasers and sellers of futures
positions and options on futures can enter into offsetting closing transactions
by selling or purchasing, respectively, an instrument identical to the
instrument held or written.  Positions in futures and options on futures may be
closed only on an exchange or board of trade that provides a secondary market.
The Fund intends to enter into futures transactions only on exchanges or boards
of trade where there appears to be a liquid secondary market.  However, there
can be no assurance that such a market will exist for a particular contract at
a particular time.

         Under certain circumstances, futures exchanges may establish daily
limits on the amount that the price of a future or option on a futures contract
can vary from the previous day's settlement price; once that limit is reached,
no trades may be made that day at a price beyond the limit.  Daily price limits
do not limit potential losses because prices could move to the daily limit for
several consecutive days with little or no trading, thereby preventing
liquidation of unfavorable positions.

         If the Fund were unable to liquidate a futures or option on a futures
contract position due to the absence of a liquid secondary market or the
imposition of price limits, it could incur substantial losses.  The Fund would
continue to be subject to market risk with respect to the position.  In
addition, except in the case of purchased options, the Fund would continue to
be required to make daily variation margin payments and might be required to
maintain the position being hedged by the future or option or to maintain cash
or securities in a segregated account.

         Certain characteristics of the futures market might increase the risk
that movements in the prices of futures contracts or options on futures
contracts might not correlate perfectly with movements in the prices of the
investments being hedged.  For example, all participants in the futures and
options on futures contracts markets are subject to daily variation margin
calls and might be compelled to liquidate futures or options on futures
contracts positions whose prices are moving unfavorably to avoid being subject
to further calls.  These liquidations could increase price volatility of the
instruments and distort the normal price relationship between the futures or
options and the investments being hedged.  Also, because initial margin deposit
requirements in the futures market are less onerous than margin requirements in
the securities markets, there might be increased participation by speculators
in the future markets.  This participation also might cause temporary price
distortions.  In addition, activities of large traders in both the futures and
securities markets involving arbitrage, "program trading" and other investment
strategies might result in temporary price distortions.

         FOREIGN CURRENCY-RELATED DERIVATIVE STRATEGIES-SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS.
The Fund may use options and futures on foreign currencies, as described
above, and forward currency contracts, as described below, to hedge against
movements in the values of the foreign currencies in which the Fund's
securities are denominated.  The Fund may utilize foreign currency-related
derivative instruments to seek to enhance returns through exposure to a
particular foreign currency.  Such currency hedges can protect against price
movements in a security the Fund owns or intends to acquire that are
attributable to changes in the value of the currency in which it is
denominated.  Such hedges do not, however, protect against price movements in
the securities that are attributable to other causes.

         The Fund might seek to hedge against changes in the value of a
particular currency when no hedging instruments on that currency are available
or such hedging instruments are more expensive than certain other hedging
instruments.  In such cases, the Fund may hedge against price movements in that
currency by entering into transactions using hedging instruments on another
foreign currency or a basket of currencies, the values of which the Advisor
believes will have a high degree of positive correlation to the value of the
currency being hedged.  The risk that movements in the price of the hedging
instrument will not correlate perfectly with movements in the price of the
currency being hedged is magnified when this strategy is used.

         The value of derivative instruments on foreign currencies depends on
the value of the underlying currency relative to the U.S. dollar.  Because
foreign currency transactions occurring in the interbank market might involve
substantially larger amounts than those involved in the use of such derivative
instruments, the Fund could be disadvantaged by having to deal in the odd lot





                                       9
<PAGE>   110

market (generally consisting of transactions of less than $1 million) for the
underlying foreign currencies at prices that are less favorable than for round
lots.

         There is no systematic reporting of last sale information for foreign
currencies or any regulatory requirement that quotations available through
dealers or other market sources be firm or revised on a timely basis.
Quotation information generally is representative of very large transactions in
the interbank market and thus might not reflect odd-lot transactions where
rates might be less favorable.  The interbank market in foreign currencies is a
global, round-the-clock market.  To the extent the U.S. options or futures
markets are closed while the markets for the underlying currencies remain open,
significant price and rate movements might take place in the underlying markets
that cannot be reflected in the markets for the derivative instruments until
they reopen.

         Settlement of derivative transactions involving foreign currencies
might be required to take place within the country issuing the underlying
currency.  Thus, the Fund might be required to accept or make delivery of the
underlying foreign currency in accordance with any U.S. or foreign regulations
regarding the maintenance of foreign banking arrangements by U.S. residents and
might be required to pay any fees, taxes and charges associated with such
delivery assessed in the issuing country.

         Permissible foreign currency options will include options traded
primarily in the OTC market.  Although options on foreign currencies are traded
primarily in the OTC market, the Fund will normally purchase OTC options on
foreign currency only when the Advisor believes a liquid secondary market will
exist for a particular option at any specific time.

         FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACTS.  A forward currency contract involves an
obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a specified future date,
which may be any fixed number of days from the contract date agreed upon by the
parties, at a price set at the time the contract is entered into.

         The Fund may enter into forward currency contracts to purchase or sell
foreign currencies for a fixed amount of U.S. dollars or another foreign
currency for any lawful purpose.  Such transactions may serve as long hedges --
for example, the Fund may purchase a forward currency contract to lock in the
U.S. dollar price of a security denominated in a foreign currency that the Fund
intends to acquire.  Forward currency contracts may also serve as short hedges
- -- for example, the Fund may sell a forward currency contract to lock in the
U.S. dollar equivalent of the proceeds from the anticipated sale of a security
denominated in a foreign currency.

         As noted above, the Fund may seek to hedge against changes in the
value of a particular currency by using forward contracts on another foreign
currency or a basket of currencies, the value of which the Advisor believes
will have a positive correlation to the values of the currency being hedged.
In addition, the Fund may use forward currency contracts to shift exposure to
foreign currency fluctuations from one country to another.  For example, if the
Fund owns securities denominated in a foreign currency and the Advisor believes
that currency will decline relative to another currency, it might enter into a
forward contract to sell an appropriate amount of the first foreign currency,
with payment to be made in the second foreign currency.  Transactions that use
two foreign currencies are sometimes referred to as "cross hedges." Use of
different foreign currency magnifies the risk that movements in the price of
the instrument will not correlate or will correlate unfavorably with the
foreign currency being hedged.

         The cost to the Fund of engaging in forward currency contracts varies
with factors such as the currency involved, the length of the contract period
and the market conditions then prevailing.  Because forward currency contracts
are usually entered into on a principal basis, no fees or commissions are
involved.  When the Fund enters into a forward currency contract, it relies on
the counter party to make or take delivery of the underlying currency at the
maturity of the contract.  Failure by the counter party to do so would result
in the loss of any expected benefit of the transaction.

         As is the case with futures contracts, purchasers and sellers of
forward currency contracts can enter into offsetting closing transactions,
similar to closing transactions on futures, by selling or purchasing,
respectively, an instrument identical to the instrument purchased or sold.
Secondary markets generally do not exist for forward currency contracts, with
the result that closing transactions generally can be made for forward currency
contracts only by negotiating directly with the counter party.  Thus, there can
be no assurance that the Fund will in fact be able to close out a forward
currency contract at a favorable price prior to maturity.  In addition, in the
event of insolvency of the counter party, the Fund might be unable to close out
a forward currency contract at





                                       10
<PAGE>   111

any time prior to maturity.  In either event, the Fund would continue to be
subject to market risk with respect to the position, and would continue to be
required to maintain a position in securities denominated in the foreign
currency or to maintain cash or securities in a segregated account.

         The precise matching of forward currency contract amounts and the
value of the securities involved generally will not be possible because the
value of such securities, measured in the foreign currency, will change after
the foreign currency contract has been established.  Thus, the Fund might need
to purchase or sell foreign currencies in the spot (cash) market to the extent
such foreign currencies are not covered by forward contracts.  The projection
of short-term currency market movements is extremely difficult, and the
successful execution of a short-term hedging strategy is highly uncertain.

SHORT SALES AGAINST THE BOX

         The Fund may sell securities short against the box to hedge unrealized
gains on portfolio securities.  Selling securities short against the box
involves selling a security that the Fund owns or has the right to acquire, for
delivery at a specified date in the future.  If the Fund sells securities short
against the box, it may protect unrealized gains, but will lose the opportunity
to profit on such securities if the price rises.

LENDING OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES

         The Fund is authorized to lend up to 33 1/3% of the total value of its
portfolio securities to broker-dealers or institutional investors that the
Advisor deems qualified, but only when the borrower maintains with the Fund's
custodian bank collateral either in cash or money market instruments in an
amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned, plus
accrued interest and dividends, determined on a daily basis and adjusted
accordingly.  However, the Fund does not presently intend to engage in such
lending.  In determining whether to lend securities to a particular
broker-dealer or institutional investor, the Advisor will consider, and during
the period of the loan will monitor, all relevant facts and circumstances,
including the creditworthiness of the borrower.  The Fund will retain authority
to terminate any loans at any time.  The Fund may pay reasonable administrative
and custodial fees in connection with a loan and may pay a negotiated portion
of the interest earned on the cash or money market instruments held as
collateral to the borrower or placing broker.  The Fund will receive reasonable
interest on the loan or a flat fee from the borrower and amounts equivalent to
any dividends, interest or other distributions on the securities loaned.  The
Fund will retain record ownership of loaned securities to exercise beneficial
rights, such as voting and subscription rights and rights to dividends,
interest or other distributions, when retaining such rights is considered to be
in the Fund's interest.

WARRANTS

         Warrants are securities giving the holder the right, but not the
obligation, to buy the stock of an issuer at a given price (generally higher
than the value of the stock at the time of issuance) during a specified period
or perpetually.  Warrants may be acquired separately or in connection with the
acquisition of securities.  The Fund will not purchase warrants, valued at the
lower of cost or market value, in excess of 5% of the Fund's net assets.
Included in that amount, but not to exceed 2% of the Fund's net assets, may be
warrants that are not listed on any stock exchange.  Warrants acquired by the
Fund in units or attached to securities are not subject to these restrictions.
Warrants do not carry with them the right to dividends or voting rights with
respect to the securities that they entitle their holder to purchase, and they
do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer.  As a result, warrants
may be considered more speculative than certain other types of investments.  In
addition, the value of a warrant does not necessarily change with the value of
the underlying securities, and a warrant ceases to have value if it is not
exercised prior to its expiration date.





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HIGH-YIELD (HIGH-RISK) SECURITIES

         IN GENERAL. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its assets only in
non-investment grade debt obligations rated in the fifth highest rating
category (e.g., BB by S&P) or comparable unrated securities.  Securities rated
BB are considered the least speculative of non-investment grade obligations.
Lower-quality securities, while generally offering higher yields than
investment grade securities with similar maturities, involve greater risks,
including the possibility of default or bankruptcy. They are regarded as
predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer's capacity to pay interest
and repay principal. The special risk considerations in connection with
investments in these securities are discussed below.  Refer to the Appendix of
this Statement of Additional Information for a discussion of securities
ratings.

         EFFECT OF INTEREST RATES AND ECONOMIC CHANGES.  The lower-quality and
comparable unrated securities market is relatively new and its growth has
paralleled a long economic expansion.  As a result, it is not clear how this
market may withstand a prolonged recession or economic downturn.  Such an
economic downturn could severely disrupt the market for and adversely affect
the value of such securities.

         All interest-bearing securities typically experience appreciation when
interest rates decline and depreciation when interest rates rise.  The market
values of lower-quality and comparable unrated securities tend to reflect
individual corporate developments to a greater extent than do higher rated
securities, which react primarily to fluctuations in the general level of
interest rates. Lower-quality and comparable unrated securities also tend to be
more sensitive to economic conditions than are higher-rated securities.  As a
result, they generally involve more credit risks than securities in the
higher-rated categories.  During an economic downturn or a sustained period of
rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers of lower-quality and comparable
unrated securities may experience financial stress and may not have sufficient
revenues to meet their payment obligations.  The issuer's ability to service
its debt obligations may also be adversely affected by specific corporate
developments, the issuer's inability to meet specific projected business
forecasts or the unavailability of additional financing. The risk of loss due
to default by an issuer of these securities is significantly greater than
issuers of higher-rated securities because such securities are generally
unsecured and are often subordinated to other creditors.  Further, if the
issuer of a lower-quality or comparable unrated security defaulted, the Fund
might incur additional expenses to seek recovery.  Periods of economic
uncertainty and changes would also generally result in increased volatility in
the market prices of these securities and thus in the Fund's net asset value.

         As previously stated, the value of a lower-quality or comparable
unrated security will decrease in a rising interest rate market, and
accordingly so will the Fund's net asset value.  If the Fund experiences
unexpected net redemptions in such a market, it may be forced to liquidate a
portion of its portfolio securities without regard to their investment merits.
Due to the limited liquidity of lower-quality and comparable unrated securities
(discussed below), the Fund may be forced to liquidate these securities at a
substantial discount.  Any such liquidation would reduce the Fund's asset base
over which expenses could be allocated and could result in a reduced rate of
return for the Fund.

         PAYMENT EXPECTATIONS.  Lower-quality and comparable unrated securities
typically contain redemption, call or prepayment provisions which permit the
issuer of such securities containing such provisions to, at its discretion,
redeem the securities.  During periods of falling interest rates, issuers of
these securities are likely to redeem or prepay the securities and refinance
them with debt securities with a lower interest rate.  To the extent an issuer
is able to refinance the securities, or otherwise redeem them, the Fund may
have to replace the securities with a lower yielding security, which would
result in a lower return for the Fund.

         CREDIT RATINGS.  Credit ratings issued by credit-rating agencies
evaluate the safety of principal and interest payments of rated securities.
They do not, however, evaluate the market value risk of lower-quality and
comparable unrated securities and, therefore, may not fully reflect the true
risks of an investment.  In addition, credit rating agencies may or may not
make timely changes in a rating to reflect changes in the economy or in the
condition of the issuer that affect the market value of the security.
Consequently, credit ratings are used only as a preliminary indicator of
investment quality. Investments in lower-quality and comparable unrated
securities will be more dependent on the Advisor's credit analysis than would
be the case with investments in investment-grade debt securities.  The Advisor
employs its own credit research and analysis, which includes a study of
existing debt, capital structure, ability to service debt and to pay dividends,
the issuer's sensitivity to economic conditions, its operating history and the
current trend of earnings.  The Advisor continually monitors the investments in
the Fund's portfolio and carefully





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<PAGE>   113

evaluates whether to dispose of or to retain lower-quality and comparable
unrated securities whose credit ratings or credit quality may have changed.

         LIQUIDITY AND VALUATION. The Fund may have difficulty disposing of
certain lower-quality and comparable unrated securities because there may be a
thin trading market for such securities.  Because not all dealers maintain
markets in all lower-quality and comparable unrated securities, there is no
established retail secondary market for many of these securities.  The Fund
anticipates that such securities could be sold only to a limited number of
dealers or institutional investors.  To the extent a secondary trading market
does exist, it is generally not as liquid as the secondary market for
higher-rated securities.  The lack of a liquid secondary market may have an
adverse impact on the market price of the security.  As a result, the Fund's
asset value and ability to dispose of particular securities, when necessary to
meet the Fund's liquidity needs or in response to a specific economic event,
may be impacted.  The lack of a liquid secondary market for certain securities
may also make it more difficult for the Fund to obtain accurate market
quotations for purposes of valuing the Fund's portfolio.  Market quotations are
generally available on many lower-quality and comparable unrated issues only
from a limited number of dealers and may not necessarily represent firm bids of
such dealers or prices for actual sales.  During periods of thin trading, the
spread between bid and asked prices is likely to increase significantly.  In
addition, adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on
fundamental analysis, may decrease the values and liquidity of lower-quality
and comparable unrated securities, especially in a thinly traded market.

         RECENT AND PROPOSED LEGISLATION.  Recent legislation has been adopted,
and from time to time proposals have been discussed, regarding new legislation
designed to limit the use of certain lower-quality and comparable unrated
securities by certain issuers.  An example of legislation is a recent law which
requires federally insured savings and loan associations to divest their
investments in these securities over time.  It is not currently possible to
determine the impact of the recent legislation or the proposed legislation on
the lower-quality and comparable unrated securities market.  However, it is
anticipated that if additional legislation is enacted or proposed, it could
have a material affect on the value of these securities and the existence of a
secondary trading market for the securities.

MORTGAGE- AND ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES

         Mortgage-backed securities represent direct or indirect participations
in, or are secured by and payable from, mortgage loans secured by real
property, and include single- and multi-class pass-through securities and
collateralized mortgage obligations.  Such securities may be issued or
guaranteed by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities, such as the
Government National Mortgage Association and the Federal National Mortgage
Association, or by private issuers, generally originators and investors in
mortgage loans, including savings associations, mortgage bankers, commercial
banks, investment bankers, and special purpose entities (collectively, "private
lenders").  Mortgage-backed securities issued by private lenders may be
supported by pools of mortgage loans or other mortgage-backed securities that
are guaranteed, directly or indirectly, by the U.S. government or one of its
agencies or instrumentalities, or they may be issued without any governmental
guarantee of the underlying mortgage assets but with some form of
non-governmental credit enhancement.

         Asset-backed securities have structural characteristics similar to
mortgage-backed securities.  However, the underlying assets are not first lien
mortgage loans or interests therein, but include assets such as motor vehicle
installment sales contracts, other installment loan contracts, home equity
loans, leases of various types of property, and receivables from credit card or
other revolving credit arrangements.  Payments or distributions of principal
and interest on asset-backed securities may be supported by non-governmental
credit enhancements similar to those utilized in connection with
mortgage-backed securities.

         The yield characteristics of mortgage- and asset-backed securities
differ from those of traditional debt securities.  Among  the principal
differences are that interest and principal payments are made more frequently
on mortgage- and asset-backed securities, usually monthly, and that principal
may be prepaid at any time because the underlying mortgage loans or other
assets generally may be prepaid at any time.  As a result, if the Fund
purchases these securities at a premium, a prepayment rate that is faster than
expected will reduce yield to maturity, while a prepayment rate that is slower
than expected will have the opposite effect of increasing the yield to
maturity.  Conversely, if the Fund purchases these securities at a discount, a
prepayment rate that is faster than expected will increase yield to maturity,
while a prepayment rate that is slower than expected will reduce yield to
maturity.  Amounts available for reinvestment by the Fund are likely to be
greater during a period of declining interest rates and, as a result, are
likely to be reinvested at lower interest rates than during a period of rising
interest rates.  Accelerated prepayments on securities purchased by the Fund at
a premium also impose a risk of loss of principal because the premium may not
have been fully





                                       13
<PAGE>   114

amortized at the time the principal is prepaid in full.  The market for
privately issued mortgage- and asset-backed securities is smaller and less
liquid than the market for government-sponsored mortgage-backed securities.

         The Fund may invest in stripped mortgage- or asset-backed securities,
which receive differing proportions of the interest and principal payments from
the underlying assets.  The market value of such securities generally is more
sensitive to changes in prepayment and interest rates than is the case with
traditional mortgage- and asset-backed securities, and in some cases such
market value may be extremely volatile.  With respect to certain stripped
securities, such as interest only and principal only  classes, a rate of
prepayment that is faster or slower than anticipated may result in the Fund
failing to recover all or a portion of its investment, even though the
securities are rated investment grade.

WHEN-ISSUED SECURITIES

         The Fund may from time to time purchase securities on a "when-issued"
basis.  The price of debt securities purchased on a when-issued basis, which
may be expressed in yield terms, is fixed at the time the commitment to
purchase is made, but delivery and payment for the securities take place at a
later date. Normally, the settlement date occurs within one month of the
purchase.  During the period between the purchase and settlement, no payment is
made by the Fund to the issuer and no interest on debt securities accrues to
the Fund.  Forward commitments involve a risk of loss if the value of the
security to be purchased declines prior to the settlement date, which risk is
in addition to the risk of decline in value of the Fund's other assets.  While
when-issued securities may be sold prior to the settlement date, the Fund
intends to purchase such securities with the purpose of actually acquiring them
unless a sale appears desirable for investment reasons.  At the time the Fund
makes the commitment to purchase a security on a when-issued basis, it will
record the transaction and reflect the value of the security in determining its
net asset value.  The Fund does not believe that its net asset value or income
will be adversely affected by its purchases of securities on a when-issued
basis.

         The Fund will maintain cash and marketable securities equal in value
to commitments for when-issued securities.  Such segregated securities either
will mature or, if necessary, be sold on or before the settlement date.  When
the time comes to pay for when-issued securities, the Fund will meet its
obligations from then-available cash flow, sale of the securities held in the
separate account, sale of other securities or, although it would not normally 
expect to do so, from the sale of the when-issued securities themselves (which 
may have a market value greater or less than the Fund's payment obligation).

ILLIQUID SECURITIES

   
        The Fund may invest in illiquid securities (i.e., securities that are
not readily marketable).  However, the Fund will not acquire illiquid
securities if, as a result, they would comprise more than 15% of the value of
the Fund's net assets (or such other amounts as may be permitted under the 1940
Act).  The Board of Directors of the Corporation, or its delegate, has the
ultimate authority to determine, to the extent permissible under the federal
securities laws, which securities are illiquid for purposes of this limitation. 
Certain securities exempt from registration or issued in transactions exempt
from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), including securities that may be resold pursuant to Rule 144A under the
Securities Act, may be considered liquid. The Board of Directors has delegated
to Strong Capital Management, Inc. (the "Advisor") the day-to-day determination
of the liquidity of a security, although it has retained oversight and ultimate
responsibility for such determinations.  Although no definitive liquidity
criteria are used, the Corporation's Board of Directors has directed the Advisor
to look to such factors as (i) the nature of the market for a security
(including the institutional private resale market), (ii) the terms of certain
securities or other instruments allowing for the disposition to a third party
or the issuer thereof (e.g., certain repurchase obligations and demand
instruments), (iii) the availability of market quotations (e.g., for securities
quoted in PORTAL system), and (iv) other permissible relevant factors.

    
   

         Restricted securities may be sold only in privately negotiated
transactions or in a public offering with respect to which a registration
statement is in effect under the Securities Act.  Where registration is
required, the Fund may be obligated to pay all or part of the registration
expenses and a considerable period may elapse between the time of the decision
to sell and the time the Fund may be permitted to sell a security under an
effective registration statement.  If, during such a period, adverse market
conditions were to develop, the Fund might obtain a less favorable price than
prevailed when it decided to sell.  Restricted securities will be priced at
fair value as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors.  If through
the appreciation of restricted securities or the depreciation of unrestricted
securities, the Fund should be in a position where more than 15% of the value
of its


                                       14
<PAGE>   115

net assets are invested in illiquid assets, including restricted securities
which are not readily marketable, the Fund will take such steps as is deemed
advisable, if any, to protect liquidity.

         The Fund may sell over-the-counter ("OTC") options and, in connection
therewith, segregate assets or cover its obligations with respect to OTC
options written by the Fund.  The assets used as cover for OTC options written
by the Fund will be considered illiquid unless the OTC options are sold to
qualified dealers who agree that the Fund may repurchase any OTC option it
writes at a maximum price to be calculated by a formula set forth in the option
agreement.  The cover for an OTC option written subject to this procedure would
be considered illiquid only to the extent that the maximum repurchase price
under the formula exceeds the intrinsic value of the option.

         Notwithstanding the above, the Advisor intends, as a matter of
internal policy, to limit the Fund's investments in illiquid securities to 10%
of its net assets.

DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS

         As indicated in the Prospectus, the Fund may invest in foreign
securities by purchasing depositary receipts, including American Depositary
Receipts ("ADRs") and European Depositary Receipts ("EDRs"), or other
securities convertible into securities or issuers based in foreign countries.
These securities may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the
securities into which they may be converted.  Generally, ADRs, in registered
form, are denominated in U.S. dollars and are designed for use in the U.S.
securities markets, while EDRs, in bearer form, may be denominated in other
currencies and are designed for use in European securities markets.  ADRs are
receipts typically issued by a U.S. bank or trust company evidencing ownership
of the underlying securities.  EDRs are European receipts evidencing a similar
arrangement.  For purposes of the Fund's investment policies, ADRs and EDRs are
deemed to have the same classification as the underlying securities they
represent.  Thus, an ADR or EDR representing ownership of common stock will be
treated as common stock.

         ADR facilities may be established as either "unsponsored" or
"sponsored." While ADRs issued under these two types of facilities are in some
respects similar, there are distinctions between them relating to the rights
and obligations of ADR holders and the practices of market participants.  A
depositary may establish an unsponsored facility without participation by (or
even necessarily the acquiescence of) the issuer of the deposited securities,
although typically the depositary requests a letter of non-objection from such
issuer prior to the establishment of the facility.  Holders of unsponsored ADRs
generally bear all the costs of such facilities.  The depositary usually
charges fees upon the deposit and withdrawal of the deposited securities, the
conversion of dividends into U.S. dollars, the disposition of non-cash
distributions, and the performance of other services.  The depositary of an
unsponsored facility frequently is under no obligation to distribute
shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited securities
or to pass through voting rights to ADR holders in respect of the deposited
securities.  Sponsored ADR facilities are created in generally the same manner
as unsponsored facilities, except that the issuer of the deposited securities
enters into a deposit agreement with the depositary.  The deposit agreement
sets out the rights and responsibilities of the issuer, the depositary and the
ADR holders.  With sponsored facilities, the issuer of the deposited securities
generally will bear some of the costs relating to the facility (such as
dividend payment fees of the depositary), although ADR holders continue to bear
certain other costs (such as deposit and withdrawal fees).  Under the terms of
most sponsored arrangements, depositories agree to distribute notices of
shareholder meetings and voting instructions, and to provide shareholder
communications and other information to the ADR holders at the request of the
issuer of the deposited securities.

FOREIGN INVESTMENT COMPANIES

         Some of the countries in which the Fund invests may not permit direct
investment by outside investors.  Investments in such countries may only be
permitted through foreign government-approved or -authorized investment
vehicles, which may include other investment companies.  Investing through such
vehicles may involve frequent or layered fees or expenses and may also be
subject to limitation under the 1940 Act.  Under the 1940 Act, a Fund may
invest up to 10% of its assets in shares of investment companies and up to 5%
of its assets in any one investment company as long as the investment does not
represent more than 3% of the voting stock of the acquired investment company.





                                       15
<PAGE>   116


REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

         The Fund may invest in repurchase agreements.  In a repurchase
agreement, the Fund buys a security at one price, and at the time of sale, the
seller agrees to repurchase the obligation at a mutually agreed upon time and
price (usually within seven days).  The repurchase agreement, thereby,
determines the yield during the purchaser's holding period, while the seller's
obligation to repurchase is secured by the value of the underlying security.
If the value of such securities is less than the repurchase price, plus any
agreed-upon additional amount, the other party to the agreement will be
required to provide additional collateral so that at all times the collateral
is at least equal to the repurchase price, plus any agreed-upon additional
amount.  The Advisor will monitor, on an ongoing basis, the value of the
underlying securities to ensure that the value always equals or exceeds the
repurchase price plus accrued interest.  The Fund may, under certain
circumstances, deem repurchase agreements, collateralized by U.S. government
securities to be investments in U.S. government securities.

BORROWING

         The Fund may borrow money from banks, limited by the Fund's
fundamental investment restriction to 33 1/3% of its total assets, and may
engage in mortgage dollar roll transactions and reverse repurchase agreements
which may be considered a form of borrowing. (See "Implementation of Policies
and Risks - Mortgage Dollar Rolls and Reverse Repurchase Agreements" in the
Fund's Prospectus.)  In addition, the Fund may borrow up to an additional 5% of
its total assets from banks for temporary or emergency purposes. The Fund will
not purchase securities when bank borrowings exceed 5% of the Fund's total
assets.

VARIABLE- OR FLOATING-RATE SECURITIES

         The Fund may invest in securities which offer a variable- or
floating-rate of interest.  Variable-rate securities provide for automatic
establishment of a new interest rate at fixed intervals (e.g., daily, monthly,
semi-annually, etc.).  Floating-rate securities provide for automatic
adjustment of the interest rate whenever some specified interest rate index
changes.  The interest rate on variable- or floating-rate securities is
ordinarily determined by reference to or is a percentage of a bank's prime
rate, the 90-day U.S. Treasury bill rate, the rate of return on commercial
paper or bank certificates of deposit, an index of short-term interest rates,
or some other objective measure.

         Variable- or floating-rate securities frequently include a demand
feature entitling the holder to sell the securities to the issuer at par.  In
many cases, the demand feature can be exercised at any time on 7 days notice;
in other cases, the demand feature is exercisable at any time on 30 days notice
or on similar notice at intervals of not more than one year.  Some securities
which do not have variable or floating interest rates may be accompanied by
puts producing similar results and price characteristics.  When considering the
maturity of any instrument which may be sold or put to the issuer or a third
party, the Fund may consider that instrument's maturity to be shorter than its
stated maturity.

         Variable-rate demand notes include master demand notes which are
obligations that permit the Fund to invest fluctuating amounts, which may
change daily without penalty, pursuant to direct arrangements between the Fund,
as lender, and the borrower.  The interest rates on these notes fluctuate from
time to time.  The issuer of such obligations normally has a corresponding
right, after a given period, to prepay in its discretion the outstanding
principal amount of the obligations plus accrued interest upon a specified
number of days' notice to the holders of such obligations.  The interest rate
on a floating-rate demand obligation is based on a known lending rate, such as
a bank's prime rate, and is adjusted automatically each time such rate is
adjusted.  The interest rate on a variable-rate demand obligation is adjusted
automatically at specified intervals.  Frequently, such obligations are secured
by letters of credit or other credit support arrangements provided by banks.
Because these obligations are direct lending arrangements between the lender
and borrower, it is not contemplated that such instruments will generally be
traded.  There generally is not an established secondary market for these
obligations, although they are redeemable at face value.  Accordingly, where
these obligations are not secured by letters of credit or other credit support
arrangements, the Fund's right to redeem is dependent on the ability of the
borrower to pay principal and interest on demand.  Such obligations frequently
are not rated by credit rating agencies and, if not so rated, the Fund may
invest in them only if the Fund's Advisor  determines that at the time of
investment the obligations are of comparable quality to the other obligations
in which the Fund may invest. The Advisor,





                                       16
<PAGE>   117

on behalf of the Fund, will consider on an ongoing basis the creditworthiness
of the issuers of the floating- and variable-rate demand obligations in the
Fund's portfolio.

         The Fund will not invest more than 15% of its net assets in variable-
and floating-rate demand obligations that are not readily marketable (a
variable- or floating-rate demand obligation that may be disposed of on not
more than seven days notice will be deemed readily marketable and will not be
subject to this limitation). (See "Illiquid Securities" and "Investment
Restrictions.")  In addition, each variable- or floating-rate obligation must
meet the credit quality requirements applicable to all the Fund's investments
at the time of purchase.  When determining whether such an obligation meets the
Fund's credit quality requirements, the Fund may look to the credit quality of
the financial guarantor providing a letter of credit or other credit support
arrangement.

         In determining the Fund's weighted average portfolio maturity, the
Fund will consider a floating or variable rate security to have a maturity
equal to its stated maturity (or redemption date if it has been called for
redemption), except that it may consider (i) variable rate securities to have a
maturity equal to the period remaining until the next readjustment in the
interest rate, unless subject to a demand feature, (ii) variable rate
securities subject to a demand feature to have a remaining maturity equal to
the longer of (a) the next readjustment in the interest rate or (b) the period
remaining until the principal can be recovered through demand, and (iii)
floating rate securities subject to a demand feature to have a maturity equal
to the period remaining until the principal can be recovered through demand.
Variable and floating rate securities generally are subject to less principal
fluctuation than securities without these attributes since the securities
usually trade at par following the readjustment in the interest rate.

TEMPORARY DEFENSIVE POSITION

         When the Advisor determines that market conditions warrant a temporary
defensive position, the Fund may invest without limitation in cash and
short-term fixed income securities, including U.S. government securities,
commercial paper, banker's acceptances, certificates of deposit, and time
deposits.

LOAN INTERESTS

         The Fund may acquire a loan interest (a "Loan Interest").  A Loan
Interest is typically originated, negotiated, and structured by a U.S. or
foreign commercial bank, insurance company finance company, or other financial
institution (the "Agent") for a lending syndicate of financial institutions.
The Agent typically administers and enforces the loan on behalf of the other
lenders in the syndicate.  In addition, an institution, typically but not
always the Agent (the "Collateral Bank"), holds collateral (if any) on behalf
of the lenders.  These Loan Interests may take the form of participation
interests in, assignments of or novations of a loan during its secondary
distribution, or direct interests during a primary distribution.  Such Loan
Interests may be acquired from U.S. or foreign banks, insurance companies,
finance companies, or other financial institutions who have made loans or are
members of a lending syndicate or from other holders of Loan Interests.  The
Fund may also acquire Loan Interests under which the Fund derives its rights
directly from the borrower.  Such Loan Interests are separately enforceable by
the Fund against the borrower and all payments of interest and principal are
typically made directly to the Fund from the borrower.  In the event that the
Fund and other lenders become entitled to take possession of shared collateral,
it is anticipated that such collateral would be held in the custody of a
Collateral Bank for their mutual benefit.  The Fund may not act as an Agent, a
Collateral Bank, a guarantor or sole negotiator or structurer with respect to a
loan.

         The Advisor will analyze and evaluate the financial condition of the
borrower in connection with the acquisition of any Loan Interest.  The Advisor
also analyzes and evaluates the financial condition of the Agent and, in the
case of Loan Interests in which the Fund does not have privity with the
borrower, those institutions from or through whom the Fund derives its rights
in a loan (the "Intermediate Participants").

         In a typical loan the Agent administers the terms of the loan
agreement.  In such cases, the Agent is normally responsible for the collection
of principal and interest payments from the borrower and the apportionment of
these payments to the credit of all institutions which are parties to the loan
agreement.  The Fund will generally rely upon the Agent or an Intermediate
Participant to receive and forward to the Fund its portion of the principal and
interest payments on the loan.  Furthermore, unless under the terms of a
participation agreement the Fund has direct recourse against the borrower, the
Fund will rely on the Agent and the other members of the lending syndicate to
use appropriate credit remedies against the borrower.  The Agent is typically





                                       17
<PAGE>   118

responsible for monitoring compliance with covenants contained in the loan
agreement based upon reports prepared by the borrower.  The seller of the Loan
Interest usually does, but is often not obligated to, notify holders of Loan
Interests of any failures of compliance.  The Agent may monitor the value of
the collateral and, if the value of the collateral declines, may accelerate the
loan, may give the borrower an opportunity to provide additional collateral or
may seek other protection for the benefit of the participants in the loan.  The
Agent is compensated by the borrower for providing these services under a loan
agreement, and such compensation may include special fees paid upon structuring
and funding the loan and other fees paid on a continuing basis.  With respect
to Loan Interests for which the Agent does not perform such administrative and
enforcement functions, the Fund will perform such tasks on its own behalf,
although a Collateral Bank will typically hold any collateral on behalf of the
Fund and the other lenders pursuant to the applicable loan agreement.

         A financial institution's appointment as Agent may usually be
terminated in the event that it fails to observe the requisite standard of care
or becomes insolvent, enters Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC")
receivership, or, if not FDIC insured, enters into bankruptcy proceedings.  A
successor Agent would generally be appointed to replace the terminated Agent,
and assets held by the Agent under the loan agreement should remain available
to holders of Loan Interests.  However, if assets held by the Agent for the
benefit of the Fund were determined to be subject to the claims of the Agent's
general creditors, the Fund might incur certain costs and delays in realizing
payment on a loan interest, or suffer a loss of principal and/or interest.  In
situations involving Intermediate Participants similar risks may arise.

         Purchasers of Loan Interests depend primarily upon the
creditworthiness of the borrower for payment of principal and interest.  If the
Fund does not receive scheduled interest or principal payments on such
indebtedness, the Fund's share price and yield could be adversely affected.
Loans that are fully secured offer the Fund more protections than an unsecured
loan in the event of non-payment of scheduled interest or principal.  However,
there is no assurance that the liquidation of collateral from a secured loan
would satisfy the borrower's obligation, or that the collateral can be
liquidated.  Indebtedness of borrowers whose creditworthiness is poor involves
substantially greater risks, and may be highly speculative.  Borrowers that are
in bankruptcy or restructuring may never pay off their indebtedness, or may pay
only a small fraction of the amount owed.  Direct indebtedness of developing
countries will also involve a risk that the governmental entities responsible
for the repayment of the debt may be unable, or unwilling, to pay interest and
repay principal when due.


                   DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION


    
   
        Directors and officers of the Corporation, together with information as
to their principal business occupations during the past five years, and other
information are shown below.  Each director who is deemed an "interested
person," as defined in the 1940 Act, is indicated by an asterisk.  Each officer
and director holds the same positions with the following registered investment
companies:  Strong Advantage Fund, Inc.; Strong American Utilities Fund, Inc.;
Strong Asia Pacific Fund, Inc.; Strong Asset Allocation Fund, Inc.; Strong
Common Stock Fund, Inc.; Strong Corporate Bond Fund, Inc.; Strong Discovery
Fund, Inc.; Strong Government Securities Fund, Inc.; Strong Growth Fund, Inc.;
Strong Heritage Reserve Series, Inc.; Strong High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund,
Inc.; Strong Insured Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.; Strong International Bond Fund,
Inc.; Strong International Stock Fund, Inc.; Strong Money Market Fund, Inc.;
Strong Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.; Strong Municipal Money Market Fund, Inc.;
Strong Opportunity Fund, Inc.; Strong Short-Term Bond Fund, Inc.; Strong
Short-Term Global Bond Fund, Inc.; Strong Short-Term Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.;
Strong Special Fund II, Inc.; Strong Total Return Fund, Inc.;  and Strong U.S.
Treasury Money Market Fund, Inc. (collectively, the "Strong Funds").
    

         *Richard S. Strong (DOB 5/12/42), Chairman of the Board and Director
of the Corporation.

         Prior to August 1985, Mr. Strong was Chief Executive Officer of the
Advisor, which he founded in 1974. Since August 1985, Mr. Strong has been a
Security Analyst and Portfolio Manager of the Advisor.  In October 1991, Mr.
Strong also became the Chairman of the Advisor.  Mr.  Strong is a director of
the Advisor.  Since October 1993, Mr. Strong has been Chairman and a director
of Strong Holdings, Inc.; a Wisconsin corporation and subsidiary of the Advisor
("Holdings"), and the Fund's underwriter, Strong Funds Distributors, Inc.; a
Wisconsin corporation and subsidiary of Holdings ("Distributor").  Since
January 1994, Mr. Strong has been Chairman and a director of Heritage Reserve
Development Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation and  





                                       18
<PAGE>   119
subsidiary of Holdings; and since February 1994, Mr. Strong has been a
member of the Managing Boards of Fussville Real Estate Holdings L.L.C., a
Wisconsin Limited Liability Company and subsidiary of the Advisor, and
Fussville Development L.L.C. a Wisconsin Limited Liability Company and
subsidiary of the Advisor, and certain of its subsidiaries. Mr. Strong has
served as a director of the Corporation since incorporation in December 1990
and Chairman of the Board of the Corporation since January 1992.  Mr. Strong
has been in the investment management business since 1967.

         Marvin E. Nevins (DOB 7/9/18), Director of the Corporation.

         Private Investor.  From 1945 to 1980, Mr. Nevins was Chairman of
Wisconsin Centrifugal Inc.; a foundry. From July 1983 to December 1986, he was
Chairman of General Casting Corp., Waukesha, Wisconsin, a foundry. Mr. Nevins
is a former Chairman of the Wisconsin Association of Manufacturers & Commerce.
He was also a regent of the Milwaukee School of Engineering and a member of the
Board of Trustees of the Medical College of Wisconsin.  Mr. Nevins has served
as a director of the Corporation since incorporation in December 1990.

         Willie D. Davis (DOB 7/24/34), Director of the Corporation.

         Mr. Davis has been director of Alliance Bank Since 1980, Sara Lee
Corporation (a food/consumer products company) since 1983, KMart Corporation (a
discount consumer products company) since 1985, YMCA Metropolitan - Los Angeles
since 1985, Dow Chemical Company since 1988, MGM Grand, Inc. (an
entertainment/hotel company) since 1990, WICOR, Inc. (a utility company) since
1990, Johnson Controls, Inc. (an industrial company) since 1992, L.A. Gear (a
footwear/sportswear company) since 1992, and Rally's Hamburger, Inc. since
1994.  Mr. Davis has been a trustee of the University of Chicago since 1980,
Marquette University since 1988, and Occidental College since 1990.  Since
1977, Mr. Davis has been President and Chief Executive Officer of All Pro
Broadcasting, Inc.  Mr. Davis was a director of the Fireman's Fund (an
insurance company) from 1975 until 1990.  Mr. Davis has served as a director of
the Corporation since July 1994.

         *John Dragisic (DOB 11/26/40), Vice Chairman and Director of the
Corporation.

         Mr. Dragisic has been Vice Chairman and a director of the Advisor and
a director of Holdings and Distributor since July 1994.  Mr.  Dragisic
previously served as a director of the Fund from 1992 and 1994.  Mr. Dragisic
was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Grunau Company, Inc. (a
mechanical contracting and engineering firm), Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1987
until July 1994.  From 1981 to 1987, he was an Executive Vice President with
Grunau Company, Inc.  From 1969 until 1973, Mr. Dragisic worked for the
InterAmerican Development Bank.  Mr.  Dragisic received his Ph.D. in Economics
in 1971 from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and his B.A. degree in
Economics in 1962 from Lake Forest College.  Mr. Dragisic has served as Vice
Chairman of the Corporation since July 1994 and director of the Corporation
since April 1995.

         Stanley Kritzik (DOB 1/9/30), Director of the Corporation.

         Mr. Kritzik has been a Partner of  Metropolitan Associates since 1962,
a Director of Aurora Health Care since 1987, and Health Network Ventures, Inc.
since 1992.  He has served as a director of the Corporation since April 1995.

         William F. Vogt (DOB 7/19/47), Director of the Corporation.

         Mr. Vogt has been the President of Vogt Management Consulting, Inc.
since 1990.  From 1982 until 1990, he served as Executive Director of
University Physicians of the University of Colorado.  Mr. Vogt is the Past
President of the Medical Group Management Association and a Fellow of the
American College of Medical Practice Executives.  He has served as a director
of the Corporation since April 1995.

         Lawrence A. Totsky (DOB 5/6/59), C.P.A., Vice President of the
Corporation.

   
         Mr. Totsky has been Senior Vice President of the Advisor since
December 1994.  Mr. Totsky acted as the Advisor's Manager of Shareholder
Accounting and Compliance from June 1987 to June 1991 when he was named
Director of Mutual Fund Administration. Mr. Totsky has been a Vice President
of the Corporation since May 1993.
    





                                       19
<PAGE>   120

         Thomas P. Lemke (DOB 7/30/54), Vice President of the Corporation.

         Mr. Lemke has been Senior Vice President, Secretary, and General
Counsel of the Advisor since September 1994.  For two years prior to joining
the Advisor, Mr. Lemke acted as Resident Counsel for Funds Management at J.P.
Morgan & Co., Inc.  From February 1989 until April 1992, Mr. Lemke acted as
Associate General Counsel to Sanford C. Bernstein Co., Inc.  For two years
prior to that, Mr. Lemke was Of Counsel at the Washington, D.C. law firm of Tew
Jorden & Schulte, a successor of Finley, Kumble Wagner.  From August 1979 until
December 1986, Mr. Lemke worked at the Securities and Exchange Commission, most
notably as the Chief Counsel to the Division of Investment Management (November
1984 - December 1986), and as Special Counsel to the Office of Insurance
Products, Division of Investment Management (April 1982 - October 1984).  Mr.
Lemke has been a Vice President of the Corporation since October 1994.

         Ann E. Oglanian (DOB 12/7/61), Secretary of the Corporation.

         Ms. Oglanian has been an Associate Counsel of the Advisor since
January 1992.  Ms. Oglanian acted as Associate Counsel for the Chicago-based
investment management firm, Kemper Financial Services, Inc.; from June 1988
until December 1991.  Ms. Oglanian has been the Secretary of the Corporation
since May 1994.

         Ronald A. Neville (DOB 5/21/47), C.P.A., Treasurer of the Corporation.

         Mr. Neville has been the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of the Advisor since January 1995.  For fourteen years prior to that,
Mr. Neville worked at Twentieth Century Companies, Inc., most notably as Senior
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (1988 until December 1994).  Mr.
Neville received his M.B.A. in 1972 from the University of Missouri - Kansas
City and his B.A. degree in Business Administration and Economics in 1969 from
Drury College.  Mr. Neville has been the Treasurer of the Corporation since
April 1995.

         Except for Messrs. Nevins, Davis, Kritzik and Vogt, the address of all
of the above persons is P.O. Box 2936, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201.  Mr. Nevins'
address is 6075 Pelican Bay Boulevard, Naples, Florida 33963.  Mr. Davis'
address is 161 North La Brea, Inglewood, California 90301.  Mr. Kritzik's
address is 1123 North Astor Street, P.O. Box 92547, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
53202-0547.  Mr. Vogt's address is 3003 Third Street Avenue, Denver, Colorado
80206.

         The Strong Funds, a complex of open-end management investment
companies composed of 30 funds, of which the Fund is a part, in the aggregate,
pays each Director who is not a director, officer, or employee of the Advisor,
or any affiliated company (a "disinterested director") an annual fee of
$50,000, plus $100 per Board meeting for each fund.  In addition, each
disinterested director is reimbursed by the funds for travel and other expenses
incurred in connection with attendance at such meetings.  Other officers and
directors of the funds receive no compensation or expense reimbursement from
the funds.

   
         As of July 14, 1995, the officers and directors of the Corporation 
did not own any of the Fund's shares.
    

                             PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS

   
         As of July 14, 1995, no one owned of record and beneficially any shares
of the Fund.
    

                       INVESTMENT ADVISOR AND DISTRIBUTOR

         The Advisor to the Fund is Strong Capital Management, Inc.  Mr.
Richard S. Strong controls the Advisor.  Mr. Strong is the Chairman and a
director of the Advisor, Mr. Dragisic is the Vice Chairman and a director of
the Advisor, Mr. Totsky is a Senior Vice President of the Advisor, Mr. Lemke is
a Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of the Advisor, Mr.
Neville is a Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Advisor,
Ms. Oglanian is an Associate Counsel of the Advisor and Mr. Zoeller is the
Treasurer of the Advisor.  A brief description of the Fund's investment
advisory agreement ("Advisory Agreement") is set forth in the Prospectus under
"Management."





                                       20
<PAGE>   121

   
        The Fund's Advisory Agreement is dated July 10, 1995, and will remain
in effect as to the Fund for a period of two years.  The Advisory Agreement was
approved by the Fund's initial shareholder on its first day of operations. 
Thereafter, the Advisory Agreement is required to be approved annually by the
Board of Directors of the Corporation or by vote of a majority of the Fund's
outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act).  In either case,
each annual renewal must also be approved by the vote of a majority of the
Corporation's directors who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or
interested persons of any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for
the purpose of voting on such approval. The Advisory Agreement is terminable,
without penalty, on 60 days' written notice by the Board of Directors of the
Corporation, by vote of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities,
or by the Advisor.  In addition, the Advisory Agreement will terminate
automatically in the event of its assignment. 
    

         Under the terms of the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor manages the
Fund's investments subject to the supervision of the Corporation's Board of
Directors.  The Advisor is responsible for investment decisions and supplies
investment research and portfolio management.  At its expense, the Advisor
provides office space and all necessary office facilities, equipment, and
personnel for servicing the investments of the Fund.  The Advisor places all
orders for the purchase and sale of the Fund's securities at its expense.

         Except for expenses assumed by the Advisor as set forth above or by
the Distributor as described below with respect to the distribution of the
Fund's shares, the Fund is responsible for all its other expenses, including,
without limitation, interest charges, taxes, brokerage commissions, and similar
expenses; expenses of issue, sale, repurchase, or redemption of shares;
expenses of registering or qualifying shares for sale; expenses for printing
and distribution costs of prospectuses and quarterly financial statements
mailed to existing shareholders; charges of custodians, transfer agent fees
(including the printing and mailing of reports and notices to shareholders),
fees of registrars, fees for auditing and legal services, fees for clerical
services related to recordkeeping and shareholder relations, the cost of stock
certificates and fees for directors who are not "interested persons" of the
Advisor; and its allocable share of the Corporation's expenses.

   
        As compensation for its services, the Fund pays to the Advisor a
monthly management fee at the annual rate of .60% of the Fund's average daily
net asset value.  (See "Additional Information - Calculation of Net Asset
Value" in the Prospectus.)  From time to time, the Advisor may voluntarily
waive all or a portion of its management fee for the Fund.  
    

   
        The Advisory Agreement requires the Advisor to reimburse the Fund in
the event that the expenses and charges payable by the Fund in any fiscal year,
including the management fee but excluding taxes, interest, brokerage
commissions, and similar fees and to the extent permitted extraordinary
expenses, exceed that percentage of the average net asset value of the Fund for
such year. Such excess is determined by valuations made as of the close of each
business day of the year, which is the most restrictive percentage provided by
the state laws of the various states in which the Fund's shares are qualified
for sale; or if the states in which the Fund's shares are qualified for sale
impose no restrictions, the Advisor shall reimburse the Fund in the event the
expenses and charges payable by the Fund in any fiscal year (as described
above) exceed 2%.  The most restrictive percentage limitation currently
applicable to the Fund is 2.5% of its average daily net assets up to
$30,000,000, 2% on the next $70,000,000 of its average daily net assets and
1.5% of its average daily net assets in excess of $100,000,000.  Reimbursement
of expenses in excess of the applicable limitation will be made on a monthly
basis and will be paid to the Fund by reduction of the Advisor's fee, subject
to later adjustment month by month for the remainder of the Fund's fiscal year.
The Advisor may from time to time absorb expenses for the Fund in addition to
the reimbursement of expenses in excess of applicable limitations.
    

         On July 12, 1994, the SEC filed an administrative action (Order)
against the Advisor, Mr. Strong, and another employee of the Advisor in
connection with conduct that occurred between 1987 and early 1990. In re
Strong/Corneliuson Capital Management, Inc.; et al. Admin. Proc.  File No.
3-8411. The proceeding was settled by consent without admitting or denying the
allegations in the Order. The Order alleged that the Advisor and Mr. Strong
aided and abetted violations of Section 17(a) of the 1940 Act by effecting
trades between mutual funds, and between mutual funds and Harbour Investments
Ltd. ("Harbour"), without complying with the exemptive provisions of SEC Rule
17a-7 or otherwise obtaining an exemption. It further alleged that the Advisor
violated, and Mr. Strong aided and abetted violations of, the disclosure
provisions of the 1940 Act and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 by
misrepresenting the Advisor's policy on personal trading and by failing to
disclose trading by Harbour, an entity in which principals of the Advisor owned
between 18 and 25 percent of the voting stock. As part of the settlement, the


                                       21
<PAGE>   122

respondents agreed to a censure and a cease and desist order and the Advisor
agreed to various undertakings, including adoption of certain procedures and a
limitation for six months on accepting certain types of new advisory clients.

         The staff of the U.S. Department of Labor (the "Staff") has contacted
the Advisor regarding alleged cross-trading of securities between 1987 and
early 1990 involving various customer accounts subject to the Employee
Retirement Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA") and managed by the Advisor.  The
Advisor has informed the Staff of the basis for its position that the trades
complied with ERISA and that, in any event, any alleged noncompliance was not
the cause of any losses to the accounts.  The Staff has stated that it
disagrees with the Advisor's positions, although to date it has not filed any
action against the Advisor.  At this time, the Advisor is negotiating with the
Staff regarding a possible resolution of the matter, but it cannot presently
determine whether the matter will be settled or litigated or, if it is settled
or litigated, how it ultimately will be resolved.  However, management
presently believes, based on current knowledge and the Advisor's insurance
coverage, that the ultimate resolution of this matter should not have a
material adverse effect on the Advisor's financial position.

   
         Under a Distribution Agreement dated July 10, 1995 with the
Corporation (the "Distribution Agreement"), Strong Funds Distributors, Inc.
("Distributor"), a subsidiary of the Advisor, acts as underwriter of the Fund's
shares.  The Distribution Agreement provides that the Distributor will use its
best efforts to distribute the Fund's shares.  Shares are only offered and sold
to the separate accounts of certain insurance companies.  Since the Fund is a
"no-load" fund, no sales commissions are charged on the purchase of Fund
shares.  Certain sales charges may apply to the variable annuity or life
insurance contract, which should be described in the prospectus of the
insurance company's separate account.  The Distribution Agreement further
provides that the Distributor will bear the additional costs of printing
prospectuses and shareholder reports which are used for selling purposes, as
well as advertising and other costs attributable to the distribution of the
Fund's shares.  The Distributor is an indirect subsidiary of the Advisor and
controlled by the Advisor and Richard S. Strong. The Distribution Agreement is
subject to the same termination and renewal provisions as are described above
with respect to the Advisory Agreement.
    

                      PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE

         The Advisor is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities
for the Fund and for the placement of the Fund's investment business and the
negotiation of the commissions to be paid on such transactions.  It is the
policy of the Advisor to seek the best execution at the best security price
available with respect to each transaction, in light of the overall quality of
brokerage and research services provided to the Advisor or the Fund. In
over-the-counter transactions, orders are placed directly with a principal
market maker unless it is believed that a better price and execution can be
obtained using a broker.  The best price to the Fund means the best net price
without regard to the mix between purchase or sale price and commission, if
any.  In selecting broker-dealers and in negotiating commissions, the Advisor
considers a variety of factors, including best price and execution, the full
range of brokerage services provided by the broker, as well as its capital
strength and stability, and the quality of the research and research services
provided by the broker.  Brokerage will not be allocated based on the sale of
any shares of the Strong Funds.

         Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Section 28(e)")
permits an investment advisor, under certain circumstances, to cause an account
to pay a broker or dealer a commission for effecting a transaction in excess of
the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for
effecting the transaction in recognition of the value of the brokerage and
research services provided by the broker or dealer.  Brokerage and research
services include (a) furnishing advice as to the value of securities, the
advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities, and the
availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities; (b)
furnishing analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities,
economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy, and the performance of
accounts; and (c) effecting securities transactions and performing functions
incidental thereto (such as clearance, settlement, and custody).

         In carrying out the provisions of the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor
may cause the Fund to pay a broker, which provides brokerage and research
services to the Advisor, a commission for effecting a securities transaction in
excess of the amount another broker would have charged for effecting the
transaction.  The Advisor believes it is important to its investment
decision-making process to have access to independent research.  The Advisory
Agreement provides that such higher commissions will not be paid by the Fund
unless (a) the Advisor determines in good faith that the amount is reasonable
in relation to the services in terms of the particular transaction or in terms
of the Advisor's overall responsibilities with respect to the accounts as to
which it exercises investment discretion; (b) such payment is made in
compliance with the provisions of Section 28(e), other applicable state and
federal laws, and the Advisory Agreement; and (c) in the opinion of the
Advisor, the total commissions paid

                                       22
<PAGE>   123

by the Fund will be reasonable in relation to the benefits to the Fund over the
long term. The investment advisory fee paid by the Fund under the Advisory
Agreement is not reduced as a result of the Advisor's receipt of research
services.

         Generally, research services provided by brokers may include
information on the economy, industries, groups of securities, individual
companies, statistical information, accounting and tax law interpretations,
political developments, legal developments affecting portfolio securities,
technical market action, pricing and appraisal services, credit analysis, risk
measurement analysis, performance analysis, and analysis of corporate
responsibility issues. Such research services are received primarily in the
form of written reports, telephone contacts, and personal meetings with
security analysts. In addition, such research services may be provided in the
form of access to various computer-generated data, computer hardware and
software, and meetings arranged with corporate and industry spokespersons,
economists, academicians, and government representatives. In some cases,
research services are generated by third parties but are provided to the
Advisor by or through brokers. Such brokers may pay for all or a portion of
computer hardware and software costs relating to the pricing of securities.

         Where the Advisor itself receives both administrative benefits and
research and brokerage services from the services provided by brokers, it makes
a good faith allocation between the administrative benefits and the research
and brokerage services, and will pay for any administrative benefits with cash.
In making good faith allocations of costs between administrative benefits and
research and brokerage services, a conflict of interest may exist by reason of
the Advisor's allocation of the costs of such benefits and services between
those that primarily benefit the Advisor and those that primarily benefit the
Fund and other advisory clients.

         From time to time, the Advisor may purchase securities for the Fund in
a fixed price offering. In these situations, the seller may be a member of the
selling group that will, in addition to selling the securities to the Fund and
other advisory clients, provide the Advisor with research. The National
Association of Securities Dealers has adopted rules expressly permitting these
types of arrangements under certain circumstances. Generally, the seller will
provide research "credits" in these situations at a rate that is higher than
that which is available for typical secondary market transactions. These
arrangements may not fall within the safe harbor of Section 28(e).

         Each year, the Advisor considers the amount and nature of research and
research services provided by brokers, as well as the extent to which such
services are relied upon, and attempts to allocate a portion of the brokerage
business of the Fund and other advisory clients on the basis of that
consideration. In addition, brokers may suggest a level of business they would
like to receive in order to continue to provide such services. The actual
brokerage business received by a broker may be more or less than the suggested
allocations, depending upon the Advisor's evaluation of all applicable
considerations.

         During its last fiscal year, the Advisor had an arrangement with
various brokers whereby, in consideration of the providing of research
services, the Advisor allocated brokerage to those firms, provided that their
brokerage and research services were satisfactory to the Advisor and their
execution capabilities were compatible with the Advisor's policy of seeking
best execution at the best security price available, as discussed above.

         The Advisor may direct the purchase of securities on behalf of the
Fund and other advisory clients in secondary market transactions, in public
offerings directly from an underwriter, or in privately negotiated transactions
with an issuer. When the Advisor believes the circumstances so warrant,
securities purchased in public offerings may be resold shortly after
acquisition in the immediate aftermarket for the security in order to take
advantage of price appreciation from the public offering price or for other
reasons. Short-term trading of securities acquired in public offerings, or
otherwise, may result in higher portfolio turnover and associated brokerage
expenses.

         The Advisor places portfolio transactions for other advisory accounts,
including other mutual funds managed by the Advisor.  Research services
furnished by firms through which the Fund effects its securities transactions
may be used by the Advisor in servicing all of its accounts; not all of such
services may be used by the Advisor in connection with the Fund.  In the
opinion of the Advisor, it is not possible to measure separately the benefits
from research services to each of the accounts (including the Fund) managed by
the Advisor. Because the volume and nature of the trading activities of the
accounts are not uniform, the amount of commissions in excess of those charged
by another broker paid by each account for brokerage and research services will
vary.  However, in the opinion of the Advisor, such costs to the Fund will not
be disproportionate to the benefits received by the Fund on a continuing basis.





                                       23
<PAGE>   124
         The Advisor seeks to allocate portfolio transactions equitably
whenever concurrent decisions are made to purchase or sell securities by the
Fund and another advisory account. In some cases, this procedure could have an
adverse effect on the price or the amount of securities available to the Fund.
In making such allocations between the Fund and other advisory accounts, the
main factors considered by the Advisor are the respective investment
objectives, the relative size of portfolio holdings of the same or comparable
securities, the availability of cash for investment, the size of investment
commitments generally held, and the opinions of the persons responsible for
recommending the investment.

         The Corporation has entered into agreements with the Advisor and each
of Salomon and PaineWebber (collectively, the "Brokers"), in which the Brokers
have agreed to pay directly to vendors certain investment management and other
related expenses incurred and otherwise payable by the Fund ("Expense
Agreements"). In accordance with the Expense Agreements, the Advisor directs
the delivery to the Brokers of invoices determined by the Fund to be
appropriate for payment by the Brokers.  The Brokers pay the invoices with the
proceeds of certain commissions received from the Fund.  The Expense Agreements
provide that a percentage of commissions received from the Fund for completed
agency transactions in certain securities for the Fund, designated by the
Advisor as directed commissions subject to the Expense Agreements, shall be
used by the Brokers to pay the invoices.  In all cases, such credits have been
immaterial in amount. The Advisor believes that this practice has not resulted
in any increase in the level of commissions paid by the Fund.  Investment
management and other related expenses include those payable by the Fund, as
described under "Investment Advisor and Distributor" in this Statement of
Additional Information.

                                   CUSTODIAN

         As custodian of the Fund's assets, Firstar Trust Company, P.O. Box
761, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201, has custody of all securities and cash of the
Fund, delivers and receives payment for securities sold, receives and pays for
securities purchased, collects income from investments, and performs other
duties, all as directed by officers of the Corporation.  The custodian is in no
way responsible for any of the investment policies or decisions of the Fund.

   
                  TRANSFER AGENT AND DIVIDEND-DISBURSING AGENT
    

   
         The Advisor acts as transfer agent and dividend-disbursing agent for
the Fund at no cost.
    

   
                           ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
    

   
        From time to time the Fund and/or the Advisor may enter into
arrangements under which certain administrative services may be performed by
the insurance companies that purchase shares in the Fund. These administrative
services may include, among other things, responding to ministerial inquiries
concerning the Fund's investment objective, investment program, policies and
performance, transmitting, on behalf of the Fund, proxy statements, annual
reports, updated prospectuses, and other communications regarding the Fund, and
providing only related services as the Fund or its shareholders may reasonably
request. Depending on the arrangements,  the Fund and/or Advisor may compensate
such insurance companies or their agents directly or indirectly for the
administrative services. To the extent the Fund compensates the insurance
company for these services, the Fund will pay the insurance company an annual
fee that will vary depending upon the number of contract holders that utilize
the Fund as the funding medium for their contracts. The insurance company may
impose other account or service charges. See the prospectus for the separate 
account of the insurance company for additional information regarding such 
charges.
    

                                     TAXES

GENERAL

         As indicated under "Additional Information - Distributions and Taxes"
in the Prospectus, the Fund intends to continue to qualify annually for
treatment as a regulated investment company ("RIC") under the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").  This qualification does not involve
government supervision of the Fund's management practices or policies.

         In order to qualify for treatment as a RIC under the Code, the Fund
must distribute to its shareholders for each taxable year at least 90% of its
investment company taxable income (consisting generally of net investment
income, net short-term capital gain, and net gains from certain foreign
currency transactions) ("Distribution Requirement") and must meet several
additional requirements.  Among these requirements are the following: (1) the
Fund must derive at least 90% of its gross income each taxable year from
dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans, and gains from
the sale or other disposition of





                                       24
<PAGE>   125

securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including gains from
options, futures, or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of
investing in securities or those currencies ("Income Requirement"); (2) the
Fund must derive less than 30% of its gross income each taxable year from the
sale or other disposition of securities, or any of the following, that were
held for less than three months - options or futures (other than those on
foreign currencies), or foreign currencies (or options, futures, or forward
contracts thereon) that are not directly related to the Fund's principal
business or investing in securities (or options and futures with respect to
securities) ("30% Limitation"); (3) 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, with these other securities limited, in respect of any
one issuer, to an amount that does not exceed 5% of the value of the Fund's
total assets and that does not represent more than 10% of the issuer's
outstanding voting securities; and (4) at the close of each quarter of the
Fund's taxable year, not more than 25% of the value of its total assets may be
invested in securities (other than U.S. government securities or the securities
of other RICs) of any one issuer.

         If Fund shares are sold at a loss after being held for six months or
less, the loss will be treated as long-term, instead of short- term, capital
loss to the extent of any capital gain distributions received on those shares.

         In addition, the Fund must satisfy the diversification requirements of
Section 817(h) of the Code.  In general, for the Fund to meet these investment
diversification requirements, Treasury regulations require that no more than
55% of the total value of the assets of the Fund may be represented by any one
investment, no more than 70% by two investments, no more than 80% by three
investments and no more than 90% by four investments.  Generally, for purposes
of the regulations, all securities of the same issuer are treated as a single
investment.  With respect to the United States Government securities (including
any security that is issued, guaranteed or insured by the United States or an
instrumentality of the United States), each governmental agency or
instrumentality is treated as a separate issuer.  Compliance with the
regulations is tested on the last day of each calendar year quarter.  There is
a 30-day period after the end of each calendar year quarter in which to cure
any non-compliance with these requirements.

FOREIGN TRANSACTIONS

         Interest and dividends received by the Fund may be subject to income,
withholding, or other taxes imposed by foreign countries and U.S.  possessions
that would reduce the yield on its securities.  Tax conventions between certain
countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate these foreign taxes,
however, and many foreign countries do not impose taxes on capital gains in
respect of investments by foreign investors.

         The Fund maintains its accounts and calculates its income in U.S.
dollars.  In general, gain or loss (1) from the disposition of foreign
currencies and forward currency contracts, (2) from the disposition of
foreign-currency-denominated debt securities that are attributable to
fluctuations in exchange rates between the date the securities are acquired and
their disposition date, and (3) attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates
between the time the Fund accrues interest or other receivables or expenses or
other liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time the Fund
actually collects those receivables or pays those liabilities, will be treated
as ordinary income or loss.  A foreign-currency-denominated debt security
acquired by the Fund may bear interest at a high normal rate that takes into
account expected decreases in the value of the principal amount of the security
due to anticipated currency devaluations; in that case, the Fund would be
required to include the interest in income as it accrues but generally would
realize a currency loss with respect to the principal only when the principal
was received (through disposition or upon maturity).

         The Fund may invest in the stock of "passive foreign investment
companies" ("PFICs").  A PFIC is a foreign corporation that, in general, meets
either of the following tests: (1) at least 75% of its gross income is passive
or (2) an average of at least 50% of its assets produce, or are held for the
production of, passive income.  Under certain circumstances, the Fund will be
subject to federal income tax on a portion of any "excess distribution"
received on the stock or of any gain on disposition of the stock (collectively,
"PFIC income"), plus interest thereon, even if the Fund distributes the PFIC
income to its shareholders.  The balance of the PFIC income will be included in
the Fund's investment company taxable income and, accordingly, will not be
taxable to it to the extent that income is distributed to its shareholders.  If
the Fund invests in a PFIC and elects to treat the PFIC as a "qualified
electing fund," then in lieu of the foregoing tax and interest obligation, the
Fund will be required to include in income each year its pro rata share of the
qualified electing fund's annual ordinary earnings and net capital gain (the
excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) -- which
probably would have to be distributed to its shareholders to satisfy the





                                       25
<PAGE>   126

Distribution Requirement -- even if those earnings and gain were not received
by the Fund.  In most instances it will be very difficult, if not impossible,
to make this election because of certain requirements thereof.

         The "Tax Simplification and Technical Corrections Bill of 1993,"
passed in May 1994 by the House of Representatives would substantially modify
the taxation of U.S. shareholders of foreign corporations, including
eliminating the provisions described above dealing with PFICs and replacing
them (and other provisions) with a regulatory scheme involving entities called
"passive foreign corporations." Three similar bills were passed by Congress in
1991 and 1992 and were vetoed.  It is unclear at this time whether, and in what
form, the proposed modifications may be enacted into law.

         Pursuant to proposed regulations, open-end RICs such as the Fund would
be entitled to elect to "mark-to-market" their stock in certain PFICs.
"Marking-to-market," in this context, means recognizing as gain for each
taxable year the excess, as of the end of that year, of the fair market value
of each such PFIC's stock over the adjusted basis in that stock (including
mark-to-market gain for each prior year for which an election was in effect).

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

         The use of derivatives strategies, such as purchasing and selling
(writing) options and futures and entering into forward currency contracts,
involves complex rules that will determine for income tax purposes the
character and timing of recognition of the gains and losses the Fund realizes
in connection therewith.  Gains from the disposition of foreign currencies
(except certain gains therefrom that may be excluded by future regulations),
and income from transactions in options, futures, and forward currency
contracts derived by the Fund with respect to its business of investing in
securities or foreign currencies, will qualify as permissible income under the
Income Requirement.  However, income from the disposition of options and
futures (other than those on foreign currencies) will be subject to the 30%
Limitation if they are held for less than three months.  Income from the
disposition of foreign currencies, and options, futures, and forward contracts
on foreign currencies, that are not directly related to the Fund's principal
business of investing in securities (or options and futures with respect to
securities) also will be subject to the 30% Limitation if they are held for
less than three months.

         If the Fund satisfies certain requirements, any increase in value of a
position that is part of a "designated hedge" will be offset by any decrease in
value (whether realized or not) of the offsetting hedging position during the
period of the hedge for purposes of determining whether the Fund satisfies the
30% Limitation.  Thus, only the net gain (if any) from the designated hedge
will be included in gross income for purposes of that limitation.  The Fund
intends that, when it engages in hedging strategies, the hedging transactions
will qualify for this treatment, but at the present time it is not clear
whether this treatment will be available for all of the Fund's hedging
transactions.  To the extent this treatment is not available or is not elected
by the Fund, it may be forced to defer the closing out of certain options,
futures, or forward currency contracts beyond the time when it otherwise would
be advantageous to do so, in order for the Fund to continue to qualify as a
RIC.

         For federal income tax purposes, the Fund is required to recognize as
income for each taxable year its net unrealized gains and losses on options,
futures, and forward currency contracts that are subject to section 1256 of the
Code ("Section 1256 Contracts") and are held by the Fund as of the end of the
year, as well as gains and losses on Section 1256 Contracts actually realized
during the year.  Except for Section 1256 Contracts that are part of a "mixed
straddle" and with respect to which the Fund makes a certain election, any gain
or loss recognized with respect to Section 1256 Contracts is considered to be
60% long-term capital gain or loss and 40% short-term capital gain or loss,
without regard to the holding period of the Section 1256 Contract.  Unrealized
gains on Section 1256 Contracts that have been held by the Fund for less than
three months as of the end of its taxable year, and that are recognized for
federal income tax purposes as described above, will not be considered gains on
investments held for less than three months for purposes of the 30% Limitation.

ZERO-COUPON, STEP-COUPON, AND PAY-IN-KIND SECURITIES

         The Fund may acquire zero-coupon, step-coupon, or other securities
issued with original issue discount.  As a holder of those securities, the Fund
must include in its income the original issue discount that accrues on the
securities during the taxable year, even if the Fund receives no corresponding
payment on the securities during the year.  Similarly, the Fund must include in
its income securities it receives as "interest" on pay-in-kind securities.
Because the Fund annually must distribute substantially all of its investment
company taxable income, including any original issue discount and other
non-cash income, to satisfy the Distribution Requirement, it may be required in
a particular year to distribute as a dividend an amount that is greater than
the total





                                       26
<PAGE>   127

amount of cash it actually receives.  Those distributions may be made from the
proceeds on sales of portfolio securities, if necessary.  The Fund may realize
capital gains or losses from those sales, which would increase or decrease its
investment company taxable income or net capital gain, or both.  In addition,
any such gains may be realized on the disposition of securities held for less
than three months.  Because of the 30% Limitation, any such gains would reduce
the Fund's ability to sell other securities, or certain options, futures, or
forward currency  contracts, held for less that three months that it might wish
to sell in the ordinary course of its portfolio management.

                        DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

         A more complete discussion of the Fund's determination of net asset
value is contained in the Prospectus.  Generally, the net asset value of the
Fund will be determined as of the close of trading on each day the New York
Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") is open for trading. The NYSE is open for trading
Monday through Friday except New Year's Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday,
Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
Additionally, if any of the aforementioned holidays falls on a Saturday, the
NYSE will not be open for trading on the preceding Friday, and when any such
holiday falls on a Sunday, the NYSE will not be open for trading on the
succeeding Monday, unless unusual business conditions exist, such as the ending
of a monthly or the yearly accounting period.

                               FUND ORGANIZATION

   
         The Fund is a series of Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc., a
Wisconsin corporation (the "Corporation").  The Corporation (formerly known as
Strong Discovery Fund II, Inc., formerly known as Strong D Fund, Inc.) was
organized on December 28, 1990 and is authorized to issue 10,000,000,000 shares
of common stock and series and classes of series of shares of common stock,
with a par value of $.00001 per share.  The Corporation is authorized to issue
300,000,000 shares of common stock of the Fund.  Each share of the Corporation
has one vote, and all shares of a series participate equally in dividends and
other capital gains distributions and in the residual assets of that Fund in
the event of liquidation. Fractional shares have the same rights
proportionately as do full shares. Shares of the Corporation have no
preemptive, conversion, or subscription rights.  The Corporation currently has
six series of common stock outstanding.  The assets belonging to each
series of shares is held separately by a custodian, and in effect each series
is a separate fund.  All holders of shares of the Corporation would vote on
each matter presented to shareholders for action except with respect to any
matter which affects only one or more series or classes, in which case only the
shares of the affected series or class shall be entitled to vote.  Because of
current federal securities law requirements the Corporation expects that its
shareholders will offer to owners of variable annuity and variable life
insurance contracts the opportunity to instruct them as to how shares allocable
to their contracts will be voted with respect to certain matters, such as
approval of changes to the investment advisory agreement.  The Wisconsin
Business Corporation Law permits registered investment companies, such as the
series of the Corporation, to operate without an annual meeting of shareholders
under specified circumstances if an annual meeting is not required by the 1940
Act.  The Corporation has adopted the appropriate provisions in its Bylaws and
may, at its discretion, not hold an annual meeting in any year in which the
election of directors is not required to be acted on by shareholders under the
1940 Act.
    

   
         The Corporation's Bylaws allow for a director to be removed with or
without cause, only at a meeting called for the purpose of removing the
director. Upon the written request of the holders of shares entitled to not less
than ten percent (10%) of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting,
the Secretary of the Corporation shall promptly call a special meeting of
shareholders for the purpose of voting upon the question of removal of any
director. The Secretary shall inform such shareholders of the reasonable
estimated costs of preparing and mailing the notice of the meeting, and upon
payment to the Corporation of such costs, the Corporation shall give not less
than ten nor more than sixty days notice of the special meeting.  
    





                                       27
<PAGE>   128

of all shareholders as recorded on the books of the Corporation; or (2) inform
such applicants as to the approximate number of shareholders of record and the
approximate cost of mailing to them the proposed communication and form of
request.

         If the Secretary elects to follow the course specified in clause (2)
of the last sentence of the preceding paragraph, the Secretary, upon the
written request of such applicants, accompanied by a tender of the material to
be mailed and of the reasonable expenses of mailing, shall, with reasonable
promptness, mail such material to all shareholders of record at their addresses
as recorded on the books unless within five business days after such tender the
Secretary shall mail to such applicants and file with the SEC, together with a
copy of the material to be mailed, a written statement signed by at least a
majority of the Board of Directors to the effect that in their opinion either
such material contains untrue statements of fact or omits to state facts
necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading, or would be
in violation of applicable law, and specifying the basis of such opinion.

         After opportunity for hearing upon the objections specified in the
written statement so filed, the SEC may, and if demanded by the Board of
Directors or by such applicants shall, enter an order either sustaining one or
more of such objections or refusing to sustain any of them.  If the SEC shall
enter an order refusing to sustain any of such objections, or if, after the
entry of an order sustaining one or more of such objections, the SEC shall
find, after notice and opportunity for hearing, that all objections so
sustained have been met, and shall enter an order so declaring, the Secretary
shall mail copies of such material to all shareholders with reasonable
promptness after the entry of such order and the renewal of such tender.

                            PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

         As described under "Additional Information - Performance Information"
in the Prospectus, the Fund's historical performance or return may be shown in
the form of "yield," "average annual total return," "total return," and
"cumulative total return."  From time to time, the Advisor may voluntarily
waive all or a portion of its management fee and/or absorb certain expenses for
the Fund.  Total returns contained in advertisements include the effect of
deducting the Fund's expenses, but may not include charges and expenses
attributable to any particular insurance product.  Since shares may only be
purchased by the separate accounts of certain insurance companies, contracts
owners should carefully review the prospectus of the separate account for
information on fees and expenses.  Excluding such fees and expenses from the
Fund's total return quotations has the effect of increasing the performance
quoted.

YIELD

         The Fund's yield is computed in accordance with a standardized method
prescribed by rules of the SEC.  Under that method, the current yield quotation
for the Fund is based on a one month or 30-day period.  The yield is computed
by dividing the net investment income per share earned during the 30-day or one
month period by the maximum offering price per share on the last day of the
period, according to the following formula:

                                                      6
                                  YIELD = 2[( a-b + 1) - 1]
                                              ---     
                                              cd


         Where:   a = dividends and interest earned during the period.
                  b = expenses accrued for the period (net of reimbursements).
                  c = the average daily number of shares outstanding during 
                      the period that were entitled to receive dividends.
                  d = the maximum offering price per share on the last day of 
                      the period.

         In computing yield, the Fund follows certain standardized accounting
practices specified by SEC rules.  These practices are not necessarily
consistent with those that the Fund uses to prepare annual and interim
financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.





                                       28
<PAGE>   129

DISTRIBUTION RATE

         The distribution rate is computed, according to a non-standardized
formula, by dividing the total amount of actual distributions per share paid by
the Fund over a twelve month period by the Fund's net asset value on the last
day of the period.  The distribution rate differs from the Fund's yield because
the distribution rate includes distributions to shareholders from sources other
than dividends and interest, such as premium income from option writing and
short-term capital gains.  Therefore, the Fund's distribution rate may be
substantially different than its yield.  Both the Fund's yield and distribution
rate will fluctuate.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN

         The Fund's average annual total return quotation is computed in
accordance with a standardized method prescribed by rules of the SEC.  The
average annual total return for the Fund for a specific period is found by
first taking a hypothetical $10,000 investment ("initial investment") in the
Fund's shares on the first day of the period and computing the "redeemable
value" of that investment at the end of the period.  The redeemable value is
then divided by the initial investment, and this quotient is taken to the Nth
root (N representing the number of years in the period) and one is subtracted
from the result, which is then expressed as a percentage.  The calculation
assumes that all income and capital gains dividends paid by the Fund have been
reinvested at net asset value on the reinvestment dates during the period.

TOTAL RETURN

         Calculation of the Fund's total return is not subject to a
standardized formula.  Total return performance for a specific period is
calculated by first taking an investment (assumed below to be $10,000)
("initial investment") in the Fund's shares on the first day of the period and
computing the "ending value" of that investment at the end of the period.  The
total return percentage is then determined by subtracting the initial
investment from the ending value and dividing the remainder by the initial
investment and expressing the result as a percentage.  The calculation assumes
that all income and capital gains dividends paid by the Fund have been
reinvested at net asset value on the reinvestment dates during the period.
Total return may also be shown as the increased dollar value of the
hypothetical investment over the period.

CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN

         Calculation of the Fund's cumulative total return is not subject to a
standardized formula and represents the simple change in value of an investment
over a stated period and may be quoted as a percentage or as a dollar amount.
Total returns and cumulative total returns may be broken down into their
components of income and capital (including capital gains and changes in share
price) in order to illustrate the relationship between these factors and their
contributions to total return.

         The Fund's performance figures are based upon historical results and
do not represent future performance.  The Fund's shares are sold at net asset
value per share.  The Fund's returns and net asset value will fluctuate and
shares are redeemable at the then current net asset value of the Fund, which
may be more or less than original cost.  Factors affecting the Fund's
performance include general market conditions, operating expenses, and
investment management.  Any additional fees charged by an insurance company or
other financial services firm would reduce the returns described in this
section.

COMPARISONS

(1)      U.S. TREASURY BILLS, NOTES, OR BONDS
         Investors may also wish to compare the performance of the Fund to that
of United States Treasury bills, notes, or bonds, which are issued by the U.S.
government, because such instruments represent alternative income producing
products.  Treasury obligations are issued in selected denominations.  Rates of
Treasury obligations are fixed at the time of issuance and payment of principal
and interest is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States
Treasury.  The market value of such instruments will generally fluctuate
inversely with interest rates prior to maturity and will equal par value at
maturity.





                                       29
<PAGE>   130

(2)      CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT
         Investors may wish to compare the Fund's performance to that of
certificates of deposit offered by banks and other depositary institutions.
Certificates of deposit represent an alternative income producing product.
Certificates of deposit may offer fixed or variable interest rates and
principal is guaranteed and may be insured. Withdrawal of the deposits prior to
maturity normally will be subject to a penalty.  Rates offered by banks and
other depositary institutions are subject to change at any time specified by
the issuing institution.

(3)      MONEY MARKET FUNDS
         Investors may also want to compare performance of the Fund to that of
money market funds.  Money market fund yields will fluctuate and an investment
in money market fund shares is neither insured nor guaranteed by the U.S.
government, but share values usually remain stable.

(4)      LIPPER ANALYTICAL SERVICES, INC. ("LIPPER") AND OTHER INDEPENDENT
RANKING ORGANIZATIONS
         From time to time, in marketing and other fund literature, the Fund's
performance may be compared to the performance of other mutual funds in general
or to the performance of particular types of mutual funds, with similar
investment goals, as tracked by independent organizations.  Among these
organizations, Lipper, a widely used independent research firm which ranks
mutual funds by overall performance, investment objectives, and assets, may be
cited.  Lipper performance figures are based on changes in net asset value,
with all income and capital gain dividends reinvested.  Such calculations do
not include the effect of any sales charges imposed by other funds.  The Fund
will be compared to Lipper's appropriate fund category, that is, by fund
objective and portfolio holdings.

(5)      MORNINGSTAR, INC.
         The Fund's performance may also be compared to the performance of
other mutual funds by Morningstar, Inc. which rates funds on the basis of
historical risk and total return.  Morningstar's ratings range from five stars
(highest) to one star (lowest) and represent Morningstar's assessment of the
historical risk level and total return of the Fund as a weighted average for 3,
5, and 10 year periods.  Ratings are not absolute and do not represent future
results.

(6)      VARDS REPORT
         The Fund's performance may also be compared to the performance of
other variable annuity products in general or to the performance of particular
types of variable annuity products, with similar investment goals, as tracked
by the VARDS Report (Variable Annuity Research and Data Service Report)
produced by Financial Planning Resources, Inc.  The VARDS Report is a monthly
performance analysis of the variable annuity industry.

(7)      INDEPENDENT SOURCES
         Evaluations of Fund performance made by independent sources may also
be used in advertisements concerning the Fund, including reprints of, or
selections from, editorials or articles about the Fund, especially those with
similar objectives.  Sources for Fund performance information and articles
about the Fund may include publications such as Money, Forbes, Kiplinger's,
Smart Money, Morningstar, Inc., Financial World, Business Week, U.S. News and
World Report, The Wall Street Journal, Barron's, and a variety of investment
newsletters.

(8)      VARIOUS BANK PRODUCTS
         The Fund's performance also may be compared on a before or after-tax
basis to various bank products, including the average rate of bank and thrift
institution money market deposit accounts, Super N.O.W. accounts and
certificates of deposit of various maturities as reported in the Bank Rate
Monitor, National Index of 100 leading banks, and thrift institutions as
published by the Bank Rate Monitor, Miami Beach, Florida.  The rates published
by the Bank Rate Monitor National Index are averages of the personal account
rates offered on the Wednesday prior to the date of publication by 100 large
banks and thrifts in the top ten Consolidated Standard Metropolitan Statistical
Areas.  The rates provided for the  bank accounts assume no compounding and are
for the lowest minimum deposit required to open an account.  Higher rates may
be available for larger deposits.

         With respect to money market deposit accounts and Super N.O.W.
accounts, account minimums range upward from $2,000 in each institution and
compounding methods vary.  Super N.O.W. accounts generally offer unlimited
check writing while money market deposit accounts generally restrict the number
of checks that may be written.  If more than one rate is offered, the lowest
rate is used.  Rates are determined by the financial institution and are
subject to change at any time specified by the institution.  Generally, the
rates offered for these products take market conditions and competitive product
yields into consideration






                                      30
<PAGE>   131

when set.  Bank products represent a taxable alternative income producing
product.  Bank and thrift institution deposit accounts may be insured.
Shareholder accounts in the Fund are not insured.  Bank passbook savings
accounts compete with money market mutual fund products with respect to certain
liquidity features but may not offer all of the features available from a money
market mutual fund, such as check writing.  Bank passbook savings accounts
normally offer a fixed rate of interest while the yield of the Fund fluctuates.
Bank checking accounts normally do not pay interest but compete with money
market mutual fund products with respect to certain liquidity features (e.g.,
the ability to write checks against the account).  Bank certificates of deposit
may offer fixed or variable rates for a set term.  (Normally, a variety of
terms are available.)  Withdrawal of these deposits prior to maturity will
normally be subject to a penalty.

(9)      INDICES
         A Fund may compare its performance to a wide variety of indices
including the following:

         (a)     The Consumer Price Index
         (b)     Merrill Lynch 91 Day Treasury Bill Index
         (c)     Merrill Lynch Government/Corporate 1-3 Year Index
         (d)     IBC/Donoghue's Taxable Money Fund Average(TM)
         (e)     IBC/Donoghue's Government Money Fund Average(TM)
         (f)     Salomon Brothers 1-Month Treasury Bill Index
         (g)     Salomon Brothers 3-Month Treasury Bill Index
         (h)     Salomon Brothers 1-Year Treasury Benchmark-on-the-Run Index
         (i)     Salomon Brothers 1-3 Year Treasury/Government-Sponsored/
                 Corporate Bond Index
         (j)     Salomon Brothers Corporate Bond Index
         (k)     Salomon Brothers AAA, AA, A, BBB, and BB Corporate Bond Indexes
         (l)     Salomon Brothers Broad Investment-Grade Bond Index
         (m)     Salomon Brothers High-Yield BBB Index
         (n)     Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index
         (o)     Lehman Brothers 1-3 Year Government/Corporate Bond Index
         (p)     Lehman Brothers Intermediate Government/Corporate Bond Index
         (q)     Lehman Brothers Intermediate AAA, AA, and A Corporate Bond 
                 Indexes
         (r)     Lehman Brothers Government/Corporate Bond Index
         (s)     Lehman Brothers Corporate Baa Index
         (t)     Lehman Brothers Intermediate Corporate Baa Index

(10)      HISTORICAL ASSET CLASS RETURNS
         From time to time, marketing materials may portray the historical
returns of various asset classes.  Such presentations will typically compare
the average annual rates of return of inflation, U.S. Treasury bills, bonds,
common stocks, and small stocks. There are important differences between each
of these investments that should be considered in viewing any such comparison.
The market value of stocks will fluctuate with market conditions, and
small-stock prices generally will fluctuate more than large-stock prices. Bond
prices generally will fluctuate inversely with interest rates and other market
conditions, and the prices of bonds with longer maturities generally will
fluctuate more than those of shorter-maturity bonds. Interest rates for bonds
may be fixed at the time of issuance, and payment of principal and interest may
be guaranteed by the issuer and, in the case of U.S. Treasury obligations,
backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury.

   
(11)    STRONG VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS
        The Strong Variable Insurance Funds offer a range of investment
options. All of the members of the Strong Variable Insurance Funds and their
investment objectives are listed below. The Funds are listed in ascending order
of risk and return, as determined by the Funds' Advisor.
    

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>                     
FUND NAME                                        INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                              <C>
Strong Advantage Fund II                         Current income with a very low degree of
                                                 share-price fluctuation.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Government Securities Fund II             Total return by investing for a high level of current income 
                                                 with a moderate degree of share-price fluctuation.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Asset Allocation Fund II                  High total return consistent with reasonable risk over the 
                                                 long term.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Special Fund II                           Capital growth.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Growth Fund II                            Capital growth.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Discovery Fund II                         Capital growth.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong International Stock Fund II               Capital growth.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
    

        
        Each Fund may from time to time be compared to the other Funds in
the Strong Variable Insurance Funds based on a risk/reward spectrum. In
general, the amount of risk associated with any investment product is
commensurate with that product's potential level of reward. The Strong Variable
Insurance Funds' risk/reward continuum or any Fund's position on the continuum
may be described or diagrammed in marketing materials. The Strong Variable
Insurance Funds' risk/reward continuum positions the risk and reward potential
of each Fund relative to the other Strong Variable Insurance Funds, but is not
intended to position any Fund relative to other mutual funds or investment
products. Marketing materials may also discuss the relationship between risk and
reward as it relates to an individual investor's portfolio. Financial goals vary
from person to person. You may choose one or more of the Strong Variable
Insurance Funds to help you reach your financial goals.
        

        
        The Advisor also serves as advisor to the Strong Family of Funds, which
is a retail fund complex composed of 23 open-end management investment
companies.
        

ADDITIONAL FUND INFORMATION

(1)      DURATION

         Duration is a calculation that measures the price sensitivity of the
Fund to changes in interest rates. Theoretically, if the Fund had a duration of
2.0, a 1% increase in interest rates would cause the prices of the bonds in the
Fund to decrease by approximately 2%. Conversely, a 1% decrease in interest
rates would cause the prices of the bonds in the Fund to increase by
approximately 2%. Depending on the direction of market interest rates, the
Fund's duration may be shorter or longer than its average maturity.





                                       31
<PAGE>   132

(2)      PORTFOLIO CHARACTERISTICS

         In order to present a more complete picture of a Fund's portfolio,
marketing materials may include various actual or estimated portfolio
characteristics, including but not limited to median market capitalizations,
earnings per share, alphas, betas, price/earnings ratios, returns on equity,
dividend yields, capitalization ranges, growth rates, price/book ratios, top
holdings, sector breakdowns, asset allocations, quality breakdowns, and
breakdowns by geographic region.

(3)      MEASURES OF VOLATILITY AND RELATIVE PERFORMANCE

         Occasionally statistics may be used to specify Fund volatility or
risk. The general premise is that greater volatility connotes greater risk
undertaken in achieving performance.  Measures of volatility or risk are
generally used to compare the Fund's net asset value or performance relative to
a market index.  One measure of volatility is beta.  Beta is the volatility of
a fund relative to the total market as represented by the Standard & Poor's 500
Stock Index.  A beta of more than 1.00 indicates volatility greater than the
market, and a beta of less than 1.00 indicates volatility less than the market.
Another measure of volatility or risk is standard deviation. Standard deviation
is a statistical tool that measures the degree to which a fund's performance
has varied from its average performance during a particular time period.

Standard deviation is calculated using the following formula:

      Standard deviation = the square root of  a(x - x)2
                                                  i   m
                                               -----------
                                                  n-1
where    a = "the sum of",
           xi = each individual return during the time period,
           xm = the average return over the time period, and
           n = the number of individual returns during the time period.

         Statistics may also be used to discuss a fund's relative performance.
One such measure is alpha. Alpha measures the actual return of a fund compared
to the expected return of a fund given its risk (as measured by beta).  The
expected return is based on how the market as a whole performed, and how the
particular fund has historically performed against the market. Specifically,
alpha is the actual return less the expected return. The expected return is
computed by multiplying the advance or decline in a market representation by
the fund's beta. A positive alpha quantifies the value that the fund manager
has added, and a negative alpha quantifies the value that the fund manager has
lost.

         Other measures of volatility and relative performance may be used as
appropriate. However, all such measures will fluctuate and do not represent
future results.

                              GENERAL INFORMATION

BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY

         The Advisor is an independent, Midwestern-based investment advisor,
owned by professionals active in its management. Recognizing that investors are
the focus of its business, the Advisor strives for excellence both in
investment management and in the service provided to investors. This commitment
affects many aspects of the business, including professional staffing, product
development, investment management, and service delivery.  Through its
commitment to excellence, the Advisor intends to benefit investors and to
encourage them to think of Strong Funds as their mutual fund family.

         The increasing complexity of the capital markets requires specialized
skills and processes for each asset class and style. Therefore, the Advisor
believes that active management should produce greater returns than a passively
managed index.  The Advisor has brought together a group of top-flight
investment professionals with diverse product expertise, and each concentrates
on their investment specialty. The Advisor believes that people are the firm's
most important asset. For this reason, continuity of professionals is critical
to the firm's long-term success.





                                       32
<PAGE>   133

INVESTMENT ENVIRONMENT

         Discussions of economic, social, and political conditions and their
impact on the Fund may be used in advertisements and sales materials.  Such
factors that may impact the Fund include, but are not limited to, changes in
interest rates, political developments, the competitive environment, consumer
behavior, industry trends, technological advances, macroeconomic trends, and
the supply and demand of various financial instruments.  In addition, marketing
materials may cite the portfolio management's views or interpretations of such
factors.

EIGHT BASIC PRINCIPLES FOR SUCCESSFUL MUTUAL FUND INVESTING
         These common sense rules are followed by many successful investors.
They make sense for beginners, too. If you have a question on these principles,
or would like to discuss them with us, please contact us at 1-800-368-3863.

1.  Have a plan - even a simple plan can help you take control of your
    financial future. Review your plan once a year, or if your circumstances
    change.

2.  Start investing as soon as possible. Make time a valuable ally. Let it put
    the power of compounding to work for you, while helping to
    reduce your potential investment risk.

3.  Diversify your portfolio. By investing in different asset classes - stocks,
    bonds, and cash - you help protect against poor performance in
    one type of investment while including investments most likely to help you
    achieve your important goals.

4.  Invest regularly. Investing is a process, not a one-time event. Make a
    habit of investing. And make it easy for yourself with an "automatic
    investment plan." This popular strategy not only helps you manage investment
    risk, it also ensures you "pay yourself first" on a regular basis.

5.  Maintain a long-term perspective. For most individuals, the best discipline
    is staying invested as market conditions change. Reactive,
    emotional investment decisions are all too often a source of regret - and
    principal loss.

6.  Consider stocks to help achieve major long-term goals. Over time, stocks
    have provided the more powerful returns needed to help the value
    of your investments stay well ahead of inflation.

7.  Keep a comfortable amount of cash in your portfolio. To meet current needs,
    including emergencies, use a money market fund or a bank account - not your
    long-term investment assets.

8.  Know what you're buying. Make sure you understand the potential risks and
    rewards associated with each of your investments. Ask
    questions...request information...make up your own mind. And choose a fund
    company that helps you make informed investment decisions.


                              PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT






                                       33
<PAGE>   134


         The Advisor believes that actively managing the Fund's portfolio and
adjusting the average portfolio maturity according to the Advisor's interest
rate outlook is the best way to achieve the Fund's objectives.  This policy is
based on a fundamental belief that economic and financial conditions create
favorable and unfavorable investment periods (or seasons) and that these
different seasons require different investment approaches. Through its active
management approach, the Advisor seeks to avoid or reduce any negative change
in the Fund's net asset value per share during the periods of falling bond
prices and provide consistently positive annual returns throughout the seasons
of investment.

The Advisor's investment philosophy includes the following basic beliefs:

1.  Active management pursued by a team with a uniform discipline across the
    fixed income spectrum can produce results that are superior to
    those produced through passive management.

2.  Controlling risk by making only moderate deviations from the defined
    benchmark is the cornerstone of successful fixed income investing.

3.  Successful fixed income management is best pursued on a top-down basis
    utilizing fundamental techniques.

The investment process includes decisions made at four levels that are
consistent with the Advisor's viewpoint of the path of economic activity,
interest rates, and the supply of and demand for credit. The goal is to derive
equivalent amounts of excess performance and risk control over the long run
from each of the four levels of decision-making:

1.  Duration.  Each Fund's portfolio duration is managed within a range
    relative to its respective benchmark.

2.  Yield Curve. Modest overweights and underweights along the yield curve are
    made to benefit from changes in the yield curve's shape.

3.  Sector/Quality. Sector weightings are generally maintained between zero and
    two times those of the benchmark.

4.  Security Selection.  Quantitative analysis drives issue selection in the
    Treasury and mortgage marketplace. Proactive credit research drives 
    corporate issue selection.

Risk control is pursued at three levels:

1.  Portfolio structure.  In structuring the portfolio, the Advisor carefully
    considers such factors as position sizes, duration, benchmark
    characteristics, and the use of illiquid securities.

2.  Credit research. Proactive credit research is used to identify issues which
    the Advisor believes will be candidates for credit upgrade.
    This research includes visiting company management, establishing appropriate
    values for credit ratings, and monitoring yield spread relationships.

3.  Portfolio monitoring. Portfolio fundamentals are re-evaluated continuously,
    and buy/sell targets are established and generally adhered to.


                            INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

         Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., 411 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee,
Wisconsin 53202, have been selected as the independent accountants for the
Fund, providing audit services and assistance and consultation with respect to
the preparation of filings with the SEC.

                                 LEGAL COUNSEL

         Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.,  780 North Water Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
53202, acts as outside legal counsel for the Fund.





                                       34
<PAGE>   135

                                    APPENDIX

                                  BOND RATINGS

                         STANDARD & POOR'S DEBT RATINGS

         A Standard & Poor's corporate or municipal debt rating is a current
assessment of the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific
obligation.  This assessment may take into consideration obligors such as
guarantors, insurers, or lessees.

         The debt rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell, or hold a
security, inasmuch as it does not comment as to market price or suitability for
a particular investor.

         The ratings are based on current information furnished by the issuer
or obtained by S&P from other sources it considers reliable.  S&P does not
perform an audit in connection with any rating and may, on occasion, rely on
unaudited financial information.  The ratings may be changed, suspended, or
withdrawn as a result of changes in, or unavailability of, such information, or
for other circumstances.

         The ratings are based, in varying degrees,
on the following considerations:

                 1.  Likelihood of default -- capacity and willingness of the 
                     obligor as to the timely payment of interest and repayment
                     of principal in accordance with the terms of the 
                     obligation.

                 2.  Nature of and provisions of the obligation.

                 3.  Protection afforded by, and relative position of, the 
                     obligation in the event of bankruptcy, reorganization, or 
                     other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other 
                     laws affecting creditors' rights.

INVESTMENT GRADE
         AAA Debt rated 'AAA' has the highest rating assigned by Standard &
Poor's.  Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.

         AA Debt rated 'AA' has a very strong capacity to pay interest and
repay principal and differs from the highest rated issues only in small degree.

         A Debt rated 'A' has a strong capacity to pay interest and repay
principal although it is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of
changes in circumstances and economic conditions than debt in higher rated
categories.

         BBB Debt rated 'BBB' is regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay
interest and repay principal.  Whereas it normally exhibits adequate protection
parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more
likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for
debt in this category than in higher rated categories.

SPECULATIVE GRADE
         Debt rated 'BB', 'B', 'CCC', 'CC' and 'C' is regarded as having
predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay
interest and repay principal.  'BB' indicates the least degree of speculation
and 'C' the highest.  While such debt will likely have some quality and
protective characteristics, these are outweighed by large uncertainties or
major risk exposures to adverse conditions.

         BB Debt rated 'BB' has less near-term vulnerability to default than
other speculative issues.  However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or
exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could
lead to inadequate capacity to meet timely interest and principal payments.
The 'BB' rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that
is assigned an actual or implied 'BBB-' rating.





                                      A-1
<PAGE>   136

         B Debt rated 'B' has a greater vulnerability to default but currently
has the capacity to meet interest payments and principal repayments.  Adverse
business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair capacity or
willingness to pay interest and repay principal.  The 'B' rating category is
also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or
implied 'BB' or 'BB-' rating.

         CCC Debt rated 'CCC' has a currently identifiable vulnerability to
default, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic
conditions to meet timely payment of interest and repayment of principal.  In
the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, it is not
likely to have the capacity to pay interest and repay principal.  The 'CCC'
rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is
assigned an actual or implied 'B' or 'B-' rating.

         CC Debt rated 'CC' typically is applied to debt subordinated to senior
debt that is assigned an actual or implied 'CCC' rating.

         C  Debt rated 'C' typically is applied to debt subordinated to senior
debt which is assigned an actual or implied 'CCC-' debt rating.  The 'C' rating
may be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy petition has been filed,
but debt service payments are continued.

         CI The rating 'CI' is reserved for income bonds on which no interest
is being paid.

         D  Debt rated 'D' is in payment default.  The 'D' rating category is
used when interest payments or principal payments are not made on the date due
even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless S&P believes that
such payments will be made during such grade period.  The 'D' rating also will
be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition if debt service payments are
jeopardized.


                         MOODY'S LONG-TERM DEBT RATINGS

         Aaa  - Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality.
They carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to
as "gilt edged".  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 risk appear somewhat larger than in Aaa
securities.

         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 some time 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 length of time.  Such Bonds lack outstanding
investment characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as
well.

         Ba - Bonds which are rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements;
their future cannot be considered as well-assured. Often the protection of
interest and principal payments may be very moderate, and thereby not well
safeguarded during both good and bad times over the future.  Uncertainty of
position characterizes Bonds in this class.

         B - Bonds which are rated B generally lack characteristics of the
desirable investment.  Assurance of interest and principal payments or of
maintenance of other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be
small.





                                      A-2
<PAGE>   137

         Caa - Bonds which are rated Caa are of poor standing.  Such issues may
be in default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to
principal or interest.

         Ca - Bonds which are rated Ca represent obligations which are
speculative in a high degree.  Such issues are often in default or have other
marked shortcomings.

         C - Bonds which are rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds, and
issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever
attaining any real investment standing.


                   FITCH INVESTORS SERVICE, INC. BOND RATINGS

         Fitch investment grade bond ratings provide a guide to investors in
determining the credit risk associated with a particular security.  The ratings
represent Fitch's assessment of the issuer's ability to meet the obligations of
a specific debt issue or class of debt in a timely manner.

         The rating takes into consideration special features of the issue, its
relationship to other obligations of the issuer, the current and prospective
financial condition and operating performance of the issuer and any guarantor,
as well as the economic and political environment that might affect the
issuer's future financial strength and credit quality.

         Fitch ratings do not reflect any credit enhancement that may be
provided by insurance policies or financial guaranties unless otherwise
indicated.

         Bonds that have the same rating are of similar but not necessarily
identical credit quality since the rating categories do not fully reflect small
differences in the degrees of credit risk.

         Fitch ratings are not recommendations to buy, sell, or hold any
security.  Ratings do not comment on the adequacy of market price, the
suitability of any security for a particular investor, or the tax-exempt nature
or taxability of payments made in respect of any security.

         Fitch ratings are based on information obtained from issuers, other
obligors, underwriters, their experts, and other sources Fitch believes to be
reliable.  Fitch does not audit or verify the truth or accuracy of such
information.  Ratings may be changed, suspended, or withdrawn as a result of
changes in, or the unavailability of, information or for other reasons.

AAA    Bonds considered to be investment grade and of the highest credit
       quality.  The obligor has an exceptionally strong ability to
       pay interest and repay principal, which is unlikely to be affected by
       reasonably foreseeable events.

AA    Bonds considered to be investment grade and of very high credit quality.
      The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is very strong,
      although not quite as strong as bonds rated 'AAA'.  Because bonds rated 
      in the 'AAA'  and 'AA' categories are not significantly vulnerable to 
      foreseeable future developments, short-term debt of the issuers is 
      generally rated 'F-1+'.

A    Bonds considered to be investment grade and of high credit quality.  The
     obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is considered to be 
     strong, but may be more vulnerable to adverse changes in economic 
     conditions and circumstances than bonds with higher ratings.

BBB  Bonds considered to be investment grade and of satisfactory credit 
     quality.  The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is 
     considered to be adequate.  Adverse changes in economic conditions
     and circumstances, however, are more likely to have adverse impact on 
     these bonds, and therefore impair timely payment.  The likelihood that 
     the ratings of these bonds will fall below investment grade is higher 
     than for bonds with higher ratings.





                                      A-3
<PAGE>   138

         Fitch speculative grade bond ratings provide a guide to investors in
determining the credit risk associated with a particular security.  The ratings
('BB' to 'C') represent Fitch's assessment of the likelihood of timely payment
of principal and interest in accordance with the terms of obligation for bond
issues not in default.  For defaulted bonds, the rating ('DDD' to 'D') is an
assessment of the ultimate recovery value through reorganization or
liquidation.

         The rating takes into consideration special features of the issue, its
relationship to other obligations of the issuer, the current and prospective
financial condition and operating performance of the issuer and any guarantor,
as well as the economic and political environment that might affect the
issuer's future financial strength.

         Bonds that have the same rating are of similar but not necessarily
identical credit quality since the rating categories cannot fully reflect the
differences in the degrees of credit risk.  Moreover, the character of the risk
factor varies from industry to industry and between corporate, health care and
municipal obligations.


BB   Bonds are considered speculative.  The obligor's ability to pay interest
     and repay principal may be affected over time by adverse economic 
     changes.  However, business and financial alternatives can be identified 
     which could assist the obligor in satisfying its debt service 
     requirements.

B    Bonds are considered highly speculative.  While bonds in this class are
     currently meeting debt service requirements, the probability of continued 
     timely payment of principal and interest reflects the obligor's limited 
     margin of safety and the need  for reasonable business and economic 
     activity throughout the life of the issue.

CCC  Bonds have certain identifiable characteristics which, if not remedied,
     may lead to default.  The ability to meet obligations requires an 
     advantageous business and economic environment.

CC   Bonds are minimally protected.  Default in payment of interest and/or
     principal seems probable over time.

C    Bonds are in imminent default in payment of interest or principal.

DDD, DD,
and  D  Bonds are in default on interest and/or principal payments.  Such bonds
     are extremely speculative and should be valued on the basis of their 
     ultimate recovery value in liquidation or reorganization of the
     obligor.  'DDD' represents the highest potential for recovery of these 
     bonds, and 'D' represents the lowest potential for recovery.


                   DUFF & PHELPS, INC. LONG-TERM DEBT RATINGS

         These ratings represent a summary opinion of the issuer's long-term
fundamental quality.  Rating determination is based on qualitative and
quantitative factors which may vary according to the basic economic and
financial characteristics of each industry and each issuer.  Important
considerations are vulnerability to economic cycles as well as risks related to
such factors as competition, government action, regulation, technological
obsolescence, demand shifts, cost structure, and management depth and
expertise.  The projected viability of the obligor at the trough of the cycle
is a critical determination.

         Each rating also takes into account the legal form of the security,
(e.g., first mortgage bonds, subordinated debt, preferred stock, etc.).  The
extent of rating dispersion among the various classes of securities is
determined by several factors including relative weightings of the different
security classes in the capital structure, the overall credit strength of the
issuer, and the nature of covenant protection.  Review of indenture
restrictions is important to the analysis of a company's operating and
financial constraints.

         The Credit Rating Committee formally reviews all ratings once per
quarter (more frequently, if necessary).   Ratings of 'BBB-' and higher fall
within the definition of investment grade securities, as defined by bank and
insurance supervisory authorities.


                                      A-4
<PAGE>   139


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
RATING SCALE              DEFINITION
<S>                       <C>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AAA                       Highest credit quality.  The risk factors are negligible, being only slightly more
                          than for risk-free U.S. Treasury debt.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AA+                       High credit quality.  Protection factors are strong.  Risk is modest, but may
AA                        vary slightly from time to time because of economic conditions.
AA-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A+                        Protection factors are average but adequate.  However, risk factors are more
A                         variable and greater in periods of economic stress.
A-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BBB+                      Below average protection factors but still considered sufficient for prudent
BBB                       investment.  Considerable variability in risk during economic cycles.
BBB-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BB+                       Below investment grade but deemed likely to meet obligations when due.
BB                        Present or prospective financial protection factors fluctuate according to
BB-                       industry conditions or company fortunes.  Overall quality may move up or
                          down frequently within this category.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B+                        Below investment grade and possessing risk that obligations will not be met
B                         when due.  Financial protection factors will fluctuate widely according to
B-                        economic cycles, industry conditions and/or company fortunes.  Potential
                          exists for frequent changes in the rating within this category or into a higher
                          or lower rating grade.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CCC                       Well below investment grade securities.  Considerable uncertainty exists as to
                          timely payment of principal, interest or preferred dividends.
                          Protection factors are narrow and risk can be substantial with unfavorable
                          economic/industry conditions, and/or with unfavorable company developments.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DD                        Defaulted debt obligations.  Issuer failed to meet scheduled principal and/or
                          interest payments.
DP                        Preferred stock with dividend arrearages.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>





                                      A-5
<PAGE>   140

                               SHORT-TERM RATINGS

                   STANDARD & POOR'S COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS

         A Standard & Poor's commercial paper rating is a current assessment of
the likelihood of timely payment of debt considered short-term in the relevant
market.

         Ratings graded into several categories, ranging from 'A-1' for the
highest quality obligations to 'D' for the lowest.  These categories are as
follows:

         A-1 This highest category indicates that the degree of safety
regarding timely payment is strong.  Those issues determined to possess
extremely strong safety characteristics are denoted with a plus sign (+)
designation.

         A-2 Capacity for timely payment on issues with this designation is
satisfactory.  However, the relative degree of safety is not as high as for
issues designated 'A-1'.

         A-3 Issues carrying this designation have adequate capacity for timely
payment.  They are, however, more vulnerable to the adverse effects of changes
in circumstances than obligations carrying the higher designations.

         B Issues rated 'B' are regarded as having only speculative capacity
for timely payment.

         C This rating is assigned to short-term debt obligations with doubtful
capacity for payment.

         D Debt rated 'D' is in payment default.  The 'D' rating category is
used when interest payments or principal payments are not made on the date due,
even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless S&P believes that
such payments will be made during such grace period.


                         STANDARD & POOR'S NOTE RATINGS

         A S&P note rating reflects the liquidity factors and market-access
risks unique to notes.  Notes maturing in three years or less  will likely
receive a note rating.  Notes maturing beyond three years will most likely
receive a long-term debt rating.

         The following criteria will be used in making the assessment:

              Amortization schedule - the larger the final maturity relative 
              to other maturities, the more likely the issue is to be treated
              as a note.

              Source of payment - the more the issue depends on the market for
              its refinancing, the more likely it is to be considered a note.

         The note rating symbols and definitions are as follows:

         SP-1 Strong capacity to pay principal and interest.  Issues determined
to possess very strong characteristics are given a plus (+) designation.

         SP-2 Satisfactory capacity to pay interest and principal, with some
vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the
notes.

         SP-3 Speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.





                                      A-6
<PAGE>   141



                        MOODY'S COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS

         The term "commercial paper" as used by Moody's means promissory
obligations not having an original maturity in excess of nine months.  Moody's
makes no representation as to whether such commercial paper is by any other
definition "commercial paper" or is exempt from registration under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

         Moody's commercial paper ratings are opinions of the ability of
issuers to repay punctually promissory obligations not having an original
maturity in excess of nine months.  Moody's makes no representation that such
obligations are exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, nor
does it represent that any specific note is a valid obligation of a rated
issuer or issued in conformity with any applicable law.  Moody's employs the
following three designations, all judged to be investment grade, to indicate
the relative repayment capacity of rated issuers:

         Issuers rated PRIME-1 (for related supporting institutions) have a
superior capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations.  Prime-1
repayment capacity will normally be evidenced by the following characteristics:
(i) leading market positions in well established industries, (ii) high rates of
return on funds employed, (iii) conservative capitalization structures with
moderate reliance on debt and ample asset protection, (iv) broad margins in
earnings coverage of fixed financial charges and high internal cash generation,
and (v) well established access to a range of financial markets and assured
sources of alternate liquidity.

         Issuers rated PRIME-2 (or related supporting institutions) have a
strong capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations.  This will
normally be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above, but to a
lesser degree. Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, will be more
subject to variation.  Capitalization characteristics, while still appropriate,
may be more affected by external conditions.  Ample alternate liquidity is
maintained.

         Issuers rated PRIME-3 (or related supporting institutions) have an
acceptable capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations.  The
effect of industry characteristics and market composition may be more
pronounced.  Variability in earnings and profitability may result in changes in
the level of debt protection measurements and the requirement for relatively
high financial leverage.  Adequate alternate liquidity is maintained.

         Issuers rated NOT PRIME do not fall within any of the Prime rating
categories.


                              MOODY'S NOTE RATINGS

         MIG 1/VMIG 1  This designation denotes best quality.  There is present
strong protection by established cash flows, superior liquidity support or
demonstrated broad based access to the market for refinancing.

         MIG 2/VMIG 2  This designation denotes high quality.  Margins of
protection are ample although not so large as in the preceding group.

         MIG 3/VMIG 3  This designation denotes favorable quality.  All
security elements are accounted for but there is lacking the undeniable
strength of the preceding grades.  Liquidity and cash flow protection may be
narrow and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well established.

         MIG 4/VMIG 4  This designation denotes adequate quality.  Protection
commonly regarded as required of an investment security is present and although
not distinctly or predominantly speculative, there is specific risk.

         SG  This designation denotes speculative quality.  Debt instruments in
this category lack margins of protection.





                                      A-7
<PAGE>   142

                FITCH INVESTORS SERVICE, INC. SHORT-TERM RATINGS

         Fitch's short-term ratings apply to debt obligations that are payable
on demand or have original maturities of generally up to three years, including
commercial paper, certificates of deposit, medium-term notes, and municipal and
investment notes.

         The short-term rating places greater emphasis than a long-term rating
on the existence of liquidity necessary to meet the issuer's obligations in a
timely manner.

<TABLE>
         <S>     <C>
         F-1+    (Exceptionally Strong Credit Quality) Issues assigned this rating are regarded as having the strongest degree of 
                 assurance for timely payment.

         F-1     (Very Strong Credit Quality) Issues assigned this rating reflect an assurance of timely payment only slightly 
                 less in degree than issues rated 'F-1+'.

         F-2     (Good Credit Quality) Issues assigned this rating have a satisfactory degree of assurance for timely payment but 
                 the margin of safety is not as great as for issues assigned 'F-1+' and 'F-1' ratings.

         F-3     (Fair Credit Quality) Issues assigned this rating have characteristics suggesting that the degree of assurance for
                 timely payment is adequate, however, near-term adverse changes could cause these securities to be rated below 
                 investment grade.

         F-S     (Weak Credit Quality) Issues assigned this rating have characteristics suggesting a minimal degree of assurance 
                 for timely payment and are vulnerable to near-term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

         D       (Default) Issues assigned this rating are in actual or imminent payment default.

         LOC     The symbol LOC indicates that the rating is based on a letter of credit issued by a commercial bank.
</TABLE>


                  DUFF & PHELPS, INC. SHORT-TERM DEBT RATINGS

         Duff & Phelps' short-term ratings are consistent with the rating
criteria utilized by money market participants.  The ratings apply to all
obligations with maturities of under one year, including commercial paper, the
uninsured portion of certificates of deposit, unsecured bank loans, master
notes, bankers acceptances, irrevocable letters of credit, and current
maturities of long-term debt.  Asset-backed commercial paper is also rated
according to this scale.

         Emphasis is placed on liquidity which we define as not only cash from
operations, but also access to alternative sources of funds including trade
credit, bank lines, and the capital markets.  An important consideration is the
level of an obligor's reliance on short-term funds on an ongoing basis.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
         Rating Scale     Definition
         ------------     ----------
         <S>              <C>

         Duff 1+          Highest certainty of timely payment.  Short-term liquidity, including internal operating factors and/or 
                          access to alternative sources of funds, is outstanding, and safety is just below risk-free U.S. Treasury 
                          short-term obligations.

         Duff 1           Very high certainty of timely payment.  Liquidity factors are excellent and supported by good 
                          fundamental protection factors.  Risk factors are minor.

         Duff 1-          High certainty of timely payment.  Liquidity factors are strong and supported by good fundamental 
                          protection factors.  Risk factors are very small.
</TABLE>





                                      A-8
<PAGE>   143

<TABLE>
                          Good Grade
                          ----------
         <S>              <C>
         Duff 2           Good certainty of timely payment.  Liquidity factors and company fundamentals are sound.  Although 
                          ongoing funding needs may enlarge total financing requirements, access to capital markets is good.  Risk 
                          factors are small.

                          Satisfactory Grade
                          ------------------

         Duff 3           Satisfactory liquidity and other protection factors qualify issue as to investment grade.  Risk factors 
                          are larger and subject to more variation. Nevertheless, timely payment is expected.

                          Non-investment Grade
                          --------------------

         Duff 4           Speculative investment characteristics.  Liquidity is not sufficient to insure against disruption in 
                          debt service.  Operating factors and market access may be subject to a high degree of variation.

                          Default
                          -------

         Duff 5           Issuer failed to meet scheduled principal and/or interest payments.
</TABLE>





                                      A-9
<PAGE>   144

                      STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION



                        STRONG ASSET ALLOCATION FUND II
                                 P.O. Box 2936
                          Milwaukee, Wisconsin  53201
                           Telephone:  1-414-359-1400
                           Toll-Free:  1-800-368-3863

   
     Strong Asset Allocation Fund II (the "Fund") is a diversified series of
the Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc. (the "Corporation"), an open-end
management investment company designed to provide an investment vehicle for
variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts of certain insurance
companies.  Shares in the Fund are only offered and sold to the separate
accounts of such insurance companies.  The Fund is described herein and in the
Prospectus for the Fund dated July 14, 1995.

     This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus and should be
read in conjunction with the Prospectus for the Fund dated July 14, 1995 and
the prospectus for the separate account of the specific insurance product.
Requests for copies of the Fund's Prospectus may be made by writing to the
Fund, P.O. Box 2936, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201, Attention:  Corporate
Secretary; or by calling one of the numbers listed above.
    



   
        This Statement of Additional Information is dated July 14, 1995.
    




<PAGE>   145

                        STRONG ASSET ALLOCATION FUND II
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

TABLE OF CONTENTS                                                                                              PAGE
<S>                                                                                                            <C>
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    3
INVESTMENT POLICIES AND TECHNIQUES  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    5
  Derivative Instruments  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    5
  Short Sales Against the Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   12
  Lending of Portfolio Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   12
  Warrants  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   12
  Debt Obligations  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   12
  High-Yield (High-Risk) Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   13
  Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   14
  When-Issued Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   15
  Illiquid Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   15
  Foreign Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   16
  Sovereign Debt  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   17
  Depositary Receipts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   18
  Foreign Investment Companies  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   19
  Repurchase Agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   19
  Borrowing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   20
  Mortgage Dollar Rolls and Reverse Repurchase Agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   20
  Variable- or Floating-Rate Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   20
  Small Companies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   21
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   21
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   24
INVESTMENT ADVISOR AND DISTRIBUTOR  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   24
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   25
CUSTODIAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   27
TRANSFER AGENT AND DIVIDEND-DISBURSING AGENT  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   27
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   27
TAXES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   28
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   30
FUND ORGANIZATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   30
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   31
GENERAL INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   34
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   35
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   36
LEGAL COUNSEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   36
APPENDIX  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  A-1
</TABLE>
    
                        ------------------------------

   
        No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any
representations other than those contained in this Statement of Additional
Information and the Prospectus dated July 14, 1995 and, if given or made, such
information or representations may not be relied upon as having been authorized
by the Fund.
    

    This Statement of Additional Information does not constitute an offer
                             to sell securities.

                                       2
<PAGE>   146

                            INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

     The investment objective of the Fund is to seek high total return
consistent with reasonable risk over the long term.  The Fund's investment
objective and policies are described in detail in the Prospectus under the
caption "Investment Objective and Policies."  The following are the Fund's
fundamental investment limitations which cannot be changed without shareholder
approval.

The Fund:

1.   May not with respect to 75% of its total assets, purchase the securities
     of any issuer (except securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S.
     government or its agencies or instrumentalities) if, as a result, (i) more
     than 5% of the Fund's total assets would be invested in the securities of
     that issuer, or (ii) the Fund would hold more than 10% of the outstanding
     voting securities of that issuer.

2.   May (i) borrow money from banks and (ii) make other investments or engage
     in other transactions permissible under the Investment Company Act of 1940
     (the "1940 Act") which may involve a borrowing, provided that the
     combination of  (i) and (ii) shall not exceed 33 1/3% of the value of the
     Fund's total assets (including the  amount borrowed), less the Fund's
     liabilities (other than borrowings), except that the Fund may borrow up to
     an additional 5% of its total assets (not including the amount borrowed)
     from a bank for temporary or emergency purposes (but not for leverage or
     the purchase of investments).  The Fund may also borrow money from the
     other Strong Funds or other persons to the extent permitted by applicable
     law.

3.   May not issue senior securities, except as permitted under the 1940 Act.

4.   May not act as an underwriter of another issuer's securities, except to
     the extent that the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter within the
     meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 in connection with the purchase and
     sale of portfolio securities.

5.   May not purchase or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a result
     of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not
     prevent the Fund from purchasing or selling options, futures contracts, or
     other derivative instruments, or from investing in securities or other
     instruments backed by physical commodities).

6.   May not make loans if, as a result, more than 33 1/3% of the Fund's total
     assets would be lent to other persons, except through (i) purchases of
     debt securities or other debt instruments, or (ii) engaging in repurchase
     agreements.

7.   May not purchase the securities of any issuer if, as a result, more than
     25% of the Fund's total assets would be invested in the securities of
     issuers, the principal business activities of which are in the same
     industry.

8.   May not purchase or sell real estate unless acquired as a result of
     ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not prohibit
     the Fund from purchasing or selling securities or other instruments backed
     by real estate or of issuers engaged in real estate activities).

9.   May, notwithstanding any other fundamental investment policy or
     restriction, invest all of its assets in the securities of a single
     open-end management investment company with substantially the same
     fundamental investment objective, policies, and restrictions as the Fund.





                                       3
<PAGE>   147

The following are the Fund's non-fundamental operating policies which may be
changed by the Board of Directors of the Corporation without shareholder
approval.

The Fund may not:

1.   Sell securities short, unless the Fund owns or has the right to obtain
     securities equivalent in kind and amount to the securities sold short, or
     unless it covers such short sale as required by the current rules and
     positions of the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff, and
     provided that transactions in options, futures contracts, options on
     futures contracts, or other derivative instruments are not deemed to
     constitute selling securities short.

2.   Purchase securities on margin, except that the Fund may obtain such
     short-term credits as are necessary for the clearance of transactions; and
     provided that margin deposits in connection with futures contracts,
     options on futures contracts, or other derivative instruments shall not
     constitute purchasing securities on margin.

3.   Invest in illiquid securities if, as a result of such investment, more
     than 15% of its net assets would be invested in illiquid securities, or
     such other amounts as may be permitted under the 1940 Act.

4.   Purchase securities of other investment companies except in compliance
     with the 1940 Act and applicable state law.

5.   Invest all of its assets in the securities of a single open-end investment
     management company with substantially the same fundamental investment
     objective, restrictions and policies as the Fund.

6.   Purchase the securities of any issuer (other than securities issued or
     guaranteed by domestic or foreign governments or political subdivisions
     thereof) if, as a result, more than 5% of its total assets would be
     invested in the securities of issuers that, including predecessor or
     unconditional guarantors, have a record of less than three years of
     continuous operation.  This policy does not apply to securities of pooled
     investment vehicles or mortgage or asset-backed securities.

7.   Invest in direct interests in oil, gas, or other mineral exploration
     programs or leases; however, the Fund may invest in the securities of
     issuers that engage in these activities.

8.   Engage in futures or options on futures transactions which are
     impermissible pursuant to Rule 4.5 under the Commodity Exchange Act and,
     in accordance with Rule 4.5, will use futures or options on futures
     transactions solely for bona fide hedging transactions (within the meaning
     of the Commodity Exchange Act), provided, however, that the Fund may, in
     addition to bona fide hedging transactions, use futures and options on
     futures transactions if the aggregate initial margin and premiums required
     to establish such positions, less the amount by which any such options
     positions are in the money (within the meaning of the Commodity Exchange
     Act), do not exceed 5% of the Fund's net assets.

     In addition, (i) the aggregate value of securities underlying call options
     on securities written by the Fund or obligations underlying put options on
     securities written by the Fund determined as of the date the options are
     written will not exceed 50% of the Fund's net assets; (ii) the aggregate
     premiums paid on all options purchased by the Fund and which are being
     held will not exceed 20% of the Fund's net assets; (iii) the Fund will not
     purchase put or call options, other than hedging positions, if, as a
     result thereof, more than 5% of its total assets would be so invested; and
     (iv) the aggregate margin deposits required on all futures and options on
     futures transactions being held will not exceed 5% of the Fund's total
     assets.

9.   Pledge, mortgage or hypothecate any assets owned by the Fund except as may
     be necessary in connection with permissible borrowings or investments and
     then such pledging, mortgaging, or hypothecating may not exceed 33 1/3% of
     the Fund's total assets at the time of the borrowing or investment.

10.  Purchase or retain the securities of any issuer if any officer or director
     of the Fund or its investment advisor beneficially owns more than 1/2 of
     1% of the securities of such issuer and such officers and directors
     together own beneficially more than 5% of the securities of such issuer.





                                       4
<PAGE>   148


11.  Purchase warrants, valued at the lower of cost or market value, in excess
     of 5% of the Fund's net assets.  Included in that amount, but not to
     exceed 2% of the Fund's net assets, may be warrants that are not listed on
     any stock exchange.  Warrants acquired by the Fund in units or attached to
     securities are not subject to these restrictions.

12.  Borrow money except (i) from banks or (ii) through reverse repurchase
     agreements or mortgage dollar rolls, and will not purchase securities when
     bank borrowings exceed 5% of its total assets.

13.  Make any loans other than loans of portfolio securities, except through
     (i) purchases of debt securities or other debt instruments, or (ii)
     engaging in repurchase agreements.

     Except for the fundamental investment limitations listed above and the
Fund's investment objective, the other investment policies described in the
Prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information are not fundamental and
may be changed with approval of the Corporation's Board of Directors.

                       INVESTMENT POLICIES AND TECHNIQUES

     The following information supplements the discussion of the Fund's
investment objective, policies, and techniques that are described in detail in
the Prospectus under the captions "Investment Objective and Policies" and
"Implementation of Policies and Risks."

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

     GENERAL DESCRIPTION.  As discussed in the Prospectus, the Advisor may use
a variety of derivative instruments, including options, futures contracts
(sometimes referred to as "futures"), options on futures contracts, forward
currency contracts and swap agreements for any lawful purpose, such as to hedge
the Fund's portfolio, manage risk, or attempt to enhance returns.

     The use of these instruments is subject to applicable regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), the several options and futures
exchanges upon which they may be traded, the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission (the "CFTC") and various state regulatory authorities.  In addition,
the Fund's ability to use these instruments will be limited by tax
considerations.

     In addition to the products, strategies and risks described below and in
the Prospectus, the Advisor may discover additional derivative instruments and
other hedging techniques.  These new opportunities may become available as the
Advisor develops new techniques or as regulatory authorities broaden the range
of permitted transactions.  The Advisor may utilize these opportunities to the
extent that they are consistent with the Fund's investment objective and
permitted by the Fund's investment limitations and applicable regulatory
authorities.

     SPECIAL RISKS OF THESE INSTRUMENTS.  The use of derivative instruments
involves special considerations and risks as described below.  Risks pertaining
to particular instruments are described in the sections that follow.

     (1)        Successful use of most of these instruments depends upon the
Advisor's ability to predict movements of the overall securities and currency
markets, which requires different skills than predicting changes in the prices
of individual securities.  While the Advisor is experienced in the use of these
instruments, there can be no assurance that any particular strategy adopted
will succeed.

     (2)        There might be imperfect correlation, or even no correlation,
between price movements of an instrument and price movements of investments
being hedged.  For example, if the value of an instrument used in a short hedge
(such as writing a call option, buying a put option, or selling a futures
contract) increased by less than the decline in value of the hedged investment,
the hedge would not be fully successful.  Such a lack of correlation might
occur due to factors unrelated to the value of the investments being hedged,
such as speculative or other pressures on the markets in which these
instruments are traded.  The effectiveness of hedges using instruments on
indices will depend on the degree of correlation between price movements in the
index and price movements in the investments being hedged.





                                       5
<PAGE>   149


     (3)        Hedging strategies, if successful, can reduce risk of loss by
wholly or partially offsetting the negative effect of unfavorable price
movements in the investments being hedged.  However, hedging strategies can
also reduce opportunity for gain by offsetting the positive effect of favorable
price movements in the hedged investments.  For example, if the Fund entered
into a short hedge because the Advisor projected a decline in the price of a
security in the Fund's portfolio, and the price of that security increased
instead, the gain from that increase might be wholly or partially offset by a
decline in the price of the instrument.  Moreover, if the price of the
instrument declined by more than the increase in the price of the security, the
Fund could suffer a loss.

     (4)        As described below, the Fund might be required to maintain
assets as "cover," maintain segregated accounts, or make margin payments when
it takes positions in these instruments involving obligations to third parties
(i.e., instruments other than purchased options).  If the Fund were unable to
close out its positions in such instruments, it might be required to continue
to maintain such assets or accounts or make such payments until the position
expired or matured.  The requirements might impair the Fund's ability to sell a
portfolio security or make an investment at a time when it would otherwise be
favorable to do so, or require that the Fund sell a portfolio security at a
disadvantageous time.  The Fund's ability to close out a position in an
instrument prior to expiration or maturity depends on the existence of a liquid
secondary market or, in the absence of such a market, the ability and
willingness of the other party to the transaction ("counter party") to enter
into a transaction closing out the position.  Therefore, there is no assurance
that any hedging position can be closed out at a time and price that is
favorable to the Fund.

     For a discussion of the federal income tax treatment of the Fund's
derivative instruments, see "Taxes -- Derivative Instruments" below.

     GENERAL LIMITATIONS ON CERTAIN DERIVATIVE TRANSACTIONS.  The Fund has
filed a notice of eligibility for exclusion from the definition of the term
"commodity pool operator" with the CFTC and the National Futures Association,
which regulate trading in the futures markets.  Pursuant to Rule 4.5 of the
regulations under the Commodity Exchange Act (the "CEA"), the notice of
eligibility includes representations that the Fund will use futures contracts
and related options solely for bona fide hedging purposes within the meaning of
CFTC regulations, provided that the Fund may hold other positions in futures
contracts, and related options that do not qualify as a bona fide hedging
position if the aggregate initial margin deposits and premiums required to
establish these positions, less the amount by which any such options positions
are "in the money," do not exceed 5% of the Fund's net assets.  Adoption of
these guidelines does not limit the percentage of the Fund's assets at risk to
5%.

     In addition, (i) the aggregate value of securities underlying call options
on securities written by the Fund or obligations underlying put options on
securities written by the Fund determined as of the date the options are
written will not exceed 50% of the Fund's net assets; (ii) the aggregate
premiums paid on all options purchased by the Fund and which are being held
will not exceed 20% of the Fund's net assets; (iii) the Fund will not purchase
put or call options, other than hedging positions, if, as a result thereof,
more than 5% of its total assets would be so invested; and (iv) the aggregate
margin deposits required on all futures and options on futures transactions
being held will not exceed 5% of the Fund's total assets.

     The foregoing limitations are not fundamental policies of the Fund and may
be changed by the Corporation's Board of Directors without shareholder approval
as regulatory agencies permit.

     Transactions using options (other than purchased options), forward
currency contracts, and swaps expose the Fund to counter-party risk.  To the
extent required by SEC guidelines, the Fund will not enter into any such
transactions unless it owns either (1) an offsetting ("covered") position in
securities, currencies, or other options, futures, or forward currency
contracts or (2) cash and liquid high grade debt obligations with a value
sufficient at all times to cover its potential obligations to the extent not
covered as provided in (1) above.  The Fund will also segregate such assets
with respect to futures contracts and its net obligations under swap
agreements.  See "Swap Agreements" below.  Assets used as cover or held in a
segregated account cannot be sold while the position in the corresponding
option, futures contract, or forward currency contract is open, unless they are
replaced with similar assets.  As a result, the commitment of a large portion
of the Fund's assets to segregated accounts as a cover could impede portfolio
management or the Fund's ability to meet redemption requests or other current
obligations.





                                       6
<PAGE>   150


     OPTIONS.  The Fund may purchase and write put and call options on
securities, on indices and on foreign currencies and enter into closing
transactions with respect to such options to terminate an existing position.
The purchase of call options serves as a long hedge, and the purchase of put
options serves as a short hedge.  Writing put or call options can enable the
Fund to enhance income by reason of the premiums paid by the purchaser of such
options.  Writing call options serves as a limited short hedge because declines
in the value of the hedged investment would be offset to the extent of the
premium received for writing the option.  However, if the security appreciates
to a price higher than the exercise price of the call option, it can be
expected that the option will be exercised and the Fund will be obligated to
sell the security at less than its market value or will be obligated to
purchase the security at a price greater than that at which the security must
be sold under the option.  All or a portion of any assets used as cover for OTC
options written by the Fund would be considered illiquid to the extent
described under "Investment Policies and Techniques--Illiquid Securities."
Writing put options serves as a limited long hedge because increases in the
value of the hedged investment would be offset to the extent of the premium
received for writing the option.  However, if the security depreciates to a
price lower than the exercise price of the put option, it can be expected that
the put option will be exercised and the Fund will be obligated to purchase the
security at more than its market value.

     The value of an option position will reflect, among other things, the
historical price volatility of the underlying investment, the current market
value of the underlying investment, the time remaining until expiration, the
relationship of the exercise price to the market price of the underlying
investment, and general market conditions.  Options used by the Fund may
include European-style options.  This means that the option is only exercisable
at its expiration.  This is in contrast to American-style options which are
exercisable at any time prior to the expiration date of the option.  Options
that expire unexercised have no value.

     The Fund may effectively terminate its right or obligation under an option
by entering into a closing transaction.  For example, the Fund may terminate
its obligation under a call or put option that it had written by purchasing an
identical call or put option; this is known as a closing purchase transaction.
Conversely, the Fund may terminate a position in a put or call option it had
purchased by writing an identical put or call option; this is known as a
closing sale transaction.  Closing transactions permit the Fund to realize the
profit or limit the loss on an option position prior to its exercise or
expiration.

     The Fund may purchase or write both exchange-traded and OTC options.
Exchange-traded options are issued by a clearing organization affiliated with
the exchange on which the option is listed that, in effect, guarantees
completion of every exchange-traded option transaction.  OTC options are
contracts between the Fund and the other party to the transaction ("counter
party") (usually a securities dealer or a bank) with no clearing organization
guarantee.  Thus, when the Fund purchases or writes an OTC option, it relies on
the counter party to make or take delivery of the underlying investment upon
exercise of the option.  Failure by the counter party to do so would result in
the loss of any premium paid by the Fund as well as the loss of any expected
benefit of the transaction.

     The Fund's ability to establish and close out positions in exchange-listed
options depends on the existence of a liquid market.  The Fund intends to
purchase or write only those exchange-traded options for which there appears to
be a liquid secondary market.  However, there can be no assurance that such a
market will exist at any, particular time.  Closing transactions can be made
for OTC options only by negotiating directly with the counter party, or by a
transaction in the secondary market if any such market exists.  Although the
Fund will enter into OTC options only with counter parties that are expected to
be capable of entering into closing transactions with the Fund, there is no
assurance that the Fund will in fact be able to close out an OTC option at a
favorable price prior to expiration.  In the event of insolvency of the counter
party, the Fund might be unable to close out an OTC option position at any time
prior to its expiration.

     If the Fund were unable to effect a closing transaction for an option it
had purchased, it would have to exercise the option to realize any profit.  The
inability to enter into a closing purchase transaction for a covered call
option written by the Fund could cause material losses because the Fund would
be unable to sell the investment used as cover for the written option until the
option expires or is exercised.

     The Fund may purchase and write put and call options on indices in much
the same manner as the options discussed above, except the index options may
serve as a hedge against overall fluctuations in the securities markets in
general.





                                       7
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     The writing and purchasing of options is a highly specialized activity
that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated
with ordinary portfolio securities transactions.  Imperfect correlation between
the options and securities markets may detract from the effectiveness of
attempted hedging.

     SPREAD TRANSACTIONS.  The Fund may purchase covered spread options from
securities dealers.  Such covered spread options are not presently
exchange-listed or exchange-traded.  The purchase of a spread option gives the
Fund the right to put, or sell, a security that it owns at a fixed dollar
spread or fixed yield spread in relationship to another security that the Fund
does not own, but which is used as a benchmark.  The risk to the Fund in
purchasing covered spread options is the cost of the premium paid for the
spread option and any transaction costs.  In addition, there is no assurance
that closing transactions will be available.  The purchase of spread options
will be used to protect the Fund against adverse changes in prevailing credit
quality spreads, i.e., the yield spread between high quality and lower quality
securities.  Such protection is only provided during the life of the spread
option.

     FUTURES CONTRACTS.  The Fund may enter into futures contracts, including
interest rate, index, and currency futures.  The Fund may also purchase put and
call options, and write covered put and call options, on futures in which it is
allowed to invest.  The purchase of futures or call options thereon can serve
as a long hedge, and the sale of futures or the purchase of put options thereon
can serve as a short hedge.  Writing covered call options on futures contracts
can serve as a limited short hedge, and writing covered put options on futures
contracts can serve as a limited long hedge, using a strategy similar to that
used for writing covered options in securities.  The Fund's hedging may include
purchases of futures as an offset against the effect of expected increases in
currency exchange rates and securities prices and sales of futures as an offset
against the effect of expected declines in currency exchange rates and
securities prices.  The Fund's futures transactions may be entered into for any
lawful purpose such as hedging purposes, risk management, or to enhance
returns.  The Fund may also write put options on futures contracts while at the
same time purchasing call options on the same futures contracts in order to
create synthetically a long futures contract position.  Such options would have
the same strike prices and expiration dates.  The Fund will engage in this
strategy only when the Advisor believes it is more advantageous to the Fund
than is purchasing the futures contract.

     To the extent required by regulatory authorities, the Fund only enters
into futures contracts that are traded on national futures exchanges and are
standardized as to maturity date and underlying financial instrument.  Futures
exchanges and trading are regulated under the CEA by the CFTC.  Although
techniques other than sales and purchases of futures contracts could be used to
reduce the Fund's exposure to market, currency, or interest rate fluctuations,
the Fund may be able to hedge its exposure more effectively and perhaps at a
lower cost through using futures contracts.

     A futures contract is an agreement pursuant to which the parties agree to
take or make delivery of an amount of cash equal to the difference between the
value of the index at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the
price at which the index futures contract was originally written.  An interest
rate futures contract provides for the future sale by one party and purchase by
another party of a specified amount of a specific financial instrument (e.g.,
debt security) or currency for a specified price at a designated date, time,
and place.  A foreign currency contract is a bilateral agreement pursuant to
which one party agrees to make and the other party agrees to accept delivery of
a specified type of currency at a specified future time and at a specified
price.  Transaction costs are incurred when a futures contract is bought or
sold and margin deposits must be maintained.  A futures contract may be
satisfied by delivery or purchase, as the case may be, of the instrument, the
currency or by payment of the change in the cash value of the index.  More
commonly, futures contracts are closed out prior to delivery by entering into
an offsetting transaction in a matching futures contract.  Although the value
of an index might be a function of the value of certain specified securities,
no physical delivery of those securities is made.  If the offsetting purchase
price is less than the original sale price, the Fund realizes a gain; if it is
more, the Fund realizes a loss.  Conversely, if the offsetting sale price is
more than the original purchase price, the Fund realizes a gain; if it is less,
the Fund realizes a loss.  The transaction costs must also be included in these
calculations.  There can be no assurance, however, that the Fund will be able
to enter into an offsetting transaction with respect to a particular futures
contract at a particular time.  If the Fund is not able to enter into an
offsetting transaction, the Fund will continue to be required to maintain the
margin deposits on the futures contract.

     No price is paid by the Fund upon entering into a futures contract.
Instead, at the inception of a futures contract, the Fund is required to
deposit in a segregated account with its custodian, in the name of the futures
broker through whom the transaction was effected, "initial margin" consisting
of cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid, high grade debt
obligations, in an amount generally equal to 10% or less of the contract value.
Margin must also be deposited when writing a call





                                       8
<PAGE>   152

or put option on a futures contract, in accordance with applicable exchange
rules.  Unlike margin in securities transactions, initial margin on futures
contracts does not represent a borrowing, but rather is in the nature of a
performance bond or good-faith deposit that is returned to the Fund at the
termination of the transaction if all contractual obligations have been
satisfied.  Under certain circumstances, such as periods of high volatility,
the Fund may be required by an exchange to increase the level of its initial
margin payment, and initial margin requirements might be increased generally in
the future by regulatory action.

     Subsequent "variation margin" payments are made to and from the futures
broker daily as the value of the futures position varies, a process known as
"marking to market."  Variation margin does not involve borrowing, but rather
represents a daily settlement of the Fund's obligations to or from a futures
broker.  When the Fund purchases an option on a future, the premium paid plus
transaction costs is all that is at risk.  In contrast, when the Fund purchases
or sells a futures contract or writes a call or put option thereon, it is
subject to daily variation margin calls that could be substantial in the event
of adverse price movements.  If the Fund has insufficient cash to meet daily
variation margin requirements, it might need to sell securities at a time when
such sales are disadvantageous.  Purchasers and sellers of futures positions
and options on futures can enter into offsetting closing transactions by
selling or purchasing, respectively, an instrument identical to the instrument
held or written.  Positions in futures and options on futures may be closed
only on an exchange or board of trade that provides a secondary market.  The
Fund intends to enter into futures transactions only on exchanges or boards of
trade where there appears to be a liquid secondary market.  However, there can
be no assurance that such a market will exist for a particular contract at a
particular time.

     Under certain circumstances, futures exchanges may establish daily limits
on the amount that the price of a future or option on a futures contract can
vary from the previous day's settlement price; once that limit is reached, no
trades may be made that day at a price beyond the limit.  Daily price limits do
not limit potential losses because prices could move to the daily limit for
several consecutive days with little or no trading, thereby preventing
liquidation of unfavorable positions.

     If the Fund were unable to liquidate a futures or option on a futures
contract position due to the absence of a liquid secondary market or the
imposition of price limits, it could incur substantial losses.  The Fund would
continue to be subject to market risk with respect to the position.  In
addition, except in the case of purchased options, the Fund would continue to
be required to make daily variation margin payments and might be required to
maintain the position being hedged by the future or option or to maintain cash
or securities in a segregated account.

     Certain characteristics of the futures market might increase the risk that
movements in the prices of futures contracts or options on futures contracts
might not correlate perfectly with movements in the prices of the investments
being hedged.  For example, all participants in the futures and options on
futures contracts markets are subject to daily variation margin calls and might
be compelled to liquidate futures or options on futures contracts positions
whose prices are moving unfavorably to avoid being subject to further calls.
These liquidations could increase price volatility of the instruments and
distort the normal price relationship between the futures or options and the
investments being hedged.  Also, because initial margin deposit requirements in
the futures markets are less onerous than margin requirements in the securities
markets, there might be increased participation by speculators in the futures
markets.  This participation also might cause temporary price distortions.  In
addition, activities of large traders in both the futures and securities
markets involving arbitrage, "program trading" and other investment strategies
might result in temporary price distortions.

     SWAP AGREEMENTS.  The Fund may enter into interest rate, securities index
and currency exchange rate swap agreements for purposes of attempting to obtain
or preserve a particular desired return or spread at a lower cost to the Fund
than if the Fund had invested directly in an instrument that yielded that
desired return or spread.  The Fund also may enter into swaps in order to
protect against an increase in the price of, or the currency exchange rate
applicable to, securities that the Fund anticipates purchasing at a later date.
Swap agreements are two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional
investors for periods ranging from a few weeks to several years.  In a standard
"swap" transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials
in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments
or instruments.  The gross returns to be exchanged or "swapped" between the
parties are calculated with respect to a "notional amount," i.e., the return on
or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular
interest rate, in a particular foreign currency, or in a "basket" of securities
representing a particular index.  Swap agreements may include interest rate
caps, under which, in return for a premium,





                                       9
<PAGE>   153

one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest
rates exceed a specified rate, or "cap," interest rate floors, under which, in
return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the
extent that interest rates fall below a specified level, or "floor"; and
interest rate collars, under which a party sells a cap and purchases a floor,
or vice versa, in an attempt to protect itself against interest rate movements
exceeding given minimum or maximum levels.

     The "notional amount" of the swap agreement is only the agreed upon basis
for calculating the obligations that the parties to a swap agreement have
agreed to exchange.  Under most swap agreements entered into by the Fund, the
obligations of the parties would be exchanged on a "net basis."  Consequently,
the Fund's obligations (or rights) under a swap agreement will generally be
equal only to the net amount to be paid or received under the agreement based
on the relative values of the positions held by each party to the agreement
(the "net amount").  The Fund's obligations under a swap agreement will be
accrued daily (offset against amounts owed to the Fund) and any accrued but
unpaid net amounts owed to a swap counter party will be covered by the
maintenance of a segregated account consisting of cash, or liquid high grade
debt obligations.

     Whether the Fund's use of swap agreements will be successful in furthering
its investment objective will depend on the Advisor's ability to predict
correctly whether certain types of investments are likely to produce greater
returns than other investments.  Swap agreements may be considered to be
illiquid.  Moreover, the Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to
be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of
a swap agreement counter party.  Certain restrictions imposed on the Fund by
the Internal Revenue Code may limit the Fund's ability to use swap agreements.
The swaps market is largely unregulated.

     The Fund will enter into swap agreements only with banks and recognized
securities dealers believed by the Advisor to present minimal credit risks in
accordance with guidelines established by the Fund's Board of Directors.  If
there is a default by the other party to such a transaction, the Fund will have
to rely on its contractual remedies (which may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency or similar laws) pursuant to the agreements related to the
transaction.

     FOREIGN CURRENCY-RELATED DERIVATIVE STRATEGIES-SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS.
The Fund may also use options and futures on foreign currencies, as described
above, and forward currency contracts, as described below, to hedge against
movements in the values of the foreign currencies in which the Fund's
securities are denominated.  The Fund may utilize foreign currency-related
derivative instruments for any lawful purpose, such as for bona fide hedging or
to seek to enhance returns through exposure to a particular foreign currency.
Such currency hedges can protect against price movements in a security the Fund
owns or intends to acquire that are attributable to changes in the value of the
currency in which it is denominated.  Such hedges do not, however, protect
against price movements in the securities that are attributable to other
causes.

     The Fund might seek to hedge against changes in the value of a particular
currency when no hedging instruments on that currency are available or such
hedging instruments are more expensive than certain other hedging instruments.
In such cases, the Fund may hedge against price movements in that currency by
entering into transactions using hedging instruments on another foreign
currency or a basket of currencies, the values of which the Advisor believes
will have a high degree of positive correlation to the value of the currency
being hedged.  The risk that movements in the price of the hedging instrument
will not correlate perfectly with movements in the price of the currency being
hedged is magnified when this strategy is used.

     The value of derivative instruments on foreign currencies depends on the
value of the underlying currency relative to the U.S. dollar.  Because foreign
currency transactions occurring in the interbank market might involve
substantially larger amounts than those involved in the use of such derivative
instruments, the Fund could be disadvantaged by having to deal in the odd lot
market (generally consisting of transactions of less than $1 million) for the
underlying foreign currencies at prices that are less favorable than for round
lots.

     There is no systematic reporting of last sale information for foreign
currencies or any regulatory requirement that quotations available through
dealers or other market sources be firm or revised on a timely basis.
Quotation information generally is representative of very large transactions in
the interbank market and thus might not reflect odd-lot transactions where
rates might be less favorable.  The interbank market in foreign currencies is a
global, round-the-clock market.  To the extent the U.S. options or futures
markets are closed while the markets for the underlying currencies remain open,
significant price and rate movements might take place in the underlying markets
that cannot be reflected in the markets for the derivative instruments until
they reopen.





                                       10
<PAGE>   154


     Settlement of derivative transactions involving foreign currencies might
be required to take place within the country issuing the underlying currency.
Thus, the Fund might be required to accept or make delivery of the underlying
foreign currency in accordance with any U.S. or foreign regulations regarding
the maintenance of foreign banking arrangements by U.S. residents and might be
required to pay any fees, taxes and charges associated with such delivery
assessed in the issuing country.

     Permissible foreign currency options will include options traded primarily
in the OTC market.  Although options on foreign currencies are traded primarily
in the OTC market, the Fund will normally purchase OTC options on foreign
currency only when the Advisor believes a liquid secondary market will exist
for a particular option at any specific time.

     FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACTS.  A forward currency contract involves an
obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a specified future date,
which may be any fixed number of days from the contract date agreed upon by the
parties, at a price set at the time the contract is entered into.

     The Fund may enter into forward currency contracts to purchase or sell
foreign currencies for a fixed amount of U.S. dollars or another foreign
currency for any lawful purpose.  Such transactions may serve as long hedges --
for example, the Fund may purchase a forward currency contract to lock in the
U.S. dollar price of a security denominated in a foreign currency that the Fund
intends to acquire.  Forward currency contracts may also serve as short hedges
- -- for example, the Fund may sell a forward currency contract to lock in the
U.S. dollar equivalent of the proceeds from the anticipated sale of a security
denominated in a foreign currency.

     As noted above, the Fund may seek to hedge against changes in the value of
a particular currency by using forward contracts on another foreign currency or
a basket of currencies, the value of which the Advisor believes will have a
positive correlation to the values of the currency being hedged.  In addition,
the Fund may use forward currency contracts to shift exposure to foreign
currency fluctuations from one country to another.  For example, if the Fund
owns securities denominated in a foreign currency and the Advisor believes that
currency will decline relative to another currency, it might enter into a
forward contract to sell an appropriate amount of the first foreign currency,
with payment to be made in the second foreign currency.  Transactions that use
two foreign currencies are sometimes referred to as "cross hedges." Use of
different foreign currency magnifies the risk that movements in the price of
the instrument will not correlate or will correlate unfavorably with the
foreign currency being hedged.

     The cost to the Fund of engaging in forward currency contracts varies with
factors such as the currency involved, the length of the contract period and
the market conditions then prevailing.  Because forward currency contracts are
usually entered into on a principal basis, no fees or commissions are involved.
When the Fund enters into a forward currency contract, it relies on the counter
party to make or take delivery of the underlying currency at the maturity of
the contract.  Failure by the counter party to do so would result in the loss
of any expected benefit of the transaction.

     As is the case with futures contracts, purchasers and sellers of forward
currency contracts can enter into offsetting closing transactions, similar to
closing transactions on futures, by selling or purchasing, respectively, an
instrument identical to the instrument purchased or sold.  Secondary markets
generally do not exist for forward currency contracts, with the result that
closing transactions generally can be made for forward currency contracts only
by negotiating directly with the counter party.  Thus, there can be no
assurance that the Fund will in fact be able to close out a forward currency
contract at a favorable price prior to maturity.  In addition, in the event of
insolvency of the counter party, the Fund might be unable to close out a
forward currency contract at any time prior to maturity.  In either event, the
Fund would continue to be subject to market risk with respect to the position,
and would continue to be required to maintain a position in securities
denominated in the foreign currency or to maintain cash or securities in a
segregated account.

     The precise matching of forward currency contract amounts and the value of
the securities involved generally will not be possible because the value of
such securities, measured in the foreign currency, will change after the
foreign currency contract has been established.  Thus, the Fund might need to
purchase or sell foreign currencies in the spot (cash) market to the extent
such foreign currencies are not covered by forward contracts.  The projection
of short-term currency market movements is extremely difficult, and the
successful execution of a short-term hedging strategy is highly uncertain.





                                       11
<PAGE>   155


SHORT SALES AGAINST THE BOX

     The Fund may sell securities short against the box to hedge unrealized
gains on portfolio securities.  Selling securities short against the box
involves selling a security that the Fund owns or has the right to acquire, for
delivery at a specified date in the future.  If the Fund sells securities short
against the box, it may protect unrealized gains, but will lose the opportunity
to profit on such securities if the price rises.

LENDING OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES

     The Fund is authorized to lend up to 33 1/3% of the total value of its
portfolio securities to broker-dealers or institutional investors that the
Advisor deems qualified, but only when the borrower maintains with the Fund's
custodian bank collateral either in cash or money market instruments in an
amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned, plus
accrued interest and dividends, determined on a daily basis and adjusted
accordingly.  However, the Fund does not presently intend to engage in such
lending.  In determining whether to lend securities to a particular
broker-dealer or institutional investor, the Advisor will consider, and during
the period of the loan will monitor, all relevant facts and circumstances,
including the creditworthiness of the borrower.  The Fund will retain authority
to terminate any loans at any time.  The Fund may pay reasonable administrative
and custodial fees in connection with a loan and may pay a negotiated portion
of the interest earned on the cash or money market instruments held as
collateral to the borrower or placing broker.  The Fund will receive reasonable
interest on the loan or a flat fee from the borrower and amounts equivalent to
any dividends, interest or other distributions on the securities loaned.  The
Fund will retain record ownership of loaned securities to exercise beneficial
rights, such as voting and subscription rights and rights to dividends,
interest or other distributions, when retaining such rights is considered to be
in the Fund's interest.

WARRANTS

     The Fund may acquire warrants.  Warrants are securities giving the holder
the right, but not the obligation, to buy the stock of an issuer at a given
price (generally higher than the value of the stock at the time of issuance)
during a specified period or perpetually.  Warrants may be acquired separately
or in connection with the acquisition of securities.  The Fund will not
purchase warrants, valued at the lower of cost or market value, in excess of 5%
of the Fund's net assets.  Included in that amount, but not to exceed 2% of the
Fund's net assets, may be warrants that are not listed on any stock exchange.
Warrants acquired by the Fund in units or attached to securities are not
subject to these restrictions.  Warrants do not carry with them the right to
dividends or voting rights with respect to the securities that they entitle
their holder to purchase, and they do not represent any rights in the assets of
the issuer.  As a result, warrants may be considered more speculative than
certain other types of investments.  In addition, the value of a warrant does
not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities, and a
warrant ceases to have value if it is not exercised prior to its expiration
date.

DEBT OBLIGATIONS

     The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in debt obligations, including
U.S. government securities, commercial paper, banker's acceptances,
certificates of deposit, and time deposits.  Issuers of debt obligations have a
contractual obligation to pay interest at a specified rate on specified dates
and to repay principal on a specified maturity date.  Certain debt obligations
(usually intermediate- and long-term bonds) have provisions that allow the
issuer to redeem or "call" a bond before its maturity.  Issuers are most likely
to call such securities during periods of falling interest rates.

     PRICE VOLATILITY.  The market value of debt obligations is affected by
changes in prevailing interest rates.  The market value of a debt obligation
generally reacts inversely to interest-rate changes, meaning, when prevailing
interest rates decline, an obligation's price usually rises, and when
prevailing interest rates rise, an obligation's price usually declines.  A fund
portfolio consisting primarily of debt obligations will react similarly to
changes in interest rates.

     MATURITY.  In general, the longer the maturity of a debt obligation, the
higher its yield and the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates.
Conversely, the shorter the maturity, the lower the yield but the greater the
price stability.  Commercial paper is generally considered the shortest form of
debt obligation.  The term "bond" generally refers to securities with
maturities





                                       12
<PAGE>   156

longer than two years.  Bonds with maturities of three years or less are
considered short-term, bonds with maturities between three and seven years are
considered intermediate-term, and bonds with maturities greater than seven
years are considered long-term.

     CREDIT QUALITY.  The values of debt obligations may also be affected by
changes in the credit rating or financial condition of their issuers.
Generally, the lower the quality rating of a security, the higher the degree of
risk as to the payment of interest and return of principal.  To compensate
investors for taking on such increased risk, those issuers deemed to be less
creditworthy generally must offer their investors higher interest rates than do
issuers with better credit ratings.

     In conducting its credit research and analysis, the Advisor considers both
qualitative and quantitative factors to evaluate the creditworthiness of
individual issuers.  The Advisor also relies, in part, on credit ratings
compiled by a number of NRSROs.  See the Appendix for additional information.

     TEMPORARY DEFENSIVE POSITION.  When the Advisor determines that market
conditions warrant a temporary defensive position, the Fund may invest without
limitation in cash and short-term fixed income securities, including U.S.
government securities, commercial paper, banker's acceptances, certificates of
deposit, and time deposits.

HIGH-YIELD (HIGH-RISK) SECURITIES

     IN GENERAL.  The Fund has the authority to invest up to, but not
including, 35% of its assets in non-investment grade debt obligations.
Non-investment grade debt obligations (hereinafter referred to as
"lower-quality securities") include (i) bonds rated as low as C by Moody's
Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's"), Standard & Poor's Ratings Group ("S&P"),
or Fitch Investors Service, Inc. ("Fitch") or CCC by Duff & Phelps, Inc.
("D&P"); (ii) commercial paper rated as low as C by S&P, Not Prime by Moody's,
or Fitch 4 by Fitch; and (iii) unrated debt obligations of comparable quality.
Lower-quality securities, while generally offering higher yields than
investment-grade securities with similar maturities, involve greater risks,
including the possibility of default or bankruptcy.  They are regarded as
predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer's capacity to pay interest
and repay principal.  The special risk considerations in connection with such
investments are discussed below.  Refer to the Appendix of this Statement of
Additional Information for a discussion of securities ratings.

     EFFECT OF INTEREST RATES AND ECONOMIC CHANGES.  The lower-quality
securities market is relatively new, and its growth paralleled a long economic
expansion.  As a result, it is not clear how this market may withstand a
prolonged recession or economic downturn.  Such a prolonged economic downturn
could severely disrupt the market for and adversely affect the value of such
securities.

     All interest-bearing securities typically experience appreciation when
interest rates decline and depreciation when interest rates rise.  The market
values of lower-quality securities tend to reflect individual corporate
developments to a greater extent than do higher rated securities, which react
primarily to fluctuations in the general level of interest rates.
Lower-quality securities also tend to be more sensitive to economic conditions
than are higher rated securities.  As a result, they generally involve more
credit risks than securities in the higher rated categories.  During an
economic downturn or a sustained period of rising interest rates, highly
leveraged issuers of lower-quality securities may experience financial stress
and may not have sufficient revenues to meet their payment obligations.  The
issuer's ability to service its debt obligations may also be adversely affected
by specific corporate developments, the issuer's inability to meet specific
projected business forecasts, or the unavailability of additional financing.
The risk of loss due to default by an issuer of lower-quality securities is
significantly greater than issuers of higher rated securities because such
securities are generally unsecured and are often subordinated to other
creditors.  Further, if the issuer of a lower-quality security defaulted, the
Fund might incur additional expenses to seek recovery.  Periods of economic
uncertainty and changes would also generally result in increased volatility in
the market prices of lower-quality securities and thus in the Fund's net asset
value.

     As previously stated, the value of such a security will decrease in a
rising interest rate market and accordingly, so will the Fund's net asset
value.  If the Fund experiences unexpected net redemptions in such a market, it
may be forced to liquidate a portion of its portfolio securities without regard
to their investment merits.  Due to the limited liquidity of lower-quality
securities (discussed below) the Fund may be forced to liquidate these
securities at a substantial discount.  Any such liquidation would reduce the
Fund's asset base over which expenses could be allocated and could result in a
reduced rate of return for the Fund.





                                       13
<PAGE>   157


     PAYMENT EXPECTATIONS.  Lower-quality securities typically contain
redemption, call, or prepayment provisions which permit the issuer of such
securities containing such provisions to, at their discretion, redeem the
securities.  During periods of falling interest rates, issuers of lower-quality
securities are likely to redeem or prepay the securities and refinance them
with debt securities with a lower interest rate.  To the extent an issuer is
able to refinance the securities, or otherwise redeem them, the Fund may have
to replace the securities with a lower yielding security, which would result in
a lower return for the Fund.

     CREDIT RATINGS.      Credit ratings issued by credit-rating agencies
evaluate the safety of principal and interest payments of rated securities.
They do not, however, evaluate the market value risk of lower rated securities
and, therefore, may not fully reflect the true risks of an investment.  In
addition, credit-rating agencies may or may not make timely changes in a rating
to reflect changes in the economy or in the condition of the issuer that affect
the market value of the security.  Consequently, credit ratings are used only
as a preliminary indicator of investment quality.  Investments in lower rated
obligations will be more dependent on the Advisor's credit analysis than would
be the case with investments in investment grade debt obligations.  The Advisor
employs its own credit research and analysis, which includes a study of
existing debt, capital structure, ability to service debt and to pay dividends,
the issuer's sensitivity to economic conditions, its operating history, and the
current trend of earnings.  The Advisor continually monitors the investments in
the Fund's portfolio and carefully evaluates whether to dispose of or to retain
lower rated securities whose credit ratings or credit quality may have changed.

     LIQUIDITY AND VALUATION.  The Fund may have difficulty disposing of
certain lower-quality securities because there may be a thin trading market for
such securities.  Because not all dealers maintain markets in all lower-quality
securities, there is no established retail secondary market for many of these
securities.  The Fund anticipates that such securities could be sold only to a
limited number of dealers or institutional investors.  To the extent a
secondary trading market does exist, it is generally not as liquid as the
secondary market for higher rated securities.  The lack of a liquid secondary
market may have an adverse impact on the market price of the security.  As a
result, the Fund's asset value and the Fund's ability to dispose of particular
securities, when necessary to meet the Fund's liquidity needs or in response to
a specific economic event, may be impacted.  The lack of a liquid secondary
market for certain securities may also make it more difficult for the Fund to
obtain accurate market quotations for purposes of valuing the Fund's portfolio.
Market quotations are generally available on many lower-quality securities only
from a limited number of dealers and may not necessarily represent firm bids of
such dealers or prices for actual sales.  During periods of thin trading, the
spread between bid and asked prices is likely to increase significantly.  In
addition, adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on
fundamental analysis, may decrease the values and liquidity of lower rated
securities, especially in a thinly traded market.

     RECENT AND PROPOSED LEGISLATION.  Recent legislation has been adopted, and
from time to time, proposals have been discussed, regarding new legislation
designed to limit the use of certain lower-quality securities by certain
issuers.  An example of legislation is a recent law which requires federally
insured savings and loan associations to divest their investments in these
securities over time.  It is not currently possible to determine the impact of
the recent legislation or the proposed legislation on the lower-quality
securities market.  However, it is anticipated that if additional legislation
is enacted or proposed, it could have a material affect on the value of these
securities and the existence of a secondary trading market for the securities.

MORTGAGE- AND ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES

     Mortgage-backed securities represent direct or indirect participations in,
or are secured by and payable from, mortgage loans secured by real property,
and include single- and multi-class pass-through securities and collateralized
mortgage obligations.  Such securities may be issued or guaranteed by U.S.
government agencies or instrumentalities, such as the Government National
Mortgage Association and the Federal National Mortgage Association, or by
private issuers, generally originators and investors in mortgage loans,
including savings associations, mortgage bankers, commercial banks, investment
bankers, and special purpose entities (collectively, "private lenders").
Mortgage-backed securities issued by private lenders may be supported by pools
of mortgage loans or other mortgage-backed securities that are guaranteed,
directly or indirectly, by the U.S. government or one of its agencies or
instrumentalities, or they may be issued without any governmental guarantee of
the underlying mortgage assets but with some form of non-governmental credit
enhancement.

     Asset-backed securities have structural characteristics similar to
mortgage-backed securities.  However, the underlying assets are not first lien
mortgage loans or interests therein, but include assets such as motor vehicle
installment sales contracts,





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other installment loan contracts, home equity loans, leases of various types of
property, and receivables from credit card or other revolving credit
arrangements.  Payments or distributions of principal and interest on
asset-backed securities may be supported by non-governmental credit
enhancements similar to those utilized in connection with mortgage-backed
securities.

     The yield characteristics of mortgage- and asset-backed securities differ
from those of traditional debt obligations.  Among  the principal differences
are that interest and principal payments are made more frequently on
mortgage- and asset-backed securities, usually monthly, and that principal may
be prepaid at any time because the underlying mortgage loans or other assets
generally may be prepaid at any time.  As a result, if the Fund purchases these
securities at a premium, a prepayment rate that is faster than expected will
reduce yield to maturity, while a prepayment rate that is slower than expected
will have the opposite effect of increasing the yield to maturity.  Conversely,
if the Fund purchases these securities at a discount, a prepayment rate that is
faster than expected will increase yield to maturity, while a prepayment rate
that is slower than expected will reduce yield to maturity.  Amounts available
for reinvestment by the Fund are likely to be greater during a period of
declining interest rates and, as a result, are likely to be reinvested at lower
interest rates than during a period of rising interest rates.  Accelerated
prepayments on securities purchased by the Fund at a premium also impose a risk
of loss of principal because the premium may not have been fully amortized at
the time the principal is prepaid in full.  The market for privately issued
mortgage- and asset-backed securities is smaller and less liquid than the
market for government-sponsored mortgage-backed securities.

     The Fund may invest in stripped mortgage- or asset-backed securities,
which receive differing proportions of the interest and principal payments from
the underlying assets.  The market value of such securities generally is more
sensitive to changes in prepayment and interest rates than is the case with
traditional mortgage- and asset-backed securities, and in some cases such
market value may be extremely volatile.  With respect to certain stripped
securities, such as interest only and principal only  classes, a rate of
prepayment that is faster or slower than anticipated may result in the Fund
failing to recover all or a portion of its investment, even though the
securities are rated investment grade.

WHEN-ISSUED SECURITIES

     The Fund may invest without limitation in when-issued and delayed delivery
securities (collectively "When-Issued Securities").  The price of such
securities, which may be expressed in yield terms, is fixed at the time the
commitment to purchase is made, but delivery and payment for the When-Issued
Securities take place at a later date.  Normally, the settlement date occurs
within one month of the purchase. During the period between purchase and
settlement, no payment is made by the Fund to the issuer and no interest
accrues to the Fund. Forward commitments involve a risk of loss if the value of
the security to be purchased declines prior to the settlement date, which risk
is in addition to the risk of decline in value of the Fund's other assets.
While When-Issued Securities may be sold prior to the settlement date, the Fund
intends to purchase such securities with the purpose of actually acquiring them
unless a sale appears desirable for investment reasons.  At the time the Fund
makes the commitment to purchase a security on a when-issued basis, it will
record the transaction and reflect the value of the security in determining its
net asset value.  The Fund does not believe that its net asset value or income
will be adversely affected by its purchases of securities on a when-issued
basis.

     The Fund will maintain cash and marketable securities equal in value to
commitments for When-Issued Securities.  Such segregated securities either will
mature or, if necessary, be sold on or before the settlement date.  When the
time comes to pay for When-Issued Securities, the Fund will meet its obligation
from then-available cash flow, sale of the securities held in the separate
account, described above, sale of other securities or, although it would not
normally expect to do so, from the sale of the When-Issued Securities
themselves (which may have a market value greater or less than the respective
Fund's payment obligation).

ILLIQUID SECURITIES

   
     The Fund may invest in illiquid securities (i.e., securities that are not
readily marketable).  However, the Fund will not acquire illiquid securities
if, as a result, they would comprise more than 15% of the value of the Fund's
net assets (or such other amounts as may be permitted under the 1940 Act).  The
Board of Directors of the Corporation or its delegate has the ultimate 
authority to determine, to the extent permissible under the federal securities 
laws, which securities are illiquid for purposes of this limitation.  Certain 
securities exempt from registration or issued in transactions exempt from 
registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
    




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amended (the "Securities Act"), including securities that may be resold
pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act or Section 4(2) commercial
paper, may be considered liquid.  The Board of Directors has delegated to the
Advisor the day-to-day determination of the liquidity of a security, although
it has retained oversight and ultimate responsibility for such determinations.
Although no definitive liquidity criteria are used, the Corporation's Board of
Directors has directed the Advisor to look to such factors as (i) the nature of
the market for a security (including the institutional private resale market),
(ii) the terms of certain securities or other instruments allowing for the
disposition to a third party or the issuer thereof (e.g., certain repurchase
obligations and demand instruments), (iii) the availability of market
quotations (e.g., for securities quoted in the PORTAL system), and (iv) other
permissible relevant factors.
    

     Restricted securities may be sold only in privately negotiated
transactions or in a public offering with respect to which a registration       
statement is in effect under the Securities Act.  Where registration is
required, the Fund may be obligated to pay all or part of the registration
expenses and a considerable period may elapse between the time of the decision
to sell and the time the Fund may be permitted to sell a security under an
effective registration statement.  If, during such a period, adverse market
conditions were to develop, the Fund might obtain a less favorable price than
prevailed when it decided to sell.  Restricted securities will be priced at
fair value as determined in good faith by the Corporation's Board of Directors. 
If through the appreciation of restricted securities or the depreciation of
unrestricted securities, the Fund should be in a position where more than 15%
of the value of its net assets are invested in illiquid securities, including
restricted securities which are not readily marketable, the Fund will take such
steps as are deemed advisable, if any, to protect liquidity.

     The Fund may sell OTC options and, in connection therewith, segregate
assets or cover its obligations with respect to OTC options written by the
Fund.  The assets used as cover for OTC options written by the Fund will be
considered illiquid unless the OTC options are sold to qualified dealers who
agree that the Fund may repurchase any OTC option it writes at a maximum price
to be calculated by a formula set forth in the option agreement.  The cover for
an OTC option written subject to this procedure would be considered illiquid
only to the extent that the maximum repurchase price under the formula exceeds
the intrinsic value of the option.

     Notwithstanding the above, the Advisor intends, as a matter of internal
policy, to limit the Fund's investments in illiquid securities to 10% of its
net assets.

FOREIGN SECURITIES

     The Fund may invest without limitation in foreign securities. Many of the
foreign securities held by the Fund will not be registered with the SEC, nor
will the issuers thereof be subject to SEC reporting requirements.
Accordingly, there may be less publicly available information concerning
foreign issuers of securities held by the Fund than is available concerning
U.S. companies.  Disclosure and regulatory standards in many respects are less
stringent in emerging market countries than in the U.S. and other major
markets.  There also may be a lower level of monitoring and regulation of
emerging markets and the activities of investors in such markets, and
enforcement of existing regulations may be extremely limited.  Foreign
companies, and in particular, companies in smaller and emerging capital markets
are not generally subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial
reporting standards or to other regulatory requirements comparable to those
applicable to U.S.  companies.  The Fund's net investment income and capital
gains from its foreign investment activities may be subject to non-U.S.
withholding taxes.

     The costs attributable to foreign investing that the Fund must bear
frequently are higher than those attributable to domestic investing; this is
particularly true with respect to emerging capital markets.  For example, the
cost of maintaining custody of foreign securities exceeds custodian costs for
domestic securities, and transaction and settlement costs of foreign investing
also frequently are higher than those attributable to domestic investing.
Costs associated with the exchange of currencies also make foreign investing
more expensive than domestic investing.  Investment income on certain foreign
securities in which the Fund may invest may be subject to foreign withholding
or other government taxes that could reduce the return of these securities.
Tax treaties between the United States and foreign countries, however, may
reduce or eliminate the amount of foreign tax to which the Fund would be
subject.

     Foreign markets also have different clearance and settlement procedures,
and in certain markets there have been times when settlements have failed to
keep pace with the volume of securities transactions, making it difficult to
conduct such transactions.  Delays in settlement could result in temporary
periods when assets of the Fund are uninvested and no return is





                                       16
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earned thereon.  The inability of the Fund to make intended security purchases
due to settlement problems could cause the Fund to miss attractive investment
opportunities.  Inability to dispose of a portfolio security due to settlement
problems could result either in losses to the Fund due to subsequent declines
in the value of such portfolio security or, if the Fund has entered into a
contract to sell the security, could result in possible liability to the
purchaser.

SOVEREIGN DEBT

     Sovereign debt differs from debt obligations issued by private entities in
that, generally, remedies for defaults must be pursued in the courts of the
defaulting party.  Legal recourse is therefore limited.  Political conditions,
especially a sovereign entity's willingness to meet the terms of its debt
obligations, are of considerable significance.  Also, there can be no assurance
that the holders of commercial bank loans to the same sovereign entity may not
contest payments to the holders of sovereign debt in the event of default under
commercial bank loan agreements.

     A sovereign debtor's willingness or ability to repay principal and pay
interest in a timely manner may be affected by, among other factors, its cash
flow situation, the extent of its foreign reserves, the availability of
sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of
the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the sovereign debtor's
policy toward principal international lenders and the political constraints to
which a sovereign debtor may be subject.  A country whose exports are
concentrated in a few commodities could be vulnerable to a decline in the
international price of such commodities.  Increased protectionism on the part
of a country's trading partners, or political changes in those countries, could
also adversely affect its exports.  Such events could diminish a country's
trade account surplus, if any, or the credit standing of a particular local
government or agency.  Another factor bearing on the ability of a country to
repay sovereign debt is the level of the country's international reserves.
Fluctuations in the level of these reserves can affect the amount of foreign
exchange readily available for external debt payments and, thus, could have a
bearing on the capacity of the country to make payments on its sovereign debt.

     To the extent that a country has a current account deficit (generally when
exports of merchandise and services are less than the country's imports of
merchandise and services plus net transfers (e.g., gifts of currency and goods)
to foreigners), it will need to depend on loans from foreign governments,
multilateral organizations or private commercial banks, aid payments from
foreign governments and inflows of foreign investment.  The access of a country
to these forms of external funding may not be certain, and a withdrawal of
external funding could adversely affect the capacity of a government to make
payments on its obligations.  In addition, the cost of servicing debt
obligations can be affected by a change in international interest rates since
the majority of these obligations carry interest rates that are adjusted
periodically based upon international rates.

     With respect to sovereign debt of emerging market issuers, investors
should be aware that certain emerging market countries are among the largest
debtors to commercial banks and foreign governments.  At times certain emerging
market countries have declared moratoria on the payment of principal and
interest on external debt.

     Certain emerging market countries have experienced difficulty in servicing
their sovereign debt on a timely basis which led to defaults on certain
obligations and the restructuring of certain indebtedness.  Restructuring
arrangements have included, among other things, reducing and rescheduling
interest and principal payments by negotiating new or amended credit agreements
or converting outstanding principal and unpaid interest to Brady Bonds
(discussed below), and obtaining new credit to finance interest payments.
Holders of sovereign debt, including the Fund, may be requested to participate
in the rescheduling of such debt and to extend further loans to sovereign
debtors.  The interests of holders of sovereign debt could be adversely
affected in the course of restructuring arrangements or by certain other
factors referred to below.  Furthermore, some of the participants in the
secondary market for sovereign debt may also be directly involved in
negotiating the terms of these arrangements and may therefore have access to
information not available to other market participants.  Obligations arising
from past restructuring agreements may affect the economic performance and
political and social stability of certain issuers of sovereign debt.  There is
no bankruptcy proceeding by which sovereign debt on which a sovereign has
defaulted may be collected in whole or in part.

     Foreign investment in certain sovereign debt is restricted or controlled
to varying degrees.  These restrictions or controls may at times limit or
preclude foreign investment in such sovereign debt and increase the costs and
expenses of the Fund.  Certain countries in which the Fund will invest require
governmental approval prior to investments by foreign persons, limit the amount
of investment by foreign persons in a particular issuer, limit the investment
by foreign persons only to a specific class of securities of an issuer that may
have less advantageous rights than the classes available for purchase by
domiciliaries of the countries, or





                                       17
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impose additional taxes on foreign investors.  Certain issuers may require
governmental approval for the repatriation of investment income, capital or the
proceeds of sales of securities by foreign investors.  In addition, if a
deterioration occurs in a country's balance of payments, the country could
impose temporary restrictions on foreign capital remittances.  The Fund could
be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, any required
governmental approval for repatriation of capital, as well as by the
application to the Fund of any restrictions on investments.  Investing in local
markets may require the Fund to adopt special procedures, seek local government
approvals or take other actions, each of which may involve additional costs to
the Fund.

     The sovereign debt in which the Fund may invest includes Brady Bonds,
which are securities issued under the framework of the Brady Plan, an
initiative announced by former U.S. Treasury Secretary Nicholas F. Brady in
1989 as a mechanism for debtor nations to restructure their outstanding
external commercial bank indebtedness.  In restructuring its external debt
under the Brady Plan framework, a debtor nation negotiates with its existing
bank lenders as well as multilateral institutions such as the International
Monetary Fund ("IMF").  The Brady Plan framework, as it has developed,
contemplates the exchange of commercial bank debt for newly issued Brady Bonds.
Brady Bonds may also be issued in respect of new money being advanced by
existing lenders in connection with the debt restructuring.  The World Bank and
the IMF support the restructuring by providing funds pursuant to loan
agreements or other arrangements which enable the debtor nation to
collateralize the new Brady Bonds or to repurchase outstanding bank debt at a
discount.

     There can be no assurance that the circumstances regarding the issuance of
Brady Bonds by these countries will not change.  Investors should recognize
that Brady Bonds have been issued only recently, and accordingly do not have a
long payment history.  Agreements implemented under the Brady Plan to date are
designed to achieve debt and debt-service reduction through specific options
negotiated by a debtor nation with its creditors.  As a result, the financial
packages offered by each country differ.  The types of options have included
the exchange of outstanding commercial bank debt for bonds issued at 100% of
face value of such debt, which carry a below-market stated rate of interest
(generally known as par bonds), bonds issued at a discount from the face value
of such debt (generally known as discount bonds), bonds bearing an interest
rate which increases over time, and bonds issued in exchange for the
advancement of new money by existing lenders.  Regardless of the stated face
amount and stated interest rate of the various types of Brady Bonds, the Fund
will purchase Brady Bonds in secondary markets, as described below, in which
the price and yield to the investor reflect market conditions at the time of
purchase.

     Certain Brady Bonds have been collateralized as to principal due at
maturity by U.S. Treasury zero coupon bonds with maturities equal to the final
maturity of such Brady Bonds.  Collateral purchases are financed by the IMF,
the World Bank, and the debtor nations' reserves.  In the event of a default
with respect to collateralized Brady Bonds as a result of which the payment
obligations of the issuer are accelerated, the U.S. Treasury zero coupon
obligations held as collateral for the payment of principal will not be
distributed to investors, nor will such obligations be sold and the proceeds
distributed.  The collateral will be held by the collateral agent to the
scheduled maturity of the defaulted Brady Bonds, which will continue to be
outstanding, at which time the face amount of the collateral will equal the
principal payments which would have then been due on the Brady Bonds in the
normal course.  In addition, interest payments on certain types of Brady Bonds
may be collateralized by cash or high grade securities in amounts that
typically represent between 12 and 18 months of interest accruals on these
instruments with the balance of the interest accruals being uncollateralized.
Brady Bonds are often viewed as having several valuation components:  (1) the
collateralized repayment of principal, if any, at final maturity, (2) the
collateralized interest payments, if any, (3) the uncollateralized interest
payments, and (4) any uncollateralized repayment of principal at maturity
(these uncollateralized amounts constitute the "residual risk").  In light of
the residual risk of Brady Bonds and, among other factors, the history of
defaults with respect to commercial bank loans by public and private entities
of countries issuing Brady Bonds, investments in Brady Bonds are to be viewed
as speculative.  The Fund may purchase Brady Bonds with no or limited
collateralization, and will be relying for payment of interest and (except in
the case of principal collateralized Brady Bonds) principal primarily on the
willingness and ability of the foreign government to make payment in accordance
with the terms of the Brady Bonds.  Brady Bonds issued to date are purchased
and sold in secondary markets through U.S.  securities dealers and other
financial institutions and are generally maintained through European
transnational securities depositories.

DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS

     As indicated in the Prospectus, the Fund may invest in foreign securities
by purchasing depositary receipts, including American Depositary Receipts
("ADRs") and European Depositary Receipts ("EDRs"), or other securities
convertible into securities or issuers based in foreign countries.  These
securities may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the





                                       18
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securities into which they may be converted.  Generally, ADRs, in registered
form, are denominated in U.S. dollars and are designed for use in the U.S.
securities markets, while EDRs, in bearer form, may be denominated in other
currencies and are designed for use in European securities markets.  ADRs are
receipts typically issued by a U.S. bank or trust company evidencing ownership
of the underlying securities.  EDRs are European receipts evidencing a similar
arrangement.  For purposes of the Fund's investment policies, ADRs and EDRs are
deemed to have the same classification as the underlying securities they
represent.  Thus, an ADR or EDR representing ownership of common stock will be
treated as common stock.

     ADR facilities may be established as either "unsponsored" or "sponsored."
While ADRs issued under these two types of facilities are in some respects
similar, there are distinctions between them relating to the rights and
obligations of ADR holders and the practices of market participants.  A
depositary may establish an unsponsored facility without participation by (or
even necessarily the acquiescence of) the issuer of the deposited securities,
although typically the depositary requests a letter of non-objection from such
issuer prior to the establishment of the facility.  Holders of unsponsored ADRs
generally bear all the costs of such facilities.  The depositary usually
charges fees upon the deposit and withdrawal of the deposited securities, the
conversion of dividends into U.S. dollars, the disposition of non-cash
distributions, and the performance of other services.  The depositary of an
unsponsored facility frequently is under no obligation to distribute
shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited securities
or to pass through voting rights to ADR holders in respect of the deposited
securities.  Sponsored ADR facilities are created in generally the same manner
as unsponsored facilities, except that the issuer of the deposited securities
enters into a deposit agreement with the depositary.  The deposit agreement
sets out the rights and responsibilities of the issuer, the depositary and the
ADR holders.  With sponsored facilities, the issuer of the deposited securities
generally will bear some of the costs relating to the facility (such as
dividend payment fees of the depositary), although ADR holders continue to bear
certain other costs (such as deposit and withdrawal fees).  Under the terms of
most sponsored arrangements, depositories agree to distribute notices of
shareholder meetings and voting instructions, and to provide shareholder
communications and other information to the ADR holders at the request of the
issuer of the deposited securities.

FOREIGN INVESTMENT COMPANIES

     Some of the countries in which the Fund invests may not permit direct
investment by outside investors.  Investments in such countries may only be
permitted through foreign government-approved or -authorized investment
vehicles, which may include other investment companies.  Investing through such
vehicles may involve frequent or layered fees or expenses and may also be
subject to limitation under the 1940 Act.  Under the 1940 Act, a Fund may
invest up to 10% of its assets in shares of investment companies and up to 5%
of its assets in any one investment company as long as the investment does not
represent more than 3% of the voting stock of the acquired investment company.

REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

     The Fund may invest in repurchase agreements with certain banks or
non-bank dealers.  In a repurchase agreement, the Fund buys a security at one
price, and at the time of sale, the seller agrees to repurchase the obligation
at a mutually agreed upon time and price (usually within seven days).  The
repurchase agreement, thereby, determines the yield during the purchaser's
holding period, while the seller's obligation to repurchase is secured by the
value of the underlying security.  If the value of such securities is less than
the repurchase price, plus any agreed-upon additional amount, the other party
to the agreement will be required to provide additional collateral so that at
all times the collateral is at least equal to the repurchase price, plus any
agreed-upon additional amount.  The Advisor will monitor, on an ongoing basis,
the value of the underlying securities to ensure that the value always equals
or exceeds the repurchase price plus accrued interest. Repurchase agreements
could involve certain risks in the event of a default or insolvency of the
other party to the agreement, including possible delays or restrictions upon
the Fund's ability to dispose of the underlying securities. Although no
definitive creditworthiness criteria are used, the Advisor reviews the
creditworthiness of the banks and non-bank dealers with which the Fund enters
into repurchase agreements to evaluate those risks. The Fund may, under certain
circumstances, deem repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government
securities to be investments in U.S. government securities.





                                       19
<PAGE>   163

BORROWING

     The Fund may borrow money from banks, limited by the Fund's fundamental
investment restriction to 33 1/3% of its total assets, and may engage in
mortgage dollar roll transactions and reverse repurchase agreements which may
be considered a form of borrowing. (See "Mortgage Dollar Rolls and Reverse
Repurchase Agreements" below.)  In addition, the Fund may borrow up to an
additional 5% of its total assets from banks for temporary or emergency
purposes. The Fund will not purchase securities when bank borrowings exceed 5%
of the Fund's total assets.

MORTGAGE DOLLAR ROLLS AND REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

     The Fund may engage in reverse repurchase agreements to facilitate
portfolio liquidity, a practice common in the mutual fund industry, or for
arbitrage transactions discussed below. In a reverse repurchase agreement, the
Fund would sell a security and enter into an agreement to repurchase the
security at a specified future date and price. The Fund generally retains the
right to interest and principal payments on the security. Since the Fund
receives cash upon entering into a reverse repurchase agreement, it may be
considered a borrowing. When required by guidelines of the SEC, the Fund will
set aside permissible liquid assets in a segregated account to secure its
obligations to repurchase the security.

     The Fund may also enter into mortgage dollar rolls, in which the Fund
would sell mortgage-backed securities for delivery in the current month and
simultaneously contract to purchase substantially similar securities on a
specified future date. While the Fund would forego principal and interest paid
on the mortgage-backed securities during the roll period, the Fund would be
compensated by the difference between the current sales price and the lower
price for the future purchase as well as by any interest earned on the proceeds
of the initial sale. The Fund also could be compensated through the receipt of
fee income equivalent to a lower forward price. At the time the Fund would
enter into a mortgage dollar roll, it would set aside permissible liquid assets
in a segregated account to secure its obligation for the forward commitment to
buy mortgage-backed securities. Mortgage dollar roll transactions may be
considered a borrowing by the Fund.

     The mortgage dollar rolls and reverse repurchase agreements entered into
by the Fund may be used as arbitrage transactions in which the Fund will
maintain an offsetting position in investment grade debt obligations or
repurchase agreements that mature on or before the settlement date on the
related mortgage dollar roll or reverse repurchase agreement. Since the Fund
will receive interest on the securities or repurchase agreements in which it
invests the transaction proceeds, such transactions may involve leverage.
However, since such securities or repurchase agreements will be high quality
and will mature on or before the settlement date of the mortgage dollar roll or
reverse repurchase agreement, the Advisor believes that such arbitrage
transactions do not present the risks to the Fund that are associated with
other types of leverage.

VARIABLE- OR FLOATING-RATE SECURITIES

     The Fund may invest in securities which offer a variable- or floating-rate
of interest.  Variable-rate securities provide for automatic establishment of a
new interest rate at fixed intervals (e.g., daily, monthly, semi-annually,
etc.).  Floating-rate securities provide for automatic adjustment of the
interest rate whenever some specified interest rate index changes.  The
interest rate on variable- or floating-rate securities is ordinarily determined
by reference to or is a percentage of a bank's prime rate, the 90-day U.S.
Treasury bill rate, the rate of return on commercial paper, bank certificates
of deposit, an index of short-term interest rates, or some other objective
measure.

     Variable- or floating-rate securities frequently include a demand feature
entitling the holder to sell the securities to the issuer at par.  In many
cases, the demand feature can be exercised at any time on 7 days' notice; in
other cases, the demand feature is exercisable at any time on 30 days' notice
or on similar notice at intervals of not more than one year.  Some securities,
which do not have variable or floating interest rates, may be accompanied by
puts producing similar results and price characteristics.  When considering the
maturity of any instrument which may be sold or put to the issuer or a third
party, the Fund may consider that instrument's maturity to be shorter than its
stated maturity.

     Variable-rate demand notes include master demand notes, which are
obligations that permit the Fund to invest fluctuating amounts that may change
daily without penalty, pursuant to direct arrangements between the Fund, as
lender, and the borrower.  The interest rates on these notes fluctuate from
time to time.  The issuer of such obligations normally has a





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corresponding right, after a given period, to prepay in its discretion the
outstanding principal amount of the obligations plus accrued interest upon a
specified number of days' notice to the holders of such obligations.  The
interest rate on a floating-rate demand obligation is based on a known lending
rate, such as a bank's prime rate, and is adjusted automatically each time such
rate is adjusted.  The interest rate on a variable-rate demand obligation is
adjusted automatically at specified intervals.  Frequently, such obligations
are secured by letters of credit or other credit support arrangements provided
by banks. Because these obligations are direct-lending arrangements between the
lender and borrower, it is not contemplated that such instruments will
generally be traded.  There generally is not an established secondary market
for these obligations, although they are redeemable at face value.
Accordingly, where these obligations are not secured by letters of credit or
other credit support arrangements, the Fund's right to redeem is dependent on
the ability of the borrower to pay principal and interest on demand.  Such
obligations frequently are not rated by credit rating agencies and, if not so
rated, the Fund may invest in them only if the Fund's Advisor determines that,
at the time of investment, the obligations are of comparable quality to the
other obligations in which the Fund may invest.  The Advisor, on behalf of the
Fund, will consider on an ongoing basis the creditworthiness of the issuers of
the floating- and variable-rate demand obligations in the Fund's portfolio.

     The Fund will not invest more than 15% of its net assets in variable- and
floating-rate demand obligations that are not readily marketable (a variable-
or floating-rate demand obligation that may be disposed of on not more than
seven days notice will be deemed readily marketable and will not be subject to
this limitation). (See "Illiquid Securities" and "Investment Restrictions.")
In addition, each variable- or floating-rate obligation must meet the credit
quality requirements applicable to all the Fund's investments at the time of
purchase.  When determining whether such an obligation meets the Fund's credit
quality requirements, the Fund may look to the credit quality of the financial
guarantor providing a letter of credit or other credit support arrangement.

SMALL COMPANIES

     The Fund may, from time to time, invest a substantial portion of its
assets in small companies.  While smaller companies generally have the
potential for rapid growth, investments in smaller companies often involve
greater risks than investments in larger, more established companies because
smaller companies may lack the management experience, financial resources,
product diversification, and competitive strengths of larger companies. In
addition, in many instances the securities of smaller companies are traded only
over-the-counter or on a regional securities exchange, and the frequency and
volume of their trading is substantially less than is typical of larger
companies. Therefore, the securities of smaller companies may be subject to
greater and more abrupt price fluctuations. When making large sales, the Fund
may have to sell portfolio holdings at discounts from quoted prices or may have
to make a series of small sales over an extended period of time due to the
trading volume of smaller company securities. Investors should be aware that,
based on the foregoing factors, an investment in the Fund may be subject to
greater price fluctuations than an investment in a fund that invests primarily
in larger, more established companies. The Advisor's research efforts may also
play a greater role in selecting securities for the Fund than in a fund that
invests in larger, more established companies.

                   DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION

   
     Directors and officers of the Corporation, together with information as to
their principal business occupations during the past five years, and other
information are shown below.  Each director who is deemed an "interested
person," as defined in the 1940 Act, is indicated by an asterisk.  Each officer
and director holds the same positions with the following registered investment
companies:  Strong Advantage Fund, Inc.; Strong American Utilities Fund, Inc.;
Strong Asia Pacific Fund, Inc.; Strong Asset Allocation Fund, Inc.; Strong      
Common Stock Fund, Inc.; Strong Corporate Bond Fund, Inc.; Strong Discovery
Fund, Inc.; Strong Government Securities Fund, Inc.; Strong Growth Fund, Inc.;
Strong Heritage Reserve Series, Inc.; Strong High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund,
Inc.; Strong Insured Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.; Strong International Bond Fund,
Inc.; Strong International Stock Fund, Inc.; Strong Money Market Fund, Inc.;
Strong Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.; Strong Municipal Money Market Fund, Inc.;
Strong Opportunity Fund, Inc.; Strong Short-Term Bond Fund, Inc.; Strong
Short-Term Global Bond Fund, Inc.; Strong Short-Term Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.;
Strong Special Fund II, Inc.; Strong Total Return Fund, Inc.;  and Strong U.S.
Treasury Money Market Fund, Inc. (collectively, the "Strong Funds").
    




                                       21
<PAGE>   165


     *Richard S. Strong (DOB 5/12/42), Chairman of the Board and Director of
      the Corporation.

     Prior to August 1985, Mr. Strong was Chief Executive Officer of the
Advisor, which he founded in 1974. Since August 1985, Mr. Strong has been a
Security Analyst and Portfolio Manager of the Advisor.  In October 1991, Mr.
Strong also became the Chairman of the Advisor.  Mr. Strong is a director of
the Advisor.  Since October 1993, Mr. Strong has been Chairman and a director
of Strong Holdings, Inc.; a Wisconsin corporation and subsidiary of the Advisor
("Holdings"), and the Fund's underwriter, Strong Funds Distributors, Inc.; a
Wisconsin corporation and subsidiary of Holdings ("Distributor").  Since
January 1994, Mr. Strong has been Chairman and a director of Heritage Reserve
Development Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation and subsidiary of Holdings;
and since February 1994, Mr. Strong has been a member of the Managing Boards of
Fussville Real Estate Holdings L.L.C., a Wisconsin Limited Liability Company
and subsidiary of the Advisor, and Fussville Development L.L.C.  a Wisconsin
Limited Liability Company and subsidiary of the Advisor, and certain of its
subsidiaries. Mr. Strong has served as a director of the Corporation since
incorporation in December 1990 and Chairman of the Board of the Corporation
since January 1992.  Mr. Strong has been in the investment management business
since 1967.

     Marvin E. Nevins (DOB 7/9/18), Director of the Corporation.

     Private Investor.  From 1945 to 1980, Mr. Nevins was Chairman of Wisconsin
Centrifugal Inc.; a foundry. From July 1983 to December 1986, he was Chairman
of General Casting Corp., Waukesha, Wisconsin, a foundry. Mr. Nevins is a
former Chairman of the Wisconsin Association of Manufacturers & Commerce.  He
was also a regent of the Milwaukee School of Engineering and a member of the
Board of Trustees of the Medical College of Wisconsin.  Mr. Nevins has served
as a director of the Corporation since incorporation in December 1990.

     Willie D. Davis (DOB 7/24/34), Director of the Corporation.

     Mr. Davis has been director of Alliance Bank Since 1980, Sara Lee
Corporation (a food/consumer products company) since 1983, KMart Corporation (a
discount consumer products company) since 1985, YMCA Metropolitan - Los Angeles
since 1985, Dow Chemical Company since 1988, MGM Grand, Inc. (an
entertainment/hotel company) since 1990, WICOR, Inc. (a utility company) since
1990, Johnson Controls, Inc. (an industrial company) since 1992, L.A. Gear (a
footwear/sportswear company) since 1992, and Rally's Hamburger, Inc. since
1994.  Mr. Davis has been a trustee of the University of Chicago since 1980,
Marquette University since 1988, and Occidental College since 1990.  Since
1977, Mr. Davis has been President and Chief Executive Officer of All Pro
Broadcasting, Inc.  Mr. Davis was a director of the Fireman's Fund (an
insurance company) from 1975 until 1990.  Mr. Davis has served as a director of
the Corporation since July 1994.

     *John Dragisic (DOB 11/26/40), Vice Chairman and Director of the
      Corporation.

     Mr. Dragisic has been Vice Chairman and a director of the Advisor and a
director of Holdings and Distributor since July 1994.  Mr.  Dragisic previously
served as a director of the Fund from 1992 and 1994.  Mr. Dragisic was the
President and Chief Executive Officer of Grunau Company, Inc. (a mechanical
contracting and engineering firm), Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1987 until July
1994.  From 1981 to 1987, he was an Executive Vice President with Grunau
Company, Inc.  From 1969 until 1973, Mr. Dragisic worked for the InterAmerican
Development Bank.  Mr.  Dragisic received his Ph.D. in Economics in 1971 from
the University of Wisconsin - Madison and his B.A. degree in Economics in 1962
from Lake Forest College.  Mr. Dragisic has served as Vice Chairman of the
Corporation since July 1994 and director of the Corporation since April 1995.

     Stanley Kritzik (DOB 1/9/30), Director of the Corporation.

     Mr. Kritzik has been a Partner of  Metropolitan Associates since 1962, a
Director of Aurora Health Care since 1987, and Health Network Ventures, Inc.
since 1992.  He has served as a director of the Corporation since April 1995.





                                       22
<PAGE>   166


     William F. Vogt (DOB 7/19/47), Director of the Corporation.

     Mr. Vogt has been the President of Vogt Management Consulting, Inc. since
1990.  From 1982 until 1990, he served as Executive Director of University
Physicians of the University of Colorado.  Mr. Vogt is the Past President of
the Medical Group Management Association and a Fellow of the American College
of Medical Practice Executives.  He has served as a director of the Corporation
since April 1995.

     Lawrence A. Totsky (DOB 5/6/59), C.P.A., Vice President of the Corporation.

     Mr. Totsky has been Senior Vice President of the Advisor since December
1994.  Mr. Totsky acted as the Advisor's Manager of Shareholder Accounting and
Compliance from June 1987 to June 1991 when he was named Director of Mutual
Fund Administration. Mr. Totsky has been a Vice President of the Corporation
since May 1993.

     Thomas P. Lemke (DOB 7/30/54), Vice President of the Corporation.

     Mr. Lemke has been Senior Vice President, Secretary, and General Counsel
of the Advisor since September 1994.  For two years prior to joining the
Advisor, Mr. Lemke acted as Resident Counsel for Funds Management at J.P.
Morgan & Co., Inc.  From February 1989 until April 1992, Mr. Lemke acted as
Associate General Counsel to Sanford C. Bernstein Co., Inc.  For two years
prior to that, Mr. Lemke was Of Counsel at the Washington, D.C. law firm of Tew
Jorden & Schulte, a successor of Finley, Kumble Wagner.  From August 1979 until
December 1986, Mr. Lemke worked at the Securities and Exchange Commission, most
notably as the Chief Counsel to the Division of Investment Management (November
1984 - December 1986), and as Special Counsel to the Office of Insurance
Products, Division of Investment Management (April 1982 - October 1984).  Mr.
Lemke has been a Vice President of the Corporation since October 1994.

     Ann E. Oglanian (DOB 12/7/61), Secretary of the Corporation.

     Ms. Oglanian has been an Associate Counsel of the Advisor since January
1992.  Ms. Oglanian acted as Associate Counsel for the Chicago-based investment
management firm, Kemper Financial Services, Inc.; from June 1988 until December
1991.  Ms. Oglanian has been the Secretary of the Corporation since May 1994.

     Ronald A. Neville (DOB 5/21/47), C.P.A., Treasurer of the Corporation.

     Mr. Neville has been the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
of the Advisor since January 1995.  For fourteen years prior to that, Mr.
Neville worked at Twentieth Century Companies, Inc., most notably as Senior
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (1988 until December 1994).  Mr.
Neville received his M.B.A. in 1972 from the University of Missouri - Kansas
City and his B.A. degree in Business Administration and Economics in 1969 from
Drury College.  Mr. Neville has been the Treasurer of the Corporation since
April 1995.

     Except for Messrs. Nevins, Davis, Kritzik and Vogt, the address of all of
the above persons is P.O. Box 2936, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201.  Mr. Nevins'
address is 6075 Pelican Bay Boulevard, Naples, Florida 33963.  Mr. Davis'
address is 161 North La Brea, Inglewood, California 90301.  Mr. Kritzik's
address is 1123 North Astor Street, P.O. Box 92547, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
53202-0547.  Mr. Vogt's address is 3003 Third Street Avenue, Denver, Colorado
80206.

     The Strong Funds, a complex of open-end management investment companies
composed of 30 funds (the "funds"), of which the Fund is a part, in the
aggregate, pays each Director who is not a director, officer, or employee of
the Advisor, or any affiliated company (a "disinterested director") an annual
fee of $50,000, plus $100 per Board meeting for each fund or series thereof.
In addition, each disinterested director is reimbursed by the funds for travel
and other expenses incurred in connection with attendance at such meetings.
Other officers and directors of the funds receive no compensation or expense
reimbursement from the funds.

   
     As of July 14, 1995, the officers and directors of the Corporation did not
own any of the Fund's shares.
    




                                       23
<PAGE>   167
   
                             PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS

     As of July 14, 1995, no one owned of record or beneficially any shares
of the Fund.
    


                       INVESTMENT ADVISOR AND DISTRIBUTOR

     The Advisor to the Fund is Strong Capital Management, Inc.  Mr. Richard S.
Strong controls the Advisor.  Mr. Strong is the Chairman and a director of the
Advisor, Mr. Dragisic is the Vice Chairman and a director of the Advisor, Mr.
Totsky is a Senior Vice President of the Advisor, Mr. Lemke is a Senior Vice
President, Secretary and General Counsel of the Advisor, Mr. Neville is a
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Advisor, and Ms. 
Oglanian is an Associate Counsel of the Advisor and Mr. Zoeller is the 
Treasurer of the Advisor.  A brief description of the Fund's investment 
advisory agreement ("Advisory Agreement") is set forth in the Prospectus under 
"Management."

   
     The Fund's Advisory Agreement is dated July 10, 1995, and will remain in
effect as to the Fund for a period of two years.  The Advisory Agreement was
approved by the Fund's initial shareholder on its first day of operations.  
Thereafter, the Advisory Agreement is required to be approved annually by the
Board of Directors of the Corporation or by vote of a majority of the Fund's
outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act).  In either case,
each annual renewal must also be approved by the vote of a majority of the
Corporation's directors who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or
interested persons of any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for
the purpose of voting on such approval. The Advisory Agreement is terminable,
without penalty, on 60 days' written notice by the Board of Directors of the
Corporation, by vote of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities,
or by the Advisor.  In addition, the Advisory Agreement will terminate
automatically in the event of its assignment.
    
        
     Under the terms of the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor manages the Fund's
investments subject to the supervision of the Corporation's Board of Directors.
The Advisor is responsible for investment decisions and supplies investment
research and portfolio management.  At its expense, the Advisor provides office
space and all necessary office facilities, equipment, and personnel for
servicing the investments of the Fund.  The Advisor places all orders for the
purchase and sale of the Fund's securities at its expense.

     Except for expenses assumed by the Advisor as set forth above or by the
Distributor as described below with respect to the distribution of the Fund's
shares, the Fund is responsible for all its other expenses, including, without
limitation, interest charges, taxes, brokerage commissions, and similar
expenses; expenses of issue, sale, repurchase, or redemption of shares;
expenses of registering or qualifying shares for sale; expenses for printing
and distribution costs of prospectuses and quarterly financial statements
mailed to existing shareholders; charges of custodians, transfer agent fees
(including the printing and mailing of reports and notices to shareholders),
fees of registrars, fees for auditing and legal services, fees for clerical
services related to recordkeeping and shareholder relations, the cost of stock
certificates and fees for directors who are not "interested persons" of the
Advisor; and its allocable share of the Corporation's expenses.

   
     As compensation for its services, the Fund pays to the Advisor a monthly
management fee at the annual rate of .85% of the first $35,000,000 of the Fund's
average daily net asset value and at the annual rate of .80% of the Fund's
average daily net asset value in excess of $35,000,000.  (See "Additional
Information - Calculation of Net Asset Value" in the Prospectus.)  From time to
time, the Advisor may voluntarily waive all or a portion of its management fee
for the Fund. 
    

   
     The Advisory Agreement requires the Advisor to reimburse the Fund in the
event that the expenses and charges payable by the Fund in any fiscal year,
including the management fee but excluding taxes, interest, brokerage
commissions, and similar fees and to the extent permitted extraordinary
expenses, exceed that percentage of the average net asset value of the Fund for
such year. Such excess is determined by valuations made as of the close of each
business day of the year, which is the most restrictive percentage provided by
the state laws of the various states in which the Fund's shares are qualified
for sale; or if the states in which the Fund's shares are qualified for sale
impose no restrictions, the Advisor shall reimburse the Fund in the event the
expenses and charges payable by the Fund in any fiscal year (as described
above) exceed 2%.  The most restrictive percentage limitation
    




                                       24
<PAGE>   168

currently applicable to the Fund is 2.5% of its average daily net assets up to
$30,000,000, 2% on the next $70,000,000 of its average daily net assets and
1.5% of its average daily net assets in excess of $100,000,000.  Reimbursement
of expenses in excess of the applicable limitation will be made on a monthly
basis and will be paid to the Fund by reduction of the Advisor's fee, subject
to later adjustment month by month for the remainder of the Fund's fiscal year.
The Advisor may from time to time absorb expenses for the Fund in addition to
the reimbursement of expenses in excess of applicable limitations.

     On July 12, 1994, the SEC filed an administrative action (Order) against
the Advisor, Mr. Strong, and another employee of the Advisor in connection with
conduct that occurred between 1987 and early 1990. In re Strong/Corneliuson
Capital Management, Inc.; et al. Admin. Proc. File No. 3-8411. The proceeding
was settled by consent without admitting or denying the allegations in the
Order. The Order alleged that the Advisor and Mr. Strong aided and abetted
violations of Section 17(a) of the 1940 Act by effecting trades between mutual
funds, and between mutual funds and Harbour Investments Ltd. ("Harbour"),
without complying with the exemptive provisions of SEC Rule 17a-7 or otherwise
obtaining an exemption. It further alleged that the Advisor violated, and Mr.
Strong aided and abetted violations of, the disclosure provisions of the 1940
Act and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 by misrepresenting the Advisor's
policy on personal trading and by failing to disclose trading by Harbour, an
entity in which principals of the Advisor owned between 18 and 25 percent of
the voting stock. As part of the settlement, the respondents agreed to a
censure and a cease and desist order and the Advisor agreed to various
undertakings, including adoption of certain procedures and a limitation for six
months on accepting certain types of new advisory clients.

     The staff of the U.S. Department of Labor (the "Staff") has contacted the
Advisor regarding alleged cross-trading of securities between 1987 and early
1990 involving various customer accounts subject to the Employee Retirement
Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA") and managed by the Advisor.  The Advisor has
informed the Staff of the basis for its position that the trades complied with
ERISA and that, in any event, any alleged noncompliance was not the cause of
any losses to the accounts.  The Staff has stated that it disagrees with the
Advisor's positions, although to date it has not filed any action against the
Advisor.  At this time, the Advisor is negotiating with the Staff regarding a
possible resolution of the matter, but it cannot presently determine whether
the matter will be settled or litigated or, if it is settled or litigated, how
it ultimately will be resolved.  However, management presently believes, based
on current knowledge and the Advisor's insurance coverage, that the ultimate
resolution of this matter should not have a material adverse effect on the
Advisor's financial position.

   
     Under a Distribution Agreement dated July 10, 1995 with the Corporation
(the "Distribution Agreement"), Strong Funds Distributors, Inc.
("Distributor"), a subsidiary of the Advisor, acts as underwriter of the Fund's
shares.  The Distribution Agreement provides that the Distributor will use its
best efforts to distribute the Fund's shares.  Shares are only offered and sold
to the separate accounts of certain insurance companies.  Since the Fund is a
"no-load" fund, no sales commissions are charged on the purchase of Fund
shares.  Certain sales charges may apply to the variable annuity or life
insurance contract, which should be described in the prospectus of the
insurance company's separate account.  The Distribution Agreement further
provides that the Distributor will bear the additional costs of printing
prospectuses and shareholder reports which are used for selling purposes, as
well as advertising and other costs attributable to the distribution of the
Fund's shares.  The Distributor is an indirect subsidiary of the Advisor and
controlled by the Advisor and Richard S. Strong.  The Distribution Agreement is
subject to the same termination and renewal provisions as are described above
with respect to the Advisory Agreement.
    

                      PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE

     The Advisor is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities for
the Fund and for the placement of the Fund's investment business and the
negotiation of the commissions to be paid on such transactions.  It is the
policy of the Advisor to seek the best execution at the best security price
available with respect to each transaction, in light of the overall quality of
brokerage and research services provided to the Advisor or the Fund. In
over-the-counter transactions, orders are placed directly with a principal
market maker unless it is believed that a better price and execution can be
obtained using a broker.  The best price to the Fund means the best net price
without regard to the mix between purchase or sale price and commission, if
any.  In selecting broker-dealers and in negotiating commissions, the Advisor
considers a variety of factors, including best price and execution, the full
range of brokerage services provided by the broker, as well as its capital
strength and stability, and the quality of the research and research services
provided by the broker.  Brokerage will not be allocated based on the sale of
any shares of the Strong Funds.

     Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Section 28(e)")
permits an investment advisor, under certain circumstances, to cause an account
to pay a broker or dealer a commission for effecting a transaction in excess of
the amount of





                                       25
<PAGE>   169

commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting the
transaction in recognition of the value of the brokerage and research services
provided by the broker or dealer.  Brokerage and research services include (a)
furnishing advice as to the value of securities, the advisability of investing
in, purchasing or selling securities, and the availability of securities or
purchasers or sellers of securities; (b) furnishing analyses and reports
concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends,
portfolio strategy, and the performance of accounts; and (c) effecting
securities transactions and performing functions incidental thereto (such as
clearance, settlement, and custody).

     In carrying out the provisions of the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor may
cause the Fund to pay a broker, which provides brokerage and research services
to the Advisor, a commission for effecting a securities transaction in excess
of the amount another broker would have charged for effecting the transaction.
The Advisor believes it is important to its investment decision-making process
to have access to independent research.  The Advisory Agreement provides that
such higher commissions will not be paid by the Fund unless (a) the Advisor
determines in good faith that the amount is reasonable in relation to the
services in terms of the particular transaction or in terms of the Advisor's
overall responsibilities with respect to the accounts as to which it exercises
investment discretion; (b) such payment is made in compliance with the
provisions of Section 28(e), other applicable state and federal laws, and the
Advisory Agreement; and (c) in the opinion of the Advisor, the total
commissions paid by the Fund will be reasonable in relation to the benefits to
the Fund over the long term. The investment advisory fee paid by the Fund under
the Advisory Agreement is not reduced as a result of the Advisor's receipt of
research services.

     Generally, research services provided by brokers may include information
on the economy, industries, groups of securities, individual companies,
statistical information, accounting and tax law interpretations, political
developments, legal developments affecting portfolio securities, technical
market action, pricing and appraisal services, credit analysis, risk
measurement analysis, performance analysis, and analysis of corporate
responsibility issues. Such research services are received primarily in the
form of written reports, telephone contacts, and personal meetings with
security analysts. In addition, such research services may be provided in the
form of access to various computer-generated data, computer hardware and
software, and meetings arranged with corporate and industry spokespersons,
economists, academicians, and government representatives. In some cases,
research services are generated by third parties but are provided to the
Advisor by or through brokers. Such brokers may pay for all or a portion of
computer hardware and software costs relating to the pricing of securities.

     Where the Advisor itself receives both administrative benefits and
research and brokerage services from the services provided by brokers, it makes
a good faith allocation between the administrative benefits and the research
and brokerage services, and will pay for any administrative benefits with cash.
In making good faith allocations of costs between administrative benefits and
research and brokerage services, a conflict of interest may exist by reason of
the Advisor's allocation of the costs of such benefits and services between
those that primarily benefit the Advisor and those that primarily benefit the
Fund and other advisory clients.

     From time to time, the Advisor may purchase securities for the Fund in a
fixed price offering. In these situations, the seller may be a member of the
selling group that will, in addition to selling the securities to the Fund and
other advisory clients, provide the Advisor with research. The National
Association of Securities Dealers has adopted rules expressly permitting these
types of arrangements under certain circumstances. Generally, the seller will
provide research "credits" in these situations at a rate that is higher than
that which is available for typical secondary market transactions. These
arrangements may not fall within the safe harbor of Section 28(e).

     Each year, the Advisor considers the amount and nature of research and
research services provided by brokers, as well as the extent to which such
services are relied upon, and attempts to allocate a portion of the brokerage
business of the Fund and other advisory clients on the basis of that
consideration. In addition, brokers may suggest a level of business they would
like to receive in order to continue to provide such services. The actual
brokerage business received by a broker may be more or less than the suggested
allocations, depending upon the Advisor's evaluation of all applicable
considerations.

     During its last fiscal year, the Advisor had an arrangement with various
brokers whereby, in consideration of the providing of research services, the
Advisor allocated brokerage to those firms, provided that their brokerage and
research services were satisfactory to the Advisor and their execution
capabilities were compatible with the Advisor's policy of seeking best
execution at the best security price available, as discussed above.





                                       26
<PAGE>   170
     The Advisor may direct the purchase of securities on behalf of the Fund
and other advisory clients in secondary market transactions, in public
offerings directly from an underwriter, or in privately negotiated transactions
with an issuer. When the Advisor believes the circumstances so warrant,
securities purchased in public offerings may be resold shortly after
acquisition in the immediate aftermarket for the security in order to take
advantage of price appreciation from the public offering price or for other
reasons. Short-term trading of securities acquired in public offerings, or
otherwise, may result in higher portfolio turnover and associated brokerage
expenses.

     The Advisor places portfolio transactions for other advisory accounts,
including other mutual funds managed by the Advisor.  Research services
furnished by firms through which the Fund effects its securities transactions
may be used by the Advisor in servicing all of its accounts; not all of such
services may be used by the Advisor in connection with the Fund.  In the
opinion of the Advisor, it is not possible to measure separately the benefits
from research services to each of the accounts (including the Fund) managed by
the Advisor. Because the volume and nature of the trading activities of the
accounts are not uniform, the amount of commissions in excess of those charged
by another broker paid by each account for brokerage and research services will
vary.  However, in the opinion of the Advisor, such costs to the Fund will not
be disproportionate to the benefits received by the Fund on a continuing basis.

     The Advisor seeks to allocate portfolio transactions equitably whenever
concurrent decisions are made to purchase or sell securities by the Fund and
another advisory account. In some cases, this procedure could have an adverse
effect on the price or the amount of securities available to the Fund.  In
making such allocations between the Fund and other advisory accounts, the main
factors considered by the Advisor are the respective investment objectives, the
relative size of portfolio holdings of the same or comparable securities, the
availability of cash for investment, the size of investment commitments
generally held, and the opinions of the persons responsible for recommending
the investment.

     The Corporation has entered into agreements with the Advisor and each of
Salomon and PaineWebber (collectively, the "Brokers"), in which the Brokers
have agreed to pay directly to vendors certain investment management and other
related expenses incurred and otherwise payable by the Fund ("Expense
Agreements"). In accordance with the Expense Agreements, the Advisor directs
the delivery to the Brokers of invoices determined by the Fund to be
appropriate for payment by the Brokers.  The Brokers pay the invoices with the
proceeds of certain commissions received from the Fund.  The Expense Agreements
provide that a percentage of commissions received from the Fund for completed
agency transactions in certain securities for the Fund, designated by the
Advisor as directed commissions subject to the Expense Agreements, shall be
used by the Brokers to pay the invoices.  In all cases, such credits have been
immaterial in amount. The Advisor believes that this practice has not resulted
in any increase in the level of commissions paid by the Fund.  Investment
management and other related expenses include those payable by the Fund, as
described under "Investment Advisor and Distributor" in this Statement of
Additional Information.

                                   CUSTODIAN

     As custodian of the Fund's assets, Firstar Trust Company, P.O. Box 761,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201, has custody of all securities and cash of the Fund,
delivers and receives payment for securities sold, receives and pays for
securities purchased, collects income from investments, and performs other
duties, all as directed by officers of the Corporation.  The custodian is in no
way responsible for any of the investment policies or decisions of the Fund.

                  TRANSFER AGENT AND DIVIDEND-DISBURSING AGENT
   
         The Advisor acts as transfer agent and dividend-disbursing agent for
the Fund at no cost.
    

   
                           ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
    

   
        From time to time the Fund and/or the Advisor may enter into
arrangements under which certain administrative services may be performed by
the insurance companies that purchase shares in the Fund. These administrative
services may include, among other things, responding to ministerial inquiries
concerning the Fund's investment objective, investment program, policies and
performance, transmitting, on behalf of the Fund, proxy statements, annual
reports, updated prospectuses, and other communications regarding the Fund, and
providing only related services as the Fund or its shareholders may reasonably
request. Depending on the arrangements, the Fund and/or Advisor may compensate
such insurance companies or their agents directly or indirectly for the
administrative services. To the extent the Fund compensates the insurance
company for these services, the Fund will pay the insurance company an annual
fee that will vary depending upon the number of contract holders that utilize
the Fund as the funding medium for their contracts. The insurance company may
impose other account or service charges. See the prospectus for the separate 
account of the insurance company for additional information regarding such 
charges.
    



                                       27
<PAGE>   171


                                     TAXES

GENERAL

     As indicated under "Additional Information - Distributions and Taxes" in
the Prospectus, the Fund intends to continue to qualify annually for treatment
as a regulated investment company ("RIC") under the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the "Code").  This qualification does not involve government
supervision of the Fund's management practices or policies.

     In order to qualify for treatment as a RIC under the Code, the Fund must
distribute to its shareholders for each taxable year at least 90% of its
investment company taxable income (consisting generally of net investment
income, net short-term capital gain, and net gains from certain foreign
currency transactions) ("Distribution Requirement") and must meet several
additional requirements.  Among these requirements are the following: (1) the
Fund must derive at least 90% of its gross income each taxable year 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 (including gains from options, futures, or forward contracts) derived
with respect to its business of investing in securities or those currencies
("Income Requirement"); (2) the Fund must derive less than 30% of its gross
income each taxable year from the sale or other disposition of securities, or
any of the following, that were held for less than three months - options or
futures (other than those on foreign currencies), or foreign currencies (or
options, futures, or forward contracts thereon) that are not directly related
to the Fund's principal business or investing in securities (or options and
futures with respect to securities) ("30% Limitation"); (3) 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, with these other securities
limited, in respect of any one issuer, to an amount that does not exceed 5% of
the value of the Fund's total assets and that does not represent more than 10%
of the issuer's outstanding voting securities; and (4) at the close of each
quarter of the Fund's taxable year, not more than 25% of the value of its total
assets may be invested in securities (other than U.S.  government securities or
the securities of other RICs) of any one issuer.

     If Fund shares are sold at a loss after being held for six months or less,
the loss will be treated as long-term, instead of short-term, capital loss to
the extent of any capital gain distributions received on those shares.

     In addition, the Fund must satisfy the diversification requirements of
Section 817(h) of the Code.  In general, for the Fund to meet these investment
diversification requirements, Treasury regulations require that no more than
55% of the total value of the assets of the Fund may be represented by any one
investment, no more than 70% by two investments, no more than 80% by three
investments and no more than 90% by four investments.  Generally, for purposes
of the regulations, all securities of the same issuer are treated as a single
investment.  With respect to the United States Government securities (including
any security that is issued, guaranteed or insured by the United States or an
instrumentality of the United States), each governmental agency or
instrumentality is treated as a separate issuer.  Compliance with the
regulations is tested on the last day of each calendar year quarter.  There is
a 30-day period after the end of each calendar year quarter in which to cure
any non-compliance with these requirements.

FOREIGN TRANSACTIONS

     Interest and dividends received by the Fund may be subject to income,
withholding, or other taxes imposed by foreign countries and U.S.  possessions
that would reduce the yield on its securities.  Tax conventions between certain
countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate these foreign taxes,
however, and many foreign countries do not impose taxes on capital gains in
respect of investments by foreign investors.

     The Fund maintains its accounts and calculates its income in U.S. dollars.
In general, gain or loss (1) from the disposition of foreign currencies and
forward currency contracts, (2) from the disposition of
foreign-currency-denominated debt securities that are attributable to
fluctuations in exchange rates between the date the securities are acquired and
their disposition date, and (3) attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates
between the time the Fund accrues interest or other receivables or expenses or
other liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time the Fund
actually collects those receivables or pays those liabilities, will be treated
as ordinary income or loss.  A foreign-currency-denominated debt security
acquired by the Fund may bear interest at a high normal rate that takes into
account expected decreases in the value of the principal amount of the security
due to anticipated currency devaluations; in that case, the Fund would be
required to include the interest in income as it





                                       28
<PAGE>   172

accrues but generally would realize a currency loss with respect to the
principal only when the principal was received (through disposition or upon
maturity).

     The Fund may invest in the stock of "passive foreign investment companies"
("PFICs").  A PFIC is a foreign corporation that, in general, meets either of
the following tests: (1) at least 75% of its gross income is passive or (2) an
average of at least 50% of its assets produce, or are held for the production
of, passive income.  Under certain circumstances, the Fund will be subject to
federal income tax on a portion of any "excess distribution" received on the
stock or of any gain on disposition of the stock (collectively, "PFIC income"),
plus interest thereon, even if the Fund distributes the PFIC income to its
shareholders.  The balance of the PFIC income will be included in the Fund's
investment company taxable income and, accordingly, will not be taxable to it
to the extent that income is distributed to its shareholders.  If the Fund
invests in a PFIC and elects to treat the PFIC as a "qualified electing fund,"
then in lieu of the foregoing tax and interest obligation, the Fund will be
required to include in income each year its pro rata share of the qualified
electing fund's annual ordinary earnings and net capital gain (the excess of
net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) -- which probably
would have to be distributed to its shareholders to satisfy the Distribution
Requirement -- even if those earnings and gain were not received by the Fund.
In most instances it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to make this
election because of certain requirements thereof.

     The "Tax Simplification and Technical Corrections Bill of 1993," passed in
May 1994 by the House of Representatives would substantially modify the
taxation of U.S. shareholders of foreign corporations, including eliminating
the provisions described above dealing with PFICs and replacing them (and other
provisions) with a regulatory scheme involving entities called "passive foreign
corporations." Three similar bills were passed by Congress in 1991 and 1992 and
were vetoed.  It is unclear at this time whether, and in what form, the
proposed modifications may be enacted into law.

     Pursuant to proposed regulations, open-end RICs such as the Fund would be
entitled to elect to "mark-to-market" their stock in certain PFICs.
"Marking-to-market," in this context, means recognizing as gain for each
taxable year the excess, as of the end of that year, of the fair market value
of each such PFIC's stock over the adjusted basis in that stock (including
mark-to-market gain for each prior year for which an election was in effect).

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

     The use of derivatives strategies, such as purchasing and selling
(writing) options and futures and entering into forward currency contracts,
involves complex rules that will determine for income tax purposes the
character and timing of recognition of the gains and losses the Fund realizes
in connection therewith.  Gains from the disposition of foreign currencies
(except certain gains therefrom that may be excluded by future regulations),
and income from transactions in options, futures, and forward currency
contracts derived by the Fund with respect to its business of investing in
securities or foreign currencies, will qualify as permissible income under the
Income Requirement.  However, income from the disposition of options and
futures (other than those on foreign currencies) will be subject to the 30%
Limitation if they are held for less than three months.  Income from the
disposition of foreign currencies, and options, futures, and forward contracts
on foreign currencies, that are not directly related to the Fund's principal
business of investing in securities (or options and futures with respect to
securities) also will be subject to the 30% Limitation if they are held for
less than three months.

     If the Fund satisfies certain requirements, any increase in value of a
position that is part of a "designated hedge" will be offset by any decrease in
value (whether realized or not) of the offsetting hedging position during the
period of the hedge for purposes of determining whether the Fund satisfies the
30% Limitation.  Thus, only the net gain (if any) from the designated hedge
will be included in gross income for purposes of that limitation.  The Fund
intends that, when it engages in hedging strategies, the hedging transactions
will qualify for this treatment, but at the present time it is not clear
whether this treatment will be available for all of the Fund's hedging
transactions.  To the extent this treatment is not available or is not elected
by the Fund, it may be forced to defer the closing out of certain options,
futures, or forward currency contracts beyond the time when it otherwise would
be advantageous to do so, in order for the Fund to continue to qualify as a
RIC.

     For federal income tax purposes, the Fund is required to recognize as
income for each taxable year its net unrealized gains and losses on options,
futures, and forward currency contracts that are subject to section 1256 of the
Code ("Section 1256 Contracts") and are held by the Fund as of the end of the
year, as well as gains and losses on Section 1256 Contracts actually realized
during the year.  Except for Section 1256 Contracts that are part of a "mixed
straddle" and with respect to which the Fund makes a certain election, any gain
or loss recognized with respect to Section 1256 Contracts is considered to be
60% long-term





                                       29
<PAGE>   173

capital gain or loss and 40% short-term capital gain or loss, without regard to
the holding period of the Section 1256 Contract.  Unrealized gains on Section
1256 Contracts that have been held by the Fund for less than three months as of
the end of its taxable year, and that are recognized for federal income tax
purposes as described above, will not be considered gains on investments held
for less than three months for purposes of the 30% Limitation.

ZERO-COUPON, STEP-COUPON, AND PAY-IN-KIND SECURITIES

     The Fund may acquire zero-coupon, step-coupon, or other securities issued
with original issue discount.  As a holder of those securities, the Fund must
include in its income the original issue discount that accrues on the
securities during the taxable year, even if the Fund receives no corresponding
payment on the securities during the year.  Similarly, the Fund must include in
its income securities it receives as "interest" on pay-in-kind securities.
Because the Fund annually must distribute substantially all of its investment
company taxable income, including any original issue discount and other
non-cash income, to satisfy the Distribution Requirement, it may be required in
a particular year to distribute as a dividend an amount that is greater than
the total amount of cash it actually receives.  Those distributions may be made
from the proceeds on sales of portfolio securities, if necessary.  The Fund may
realize capital gains or losses from those sales, which would increase or
decrease its investment company taxable income or net capital gain, or both.
In addition, any such gains may be realized on the disposition of securities
held for less than three months.  Because of the 30% Limitation, any such gains
would reduce the Fund's ability to sell other securities, or certain options,
futures, or forward currency  contracts, held for less that three months that
it might wish to sell in the ordinary course of its portfolio management.

                        DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

     A more complete discussion of the Fund's determination of net asset value
is contained in the Prospectus.  Generally, the net asset value of the Fund
will be determined as of the close of trading on each day the New York Stock
Exchange (the "NYSE") is open for trading. The NYSE is open for trading Monday
through Friday except New Year's Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial
Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
Additionally, if any of the aforementioned holidays falls on a Saturday, the
NYSE will not be open for trading on the preceding Friday, and when any such
holiday falls on a Sunday, the NYSE will not be open for trading on the
succeeding Monday, unless unusual business conditions exist, such as the ending
of a monthly or the yearly accounting period.

                               FUND ORGANIZATION

   
     The Fund is a series of Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc., a Wisconsin
corporation (the "Corporation").  The Corporation (formerly known as Strong
Discovery Fund II, Inc., formerly known as Strong D Fund, Inc.) was organized
on December 28, 1990 and is authorized to issue 10,000,000,000 shares of common
stock and series and classes of series of shares of common stock, with a par
value of $.00001 per share.  The Corporation is authorized to issue 300,000,000
shares of common stock of the Fund.  Each share of the Corporation has one
vote, and all shares of a series participate equally in dividends and other
capital gains distributions and in the residual assets of that Fund in the
event of liquidation. Fractional shares have the same rights proportionately as
do full shares. Shares of the Corporation have no preemptive, conversion, or
subscription rights.  The Corporation currently has six series of common
stock outstanding.  The assets belonging to each series of shares is held
separately by a custodian, and in effect each series is a separate fund.  All
holders of shares of the Corporation would vote on each matter presented to
shareholders for action except with respect to any matter which affects only
one or more series or classes, in which case only the shares of the affected
series or class shall be entitled to vote.  Because of current federal
securities law requirements the Corporation expects that its shareholders will
offer to owners of variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts the
opportunity to instruct them as to how shares allocable to their contracts will
be voted with respect to certain matters, such as approval of changes to the
investment advisory agreement.  The Wisconsin Business Corporation Law permits
registered investment companies, such as the series of the Corporation, to
operate without an annual meeting of shareholders under specified circumstances
if an annual meeting is not required by the 1940 Act.  The Corporation has
adopted the appropriate provisions in its Bylaws and may, at its discretion,
not hold an annual meeting in any year in which the election of directors is
not required to be acted on by shareholders under the 1940 Act.
    




                                       30
<PAGE>   174
   
     The Corporation's Bylaws allow for a director to be removed by its 
shareholders with or without cause, only at a meeting called for the purpose of
removing the director.  Upon the written request of the holders of shares
entitled to not less than ten percent (10%) of all the votes entitled to be
cast at such meeting, the Secretary of the Corporation shall promptly call a    
special meeting of shareholders for the purpose of voting upon the question of
removal of any director.  The Secretary shall inform such shareholders of the
reasonable estimated costs of preparing and mailing the notice of the meeting,
and upon payment to the Corporation of such costs, the Corporation shall give
not less than ten nor more than sixty days notice of the special
meeting.
    

                            PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

     As described under "Additional Information - Performance Information" in
the Prospectus, the Fund's historical performance or return may be shown in the
form of "average annual total return," "total return," and "cumulative total
return."  From time to time, the Advisor may voluntarily waive all or a portion
of its management fee and/or absorb certain expenses for the Fund.  Total
returns contained in advertisements include the effect of deducting the Fund's
expenses, but may not include charges and expenses attributable to any
particular insurance product.  Since shares may only be purchased by the
separate accounts of certain insurance companies, contracts owners should
carefully review the prospectus of the separate account for information on fees
and expenses.  Excluding such fees and expenses from the Fund's total return
quotations has the effect of increasing the performance quoted.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN

     The Fund's average annual total return quotation is computed in accordance
with a standardized method prescribed by rules of the SEC.  The average annual
total return for the Fund for a specific period is found by first taking a
hypothetical $10,000 investment ("initial investment") in the Fund's shares on
the first day of the period and computing the "redeemable value" of that
investment at the end of the period.  The redeemable value is then divided by
the initial investment, and this quotient is taken to the Nth root (N
representing the number of years in the period) and one is subtracted from the
result, which is then expressed as a percentage.  The calculation assumes that
all income and capital gains dividends paid by the Fund have been reinvested at
net asset value on the reinvestment dates during the period.





                                       31
<PAGE>   175


TOTAL RETURN

     Calculation of the Fund's total return is not subject to a standardized
formula.  Total return performance for a specific period is calculated by first
taking an investment (assumed below to be $10,000) ("initial investment") in
the Fund's shares on the first day of the period and computing the "ending
value" of that investment at the end of the period.  The total return
percentage is then determined by subtracting the initial investment from the
ending value and dividing the remainder by the initial investment and
expressing the result as a percentage.  The calculation assumes that all income
and capital gains dividends paid by the Fund have been reinvested at net asset
value on the reinvestment dates during the period.  Total return may also be
shown as the increased dollar value of the hypothetical investment over the
period.

CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN

     Cumulative total return represents the simple change in value of our
investment over a stated period and may be quoted as a percentage or as a
dollar amount.  Total returns and cumulative total returns may be broken down
into their components of income and capital (including capital gains and
changes in share price) in order to illustrate the relationship between these
factors and their contributions to total return.

     The Fund's performance figures are based upon historical results and do
not represent future performance.  The Fund's shares are sold at net asset
value per share.  The Fund's returns and net asset value will fluctuate and
shares are redeemable at the then current net asset value of the Fund, which
may be more or less than original cost.  Factors affecting the Fund's
performance include general market conditions, operating expenses and
investment management.  Any additional fees charged by a dealer or other
financial services firm would reduce the returns described in this section.

COMPARISONS

(1)  U.S. TREASURY BILLS, NOTES, OR BONDS
     Investors may also wish to compare the performance of the Fund to that of
United States Treasury bills, notes, or bonds, which are issued by the U.S.
government, because such instruments represent alternative income producing
products.  Treasury obligations are issued in selected denominations.  Rates of
Treasury obligations are fixed at the time of issuance and payment of principal
and interest is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States
Treasury.  The market value of such instruments will generally fluctuate
inversely with interest rates prior to maturity and will equal par value at
maturity.

(2)  CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT
     Investors may wish to compare the Fund's performance to that of
certificates of deposit offered by banks and other depositary institutions.
Certificates of deposit represent an alternative income producing product.
Certificates of deposit may offer fixed or variable interest rates and
principal is guaranteed and may be insured. Withdrawal of the deposits prior to
maturity normally will be subject to a penalty.  Rates offered by banks and
other depositary institutions are subject to change at any time specified by
the issuing institution.

(3)  MONEY MARKET FUNDS
     Investors may also want to compare performance of the Fund to that of
money market funds.  Money market fund yields will fluctuate and an investment
in money market fund shares is neither insured nor guaranteed by the U.S.
government, but share values usually remain stable.

(4)  LIPPER ANALYTICAL SERVICES, INC. ("LIPPER") AND OTHER INDEPENDENT RANKING
     ORGANIZATIONS
     From time to time, in marketing and other fund literature, the Fund's
performance may be compared to the performance of other mutual funds in general
or to the performance of particular types of mutual funds, with similar
investment goals, as tracked by independent organizations.  Among these
organizations, Lipper, a widely used independent research firm which ranks
mutual funds by overall performance, investment objectives, and assets, may be
cited.  Lipper performance figures are based on changes in net asset value,
with all income and capital gain dividends reinvested.  Such calculations do
not include the effect of any sales charges imposed by other funds.  The Fund
will be compared to Lipper's appropriate fund category, that is, by fund
objective and portfolio holdings.





                                       32
<PAGE>   176

(5)  MORNINGSTAR, INC.
     The Fund's performance may also be compared to the performance of other
mutual funds by Morningstar, Inc. which rates funds on the basis of historical
risk and total return.  Morningstar's ratings range from five stars (highest)
to one star (lowest) and represent Morningstar's assessment of the historical
risk level and total return of the Fund as a weighted average for 3, 5, and 10
year periods.  Ratings are not absolute and do not represent future results.

(6)  VARDS REPORT
     The Fund's performance may also be compared to the performance of other
variable annuity products in general or to the performance of particular types
of variable annuity products, with similar investment goals, as tracked by the
VARDS Report (Variable Annuity Research and Data Service Report) produced by
Financial Planning Resources, Inc.  The VARDS Report is a monthly performance
analysis of the variable annuity industry.

(7)  INDEPENDENT SOURCES
     Evaluations of Fund performance made by independent sources may also be
used in advertisements concerning the Fund, including reprints of, or
selections from, editorials or articles about the Fund, especially those with
similar objectives.  Sources for Fund performance information and articles
about the Fund may include publications such as Money, Forbes, Kiplinger's,
Smart Money, Morningstar, Inc., Financial World, Business Week, U.S. News and
World Report, The Wall Street Journal, Barron's, and a variety of investment
newsletters.

(8) INDICES
    A Fund may compare its performance to a wide variety of indices including
    the following:

           (a)  The Consumer Price Index
           (b)  Dow Jones Average of 30 Industrials
           (c)  Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index
           (d)  NASDAQ Over-the-Counter Composite Index
           (e)  Russell 2000 Small Stock Index
           (f)  Russell 3000 Stock Index
           (g)  Salomon Brothers 3-month Treasury Bill Index
           (h)  Salomon Brothers Broad Investment-Grade Bond Index
           (i)  Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index
           (j)  Lehman Brothers Intermediate Government/Corporate Bond Index
           (k)  A blended index consisting of:  Standard & Poor's 500 Stock
                Index (40% weighted), Salomon Brothers Broad Investment Grade
                Bond Index (40% weighted), and Salomon Brothers 3-Month
                Treasury Bill Index (20% weighted).

     There are differences and similarities between the investments that the
Fund may purchase and the investments measured by the indices which are noted
herein.

(9)  HISTORICAL ASSET CLASS RETURNS
     From time to time, marketing materials may portray the historical returns
of various asset classes.  Such presentations will typically compare the
average annual rates of return of inflation, U.S. Treasury bills, bonds, common
stocks, and small stocks. There are important differences between each of these
investments that should be considered in viewing any such comparison.  The
market value of stocks will fluctuate with market conditions, and small-stock
prices generally will fluctuate more than large-stock prices. Bond prices
generally will fluctuate inversely with interest rates and other market
conditions, and the prices of bonds with longer maturities generally will
fluctuate more than those of shorter-maturity bonds. Interest rates for bonds
may be fixed at the time of issuance, and payment of principal and interest may
be guaranteed by the issuer and, in the case of U.S. Treasury obligations,
backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury.


   
(10)    STRONG VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS
        The Strong Variable Insurance Funds offer a range of investment
options. All of the members of the Strong Variable Insurance Funds and their
investment objectives are listed below. The Funds are listed in ascending order
of risk and return, as determined by the Funds' Advisor.
    

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>                     
FUND NAME                                        INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                              <C>
Strong Advantage Fund II                         Current income with a very low degree of
                                                 share-price fluctuation.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Government Securities Fund II             Total return by investing for a high level of current income 
                                                 with a moderate degree of share-price fluctuation.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Asset Allocation Fund II                  High total return consistent with reasonable risk over the 
                                                 long term.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Special Fund II                           Capital growth.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Growth Fund II                            Capital growth.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Discovery Fund II                         Capital growth.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong International Stock Fund II               Capital growth.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
    

        
        Each Fund may from time to time be compared to the other Funds in
the Strong Variable Insurance Funds based on a risk/reward spectrum. In
general, the amount of risk associated with any investment product is
commensurate with that product's potential level of reward. The Strong Variable
Insurance Funds' risk/reward continuum or any Fund's position on the continuum
may be described or diagrammed in marketing materials. The Strong Variable
Insurance Funds' risk/reward continuum positions the risk and reward potential
of each Fund relative to the other Strong Variable Insurance Funds, but is not
intended to position any Fund relative to other mutual funds or investment
products. Marketing materials may also discuss the relationship between risk and
reward as it relates to an individual investor's portfolio. Financial goals vary
from person to person. You may choose one or more of the Strong Variable
Insurance Funds to help you reach your financial goals.
    

   
        The Advisor also serves as advisor to the Strong Family of Funds, which
is a retail fund complex composed of 23 open-end management investment
companies.
        


                                       33
<PAGE>   177

ADDITIONAL FUND INFORMATION

(1)  PORTFOLIO CHARACTERISTICS

     In order to present a more complete picture of a Fund's portfolio,
marketing materials may include various actual or estimated portfolio
characteristics, including but not limited to median market capitalizations,
earnings per share, alphas, betas, price/earnings ratios, returns on equity,
dividend yields, capitalization ranges, growth rates, price/book ratios, top
holdings, sector breakdowns, asset allocations, quality breakdowns, and
breakdowns by geographic region.

(2)  MEASURES OF VOLATILITY AND RELATIVE PERFORMANCE

     Occasionally statistics may be used to specify Fund volatility or risk.
The general premise is that greater volatility connotes greater risk undertaken
in achieving performance.  Measures of volatility or risk are generally used to
compare the Fund's net asset value or performance relative to a market index.
One measure of volatility is beta.  Beta is the volatility of a fund relative
to the total market as represented by the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index.  A
beta of more than 1.00 indicates volatility greater than the market, and a beta
of less than 1.00 indicates volatility less than the market.  Another measure
of volatility or risk is standard deviation. Standard deviation is a
statistical tool that measures the degree to which a fund's performance has
varied from its average performance during a particular time period.

Standard deviation is calculated using the following formula:

                                                         2
      Standard deviation = the square root of  +(x  - x )
                                                  i    m
                                               -------------
                                                    n-1
where      + = "the sum of",

          x  = each individual return during the time period,
           i

          x  = the average return over the time period, and
           m

           n = the number of individual returns during the time period.

     Statistics may also be used to discuss a Fund's relative performance. One
such measure is alpha. Alpha measures the actual return of a fund compared to
the expected return of a fund given its risk (as measured by beta).  The
expected return is based on how the market as a whole performed, and how the
particular fund has historically performed against the market. Specifically,
alpha is the actual return less the expected return. The expected return is
computed by multiplying the advance or decline in a market representation by
the fund's beta. A positive alpha quantifies the value that the fund manager
has added, and a negative alpha quantifies the value that the fund manager has
lost.

     Other measures of volatility and relative performance may be used as
appropriate. However, all such measures will fluctuate and do not represent
future results.
                              GENERAL INFORMATION


BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY

     The Advisor is an independent, Midwestern-based investment advisor, owned
by professionals active in its management. Recognizing that investors are the
focus of its business, the Advisor strives for excellence both in investment
management and in the service provided to investors. This commitment affects
many aspects of the business, including professional staffing, product
development, investment management, and service delivery.  Through its
commitment to excellence, the Advisor intends to benefit investors and to
encourage them to think of Strong Funds as their mutual fund family.

     The increasing complexity of the capital markets requires specialized
skills and processes for each asset class and style. Therefore, the Advisor
believes that active management should produce greater returns than a passively
managed index.  The Advisor has brought together a group of top-flight
investment professionals with diverse product expertise, and each concentrates
on their investment specialty. The Advisor believes that people are the firm's
most important asset. For this reason, continuity of professionals is critical
to the firm's long-term success.





                                       34
<PAGE>   178


INVESTMENT ENVIRONMENT

     Discussions of economic, social, and political conditions and their impact
on the Fund may be used in advertisements and sales materials.  Such factors
that may impact the Fund include, but are not limited to, changes in interest
rates, political developments, the competitive environment, consumer behavior,
industry trends, technological advances, macroeconomic trends, and the supply
and demand of various financial instruments.  In addition, marketing materials
may cite the portfolio management's views or interpretations of such factors.

EIGHT BASIC PRINCIPLES FOR SUCCESSFUL MUTUAL FUND INVESTING

     These common sense rules are followed by many successful investors. They
make sense for beginners, too. If you have a question on these principles, or
would like to discuss them with us, please contact us at 1-800-368-3863.

1.   Have a plan - even a simple plan can help you take control of your
     financial future. Review your plan once a year, or if your circumstances
     change.

2.   Start investing as soon as possible. Make time a valuable ally. Let it put
     the power of compounding to work for you, while helping to reduce your
     potential investment risk.

3.   Diversify your portfolio. By investing in different asset classes -
     stocks, bonds, and cash - you help protect against poor performance in one
     type of investment while including investments most likely to help you
     achieve your important goals.

4.   Invest regularly. Investing is a process, not a one-time event. Make a
     habit of investing. And make it easy for yourself with an "automatic
     investment plan." This popular strategy not only helps you manage
     investment risk, it also ensures you "pay yourself first" on a regular
     basis.

5.   Maintain a long-term perspective. For most individuals, the best
     discipline is staying invested as market conditions change. Reactive,
     emotional investment decisions are all too often a source of regret - and
     principal loss.

6.   Consider stocks to help achieve major long-term goals. Over time, stocks
     have provided the more powerful returns needed to help the value of your
     investments stay well ahead of inflation.

7.   Keep a comfortable amount of cash in your portfolio. To meet current
     needs, including emergencies, use a money market fund or a bank account -
     not your long-term investment assets.

8.   Know what you're buying. Make sure you understand the potential risks and
     rewards associated with each of your investments. Ask questions...request
     information...make up your own mind. And choose a fund company that helps
     you make informed investment decisions.

                              PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

     The Advisor believes that active management is the best way to achieve the
Fund's objective.  This policy is based on the fundamental belief that economic
and financial conditions create favorable and unfavorable investment periods
(or seasons) and that these different seasons require different investment
approaches.  During favorable investment periods, the Fund seeks to generate
real (inflation plus) growth, and its portfolio may be more heavily weighted in
equities.  During uncertain periods, income and capital preservation may be
emphasized, and the Fund's portfolio may be more heavily weighted in bonds or
short-term securities. Through their understanding and willingness to change
with investment cycles or periods, the co-managers of the Fund seek to achieve
the Fund's objectives throughout the seasons of investment.

     The Fund's co-managers intend to employ an investment strategy which will
permit it to participate in a rising market in equities with less risk and
volatility and more income than a fund which concentrates its investments in
stocks.  On the other





                                       35
<PAGE>   179

hand, since the Fund's portfolio will generally have significant holdings in
equities, it will be subject to greater volatility and produce less income than
a fund which concentrates its investments solely in bonds or money market
instruments.

     In allocating the Fund's assets among equities, bonds, and short-term
securities, the team's lead portfolio manager will employ top-down fundamental
analysis in evaluating the attractiveness of the three asset components on the
basis of economic trends such as inflation, growth of corporate profits and
Federal Reserve Board policies in conjunction with measures of market valuation
such as price-earnings ratios, dividend yields and real interest rates.  The
relative weights of the Fund's three asset components are adjusted gradually,
perhaps as often as several times a year, rather than making dramatic
reallocations in anticipation of a major shift in the attractiveness of one
asset category over another.  Therefore, the Fund should be viewed as a
long-term investment suitable for investors with an investment horizon of five
years or more.  In light of the nature of the Fund and its long-term investment
horizon, it may be most appropriate for persons attempting to achieve long-term
goals such as accumulating funds for retirement, college tuition or a better
life for one's family.

     Each portfolio manager works with a team of analysts, traders, and
administrative personnel. From time to time, marketing materials may discuss
various members of the team, including their education, investment experience,
and other credentials.

                            INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

     Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., 411 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
53202, have been selected as the independent accountants for the Fund,
providing audit services and assistance and consultation with respect to the
preparation of filings with the SEC.

                                 LEGAL COUNSEL

     Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.,  780 North Water Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202,
acts as outside legal counsel for the Fund.





                                       36
<PAGE>   180

                                    APPENDIX

                                  BOND RATINGS

                         STANDARD & POOR'S DEBT RATINGS

     A Standard & Poor's corporate or municipal debt rating is a current
assessment of the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific
obligation.  This assessment may take into consideration obligors such as
guarantors, insurers, or lessees.

     The debt rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell, or hold a
security, inasmuch as it does not comment as to market price or suitability for
a particular investor.

     The ratings are based on current information furnished by the issuer or
obtained by S&P from other sources it considers reliable.  S&P does not perform
an audit in connection with any rating and may, on occasion, rely on unaudited
financial information.  The ratings may be changed, suspended, or withdrawn as
a result of changes in, or unavailability of, such information, or for other
circumstances.

     The ratings are based, in varying degrees,
on the following considerations:

                1.   Likelihood of default -- capacity and willingness of the
                     obligor as to the timely payment of interest and repayment
                     of principal in accordance with the terms of the
                     obligation.

                2.   Nature of and provisions of the obligation.

                3.   Protection afforded by, and relative position of, the
                     obligation in the event of bankruptcy, reorganization, or
                     other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other
                     laws affecting creditors' rights.

INVESTMENT GRADE
     AAA Debt rated 'AAA' has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor's.
Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.

     AA Debt rated 'AA' has a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay
principal and differs from the highest rated issues only in small degree.

     A Debt rated 'A' has a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal
although it is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in
circumstances and economic conditions than debt in higher rated categories.

     BBB Debt rated 'BBB' is regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay
interest and repay principal.  Whereas it normally exhibits adequate protection
parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more
likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for
debt in this category than in higher rated categories.

SPECULATIVE GRADE
     Debt rated 'BB', 'B', 'CCC', 'CC' and 'C' is regarded as having
predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay
interest and repay principal.  'BB' indicates the least degree of speculation
and 'C' the highest.  While such debt will likely have some quality and
protective characteristics, these are outweighed by large uncertainties or
major risk exposures to adverse conditions.

     BB Debt rated 'BB' has less near-term vulnerability to default than other
speculative issues.  However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure
to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to
inadequate capacity to meet timely interest and principal payments.  The 'BB'
rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is
assigned an actual or implied 'BBB-' rating.





                                       A-1
<PAGE>   181


     B Debt rated 'B' has a greater vulnerability to default but currently has
the capacity to meet interest payments and principal repayments.  Adverse
business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair capacity or
willingness to pay interest and repay principal.  The 'B' rating category is
also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or
implied 'BB' or 'BB-' rating.

     CCC Debt rated 'CCC' has a currently identifiable vulnerability to
default, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic
conditions to meet timely payment of interest and repayment of principal.  In
the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, it is not
likely to have the capacity to pay interest and repay principal.  The 'CCC'
rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is
assigned an actual or implied 'B' or 'B-' rating.

     CC Debt rated 'CC' typically is applied to debt subordinated to senior
debt that is assigned an actual or implied 'CCC' rating.

     C  Debt rated 'C' typically is applied to debt subordinated to senior debt
which is assigned an actual or implied 'CCC-' debt rating.  The 'C' rating may
be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy petition has been filed, but
debt service payments are continued.

     CI The rating 'CI' is reserved for income bonds on which no interest is
being paid.

     D  Debt rated 'D' is in payment default.  The 'D' rating category is used
when interest payments or principal payments are not made on the date due even
if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless S&P believes that such
payments will be made during such grade period.  The 'D' rating also will be
used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition if debt service payments are
jeopardized.


                         MOODY'S LONG-TERM DEBT RATINGS

     Aaa  - Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality.
They carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to
as "gilt edged".  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 risk appear somewhat larger than in Aaa
securities.

     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 some time 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 length of time.  Such Bonds lack outstanding investment
characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as well.

     Ba - Bonds which are rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements;
their future cannot be considered as well-assured. Often the protection of
interest and principal payments may be very moderate, and thereby not well
safeguarded during both good and bad times over the future.  Uncertainty of
position characterizes Bonds in this class.

     B - Bonds which are rated B generally lack characteristics of the
desirable investment.  Assurance of interest and principal payments or of
maintenance of other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be
small.





                                      A-2
<PAGE>   182


     Caa - Bonds which are rated Caa are of poor standing.  Such issues may be
in default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal
or interest.

     Ca - Bonds which are rated Ca represent obligations which are speculative
in a high degree.  Such issues are often in default or have other marked
shortcomings.

     C - Bonds which are rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds, and
issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever
attaining any real investment standing.


                   FITCH INVESTORS SERVICE, INC. BOND RATINGS

     Fitch investment grade bond ratings provide a guide to investors in
determining the credit risk associated with a particular security.  The ratings
represent Fitch's assessment of the issuer's ability to meet the obligations of
a specific debt issue or class of debt in a timely manner.

     The rating takes into consideration special features of the issue, its
relationship to other obligations of the issuer, the current and prospective
financial condition and operating performance of the issuer and any guarantor,
as well as the economic and political environment that might affect the
issuer's future financial strength and credit quality.

     Fitch ratings do not reflect any credit enhancement that may be provided
by insurance policies or financial guaranties unless otherwise indicated.

     Bonds that have the same rating are of similar but not necessarily
identical credit quality since the rating categories do not fully reflect small
differences in the degrees of credit risk.

     Fitch ratings are not recommendations to buy, sell, or hold any security.
Ratings do not comment on the adequacy of market price, the suitability of any
security for a particular investor, or the tax-exempt nature or taxability of
payments made in respect of any security.

     Fitch ratings are based on information obtained from issuers, other
obligors, underwriters, their experts, and other sources Fitch believes to be
reliable.  Fitch does not audit or verify the truth or accuracy of such
information.  Ratings may be changed, suspended, or withdrawn as a result of
changes in, or the unavailability of, information or for other reasons.

     AAA   Bonds considered to be investment grade and of the highest credit
           quality.  The obligor has an exceptionally strong ability to pay
           interest and repay principal, which is unlikely to be affected by
           reasonably foreseeable events.

     AA    Bonds considered to be investment grade and of very high credit
           quality.  The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal
           is very strong, although not quite as strong as bonds rated 'AAA'.
           Because bonds rated in the 'AAA'  and 'AA' categories are not
           significantly vulnerable to foreseeable future developments,
           short-term debt of the issuers is generally rated 'F-1+'.

     A     Bonds considered to be investment grade and of high credit quality.
           The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is
           considered to be strong, but may be more vulnerable to adverse
           changes in economic conditions and circumstances than bonds with
           higher ratings.

     BBB   Bonds considered to be investment grade and of satisfactory credit
           quality.  The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal
           is considered to be adequate.  Adverse changes in economic
           conditions and circumstances, however, are more likely to have
           adverse impact on these bonds, and therefore impair timely payment.
           The likelihood that the ratings of these bonds will fall below
           investment grade is higher than for bonds with higher ratings.





                                      A-3
<PAGE>   183


     Fitch speculative grade bond ratings provide a guide to investors in
determining the credit risk associated with a particular security.  The ratings
('BB' to 'C') represent Fitch's assessment of the likelihood of timely payment
of principal and interest in accordance with the terms of obligation for bond
issues not in default.  For defaulted bonds, the rating ('DDD' to 'D') is an
assessment of the ultimate recovery value through reorganization or
liquidation.

     The rating takes into consideration special features of the issue, its
relationship to other obligations of the issuer, the current  and prospective
financial condition and operating performance of the issuer and any guarantor,
as well as the economic and political environment that might affect the
issuer's future financial strength.

     Bonds that have the same rating are of similar but not necessarily
identical credit quality since the rating categories cannot fully reflect the
differences in the degrees of credit risk.  Moreover, the character of the risk
factor varies from industry to industry and between corporate, health care and
municipal obligations.


     BB       Bonds are considered speculative.  The obligor's ability to pay
              interest and repay principal may be affected over time by adverse
              economic changes.  However, business and financial alternatives 
              can be identified which could assist the obligor in satisfying 
              its debt service requirements.

     B        Bonds are considered highly speculative.  While bonds in this 
              class are currently meeting debt service requirements, the 
              probability of continued timely payment of principal and interest
              reflects the obligor's limited margin of safety and the need for
              reasonable business and economic activity throughout the life of
              the issue.

     CCC      Bonds have certain identifiable characteristics which, if not
              remedied, may lead to default.  The ability to meet obligations
              requires an advantageous business and economic environment.

     CC       Bonds are minimally protected.  Default in payment of interest
              and/or principal seems probable over time.

     C        Bonds are in imminent default in payment of interest or principal.

     DDD, DD,
     and D    Bonds are in default on interest and/or principal payments.
              Such bonds are extremely speculative and should be valued on
              the basis of their ultimate recovery value in liquidation or
              reorganization of the obligor.  'DDD' represents the highest
              potential for recovery of these bonds, and 'D' represents the
              lowest potential for recovery.


                   DUFF & PHELPS, INC. LONG-TERM DEBT RATINGS

     These ratings represent a summary opinion of the issuer's long-term
fundamental quality.  Rating determination is based on qualitative and
quantitative factors which may vary according to the basic economic and
financial characteristics of each industry and each issuer.  Important
considerations are vulnerability to economic cycles as well as risks related to
such factors as competition, government action, regulation, technological
obsolescence, demand shifts, cost structure, and management depth and
expertise.  The projected viability of the obligor at the trough of the cycle
is a critical determination.

     Each rating also takes into account the legal form of the security, (e.g.,
first mortgage bonds, subordinated debt, preferred stock, etc.).  The extent of
rating dispersion among the various classes of securities is determined by
several factors including relative weightings of the different security classes
in the capital structure, the overall credit strength of the issuer, and the
nature of covenant protection.  Review of indenture restrictions is important
to the analysis of a company's operating and financial constraints.

     The Credit Rating Committee formally reviews all ratings once per quarter
(more frequently, if necessary).   Ratings of 'BBB-' and higher fall within the
definition of investment grade securities, as defined by bank and insurance
supervisory authorities.





                                      A-4
<PAGE>   184


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
RATING SCALE              DEFINITION
<S>                       <C>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AAA                       Highest credit quality.  The risk factors are negligible, being only slightly more
                          than for risk-free U.S. Treasury debt.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AA+                       High credit quality.  Protection factors are strong.  Risk is modest, but may
AA                        vary slightly from time to time because of economic conditions.
AA-
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A+                        Protection factors are average but adequate.  However, risk factors are more
A                         variable and greater in periods of economic stress.
A-
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BBB+                      Below average protection factors but still considered sufficient for prudent
BBB                       investment.  Considerable variability in risk during economic cycles.
BBB-
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BB+                       Below investment grade but deemed likely to meet obligations when due.
BB                        Present or prospective financial protection factors fluctuate according to
BB-                       industry conditions or company fortunes.  Overall quality may move up or
                          down frequently within this category.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B+                        Below investment grade and possessing risk that obligations will not be met
B                         when due.  Financial protection factors will fluctuate widely according to
B-                        economic cycles, industry conditions and/or company fortunes.  Potential
                          exists for frequent changes in the rating within this category or into a higher
                          or lower rating grade.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CCC                       Well below investment grade securities.  Considerable uncertainty exists as to
                          timely payment of principal, interest or preferred dividends.
                          Protection factors are narrow and risk can be substantial with unfavorable
                          economic/industry conditions, and/or with unfavorable company developments.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DD                        Defaulted debt obligations.  Issuer failed to meet scheduled principal and/or
                          interest payments.
DP                        Preferred stock with dividend arrearages.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>





                                      A-5
<PAGE>   185

                               SHORT-TERM RATINGS

                   STANDARD & POOR'S COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS

      A Standard & Poor's commercial paper rating is a current assessment of
the likelihood of timely payment of debt considered short-term in the relevant
market.

      Ratings graded into several categories, ranging from 'A-1' for the
highest quality obligations to 'D' for the lowest.  These categories are as
follows:

      A-1 This highest category indicates that the degree of safety regarding
timely payment is strong.  Those issues determined to possess extremely strong
safety characteristics are denoted with a plus sign (+) designation.

      A-2 Capacity for timely payment on issues with this designation is
satisfactory.  However, the relative degree of safety is not as high as for
issues designated 'A-1'.

      A-3 Issues carrying this designation have adequate capacity for timely
payment.  They are, however, more vulnerable to the adverse effects of changes
in circumstances than obligations carrying the higher designations.

      B Issues rated 'B' are regarded as having only speculative capacity for
timely payment.

      C This rating is assigned to short-term debt obligations with doubtful
capacity for payment.

      D Debt rated 'D' is in payment default.  The 'D' rating category is used
when interest payments or principal payments are not made on the date due, even
if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless S&P believes that such
payments will be made during such grace period.


                        MOODY'S COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS

      The term "commercial paper" as used by Moody's means promissory
obligations not having an original maturity in excess of nine months.  Moody's
makes no representation as to whether such commercial paper is by any other
definition "commercial paper" or is exempt from registration under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

      Moody's commercial paper ratings are opinions of the ability of issuers
to repay punctually promissory obligations not having an original maturity in
excess of nine months.  Moody's makes no representation that such obligations
are exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, nor does it
represent that any specific note is a valid obligation of a rated issuer or
issued in conformity with any applicable law.  Moody's employs the following
three designations, all judged to be investment grade, to indicate the relative
repayment capacity of rated issuers:

      Issuers rated PRIME-1 (for related supporting institutions) have a
superior capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations.  Prime-1
repayment capacity will normally be evidenced by the following characteristics:
(i) leading market positions in well established industries, (ii) high rates of
return on funds employed, (iii) conservative capitalization structures with
moderate reliance on debt and ample asset protection, (iv) broad margins in
earnings coverage of fixed financial charges and high internal cash generation,
and (v) well established access to a range of financial markets and assured
sources of alternate liquidity.

      Issuers rated PRIME-2 (or related supporting institutions) have a strong
capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations.  This will
normally be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above, but to a
lesser degree. Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, will be more
subject to variation.  Capitalization characteristics, while still appropriate,
may be more affected by external conditions.  Ample alternate liquidity is
maintained.





                                      A-6
<PAGE>   186


      Issuers rated PRIME-3 (or related supporting institutions) have an
acceptable capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations.  The
effect of industry characteristics and market composition may be more
pronounced.  Variability in earnings and profitability may result in changes in
the level of debt protection measurements and the requirement for relatively
high financial leverage.  Adequate alternate liquidity is maintained.

      Issuers rated NOT PRIME do not fall within any of the Prime rating
categories.


                FITCH INVESTORS SERVICE, INC. SHORT-TERM RATINGS

      Fitch's short-term ratings apply to debt obligations that are payable on
demand or have original maturities of generally up to three years, including
commercial paper, certificates of deposit, medium-term notes, and municipal and
investment notes.

      The short-term rating places greater emphasis than a long-term rating on
the existence of liquidity necessary to meet the issuer's obligations in a
timely manner.

      F-1+ (Exceptionally Strong Credit Quality) Issues assigned this rating
           are regarded as having the strongest degree of assurance for timely
           payment.

      F-1  (Very Strong Credit Quality) Issues assigned this rating reflect an
           assurance of timely payment only slightly less in degree than issues
           rated 'F-1+'.

      F-2  (Good Credit Quality) Issues assigned this rating have a
           satisfactory degree of assurance for timely payment but the margin
           of safety is not as great as for issues assigned 'F-1+' and 'F-1'
           ratings.

      F-3  (Fair Credit Quality) Issues assigned this rating have
           characteristics suggesting that the degree of assurance for timely
           payment is adequate, however, near-term adverse changes could cause
           these securities to be rated below investment grade.

      F-S  (Weak Credit Quality) Issues assigned this rating have
           characteristics suggesting a minimal degree of assurance for timely
           payment and are vulnerable to near-term adverse changes in financial
           and economic conditions.

      D    (Default) Issues assigned this rating are in actual or imminent
           payment default.

      LOC  The symbol LOC indicates that the rating is based on a letter of
           credit issued by a commercial bank.


                  DUFF & PHELPS, INC. SHORT-TERM DEBT RATINGS

      Duff & Phelps' short-term ratings are consistent with the rating criteria
utilized by money market participants.  The ratings apply to all obligations
with maturities of under one year, including commercial paper, the uninsured
portion of certificates of deposit, unsecured bank loans, master notes, bankers
acceptances, irrevocable letters of credit, and current maturities of long-term
debt.  Asset-backed commercial paper is also rated according to this scale.

      Emphasis is placed on liquidity which we define as not only cash from
operations, but also access to alternative sources of funds including trade
credit, bank lines, and the capital markets.  An important consideration is the
level of an obligor's reliance on short-term funds on an ongoing basis.





                                      A-7
<PAGE>   187


Rating Scale:    Definition

Duff 1+          Highest certainty of timely payment.  Short-term liquidity,
                 including internal operating factors and/or access to
                 alternative sources of funds, is outstanding, and safety is
                 just below risk-free U.S. Treasury short-term obligations.

Duff 1           Very high certainty of timely payment.  Liquidity factors are
                 excellent and supported by good fundamental protection
                 factors.  Risk factors are minor.

Duff 1-          High certainty of timely payment.  Liquidity factors are
                 strong and supported by good fundamental protection factors.
                 Risk factors are very small.

                 Good Grade

Duff 2           Good certainty of timely payment.  Liquidity factors and
                 company fundamentals are sound.  Although ongoing funding
                 needs may enlarge total financing requirements, access to
                 capital markets is good.  Risk factors are small.

                 Satisfactory Grade

Duff 3           Satisfactory liquidity and other protection factors qualify
                 issue as to investment grade.  Risk factors are larger and
                 subject to more variation. Nevertheless, timely payment is
                 expected.

                 Non-investment Grade

Duff 4           Speculative investment characteristics.  Liquidity is not
                 sufficient to insure against disruption in debt service.
                 Operating factors and market access may be subject to a high
                 degree of variation.

                 Default
                                

Duff 5           Issuer failed to meet scheduled principal and/or
                 interest payments.





                                      A-8
<PAGE>   188





                      STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION



                      STRONG GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND II
                                 P.O. Box 2936
                          Milwaukee, Wisconsin  53201
                           Telephone:  1-414-359-1400
                           Toll-Free:  1-800-368-3863


   
         Strong Government Securities Fund II (the "Fund") is a diversified
series of the Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc. (the "Corporation"), an
open-end management investment company designed to provide an investment
vehicle for variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts of certain
insurance companies.  Shares in the Fund are only offered and sold to the
separate accounts of such insurance companies.  The Fund is described herein
and in the Prospectus for the Fund dated July 14, 1995.
    

   
         This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus and
should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus for the Fund dated July 14,
1995 and the prospectus for the separate account of the specific insurance
product.  Requests for copies of the Fund's Prospectus may be made by writing
to the Fund, P.O. Box 2936, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201, Attention:  Corporate
Secretary; or by calling one of the numbers listed above.
    



   
        This Statement of Additional Information is dated July 14, 1995.
    
<PAGE>   189

                      STRONG GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND II
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TABLE OF CONTENTS                                                                                            PAGE
<S>                                                                                                           <C>
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    3
INVESTMENT POLICIES AND TECHNIQUES  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    5
   Derivative Instruments   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    5
   Short Sales Against the Box  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    9
   Lending of Portfolio Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    9
   Warrants   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   10
   Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   10
   When-Issued Securities   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   11
   Illiquid Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   11
   Repurchase Agreements  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   12
   Borrowing  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   12
   Variable- or Floating-Rate Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   12
   Temporary Defensive Position   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   13
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   13
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   16
INVESTMENT ADVISOR AND DISTRIBUTOR  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   16
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   17
CUSTODIAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   19
TRANSFER AGENT AND DIVIDEND-DISBURSING AGENT  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   19
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   19
TAXES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   20
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   21
FUND ORGANIZATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   21
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   22
GENERAL INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   27
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   28
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   28
LEGAL COUNSEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   28
APPENDIX  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  A-1
- ------------------------------                                                                                     
</TABLE>
    

   
         No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any
representations other than those contained in this Statement of Additional
Information and the Prospectus dated July 14, 1995 and, if given or made, such
information or representations may not be relied upon as having been authorized
by the Fund.
    

 This Statement of Additional Information does not constitute an offer to sell
                                  securities.

                                       2
<PAGE>   190

                            INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

         The investment objective of the Fund is to seek total return by
investing for a high level of current income with a moderate degree of
share-price fluctuation.  The Fund's investment objective and policies are
described in detail in the Prospectus under the caption "Investment Objective
and Policies."  The following are the Fund's fundamental investment limitations
which cannot be changed without shareholder approval.

The Fund:

1.       May not with respect to 75% of its total assets, purchase the
         securities of any issuer (except securities issued or guaranteed by
         the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities) if, as a
         result, (i) more than 5% of the Fund's total assets would be invested
         in the securities of that issuer, or (ii) the Fund would hold more
         than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of that issuer.

2.       May (i) borrow money from banks and (ii) make other investments or
         engage in other transactions permissible under the Investment Company
         Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act") which may involve a borrowing, provided
         that the combination of  (i) and (ii) shall not exceed 33 1/3% of the
         value of the Fund's total assets (including the  amount borrowed),
         less the Fund's liabilities (other than borrowings), except that the
         Fund may borrow up to an additional 5% of its total assets (not
         including the amount borrowed) from a bank for temporary or emergency
         purposes (but not for leverage or the purchase of investments).  The
         Fund may also borrow money from the other Strong Funds or other
         persons to the extent permitted by applicable law.

3.       May not issue senior securities, except as permitted under the 1940
         Act.

4.       May not act as an underwriter of another issuer's securities, except
         to the extent that the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter within
         the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 in connection with the
         purchase and sale of portfolio securities.

5.       May not purchase or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a
         result of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall
         not prevent the Fund from purchasing or selling options, futures
         contracts, or other derivative instruments, or from investing in
         securities or other instruments backed by physical commodities).

6.       May not make loans if, as a result, more than 33 1/3% of the Fund's
         total assets would be lent to other persons, except through (i)
         purchases of debt securities or other debt instruments, or (ii)
         engaging in repurchase agreements.

7.       May not purchase the securities of any issuer if, as a result, more
         than 25% of the Fund's total assets would be invested in the
         securities of issuers, the principal business activities of which are
         in the same industry.

8.       May not purchase or sell real estate unless acquired as a result of
         ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not
         prohibit the Fund from purchasing or selling securities or other
         instruments backed by real estate or of issuers engaged in real estate
         activities).

9.       May, notwithstanding any other fundamental investment policy or
         restriction, invest all of its assets in the securities of a single
         open-end management investment company with substantially the same
         fundamental investment objective, policies, and restrictions as the
         Fund.





                                       3
<PAGE>   191

The following are the Fund's non-fundamental operating policies which may be
changed by the Board of Directors of the Corporation without shareholder
approval.

The Fund may not:

1.       Sell securities short, unless the Fund owns or has the right to obtain
         securities equivalent in kind and amount to the securities sold short,
         or unless it covers such short sale as required by the current rules
         and positions of the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff,
         and provided that transactions in options, futures contracts, options
         on futures contracts, or other derivative instruments are not deemed
         to constitute selling securities short.

2.       Purchase securities on margin, except that the Fund may obtain such
         short-term credits as are necessary for the clearance of transactions;
         and provided that margin deposits in connection with futures
         contracts, options on futures contracts, or other derivative
         instruments shall not constitute purchasing securities on margin.

3.       Invest in illiquid securities if, as a result of such investment, more
         than 15% of its net assets would be invested in illiquid securities,
         or such other amounts as may be permitted under the 1940 Act.

4.       Purchase securities of other investment companies except in compliance
         with the 1940 Act and applicable state law.

5.       Invest all of its assets in the securities of a single open-end
         investment management company with substantially the same fundamental
         investment objective, restrictions and policies as the Fund.

6.       Purchase the securities of any issuer (other than securities issued or
         guaranteed by domestic or foreign governments or political
         subdivisions thereof) if, as a result, more than 5% of its total
         assets would be invested in the securities of issuers that, including
         predecessor or unconditional guarantors, have a record of less than
         three years of continuous operation.  This policy does not apply to
         securities of pooled investment vehicles or mortgage or asset-backed
         securities.

7.       Invest in direct interests in oil, gas, or other mineral exploration
         programs or leases; however, the Fund may invest in the securities of
         issuers that engage in these activities.

8.       Engage in futures or options on futures transactions which are
         impermissible pursuant to Rule 4.5 under the Commodity Exchange Act
         and, in accordance with Rule 4.5, will use futures or options on
         futures transactions solely for bona fide hedging transactions (within
         the meaning of the Commodity Exchange Act), provided, however, that
         the Fund may, in addition to bona fide hedging transactions, use
         futures and options on futures transactions if the aggregate initial
         margin and premiums required to establish such positions, less the
         amount by which any such options positions are in the money (within
         the meaning of the Commodity Exchange Act), do not exceed 5% of the
         Fund's net assets.

         In addition, (i) the aggregate value of securities underlying call
         options on securities written by the Fund or obligations underlying
         put options on securities written by the Fund determined as of the
         date the options are written will not exceed 50% of the Fund's net
         assets; (ii) the aggregate premiums paid on all options purchased by
         the Fund and which are being held will not exceed 20% of the Fund's
         net assets; (iii) the Fund will not purchase put or call options,
         other than hedging positions, if, as a result thereof, more than 5% of
         its total assets would be so invested; and (iv) the aggregate margin
         deposits required on all futures and options on futures transactions
         being held will not exceed 5% of the Fund's total assets.

9.       Pledge, mortgage or hypothecate any assets owned by the Fund except as
         may be necessary in connection with permissible borrowings or
         investments and then such pledging, mortgaging, or hypothecating may
         not exceed 33 1/3% of the Fund's total assets at the time of the
         borrowing or investment.

10.      Purchase or retain the securities of any issuer if any officer or
         director of the Fund or its investment advisor beneficially owns more
         than 1/2 of 1% of the securities of such issuer and such officers and
         directors together own beneficially more than 5% of the securities of
         such issuer.





                                       4
<PAGE>   192


11.      Purchase warrants, valued at the lower of cost or market value, in
         excess of 5% of the Fund's net assets.  Included in that amount, but
         not to exceed 2% of the Fund's net assets, may be warrants that are
         not listed on any stock exchange.  Warrants acquired by the Fund in
         units or attached to securities are not subject to these restrictions.

12.      Borrow money except (i) from banks or (ii) through reverse repurchase
         agreements or mortgage dollar rolls, and will not purchase securities
         when bank borrowings exceed 5% of its total assets.

13.      Make any loans other than loans of portfolio securities, except
         through (i) purchases of debt securities or other debt instruments, or
         (ii) engaging in repurchase agreements.

         Except for the fundamental investment limitations listed above and the
Fund's investment objective, the other investment policies described in the
Prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information are not fundamental and
may be changed with approval of the Corporation's Board of Directors.

                       INVESTMENT POLICIES AND TECHNIQUES

         The following information supplements the discussion of the Fund's
investment objective, policies, and techniques that are described in detail in
the Prospectus under the captions "Investment Objective and Policies" and
"Implementation of Policies and Risks."

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

         GENERAL DESCRIPTION.  As discussed in the Prospectus, the Advisor may
use a variety of derivative instruments, including options, futures contracts
(sometimes referred to as "futures"), and options on futures contracts for any
lawful purpose, such as to hedge the Fund's portfolio, risk management, or to
attempt to enhance returns.

         The use of these instruments is subject to applicable regulations of
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), the several options and
futures exchanges upon which they may be traded, the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission ("CFTC") and various state regulatory authorities.  In addition, the
Fund's ability to use these instruments will be limited by tax considerations.

         In addition to the products, strategies and risks described below and
in the Prospectus, the Advisor may discover additional derivative
instruments and other hedging techniques.  These new opportunities may become
available as the Advisor develops new techniques or as regulatory authorities
broaden the range of permitted transactions.  The Advisor may utilize these
opportunities to the extent that they are consistent with the Fund's investment
objective and permitted by the Fund's investment limitations and applicable
regulatory authorities.

         SPECIAL RISKS OF THESE INSTRUMENTS.  The use of derivative instruments
involves special considerations and risks as described below.  Risks pertaining
to particular instruments are described in the sections that follow.

         (1)     Successful use of most of these instruments depends upon the
Advisor's ability to predict movements of the overall securities and currency
markets, which requires different skills than predicting changes in the prices
of individual securities.  While the Advisor is experienced in the use of these
instruments, there can be no assurance that any particular strategy adopted
will succeed.

         (2)     There might be imperfect correlation, or even no correlation,
between price movements of an instrument and price movements of investments
being hedged.  For example, if the value of an instrument used in a short hedge
(such as writing a call option, buying a put option, or selling a futures
contract) increased by less than the decline in value of the hedged investment,
the hedge would not be fully successful.  Such a lack of correlation might
occur due to factors unrelated to the value of the investments being hedged,
such as speculative or other pressures on the markets in which these
instruments are traded.  The effectiveness of hedges using instruments on
indices will depend on the degree of correlation between price movements in the
index and price movements in the investments being hedged.





                                       5
<PAGE>   193


         (3)     Hedging strategies, if successful, can reduce risk of loss by
wholly or partially offsetting the negative effect of unfavorable price
movements in the investments being hedged.  However, hedging strategies can
also reduce opportunity for gain by offsetting the positive effect of favorable
price movements in the hedged investments.  For example, if the Fund entered
into a short hedge because the Advisor projected a decline in the price of a
security in the Fund's portfolio, and the price of that security increased
instead, the gain from that increase might be wholly or partially offset by a
decline in the price of the instrument.  Moreover, if the price of the
instrument declined by more than the increase in the price of the security, the
Fund could suffer a loss.

         (4)     As described below, the Fund might be required to maintain
assets as "cover," maintain segregated accounts, or make margin payments when
it takes positions in these instruments involving obligations to third parties
(i.e., instruments other than purchased options).  If the Fund were unable to
close out its positions in such instruments, it might be required to continue
to maintain such assets or accounts or make such payments until the position
expired or matured.  The requirements might impair the Fund's ability to sell a
portfolio security or make an investment at a time when it would otherwise be
favorable to do so, or require that the Fund sell a portfolio security at a
disadvantageous time.  The Fund's ability to close out a position in an
instrument prior to expiration or maturity depends on the existence of a liquid
secondary market or, in the absence of such a market, the ability and
willingness of the other party to the transaction ("counter party") to enter
into a transaction closing out the position.  Therefore, there is no assurance
that any hedging position can be closed out at a time and price that is
favorable to the Fund.

         For a discussion of the federal income tax treatment of the Fund's
derivative instruments, see "Taxes -- Derivative Instruments" below.

         GENERAL LIMITATIONS ON CERTAIN DERIVATIVE TRANSACTIONS.  The Fund has
filed a notice of eligibility for exclusion from the definition of the term
"commodity pool operator" with the CFTC and the National Futures Association,
which regulate trading in the futures markets.  Pursuant to Rule 4.5 of the
regulations under the Commodity Exchange Act (the "CEA"), the notice of
eligibility includes representations that the Fund will use futures contracts
and related options solely for bona fide hedging purposes within the meaning of
CFTC regulations, provided that the Fund may hold other positions in futures
contracts and related options that do not qualify as a bona fide hedging
position if the aggregate initial margin deposits and premiums required to
establish these positions, less the amount by which any such options positions
are "in the money," do not exceed 5% of the Fund's net assets.  Adoption of
these guidelines does not limit the percentage of the Fund's assets at risk to
5%.

         In addition, (i) the aggregate value of securities underlying call
options on securities written by the Fund or obligations underlying put options
on securities written by the Fund determined as of the date the options are
written will not exceed 50% of the Fund's net assets; (ii) the aggregate
premiums paid on all options purchased by the Fund and which are being held
will not exceed 20% of the Fund's net assets; (iii) the Fund will not purchase
put or call options, other than hedging positions, if, as a result thereof,
more than 5% of its total assets would be so invested; and (iv) the aggregate
margin deposits required on all futures and options on futures transactions
being held will not exceed 5% of the Fund's total assets.

         The foregoing limitations are not fundamental policies of the Fund and
may be changed by the Corporation's Board of Directors without shareholder
approval as regulatory agencies permit.

         Transactions using options (other than purchased options) expose the
Fund to counter-party risk.  To the extent required by SEC guidelines, the Fund
will not enter into any such transactions unless it owns either (1) an
offsetting ("covered") position in securities, other options, or futures or (2)
cash and liquid high grade debt securities with a value sufficient at all times
to cover its potential obligations to the extent not covered as provided in (1)
above.  The Fund will also set aside cash and/or appropriate liquid assets in a
segregated custodial account if required to do so by the SEC and CFTC
regulations.  Assets used as cover or held in a segregated account cannot be
sold while the position in the corresponding option or futures contract is
open, unless they are replaced with similar assets.  As a result, the
commitment of a large portion of the Fund's assets to segregated accounts as a
cover could impede portfolio management or the Fund's ability to meet
redemption requests or other current obligations.





                                       6
<PAGE>   194


         OPTIONS.  The Fund may also purchase and write put and call options on
securities and enter into closing transactions with respect to such options to
terminate an existing position.  The purchase of call options serves as a long
hedge, and the purchase of put options serves as a short hedge.  Writing put or
call options can enable the Fund to enhance income by reason of the premiums
paid by the purchaser of such options.  Writing call options serves as a
limited short hedge because declines in the value of the hedged investment
would be offset to the extent of the premium received for writing the option.
However, if the security appreciates to a price higher than the exercise price
of the call option, it can be expected that the option will be exercised and
the Fund will be obligated to sell the security at less than its market value
or will be obligated to purchase the security at a price greater than that at
which the security must be sold under the option.  All or a portion of any
assets used as cover for over-the-counter ("OTC") options written by the Fund
would be considered illiquid to the extent described under "Investment Policies
and Techniques--Illiquid Securities."  Writing put options serves as a limited
long hedge because increases in the value of the hedged investment would be
offset to the extent of the premium received for writing the option.  However,
if the security depreciates to a price lower than the exercise price of the put
option, it can be expected that the put option will be exercised and the Fund
will be obligated to purchase the security at more than its market value.

         The value of an option position will reflect, among other things, the
historical price volatility of the underlying investment, the current market
value of the underlying investment, the time remaining until expiration, the
relationship of the exercise price to the market price of the underlying
investment, and general market conditions.  Options that expire unexercised
have no value.

         The Fund may effectively terminate its right or obligation under an
option by entering into a closing transaction.  For example, the Fund may
terminate its obligation under a call or put option that it had written by
purchasing an identical call or put option; this is known as a closing purchase
transaction.  Conversely, the Fund may terminate a position in a put or call
option it had purchased by writing an identical put or call option; this is
known as a closing sale transaction.  Closing transactions permit the Fund to
realize the profit or limit the loss on an option position prior to its
exercise or expiration.

         The Fund may purchase or write both exchange-traded and OTC options.
Exchange-traded options are issued by a clearing organization affiliated with
the exchange on which the option is listed that, in effect, guarantees
completion of every exchange-traded option transaction.  OTC options are
contracts between the Fund and the other party to the transaction ("counter
party") (usually a securities dealer or a bank) with no clearing organization
guarantee.  Thus, when the Fund purchases or writes an OTC option, it relies on
the counter party to make or take delivery of the underlying investment upon
exercise of the option.  Failure by the counter party to do so would result in
the loss of any premium paid by the Fund as well as the loss of any expected
benefit of the transaction.

         The Fund's ability to establish and close out positions in
exchange-listed options depends on the existence of a liquid market.  The Fund
intends to purchase or write only those exchange-traded options for which there
appears to be a liquid secondary market.  However, there can be no assurance
that such a market will exist at any, particular time.  Closing transactions
can be made for OTC options only by negotiating directly with the counter
party, or by a transaction in the secondary market if any such market exists.
Although the Fund will enter into OTC options only with counter parties that
are expected to be capable of entering into closing transactions with the Fund,
there is no assurance that the Fund will in fact be able to close out an OTC
option at a favorable price prior to expiration.  In the event of insolvency of
the counter party, the Fund might be unable to close out an OTC option position
at any time prior to its expiration.

         If the Fund were unable to effect a closing transaction for an option
it had purchased, it would have to exercise the option to realize any profit.
The inability to enter into a closing purchase transaction for a covered call
option written by the Fund could cause material losses because the Fund would
be unable to sell the investment used as cover for the written option until the
option expires or is exercised.

         The writing and purchasing of options is a highly specialized activity
that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated
with ordinary portfolio securities transactions.  Imperfect correlation between
the options and securities markets may detract from the effectiveness of
attempted hedging.





                                       7
<PAGE>   195


         SPREAD TRANSACTIONS.  The Fund may purchase covered spread options.
Such covered spread options are not presently exchange-listed or
exchange-traded.  The purchase of a spread option gives the Fund the right
to put, or sell, a security that it owns at a fixed dollar spread or fixed
yield spread in relationship to another security that the Fund does not own,
but which is used as a benchmark.  The risk to the Fund in purchasing covered
spread options is the cost of the premium paid for the spread option and any
transaction costs.  In addition, there is no assurance that closing
transactions will be available.  The purchase of spread options will be used to
protect the Fund against adverse changes in prevailing credit quality spreads,
i.e., the yield spread between high quality and lower quality securities.  Such
protection is only provided during the life of the spread option.

         FUTURES CONTRACTS.  The Fund may enter into futures contracts,
including interest rate and index futures. The Fund may also purchase put and
call options, and write covered put and call options, on futures in which it is
allowed to invest.  The purchase of futures or call options thereon can serve
as a long hedge, and the sale of futures or the purchase of put options thereon
can serve as a short hedge.  Writing covered call options on futures contracts
can serve as a limited short hedge, and writing covered put options on futures
contracts can serve as a limited long hedge, using a strategy similar to that
used for writing covered options in securities.  The Fund's hedging may include
purchases of futures as an offset against the effect of expected increases in
securities prices and sales of futures as an offset against the effect of
expected declines in securities prices.  The Fund's futures transactions may be
entered into for any lawful purpose such as hedging purposes, risk management,
or to enhance returns.  The Fund may also write put options on interest rate
futures contracts while at the same time purchasing call options on the same
futures contracts in order to create synthetically a long futures contract
position.  Such options would have the same strike prices and expiration dates.
The Fund will engage in this strategy only when the Advisor believes it is more
advantageous to the Fund than is purchasing the futures contract.

         To the extent required by regulatory authorities, the Fund only enters
into futures contracts that are traded on national futures exchanges and are
standardized as to maturity date and underlying financial instrument.  Futures
exchanges and trading are regulated under the CEA by the CFTC.  Although
techniques other than sales and purchases of futures contracts could be used to
reduce the Fund's exposure to interest rate fluctuations, the Fund may be able
to hedge its exposure more effectively and perhaps at a lower cost through
using futures contracts.

         An interest rate futures contract provides for the future sale by one
party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of a specific
financial instrument (e.g. debt security) for a specified price at a designated
date, time, and place.  An index futures contract is an agreement pursuant to
which the parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount of cash equal to
the difference between the value of the index at the close of the last trading
day of the contract and the price at which the index futures contract was
originally written.  Transaction costs are incurred when a futures contract is
bought or sold and margin deposits must be maintained.  A futures contract may
be satisfied by delivery or purchase, as the case may be, of the instrument or
by payment of the change in the cash value of the index.  More commonly,
futures contracts are closed out prior to delivery by entering into an
offsetting transaction in a matching futures contract.  Although the value of
an index might be a function of the value of certain specified securities, no
physical delivery of those securities is made.  If the offsetting purchase
price is less than the original sale price, the Fund realizes a gain; if it is
more, the Fund realizes a loss.  Conversely, if the offsetting sale price is
more than the original purchase price, the Fund realizes a gain; if it is less,
the Fund realizes a loss.  The transaction costs must also be included in these
calculations.  There can be no assurance, however, that the Fund will be able
to enter into an offsetting transaction with respect to a particular futures
contract at a particular time.  If the Fund is not able to enter into an
offsetting transaction, the Fund will continue to be required to maintain the
margin deposits on the futures contract.

         No price is paid by the Fund upon entering into a futures contract.
Instead, at the inception of a futures contract, the Fund is required to
deposit in a segregated account with its custodian, in the name of the futures
broker through whom the transaction was effected, "initial margin" consisting
of cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid, high grade debt
securities, in an amount generally equal to 10% or less of the contract value.
Margin must also be deposited when writing a call or put option on a futures
contract, in accordance with applicable exchange rules.  Unlike margin in
securities transactions, initial margin on futures contracts does not represent
a borrowing, but rather is in the nature of a performance bond or good-faith
deposit that is returned to the Fund at the termination of the transaction if
all contractual obligations have been satisfied.  Under certain circumstances,
such as periods of high volatility, the Fund may be required by an exchange to
increase the level of its initial margin payment, and initial margin
requirements might be increased generally in the future by regulatory action.





                                       8
<PAGE>   196


         Subsequent "variation margin" payments are made to and from the
futures broker daily as the value of the futures position varies, a process
known as "marking to market."  Variation margin does not involve borrowing, but
rather represents a daily settlement of the Fund's obligations to or from a
futures broker.  When the Fund purchases an option on a future, the premium
paid plus transaction costs is all that is at risk.  In contrast, when the Fund
purchases or sells a futures contract or writes a call or put option thereon,
it is subject to daily variation margin calls that could be substantial in the
event of adverse price movements.  If the Fund has insufficient cash to meet
daily variation margin requirements, it might need to sell securities at a time
when such sales are disadvantageous.  Purchasers and sellers of futures
positions and options on futures can enter into offsetting closing transactions
by selling or purchasing, respectively, an instrument identical to the
instrument held or written.  Positions in futures and options on futures may be
closed only on an exchange or board of trade that provides a secondary market.
The Fund intends to enter into futures transactions only on exchanges or boards
of trade where there appears to be a liquid secondary market.  However, there
can be no assurance that such a market will exist for a particular contract at
a particular time.

         Under certain circumstances, futures exchanges may establish daily
limits on the amount that the price of a future or option on a futures contract
can vary from the previous day's settlement price; once that limit is reached,
no trades may be made that day at a price beyond the limit.  Daily price limits
do not limit potential losses because prices could move to the daily limit for
several consecutive days with little or no trading, thereby preventing
liquidation of unfavorable positions.

         If the Fund were unable to liquidate a futures or option on a futures
contract position due to the absence of a liquid secondary market or the
imposition of price limits, it could incur substantial losses.  The Fund would
continue to be subject to market risk with respect to the position.  In
addition, except in the case of purchased options, the Fund would continue to
be required to make daily variation margin payments and might be required to
maintain the position being hedged by the future or option or to maintain cash
or securities in a segregated account.

         Certain characteristics of the futures market might increase the risk
that movements in the prices of futures contracts or options on futures
contracts might not correlate perfectly with movements in the prices of the
investments being hedged.  For example, all participants in the futures and
options on futures contracts markets are subject to daily variation margin
calls and might be compelled to liquidate futures or options on futures
contracts positions whose prices are moving unfavorably to avoid being subject
to further calls.  These liquidations could increase price volatility of the
instruments and distort the normal price relationship between the futures or
options and the investments being hedged.  Also, because initial margin deposit
requirements in the futures market are less onerous than margin requirements in
the securities markets, there might be increased participation by speculators
in the future markets.  This participation also might cause temporary price
distortions.  In addition, activities of large traders in both the futures and
securities markets involving arbitrage, "program trading" and other investment
strategies might result in temporary price distortions.

SHORT SALES AGAINST THE BOX

         The Fund may sell securities short against the box to hedge unrealized
gains on portfolio securities.  Selling securities short against the box
involves selling a security that the Fund owns or has the right to acquire, for
delivery at a specified date in the future.  If the Fund sells securities short
against the box, it may protect unrealized gains, but will lose the opportunity
to profit on such securities if the price rises.

LENDING OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES

         The Fund is authorized to lend up to 33 1/3% of the total value of its
portfolio securities to broker-dealers or institutional investors that the
Advisor deems qualified, but only when the borrower maintains with the Fund's
custodian bank collateral either in cash or money market instruments in an
amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned, plus
accrued interest and dividends, determined on a daily basis and adjusted
accordingly.  However, the Fund does not presently intend to engage in





                                       9
<PAGE>   197

such lending.  In determining whether to lend securities to a particular
broker-dealer or institutional investor, the Advisor will consider, and during
the period of the loan will monitor, all relevant facts and circumstances,
including the creditworthiness of the borrower.  The Fund will retain authority
to terminate any loans at any time.  The Fund may pay reasonable administrative
and custodial fees in connection with a loan and may pay a negotiated portion
of the interest earned on the cash or money market instruments held as
collateral to the borrower or placing broker.  The Fund will receive reasonable
interest on the loan or a flat fee from the borrower and amounts equivalent to
any dividends, interest or other distributions on the securities loaned.  The
Fund will retain record ownership of loaned securities to exercise beneficial
rights, such as voting and subscription rights and rights to dividends,
interest or other distributions, when retaining such rights is considered to be
in the Fund's interest.

WARRANTS

         Warrants are securities giving the holder the right, but not the
obligation, to buy the stock of an issuer at a given price (generally higher
than the value of the stock at the time of issuance) during a specified period
or perpetually.  Warrants may be acquired separately or in connection with the
acquisition of securities.  The Fund will not purchase warrants, valued at the
lower of cost or market value, in excess of 5% of the Fund's net assets.
Included in that amount, but not to exceed 2% of the Fund's net assets, may be
warrants that are not listed on any stock exchange.  Warrants acquired by the
Fund in units or attached to securities are not subject to these restrictions.
Warrants do not carry with them the right to dividends or voting rights with
respect to the securities that they entitle their holder to purchase, and they
do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer.  As a result, warrants
may be considered more speculative than certain other types of investments.  In
addition, the value of a warrant does not necessarily change with the value of
the underlying securities, and a warrant ceases to have value if it is not
exercised prior to its expiration date.

MORTGAGE- AND ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES

         Mortgage-backed securities represent direct or indirect participations
in, or are secured by and payable from, mortgage loans secured by real
property, and include single- and multi-class pass-through securities and
collateralized mortgage obligations.  Such securities may be issued or
guaranteed by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities, such as the
Government National Mortgage Association and the Federal National Mortgage
Association, or by private issuers, generally originators and investors in
mortgage loans, including savings associations, mortgage bankers, commercial
banks, investment bankers, and special purpose entities (collectively, "private
lenders").  Mortgage-backed securities issued by private lenders may be
supported by pools of mortgage loans or other mortgage-backed securities that
are guaranteed, directly or indirectly, by the U.S. government or one of its
agencies or instrumentalities, or they may be issued without any governmental
guarantee of the underlying mortgage assets but with some form of
non-governmental credit enhancement.

         Asset-backed securities have structural characteristics similar to
mortgage-backed securities.  However, the underlying assets are not first lien
mortgage loans or interests therein, but include assets such as motor vehicle
installment sales contracts, other installment loan contracts, home equity
loans, leases of various types of property, and receivables from credit card or
other revolving credit arrangements.  Payments or distributions of principal
and interest on asset-backed securities may be supported by non-governmental
credit enhancements similar to those utilized in connection with
mortgage-backed securities.

         The yield characteristics of mortgage- and asset-backed securities
differ from those of traditional debt securities.  Among  the principal
differences are that interest and principal payments are made more frequently
on mortgage- and asset-backed securities, usually monthly, and that principal
may be prepaid at any time because the underlying mortgage loans or other
assets generally may be prepaid at any time.  As a result, if the Fund
purchases these securities at a premium, a prepayment rate that is faster than
expected will reduce yield to maturity, while a prepayment rate that is slower
than expected will have the opposite effect of increasing the yield to
maturity.  Conversely, if the Fund purchases these securities at a discount, a
prepayment rate that is faster than expected will increase yield to maturity,
while a prepayment rate that is slower than expected will reduce yield to
maturity.  Amounts available for reinvestment by the Fund are likely to be
greater during a period of declining interest rates and, as a result, are
likely to be reinvested at lower interest rates than during a period of rising
interest rates.  Accelerated prepayments on securities purchased by the Fund at
a premium also impose a risk of loss of principal because the premium may not
have been fully amortized at the time the principal is prepaid in full.  The
market for privately issued mortgage- and asset-backed securities is smaller
and less liquid than the market for government-sponsored mortgage-backed
securities.





                                       10
<PAGE>   198

         The Fund may invest in stripped mortgage- or asset-backed securities,
which receive differing proportions of the interest and principal payments from
the underlying assets.  The market value of such securities generally is more
sensitive to changes in prepayment and interest rates than is the case with
traditional mortgage- and asset-backed securities, and in some cases such
market value may be extremely volatile.  With respect to certain stripped
securities, such as interest only and principal only  classes, a rate of
prepayment that is faster or slower than anticipated may result in the Fund
failing to recover all or a portion of its investment, even though the
securities are rated investment grade.

WHEN-ISSUED SECURITIES

         The Fund may from time to time purchase securities on a "when-issued"
basis.  The price of debt securities purchased on a when-issued basis, which
may be expressed in yield terms, is fixed at the time the commitment to
purchase is made, but delivery and payment for the securities take place at a
later date. Normally, the settlement date occurs within one month of the
purchase.  During the period between the purchase and settlement, no payment is
made by the Fund to the issuer and no interest on debt securities accrues to
the Fund.  Forward commitments involve a risk of loss if the value of the
security to be purchased declines prior to the settlement date, which risk is
in addition to the risk of decline in value of the Fund's other assets.  While
when-issued securities may be sold prior to the settlement date, the Fund
intends to purchase such securities with the purpose of actually acquiring them
unless a sale appears desirable for investment reasons.  At the time the Fund
makes the commitment to purchase a security on a when-issued basis, it will
record the transaction and reflect the value of the security in determining its
net asset value.  The Fund does not believe that its net asset value or income
will be adversely affected by its purchases of securities on a when-issued
basis.

         The Fund will maintain cash and marketable securities equal in value
to commitments for when-issued securities.  Such segregated securities either
will mature or, if necessary, be sold on or before the settlement date.  When
the time comes to pay for when-issued securities, the Fund will meet its
obligations from then-available cash flow, sale of the securities held in the
separate account, sale of other securities or, although it would not normally 
expect to do so, from the sale of the when-issued securities themselves (which
may have a market value greater or less than the Fund's payment obligation).

ILLIQUID SECURITIES

   
         The Fund may invest in illiquid securities (i.e., securities that are
not readily marketable).  However, the Fund will not acquire illiquid
securities if, as a result, they would comprise more than 15% of the value of
the Fund's net assets (or such other amounts as may be permitted under the 1940
Act).  The Board of Directors of the Corporation, or its delegate, has the 
ultimate authority to determine, to the extent permissible under the federal
securities laws, which securities are illiquid for purposes of this limitation. 
Certain securities exempt from registration or issued in transactions exempt
from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), including securities that may be resold pursuant to Rule 144A under the
Securities Act, may be considered liquid. The Board of Directors has delegated
to Strong Capital Management, Inc. (the "Advisor") the day-to-day determination
of the  liquidity of a security, although it has retained oversight and
ultimate responsibility for such determinations.  Although no definitive
liquidity criteria are used, the Corporation's Board of Directors has directed
the Advisor to look to such factors as (i) the nature of the market for a
security (including the institutional private resale market), (ii) the terms of
certain securities or other instruments allowing for the disposition to a third
party or the issuer thereof (e.g., certain repurchase obligations and demand
instruments), (iii) the availability of market quotations (e.g., for securities
quoted in PORTAL system), and (iv) other permissible relevant factors.
    

         Restricted securities may be sold only in privately negotiated
transactions or in a public offering with respect to which a registration
statement is in effect under the Securities Act.  Where registration is
required, the Fund may be obligated to pay all or part of the registration
expenses and a considerable period may elapse between the time of the decision
to sell and the time the Fund may be permitted to sell a security under an
effective registration statement.  If, during such a period, adverse market
conditions were to develop, the Fund might obtain a less favorable price than
prevailed when it decided to sell.  Restricted securities will be priced at
fair value as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors.  If through
the appreciation of restricted securities or the depreciation of unrestricted
securities, the Fund should be in a position where more than 15% of the value
of its net assets are invested in illiquid assets, including restricted
securities which are not readily marketable, the Fund will take such steps as
is deemed advisable, if any, to protect liquidity.





                                       11
<PAGE>   199


         The Fund may sell over-the-counter "OTC" options and, in connection
therewith, segregate assets or cover its obligations with respect to OTC
options written by the Fund.  The assets used as cover for OTC options written
by the Fund will be considered illiquid unless the OTC options are sold to
qualified dealers who agree that the Fund may repurchase any OTC option it
writes at a maximum price to be calculated by a formula set forth in the option
agreement.  The cover for an OTC option written subject to this procedure would
be considered illiquid only to the extent that the maximum repurchase price
under the formula exceeds the intrinsic value of the option.

         Notwithstanding the above, the Advisor intends, as a matter of
internal policy, to limit the Fund's investments in illiquid securities to 10%
of its net assets.

REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

         The Fund may invest in repurchase agreements.  In a repurchase
agreement, the Fund buys a security at one price, and at the time of sale, the
seller agrees to repurchase the obligation at a mutually agreed upon time and
price (usually within seven days).  The repurchase agreement, thereby,
determines the yield during the purchaser's holding period, while the seller's
obligation to repurchase is secured by the value of the underlying security.
If the value of such securities is less than the repurchase price, plus any
agreed-upon additional amount, the other party to the agreement will be
required to provide additional collateral so that at all times the collateral
is at least equal to the repurchase price, plus any agreed-upon additional
amount.  The Advisor will monitor, on an ongoing basis, the value of the
underlying securities to ensure that the value always equals or exceeds the
repurchase price plus accrued interest.  The Fund may, under certain
circumstances, deem repurchase agreements, collateralized by U.S. government
securities to be investments in U.S. government securities.

BORROWING

         The Fund may borrow money from banks, limited by the Fund's
fundamental investment restriction to 33 1/3% of its total assets, and may
engage in mortgage dollar roll transactions and reverse repurchase agreements
which may be considered a form of borrowing. (See "Implementation of Policies
and Risks - Mortgage Dollar Rolls and Reverse Repurchase Agreements" in the
Fund's Prospectus.)  In addition, the Fund may borrow up to an additional 5% of
its total assets from banks for temporary or emergency purposes. The Fund will
not purchase securities when bank borrowings exceed 5% of the Fund's total
assets.

VARIABLE- OR FLOATING-RATE SECURITIES

         The Fund may invest in securities which offer a variable- or
floating-rate of interest.  Variable-rate securities provide for automatic
establishment of a new interest rate at fixed intervals (e.g., daily, monthly,
semi-annually, etc.).  Floating-rate securities provide for automatic
adjustment of the interest rate whenever some specified interest rate index
changes.  The interest rate on variable- or floating-rate securities is
ordinarily determined by reference to or is a percentage of a bank's prime
rate, the 90-day U.S. Treasury bill rate, the rate of return on commercial
paper or bank certificates of deposit, an index of short-term interest rates,
or some other objective measure.

         Variable- or floating-rate securities frequently include a demand
feature entitling the holder to sell the securities to the issuer at par.  In
many cases, the demand feature can be exercised at any time on 7 days notice;
in other cases, the demand feature is exercisable at any time on 30 days notice
or on similar notice at intervals of not more than one year.  Some securities
which do not have variable or floating interest rates may be accompanied by
puts producing similar results and price characteristics.  When considering the
maturity of any instrument which may be sold or put to the issuer or a third
party, the Fund may consider that instrument's maturity to be shorter than its
stated maturity.

         Variable-rate demand notes include master demand notes which are
obligations that permit the Fund to invest fluctuating amounts, which may
change daily without penalty, pursuant to direct arrangements between the Fund,
as lender, and the borrower.  The interest rates on these notes fluctuate from
time to time.  The issuer of such obligations normally has a corresponding
right, after a given period, to prepay in its discretion the outstanding
principal amount of the obligations plus accrued interest upon a specified
number of days' notice to the holders of such obligations.  The interest rate
on a floating-rate





                                       12
<PAGE>   200

demand obligation is based on a known lending rate, such as a bank's prime
rate, and is adjusted automatically each time such rate is adjusted.  The
interest rate on a variable-rate demand obligation is adjusted automatically at
specified intervals.  Frequently, such obligations are secured by letters of
credit or other credit support arrangements provided by banks. Because these
obligations are direct lending arrangements between the lender and borrower, it
is not contemplated that such instruments will generally be traded.  There
generally is not an established secondary market for these obligations,
although they are redeemable at face value.  Accordingly, where these
obligations are not secured by letters of credit or other credit support
arrangements, the Fund's right to redeem is dependent on the ability of the
borrower to pay principal and interest on demand.  Such obligations frequently
are not rated by credit rating agencies and, if not so rated, the Fund may
invest in them only if the Fund's Advisor  determines that at the time of
investment the obligations are of comparable quality to the other obligations
in which the Fund may invest. The Advisor, on behalf of the Fund, will consider
on an ongoing basis the creditworthiness of the issuers of the floating- and
variable-rate demand obligations in the Fund's portfolio.

         The Fund will not invest more than 15% of its net assets in variable-
and floating-rate demand obligations that are not readily marketable (a
variable- or floating-rate demand obligation that may be disposed of on not
more than seven days notice will be deemed readily marketable and will not be
subject to this limitation). (See "Illiquid Securities" and "Investment
Restrictions.")  In addition, each variable- or floating-rate obligation must
meet the credit quality requirements applicable to all the Fund's investments
at the time of purchase.  When determining whether such an obligation meets the
Fund's credit quality requirements, the Fund may look to the credit quality of
the financial guarantor providing a letter of credit or other credit support
arrangement.

         In determining the Fund's weighted average portfolio maturity, the
Fund will consider a floating or variable rate security to have a maturity
equal to its stated maturity (or redemption date if it has been called for
redemption), except that it may consider (i) variable rate securities to have a
maturity equal to the period remaining until the next readjustment in the
interest rate, unless subject to a demand feature, (ii) variable rate
securities subject to a demand feature to have a remaining maturity equal to
the longer of (a) the next readjustment in the interest rate or (b) the period
remaining until the principal can be recovered through demand, and (iii)
floating rate securities subject to a demand feature to have a maturity equal
to the period remaining until the principal can be recovered through demand.
Variable and floating rate securities generally are subject to less principal
fluctuation than securities without these attributes since the securities
usually trade at par following the readjustment in the interest rate.

TEMPORARY DEFENSIVE POSITION

         When the Advisor determines that market conditions warrant a temporary
defensive position, the Fund may invest without limitation in cash and
short-term fixed income securities, including U.S. government securities,
commercial paper, banker's acceptances, certificates of deposit, and time
deposits.

                   DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION

   
         Directors and officers of the Corporation, together with information
as to their principal business occupations during the past five years, and
other information are shown below.  Each director who is deemed an "interested
person," as defined in the 1940 Act, is indicated by an asterisk.  Each officer
and director holds the same positions with the following registered investment
companies:  Strong Advantage Fund, Inc.; Strong American Utilities Fund, Inc.;
Strong Asia Pacific Fund, Inc.; Strong Asset Allocation Fund, Inc.; Strong
Common Stock Fund, Inc.; Strong Corporate Bond Fund, Inc.; Strong Discovery
Fund, Inc.; Strong Government Securities Fund, Inc.; Strong Growth Fund, Inc.;  
Strong Heritage Reserve Series, Inc.; Strong High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund,
Inc.; Strong Insured Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.; Strong International Bond Fund,
Inc.; Strong International Stock Fund, Inc.; Strong Money Market Fund, Inc.;
Strong Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.; Strong Municipal Money Market Fund, Inc.;
Strong Opportunity Fund, Inc.; Strong Short-Term Bond Fund, Inc.; Strong
Short-Term Global Bond Fund, Inc.; Strong Short-Term Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.;
Strong Special Fund II, Inc.; Strong Total Return Fund, Inc.;  and Strong U.S.
Treasury Money Market Fund, Inc. (collectively, the "Strong Funds").
    


                                       13
<PAGE>   201


         *Richard S. Strong (DOB 5/12/42), Chairman of the Board and Director
of the Corporation.

         Prior to August 1985, Mr. Strong was Chief Executive Officer of the
Advisor, which he founded in 1974. Since August 1985, Mr. Strong has been a
Security Analyst and Portfolio Manager of the Advisor.  In October 1991, Mr.
Strong also became the Chairman of the Advisor.  Mr.  Strong is a director of
the Advisor.  Since October 1993, Mr. Strong has been Chairman and a director
of Strong Holdings, Inc.; a Wisconsin corporation and subsidiary of the Advisor
("Holdings"), and the Fund's underwriter, Strong Funds Distributors, Inc.; a
Wisconsin corporation and subsidiary of Holdings ("Distributor").  Since
January 1994, Mr. Strong has been Chairman and a director of Heritage Reserve
Development Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation and subsidiary of Holdings;
and since February 1994, Mr. Strong has been a member of the Managing Boards of
Fussville Real Estate Holdings L.L.C., a Wisconsin Limited Liability Company
and subsidiary of the Advisor, and Fussville Development L.L.C.  a Wisconsin
Limited Liability Company and subsidiary of the Advisor, and certain of its
subsidiaries. Mr. Strong has served as a director of the Corporation since
incorporation in December 1990 and Chairman of the Board of the Corporation
since January 1992.  Mr. Strong has been in the investment management business
since 1967.

         Marvin E. Nevins (DOB 7/9/18), Director of the Corporation.

         Private Investor.  From 1945 to 1980, Mr. Nevins was Chairman of
Wisconsin Centrifugal Inc.; a foundry. From July 1983 to December 1986, he was
Chairman of General Casting Corp., Waukesha, Wisconsin, a foundry. Mr. Nevins
is a former Chairman of the Wisconsin Association of Manufacturers & Commerce.
He was also a regent of the Milwaukee School of Engineering and a member of the
Board of Trustees of the Medical College of Wisconsin.  Mr. Nevins has served
as a director of the Corporation since incorporation in December 1990.

         Willie D. Davis (DOB 7/24/34), Director of the Corporation.

         Mr. Davis has been director of Alliance Bank Since 1980, Sara Lee
Corporation (a food/consumer products company) since 1983, KMart Corporation (a
discount consumer products company) since 1985, YMCA Metropolitan - Los Angeles
since 1985, Dow Chemical Company since 1988, MGM Grand, Inc. (an
entertainment/hotel company) since 1990, WICOR, Inc. (a utility company) since
1990, Johnson Controls, Inc. (an industrial company) since 1992, L.A. Gear (a
footwear/sportswear company) since 1992, and Rally's Hamburger, Inc. since
1994.  Mr. Davis has been a trustee of the University of Chicago since 1980,
Marquette University since 1988, and Occidental College since 1990.  Since
1977, Mr. Davis has been President and Chief Executive Officer of All Pro
Broadcasting, Inc.  Mr. Davis was a director of the Fireman's Fund (an
insurance company) from 1975 until 1990.  Mr. Davis has served as a director of
the Corporation since July 1994.

         *John Dragisic (DOB 11/26/40), Vice Chairman and Director of the
Corporation.

         Mr. Dragisic has been Vice Chairman and a director of the Advisor and
a director of Holdings and Distributor since July 1994.  Mr.  Dragisic
previously served as a director of the Fund from 1992 and 1994.  Mr. Dragisic
was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Grunau Company, Inc. (a
mechanical contracting and engineering firm), Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1987
until July 1994.  From 1981 to 1987, he was an Executive Vice President with
Grunau Company, Inc.  From 1969 until 1973, Mr. Dragisic worked for the
InterAmerican Development Bank.  Mr.  Dragisic received his Ph.D. in Economics
in 1971 from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and his B.A. degree in
Economics in 1962 from Lake Forest College.  Mr. Dragisic has served as Vice
Chairman of the Corporation since July 1994 and director of the Corporation
since April 1995.

         Stanley Kritzik (DOB 1/9/30), Director of the Corporation.

         Mr. Kritzik has been a Partner of  Metropolitan Associates since 1962,
a Director of Aurora Health Care since 1987, and Health Network Ventures, Inc.
since 1992.  He has served as a director of the Corporation since April 1995.





                                       14
<PAGE>   202


         William F. Vogt (DOB 7/19/47), Director of the Corporation.

         Mr. Vogt has been the President of Vogt Management Consulting, Inc.
since 1990.  From 1982 until 1990, he served as Executive Director of
University Physicians of the University of Colorado.  Mr. Vogt is the Past
President of the Medical Group Management Association and a Fellow of the
American College of Medical Practice Executives.  He has served as a director
of the Corporation since April 1995.

         Lawrence A. Totsky (DOB 5/6/59), C.P.A., Vice President of the
Corporation.

   
         Mr. Totsky has been Senior Vice President of the Advisor since
December 1994.  Mr. Totsky acted as the Advisor's Manager of Shareholder
Accounting and Compliance from June 1987 to June 1991 when he was named
Director of Mutual Fund Administration. Mr. Totsky has been a Vice President
of the Corporation since May 1993.
    

         Thomas P. Lemke (DOB 7/30/54), Vice President of the Corporation.

         Mr. Lemke has been Senior Vice President, Secretary, and General
Counsel of the Advisor since September 1994.  For two years prior to joining
the Advisor, Mr. Lemke acted as Resident Counsel for Funds Management at J.P.
Morgan & Co., Inc.  From February 1989 until April 1992, Mr. Lemke acted as
Associate General Counsel to Sanford C. Bernstein Co., Inc.  For two years
prior to that, Mr. Lemke was Of Counsel at the Washington, D.C. law firm of Tew
Jorden & Schulte, a successor of Finley, Kumble Wagner.  From August 1979 until
December 1986, Mr. Lemke worked at the Securities and Exchange Commission, most
notably as the Chief Counsel to the Division of Investment Management (November
1984 - December 1986), and as Special Counsel to the Office of Insurance
Products, Division of Investment Management (April 1982 - October 1984).  Mr.
Lemke has been a Vice President of the Corporation since October 1994.

         Ann E. Oglanian (DOB 12/7/61), Secretary of the Corporation.

         Ms. Oglanian has been an Associate Counsel of the Advisor since
January 1992.  Ms. Oglanian acted as Associate Counsel for the Chicago- based
investment management firm, Kemper Financial Services, Inc.; from June 1988
until December 1991.  Ms. Oglanian has been the Secretary of the Corporation
since May 1994.

         Ronald A. Neville (DOB 5/21/47), C.P.A., Treasurer of the Corporation.

         Mr. Neville has been the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of the Advisor since January 1995.  For fourteen years prior to that,
Mr. Neville worked at Twentieth Century Companies, Inc., most notably as Senior
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (1988 until December 1994).  Mr.
Neville received his M.B.A. in 1972 from the University of Missouri - Kansas
City and his B.A. degree in Business Administration and Economics in 1969 from
Drury College.  Mr. Neville has been the Treasurer of the Corporation since
April 1995.

         Except for Messrs. Nevins, Davis, Kritzik and Vogt, the address of all
of the above persons is P.O. Box 2936, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201.  Mr. Nevins'
address is 6075 Pelican Bay Boulevard, Naples, Florida 33963.  Mr. Davis'
address is 161 North La Brea, Inglewood, California 90301.  Mr. Kritzik's
address is 1123 North Astor Street, P.O. Box 92547, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
53202-0547.  Mr. Vogt's address is 3003 Third Street Avenue, Denver, Colorado
80206.

         The Strong Funds, a complex of open-end management investment
companies composed of 30 mutual funds, of which the Fund is a part, in the
aggregate, pays each Director who is not a director, officer, or employee of
the Advisor, or any affiliated company (a "disinterested director") an annual
fee of $50,000, plus $100 per Board meeting for each fund.  In addition, each
disinterested director is reimbursed by the funds for travel and other expenses
incurred in connection with attendance at such meetings.  Other officers and
directors of the funds receive no compensation or expense reimbursement from
the funds.

   
         As of July 14, 1995, the officers and directors of the Corporation 
did not own any of the Fund's shares.
    



                                       15
<PAGE>   203

                             PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS

   
         As of July 14, 1995, no one owned of record and beneficially any shares
of the Fund.
    

                       INVESTMENT ADVISOR AND DISTRIBUTOR

         The Advisor to the Fund is Strong Capital Management, Inc.  Mr.
Richard S. Strong controls the Advisor.  Mr. Strong is the Chairman and a
director of the Advisor, Mr. Dragisic is the Vice Chairman and a director of
the Advisor, Mr. Totsky is a Senior Vice President of the Advisor, Mr. Lemke is
a Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of the Advisor, Mr.
Neville is a Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Advisor,
Ms. Oglanian is an Associate Counsel of the Advisor and Mr. Zoeller is the
Treasurer of the Advisor.  A brief description of the Fund's investment
advisory agreement ("Advisory Agreement") is set forth in the Prospectus under
"Management."

   
         The Fund's Advisory Agreement is dated July 10, 1995, and will remain
in effect as to the Fund for a period of two years.  The Advisory Agreement was 
approved by the Fund's initial shareholder on its first day of operations. 
The Advisory Agreement is required to be approved annually by the Board of
Directors of the Corporation or by vote of a majority of the Fund's outstanding
voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act).  In either case, each annual
renewal must also be approved by the vote of a majority of the Corporation's
directors who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or interested persons
of any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting
on such approval. The Advisory Agreement is terminable, without penalty, on 60
days' written notice by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, by vote of a
majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities, or by the Advisor.  In
addition, the Advisory Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of
its assignment.
    

         Under the terms of the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor manages the
Fund's investments subject to the supervision of the Corporation's Board of
Directors.  The Advisor is responsible for investment decisions and supplies
investment research and portfolio management.  At its expense, the Advisor
provides office space and all necessary office facilities, equipment, and
personnel for servicing the investments of the Fund.  The Advisor places all
orders for the purchase and sale of the Fund's securities at its expense.

         Except for expenses assumed by the Advisor as set forth above or by
the Distributor as described below with respect to the distribution of the
Fund's shares, the Fund is responsible for all its other expenses, including,
without limitation, interest charges, taxes, brokerage commissions, and similar
expenses; expenses of issue, sale, repurchase, or redemption of shares;
expenses of registering or qualifying shares for sale; expenses for printing
and distribution costs of prospectuses and quarterly financial statements
mailed to existing shareholders; charges of custodians, transfer agent fees
(including the printing and mailing of reports and notices to shareholders),
fees of registrars, fees for auditing and legal services, fees for clerical
services related to recordkeeping and shareholder relations, the cost of stock
certificates and fees for directors who are not "interested persons" of the
Advisor; and its allocable share of the Corporation's expenses.

   
         As compensation for its services, the Fund pays to the Advisor a
monthly management fee at the annual rate of .60% of the Fund's average daily
net asset value.  (See "Additional Information - Calculation of Net Asset
Value" in the Prospectus.)  From time to time, the Advisor may voluntarily
waive all or a portion of its management fee for the Fund.  
    

   
         The Advisory Agreement requires the Advisor to reimburse the Fund in
the event that the expenses and charges payable by the Fund in any fiscal year,
including the management fee but excluding taxes, interest, brokerage
commissions, and similar fees and to the extent permitted extraordinary
expenses, exceed that percentage of the average net asset value of the Fund for
such year. Such excess is determined by valuations made as of the close of each
business day of the year, which is the most restrictive percentage provided by
the state laws of the various states in which the Fund's shares are qualified
for sale; or if the states in which the Fund's shares are qualified for sale
impose no restrictions, the Advisor shall reimburse the Fund in the event the
expenses and charges payable by the Fund in any fiscal year (as described
above) exceed 2%.  The most restrictive percentage limitation currently
applicable to the Fund is 2.5% of its average daily net assets up to
$30,000,000, 2% on the next $70,000,000 of its average daily net assets and
1.5% of its average daily net assets in excess of $100,000,000.  Reimbursement
of expenses in excess of the applicable limitation will be made on a monthly
basis and will be paid to the Fund by reduction of the Advisor's fee, subject
    




                                       16
<PAGE>   204

to later adjustment month by month for the remainder of the Fund's fiscal year.
The Advisor may from time to time absorb expenses for the Fund in addition to
the reimbursement of expenses in excess of applicable limitations.

         On July 12, 1994, the SEC filed an administrative action (Order)
against the Advisor, Mr. Strong, and another employee of the Advisor in
connection with conduct that occurred between 1987 and early 1990. In re
Strong/Corneliuson Capital Management, Inc.; et al. Admin. Proc.  File No.
3-8411. The proceeding was settled by consent without admitting or denying the
allegations in the Order. The Order alleged that the Advisor and Mr. Strong
aided and abetted violations of Section 17(a) of the 1940 Act by effecting
trades between mutual funds, and between mutual funds and Harbour Investments
Ltd. ("Harbour"), without complying with the exemptive provisions of SEC Rule
17a-7 or otherwise obtaining an exemption. It further alleged that the Advisor
violated, and Mr. Strong aided and abetted violations of, the disclosure
provisions of the 1940 Act and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 by
misrepresenting the Advisor's policy on personal trading and by failing to
disclose trading by Harbour, an entity in which principals of the Advisor owned
between 18 and 25 percent of the voting stock. As part of the settlement, the
respondents agreed to a censure and a cease and desist order and the Advisor
agreed to various undertakings, including adoption of certain procedures and a
limitation for six months on accepting certain types of new advisory clients.

         The staff of the U.S. Department of Labor (the "Staff") has contacted
the Advisor regarding alleged cross-trading of securities between 1987 and
early 1990 involving various customer accounts subject to the Employee
Retirement Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA") and managed by the Advisor.  The
Advisor has informed the Staff of the basis for its position that the trades
complied with ERISA and that, in any event, any alleged noncompliance was not
the cause of any losses to the accounts.  The Staff has stated that it
disagrees with the Advisor's positions, although to date it has not filed any
action against the Advisor.  At this time, the Advisor is negotiating with the
Staff regarding a possible resolution of the matter, but it cannot presently
determine whether the matter will be settled or litigated or, if it is settled
or litigated, how it ultimately will be resolved.  However, management
presently believes, based on current knowledge and the Advisor's insurance
coverage, that the ultimate resolution of this matter should not have a
material adverse effect on the Advisor's financial position.

   
         Under a Distribution Agreement dated July 10, 1995 with the
Corporation (the "Distribution Agreement"), Strong Funds Distributors, Inc.
("Distributor"), a subsidiary of the Advisor, acts as underwriter of the Fund's
shares.  The Distribution Agreement provides that the Distributor will use its
best efforts to distribute the Fund's shares.  Shares are only offered and sold
to the separate accounts of certain insurance companies.  Since the Fund is a
"no-load" fund, no sales commissions are charged on the purchase of Fund
shares.  Certain sales charges may apply to the variable annuity or life
insurance contract, which should be described in the prospectus of the
insurance company's separate account.  The Distribution Agreement further
provides that the Distributor will bear the additional costs of printing
prospectuses and shareholder reports which are used for selling purposes, as
well as advertising and other costs attributable to the distribution of the
Fund's shares.  The Distributor is an indirect subsidiary of the Advisor and
controlled by the Advisor and Richard S. Strong.  The Distribution Agreement is
subject to the same termination and renewal provisions as are described above
with respect to the Advisory Agreement.
    
                      PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE

         The Advisor is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities
for the Fund and for the placement of the Fund's investment business and the
negotiation of the commissions to be paid on such transactions.  It is the
policy of the Advisor to seek the best execution at the best security price
available with respect to each transaction, in light of the overall quality of
brokerage and research services provided to the Advisor or the Fund. In
over-the-counter transactions, orders are placed directly with a principal
market maker unless it is believed that a better price and execution can be
obtained using a broker.  The best price to the Fund means the best net price
without regard to the mix between purchase or sale price and commission, if
any.  In selecting broker-dealers and in negotiating commissions, the Advisor
considers a variety of factors, including best price and execution, the full
range of brokerage services provided by the broker, as well as its capital
strength and stability, and the quality of the research and research services
provided by the broker.  Brokerage will not be allocated based on the sale of
any shares of the Strong Funds.

         Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Section 28(e)")
permits an investment advisor, under certain circumstances, to cause an account
to pay a broker or dealer a commission for effecting a transaction in excess of
the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for
effecting the transaction in recognition of the value of the brokerage and
research services provided by the broker or dealer.  Brokerage and research
services include (a) furnishing advice as to the value of securities, the
advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities, and the
availability of securities or purchasers or





                                       17
<PAGE>   205

sellers of securities; (b) furnishing analyses and reports concerning issuers,
industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy, and
the performance of accounts; and (c) effecting securities transactions and
performing functions incidental thereto (such as clearance, settlement, and
custody).

         In carrying out the provisions of the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor
may cause the Fund to pay a broker, which provides brokerage and research
services to the Advisor, a commission for effecting a securities transaction in
excess of the amount another broker would have charged for effecting the
transaction.  The Advisor believes it is important to its investment
decision-making process to have access to independent research.  The Advisory
Agreement provides that such higher commissions will not be paid by the Fund
unless (a) the Advisor determines in good faith that the amount is reasonable
in relation to the services in terms of the particular transaction or in terms
of the Advisor's overall responsibilities with respect to the accounts as to
which it exercises investment discretion; (b) such payment is made in
compliance with the provisions of Section 28(e), other applicable state and
federal laws, and the Advisory Agreement; and (c) in the opinion of the
Advisor, the total commissions paid by the Fund will be reasonable in relation
to the benefits to the Fund over the long term. The investment advisory fee
paid by the Fund under the Advisory Agreement is not reduced as a result of the
Advisor's receipt of research services.

         Generally, research services provided by brokers may include
information on the economy, industries, groups of securities, individual
companies, statistical information, accounting and tax law interpretations,
political developments, legal developments affecting portfolio securities,
technical market action, pricing and appraisal services, credit analysis, risk
measurement analysis, performance analysis, and analysis of corporate
responsibility issues. Such research services are received primarily in the
form of written reports, telephone contacts, and personal meetings with
security analysts. In addition, such research services may be provided in the
form of access to various computer- generated data, computer hardware and
software, and meetings arranged with corporate and industry spokespersons,
economists, academicians, and government representatives. In some cases,
research services are generated by third parties but are provided to the
Advisor by or through brokers. Such brokers may pay for all or a portion of
computer hardware and software costs relating to the pricing of securities.

         Where the Advisor itself receives both administrative benefits and
research and brokerage services from the services provided by brokers, it makes
a good faith allocation between the administrative benefits and the research
and brokerage services, and will pay for any administrative benefits with cash.
In making good faith allocations of costs between administrative benefits and
research and brokerage services, a conflict of interest may exist by reason of
the Advisor's allocation of the costs of such benefits and services between
those that primarily benefit the Advisor and those that primarily benefit the
Fund and other advisory clients.

         From time to time, the Advisor may purchase securities for the Fund in
a fixed price offering. In these situations, the seller may be a member of the
selling group that will, in addition to selling the securities to the Fund and
other advisory clients, provide the Advisor with research. The National
Association of Securities Dealers has adopted rules expressly permitting these
types of arrangements under certain circumstances. Generally, the seller will
provide research "credits" in these situations at a rate that is higher than
that which is available for typical secondary market transactions. These
arrangements may not fall within the safe harbor of Section 28(e).

         Each year, the Advisor considers the amount and nature of research and
research services provided by brokers, as well as the extent to which such
services are relied upon, and attempts to allocate a portion of the brokerage
business of the Fund and other advisory clients on the basis of that
consideration. In addition, brokers may suggest a level of business they would
like to receive in order to continue to provide such services. The actual
brokerage business received by a broker may be more or less than the suggested
allocations, depending upon the Advisor's evaluation of all applicable
considerations.

         During its last fiscal year, the Advisor had an arrangement with
various brokers whereby, in consideration of the providing of research
services, the Advisor allocated brokerage to those firms, provided that their
brokerage and research services were satisfactory to the Advisor and their
execution capabilities were compatible with the Advisor's policy of seeking
best execution at the best security price available, as discussed above.

         The Advisor may direct the purchase of securities on behalf of the
Fund and other advisory clients in secondary market transactions, in public
offerings directly from an underwriter, or in privately negotiated transactions
with an issuer. When the Advisor believes the circumstances so warrant,
securities purchased in public offerings may be resold shortly after
acquisition in the immediate aftermarket for the security in order to take
advantage of price appreciation from the public offering price or for





                                       18
<PAGE>   206

other reasons. Short-term trading of securities acquired in public offerings,
or otherwise, may result in higher portfolio turnover and associated brokerage
expenses.

         The Advisor places portfolio transactions for other advisory accounts,
including other mutual funds managed by the Advisor.  Research services
furnished by firms through which the Fund effects its securities transactions
may be used by the Advisor in servicing all of its accounts; not all of such
services may be used by the Advisor in connection with the Fund.  In the
opinion of the Advisor, it is not possible to measure separately the benefits
from research services to each of the accounts (including the Fund) managed by
the Advisor. Because the volume and nature of the trading activities of the
accounts are not uniform, the amount of commissions in excess of those charged
by another broker paid by each account for brokerage and research services will
vary.  However, in the opinion of the Advisor, such costs to the Fund will not
be disproportionate to the benefits received by the Fund on a continuing basis.

         The Advisor seeks to allocate portfolio transactions equitably
whenever concurrent decisions are made to purchase or sell securities by the
Fund and another advisory account. In some cases, this procedure could have an
adverse effect on the price or the amount of securities available to the Fund.
In making such allocations between the Fund and other advisory accounts, the
main factors considered by the Advisor are the respective investment
objectives, the relative size of portfolio holdings of the same or comparable
securities, the availability of cash for investment, the size of investment
commitments generally held, and the opinions of the persons responsible for
recommending the investment.

         The Corporation has entered into agreements with the Advisor and each
of Salomon and PaineWebber (collectively, the "Brokers"), in which the Brokers
have agreed to pay directly to vendors certain investment management and other
related expenses incurred and otherwise payable by the Fund ("Expense
Agreements"). In accordance with the Expense Agreements, the Advisor directs
the delivery to the Brokers of invoices determined by the Fund to be
appropriate for payment by the Brokers.  The Brokers pay the invoices with the
proceeds of certain commissions received from the Fund.  The Expense Agreements
provide that a percentage of commissions received from the Fund for completed
agency transactions in certain securities for the Fund, designated by the
Advisor as directed commissions subject to the Expense Agreements, shall be
used by the Brokers to pay the invoices.  In all cases, such credits have been
immaterial in amount. The Advisor believes that this practice has not resulted
in any increase in the level of commissions paid by the Fund.  Investment
management and other related expenses include those payable by the Fund, as
described under "Investment Advisor and Distributor" in this Statement of
Additional Information.

                                   CUSTODIAN

         As custodian of the Fund's assets, Firstar Trust Company, P.O. Box
761, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201, has custody of all securities and cash of the
Fund, delivers and receives payment for securities sold, receives and pays for
securities purchased, collects income from investments, and performs other
duties, all as directed by officers of the Corporation.  The custodian is in no
way responsible for any of the investment policies or decisions of the Fund.

                  TRANSFER AGENT AND DIVIDEND-DISBURSING AGENT

   
         The Advisor acts as transfer agent and dividend-disbursing agent for
the Fund at no cost.
    

   
                           ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
    

   
        From time to time the Fund and/or the Advisor may enter into
arrangements under which certain administrative services may be performed by
the insurance companies that purchase shares in the Fund. These administrative
services may include, among other things, responding to ministerial inquiries
concerning the Fund's investment objective, investment program, policies and
performance, transmitting, on behalf of the Fund, proxy statements, annual
reports, updated prospectuses, and other communications regarding the Fund, and
providing only related services as the Fund or its shareholders may reasonably
request. Depending on the arrangements,  the Fund and/or Advisor may compensate
such insurance companies or their agents directly or indirectly for the
administrative services. To the extent the Fund compensates the insurance
company for these services, the Fund will pay the insurance company an annual
fee that will vary depending upon the number of contract holders that utilize
the Fund as the funding medium for their contracts. The insurance company may
impose other account or service charges. See the prospectus for the separate 
account of the insurance company for additional information regarding such 
charges.
    


                                       19
<PAGE>   207

                                     TAXES

GENERAL

         As indicated under "Additional Information - Distributions and Taxes"
in the Prospectus, the Fund intends to continue to qualify annually for
treatment as a regulated investment company ("RIC") under the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").  This qualification does not involve
government supervision of the Fund's management practices or policies.

         In order to qualify for treatment as a RIC under the Code, the Fund
must distribute to its shareholders for each taxable year at least 90% of its
investment company taxable income (consisting generally of net investment
income, net short-term capital gain, and net gains from certain foreign
currency transactions) ("Distribution Requirement") and must meet several
additional requirements.  Among these requirements are the following: (1) the
Fund must derive at least 90% of its gross income each taxable year from
dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans, or other income
(including gains from options, futures, or forward contracts) derived with
respect to its business of investing in securities ("Income Requirement"); (2)
the Fund must derive less than 30% of its gross income each taxable year from
the sale or other disposition of securities, or any of the following, that were
held for less than three months - options or futures (or options and futures
with respect to securities) ("30% Limitation"); (3) 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, with these other securities
limited, in respect of any one issuer, to an amount that does not exceed 5% of
the value of the Fund's total assets and that does not represent more than 10%
of the issuer's outstanding voting securities; and (4) at the close of each
quarter of the Fund's taxable year, not more than 25% of the value of its total
assets may be invested in securities (other than U.S. government securities or
the securities of other RICs) of any one issuer.

         If Fund shares are sold at a loss after being held for six months or
less, the loss will be treated as long-term, instead of short-term, capital
loss to the extent of any capital gain distributions received on those shares.

         In addition, the Fund must satisfy the diversification requirements of
Section 817(h) of the Code.  In general, for a Fund to meet these investment
diversification requirements, Treasury regulations require that no more than
55% of the total value of the assets of the Fund may be represented by any one
investment, no more than 70% by two investments, no more than 80% by three
investments and no more than 90% by four investments.  Generally, for purposes
of the regulations, all securities of the same issuer are treated as a single
investment.  With respect to the United States Government securities (including
any security that is issued, guaranteed or insured by the United States or an
instrumentality of the United States), each governmental agency or
instrumentality is treated as a separate issuer.  Compliance with the
regulations is tested on the last day of each calendar year quarter.  There is
a 30-day period after the end of each calendar year quarter in which to cure
any non-compliance with these requirements.

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

         The use of derivatives strategies, such as purchasing and selling
(writing) options and futures, involves complex rules that will determine for
income tax purposes the character and timing of recognition of the gains and
losses the Fund realizes in connection therewith.  Income from transactions in
options and futures derived by the Fund with respect to its business of
investing in securities will qualify as permissible income under the Income
Requirement.  However, income from the disposition of options and futures will
be subject to the 30% Limitation if they are held for less than three months.
Income from the disposition of options and futures that are not directly
related to the Fund's principal business of investing in securities (or options
and futures with respect to securities) also will be subject to the 30%
Limitation if they are held for less than three months.

         If the Fund satisfies certain requirements, any increase in value of a
position that is part of a "designated hedge" will be offset by any decrease in
value (whether realized or not) of the offsetting hedging position during the
period of the hedge for purposes of determining whether the Fund satisfies the
30% Limitation.  Thus, only the net gain (if any) from the designated hedge
will be included in gross income for purposes of that limitation.  The Fund
intends that, when it engages in hedging strategies, the hedging transactions
will qualify for this treatment, but at the present time it is not clear
whether this treatment will be available for all of the Fund's hedging
transactions.  To the extent this treatment is not available or is not elected
by the Fund, it





                                       20
<PAGE>   208

may be forced to defer the closing out of certain options, futures, or forward
currency contracts beyond the time when it otherwise would be advantageous to
do so, in order for the Fund to continue to qualify as a RIC.

         For federal income tax purposes, the Fund is required to recognize as
income for each taxable year its net unrealized gains and losses on options and
futures that are subject to section 1256 of the Code ("Section 1256 Contracts")
and are held by the Fund as of the end of the year, as well as gains and losses
on Section 1256 Contracts actually realized during the year.  Except for
Section 1256 Contracts that are part of a "mixed straddle" and with respect to
which the Fund makes a certain election, any gain or loss recognized with
respect to Section 1256 Contracts is considered to be 60% long-term capital
gain or loss and 40% short-term capital gain or loss, without regard to the
holding period of the Section 1256 Contract.  Unrealized gains on Section 1256
Contracts that have been held by the Fund for less than three months as of the
end of its taxable year, and that are recognized for federal income tax
purposes as described above, will not be considered gains on investments held
for less than three months for purposes of the 30% Limitation.

ZERO-COUPON, STEP-COUPON, AND PAY-IN-KIND SECURITIES

         The Fund may acquire zero-coupon, step-coupon, or other securities
issued with original issue discount.  As a holder of those securities, the Fund
must include in its income the original issue discount that accrues on the
securities during the taxable year, even if the Fund receives no corresponding
payment on the securities during the year.  Similarly, the Fund must include in
its income securities it receives as "interest" on pay-in-kind securities.
Because the Fund annually must distribute substantially all of its investment
company taxable income, including any original issue discount and other
non-cash income, to satisfy the Distribution Requirement, it may be required in
a particular year to distribute as a dividend an amount that is greater than
the total amount of cash it actually receives.  Those distributions may be made
from the proceeds on sales of portfolio securities, if necessary.  The Fund may
realize capital gains or losses from those sales, which would increase or
decrease its investment company taxable income or net capital gain, or both.
In addition, any such gains may be realized on the disposition of securities
held for less than three months.  Because of the 30% Limitation, any such gains
would reduce the Fund's ability to sell other securities, or certain options,
futures, or forward currency  contracts, held for less that three months that
it might wish to sell in the ordinary course of its portfolio management.

                        DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

         A more complete discussion of the Fund's determination of net asset
value is contained in the Prospectus.  Generally, the net asset value of the
Fund will be determined as of the close of trading on each day the New York
Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") is open for trading. The NYSE is open for trading
Monday through Friday except New Year's Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday,
Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
Additionally, if any of the aforementioned holidays falls on a Saturday, the
NYSE will not be open for trading on the preceding Friday, and when any such
holiday falls on a Sunday, the NYSE will not be open for trading on the
succeeding Monday, unless unusual business conditions exist, such as the ending
of a monthly or the yearly accounting period.

                               FUND ORGANIZATION

   
         The Fund is a series of Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc., a
Wisconsin corporation (the "Corporation").  The Corporation (formerly known as
Strong Discovery Fund II, Inc., formerly known as Strong D Fund, Inc.) was
organized on December 28, 1990 and is authorized to issue 10,000,000,000 shares
of common stock and series and classes of series of shares of common stock,
with a par value of $.00001 per share.  The Corporation is authorized to issue
300,000,000 shares of common stock of the Fund.  Each share of the Corporation
has one vote, and all shares of a series participate equally in dividends and
other capital gains distributions and in the residual assets of that Fund in
the event of liquidation. Fractional shares have the same rights
proportionately as do full shares. Shares of the Corporation have no
preemptive, conversion, or subscription rights.  The Corporation currently has
six series of common stock outstanding.  The assets belonging to each
series of shares is held separately by a custodian, and in effect each series
is a separate fund.  All holders of shares of the Corporation would vote on
each matter presented to shareholders for action except with respect to any
matter which affects only one or more series or classes, in which case only the
shares of the affected series or class shall be entitled to vote.  Because of
current federal securities law requirements the Corporation expects that its
shareholders will offer to owners of variable annuity and variable life
insurance
    



                                       21
<PAGE>   209

contracts the opportunity to instruct them as to how shares allocable to their
contracts will be voted with respect to certain matters, such as approval of
changes to the investment advisory agreement.  The Wisconsin Business
Corporation Law permits registered investment companies, such as the series of
the Corporation, to operate without an annual meeting of shareholders under
specified circumstances if an annual meeting is not required by the 1940 Act.
The Corporation has adopted the appropriate provisions in its ByLaws and may,
at its discretion, not hold an annual meeting in any year in which the election
of directors is not required to be acted on by shareholders under the 1940 Act.

   
         The Corporation's Bylaws allow for a director to be removed with or
without cause, only at a meeting called for the purpose of removing the
director. Upon the written request of the holders of shares entitled to not less
than ten percent (10%) of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting,
the Secretary of the Corporation shall promptly call a special meeting of
shareholders for the purpose of voting upon the question of removal of any
director. The Secretary shall inform such shareholders of the reasonable
estimated costs of preparing and mailing the notice of the meeting, and upon
payment to the Corporation of such costs, the Corporation shall give not less
than ten or more than sixty days notice of the special meeting.  
    

   
         The Corporation's Bylaws allow for a director to be removed with or
without cause, only at a meeting called for the purpose of removing the
director. Upon the written request of the holders of shares entitled to not less
than ten percent (10%) of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting,
the Secretary of the Corporation shall promptly call a special meeting of
shareholders for the purpose of voting upon the question of removal of any
director. The Secretary shall inform such shareholders of the reasonable
estimated costs of preparing and mailing the notice of the meeting, and upon
payment to the Corporation of such costs, the Corporation shall give not less
than ten nor more than sixty days notice of the special meeting.
    

                            PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

         As described under "Additional Information - Performance Information"
in the Prospectus, the Fund's historical performance or return may be shown in
the form of  "yield," "average annual total return," "total return," and
"cumulative total return."  From time to time, the Advisor may voluntarily
waive all or a portion of its management fee and/or absorb certain expenses for
the Fund.  Total returns contained in advertisements include the effect of
deducting the Fund's expenses, but may not include charges and expenses
attributable to any particular insurance product.  Since shares may only be
purchased by the separate accounts of certain insurance companies, contracts
owners should carefully review the prospectus of the separate account for
information on fees and expenses.  Excluding such fees and expenses from the
Fund's total return quotations has the effect of increasing the performance
quoted.





                                       22
<PAGE>   210

YIELD

         The Fund's yield is computed in accordance with a standardized method
prescribed by rules of the SEC.  Under that method, the current yield quotation
for the Fund is based on a one month or 30-day period.  The yield is computed
by dividing the net investment income per share earned during the 30-day or one
month period by the maximum offering price per share on the last day of the
period, according to the following formula:

                                                      6
                                  YIELD = 2[( a-b + 1) - 1]
                                              ---
                                               cd

Where:  a = dividends and interest earned during the period.
        b = expenses accrued for the period (net of reimbursements).
        c = the average daily number of shares outstanding during the period 
            that were entitled to receive dividends.
        d = the maximum offering price per share on the last day of the period.

         In computing yield, the Fund follows certain standardized accounting
practices specified by SEC rules.  These practices are not necessarily
consistent with those that the Fund uses to prepare annual and interim
financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.

DISTRIBUTION RATE

         The distribution rate is computed, according to a non-standardized
formula, by dividing the total amount of actual distributions per share paid by
the Fund over a twelve month period by the Fund's net asset value on the last
day of the period.  The distribution rate differs from the Fund's yield because
the distribution rate includes distributions to shareholders from sources other
than dividends and interest, such as premium income from option writing and
short-term capital gains.  Therefore, the Fund's distribution rate may be
substantially different than its yield.  Both the Fund's yield and distribution
rate will fluctuate.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN

         The Fund's average annual total return quotation is computed in
accordance with a standardized method prescribed by rules of the SEC.  The
average annual total return for the Fund for a specific period is found by
first taking a hypothetical $10,000 investment ("initial investment") in the
Fund's shares on the first day of the period and computing the "redeemable
value" of that investment at the end of the period.  The redeemable value is
then divided by the initial investment, and this quotient is taken to the Nth
root (N representing the number of years in the period) and one is subtracted
from the result, which is then expressed as a percentage.  The calculation
assumes that all income and capital gains dividends paid by the Fund have been
reinvested at net asset value on the reinvestment dates during the period.

TOTAL RETURN

         Calculation of the Fund's total return is not subject to a
standardized formula.  Total return performance for a specific period is
calculated by first taking an investment (assumed below to be $10,000)
("initial investment") in the Fund's shares on the first day of the period and
computing the "ending value" of that investment at the end of the period.  The
total return percentage is then determined by subtracting the initial
investment from the ending value and dividing the remainder by the initial
investment and expressing the result as a percentage.  The calculation assumes
that all income and capital gains dividends paid by the Fund have been
reinvested at net asset value on the reinvestment dates during the period.
Total return may also be shown as the increased dollar value of the
hypothetical investment over the period.

CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN

         Calculation of the Fund's cumulative total return is not subject to a
standardized formula and represents the simple change in value of an investment
over a stated period and may be quoted as a percentage or as a dollar amount.
Total returns and





                                       23
<PAGE>   211

cumulative total returns may be broken down into their components of income and
capital (including capital gains and changes in share price) in order to
illustrate the relationship between these factors and their contributions to
total return.

         The Fund's performance figures are based upon historical results and
do not represent future performance.  The Fund's shares are sold at net asset
value per share.  The Fund's returns and net asset value will fluctuate and
shares are redeemable at the then current net asset value of the Fund, which
may be more or less than original cost.  Factors affecting the Fund's
performance include general market conditions, operating expenses, and
investment management.  Any additional fees charged by an insurance company or
other financial services firm would reduce the returns described in this
section.

COMPARISONS

(1)      U.S. TREASURY BILLS, NOTES, OR BONDS
         Investors may also wish to compare the performance of the Fund to that
of United States Treasury bills, notes, or bonds, which are issued by the U.S.
government, because such instruments represent alternative income producing
products.  Treasury obligations are issued in selected denominations.  Rates of
Treasury obligations are fixed at the time of issuance and payment of principal
and interest is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States
Treasury.  The market value of such instruments will generally fluctuate
inversely with interest rates prior to maturity and will equal par value at
maturity.

(2)      CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT
         Investors may wish to compare the Fund's performance to that of
certificates of deposit offered by banks and other depositary institutions.
Certificates of deposit represent an alternative income producing product.
Certificates of deposit may offer fixed or variable interest rates and
principal is guaranteed and may be insured. Withdrawal of the deposits prior to
maturity normally will be subject to a penalty.  Rates offered by banks and
other depositary institutions are subject to change at any time specified by
the issuing institution.

(3)      MONEY MARKET FUNDS
         Investors may also want to compare performance of the Fund to that of
money market funds.  Money market fund yields will fluctuate and an investment
in money market fund shares is neither insured nor guaranteed by the U.S.
government, but share values usually remain stable.

(4)      LIPPER ANALYTICAL SERVICES, INC. ("LIPPER") AND OTHER INDEPENDENT
RANKING ORGANIZATIONS
         From time to time, in marketing and other fund literature, the Fund's
performance may be compared to the performance of other mutual funds in general
or to the performance of particular types of mutual funds, with similar
investment goals, as tracked by independent organizations.  Among these
organizations, Lipper, a widely used independent research firm which ranks
mutual funds by overall performance, investment objectives, and assets, may be
cited.  Lipper performance figures are based on changes in net asset value,
with all income and capital gain dividends reinvested.  Such calculations do
not include the effect of any sales charges imposed by other funds.  The Fund
will be compared to Lipper's appropriate fund category, that is, by fund
objective and portfolio holdings.

(5)      MORNINGSTAR, INC.
         The Fund's performance may also be compared to the performance of
other mutual funds by Morningstar, Inc. which rates funds on the basis of
historical risk and total return.  Morningstar's ratings range from five stars
(highest) to one star (lowest) and represent Morningstar's assessment of the
historical risk level and total return of the Fund as a weighted average for 3,
5, and 10 year periods.  Ratings are not absolute and do not represent future
results.

(6)      VARDS REPORT
         The Fund's performance may also be compared to the performance of
other variable annuity products in general or to the performance of particular
types of variable annuity products, with similar investment goals, as tracked
by the VARDS Report (Variable Annuity Research and Data Service Report)
produced by Financial Planning Resources, Inc.  The VARDS Report is a monthly
performance analysis of the variable annuity industry.

(7)      INDEPENDENT SOURCES
         Evaluations of Fund performance made by independent sources may also
be used in advertisements concerning the Fund, including reprints of, or
selections from, editorials or articles about the Fund, especially those with
similar objectives.





                                       24
<PAGE>   212

Sources for Fund performance information and articles about the Fund may
include publications such as Money, Forbes, Kiplinger's, Smart Money,
Morningstar, Inc., Financial World, Business Week, U.S. News and World Report,
The Wall Street Journal, Barron's, and a variety of investment newsletters.

(8)      VARIOUS BANK PRODUCTS
         The Fund's performance also may be compared on a before or after-tax
basis to various bank products, including the average rate of bank and thrift
institution money market deposit accounts, Super N.O.W. accounts and
certificates of deposit of various maturities as reported in the Bank Rate
Monitor, National Index of 100 leading banks, and thrift institutions as
published by the Bank Rate Monitor, Miami Beach, Florida.  The rates published
by the Bank Rate Monitor National Index are averages of the personal account
rates offered on the Wednesday prior to the date of publication by 100 large
banks and thrifts in the top ten Consolidated Standard Metropolitan Statistical
Areas.  The rates provided for the  bank accounts assume no compounding and are
for the lowest minimum deposit required to open an account.  Higher rates may
be available for larger deposits.

         With respect to money market deposit accounts and Super N.O.W.
accounts, account minimums range upward from $2,000 in each institution and
compounding methods vary.  Super N.O.W. accounts generally offer unlimited
check writing while money market deposit accounts generally restrict the number
of checks that may be written.  If more than one rate is offered, the lowest
rate is used.  Rates are determined by the financial institution and are
subject to change at any time specified by the institution.  Generally, the
rates offered for these products take market conditions and competitive product
yields into consideration when set.  Bank products represent a taxable
alternative income producing product.  Bank and thrift institution deposit
accounts may be insured.  Shareholder accounts in the Fund are not insured.
Bank passbook savings accounts compete with money market mutual fund products
with respect to certain liquidity features but may not offer all of the
features available from a money market mutual fund, such as check writing.
Bank passbook savings accounts normally offer a fixed rate of interest while
the yield of the Fund fluctuates.  Bank checking accounts normally do not pay
interest but compete with money market mutual fund products with respect to
certain liquidity features (e.g., the ability to write checks against the
account).  Bank certificates of deposit may offer fixed or variable rates for a
set term.  (Normally, a variety of terms are available.)  Withdrawal of these
deposits prior to maturity will normally be subject to a penalty.

(9)      INDICES
         A Fund may compare its performance to a wide variety of indices
including the following:

         (a)     The Consumer Price Index
         (b)     Merrill Lynch 91 Day Treasury Bill Index
         (c)     Merrill Lynch Government/Corporate 1-3 Year Index
         (d)     IBC/Donoghue's Taxable Money Fund AverageTM
         (e)     IBC/Donoghue's Government Money Fund AverageTM
         (f)     Salomon Brothers 1-Month Treasury Bill Index
         (g)     Salomon Brothers 3-Month Treasury Bill Index
         (h)     Salomon Brothers 1-Year Treasury Benchmark-on-the-Run Index
         (i)     Salomon Brothers 1-3 Year Treasury/Government-Sponsored/
                 Corporate Bond Index
         (j)     Salomon Brothers Corporate Bond Index
         (k)     Salomon Brothers AAA, AA, A, BBB, and BB Corporate Bond Indexes
         (l)     Salomon Brothers Broad Investment-Grade Bond Index
         (m)     Salomon Brothers High-Yield BBB Index
         (n)     Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index
         (o)     Lehman Brothers 1-3 Year Government/Corporate Bond Index
         (p)     Lehman Brothers Intermediate Government/Corporate Bond Index
         (q)     Lehman Brothers Intermediate AAA, AA, and A Corporate Bond 
                 Indexes
         (r)     Lehman Brothers Government/Corporate Bond Index
         (s)     Lehman Brothers Corporate Baa Index
         (t)     Lehman Brothers Intermediate Corporate Baa Index

(10)      HISTORICAL ASSET CLASS RETURNS
         From time to time, marketing materials may portray the historical
returns of various asset classes.  Such presentations will typically compare
the average annual rates of return of inflation, U.S. Treasury bills, bonds,
common stocks, and small stocks.





                                       25
<PAGE>   213

There are important differences between each of these investments that should
be considered in viewing any such comparison.  The market value of stocks will
fluctuate with market conditions, and small-stock prices generally will
fluctuate more than large-stock prices. Bond prices generally will fluctuate
inversely with interest rates and other market conditions, and the prices of
bonds with longer maturities generally will fluctuate more than those of
shorter-maturity bonds. Interest rates for bonds may be fixed at the time of
issuance, and payment of principal and interest may be guaranteed by the issuer
and, in the case of U.S. Treasury obligations, backed by the full faith and
credit of the U.S. Treasury.

   
(11)    STRONG VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS
        The Strong Variable Insurance Funds offer a range of investment
options. All of the members of the Strong Variable Insurance Funds and their
investment objectives are listed below. The Funds are listed in ascending order
of risk and return, as determined by the Funds' Advisor.
    

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>                     
FUND NAME                                        INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                              <C>
Strong Advantage Fund II                         Current income with a very low degree of
                                                 share-price fluctuation.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Government Securities Fund II             Total return by investing for a high level of current income 
                                                 with a moderate degree of share-price fluctuation.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Asset Allocation Fund II                  High total return consistent with reasonable risk over the 
                                                 long term.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Special Fund II                           Capital growth.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Growth Fund II                            Capital growth.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Discovery Fund II                         Capital growth.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong International Stock Fund II               Capital growth.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
    

   
        Each Fund may from time to time be compared to the other Funds in
the Strong Variable Insurance Funds based on a risk/reward spectrum. In
general, the amount of risk associated with any investment product is
commensurate with that product's potential level of reward. The Strong Variable
Insurance Funds' risk/reward continuum or any Fund's position on the continuum
may be described or diagrammed in marketing materials. The Strong Variable
Insurance Funds' risk/reward continuum positions the risk and reward potential
of each Fund relative to the other Strong Variable Insurance Funds, but is not
intended to position any Fund relative to other mutual funds or investment
products. Marketing materials may also discuss the relationship between risk and
reward as it relates to an individual investor's portfolio. Financial goals vary
from person to person. You may choose one or more of the Strong Variable
Insurance Funds to help you reach your financial goals.
    

   
        The Advisor also serves as advisor to the Strong Family of Funds, which
is a retail fund complex composed of 23 open-end management investment
companies.
    

ADDITIONAL FUND INFORMATION

(1)      DURATION

         Duration is a calculation that measures the price sensitivity of the
Fund to changes in interest rates. Theoretically, if the Fund had a duration of
2.0, a 1% increase in interest rates would cause the prices of the bonds in the
Fund to decrease by approximately 2%. Conversely, a 1% decrease in interest
rates would cause the prices of the bonds in the Fund to increase by
approximately 2%. Depending on the direction of market interest rates, the
Fund's duration may be shorter or longer than its average maturity.

(2)      PORTFOLIO CHARACTERISTICS

         In order to present a more complete picture of a Fund's portfolio,
marketing materials may include various actual or estimated portfolio
characteristics, including but not limited to median market capitalizations,
earnings per share, alphas, betas, price/earnings ratios, returns on equity,
dividend yields, capitalization ranges, growth rates, price/book ratios, top
holdings, sector breakdowns, asset allocations, quality breakdowns, and
breakdowns by geographic region.

(3)      MEASURES OF VOLATILITY AND RELATIVE PERFORMANCE

         Occasionally statistics may be used to specify Fund volatility or
risk. The general premise is that greater volatility connotes greater risk
undertaken in achieving performance.  Measures of volatility or risk are
generally used to compare the Fund's net asset value or performance relative to
a market index.  One measure of volatility is beta.  Beta is the volatility of
a fund relative to the total market as represented by the Standard & Poor's 500
Stock Index.  A beta of more than 1.00 indicates volatility greater than the
market, and a beta of less than 1.00 indicates volatility less than the market.
Another measure of volatility or risk is standard deviation. Standard deviation
is a statistical tool that measures the degree to which a fund's performance
has varied from its average performance during a particular time period.

Standard deviation is calculated using the following formula:
                                                         2
      Standard deviation = the square root of  +(x - x )
                                                  i   m  
                                               ----------
                                                   n-1
where    +  = "the sum of",

         x  = each individual return during the time period,
          i

         x  = the average return over the time period, and
          m

         n  = the number of individual returns during the time period.

         Statistics may also be used to discuss a Fund's relative performance.
One such measure is alpha. Alpha measures the actual return of a fund compared
to the expected return of a fund given its risk (as measured by beta).  The
expected return is based on how the market as a whole performed, and how the
particular fund has historically performed against the market. Specifically,
alpha is the actual return less the expected return. The expected return is
computed by multiplying the advance or decline in a market representation by
the fund's beta. A positive alpha quantifies the value that the fund manager
has added, and a negative alpha quantifies the value that the fund manager has
lost.

         Other measures of volatility and relative performance may be used as
appropriate. However, all such measures will fluctuate and do not represent
future results.





                                       26
<PAGE>   214

                              GENERAL INFORMATION

BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY

         The Advisor is an independent, Midwestern-based investment advisor,
owned by professionals active in its management. Recognizing that investors are
the focus of its business, the Advisor strives for excellence both in
investment management and in the service provided to investors. This commitment
affects many aspects of the business, including professional staffing, product
development, investment management, and service delivery.  Through its
commitment to excellence, the Advisor intends to benefit investors and to
encourage them to think of Strong Funds as their mutual fund family.

         The increasing complexity of the capital markets requires specialized
skills and processes for each asset class and style. Therefore, the Advisor
believes that active management should produce greater returns than a passively
managed index.  The Advisor has brought together a group of top-flight
investment professionals with diverse product expertise, and each concentrates
on their investment specialty. The Advisor believes that people are the firm's
most important asset. For this reason, continuity of professionals is critical
to the firm's long-term success.

INVESTMENT ENVIRONMENT

         Discussions of economic, social, and political conditions and their
impact on the Fund may be used in advertisements and sales materials.  Such
factors that may impact the Fund include, but are not limited to, changes in
interest rates, political developments, the competitive environment, consumer
behavior, industry trends, technological advances, macroeconomic trends, and
the supply and demand of various financial instruments.  In addition, marketing
materials may cite the portfolio management's views or interpretations of such
factors.

EIGHT BASIC PRINCIPLES FOR SUCCESSFUL MUTUAL FUND INVESTING

         These common sense rules are followed by many successful investors.
They make sense for beginners, too. If you have a question on these principles,
or would like to discuss them with us, please contact us at 1-800-368-3863.

1.  Have a plan - even a simple plan can help you take control of your
    financial future. Review your plan once a year, or if your circumstances
    change.

2.  Start investing as soon as possible. Make time a valuable ally. Let it put
    the power of compounding to work for you, while helping to reduce your
    potential investment risk.

3.  Diversify your portfolio. By investing in different asset classes - stocks,
    bonds, and cash - you help protect against poor performance in one type of
    investment while including investments most likely to help you achieve your
    important goals.

4.  Invest regularly. Investing is a process, not a one-time event. Make a
    habit of investing. And make it easy for yourself with an "automatic
    investment plan." This popular strategy not only helps you manage
    investment risk, it also ensures you "pay yourself first" on a regular
    basis.

5.  Maintain a long-term perspective. For most individuals, the best discipline
    is staying invested as market conditions change. Reactive, emotional
    investment decisions are all too often a source of regret - and principal
    loss.

6.  Consider stocks to help achieve major long-term goals. Over time, stocks
    have provided the more powerful returns needed to help the value of your
    investments stay well ahead of inflation.

7.  Keep a comfortable amount of cash in your portfolio. To meet current needs,
    including emergencies, use a money market fund or a bank account - not your
    long-term investment assets.

8.  Know what you're buying. Make sure you understand the potential risks and
    rewards associated with each of your investments. Ask questions... request
    information...make up your own mind. And choose a fund company that helps
    you make informed investment decisions.





                                       27
<PAGE>   215


                              PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

         The Advisor believes that actively managing the Fund's portfolio and
adjusting the average portfolio maturity according to the Advisor's interest
rate outlook is the best way to achieve the Fund's objectives.  This policy is
based on a fundamental belief that economic and financial conditions create
favorable and unfavorable investment periods (or seasons) and that these
different seasons require different investment approaches. Through its active
management approach, the Advisor seeks to avoid or reduce any negative change
in the Fund's net asset value per share during the periods of falling bond
prices and provide consistently positive annual returns throughout the seasons
of investment.

The Advisor's investment philosophy includes the following basic beliefs:
1.  Active management pursued by a team with a uniform discipline across the
    fixed income spectrum can produce results that are superior to those
    produced through passive management.
2.  Controlling risk by making only moderate deviations from the defined
    benchmark is the cornerstone of successful fixed income investing.  
3.  Successful fixed income management is best pursued on a top-down basis
    utilizing fundamental techniques.

The investment process includes decisions made at four levels that are
consistent with the Advisor's viewpoint of the path of economic activity,
interest rates, and the supply of and demand for credit. The goal is to derive
equivalent amounts of excess performance and risk control over the long run
from each of the four levels of decision-making:

1.  Duration.  Each Fund's portfolio duration is managed within a range
    relative to its respective benchmark.  
2.  Yield Curve. Modest overweights and underweights along the yield curve are
    made to benefit from changes in the yield curve's shape.  
3.  Sector/Quality. Sector weightings are generally maintained between zero 
    and two times those of the benchmark.  
4.  Security Selection.  Quantitative analysis drives issue selection in the 
    Treasury and mortgage marketplace. Proactive credit research drives 
    corporate issue selection.

Risk control is pursued at three levels:

1.  Portfolio structure.  In structuring the portfolio, the Advisor carefully
    considers such factors as position sizes, duration, benchmark
    characteristics, and the use of illiquid securities.
2.  Credit research. Proactive credit research is used to identify issues which
    the Advisor believes will be candidates for credit upgrade.  This research
    includes visiting company management, establishing appropriate values for
    credit ratings, and monitoring yield spread relationships.
3.  Portfolio monitoring. Portfolio fundamentals are re-evaluated continuously,
    and buy/sell targets are established and generally adhered to.






                           INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

         Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., 411 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee,
Wisconsin 53202, have been selected as the independent accountants for the
Fund, providing audit services and assistance and consultation with respect to
the preparation of filings with the SEC.

                                 LEGAL COUNSEL

         Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.,  780 North Water Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
53202, acts as outside legal counsel for the Fund.





                                       28
<PAGE>   216

                                    APPENDIX

                                  BOND RATINGS

                         STANDARD & POOR'S DEBT RATINGS

         A Standard & Poor's corporate or municipal debt rating is a current
assessment of the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific
obligation.  This assessment may take into consideration obligors such as
guarantors, insurers, or lessees.

         The debt rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell, or hold a
security, inasmuch as it does not comment as to market price or suitability for
a particular investor.

         The ratings are based on current information furnished by the issuer
or obtained by S&P from other sources it considers reliable.  S&P does not
perform an audit in connection with any rating and may, on occasion, rely on
unaudited financial information.  The ratings may be changed, suspended, or
withdrawn as a result of changes in, or unavailability of, such information, or
for other circumstances.

         The ratings are based, in varying degrees,
on the following considerations:

                 1.  Likelihood of default -- capacity and willingness of the
                     obligor as to the timely payment of interest and repayment
                     of principal in accordance with the terms of the
                     obligation.

                 2.  Nature of and provisions of the obligation.

                 3.  Protection afforded by, and relative position of, the
                     obligation in the event of bankruptcy, reorganization, or
                     other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other
                     laws affecting creditors' rights.

INVESTMENT GRADE
         AAA Debt rated 'AAA' has the highest rating assigned by Standard &
Poor's.  Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.

         AA Debt rated 'AA' has a very strong capacity to pay interest and
repay principal and differs from the highest rated issues only in small degree.

         A Debt rated 'A' has a strong capacity to pay interest and repay
principal although it is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of
changes in circumstances and economic conditions than debt in higher rated
categories.

         BBB Debt rated 'BBB' is regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay
interest and repay principal.  Whereas it normally exhibits adequate protection
parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more
likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for
debt in this category than in higher rated categories.

SPECULATIVE GRADE
         Debt rated 'BB', 'B', 'CCC', 'CC' and 'C' is regarded as having
predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay
interest and repay principal.  'BB' indicates the least degree of speculation
and 'C' the highest.  While such debt will likely have some quality and
protective characteristics, these are outweighed by large uncertainties or
major risk exposures to adverse conditions.

         BB Debt rated 'BB' has less near-term vulnerability to default than
other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or
exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could
lead to inadequate capacity to meet timely interest and principal payments.
The 'BB' rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that
is assigned an actual or implied 'BBB-' rating.





                                      A-1
<PAGE>   217


         B Debt rated 'B' has a greater vulnerability to default but currently
has the capacity to meet interest payments and principal repayments.  Adverse
business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair capacity or
willingness to pay interest and repay principal.  The 'B' rating category is
also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or
implied 'BB' or 'BB-' rating.

         CCC Debt rated 'CCC' has a currently identifiable vulnerability to
default, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic
conditions to meet timely payment of interest and repayment of principal.  In
the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, it is not
likely to have the capacity to pay interest and repay principal.  The 'CCC'
rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is
assigned an actual or implied 'B' or 'B-' rating.

         CC Debt rated 'CC' typically is applied to debt subordinated to senior
debt that is assigned an actual or implied 'CCC' rating.

         C  Debt rated 'C' typically is applied to debt subordinated to senior
debt which is assigned an actual or implied 'CCC-' debt rating.  The 'C' rating
may be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy petition has been filed,
but debt service payments are continued.

         CI The rating 'CI' is reserved for income bonds on which no interest
is being paid.

         D  Debt rated 'D' is in payment default.  The 'D' rating category is
used when interest payments or principal payments are not made on the date due
even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless S&P believes that
such payments will be made during such grade period.  The 'D' rating also will
be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition if debt service payments are
jeopardized.


                         MOODY'S LONG-TERM DEBT RATINGS

         Aaa  - Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality.
They carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to
as "gilt edged".  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 risk appear somewhat larger than in Aaa
securities.

         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 some time 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 length of time.  Such Bonds lack outstanding
investment characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as
well.

         Ba - Bonds which are rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements;
their future cannot be considered as well-assured. Often the protection of
interest and principal payments may be very moderate, and thereby not well
safeguarded during both good and bad times over the future.  Uncertainty of
position characterizes Bonds in this class.

         B - Bonds which are rated B generally lack characteristics of the
desirable investment.  Assurance of interest and principal payments or of
maintenance of other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be
small.





                                      A-2
<PAGE>   218


         Caa - Bonds which are rated Caa are of poor standing.  Such issues may
be in default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to
principal or interest.

         Ca - Bonds which are rated Ca represent obligations which are
speculative in a high degree.  Such issues are often in default or have other
marked shortcomings.

         C - Bonds which are rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds, and
issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever
attaining any real investment standing.


                   FITCH INVESTORS SERVICE, INC. BOND RATINGS

         Fitch investment grade bond ratings provide a guide to investors in
determining the credit risk associated with a particular security.  The ratings
represent Fitch's assessment of the issuer's ability to meet the obligations of
a specific debt issue or class of debt in a timely manner.

         The rating takes into consideration special features of the issue, its
relationship to other obligations of the issuer, the current and prospective
financial condition and operating performance of the issuer and any guarantor,
as well as the economic and political environment that might affect the
issuer's future financial strength and credit quality.

         Fitch ratings do not reflect any credit enhancement that may be
provided by insurance policies or financial guaranties unless otherwise
indicated.

         Bonds that have the same rating are of similar but not necessarily
identical credit quality since the rating categories do not fully reflect small
differences in the degrees of credit risk.

         Fitch ratings are not recommendations to buy, sell, or hold any
security.  Ratings do not comment on the adequacy of market price, the
suitability of any security for a particular investor, or the tax-exempt nature
or taxability of payments made in respect of any security.

         Fitch ratings are based on information obtained from issuers, other
obligors, underwriters, their experts, and other sources Fitch believes to be
reliable.  Fitch does not audit or verify the truth or accuracy of such
information.  Ratings may be changed, suspended, or withdrawn as a result of
changes in, or the unavailability of, information or for other reasons.

          AAA    Bonds considered to be investment grade and of the highest
                 credit quality.  The obligor has an exceptionally strong
                 ability to pay interest and repay principal, which is unlikely
                 to be affected by reasonably foreseeable events.

           AA    Bonds considered to be investment grade and of very high
                 credit quality.  The obligor's ability to pay interest and
                 repay principal is very strong, although not quite as strong
                 as bonds rated 'AAA'.  Because bonds rated in the 'AAA'  and
                 'AA' categories are not significantly vulnerable to
                 foreseeable future developments, short-term debt of the
                 issuers is generally rated 'F-1+'.

            A    Bonds considered to be investment grade and of high credit
                 quality.  The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay
                 principal is considered to be strong, but may be more
                 vulnerable to adverse changes in economic conditions and
                 circumstances than bonds with higher ratings.

          BBB    Bonds considered to be investment grade and of satisfactory
                 credit quality.  The obligor's ability to pay interest and
                 repay principal is considered to be adequate.  Adverse changes
                 in economic conditions and circumstances, however, are more
                 likely to have adverse impact on these bonds, and therefore
                 impair timely payment.  The likelihood that the ratings of
                 these bonds will fall below investment grade is higher than
                 for bonds with higher ratings.





                                      A-3
<PAGE>   219


         Fitch speculative grade bond ratings provide a guide to investors in
determining the credit risk associated with a particular security.  The ratings
('BB' to 'C') represent Fitch's assessment of the likelihood of timely payment
of principal and interest in accordance with the terms of obligation for bond
issues not in default.  For defaulted bonds, the rating ('DDD' to 'D') is an
assessment of the ultimate recovery value through reorganization or
liquidation.

         The rating takes into consideration special features of the issue, its
relationship to other obligations of the issuer, the current and prospective
financial condition and operating performance of the issuer and any guarantor,
as well as the economic and political environment that might affect the
issuer's future financial strength.

         Bonds that have the same rating are of similar but not necessarily
identical credit quality since the rating categories cannot fully reflect the
differences in the degrees of credit risk.  Moreover, the character of the risk
factor varies from industry to industry and between corporate, health care and
municipal obligations.


           BB    Bonds are considered speculative.  The obligor's ability to
                 pay interest and repay principal may be affected over time by
                 adverse economic changes.  However, business and financial
                 alternatives can be identified which could assist the obligor
                 in satisfying its debt service requirements.

            B    Bonds are considered highly speculative.  While bonds in this
                 class are currently meeting debt service requirements, the
                 probability of continued timely payment of principal and
                 interest reflects the obligor's limited margin of safety and
                 the need for reasonable business and economic activity
                 throughout the life of the issue.

          CCC    Bonds have certain identifiable characteristics which, if not
                 remedied, may lead to default.  The ability to meet
                 obligations requires an advantageous business and economic
                 environment.

           CC    Bonds are minimally protected.  Default in payment of interest
                 and/or principal seems probable over time.

            C    Bonds are in imminent default in payment of interest or
                 principal.

         DDD, DD,
         and  D  Bonds are in default on interest and/or principal payments.
                 Such bonds are extremely speculative and should be valued on
                 the basis of their ultimate recovery value in liquidation or
                 reorganization of the obligor.  'DDD' represents the highest
                 potential for recovery of these bonds, and 'D' represents the
                 lowest potential for recovery.


                   DUFF & PHELPS, INC. LONG-TERM DEBT RATINGS

         These ratings represent a summary opinion of the issuer's long-term
fundamental quality.  Rating determination is based on qualitative and
quantitative factors which may vary according to the basic economic and
financial characteristics of each industry and each issuer.  Important
considerations are vulnerability to economic cycles as well as risks related to
such factors as competition, government action, regulation, technological
obsolescence, demand shifts, cost structure, and management depth and
expertise.  The projected viability of the obligor at the trough of the cycle
is a critical determination.

         Each rating also takes into account the legal form of the security,
(e.g., first mortgage bonds, subordinated debt, preferred stock, etc.).  The
extent of rating dispersion among the various classes of securities is
determined by several factors including relative weightings of the different
security classes in the capital structure, the overall credit strength of the
issuer, and the nature of covenant protection.  Review of indenture
restrictions is important to the analysis of a company's operating and
financial constraints.

         The Credit Rating Committee formally reviews all ratings once per
quarter (more frequently, if necessary).   Ratings of 'BBB-' and higher fall
within the definition of investment grade securities, as defined by bank and
insurance supervisory authorities.





                                      A-4
<PAGE>   220

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
RATING SCALE              DEFINITION
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                      <C>
AAA                       Highest credit quality.  The risk factors are negligible, being only slightly more
                          than for risk-free U.S. Treasury debt.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AA+                       High credit quality.  Protection factors are strong.  Risk is modest, but may
AA                        vary slightly from time to time because of economic conditions.
AA-
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A+                        Protection factors are average but adequate.  However, risk factors are more
A                         variable and greater in periods of economic stress.
A-
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BBB+                      Below average protection factors but still considered sufficient for prudent
BBB                       investment.  Considerable variability in risk during economic cycles.
BBB-
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BB+                       Below investment grade but deemed likely to meet obligations when due.
BB                        Present or prospective financial protection factors fluctuate according to
BB-                       industry conditions or company fortunes.  Overall quality may move up or
                          down frequently within this category.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B+                        Below investment grade and possessing risk that obligations will not be met
B                         when due.  Financial protection factors will fluctuate widely according to
B-                        economic cycles, industry conditions and/or company fortunes.  Potential
                          exists for frequent changes in the rating within this category or into a higher
                          or lower rating grade.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CCC                       Well below investment grade securities.  Considerable uncertainty exists as to timely payment of 
                          principal, interest or preferred dividends.
                          Protection factors are narrow and risk can be substantial with unfavorable
                          economic/industry conditions, and/or with unfavorable company developments.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DD                        Defaulted debt obligations.  Issuer failed to meet scheduled principal and/or
                          interest payments.
DP                        Preferred stock with dividend arrearages.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>




                                      A-5
<PAGE>   221

                               SHORT-TERM RATINGS

                   STANDARD & POOR'S COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS

         A Standard & Poor's commercial paper rating is a current assessment of
the likelihood of timely payment of debt considered short-term in the relevant
market.

         Ratings graded into several categories, ranging from 'A-1' for the
highest quality obligations to 'D' for the lowest.  These categories are as
follows:

         A-1 This highest category indicates that the degree of safety
regarding timely payment is strong.  Those issues determined to possess
extremely strong safety characteristics are denoted with a plus sign (+)
designation.

         A-2 Capacity for timely payment on issues with this designation is
satisfactory.  However, the relative degree of safety is not as high as for
issues designated 'A-1'.

         A-3 Issues carrying this designation have adequate capacity for timely
payment.  They are, however, more vulnerable to the adverse effects of changes
in circumstances than obligations carrying the higher designations.

         B Issues rated 'B' are regarded as having only speculative capacity
for timely payment.

         C This rating is assigned to short-term debt obligations with doubtful
capacity for payment.

         D Debt rated 'D' is in payment default.  The 'D' rating category is
used when interest payments or principal payments are not made on the date due,
even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless S&P believes that
such payments will be made during such grace period.

                         STANDARD & POOR'S NOTE RATINGS

         A S&P note rating reflects the liquidity factors and market-access
risks unique to notes.  Notes maturing in three years or less  will likely
receive a note rating.  Notes maturing beyond three years will most likely
receive a long-term debt rating.

         The following criteria will be used in making the assessment:

                 Amortization schedule - the larger the final maturity relative
                 to other maturities, the more likely the issue is to be
                 treated as a note.

                 Source of payment - the more the issue depends on the market
                 for its refinancing, the more likely it is to be considered a
                 note.

         The note rating symbols and definitions are as follows:

         SP-1 Strong capacity to pay principal and interest.  Issues determined
to possess very strong characteristics are given a plus (+) designation.

         SP-2 Satisfactory capacity to pay interest and principal, with some
vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the
notes.

         SP-3 Speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.





                                      A-6
<PAGE>   222

                        MOODY'S COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS

         The term "commercial paper" as used by Moody's means promissory
obligations not having an original maturity in excess of nine months.  Moody's
makes no representation as to whether such commercial paper is by any other
definition "commercial paper" or is exempt from registration under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

         Moody's commercial paper ratings are opinions of the ability of
issuers to repay punctually promissory obligations not having an original
maturity in excess of nine months.  Moody's makes no representation that such
obligations are exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, nor
does it represent that any specific note is a valid obligation of a rated
issuer or issued in conformity with any applicable law.  Moody's employs the
following three designations, all judged to be investment grade, to indicate
the relative repayment capacity of rated issuers:

         Issuers rated PRIME-1 (for related supporting institutions) have a
superior capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations.  Prime-1
repayment capacity will normally be evidenced by the following characteristics:
(i) leading market positions in well established industries, (ii) high rates of
return on funds employed, (iii) conservative capitalization structures with
moderate reliance on debt and ample asset protection, (iv) broad margins in
earnings coverage of fixed financial charges and high internal cash generation,
and (v) well established access to a range of financial markets and assured
sources of alternate liquidity.

         Issuers rated PRIME-2 (or related supporting institutions) have a
strong capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations.  This will
normally be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above, but to a
lesser degree. Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, will be more
subject to variation.  Capitalization characteristics, while still appropriate,
may be more affected by external conditions.  Ample alternate liquidity is
maintained.

         Issuers rated PRIME-3 (or related supporting institutions) have an
acceptable capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations.  The
effect of industry characteristics and market composition may be more
pronounced.  Variability in earnings and profitability may result in changes in
the level of debt protection measurements and the requirement for relatively
high financial leverage.  Adequate alternate liquidity is maintained.

         Issuers rated NOT PRIME do not fall within any of the Prime rating
categories.


                FITCH INVESTORS SERVICE, INC. SHORT-TERM RATINGS

         Fitch's short-term ratings apply to debt obligations that are payable
on demand or have original maturities of generally up to three years, including
commercial paper, certificates of deposit, medium-term notes, and municipal and
investment notes.

         The short-term rating places greater emphasis than a long-term rating
on the existence of liquidity necessary to meet the issuer's obligations in a
timely manner.

         F-1+    (Exceptionally Strong Credit Quality) Issues assigned this
                 rating are regarded as having the strongest degree of
                 assurance for timely payment.

         F-1     (Very Strong Credit Quality) Issues assigned this rating
                 reflect an assurance of timely payment only slightly less in
                 degree than issues rated 'F-1+'.

         F-2     (Good Credit Quality) Issues assigned this rating have a
                 satisfactory degree of assurance for timely payment but the
                 margin of safety is not as great as for issues assigned 'F-1+'
                 and 'F-1' ratings.

         F-3     (Fair Credit Quality) Issues assigned this rating have
                 characteristics suggesting that the degree of assurance for
                 timely payment is adequate, however, near-term adverse changes
                 could cause these securities to be rated below investment
                 grade.





                                      A-7
<PAGE>   223


         F-S     (Weak Credit Quality) Issues assigned this rating have
                 characteristics suggesting a minimal degree of assurance for
                 timely payment and are vulnerable to near-term adverse changes
                 in financial and economic conditions.

         D       (Default) Issues assigned this rating are in actual or
                 imminent payment default.

         LOC     The symbol LOC indicates that the rating is based on a letter
                 of credit issued by a commercial bank.


                              MOODY'S NOTE RATINGS

         MIG 1/VMIG 1  This designation denotes best quality.  There is present
strong protection by established cash flows, superior liquidity support or
demonstrated broad based access to the market for refinancing.

         MIG 2/VMIG 2  This designation denotes high quality.  Margins of
protection are ample although not so large as in the preceding group.

         MIG 3/VMIG 3  This designation denotes favorable quality.  All
security elements are accounted for but there is lacking the undeniable
strength of the preceding grades.  Liquidity and cash flow protection may be
narrow and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well established.

         MIG 4/VMIG 4  This designation denotes adequate quality.  Protection
commonly regarded as required of an investment security is present and although
not distinctly or predominantly speculative, there is specific risk.

         SG  This designation denotes speculative quality.  Debt instruments in
this category lack margins of protection.



                  DUFF & PHELPS, INC. SHORT-TERM DEBT RATINGS

         Duff & Phelps' short-term ratings are consistent with the rating
criteria utilized by money market participants.  The ratings apply to all
obligations with maturities of under one year, including commercial paper, the
uninsured portion of certificates of deposit, unsecured bank loans, master
notes, bankers acceptances, irrevocable letters of credit, and current
maturities of long-term debt.  Asset-backed commercial paper is also rated
according to this scale.

         Emphasis is placed on liquidity which we define as not only cash from
operations, but also access to alternative sources of funds including trade
credit, bank lines, and the capital markets.  An important consideration is the
level of an obligor's reliance on short-term funds on an ongoing basis.

         Rating Scale:    Definition

         Duff 1+          Highest certainty of timely payment.  Short-term
                          liquidity, including internal operating factors
                          and/or access to alternative sources of funds, is
                          outstanding, and safety is just below risk-free U.S.
                          Treasury short-term obligations.

         Duff 1           Very high certainty of timely payment.  Liquidity
                          factors are excellent and supported by good
                          fundamental protection factors.  Risk factors are
                          minor.

         Duff 1-          High certainty of timely payment.  Liquidity factors
                          are strong and supported by good fundamental
                          protection factors.  Risk factors are very small.





                                      A-8
<PAGE>   224

                          Good Grade

         Duff 2           Good certainty of timely payment.  Liquidity factors
                          and company fundamentals are sound.  Although ongoing
                          funding needs may enlarge total financing
                          requirements, access to capital markets is good.
                          Risk factors are small.

                          Satisfactory Grade

         Duff 3           Satisfactory liquidity and other protection factors
                          qualify issue as to investment grade.  Risk factors
                          are larger and subject to more variation.
                          Nevertheless, timely payment is expected.

                          Non-investment Grade

         Duff 4           Speculative investment characteristics.  Liquidity is
                          not sufficient to insure against disruption in debt
                          service.  Operating factors and market access may be
                          subject to a high degree of variation.

                          Default
                                

         Duff 5           Issuer failed to meet scheduled principal and/or
                          interest payments.





                                      A-9
<PAGE>   225


                      STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION



                             STRONG GROWTH FUND II
                                 P.O. Box 2936
                          Milwaukee, Wisconsin  53201
                           Telephone:  1-414-359-1400
                           Toll-Free:  1-800-368-3863


   
         Strong Growth Fund II (the "Fund") is a diversified series of the
Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc. (the "Corporation"), an open-end
management investment company designed to provide an investment vehicle for
variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts of certain insurance
companies.  Shares in the Fund are only offered and sold to the separate
accounts of such insurance companies.  The Fund is described herein and in the
Prospectus for the Fund dated July 14, 1995.
    

   
         This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus and
should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus for the Fund dated July 14,
1995 and the prospectus for the separate account of the specific insurance
product.  Requests for copies of the Fund's Prospectus may be made by writing
to the Fund, P.O. Box 2936, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201, Attention:  Corporate
Secretary; or by calling one of the numbers listed above.
    




   
        This Statement of Additional Information is dated July 14, 1995.
    





<PAGE>   226

                             STRONG GROWTH FUND II

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TABLE OF CONTENTS                                                                                          PAGE
<S>                                                                                                        <C>
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .           3
INVESTMENT POLICIES AND TECHNIQUES  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .           5
      Derivative Instruments  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .           5
      Short Sales Against the Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          11
      Lending of Portfolio Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          11
      Warrants  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          11
      Debt Obligations  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          11
      High-Yield (High-Risk) Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          12
      Zero-Coupon, Step-Coupon and Pay-in-Kind Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          14
      Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          14
      When-Issued Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          15
      Illiquid Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          15
      Depositary Receipts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          16
      Foreign Investment Companies  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          16
      Repurchase Agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          16
      Borrowing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          17
      Mortgage Dollar Rolls and Reverse Repurchase Agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          17
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          17
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          20
INVESTMENT ADVISOR AND DISTRIBUTOR  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          20
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          21
CUSTODIAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          23
TRANSFER AGENT AND DIVIDEND-DISBURSING AGENT  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          23
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          23
TAXES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          24
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          26
FUND ORGANIZATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          26
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          27
GENERAL INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          31
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          32
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          33
LEGAL COUNSEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          33
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          34
APPENDIX  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         A-1
</TABLE>
    

                        ------------------------------

   
         No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any
representations other than those contained in this Statement of Additional
Information and the Prospectus dated July 14, 1995 and, if given or made, such
information or representations may not be relied upon as having been authorized
by the Fund.
    

   This Statement of Additional Information does not constitute an offer to sell
                                  securities.





                                       2
<PAGE>   227

                            INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

         The investment objective of the Fund is to seek capital growth.  The
Fund's investment objective and policies are described in detail in the
Prospectus under the caption "Investment Objective and Policies."  The
following are the Fund's fundamental investment limitations which cannot be
changed without shareholder approval.

The Fund:

1.       May not with respect to 75% of its total assets, purchase the
         securities of any issuer (except securities issued or guaranteed by
         the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities) if, as a
         result, (i) more than 5% of the Fund's total assets would be invested
         in the securities of that issuer, or (ii) the Fund would hold more
         than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of that issuer.

2.       May (i) borrow money from banks and (ii) make other investments or
         engage in other transactions permissible under the Investment Company
         Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act") which may involve a borrowing, provided
         that the combination of  (i) and (ii) shall not exceed 33 1/3% of the
         value of the Fund's total assets (including the  amount borrowed),
         less the Fund's liabilities (other than borrowings), except that the
         Fund may borrow up to an additional 5% of its total assets (not
         including the amount borrowed) from a bank for temporary or emergency
         purposes (but not for leverage or the purchase of investments).  The
         Fund may also borrow money from the other Strong Funds or other
         persons to the extent permitted by applicable law.

3.       May not issue senior securities, except as permitted under the 1940
         Act.

4.       May not act as an underwriter of another issuer's securities, except
         to the extent that the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter within
         the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 in connection with the
         purchase and sale of portfolio securities.

5.       May not purchase or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a
         result of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall
         not prevent the Fund from purchasing or selling options, futures
         contracts, or other derivative instruments, or from investing in
         securities or other instruments backed by physical commodities).

6.       May not make loans if, as a result, more than 33 1/3% of the Fund's
         total assets would be lent to other persons, except through (i)
         purchases of debt securities or other debt instruments, or (ii)
         engaging in repurchase agreements.

7.       May not purchase the securities of any issuer if, as a result, more
         than 25% of the Fund's total assets would be invested in the
         securities of issuers, the principal business activities of which are
         in the same industry.

8.       May not purchase or sell real estate unless acquired as a result of
         ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not
         prohibit the Fund from purchasing or selling securities or other
         instruments backed by real estate or of issuers engaged in real estate
         activities).

9.       May, notwithstanding any other fundamental investment policy or
         restriction, invest all of its assets in the securities of a single
         open-end management investment company with substantially the same
         fundamental investment objective, policies, and restrictions as the
         Fund.





                                       3
<PAGE>   228

The following are the Fund's non-fundamental operating policies which may be
changed by the Board of Directors of the Corporation without shareholder
approval.

The Fund may not:

1.       Sell securities short, unless the Fund owns or has the right to obtain
         securities equivalent in kind and amount to the securities sold short,
         or unless it covers such short sale as required by the current rules
         and positions of the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff,
         and provided that transactions in options, futures contracts, options
         on futures contracts, or other derivative instruments are not deemed
         to constitute selling securities short.

2.       Purchase securities on margin, except that the Fund may obtain such
         short-term credits as are necessary for the clearance of transactions;
         and provided that margin deposits in connection with futures
         contracts, options on futures contracts, or other derivative
         instruments shall not constitute purchasing securities on margin.

3.       Invest in illiquid securities if, as a result of such investment, more
         than 15% of its net assets would be invested in illiquid securities,
         or such other amounts as may be permitted under the 1940 Act.

4.       Purchase securities of other investment companies except in compliance
         with the 1940 Act and applicable state law.

5.       Invest all of its assets in the securities of a single open-end
         investment management company with substantially the same fundamental
         investment objective, restrictions and policies as the Fund.

6.       Purchase the securities of any issuer (other than securities issued or
         guaranteed by domestic or foreign governments or political
         subdivisions thereof) if, as a result, more than 5% of its total
         assets would be invested in the securities of issuers that, including
         predecessor or unconditional guarantors, have a record of less than
         three years of continuous operation.  This policy does not apply to
         securities of pooled investment vehicles or mortgage or asset-backed
         securities.

7.       Invest in direct interests in oil, gas, or other mineral exploration
         programs or leases; however, the Fund may invest in the securities of
         issuers that engage in these activities.

8.       Engage in futures or options on futures transactions which are
         impermissible pursuant to Rule 4.5 under the Commodity Exchange Act
         and, in accordance with Rule 4.5, will use futures or options on
         futures transactions solely for bona fide hedging transactions (within
         the meaning of the Commodity Exchange Act), provided, however, that
         the Fund may, in addition to bona fide hedging transactions, use
         futures and options on futures transactions if the aggregate initial
         margin and premiums required to establish such positions, less the
         amount by which any such options positions are in the money (within
         the meaning of the Commodity Exchange Act), do not exceed 5% of the
         Fund's net assets.

         In addition, (i) the aggregate value of securities underlying call
         options on securities written by the Fund or obligations underlying
         put options on securities written by the Fund determined as of the
         date the options are written will not exceed 50% of the Fund's net
         assets; (ii) the aggregate premiums paid on all options purchased by
         the Fund and which are being held will not exceed 20% of the Fund's
         net assets; (iii) the Fund will not purchase put or call options,
         other than hedging positions, if, as a result thereof, more than 5% of
         its total assets would be so invested; and (iv) the aggregate margin
         deposits required on all futures and options on futures transactions
         being held will not exceed 5% of the Fund's total assets.

9.       Pledge, mortgage or hypothecate any assets owned by the Fund except as
         may be necessary in connection with permissible borrowings or
         investments and then such pledging, mortgaging, or hypothecating may
         not exceed 33 1/3% of the Fund's total assets at the time of the
         borrowing or investment.

10.      Purchase or retain the securities of any issuer if any officer or
         director of the Fund or its investment advisor beneficially owns more
         than 1/2 of 1% of the securities of such issuer and such officers and
         directors together own beneficially more than 5% of the securities of
         such issuer.





                                       4
<PAGE>   229


11.      Purchase warrants, valued at the lower of cost or market value, in
         excess of 5% of the Fund's net assets.  Included in that amount, but
         not to exceed 2% of the Fund's net assets, may be warrants that are
         not listed on any stock exchange.  Warrants acquired by the Fund in
         units or attached to securities are not subject to these restrictions.

12.      Borrow money except (i) from banks or (ii) through reverse repurchase
         agreements or mortgage dollar rolls, and will not purchase securities
         when bank borrowings exceed 5% of its total assets.

13.      Make any loans other than loans of portfolio securities, except
         through (i) purchases of debt securities or other debt instruments, or
         (ii) engaging in repurchase agreements.

         Except for the fundamental investment limitations listed above and the
Fund's investment objective, the other investment policies described in the
Prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information are not fundamental and
may be changed with approval of the Corporation's Board of Directors.

                       INVESTMENT POLICIES AND TECHNIQUES

         The following information supplements the discussion of the Fund's
investment objective, policies, and techniques that are described in detail in
the Prospectus under the captions "Investment Objective and Policies" and
"Implementation of Policies and Risks."

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

         GENERAL DESCRIPTION.  As discussed in the Prospectus, the Advisor may
use a variety of derivative instruments, including options, futures contracts
(sometimes referred to as "futures"), options on futures contracts, and forward
currency contracts for any lawful purpose, such as to hedge the Fund's
portfolio, risk management, or to attempt to enhance returns.

         The use of these instruments is subject to applicable regulations of
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), the several options and
futures exchanges upon which they may be traded, the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission ("CFTC") and various state regulatory authorities.  In addition, the
Fund's ability to use these instruments will be limited by tax considerations.

         In addition to the products, strategies and risks described below and
in the Prospectus, the Advisor expects to discover additional derivative
instruments and other hedging techniques.  These new opportunities may become
available as the Advisor develops new techniques or as regulatory authorities
broaden the range of permitted transactions.  The Advisor may utilize these
opportunities to the extent that they are consistent with the Fund's investment
objective and permitted by the Fund's investment limitations and applicable
regulatory authorities.

         SPECIAL RISKS OF THESE INSTRUMENTS.  The use of derivative instruments
involves special considerations and risks as described below.  Risks pertaining
to particular instruments are described in the sections that follow.

         (1)     Successful use of most of these instruments depends upon the
Advisor's ability to predict movements of the overall securities and currency
markets, which requires different skills than predicting changes in the prices
of individual securities.  While the Advisor is experienced in the use of these
instruments, there can be no assurance that any particular strategy adopted
will succeed.

         (2)     There might be imperfect correlation, or even no correlation,
between price movements of an instrument and price movements of investments
being hedged.  For example, if the value of an instrument used in a short hedge
(such as writing a call option, buying a put option, or selling a futures
contract) increased by less than the decline in value of the hedged investment,
the hedge would not be fully successful.  Such a lack of correlation might
occur due to factors unrelated to the value of the investments being hedged,
such as speculative or other pressures on the markets in which these
instruments are traded.  The effectiveness of hedges using instruments on
indices will depend on the degree of correlation between price movements in the
index and price movements in the investments being hedged.





                                       5
<PAGE>   230


         (3)     Hedging strategies, if successful, can reduce risk of loss by
wholly or partially offsetting the negative effect of unfavorable price
movements in the investments being hedged.  However, hedging strategies can
also reduce opportunity for gain by offsetting the positive effect of favorable
price movements in the hedged investments.  For example, if the Fund entered
into a short hedge because the Advisor projected a decline in the price of a
security in the Fund's portfolio, and the price of that security increased
instead, the gain from that increase might be wholly or partially offset by a
decline in the price of the instrument.  Moreover, if the price of the
instrument declined by more than the increase in the price of the security, the
Fund could suffer a loss.

         (4)     As described below, the Fund might be required to maintain
assets as "cover," maintain segregated accounts, or make margin payments when
it takes positions in these instruments involving obligations to third parties
(i.e., instruments other than purchased options).  If the Fund were unable to
close out its positions in such instruments, it might be required to continue
to maintain such assets or accounts or make such payments until the position
expired or matured.  The requirements might impair the Fund's ability to sell a
portfolio security or make an investment at a time when it would otherwise be
favorable to do so, or require that the Fund sell a portfolio security at a
disadvantageous time.  The Fund's ability to close out a position in an
instrument prior to expiration or maturity depends on the existence of a liquid
secondary market or, in the absence of such a market, the ability and
willingness of the other party to the transaction ("counter party") to enter
into a transaction closing out the position.  Therefore, there is no assurance
that any hedging position can be closed out at a time and price that is
favorable to the Fund.

         For a discussion of the federal income tax treatment of the Fund's
derivative instruments, see "Taxes -- Derivative Instruments" below.

         GENERAL LIMITATIONS ON CERTAIN DERIVATIVE TRANSACTIONS.  The Fund has
filed a notice of eligibility for exclusion from the definition of the term
"commodity pool operator" with the CFTC and the National Futures Association,
which regulate trading in the futures markets.  Pursuant to Rule 4.5 of the
regulations under the Commodity Exchange Act (the "CEA"), the notice of
eligibility includes representations that the Fund will use futures contracts
and related options solely for bona fide hedging purposes within the meaning of
CFTC regulations, provided that the Fund may hold other positions in futures
contracts and related options that do not qualify as a bona fide hedging
position if the aggregate initial margin deposits and premiums required to
establish these positions, less the amount by which any such options positions
are "in the money," do not exceed 5% of the Fund's net assets.  Adoption of
these guidelines does not limit the percentage of the Fund's assets at risk to
5%.

         In addition, (i) the aggregate value of securities underlying call
options on securities written by the Fund or obligations underlying put options
on securities written by the Fund determined as of the date the options are
written will not exceed 50% of the Fund's net assets; (ii) the aggregate
premiums paid on all options purchased by the Fund and which are being held
will not exceed 20% of the Fund's net assets; (iii) the Fund will not purchase
put or call options, other than hedging positions, if, as a result thereof,
more than 5% of its total assets would be so invested; and (iv) the aggregate
margin deposits required on all futures and options on futures transactions
being held will not exceed 5% of the Fund's total assets.

         The foregoing limitations are not fundamental policies of the Fund and
may be changed by the Corporation's Board of Directors without shareholder
approval as regulatory agencies permit.

         Transactions using options (other than purchased options) expose the
Fund to counter-party risk.  To the extent required by SEC guidelines, the Fund
will not enter into any such transactions unless it owns either (1) an
offsetting ("covered") position in securities, other options, or futures or (2)
cash and liquid high grade debt securities with a value sufficient at all times
to cover its potential obligations to the extent not covered as provided in (1)
above.  The Fund will also set aside cash and/or appropriate liquid assets in a
segregated custodial account if required to do so by the SEC and CFTC
regulations.  Assets used as cover or held in a segregated account cannot be
sold while the position in the corresponding option or futures contract is
open, unless they are replaced with similar assets.  As a result, the
commitment of a large portion of the Fund's assets to segregated accounts as a
cover could impede portfolio management or the Fund's ability to meet
redemption requests or other current obligations.





                                       6
<PAGE>   231


         OPTIONS.  The Fund may purchase and write put and call options on
securities, on indices of securities, and foreign currency, and enter into
closing transactions with respect to such options to terminate an existing
position.  The purchase of call options serves as a long hedge, and the
purchase of put options serves as a short hedge.  Writing put or call
options can enable the Fund to enhance income by reason of the premiums paid by
the purchaser of such options.  Writing call options serves as a limited short
hedge because declines in the value of the hedged investment would be offset to
the extent of the premium received for writing the option.  However, if the
security appreciates to a price higher than the exercise price of the call
option, it can be expected that the option will be exercised and the Fund will
be obligated to sell the security at less than its market value or will be
obligated to purchase the security at a price greater than that at which the
security must be sold under the option.  All or a portion of any assets used as
cover for over-the-counter ("OTC") options written by the Fund would be
considered illiquid to the extent described under "Investment Policies and
Techniques--Illiquid Securities."  Writing put options serves as a limited long
hedge because increases in the value of the hedged investment would be offset
to the extent of the premium received for writing the option.  However, if the
security depreciates to a price lower than the exercise price of the put
option, it can be expected that the put option will be exercised and the Fund
will be obligated to purchase the security at more than its market value.

         The value of an option position will reflect, among other things, the
historical price volatility of the underlying investment, the current market
value of the underlying investment, the time remaining until expiration, the
relationship of the exercise price to the market price of the underlying
investment, and general market conditions.  Options that expire unexercised     
have no value.  Options used by the Fund may include European-style options. 
This means that the option is only exercisable at its expiration.  This is in
contrast to American-style options which are exercisable at any time prior to
the expiration date of the option.  

         The Fund may effectively terminate its right or obligation under an
option by entering into a closing transaction.  For example, the Fund may
terminate its obligation under a call or put option that it had written by
purchasing an identical call or put option; this is known as a closing purchase
transaction.  Conversely, the Fund may terminate a position in a put or call
option it had purchased by writing an identical put or call option; this is
known as a closing sale transaction.  Closing transactions permit the Fund to
realize the profit or limit the loss on an option position prior to its
exercise or expiration.

         The Fund may purchase or write both exchange-traded and OTC options.
Exchange-traded options are issued by a clearing organization affiliated with
the exchange on which the option is listed that, in effect, guarantees
completion of every exchange-traded option transaction.  OTC options are
contracts between the Fund and the other party to the transaction ("counter
party") (usually a securities dealer or a bank) with no clearing organization
guarantee.  Thus, when the Fund purchases or writes an OTC option, it relies on
the counter party to make or take delivery of the underlying investment upon
exercise of the option.  Failure by the counter party to do so would result in
the loss of any premium paid by the Fund as well as the loss of any expected
benefit of the transaction.

         The Fund's ability to establish and close out positions in
exchange-listed options depends on the existence of a liquid market.  The Fund
intends to purchase or write only those exchange-traded options for which there
appears to be a liquid secondary market.  However, there can be no assurance
that such a market will exist at any, particular time.  Closing transactions
can be made for OTC options only by negotiating directly with the counter
party, or by a transaction in the secondary market if any such market exists.
Although the Fund will enter into OTC options only with counter parties that
are expected to be capable of entering into closing transactions with the Fund,
there is no assurance that the Fund will in fact be able to close out an OTC
option at a favorable price prior to expiration.  In the event of insolvency of
the counter party, the Fund might be unable to close out an OTC option position
at any time prior to its expiration.

         If the Fund were unable to effect a closing transaction for an option
it had purchased, it would have to exercise the option to realize any profit.
The inability to enter into a closing purchase transaction for a covered call
option written by the Fund could cause material losses because the Fund would
be unable to sell the investment used as cover for the written option until the
option expires or is exercised.

         The Fund may engage in options transactions on indices in much the 
same manner as the options on securities discussed above, except the index 
options may serve as a hedge against overall fluctuations in the securities 
markets in general.





                                       7
<PAGE>   232


         The writing and purchasing of options is a highly specialized activity
that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated
with ordinary portfolio securities transactions.  Imperfect correlation between
the options and securities markets may detract from the effectiveness of
attempted hedging.

         SPREAD TRANSACTIONS.  The Fund may purchase covered spread options
from securities dealers.  Such covered spread options are not presently
exchange-listed or exchange-traded.  The purchase of a spread option gives the
Fund the right to put, or sell, a security that it owns at a fixed dollar
spread or fixed yield spread in relationship to another security that the Fund
does not own, but which is used as a benchmark.  The risk to the Fund in
purchasing covered spread options is the cost of the premium paid for the
spread option and any transaction costs.  In addition, there is no assurance
that closing transactions will be available.  The purchase of spread options
will be used to protect the Fund against adverse changes in prevailing credit
quality spreads, i.e., the yield spread between high quality and lower quality
securities.  Such protection is only provided during the life of the spread
option.

         FUTURES CONTRACTS.  The Fund may enter into futures contracts,
including interest rate, index, and foreign currency futures. The Fund may also
purchase put and call options, and write covered put and call options, on
futures in which it is allowed to invest.  The purchase of futures or call
options thereon can serve as a long hedge, and the sale of futures or the
purchase of put options thereon can serve as a short hedge.  Writing covered
call options on futures contracts can serve as a limited short hedge, and
writing covered put options on futures contracts can serve as a limited long
hedge, using a strategy similar to that used for writing covered options in
securities.  The Fund's hedging may include purchases of futures as an offset
against the effect of expected increases in securities prices and currency 
exchange rates and sales of futures as an offset against the effect of
expected declines in securities prices and currency exchange rates.  The Fund's
futures transactions may be entered into for any lawful purpose such as hedging
purposes, risk management, or to enhance returns.  The Fund may also write put
options on futures contracts while at the same time purchasing call options on
the same futures contracts in order to create synthetically a long futures
contract position.  Such options would have the same strike prices and
expiration dates.  The Fund will engage in this strategy only when the Advisor
believes it is more advantageous to the Fund than is purchasing the futures
contract.

         To the extent required by regulatory authorities, the Fund only enters
into futures contracts that are traded on national futures exchanges and are
standardized as to maturity date and underlying financial instrument.  Futures
exchanges and trading are regulated under the CEA by the CFTC.  Although
techniques other than sales and purchases of futures contracts could be used to
reduce the Fund's exposure to market, currency, or interest rate fluctuations,
the Fund may be able to hedge its exposure more effectively and perhaps at a
lower cost through using futures contracts.

         A futures contract provides for the future sale by one party and
purchase by another party of a specified amount of a specific financial
instrument (e.g. debt security) or currency for a specified price at a
designated date, time, and place.  An index futures contract is an agreement
pursuant to which the parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount of
cash equal to the difference between the value of the index at the close of the
last trading day of the contract and the price at which the index futures
contract was originally written.  Transaction costs are incurred when a futures
contract is bought or sold and margin deposits must be maintained.  A futures
contract may be satisfied by delivery or purchase, as the case may be, of the
instrument, the currency, or by payment of the change in the cash value of the
index.  More commonly, futures contracts are closed out prior to delivery by
entering into an offsetting transaction in a matching futures contract.
Although the value of an index might be a function of the value of certain
specified securities, no physical delivery of those securities is made.  If the
offsetting purchase price is less than the original sale price, the Fund
realizes a gain; if it is more, the Fund realizes a loss.  Conversely, if the
offsetting sale price is more than the original purchase price, the Fund
realizes a gain; if it is less, the Fund realizes a loss.  The transaction
costs must also be included in these calculations.  There can be no assurance,
however, that the Fund will be able to enter into an offsetting transaction
with respect to a particular futures contract at a particular time.  If the
Fund is not able to enter into an offsetting transaction, the Fund will
continue to be required to maintain the margin deposits on the futures
contract.

         No price is paid by the Fund upon entering into a futures contract.
Instead, at the inception of a futures contract, the Fund is required to
deposit in a segregated account with its custodian, in the name of the futures
broker through whom the transaction was effected, "initial margin" consisting
of cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid, high grade debt
obligations, in an amount generally equal to 10% or less of the contract value.
Margin must also be deposited when writing a call or put option on a futures
contract, in accordance with applicable exchange rules.  Unlike margin in
securities transactions, initial margin on futures contracts does not represent
a borrowing, but rather is in the nature of a performance bond or good-faith
deposit that is returned to the Fund at the termination of the transaction if
all contractual obligations have been satisfied.  Under certain





                                       8
<PAGE>   233

circumstances, such as periods of high volatility, the Fund may be required by
an exchange to increase the level of its initial margin payment, and initial
margin requirements might be increased generally in the future by regulatory
action.

         Subsequent "variation margin" payments are made to and from the
futures broker daily as the value of the futures position varies, a process
known as "marking to market."  Variation margin does not involve borrowing, but
rather represents a daily settlement of the Fund's obligations to or from a
futures broker.  When the Fund purchases an option on a future, the premium
paid plus transaction costs is all that is at risk.  In contrast, when the Fund
purchases or sells a futures contract or writes a call or put option thereon,
it is subject to daily variation margin calls that could be substantial in the
event of adverse price movements.  If the Fund has insufficient cash to meet
daily variation margin requirements, it might need to sell securities at a time
when such sales are disadvantageous.  Purchasers and sellers of futures
positions and options on futures can enter into offsetting closing transactions
by selling or purchasing, respectively, an instrument identical to the
instrument held or written.  Positions in futures and options on futures may be
closed only on an exchange or board of trade that provides a secondary market.
The Fund intends to enter into futures transactions only on exchanges or boards
of trade where there appears to be a liquid secondary market.  However, there
can be no assurance that such a market will exist for a particular contract at
a particular time.

         Under certain circumstances, futures exchanges may establish daily
limits on the amount that the price of a future or option on a futures contract
can vary from the previous day's settlement price; once that limit is reached,
no trades may be made that day at a price beyond the limit.  Daily price limits
do not limit potential losses because prices could move to the daily limit for
several consecutive days with little or no trading, thereby preventing
liquidation of unfavorable positions.

         If the Fund were unable to liquidate a futures or option on a futures
contract position due to the absence of a liquid secondary market or the
imposition of price limits, it could incur substantial losses.  The Fund would
continue to be subject to market risk with respect to the position.  In
addition, except in the case of purchased options, the Fund would continue to
be required to make daily variation margin payments and might be required to
maintain the position being hedged by the future or option or to maintain cash
or securities in a segregated account.

         Certain characteristics of the futures market might increase the risk
that movements in the prices of futures contracts or options on futures
contracts might not correlate perfectly with movements in the prices of the
investments being hedged.  For example, all participants in the futures and
options on futures contracts markets are subject to daily variation margin
calls and might be compelled to liquidate futures or options on futures
contracts positions whose prices are moving unfavorably to avoid being subject
to further calls.  These liquidations could increase price volatility of the
instruments and distort the normal price relationship between the futures or
options and the investments being hedged.  Also, because initial margin deposit
requirements in the futures market are less onerous than margin requirements in
the securities markets, there might be increased participation by speculators
in the future markets.  This participation also might cause temporary price
distortions.  In addition, activities of large traders in both the futures and
securities markets involving arbitrage, "program trading" and other investment
strategies might result in temporary price distortions.

         FOREIGN CURRENCY-RELATED DERIVATIVE STRATEGIES-SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS.
The Fund may also use options and futures on foreign currencies and forward 
currency contracts to hedge against movements in the values of the foreign
currencies in which the Fund's securities are denominated.  The Fund may
utilize foreign currency-related derivative instruments for any lawful purposes
such as for bona fide hedging or to seek to enhance returns through exposure to
a particular foreign currency. Such currency hedges can protect against price
movements in a security the Fund owns or intends to acquire that are
attributable to changes in the value of the currency in which it is
denominated.  Such hedges do not, however, protect against price movements in
the securities that are attributable to other causes.

         The Fund might seek to hedge against changes in the value of a
particular currency when no hedging instruments on that currency are available
or such hedging instruments are more expensive than certain other hedging
instruments.  In such cases, the Fund may hedge against price movements in that
currency by entering into transactions using hedging instruments on another
foreign currency or a basket of currencies, the values of which the Advisor
believes will have a high degree of positive correlation to the value of the
currency being hedged.  The risk that movements in the price of the hedging
instrument will not correlate perfectly with movements in the price of the
currency being hedged is magnified when this strategy is used.

         The value of derivative instruments on foreign currencies depends on
the value of the underlying currency relative to the U.S. dollar.  Because
foreign currency transactions occurring in the interbank market might involve
substantially larger





                                       9
<PAGE>   234

amounts than those involved in the use of such hedging instruments, the Fund
could be disadvantaged by having to deal in the odd lot market (generally
consisting of transactions of less than $1 million) for the underlying foreign
currencies at prices that are less favorable than for round lots.

         There is no systematic reporting of last sale information for foreign
currencies or any regulatory requirement that quotations available through
dealers or other market sources be firm or revised on a timely basis.
Quotation information generally is representative of very large transactions in
the interbank market and thus might not reflect odd-lot transactions where
rates might be less favorable.  The interbank market in foreign currencies is a
global, round-the-clock market.  To the extent the U.S. options or futures
markets are closed while the markets for the underlying currencies remain open,
significant price and rate movements might take place in the underlying markets
that cannot be reflected in the markets for the derivative instruments until
they reopen.

         Settlement of derivative transactions involving foreign currencies
might be required to take place within the country issuing the underlying
currency.  Thus, the Fund might be required to accept or make delivery of the
underlying foreign currency in accordance with any U.S. or foreign regulations
regarding the maintenance of foreign banking arrangements by U.S. residents and
might be required to pay any fees, taxes and charges associated with such
delivery assessed in the issuing country.

         Permissible foreign currency options will include options traded
primarily in the OTC market.  Although options on foreign currencies are traded
primarily in the OTC market, the Fund will normally purchase OTC options on
foreign currency only when the Advisor believes a liquid secondary market will
exist for a particular option at any specific time.

         FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACTS.  A forward currency contract involves an
obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a specified future date,
which may be any fixed number of days from the contract date agreed upon by the
parties, at a price set at the time the contract is entered into.

         The Fund may enter into forward currency contracts to purchase or sell
foreign currencies for a fixed amount of U.S. dollars or another foreign
currency for any lawful purpose.  Such transactions may serve as long hedges --
for example, the Fund may purchase a forward currency contract to lock in the
U.S. dollar price of a security denominated in a foreign currency that the Fund
intends to acquire.  Forward currency contracts may also serve as short hedges
- -- for example, the Fund may sell a forward currency contract to lock in the
U.S. dollar equivalent of the proceeds from the anticipated sale of a security
denominated in a foreign currency.

         The Fund may seek to hedge against changes in the value of a 
particular currency by using forward contracts on another foreign currency or a
basket of currencies, the value of which the Advisor believes will have a
positive correlation to the values of the currency being hedged. In addition,
the Fund may use forward currency contracts to shift exposure to foreign
currency fluctuations from one country to another.  For example, if the Fund
owns securities denominated in a foreign currency and the Advisor believes that
currency will decline relative to another currency, it might enter into a
forward contract to sell an appropriate amount of the first foreign currency,
with payment to be made in the second foreign currency.  Transactions that use
two foreign currencies are sometimes referred to as "cross hedges." Use of
different foreign currency magnifies the risk that movements in the price of
the instrument will not correlate or will correlate unfavorably with the
foreign currency being hedged.

         The cost to the Fund of engaging in forward currency contracts varies
with factors such as the currency involved, the length of the contract period
and the market conditions then prevailing.  Because forward currency contracts
are usually entered into on a principal basis, no fees or commissions are
involved.  When the Fund enters into a forward currency contract, it relies on
the counter party to make or take delivery of the underlying currency at the
maturity of the contract.  Failure by the counter party to do so would result
in the loss of any expected benefit of the transaction.

         As is the case with futures contracts, holders and writers of
forward currency contracts can enter into offsetting closing transactions,
similar to closing transactions on futures, by selling or purchasing,
respectively, an instrument identical to the instrument held or written.
Secondary markets generally do not exist for forward currency contracts, with
the result that closing transactions generally can be made for forward currency
contracts only by negotiating directly with the counter party.  Thus, there can
be no assurance that the Fund will in fact be able to close out a forward
currency contract at a favorable price prior to maturity.  In addition, in the
event of insolvency of the counter party, the Fund might be unable to close out
a forward





                                       10
<PAGE>   235
currency contract at any time prior to maturity.  In either event,
the Fund would continue to be subject to market risk with respect to the
position, and would continue to be required to maintain a position in
securities denominated in the foreign currency or to maintain cash or
securities in a segregated account.

         The precise matching of forward currency contract amounts and the
value of the securities involved generally will not be possible because the
value of such securities, measured in the foreign currency, will change after
the foreign currency contract has been established.  Thus, the Fund might need
to purchase or sell foreign currencies in the spot (cash) market to the extent
such foreign currencies are not covered by forward contracts.  The projection
of short-term currency market movements is extremely difficult, and the
successful execution of a short-term hedging strategy is highly uncertain.

SHORT SALES AGAINST THE BOX

         The Fund may sell securities short against the box to hedge unrealized
gains on portfolio securities.  Selling securities short against the box
involves selling a security that the Fund owns or has the right to acquire, for
delivery at a specified date in the future.  If the Fund sells securities short
against the box, it may protect unrealized gains, but will lose the opportunity
to profit on such securities if the price rises.

LENDING OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES

         The Fund is authorized to lend up to 33 1/3% of the total value of its
portfolio securities to broker-dealers or institutional investors that the
Advisor deems qualified, but only when the borrower maintains with the Fund's
custodian bank collateral either in cash or money market instruments in an
amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned, plus
accrued interest and dividends, determined on a daily basis and adjusted
accordingly.  However, the Fund does not presently intend to engage in such
lending.  In determining whether to lend securities to a particular
broker-dealer or institutional investor, the Advisor will consider, and during
the period of the loan will monitor, all relevant facts and circumstances,
including the creditworthiness of the borrower.  The Fund will retain authority
to terminate any loans at any time.  The Fund may pay reasonable administrative
and custodial fees in connection with a loan and may pay a negotiated portion
of the interest earned on the cash or money market instruments held as
collateral to the borrower or placing broker.  The Fund will receive reasonable
interest on the loan or a flat fee from the borrower and amounts equivalent to
any dividends, interest or other distributions on the securities loaned.  The
Fund will retain record ownership of loaned securities to exercise beneficial
rights, such as voting and subscription rights and rights to dividends,
interest or other distributions, when retaining such rights is considered to be
in the Fund's interest.

WARRANTS

         The Fund may acquire warrants.  Warrants are securities giving the
holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy the stock of an issuer at a
given price (generally higher than the value of the stock at the time of
issuance) during a specified period or perpetually.  Warrants may be acquired
separately or in connection with the acquisition of securities.  The Fund will
not purchase warrants, valued at the lower of cost or market value, in excess
of 5% of the Fund's net assets.  Included in that amount, but not to exceed 2%
of the Fund's net assets, may be warrants that are not listed on any stock
exchange.  Warrants acquired by the Fund in units or attached to securities are
not subject to these restrictions.  Warrants do not carry with them the right
to dividends or voting rights with respect to the securities that they entitle
their holder to purchase, and they do not represent any rights in the assets of
the issuer.  As a result, warrants may be considered more speculative than
certain other types of investments.  In addition, the value of a warrant does
not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities, and a
warrant ceases to have value if it is not exercised prior to its expiration
date.


DEBT OBLIGATIONS





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         The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in debt obligations.
Issuers of debt obligations have a contractual obligation to pay interest at a
specified rate on specified dates and to repay principal on a specified
maturity date.  Certain debt obligations (usually intermediate- and long-term
bonds) have provisions that allow the issuer to redeem or "call" a bond before
its maturity.  Issuers are most likely to call such securities during periods
of falling interest rates.

         PRICE VOLATILITY.  The market value of debt obligations is affected by
changes in prevailing interest rates.  The market value of a debt obligation
generally reacts inversely to interest-rate changes, meaning, when prevailing
interest rates decline, an obligation's price usually rises, and when
prevailing interest rates rise, an obligation's price usually declines.  A fund
portfolio consisting primarily of debt obligations will react similarly to
changes in interest rates.

         MATURITY.  In general, the longer the maturity of a debt obligation,
the higher its yield and the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest
rates.  Conversely, the shorter the maturity, the lower the yield but the
greater the price stability.  Commercial paper is generally considered the
shortest form of debt obligation.  The term "bond" generally refers to
securities with maturities longer than two years.  Bonds with maturities of
three years or less are considered short-term, bonds with maturities between
three and seven years are considered intermediate-term, and bonds with
maturities greater than seven years are considered long-term.

         CREDIT QUALITY.  The values of debt obligations may also be affected
by changes in the credit rating or financial condition of their issuers.
Generally, the lower the quality rating of a security, the higher the degree of
risk as to the payment of interest and return of principal.  To compensate
investors for taking on such increased risk, those issuers deemed to be less
creditworthy generally must offer their investors higher interest rates than do
issuers with better credit ratings.  

         In conducting its credit research and analysis, the Advisor considers 
both qualitative and quantitative factors to evaluate the creditworthiness of
individual issuers.  The Advisor also relies, in part, on credit ratings
compiled by a number of NRSROs. See the Appendix for additional information.

         TEMPORARY DEFENSIVE POSITION.  When the Advisor determines that market
conditions warrant a temporary defensive position, the Fund may invest without
limitation in cash and short-term fixed income securities, including U.S.
government securities, commercial paper, banker's acceptances, certificates of
deposit, and time deposits.

HIGH-YIELD (HIGH-RISK) SECURITIES

         IN GENERAL.  The Fund has the authority to invest up to 5% of its net
assets in non-investment grade debt obligations.  Non-investment grade debt
obligations (hereinafter referred to as "lower-quality securities") include (i)
bonds rated as low as C by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's"),
Standard & Poor's Ratings Group ("S&P"), or Fitch Investors Service, Inc.
("Fitch"), or CCC by Duff & Phelps, Inc.  ("D&P"); (ii) commercial paper rated
as low as C by S&P, Not Prime by Moody's or Fitch 4 by Fitch; and (iii) unrated
debt obligations of comparable quality. Lower-quality securities, while
generally offering higher yields than investment grade securities with similar
maturities, involve greater risks, including the possibility of default or
bankruptcy. They are regarded as predominantly speculative with respect to the
issuer's capacity to pay interest and repay principal. The special risk
considerations in connection with investments in these securities are discussed
below.  Refer to the Appendix of this Statement of Additional Information for a
discussion of securities ratings.

         EFFECT OF INTEREST RATES AND ECONOMIC CHANGES.  The lower-quality and
comparable unrated securities market is relatively new and its growth has
paralleled a long economic expansion.  As a result, it is not clear how this
market may withstand a prolonged recession or economic downturn.  Such an
economic downturn could severely disrupt the market for and adversely affect
the value of such securities.

         All interest-bearing securities typically experience appreciation when
interest rates decline and depreciation when interest rates rise.  The market
values of lower-quality and comparable unrated securities tend to reflect
individual corporate developments to a greater extent than do higher rated
securities, which react primarily to fluctuations in the general level of
interest rates. Lower-quality and comparable unrated securities also tend to be
more sensitive to economic conditions than are higher-rated securities.  As a
result, they generally involve more credit risks than securities in the
higher-rated categories.  During an economic downturn or a sustained period of
rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers of lower-quality and comparable





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unrated securities may experience financial stress and may not have sufficient
revenues to meet their payment obligations.  The issuer's ability to service
its debt obligations may also be adversely affected by specific corporate
developments, the issuer's inability to meet specific projected business
forecasts or the unavailability of additional financing. The risk of loss due
to default by an issuer of these securities is significantly greater than
issuers of higher-rated securities because such securities are generally
unsecured and are often subordinated to other creditors.  Further, if the
issuer of a lower-quality or comparable unrated security defaulted, the Fund
might incur additional expenses to seek recovery.  Periods of economic
uncertainty and changes would also generally result in increased volatility in
the market prices of these securities and thus in the Fund's net asset value.

         As previously stated, the value of a lower-quality or comparable
unrated security will decrease in a rising interest rate market, and
accordingly so will the Fund's net asset value.  If the Fund experiences
unexpected net redemptions in such a market, it may be forced to liquidate a
portion of its portfolio securities without regard to their investment merits.
Due to the limited liquidity of lower-quality and comparable unrated securities
(discussed below), the Fund may be forced to liquidate these securities at a
substantial discount.  Any such liquidation would reduce the Fund's asset base
over which expenses could be allocated and could result in a reduced rate of
return for the Fund.

         PAYMENT EXPECTATIONS.  Lower-quality and comparable unrated securities
typically contain redemption, call or prepayment provisions which permit the
issuer of such securities containing such provisions to, at its discretion,
redeem the securities.  During periods of falling interest rates, issuers of
these securities are likely to redeem or prepay the securities and refinance
them with debt securities with a lower interest rate.  To the extent an issuer
is able to refinance the securities, or otherwise redeem them, the Fund may
have to replace the securities with a lower yielding security, which would
result in a lower return for the Fund.

         CREDIT RATINGS.  Credit ratings issued by credit-rating agencies
evaluate the safety of principal and interest payments of rated securities.
They do not, however, evaluate the market value risk of lower-quality
securities and, therefore, may not fully reflect the true risks of an
investment.  In addition, credit rating agencies may or may not make timely
changes in a rating to reflect changes in the economy or in the condition of
the issuer that affect the market value of the security.  Consequently, credit
ratings are used only as a preliminary indicator of investment quality.
Investments in lower-quality and comparable unrated securities will be more
dependent on the Advisor's credit analysis than would be the case with
investments in investment-grade debt securities.  The Advisor employs its own
credit research and analysis, which includes a study of existing debt, capital
structure, ability to service debt and to pay dividends, the issuer's
sensitivity to economic conditions, its operating history and the current trend
of earnings.  The Advisor continually monitors the investments in the Fund's
portfolio and carefully evaluates whether to dispose of or to retain
lower-quality and comparable unrated securities whose credit ratings or credit
quality may have changed.

         LIQUIDITY AND VALUATION. The Fund may have difficulty disposing of
certain lower-quality and comparable unrated securities because there may be a
thin trading market for such securities.  Because not all dealers maintain
markets in all lower-quality and comparable unrated securities, there is no
established retail secondary market for many of these securities.  The Fund
anticipates that such securities could be sold only to a limited number of
dealers or institutional investors.  To the extent a secondary trading market
does exist, it is generally not as liquid as the secondary market for
higher-rated securities.  The lack of a liquid secondary market may have an
adverse impact on the market price of the security.  As a result, the Fund's
asset value and ability to dispose of particular securities, when necessary to
meet the Fund's liquidity needs or in response to a specific economic event,
may be impacted.  The lack of a liquid secondary market for certain securities
may also make it more difficult for the Fund to obtain accurate market
quotations for purposes of valuing the Fund's portfolio.  Market quotations are
generally available on many lower-quality and comparable unrated issues only
from a limited number of dealers and may not necessarily represent firm bids of
such dealers or prices for actual sales.  During periods of thin trading, the
spread between bid and asked prices is likely to increase significantly.  In
addition, adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on
fundamental analysis, may decrease the values and liquidity of lower-quality
and comparable unrated securities, especially in a thinly traded market.

         RECENT AND PROPOSED LEGISLATION.  Recent legislation has been adopted,
and from time to time proposals have been discussed, regarding new legislation
designed to limit the use of certain lower-quality and comparable unrated
securities by certain issuers.  An example of legislation is a recent law which
requires federally insured savings and loan associations to divest their
investments in these securities over time.  It is not currently possible to
determine the impact of the recent legislation or the proposed legislation on
the lower-quality and comparable unrated securities market.  However, it is
anticipated that if additional





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<PAGE>   238

legislation is enacted or proposed, it could have a material affect on the
value of these securities and the existence of a secondary trading market for
the securities.

ZERO-COUPON, STEP-COUPON AND PAY-IN-KIND SECURITIES

         The Fund may invest in zero-coupon, step-coupon, and pay-in-kind
securities.  These securities are debt securities that do not make regular cash
interest payments.  Zero-coupon and step-coupon securities are sold at a deep
discount to their face value.  Pay-in-kind securities pay interest through the
issuance of additional securities.  Because such securities do not pay current
cash income, the price of these securities can be volatile when interest rates
fluctuate.  While these securities do not pay current cash income, federal
income tax law requires the holders of zero-coupon, step-coupon, and
pay-in-kind securities to include in income each year the portion of the
original issue discount (or deemed discount) and other non-cash income on such
securities accruing that year.

MORTGAGE- AND ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES

         Mortgage-backed securities represent direct or indirect participations
in, or are secured by and payable from, mortgage loans secured by real
property, and include single- and multi-class pass-through securities and
collateralized mortgage obligations.  Such securities may be issued or
guaranteed by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities, such as the
Government National Mortgage Association and the Federal National Mortgage
Association, or by private issuers, generally originators and investors in
mortgage loans, including savings associations, mortgage bankers, commercial
banks, investment bankers, and special purpose entities (collectively, "private
lenders").  Mortgage-backed securities issued by private lenders may be
supported by pools of mortgage loans or other mortgage-backed securities that
are guaranteed, directly or indirectly, by the U.S. government or one of its
agencies or instrumentalities, or they may be issued without any governmental
guarantee of the underlying mortgage assets but with some form of
non-governmental credit enhancement.

         Asset-backed securities have structural characteristics similar to
mortgage-backed securities.  However, the underlying assets are not first lien
mortgage loans or interests therein, but include assets such as motor vehicle
installment sales contracts, other installment loan contracts, home equity
loans, leases of various types of property, and receivables from credit card or
other revolving credit arrangements.  Payments or distributions of principal
and interest on asset-backed securities may be supported by non-governmental
credit enhancements similar to those utilized in connection with
mortgage-backed securities.

         The yield characteristics of mortgage- and asset-backed securities
differ from those of traditional debt securities.  Among  the principal
differences are that interest and principal payments are made more frequently
on mortgage- and asset-backed securities, usually monthly, and that principal
may be prepaid at any time because the underlying mortgage loans or other
assets generally may be prepaid at any time.  As a result, if the Fund
purchases these securities at a premium, a prepayment rate that is faster than
expected will reduce yield to maturity, while a prepayment rate that is slower
than expected will have the opposite effect of increasing the yield to
maturity.  Conversely, if the Fund purchases these securities at a discount, a
prepayment rate that is faster than expected will increase yield to maturity,
while a prepayment rate that is slower than expected will reduce yield to
maturity.  Amounts available for reinvestment by the Fund are likely to be
greater during a period of declining interest rates and, as a result, are
likely to be reinvested at lower interest rates than during a period of rising
interest rates.  Accelerated prepayments on securities purchased by the Fund at
a premium also impose a risk of loss of principal because the premium may not
have been fully amortized at the time the principal is prepaid in full.  The
market for privately issued mortgage- and asset-backed securities is smaller
and less liquid than the market for government-sponsored mortgage-backed
securities.

         The Fund may invest in stripped mortgage- or asset-backed securities,
which receive differing proportions of the interest and principal payments from
the underlying assets.  The market value of such securities generally is more
sensitive to changes in prepayment and interest rates than is the case with
traditional mortgage- and asset-backed securities, and in some cases such
market value may be extremely volatile.  With respect to certain stripped
securities, such as interest only and principal only classes, a rate of
prepayment that is faster or slower than anticipated may result in the Fund
failing to recover all or a portion of its investment, even though the
securities are rated investment grade.





                                       14
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WHEN-ISSUED SECURITIES

         The Fund may from time to time purchase securities on a "when-issued"
basis.  The price of debt obligations purchased on a when-issued basis, which
may be expressed in yield terms, is fixed at the time the commitment to
purchase is made, but delivery and payment for the securities take place at a
later date. Normally, the settlement date occurs within one month of the
purchase.  During the period between the purchase and settlement, no payment is
made by the Fund to the issuer and no interest on the debt obligations accrues
to the Fund.  Forward commitments involve a risk of loss if the value of the
security to be purchased declines prior to the settlement date, which risk is
in addition to the risk of decline in value of the Fund's other assets.  While
when-issued securities may be sold prior to the settlement date, the Fund
intends to purchase such securities with the purpose of actually acquiring them
unless a sale appears desirable for investment reasons.  At the time the Fund
makes the commitment to purchase a security on a when-issued basis, it will
record the transaction and reflect the value of the security in determining its
net asset value.  The Fund does not believe that its net asset value or income
will be adversely affected by its purchases of securities on a when-issued
basis.

         The Fund will maintain cash and marketable securities equal in value
to commitments for when-issued securities.  Such segregated securities either
will mature or, if necessary, be sold on or before the settlement date.  When
the time comes to pay for when-issued securities, the Fund will meet its
obligations from then-available cash flow, sale of the securities held in the
separate account, described above, sale of other securities or, although it
would not normally expect to do so, from the sale of the when-issued securities
themselves (which may have a market value greater or less than the Fund's
payment obligation).

ILLIQUID SECURITIES

   
         The Fund may invest in illiquid securities (i.e., securities that are
not readily marketable).  However, the Fund will not acquire illiquid
securities if, as a result, they would comprise more than 15% of the value of
the Fund's net assets (or such other amounts as may be permitted under the 1940
Act).  The Board of Directors of the Corporation, or its delegate, has the
ultimate authority to determine, to the extent permissible under the federal
securities laws, which securities are illiquid for purposes of this limitation. 
Certain securities exempt from registration or issued in transactions exempt
from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), including securities that may be resold pursuant to Rule 144A under the
Securities Act, may be considered liquid. The Corporation's Board of Directors
has delegated to Strong Capital Management, Inc. (the "Advisor") the day-to-day
determination of the liquidity of a security, although it has retained
oversight and ultimate responsibility for such determinations.  Although no
definitive liquidity criteria are used, the Board of Directors has directed the
Advisor to look to such factors as (i) the nature of the market for a security
(including the institutional private resale market), (ii) the terms of certain
securities or other instruments allowing for the disposition to a third party
or the issuer thereof (e.g., certain repurchase obligations and demand
instruments), (iii) the availability of market quotations (e.g., for securities
quoted in PORTAL system), and (iv) other permissible relevant factors.
    
        
         Restricted securities may be sold only in privately negotiated
transactions or in a public offering with respect to which a registration
statement is in effect under the Securities Act.  Where registration is
required, the Fund may be obligated to pay all or part of the registration
expenses and a considerable period may elapse between the time of the decision
to sell and the time the Fund may be permitted to sell a security under an
effective registration statement.  If, during such a period, adverse market
conditions were to develop, the Fund might obtain a less favorable price than
prevailed when it decided to sell.  Restricted securities will be priced at
fair value as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors.  If through
the appreciation of restricted securities or the depreciation of unrestricted
securities, the Fund should be in a position where more than 15% of the value
of its net assets are invested in illiquid assets, including restricted
securities which are not readily marketable, the Fund will take such steps as
is deemed advisable, if any, to protect liquidity.

         The Fund may sell OTC options and, in connection therewith, segregate
assets or cover its obligations with respect to OTC options written by the
Fund.  The assets used as cover for OTC options written by the Fund will be
considered illiquid unless the OTC options are sold to qualified dealers who
agree that the Fund may repurchase any OTC option it writes at a maximum price
to be calculated by a formula set forth in the option agreement.  The cover of
an OTC option written subject to this procedure would be considered illiquid
only to the extent that the maximum repurchase price under the formula exceeds
the intrinsic value of the option.





                                       15
<PAGE>   240


         Notwithstanding the above, the Advisor intends, as a matter of
internal policy, to limit the Fund's investments in illiquid securities to 10%
of its net assets.

DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS

         As indicated in the Prospectus, the Fund may invest in foreign
securities by purchasing depositary receipts, including American Depositary
Receipts ("ADRs") and European Depositary Receipts ("EDRs"), or other
securities convertible into securities or issuers based in foreign countries.
These securities may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the
securities into which they may be converted.  Generally, ADRs, in registered
form, are denominated in U.S. dollars and are designed for use in the U.S.
securities markets, while EDRs, in bearer form, may be denominated in other
currencies and are designed for use in European securities markets.  ADRs are
receipts typically issued by a U.S. bank or trust company evidencing ownership
of the underlying securities.  EDRs are European receipts evidencing a similar
arrangement.  For purposes of the Fund's investment policies, ADRs and EDRs are
deemed to have the same classification as the underlying securities they
represent.  Thus, an ADR or EDR representing ownership of common stock will be
treated as common stock.

         ADR facilities may be established as either "unsponsored" or
"sponsored." While ADRs issued under these two types of facilities are in some
respects similar, there are distinctions between them relating to the rights
and obligations of ADR holders and the practices of market participants.  A
depositary may establish an unsponsored facility without participation by (or
even necessarily the acquiescence of) the issuer of the deposited securities,
although typically the depositary requests a letter of non-objection from such
issuer prior to the establishment of the facility.  Holders of unsponsored ADRs
generally bear all the costs of such facilities.  The depositary usually
charges fees upon the deposit and withdrawal of the deposited securities, the
conversion of dividends into U.S. dollars, the disposition of non-cash
distributions, and the performance of other services.  The depositary of an
unsponsored facility frequently is under no obligation to distribute
shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited securities
or to pass through voting rights to ADR holders in respect of the deposited
securities.  Sponsored ADR facilities are created in generally the same manner
as unsponsored facilities, except that the issuer of the deposited securities
enters into a deposit agreement with the depositary.  The deposit agreement
sets out the rights and responsibilities of the issuer, the depositary and the
ADR holders.  With sponsored facilities, the issuer of the deposited securities
generally will bear some of the costs relating to the facility (such as
dividend payment fees of the depositary), although ADR holders continue to bear
certain other costs (such as deposit and withdrawal fees).  Under the terms of
most sponsored arrangements, depositories agree to distribute notices of
shareholder meetings and voting instructions, and to provide shareholder
communications and other information to the ADR holders at the request of the
issuer of the deposited securities.

FOREIGN INVESTMENT COMPANIES

         Some of the countries in which the Fund invests may not permit direct
investment by outside investors.  Investments in such countries may only be
permitted through foreign government-approved or -authorized investment
vehicles, which may include other investment companies.  Investing through such
vehicles may involve frequent or layered fees or expenses and may also be
subject to limitation under the 1940 Act.  Under the 1940 Act, the Fund may
invest up to 10% of its assets in shares of investment companies and up to 5%
of its assets in any one investment company as long as the investment does not
represent more than 3% of the voting stock of the acquired investment company.

REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

         The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with certain banks or
non-bank dealers. In a repurchase agreement, the Fund buys a security at one
price, and at the time of sale, the seller agrees to repurchase the obligation
at a mutually agreed upon time and price (usually within seven days). The
repurchase agreement, thereby, determines the yield during the purchaser's
holding period, while the seller's obligation to repurchase is secured by the
value of the underlying security. The Advisor will monitor, on an ongoing
basis, the value of the underlying securities to ensure that the value always
equals or exceeds the repurchase price plus accrued interest. Repurchase
agreements could involve certain risks in the event of a default or insolvency
of the other party to the agreement, including possible delays or restrictions
upon the Fund's ability to dispose of the underlying securities. Although no
definitive creditworthiness criteria are used, the Advisor reviews the
creditworthiness of the banks and non-bank dealers with which the Fund enters
into repurchase agreements to evaluate those risks. The Fund may, under certain





                                       16
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circumstances, deem repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government
securities to be investments in U.S. government securities.

BORROWING

         The Fund may borrow money from banks, limited by the Fund's
fundamental investment restriction to 33 1/3% of its total assets, and may
engage in mortgage dollar roll transactions and reverse repurchase agreements
which may be considered a form of borrowing. (See "Mortgage Dollar Rolls and
Reverse Repurchase Agreements" below.)  In addition, the Fund may borrow up to
an additional 5% of its total assets from banks for temporary or emergency
purposes. The Fund will not purchase securities when bank borrowings exceed 5%
of the Fund's total assets.

MORTGAGE DOLLAR ROLLS AND REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

         The Fund may engage in reverse repurchase agreements to facilitate
portfolio liquidity, a practice common in the mutual fund industry, or for
arbitrage transactions discussed below. In a reverse repurchase agreement, the
Fund would sell a security and enter into an agreement to repurchase the
security at a specified future date and price. The Fund generally retains the
right to interest and principal payments on the security. Since the Fund
receives cash upon entering into a reverse repurchase agreement, it may be
considered a borrowing. When required by guidelines of the SEC, the Fund will
set aside permissible liquid assets in a segregated account to secure its
obligations to repurchase the security.

         The Fund may also enter into mortgage dollar rolls, in which the Fund
would sell mortgage-backed securities for delivery in the current month and
simultaneously contract to purchase substantially similar securities on a
specified future date. While the Fund would forego principal and interest paid
on the mortgage-backed securities during the roll period, the Fund would be
compensated by the difference between the current sales price and the lower
price for the future purchase as well as by any interest earned on the proceeds
of the initial sale. The Fund also could be compensated through the receipt of
fee income equivalent to a lower forward price. At the time the Fund would
enter into a mortgage dollar roll, it would set aside permissible liquid assets
in a segregated account to secure its obligation for the forward commitment to
buy mortgage-backed securities. Mortgage dollar roll transactions may be
considered a borrowing by the Fund. (See "Borrowing" above.)

         The mortgage dollar rolls and reverse repurchase agreements entered
into by the Fund may be used as arbitrage transactions in which the Fund will
maintain an offsetting position in investment grade debt obligations or
repurchase agreements that mature on or before the settlement date on the
related mortgage dollar roll or reverse repurchase agreement. Since the Fund
will receive interest on the securities or repurchase agreements in which it
invests the transaction proceeds, such transactions may involve leverage.
However, since such securities or repurchase agreements will be high quality
and will mature on or before the settlement date of the mortgage dollar roll or
reverse repurchase agreement, the Advisor believes that such arbitrage
transactions do not present the risks to the Fund that are associated with
other types of leverage.

                   DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION

   
         Directors and officers of the Corporation, together with information
as to their principal business occupations during the past five years, and
other information are shown below.  Each director who is deemed an "interested
person," as defined in the 1940 Act, is indicated by an asterisk.  Each officer
and director holds the same positions with the following registered investment
companies:  Strong Advantage Fund, Inc.; Strong American Utilities Fund, Inc.;
Strong Asia Pacific Fund, Inc.; Strong Asset Allocation Fund, Inc.; Strong
Common Stock Fund, Inc.; Strong Corporate Bond Fund, Inc.; Strong Discovery
Fund, Inc.; Strong Government Securities Fund, Inc.; Strong Growth Fund, Inc.;
Strong Heritage Reserve Series, Inc.; Strong High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund,
Inc.; Strong Insured Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.; Strong International Bond Fund,
Inc.; Strong International Stock Fund, Inc.; Strong Money Market Fund, Inc.;
Strong Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.; Strong Municipal Money Market Fund, Inc.;
Strong Opportunity Fund, Inc.; Strong Short-Term Bond Fund, Inc.; Strong
Short-Term Global Bond Fund, Inc.; Strong Short-Term Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.;
Strong Special Fund II, Inc.; Strong Total Return Fund, Inc.;  and Strong U.S.
Treasury Money Market Fund, Inc. (collectively, the "Strong Funds").
            




                                       17
<PAGE>   242


         *Richard S. Strong (DOB 5/12/42), Chairman of the Board and Director
of the Corporation.

         Prior to August 1985, Mr. Strong was Chief Executive Officer of the
Advisor, which he founded in 1974. Since August 1985, Mr. Strong has been a
Security Analyst and Portfolio Manager of the Advisor.  In October 1991, Mr.
Strong also became the Chairman of the Advisor.  Mr.  Strong is a director of
the Advisor.  Since October 1993, Mr. Strong has been Chairman and a director
of Strong Holdings, Inc.; a Wisconsin corporation and subsidiary of the Advisor
("Holdings"), and the Fund's underwriter, Strong Funds Distributors, Inc.; a
Wisconsin corporation and subsidiary of Holdings ("Distributor").  Since
January 1994, Mr. Strong has been Chairman and a director of Heritage Reserve
Development Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation and subsidiary of Holdings;
and since February 1994, Mr. Strong has been a member of the Managing Boards of
Fussville Real Estate Holdings L.L.C., a Wisconsin Limited Liability Company
and subsidiary of the Advisor, and Fussville Development L.L.C.  a Wisconsin
Limited Liability Company and subsidiary of the Advisor, and certain of its
subsidiaries. Mr. Strong has served as a director of the Corporation since
incorporation in December 1990 and Chairman of the Board of the Corporation
since January 1992.  Mr. Strong has been in the investment management business
since 1967.

         Marvin E. Nevins (DOB 7/9/18), Director of the Corporation.

         Private Investor.  From 1945 to 1980, Mr. Nevins was Chairman of
Wisconsin Centrifugal Inc.; a foundry. From July 1983 to December 1986, he was
Chairman of General Casting Corp., Waukesha, Wisconsin, a foundry. Mr. Nevins
is a former Chairman of the Wisconsin Association of Manufacturers & Commerce.
He was also a regent of the Milwaukee School of Engineering and a member of the
Board of Trustees of the Medical College of Wisconsin.  Mr. Nevins has served
as a director of the Corporation since incorporation in December 1990.

         Willie D. Davis (DOB 7/24/34), Director of the Corporation.

         Mr. Davis has been director of Alliance Bank Since 1980, Sara Lee
Corporation (a food/consumer products company) since 1983, KMart Corporation (a
discount consumer products company) since 1985, YMCA Metropolitan - Los Angeles
since 1985, Dow Chemical Company since 1988, MGM Grand, Inc. (an
entertainment/hotel company) since 1990, WICOR, Inc. (a utility company) since
1990, Johnson Controls, Inc. (an industrial company) since 1992, L.A. Gear (a
footwear/sportswear company) since 1992, and Rally's Hamburger, Inc. since
1994.  Mr. Davis has been a trustee of the University of Chicago since 1980,
Marquette University since 1988, and Occidental College since 1990.  Since
1977, Mr. Davis has been President and Chief Executive Officer of All Pro
Broadcasting, Inc.  Mr. Davis was a director of the Fireman's Fund (an
insurance company) from 1975 until 1990.  Mr. Davis has served as a director of
the Corporation since July 1994.

         *John Dragisic (DOB 11/26/40), Vice Chairman and Director of the
Corporation.

         Mr. Dragisic has been Vice Chairman and a director of the Advisor and
a director of Holdings and Distributor since July 1994.  Mr.  Dragisic
previously served as a director of the Corporation from 1992 and 1994.  Mr.
Dragisic was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Grunau Company, Inc.
(a mechanical contracting and engineering firm), Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1987
until July 1994.  From 1981 to 1987, he was an Executive Vice President with
Grunau Company, Inc.  From 1969 until 1973, Mr. Dragisic worked for the
InterAmerican Development Bank.  Mr. Dragisic received his Ph.D. in Economics
in 1971 from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and his B.A. degree in
Economics in 1962 from Lake Forest College.  Mr. Dragisic has served as Vice
Chairman of the Corporation since July 1994 and director of the Corporation
since April 1995.

         Stanley Kritzik (DOB 1/9/30), Director of the Corporation.

         Mr. Kritzik has been a Partner of  Metropolitan Associates since 1962,
a Director of Aurora Health Care since 1987, and Health Network Ventures, Inc.
since 1992.  He has served as a director of the Corporation since April 1995.





                                       18
<PAGE>   243


         William F. Vogt (DOB 7/19/47), Director of the Corporation.

         Mr. Vogt has been the President of Vogt Management Consulting, Inc.
since 1990.  From 1982 until 1990, he served as Executive Director of
University Physicians of the University of Colorado.  Mr. Vogt is the Past
President of the Medical Group Management Association and a Fellow of the
American College of Medical Practice Executives.  He has served as a director
of the Corporation since April 1995.

         Lawrence A. Totsky (DOB 5/6/59), C.P.A., Vice President of the
Corporation.

   
         Mr. Totsky has been Senior Vice President of the Advisor since
December 1994.  Mr. Totsky acted as the Advisor's Manager of Shareholder
Accounting and Compliance from June 1987 to June 1991 when he was named
Director of Mutual Fund Administration. Mr. Totsky has been a Vice President
of the Corporation since May 1993.
    

         Thomas P. Lemke (DOB 7/30/54), Vice President of the Corporation.

         Mr. Lemke has been Senior Vice President, Secretary, and General
Counsel of the Advisor since September 1994.  For two years prior to joining
the Advisor, Mr. Lemke acted as Resident Counsel for Funds Management at J.P.
Morgan & Co., Inc.  From February 1989 until April 1992, Mr. Lemke acted as
Associate General Counsel to Sanford C. Bernstein Co., Inc.  For two years
prior to that, Mr. Lemke was Of Counsel at the Washington, D.C. law firm of Tew
Jorden & Schulte, a successor of Finley, Kumble Wagner.  From August 1979 until
December 1986, Mr. Lemke worked at the Securities and Exchange Commission, most
notably as the Chief Counsel to the Division of Investment Management (November
1984 - December 1986), and as Special Counsel to the Office of Insurance
Products, Division of Investment Management (April 1982 - October 1984).  Mr.
Lemke has been a Vice President of the Corporation since October 1994.

         Ann E. Oglanian (DOB 12/7/61), Secretary of the Corporation.

         Ms. Oglanian has been an Associate Counsel of the Advisor since
January 1992.  Ms. Oglanian acted as Associate Counsel for the Chicago-based
investment management firm, Kemper Financial Services, Inc.; from June 1988
until December 1991.  Ms. Oglanian has been the Secretary of the Corporation
since May 1994.

         Ronald A. Neville (DOB 5/21/47), C.P.A., Treasurer of the Corporation.

         Mr. Neville has been the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of the Advisor since January 1995.  For fourteen years prior to that,
Mr. Neville worked at Twentieth Century Companies, Inc., most notably as Senior
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (1988 until December 1994).  Mr.
Neville received his M.B.A. in 1972 from the University of Missouri - Kansas
City and his B.A. degree in Business Administration and Economics in 1969 from
Drury College.  Mr. Neville has been the Treasurer of the Corporation since
April 1995.

         Except for Messrs. Nevins, Davis, Kritzik and Vogt, the address of all
of the above persons is P.O. Box 2936, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201.  Mr. Nevins'
address is 6075 Pelican Bay Boulevard, Naples, Florida 33963.  Mr. Davis'
address is 161 North La Brea, Inglewood, California 90301.  Mr. Kritzik's
address is 1123 North Astor Street, P.O. Box 92547, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
53202-0547.  Mr. Vogt's address is 3003 Third Street Avenue, Denver, Colorado
80206.

         The Strong Funds, a complex of open-end management investment
companies composed of 30 funds (the "funds"), of which the Fund is a part, in
the aggregate, pays each Director who is not a director, officer, or employee
of the Advisor, or any affiliated company (a "disinterested director") an
annual fee of $50,000, plus $100 per Board meeting for each fund.  In addition,
each disinterested director is reimbursed by the funds for travel and other
expenses incurred in connection with attendance at such meetings.  Other
officers and directors of the funds receive no compensation or expense
reimbursement from the funds.

   
         As of July 14, 1995, the officers and directors of the Corporation did
not own any of the Fund's shares.
    




                                       19
<PAGE>   244

                             PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS

   
         As of July 14, 1995, no one owned of record and beneficially any
shares of the Fund.
    

                       INVESTMENT ADVISOR AND DISTRIBUTOR

         The Advisor to the Fund is Strong Capital Management, Inc.  Mr.
Richard S. Strong controls the Advisor.  Mr. Strong is the Chairman and a
director of the Advisor, Mr. Dragisic is the Vice Chairman and a director of
the Advisor, Mr. Totsky is a Senior Vice President of the Advisor, Mr. Lemke is
a Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of the Advisor, Mr.
Neville is a Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Advisor,
Ms. Oglanian is an Associate Counsel of the Advisor and Mr. Zoeller is the
Treasurer of the Advisor.  A brief description of the Fund's investment
advisory agreement ("Advisory Agreement") is set forth in the Prospectus under
"Management."

   
         The Fund's Advisory Agreement is dated July 10, 1995, and will remain
in effect as to the Fund for a period of two years.  The Advisory Agreement was
approved by the Fund's initial shareholder on its first day of operations.
Thereafter, the Advisory Agreement is required to be approved annually by the
Board of Directors of the Corporation or by vote of a majority of the Fund's
outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act).  In either case,
each annual renewal must also be approved by the vote of a majority of the
Corporation's directors who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or
interested persons of any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for
the purpose of voting on such approval. The Advisory Agreement is terminable,
without penalty, on 60 days' written notice by the Board of Directors of the
Corporation, by vote of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities,
or by the Advisor.  In addition, the Advisory Agreement will terminate
automatically in the event of its assignment.
    
        
         Under the terms of the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor manages the
Fund's investments subject to the supervision of the Corporation's Board of
Directors.  The Advisor is responsible for investment decisions and supplies
investment research and portfolio management.  At its expense, the Advisor
provides office space and all necessary office facilities, equipment, and
personnel for servicing the investments of the Fund.  The Advisor places all
orders for the purchase and sale of the Fund's securities at its expense.

         Except for expenses assumed by the Advisor as set forth above or by
the Distributor as described below with respect to the distribution of the
Fund's shares, the Fund is responsible for all its other expenses, including,
without limitation, interest charges, taxes, brokerage commissions, and similar
expenses; expenses of issue, sale, repurchase, or redemption of shares;
expenses of registering or qualifying shares for sale; expenses for printing
and distribution costs of prospectuses and quarterly financial statements
mailed to existing shareholders; charges of custodians, transfer agent fees
(including the printing and mailing of reports and notices to shareholders),
fees of registrars, fees for auditing and legal services, fees for clerical
services related to recordkeeping and shareholder relations, the cost of stock
certificates and fees for directors who are not "interested persons" of the
Advisor; and its allocable share of the Corporation's expenses.

   
         As compensation for its services, the Fund pays to the Advisor a
monthly management fee at the annual rate of 1.00% of the Fund's average daily
net asset value.  (See "Additional Information - Calculation of Net Asset
Value" in the Prospectus.)  From time to time, the Advisor may voluntarily
waive all or a portion of its management fee for the Fund.  
    

   
         The Advisory Agreement requires the Advisor to reimburse the Fund in
the event that the expenses and charges payable by the Fund in any fiscal year,
including the management fee but excluding taxes, interest, brokerage
commissions, and similar fees and to the extent permitted extraordinary
expenses, exceed that percentage of the average net asset value of the Fund for
such year. Such excess is determined by valuations made as of the close of each
business day of the year, which is the most restrictive percentage provided by
the state laws of the various states in which the Fund's shares are qualified
for sale; or if the states in which the Fund's shares are qualified for sale
impose no restrictions, the Advisor shall reimburse the Fund in the event the
expenses and charges payable by the Fund in any fiscal year (as described
above) exceed 2%.  The most restrictive percentage limitation currently
applicable to the Fund is 2.5% of its average daily net assets up to
$30,000,000, 2% on the next $70,000,000 of its average daily net assets and
1.5% of its average daily net assets in excess of $100,000,000.  Reimbursement
of
    





                                       20
<PAGE>   245

expenses in excess of the applicable limitation will be made on a monthly basis
and will be paid to the Fund by reduction of the Advisor's fee, subject to
later adjustment month by month for the remainder of the Fund's fiscal year.
The Advisor may from time to time absorb expenses for the Fund in addition to
the reimbursement of expenses in excess of applicable limitations.

         On July 12, 1994, the SEC filed an administrative action (Order)
against the Advisor, Mr. Strong, and another employee of the Advisor in
connection with conduct that occurred between 1987 and early 1990. In re
Strong/Corneliuson Capital Management, Inc.; et al. Admin. Proc.  File No.
3-8411. The proceeding was settled by consent without admitting or denying the
allegations in the Order. The Order alleged that the Advisor and Mr. Strong
aided and abetted violations of Section 17(a) of the 1940 Act by effecting
trades between mutual funds, and between mutual funds and Harbour Investments
Ltd. ("Harbour"), without complying with the exemptive provisions of SEC Rule
17a-7 or otherwise obtaining an exemption. It further alleged that the Advisor
violated, and Mr. Strong aided and abetted violations of, the disclosure
provisions of the 1940 Act and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 by
misrepresenting the Advisor's policy on personal trading and by failing to
disclose trading by Harbour, an entity in which principals of the Advisor owned
between 18 and 25 percent of the voting stock. As part of the settlement, the
respondents agreed to a censure and a cease and desist order and the Advisor
agreed to various undertakings, including adoption of certain procedures and a
limitation for six months on accepting certain types of new advisory clients.

         The staff of the U.S. Department of Labor (the "Staff") has contacted
the Advisor regarding alleged cross-trading of securities between 1987 and
early 1990 involving various customer accounts subject to the Employee
Retirement Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA") and managed by the Advisor.  The
Advisor has informed the Staff of the basis for its position that the trades
complied with ERISA and that, in any event, any alleged noncompliance was not
the cause of any losses to the accounts.  The Staff has stated that it
disagrees with the Advisor's positions, although to date it has not filed any
action against the Advisor.  At this time, the Advisor is negotiating with the
Staff regarding a possible resolution of the matter, but it cannot presently
determine whether the matter will be settled or litigated or, if it is settled
or litigated, how it ultimately will be resolved.  However, management
presently believes, based on current knowledge and the Advisor's insurance
coverage, that the ultimate resolution of this matter should not have a
material adverse effect on the Advisor's financial position.

   
         Under a Distribution Agreement dated July 10, 1995 with the Corporation
(the "Distribution Agreement"), Strong Funds Distributors, Inc.
("Distributor"), a subsidiary of the Advisor, acts as underwriter of the Fund's
shares.  The Distribution Agreement provides that the Distributor will use its
best efforts to distribute the Fund's shares.  Shares are only offered and sold
to the separate accounts of certain insurance companies.  Since the Fund is a
"no-load" fund, no sales commissions are charged on the purchase of Fund
shares.  Certain sales charges may apply to the variable annuity or life
insurance contract, which should be described in the prospectus of the
insurance company's separate account.  The Distribution Agreement further
provides that the Distributor will bear the additional costs of printing
prospectuses and shareholder reports which are used for selling purposes, as
well as advertising and other costs attributable to the distribution of the
Fund's shares.  The Distributor is an indirect subsidiary of the Advisor and
controlled by the Advisor and Richard S. Strong.  The Distribution Agreement is
subject to the same termination and renewal provisions as are described above
with respect to the Advisory Agreement.
    

                      PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE

         The Advisor is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities
for the Fund and for the placement of the Fund's investment business and the
negotiation of the commissions to be paid on such transactions.  It is the
policy of the Advisor to seek the best execution at the best security price
available with respect to each transaction, in light of the overall quality of
brokerage and research services provided to the Advisor or the Fund. In
over-the-counter transactions, orders are placed directly with a principal
market maker unless it is believed that a better price and execution can be
obtained using a broker.  The best price to the Fund means the best net price
without regard to the mix between purchase or sale price and commission, if
any.  In selecting broker-dealers and in negotiating commissions, the Advisor
considers a variety of factors, including best price and execution, the full
range of brokerage services provided by the broker, as well as its capital
strength and stability, and the quality of the research and research services
provided by the broker.  Brokerage will not be allocated based on the sale of
any shares of the Strong Funds.

         Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Section 28(e)")
permits an investment advisor, under certain circumstances, to cause an account
to pay a broker or dealer a commission for effecting a transaction in excess of
the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for
effecting the transaction in recognition of the value of the brokerage





                                       21
<PAGE>   246

and research services provided by the broker or dealer.  Brokerage and research
services include (a) furnishing advice as to the value of securities, the
advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities, and the
availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities; (b)
furnishing analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities,
economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy, and the performance of
accounts; and (c) effecting securities transactions and performing functions
incidental thereto (such as clearance, settlement, and custody).

         In carrying out the provisions of the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor
may cause the Fund to pay a broker, which provides brokerage and research
services to the Advisor, a commission for effecting a securities transaction in
excess of the amount another broker would have charged for effecting the
transaction.  The Advisor believes it is important to its investment
decision-making process to have access to independent research.  The Advisory
Agreement provides that such higher commissions will not be paid by the Fund
unless (a) the Advisor determines in good faith that the amount is reasonable
in relation to the services in terms of the particular transaction or in terms
of the Advisor's overall responsibilities with respect to the accounts as to
which it exercises investment discretion; (b) such payment is made in
compliance with the provisions of Section 28(e), other applicable state and
federal laws, and the Advisory Agreement; and (c) in the opinion of the
Advisor, the total commissions paid by the Fund will be reasonable in relation
to the benefits to the Fund over the long term. The investment advisory fee
paid by the Fund under the Advisory Agreement is not reduced as a result of the
Advisor's receipt of research services.

         Generally, research services provided by brokers may include
information on the economy, industries, groups of securities, individual
companies, statistical information, accounting and tax law interpretations,
political developments, legal developments affecting portfolio securities,
technical market action, pricing and appraisal services, credit analysis, risk
measurement analysis, performance analysis, and analysis of corporate
responsibility issues. Such research services are received primarily in the
form of written reports, telephone contacts, and personal meetings with
security analysts. In addition, such research services may be provided in the
form of access to various computer-generated data, computer hardware and
software, and meetings arranged with corporate and industry spokespersons,
economists, academicians, and government representatives. In some cases,
research services are generated by third parties but are provided to the
Advisor by or through brokers. Such brokers may pay for all or a portion of
computer hardware and software costs relating to the pricing of securities.

         Where the Advisor itself receives both administrative benefits and
research and brokerage services from the services provided by brokers, it makes
a good faith allocation between the administrative benefits and the research
and brokerage services, and will pay for any administrative benefits with cash.
In making good faith allocations of costs between administrative benefits and
research and brokerage services, a conflict of interest may exist by reason of
the Advisor's allocation of the costs of such benefits and services between
those that primarily benefit the Advisor and those that primarily benefit the
Fund and other advisory clients.

         From time to time, the Advisor may purchase securities for the Fund in
a fixed price offering. In these situations, the seller may be a member of the
selling group that will, in addition to selling the securities to the Fund and
other advisory clients, provide the Advisor with research. The National
Association of Securities Dealers has adopted rules expressly permitting these
types of arrangements under certain circumstances. Generally, the seller will
provide research "credits" in these situations at a rate that is higher than
that which is available for typical secondary market transactions. These
arrangements may not fall within the safe harbor of Section 28(e).

         Each year, the Advisor considers the amount and nature of research and
research services provided by brokers, as well as the extent to which such
services are relied upon, and attempts to allocate a portion of the brokerage
business of the Fund and other advisory clients on the basis of that
consideration. In addition, brokers may suggest a level of business they would
like to receive in order to continue to provide such services. The actual
brokerage business received by a broker may be more or less than the suggested
allocations, depending upon the Advisor's evaluation of all applicable
considerations.

         During its last fiscal year, the Advisor had an arrangement with
various brokers whereby, in consideration of the providing of research
services, the Advisor allocated brokerage to those firms, provided that their
brokerage and research services were satisfactory to the Advisor and their
execution capabilities were compatible with the Advisor's policy of seeking
best execution at the best security price available, as discussed above.





                                       22
<PAGE>   247


         The Advisor may direct the purchase of securities on behalf of the
Fund and other advisory clients in secondary market transactions, in public
offerings directly from an underwriter, or in privately negotiated transactions
with an issuer. When the Advisor believes the circumstances so warrant,
securities purchased in public offerings may be resold shortly after
acquisition in the immediate aftermarket for the security in order to take
advantage of price appreciation from the public offering price or for other
reasons. Short-term trading of securities acquired in public offerings, or
otherwise, may result in higher portfolio turnover and associated brokerage
expenses.

         The Advisor places portfolio transactions for other advisory accounts,
including other mutual funds managed by the Advisor.  Research services
furnished by firms through which the Fund effects its securities transactions
may be used by the Advisor in servicing all of its accounts; not all of such
services may be used by the Advisor in connection with the Fund.  In the
opinion of the Advisor, it is not possible to measure separately the benefits
from research services to each of the accounts (including the Fund) managed by
the Advisor. Because the volume and nature of the trading activities of the
accounts are not uniform, the amount of commissions in excess of those charged
by another broker paid by each account for brokerage and research services will
vary.  However, in the opinion of the Advisor, such costs to the Fund will not
be disproportionate to the benefits received by the Fund on a continuing basis.

         The Advisor seeks to allocate portfolio transactions equitably
whenever concurrent decisions are made to purchase or sell securities by the
Fund and another advisory account. In some cases, this procedure could have an
adverse effect on the price or the amount of securities available to the Fund.
In making such allocations between the Fund and other advisory accounts, the
main factors considered by the Advisor are the respective investment
objectives, the relative size of portfolio holdings of the same or comparable
securities, the availability of cash for investment, the size of investment
commitments generally held, and the opinions of the persons responsible for
recommending the investment.

         The Corporation has entered into agreements with the Advisor and each
of Salomon and PaineWebber (collectively, the "Brokers"), in which the Brokers
have agreed to pay directly to vendors certain investment management and other
related expenses incurred and otherwise payable by the Fund ("Expense
Agreements"). In accordance with the Expense Agreements, the Advisor directs
the delivery to the Brokers of invoices determined by the Fund to be
appropriate for payment by the Brokers.  The Brokers pay the invoices with the
proceeds of certain commissions received from the Fund.  The Expense Agreements
provide that a percentage of commissions received from the Fund for completed
agency transactions in certain securities for the Fund, designated by the
Advisor as directed commissions subject to the Expense Agreements, shall be
used by the Brokers to pay the invoices.  In all cases, such credits have been
immaterial in amount. The Advisor believes that this practice has not resulted
in any increase in the level of commissions paid by the Fund.  Investment
management and other related expenses include those payable by the Fund, as
described under "Investment Advisor and Distributor" in this Statement of
Additional Information.

                                   CUSTODIAN

         As custodian of the Fund's assets, Firstar Trust Company, P.O. Box
761, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201, has custody of all securities and cash of the
Fund, delivers and receives payment for securities sold, receives and pays for
securities purchased, collects income from investments, and performs other
duties, all as directed by officers of the Corporation.  The custodian is in no
way responsible for any of the investment policies or decisions of the Fund.

                  TRANSFER AGENT AND DIVIDEND-DISBURSING AGENT

   
         The Advisor acts as transfer agent and dividend-disbursing agent for
the Fund at no cost.
    

   
                           ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
    

   
        From time to time the Fund and/or the Advisor may enter into
arrangements under which certain administrative services may be performed by
the insurance companies that purchase shares in the Fund. These administrative
services may include, among other things, responding to ministerial inquiries
concerning the Fund's investment objective, investment program, policies and
performance, transmitting, on behalf of the Fund, proxy statements, annual
reports, updated prospectuses, and other communications regarding the Fund, and
providing only related services as the Fund or its shareholders may reasonably
request. Depending on the arrangements,  the Fund and/or Advisor may compensate
such insurance companies or their agents directly or indirectly for the
administrative services. To the extent the Fund compensates the insurance
company for these services, the Fund will pay the insurance company an annual
fee that will vary depending upon the number of contract holders that utilize
the Fund as the funding medium for their contracts. The insurance company may
impose other account or service charges. See the prospectus for the separate 
account of the insurance company for additional information regarding such 
charges.
    

                                       23
<PAGE>   248



                                     TAXES


GENERAL

         As indicated under "Additional Information - Distributions and Taxes"
in the Prospectus, the Fund intends to continue to qualify annually for
treatment as a regulated investment company ("RIC") under the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").  This qualification does not involve
government supervision of the Fund's management practices or policies.

         In order to qualify for treatment as a RIC under the Code, the Fund
must distribute to its shareholders for each taxable year at least 90% of its
investment company taxable income (consisting generally of net investment
income, net short-term capital gain, and net gains from certain foreign
currency transactions) ("Distribution Requirement") and must meet several
additional requirements.  Among these requirements are the following: (1) the
Fund must derive at least 90% of its gross income each taxable year 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 (including gains from options, futures, or forward contracts) derived
with respect to its business of investing in securities or those currencies
("Income Requirement"); (2) the Fund must derive less than 30% of its gross
income each taxable year from the sale or other disposition of securities, or
any of the following, that were held for less than three months - options or
futures (other than those on foreign currencies), or foreign currencies (or
options, futures, or forward contracts thereon) that are not directly related
to the Fund's principal business or investing in securities (or options and
futures with respect to securities) ("30% Limitation"); (3) 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, with these other securities
limited, in respect of any one issuer, to an amount that does not exceed 5% of
the value of the Fund's total assets and that does not represent more than 10%
of the issuer's outstanding voting securities; and (4) at the close of each
quarter of the Fund's taxable year, not more than 25% of the value of its total
assets may be invested in securities (other than U.S.  government securities or
the securities of other RICs) of any one issuer.

         If Fund shares are sold at a loss after being held for six months or
less, the loss will be treated as long-term, instead of short-term, capital
loss to the extent of any capital gain distributions received on those shares.

         In addition, the Fund must satisfy the diversification requirements of
Section 817(h) of the Code.  In general, for the Fund to meet these investment
diversification requirements, Treasury regulations require that no more than
55% of the total value of the assets of the Fund may be represented by any one
investment, no more than 70% by two investments, no more than 80% by three
investments and no more than 90% by four investments.  Generally, for purposes
of the regulations, all securities of the same issuer are treated as a single
investment.  With respect to the United States Government securities (including
any security that is issued, guaranteed or insured by the United States or an
instrumentality of the United States), each governmental agency or
instrumentality is treated as a separate issuer.  Compliance with the
regulations is tested on the last day of each calendar year quarter.  There is
a 30-day period after the end of each calendar year quarter in which to cure
any non-compliance with these requirements.

FOREIGN TRANSACTIONS

         Interest and dividends received by the Fund may be subject to income,
withholding, or other taxes imposed by foreign countries and U.S.  possessions
that would reduce the yield on its securities.  Tax conventions between certain
countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate these foreign taxes,
however, and many foreign countries do not impose taxes on capital gains in
respect of investments by foreign investors.

         The Fund maintains its accounts and calculates its income in U.S.
dollars.  In general, gain or loss (1) from the disposition of foreign
currencies and forward currency contracts, (2) from the disposition of
foreign-currency-denominated debt securities that are attributable to
fluctuations in exchange rates between the date the securities are acquired and
their disposition date, and (3) attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates
between the time the Fund accrues interest or other receivables or expenses or
other liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time the Fund
actually collects those receivables or pays those liabilities, will be treated
as ordinary income or loss.  A foreign-currency-denominated debt security
acquired by the Fund





                                       24
<PAGE>   249

may bear interest at a high normal rate that takes into account expected
decreases in the value of the principal amount of the security due to
anticipated currency devaluations; in that case, the Fund would be required to
include the interest in income as it accrues but generally would realize a
currency loss with respect to the principal only when the principal was
received (through disposition or upon maturity).

         The Fund may invest in the stock of "passive foreign investment
companies" ("PFICs").  A PFIC is a foreign corporation that, in general, meets
either of the following tests: (1) at least 75% of its gross income is passive
or (2) an average of at least 50% of its assets produce, or are held for the
production of, passive income.  Under certain circumstances, the Fund will be
subject to federal income tax on a portion of any "excess distribution"
received on the stock or of any gain on disposition of the stock (collectively,
"PFIC income"), plus interest thereon, even if the Fund distributes the PFIC
income to its shareholders.  The balance of the PFIC income will be included in
the Fund's investment company taxable income and, accordingly, will not be
taxable to it to the extent that income is distributed to its shareholders.  If
the Fund invests in a PFIC and elects to treat the PFIC as a "qualified
electing fund," then in lieu of the foregoing tax and interest obligation, the
Fund will be required to include in income each year its pro rata share of the
qualified electing fund's annual ordinary earnings and net capital gain (the
excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) -- which
probably would have to be distributed to its shareholders to satisfy the
Distribution Requirement -- even if those earnings and gain were not received
by the Fund.  In most instances it will be very difficult, if not impossible,
to make this election because of certain requirements thereof.

         The "Tax Simplification and Technical Corrections Bill of 1993,"
passed in May 1994 by the House of Representatives would substantially modify
the taxation of U.S. shareholders of foreign corporations, including
eliminating the provisions described above dealing with PFICs and replacing
them (and other provisions) with a regulatory scheme involving entities called
"passive foreign corporations." Three similar bills were passed by Congress in
1991 and 1992 and were vetoed.  It is unclear at this time whether, and in what
form, the proposed modifications may be enacted into law.

         Pursuant to proposed regulations, open-end RICs such as the Fund would
be entitled to elect to "mark-to-market" their stock in certain PFICs.
"Marking-to-market," in this context, means recognizing as gain for each
taxable year the excess, as of the end of that year, of the fair market value
of each such PFIC's stock over the adjusted basis in that stock (including
mark-to-market gain for each prior year for which an election was in effect).

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

         The use of derivatives strategies, such as purchasing and selling
(writing) options and futures and entering into forward currency contracts,
involves complex rules that will determine for income tax purposes the
character and timing of recognition of the gains and losses the Fund realizes
in connection therewith.  Gains from the disposition of foreign currencies
(except certain gains therefrom that may be excluded by future regulations),
and income from transactions in options, futures, and forward currency
contracts derived by the Fund with respect to its business of investing in
securities or foreign currencies, will qualify as permissible income under the
Income Requirement.  However, income from the disposition of options and
futures (other than those on foreign currencies) will be subject to the 30%
Limitation if they are held for less than three months.  Income from the
disposition of foreign currencies, and options, futures, and forward contracts
on foreign currencies, that are not directly related to the Fund's principal
business of investing in securities (or options and futures with respect to
securities) also will be subject to the 30% Limitation if they are held for
less than three months.

         If the Fund satisfies certain requirements, any increase in value of a
position that is part of a "designated hedge" will be offset by any decrease in
value (whether realized or not) of the offsetting hedging position during the
period of the hedge for purposes of determining whether the Fund satisfies the
30% Limitation.  Thus, only the net gain (if any) from the designated hedge
will be included in gross income for purposes of that limitation.  The Fund
intends that, when it engages in hedging strategies, the hedging transactions
will qualify for this treatment, but at the present time it is not clear
whether this treatment will be available for all of the Fund's hedging
transactions.  To the extent this treatment is not available or is not elected
by the Fund, it may be forced to defer the closing out of certain options,
futures, or forward currency contracts beyond the time when it otherwise would
be advantageous to do so, in order for the Fund to continue to qualify as a
RIC.

         For federal income tax purposes, the Fund is required to recognize as
income for each taxable year its net unrealized gains and losses on options,
futures, and forward currency contracts that are subject to section 1256 of the
Code ("Section 1256 Contracts") and are held by the Fund as of the end of the
year, as well as gains and losses on Section 1256 Contracts actually





                                       25
<PAGE>   250

realized during the year.  Except for Section 1256 Contracts that are part of a
"mixed straddle" and with respect to which the Fund makes a certain election,
any gain or loss recognized with respect to Section 1256 Contracts is
considered to be 60% long-term capital gain or loss and 40% short-term capital
gain or loss, without regard to the holding period of the Section 1256
Contract.  Unrealized gains on Section 1256 Contracts that have been held by
the Fund for less than three months as of the end of its taxable year, and that
are recognized for federal income tax purposes as described above, will not be
considered gains on investments held for less than three months for purposes of
the 30% Limitation.

ZERO-COUPON, STEP-COUPON, AND PAY-IN-KIND SECURITIES

         The Fund may acquire zero-coupon, step-coupon, or other securities
issued with original issue discount.  As a holder of those securities, the Fund
must include in its income the original issue discount that accrues on the
securities during the taxable year, even if the Fund receives no corresponding
payment on the securities during the year.  Similarly, the Fund must include in
its income securities it receives as "interest" on pay-in-kind securities.
Because the Fund annually must distribute substantially all of its investment
company taxable income, including any original issue discount and other
non-cash income, to satisfy the Distribution Requirement, it may be required in
a particular year to distribute as a dividend an amount that is greater than
the total amount of cash it actually receives.  Those distributions may be made
from the proceeds on sales of portfolio securities, if necessary.  The Fund may
realize capital gains or losses from those sales, which would increase or
decrease its investment company taxable income or net capital gain, or both.
In addition, any such gains may be realized on the disposition of securities
held for less than three months.  Because of the 30% Limitation, any such gains
would reduce the Fund's ability to sell other securities, or certain options,
futures, or forward currency  contracts, held for less that three months that
it might wish to sell in the ordinary course of its portfolio management.

                        DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

         A more complete discussion of the Fund's determination of net asset
value is contained in the Prospectus.  Generally, the net asset value of the
Fund will be determined as of the close of trading on each day the New York
Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") is open for trading. The NYSE is open for trading
Monday through Friday except New Year's Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday,
Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
Additionally, if any of the aforementioned holidays falls on a Saturday, the
NYSE will not be open for trading on the preceding Friday, and when any such
holiday falls on a Sunday, the NYSE will not be open for trading on the
succeeding Monday, unless unusual business conditions exist, such as the ending
of a monthly or the yearly accounting period.

         Debt securities are valued by a pricing service that utilizes
electronic data processing techniques to determine values for normal
institutional-sized trading units of debt securities without regard to sale or
bid prices when such values are believed to more accurately reflect the fair
market value for such securities. Otherwise, sale or bid prices are used. Any
securities or other assets for which market quotations are not readily
available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Corporation.  Debt securities having remaining maturities of 
60 days or less when purchased are valued by the amortized cost method when the
Corporation's Board of Directors determines that the fair value of such
securities is their amortized cost. Under this method of valuation, a security
is initially valued at its acquisition cost, and thereafter, amortization of
any discount or premium is assumed each day, regardless of the impact of the
fluctuating rates on the market value of the instrument.


                               FUND ORGANIZATION

   
         The Fund is a series of Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc., a
Wisconsin corporation (the "Corporation").  The Corporation (formerly known as
Strong Discovery Fund II, Inc., formerly known as Strong D Fund, Inc.) was
organized on December 28, 1990 and is authorized to issue 10,000,000,000 shares
of common stock and series and classes of series of shares of common stock,
with a par value of $.00001 per share.  The Corporation is authorized to issue
300,000,000 shares of common stock of the Fund.  Each share of the Corporation
has one vote, and all shares of a series participate equally in dividends and
other capital gains distributions and in the residual assets of that Fund in
the event of liquidation. Fractional shares have the same rights
proportionately as do full shares. Shares of the Corporation have no
preemptive, conversion, or subscription rights.  The
    




                                       26
<PAGE>   251
   
Corporation currently has six series of common stock outstanding.  The
assets belonging to each series of shares is held separately by the custodian,
and in effect each series is a separate fund.  All holders of shares of the
Corporation would vote on each matter presented to shareholders for action
except with respect to any matter which affects only one or more series or
classes, in which case only the shares of the affected series or class shall be
entitled to vote.  Because of current federal securities law requirements the
Corporation expects that its shareholders will offer to owners of variable
annuity and variable life insurance contracts the opportunity to instruct them
as to how shares allocable to their contracts will be voted with respect to
certain matters, such as approval of changes to the investment advisory
agreement.  The Wisconsin Business Corporation Law permits registered
investment companies, such as the series of the Corporation, to operate without
an annual meeting of shareholder under specified circumstances if an annual
meeting is not required by the 1940 Act.  The Corporation has adopted the
appropriate provisions in its Bylaws and may, at its discretion, not hold an
annual meeting in any year in which the election of directors is not required
to be acted on by shareholders under the 1940 Act.
    

   
         The Corporation's Bylaws allow for a director to be removed with or
without cause, only at a meeting called for the pupose of removing the director.
Upon the written request of the holders of shares entitled to not less
than ten percent (10%) of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting,
the Secretary of the Corporation shall promptly call a special meeting of
shareholders for the purpose of voting upon the question of removal of any
director.  The Secretary shall inform such shareholders of the reasonable
estimated costs of preparing and mailing the notice of the meeting, and upon
payment to the Corporation of such costs, the Corporation shall give not less
than ten nor more than sixty days notice of the special meeting.
    

                            PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

         As described under "Additional Information - Performance Information"
in the Prospectus, the Fund's historical performance or return may be shown in
the form of "average annual total return," "total return," and "cumulative
total return."  From time to time, the Advisor may voluntarily waive all or a
portion of its management fee and/or absorb certain expenses for the Fund.
Total returns contained in advertisements include the effect of deducting the
Fund's expenses, but may not include charges and expenses attributable to any
particular insurance product.  Since shares may only be purchased by the
separate accounts of certain insurance companies, contracts owners should
carefully review the prospectus of the separate account for information on





                                       27
<PAGE>   252

fees and expenses.  Excluding such fees and expenses from the Fund's total
return quotations has the effect of increasing the performance quoted.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN

         The Fund's average annual total return quotation is computed in
accordance with a standardized method prescribed by rules of the SEC.  The
average annual total return for the Fund for a specific period is found by
first taking a hypothetical $10,000 investment ("initial investment") in the
Fund's shares on the first day of the period and computing the "redeemable
value" of that investment at the end of the period.  The redeemable value is
then divided by the initial investment, and this quotient is taken to the Nth
root (N representing the number of years in the period) and one is subtracted
from the result, which is then expressed as a percentage.  The calculation
assumes that all income and capital gains dividends paid by the Fund have been
reinvested at net asset value on the reinvestment dates during the period.

TOTAL RETURN

         Calculation of the Fund's total return is not subject to a
standardized formula.  Total return performance for a specific period is
calculated by first taking an investment (assumed below to be $10,000)
("initial investment") in the Fund's shares on the first day of the period and
computing the "ending value" of that investment at the end of the period.  The
total return percentage is then determined by subtracting the initial
investment from the ending value and dividing the remainder by the initial
investment and expressing the result as a percentage.  The calculation assumes
that all income and capital gains dividends paid by the Fund have been
reinvested at net asset value on the reinvestment dates during the period.
Total return may also be shown as the increased dollar value of the
hypothetical investment over the period.

CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN

         Calculation of the Fund's cumulative total return is not subject to a
standardized formula and represents the simple change in value of an investment
over a stated period and may be quoted as a percentage or as a dollar amount.
Total returns and cumulative total returns may be broken down into their
components of income and capital (including capital gains and changes in share
price) in order to illustrate the relationship between these factors and their
contributions to total return.

         The Fund's performance figures are based upon historical results and
do not represent future performance.  The Fund's shares are sold at net asset
value per share.  The Fund's returns and net asset value will fluctuate and
shares are redeemable at the then current net asset value of the Fund, which
may be more or less than original cost.  Factors affecting the Fund's
performance include general market conditions, operating expenses, and
investment management.  Any additional fees charged by an insurance company or
other financial services firm would reduce the returns described in this
section.

COMPARISONS

(1)      U.S. TREASURY BILLS, NOTES, OR BONDS
         Investors may also wish to compare the performance of the Fund to that
of United States Treasury bills, notes, or bonds, which are issued by the U.S.
government, because such instruments represent alternative income producing
products.  Treasury obligations are issued in selected denominations.  Rates of
Treasury obligations are fixed at the time of issuance and payment of principal
and interest is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States
Treasury.  The market value of such instruments will generally fluctuate
inversely with interest rates prior to maturity and will equal par value at
maturity.

(2)      CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT
         Investors may wish to compare the Fund's performance to that of
certificates of deposit offered by banks and other depositary institutions.
Certificates of deposit represent an alternative income producing product.
Certificates of deposit may offer fixed or variable interest rates and
principal is guaranteed and may be insured. Withdrawal of the deposits prior to
maturity normally will be subject to a penalty.  Rates offered by banks and
other depositary institutions are subject to change at any time specified by
the issuing institution.





                                       28
<PAGE>   253

(3)      MONEY MARKET FUNDS
         Investors may also want to compare performance of the Fund to that of
money market funds.  Money market fund yields will fluctuate and an investment
in money market fund shares is neither insured nor guaranteed by the U.S.
government, but share values usually remain stable.

(4)      LIPPER ANALYTICAL SERVICES, INC. ("LIPPER") AND OTHER INDEPENDENT
         RANKING ORGANIZATIONS
         From time to time, in marketing and other fund literature, the Fund's
performance may be compared to the performance of other mutual funds in general
or to the performance of particular types of mutual funds, with similar
investment goals, as tracked by independent organizations.  Among these
organizations, Lipper, a widely used independent research firm which ranks
mutual funds by overall performance, investment objectives, and assets, may be
cited.  Lipper performance figures are based on changes in net asset value,
with all income and capital gain dividends reinvested.  Such calculations do
not include the effect of any sales charges imposed by other funds.  The Fund
will be compared to Lipper's appropriate fund category, that is, by fund
objective and portfolio holdings.

(5)      MORNINGSTAR, INC.
         The Fund's performance may also be compared to the performance of
other mutual funds by Morningstar, Inc. which rates funds on the basis of
historical risk and total return.  Morningstar's ratings range from five stars
(highest) to one star (lowest) and represent Morningstar's assessment of the
historical risk level and total return of the Fund as a weighted average for 3,
5, and 10 year periods.  Ratings are not absolute and do not represent future
results.

(6)      VARDS REPORT
         The Fund's performance may also be compared to the performance of
other variable annuity products in general or to the performance of particular
types of variable annuity products, with similar investment goals, as tracked
by the VARDS Report (Variable Annuity Research and Data Service Report)
produced by Financial Planning Resources, Inc.  The VARDS Report is a monthly
performance analysis of the variable annuity industry.

(7)      INDEPENDENT SOURCES
         Evaluations of Fund performance made by independent sources may also
be used in advertisements concerning the Fund, including reprints of, or
selections from, editorials or articles about the Fund, especially those with
similar objectives.  Sources for Fund performance information and articles
about the Fund may include publications such as Money, Forbes, Kiplinger's,
Smart Money, Morningstar, Inc., Financial World, Business Week, U.S. News and
World Report, The Wall Street Journal, Barron's, and a variety of investment
newsletters.

 (8)     INDICES
         A Fund may compare its performance to a wide variety of indices
including the following:

         (a)     Consumer Price Index
         (b)     Dow Jones Average of 30 Industrials
         (c)     NASDAQ Over-the-Counter Composite Index
         (d)     Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index
         (e)     Standard & Poor's 400 Mid-Cap Stock Index
         (f)     Standard & Poor's 600 Small-Cap Index
         (g)     Wilshire 4500 Index
         (h)     Wilshire 5000 Index
         (i)     Wilshire Small Cap Index
         (j)     Wilshire Small Cap Growth Index
         (k)     Wilshire Small Cap Value Index
         (l)     Wilshire Midcap 750 Index
         (m)     Wilshire Midcap Growth Index
         (n)     Wilshire Midcap Value Index
         (o)     Wilshire Large Cap Growth Index
         (p)     Russell 1000 Index
         (q)     Russell 1000 Growth Index
         (r)     Russell 2000 Index





                                       29
<PAGE>   254


         (s)     Russell 2000 Small Stock Index
         (t)     Russell 2000 Growth Index
         (u)     Russell 2000 Value Index
         (v)     Russell 2500 Index
         (w)     Russell 3000 Stock Index
         (x)     Russell MidCap Index
         (y)     Russell MidCap Growth Index
         (z)     Russell MidCap Value Index
         (aa)    Value Line Index
         (bb)    Morgan Stanley Capital International EAFE(R) Index (Net
                 Dividend, Gross Dividend, and Price-Only). In addition, a Fund
                 may compare its performance to certain other indices that
                 measure stock market performance in geographic areas in which
                 the Fund may invest.  The market prices and yields of the
                 stocks in these indexes will fluctuate.  A Fund may also
                 compare its portfolio weighting to the EAFE Index weighting,
                 which represents the relative capitalization of the major
                 overseas markets on a dollar-adjusted basis
         (cc)    Morgan Stanley Capital International World Index

         There are differences and similarities between the investments that a
Fund may purchase for its portfolio and the investments measured by these
indicies.

(9)      HISTORICAL ASSET CLASS RETURNS
         From time to time, marketing materials may portray the historical
returns of various asset classes.  Such presentations will typically compare
the average annual rates of return of inflation, U.S. Treasury bills, bonds,
common stocks, and small stocks. There are important differences between each
of these investments that should be considered in viewing any such comparison.
The market value of stocks will fluctuate with market conditions, and
small-stock prices generally will fluctuate more than large-stock prices. Bond
prices generally will fluctuate inversely with interest rates and other market
conditions, and the prices of bonds with longer maturities generally will
fluctuate more than those of shorter-maturity bonds. Interest rates for bonds
may be fixed at the time of issuance, and payment of principal and interest may
be guaranteed by the issuer and, in the case of U.S. Treasury obligations,
backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury.

   
(10)
    
   
        STRONG VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS
        The Strong Variable Insurance Funds offer a range of investment
options. All of the members of the Strong Variable Insurance Funds and their
investment objectives are listed below. The Funds are listed in ascending order
of risk and return, as determined by the Funds' Advisor.
    

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>                     
FUND NAME                                        INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                              <C>
Strong Advantage Fund II                         Current income with a very low degree of
                                                 share-price fluctuation.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Government Securities Fund II             Total return by investing for a high level of current income 
                                                 with a moderate degree of share-price fluctuation.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Asset Allocation Fund II                  High total return consistent with reasonable risk over the 
                                                 long term.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Special Fund II                           Capital growth.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Growth Fund II                            Capital growth.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Discovery Fund II                         Capital growth.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong International Stock Fund II               Capital growth.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
    

        
        Each Fund may from time to time be compared to the other Funds in
the Strong Variable Insurance Funds based on a risk/reward spectrum. In
general, the amount of risk associated with any investment product is
commensurate with that product's potential level of reward. The Strong Variable
Insurance Funds' risk/reward continuum or any Fund's position on the continuum
may be described or diagrammed in marketing materials. The Strong Variable
Insurance Funds' risk/reward continuum positions the risk and reward potential
of each Fund relative to the other Strong Variable Insurance Funds, but is not
intended to position any Fund relative to other mutual funds or investment
products. Marketing materials may also discuss the relationship between risk and
reward as it relates to an individual investor's portfolio. Financial goals vary
from person to person. You may choose one or more of the Strong Variable
Insurance Funds to help you reach your financial goals.
        

        
        The Advisor also serves as advisor to the Strong Family of Funds, which
is a retail fund complex composed of 23 open-end management investment
companies.
        

ADDITIONAL FUND INFORMATION

(1)      PORTFOLIO CHARACTERISTICS

         In order to present a more complete picture of a Fund's portfolio,
marketing materials may include various actual or estimated portfolio
characteristics, including but not limited to median market capitalizations,
earnings per share, alphas, betas, price/earnings ratios, returns on equity,
dividend yields, capitalization ranges, growth rates, price/book ratios, top
holdings, sector breakdowns, asset allocations, quality breakdowns, and
breakdowns by geographic region.

(2)      MEASURES OF VOLATILITY AND RELATIVE PERFORMANCE

         Occasionally statistics may be used to specify Fund volatility or
risk. The general premise is that greater volatility connotes greater risk
undertaken in achieving performance.  Measures of volatility or risk are
generally used to compare the Fund's net asset value or performance relative to
a market index.  One measure of volatility is beta.  Beta is the volatility of
a fund relative to the total market as represented by the Standard & Poor's 500
Stock Index.  A beta of more than 1.00 indicates volatility greater than the
market, and a beta of less than 1.00 indicates volatility less than the market.
Another measure of volatility or risk is standard deviation. Standard deviation
is a statistical tool that measures the degree to which a fund's performance
has varied from its average performance during a particular time period.





                                       30
<PAGE>   255

Standard deviation is calculated using the following formula:

                                                        2
      Standard deviation = the square root of  +(x - x )
                                                  i   m    
                                                --------           
                                                  n-1
where    +  = "the sum of",
         x  = each individual return during the time period,
          i
         x  = the average return over the time period, and
          m
         n  = the number of individual returns during the time period.

         Statistics may also be used to discuss a Fund's relative performance.
One such measure is alpha. Alpha measures the actual return of a fund compared
to the expected return of a fund given its risk (as measured by beta).  The
expected return is based on how the market as a whole performed, and how the
particular fund has historically performed against the market. Specifically,
alpha is the actual return less the expected return. The expected return is
computed by multiplying the advance or decline in a market representation by
the fund's beta. A positive alpha quantifies the value that the fund manager
has added, and a negative alpha quantifies the value that the fund manager has
lost.

         Other measures of volatility and relative performance may be used as
appropriate. However, all such measures will fluctuate and do not represent
future results.
                              GENERAL INFORMATION

BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY

         The Advisor is an independent, Midwestern-based investment advisor,
owned by professionals active in its management. Recognizing that investors are
the focus of its business, the Advisor strives for excellence both in
investment management and in the service provided to investors. This commitment
affects many aspects of the business, including professional staffing, product
development, investment management, and service delivery.  Through its
commitment to excellence, the Advisor intends to benefit investors and to
encourage them to think of Strong Funds as their mutual fund family.

         The increasing complexity of the capital markets requires specialized
skills and processes for each asset class and style. Therefore, the Advisor
believes that active management should produce greater returns than a passively
managed index.  The Advisor has brought together a group of top-flight
investment professionals with diverse product expertise, and each concentrates
on their investment specialty. The Advisor believes that people are the firm's
most important asset. For this reason, continuity of professionals is critical
to the firm's long-term success.

INVESTMENT ENVIRONMENT

         Discussions of economic, social, and political conditions and their
impact on the Fund may be used in advertisements and sales materials.  Such
factors that may impact the Fund include, but are not limited to, changes in
interest rates, political developments, the competitive environment, consumer
behavior, industry trends, technological advances, macroeconomic trends, and
the supply and demand of various financial instruments.  In addition, marketing
materials may cite the portfolio management's views or interpretations of such
factors.

EIGHT BASIC PRINCIPLES FOR SUCCESSFUL MUTUAL FUND INVESTING

         These common sense rules are followed by many successful investors.
They make sense for beginners, too. If you have a question on these principles,
or would like to discuss them with us, please contact us at 1-800-368-3863.

1.  Have a plan - even a simple plan can help you take control of your
    financial future. Review your plan once a year, or if your circumstances
    change.

2.  Start investing as soon as possible. Make time a valuable ally. Let it put
    the power of compounding to work for you, while helping to reduce your
    potential investment risk.

                                      31
<PAGE>   256

3.  Diversify your portfolio. By investing in different asset classes - stocks,
    bonds, and cash - you help protect against poor performance in one type of
    investment while including investments most likely to help you achieve your
    important goals.

4.  Invest regularly. Investing is a process, not a one-time event. Make a
    habit of investing. And make it easy for yourself with an "automatic
    investment plan." This popular strategy not only helps you manage
    investment risk, it also ensures you "pay yourself first" on a regular
    basis.

5.  Maintain a long-term perspective. For most individuals, the best discipline
    is staying invested as market conditions change. Reactive, emotional
    investment decisions are all too often a source of regret - and principal
    loss.

6.  Consider stocks to help achieve major long-term goals. Over time, stocks
    have provided the more powerful returns needed to help the value of your
    investments stay well ahead of inflation.

7.  Keep a comfortable amount of cash in your portfolio. To meet current needs,
    including emergencies, use a money market fund or a bank account - not your
    long-term investment assets.

8.  Know what you're buying. Make sure you understand the potential risks and
    rewards associated with each of your investments. Ask questions...request
    information...make up your own mind. And choose a fund company that helps
    you make informed investment decisions.

                              PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT


         Conventional wisdom often divides fund managers into two schools --
growth and value.  Growth-style managers look for companies that exhibit
faster-than-average gains in earnings and profits.  Value-style managers
generally concentrate more on the price side of the equation, looking for
companies that are undervalued and selling at a discount to what they believe
is their intrinsic value.

         The style of the portfolio manager for the Fund, Mr. Ronald C. Ognar,
leans more toward growth, although he keeps an eye on valuations.  The Fund's
core investments tend to be growth stocks at reasonable prices. The Advisor
looks for growth of both sales and earnings.  The Advisor believes that, in
general, good growth companies exhibit accelerating sales and earnings, high
return on equity, and, typically, low debt.  They offer products or services
that should show strong future growth, and their market share is expanding.
Other characteristics that the Advisor looks for in companies include low cost
production, innovative products, and  strong fundamentals versus an index. In
short, they offer some unique, sustainable competitive advantage.   However,
the Advisor believes that the key is the management.  Mr. Ognar meets
face-to-face with the management of many companies, which helps him get to know
and trust a company and the people in charge of it.

         Currently, the Advisor is focusing on some companies that are
undergoing positive change.  Oftentimes, a new product, a new technology, or a
change in management can positively affect a company's earnings growth
prospects.  Themes also play a part in the investment strategy.  Some examples
would be the aging population, telecommunications, and the rapid development of
foreign economies where U.S. companies have strong revenue growth.

         The Advisor believes that, in the '90s, growth investors need to have
both large and small companies because core holdings with growing dividends are
usually found in larger companies, but faster growth should continue in medium
and small companies. Therefore, the Advisor utilizes a broad range of equity
market capitalizations.





                                       32
<PAGE>   257

                            INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

         Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., 411 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee,
Wisconsin 53202, have been selected as the independent accountants for the
Fund, providing audit services and assistance and consultation with respect to
the preparation of filings with the SEC.

                                 LEGAL COUNSEL

         Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.,  780 North Water Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
53202, acts as outside legal counsel for the Fund.





                                       33
<PAGE>   258



                                    APPENDIX

                                  BOND RATINGS

                         STANDARD & POOR'S DEBT RATINGS

         A Standard & Poor's corporate or municipal debt rating is a current
assessment of the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific
obligation.  This assessment may take into consideration obligors such as
guarantors, insurers, or lessees.

         The debt rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell, or hold a
security, inasmuch as it does not comment as to market price or suitability for
a particular investor.

         The ratings are based on current information furnished by the issuer
or obtained by S&P from other sources it considers reliable.  S&P does not
perform an audit in connection with any rating and may, on occasion, rely on
unaudited financial information.  The ratings may be changed, suspended, or
withdrawn as a result of changes in, or unavailability of, such information, or
for other circumstances.

         The ratings are based, in varying degrees,
on the following considerations:

                 1.       Likelihood of default -- capacity and willingness of
                          the obligor as to the timely payment of interest and
                          repayment of principal in accordance with the terms
                          of the obligation.

                 2.       Nature of and provisions of the obligation.

                 3.       Protection afforded by, and relative position of, the
                          obligation in the event of bankruptcy,
                          reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws
                          of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors'
                          rights.

INVESTMENT GRADE
         AAA Debt rated 'AAA' has the highest rating assigned by Standard &
Poor's.  Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.

         AA Debt rated 'AA' has a very strong capacity to pay interest and
repay principal and differs from the highest rated issues only in small degree.

         A Debt rated 'A' has a strong capacity to pay interest and repay
principal although it is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of
changes in circumstances and economic conditions than debt in higher rated
categories.

         BBB Debt rated 'BBB' is regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay
interest and repay principal.  Whereas it normally exhibits adequate protection
parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more
likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for
debt in this category than in higher rated categories.

SPECULATIVE GRADE
         Debt rated 'BB', 'B', 'CCC', 'CC' and 'C' is regarded as having
predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay
interest and repay principal.  'BB' indicates the least degree of speculation
and 'C' the highest.  While such debt will likely have some quality and
protective characteristics, these are outweighed by large uncertainties or
major risk exposures to adverse conditions.

         BB Debt rated 'BB' has less near-term vulnerability to default than
other speculative issues.  However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or
exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could
lead to inadequate capacity to meet timely interest and principal payments.
The 'BB' rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that
is assigned an actual or implied 'BBB-' rating.





                                      A-1
<PAGE>   259


         B Debt rated 'B' has a greater vulnerability to default but currently
has the capacity to meet interest payments and principal repayments.  Adverse
business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair capacity or
willingness to pay interest and repay principal.  The 'B' rating category is
also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or
implied 'BB' or 'BB-' rating.

         CCC Debt rated 'CCC' has a currently identifiable vulnerability to
default, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic
conditions to meet timely payment of interest and repayment of principal.  In
the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, it is not
likely to have the capacity to pay interest and repay principal.  The 'CCC'
rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is
assigned an actual or implied 'B' or 'B-' rating.

         CC Debt rated 'CC' typically is applied to debt subordinated to senior
debt that is assigned an actual or implied 'CCC' rating.

         C  Debt rated 'C' typically is applied to debt subordinated to senior
debt which is assigned an actual or implied 'CCC-' debt rating.  The 'C' rating
may be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy petition has been filed,
but debt service payments are continued.

         CI The rating 'CI' is reserved for income bonds on which no interest
is being paid.

         D  Debt rated 'D' is in payment default.  The 'D' rating category is
used when interest payments or principal payments are not made on the date due
even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless S&P believes that
such payments will be made during such grade period.  The 'D' rating also will
be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition if debt service payments are
jeopardized.


                         MOODY'S LONG-TERM DEBT RATINGS

         Aaa  - Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality.
They carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to
as "gilt edged".  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 risk appear somewhat larger than in Aaa
securities.

         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 some time 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 length of time.  Such Bonds lack outstanding
investment characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as
well.

         Ba - Bonds which are rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements;
their future cannot be considered as well-assured. Often the protection of
interest and principal payments may be very moderate, and thereby not well
safeguarded during both good and bad times over the future.  Uncertainty of
position characterizes Bonds in this class.

         B - Bonds which are rated B generally lack characteristics of the
desirable investment.  Assurance of interest and principal payments or of
maintenance of other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be
small.





                                      A-2
<PAGE>   260


         Caa - Bonds which are rated Caa are of poor standing.  Such issues may
be in default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to
principal or interest.

         Ca - Bonds which are rated Ca represent obligations which are
speculative in a high degree.  Such issues are often in default or have other
marked shortcomings.

         C - Bonds which are rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds, and
issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever
attaining any real investment standing.


                   FITCH INVESTORS SERVICE, INC. BOND RATINGS

         Fitch investment grade bond ratings provide a guide to investors in
determining the credit risk associated with a particular security.  The ratings
represent Fitch's assessment of the issuer's ability to meet the obligations of
a specific debt issue or class of debt in a timely manner.

         The rating takes into consideration special features of the issue, its
relationship to other obligations of the issuer, the current and prospective
financial condition and operating performance of the issuer and any guarantor,
as well as the economic and political environment that might affect the
issuer's future financial strength and credit quality.

         Fitch ratings do not reflect any credit enhancement that may be
provided by insurance policies or financial guaranties unless otherwise
indicated.

         Bonds that have the same rating are of similar but not necessarily
identical credit quality since the rating categories do not fully reflect small
differences in the degrees of credit risk.

         Fitch ratings are not recommendations to buy, sell, or hold any
security.  Ratings do not comment on the adequacy of market price, the
suitability of any security for a particular investor, or the tax-exempt nature
or taxability of payments made in respect of any security.

         Fitch ratings are based on information obtained from issuers, other
obligors, underwriters, their experts, and other sources Fitch believes to be
reliable.  Fitch does not audit or verify the truth or accuracy of such
information.  Ratings may be changed, suspended, or withdrawn as a result of
changes in, or the unavailability of, information or for other reasons.

          AAA    Bonds considered to be investment grade and of the highest
                 credit quality.  The obligor has an exceptionally strong
                 ability to pay interest and repay principal, which is unlikely
                 to be affected by reasonably foreseeable events.

           AA    Bonds considered to be investment grade and of very high
                 credit quality.  The obligor's ability to pay interest and
                 repay principal is very strong, although not quite as strong
                 as bonds rated 'AAA'.  Because bonds rated in the 'AAA'  and
                 'AA' categories are not significantly vulnerable to
                 foreseeable future developments, short-term debt of the
                 issuers is generally rated 'F-1+'.

            A    Bonds considered to be investment grade and of high credit
                 quality.  The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay
                 principal is considered to be strong, but may be more
                 vulnerable to adverse changes in economic conditions and
                 circumstances than bonds with higher ratings.

          BBB    Bonds considered to be investment grade and of satisfactory
                 credit quality.  The obligor's ability to pay interest and
                 repay principal is considered to be adequate.  Adverse changes
                 in economic conditions and circumstances, however, are more
                 likely to have adverse impact on these bonds, and therefore
                 impair timely payment.  The likelihood that the ratings of
                 these bonds will fall below investment grade is higher than
                 for bonds with higher ratings.





                                      A-3
<PAGE>   261


         Fitch speculative grade bond ratings provide a guide to investors in
determining the credit risk associated with a particular security.  The ratings
('BB' to 'C') represent Fitch's assessment of the likelihood of timely payment
of principal and interest in accordance with the terms of obligation for bond
issues not in default.  For defaulted bonds, the rating ('DDD' to 'D') is an
assessment of the ultimate recovery value through reorganization or
liquidation.

         The rating takes into consideration special features of the issue, its
relationship to other obligations of the issuer, the current and prospective
financial condition and operating performance of the issuer and any guarantor,
as well as the economic and political environment that might affect the
issuer's future financial strength.

         Bonds that have the same rating are of similar but not necessarily
identical credit quality since the rating categories cannot fully reflect the
differences in the degrees of credit risk.  Moreover, the character of the risk
factor varies from industry to industry and between corporate, health care and
municipal obligations.


           BB    Bonds are considered speculative.  The obligor's ability to
                 pay interest and repay principal may be affected over time by
                 adverse economic changes.  However, business and financial
                 alternatives can be identified which could assist the obligor
                 in satisfying its debt service requirements.

            B    Bonds are considered highly speculative.  While bonds in this
                 class are currently meeting debt service requirements, the
                 probability of continued timely payment of principal and
                 interest reflects the obligor's limited margin of safety and
                 the need for reasonable business and economic activity
                 throughout the life of the issue.

          CCC    Bonds have certain identifiable characteristics which, if not
                 remedied, may lead to default.  The ability to meet
                 obligations requires an advantageous business and economic
                 environment.

           CC    Bonds are minimally protected.  Default in payment of interest
                 and/or principal seems probable over time.

            C    Bonds are in imminent default in payment of interest or
                 principal.

         DDD, DD,
         and  D  Bonds are in default on interest and/or principal payments.
                 Such bonds are extremely speculative and should be valued on
                 the basis of their ultimate recovery value in liquidation or
                 reorganization of the obligor.  'DDD' represents the highest
                 potential for recovery of these bonds, and 'D' represents the
                 lowest potential for recovery.


                   DUFF & PHELPS, INC. LONG-TERM DEBT RATINGS

         These ratings represent a summary opinion of the issuer's long-term
fundamental quality.  Rating determination is based on qualitative and
quantitative factors which may vary according to the basic economic and
financial characteristics of each industry and each issuer.  Important
considerations are vulnerability to economic cycles as well as risks related to
such factors as competition, government action, regulation, technological
obsolescence, demand shifts, cost structure, and management depth and
expertise.  The projected viability of the obligor at the trough of the cycle
is a critical determination.

         Each rating also takes into account the legal form of the security,
(e.g., first mortgage bonds, subordinated debt, preferred stock, etc.).  The
extent of rating dispersion among the various classes of securities is
determined by several factors including relative weightings of the different
security classes in the capital structure, the overall credit strength of the
issuer, and the nature of covenant protection.  Review of indenture
restrictions is important to the analysis of a company's operating and
financial constraints.

         The Credit Rating Committee formally reviews all ratings once per
quarter (more frequently, if necessary).   Ratings of 'BBB-' and higher fall
within the definition of investment grade securities, as defined by bank and
insurance supervisory authorities.





                                      A-4
<PAGE>   262


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
RATING SCALE              DEFINITION
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                       <C>

AAA                       Highest credit quality.  The risk factors are negligible, being only slightly more
                          than for risk-free U.S. Treasury debt.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AA+                       High credit quality.  Protection factors are strong.  Risk is modest, but may
AA                        vary slightly from time to time because of economic conditions.
AA-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A+                        Protection factors are average but adequate.  However, risk factors are more
A                         variable and greater in periods of economic stress.
A-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BBB+                      Below average protection factors but still considered sufficient for prudent
BBB                       investment.  Considerable variability in risk during economic cycles.
BBB-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BB+                       Below investment grade but deemed likely to meet obligations when due.
BB                        Present or prospective financial protection factors fluctuate according to
BB-                       industry conditions or company fortunes.  Overall quality may move up or
                          down frequently within this category.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

B+                        Below investment grade and possessing risk that obligations will not be met
B                         when due.  Financial protection factors will fluctuate widely according to
B-                        economic cycles, industry conditions and/or company fortunes.  Potential
                          exists for frequent changes in the rating within this category or into a higher
                          or lower rating grade.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CCC                       Well below investment grade securities.  Considerable uncertainty exists as to
                          timely payment of principal, interest or preferred dividends.
                          Protection factors are narrow and risk can be substantial with unfavorable
                          economic/industry conditions, and/or with unfavorable company developments.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DD                        Defaulted debt obligations.  Issuer failed to meet scheduled principal and/or
                          interest payments.
DP                        Preferred stock with dividend arrearages.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>





                                      A-5
<PAGE>   263

                               SHORT-TERM RATINGS

                   STANDARD & POOR'S COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS

         A Standard & Poor's commercial paper rating is a current assessment of
the likelihood of timely payment of debt considered short-term in the relevant
market.

         Ratings graded into several categories, ranging from 'A-1' for the
highest quality obligations to 'D' for the lowest.  These categories are as
follows:

         A-1 This highest category indicates that the degree of safety
regarding timely payment is strong.  Those issues determined to possess
extremely strong safety characteristics are denoted with a plus sign (+)
designation.

         A-2 Capacity for timely payment on issues with this designation is
satisfactory.  However, the relative degree of safety is not as high as for
issues designated 'A-1'.

         A-3 Issues carrying this designation have adequate capacity for timely
payment.  They are, however, more vulnerable to the adverse effects of changes
in circumstances than obligations carrying the higher designations.

         B Issues rated 'B' are regarded as having only speculative capacity
for timely payment.

         C This rating is assigned to short-term debt obligations with doubtful
capacity for payment.

         D Debt rated 'D' is in payment default.  The 'D' rating category is
used when interest payments or principal payments are not made on the date due,
even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless S&P believes that
such payments will be made during such grace period.


                         STANDARD & POOR'S NOTE RATINGS

         A S&P note rating reflects the liquidity factors and market-access
risks unique to notes.  Notes maturing in three years or less  will likely
receive a note rating.  Notes maturing beyond three years will most likely
receive a long-term debt rating.

         The following criteria will be used in making the assessment:

                 Amortization schedule - the larger the final maturity relative
                 to other maturities, the more likely the issue is to be
                 treated as a note.

                 Source of payment - the more the issue depends on the market
                 for its refinancing, the more likely it is to be considered a
                 note.

         The note rating symbols and definitions are as follows:

         SP-1 Strong capacity to pay principal and interest.  Issues determined
to possess very strong characteristics are given a plus (+) designation.

         SP-2 Satisfactory capacity to pay interest and principal, with some
vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the
notes.

         SP-3 Speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.



                        MOODY'S COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS





                                      A-6
<PAGE>   264


         The term "commercial paper" as used by Moody's means promissory
obligations not having an original maturity in excess of nine months.  Moody's
makes no representation as to whether such commercial paper is by any other
definition "commercial paper" or is exempt from registration under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

         Moody's commercial paper ratings are opinions of the ability of
issuers to repay punctually promissory obligations not having an original
maturity in excess of nine months.  Moody's makes no representation that such
obligations are exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, nor
does it represent that any specific note is a valid obligation of a rated
issuer or issued in conformity with any applicable law.  Moody's employs the
following three designations, all judged to be investment grade, to indicate
the relative repayment capacity of rated issuers:

         Issuers rated PRIME-1 (for related supporting institutions) have a
superior capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations.  Prime-1
repayment capacity will normally be evidenced by the following characteristics:
(i) leading market positions in well established industries, (ii) high rates of
return on funds employed, (iii) conservative capitalization structures with
moderate reliance on debt and ample asset protection, (iv) broad margins in
earnings coverage of fixed financial charges and high internal cash generation,
and (v) well established access to a range of financial markets and assured
sources of alternate liquidity.

         Issuers rated PRIME-2 (or related supporting institutions) have a
strong capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations.  This will
normally be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above, but to a
lesser degree. Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, will be more
subject to variation.  Capitalization characteristics, while still appropriate,
may be more affected by external conditions.  Ample alternate liquidity is
maintained.

         Issuers rated PRIME-3 (or related supporting institutions) have an
acceptable capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations.  The
effect of industry characteristics and market composition may be more
pronounced.  Variability in earnings and profitability may result in changes in
the level of debt protection measurements and the requirement for relatively
high financial leverage.  Adequate alternate liquidity is maintained.

         Issuers rated NOT PRIME do not fall within any of the Prime rating
categories.

                              MOODY'S NOTE RATINGS

         MIG 1/VMIG 1  This designation denotes best quality.  There is present
strong protection by established cash flows, superior liquidity support or
demonstrated broad based access to the market for refinancing.

         MIG 2/VMIG 2  This designation denotes high quality.  Margins of
protection are ample although not so large as in the preceding group.

         MIG 3/VMIG 3  This designation denotes favorable quality.  All
security elements are accounted for but there is lacking the undeniable
strength of the preceding grades.  Liquidity and cash flow protection may be
narrow and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well established.

         MIG 4/VMIG 4  This designation denotes adequate quality.  Protection
commonly regarded as required of an investment security is present and although
not distinctly or predominantly speculative, there is specific risk.

         SG  This designation denotes speculative quality.  Debt instruments in
this category lack margins of protection.


                FITCH INVESTORS SERVICE, INC. SHORT-TERM RATINGS

         Fitch's short-term ratings apply to debt obligations that are payable
on demand or have original maturities of generally up to three years, including
commercial paper, certificates of deposit, medium-term notes, and municipal and
investment notes.

         The short-term rating places greater emphasis than a long-term rating
on the existence of liquidity necessary to meet the issuer's obligations in a
timely manner.

         F-1+    (Exceptionally Strong Credit Quality) Issues assigned this
                 rating are regarded as having the strongest degree of
                 assurance for timely payment.

         F-1     (Very Strong Credit Quality) Issues assigned this rating
                 reflect an assurance of timely payment only slightly less in
                 degree than issues rated 'F-1+'.

         F-2     (Good Credit Quality) Issues assigned this rating have a
                 satisfactory degree of assurance for timely payment but the
                 margin of safety is not as great as for issues assigned 'F-1+'
                 and 'F-1' ratings.

         F-3     (Fair Credit Quality) Issues assigned this rating have
                 characteristics suggesting that the degree of assurance for
                 timely payment is adequate, however, near-term adverse changes
                 could cause these securities to be rated below investment
                 grade.





                                      A-7
<PAGE>   265


         F-S     (Weak Credit Quality) Issues assigned this rating have
                 characteristics suggesting a minimal degree of assurance for
                 timely payment and are vulnerable to near-term adverse changes
                 in financial and economic conditions.

         D       (Default) Issues assigned this rating are in actual or
                 imminent payment default.

         LOC     The symbol LOC indicates that the rating is based on a letter
                 of credit issued by a commercial bank.


                  DUFF & PHELPS, INC. SHORT-TERM DEBT RATINGS

         Duff & Phelps' short-term ratings are consistent with the rating
criteria utilized by money market participants.  The ratings apply to all
obligations with maturities of under one year, including commercial paper, the
uninsured portion of certificates of deposit, unsecured bank loans, master
notes, bankers acceptances, irrevocable letters of credit, and current
maturities of long-term debt.  Asset-backed commercial paper is also rated
according to this scale.

         Emphasis is placed on liquidity which we define as not only cash from
operations, but also access to alternative sources of funds including trade
credit, bank lines, and the capital markets.  An important consideration is the
level of an obligor's reliance on short-term funds on an ongoing basis.

         Rating Scale:         Definition

         Duff 1+              Highest certainty of timely payment.  Short-term
                              liquidity, including internal operating factors
                              and/or access to alternative sources of funds, is
                              outstanding, and safety is just below risk-free
                              U.S. Treasury short-term obligations.

         Duff 1               Very high certainty of timely payment.  Liquidity
                              factors are excellent and supported by good
                              fundamental protection factors.  Risk factors are
                              minor.

         Duff 1-              High certainty of timely payment.  Liquidity
                              factors are strong and supported by good
                              fundamental protection factors.  Risk factors are
                              very small.





                                      A-8
<PAGE>   266

                              Good Grade

         Duff 2               Good certainty of timely payment.  Liquidity
                              factors and company fundamentals are sound.
                              Although ongoing funding needs may enlarge total
                              financing requirements, access to capital markets
                              is good.  Risk factors are small.

                              Satisfactory Grade

         Duff 3               Satisfactory liquidity and other protection
                              factors qualify issue as to investment grade.
                              Risk factors are larger and subject to more
                              variation. Nevertheless, timely payment is
                              expected.

                              Non-investment Grade

         Duff 4               Speculative investment characteristics.
                              Liquidity is not sufficient to insure against
                              disruption in debt service.  Operating factors
                              and market access may be subject to a high degree
                              of variation.

                              Default

         Duff 5               Issuer failed to meet scheduled principal and/or
                              interest payments.




                                      A-9
<PAGE>   267
                                      
                                      
                     STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
                                      
                                      
                                      
                      STRONG INTERNATIONAL STOCK FUND II
                                P.O. Box 2936
                         Milwaukee, Wisconsin  53201
                          Telephone:  1-414-359-1400
                          Toll-Free:  1-800-368-3863
                                      

   
        Strong International Stock Fund II (the "Fund" ) is a diversified
series of the Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc. (the "Corporation" ), an
open-end management investment company designed to provide an investment
vehicle for variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts of certain
insurance companies.  Shares in the Fund are only offered and sold to the
separate accounts of such insurance companies.  The Fund is described herein
and in the Prospectus for the Fund dated July 14, 1995.
    
   
        This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus and should
be read in conjunction with the Prospectus for the Fund dated July 14, 1995 and
the prospectus for the separate account of the specific insurance product. 
Requests for copies of the Fund's Prospectus may be made by writing to the
Fund, P.O. Box 2936, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201, Attention:  Corporate
Secretary; or by calling one of the numbers listed above.
    



   
       This Statement of Additional Information is dated July 14, 1995.
    




<PAGE>   268

                       STRONG INTERNATIONAL STOCK FUND II


   
<TABLE>                                                               
<CAPTION>                                                             
TABLE OF CONTENTS                                                                  PAGE
<S>                                                                                  <C>
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    3
INVESTMENT POLICIES AND TECHNIQUES  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    5
  Derivative Instruments  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    5
  Short Sales Against the Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   11
  Lending of Portfolio Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   11
  Warrants  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   11
  Debt Obligations  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   12
  High-Yield (High-Risk) Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   12
  Zero-Coupon, Step-Coupon and Pay-in-Kind Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   14
  Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   14
  When-Issued Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   15
  Illiquid Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   15
  Depositary Receipts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   16
  Foreign Investment Companies  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   16
  Repurchase Agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   16
  Borrowing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   17
  Mortgage Dollar Rolls and Reverse Repurchase Agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . .   17
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   17
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   20
INVESTMENT ADVISOR AND DISTRIBUTOR  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   20
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   21
CUSTODIAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   23
TRANSFER AGENT AND DIVIDEND-DISBURSING AGENT  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   23
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   24
TAXES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   24
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   26
FUND ORGANIZATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   26
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   28
GENERAL INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   31
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   32
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   33
LEGAL COUNSEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   33
APPENDIX  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  A-1
</TABLE>
- ------------------------------    
    
   
        No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any
representations other than those contained in this Statement of Additional
Information and the Prospectus dated July 14, 1995 and, if given or made, such
information or representations may not be relied upon as having been authorized
by the Fund.
    

        This Statement of Additional Information does not constitute an offer to
sell securities.





                                       2
<PAGE>   269

                            INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

         The investment objective of the Fund is to seek capital growth.  The
Fund's investment objective and policies are described in detail in the
Prospectus under the caption "Investment Objective and Policies."  The
following are the Fund's fundamental investment limitations which cannot be
changed without shareholder approval.

The Fund:

1.       May not with respect to 75% of its total assets, purchase the
         securities of any issuer (except securities issued or guaranteed by
         the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities) if, as a
         result, (i) more than 5% of the Fund's total assets would be invested
         in the securities of that issuer, or (ii) the Fund would hold more
         than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of that issuer.

2.       May (i) borrow money from banks and (ii) make other investments or
         engage in other transactions permissible under the Investment Company
         Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act") which may involve a borrowing, provided
         that the combination of  (i) and (ii) shall not exceed 33 1/3% of the
         value of the Fund's total assets (including the  amount borrowed),
         less the Fund's liabilities (other than borrowings), except that the
         Fund may borrow up to an additional 5% of its total assets (not
         including the amount borrowed) from a bank for temporary or emergency
         purposes (but not for leverage or the purchase of investments).  The
         Fund may also borrow money from the other Strong Funds or other
         persons to the extent permitted by applicable law.

3.       May not issue senior securities, except as permitted under the 1940
         Act.

4.       May not act as an underwriter of another issuer's securities, except
         to the extent that the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter within
         the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 in connection with the
         purchase and sale of portfolio securities.

5.       May not purchase or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a
         result of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall
         not prevent the Fund from purchasing or selling options, futures
         contracts, or other derivative instruments, or from investing in
         securities or other instruments backed by physical commodities).

6.       May not make loans if, as a result, more than 33 1/3% of the Fund's
         total assets would be lent to other persons, except through (i)
         purchases of debt securities or other debt instruments, or (ii)
         engaging in repurchase agreements.

7.       May not purchase the securities of any issuer if, as a result, more
         than 25% of the Fund's total assets would be invested in the
         securities of issuers, the principal business activities of which are
         in the same industry.

8.       May not purchase or sell real estate unless acquired as a result of
         ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not
         prohibit the Fund from purchasing or selling securities or other
         instruments backed by real estate or of issuers engaged in real estate
         activities).

9.       May, notwithstanding any other fundamental investment policy or
         restriction, invest all of its assets in the securities of a single
         open-end management investment company with substantially the same
         fundamental investment objective, policies, and restrictions as the
         Fund.





                                       3
<PAGE>   270

The following are the Fund's non-fundamental operating policies which may be
changed by the Board of Directors of the Corporation without shareholder
approval.

The Fund may not:

1.       Sell securities short, unless the Fund owns or has the right to obtain
         securities equivalent in kind and amount to the securities sold short,
         or unless it covers such short sale as required by the current rules
         and positions of the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff,
         and provided that transactions in options, futures contracts, options
         on futures contracts, or other derivative instruments are not deemed
         to constitute selling securities short.

2.       Purchase securities on margin, except that the Fund may obtain such
         short-term credits as are necessary for the clearance of transactions;
         and provided that margin deposits in connection with futures
         contracts, options on futures contracts, or other derivative
         instruments shall not constitute purchasing securities on margin.

3.       Invest in illiquid securities if, as a result of such investment, more
         than 15% of its net assets would be invested in illiquid securities,
         or such other amounts as may be permitted under the 1940 Act.

4.       Purchase securities of other investment companies except in compliance
         with the 1940 Act and applicable state law.

5.       Invest all of its assets in the securities of a single open-end
         investment management company with substantially the same fundamental
         investment objective, restrictions and policies as the Fund.

6.       Purchase the securities of any issuer (other than securities issued or
         guaranteed by domestic or foreign governments or political
         subdivisions thereof) if, as a result, more than 5% of its total
         assets would be invested in the securities of issuers that, including
         predecessor or unconditional guarantors, have a record of less than
         three years of continuous operation.  This policy does not apply to
         securities of pooled investment vehicles or mortgage or asset-backed
         securities.

7.       Invest in direct interests in oil, gas, or other mineral exploration
         programs or leases; however, the Fund may invest in the securities of
         issuers that engage in these activities.

8.       Engage in futures or options on futures transactions which are
         impermissible pursuant to Rule 4.5 under the Commodity Exchange Act
         and, in accordance with Rule 4.5, will use futures or options on
         futures transactions solely for bona fide hedging transactions (within
         the meaning of the Commodity Exchange Act), provided, however, that
         the Fund may, in addition to bona fide hedging transactions, use
         futures and options on futures transactions if the aggregate initial
         margin and premiums required to establish such positions, less the
         amount by which any such options positions are in the money (within
         the meaning of the Commodity Exchange Act), do not exceed 5% of the
         Fund's net assets.

         In addition, (i) the aggregate value of securities underlying call
         options on securities written by the Fund or obligations underlying
         put options on securities written by the Fund determined as of the
         date the options are written will not exceed 50% of the Fund's net
         assets; (ii) the aggregate premiums paid on all options purchased by
         the Fund and which are being held will not exceed 20% of the Fund's
         net assets; (iii) the Fund will not purchase put or call options,
         other than hedging positions, if, as a result thereof, more than 5% of
         its total assets would be so invested; and (iv) the aggregate margin
         deposits required on all futures and options on futures transactions
         being held will not exceed 5% of the Fund's total assets.

9.       Pledge, mortgage or hypothecate any assets owned by the Fund except as
         may be necessary in connection with permissible borrowings or
         investments and then such pledging, mortgaging, or hypothecating may
         not exceed 33 1/3% of the Fund's total assets at the time of the
         borrowing or investment.

10.      Purchase or retain the securities of any issuer if any officer or
         director of the Fund or its investment advisor beneficially owns more
         than 1/2 of 1% of the securities of such issuer and such officers and
         directors together own beneficially more than 5% of the securities of
         such issuer.





                                       4
<PAGE>   271

11.      Purchase warrants, valued at the lower of cost or market value, in
         excess of 5% of the Fund's net assets.  Included in that amount, but
         not to exceed 2% of the Fund's net assets, may be warrants that are
         not listed on any stock exchange.  Warrants acquired by the Fund in
         units or attached to securities are not subject to these restrictions.

12.      Borrow money except (i) from banks or (ii) through reverse repurchase
         agreements or mortgage dollar rolls, and will not purchase securities
         when bank borrowings exceed 5% of its total assets.

13.      Make any loans other than loans of portfolio securities, except
         through (i) purchases of debt securities or other debt instruments, or
         (ii) engaging in repurchase agreements.

         Except for the fundamental investment limitations listed above and the
Fund's investment objective, the other investment policies described in the
Prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information are not fundamental and
may be changed with approval of the Corporation's Board of Directors.

                       INVESTMENT POLICIES AND TECHNIQUES

         The following information supplements the discussion of the Fund's
investment objective, policies, and techniques that are described in detail in
the Prospectus under the captions "Investment Objective and Policies" and
"Implementation of Policies and Risks."

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

         GENERAL DESCRIPTION.  As discussed in the Prospectus, the Advisor may
use a variety of derivative instruments, including options, futures contracts
(sometimes referred to as "futures"), options on futures contracts, and forward
currency contracts for any lawful purpose, such as to hedge the Fund's
portfolio, risk management, or to attempt to enhance returns.

         The use of these instruments is subject to applicable regulations of
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), the several options and
futures exchanges upon which they may be traded, the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission ("CFTC") and various state regulatory authorities.  In addition, the
Fund's ability to use these instruments will be limited by tax considerations.

         In addition to the products, strategies and risks described below and
in the Prospectus, the Advisor expects to discover additional derivative
instruments and other hedging techniques.  These new opportunities may become
available as the Advisor develops new techniques or as regulatory authorities
broaden the range of permitted transactions.  The Advisor may utilize these
opportunities to the extent that they are consistent with the Fund's investment
objective and permitted by the Fund's investment limitations and applicable
regulatory authorities.

         SPECIAL RISKS OF THESE INSTRUMENTS.  The use of derivative instruments
involves special considerations and risks as described below.  Risks pertaining
to particular instruments are described in the sections that follow.

         (1)     Successful use of most of these instruments depends upon the
Advisor's ability to predict movements of the overall securities and currency
markets, which requires different skills than predicting changes in the prices
of individual securities.  While the Advisor is experienced in the use of these
instruments, there can be no assurance that any particular strategy adopted
will succeed.

         (2)     There might be imperfect correlation, or even no correlation,
between price movements of an instrument and price movements of investments
being hedged.  For example, if the value of an instrument used in a short hedge
(such as writing a call option, buying a put option, or selling a futures
contract) increased by less than the decline in value of the hedged investment,
the hedge would not be fully successful.  Such a lack of correlation might
occur due to factors unrelated to the value of the investments being hedged,
such as speculative or other pressures on the markets in which these
instruments are traded.  The effectiveness of hedges using instruments on
indices will depend on the degree of correlation between price movements in the
index and price movements in the investments being hedged.





                                       5
<PAGE>   272

         (3)     Hedging strategies, if successful, can reduce risk of loss by
wholly or partially offsetting the negative effect of unfavorable price
movements in the investments being hedged.  However, hedging strategies can
also reduce opportunity for gain by offsetting the positive effect of favorable
price movements in the hedged investments.  For example, if the Fund entered
into a short hedge because the Advisor projected a decline in the price of a
security in the Fund's portfolio, and the price of that security increased
instead, the gain from that increase might be wholly or partially offset by a
decline in the price of the instrument.  Moreover, if the price of the
instrument declined by more than the increase in the price of the security, the
Fund could suffer a loss.

         (4)     As described below, the Fund might be required to maintain
assets as "cover," maintain segregated accounts, or make margin payments when
it takes positions in these instruments involving obligations to third parties
(i.e., instruments other than purchased options).  If the Fund were unable to
close out its positions in such instruments, it might be required to continue
to maintain such assets or accounts or make such payments until the position
expired or matured.  The requirements might impair the Fund's ability to sell a
portfolio security or make an investment at a time when it would otherwise be
favorable to do so, or require that the Fund sell a portfolio security at a
disadvantageous time.  The Fund's ability to close out a position in an
instrument prior to expiration or maturity depends on the existence of a liquid
secondary market or, in the absence of such a market, the ability and
willingness of the other party to the transaction ("counter party") to enter
into a transaction closing out the position.  Therefore, there is no assurance
that any hedging position can be closed out at a time and price that is
favorable to the Fund.

         For a discussion of the federal income tax treatment of the Fund's
derivative instruments, see "Taxes -- Derivative Instruments" below.

         GENERAL LIMITATIONS ON CERTAIN DERIVATIVE TRANSACTIONS.  The Fund has
filed a notice of eligibility for exclusion from the definition of the term
"commodity pool operator" with the CFTC and the National Futures Association,
which regulate trading in the futures markets.  Pursuant to Rule 4.5 of the
regulations under the Commodity Exchange Act (the "CEA"), the notice of
eligibility includes representations that the Fund will use futures contracts
and related options solely for bona fide hedging purposes within the meaning of
CFTC regulations, provided that the Fund may hold other positions in futures
contracts and related options that do not qualify as a bona fide hedging
position if the aggregate initial margin deposits and premiums required to
establish these positions, less the amount by which any such options positions
are "in the money," do not exceed 5% of the Fund's net assets.  Adoption of
these guidelines does not limit the percentage of the Fund's assets at risk to
5%.

         In addition, (i) the aggregate value of securities underlying call
options on securities written by the Fund or obligations underlying put options
on securities written by the Fund determined as of the date the options are
written will not exceed 50% of the Fund's net assets; (ii) the aggregate
premiums paid on all options purchased by the Fund and which are being held
will not exceed 20% of the Fund's net assets; (iii) the Fund will not purchase
put or call options, other than hedging positions, if, as a result thereof,
more than 5% of its total assets would be so invested; and (iv) the aggregate
margin deposits required on all futures and options on futures transactions
being held will not exceed 5% of the Fund's total assets.

         The foregoing limitations are not fundamental policies of the Fund and
may be changed by the Corporation's Board of Directors without shareholder
approval as regulatory agencies permit.

         Transactions using options (other than purchased options) expose the
Fund to counter-party risk.  To the extent required by SEC guidelines, the Fund
will not enter into any such transactions unless it owns either (1) an
offsetting ("covered") position in securities, other options, or futures or (2)
cash and liquid high grade debt securities with a value sufficient at all times
to cover its potential obligations to the extent not covered as provided in (1)
above.  The Fund will also set aside cash and/or appropriate liquid assets in a
segregated custodial account if required to do so by the SEC and CFTC
regulations.  Assets used as cover or held in a segregated account cannot be
sold while the position in the corresponding option or futures contract is
open, unless they are replaced with similar assets.  As a result, the
commitment of a large portion of the Fund's assets to segregated accounts as a
cover could impede portfolio management or the Fund's ability to meet
redemption requests or other current obligations.





                                       6
<PAGE>   273

         OPTIONS.  The Fund may purchase and write put and call options on
securities, on indices of securities, and foreign currency, and enter into
closing transactions with respect to such options to terminate an existing
position.  The purchase of call options serves as a long hedge, and the
purchase of put options serves as a short hedge.  Writing put or call options
can enable the Fund to enhance income by reason of the premiums paid by the
purchaser of such options.  Writing call options serves as a limited short
hedge because declines in the value of the hedged investment would be offset to
the extent of the premium received for writing the option.  However, if the
security appreciates to a price higher than the exercise price of the call
option, it can be expected that the option will be exercised and the Fund will
be obligated to sell the security at less than its market value or will be
obligated to purchase the security at a price greater than that at which the
security must be sold under the option.  All or a portion of any assets used as
cover for over-the-counter ("OTC") options written by the Fund would be
considered illiquid to the extent described under "Investment Policies and
Techniques--Illiquid Securities."  Writing put options serves as a limited long
hedge because increases in the value of the hedged investment would be offset
to the extent of the premium received for writing the option.  However, if the
security depreciates to a price lower than the exercise price of the put
option, it can be expected that the put option will be exercised and the Fund
will be obligated to purchase the security at more than its market value.

         The value of an option position will reflect, among other things, the
historical price volatility of the underlying investment, the current market
value of the underlying investment, the time remaining until expiration, the
relationship of the exercise price to the market price of the underlying
investment, and general market conditions. Options that expire unexercised have
no value.  Options used by the Fund may include European-style options.  This
means that the option is only exercisable at its expiration.  This is in
contrast to American-style options which are exercisable at any time prior to
the expiration date of the option.  

         The Fund may effectively terminate its right or obligation under an
option by entering into a closing transaction.  For example, the Fund may
terminate its obligation under a call or put option that it had written by
purchasing an identical call or put option; this is known as a closing purchase
transaction.  Conversely, the Fund may terminate a position in a put or call
option it had purchased by writing an identical put or call option; this is
known as a closing sale transaction.  Closing transactions permit the Fund to
realize the profit or limit the loss on an option position prior to its
exercise or expiration.

         The Fund may purchase or write both exchange-traded and OTC options.
Exchange-traded options are issued by a clearing organization affiliated with
the exchange on which the option is listed that, in effect, guarantees
completion of every exchange-traded option transaction.  OTC options are
contracts between the Fund and the other party to the transaction ("counter
party") (usually a securities dealer or a bank) with no clearing organization
guarantee.  Thus, when the Fund purchases or writes an OTC option, it relies on
the counter party to make or take delivery of the underlying investment upon
exercise of the option.  Failure by the counter party to do so would result in
the loss of any premium paid by the Fund as well as the loss of any expected
benefit of the transaction.

         The Fund's ability to establish and close out positions in
exchange-listed options depends on the existence of a liquid market.  The Fund
intends to purchase or write only those exchange-traded options for which there
appears to be a liquid secondary market.  However, there can be no assurance
that such a market will exist at any, particular time.  Closing transactions
can be made for OTC options only by negotiating directly with the counter
party, or by a transaction in the secondary market if any such market exists.
Although the Fund will enter into OTC options only with counter parties that
are expected to be capable of entering into closing transactions with the Fund,
there is no assurance that the Fund will in fact be able to close out an OTC
option at a favorable price prior to expiration.  In the event of insolvency of
the counter party, the Fund might be unable to close out an OTC option position
at any time prior to its expiration.

         If the Fund were unable to effect a closing transaction for an option
it had purchased, it would have to exercise the option to realize any profit.
The inability to enter into a closing purchase transaction for a covered call
option written by the Fund could cause material losses because the Fund would
be unable to sell the investment used as cover for the written option until the
option expires or is exercised.

         The Fund may engage in options transactions on indices in
much the same manner as the options on securities discussed above, except the
index options may serve as a hedge against overall fluctuations in the
securities markets in general.





                                       7
<PAGE>   274
         The writing and purchasing of options is a highly specialized activity
that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated
with ordinary portfolio securities transactions.  Imperfect correlation between
the options and securities markets may detract from the effectiveness of
attempted hedging.

         SPREAD TRANSACTIONS.  The Fund may purchase covered spread options
from securities dealers.  Such covered spread options are not presently
exchange-listed or exchange-traded.  The purchase of a spread option gives the
Fund the right to put, or sell, a security that it owns at a fixed dollar
spread or fixed yield spread in relationship to another security that the Fund
does not own, but which is used as a benchmark.  The risk to the Fund in
purchasing covered spread options is the cost of the premium paid for the
spread option and any transaction costs.  In addition, there is no assurance
that closing transactions will be available.  The purchase of spread options
will be used to protect the Fund against adverse changes in prevailing credit
quality spreads, i.e., the yield spread between high quality and lower quality
securities.  Such protection is only provided during the life of the spread
option.

         FUTURES CONTRACTS.  The Fund may enter into futures contracts,
including interest rate, index, and foreign currency futures. The Fund may also
purchase put and call options, and write covered put and call options, on
futures in which it is allowed to invest.  The purchase of futures or call
options thereon can serve as a long hedge, and the sale of futures or the
purchase of put options thereon can serve as a short hedge.  Writing covered
call options on futures contracts can serve as a limited short hedge, and
writing covered put options on futures contracts can serve as a limited long
hedge, using a strategy similar to that used for writing covered options in
securities.  The Fund's hedging may include purchases of futures as an offset
against the effect of expected increases in securities prices and currency 
exchange rates and sales of futures as an offset against the effect of
expected declines in securities prices and currency exchange rates. The Fund's
futures transactions may be entered into for any lawful purpose such as hedging
purposes, risk management, or to enhance returns.  The Fund may also write put
options on futures contracts while at the same time purchasing call options on
the same futures contracts in order to create synthetically a long futures
contract position.  Such options would have the same strike prices and
expiration dates.  The Fund will engage in this strategy only when the Advisor
believes it is more advantageous to the Fund than is purchasing the futures
contract.

         To the extent required by regulatory authorities, the Fund only enters
into futures contracts that are traded on national futures exchanges and are
standardized as to maturity date and underlying financial instrument.  Futures
exchanges and trading are regulated under the CEA by the CFTC.  Although
techniques other than sales and purchases of futures contracts could be used to
reduce the Fund's exposure to market, currency, or interest rate fluctuations,
the Fund may be able to hedge its exposure more effectively and perhaps at a
lower cost through using futures contracts.

         A futures contract provides for the future sale by one party and
purchase by another party of a specified amount of a specific financial
instrument (e.g. debt security) or currency for a specified price at a
designated date, time, and place.  An index futures contract is an agreement
pursuant to which the parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount of
cash equal to the difference between the value of the index at the close of the
last trading day of the contract and the price at which the index futures
contract was originally written.  Transaction costs are incurred when a futures
contract is bought or sold and margin deposits must be maintained.  A futures
contract may be satisfied by delivery or purchase, as the case may be, of the
instrument, the currency, or by payment of the change in the cash value of the
index.  More commonly, futures contracts are closed out prior to delivery by
entering into an offsetting transaction in a matching futures contract.
Although the value of an index might be a function of the value of certain
specified securities, no physical delivery of those securities is made.  If the
offsetting purchase price is less than the original sale price, the Fund
realizes a gain; if it is more, the Fund realizes a loss.  Conversely, if the
offsetting sale price is more than the original purchase price, the Fund
realizes a gain; if it is less, the Fund realizes a loss.  The transaction
costs must also be included in these calculations.  There can be no assurance,
however, that the Fund will be able to enter into an offsetting transaction
with respect to a particular futures contract at a particular time.  If the
Fund is not able to enter into an offsetting transaction, the Fund will
continue to be required to maintain the margin deposits on the futures
contract.

         No price is paid by the Fund upon entering into a futures contract.
Instead, at the inception of a futures contract, the Fund is required to
deposit in a segregated account with its custodian, in the name of the futures
broker through whom the transaction was effected, "initial margin" consisting
of cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid, high grade debt
obligations in an amount generally equal to 10% or less of the contract value.
Margin must also be deposited when writing a call or put option on a futures
contract, in accordance with applicable exchange rules.  Unlike margin in
securities transactions, initial margin on futures contracts does not represent
a borrowing, but rather is in the nature of a performance bond or good-faith
deposit that is returned to the Fund at the termination of the transaction if
all contractual obligations have been satisfied.  Under certain

                                       8
<PAGE>   275
circumstances, such as periods of high volatility, the Fund may be required by
an exchange to increase the level of its initial margin payment, and initial
margin requirements might be increased generally in the future by regulatory
action.

         Subsequent "variation margin" payments are made to and from the
futures broker daily as the value of the futures position varies, a process
known as "marking to market."  Variation margin does not involve borrowing, but
rather represents a daily settlement of the Fund's obligations to or from a
futures broker.  When the Fund purchases an option on a future, the premium
paid plus transaction costs is all that is at risk.  In contrast, when the Fund
purchases or sells a futures contract or writes a call or put option thereon,
it is subject to daily variation margin calls that could be substantial in the
event of adverse price movements.  If the Fund has insufficient cash to meet
daily variation margin requirements, it might need to sell securities at a time
when such sales are disadvantageous.  Purchasers and sellers of futures
positions and options on futures can enter into offsetting closing transactions
by selling or purchasing, respectively, an instrument identical to the
instrument held or written.  Positions in futures and options on futures may be
closed only on an exchange or board of trade that provides a secondary market.
The Fund intends to enter into futures transactions only on exchanges or boards
of trade where there appears to be a liquid secondary market.  However, there
can be no assurance that such a market will exist for a particular contract at
a particular time.

         Under certain circumstances, futures exchanges may establish daily
limits on the amount that the price of a future or option on a futures contract
can vary from the previous day's settlement price; once that limit is reached,
no trades may be made that day at a price beyond the limit.  Daily price limits
do not limit potential losses because prices could move to the daily limit for
several consecutive days with little or no trading, thereby preventing
liquidation of unfavorable positions.

         If the Fund were unable to liquidate a futures or option on a futures
contract position due to the absence of a liquid secondary market or the
imposition of price limits, it could incur substantial losses.  The Fund would
continue to be subject to market risk with respect to the position.  In
addition, except in the case of purchased options, the Fund would continue to
be required to make daily variation margin payments and might be required to
maintain the position being hedged by the future or option or to maintain cash
or securities in a segregated account.

         Certain characteristics of the futures market might increase the risk
that movements in the prices of futures contracts or options on futures
contracts might not correlate perfectly with movements in the prices of the
investments being hedged.  For example, all participants in the futures and
options on futures contracts markets are subject to daily variation margin
calls and might be compelled to liquidate futures or options on futures
contracts positions whose prices are moving unfavorably to avoid being subject
to further calls.  These liquidations could increase price volatility of the
instruments and distort the normal price relationship between the futures or
options and the investments being hedged.  Also, because initial margin deposit
requirements in the futures market are less onerous than margin requirements in
the securities markets, there might be increased participation by speculators
in the future markets.  This participation also might cause temporary price
distortions.  In addition, activities of large traders in both the futures and
securities markets involving arbitrage, "program trading" and other investment
strategies might result in temporary price distortions.

         FOREIGN CURRENCY-RELATED DERIVATIVE STRATEGIES-SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS.
The Fund may also use options and futures on foreign currencies and forward
currency contracts to hedge against movements in the values of the foreign
currencies in which the Fund's  securities are denominated.  The Fund may
utilize foreign currency-related derivative instruments for any lawful purposes
such as for bona fide hedging or to seek to enhance returns through exposure to
a particular foreign currency. Such currency hedges can protect against price
movements in a security the Fund owns or intends to acquire that are
attributable to changes in the value of the currency in which it is
denominated.  Such hedges do not, however, protect against price movements in
the securities that are attributable to other causes.

         The Fund might seek to hedge against changes in the value of a
particular currency when no hedging instruments on that currency are available
or such hedging instruments are more expensive than certain other hedging
instruments.  In such cases, the Fund may hedge against price movements in that
currency by entering into transactions using hedging instruments on another
foreign currency or a basket of currencies, the values of which the Advisor
believes will have a high degree of positive correlation to the value of the
currency being hedged.  The risk that movements in the price of the hedging
instrument will not correlate perfectly with movements in the price of the
currency being hedged is magnified when this strategy is used.

         The value of derivative instruments on foreign currencies depends on
the value of the underlying currency relative to the U.S. dollar.  Because
foreign currency transactions occurring in the interbank market might involve
substantially larger

                                       9
<PAGE>   276

amounts than those involved in the use of such hedging instruments, the Fund
could be disadvantaged by having to deal in the odd lot market (generally
consisting of transactions of less than $1 million) for the underlying foreign
currencies at prices that are less favorable than for round lots.

         There is no systematic reporting of last sale information for foreign
currencies or any regulatory requirement that quotations available through
dealers or other market sources be firm or revised on a timely basis.
Quotation information generally is representative of very large transactions in
the interbank market and thus might not reflect odd-lot transactions where
rates might be less favorable.  The interbank market in foreign currencies is a
global, round-the-clock market.  To the extent the U.S. options or futures
markets are closed while the markets for the underlying currencies remain open,
significant price and rate movements might take place in the underlying markets
that cannot be reflected in the markets for the derivative instruments until
they reopen.

         Settlement of derivative transactions involving foreign currencies
might be required to take place within the country issuing the underlying
currency.  Thus, the Fund might be required to accept or make delivery of the
underlying foreign currency in accordance with any U.S. or foreign regulations
regarding the maintenance of foreign banking arrangements by U.S. residents and
might be required to pay any fees, taxes and charges associated with such
delivery assessed in the issuing country.

         Permissible foreign currency options will include options traded
primarily in the OTC market.  Although options on foreign currencies are traded
primarily in the OTC market, the Fund will normally purchase OTC options on
foreign currency only when the Advisor believes a liquid secondary market will
exist for a particular option at any specific time.

         FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACTS.  A forward currency contract involves an
obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a specified future date,
which may be any fixed number of days from the contract date agreed upon by the
parties, at a price set at the time the contract is entered into.

         The Fund may enter into forward currency contracts to purchase or sell
foreign currencies for a fixed amount of U.S. dollars or another foreign
currency for any lawful purpose.  Such transactions may serve as long hedges --
for example, the Fund may purchase a forward currency contract to lock in the
U.S. dollar price of a security denominated in a foreign currency that the Fund
intends to acquire.  Forward currency contracts may also serve as short hedges
- -- for example, the Fund may sell a forward currency contract to lock in the
U.S. dollar equivalent of the proceeds from the anticipated sale of a security
denominated in a foreign currency.

         The Fund may seek to hedge against changes in the value of a 
particular currency by using forward contracts on another foreign
currency or a basket of currencies, the value of which the Advisor believes
will have a positive correlation to the values of the currency being hedged.
In addition, the Fund may use forward currency contracts to shift exposure to
foreign currency fluctuations from one country to another.  For example, if the
Fund owns securities denominated in a foreign currency and the Advisor believes
that currency will decline relative to another currency, it might enter into a
forward contract to sell an appropriate amount of the first foreign currency,
with payment to be made in the second foreign currency.  Transactions that use
two foreign currencies are sometimes referred to as "cross hedges." Use of
different foreign currency magnifies the risk that movements in the price of
the instrument will not correlate or will correlate unfavorably with the
foreign currency being hedged.

         The cost to the Fund of engaging in forward currency contracts varies
with factors such as the currency involved, the length of the contract period
and the market conditions then prevailing.  Because forward currency contracts
are usually entered into on a principal basis, no fees or commissions are
involved.  When the Fund enters into a forward currency contract, it relies on
the counter party to make or take delivery of the underlying currency at the
maturity of the contract.  Failure by the counter party to do so would result
in the loss of any expected benefit of the transaction.

         As is the case with futures contracts, holders and writers of
forward currency contracts can enter into offsetting closing transactions,
similar to closing transactions on futures, by selling or purchasing,
respectively, an instrument identical to the instrument held or written.
Secondary markets generally do not exist for forward currency contracts, with
the result that closing transactions generally can be made for forward currency
contracts only by negotiating directly with the counter party.  Thus, there can
be no assurance that the Fund will in fact be able to close out a forward
currency contract at a favorable price prior to maturity.  In addition, in the
event of insolvency of the counter party, the Fund might be unable to close out
a forward 





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currency contract at any time prior to maturity.  In either event,
the Fund would continue to be subject to market risk with respect to the
position, and would continue to be required to maintain a position in
securities denominated in the foreign currency or to maintain cash or
securities in a segregated account.

         The precise matching of forward currency contract amounts and the
value of the securities involved generally will not be possible because the
value of such securities, measured in the foreign currency, will change after
the foreign currency contract has been established.  Thus, the Fund might need
to purchase or sell foreign currencies in the spot (cash) market to the extent
such foreign currencies are not covered by forward contracts.  The projection
of short-term currency market movements is extremely difficult, and the
successful execution of a short-term hedging strategy is highly uncertain.

SHORT SALES AGAINST THE BOX

         The Fund may sell securities short against the box to hedge unrealized
gains on portfolio securities.  Selling securities short against the box
involves selling a security that the Fund owns or has the right to acquire, for
delivery at a specified date in the future.  If the Fund sells securities short
against the box, it may protect unrealized gains, but will lose the opportunity
to profit on such securities if the price rises.

LENDING OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES

         The Fund is authorized to lend up to 33 1/3% of the total value of its
portfolio securities to broker-dealers or institutional investors that the
Advisor deems qualified, but only when the borrower maintains with the Fund's
custodian bank collateral either in cash or money market instruments in an
amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned, plus
accrued interest and dividends, determined on a daily basis and adjusted
accordingly.  However, the Fund does not presently intend to engage in such
lending.  In determining whether to lend securities to a particular
broker-dealer or institutional investor, the Advisor will consider, and during
the period of the loan will monitor, all relevant facts and circumstances,
including the creditworthiness of the borrower.  The Fund will retain authority
to terminate any loans at any time.  The Fund may pay reasonable administrative
and custodial fees in connection with a loan and may pay a negotiated portion
of the interest earned on the cash or money market instruments held as
collateral to the borrower or placing broker.  The Fund will receive reasonable
interest on the loan or a flat fee from the borrower and amounts equivalent to
any dividends, interest or other distributions on the securities loaned.  The
Fund will retain record ownership of loaned securities to exercise beneficial
rights, such as voting and subscription rights and rights to dividends,
interest or other distributions, when retaining such rights is considered to be
in the Fund's interest.

WARRANTS

         The Fund may acquire warrants.  Warrants are securities giving the
holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy the stock of an issuer at a
given price (generally higher than the value of the stock at the time of
issuance) during a specified period or perpetually.  Warrants may be acquired
separately or in connection with the acquisition of securities.  The Fund will
not purchase warrants, valued at the lower of cost or market value, in excess
of 5% of the Fund's net assets.  Included in that amount, but not to exceed 2%
of the Fund's net assets, may be warrants that are not listed on any stock
exchange.  Warrants acquired by the Fund in units or attached to securities are
not subject to these restrictions.  Warrants do not carry with them the right
to dividends or voting rights with respect to the securities that they entitle
their holder to purchase, and they do not represent any rights in the assets of
the issuer.  As a result, warrants may be considered more speculative than
certain other types of investments.  In addition, the value of a warrant does
not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities, and a
warrant ceases to have value if it is not exercised prior to its expiration
date.




                                       11
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DEBT OBLIGATIONS

         The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in debt obligations.
Issuers of debt obligations have a contractual obligation to pay interest at a
specified rate on specified dates and to repay principal on a specified
maturity date.  Certain debt obligations (usually intermediate- and long-term
bonds) have provisions that allow the issuer to redeem or "call" a bond before
its maturity.  Issuers are most likely to call such securities during periods
of falling interest rates.

         PRICE VOLATILITY.  The market value of debt obligations is affected by
changes in prevailing interest rates.  The market value of a debt obligation
generally reacts inversely to interest-rate changes, meaning, when prevailing
interest rates decline, an obligation's price usually rises, and when
prevailing interest rates rise, an obligation's price usually declines.  A fund
portfolio consisting primarily of debt obligations will react similarly to
changes in interest rates.

         MATURITY.  In general, the longer the maturity of a debt obligation,
the higher its yield and the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest
rates.  Conversely, the shorter the maturity, the lower the yield but the
greater the price stability.  Commercial paper is generally considered the
shortest form of debt obligation.  The term "bond" generally refers to
securities with maturities longer than two years.  Bonds with maturities of
three years or less are considered short-term, bonds with maturities between
three and seven years are considered intermediate-term, and bonds with
maturities greater than seven years are considered long-term.

         CREDIT QUALITY.  The values of debt obligations may also be affected
by changes in the credit rating or financial condition of their issuers.
Generally, the lower the quality rating of a security, the higher the degree of
risk as to the payment of interest and return of principal.  To compensate
investors for taking on such increased risk, those issuers deemed to be less
creditworthy generally must offer their investors higher interest rates than do
issuers with better credit ratings.  

         In conducting its credit research and analysis, the Advisor considers
both qualitative and quantitative factors to evaluate the creditworthiness of
individual issuers.  The Advisor also relies, in part, on credit ratings
compiled by a number of NRSROs. See the Appendix for additional information.

         TEMPORARY DEFENSIVE POSITION.  When the Advisor determines that market
conditions warrant a temporary defensive position, the Fund may invest without
limitation in cash and short-term fixed income securities, including U.S.
government securities, commercial paper, banker's acceptances, certificates of
deposit, and time deposits.

HIGH-YIELD (HIGH-RISK) SECURITIES

         IN GENERAL.  The Fund has the authority to invest up to 5% of its net
assets in non-investment grade debt obligations.  Non-investment grade debt
obligations (hereinafter referred to as "lower-quality securities") include (i)
bonds rated as low as C by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's"),
Standard & Poor's Ratings Group ("S&P"), or Fitch Investors Service, Inc.
("Fitch"), or CCC by Duff & Phelps, Inc.  ("D&P"); (ii) commercial paper rated
as low as C by S&P, Not Prime by Moody's or Fitch 4 by Fitch; and (iii) unrated
debt obligations of comparable quality. Lower-quality securities, while
generally offering higher yields than investment grade securities with similar
maturities, involve greater risks, including the possibility of default or
bankruptcy. They are regarded as predominantly speculative with respect to the
issuer's capacity to pay interest and repay principal. The special risk
considerations in connection with investments in these securities are discussed
below.  Refer to the Appendix of this Statement of Additional Information for a
discussion of securities ratings.

         EFFECT OF INTEREST RATES AND ECONOMIC CHANGES.  The lower-quality and
comparable unrated securities market is relatively new and its growth has
paralleled a long economic expansion.  As a result, it is not clear how this
market may withstand a prolonged recession or economic downturn.  Such an
economic downturn could severely disrupt the market for and adversely affect
the value of such securities.

         All interest-bearing securities typically experience appreciation when
interest rates decline and depreciation when interest rates rise.  The market
values of lower-quality and comparable unrated securities tend to reflect
individual corporate developments to a greater extent than do higher rated
securities, which react primarily to fluctuations in the general level of
interest rates. Lower-quality and comparable unrated securities also tend to be
more sensitive to economic conditions than are higher-rated securities.  As a
result, they generally involve more credit risks than securities in the
higher-rated categories.  During





                                       12
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an economic downturn or a sustained period of rising interest rates, highly
leveraged issuers of lower-quality and comparable unrated securities may
experience financial stress and may not have sufficient revenues to meet their
payment obligations.  The issuer's ability to service its debt obligations may
also be adversely affected by specific corporate developments, the issuer's
inability to meet specific projected business forecasts or the unavailability
of additional financing. The risk of loss due to default by an issuer of these
securities is significantly greater than issuers of higher-rated securities
because such securities are generally unsecured and are often subordinated to
other creditors.  Further, if the issuer of a lower-quality or comparable
unrated security defaulted, the Fund might incur additional expenses to seek
recovery.  Periods of economic uncertainty and changes would also generally
result in increased volatility in the market prices of these securities and
thus in the Fund's net asset value.

         As previously stated, the value of a lower-quality or comparable
unrated security will decrease in a rising interest rate market, and
accordingly so will the Fund's net asset value.  If the Fund experiences
unexpected net redemptions in such a market, it may be forced to liquidate a
portion of its portfolio securities without regard to their investment merits.
Due to the limited liquidity of lower-quality and comparable unrated securities
(discussed below), the Fund may be forced to liquidate these securities at a
substantial discount.  Any such liquidation would reduce the Fund's asset base
over which expenses could be allocated and could result in a reduced rate of
return for the Fund.

         PAYMENT EXPECTATIONS.  Lower-quality and comparable unrated securities
typically contain redemption, call or prepayment provisions which permit the
issuer of such securities containing such provisions to, at its discretion,
redeem the securities.  During periods of falling interest rates, issuers of
these securities are likely to redeem or prepay the securities and refinance
them with debt securities with a lower interest rate.  To the extent an issuer
is able to refinance the securities, or otherwise redeem them, the Fund may
have to replace the securities with a lower yielding security, which would
result in a lower return for the Fund.

         CREDIT RATINGS.  Credit ratings issued by credit-rating agencies
evaluate the safety of principal and interest payments of rated securities.
They do not, however, evaluate the market value risk of lower-quality
securities and, therefore, may not fully reflect the true risks of an
investment.  In addition, credit rating agencies may or may not make timely
changes in a rating to reflect changes in the economy or in the condition of
the issuer that affect the market value of the security.  Consequently, credit
ratings are used only as a preliminary indicator of investment quality.
Investments in lower-quality and comparable unrated securities will be more
dependent on the Advisor's credit analysis than would be the case with
investments in investment-grade debt securities.  The Advisor employs its own
credit research and analysis, which includes a study of existing debt, capital
structure, ability to service debt and to pay dividends, the issuer's
sensitivity to economic conditions, its operating history and the current trend
of earnings.  The Advisor continually monitors the investments in the Fund's
portfolio and carefully evaluates whether to dispose of or to retain
lower-quality and comparable unrated securities whose credit ratings or credit
quality may have changed.

         LIQUIDITY AND VALUATION. The Fund may have difficulty disposing of
certain lower-quality and comparable unrated securities because there may be a
thin trading market for such securities.  Because not all dealers maintain
markets in all lower-quality and comparable unrated securities, there is no
established retail secondary market for many of these securities.  The Fund
anticipates that such securities could be sold only to a limited number of
dealers or institutional investors.  To the extent a secondary trading market
does exist, it is generally not as liquid as the secondary market for
higher-rated securities.  The lack of a liquid secondary market may have an
adverse impact on the market price of the security.  As a result, the Fund's
asset value and ability to dispose of particular securities, when necessary to
meet the Fund's liquidity needs or in response to a specific economic event,
may be impacted.  The lack of a liquid secondary market for certain securities
may also make it more difficult for the Fund to obtain accurate market
quotations for purposes of valuing the Fund's portfolio.  Market quotations are
generally available on many lower-quality and comparable unrated issues only
from a limited number of dealers and may not necessarily represent firm bids of
such dealers or prices for actual sales.  During periods of thin trading, the
spread between bid and asked prices is likely to increase significantly.  In
addition, adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on
fundamental analysis, may decrease the values and liquidity of lower-quality
and comparable unrated securities, especially in a thinly traded market.

         RECENT AND PROPOSED LEGISLATION.  Recent legislation has been adopted,
and from time to time proposals have been discussed, regarding new legislation
designed to limit the use of certain lower-quality and comparable unrated
securities by certain issuers.  An example of legislation is a recent law which
requires federally insured savings and loan associations to divest their
investments in these securities over time.  It is not currently possible to
determine the impact of the recent legislation or the proposed legislation on
the lower-quality and comparable unrated securities market.  However, it is
anticipated that if additional





                                       13
<PAGE>   280

legislation is enacted or proposed, it could have a material affect on the
value of these securities and the existence of a secondary trading market for
the securities.

ZERO-COUPON, STEP-COUPON AND PAY-IN-KIND SECURITIES

         The Fund may invest in zero-coupon, step-coupon, and pay-in-kind
securities.  These securities are debt securities that do not make regular cash
interest payments.  Zero-coupon and step-coupon securities are sold at a deep
discount to their face value.  Pay-in-kind securities pay interest through the
issuance of additional securities.  Because such securities do not pay current
cash income, the price of these securities can be volatile when interest rates
fluctuate.  While these securities do not pay current cash income, federal
income tax law requires the holders of zero-coupon, step-coupon, and
pay-in-kind securities to include in income each year the portion of the
original issue discount (or deemed discount) and other non-cash income on such
securities accruing that year.

MORTGAGE- AND ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES

         Mortgage-backed securities represent direct or indirect participations
in, or are secured by and payable from, mortgage loans secured by real
property, and include single- and multi-class pass-through securities and
collateralized mortgage obligations.  Such securities may be issued or
guaranteed by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities, such as the
Government National Mortgage Association and the Federal National Mortgage
Association, or by private issuers, generally originators and investors in
mortgage loans, including savings associations, mortgage bankers, commercial
banks, investment bankers, and special purpose entities (collectively, "private
lenders").  Mortgage-backed securities issued by private lenders may be
supported by pools of mortgage loans or other mortgage-backed securities that
are guaranteed, directly or indirectly, by the U.S. government or one of its
agencies or instrumentalities, or they may be issued without any governmental
guarantee of the underlying mortgage assets but with some form of
non-governmental credit enhancement.

         Asset-backed securities have structural characteristics similar to
mortgage-backed securities.  However, the underlying assets are not first lien
mortgage loans or interests therein, but include assets such as motor vehicle
installment sales contracts, other installment loan contracts, home equity
loans, leases of various types of property, and receivables from credit card or
other revolving credit arrangements.  Payments or distributions of principal
and interest on asset-backed securities may be supported by non-governmental
credit enhancements similar to those utilized in connection with
mortgage-backed securities.

         The yield characteristics of mortgage- and asset-backed securities
differ from those of traditional debt securities.  Among  the principal
differences are that interest and principal payments are made more frequently
on mortgage- and asset-backed securities, usually monthly, and that principal
may be prepaid at any time because the underlying mortgage loans or other
assets generally may be prepaid at any time.  As a result, if the Fund
purchases these securities at a premium, a prepayment rate that is faster than
expected will reduce yield to maturity, while a prepayment rate that is slower
than expected will have the opposite effect of increasing the yield to
maturity.  Conversely, if the Fund purchases these securities at a discount, a
prepayment rate that is faster than expected will increase yield to maturity,
while a prepayment rate that is slower than expected will reduce yield to
maturity.  Amounts available for reinvestment by the Fund are likely to be
greater during a period of declining interest rates and, as a result, are
likely to be reinvested at lower interest rates than during a period of rising
interest rates.  Accelerated prepayments on securities purchased by the Fund at
a premium also impose a risk of loss of principal because the premium may not
have been fully amortized at the time the principal is prepaid in full.  The
market for privately issued mortgage- and asset-backed securities is smaller
and less liquid than the market for government-sponsored mortgage-backed
securities.

         The Fund may invest in stripped mortgage- or asset-backed securities,
which receive differing proportions of the interest and principal payments from
the underlying assets.  The market value of such securities generally is more
sensitive to changes in prepayment and interest rates than is the case with
traditional mortgage- and asset-backed securities, and in some cases such
market value may be extremely volatile.  With respect to certain stripped
securities, such as interest only and principal only  classes, a rate of
prepayment that is faster or slower than anticipated may result in the Fund
failing to recover all or a portion of its investment, even though the
securities are rated investment grade.





                                       14
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WHEN-ISSUED SECURITIES

         The Fund may from time to time purchase securities on a "when-issued"
basis.  The price of debt obligations purchased on a when-issued basis, which
may be expressed in yield terms, is fixed at the time the commitment to
purchase is made, but delivery and payment for the securities take place at a
later date. Normally, the settlement date occurs within one month of the
purchase.  During the period between the purchase and settlement, no payment is
made by the Fund to the issuer and no interest on the debt obligations accrues
to the Fund.  Forward commitments involve a risk of loss if the value of the
security to be purchased declines prior to the settlement date, which risk is
in addition to the risk of decline in value of the Fund's other assets.  While
when-issued securities may be sold prior to the settlement date, the Fund
intends to purchase such securities with the purpose of actually acquiring them
unless a sale appears desirable for investment reasons.  At the time the Fund
makes the commitment to purchase a security on a when-issued basis, it will
record the transaction and reflect the value of the security in determining its
net asset value.  The Fund does not believe that its net asset value or income
will be adversely affected by its purchases of securities on a when-issued
basis.

         The Fund will maintain cash and marketable securities equal in value
to commitments for when-issued securities.  Such segregated securities either
will mature or, if necessary, be sold on or before the settlement date.  When
the time comes to pay for when-issued securities, the Fund will meet its
obligations from then-available cash flow, sale of the securities held in the
separate account, described above, sale of other securities or, although it
would not normally expect to do so, from the sale of the when-issued securities
themselves (which may have a market value greater or less than the Fund's
payment obligation).

ILLIQUID SECURITIES

   
         The Fund may invest in illiquid securities (i.e., securities that are
not readily marketable).  However, the Fund will not acquire illiquid
securities if, as a result, they would comprise more than 15% of the value of
the Fund's net assets (or such other amounts as may be permitted under the 1940
Act).  The Board of Directors of the Corporation, or its delegate, has the
ultimate authority to determine, to the extent permissible under the federal
securities laws, which securities are illiquid for purposes of this limitation. 
Certain securities exempt from registration or issued in transactions exempt
from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), including securities that may be resold pursuant to Rule 144A under the
Securities Act, may be considered liquid. The Board of Directors has delegated
to Strong Capital Management, Inc. (the "Advisor") the day-to-day determination
of the liquidity of a security, although it has retained oversight and ultimate
responsibility for such determinations.  Although no definitive liquidity
criteria are used, the Corporation's Board of Directors has directed the
Advisor to look to such factors as (i) the nature of the market for a security
(including the institutional private resale market), (ii) the terms of certain
securities or other instruments allowing for the disposition to a third party
or the issuer thereof (e.g., certain repurchase obligations and demand
instruments), (iii) the availability of market quotations (e.g., for securities
quoted in PORTAL system), and (iv) other permissible relevant factors.
    

         Restricted securities may be sold only in privately negotiated
transactions or in a public offering with respect to which a registration
statement is in effect under the Securities Act.  Where registration is
required, the Fund may be obligated to pay all or part of the registration
expenses and a considerable period may elapse between the time of the decision
to sell and the time the Fund may be permitted to sell a security under an
effective registration statement.  If, during such a period, adverse market
conditions were to develop, the Fund might obtain a less favorable price than
prevailed when it decided to sell.  Restricted securities will be priced at
fair value as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors.  If through
the appreciation of restricted securities or the depreciation of unrestricted
securities, the Fund should be in a position where more than 15% of the value
of its net assets are invested in illiquid assets, including restricted
securities which are not readily marketable, the Fund will take such steps as
is deemed advisable, if any, to protect liquidity.

         The Fund may sell OTC options and, in connection therewith, segregate
assets or cover its obligations with respect to OTC options written by the
Fund.  The assets used as cover for OTC options written by the Fund will be
considered illiquid unless the OTC options are sold to qualified dealers who
agree that the Fund may repurchase any OTC option it writes at a maximum price
to be calculated by a formula set forth in the option agreement.  The cover of
an OTC option written subject to this procedure would be considered illiquid
only to the extent that the maximum repurchase price under the formula exceeds
the intrinsic value of the option.





                                       15
<PAGE>   282

         Notwithstanding the above, the Advisor intends, as a matter of
internal policy, to limit the Fund's investments in illiquid securities to 10%
of its net assets.

DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS

         As indicated in the Prospectus, the Fund may invest in foreign
securities by purchasing depositary receipts, including American Depositary
Receipts ("ADRs") and European Depositary Receipts ("EDRs"), or other
securities convertible into securities or issuers based in foreign countries.
These securities may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the
securities into which they may be converted.  Generally, ADRs, in registered
form, are denominated in U.S. dollars and are designed for use in the U.S.
securities markets, while EDRs, in bearer form, may be denominated in other
currencies and are designed for use in European securities markets.  ADRs are
receipts typically issued by a U.S. bank or trust company evidencing ownership
of the underlying securities.  EDRs are European receipts evidencing a similar
arrangement.  For purposes of the Fund's investment policies, ADRs and EDRs are
deemed to have the same classification as the underlying securities they
represent.  Thus, an ADR or EDR representing ownership of common stock will be
treated as common stock.

         ADR facilities may be established as either "unsponsored" or
"sponsored." While ADRs issued under these two types of facilities are in some
respects similar, there are distinctions between them relating to the rights
and obligations of ADR holders and the practices of market participants.  A
depositary may establish an unsponsored facility without participation by (or
even necessarily the acquiescence of) the issuer of the deposited securities,
although typically the depositary requests a letter of non-objection from such
issuer prior to the establishment of the facility.  Holders of unsponsored ADRs
generally bear all the costs of such facilities.  The depositary usually
charges fees upon the deposit and withdrawal of the deposited securities, the
conversion of dividends into U.S. dollars, the disposition of non-cash
distributions, and the performance of other services.  The depositary of an
unsponsored facility frequently is under no obligation to distribute
shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited securities
or to pass through voting rights to ADR holders in respect of the deposited
securities.  Sponsored ADR facilities are created in generally the same manner
as unsponsored facilities, except that the issuer of the deposited securities
enters into a deposit agreement with the depositary.  The deposit agreement
sets out the rights and responsibilities of the issuer, the depositary and the
ADR holders.  With sponsored facilities, the issuer of the deposited securities
generally will bear some of the costs relating to the facility (such as
dividend payment fees of the depositary), although ADR holders continue to bear
certain other costs (such as deposit and withdrawal fees).  Under the terms of
most sponsored arrangements, depositories agree to distribute notices of
shareholder meetings and voting instructions, and to provide shareholder
communications and other information to the ADR holders at the request of the
issuer of the deposited securities.

FOREIGN INVESTMENT COMPANIES

         Some of the countries in which the Fund invests may not permit direct
investment by outside investors.  Investments in such countries may only be
permitted through foreign government-approved or -authorized investment
vehicles, which may include other investment companies.  Investing through such
vehicles may involve frequent or layered fees or expenses and may also be
subject to limitation under the 1940 Act.  Under the 1940 Act, the Fund may
invest up to 10% of its assets in shares of investment companies and up to 5%
of its assets in any one investment company as long as the investment does not
represent more than 3% of the voting stock of the acquired investment company.

REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

         The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with certain banks or
non-bank dealers. In a repurchase agreement, the Fund buys a security at one
price, and at the time of sale, the seller agrees to repurchase the obligation
at a mutually agreed upon time and price (usually within seven days). The
repurchase agreement, thereby, determines the yield during the purchaser's
holding period, while the seller's obligation to repurchase is secured by the
value of the underlying security. The Advisor will monitor, on an ongoing
basis, the value of the underlying securities to ensure that the value always
equals or exceeds the repurchase price plus accrued interest. Repurchase
agreements could involve certain risks in the event of a default or insolvency
of the other party to the agreement, including possible delays or restrictions
upon the Fund's ability to dispose of the underlying securities. Although no
definitive creditworthiness criteria are used, the Advisor reviews the
creditworthiness of the banks and non-bank dealers with which the Fund enters
into repurchase agreements to evaluate those risks. The Fund may, under certain





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circumstances, deem repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government
securities to be investments in U.S. government securities.

BORROWING

         The Fund may borrow money from banks, limited by the Fund's
fundamental investment restriction to 33 1/3% of its total assets, and may
engage in mortgage dollar roll transactions and reverse repurchase agreements
which may be considered a form of borrowing. (See "Mortgage Dollar Rolls and
Reverse Repurchase Agreements" below.)  In addition, the Fund may borrow up to
an additional 5% of its total assets from banks for temporary or emergency
purposes. The Fund will not purchase securities when bank borrowings exceed 5%
of the Fund's total assets.

MORTGAGE DOLLAR ROLLS AND REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

         The Fund may engage in reverse repurchase agreements to facilitate
portfolio liquidity, a practice common in the mutual fund industry, or for
arbitrage transactions discussed below. In a reverse repurchase agreement, the
Fund would sell a security and enter into an agreement to repurchase the
security at a specified future date and price. The Fund generally retains the
right to interest and principal payments on the security. Since the Fund
receives cash upon entering into a reverse repurchase agreement, it may be
considered a borrowing. When required by guidelines of the SEC, the Fund will
set aside permissible liquid assets in a segregated account to secure its
obligations to repurchase the security.

         The Fund may also enter into mortgage dollar rolls, in which the Fund
would sell mortgage-backed securities for delivery in the current month and
simultaneously contract to purchase substantially similar securities on a
specified future date. While the Fund would forego principal and interest paid
on the mortgage-backed securities during the roll period, the Fund would be
compensated by the difference between the current sales price and the lower
price for the future purchase as well as by any interest earned on the proceeds
of the initial sale. The Fund also could be compensated through the receipt of
fee income equivalent to a lower forward price. At the time the Fund would
enter into a mortgage dollar roll, it would set aside permissible liquid assets
in a segregated account to secure its obligation for the forward commitment to
buy mortgage-backed securities. Mortgage dollar roll transactions may be
considered a borrowing by the Fund. (See "Borrowing" above.)

         The mortgage dollar rolls and reverse repurchase agreements entered
into by the Fund may be used as arbitrage transactions in which the Fund will
maintain an offsetting position in investment grade debt obligations or
repurchase agreements that mature on or before the settlement date on the
related mortgage dollar roll or reverse repurchase agreement. Since the Fund
will receive interest on the securities or repurchase agreements in which it
invests the transaction proceeds, such transactions may involve leverage.
However, since such securities or repurchase agreements will be high quality
and will mature on or before the settlement date of the mortgage dollar roll or
reverse repurchase agreement, the Advisor believes that such arbitrage
transactions do not present the risks to the Fund that are associated with
other types of leverage.

                   DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION

   
         Directors and officers of the Corporation, together with information as
to their principal business occupations during the past five years, and other
information are shown below.  Each director who is deemed an "interested
person," as defined in the 1940 Act, is indicated by an asterisk.  Each officer
and director holds the same positions with the following registered investment
companies:  Strong Advantage Fund, Inc.; Strong American Utilities Fund, Inc.;
Strong Asia Pacific Fund, Inc.; Strong Asset Allocation Fund, Inc.; Strong
Common Stock Fund, Inc.; Strong Corporate Bond Fund, Inc.; Strong Discovery
Fund, Inc.; Strong Government Securities Fund, Inc.; Strong Growth Fund, Inc.;
Strong Heritage Reserve Series, Inc., Strong High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund, 
Inc.; Strong Insured Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.; Strong International Bond Fund,
Inc.; Strong International Stock Fund, Inc.; Strong Money Market Fund, Inc.;
Strong Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.; Strong Municipal Money Market Fund, Inc.;
Strong Opportunity Fund, Inc.; Strong Short-Term Bond Fund, Inc.; Strong
Short-Term Global Bond Fund, Inc.; Strong Short-Term Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.;
Strong Special Fund II, Inc.; Strong Total Return Fund, Inc.;  and Strong U.S.
Treasury Money Market Fund, Inc. (collectively, the "Strong Funds").
    




                                       17
<PAGE>   284

         *Richard S. Strong (DOB 5/12/42), Chairman of the Board and Director
of the Corporation.

         Prior to August 1985, Mr. Strong was Chief Executive Officer of the
Advisor, which he founded in 1974. Since August 1985, Mr. Strong has been a
Security Analyst and Portfolio Manager of the Advisor.  In October 1991, Mr.
Strong also became the Chairman of the Advisor.  Mr.  Strong is a director of
the Advisor.  Since October 1993, Mr. Strong has been Chairman and a director
of Strong Holdings, Inc.; a Wisconsin corporation and subsidiary of the Advisor
("Holdings"), and the Fund's underwriter, Strong Funds Distributors, Inc.; a
Wisconsin corporation and subsidiary of Holdings ("Distributor").  Since
January 1994, Mr. Strong has been Chairman and a director of Heritage Reserve
Development Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation and subsidiary of Holdings;
and since February 1994, Mr. Strong has been a member of the Managing Boards of
Fussville Real Estate Holdings L.L.C., a Wisconsin Limited Liability Company
and subsidiary of the Advisor, and Fussville Development L.L.C.  a Wisconsin
Limited Liability Company and subsidiary of the Advisor, and certain of its
subsidiaries. Mr. Strong has served as a director of the Corporation since
incorporation in December 1990 and Chairman of the Board of the Corporation
since January 1992.  Mr. Strong has been in the investment management business
since 1967.

         Marvin E. Nevins (DOB 7/9/18), Director of the Corporation.

         Private Investor.  From 1945 to 1980, Mr. Nevins was Chairman of
Wisconsin Centrifugal Inc.; a foundry. From July 1983 to December 1986, he was
Chairman of General Casting Corp., Waukesha, Wisconsin, a foundry. Mr. Nevins
is a former Chairman of the Wisconsin Association of Manufacturers & Commerce.
He was also a regent of the Milwaukee School of Engineering and a member of the
Board of Trustees of the Medical College of Wisconsin.  Mr. Nevins has served
as a director of the Corporation since incorporation in December 1990.

         Willie D. Davis (DOB 7/24/34), Director of the Corporation.

         Mr. Davis has been director of Alliance Bank Since 1980, Sara Lee
Corporation (a food/consumer products company) since 1983, KMart Corporation (a
discount consumer products company) since 1985, YMCA Metropolitan - Los Angeles
since 1985, Dow Chemical Company since 1988, MGM Grand, Inc. (an
entertainment/hotel company) since 1990, WICOR, Inc. (a utility company) since
1990, Johnson Controls, Inc. (an industrial company) since 1992, L.A. Gear (a
footwear/sportswear company) since 1992, and Rally's Hamburger, Inc. since
1994.  Mr. Davis has been a trustee of the University of Chicago since 1980,
Marquette University since 1988, and Occidental College since 1990.  Since
1977, Mr. Davis has been President and Chief Executive Officer of All Pro
Broadcasting, Inc.  Mr. Davis was a director of the Fireman's Fund (an
insurance company) from 1975 until 1990.  Mr. Davis has served as a director of
the Corporation since July 1994.

         *John Dragisic (DOB 11/26/40), Vice Chairman and Director of the
Corporation.

         Mr. Dragisic has been Vice Chairman and a director of the Advisor and
a director of Holdings and Distributor since July 1994.  Mr.  Dragisic
previously served as a director of the Corporation from 1992 and 1994.  Mr.
Dragisic was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Grunau Company, Inc.
(a mechanical contracting and engineering firm), Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1987
until July 1994.  From 1981 to 1987, he was an Executive Vice President with
Grunau Company, Inc.  From 1969 until 1973, Mr. Dragisic worked for the
InterAmerican Development Bank.  Mr. Dragisic received his Ph.D. in Economics
in 1971 from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and his B.A. degree in
Economics in 1962 from Lake Forest College.  Mr. Dragisic has served as Vice
Chairman of the Corporation since July 1994 and director of the Corporation
since April 1995.

         Stanley Kritzik (DOB 1/9/30), Director of the Corporation.

         Mr. Kritzik has been a Partner of  Metropolitan Associates since 1962,
a Director of Aurora Health Care since 1987, and Health Network Ventures, Inc.
since 1992.  He has served as a director of the Corporation since April 1995.





                                       18
<PAGE>   285

         William F. Vogt (DOB 7/19/47), Director of the Corporation.

         Mr. Vogt has been the President of Vogt Management Consulting, Inc.
since 1990.  From 1982 until 1990, he served as Executive Director of
University Physicians of the University of Colorado.  Mr. Vogt is the Past
President of the Medical Group Management Association and a Fellow of the
American College of Medical Practice Executives.  He has served as a director
of the Corporation since April 1995.

         Lawrence A. Totsky (DOB 5/6/59), C.P.A., Vice President of the
Corporation.

   
         Mr. Totsky has been Senior Vice President of the Advisor since
December 1994.  Mr. Totsky acted as the Advisor's Manager of Shareholder
Accounting and Compliance from June 1987 to June 1991 when he was named
Director of Mutual Fund Administration. Mr. Totsky has been a Vice President
of the Corporation since May 1993.
    

         Thomas P. Lemke (DOB 7/30/54), Vice President of the Corporation.

         Mr. Lemke has been Senior Vice President, Secretary, and General
Counsel of the Advisor since September 1994.  For two years prior to joining
the Advisor, Mr. Lemke acted as Resident Counsel for Funds Management at J.P.
Morgan & Co., Inc.  From February 1989 until April 1992, Mr. Lemke acted as
Associate General Counsel to Sanford C. Bernstein Co., Inc.  For two years
prior to that, Mr. Lemke was Of Counsel at the Washington, D.C. law firm of Tew
Jorden & Schulte, a successor of Finley, Kumble Wagner.  From August 1979 until
December 1986, Mr. Lemke worked at the Securities and Exchange Commission, most
notably as the Chief Counsel to the Division of Investment Management (November
1984 - December 1986), and as Special Counsel to the Office of Insurance
Products, Division of Investment Management (April 1982 - October 1984).  Mr.
Lemke has been a Vice President of the Corporation since October 1994.

         Ann E. Oglanian (DOB 12/7/61), Secretary of the Corporation.

         Ms. Oglanian has been an Associate Counsel of the Advisor since
January 1992.  Ms. Oglanian acted as Associate Counsel for the Chicago-based
investment management firm, Kemper Financial Services, Inc.; from June 1988
until December 1991.  Ms. Oglanian has been the Secretary of the Corporation
since May 1994.

         Ronald A. Neville (DOB 5/21/47), C.P.A., Treasurer of the Corporation.

         Mr. Neville has been the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of the Advisor since January 1995.  For fourteen years prior to that,
Mr. Neville worked at Twentieth Century Companies, Inc., most notably as Senior
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (1988 until December 1994).  Mr.
Neville received his M.B.A. in 1972 from the University of Missouri - Kansas
City and his B.A. degree in Business Administration and Economics in 1969 from
Drury College.  Mr. Neville has been the Treasurer of the Corporation since
April 1995.

         Except for Messrs. Nevins, Davis, Kritzik and Vogt, the address of all
of the above persons is P.O. Box 2936, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201.  Mr. Nevins'
address is 6075 Pelican Bay Boulevard, Naples, Florida 33963.  Mr. Davis'
address is 161 North La Brea, Inglewood, California 90301.  Mr. Kritzik's
address is 1123 North Astor Street, P.O. Box 92547, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
53202-0547.  Mr. Vogt's address is 3003 Third Street Avenue, Denver, Colorado
80206.

         The Strong Funds, a complex of open-end management investment
companies composed of 30 funds (the "funds"), of which the Fund is a part, in
the aggregate, pays each Director who is not a director, officer, or employee
of the Advisor, or any affiliated company (a "disinterested director") an
annual fee of $50,000, plus $100 per Board meeting for each fund.  In addition,
each disinterested director is reimbursed by the funds for travel and other
expenses incurred in connection with attendance at such meetings.  Other
officers and directors of the funds receive no compensation or expense
reimbursement from the funds.

   
         As of July 14, 1995, the officers and directors of the Corporation did
not own any of the Fund's shares.
    




                                       19
<PAGE>   286

                             PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
   
     As of July 14, 1995, no one owned of record and beneficially any shares
of the Fund.
    

                       INVESTMENT ADVISOR AND DISTRIBUTOR

         The Advisor to the Fund is Strong Capital Management, Inc.  Mr.
Richard S. Strong controls the Advisor.  Mr. Strong is the Chairman and a
director of the Advisor, Mr. Dragisic is the Vice Chairman and a director of
the Advisor, Mr. Totsky is a Senior Vice President of the Advisor, Mr. Lemke is
a Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of the Advisor, Mr.
Neville is a Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Advisor,
Ms. Oglanian is an Associate Counsel of the Advisor and Mr. Zoeller is the
Treasurer of the Advisor.  A brief description of the Fund's investment
advisory agreement ("Advisory Agreement") is set forth in the Prospectus under
"Management."

   
        The Fund's Advisory Agreement is dated July 10, 1995, and will remain
in effect as to the Fund for a period of two years.  The Advisory Agreement was
approved by the Fund's initial shareholder on its first day of operations.  
Thereafter, the Advisory Agreement is required to be approved annually by the
Board of Directors of the Corporation or by vote of a majority of the Fund's
outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act).  In either case,
each annual renewal must also be approved by the vote of a majority of the
Corporation's directors who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or
interested persons of any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for
the purpose of voting on such approval. The Advisory Agreement is terminable,
without penalty, on 60 days' written notice by the Board of Directors of the
Corporation, by vote of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities,
or by the Advisor.  In addition, the Advisory Agreement will terminate
automatically in the event of its assignment. 
    

         Under the terms of the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor manages the
Fund's investments subject to the supervision of the Corporation's Board of
Directors.  The Advisor is responsible for investment decisions and supplies
investment research and portfolio management.  At its expense, the Advisor
provides office space and all necessary office facilities, equipment, and
personnel for servicing the investments of the Fund.  The Advisor places all
orders for the purchase and sale of the Fund's securities at its expense.

         Except for expenses assumed by the Advisor as set forth above or by
the Distributor as described below with respect to the distribution of the
Fund's shares, the Fund is responsible for all its other expenses, including,
without limitation, interest charges, taxes, brokerage commissions, and similar
expenses; expenses of issue, sale, repurchase, or redemption of shares;
expenses of registering or qualifying shares for sale; expenses for printing
and distribution costs of prospectuses and quarterly financial statements
mailed to existing shareholders; charges of custodians, transfer agent fees
(including the printing and mailing of reports and notices to shareholders),
fees of registrars, fees for auditing and legal services, fees for clerical
services related to recordkeeping and shareholder relations, the cost of stock
certificates and fees for directors who are not "interested persons" of the
Advisor; and its allocable share of the Corporation's expenses.

   
         As compensation for its services, the Fund pays to the Advisor a
monthly management fee at the annual rate of 1.00% of the Fund's average daily
net asset value.  (See "Additional Information - Calculation of Net Asset
Value" in the Prospectus.)  From time to time, the Advisor may voluntarily
waive all or a portion of its management fee for the Fund.  
    
   
         The Advisory Agreement requires the Advisor to reimburse the Fund in
the event that the expenses and charges payable by the Fund in any fiscal year,
including the management fee but excluding taxes, interest, brokerage
commissions, and similar fees and to the extent permitted extraordinary
expenses, exceed that percentage of the average net asset value of the Fund for
such year. Such excess is determined by valuations made as of the close of each
business day of the year, which is the most restrictive percentage provided by
the state laws of the various states in which the Fund's shares are qualified
for sale; or if the states in which the Fund's shares are qualified for sale
impose no restrictions, the Advisor shall reimburse the Fund in the event the
expenses and charges payable by the Fund in any fiscal year (as described
above) exceed 2%.  The most restrictive percentage limitation currently
applicable to the Fund is 2.5% of its average daily net assets up to
$30,000,000, 2% on the next $70,000,000 of its average daily net assets and
1.5% of its average daily net assets in excess of $100,000,000.  Reimbursement
of
    




                                       20
<PAGE>   287

expenses in excess of the applicable limitation will be made on a monthly basis
and will be paid to the Fund by reduction of the Advisor's fee, subject to
later adjustment month by month for the remainder of the Fund's fiscal year.
The Advisor may from time to time absorb expenses for the Fund in addition to
the reimbursement of expenses in excess of applicable limitations.

         On July 12, 1994, the SEC filed an administrative action (Order)
against the Advisor, Mr. Strong, and another employee of the Advisor in
connection with conduct that occurred between 1987 and early 1990. In re
Strong/Corneliuson Capital Management, Inc.; et al. Admin. Proc.  File No.
3-8411. The proceeding was settled by consent without admitting or denying the
allegations in the Order. The Order alleged that the Advisor and Mr. Strong
aided and abetted violations of Section 17(a) of the 1940 Act by effecting
trades between mutual funds, and between mutual funds and Harbour Investments
Ltd. ("Harbour"), without complying with the exemptive provisions of SEC Rule
17a-7 or otherwise obtaining an exemption. It further alleged that the Advisor
violated, and Mr. Strong aided and abetted violations of, the disclosure
provisions of the 1940 Act and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 by
misrepresenting the Advisor's policy on personal trading and by failing to
disclose trading by Harbour, an entity in which principals of the Advisor owned
between 18 and 25 percent of the voting stock. As part of the settlement, the
respondents agreed to a censure and a cease and desist order and the Advisor
agreed to various undertakings, including adoption of certain procedures and a
limitation for six months on accepting certain types of new advisory clients.

         The staff of the U.S. Department of Labor (the "Staff") has contacted
the Advisor regarding alleged cross-trading of securities between 1987 and
early 1990 involving various customer accounts subject to the Employee
Retirement Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA") and managed by the Advisor.  The
Advisor has informed the Staff of the basis for its position that the trades
complied with ERISA and that, in any event, any alleged noncompliance was not
the cause of any losses to the accounts.  The Staff has stated that it
disagrees with the Advisor's positions, although to date it has not filed any
action against the Advisor.  At this time, the Advisor is negotiating with the
Staff regarding a possible resolution of the matter, but it cannot presently
determine whether the matter will be settled or litigated or, if it is settled
or litigated, how it ultimately will be resolved.  However, management
presently believes, based on current knowledge and the Advisor's insurance
coverage, that the ultimate resolution of this matter should not have a
material adverse effect on the Advisor's financial position.

   
         Under a Distribution Agreement dated July 10, 1995 with the Corporation
(the "Distribution Agreement"), Strong Funds Distributors, Inc.
("Distributor"), a subsidiary of the Advisor, acts as underwriter of the Fund's
shares.  The Distribution Agreement provides that the Distributor will use its
best efforts to distribute the Fund's shares.  Shares are only offered and sold
to the separate accounts of certain insurance companies.  Since the Fund is a
"no-load" fund, no sales commissions are charged on the purchase of Fund
shares.  Certain sales charges may apply to the variable annuity or life
insurance contract, which should be described in the prospectus of the
insurance company's separate account.  The Distribution Agreement further
provides that the Distributor will bear the additional costs of printing
prospectuses and shareholder reports which are used for selling purposes, as
well as advertising and other costs attributable to the distribution of the
Fund's shares.  The Distributor is an indirect subsidiary of the Advisor and
controlled by the Advisor and Richard S. Strong. The Distribution Agreement is
subject to the same termination and renewal provisions as are described above
with respect to the Advisory Agreement.
    

                      PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE

         The Advisor is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities
for the Fund and for the placement of the Fund's investment business and the
negotiation of the commissions to be paid on such transactions.  It is the
policy of the Advisor to seek the best execution at the best security price
available with respect to each transaction, in light of the overall quality of
brokerage and research services provided to the Advisor or the Fund. In
over-the-counter transactions, orders are placed directly with a principal
market maker unless it is believed that a better price and execution can be
obtained using a broker.  The best price to the Fund means the best net price
without regard to the mix between purchase or sale price and commission, if
any.  In selecting broker-dealers and in negotiating commissions, the Advisor
considers a variety of factors, including best price and execution, the full
range of brokerage services provided by the broker, as well as its capital
strength and stability, and the quality of the research and research services
provided by the broker.  Brokerage will not be allocated based on the sale of
any shares of the Strong Funds.

         Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Section 28(e)")
permits an investment advisor, under certain circumstances, to cause an account
to pay a broker or dealer a commission for effecting a transaction in excess of
the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for
effecting the transaction in recognition of the value of the brokerage





                                       21
<PAGE>   288

and research services provided by the broker or dealer.  Brokerage and research
services include (a) furnishing advice as to the value of securities, the
advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities, and the
availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities; (b)
furnishing analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities,
economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy, and the performance of
accounts; and (c) effecting securities transactions and performing functions
incidental thereto (such as clearance, settlement, and custody).

         In carrying out the provisions of the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor
may cause the Fund to pay a broker, which provides brokerage and research
services to the Advisor, a commission for effecting a securities transaction in
excess of the amount another broker would have charged for effecting the
transaction.  The Advisor believes it is important to its investment
decision-making process to have access to independent research.  The Advisory
Agreement provides that such higher commissions will not be paid by the Fund
unless (a) the Advisor determines in good faith that the amount is reasonable
in relation to the services in terms of the particular transaction or in terms
of the Advisor's overall responsibilities with respect to the accounts as to
which it exercises investment discretion; (b) such payment is made in
compliance with the provisions of Section 28(e), other applicable state and
federal laws, and the Advisory Agreement; and (c) in the opinion of the
Advisor, the total commissions paid by the Fund will be reasonable in relation
to the benefits to the Fund over the long term. The investment advisory fee
paid by the Fund under the Advisory Agreement is not reduced as a result of the
Advisor's receipt of research services.

         Generally, research services provided by brokers may include
information on the economy, industries, groups of securities, individual
companies, statistical information, accounting and tax law interpretations,
political developments, legal developments affecting portfolio securities,
technical market action, pricing and appraisal services, credit analysis, risk
measurement analysis, performance analysis, and analysis of corporate
responsibility issues. Such research services are received primarily in the
form of written reports, telephone contacts, and personal meetings with
security analysts. In addition, such research services may be provided in the
form of access to various computer-generated data, computer hardware and
software, and meetings arranged with corporate and industry spokespersons,
economists, academicians, and government representatives. In some cases,
research services are generated by third parties but are provided to the
Advisor by or through brokers. Such brokers may pay for all or a portion of
computer hardware and software costs relating to the pricing of securities.

         Where the Advisor itself receives both administrative benefits and
research and brokerage services from the services provided by brokers, it makes
a good faith allocation between the administrative benefits and the research
and brokerage services, and will pay for any administrative benefits with cash.
In making good faith allocations of costs between administrative benefits and
research and brokerage services, a conflict of interest may exist by reason of
the Advisor's allocation of the costs of such benefits and services between
those that primarily benefit the Advisor and those that primarily benefit the
Fund and other advisory clients.

         From time to time, the Advisor may purchase securities for the Fund in
a fixed price offering. In these situations, the seller may be a member of the
selling group that will, in addition to selling the securities to the Fund and
other advisory clients, provide the Advisor with research. The National
Association of Securities Dealers has adopted rules expressly permitting these
types of arrangements under certain circumstances. Generally, the seller will
provide research "credits" in these situations at a rate that is higher than
that which is available for typical secondary market transactions. These
arrangements may not fall within the safe harbor of Section 28(e).

         Each year, the Advisor considers the amount and nature of research and
research services provided by brokers, as well as the extent to which such
services are relied upon, and attempts to allocate a portion of the brokerage
business of the Fund and other advisory clients on the basis of that
consideration. In addition, brokers may suggest a level of business they would
like to receive in order to continue to provide such services. The actual
brokerage business received by a broker may be more or less than the suggested
allocations, depending upon the Advisor's evaluation of all applicable
considerations.

         During its last fiscal year, the Advisor had an arrangement with
various brokers whereby, in consideration of the providing of research
services, the Advisor allocated brokerage to those firms, provided that their
brokerage and research services were satisfactory to the Advisor and their
execution capabilities were compatible with the Advisor's policy of seeking
best execution at the best security price available, as discussed above.





                                       22
<PAGE>   289

         The Advisor may direct the purchase of securities on behalf of the
Fund and other advisory clients in secondary market transactions, in public
offerings directly from an underwriter, or in privately negotiated transactions
with an issuer. When the Advisor believes the circumstances so warrant,
securities purchased in public offerings may be resold shortly after
acquisition in the immediate aftermarket for the security in order to take
advantage of price appreciation from the public offering price or for other
reasons. Short-term trading of securities acquired in public offerings, or
otherwise, may result in higher portfolio turnover and associated brokerage
expenses.

         The Advisor is responsible for selecting brokers in connection with
foreign securities transactions.  The fixed commissions paid in connection with
most foreign stock transactions are usually higher than negotiated commissions
on U.S. stock transactions.  Foreign stock exchanges and brokers are subject to
less government supervision and regulation as compared with the U.S. exchanges
and brokers.  In addition, foreign security settlements may in some instances
be subject to delays and related administrative uncertainties.

         The Advisor places portfolio transactions for other advisory accounts,
including other mutual funds managed by the Advisor.  Research services
furnished by firms through which the Fund effects its securities transactions
may be used by the Advisor in servicing all of its accounts; not all of such
services may be used by the Advisor in connection with the Fund.  In the
opinion of the Advisor, it is not possible to measure separately the benefits
from research services to each of the accounts (including the Fund) managed by
the Advisor. Because the volume and nature of the trading activities of the
accounts are not uniform, the amount of commissions in excess of those charged
by another broker paid by each account for brokerage and research services will
vary.  However, in the opinion of the Advisor, such costs to the Fund will not
be disproportionate to the benefits received by the Fund on a continuing basis.

         The Advisor seeks to allocate portfolio transactions equitably
whenever concurrent decisions are made to purchase or sell securities by the
Fund and another advisory account. In some cases, this procedure could have an
adverse effect on the price or the amount of securities available to the Fund.
In making such allocations between the Fund and other advisory accounts, the
main factors considered by the Advisor are the respective investment
objectives, the relative size of portfolio holdings of the same or comparable
securities, the availability of cash for investment, the size of investment
commitments generally held, and the opinions of the persons responsible for
recommending the investment.

         The Corporation has entered into agreements with the Advisor and each
of Salomon and PaineWebber (collectively, the "Brokers"), in which the Brokers
have agreed to pay directly to vendors certain investment management and other
related expenses incurred and otherwise payable by the Fund ("Expense
Agreements"). In accordance with the Expense Agreements, the Advisor directs
the delivery to the Brokers of invoices determined by the Fund to be
appropriate for payment by the Brokers.  The Brokers pay the invoices with the
proceeds of certain commissions received from the Fund.  The Expense Agreements
provide that a percentage of commissions received from the Fund for completed
agency transactions in certain securities for the Fund, designated by the
Advisor as directed commissions subject to the Expense Agreements, shall be
used by the Brokers to pay the invoices.  In all cases, such credits have been
immaterial in amount. The Advisor believes that this practice has not resulted
in any increase in the level of commissions paid by the Fund.  Investment
management and other related expenses include those payable by the Fund, as
described under "Investment Advisor and Distributor" in this Statement of
Additional Information.

                                   CUSTODIAN

         As custodian of the Fund's assets, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., 40
Water Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109, has custody of all securities and
cash of the Fund, delivers and receives payment for securities sold, receives
and pays for securities purchased, collects income from investments, and
performs other duties, all as directed by officers of the Corporation.  In
addition, with the approval of the Corporation's Board of Directors and subject
to the rules of the SEC, the Fund will have sub-custodians in those foreign
countries in which their respective assets may be invested.  The custodian and,
if applicable, the sub-custodian are in no way responsible for any of the
investment policies or decisions of the Fund.






                                       23
<PAGE>   290
   
                 TRANSFER AGENT AND DIVIDEND-DISBURSING AGENT
    

   
         The Advisor acts as transfer agent and dividend-disbursing agent for
the Fund at no cost.
    

   
                           ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
    

   
        From time to time the Fund and/or the Advisor may enter into
arrangements under which certain administrative services may be performed by
the insurance companies that purchase shares in the Fund. These administrative
services may include, among other things, responding to ministerial inquiries
concerning the Fund's investment objective, investment program, policies and
performance, transmitting, on behalf of the Fund, proxy statements, annual
reports, updated prospectuses, and other communications regarding the Fund, and
providing only related services as the Fund or its shareholders may reasonably
request. Depending on the arrangements,  the Fund and/or Advisor may compensate
such insurance companies or their agents directly or indirectly for the
administrative services. To the extent the Fund compensates the insurance
company for these services, the Fund will pay the insurance company an annual
fee that will vary depending upon the number of contract holders that utilize
the Fund as the funding medium for their contracts. The insurance company may
impose other account or service charges. See the prospectus for the separate 
account of the insurance company for additional information regarding such 
charges.
    

                                     TAXES

GENERAL

         As indicated under "Additional Information - Distributions and Taxes"
in the Prospectus, the Fund intends to continue to qualify annually for
treatment as a regulated investment company ("RIC") under the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").  This qualification does not involve
government supervision of the Fund's management practices or policies.

         In order to qualify for treatment as a RIC under the Code, the Fund
must distribute to its shareholders for each taxable year at least 90% of its
investment company taxable income (consisting generally of net investment
income, net short-term capital gain, and net gains from certain foreign
currency transactions) ("Distribution Requirement") and must meet several
additional requirements.  Among these requirements are the following: (1) the
Fund must derive at least 90% of its gross income each taxable year 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 (including gains from options, futures, or forward contracts) derived
with respect to its business of investing in securities or those currencies
("Income Requirement"); (2) the Fund must derive less than 30% of its gross
income each taxable year from the sale or other disposition of securities, or
any of the following, that were held for less than three months - options or
futures (other than those on foreign currencies), or foreign currencies (or
options, futures, or forward contracts thereon) that are not directly related
to the Fund's principal business or investing in securities (or options and
futures with respect to securities) ("30% Limitation"); (3) 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, with these other securities
limited, in respect of any one issuer, to an amount that does not exceed 5% of
the value of the Fund's total assets and that does not represent more than 10%
of the issuer's outstanding voting securities; and (4) at the close of each
quarter of the Fund's taxable year, not more than 25% of the value of its total
assets may be invested in securities (other than U.S.  government securities or
the securities of other RICs) of any one issuer.

         If Fund shares are sold at a loss after being held for six months or
less, the loss will be treated as long-term, instead of short-term, capital
loss to the extent of any capital gain distributions received on those shares.

         In addition, the Fund must satisfy the diversification requirements of
Section 817(h) of the Code.  In general, for the Fund to meet these investment
diversification requirements, Treasury regulations require that no more than
55% of the total value of the assets of the Fund may be represented by any one
investment, no more than 70% by two investments, no more than 80% by three
investments and no more than 90% by four investments.  Generally, for purposes
of the regulations, all securities of the same issuer are treated as a single
investment.  With respect to the United States Government securities (including
any security that is issued, guaranteed or insured by the United States or an
instrumentality of the United States), each governmental agency or
instrumentality is treated as a separate issuer.  Compliance with the
regulations is tested on the last day of each calendar year quarter.  There is
a 30-day period after the end of each calendar year quarter in which to cure
any non-compliance with these requirements.

FOREIGN TRANSACTIONS

         Interest and dividends received by the Fund may be subject to income,
withholding, or other taxes imposed by foreign countries and U.S.  possessions
that would reduce the yield on its securities.  Tax conventions between certain
countries and the





                                       24
<PAGE>   291

United States may reduce or eliminate these foreign taxes, however, and many
foreign countries do not impose taxes on capital gains in respect of
investments by foreign investors.

         The Fund maintains its accounts and calculates its income in U.S.
dollars.  In general, gain or loss (1) from the disposition of foreign
currencies and forward currency contracts, (2) from the disposition of
foreign-currency-denominated debt securities that are attributable to
fluctuations in exchange rates between the date the securities are acquired and
their disposition date, and (3) attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates
between the time the Fund accrues interest or other receivables or expenses or
other liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time the Fund
actually collects those receivables or pays those liabilities, will be treated
as ordinary income or loss.  A foreign-currency-denominated debt security
acquired by the Fund may bear interest at a high normal rate that takes into
account expected decreases in the value of the principal amount of the security
due to anticipated currency devaluations; in that case, the Fund would be
required to include the interest in income as it accrues but generally would
realize a currency loss with respect to the principal only when the principal
was received (through disposition or upon maturity).

         The Fund may invest in the stock of "passive foreign investment
companies" ("PFICs").  A PFIC is a foreign corporation that, in general, meets
either of the following tests: (1) at least 75% of its gross income is passive
or (2) an average of at least 50% of its assets produce, or are held for the
production of, passive income.  Under certain circumstances, the Fund will be
subject to federal income tax on a portion of any "excess distribution"
received on the stock or of any gain on disposition of the stock (collectively,
"PFIC income"), plus interest thereon, even if the Fund distributes the PFIC
income to its shareholders.  The balance of the PFIC income will be included in
the Fund's investment company taxable income and, accordingly, will not be
taxable to it to the extent that income is distributed to its shareholders.  If
the Fund invests in a PFIC and elects to treat the PFIC as a "qualified
electing fund," then in lieu of the foregoing tax and interest obligation, the
Fund will be required to include in income each year its pro rata share of the
qualified electing fund's annual ordinary earnings and net capital gain (the
excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) -- which
probably would have to be distributed to its shareholders to satisfy the
Distribution Requirement -- even if those earnings and gain were not received
by the Fund.  In most instances it will be very difficult, if not impossible,
to make this election because of certain requirements thereof.

         The "Tax Simplification and Technical Corrections Bill of 1993,"
passed in May 1994 by the House of Representatives would substantially modify
the taxation of U.S. shareholders of foreign corporations, including
eliminating the provisions described above dealing with PFICs and replacing
them (and other provisions) with a regulatory scheme involving entities called
"passive foreign corporations." Three similar bills were passed by Congress in
1991 and 1992 and were vetoed.  It is unclear at this time whether, and in what
form, the proposed modifications may be enacted into law.

         Pursuant to proposed regulations, open-end RICs such as the Fund would
be entitled to elect to "mark-to-market" their stock in certain PFICs.
"Marking-to-market," in this context, means recognizing as gain for each
taxable year the excess, as of the end of that year, of the fair market value
of each such PFIC's stock over the adjusted basis in that stock (including
mark-to-market gain for each prior year for which an election was in effect).

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

         The use of derivatives strategies, such as purchasing and selling
(writing) options and futures and entering into forward currency contracts,
involves complex rules that will determine for income tax purposes the
character and timing of recognition of the gains and losses the Fund realizes
in connection therewith.  Gains from the disposition of foreign currencies
(except certain gains therefrom that may be excluded by future regulations),
and income from transactions in options, futures, and forward currency
contracts derived by the Fund with respect to its business of investing in
securities or foreign currencies, will qualify as permissible income under the
Income Requirement.  However, income from the disposition of options and
futures (other than those on foreign currencies) will be subject to the 30%
Limitation if they are held for less than three months.  Income from the
disposition of foreign currencies, and options, futures, and forward contracts
on foreign currencies, that are not directly related to the Fund's principal
business of investing in securities (or options and futures with respect to
securities) also will be subject to the 30% Limitation if they are held for
less than three months.

         If the Fund satisfies certain requirements, any increase in value of a
position that is part of a "designated hedge" will be offset by any decrease in
value (whether realized or not) of the offsetting hedging position during the
period of the hedge for purposes of determining whether the Fund satisfies the
30% Limitation.  Thus, only the net gain (if any) from the designated





                                       25
<PAGE>   292

hedge will be included in gross income for purposes of that limitation.  The
Fund intends that, when it engages in hedging strategies, the hedging
transactions will qualify for this treatment, but at the present time it is not
clear whether this treatment will be available for all of the Fund's hedging
transactions.  To the extent this treatment is not available or is not elected
by the Fund, it may be forced to defer the closing out of certain options,
futures, or forward currency contracts beyond the time when it otherwise would
be advantageous to do so, in order for the Fund to continue to qualify as a
RIC.

         For federal income tax purposes, the Fund is required to recognize as
income for each taxable year its net unrealized gains and losses on options,
futures, and forward currency contracts that are subject to section 1256 of the
Code ("Section 1256 Contracts") and are held by the Fund as of the end of the
year, as well as gains and losses on Section 1256 Contracts actually realized
during the year.  Except for Section 1256 Contracts that are part of a "mixed
straddle" and with respect to which the Fund makes a certain election, any gain
or loss recognized with respect to Section 1256 Contracts is considered to be
60% long-term capital gain or loss and 40% short-term capital gain or loss,
without regard to the holding period of the Section 1256 Contract.  Unrealized
gains on Section 1256 Contracts that have been held by the Fund for less than
three months as of the end of its taxable year, and that are recognized for
federal income tax purposes as described above, will not be considered gains on
investments held for less than three months for purposes of the 30% Limitation.

ZERO-COUPON, STEP-COUPON, AND PAY-IN-KIND SECURITIES

         The Fund may acquire zero-coupon, step-coupon, or other securities
issued with original issue discount.  As a holder of those securities, the Fund
must include in its income the original issue discount that accrues on the
securities during the taxable year, even if the Fund receives no corresponding
payment on the securities during the year.  Similarly, the Fund must include in
its income securities it receives as "interest" on pay-in-kind securities.
Because the Fund annually must distribute substantially all of its investment
company taxable income, including any original issue discount and other
non-cash income, to satisfy the Distribution Requirement, it may be required in
a particular year to distribute as a dividend an amount that is greater than
the total amount of cash it actually receives.  Those distributions may be made
from the proceeds on sales of portfolio securities, if necessary.  The Fund may
realize capital gains or losses from those sales, which would increase or
decrease its investment company taxable income or net capital gain, or both.
In addition, any such gains may be realized on the disposition of securities
held for less than three months.  Because of the 30% Limitation, any such gains
would reduce the Fund's ability to sell other securities, or certain options,
futures, or forward currency  contracts, held for less that three months that
it might wish to sell in the ordinary course of its portfolio management.

                        DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

         A more complete discussion of the Fund's determination of net asset
value is contained in the Prospectus.  Generally, the net asset value of the
Fund will be determined as of the close of trading on each day the New York
Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") is open for trading. The NYSE is open for trading
Monday through Friday except New Year's Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday,
Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
Additionally, if any of the aforementioned holidays falls on a Saturday, the
NYSE will not be open for trading on the preceding Friday, and when any such
holiday falls on a Sunday, the NYSE will not be open for trading on the
succeeding Monday, unless unusual business conditions exist, such as the ending
of a monthly or the yearly accounting period.

         Debt securities are valued by a pricing service that utilizes
electronic data processing techniques to determine values for normal
institutional-sized trading units of debt securities without regard to sale or
bid prices when such values are believed to more accurately reflect the fair
market value for such securities. Otherwise, sale or bid prices are used. Any
securities or other assets for which market quotations are not readily
available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of each Corporation.  Debt securities having remaining maturities of 
60 days or less when purchased are valued by the amortized cost method when the
Corporation's Board of Directors determines that the fair value of such
securities is their amortized cost. Under this method of valuation, a security
is initially valued at its acquisition cost, and thereafter, amortization of
any discount or premium is assumed each day, regardless of the impact of the
fluctuating rates on the market value of the instrument.

                               FUND ORGANIZATION





                                       26
<PAGE>   293
   

         The Fund is a series of common stock of Strong Variable Insurance
Funds, Inc., a Wisconsin corporation (the "Corporation").  The Corporation
(formerly known as Strong Discovery Fund II, Inc., formerly known as Strong D
Fund, Inc.) was organized on December 28, 1990 and is authorized to issue
10,000,000,000 shares of common stock and series and classes of series of
shares of common stock, with a par value of $.00001 per share.  The Corporation
is authorized to issue 300,000,000 shares of common stock of the Fund.  Each
share of the Corporation has one vote, and all shares of a series participate
equally in dividends and other capital gains distributions and in the residual
assets of that Fund in the event of liquidation. Fractional shares have the
same rights proportionately as do full shares. Shares of the Corporation have
no preemptive, conversion, or subscription rights.  The Corporation currently
has six series of common stock outstanding.  The assets belonging to each
series of shares is held separately by the custodian, and in effect each series
is a separate fund.  All holders of shares of the Corporation would vote on
each matter presented to shareholders for action except with respect to any
matter which affects only one or more series or classes, in which case only the
shares of the affected series or class shall be entitled to vote.  Because of
current federal securities law requirements the Corporation expects that its
shareholders will offer to owners of variable annuity and variable life
insurance contracts the opportunity to instruct them as to how shares allocable
to their contracts will be voted with respect to certain matters, such as
approval of changes to the investment advisory agreement.  The Wisconsin
Business Corporation Law permits registered investment companies, such as the
series of the Corporation, to operate without an annual meeting of shareholders
under specified circumstances if an annual meeting is not required by the 1940
Act.  The Corporation has adopted the appropriate provisions in its Bylaws and
may, at its discretion, not hold an annual meeting in any year in which the
election of directors is not required to be acted on by shareholders under the
1940 Act.
    
   
         The Corporation's Bylaws allow for a director to be removed by its
shareholders with or without cause, only at a meeting called for the purpose of
removing the director.  Upon the written request of the holders of shares 
entitled to not less than ten percent (10%) of all the votes entitled to be
cast at such meeting, the Secretary of the Corporation shall promptly call a
special meeting of shareholders for the purpose of voting upon the question of
removal of any director.  The Secretary shall inform such shareholders of the
reasonable estimated costs of preparing and mailing the notice of the meeting,
and upon payment to the Corporation of such costs, the Corporation shall give
not less than ten nor more than sixty days notice of the special meeting.
    



                                       27
<PAGE>   294

                            PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

         As described under "Additional Information - Performance Information"
in the Prospectus, the Fund's historical performance or return may be shown in
the form of "average annual total return," "total return," and "cumulative
total return."  From time to time, the Advisor may voluntarily waive all or a
portion of its management fee and/or absorb certain expenses for the Fund.
Total returns contained in advertisements include the effect of deducting the
Fund's expenses, but may not include charges and expenses attributable to any
particular insurance product.  Since shares may only be purchased by the
separate accounts of certain insurance companies, contracts owners should
carefully review the prospectus of the separate account for information on fees
and expenses.  Excluding such fees and expenses from the Fund's total return
quotations has the effect of increasing the performance quoted.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN

         The Fund's average annual total return quotation is computed in
accordance with a standardized method prescribed by rules of the SEC.  The
average annual total return for the Fund for a specific period is found by
first taking a hypothetical $10,000 investment ("initial investment") in the
Fund's shares on the first day of the period and computing the "redeemable
value" of that investment at the end of the period.  The redeemable value is
then divided by the initial investment, and this quotient is taken to the Nth
root (N representing the number of years in the period) and one is subtracted
from the result, which is then expressed as a percentage.  The calculation
assumes that all income and capital gains dividends paid by the Fund have been
reinvested at net asset value on the reinvestment dates during the period.

TOTAL RETURN

         Calculation of the Fund's total return is not subject to a
standardized formula.  Total return performance for a specific period is
calculated by first taking an investment (assumed below to be $10,000)
("initial investment") in the Fund's shares on the first day of the period and
computing the "ending value" of that investment at the end of the period.  The
total return percentage is then determined by subtracting the initial
investment from the ending value and dividing the remainder by the initial
investment and expressing the result as a percentage.  The calculation assumes
that all income and capital gains dividends paid by the Fund have been
reinvested at net asset value on the reinvestment dates during the period.
Total return may also be shown as the increased dollar value of the
hypothetical investment over the period.

CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN

         Calculation of the Fund's cumulative total return is not subject to a
standardized formula and represents the simple change in value of an investment
over a stated period and may be quoted as a percentage or as a dollar amount.
Total returns and cumulative total returns may be broken down into their
components of income and capital (including capital gains and changes in share
price) in order to illustrate the relationship between these factors and their
contributions to total return.

         The Fund's performance figures are based upon historical results and
do not represent future performance.  The Fund's shares are sold at net asset
value per share.  The Fund's returns and net asset value will fluctuate and
shares are redeemable at the then current net asset value of the Fund, which
may be more or less than original cost.  Factors affecting the Fund's
performance include general market conditions, operating expenses, and
investment management.  Any additional fees charged by an insurance company or
other financial services firm would reduce the returns described in this
section.

COMPARISONS

(1)      U.S. TREASURY BILLS, NOTES, OR BONDS
         Investors may also wish to compare the performance of the Fund to that
of United States Treasury bills, notes, or bonds, which are issued by the U.S.
government, because such instruments represent alternative income producing
products.  Treasury obligations are issued in selected denominations.  Rates of
Treasury obligations are fixed at the time of issuance and payment of principal
and interest is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States
Treasury.  The market value of such instruments will generally fluctuate
inversely with interest rates prior to maturity and will equal par value at
maturity.





                                       28
<PAGE>   295

(2)      CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT
         Investors may wish to compare the Fund's performance to that of
certificates of deposit offered by banks and other depositary institutions.
Certificates of deposit represent an alternative income producing product.
Certificates of deposit may offer fixed or variable interest rates and
principal is guaranteed and may be insured. Withdrawal of the deposits prior to
maturity normally will be subject to a penalty.  Rates offered by banks and
other depositary institutions are subject to change at any time specified by
the issuing institution.

(3)      MONEY MARKET FUNDS
         Investors may also want to compare performance of the Fund to that of
money market funds.  Money market fund yields will fluctuate and an investment
in money market fund shares is neither insured nor guaranteed by the U.S.
government, but share values usually remain stable.

(4)      LIPPER ANALYTICAL SERVICES, INC. ("LIPPER") AND OTHER INDEPENDENT
         RANKING ORGANIZATIONS
         From time to time, in marketing and other fund literature, the Fund's
performance may be compared to the performance of other mutual funds in general
or to the performance of particular types of mutual funds, with similar
investment goals, as tracked by independent organizations.  Among these
organizations, Lipper, a widely used independent research firm which ranks
mutual funds by overall performance, investment objectives, and assets, may be
cited.  Lipper performance figures are based on changes in net asset value,
with all income and capital gain dividends reinvested.  Such calculations do
not include the effect of any sales charges imposed by other funds.  The Fund
will be compared to Lipper's appropriate fund category, that is, by fund
objective and portfolio holdings.

(5)      MORNINGSTAR, INC.
         The Fund's performance may also be compared to the performance of
other mutual funds by Morningstar, Inc. which rates funds on the basis of
historical risk and total return.  Morningstar's ratings range from five stars
(highest) to one star (lowest) and represent Morningstar's assessment of the
historical risk level and total return of the Fund as a weighted average for 3,
5, and 10 year periods.  Ratings are not absolute and do not represent future
results.

(6)      VARDS REPORT
         The Fund's performance may also be compared to the performance of
other variable annuity products in general or to the performance of particular
types of variable annuity products, with similar investment goals, as tracked
by the VARDS Report (Variable Annuity Research and Data Service Report)
produced by Financial Planning Resources, Inc.  The VARDS Report is a monthly
performance analysis of the variable annuity industry.

(7)      INDEPENDENT SOURCES
         Evaluations of Fund performance made by independent sources may also
be used in advertisements concerning the Fund, including reprints of, or
selections from, editorials or articles about the Fund, especially those with
similar objectives.  Sources for Fund performance information and articles
about the Fund may include publications such as Money, Forbes, Kiplinger's,
Smart Money, Morningstar, Inc., Financial World, Business Week, U.S. News and
World Report, The Wall Street Journal, Barron's, and a variety of investment
newsletters.

 (8)     INDICES
         A Fund may compare its performance to a wide variety of indices
including the following:

        (a)      Consumer Price Index
        (b)      Dow Jones Average of 30 Industrials
        (c)      NASDAQ Over-the-Counter Composite Index
        (d)      Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index
        (e)      Standard & Poor's 400 Mid-Cap Stock Index
        (f)      Standard & Poor's 600 Small-Cap Index
        (g)      Wilshire 4500 Index
        (h)      Wilshire 5000 Index





                                       29
<PAGE>   296

        (i)      Wilshire Small Cap Index
        (j)      Wilshire Small Cap Growth Index
        (k)      Wilshire Small Cap Value Index
        (l)      Wilshire Midcap 750 Index
        (m)      Wilshire Midcap Growth Index
        (n)      Wilshire Midcap Value Index
        (o)      Wilshire Large Cap Growth Index
        (p)      Russell 1000 Index
        (q)      Russell 1000 Growth Index
        (r)      Russell 2000 Index
        (s)      Russell 2000 Small Stock Index
        (t)      Russell 2000 Growth Index
        (u)      Russell 2000 Value Index
        (v)      Russell 2500 Index
        (w)      Russell 3000 Stock Index
        (x)      Russell MidCap Index
        (y)      Russell MidCap Growth Index
        (z)      Russell MidCap Value Index
        (aa)     Value Line Index
        (bb)     Morgan Stanley Capital International EAFE(R) Index (Net 
                 Dividend, Gross Dividend, and Price-Only). In addition, a 
                 Fund may compare its performance to certain other indices 
                 that measure stock market performance in geographic areas in 
                 which the Fund may invest.  The market prices and yields of 
                 the stocks in these indexes will fluctuate.  A Fund may also 
                 compare its portfolio weighting to the EAFE Index weighting, 
                 which represents the relative capitalization of the major 
                 overseas markets on a dollar-adjusted basis
        (cc)     Morgan Stanley Capital International World Index

         There are differences and similarities between the investments that a
Fund may purchase for its portfolio and the investments measured by these
indices.

(9)      HISTORICAL INFORMATION
         Because the Fund's investments primarily are denominated in foreign
currencies, the strength or weakness of the U.S. dollar as against these
currencies may account for part of the Fund's investment performance.
Historical information regarding the value of the dollar versus foreign
currencies may be used from time to time in advertisements concerning the Fund.
Such historical information is not indicative of future fluctuations in the
value of the U.S. dollar against these currencies.  Marketing materials may
cite country and economic statistics and historical stock market performance
for any of the countries in which the Fund invests, including, but not limited
to, the following: population growth, gross domestic product, inflation rate,
average stock market price earnings ratios and the total value of stock
markets.  Sources for such statistics may include official publications of
various foreign governments, exchanges, or investment research firms.  In
addition, marketing materials may cite the portfolio manager's views or
interpretations of such statistical data or historical performance.

(10)      HISTORICAL ASSET CLASS RETURNS
         From time to time, marketing materials may portray the historical
returns of various asset classes.  Such presentations will typically compare
the average annual rates of return of inflation, U.S. Treasury bills, bonds,
common stocks, and small stocks. There are important differences between each
of these investments that should be considered in viewing any such comparison.
The market value of stocks will fluctuate with market conditions, and
small-stock prices generally will fluctuate more than large-stock prices. Bond
prices generally will fluctuate inversely with interest rates and other market
conditions, and the prices of bonds with longer maturities generally will
fluctuate more than those of shorter-maturity bonds. Interest rates for bonds
may be fixed at the time of issuance, and payment of principal and interest may
be guaranteed by the issuer and, in the case of U.S. Treasury obligations,
backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury.


   
(11)    STRONG VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS
        The Strong Variable Insurance Funds offer a range of investment
options. All of the members of the Strong Variable Insurance Funds and their
investment objectives are listed below. The Funds are listed in ascending order
of risk and return, as determined by the Funds' Advisor.
    

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>                     
FUND NAME                                        INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                              <C>
Strong Advantage Fund II                         Current income with a very low degree of
                                                 share-price fluctuation.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Government Securities Fund II             Total return by investing for a high level of current income 
                                                 with a moderate degree of share-price fluctuation.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Asset Allocation Fund II                  High total return consistent with reasonable risk over the 
                                                 long term.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Special Fund II                           Capital growth.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Growth Fund II                            Capital growth.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Discovery Fund II                         Capital growth.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong International Stock Fund II               Capital growth.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
    

        
        Each Fund may from time to time be compared to the other Funds in
the Strong Variable Insurance Funds based on a risk/reward spectrum. In
general, the amount of risk associated with any investment product is
commensurate with that product's potential level of reward. The Strong Variable
Insurance Funds' risk/reward continuum or any Fund's position on the continuum
may be described or diagrammed in marketing materials. The Strong Variable
Insurance Funds' risk/reward continuum positions the risk and reward potential
of each Fund relative to the other Strong Variable Insurance Funds, but is not
intended to position any Fund relative to other mutual funds or investment
products. Marketing materials may also discuss the relationship between risk and
reward as it relates to an individual investor's portfolio. Financial goals vary
from person to person. You may choose one or more of the Strong Variable
Insurance Funds to help you reach your financial goals.
        

        
        The Advisor also serves as advisor to the Strong Family of Funds, which
is a retail fund complex composed of 23 open-end management investment
companies.
        




                                       30
<PAGE>   297

ADDITIONAL FUND INFORMATION

(1)      PORTFOLIO CHARACTERISTICS

         In order to present a more complete picture of a Fund's portfolio,
marketing materials may include various actual or estimated portfolio
characteristics, including but not limited to median market capitalizations,
earnings per share, alphas, betas, price/earnings ratios, returns on equity,
dividend yields, capitalization ranges, growth rates, price/book ratios, top
holdings, sector breakdowns, asset allocations, quality breakdowns, and
breakdowns by geographic region.

(2)      MEASURES OF VOLATILITY AND RELATIVE PERFORMANCE

         Occasionally statistics may be used to specify Fund volatility or
risk. The general premise is that greater volatility connotes greater risk
undertaken in achieving performance.  Measures of volatility or risk are
generally used to compare the Fund's net asset value or performance relative to
a market index.  One measure of volatility is beta.  Beta is the volatility of
a fund relative to the total market as represented by the Standard & Poor's 500
Stock Index.  A beta of more than 1.00 indicates volatility greater than the
market, and a beta of less than 1.00 indicates volatility less than the market.
Another measure of volatility or risk is standard deviation. Standard deviation
is a statistical tool that measures the degree to which a fund's performance
has varied from its average performance during a particular time period.

Standard deviation is calculated using the following formula:
                                                         2
      Standard deviation = the square root of  +(x  - x )
                                                  i    m
                                               -----------
                                                   n-1
where    + = "the sum of",
         x  = each individual return during the time period,
          i
         x  = the average return over the time period, and
          m
         n = the number of individual returns during the time period.

         Statistics may also be used to discuss a Fund's relative performance.
One such measure is alpha. Alpha measures the actual return of a fund compared
to the expected return of a fund given its risk (as measured by beta).  The
expected return is based on how the market as a whole performed, and how the
particular fund has historically performed against the market. Specifically,
alpha is the actual return less the expected return. The expected return is
computed by multiplying the advance or decline in a market representation by
the fund's beta. A positive alpha quantifies the value that the fund manager
has added, and a negative alpha quantifies the value that the fund manager has
lost.

         Other measures of volatility and relative performance may be used as
appropriate. However, all such measures will fluctuate and do not represent
future results.
                              GENERAL INFORMATION

BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY

         The Advisor is an independent, Midwestern-based investment advisor,
owned by professionals active in its management. Recognizing that investors are
the focus of its business, the Advisor strives for excellence both in
investment management and in the service provided to investors. This commitment
affects many aspects of the business, including professional staffing, product
development, investment management, and service delivery.  Through its
commitment to excellence, the Advisor intends to benefit investors and to
encourage them to think of Strong Funds as their mutual fund family.

         The increasing complexity of the capital markets requires specialized
skills and processes for each asset class and style. Therefore, the Advisor
believes that active management should produce greater returns than a passively
managed index.  The Advisor has brought together a group of top-flight
investment professionals with diverse product expertise, and each concentrates
on their investment specialty. The Advisor believes that people are the firm's
most important asset. For this reason, continuity of professionals is critical
to the firm's long-term success.





                                       31
<PAGE>   298

INVESTMENT ENVIRONMENT

         Discussions of economic, social, and political conditions and their
impact on the Fund may be used in advertisements and sales materials.  Such
factors that may impact the Fund include, but are not limited to, changes in
interest rates, political developments, the competitive environment, consumer
behavior, industry trends, technological advances, macroeconomic trends, and
the supply and demand of various financial instruments.  In addition, marketing
materials may cite the portfolio management's views or interpretations of such
factors.

EIGHT BASIC PRINCIPLES FOR SUCCESSFUL MUTUAL FUND INVESTING

         These common sense rules are followed by many successful investors.
They make sense for beginners, too. If you have a question on these principles,
or would like to discuss them with us, please contact us at 1-800-368-3863.

1.  Have a plan - even a simple plan can help you take control of your
    financial future. Review your plan once a year, or if your circumstances
    change.

2.  Start investing as soon as possible. Make time a valuable ally. Let it put
    the power of compounding to work for you, while helping to reduce your
    potential investment risk.

3.  Diversify your portfolio. By investing in different asset classes - stocks,
    bonds, and cash - you help protect against poor performance in one type of
    investment while including investments most likely to help you achieve your
    important goals.

4.  Invest regularly. Investing is a process, not a one-time event. Make a
    habit of investing. And make it easy for yourself with an "automatic
    investment plan." This popular strategy not only helps you manage
    investment risk, it also ensures you "pay yourself first" on a regular
    basis.

5.  Maintain a long-term perspective. For most individuals, the best discipline
    is staying invested as market conditions change. Reactive, emotional
    investment decisions are all too often a source of regret - and principal
    loss.

6.  Consider stocks to help achieve major long-term goals. Over time, stocks
    have provided the more powerful returns needed to help the value of your
    investments stay well ahead of inflation.

7.  Keep a comfortable amount of cash in your portfolio. To meet current needs,
    including emergencies, use a money market fund or a bank account - not your
    long-term investment assets.

8.  Know what you're buying. Make sure you understand the potential risks and
    rewards associated with each of your investments. Ask questions... request
    information...make up your own mind. And choose a fund company that helps
    you make informed investment decisions.

                              PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

      The Advisor's investment philosophy is that (i) active management with
focused security and country selection can generate superior returns over
passive benchmarks; (ii) local knowledge and local contacts are essential for
effective international investing; (iii) application of U.S. and non-U.S.
financial analysis techniques can be used to value certain international
securities; and (iv) relative risk control can be achieved by underweighting
the least attractive markets and not overweighting volatile markets.

      The Advisor's investment process includes (i) global market analysis to
determine which countries/currencies to emphasize and avoid; (ii) combining
U.S. and non-U.S. fundamental research techniques where possible; (iii)
utilizing local





                                       32
<PAGE>   299

knowledge and local contacts to closely monitor companies and unearth new
candidates for investment opportunities; (iv) focusing on stock selection in
moderately attractive markets; (v) focusing on sector/industry weightings in
the most attractive markets; (vi) emphasizing growth companies in smaller and
emerging markets; (vii) emphasizing value plays and turnaround situations in
more mature equity markets; and (viii) utilizing hedging of foreign currency
risk on an opportunistic basis.

      The Advisor considers selling a stock when there is a high price/cash
flow or price/earnings multiple relative to the country and/or industry,
deterioration in country policies towards investors, or deterioration in
company fundamentals and management.

                            INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

         Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., 411 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee,
Wisconsin 53202, have been selected as the independent accountants for the
Fund, providing audit services and assistance and consultation with respect to
the preparation of filings with the SEC.

                                 LEGAL COUNSEL

             Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.,  780 North Water Street, Milwaukee,
Wisconsin 53202, acts as outside legal counsel for the Fund.





                                       33
<PAGE>   300

                                    APPENDIX

                                  BOND RATINGS

                         STANDARD & POOR'S DEBT RATINGS

        A Standard & Poor's corporate or municipal debt rating is a current
assessment of the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific
obligation.  This assessment may take into consideration obligors such as
guarantors, insurers, or lessees.

        The debt rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell, or hold a
security, inasmuch as it does not comment as to market price or suitability for
a particular investor.

        The ratings are based on current information furnished by the issuer or
obtained by S&P from other sources it considers reliable.  S&P does not perform
an audit in connection with any rating and may, on occasion, rely on unaudited
financial information.  The ratings may be changed, suspended, or withdrawn as a
result of changes in, or unavailability of, such information, or for other
circumstances.

        The ratings are based, in varying degrees, on the following
considerations:

            1.   Likelihood of default -- capacity and willingness of the 
                 obligor as to the timely payment of interest and repayment 
                 of principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation.

            2.   Nature of and provisions of the obligation.

            3.   Protection afforded by, and relative position of, the 
                 obligation in the event of bankruptcy, reorganization, or 
                 other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws
                 affecting creditors' rights.

INVESTMENT GRADE

        AAA Debt rated 'AAA' has the highest rating assigned by Standard &
Poor's. Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.

        AA Debt rated 'AA' has a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay
principal and differs from the highest rated issues only in small degree.

        A Debt rated 'A' has a strong capacity to pay interest and repay
principal although it is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of
changes in circumstances and economic conditions than debt in higher rated
categories.

        BBB Debt rated 'BBB' is regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay
interest and repay principal.  Whereas it normally exhibits adequate protection
parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more
likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for
debt in this category than in higher rated categories.

SPECULATIVE GRADE

        Debt rated 'BB', 'B', 'CCC', 'CC' and 'C' is regarded as having
predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay
interest and repay principal.  'BB' indicates the least degree of speculation
and 'C' the highest.  While such debt will likely have some quality and
protective characteristics, these are outweighed by large uncertainties or major
risk exposures to adverse conditions.

        BB Debt rated 'BB' has less near-term vulnerability to default than
other speculative issues.  However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or
exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead
to inadequate capacity to meet timely interest and principal payments.  The 'BB'
rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is
assigned an actual or implied 'BBB-' rating.





                                      A-1
<PAGE>   301

        B Debt rated 'B' has a greater vulnerability to default but currently
has the capacity to meet interest payments and principal repayments.  Adverse
business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair capacity or
willingness to pay interest and repay principal.  The 'B' rating category is
also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or
implied 'BB' or 'BB-' rating.

        CCC Debt rated 'CCC' has a currently identifiable vulnerability to
default, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic
conditions to meet timely payment of interest and repayment of principal.  In
the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, it is not
likely to have the capacity to pay interest and repay principal.  The 'CCC'
rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is
assigned an actual or implied 'B' or 'B-' rating.

        CC Debt rated 'CC' typically is applied to debt subordinated to senior
debt that is assigned an actual or implied 'CCC' rating.

        C  Debt rated 'C' typically is applied to debt subordinated to senior
debt which is assigned an actual or implied 'CCC-' debt rating.  The 'C' rating
may be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy petition has been filed, but
debt service payments are continued.

        CI The rating 'CI' is reserved for income bonds on which no interest is
being paid.

        D  Debt rated 'D' is in payment default.  The 'D' rating category is
used when interest payments or principal payments are not made on the date due
even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless S&P believes that
such payments will be made during such grade period.  The 'D' rating also will
be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition if debt service payments are
jeopardized.


                         MOODY'S LONG-TERM DEBT RATINGS

        Aaa  - Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality.
They carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to
as "gilt edged".  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 risk appear somewhat larger than in Aaa
securities.

        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 some time 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 length of time.  Such Bonds lack outstanding
investment characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as well.

        Ba - Bonds which are rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements;
their future cannot be considered as well-assured. Often the protection of
interest and principal payments may be very moderate, and thereby not well
safeguarded during both good and bad times over the future.  Uncertainty of
position characterizes Bonds in this class.

        B - Bonds which are rated B generally lack characteristics of the
desirable investment.  Assurance of interest and principal payments or of
maintenance of other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be
small.





                                      A-2
<PAGE>   302

        Caa - Bonds which are rated Caa are of poor standing.  Such issues may
be in default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to
principal or interest.

        Ca - Bonds which are rated Ca represent obligations which are
speculative in a high degree.  Such issues are often in default or have other
marked shortcomings.

        C - Bonds which are rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds, and
issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever
attaining any real investment standing.


                   FITCH INVESTORS SERVICE, INC. BOND RATINGS

        Fitch investment grade bond ratings provide a guide to investors in
determining the credit risk associated with a particular security.  The ratings
represent Fitch's assessment of the issuer's ability to meet the obligations of
a specific debt issue or class of debt in a timely manner.

        The rating takes into consideration special features of the issue, its
relationship to other obligations of the issuer, the current and prospective
financial condition and operating performance of the issuer and any guarantor,
as well as the economic and political environment that might affect the issuer's
future financial strength and credit quality.

        Fitch ratings do not reflect any credit enhancement that may be provided
by insurance policies or financial guaranties unless otherwise indicated.

        Bonds that have the same rating are of similar but not necessarily
identical credit quality since the rating categories do not fully reflect small
differences in the degrees of credit risk.

        Fitch ratings are not recommendations to buy, sell, or hold any
security. Ratings do not comment on the adequacy of market price, the
suitability of any security for a particular investor, or the tax-exempt nature
or taxability of payments made in respect of any security.

        Fitch ratings are based on information obtained from issuers, other
obligors, underwriters, their experts, and other sources Fitch believes to be
reliable.  Fitch does not audit or verify the truth or accuracy of such
information.  Ratings may be changed, suspended, or withdrawn as a result of
changes in, or the unavailability of, information or for other reasons.

        AAA     Bonds considered to be investment grade and of the highest 
                credit quality.  The obligor has an exceptionally strong 
                ability to pay interest and repay principal, which is 
                unlikely to be affected by reasonably foreseeable events.

        AA      Bonds considered to be investment grade and of very high 
                credit quality.  The obligor's ability to pay interest and 
                repay principal is very strong, although not quite as strong 
                as bonds rated 'AAA'.  Because bonds rated in the 'AAA'  and 
                'AA' categories are not significantly vulnerable to 
                foreseeable future developments, short-term debt of the 
                issuers is generally rated 'F-1+'.

        A       Bonds considered to be investment grade and of high credit 
                quality.  The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay 
                principal is considered to be strong, but may be more 
                vulnerable to adverse changes in economic conditions and 
                circumstances than bonds with higher ratings.

        BBB     Bonds considered to be investment grade and of satisfactory 
                credit quality.  The obligor's ability to pay interest and 
                repay principal is considered to be adequate.  Adverse changes 
                in economic conditions and circumstances, however, are more 
                likely to have adverse impact on these bonds, and therefore 
                impair timely payment.  The likelihood that the ratings of 
                these bonds will fall below investment grade is higher than 
                for bonds with higher ratings.





                                      A-3
<PAGE>   303

        Fitch speculative grade bond ratings provide a guide to investors in
determining the credit risk associated with a particular security.  The ratings
('BB' to 'C') represent Fitch's assessment of the likelihood of timely payment
of principal and interest in accordance with the terms of obligation for bond
issues not in default.  For defaulted bonds, the rating ('DDD' to 'D') is an
assessment of the ultimate recovery value through reorganization or liquidation.

        The rating takes into consideration special features of the issue, its
relationship to other obligations of the issuer, the current and prospective
financial condition and operating performance of the issuer and any guarantor,
as well as the economic and political environment that might affect the issuer's
future financial strength.

        Bonds that have the same rating are of similar but not necessarily
identical credit quality since the rating categories cannot fully reflect the
differences in the degrees of credit risk.  Moreover, the character of the risk
factor varies from industry to industry and between corporate, health care and
municipal obligations.


        BB      Bonds are considered speculative.  The obligor's ability to pay 
                interest and repay principal may be affected over time by
                adverse economic changes.  However, business and financial 
                alternatives can be identified which could assist the obligor in
                satisfying its debt service requirements.

        B       Bonds are considered highly speculative.  While bonds in this 
                class are currently meeting debt service requirements, the
                probability of continued timely payment of principal and 
                interest reflects the obligor's limited margin of safety and 
                the need for reasonable business and economic activity 
                throughout the life of the issue.

        CCC     Bonds have certain identifiable characteristics which, if not 
                remedied, may lead to default.  The ability to meet obligations
                requires an advantageous business and economic environment.

        CC      Bonds are minimally protected.  Default in payment of interest 
                and/or principal seems probable over time.

        C       Bonds are in imminent default in payment of interest or 
                principal.

        DDD, DD,
        and  D  Bonds are in default on interest and/or principal payments.  
                Such bonds are extremely speculative and should be valued on the
                basis of their ultimate recovery value in liquidation or 
                reorganization of the obligor.  'DDD' represents the highest
                potential for recovery of these bonds, and 'D' represents the 
                lowest potential for recovery.


                   DUFF & PHELPS, INC. LONG-TERM DEBT RATINGS

        These ratings represent a summary opinion of the issuer's long-term
fundamental quality.  Rating determination is based on qualitative and
quantitative factors which may vary according to the basic economic and
financial characteristics of each industry and each issuer.  Important
considerations are vulnerability to economic cycles as well as risks related to
such factors as competition, government action, regulation, technological
obsolescence, demand shifts, cost structure, and management depth and
expertise.  The projected viability of the obligor at the trough of the cycle
is a critical determination.

        Each rating also takes into account the legal form of the security,
(e.g., first mortgage bonds, subordinated debt, preferred stock, etc.).  The
extent of rating dispersion among the various classes of securities is
determined by several factors including relative weightings of the different
security classes in the capital structure, the overall credit strength of the
issuer, and the nature of covenant protection.  Review of indenture restrictions
is important to the analysis of a company's operating and financial constraints.

        The Credit Rating Committee formally reviews all ratings once per
quarter (more frequently, if necessary).   Ratings of 'BBB-' and higher fall
within the definition of investment grade securities, as defined by bank and
insurance supervisory authorities.





                                      A-4
<PAGE>   304

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
RATING SCALE              DEFINITION
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                       <C>
AAA                       Highest credit quality.  The risk factors are negligible, being only slightly more
                          than for risk-free U.S. Treasury debt.

- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AA+                       High credit quality.  Protection factors are strong.  Risk is modest, but may
AA                        vary slightly from time to time because of economic conditions.
AA-
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A+                        Protection factors are average but adequate.  However, risk factors are more
A                         variable and greater in periods of economic stress.
A-
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BBB+                      Below average protection factors but still considered sufficient for prudent
BBB                       investment.  Considerable variability in risk during economic cycles.
BBB-
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BB+                       Below investment grade but deemed likely to meet obligations when due.
BB                        Present or prospective financial protection factors fluctuate according to
BB-                       industry conditions or company fortunes.  Overall quality may move up or
                          down frequently within this category.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B+                        Below investment grade and possessing risk that obligations will not be met
B                         when due.  Financial protection factors will fluctuate widely according to
B-                        economic cycles, industry conditions and/or company fortunes.  Potential
                          exists for frequent changes in the rating within this category or into a higher
                          or lower rating grade.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CCC                       Well below investment grade securities.  Considerable uncertainty exists as to
                          timely payment of principal, interest or preferred dividends.
                          Protection factors are narrow and risk can be substantial with unfavorable
                          economic/industry conditions, and/or with unfavorable company developments.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DD                        Defaulted debt obligations.  Issuer failed to meet scheduled principal and/or
                          interest payments.
DP                        Preferred stock with dividend arrearages.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>





                                      A-5
<PAGE>   305

                               SHORT-TERM RATINGS

                   STANDARD & POOR'S COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS

        A Standard & Poor's commercial paper rating is a current assessment of
the likelihood of timely payment of debt considered short-term in the relevant
market.

        Ratings graded into several categories, ranging from 'A-1' for the
highest quality obligations to 'D' for the lowest.  These categories are as
follows:

        A-1 This highest category indicates that the degree of safety regarding
timely payment is strong.  Those issues determined to possess extremely strong
safety characteristics are denoted with a plus sign (+) designation.

        A-2 Capacity for timely payment on issues with this designation is
satisfactory.  However, the relative degree of safety is not as high as for
issues designated 'A-1'.

        A-3 Issues carrying this designation have adequate capacity for timely
payment.  They are, however, more vulnerable to the adverse effects of changes
in circumstances than obligations carrying the higher designations.

        B Issues rated 'B' are regarded as having only speculative capacity for
timely payment.

        C This rating is assigned to short-term debt obligations with doubtful
capacity for payment.

        D Debt rated 'D' is in payment default.  The 'D' rating category is used
when interest payments or principal payments are not made on the date due, even
if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless S&P believes that such
payments will be made during such grace period.


                         STANDARD & POOR'S NOTE RATINGS

        A S&P note rating reflects the liquidity factors and market-access risks
unique to notes.  Notes maturing in three years or less  will likely receive a
note rating.  Notes maturing beyond three years will most likely receive a
long-term debt rating.

        The following criteria will be used in making the assessment:

                Amortization schedule - the larger the final maturity relative 
                to other maturities, the more likely the issue is to be 
                treated as a note.

                Source of payment - the more the issue depends on the market 
                for its refinancing, the more likely it is to be considered a 
                note.
 
        The note rating symbols and definitions are as follows:

        SP-1 Strong capacity to pay principal and interest.  Issues determined
to possess very strong characteristics are given a plus (+) designation.

        SP-2 Satisfactory capacity to pay interest and principal, with some
vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the
notes.

        SP-3 Speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.





                                      A-6
<PAGE>   306

                        MOODY'S COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS

        The term "commercial paper" as used by Moody's means promissory
obligations not having an original maturity in excess of nine months.  Moody's
makes no representation as to whether such commercial paper is by any other
definition "commercial paper" or is exempt from registration under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

        Moody's commercial paper ratings are opinions of the ability of issuers
to repay punctually promissory obligations not having an original maturity in
excess of nine months.  Moody's makes no representation that such obligations
are exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, nor does it
represent that any specific note is a valid obligation of a rated issuer or
issued in conformity with any applicable law.  Moody's employs the following
three designations, all judged to be investment grade, to indicate the relative
repayment capacity of rated issuers:

        Issuers rated PRIME-1 (for related supporting institutions) have a
superior capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations.  Prime-1
repayment capacity will normally be evidenced by the following characteristics:
(i) leading market positions in well established industries, (ii) high rates of
return on funds employed, (iii) conservative capitalization structures with
moderate reliance on debt and ample asset protection, (iv) broad margins in
earnings coverage of fixed financial charges and high internal cash generation,
and (v) well established access to a range of financial markets and assured
sources of alternate liquidity.

        Issuers rated PRIME-2 (or related supporting institutions) have a strong
capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations.  This will normally
be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above, but to a lesser degree.
Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, will be more subject to
variation.  Capitalization characteristics, while still appropriate, may be more
affected by external conditions.  Ample alternate liquidity is maintained.

        Issuers rated PRIME-3 (or related supporting institutions) have an
acceptable capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations.  The
effect of industry characteristics and market composition may be more
pronounced.  Variability in earnings and profitability may result in changes in
the level of debt protection measurements and the requirement for relatively
high financial leverage.  Adequate alternate liquidity is maintained.

        Issuers rated NOT PRIME do not fall within any of the Prime rating
categories.

                             MOODY'S NOTE RATINGS

        MIG 1/VMIG 1  This designation denotes best quality.  There is present
strong protection by established cash flows, superior liquidity support or
demonstrated broad based access to the market for refinancing.

        MIG 2/VMIG 2  This designation denotes high quality.  Margins of
protection are ample although not so large as in the preceding group.

        MIG 3/VMIG 3  This designation denotes favorable quality.  All security
elements are accounted for but there is lacking the undeniable strength of the
preceding grades.  Liquidity and cash flow protection may be narrow and market
access for refinancing is likely to be less well established.

        MIG 4/VMIG 4  This designation denotes adequate quality.  Protection
commonly regarded as required of an investment security is present and although
not distinctly or predominantly speculative, there is specific risk.

        SG  This designation denotes speculative quality.  Debt instruments in
this category lack margins of protection.

                FITCH INVESTORS SERVICE, INC. SHORT-TERM RATINGS

        Fitch's short-term ratings apply to debt obligations that are payable on
demand or have original maturities of generally up to three years, including
commercial paper, certificates of deposit, medium-term notes, and municipal and
investment notes.

        The short-term rating places greater emphasis than a long-term rating on
the existence of liquidity necessary to meet the issuer's obligations in a
timely manner.

         F-1+    (Exceptionally Strong Credit Quality) Issues assigned this 
                 rating are regarded as having the strongest degree of 
                 assurance for timely payment.

         F-1     (Very Strong Credit Quality) Issues assigned this rating 
                 reflect an assurance of timely payment only slightly less in 
                 degree than issues rated 'F-1+'.

         F-2     (Good Credit Quality) Issues assigned this rating have a 
                 satisfactory degree of assurance for timely payment but the 
                 margin of safety is not as great as for issues assigned 
                 'F-1+' and 'F-1' ratings.

         F-3     (Fair Credit Quality) Issues assigned this rating have 
                 characteristics suggesting that the degree of assurance for 
                 timely payment is adequate, however, near-term adverse 
                 changes could cause these securities to be rated below 
                 investment grade.





                                      A-7
<PAGE>   307

         F-S     (Weak Credit Quality) Issues assigned this rating have 
                 characteristics suggesting a minimal degree of assurance for 
                 timely payment and are vulnerable to near-term adverse 
                 changes in financial and economic conditions.

         D       (Default) Issues assigned this rating are in actual or 
                 imminent payment default.

         LOC     The symbol LOC indicates that the rating is based on a letter 
                 of credit issued by a commercial bank.

                                       
                  DUFF & PHELPS, INC. SHORT-TERM DEBT RATINGS

        Duff & Phelps' short-term ratings are consistent with the rating
criteria utilized by money market participants.  The ratings apply to all
obligations with maturities of under one year, including commercial paper, the
uninsured portion of certificates of deposit, unsecured bank loans, master
notes, bankers acceptances, irrevocable letters of credit, and current
maturities of long-term debt.  Asset-backed commercial paper is also rated
according to this scale.

        Emphasis is placed on liquidity which we define as not only cash from
operations, but also access to alternative sources of funds including trade
credit, bank lines, and the capital markets.  An important consideration is the
level of an obligor's reliance on short-term funds on an ongoing basis.

         Rating Scale:    Definition
         ------------     ----------

         Duff 1+          Highest certainty of timely payment.  Short-term 
                          liquidity, including internal operating factors 
                          and/or access to alternative sources of funds, is 
                          outstanding, and safety is just below risk-free U.S. 
                          Treasury short-term obligations.

         Duff 1           Very high certainty of timely payment.  Liquidity 
                          factors are excellent and supported by good 
                          fundamental protection factors.  Risk factors are 
                          minor.

         Duff 1-          High certainty of timely payment.  Liquidity factors 
                          are strong and supported by good fundamental 
                          protection factors.  Risk factors are very small.





                                      A-8
<PAGE>   308


                          Good Grade
                          ----------

         Duff 2           Good certainty of timely payment.  Liquidity factors 
                          and company fundamentals are sound.  Although 
                          ongoing funding needs may enlarge total financing 
                          requirements, access to capital markets is good.  
                          Risk factors are small.

                          Satisfactory Grade
                          ------------------

         Duff 3           Satisfactory liquidity and other protection factors 
                          qualify issue as to investment grade.  Risk factors 
                          are larger and subject to more variation. 
                          Nevertheless, timely payment is expected.

                          Non-investment Grade
                          --------------------

         Duff 4           Speculative investment characteristics.  Liquidity 
                          is not sufficient to insure against disruption in 
                          debt service.  Operating factors and market access 
                          may be subject to a high degree of variation.

                          Default
                          -------

         Duff 5           Issuer failed to meet scheduled principal and/or 
                          interest payments.


                   THOMSON BANKWATCH (TBW) SHORT-TERM RATINGS

        The TBW Short-Term Ratings apply, unless otherwise noted, to
unsubordinated instruments of the rated entities with a maturity of one year or
less, including deposits, bank notes, bankers' acceptances, federal funds,
letters of credit, commercial paper and other obligations comparable in priority
and security to those specifically listed herein.  These ratings do not consider
any collateral or security as the basis for the rating, although some of the
securities may in fact have collateral.  Further, these ratings do not
incorporate consideration of the possible sovereign risk associated with a
foreign deposit (defined as a deposit taken in a branch outside the country in
which the rated entity is headquartered) of the rated entity.  TBW Short-Term
Ratings are intended to assess the likelihood of an untimely or incomplete
payments of principal or interest.

        TBW-1  The highest category; indicates a very high likelihood that
principal and interest will be paid on a timely basis.

        TBW-2  The second highest category; while the degree of safety regarding
timely repayment of principal and interest is strong, the relative degree of
safety is not as high as for issues rated "TBW-1".

        TBW-3  The lowest investment-grade category; indicates that while the
obligation is more susceptible to adverse developments (both internal and
external) than those with higher ratings, the capacity to service principal and
interest in a timely fashion is considered adequate.

        TBW-4  The lowest rating category; this rating is regarded as
non-investment grade and therefore speculative.

                            IBCA SHORT-TERM RATINGS

        IBCA Short-Term Ratings assess the borrowing characteristics of banks
and corporations, and the capacity for timely repayment of debt obligations. 
The Short-Term Ratings relate to debt which has a maturity of less than one
year.


         A1+     Obligations supported by the highest capacity for timely 
                 repayment and possess a particularly strong credit feature.

         A1      Obligations supported by the highest capacity for timely 
                 repayment.

         A2      Obligations supported by a good capacity for timely repayment.

         A3      Obligations supported by a satisfactory capacity for timely 
                 repayment.

         B       Obligations for which there is an uncertainty as to the 
                 capacity to ensure timely repayment.

         C       Obligations for which there is a high risk of default or 
                 which are currently in default.

         D       Obligations which are currently in default.




                                      A-9
<PAGE>   309

                     STRONG VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.

                                     PART C
                               OTHER INFORMATION

Item 24.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

          (a)  Financial Statements:

               (1)      Discovery Fund II (all included or incorporated by
                        reference in Parts A & B).

                        Schedule of Investments in Securities
                        Statement of Operations
                        Statement of Assets and Liabilities
                        Statement of Changes in Net Assets
                        Notes to Financial Statements
                        Financial Highlights
                        Report of Independent Accountants

               (2)      Strong Advantage Fund II, Strong Asset Allocation Fund
                        II, Strong Government Securities Fund II, Strong Growth
                        Fund II, and Strong International Stock Fund II.

                        Inapplicable

          (b)  Exhibits

               (1)      Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation
               (1.1)    Amendment to Articles of Incorporation
               (2)      Restated Bylaws
               (3)      Inapplicable
               (4)      Inapplicable
               (5)      Investment Advisory Agreement
               (5.1)    Schedule of Additional Funds (Strong Advantage Fund II,
                        Strong Asset Allocation Fund II, Strong Government
                        Securities Fund II, Strong Growth Fund II, and Strong
                        International Stock Fund II)
               (6)      Distribution Agreement
               (7)      Inapplicable
               (8)      Custody Agreement with Firstar (Strong Advantage Fund
                        II, Strong Asset Allocation  Fund II, Strong Discovery
                        Fund II, Strong Government Securities Fund II, and
                        Strong Growth Fund II)
               (8.1)    Custody Agreement with Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
                        (Strong International Stock Fund II) 
               (8.2)    Global Custody Agreement with Brown Brothers Harriman &
                        Co. (Strong Advantage Fund II, Strong Asset Allocation
                        Fund II, Strong Discovery Fund II, and Strong Growth 
                        Fund II)
               (9)      Shareholder Servicing Agent Agreement
               (9.1)    Amended and Restated Fund Participation Agreement -
                        Nationwide Life Insurance Company (Strong Discovery 
                        Fund II)
               (9.1.1)  Fund Participation Agreement - National Home Life  
                        (Strong Discovery Fund II)
               (9.1.2)  Fund Participation Agreement - Transamerica Occidental
                        (Strong Discovery Fund II)
               (10)     Opinion of Counsel for Strong Advantage Fund II
               (10.1)   Opinion of Counsel for Strong Asset Allocation Fund II
               (10.2)   Opinion of Counsel for Strong Growth Fund II
               (10.3)   Opinion of Counsel for Strong Government Securities 
                        Fund II





                                      C-1
<PAGE>   310

               (10.4)   Opinion of Counsel for Strong International Stock Fund
                        II
               (11)     Consent of Auditor
               (12)     Inapplicable
               (13)     Inapplicable
               (14)     Inapplicable
               (15)     Inapplicable
               (16)     Computation of Performance Figures
               (17)     Financial Data Schedule
               (18)     Power of Attorney
               (19)     Letter of Representation

Item 25.  Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with Registrant

     Registrant neither controls any person nor is under common control with
any other person.

Item 26.  Number of Holders of Securities

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              Number of Record Holders
               Title of Class                   as of April 30, 1995    
               --------------                 ------------------------
          <S>                                          <C>
          Common Stock, $.00001 par value:

            Strong Advantage Fund II                   None
            Strong Asset Allocation Fund II            None
            Strong Discovery Fund II                    8
            Strong Government Securities Fund II       None
            Strong Growth Fund II                      None
            Strong International Stock Fund II         None
</TABLE>

Item 27.  Indemnification 

     Officers and directors are insured under a joint errors and omissions
insurance policy underwritten by American International Surplus Lines Insurance
Company and First State Insurance Company in the aggregate amount of
$10,000,000, subject to certain deductions.  Pursuant to the authority of the
Wisconsin Business Corporation Law, Article VII of Registrant's Bylaws provides
as follows:

     ARTICLE VII.  INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

               7.01.  Mandatory Indemnification.  The corporation shall
     indemnify, to the full extent permitted by the Wisconsin Business
     Corporation Law, as in effect from time to time, the persons described in
     Sections 180.0850 through 180.0859 (or any successor provisions) of the
     Wisconsin Business Corporation Law or other provisions of the law of the
     State of Wisconsin relating to indemnification of directors and officers,
     as in effect from time to time.  The indemnification afforded such persons
     by this section shall not be exclusive of other rights to which they may
     be entitled as a matter of law.

               7.02.  Permissive Supplementary Benefits.  The corporation may,
     but shall not be required to, supplement the right of indemnification
     under Section 7.01 by (a) the purchase of insurance on behalf of any one
     or more of such persons, whether or not the corporation would be obligated
     to indemnify such person under Section 7.01; (b) individual or group
     indemnification agreements with any one or more of such persons; and (c)
     advances for related expenses of such a person.

               7.03.  Amendment.  This Article VII may be amended or repealed
     only by a vote of the shareholders and not by a vote of the Board of
     Directors.





                                      C-2
<PAGE>   311


               7.04.  Investment Company Act.  In no event shall the
     corporation indemnify any person thereunder in contravention of any
     provision of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

Item 28.  Business and Other Connections of Investment Advisor

     The information contained under "Management" in the Prospectus and under
"Directors and Officers of the Fund" with respect to Strong Discovery Fund II
and "Directors and Officers of the Corporation" with respect to Strong
Advantage Fund II, Strong Asset Allocation Fund II, Strong Government
Securities Fund II, and Strong Growth Fund II, and "Investment Advisor and
Distributor" in the Statement of Additional Information is hereby incorporated
by reference pursuant to Rule 411 under the Securities Act of 1933.

Item 29.  Principal Underwriters

     (a) Strong Funds Distributors, Inc., principal underwriter for Registrant,
also serves as principal underwriter for Strong Advantage Fund, Inc.; Strong
American Utilities Fund, Inc.; Strong Asia Pacific Fund, Inc.; Strong Asset
Allocation Fund, Inc.; Strong Common Stock Fund, Inc.; Strong Corporate Bond
Fund, Inc.; Strong Discovery Fund, Inc.; Strong Government Securities Fund,
Inc.; Strong Growth Fund, Inc.; Strong Heritage Reserve Series, Inc.; Strong
High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.; Strong Insured Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.;
Strong International Bond Fund, Inc.; Strong International Stock Fund, Inc.;
Strong Money Market Fund, Inc.; Strong Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.; Strong
Municipal Money Market Fund, Inc.; Strong Opportunity Fund, Inc.; Strong
Short-Term Bond Fund, Inc.; Strong Short-Term Global Bond Fund, Inc.; Strong
Short-Term Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.; Strong Special Fund II, Inc.; Strong
Total Return Fund, Inc.; and Strong U.S. Treasury Money Fund, Inc.

     (b) The information contained under "Management" in the Prospectus and
under "Directors and Officers of the Fund" with respect to Strong Discovery
Fund II and "Directors and Officers of the Corporation" with respect to Strong
Advantage Fund II, Strong Asset Allocation Fund II, Strong Government
Securities Fund II, and Strong Growth Fund II, and "Investment Advisor and
Distributor" in the Statement of Additional Information is hereby incorporated
by reference pursuant to Rule 411 under the Securities Act of 1933.

     (c)  None

Item 30.  Location of Accounts and Records

     All accounts, books, or other documents required to be maintained by
Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules promulgated
thereunder are in the physical possession of Registrant's Treasurer, Ronald A.
Neville, at Registrant's corporate offices, 100 Heritage Reserve, Menomonee
Falls, Wisconsin 53051.

Item 31.  Management Services

     All management-related service contracts entered into by Registrant are
discussed in Parts A and B of this Registration Statement.

Item 32.  Undertakings

     (a)  Inapplicable.

     (b)  The Registrant undertakes to file a post-effective amendment, using
financial statements which need not be certified, within four to six months
from the effective date of this Registration Statement with respect to Strong
Advantage Fund II, Strong Asset Allocation Fund II, Strong Government
Securities Fund II, and Strong Growth Fund II, and Strong International Stock
Fund II.





                                      C-3
<PAGE>   312


     (c)  The Registrant undertakes to furnish to each person to whom a
prospectus is delivered, upon request and without charge, a copy of Strong
Discovery Fund II's latest annual report to shareholders.





                                      C-4
<PAGE>   313


                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant hereby certifies that it has
duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 9 to the Registration Statement
on Form N-1A to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the Village of Menomonee Falls, and State of Wisconsin on the
6th day of July, 1995.

                          STRONG VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.
                          (Registrant)


                          BY: /s/ John Dragisic
                              _________________________________
                               John Dragisic, Vice Chairman

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Post-Effective Amendment No. 9 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A has
been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date
indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                    NAME                                     TITLE                              DATE
                    ----                                     -----                              ----
 <S>                                         <C>                                             <C>
/s/ John Dragisic                            Vice Chairman of the Board (Principal
______________________________________       Executive Officer)                              July 6, 1995
 John Dragisic

/s/ Ronald A. Neville                        Treasurer (Principal Financial and
______________________________________       Accounting Officer)                             July 6, 1995
 Ronald A. Neville

/s/ Richard S. Strong
______________________________________       Chairman of the Board and a Director            July 6, 1995
 Richard S. Strong


______________________________________       Director                                        July 6, 1995
 Marvin E. Nevins*


______________________________________       Director                                        July 6, 1995
 Willie D. Davis*


______________________________________       Director                                        July 6, 1995
 William F. Vogt*


______________________________________       Director                                        July 6, 1995
 Stanley Kritzik*
</TABLE>


*   Thomas P. Lemke signs this document pursuant to powers of attorney filed
    with Post-Effective Amendment No. 7 to the Registration Statement of
    Registrant filed with the SEC on or about April 21, 1995.


                                  By:      /s/ Thomas P. Lemke
                                           __________________________________
                                           Thomas P. Lemke





<PAGE>   314

                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             EDGAR
  Exhibit No.                   Exhibit                                                    Exhibit No.
  -----------                   -------                                                    -----------
 <S>             <C>                                                                       <C>
 (1)             Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation                            EX-99.B1(3)

 (1.1)           Amendment to Articles of Incorporation                                    EX-99.B1.1(4)

 (2)             Restated Bylaws                                                           EX-99.B2

 (3)             Inapplicable

 (4)             Inapplicable

 (5)             Investment Advisory Agreement                                             EX-99.B5(3)

 (5.1)           Schedule of Additional Funds (Strong Advantage Fund II, Strong Asset      EX-99.B5.1
                 Allocation Fund II, Strong Government Securities Fund II, Strong Growth
                 Fund II, and Strong International Stock Fund II)

 (6)             Distribution Agreement                                                    EX-99.B6

 (7)             Inapplicable

 (8)             Custody Agreement with Firstar (Strong Advantage Fund II, Strong Asset    EX-99.B8
                 Allocation Fund II, Strong Discovery Fund II, Strong Government
                 Securities Fund II, and Strong Growth Fund II)

 (8.1)           Custody Agreement with Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (Strong              EX-99.B8.1
                 International Stock Fund II)

 (8.2)           Global Custody Agreement with Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (Strong       EX-99.B8.2
                 Advantage Fund II, Strong Asset Allocation Fund II, Strong Discovery
                 Fund II, and Strong Growth Fund II)

 (9)             Shareholder Servicing Agent Agreement                                     EX-99.B9

 (9.1)           Amended and Restated Fund Participation Agreement - Nationwide Life
                 Insurance Company (Strong Discovery Fund II)(1)

 (9.1.1)         Fund Participation Agreement - National Home Life  (Strong Discovery
                 Fund II)(1)

 (9.1.2)         Fund Participation Agreement - Transamerica Occidental (Strong
                 Discovery Fund II)(1)

 (10)            Opinion of Counsel for Strong Advantage Fund II                           EX-99.B10

 (10.1)          Opinion of Counsel for Strong Asset Allocation Fund II                    EX-99.B10.1

 (10.2)          Opinion of Counsel for Strong Growth Fund II                              EX-99.B10.2

 (10.3)          Opinion of Counsel for Strong Government Securities Fund II               EX-99.B10.3
</TABLE>





<PAGE>   315
<TABLE>
 <S>             <C>                                                                       <C>
 (10.4)          Opinion of Counsel for Strong International Stock Fund II                 EX-99.B10.4

 (11)            Consent of Auditor                                                        EX-99.B11

 (12)            Inapplicable

 (13)            Inapplicable

 (14)            Inapplicable

 (15)            Inapplicable

 (16)            Computation of Performance Figures                                        EX-99.B16(2)

 (17)            Financial Data Schedule                                                   EX-27.1 Discovery II

 (18)            Power of Attorney(2)

 (19)            Letter of Representation                                                  EX-99.B19
</TABLE>
- ------------------

 (1)     Incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to
         the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Registrant filed on or
         about April 21, 1994.

(2)      Incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 6 to
         the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Registrant filed on or
         about February 24, 1995.

(3)      Incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 7 to
         the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Registrant filed on or
         about April 24, 1995.

(4)      Incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 to
         the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Registrant filed on or
         about May 9, 1995.






<PAGE>   1
                                                                  EXHIBIT 99.B2

                                     BYLAWS

                              ARTICLE I.  OFFICES

                 SECTION 1.01.  Principal and Other Offices.  The principal
office of the Corporation shall be located at any place either within or
outside the State of Wisconsin as designated in the Corporation's most current
Annual Report filed with the Wisconsin Secretary of State.  The Corporation may
have such other offices, either within or outside the State of Wisconsin, as
the Board of Directors may designate or as the business of the Corporation may
require from time to time.

                 SECTION 1.02.  Registered Office.  The registered office of
the Corporation required by the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law (the "WBCL")
to be maintained in the State of Wisconsin may, but need not, be the same as
any of its places of business.  The registered office may be changed from time
to time.

                 SECTION 1.03.  Registered Agent.  The registered agent of the
Corporation required by the WBCL to maintain a business office in the State of
Wisconsin may, but need not, be an officer or employee of the Corporation as
long as such agent's business office is identical with the registered office.
The registered agent may be changed from time to time.


                           ARTICLE II.  SHAREHOLDERS

                 SECTION 2.01.  Annual Meeting.  The annual meeting of the
shareholders, if the annual meeting shall be held, shall be held in April of
each year, or at such other time and date as may be fixed by or under the
authority of the Board of Directors, for the purpose of electing directors and
for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the
meeting.  The Corporation shall not be required to hold an annual meeting in
any year in which none of the following is required to be acted on by
shareholders under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the "Investment Company Act"):

                 (i)   Election of directors;

                 (ii)  Approval of the Corporation's investment advisory
     contract;

                 (iii) Ratification of the selection of the Corporation's
     independent public accountants; or

                 (iv)  Approval of the Corporation's distribution agreement.
<PAGE>   2

                 SECTION 2.02.  Special Meetings.  Special meetings of the
shareholders for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by the
WBCL, may be called by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, Vice
Chairman or President.  Notwithstanding any other provision of these By-Laws,
the Corporation shall call a special meeting of shareholders in the event that
the holders of at least 10% of all of the votes entitled to be cast on any
issue proposed to be considered at the proposed special meeting sign, date and
deliver to the Corporation one or more written demands for the meeting
describing one or more purposes for which it is to be held.  The Secretary
shall inform such shareholders of the reasonable estimated costs of preparing
and mailing the notice of the meeting, and upon payment to the Corporation of
such costs, the Corporation shall give not less than ten nor more than sixty
days notice of the special meeting.

                 SECTION 2.03.  Place of Meeting.  The Board of Directors may
designate any place, either within or without the State of Wisconsin, as the
place of meeting for any annual or special meeting of shareholders.  If no
designation is made, the place of meeting shall be the principal office of the
Corporation.  Any meeting may be adjourned to reconvene at any place designated
by vote of a majority of the shares represented thereat.

                 SECTION 2.04.  Notice of Meeting.  Written notice stating the
date, time and place of any meeting of shareholders and, in case of a special
meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be
delivered not less than ten days nor more than sixty days before the date of
the meeting (unless a different time is provided by applicable law or
regulation or the Articles of Incorporation), either personally or by mail, by
or at the direction of the Chairman of the Board, Vice Chairman, President or
Secretary, to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting and
to such other persons as required by the WBCL.  If mailed, such notice shall be
deemed to be effective when deposited in the United States mail, addressed to
the shareholder at his or her address as it appears on the stock record books
of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid.  If an annual or special
meeting of shareholders is adjourned to a different date, time or place, the
Corporation shall not be required to give notice of the new date, time or place
if the new date, time or place is announced at the meeting before adjournment;
provided, however, that if a new record date for an adjourned meeting is or
must be fixed, the Corporation shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to
persons who are shareholders as of the new record date.

                 SECTION 2.05.  Waiver of Notice.  A shareholder may waive any
notice required by the WBCL, the Articles of Incorporation or these By-Laws
before or after the date and time stated in the notice.  The waiver shall be in
writing and signed by the shareholder entitled to the notice, contain the same
information that would have been required in the notice
<PAGE>   3

under applicable provisions of the WBCL (except that the time and place of
meeting need not be stated) and be delivered to the Corporation for inclusion
in the corporate records.  A shareholder's attendance at a meeting, in person
or by proxy, waives objection to all of the following: (a) lack of notice or
defective notice of the meeting, unless the shareholder at the beginning of the
meeting or promptly upon arrival objects to holding the meeting or transacting
business at the meeting; and (b) consideration of a particular matter at the
meeting that is not within the purpose described in the meeting notice, unless
the shareholder objects to considering the matter when it is presented.

                 SECTION 2.06.  Fixing of Record Date.  For the purpose of
determining shareholders of any voting group entitled to notice of or to vote
at any meeting of shareholders or any adjournment thereof, or shareholders
entitled to receive payment of any distribution or dividend, or in order to
make a determination of shareholders for any other proper purpose, the Board of
Directors may fix in advance a date as the record date for any such
determination of shareholders.  Such record date shall not be more than 70 days
prior to the date on which the particular action, requiring such determination
of shareholders, is to be taken.  If no record date is so fixed for the
determination of shareholders entitled to notice of, or to vote at a meeting of
shareholders, or shareholders entitled to receive a share dividend or
distribution, the record date for determination of such shareholders shall be
at the close of business on:

                 (a)  With respect to an annual shareholders meeting or any
         special shareholders meeting called by the Board of Directors or any
         person specifically authorized by the Board of Directors or these
         By-Laws to call a meeting, the day before the first notice is mailed
         to shareholders;

                 (b)  With respect to a special shareholders meeting demanded
         by the shareholders, the date the first shareholder signs the demand;

                 (c)  With respect to the payment of a share dividend, the date
         the Board of Directors authorizes the share dividend; and

                 (d)  With respect to a distribution to shareholders (other
         than one involving a repurchase or reacquisition of shares), the date
         the Board of Directors authorizes the distribution.

                 SECTION 2.07.  Voting Lists.  After fixing a record date for a
meeting, the Corporation shall prepare a list of the name of all its
shareholders who are entitled to notice of a shareholders meeting.  The list
shall be arranged by class or series of shares and show the address of and the
number of shares held by each shareholder.  The shareholders list must be





                                      3
<PAGE>   4

available for inspection by any shareholder, beginning two business days after
notice of the meeting is given for which the list was prepared and continuing
to the date of the meeting.  The list shall be available at the Corporation's
principal office or at a place identified in the meeting notice in the city
where the meeting is to be held.  Subject to the provisions of the WBCL, a
shareholder or his or her agent or attorney may, on written demand, inspect and
copy the list during regular business hours and at his expense, during the
period it is available for inspection.  The Corporation shall make the
shareholders list available at the meeting, and any shareholder or his or her
agent or attorney may inspect the list at any time during the meeting or any
adjournment thereof.  Refusal or failure to prepare or make available the
shareholders list shall not affect the validity of any action taken at such
meeting.

                 SECTION 2.08.  Shareholder Quorum and Voting Requirements.
Shares entitled to vote as a separate voting group may take action on a matter
at a meeting only if a quorum of those shares exists with respect to that
matter.  Unless the Articles of Incorporation or the WBCL provide otherwise, a
majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter by the voting group
constitutes a quorum of that voting group for action on that matter.

                 If the Articles of Incorporation or the WBCL provide for
voting by two or more voting groups on a matter, action on that matter is taken
only when voted upon by each of those voting groups counted separately as
provided in the WBCL.  Action may be taken by one voting group on a matter even
though no action is taken by another voting group entitled to vote on the
matter.  A voting group described in the WBCL constitutes a single voting group
for purpose of voting on the matter on which the shares are entitled to vote,
unless otherwise required under applicable laws and regulations, including the
Investment Company Act.

                 Once a share is represented for any purpose at a meeting,
other than for the purpose of objecting to holding the meeting or transacting
business at the meeting, it is deemed present for purposes of determining
whether a quorum exists, for the remainder of the meeting and for any
adjournment of that meeting to the extent provided in Section 2.13.

                 If a quorum exists, action on a matter, other than the
election of directors, by a voting group is approved if the votes cast within
the voting group favoring the action exceed the votes cast opposing the action,
unless the Articles of Incorporation, the By-Laws, the WBCL or other applicable
laws and regulations, including the Investment Company Act, require a greater
number of affirmative votes.  With respect to the election of directors, unless
otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation, directors are elected by a
plurality of the votes cast by the shares entitled to vote.  For purposes of
this Section 2.08, "plurality" means that the individuals with the largest
number of votes are elected as directors up to the maximum number of directors
to be chosen at the election.





                                       4
<PAGE>   5

                 SECTION 2.09.  Proxies.  For all meetings of shareholders, a
shareholder may appoint a proxy to vote or otherwise act for the shareholder by
signing an appointment form, either personally or by a duly authorized
attorney-in-fact.  Such proxy shall be effective when filed with the Secretary
of the Corporation or other officer or agent authorized to tabulate votes
before or at the time of the meeting.  No proxy shall be valid after eleven
months from the date of its execution, unless otherwise provided in the proxy.

                 SECTION 2.10.  Voting of Shares.  Unless otherwise provided in
the Articles of Incorporation, each outstanding share, regardless of class, is
entitled to one vote upon each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of
shareholders.

                 No shares in the Corporation held by another corporation may
be voted if the Corporation owns, directly or indirectly, a sufficient number
of shares entitled to elect a majority of the directors of such other
corporation; provided, however, that the Corporation shall not be limited in
its power to vote any shares, including its own shares, held by it in a
fiduciary capacity.

                 Redeemable shares are not entitled to vote after written
notice of redemption that complies with the WBCL is mailed to the holders
thereof and a sum sufficient to redeem the shares has been deposited with a
bank, trust company or other financial institution under an irrevocable
obligation to pay the holders the redemption price on surrender of the shares.

                 SECTION 2.11.  Voting Shares Owned by the Corporation.  Shares
of the Corporation belonging to it shall not be voted directly or indirectly at
any meeting and shall not be counted in determining the total number of
outstanding shares at any given time, but shares held by the Corporation in a
fiduciary capacity may be voted and shall be counted in determining the total
number of outstanding shares at any given time.

                 SECTION 2.12.  Acceptance of Instruments Showing Shareholder
Action.

                 (a)  If the name signed on a vote, consent, waiver or proxy
         appointment corresponds to the name of a shareholder, the Corporation,
         if acting in good faith, may accept the vote, consent, waiver or proxy
         appointment and give it effect as the act of the shareholder.

                 (b)    If the name signed on a vote, consent, waiver or proxy
         appointment does not correspond to the name of a shareholder, the
         Corporation, if acting in good faith,





                                       5
<PAGE>   6

may accept the vote, consent, waiver or proxy appointment and give it effect as
the act of the shareholder if any of the following apply:

                          (1)  the shareholder is an entity, within the meaning
                 of the WBCL, and the name signed purports to be that of an
                 officer or agent of the entity;

                          (2)  the name signed purports to be that of a
                 personal representative, administrator, executor, guardian or
                 conservator representing the shareholder and, if the
                 Corporation or its agent request, evidence of fiduciary status
                 acceptable to the Corporation is presented with respect to the
                 vote, consent, waiver or proxy appointment;

                          (3)  the name signed purports to be that of a
                 receiver or trustee in bankruptcy of the shareholder and, if
                 the Corporation or its agent request, evidence of this status
                 acceptable to the Corporation is presented with respect to the
                 vote, consent, waiver or proxy appointment;

                          (4)  the name signed purports to be that of a
                 pledgee, beneficial owner, or attorney-in-fact of the
                 shareholder and, if the Corporation or its agent request,
                 evidence acceptable to the Corporation of the signatory's
                 authority to sign for the shareholder is presented with
                 respect to the vote, consent, waiver or proxy appointment; or

                          (5)  two or more persons are the shareholders as
                 cotenants or fiduciaries and the name signed purports to be
                 the name of at least one of the coowners and the persons
                 signing appears to be acting on behalf of all coowners.

                 (c)  The Corporation may reject a vote, consent, waiver or
         proxy appointment if the Secretary or other officer or agent of the
         Corporation who is authorized to tabulate votes, acting in good faith,
         has reasonable basis for doubt about the validity of the signature on
         it or about the signatory's authority to sign for the shareholder.

                 SECTION 2.13.  Adjournments.  An annual or special meeting of
shareholders may be adjourned at any time, including after action on one or
more matters, by a majority of shares represented, even if less than a quorum.
The meeting may be adjourned for any purpose, including, but not limited to,
allowing additional time to solicit votes on one or more matters, to
disseminate additional information to shareholders or to count votes.  Upon
being reconvened, the adjourned meeting shall be deemed to be a continuation of
the initial meeting.





                                       6
<PAGE>   7

                 (a)  Quorum.  Once a share is represented for any purpose at
         the original meeting, other than for the purpose of objecting to
         holding the meeting or transacting business at a meeting, it is
         considered present for purposes of determining if a quorum exists, for
         the remainder of the meeting and for any adjournment of that meeting
         unless a new record date is or must be set for that adjourned meeting.

                 (b)  Record Date.  When a determination of shareholders
         entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of shareholders has
         been made as provided in Section 2.06, such determination shall be
         applied to any adjournment thereof unless the Board of Directors fixes
         a new record date, which it shall do if the meeting is adjourned to a
         date more than 120 days after the date fixed for the original meeting.

                 (c)  Notice.  Unless a new record date for an adjourned
         meeting is or must be fixed pursuant to Section 2.13(b), the
         Corporation is not required to give notice of the new date, time or
         place if the new date, time or place is announced at the meeting
         before adjournment.

                 SECTION 2.14.  Waiver of Notice by Shareholders.  A
shareholder may waive any notice required by the WBCL, the Articles of
Incorporation or the By-Laws before or after the date and time stated in the
notice.  The waiver shall be in writing and signed by the shareholder entitled
to the notice, contain the same information that would have been required in
the notice under any applicable provisions of the WBCL, except that the time
and place of the meeting need not be stated, and be delivered to the
Corporation for inclusion in the Corporation's records.  A shareholder's
attendance at a meeting, in person or by proxy, waives objection to (i) lack of
notice or defective notice of the meeting, unless the shareholder at the
beginning of the meeting or promptly upon arrival objects to the holding of the
meeting or transacting business at the meeting, and (ii) consideration of a
particular matter at the meeting that is not within the purpose described in
the meeting notice, unless the shareholder objects to considering the matter
when it is presented.

                 SECTION 2.15.  Conduct of Meeting.  The Chairman of the Board,
Vice Chairman, President or any person chosen by the Chairman of the Board,
shall call the meeting of the shareholders to order and shall act as chairman
of the meeting, and the Secretary of the Corporation or any other person
appointed by the chairman of the meeting, shall act as secretary of all
meetings of the shareholders.

                 SECTION 2.16.  Unanimous Consent without Meeting.  Any action
required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of shareholders may be taken
without a meeting only by





                                       7
<PAGE>   8

unanimous written consent or consents signed by all of the shareholders of the
Corporation and delivered to the Corporation for inclusion in the Corporation's
records.


                        ARTICLE III.  BOARD OF DIRECTORS

                 SECTION 3.01.  General Powers and Number.  All corporate
powers shall be exercised by or under the authority of, and the business and
affairs of the Corporation managed under the direction of, the Board of
Directors.  The number of directors of the Corporation shall be six.

                 SECTION 3.02.  Tenure and Qualifications.  Each director shall
hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders and until his or her
successor shall have been elected and, if necessary, qualified, or until there
is a decrease in the number of directors which takes effect after the
expiration of his or her term, or until his or her prior death, resignation or
removal.  A director may be removed by the shareholders, with or without cause,
only at a meeting called for the purpose of removing the director, and the
meeting notice shall state that the purpose, or one of the purposes, of the
meeting is removal of the director.  A director may resign at any time by
delivering written notice which complies with the WBCL to the Board of
Directors, to the Chairman of the Board or to the Corporation.  A director's
resignation is effective when the notice is delivered unless the notice
specifies a later effective date.  Directors need not be residents of the State
of Wisconsin or shareholders of the Corporation.

                 SECTION 3.03.  Regular Meetings.  A regular meeting of the
Board of Directors shall be held without other notice than this Section 3.03
immediately before or after the annual meeting of shareholders and each
adjourned session thereof.  The place of such regular meeting shall be the same
as the place of the meeting of shareholders which precedes or follows it, as
the case may be, or such other suitable place as may be announced at such
meeting of shareholders.  The Board of Directors shall provide, by resolution,
the date, time and place, either within or without the State of Wisconsin, for
the holding of additional regular meetings of the Board of Directors without
other notice than such resolution.  Regular meetings of the Board of Directors
may also be called by the Chairman of the Board, Vice Chairman, President or
Secretary.

                 SECTION 3.04.  Special Meetings.  Special meetings of the
Board of Directors may be called by or at the request of the Chairman of the
Board, Vice Chairman, President, Secretary or any two directors.  The Chairman
of the Board, Vice Chairman, President or Secretary may fix any place, either
within or without the State of Wisconsin, as the place for holding any special
meeting of the Board of Directors, and if no other place is fixed the place of
the meeting shall be the principal business office of the Corporation in the
State of Wisconsin.





                                       8
<PAGE>   9

                 SECTION 3.05.  Notice; Waiver.  Notice of special meetings
shall be given at least twenty-four hours previously thereto and shall state
the date, time and place of the meeting of the Board of Directors or committee.
Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or
special meeting of the Board of Directors or committee need be specified in the
notice of such meeting.  Notice may be communicated in person, by telephone,
telegraph, teletype, facsimile or other form of wire or wireless communication,
or by mail or private carrier.  Written notice is effective at the earliest of
the following: (1) when received; (2) when mailed postpaid and correctly
addressed; (3) when given to a telegram carrier; or (4) the date it is
deposited with a private carrier.  Oral notice is deemed effective when
communicated.  Facsimile or teletype notice is deemed effective when sent.

                 A director may waive any notice required by the WBCL, the
Articles of Incorporation or the By-Laws before or after the date and time
stated in the notice.  The waiver shall be in writing, signed by the director
entitled to the notice and retained by the Corporation.  Notwithstanding the
foregoing, a director's attendance at or participation in a meeting waives any
required notice to such director of the meeting unless the director at the
beginning of the meeting or promptly upon such director's arrival objects to
holding the meeting or transacting business at the meeting and does not
thereafter vote for or assent to action taken at the meeting.

                 SECTION 3.06.  Quorum.  Except as otherwise provided by the
WBCL, the Articles of Incorporation or the By-Laws, a majority of the number of
directors specified in Section 3.01 shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors.  A majority
of the directors present (though less than such quorum) may adjourn any meeting
of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, as the case may be, from
time to time without further notice.

                 SECTION 3.07.  Manner of Acting.  The affirmative vote of a
majority of the directors present at a meeting of the Board of Directors at
which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors, unless
the WBCL, the Articles of Incorporation, the By-Laws or other applicable law or
regulation, including the Investment Company Act, require the vote of a greater
number of directors.

                 SECTION 3.08.  Conduct of Meetings.  The Chairman of the
Board, and in his absence, the Vice Chairman or any director chosen by the
directors present, shall call meetings of the Board of Directors to order and
shall act as chairman of the meeting.  The Secretary of the Corporation shall
act as secretary of all meetings of the Board of Directors unless the presiding
officer appoints another person present to act as secretary of the meeting.
Minutes of any





                                       9
<PAGE>   10

regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be prepared and
distributed to each director.

                 SECTION 3.09.  Vacancies.  Except as provided below, any
vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors, including a vacancy resulting from
an increase in the number of directors, may be filled, subject to the
requirements of the Investment Company Act, by any of the following: (a) the
shareholders; (b) the Board of Directors; or (c) if the directors remaining in
office constitute fewer than a quorum of the Board of Directors, the directors,
by the affirmative vote of a majority of all directors remaining in office.  If
the vacant office was held by a director elected by a voting group of
shareholders, only the holders of shares of that voting group may vote to fill
the vacancy if it is filled by the shareholders, and only the remaining
directors elected by that voting group may vote to fill the vacancy if it is
filled by the directors.  A vacancy that will occur at a specific later date,
because of a resignation effective at a later date or otherwise, may be filled
before the vacancy occurs, but the new director may not take office until the
vacancy occurs.

                 SECTION 3.10.  Compensation.  No director shall receive any
stated salary or fees from the Corporation for his services as such director if
such director is, otherwise than by reason of being such director, an
interested person (as such term is defined by the Investment Company Act) of
the Corporation or its investment adviser.  Except as provided in the preceding
sentence, directors shall be entitled to receive such compensation from the
Corporation for their services as may from time to time be voted by the Board
of Directors.

                 SECTION 3.11.  Presumption of Assent.  A director who is
present and is announced as present at a meeting of the Board of Directors,
when corporate action is taken, assents to the action taken unless any of the
following occurs: (a) the director objects at the beginning of the meeting or
promptly upon his or her arrival to holding the meeting or transacting business
at the meeting; (b) the director dissents or abstains from an action taken and
minutes of the meeting are prepared that show the director's dissent or
abstention; (c) the director delivers written notice that complies with the
WBCL of his or her dissent or abstention to the presiding officer of the
meeting before its adjournment or to the Corporation immediately after
adjournment of the meeting; or (d) the director dissents or abstains from an
action taken, minutes of the meeting are prepared that fail to show the
director's dissent or abstention from the action taken and the director
delivers to the Corporation a written notice of that failure that complies with
the WBCL promptly after receiving the minutes.  Such right of dissent or
abstention shall not apply to a director who votes in favor of the action
taken.

                 SECTION 3.12.  Telephonic Meetings.  Except as herein provided
and notwithstanding any place set forth in the notice of the meeting or these
By-Laws, members of





                                       10
<PAGE>   11

the Board of Directors may participate in regular or special meetings by, or
through the use of, any means of communication by which all participants may
simultaneously hear each other, such as by conference telephone.  If a meeting
is conducted by such means, then at the commencement of such meeting the
presiding officer shall inform the participating directors that a meeting is
taking place at which official business may be transacted.  Any participant in
a meeting by such means shall be deemed present in person at such meeting.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no action may be taken at any meeting held by
such means (i) on any particular matter which the presiding officer determines,
in his or her sole discretion, to be inappropriate under the circumstances for
action at a meeting held by such means (such determination shall be made and
announced in advance of such meeting), or (ii) if the action must be approved
in person pursuant to the requirements of the Investment Company Act.

                 SECTION 3.13.  Action Without Meeting.  Any action required or
permitted by the WBCL to be taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors may be
taken without a meeting if the action is taken by all members of the Board.
The action shall be evidenced by one or more written consents describing the
action taken, signed by each director and retained by the Corporation. Such
action shall be effective when the last director signs the consent, unless the
consent specifies a different effective date.  Notwithstanding this Section
3.13, no action may be taken by the Board of Directors pursuant to a written
consent with respect to which the action must be approved in person pursuant to
the requirements of the Investment Company Act.


                             ARTICLE IV.  OFFICERS

                 SECTION 4.01.  Number.  The principal officers of the
Corporation shall be a Chairman of the Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, a
President, the number of Vice Presidents as authorized from time to time by the
Board of Directors, a Secretary, and a Treasurer, each of whom shall be elected
by the Board of Directors.  Such other officers and assistant officers as may
be deemed necessary may be elected or appointed by the Board of Directors.  The
Board of Directors may also authorize any duly authorized officer to appoint
one or more officers or assistant officers.  Any two or more offices may be
held by the same person.

                 SECTION 4.02.  Election and Term of Office.  The officers of
the Corporation to be elected by the Board of Directors shall be elected
annually by the Board of Directors at the first meeting of the Board of
Directors held after each annual meeting of the shareholders, if any, or on or
after the anniversary of the last annual meeting if no annual meeting is held.
If the election of officers shall not be held at such first meeting of the
Board of Directors, such election shall be held as soon thereafter as is
practicable.  Each officer shall hold office until his or her successor shall
have been duly elected or until his or her prior death, resignation or removal.





                                       11
<PAGE>   12

                 SECTION 4.03.  Removal.  The Board of Directors may remove any
officer and, unless restricted by the Board of Directors or these By-Laws, an
officer may remove any officer or assistant officer appointed by that officer.
An officer may be removed at any time, with or without cause and
notwithstanding the contract rights, if any, of the officer removed.  The
appointment of an officer does not of itself create contract rights.

                 SECTION 4.04.  Resignation.  An officer may resign at any time
by delivering notice to the Corporation that complies with the WBCL.  The
resignation shall be effective when the notice is delivered, unless the notice
specifies a later effective date and the Corporation accepts the later
effective date.

                 SECTION 4.05.  Vacancies.  A vacancy in any principal office
because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or otherwise, shall be
filled by the Board of Directors for the unexpired portion of the term.  If a
resignation of an officer is effective at a later date as contemplated by
Section 4.04 hereof, the Board of Directors may fill the pending vacancy before
the effective date if the Board provides that the successor may not take office
until the effective date of the registration.

                 SECTION 4.06.  Chairman of the Board.  The Chairman of the
Board shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation.  The Chairman of
the Board shall preside at all meetings of the shareholders and directors,
shall have general and active management of the business of the Corporation,
and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are
carried into effect.

                 SECTION 4.07.  The Vice Chairman.  During the absence or
disability of the Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman shall exercise all
the functions of the Chairman of the Board.  The Vice Chairman shall perform
all duties incident to the office of the Vice Chairman and such other duties as
shall from time to time be assigned by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of
the Board or as prescribed by these By-Laws.

                 SECTION 4.08.  President.  The President shall be the chief
operating officer of the Corporation and, subject to the direction of the Board
of Directors, shall in general supervise and control all of the business and
affairs of the Corporation.  The President shall, when present, preside at all
meetings of the shareholders in the absence of the Chairman of the Board and
the Vice Chairman.  The President shall have authority, subject to such rules
as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors, to appoint such agents and
employees of the Corporation as he or she shall deem necessary, to prescribe
their powers, duties and compensation, and to delegate authority to them.  Such
agents and employees shall hold office at the discretion of the President.





                                       12
<PAGE>   13

The President shall have authority to sign, execute and acknowledge, on behalf
of the Corporation, all deeds, mortgages, bonds, stock certificates, contracts,
leases, reports and all other documents or instruments necessary or proper to
be executed in the course of the Corporation's regular business, or which shall
be authorized by resolution of the Board of Directors; and, except as otherwise
provided by law or the Board of Directors, he or she may authorize any Vice
President or other officer or agent of the Corporation to sign, execute and
acknowledge such documents or instruments in his or her place and stead.  In
general he or she shall perform all duties incident to the office of President
and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors from time
to time.

                 SECTION 4.09.  The Vice Presidents.  In the absence of the
President or in the event of the President's death, inability or refusal to
act, or in the event for any reason it shall be impracticable for the President
to act personally, the Vice President (or in the event there be more than one
Vice President, the Vice Presidents in the order designated by the Board of
Directors, or in the absence of any designation, then in the order of their
election) shall perform the duties of the President, and when so acting, shall
have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the
President.  Any Vice President may sign, with the Secretary or Assistant
Secretary, certificates for shares of the Corporation; and shall perform such
other duties and have such authority as from time to time may be delegated or
assigned to him or her by the Chairman of the Board, Vice Chairman or President
or by the Board of Directors.  The execution of any instrument of the
Corporation by any Vice President shall be conclusive evidence, as to third
parties, of his or her authority to act for the Corporation.

                 SECTION 4.10.  The Secretary.  The Secretary shall: (a) keep
minutes of the meetings of the shareholders and of the Board of Directors (and
of committees thereof) in one or more books provided for that purpose
(including records of actions taken by the shareholders or the Board of
Directors (or committees thereof) without a meeting); (b) see that all notices
are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these By-Laws or as
required by the WBCL; (c) be custodian of the corporate records and of the seal
of the Corporation and see that the seal of the Corporation is affixed to all
documents the execution of which on behalf of the Corporation under its seal is
duly authorized; (d) maintain a record of the shareholders of the Corporation,
in a form that permits preparation of a list of the names and addresses of all
shareholders, by class or series of shares and showing the number and class or
series of shares held by each shareholder; (e) sign with the President, a Vice
President, or any other officer authorized by the Board of Directors,
certificates for shares of the Corporation, the issuance of which shall have
been authorized by resolution of the Board of Directors; (f) have general
charge of the stock transfer books of the Corporation; and (g) in general
perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and have such other
duties and exercise such authority as from time to time may be





                                       13
<PAGE>   14

delegated or assigned by the Chairman of the Board, Vice Chairman, President or
the Board of Directors.

                 SECTION 4.11.  The Treasurer.  The Treasurer shall be the
principal financial and accounting officer of the Corporation and shall have
general charge of the finances and books of account of the Corporation.  Except
as otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, he or she shall have general
supervision of the funds and property of the Corporation and of the performance
by the Custodian of its duties with respect thereto.  The Treasurer shall
render to the Board of Directors, whenever directed by the Board, an account of
the financial condition of the Corporation and of all his or her transactions
as Treasurer.  The Treasurer shall perform all acts incidental to the office of
Treasurer, subject to the control of the Board of Directors.

                 SECTION 4.12.  Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers.
There shall be such number of Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers as
the Board of Directors may from time to time authorize.  The Assistant
Secretaries may sign with the President, a Vice President or any other officer
authorized by the Board of Directors, certificates for shares of the
Corporation the issuance of which shall have been authorized by a resolution of
the Board of Directors.  The Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers, in
general, shall perform such duties and have such authority as shall from time
to time be delegated or assigned to them by the Secretary or the Treasurer,
respectively, or by the Chairman of the Board, Vice Chairman, President or the
Board of Directors.

                 SECTION 4.13.  Other Assistants and Acting Officers.  The
Board of Directors shall have the power to appoint, or to authorize any duly
appointed officer of the Corporation to appoint, any person to act as assistant
to any officer, or as agent for the Corporation in his or her stead, or to
perform the duties of such officer whenever for any reason it is impracticable
for such officer to act personally, and such assistant or acting officer or
other agent so appointed by the Board of Directors or an authorized officer
shall have the power to perform all the duties of the office to which he or she
is so appointed to be an assistant, or as to which he or she is so appointed to
act, except as such power may be otherwise defined or restricted by the Board
of Directors or the appointing officer.

                 SECTION 4.14.  Surety Bonds.  The Board of Directors may
require any officer or agent of the Corporation to execute a bond (including,
without limitation, any bond required by the Investment Company Act of 1940) to
the Corporation in such sum and with such surety or sureties as the Board of
Directors may determine, conditioned upon the faithful performance of his or
her duties to the Corporation, including responsibility for negligence and for
the accounting of any of the Corporation's property, funds or securities that
may come into his or her hands.





                                       14
<PAGE>   15

            ARTICLE V.  CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES; TRANSFER OF SHARES

                 SECTION 5.01.  Certificates for Shares.  Each shareholder
shall be entitled upon request to have a certificate or certificates which
shall represent and certify the number and kind of shares owned by him or her
in the Corporation.  Certificates representing shares of the Corporation shall
be in such form, consistent with the WBCL, as shall be determined by the Board
of Directors.  Such certificates shall be signed, either manually or in
facsimile, by the President, a Vice President or any other officer authorized
by the Board of Directors and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary.  All
certificates for shares shall be consecutively numbered or otherwise
identified.  The name and address of the person to whom the shares represented
thereby are issued, with the number of shares and class of shares and series,
if any, and date of issue, shall be entered on the stock transfer books of the
Corporation.  All certificates surrendered to the Corporation for transfer
shall be cancelled and no new certificate shall be issued until the former
certificate for a like number of shares shall have been surrendered and
cancelled, except as provided in Section 5.04.

                 Shares may also be issued without certificates.  Within a
reasonable time after issuance or transfer of shares without certificates, the
Corporation shall send the shareholder a written statement of the information
required on share certificates under the WBCL, including the following:

                 (a)  the name of the Corporation;

                 (b)  the name of the person to whom shares were issued;

                 (c)  the number and class of shares and the designation of the
         series, if any, of the shares issued; and

                 (d)  either (i) a summary of the designations, relative
         rights, preferences and limitations, applicable to each class, and the
         variations in rights, preferences and limitations determined for each
         series and the authority of the Board of Directors to determine
         variations for future series, or (ii) a conspicuous statement that the
         Corporation will furnish the information specified in clause (i),
         above, on request, in writing and without charge.





                                       15
<PAGE>   16

                 SECTION 5.02.  Signature by Former Officers.  The validity of
a share certificate is not affected if a person who signed the certificate
(either manually or in facsimile) no longer holds office when the certificate
is issued.

                 SECTION 5.03.  Transfer of Shares.  Prior to due presentment
of a certificate for shares for redemption or registration of transfer, the
Corporation may treat the registered owner of such shares as the person
exclusively entitled to vote, to receive notifications and otherwise to have
and exercise all the rights and power of an owner.  Where a certificate for
shares is presented to the Corporation with a request for redemption or to
register for transfer, the Corporation shall not be liable to the owner or any
other person suffering loss as a result of such registration of transfer or
redemption if (a) there were on or with the certificate the necessary
endorsements, and (b) the Corporation had no duty to inquire into adverse
claims or has discharged any such duty.  The Corporation may require reasonable
assurance that such endorsements are genuine and effective and compliance with
such other regulations as may be prescribed by or under the authority of the
Board of Directors.  All certificates and uncertificated shares surrendered to
the Corporation for redemption shall be cancelled, returned to the status of
authorized and unissued shares and the transaction recorded in the stock
transfer books.  Transfer or redemption of shares of the Corporation shall be
made only on the stock transfer books of the Corporation by the holder of
record thereof or by his legal representative, who shall furnish proper
evidence of authority to transfer, or by his attorney thereunto duly authorized
by power of attorney duly executed and filed with the transfer agent or the
Secretary of the Corporation, and on surrender for cancellation of the
certificate for such shares, if any.

                 SECTION 5.04.  Lost, Destroyed or Stolen Certificates. Where
the owner claims that certificates for shares have been lost, destroyed or
wrongfully taken, a new certificate shall be issued in place thereof if the
owner (a) so requests before the Corporation has notice that such shares have
been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, (b) files with the Corporation a
sufficient indemnity bond if required by the Board of Directors or any
principal officer, and (c) satisfies such other reasonable requirements as may
be prescribed by or under the authority of the Board of Directors.

                 SECTION 5.05.  Stock Regulations.  The Board of Directors
shall have the power and authority to make all such further rules and
regulations not inconsistent with law as it may deem expedient concerning the
issue, transfer and registration of shares of the Corporation and to appoint or
designate one or more stock transfer agents and one or more stock registrars.


                               ARTICLE VI.  SEAL





                                       16
<PAGE>   17

                 SECTION 6.01.  The seal of the Corporation shall be circular
in form and shall bear, at a minimum, the name of the Corporation, Wisconsin as
its state of incorporation and the words "Corporate Seal."


            ARTICLE VII.  INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

                 SECTION 7.01.  Mandatory Indemnification.  The Corporation
shall indemnify, to the full extent permitted by the WBCL, as in effect from
time to time, the persons described in Sections 180.0850 through 180.0859 (or
any successor provisions) of the WBCL or other provisions of the law of the
State of Wisconsin relating to indemnification of directors and officers, as in
effect from time to time.  The indemnification afforded such persons by this
section shall not be exclusive of other rights to which they may be entitled as
a matter of law.

                 SECTION 7.02.  Permissive Supplementary Benefits.  The
Corporation may, but shall not be required to, supplement the right of
indemnification under Section 7.01 by (a) the purchase of insurance on behalf
of any one or more of such persons, whether or not the Corporation would be
obligated to indemnify such person under Section 7.01; (b) individual or group
indemnification agreements with any one or more of such persons; and (c)
advances for related expenses of such a person.

                 SECTION 7.03.  Amendment.  This Article VII may be amended or
repealed only by a vote of the shareholders and not by a vote of the Board of
Directors.

                 SECTION 7.04.  Investment Company Act.  In no event shall the
Corporation indemnify any person hereunder in contravention of any provision of
the Investment Company Act.


                           ARTICLE VIII.  AMENDMENTS

                 SECTION 8.01.  By Shareholders.  These By-Laws may be amended
or repealed and new By-Laws may be adopted by the shareholders at any annual or
special meeting of the shareholders at which a quorum is in attendance.

                 SECTION 8.02.  By Board of Directors.  Except as otherwise
provided by the WBCL, the Articles of Incorporation or a particular By-Law
herein, these By-Laws may also be amended or repealed and new By-Laws may be
adopted by the Board of Directors by affirmative vote of a majority of the
number of directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is in





                                       17
<PAGE>   18

attendance; provided, however, that the shareholders in adopting, amending or
repealing a particular By-Law may provide therein that the Board of Directors
may not amend, repeal or readopt that By-Law.

                 SECTION 8.03.  Implied Amendments.  Any action taken or
authorized by the shareholders or by the Board of Directors which would be
inconsistent with the By-Laws then in effect but which is taken or authorized
by affirmative vote of not less than the number of shares or the number of
directors required to amend the By-Laws so that the By-Laws would be consistent
with such action shall be given the same effect as though the By-Laws had been
temporarily amended or suspended so far, but only so far, as is necessary to
permit the specific action so taken or authorized.


              ARTICLE IX.  DEPOSITARIES, CUSTODIANS, ENDORSEMENTS

                 SECTION 9.01.  Depositories.  The funds of the Corporation
shall be deposited with such banks or other depositories as the Board of
Directors of the Corporation may from time to time determine in accordance with
the requirements of the Investment Company Act.

                 SECTION 9.02.  Custodians.  All securities and other similar
investments of the Corporation shall be deposited in the safekeeping of such
banks or other companies as the Board of Directors may from time to time
determine in accordance with the requirements of the Investment Company Act.
Every arrangement entered into with any bank or other company for the
safekeeping of the securities and other similar investments of the Corporation
shall contain provisions complying with the requirements of the Investment
Company Act.

                 SECTION 9.03.  Checks, Notes, Drafts, etc.  Checks, notes,
drafts, acceptances, bills of exchange and other orders or obligations for the
payment of money shall be signed by such officer or officers or such person or
persons as designated from time to time by the Board of Directors.

                 SECTION 9.04.  Endorsements, Assignments and Transfer of
Securities.  All endorsements, assignments, stock powers or other instruments
of transfer of securities standing in the name of the Corporation or its
nominee or directions for the transfer of securities belonging to the
Corporation shall be made by such officer or officers or other person or
persons as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors.


                   ARTICLE X.  INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS





                                       18
<PAGE>   19

                 SECTION 10.01.  Independent Public Accountants.  The
Corporation shall employ an independent public accountant or a firm of
independent public accountants as its accountants to examine the accounts of
the Corporation and to sign and certify financial statements filed by the
Corporation.


             ARTICLE XI.  SALES AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES; DIVIDENDS

                 SECTION 11.01.  Sale of Shares.  Shares of Common Stock of the
Corporation shall be sold by it for the net asset value per share of such
Common Stock calculated in accordance with the requirements of the Investment
Company Act, and the Corporation's then current prospectus.

                 SECTION 11.02.  Periodic Investment, Dividend Reinvestment and
Other Plans.  The Corporation shall offer such periodic investment, dividend
reinvestment, periodic redemption or other plans as are specified in the
Corporation's then current prospectus, provided such plans are offered in
accordance with the requirements of the Investment Company Act.  Any such plans
may be discontinued at any time if determined advisable by or under the
authority of the Board of Directors.

                 SECTION 11.03.  Redemption of Shares.  Subject to the
suspension of the right of redemption or postponement of the date of payment or
satisfaction upon redemption in accordance with the Investment Company Act,
each shareholder, upon request and after complying with the redemption
procedures established by or under the supervision of the Board of Directors,
shall be entitled to require the Corporation to redeem out of legally available
funds all or any part of the Common Stock standing in the name of such holder
at the net asset value per share calculated in accordance with the requirements
of the Investment Company Act, and the Corporation's then current prospectus.

                 SECTION 11.04.  Dividends and Other Distributions.  The
Corporation shall pay such dividends and make other distributions to
shareholders, at such times and in such amounts as are determined by or under
the authority of the Board of Directors, from time to time and in accordance
with the requirements of the WBCL, the Investment Company Act, and other
applicable laws and regulations.





                                       19

<PAGE>   1
                                                               EXHIBIT 99.B5.1


                                   SCHEDULE A

The Portfolio(s) of Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc.* currently subject to
this Agreement are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>                                    
                                                                 Date of Addition
           Portfolio(s)                                          to this Agreement
           ------------                                          -----------------
<S>                                                              <C>
Strong Discovery Fund II*                                        May 1, 1995
Strong Advantage Fund II                                         June 26, 1995
Strong Asset Allocation Fund II                                  June 26, 1995
Strong Government Securities Fund II                             June 26, 1995
Strong Growth Fund II                                            June 26, 1995
Strong International Stock Fund II                               June 26, 1995
</TABLE>                                     


Attest:                                    Strong Capital Management, Inc.


______________________________________     ____________________________________
Thomas P. Lemke, Senior Vice President     John Dragisic, Vice Chairman

Attest:                                    Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc.



______________________________________     ____________________________________
Ann E. Oglanian, Secretary                 Lawrence A. Totsky, Vice President


*   On April 21, 1995, Strong Discovery Fund II, Inc. changed its name to
    Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc. and the outstanding shares of common
    stock of  Strong Discovery Fund II, Inc. were redesignated as Strong
    Discovery Fund II, a series of Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc.
<PAGE>   2

                                   SCHEDULE B

Compensation pursuant to Paragraph 5 of this Agreement shall be calculated in
accordance with the following schedules:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
           Portfolio(s)                                                                 Annual Fee
           ------------                                                                 ----------
<S>                                          <C>                                       
Strong Discovery Fund II, Inc.*                                                               1.00%
Strong Asset Allocation Fund II              .85% up to $35,000,000, .80% in excess of $35,000,000
Strong International Stock Fund II                                                            1.00%
Strong Growth Fund II                                                                         1.00%
Strong Government Securities Fund II                                                           .60%
Strong Advantage Fund II                                                                       .60%
</TABLE>


Attest:                                    Strong Capital Management, Inc.


______________________________________     ____________________________________
Thomas P. Lemke, Senior Vice President     John Dragisic, Vice Chairman

Attest:                                    Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc.



______________________________________     ____________________________________
Ann E. Oglanian, Secretary                 Lawrence A. Totsky, Vice President


*   On April 21, 1995, Strong Discovery Fund II, Inc. changed its name to
    Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc. and the outstanding shares of common
    stock of  Strong Discovery Fund II, Inc. were redesignated as Strong
    Discovery Fund II, a series of Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc.

<PAGE>   1

                                                                   EXHIBIT 99.B6
                                        
                             DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

         THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into on this ______day of
___________,1995, between ______, a Wisconsin corporation (the "Company"), and
STRONG FUNDS DISTRIBUTORS, INC., a Wisconsin corporation (the "Distributor"):

                                  WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS, the Company is an open-end management investment company
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Investment Company
Act");

         WHEREAS, the Company is authorized to create separate series, each
with its own separate investment portfolio, and the beneficial interest in each
such series will be represented by a separate series of shares;

         WHEREAS, the Company is authorized to issue shares of its [$.00000]
par value common stock (the "Shares") in separate series;

         WHEREAS, the Distributor is a registered broker-dealer under state and
federal laws and regulations and is a member of the National Association of
Securities Dealers (the "NASD"); and

         WHEREAS, the Company desires to retain Distributor as the distributor
of the Shares of each series on whose behalf this Agreement has been executed.

         NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and Distributor mutually agree and promise
as follows:

         1.      Appointment of Distributor

         The Company hereby appoints the Distributor as its agent for the
distribution of the Shares of each series of the Company listed on Schedule A
attached hereto (each series is hereinafter referred to as a "Fund"), as such
Schedule may be amended from time to time, in jurisdictions wherein the Shares
may legally be offered for sale; provided, however, that the Company may (a)
issue or sell Shares directly to holders of such Shares upon such terms and
conditions and for such consideration, if any, as it may determine, whether in
connection with the distribution of subscription or purchase rights, the
payment or reinvestment of dividends or distributions, or otherwise; or (b)
issue or sell Shares at net asset value to the shareholders of any other
investment company, as defined in the Investment Company Act, for which the
Distributor shall act as exclusive distributor, who wish to exchange all or a
portion of their investment in shares of such other investment company for
Shares of the Company.

         2.      Acceptance; Services of Distributor

         The Distributor hereby accepts appointment as agent for the
distribution of the Shares and agrees that it will use its best efforts with
reasonable promptness to sell such part of the authorized Shares remaining
unissued as from time to time shall be effectively registered under the
Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"), at prices determined as
hereinafter provided and on terms hereinafter set forth, all





<PAGE>   2

subject to applicable federal and state laws and regulations and the Articles
of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Company.

         3.      Manner of Sale; Compliance with Securities Laws and Regulations

         a.      The Distributor shall sell Shares to or through qualified
dealers or others in such manner, not inconsistent with the provisions hereof
and the Company's then effective Registration Statement under the Securities
Act, as the Distributor may determine from time to time, provided that no
dealer or other person shall be appointed or authorized to act as agent of the
Company without the prior consent of the Company.  The Distributor shall cause
subscriptions for Shares to be transmitted in accordance with any subscription
agreement then in force for the purchase of Shares.  Distributor and Company
shall cooperate in implementing procedures to ensure that the sales commission,
if any, payable on the purchase of Shares is paid to the Distributor in a
timely manner.

         b.      The Distributor, as agent of and for the account of the
Company, may repurchase Shares at such prices and upon such terms and
conditions as shall be specified in the Company's current prospectus relating
to each Fund.

         c.      The Company will furnish to the Distributor from time to time
such information with respect to the Company, each Fund, and the Shares as the
Distributor may reasonably request for use in connection with the sale of the
Shares.  The Distributor agrees that it will not use or distribute or authorize
the use, distribution or dissemination by its dealers or others, in connection
with the sale of such Shares, of any statements, other than those contained in
the Company's current prospectus relating to each Fund, except such
supplemental literature or advertising as shall be lawful under federal and
state securities laws and regulations, and that it will furnish the Company
with copies of all such material.

         d.      In selling or reacquiring Shares for the account of the
Company, the Distributor will in all respects conform to the requirements of
all state and federal laws and the Rules of Fair Practice of the NASD, relating
to such sale or reacquisition, as the case may be, and will indemnify and save
harmless the Company, each Fund, each person who has been, is or may hereafter
be a director or officer of the Company or any Fund from any damage or expense
on account of any wrongful act by the Distributor or any employee,
representative or agent of the Distributor.  The Distributor will observe and
be bound by all the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company
(and of any fundamental policies adopted by the Company and/or each Fund
pursuant to the Investment Company Act, notice of which shall have been given
to the Distributor) which at the time in any way require, limit, restrict or
prohibit or otherwise regulate any action on the part of the Distributor.

         e.      The Distributor will require each dealer to conform to the
provisions hereof and the Registration Statement (and related prospectus or
prospectuses) at the time in effect under the Securities Act with respect to
the public offering price of the Shares.

                                      2



<PAGE>   3

         4.      Price of Shares

         a.      Shares offered for sale or sold by the Distributor for the
account of the Company shall be so offered or sold at a price per Share
determined in accordance with the then current prospectus relating to the sale
of such Shares except as departure from such prices shall be permitted by the
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").

         b.      The price the Company shall receive for all Shares purchased
from the Company shall be the net asset value used in determining the public
offering price applicable to the sale of each Fund's Shares.  The excess, if
any, of the sales price over the net asset value of the Shares sold by the
Distributor as agent for the account of the Company shall be retained by the
Distributor as a commission for its services hereunder.

         5.      Registration of Shares and Distributor

         a.      The Company agrees that it will use its best efforts to keep
effectively registered under the Securities Act for sale as herein contemplated
such Shares as the Distributor shall reasonably request and as the SEC shall
permit to be so registered.

         b.      The Company on behalf of each Fund will execute any and all
documents and furnish any and all information which may be reasonably necessary
in connection with the qualification of its Shares for sale (including the
qualification of the Company or a Fund as a dealer where necessary or
advisable) in such states as the Distributor may reasonably request (it being
understood that the Company shall not be required without its consent to comply
with any requirement which in its opinion is unduly burdensome).  The
Distributor, at its own expense, will effect all required qualifications of the
Distributor as a dealer or broker or otherwise under all applicable state or
federal laws in order that the Shares may be sold in as broad a territory as is
reasonably practicable.

         c.      Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the Company on
behalf of a Fund may terminate, suspend or withdraw the offering of its Shares
whenever, in its sole discretion, the Company deems such action to be
desirable.

         6.      Expenses

         The Company or respective Fund will pay or cause to be paid the
expenses (including the fees and disbursements of its own counsel) of any
registration of the Shares under the Securities Act, expenses of qualifying or
continuing the qualification of the Shares for sale, and in connection
therewith, of qualifying or continuing the qualification of the Company or
respective Fund as a dealer or broker under the laws of such states as may be
designated by the Distributor under the conditions herein specified, and
expenses incident to the issuance of Shares, such as the cost of share
certificates, issue taxes and fees of the transfer agent.  The Distributor will
pay all other expenses (other than expenses which one or more dealers may bear
pursuant to any agreement with the Distributor) incident to the sale and
distribution of the Shares issued or sold hereunder, including, without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, all (a) expenses of printing and
distributing or disseminating any other literature, advertising


                                       3
<PAGE>   4

and selling aids in connection with such offering of the Shares for sale
(except that such expenses shall not include expenses incurred by the Company
or any Fund in connection with the preparation, printing and distribution of
any report or other communication to holders of Shares in their capacity as
such); and (b) expenses of advertising in connection with such offering.  No
transfer taxes, if any, which may be payable in connection with the issue or
delivery of Shares sold as herein contemplated or of the certificates for such
Shares shall be borne by the Company or any Fund, and the Distributor will
indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each Fund against liability for all
such transfer taxes.

         7.      Duration and Termination

         a.      This Agreement shall become effective as of the date hereof
and shall continue in effect until March 31, 1996, and from year to year
thereafter, but only so long as such continuance is specifically approved each
year by either (i) the Board of Directors of the Company, or (ii) the
affirmative vote of a majority of the relevant Fund's respective outstanding
voting securities.  In addition to the foregoing, each renewal of this
Agreement must be approved by the vote of a majority of the Company's directors
who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such party,
cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
Prior to voting on the renewal of this Agreement, the Board of Directors of the
Company shall request and evaluate, and the Distributor shall furnish, such
information as may reasonably be necessary to enable the Company's Board of
Directors to evaluate the terms of this Agreement.

         b.      Notwithstanding whatever may be provided herein to the
contrary, this Agreement may be terminated at any time, without payment of any
penalty, by vote of a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company, or by
vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the relevant Fund,
or by the Distributor, in each case, on not more than sixty (60) days' written
notice to the other party and shall terminate automatically in the event of its
assignment as set forth in paragraph 9 of this Agreement.

         8.      Notice

         Any notice under this Agreement shall be in writing, addressed and
delivered or mailed, postage prepaid, to the other party at such address as
such other party may from time to time designate for the receipt of such
notice.

         9.      Assignment

         This Agreement shall neither be assignable nor subject to pledge or
hypothecation and in the event of assignment, pledge or hypothecation shall
automatically terminate.  For purposes of determining whether an "assignment"
has occurred, the definition of "assignment" in Section 2(a)(4) of the
Investment Company Act shall control.

         10.     Miscellaneous


                                      4


<PAGE>   5


         a.      This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws
of the State of Wisconsin, provided that nothing herein shall be construed in a
manner inconsistent with the Investment Company Act, the Securities Act, the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any rule or order of the SEC under such Acts
or any rule of the NASD.

         b.      The captions of this Agreement are included for convenience
only and in no way define or delimit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise
affect their construction or effect.

         c.      If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made
invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this
Agreement shall not be affected thereby and, to this extent, the provisions of
this Agreement shall be deemed to be severable.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be signed as of the day and year first stated above.

Attest:                                      Strong Funds Distributors, Inc.

__________________________________________  ___________________________________
Thomas M. Zoeller, Treasurer and Secretary  Stephen J. Shenkenberg, President

Attest:                                     Strong ______________________, Inc.
                                                   
__________________________________________  ___________________________________
Ann E. Oglanian, Secretary                  Lawrence A. Totsky, Vice President




                                       5
<PAGE>   6

                                   SCHEDULE A

The Fund(s) of the Company currently subject to this Agreement are as follows:

                                                          Date of Addition
              Fund(s)                                     to this Agreement
              -------                                     -----------------



Attest:                                        Strong Funds Distributors, Inc.


__________________________________________    __________________________________
Thomas M. Zoeller, Treasurer and Secretary    Stephen J. Shenkenberg, President

Attest:                                       Strong ____________________, Inc.
                                              

__________________________________________    __________________________________
Ann E. Oglanian, Secretary                    Lawrence A. Totsky, Vice President



                                       6


<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 99.B8



                              CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT

         THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into on this ___ day of May, 1995,
between ________________________, a Wisconsin corporation (the "Company"), on
behalf of the Funds (as defined below) of the Company, and FIRSTAR TRUST
COMPANY, a Wisconsin corporation (the "Custodian").

                                  WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS, the Company is registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission as an open-end management investment company under the Investment
Company Act of 1940;

         WHEREAS, the Company is authorized to create separate series, each
with its own separate investment portfolio, and the beneficial interest in each
such series will be represented by a separate series of shares (each series
indicated on Schedule A is hereinafter individually referred to as a "Fund" and
collectively as the "Funds");

         WHEREAS, the Company desires to retain the Custodian to hold and
administer the securities and cash of each Fund listed in Schedule A hereto,
and any additional Funds the Company and the Custodian may agree upon and
include in Schedule A as such Schedule may be amended from time to time,
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

         NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and the Custodian do mutually agree and
promise as follows:

1.       Definitions

         The word "securities" as used herein includes stocks, shares, bonds,
debentures, notes, mortgages or other obligations, and any certificates,
receipts, warrants or other instruments representing rights to receive,
purchase or subscribe for the same, or evidencing or representing any other
rights or interests therein, or in any property or assets.

         The words "officers' certificate" shall mean a request or direction or
certification in writing signed in the name of the Company by any two of the
President, a Vice President, the Secretary and the Treasurer of the Company, or
any other persons duly authorized to sign by the Board of Directors.

         The word "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors the Company.

2.       Names, Titles and Signatures of the Company's Officers

         An officer of the Company will certify to the Custodian the names and
signatures of those persons authorized to sign the officers' certificates
described in Section 1, hereof, and the names of the members of the Board of
Directors, together with any changes which may occur from time to time.
<PAGE>   2

3.       Receipt and Disbursement of Money

         A.      The Custodian shall open and maintain a separate account or
accounts in the name of each Fund, subject only to draft or order by the
Custodian acting pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.  The Custodian shall
hold in such account or accounts, subject to the provisions hereof, all cash
received by it from or for the account of a Fund.  The Custodian shall make
payments of cash to, or for the account of, a Fund from such cash only:

                 (a)      for the purchase of securities for the portfolio of a
         Fund upon the delivery of such securities to the Custodian, registered
         in the name of the Fund or of the nominee of the Custodian referred to
         in Section 7 or in proper form for transfer;

                 (b)      for the purchase or redemption of shares of common
         stock of a Fund upon delivery thereof to Custodian, or upon proper
         instructions from the Fund;

                 (c)      for the payment of interest, dividends, taxes,
         investment adviser's fees or operating expenses (including, without
         limitation thereto, fees for legal, accounting, auditing and custodian
         services and expenses for printing and postage);

                 (d)      for payments in connection with the conversion,
         exchange or surrender of securities owned or subscribed to by a Fund
         held by or to be delivered to Custodian; or

                 (e)      for other proper corporate purposes certified by
         resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company, on behalf of a
         Fund.

                 Before making any such payment, the Custodian shall receive
         (and may rely upon) an officers' certificate requesting such payment
         and stating that it is for a purpose permitted under the terms of
         items (a), (b), (c) or (d) of this Subsection A, and also, in respect
         of item (e), upon receipt of an officers' certificate specifying the
         amount of such payment, setting forth the purpose for which such
         payment is to be made, declaring such purpose to be a proper corporate
         purpose, and naming the person or persons to whom such payment is to
         be made, provided, however, that an officers' certificate need not
         precede the disbursement of cash for the purpose of purchasing a money
         market instrument, or any other security with same or next-day
         settlement, if the President, a Vice President, the Secretary or the
         Treasurer of the Company, on behalf of a particular Fund, issues
         appropriate oral or facsimile instructions to the Custodian and an
         appropriate officers' certificate is received by the Custodian within
         two business days thereafter.

                 Regardless of the foregoing, if the Company's investment
         advisor (the "Advisor") is a member of the Institutional Delivery
         ("ID") system and desires to affirm trades on behalf of a Fund with
         the Depository Trust Company ("DTC") for those transactions affirmed
         through the ID system; or (ii) has established an automated interface
         to transmit trade authorization detail to the Custodian, then no
         officers' certificate is required; provided that the appropriate
         ID/DTC letter agreement or automated trade authorization agreement has
         been executed by both the Advisor and the Custodian.

                                      2
<PAGE>   3


         B.      The Custodian is hereby authorized to endorse and collect all
checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money received by the
Custodian for each Fund's account.

         C.      The Custodian shall, upon receipt of proper instructions, make
federal funds available to the Funds as of specified times agreed upon from
time to time by the Company, on behalf of the Funds, and the Custodian in the
amount of checks received in payment for shares of the Funds which are
deposited into the respective Fund's account.

4.       Segregated Accounts

         Upon receipt of proper instructions, the Custodian shall establish and
maintain a segregated account or accounts for and on behalf of each Fund, into
which account or accounts may be transferred cash and/or securities, including
securities maintained in an account by the Custodian pursuant to paragraph 14
hereof, (i) in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the
Company, on behalf of a Fund or Funds, the Custodian and a broker-dealer
registered under the Exchange Act and a member of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc.  (or any futures commission merchant registered under
the Commodity Exchange Act), relating to compliance with the rules of the
Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange
(or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission or any registered contract
market), or of any similar organization or organizations, regarding escrow or
other arrangements in connection with transactions for a Fund, (ii) for the
purpose of segregating cash or securities in connection with options purchased,
sold or written for a Fund or commodity futures contracts or options thereon
purchased or sold for a Fund, (iii) for the purpose of compliance by the
Company or a Fund with the procedures required by any release or
interpretations of the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the
maintenance of segregated accounts by registered investment companies, and (iv)
as mutually agreed upon from time to time between the Company, on behalf of a
Fund or Funds, and the Custodian.

5.       Transfer, Exchange, Redelivery, etc. of Securities

         The Custodian shall have sole power to release or deliver any
securities of the Funds held by it pursuant to this Agreement.  The Custodian
agrees to transfer, exchange or deliver securities held by it hereunder only:

         (a)     for sales of such securities for the account of a Fund upon
receipt by Custodian of payment therefore;

         (b)     when such securities are called, redeemed or retired or
otherwise become payable;

         (c)     for examination by any broker selling any such securities in
accordance with "street delivery" custom;

         (d)     in exchange for, or upon conversion into, other securities
alone or other securities and cash whether pursuant to any plan of merger,
consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or readjustment, or otherwise;





                                       3
<PAGE>   4


         (e)     upon conversion of such securities pursuant to their terms
into other securities;

         (f)     upon exercise of subscription, purchase or other similar
rights represented by such securities;

         (g)     for the purpose of exchanging interim receipts or temporary
securities for definitive securities;

         (h)     for the purpose of redeeming in kind shares of common stock of
a Fund upon delivery thereof to the Custodian; or

         (i)     for other proper corporate purposes.

         As to any deliveries made by the Custodian pursuant to items (a), (b),
(d), (e), (f), and (g), securities or cash receivable in exchange therefore
shall be deliverable to the Custodian.

         Before making any such transfer, exchange or delivery, the Custodian
shall receive (and may rely upon) an officers' certificate requesting such
transfer, exchange or delivery, and stating that it is for a purpose permitted
under the terms of items (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g) or (h) of this
Section 5 and also, in respect of item (i),  upon receipt of an officers'
certificate specifying the securities to be delivered, setting forth the
purpose for which such delivery is to be made, declaring such purpose to be a
proper corporate purpose, and naming the person or persons to whom delivery of
such securities shall be made, provided, however, that an officers' certificate
need not precede any such transfer, exchange or delivery of a money market
instrument, or any other security with same or next-day settlement, if the
President, a Vice President, the Secretary or the Treasurer of the Company, on
behalf of a particular Fund, issues appropriate oral or facsimile instructions
to the Custodian and an appropriate officers' certificate is received by the
Custodian within two business days thereafter.

         Regardless of the foregoing, if the Company's investment advisor (the
"Advisor") is a member of the Institutional Delivery ("ID") system and desires
to affirm trades on behalf of a Fund with the Depository Trust Company ("DTC")
for those transactions affirmed through the ID system; or (ii) has established
an automated interface to transmit trade authorization detail to the Custodian,
then no officers' certificate is required; provided that the appropriate ID/DTC
letter agreement or automated trade authorization agreement has been executed
by both the Advisor and the Custodian.

6.       Custodian's Acts Without Instructions

         Unless and until the Custodian receives an officers' certificate to
the contrary, the Custodian shall:  (a) present for payment all coupons and
other income items held by it for the account of each Fund which call for
payment upon presentation, and hold the cash received by it upon such payment
for the account of the respective Fund; (b) collect interest and cash dividends
received, with notice to each Fund, for the account of the respective Fund; (c)
hold for the account of each Fund hereunder all stock dividends, rights and
similar securities issued with respect to any securities held by it hereunder;
and (d) execute, as agent on behalf of each Fund, all necessary ownership
certificates required by the Internal





                                       4
<PAGE>   5

Revenue Code or the Income Tax Regulations of the United States Treasury
Department or under the laws of any state now or hereafter in effect, inserting
the Fund's name on such certificates as the owner of the securities covered
thereby, to the extent it may lawfully do so.

7.       Registration of Securities

         Except as otherwise directed by an officers' certificate, the
Custodian shall register all securities, except such as are in bearer form, in
the name of a registered nominee of the Custodian as defined in the Internal
Revenue Code and any Regulations of the Treasury Department issued hereunder or
in any provision of any subsequent federal tax law exempting such transaction
from liability for stock transfer taxes, and shall execute and deliver all such
certificates in connection therewith as may be required by such laws or
regulations or under the laws of any state.  The Custodian shall use its best
efforts to the end that the specific securities held by it hereunder shall be
at all times identifiable in its records.

         The Company shall from time to time furnish to the Custodian
appropriate instruments to enable the Custodian to hold or deliver in proper
form for transfer, or to register in the name of its registered nominee, any
securities which it may hold for the account of the Funds and which may from
time to time be registered in the name of a particular Fund.

8.       Voting and Other Action

         Neither the Custodian nor any nominee of the Custodian shall vote any
of the securities held hereunder by or for the account of any Fund, except in
accordance with the instructions contained in an officers' certificate.  The
Custodian shall deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, to the Company
all notices, proxies and proxy soliciting materials with relation to such
securities, such proxies to be executed by the registered holder of such
securities (if registered otherwise than in the name of a Fund), but without
indicating the manner in which such proxies are to be voted.

9.       Transfer Tax and Other Disbursements

         The Company, on behalf of the Funds, shall pay or reimburse the
Custodian from time to time for any transfer taxes payable upon transfers of
securities made hereunder, and for all other necessary and proper disbursements
and expenses made or incurred by the Custodian in the performance of this
Agreement.

         The Custodian shall execute and deliver such certificates in
connection with securities delivered to it or by it under this Agreement as may
be required under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and any
Regulations of the Treasury Department issued thereunder, or under the laws of
any state, to exempt from taxation any exemptable transfers and/or deliveries
of any such securities.

10.      Concerning Custodian

         The Custodian shall be paid as compensation for its services pursuant
to this Agreement such compensation as may from time to time be agreed upon in
writing between the Company, on behalf of





                                       5
<PAGE>   6

the Funds, and the Custodian.  Until modified in writing, such compensation
shall be as set forth in Schedule B attached hereto.

         The Custodian shall not be liable for any action taken in good faith
upon any certificate herein described or certified copy of any resolution of
the Board, and may rely on the genuineness of any such document which it may in
good faith believe to have been validly executed.

         The Company, on behalf of the Funds, agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless the Custodian and its nominee from all taxes, charges, expenses,
assessments, claims and liabilities (including counsel fees) incurred or
assessed against it or by its nominee in connection with the performance of
this Agreement, except such as may arise from its or its nominee's own
negligent action, negligent failure to act or willful misconduct.  The
Custodian is authorized to charge the applicable account of a Fund for such
items.

11.      Subcustodians

         The Custodian is hereby authorized to engage another bank or trust
company as a Subcustodian for all or any part of the Company's assets, so long
as any such bank or trust company meets the requirements of the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended and the rules and regulations thereunder (the
"Investment Company Act") and provided further that, if the Custodian utilizes
the services of a Subcustodian, the Custodian shall remain fully liable and
responsible for any losses caused to any of the Funds by the Subcustodian as
fully as if the Custodian was directly responsible for any such losses under
the terms of the Custodian Agreement.

         Notwithstanding anything contained herein, if the Company requires the
Custodian to engage specific Subcustodians for the safekeeping and/or clearing
of assets, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Custodian from
all claims, expenses and liabilities incurred or assessed against it in
connection with the use of such Subcustodian in regard to the Company's assets,
except as may arise from its own negligent action, negligent failure to act or
willful misconduct.

12.      Reports by Custodian

         The Custodian shall furnish the Company periodically as agreed upon
with a statement summarizing all transactions and entries for the account of
each Fund.  The Custodian shall furnish to the Company, at the end of every
month, a list of the securities held by each Fund, showing the aggregate cost
of each issue.  The books and records of the Custodian pertaining to its
actions under this Agreement shall be open to inspection and audit at
reasonable times by officers of, and of auditors employed by, the Company.

13.      Termination or Assignment

         This Agreement may be terminated by the Company, on behalf of the
Funds, or by the Custodian, on ninety (90) days notice, given in writing and
sent by registered mail to the Custodian at P. O. Box 2054, Milwaukee,
Wisconsin 53201, or to the Company at 100 Heritage Reserve, Menomonee Falls,
Wisconsin 53051, as the case may be.  Upon any termination of this Agreement,
pending appointment of a successor to the Custodian or a vote of the
shareholders of the Company to dissolve or





                                       6
<PAGE>   7

to function without a custodian of its cash, securities and other property, the
Custodian shall not deliver cash, securities or other property of the Company
to the Company, but may deliver them to a bank or trust company of its own
selection, that meets the requirements of the Investment Company Act as a
Custodian for the Company to be held under terms similar to those of this
Agreement, provided, however, that the Custodian shall not be required to make
any such delivery or payment until full payment shall have been made by the
Company of all liabilities constituting a charge on or against the properties
then held by the Custodian or on or against the Custodian, and until full
payment shall have been made to the Custodian of all its fees, compensation,
costs and expenses, subject to the provisions of Section 10 of this Agreement.

         This Agreement may not be assigned by the Custodian without the
consent of the Company, authorized or approved by a resolution of its Board of
Directors.

14.      Deposits of Securities in Securities Depositories

         No provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to prevent the use by
the Custodian of a central securities clearing agency or securities depository,
provided, however, that the Custodian and the central securities clearing
agency or securities depository meet all applicable federal and state laws and
regulations, including the requirements of the Investment Company Act, and the
Board of Directors of the Company approves by resolution the use of such
central securities clearing agency or securities depository.

15.      Records

         To the extent that the Custodian in any capacity prepares or maintains
any records required to be maintained and preserved by the Company pursuant to
the provisions of the Investment Company Act, the Custodian agrees to make any
such records available to the Company upon request and to preserve such records
for the periods prescribed in Rule 31a-2 under the Investment Company Act.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on
the day and year first written above

   Attest:                                 Firstar Trust Company


   ____________________________________    ___________________________________
   By:                                     By:
   Its:                                    Its:

   Attest:                                 Strong ___________________, Inc.



   ____________________________________    ___________________________________
   By:  Ann E. Oglanian                    By:  Lawrence A. Totsky
   Its:  Secretary                         Its:  Vice President





                                       7
<PAGE>   8

                                   SCHEDULE A


The Fund(s) of  the Company currently subject to this Agreement are as follows:

         Fund(s)                                       Date of Addition 
         -------                                       to this Agreement
                                                       -----------------


   Attest:                                   Firstar Trust Company


   ______________________                    ______________________________
   By:                                       By:
   Its:                                      Its:

   Attest:                                   Strong _________________, Inc.



  _______________________                    ______________________________
  By:  Ann E. Oglanian                       By:  Lawrence A. Totsky
  Its:  Secretary                            Its:  Vice President
<PAGE>   9

                                   SCHEDULE B



                             FIRSTAR TRUST COMPANY
                              MUTUAL FUND SERVICES

                      MUTUAL FUND CUSTODIAL AGENT SERVICE
                          ANNUAL FEE SCHEDULE FOR THE
                              STRONG MUTUAL FUNDS


                             EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1993


         Annual fee on the aggregate market value of all Strong Mutual Funds

         $0.10 per $1,000 (one basis point) on the first $2 billion

         $0.08 per $1,000 (.8 basis point) on the balance

         Aggregate fee shall be apportioned among the funds(1) based upon 
         market value.

         Investment transactions; (purchase, sale, exchange, tender,
         redemption, maturity, receipt, delivery)

         $ 9.00 per Depository Trust Company or Federal Reserve System 
                    trade, automated and non-automated

         $25.00 per definitive security (physical)

         $ 8.50 per commercial paper trade

         $50.00 per Euroclear

         $ 6.00 per principal reduction on pass-through certificates

         $35.00 per option/futures contract

         $ 7.50 per variation margin transaction

         $ 7.50 per Fed wire deposit or withdrawal





__________________________________
1   The term "fund" includes each series of a series company.

<PAGE>   1
                                                           EXHIBIT-99.B8.1




                               AGREEMENT BETWEEN

                         BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO.

                                      AND

                     STRONG VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.

                                  On behalf of

                       STRONG INTERNATIONAL STOCK FUND II
<PAGE>   2

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<S>   <C>                                                                  <C>
1.    Employment of Custodian                                                1

2.    Powers and Duties of the Custodian
      with respect to Property of the Fund
      held  by the Custodian                                                 1

         A. Safekeeping                                                      2
         B. Manner of Holding Securities                                     2
         C. Registered Name; Nominee                                         2
         D. Purchases                                                        2
         E. Exchanges                                                        3
         F. Sales of Securities                                              3
         G. Depositary Receipts                                              4
         H. Exercise of Rights;  Tender Offers                               5
         I. Stock Dividends, Rights, Etc.                                    5
         J. Options                                                          5
         K. Borrowings                                                       6
         L. Demand Deposit Bank Accounts                                     6
         M. Interest Bearing Call or Time Deposits                           8
         N. Foreign Exchange Transactions
                and Futures Contracts                                        9
         O. Stock Loans                                                     10
         P. Collections                                                     10
         Q. Dividends, Distributions and Redemptions                        11
         R. Proxies, Notices, Etc.                                          12
         S. Nondiscretionary Details                                        12
         T. Bills                                                           13
         U. Deposit of Fund Assets in Securities Systems                    13
         V. Other Transfers                                                 15
         W. Investment Limitations                                          16
         X. Proper Instructions                                             16
         Y. Segregated Account                                              18

3.    Powers and Duties of the  Custodian with
      Respect to the Appointment of Subcustodians                           19
                                                                   
4.    Assistance by the Custodian as to Certain Matters                     23

5.    Powers and Duties of the Custodian with
      Respect to its Role as Financial Agent                                23

         A.   Records                                                       23
         B.   Accounts                                                      23        
                                                                                     
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   3

<TABLE>
<S>   <C>                                                                  <C>
         C.   Access to Records                                             23
         D.   Disbursements                                                 24

6.    Standard of Care and Related Matters                                  24

         A. Liability of the Custodian with
                Respect to Proper Instructions;
                Evidence of Authority; Etc.                                 24
         B. Liability of the Custodian with
                Respect to Use of Securities System                         25
         C. Liability of the Custodian with
                respect to Subcustodians                                    26
         D. Standard of Care; Liability;
                Indemnification                                             27
         E. Reimbursement of Advances                                       28
         F. Security for Obligations to Custodian                           29
         G. Appointment of Agents                                           29
         H. Powers of Attorney                                              30
                                                                   
7.    Compensation of the Custodian                                         30

8.    Termination; Successor Custodian                                      30

9.    Amendment                                                             31

10.   Governing Law                                                         32

11.   Notices                                                               32

12.   Binding Effect                                                        32

13.   Counterparts                                                          32
                                                                             
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   4
                              CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT

         AGREEMENT made this ____ day of _________, 1995, between STRONG
VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC. on behalf of STRONG INTERNATIONAL STOCK FUND II
(the "Fund") and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (the "Custodian");
         WITNESSETH: That in consideration of the mutual covenants and
agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

         1.  Employment of Custodian:  The Fund hereby employs and appoints the
Custodian as a custodian for the term and subject to the provisions of this
Agreement.  The Custodian shall not be under any duty or obligation to require
the Fund to deliver to it any securities or funds owned by the Fund and shall
have no responsibility or liability for or on account of securities or funds
not so delivered.  The Fund will deposit with the Custodian copies of the
Declaration of Trust or Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws (or
comparable documents) of the Fund and all amendments thereto, and copies of
such votes and other proceedings of the Fund as may be necessary for or
convenient to the Custodian in the performance of its duties.
         2.  Powers and Duties of the Custodian with respect to Property of the
Fund held by the Custodian: Except for securities and funds held by any
Subcustodians or held by the Custodian through a non-U.S. securities depository
appointed





                                 - 1 -        
<PAGE>   5
pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 hereof, the Custodian shall have and
perform the following powers and duties:
         A.  Safekeeping - To keep safely the securities and other assets of
the Fund that have been delivered to the Custodian and, on behalf of the Fund,
from time to time to receive delivery of securities for safekeeping.
         B.  Manner of Holding Securities - To hold securities of the Fund (1)
by physical possession of the share certificates or other instruments
representing such securities in registered or bearer form, or (2) in book-entry
form by a Securities System (as said term is defined in Section 2U).
         C.  Registered Name; Nominee - To hold registered securities of the
Fund (1) in the name or any nominee name of the Custodian or the Fund, or in
the name or any nominee name of any Agent appointed pursuant to Section 6F, or
(2) in street certificate form, so-called, and in any case with or without any 
indication of fiduciary capacity, provided that securities are held in an 
account of the Custodian containing only assets of the Fund or only assets 
held as fiduciary or custodian for customers.
         D.  Purchases - Upon receipt of proper instructions, as defined in
Section 2X, insofar as funds are available for the purpose, to pay for and
receive securities purchased for the account of the Fund, payment being made
only upon receipt of the securities; provided, however, that the Custodian may
make payment, which may be prior to receipt of securities, and may





                                 - 2 -         
<PAGE>   6

accept delivery of securities, including the form of securities received, in
accordance with governmental regulations, the rules of Securities Systems or
other U.S. securities depositories and clearing agencies, or generally accepted
trade practice in the applicable U.S. market.  Receipt of securities on behalf
of the Fund shall be by the Custodian or a Subcustodian or by credit to an
account which one of them may have with a bank, Securities System, other U.S.
securities depositary or clearing agency, or other financial institution
approved by the Fund.
         E.  Exchanges - Upon receipt of proper instructions, to exchange
securities held by it for the account of the Fund for other securities in
connection with any reorganization, recapitalization, split-up of shares,
change of par value, conversion or other event, relating to the securities or
the issuer of such securities, and to deposit any such securities in accordance
with the terms of any reorganization or protective plan, Without proper
instructions, the Custodian may surrender securities in temporary form for
definitive securities, may surrender securities for transfer into a name or
nominee name as permitted in Section 2C, and may surrender securities for a
different number of certificates or instruments representing the same number of
shares or same principal amount of indebtedness, provided the securities to be
issued are to be delivered to the Custodian.
         F.  Sales of Securities - Upon receipt of proper





                                     - 3 -
                                                                            
<PAGE>   7

instructions, to make delivery of securities which have been sold for the
account of the Fund but only against payment therefor; provided, however, that
the Custodian may make delivery, which may be prior to receipt of payment, and
may accept payment, including the form of payment received, in accordance with
governmental regulations, the rules of Securities Systems or other U.S.
securities depositories and clearing agencies, or generally accepted trade
practice in the applicable U.S. market. Receipt of payment on behalf of the
Fund shall be by the Custodian or a Subcustodian or by credit to an account
which one of them may have with a bank, Securities System, other U.S.
securities depositary or clearing agency, or other financial institution
approved by the Fund.
         G.  Depositary Receipts - Upon receipt of proper instructions, to
instruct a Subcustodian or an Agent to surrender securities to the depositary
used by an issuer of American Depositary Receipts or International Depositary
Receipts (hereinafter collectively referred to as "ADRs") for such securities
against a written receipt therefor adequately describing such securities and
written evidence satisfactory to the Subcustodian or Agent that the depositary
has acknowledged receipt of instructions to issue with respect to such
securities ADRs in the name of the Custodian, or a nominee of the Custodian,
for delivery to the Custodian in Boston, Massachusetts, or at such other place
as the Custodian may from time to time designate.





                               - 4 -             
<PAGE>   8

         Upon receipt of proper instructions, to surrender ADRs to the issuer
thereof against a written receipt therefor adequately describing the ADRs
surrendered and written evidence satisfactory to the Custodian that the issuer
of the ADRs has acknowledged receipt of instructions to cause its depositary to
deliver the securities underlying such ADRs to a Subcustodian or an Agent.
         H.  Exercise of Rights; Tender Offers - Upon timely receipt of proper
instructions, to deliver to the issuer or trustee thereof, or to the agent of
either, warrants, puts, calls, rights or similar securities for the purpose of
being exercised or sold, provided that the new securities and cash, if any,
acquired by such action are to be delivered to the Custodian, and, upon receipt
of proper instructions, to deposit securities upon invitations for tenders of
securities, provided that the consideration is to be paid or delivered or the
tendered securities are to be returned to the Custodian.
         I.  Stock Dividends, Rights, Etc. - To receive and collect all stock
dividends, rights and other items of like nature; and to deal with the same
pursuant to proper instructions relative thereto.
         J.  Options - Upon receipt of proper instructions, to receive and
retain confirmations or other documents evidencing the purchase of writing of
an option on a security or securities index by the Fund; to deposit and
maintain in a segregated account, either physically or by book-entry in a
Securities





                                     - 5 -
<PAGE>   9

System, securities subject to a covered call option written by the Fund; and to
release and/or transfer such securities or other assets only in accordance with
the provisions of any agreement among the Fund, the Custodian and a
broker-dealer relating to such securities or other assets a notice or other
communication evidencing the expiration, termination or exercise of such
covered option furnished by The Options Clearing Corporation, the securities or
options exchange on which such covered option is traded or such other
organization as may be responsible for handling such options transactions.
         K.  Borrowings - Upon receipt of proper instructions, to deliver
securities of the Fund to lenders or their agents as collateral for borrowings
effected by the Fund, provided that such borrowed money is payable to or upon
the Custodian's order as Custodian for the Fund.
         L.  Demand Deposit Bank Accounts - To open and operate an account or
accounts in the name of the Fund, subject only to draft or order by the Fund,
and to hold in such account or accounts as a deposit accepted on the
Custodian's books cash, including foreign currency, received for the account of
the Fund other than cash held as deposits with Banking Institutions in
accordance with the following paragraph. The responsibilities of the Custodian
for cash, including foreign currency, of a Fund accepted on the Custodian's
books as a deposit shall be that of a U.S. bank for a similar deposit.





                               - 6 -             
<PAGE>   10


         If and when authorized by proper instructions, the Custodian may open
and operate an additional account(s) in such other banks or trust companies as
may be designated by the Fund in such instructions (any such bank or trust
company so designated by the Fund being referred to hereafter as a "Banking
Institution"), and may deposit cash, including foreign currency, of the Fund in
such account or account(s), provided that such account(s) (hereinafter
collectively referred to as "demand deposit bank accounts") shall be in the
name of the Custodian or a nominee of the Custodian for the account of the Fund
or for the account of the Custodian's customers generally and shall be subject
only to the Custodian's draft or order; provided that any such demand deposit
bank account shall contain only property held by the Custodian as a fiduciary
or custodian for the Fund and/or other customers and that the records of the
Custodian shall indicate at all times the Fund and/or other customers for which
such funds are held in such account and the respective interests therein.  Such
demand deposit accounts may be opened with Banking Institutions in the United
States and in other countries and may be denominated in either U. S. Dollars or
other currencies as the Fund may determine.  The records for each such account
will be maintained by the Custodian but the deposits in any such account shall
not constitute a deposit liability of the Custodian.  All such deposits,
including with Subcustodians, shall be deemed to be portfolio securities of the
Fund and accordingly the





                                 - 7 -        
<PAGE>   11


responsibility of the Custodian therefor shall be the same as and no greater
than the Custodian's responsibility in respect of other portfolio securities of
the Fund.  The authorization by the Fund to appoint a Subcustodian as such
shall also constitute a proper instruction to open a demand deposit bank
account subject to the provisions of this paragraph with such Subcustodian.
         M.  Interest Bearing Call or Time Deposits - To place interest bearing
fixed term and call deposits with such banks and in such amounts as the Fund
may authorize pursuant to proper instructions.  Such deposits may be placed
with the Custodian or with Subcustodians or other Banking Institutions as the
Fund may determine. Deposits may be denominated in U. S. Dollars or other
currencies and need not be evidenced by the issuance or delivery of a
certificate to the Custodian, provided that the Custodian shall include in its
records with respect to the assets of the Fund appropriate notation as to the
amount and currency of each such deposit, the accepting Banking Institution and
other appropriate details, and shall retain such forms of advice or receipt
evidencing the deposit, if any, as may be forwarded to the Custodian by the
Banking Institution.  Such deposits, other than those placed with the
Custodian, shall be deemed portfolio securities of the Fund and the
responsibilities of the Custodian therefor shall be the same as those for
demand deposit bank accounts placed with other banks, as described in Section L
of this Agreement.  The responsibility of the Custodian for such





                                     - 8 -
<PAGE>   12

deposits accepted on the Custodian's books shall be that of a U.S. bank for a
similar deposit.
         N.  Foreign Exchange Transactions and Futures Contracts - Pursuant to
proper instructions, to enter into foreign exchange contracts or options to
purchase and sell foreign currencies for spot and future delivery on behalf and
for the account of the Fund, Such transactions may be undertaken by the
Custodian with such Banking Institutions, including the Custodian and
Subcustodian(s) as principals, as approved and authorized by the Fund.  Foreign
exchange contracts and options other than those executed with the Custodian,
shall be deemed to be portfolio securities of the Fund and the responsibilities
of the Custodian therefor shall be the same as those for demand deposit bank
accounts placed with other banks as described in Section 2-L of this agreement.
Upon receipt of proper instructions, to receive and retain confirmations
evidencing the purchase or sale of a futures contract or an option on a futures
contract by the Fund; to deposit and maintain in a segregated account, for the
benefit of any futures commission merchant or to pay to such futures commission
merchant, assets designated by the fund as initial, maintenance or variation
"margin" deposits intended to secure the Fund's performance of its obligations
under any futures contracts purchased or sold or any options on futures
contracts written by the Fund, in accordance with the provisions of any
agreement or agreements among any of the Fund, the Custodian and such futures




                                     - 9 -
<PAGE>   13

commission merchant, designated to comply with the rules of the Commodity
Futures Trading Commission and/or any contract market, or any similar
organization or organizations, regarding such margin deposits; and to release
and/or transfer assets in such margin accounts only in accordance with any such
agreements or rules.
         O.  Stock Loans - Upon receipt of proper instructions, to deliver
securities of the Fund, in connection with loans of securities by the Fund, to
the borrower thereof prior to receipt of the collateral, if any, for such
borrowing, provided that for stock loans secured by cash collateral the
Custodian's instructions to the Securities System require that the Securities
System may deliver the securities to the borrower thereof only upon receipt of
the collateral for such borrowing.  It is understood that a stock lending
program needs to be approved in advance by the Board of Directors.
         P.  Collections - (i) To collect and receive all income, payments of
principal and other payments with respect to the securities held hereunder, and
in connection therewith to deliver the certificates or other instruments
representing the securities to the issuer thereof or its agent when securities
are called, redeemed, retired, mature or otherwise become payable; provided
that the payment is to be made in such form and at such time as is in
accordance with the terms of the agreement relating to the security, or such
proper instructions as the Custodian may





                                     - 10 -
<PAGE>   14


receive, or governmental regulations, the rules of Securities Systems or other
U.S. securities depositories and clearing agencies, or generally accepted trade
practice in the applicable U.S. market; (ii) to execute ownership and other
certificates and affidavits for all federal and state tax purposes in
connection with receipt of income, principal or other payments with respect to
securities of the Fund or in connection with transfer of securities; and (iii)
pursuant to proper instructions to take such other actions with respect to the
collection or receipt of funds or transfer of securities which involve an
investment decision.
         Q.  Dividends, Distributions and Redemptions - Upon receipt of proper
instructions from the Fund, or upon receipt of instructions from the Fund's
shareholder servicing agent or agent with comparable duties (the "Shareholder
Servicing Agent") (given by such person or persons and in such manner on behalf
of the Shareholder Servicing Agent as the Fund shall have authorized), the
Custodian shall release funds or securities to the Shareholder Servicing Agent
or otherwise apply funds or securities, insofar as available, for the payment
of dividends or other distributions to Fund shareholders.  Upon receipt of
proper instructions from the Fund, or upon receipt of instructions from the
Shareholder Servicing Agent (given by such person or persons and in such manner
on behalf of the Shareholder Servicing Agent as the Fund shall have
authorized), the Custodian shall release





                                     - 11 -
<PAGE>   15

funds or securities, insofar as available, to the Shareholder Servicing Agent
or as such Agent shall otherwise instruct for payment to Fund shareholders who
have delivered to such Agent a request for repurchase or redemption of their
shares of capital stock of the Fund.
         R.  Proxies, Notices, Etc. - Promptly to deliver or mail to the Fund
all forms of proxies and all notices of meetings and any other notices or
announcements affecting or relating to securities owned by the Fund that are
received by the Custodian, and upon receipt of proper instructions, to execute
and deliver or cause its nominee to execute and deliver such proxies or other
authorizations as may be required.  Neither the Custodian nor its nominee shall
vote upon any of such securities or execute any proxy to vote thereon or give
any consent or take any other action with respect thereto (except as otherwise
herein provided) unless ordered to do so by proper instructions.
         S.  Nondiscretionary Details - Without the necessity of express
authorization from the Fund, (1) to attend to all nondiscretionary details in
connection with the sale, exchange, substitution, purchase, transfer or other
dealings with securities, funds or other property of the Portfolio held by the
Custodian except as otherwise directed from time to time by the Directors or
Trustees of the Fund, and (2) to make payments to itself or others for minor
expenses of handling securities or other similar items relating to the
Custodian's duties under this





                                     - 12 -
<PAGE>   16

Agreement, provided that all such payments shall be accounted for to the Fund.
         T.  Bills - Upon receipt of proper instructions, to pay or cause to be
paid, insofar as funds are available for the purpose, bills, statements, or
other obligations of the Fund.
         U. Deposit of Fund Assets in Securities Systems - The Custodian may
deposit and/or maintain securities owned by the Fund in (i) The Depository
Trust Company, (ii) any book-entry system as provided in Subpart O of Treasury
Circular No. 300, 31 CFR 306, Subpart B of 31 CFR Part 350, or the book-entry
regulations of federal agencies substantially in the form of Subpart O, or
(iii) any other domestic clearing agency registered with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
which acts as a securities depository and whose use the Fund has previously
approved in writing (each of the foregoing being referred to in this Agreement
as a "Securities System").   Utilization of a Securities System shall be in
accordance with applicable Federal Reserve Board and Securities and Exchange
Commission rules and regulations, if any, and subject to the following
provisions:
         1) The Custodian may deposit and/or maintain Fund securities, either
directly or through one or more Agents appointed by the Custodian (provided
that any such agent shall be qualified to act as a custodian of the Fund
pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations





                                     - 13 -
<PAGE>   17


thereunder), in a Securities System provided that such securities are
represented in an account ("Account") of the Custodian or such Agent in the
Securities System which shall not include any assets of the Custodian or Agent
other than assets held as a fiduciary, custodian, or otherwise for customers;
         2) The records of the Custodian with respect to securities of the Fund
which are maintained in a Securities System shall identify by book-entry those
securities belonging to the Fund;
         3) The Custodian shall pay for securities purchased for the account of
the Fund upon (i) receipt of advice from the Securities System that such
securities have been transferred to the Account, and (ii) the making of an
entry on the records of the Custodian to reflect such payment and transfer for
the account of the Fund.  The Custodian shall transfer securities sold for the
account of the Fund upon (i) receipt of advice from the Securities System that
payment for such securities has been transferred to the Account, and (ii) the
making of an entry on the records of the Custodian to reflect such transfer and
payment for the account of the Fund.  Copies of all advices from the Securities
System of transfers of securities for the account of the Fund shall identify
the Fund, be maintained for the Fund by the Custodian or an Agent as referred
to above, and be provided to the Fund at its request.  The Custodian shall
furnish the Fund confirmation of each transfer to or from the account of the
Fund in the form of a written advice or notice and shall furnish to





                                    - 14 -
 
<PAGE>   18

the Fund copies of daily transaction sheets reflecting each day's transactions
in the Securities System for the account of the Fund on the next business day;
         4) The Custodian shall provide the Fund with any report obtained by
the Custodian or any Agent as referred to above on the Securities System's
accounting system, internal accounting control and procedures for safeguarding
securities deposited in the Securities System; and the Custodian and such
Agents shall send to the Fund such reports on their own systems of internal
accounting control as the Fund may reasonably request from time to time.
         5) At the written request of the Fund, the Custodian will terminate
the use of any such Securities System on behalf of the Fund as promptly as
practicable.
         V.  Other Transfers - Upon receipt of proper instructions, to deliver
securities, funds and other property of the Fund to a Subcustodian or another
custodian of the Fund; and, upon receipt of proper instructions, to make such
other disposition of securities, funds or other property of the Fund in a
manner other than or for purposes other than as enumerated elsewhere in this
Agreement, provided that the instructions relating to such disposition shall
include a statement of the purpose for which the delivery is to be made, the
amount of securities to be delivered and the name of the person or persons to
whom delivery is to be made.





                                     - 15 -
<PAGE>   19

         W.  Investment Limitations - In performing its duties generally, and
more particularly in connection with the purchase, sale and exchange of
securities made by or for the Fund, the Custodian may assume unless and until
notified in writing to the contrary that proper instructions received by it
are not in conflict with or in any way contrary to any provisions of the Fund's
Declaration of Trust or Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws (or comparable
documents) or votes or proceedings of the shareholders or Directors of the
Fund.  The Custodian shall in no event be liable to the Fund and shall be
indemnified by the Fund for any violation which occurs in the course of
carrying out instructions given by the Fund of any investment limitations to
which the Fund is subject or other limitations with respect to the Fund's
powers to make expenditures, encumber securities, borrow or take similar
actions affecting the Fund.
         X.  Proper Instructions - Proper instructions shall mean a tested
telex or Reuters Instantlink transmission from the Fund or a written request,
direction, instruction or certification signed or initialled on behalf of the
Fund by one or more person or persons as the Board of Trustees or Directors of
the Fund shall have from time to time authorized, provided, however, that no
such instructions directing the delivery of securities or the payment of funds
to an authorized signatory of the Fund shall be signed by such person.  Those
persons authorized to give proper instructions may be identified by the Board
of Trustees or





                                     - 16 -
 
<PAGE>   20

Directors by name, title or position and will include at least one officer
empowered by the Board to name other individuals who are authorized to give
proper instructions on behalf of the Fund. Telephonic or other oral
instructions given by any one of the above persons will be considered proper
instructions if the Custodian reasonably believes them to have been given by a
person authorized to give such instructions with respect to the transaction
involved. Oral instructions will be confirmed by tested telex or in writing in
the manner set forth above but the lack of such confirmation shall in no way
affect any action taken by the Custodian in reliance upon such oral
instructions.  The Fund authorizes the Custodian to tape record any and all
telephonic or other oral instructions given to the Custodian by or on behalf of
the Fund (including any of its officers, Trustees, Directors, employees or
agents) and will deliver to the Custodian a similar authorization from any
investment manager or adviser or person or entity with similar reponsibilities
which is authorized to give proper instructions on behalf of the Fund to the
Custodian.  Proper instructions may relate to specific transactions or to types
or classes of transactions, and may be in the form of standing instructions.
         Proper instructions may include communications effected directly
between electromechanical or electronic devices or systems, in addition to
tested telex, provided that the Fund and the Custodian agree to the use of such
device or system.





                              - 17 -              
<PAGE>   21

         Y.  Segregated Account - The Custodian shall upon receipt of proper
instructions establish and maintain on its books a segregated account or
accounts for and on behalf of the Fund, into which account or accounts may be
transferred cash and/or securities of the Fund, including securities maintained
by the Custodian pursuant to Section 2U hereof, (i) in accordance with the
provisions of any agreement among the Fund, the Custodian and a broker-dealer
registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and a member of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (or any futures commission
merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act) relating to compliance
with the rules of the Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered
national securities exchange (or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission or
any registered contract market), or any similar organization or organizations,
regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the
Fund, (ii) for purposes of segregating cash or securities in connection with
options purchased, sold or written by the Fund or commodity futures contracts
or options thereon purchased or sold by the Fund, (iii) for the purposes of
compliance by the Fund with the procedures required by Investment Company Act
Release No. 10666, or any subsequent release or releases of the Securities and
Exchange Commission relating to the maintenance of segregated accounts by
registered investment companies, and (iv) as mutually agreed from time to time
between the Fund and the Custodian.





                                     - 18 -
<PAGE>   22

         3.  Powers and Duties of the Custodian with Respect to the Appointment
of Subcustodians: The Fund hereby authorizes and instructs the Custodian to
hold securities, funds and other property of the Fund which are maintained
outside the United States at subcustodians appointed pursuant to the provisions
of this Section 3 (a "Subcustodian").   The Fund shall approve in writing (1)
the appointment of each Subcustodian and the subcustodian agreement to be
entered into between such Subcustodian and the Custodian, and (2) if the
Subcustodian is organized under the laws of a country other than the United
States, the country or countries in which the Subcustodian is authorized to
hold securities, cash and other property of the Fund.  The Fund hereby further
authorizes and instructs the Custodian and any Subcustodian to utilize such
securities depositories located outside the United States which are approved in
writing by the Fund to hold securities, cash and other property of the Fund.
Upon such approval by the Fund, the Custodian is authorized on behalf of the
Fund to notify each Subcustodian of its appointment as such.  The Custodian
may, at any time in its discretion, remove any Subcustodian that has been
appointed as such but will promptly notify the Fund of any such action.
         Those Subcustodians, and the countries where and the securities
depositories through which they or the Custodian may hold securities cash and
other property of the Fund which the





                                - 19 -         
<PAGE>   23

Fund has approved to date are set forth on Appendix A hereto. Such Appendix
shall be amended from time to time as Subcustodians, and/or countries and/or
securities depositories are changed, added or deleted.  The Fund shall be
responsible for informing the Custodian sufficiently in advance of a proposed
investment which is to be held in a country not listed on Appendix A, in order
that there shall be sufficient time for the Fund to give the approval required
by the preceding paragraph and for the Custodian to put the appropriate
arrangements in place with such Subcustodian, including negotiation of a
subcustodian agreement and submission of such subcustodian agreement to the
Fund for approval.
         If the Fund shall have invested in a security to be held in a country
before the foregoing procedures have been completed, such security shall be
held by such agent as the Custodian may appoint.  In any event, the Custodian
shall be liable to the Fund for the actions of such agent if and only to the
extent the Custodian shall have recovered from such agent for any damages
caused the Fund by such agent.  At the request of the Fund, Custodian agrees to
remove any securities held on behalf of the Fund by such agent, if practical,
to an approved Subcustodian. Under such circumstances Custodian will collect
income and respond to corporate actions on a best efforts basis.
         With respect to securities and funds held by a Subcustodian, either
directly or indirectly (including by a securities





                                     - 20 -
<PAGE>   24

depository or clearing agency), notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement
to the contrary, payment for securities purchased and delivery of securities
sold may be made prior to receipt of the securities or payment, respectively,
and securities or payment may be received in a form, in accordance with
governmental regulations, rules of securities depositories and clearing
agencies, or generally accepted trade practice in the applicable local market.
         In the event that any Subcustodian appointed pursuant to the
provisions of this Section 3 fails to perform any of its obligations under the
terms and conditions of the applicable subcustodian agreement, the Custodian
shall use its best efforts to cause such Subcustodian to perform such
obligations.  In the event that the Custodian is unable to cause such
Subcustodian to perform fully its obligations thereunder, the Custodian shall
forthwith upon the Fund's request terminate such Subcustodian in accordance
with the termination provisions under the applicable subcustodian agreement
and, if necessary or desirable, appoint another subcustodian in accordance with
the provisions of this Section 3.  At the election of the Fund, it shall have
the right to enforce, to the extent permitted by the subcustodian agreement and
applicable law, the Custodian's rights against any such Subcustodian for loss
or damage caused the Fund by such Subcustodian.
         At the written request of the Fund, the Custodian will





                                - 21 -         
<PAGE>   25


terminate any subcustodian appointed pursuant to the provisions of this Section
3 in accordance with the termination provisions under the applicable
subcustodian agreement.  The Custodian will not amend any subcustodian
agreement or agree to change or permit any changes thereunder except upon
the prior written approval of the Fund.
         The Custodian may, at any time in its discretion upon notification to
the Fund, terminate any Subcustodian of the Fund in accordance with the
termination provisions under the applicable Subcustodian Agreement, and at the
written request of the Fund, the Custodian will terminate any Subcustodian in
accordance with the termination provisions under the applicable Subcustodian
Agreement.
         If necessary or desirable, the Custodian may appoint another
subcustodian to replace a Subcustodian terminated pursuant to the foregoing
provisions of this Section 3, such appointment to be made upon approval of the
successor subcustodian by the Fund's Board of Directors or Trustees in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 3.
         In the event the Custodian receives a claim from a Subcustodian under
the indemnification provisions of any subcustodian agreement, the Custodian
shall promptly give written notice to the Fund of such claim.  No more than
thirty days after written notice to the Fund of the Custodian's intention to
make such payment, the Fund will reimburse the Custodian the amount of





                                     - 22 -
<PAGE>   26

such payment except in respect of any negligence or misconduct of the
Custodian.
         4.  Assistance by the Custodian as to Certain: The Custodian may
assist generally in the preparation of reports to Fund shareholders and others,
audits of accounts, and other ministerial matters of like nature.
         5.  Powers and Duties of the Custodian with Respect to its Role as
Financial Agent: The Fund hereby also appoints the Custodian as the Fund's
financial agent.  With respect to the appointment as financial agent, the
Custodian shall have and perform the following powers and duties:
         A.  Records - To create, maintain and retain such records relating to
its activities and obligations under this Agreement as are required under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations thereunder
(including Section 31 thereof and Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 thereunder) and under
applicable Federal and State tax laws.  All such records will be the property
of the Fund and in the event of termination of this Agreement shall be
delivered to the Fund or any successor custodian as applicable.
         B.  Accounts - To keep books of account and render statements,
including interim monthly and complete quarterly financial statements, or
copies thereof, from time to time as reasonably requested by proper
instructions.
         C.  Access to Records - The books and records maintained by





                                     - 23 -
<PAGE>   27

the Custodian pursuant to Sections 5A and 5B shall at all times during the
Custodian's regular business hours be open to inspection and audit by officers
of, attorneys for and auditors employed by the Fund and by employees and agents
of the Securities and Exchange Commission, provided that all such individuals
shall observe all security requirements of the Custodian applicable to its own
employees having access to similar records within the Custodian and such
regulations as may be reasonably imposed by the Custodian.
         D.  Disbursements - Upon receipt of proper instructions, to pay or
cause to be paid, insofar as funds are available for the purpose, bills,
statements and other obligations of the Fund (including but not limited to
interest charges, taxes, management fees, compensation to Fund officers and
employees, and other operating expenses of the Fund).
         6.  Standard of Care and Related Matters:
         A.  Liability of the Custodian with Respect to Proper Instruction;
Evidence of Authority; Etc.  The Custodian shall not be liable for any action
taken or omitted in reliance upon proper instructions believed by it to be
genuine or upon any other written notice, request, direction, instruction,
certificate or other instrument believed by it to be genuine and signed by the
proper party or parties.
         The Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Fund shall certify to the
Custodian the names, signatures and scope of





                                     - 24 -
<PAGE>   28

authority of all persons authorized to give proper instructions or any other
such notice, request, direction, instruction, certificate or instrument on
behalf of the Fund, the names and signatures of the officers of the Fund, the
name and address of the shareholder Servicing Agent, and any resolutions,
votes, instructions or directions of the Fund's Board of Trustees or Directors
or shareholders. Such certificate may be accepted and relied upon by the
Custodian as conclusive evidence of the facts set forth therein and may be
considered in full force and effect until receipt of a similar certificate to
the contrary.
         So long as and to the extent that it is in the exercise of reasonable
care, the Custodian shall not be responsible for the title, validity or
genuineness of any property or evidence of title thereto received by it or
delivered by it pursuant to this Agreement.
         The Custodian shall be entitled, at the expense of the Fund, to
receive and act upon advice of (i) counsel regularly retained by the Custodian
in respect of custodian matters, (ii) counsel for the Fund, or (iii) such other
counsel as the Fund and the Custodian may agree upon, with respect to all
matters, and the Custodian shall be without liability for any action reasonably
taken or omitted pursuant to such advice.
         B.  Liability of the Custodian with Respect to Use of Securities
System - With respect to the portfolio securities, cash and other property of
the Fund held by a Securities System,

                                     - 25 -
<PAGE>   29

the Custodian shall be liable to the Fund only for any loss or damage to the
Fund resulting from use of the Securities System if caused by any negligence,
misfeasance or misconduct of the Custodian or any of its agents or of any of
its or their employees or from any failure of the Custodian or any such agent
to enforce effectively such rights as it may have against the Securities
System.  At the election of the Fund, it shall be entitled to be subrogated to
the rights of the Custodian with respect to any claim against the Securities
System or any other person which the Custodian may have as a consequence of any
such loss or damage to the Fund if and to the extent that the Fund has not been
made whole for any such loss or damage.
         C.  Liability of the Custodian with respect to Subcustodians  The
Custodian shall be liable to the Fund for any loss or damage to the Fund caused
by or resulting from the acts or omissions of any Subcustodian to the extent
that under the terms set forth in the subcustodian agreement between the
Custodian and the Subcustodian (or in the subcustodian agreement between a
Subcustodian and any secondary Subcustodian), the Subcustodian (or secondary
Subcustodian) has failed to perform in accordance with the standard of conduct
imposed under such subcustodian agreement as determined in accordance with the
law which is adjudicated to govern such agreement.  The Custodian shall also be
liable to the Fund for its own negligence in transmitting any instructions
received by it from the Fund and for its own





                                     - 26 -
<PAGE>   30

negligence in connection with the delivery of any securities or funds held by
it to any Subcustodian.
         D.  Standard of Care; Liability; Indemnification - The Custodian shall
be held only to the exercise of reasonable care and diligence in carrying out
the provisions of this Agreement, provided that the Custodian shall not thereby
be required to take any action which is in contravention of any applicable law.
The Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Custodian and its nominees
from all claims and liabilities (including counsel fees) incurred or assessed
against it or its nominees in connection with the performance of this
Agreement, except such as may arise from its or its nominee's breach of the
relevant standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.  Without limiting the
foregoing indemnification obligation of the Fund, the Fund agrees to indemnify
the Custodian and any nominee in whose name portfolio securities or other
property of the Fund is registered against any liability the Custodian or such
nominee may incur by reason of taxes assessed to the Custodian or such nominee
or other costs, liability or expense incurred by the Custodian or such nominee
resulting directly or indirectly from the fact that portfolio securities or
other property of the Fund is registered in the name of the Custodian or such
nominee.
         It is also understood that the Custodian shall not be liable for any
loss involving any securities, currencies, deposits or other property of the
Fund, whether maintained by it, a





                                 - 27 -        
<PAGE>   31
Subcustodian, a securities depository, an agent of the Custodian or a
Subcustodian, a Securities System, or a Banking Institution, or for any loss
arising from a foreign currency transaction or contract, where the loss results
from a Sovereign Risk or where the entity maintaining such securities,
currencies, deposits or other property of the Fund, whether the Custodian, a
Subcustodian, a securities depository, an agent of the Custodian or a
Subcustodian, a Securities System or a Banking Institution, has exercised
reasonable care maintaining such property or in connection with the transaction
involving such property. A "Sovereign Risk" shall mean nationalization,
expropriation, devaluation, revaluation, confiscation, seizure, cancellation,
destruction or similar action by any governmental authority, de facto or de
jure; or enactment, promulgation, imposition or enforcement by any such
governmental authority of currency restrictions, exchange controls, taxes,
levies or other charges affecting the Fund's property; or acts of war,
terrorism, insurrection or revolution; or any other act or event beyond the
Custodian's control.
         E.  Reimbursement of Advances - The Custodian shall be entitled to
receive reimbursement from the Fund on demand, in the manner provided in
Section 7, for its cash disbursements, expenses and charges (including the fees
and expenses of any Subcustodian or any Agent) in connection with this
Agreement, but excluding salaries and usual overhead expenses.





                                     - 28 -
<PAGE>   32
         F.  Security for Obligations to Custodian - If the Fund shall require
the Custodian to advance cash or securities for any purpose for the benefit of
the Fund, including in connection with foreign exchange contracts or options
(collectively, an "Advance"), or if the Custodian or any nominee thereof shall
incur or be assessed any taxes, charges, expenses, assessments, claims or
liabilities in connection with the performance of this Agreement (collectively
a "Liability"), except such as may arise from its or such nominee's breach of
the relevant standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement, then in such
event any property at any time held for the account of the Fund by the
Custodian or a Subcustodian shall be security for such Advance or Liability and
if the Fund shall fail to repay or indemnify the Custodian promptly, the
Custodian shall be entitled to utilize available cash and to dispose of the
Fund's property, including securities, to the extent necessary to obtain
reimbursement or indemnification.
         G.  Appointment of Agents - The Custodian may at any time or times in
its discretion appoint (and may at any time remove) any other bank or trust
company as its agent (an "Agent") to carry out such of the provisions of this
Agreement as the Custodian may from time to time direct, provided, however,
that the appointment of such Agent (other than an Agent appointed pursuant to
the third paragraph of Section 3) shall not relieve the Custodian of any of its
responsibilities under this Agreement.





                                     - 29 -
<PAGE>   33

         H.  Powers of Attorney - Upon request, the Fund shall deliver to the
Custodian such proxies, powers of attorney or other instruments as may be
reasonable and necessary or desirable in connection with the performance by the
Custodian or any Subcustodian of their respective obligations under this
Agreement or any applicable subcustodian agreement.
         7.  Compensation of the Custodian: The Fund shall pay the Custodian a
custody fee based on such fee schedule as may from time to time be agreed upon
in writing by the Custodian and the Fund. Such fee, together with all amounts
for which the Custodian is to be reimbursed in accordance with Section 6D,
shall be billed to the Fund in such a manner as to permit payment by a direct
cash payment to the Custodian.
         8.  Termination; Successor Custodian: This Agreement shall continue in
full force and effect until terminated by either party by an instrument in
writing delivered or mailed, postage prepaid, to the other party, such
termination to take effect not sooner than one hundred twenty days (120) for
the custodian to terminate the agreement with the Fund and thirty days (30) for
the Fund to terminate the agreement with the Custodian after the date of such
delivery or mailing.  In the event of termination the Custodian shall be
entitled to receive prior to delivery of the securities, funds and other
property held by it all accrued fees and unreimbursed expenses the payment of
which is contemplated by Sections 6D and 7, upon receipt by the Fund of a
statement setting forth such fees and expenses.





                                     - 30 -
<PAGE>   34


         In the event of the appointment of a successor custodian, it is agreed
that the funds and securities owned by the Fund and held by the Custodian or
any Subcustodian shall be delivered to the successor custodian, and the
Custodian agrees to cooperate with the Fund in execution of documents and
performance of other actions necessary or desirable in order to substitute the
successor custodian for the Custodian under this Agreement.
         9.  Amendment: This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding and
agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.  No
provision of this Agreement may be amended or terminated except by a statement
in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of the amendment or
termination is sought.
         In connection with the operation of this Agreement, the Custodian and
the Fund may agree in writing from time to time on such provisions
interpretative of or in addition to the provisions of this Agreement as may in
their joint opinion be consistent with the general tenor of this Agreement.  No
interpretative or additional provisions made as provided in the preceding
sentence shall be deemed to be an amendment of this Agreement.
         The section headings in this Agreement are for the convenience of the
parties and in no way alter, amend, limit or restrict the contractual
obligations of the parties set forth in this Agreement.





                              - 31 -              
<PAGE>   35


         10. Governing Law: This instrument is executed and delivered in The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts and shall be governed by and construed according
to the laws of said Commonwealth.
         11. Notices: Notices and other writings delivered or mailed postage
prepaid to the Fund addressed to the Fund to the Secretary at 100 Heritage
Reserve, Menomonee Falls, WI 53051 or to such other address as the Fund may
have designated to the Custodian in writing, or to the Custodian at 40 Water
Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109, Attention: Manager, Securities Department,
or to such other address as the Custodian may have designated to the Fund in
writing, shall be deemed to have been properly delivered or given hereunder to
the respective addressee.
         12. Binding Effect: This Agreement shall be binding on and shall inure
to the benefit of the Fund and the Custodian and their respective successors
and assigns, provided that neither party hereto may assign this Agreement or
any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of
the other party.
         13. Counterparts: This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original.  This Agreement shall
become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed and delivered
by each of the parties.





                                     - 32 -
<PAGE>   36

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this Agreement to
be executed in its name and behalf on the day and year first above written.

STRONG VARIABLE INSURANCE               BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO.
FUNDS, INC.  on behalf of
STRONG INTERNATIONAL STOCK FUND II


By  _________________________           per pro_____________________________





                                     - 33 -
<PAGE>   37
             BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO. - GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
 STRONG VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.  ON BEHALF OF STRONG INTERNATIONAL STOCK
                                    FUND II
                                   APPENDIX A


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
COUNTRY                               SUBCUSTODIAN                                  DEPOSITORY
- -------                               ------------                                  ----------
<S>                     <C>                                                 <C>
ARGENTINA               CITIBANK N.A., BUENOS AIRES                              Caja de Valores
                            Citibank, N.A., New York Agt. 7/16/81
                            New York Agreement Amendment 8/31/90
                                                                          
AUSTRALIA               NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LTD                              Austraclcar Ltd.
                                National Australia Bank Agt. 5/1/85         Reserve Bank of Australia
                                Agreement Amendment 2/13/92
                                Omnibus Amendment 11/22/93

AUSTRIA                 CREDITANSTALT BANKVEREIN                                     OEKB
                                Creditanstalt Bankverein Agreement 12/18/89
                                Omnibus Amendment 1/17/94

BANGLADESH              STANDARD CHARTERED BANK, DHAKA                               None
                                Standard Chartered Bank Agreement 2/18/92

BELGIUM                 BANQUE BRUXELLES LAMBERT                                     CIK
                                Banque Bruxelles Lambert Agt. 11/15/90      Banque Nationale de Belgique
                                Omnibus Amendment 3/1/94

BOTSWANA                BARCLAYS BANK PLC                                            None
                                Barclays Bank Agreement 10/5/94

BRAZIL                  BANK OF BOSTON, SAO PAULO                                  BOVESPA
                                First National Bank of Boston Agreement 
                                 1/5/88                                              CLC
                                Omnibus Amendment 2/22/94

CANADA                  CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE                           CDS
                                Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce 
                                 Agreement 9/9/88
                                Omnibus Amendment 12/1/93

CHILE                   CITIBANK N.A., SANTIAGO                             Bolso Deposito Centralidado
                            Citibank N.A., New York Agreement 7/16/81            de Valores de Chile
                                New York Agreement Amendment 8/31/90         (to be established in 1994)

CHINA                   STANDARD CHARTERED BANK, SHANGHAI                           SSCCRC
                            Standard Chartered Bank Agreement 2/18/92

</TABLE>


5/30/95                        PAGE 1 OF 6                             RefSVIF
<PAGE>   38

             BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO. - GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
 STRONG VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.  ON BEHALF OF STRONG INTERNATIONAL STOCK
                                    FUND II
                                   APPENDIX A

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
COUNTRY                               SUBCUSTODIAN                               DEPOSITORY
- -------                               ------------                               ----------
<S>                     <C>                                               <C>
CHINA                   STANDARD CHARTERED BANK, SHENZHEN                            SSRC
                                Standard Chartered Bank Agreement 2/18/92

COLOMBIA                CITITRUST COLOMBIA S.A. SOCIEDAD FIDUCIARIA                  None
                            Citibank N.A., New York Agreement 7/16/81
                            New York Agreement Amendment 8/31/90
                            Citibank N.A. Subsidiary Amendment 8/7/92
                            Citibank N.A./Cititrust Colombia 
                            Agreement 12/2/91

CZECH REPUBLIC          CESKOSLOVENSKA OBCHODNI BANKA, A.S.                           SCP
                            Ceskoslovenska Obchodni Banka 
                            Agreement 2/28/92                                 Czech National Bank

DENMARK                 DEN DANSKE BANK                                               VP
                            Den Danske Bank Agreement 1/1/89
                            Omnibus Amendment 12/1/93

FINLAND                 UNION BANK OF FINLAND                                        CSR
                            Union Bank of Finland Agreement 2/27/89                 HMMC
                            Omnibus Amendment 04/06/94

FRANCE                  BANQUE INDOSUEZ                                           SICOVAM
                            Banque Indosuez Agreement 7/19/90                  Banque de France
                            Omnibus Amendment 3/10/94

GERMANY                 BERLINER HANDELS UND FRANKFURTER BANK                    Kassenverein
                            Berliner Handels und Frankfurter 
                            Bank Agt. 6/28/90

GHANA                   BARCLAYS BANK PLC                                           None
                            Barclays Bank Agreement 10/5/94

GREECE                  CITIBANK, N.A., ATHENS                                Apothetirion Titlon A.E.
                            Citibank N.A., New York Agreement 7/16/81
                            New York Agreement Amendment 8/31/90

HONG KONG               CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, HONG KONG                             HKSCC
                            Chase Manhattan Bank, Hong Kong Agreement 6/4/79
                            Chase Manhattan Bank, Hong Kong Amendment 9/17/90
                            Chase Manhattan Bank, Hong Kong Supplement 8/12/92


</TABLE>



5/30/95                           PAGE 2 OF 6                        RefSVIF
<PAGE>   39


             BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO. - GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
 STRONG VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.  ON BEHALF OF STRONG INTERNATIONAL STOCK
                                    FUND II
                                   APPENDIX A

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
COUNTRY                               SUBCUSTODIAN                                   DEPOSITORY
- -------                               ------------                                   ----------
<S>                     <C>                                                    <C>

HUNGARY                 CITIBANK BUDAPEST RT.                                        KELER Ltd.
                            Citibank N.A., New York Agreement 7/16/81
                            New York Agreement Amendment 8/31/90
                            Citibank N.A. Subsidiary Amendment 8/7/92
                            Citibank N.A./Citibank Budapest Agreement 1/24/92

INDIA                   CITIBANK N.A., BOMBAY                                          None
                            Citibank N.A., New York Agreement 7/16/81
                            New York Agreement Amendment 8/31/90
                            Citibank, Bombay Amendment 11/17/93

INDIA                   STANDARD CHARTERED BANK, BOMBAY                                None
                            Standard Chartered Bank Agreement 2/18/92
                            SCB, Bombay Annexure and Side Letter 7/18/94

INDONESIA               CITIBANK N.A., JAKARTA                                         None
                            Citibank N.A., New York Agreement 7/16/81
                            New York Agreement Amendment 8/31/90

IRELAND                 ALLIED IRISH BANKS PLC                                 Gilt Settlement Office
                            Allied Irish Banks Agreement 1/10/89
                            Omnibus Amendment 4/8/94

ISRAEL                  BANK HAPOALIM B.M.                                     TASE Clearinghouse Ltd.
                            Bank Hapoalim Agreement 8/27/92

ITALY                   BANCA COMMERCIALE ITALIANA                                   Monte Titoli
                            Banca Commerciale Italiana Agreement 5/8/89             Banca D'Italia
                            Agreement Amendment 10/8/93
                            Omnibus Amendment 12/14/93

JAPAN                   MITSUI TRUST & BANKING CO. LTD.                                 JASDEC
                            Mitsui Trust & Banking Agreement 3/1/89                 Bank of Japan

JAPAN                   SUMITOMO TRUST & BANKING COMPANY, LTD.                          JASDEC
                            Sumitomo Trust & Banking Agreement 7/17/92              Bank of Japan
                            Omnibus Amendment 1/13/94

KENYA                   BARCLAYS BANK PLC                                                None
                            Barclays Bank Agreement 10/5/94



</TABLE>


5/30/95                            PAGE 3 OF 6                        RefSVIF
<PAGE>   40


             BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO. - GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
 STRONG VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.  ON BEHALF OF STRONG INTERNATIONAL STOCK
                                    FUND II
                                   APPENDIX A

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
COUNTRY                               SUBCUSTODIAN                               DEPOSITORY
- -------                               ------------                               ----------
<S>                     <C>                                                 <C>

KOREA                   CITIBANK N.A., SEOUL                                         KSD
                            Citibank N.A., New York Agreement 7/16/81
                            New York Agreement Amendment 8/31/90
                            Citibank, Seoul Agreement Supplement 3/7/94

MALAYSIA                HONGKONG BANK MALAYSIA BERHAD                                MCD
                            Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corp. Agt. 4/19/91    Bank Negara Malaysia
                            Omnibus Supplement 12/29/93
                            Malaysia Subsidiary Supplement 5/23/94

MEXICO                  CITIBANK MEXICO, S. A.                                     Indeval
                            Citibank N.A., New York Agreement 7/16/81          Banco de Mexico
                            New York Agreement Amendment 8/31/90
                                                                          
MOROCCO                 BANQUE MAROCAINE DU COMMERCE EXTERIEUR                      None
                            BMCE Agreement 7/6/94

NETHERLANDS             ABN-AMRO BANK                                             NECIGEF
                            ABN-AMRO Agreement 12/19/88                    De Nederlandsche Bank

NEW ZEALAND             NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LTD.                          Reserve Bank of
                            National Australia Bank Agreement 5/1/85            New Zealand
                            Agreement Amendment 2/13/92
                            Omnibus Amendment 11/22/93
                            New Zealand Addendum 3/7/89

NORWAY                  CHRISTIANIA BANK                                            VPS
                            Christiania Bank Agreement 3/2/89

PAKISTAN                STANDARD CHARTERED BANK, KARACHI                            None
                            Standard Chartered Bank Agreement 2/18/92

PERU                    CITIBANK N.A., LIMA                                         CAVAL
                            Citibank N.A., New York Agreement 7/16/81
                            New York Agreement Amendment 8/31/90

PHILIPPINES             CITIBANK N.A., MANILA                                       None
                            Citibank N.A., New York Agreement 7/16/81
                            New York Agreement Amendment 8/31/90
                                                                    
</TABLE>

5/30/95                           PAGE 4 OF 6                           RefSVIF
<PAGE>   41


             BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO. - GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
 STRONG VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.  ON BEHALF OF STRONG INTERNATIONAL STOCK
                                    FUND II
                                   APPENDIX A

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
COUNTRY                               SUBCUSTODIAN                               DEPOSITORY
- -------                               ------------                               ----------
<S>                     <C>                                                   <C>

POLAND                  CITIBANK (POLAND) S.A.                                      CKDPW
                            Citibank N.A., New York Agreement 7/16/81
                            New York Agreement Amendment 8/31/90
                            Citibank Subsidiary Amendment 8/7/92
                            Citibank, N.A./Citibank Poland S.A. Agt. 11/6/92

PORTUGAL                BANCO ESPIRITO SANTO E COMERCIAL                          Interbolsa
                        DE LISBOA, S.A.
                            BESCL Agreement 4/26/89
                            Omnibus Amendment 2/23/94

SINGAPORE               HONGKONG & SHANGHAI BANKING CORP.                            CDP
                            Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corp. Agt. 4/19/91
                            Omnibus Supplement 12/29/93

SOUTH AFRICA            FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF SOUTHERN AFRICA                       CD
                            First National Bank of Southern 
                            Africa Agt. 8/7/91
                            FNBSA Depository Amendment Proposed

SPAIN                   BANCO SANTANDER                                              SCLV
                            Banco Santander Agreement 12/14/88                 Banco de Espana

SRI LANKA               HONGKONG & SHANGHAI BANKING CORP.                            CDS
                            Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corp. Agt. 4/19/91
                            Omnibus Supplement 12/29/93

SWAZILAND               BARCLAYS BANK PLC                                            None
                            Barclays Bank Agreement 10/5/94
                            
SWEDEN                  SKANDINAVISKA ENSKILDA BANKEN                                VPC
                            Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken Agreement 2/20/89
                            Omnibus Amendment 12/3/93

SWITZERLAND             UNION BANK OF SWITZERLAND                                    SEGA
                            Union Bank of Switzerland Agreement 12/20/88

TAIWAN                  STANDARD CHARTERED BANK, TAIPEI                              TSCD
                            Standard Chartered Bank Agreement 2/18/92
                                                                         
</TABLE>


5/30/95                             PAGE 5 OF 6                          RefSVIF
<PAGE>   42
             BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO. - GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
 STRONG VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.  ON BEHALF OF STRONG INTERNATIONAL STOCK
                                    FUND II
                                   APPENDIX A

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
COUNTRY                               SUBCUSTODIAN                               DEPOSITORY
- -------                               ------------                               ----------
<S>                     <C>                                                  <C>

THAILAND                HONGKONG & SHANGHAI BANKING CORP.                            SDC
                            Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corp. Agt. 4/19/91
                            Omnibus Amendment 12/29/93

TRANSNATIONAL           BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO.                               Cedel
                                                                                    Euroclear

TURKEY                  CITIBANK N.A., ISTANBUL                                      TVS
                            Citibank N.A., New York Agreement 7/16/81        Central Bank of Turkey
                            New York Agreement Amendment 8/31/90

UNITED KINGDOM          MIDLAND BANK PLC                                             CGO
                            Midland Bank Agreement 8/8/90                            CMO
                            Omnibus Amendment 12/15/93

URUGUAY                 CITIBANK N.A., MONTEVIDEO                                    None
                            Citibank N.A., New York Agreement 7/16/81
                            New York Agreement Amendment 8/31/90

VENEZUELA               CITIBANK N.A., CARACAS                                       None
                            Citibank N.A., New York Agreement 7/16/81
                            New York Agreement Amendment 8/31/90

ZAMBIA                  BARCLAYS BANK PLC                                            None
                            Barclays Bank Agreement 10/5/94

ZIMBABWE                BARCLAYS BANK PLC                                            None
                            Barclays Bank Agreement 10/5/94

</TABLE>


   I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT AT ITS MEETING ON __________________________ THE BOARD
APPROVED THE COUNTRIES, SUBCUSTODIANS, AGREEMENTS, AND CENTRAL DEPOSITORIES
LISTED ON THIS APPENDIX.

____________________________                        __________________________
(SIGNATURE)                                         (DATE)

____________________________
(TITLE)





5/30/95                             PAGE 6 OF 6                         RefSVIF
<PAGE>   43


                    STRONG VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC. -
                       STRONG INTERNATIONAL STOCK FUND II

                          GLOBAL CUSTODY FEE SCHEDULE
                                   JUNE 1995

Payable quarterly on the value of assets:

Domestic
         .0002 on first $100 million
         .0001 on all over $100 million
         Transaction charge:    $15

Euroclear
         .0012 on first $50 million
         .0010 on next $50 million
         .0008 on all over $100 million
         Transaction charge:    $35

Foreign (excluding Euroclear and Emerging Markets)
         .0015 on first $50 million
         .0012 on next $50 million
         .0010 on all over $100 million
         Transaction charge:    $35

Argentina
         .0030 on all assets
         Transaction charge:    $75

Chile
         .0035 on all assets
         Transaction charge:    $85

India
         .0040 on all assets
         Transaction charge:    $150

Indonesia
         .0015 on all assets
         Transaction charge:    $55

Korea
         .0022 on all assets
         Transaction charge:    $50
<PAGE>   44

Philippines
         .0025 on all assets
         Transaction charge:    $65

Poland
         .0060 basis points on all assets
         Transaction charge:    $125

Minimum custody fee:        $25,000

Additional markets will be quoted prior to investment

                                    CREDITS
         The client has the option of paying up to 100 percent of custody fees
and transaction charges with brokerage.

                             OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES
         Out-of-pocket expenses including but not limited to telex, legal,
telephone, postage and direct expenses including but not limited to customized
systems programming, certificate fees, stamp duty, special handling and
registration fees would be additional.

<PAGE>   1

                                                                 EXHIBIT 99.B8.2





                               AGREEMENT BETWEEN


                         BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO.


                                      AND


                             FIRSTAR TRUST COMPANY


                                      AND


                                THE STRONG FUNDS
<PAGE>   2

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                              <C>
1.  Employment of Subcustodian                                                    1

2.  Powers and Duties of the Subcustodian
    with  respect to Property of the Funds
    held  by the Subcustodian                                                     2

    2.1    Safekeeping                                                            2
    2.2    Manner of Holding Securities                                           2
    2.3    Registration                                                           2
    2.4    Purchases                                                              3
    2.5    Exchanges                                                              4
    2.6    Sales of Securities                                                    5
    2.7    Depositary Receipts                                                    6
    2.8    Exercise of Rights;  Tender Offers                                     7
    2.9    Stock Dividends, Rights, Etc.                                          7
    2.10   Options                                                                7
    2.11   Borrowings                                                             8
    2.12   Demand Deposit Bank Accounts                                           9
    2.13   Interest Bearing Call or Time Deposits                                10
    2.14   Futures Contracts                                                     12
    2.15   Foreign Exchange Transactions                                         13
    2.16   Stock Loans                                                           14
    2.17   Collections                                                           14
    2.18   Dividends, Distributions and Redemptions                              16
    2.19   Proxies, Notices, Etc.                                                16
    2.20   Nondiscretionary Details                                              17
    2.21   Bills                                                                 17
    2.22   Deposit of Fund Assets in Securities Systems                          18
    2.23   Other Transfers                                                       20
    2.24   Investment Limitations                                                21
    2.25   Subcustodian Advances                                                 21
    2.26   Restricted Securities                                                 22
    2.27   Proper Instructions                                                   24
    2.28   Segregated Account                                                    26
    2.29   Opinion of Fund's Independent Certified
           Public Accountants                                                    27
    2.30   Reports by Independent Certified Public Accountants                   27
    2.31   Proceeds from Shares Sold                                             27

3.  Powers and Duties of the Subcustodian with
    Respect to the Appointment of Secondary Subcustodians                        28

4.  Assistance by the Subcustodian as to Certain Matters                         33
                                                                                   
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   3


<TABLE>
<S>                                                                             <C>
5.  Powers and Duties of the Subcustodian with
    Respect to its Role as Recordkeeping Agent                                   34

    5.1    Records                                                               34
    5.2    Accounts                                                              34
    5.3    Access to Records                                                     34

6.  Standard of Care and Related Matters                                         35

    6.1    Liability of the Subcustodian with
           Respect to Proper Instructions;
           Evidence of Authority; Etc.                                           35
    6.2    Liability of the Subcustodian with
           Respect to Use of Securities Systems
           and Foreign Depositories                                              36
    6.3    Liability of the Subcustodian with
           respect to Secondary Subcustodians                                    37
    6.4    Standard of Care; Liability;
           Indemnification                                                       38
    6.5    Mitigation by Subcustodian                                            40
    6.6    Expenses of the Custodian and the Funds                               40
    6.7    Liability for Past Records                                            41
    6.8    Reimbursement of Disbursements, Etc.                                  41
    6.9    Notice of Litigation; Right to Prosecute, Etc.                        41
    6.10   Security for Obligations to Subcustodian                              42
    6.11   Appointment of Agents                                                 45
    6.12   Powers of Attorney                                                    45

7.  Compensation of the Subcustodian                                             46

8.  Termination; Successor Custodian/Subcustodian;
    Additional Funds                                                             46

9.  Amendment; Waiver                                                            48

10. Governing Law                                                                48

11. Notices                                                                      48

12. Binding Effect                                                               49

13. Severability                                                                 49

14. Counterparts                                                                 49
                                                                                   
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   4


                              CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT

         AGREEMENT made this 22nd day of  December, 1993, between FIRSTAR TRUST
COMPANY (the "Custodian") and  each  of the Funds listed in Appendix B attached
hereto as said Exhibit may from time to time be revised (collectively, the
"Funds" individually, a "Fund") and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co, (the
"Subcustodian");
         WITNESSETH: That in consideration of the mutual covenants and
agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
         1.   Employment of Subcustodian: The Custodian and the Funds hereby
employ and appoint the Subcustodian as a subcustodian for the term and subject
to the provisions of this Agreement.  The Subcustodian shall not be under any
duty or obligation to require a Fund to deliver to it any securities, funds or
other property owned by the Fund and shall have no responsibility or liability
for or on account of securities, funds or other property not so delivered.  Each
Fund will deposit with the Subcustodian copies of its Declaration of Trust or
Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws (or comparable documents) and all
amendments thereto, and copies of such votes and other proceedings of the
shareholders or Trustees or Directors of the Fund as may be necessary for or
convenient to the Subcustodian in the performance of its duties. The
Subcustodian shall maintain separate accounts and records for each of the Funds.





                                     - 1 -
<PAGE>   5


       2.      Powers and Duties of the Subcustodian with respect to Property
of the Funds held by the Subcustodian: Except for securities, funds and other
property held by any Secondary Subcustodian appointed pursuant to the
provisions of Section 3 hereof or held by any Foreign Depository (as said term
is defined in Section 3) utilized by a Secondary Subcustodian, the Subcustodian
shall have and perform the following powers and duties with respect to
securities, funds and other property of the Funds:
       2.1     Safekeeping - To keep safely the securities, funds and other
property of each Fund that have been delivered to the Subcustodian and, on
behalf of the Custodian and each Fund, from time to time to receive delivery of
securities and other property for safekeeping.
       2.2     Manner of Holding Securities - To hold securities of each Fund
(1) by physical possession of the share certificates or other instruments
representing such securities in registered or bearer form, or (2) in book-entry
form by a Securities System (as said term is defined in Section 2.22) or a
Foreign Depository,
       2.3     Registration - To hold registered securities of each Fund, with
or without any indication of fiduciary capacity, provided that securities are
held in an account of the Subcustodian containing only property of such Fund or
only property held as fiduciary or custodian for customers; provided that the
records of the Subcustodian shall indicate at all times the Funds or other
customers for which such securities and other





                                     - 2 -
<PAGE>   6


property are held in such account and the respective interests therein.
       2.4     Purchases - Upon receipt of proper instructions, as defined in
Section 2.27, insofar as funds are available for the purpose, to pay for and
receive securities purchased for the account of a Fund, payment being made only
upon receipt of the securities (1) by the Subcustodian, or (2) by a clearing
corporation of a national securities exchange of which the Subcustodian is a
member, or (3) by a Securities System or a Foreign Depository.  However, (i) in
the case of repurchase agreements entered into by a Fund, the Subcustodian (as
well as an Agent) may release funds to a Securities System, a Foreign
Depository or a Secondary Subcustodian prior to the receipt of advice from the
Securities System, Foreign Depository or Secondary Subcustodian that the
securities underlying such repurchase agreement have been transferred by
book-entry into the Account (as defined in Section 2.22) of the Subcustodian
(or such Agent) maintained with such Securities System or to the Foreign
Depository or Secondary Subcustodian, so long as such payment instructions to
the Securities System, Foreign Depository or Secondary Subcustodian include a
requirement that delivery is only against payment for securities, (ii) in the
case of foreign exchange contracts, options, time deposits, call account
deposits, currency deposits, and other deposits, contracts or options pursuant
to Sections 2.10, 2.72, 2.13, 2.14 and 2.15, the Subcustodian may make payment
therefor without receiving an





                                     - 3 -
<PAGE>   7


instrument evidencing said deposits, contracts or options so long as such
payment instructions detail specific deposits, contracts or options to be
acquired, and (iii) in the case of securities as to which payment for the
securities and receipt of the instrument evidencing the securities ordinarily
take place in different locations or through separate parties, the Subcustodian
may make payment for such securities prior to delivery thereof only if such
payment is in accordance with the terms of the instrument representing the
security or the generally accepted practice of Institutional Clients (as
hereinafter defined) in the country or countries in which the settlement occurs
or the terms of the instrument representing the security, but in all events
subject to the standard of care set forth in Section 6 hereof. "Institutional
Clients" shall mean major commercial banks, corporations, insurance companies,
or substantially similar institutions, which, as a substantial part of their
business operations, purchase or sell securities and make use of custodial
services.
       2.5     Exchanges - Upon receipt of proper instructions, to exchange
securities held by it for the account of a Fund for other securities in
connection with any reorganization, recapitalization, split-up of shares,
change of par value, conversion or other event relating to the securities or
the issuer of such securities and to deposit any such securities in accordance
with the terms of any reorganization or protective plan.  Without proper
instructions, the Subcustodian may





                                     - 4 -
<PAGE>   8


surrender securities in temporary form for definitive securities, may surrender
securities for transfer into an account as permitted in Section 2.3, and may
surrender securities for a different number of certificates or instruments
representing the same number of shares or same principal amount of
indebtedness, provided the securities to be issued are to be delivered to the
Subcustodian.
       2.6     Sales of Securities - Upon receipt of proper instructions, to
make delivery of securities which have been sold for the account of a Fund, but
only against payment therefor (1) in cash, by a certified check, bank cashier's
check, bank credit, or bank wire transfer, or (2) by credit to the account of
the Subcustodian with a clearing corporation of a national securities exchange
of which the Subcustodian is a member, or (3) by credit to the account of the
Subcustodian or an Agent of the Subcustodian with a Securities System or a
Foreign Depository.  Notwithstanding the foregoing: (i) in the case of delivery
of physical certificates or instruments representing securities, the
Subcustodian may make delivery to the broker buying the securities, against
receipt therefor, for examination in accordance with "street delivery" custom,
provided that the payment therefor is to be made to the Subcustodian (which
payment may be made by a broker's check) or that such securities are to be
returned to the Subcustodian, and (ii) in the case of securities referred to in
clause (iii) of Section 2.4, the Subcustodian may make settlement, including
with respect to the





                                     - 5 -
<PAGE>   9

form of payment, in accordance with the terms of the instrument representing
the security or the generally accepted trade practice of Institutional Clients
in the country or countries in which the settlement occurs, but in all events
subject to the standard of care set forth in Section 6 hereof, provided that
the Subcustodian shall have taken all reasonable steps to ensure prompt
collection of the payment for, or return of, such securities by the broker or
its clearing agent and provided further that the Subcustodian shall not be
responsible for the selection of a broker or clearing agent that fails or is
unable to perform.
       2.7     Depositary Receipts - Upon receipt of proper instructions, to
instruct a Secondary Subcustodian or an Agent to surrender securities to the
depositary used by an issuer of American Depositary Receipts or International
Depositary Receipts (hereinafter collectively referred to as "ADRs") for such
securities against a written receipt therefor adequately describing such
securities and written evidence satisfactory to the Secondary Subcustodians or
Agent that the depositary has acknowledged receipt of instructions to issue
with respect to such securities ADRs in the name of the Subcustodian, or a
nominee of the Subcustodian, for delivery to the Subcustodian in Boston,
Massachusetts, or at such other place as the Subcustodian may from time to time
designate.
       Upon receipt of proper instructions, to surrender ADRs to the issuer
thereof against a written receipt therefor adequately





                                     - 6 -
<PAGE>   10


describing the ADRs surrendered and written evidence satisfactory to the
Subcustodian that the issuer of the ADRs has acknowledged receipt of
instructions to cause its depositary to deliver the securities underlying such
ADRs to a Secondary Subcustodian or an Agent.
       2.8     Exercise of Rights; Tender Offers - Upon timely receipt of
proper instructions, to promptly deliver to the issuer or trustee thereof, or
to the agent of either, warrants, puts, calls, rights or similar securities for
the purpose of being exercised or sold, provided that the new securities and
cash, if any, acquired by such action are to be delivered to the Subcustodian,
and, upon receipt of proper instructions, to promptly deposit securities upon
invitations for tenders of securities, provided that the consideration is to be
paid or delivered or the tendered securities are to be returned to the
Subcustodian.
       2.9     Stock Dividends, Rights, Etc. - To receive and collect all 
stock dividends, rights and other items of like nature; and to deal
with the same pursuant to proper instructions relative thereto.
       2.10    Options - Upon receipt of proper instructions or upon
receipt of instructions given pursuant to any agreement relating to an option
or as otherwise provided in any such agreement to (i) receive and retain, to
the extent provided to the Subcustodian, confirmations or other documents
evidencing the purchase, sale or writing of an option of any type on or in





                                     - 7 -
<PAGE>   11
respect of a security, securities index or similar form of property by a Fund;
(ii) deposit and maintain in a segregated account, either physically or by
book-entry in a Securities System or Foreign Depository or with a broker,
dealer or other entity, securities, funds or other property in connection with
options transactions entered into by a Fund; (iii) transfer securities, funds
or other property to a Securities System, Foreign Depository, broker, dealer or
other entity, as margin (including variation margin) or other security for a
Fund's obligations in respect of any option; and (iv) pay, release and/or
transfer such securities, funds or other property in accordance with a notice
or other communication evidencing the expiration, termination or exercise of or
default under any such option furnished by The Options Clearing Corporation, by
the securities or options exchange on which such option is traded or by such
broker, dealer or other entity as may be responsible for handling such options
transaction or have authority to give such notice or communication.  The
Subcustodian shall not be responsible for the sufficiency of property held in
any segregated account established in compliance with applicable margin
maintenance requirements or the performance of the other terms of any agreement
relating to an option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, options on futures
contracts and options to purchase and sell foreign currencies shall be governed
by Sections 2.14 and 2.15.
       2.11    Borrowings - Upon receipt of proper instructions, to





                                     - 8 -
<PAGE>   12


deliver securities of a Fund to lenders or their agents as collateral for
borrowings effected by the Fund, provided that such borrowed money is payable
by the lender to or upon the Subcustodian's order as Subcustodian for the Fund.
       2.12    Demand Deposit Bank Accounts - To open and operate an account or
accounts in the name of each Fund, subject only to draft or order by the
Custodian or a Fund, and to hold in such account or accounts as a deposit
accepted on the Subcustodian's books cash, including foreign currency, received
for the account of such Fund other than cash held as deposits with Banking
Institutions in accordance with the following paragraph.  The responsibilities
of the Subcustodian for cash, including foreign currency, of a Fund accepted on
the Subcustodian's books as a deposit shall be that of a U. S. bank for a
similar deposit.
       If and when authorized by proper instructions, the Subcustodian may open
and operate an additional account(s) in such other banks or trust companies as
may be designated by the Custodian or a Fund in such instructions (any such
bank or trust company so designated by the Custodian and a Fund being referred
to hereafter as a "Banking Institution"), and may deposit cash, including
foreign currency, of such Fund in such account or accounts, provided that such
account(s) (hereinafter collectively referred to as "demand deposit bank
accounts") shall be in the name of the Subcustodian or a nominee of the
Subcustodian for the account of such Fund or for the account of the
Subcustodian's customers generally and shall be subject only to the





                                     - 9 -
<PAGE>   13
Subcustodian's draft or order; provided that any such demand deposit bank
account shall contain only property held by the Subcustodian as a fiduciary or
custodian for the Fund and/or other customers and that the records of the
Subcustodian shall indicate at all times such Fund and/or other customers for
which such funds are held in such account and the respective interests therein.
Such demand deposit accounts may be opened with Banking Institutions in the
United States and in other countries and may be denominated in either U. S.
Dollars or other currencies as the Custodian or a Fund may determine.  The
records for each such account will be maintained by the Subcustodian but the
deposits in any such account shall not constitute a deposit liability of the
Subcustodian.  All such deposits, including with Secondary Subcustodians, shall
be deemed to be portfolio securities of a Fund and accordingly the
responsibility of the Subcustodian therefor shall be the same as and no greater
than the Subcustodian's responsibility in respect of other portfolio securities
of the Fund.  The authorization by Custodian or a Fund to appoint a Secondary
Subcustodian as such shall also constitute a proper instruction to open a
demand deposit bank account subject to the provisions of this paragraph with
such Secondary Subcustodian.
       2.13    Interest Bearing Call or Time Deposits - To place interest
bearing fixed term and call deposits with such banks and in such amounts as the
Custodian or a Fund may authorize pursuant to proper instructions.  Such
deposits may be placed with the





                                     - 10 -
<PAGE>   14
Subcustodian or with Secondary Subcustodians or other Banking Institutions as
the Custodian or a Fund may determine, in the name of the Subcustodian or a
nominee of the Subcustodian for the account of the Fund or the account of the
Subcustodian's customers generally and subject only to the Subcustodian's draft
or order; provided that any such deposit shall be held in an account containing
only property held by the Subcustodian as a fiduciary or custodian for the Fund
and/or other customers and that the records of the Subcustodian shall indicate
at all times such Fund and/or other customers for which such funds are held in
such account and the respective interests therein. Deposits may be denominated
in U. S. Dollars or other currencies and need not be evidenced by the issuance
or delivery of a certificate to the Subcustodian, provided that the
Subcustodian shall include in its records with respect to the assets of a Fund
appropriate notation as to the amount and currency of each such deposit, the
accepting Banking Institution and other appropriate details, and shall retain
such forms of advice or receipt evidencing the deposit, if any, as may be
forwarded to the Subcustodian by the Banking Institution. Funds, other than
those accepted on the Subcustodian's books as a deposit, but including those
placed with Secondary Subcustodians, shall be deemed portfolio securities of a
Fund and the responsibilities of the Subcustodian therefor shall be the same as
those for demand deposit bank accounts placed with other banks, as described in
the second paragraph of Section 2.12 of this Agreement.  The responsibility





                                     - 11 -
<PAGE>   15
of the Subcustodian for funds accepted on the Subcustodian's books as a deposit
shall be that of a U. S. bank for a similar deposit.
       2.14    Futures Contracts - Upon receipt of proper instructions or upon
receipt of instructions given pursuant to any agreement relating to a futures
contract or an option thereon or as otherwise provided in any such agreement,
to (i) receive and retain, to the extent provided to the Subcustodian,
confirmations or other documents evidencing the purchase or sale of a futures
contract or an option on a futures contract by a Fund; (ii) deposit and
maintain in a segregated account, either physically or by book-entry in a
Securities System or Foreign Depository, for the benefit of any futures
commission merchant, or pay to such futures commission merchant, securities,
cash or other property designated by the Custodian or a Fund as initial,
maintenance or variation "margin" deposits intended to secure the Fund's
performance of its obligations under any futures contract purchased or sold or
any option on a futures contract written, purchased or sold by the Fund, in
accordance with the provisions of any agreement relating thereto or the rules
of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and/or any contract market or any
similar organization on which such contract or option is traded; and (iii) pay,
release and/or transfer securities, cash or other property into or out of such
margin accounts only in accordance with any such agreement or rules. The
Subcustodian shall not be responsible for the sufficiency of property held in
any





                                     - 12 -
<PAGE>   16

segregated account established in compliance with applicable margin maintenance
requirements or the performance of the other terms of any agreement relating to
a futures contract or an option thereon.
       2.15    Foreign Exchange Transactions - Pursuant to proper instructions,
to settle foreign exchange contracts or options to purchase and sell foreign
currencies for spot and future delivery on behalf and for the account of a Fund
with such currency brokers or Banking Institutions, including Secondary
Subcustodians, as the Custodian or the Fund may direct pursuant to proper
instructions.  The Subcustodian shall be responsible for the transmission of
cash and instructions to and from the currency broker or Banking Institution
with which the contract or option is made, the safekeeping of all certificates
and other documents and agreements evidencing or relating to such foreign
exchange transactions as the Subcustodian may receive and the maintenance of
proper records as set forth in Section 5.1. In connection with such
transactions, the Subcustodian is authorized to make free outgoing payments of
cash in the form of U. S. Dollars or foreign currency without receiving
confirmation of a foreign exchange contract or option or confirmation that the
countervalue currency completing the foreign exchange contract has been
delivered or received or that the option has been delivered or received.  Each
Fund accepts full responsibility for its use of third-party foreign exchange
dealers and for execution of said foreign exchange contracts and options and
understands





                                     - 13 -
<PAGE>   17
that the Fund shall be responsible for any and all costs and interest charges 
which may be incurred by the Fund or the Subcustodian as a result of the 
failure or delay of third parties to deliver foreign exchange.
       Alternatively, such transactions may be undertaken by the Subcustodian
as principal, if instructed by a Fund.
          Foreign exchange contracts and options, other than those executed with
the Subcustodian as principal, but including those executed with Secondary
Subcustodians, shall be deemed to be portfolio securities of a Fund and the
responsibility of the Subcustodian therefor shall be the same as and no greater
than the Subcustodian's responsibility in respect of other portfolio securities
of the Fund.  The responsibility of the Subcustodian with respect to foreign
exchange contracts and options executed with the Subcustodian as principal
shall be that of a U. S. bank with respect to a similar contract or option.
       2.16    Stock Loans - Upon receipt of proper instructions, to deliver
securities of a Fund, in connection with loans of securities by the Fund, to
the borrower thereof prior to receipt of the collateral, if any, for such
borrowing, provided that for stock loans secured by cash collateral the
Subcustodian's instructions to any Securities System holding such securities
require that the Securities System may deliver the securities to the borrower
thereof only upon receipt of the collateral for such borrowing.
       2.17    Collections - (i) To collect and receive all income,





                                     - 14 -
<PAGE>   18

payments of principal and other payments with respect to the securities held
hereunder, and in connection therewith to deliver the certificates or other
instruments representing the securities to the issuer thereof or its agent when
securities are called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable; provided,
that the payment is to be made in such form and manner and at such time, which
may be after delivery by the Subcustodian of the instrument representing the
security, as is in accordance with the terms of the instrument representing the
security, or such proper instructions as the Subcustodian may receive, or
governmental regulations, the rules of Securities Systems, Foreign Depositories
or other U.S. or foreign securities depositories and clearing agencies or, with
respect to securities referred to in clause (iii) of Section 2.4, in accordance
with the terms of the instrument representing the security or the generally
accepted practice of Institutional Clients in the country or countries in which
the settlement occurs, but in all events subject to the standard of care set
forth in Section 6 hereof, provided that the Subcustodian shall have taken all
reasonable steps to ensure prompt collection of the payment for, or return of,
such securities by the broker or its clearing agent and provided further that
the Subcustodian shall not be responsible for the selection of a broker or
clearing agent that fails or is unable to perform; (ii) to execute ownership
and other certificates and affidavits for all federal and state tax purposes in
connection with receipt of income, principal or other payments with respect





                                     - 15 -
<PAGE>   19
to securities of a Fund or in connection with transfer of securities; and (iii)
pursuant to proper instructions to take such other actions with respect to
collection or receipt of funds or transfer of securities which involve an
investment decision.
       2.18    Dividends, Distributions and Redemptions - Upon receipt of
proper instructions from the Custodian or a Fund, or upon receipt of
instructions from the Fund's shareholder servicing agent or agent with
comparable duties (the "Shareholder Servicing Agent") (given by such person or
persons and in such manner on behalf of the Shareholder Servicing Agent as the
Custodian or the Fund shall have authorized), the Subcustodian shall release 
securities, funds or other property to the Shareholder Servicing Agent or other
wise apply securities, funds or other property, insofar as available, for the 
payment of dividends or other distributions to Fund shareholders.  Upon receipt
of proper instructions from the Custodian or the Fund, or upon receipt of 
instructions from the Shareholder Servicing Agent (given by such person or 
persons and in such manner on behalf of the Shareholder Servicing Agent as the 
Custodian or the Fund shall have authorized), the Subcustodian shall release 
securities, funds or other property, insofar as available, to the Shareholder 
Servicing Agent or as such Agent shall otherwise instruct for payment to Fund
shareholders who have delivered to such Agent a request for repurchase or
redemption of their shares of the Fund.
       2.19     Proxies, Notices, Etc.  - Promptly to deliver or mail





                                     - 16 -
<PAGE>   20


to the Custodian or a Fund all forms of proxies and all notices of meetings and
any other notices or announcements affecting or relating to securities owned by
the Fund that are received by the Subcustodian, and upon receipt of proper
instructions, to promptly execute and deliver or cause its nominee to promptly
execute and deliver such proxies or other authorizations as may be required.
Neither the Subcustodian nor its nominee shall vote upon any of such securities
or execute any proxy to vote thereon or give any consent or take any other
action with respect thereto (except as otherwise herein provided) unless
ordered to do so by proper instructions.
       2.20    Nondiscretionary Details - Without the necessity of express
authorization from the Custodian or a Fund, (1) to attend to all
nondiscretionary details in connection with the sale, exchange, substitution,
purchase, transfer or other dealings with securities, funds or other property
of the Fund held by the Subcustodian except as otherwise directed from time to
time by the Custodian or the Directors or Trustees of the Fund, and (2)  to
make payments to itself or others for minor expenses of handling securities or
other similar items relating to the Subcustodian's duties under this Agreement,
provided that all such payments shall be accounted for to a Fund.
       2.21    Bills - Upon receipt of proper instructions, to pay or cause to
be paid, insofar as funds are available for the purpose, bills, statements and
other obligations of a Fund  (including but not limited to interest charges,
taxes, management





                                     - 17 -
<PAGE>   21

fees, compensation to Fund officers and employees, and other operating expenses
of a Fund).
       2.22    Deposit of Fund Property in Securities Systems - The
Subcustodian may deposit and/or maintain securities owned by a Fund in (i) The
Depository Trust Company, (ii) the Participants Trust Company, (iii) any
book-entry system as provided in Subpart O of Treasury Circular No. 300, 31 CFR
306, Subpart B of 31 CFR Part 350, or the book-entry regulations of federal
agencies substantially in the form of Subpart O, or (iv) any other domestic
clearing agency registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under
Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 which acts as a securities
depository and whose use the Custodian or the Fund has previously approved in
writing  (each of the foregoing being referred to in this Agreement as a
"Securities System").  Utilization of a Securities System shall be in
accordance with applicable Federal Reserve Board and Securities and Exchange
Commission rules and regulations, if any, and subject to the following
provisions:
       1) The Subcustodian may deposit and/or maintain Fund securities, either
directly or through one or more Agents appointed by the Subcustodian (provided
that any such agent shall be qualified to act as a custodian of a Fund pursuant
to the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations
thereunder), in a Securities System provided that such securities are
represented in an account ("Account") of the Subcustodian or such Agent in the
Securities System which shall not include any





                                     - 18 -
<PAGE>   22


assets of the Subcustodian or Agent other than property held as a fiduciary,
custodian, or otherwise for customers;
       2) The records of the Subcustodian with respect to securities of a Fund
which are maintained in a Securities System shall identify by book-entry those
securities belonging to the Fund;
       3) The Subcustodian shall pay for securities purchased for the account
of a Fund upon (i) receipt of advice from the Securities System that such
securities have been transferred to the Account, and (ii) the making of an
entry on the records of the Subcustodian to reflect such payment and transfer
for the account of the Fund.  The Subcustodian shall transfer securities sold
for the account of a Fund upon (i) receipt of advice from the Securities System
that payment for such securities has been transferred to the Account, and (ii)
the making of an entry on the records of the Subcustodian to reflect such
transfer and payment for the account of the Fund.  Copies of all advices from
the Securities System of transfers of securities for the account of a Fund
shall identify the Fund, be maintained for a Fund by the Subcustodian or an
Agent as referred to above, and be provided to the Custodian or the Fund at its
request.  The Subcustodian shall furnish the Custodian or a Fund confirmation
of each transfer to or from the account of the Fund in the form of a written
advice or notice and shall furnish to the Custodian or the Fund copies of daily
transaction sheets reflecting each day's transactions in the Securities System
for the account of the Custodian or the Fund on the next business day;





                                     - 19 -
<PAGE>   23


       4) The Subcustodian shall provide the Custodian or a Fund with any
report obtained by the Subcustodian or any Agent as referred to above on the
Securities System's accounting system, internal accounting control and
procedures for safeguarding securities deposited in the Securities System; and
the Subcustodian and such Agents shall send to the Custodian or the Fund such
reports on their own systems of internal accounting control as the Custodian or
the Fund may reasonably request from time to time; and
       5) At the written request of the Custodian or the Fund, the Subcustodian
will terminate the use of any such Securities System on behalf of the Fund as
promptly as practicable.

       2.23   Other Transfers - Upon receipt of proper instructions, to deliver
securities, funds and other property of a Fund to a Secondary Subcustodian or
another custodian for the Fund as necessary to effect transactions authorized
by proper instructions and upon receipt of proper instructions, to deliver
securities, funds and other property of a Fund to a Secondary Subcustodian or
another custodian of the Fund; and, upon receipt of proper instructions, to
make such other disposition of securities, funds or other property of a Fund in
a manner other than or for purposes other than as enumerated elsewhere in this
Agreement, provided that the instructions relating to such disposition shall
state the amount of securities to be delivered and the name of the person or
persons to whom delivery is to be made.





                                     - 20 -
<PAGE>   24


       2.24    Investment Limitations - In performing its duties generally, and
more particularly in connection with the purchase, sale and exchange of
securities made by or for a Fund, the Subcustodian may assume unless and until
notified in writing to the contrary that proper instructions received by it are
not in conflict with or in any way contrary to any provisions of the Fund's
Declaration of Trust or Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws (or comparable
documents) or votes or proceedings of the shareholders or Trustees or Directors
of the Fund.  The Subcustodian shall in no event be liable to the Custodian or
any Fund and shall be indemnified by the Custodian and the Fund for any
violation which occurs in the course of carrying out instructions given by the
Custodian or the Fund of any investment limitations to which the Fund is
subject or other limitations with respect to the Fund's powers to make
expenditures, encumber securities, borrow or take similar actions affecting the
Fund.
       2.25    Subcustodian Advances - In the event that the Subcustodian is
directed by proper instructions to make any payment or transfer of funds on
behalf of a Fund for which there would be, at the close of business on the date
of such payment or transfer, insufficient funds held by the Subcustodian on
behalf of the Fund, the Subcustodian may, in its discretion without further
proper instructions, provide an advance ("Advance") to the Fund in an amount
sufficient to allow the completion of the transaction by reason of which such
payment or transfer of funds is to be made.  In addition, in the event the
Subcustodian is





                                     - 21 -
<PAGE>   25


directed by proper instructions to make any payment or transfer of funds on
behalf of a Fund as to which it is subsequently determined that the Fund has
overdrawn its cash account with the Subcustodian as of the close of business on
the date of such payment or transfer, said overdraft shall constitute an
Advance. Any Advance shall be payable by the Fund or the Custodian on demand by
Subcustodian, unless otherwise agreed by the Custodian or the Fund and the
Subcustodian, and shall accrue interest from the date of the Advance to the
date of payment by the Fund or the Custodian at a rate agreed upon in writing
from time to time by the Subcustodian and the Custodian or the Fund.  It is
understood that any transaction in respect of which the Subcustodian shall have
made an Advance, including but not limited to a foreign exchange contract or
transaction in respect of which the Subcustodian is not acting as a principal,
is for the account of and at the risk of a Fund, and not, by reason of such
Advance, deemed to be a transaction undertaken by the Subcustodian for its own
account and risk.  The Subcustodian and each Fund acknowledge that the purpose
of Advances is to finance temporarily the purchase or sale of securities for
prompt delivery in accordance with the settlement terms of such transactions or
to meet emergency expenses not reasonably foreseeable by the Fund.  The
Subcustodian shall promptly notify a Fund of any Advance.  Such notification
shall be sent by facsimile transmission or in such other manner as such Fund
and the Subcustodian may agree.
       2.26    Restricted Securities - In the case of a "restricted





                                     - 22 -
<PAGE>   26
security", the Custodian or the Fund shall have the responsibility to provide
to or obtain for the Subcustodian, the issuer of the security or other
appropriate third party any necessary documentation, including without
limitation, legal opinions or consents, and to take any necessary actions
required in connection with the registration of restricted securities in the
manner provided in Section 2.3 upon acquisition thereof by the Fund or required
in connection with any sale or other disposition thereof by the Fund.  Upon
acquisition and until so registered, the Subcustodian shall use its best
efforts to service such restricted securities (including, without limitation,
the receipt and collection of cash and stock dividends, rights and other items
of like nature); to exercise in a timely manner any right in respect of any
restricted security; and to take any action in a timely manner in respect of
any other type of corporate action relating to a restricted security.  The
Subcustodian shall not have responsibility for the inability of a Fund to sell
or otherwise transfer in a timely manner any restricted security in the absence
of any such documentation or action to be provided, obtained or taken by the
Custodian or the Fund or for the Subcustodian's inability to take in a timely
manner any of the actions referred to in the preceeding sentence provided that
such inability of the Custodian or the Fund to sell or otherwise transfer
restricted securities pursuant to this Section 2.26 or the Subcustodian's
inability to take the aforesaid actions is not caused by the negligence,
misfeasance or





                                     - 23 -
<PAGE>   27

misconduct of the Subcustodian or its nominees.  At such time as the
Subcustodian shall receive any restricted security, regardless of when it shall
be registered as aforesaid, the Custodian or the Fund shall also deliver to the
Subcustodian a term sheet summarizing those rights, restrictions or other
matters of which the Subcustodian should have knowledge, such as exercise
periods, expiration dates and payment dates, in order to assist the
Subcustodian in servicing such securities.  As used herein, the term
"restricted security" shall mean a security which is subject to restrictions on
transfer, whether by reason of contractual restrictions or federal, state or
foreign securities or similar laws, or a security which has special rights or
contractual features which do not apply to publicly-traded shares of, or
comparable interests representing, such security.
       2.27    Proper Instructions - Proper instructions shall mean a tested
telex or a swift message from the Custodian or a Fund or a written request,
direction, instruction or certification signed or initialled on behalf of the
Custodian or the Fund by two or more persons as the Custodian or the Board of
Trustees or Directors of the Fund shall have from time to time authorized,
provided, however, that no such instructions directing the delivery of
securities or the payment of funds to an authorized signatory of the Custodian
or the Fund shall be signed by such person.  Those persons authorized to give
proper instructions may be identified by the Custodian or the Fund's Board of
Trustees or





                                     - 24 -
<PAGE>   28
Directors by name, title or position and will include at least one officer
empowered by the Custodian or the Board to name other individuals who are
authorized to give proper instructions on behalf of the Custodian or the Fund.
Telephonic or other oral instructions or instructions given by facsimile
transmission may be given by any one of the above persons and will be
considered proper instructions if the Subcustodian reasonably believes them to
have been given by a person authorized to give such instructions with respect
to the transaction involved.  Oral instructions will be confirmed by tested
telex or in writing in the manner set forth above but the lack of such
confirmation shall in no way affect any action taken by the Subcustodian in
reasonable reliance upon such oral instructions. The Custodian and each Fund
authorizes the Subcustodian to tape record any and all telephonic or other oral
instructions given to the Subcustodian by or on behalf of the Custodian or the
Fund (including any of their respective officers, Directors, Trustees,
employees or agents or any investment manager or adviser of the Fund or person
or entity with similar reponsibilities which is authorized to give proper
instructions on behalf of the Custodian or the Fund to the Subcustodian).
Proper instructions may relate to specific transactions or to types or classes
of transactions, and may be in the form of standing instructions.
       Proper instructions may include communications effected directly between
electromechanical or electronic devices or systems, in addition to tested
telex, provided that the Custodian





                                     - 25 -
<PAGE>   29

or the Fund and the Subcustodian agree to the use of such device or system.
       2.28    Segregated Account - The Subcustodian shall upon receipt of
proper instructions establish and maintain on its books a segregated account or
accounts for and on behalf of each Fund, into which account or accounts may be
transferred cash and/or securities of the Fund, including securities maintained
by the Subcustodian pursuant to Section 2.22 hereof, (i) in accordance with the
provisions of any agreement among the Fund, the Subcustodian and/or Custodian
and a broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and a
member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (or any futures
commission merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act) relating to
compliance with the rules of the Options Clearing Corporation and of any
registered national securities exchange (or the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission or any registered contract market), or any similar organization or
organizations, regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with
transactions by the Fund, (ii) for purposes of segregating cash or securities
in connection with options purchased, sold or written by the Fund or commodity
futures contracts or options thereon purchased or sold by the Fund, (iii) for
the purposes of compliance by the Fund with the procedures required by
Investment Company Act Release No. 10666, or any subsequent release or releases
of the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the maintenance of
segregated accounts by registered investment





                                     - 26 -
<PAGE>   30

companies, or (iv) as mutually agreed from time to time between the Custodian
or the Fund and the Subcustodian.
       2.29    Opinion of Fund's Independent Certified Public Accountants - The
Subcustodian shall take all reasonable action as a Fund may request to obtain
from year to year favorable opinions from the Fund's independent certified
public accountants with respect to the Subcustodian's activities hereunder in
connection with the preparation of the Fund's Securities and Exchange
Commission registration statement and all amendments thereto and the Fund's
Form N-SAR or other periodic reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission
and with respect to any other requirements of the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
       2.30    Reports by Independent Certified Public Accountants - At the
request of a Fund, the Subcustodian shall deliver to the Fund a written report
prepared by the Subcustodian's independent certified public accountants with
respect to the services provided by the Subcustodian under this Agreement,
including, without limitation, the Subcustodian's accounting system, internal
accounting control and procedures for safeguarding cash, securities and other
property, including cash, securities and other property deposited and/or
maintained in a Securities System or with a Secondary Subcustodian.  Such
report shall be sufficient scope and in sufficient detail as may reasonably be
required by a Fund and as may reasonably be obtained by the Subcustodian.
       2.31    Proceeds from Shares Sold - The Subcustodian shall





                                     - 27 -
<PAGE>   31


receive funds representing cash payments received for Fund shares issued or
sold from time to time by a Fund, and shall promptly credit such funds to the
account of the applicable Fund.  The Subcustodian shall promptly notify such
Fund of the Subcustodian's receipt of cash in payment for shares issued by the
Fund by facsimile transmission or in such other manner as the Fund and
Subcustodian may agree in writing.  Upon receipt of proper instructions, the
Subcustodian shall: (a) deliver all federal funds received by the Subcustodian
in payment for Fund shares in payment for such investments and at the time
agreed upon by the Subcustodian and the relevant Fund; and (b) make federal
funds available to such Fund as of specified times agreed upon from time to
time by the Fund and the Subcustodian, in the amount of checks received in
payment for Fund shares that are deposited in the account of the Fund.
       3.      Powers and Duties of the Subcustodian with Respect to the
Appointment of Secondary Subcustodians: With regard to the selection of a
Secondary Subcustodian or Foreign Depository pursuant to this Section 3, the
Subcustodian may, at any time and from time to time; appoint, subject to
approval of the relevant Fund or Funds: (i) any bank, trust company or other
entity meeting the requirements of an "eligible foreign custodian" under
Section 17(f) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and
regulations thereunder or by order of the Securities and Exchange Commission
exempted therefrom, or (ii) any bank as defined in Section 2(a)(5) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940





                                     - 28 -
<PAGE>   32


meeting the requirements of a custodian under Section 17(f) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations thereunder.  The Custodian
and each Fund hereby authorize and instruct the Subcustodian to hold
securities, funds and other property of the Fund which are maintained outside
the United States at subcustodians appointed pursuant to the provisions of this
Section 3 (a "Secondary Subcustodian").  The Custodian and each Fund shall
approve in writing (1) the appointment of each Secondary Subcustodian and the
subcustodian agreement to be entered into between such Secondary Subcustodian
and the Subcustodian, and (2) if the Secondary Subcustodians is organized under
the laws of a country other than the United States, the country or countries in
which the Secondary Subcustodians is authorized to hold securities, funds and
other property of the Fund.  The Custodian and each Fund hereby further
authorize and instruct the Subcustodian and any Secondary Subcustodian to
utilize such securities depositories located outside the United States which
are approved in writing by the Custodian and the Fund to hold securities, funds
and other property of the Fund (a "Foreign Depository").  Upon such approval by
the Custodian and the Fund, the Subcustodian is authorized on behalf of the
Custodian and the Fund to notify each Secondary Subcustodian of its appointment
as such.
       Those Secondary Subcustodians, and the countries where and the Foreign
Depositories through which they or the Subcustodian may hold securities, funds
and other property of a Fund which the





                                     - 29 -
<PAGE>   33

Custodian and each Fund has approved to date are set forth on Appendix A
hereto. The Custodian shall monitor the performance and financial condition of
the Subcustodians, Secondary Subcustodians and Foreign Depositories to the
extent practicable and shall promptly report to each Fund any material adverse
facts of which it becomes aware.  Upon request of a Fund, the Custodian shall
deliver to the Fund a certificate stating: (i) the identity of each
Subcustodian or Secondary Subcustodian then acting on behalf of the Custodian,
as identified in Appendix A and as such Appendix may be amended from time to
time; (ii) the countries in which and the securities depositories and clearing
agents through which each such Subcustodian or Secondary Subcustodian is then
holding securities, funds and other property of the Fund; and (iii) such other
information as may be requested by the Fund and as the Custodian shall be
reasonably able to obtain to evidence compliance with Rule 17f-5 under the
Investment Company Act of 1940.  Upon approval by a Fund in accordance with
this Section 3, Appendix A shall be amended from time to time as Secondary
Subcustodians, and/or countries and/or Foreign Depositories are changed, added
or deleted.  The Custodian or the Fund shall be responsible for informing the
Subcustodian sufficiently in advance of a proposed investment which is to be
held in a country not listed on Appendix A, in order that there shall be
sufficient time for the Custodian and the Fund to give the approval required by
the preceding paragraph and for the Subcustodian to put the appropriate
arrangements in





                                     - 30 -
<PAGE>   34

place with such Secondary Subcustodian, including negotiation of a subcustodian
agreement and submission of such subcustodian agreement to the Custodian and
the Fund for approval.
       If a Fund shall have invested in a security to be held in a country
before the foregoing procedures have been completed, such security shall be
held by such agent as the Subcustodian may appoint.  In any event, the
Subcustodian shall be liable to the Custodian and the Fund for the actions of
such agent if and only to the extent the Subcustodian shall have recovered from
such agent for any damages caused the Custodian and/or the Fund by such agent.
At the request of the Custodian or a Fund, the Subcustodian agrees to remove
any securities held on behalf of the Fund by such agent, if practical, to an
approved Secondary Subcustodian.  Under such circumstances the Subcustodian
will collect income and respond to corporate actions on a best efforts basis.
       With respect to securities and funds held by a Secondary Subcustodian,
either directly or indirectly (including by a Foreign Depository or foreign
clearing agency) or by a Foreign Depository or foreign clearing agency utilized
by the Subcustodian, notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the
contrary, payment for securities purchased and delivery of securities sold may
be made prior to receipt of the securities or payment, respectively, and
securities or payment may be received in a form, in accordance with
governmental regulations, rules of Foreign Depositories and foreign clearing
agencies, or generally accepted trade practice in the applicable local market.





                                     - 31 -
<PAGE>   35

In the event that any Secondary Subcustodian appointed pursuant to the
provisions of this Section 3 fails to perform any of its obligations under the
terms and conditions of the applicable subcustodian agreement, the Subcustodian
shall use its best efforts to cause such Secondary Subcustodian to perform such
obligations.  In the event that the Subcustodian is unable to cause such
Secondary Subcustodian to perform fully its obligations thereunder, the
Subcustodian shall forthwith upon the Custodian or a Fund's request terminate
such Secondary Subcustodian as a Secondary Subcustodian for such Fund in
accordance with the termination provisions under the applicable subcustodian
agreement and, if necessary or desirable, appoint another subcustodian in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 3.  At the election of the
Custodian or a Fund, it shall have the right to enforce, to the extent
permitted by the subcustodian agreement and applicable law, the Subcustodian's
rights against any such Secondary Subcustodian for loss, damage or expense
caused the Custodian or the Fund by such Secondary Subcustodian.  The
Subcustodian agrees to cooperate with the Fund and or the Custodian, as the
case may be, and take all actions reasonably requested by the Fund or the
Custodian, at the Fund's expense, in connection with the enforcement of any
rights of the Subcustodian by the Fund or the Custodian.
       The Subcustodian will not amend any subcustodian agreement or agree to
change or permit any changes thereunder in respect of a Fund except upon the
prior written approval of the Custodian and the Fund.





                                     - 32 -
<PAGE>   36


       The Subcustodian may, at any time in its discretion upon notification to
the Custodian and a Fund, terminate any Secondary Subcustodian of the Fund in
accordance with the termination provisions under the applicable secondary
subcustodian agreement,  and at the written request of the Custodian or a Fund,
the Subcustodian will terminate any Secondary Subcustodian in respect of the
Fund in accordance with the termination provisions under the applicable
secondary subcustodian agreement.
       If necessary or desirable, the Subcustodian may appoint another
subcustodian in respect of a Fund to replace a Secondary Subcustodian
terminated pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3, such
appointment to be made upon approval of the successor subcustodian by the
Custodian and the Fund's Board of Directors or Trustees in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 3.
       In the event the Subcustodian receives a claim from a Secondary
Subcustodian under the indemnification provisions of any subcustodian agreement
in respect of a Fund, the Subcustodian shall promptly give written notice to
the Custodian and the Fund of such claim.  No more than thirty days after
written notice to the Custodian and the Fund of the Subcustodian's intention to
make such payment, the Custodian or the Fund will reimburse the Subcustodian
the amount of such payment except in respect of any negligence or misconduct of
the Subcustodian.
       4.      Assistance by the Subcustodian as to Certain Matters: The
Subcustodian may assist generally in the preparation of





                                     - 33 -
<PAGE>   37


reports to Fund shareholders and others, audits of accounts, and other
ministerial matters of like nature.
       5.      Powers and Duties of the Subcustodian with Respect to its Role
as Recordkeeping Agent: The Subcustodian shall have and perform the following
powers and duties with respect to recordkeeping:
       5.1     Records - To create, maintain and retain such records relating
to its activities and obligations under this Agreement as are required under
the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations thereunder
(including Section 31 thereof and Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 thereunder) and under
applicable Federal and State tax laws.  All such records will be the property
of the relevant Fund and in the event of termination of this Agreement shall be
delivered to the Fund or successor custodian.
       5.2     Accounts - To keep books of account and render statements,
including interim monthly and complete quarterly financial statements, or
copies thereof, from time to time as reasonably requested by proper
instructions.
       5.3     Access to Records - The books and records maintained by the
Subcustodian pursuant to Sections 5.1 and 5.2 shall at all times during the
Subcustodian's regular business hours be open to inspection and audit by
officers of, attorneys for and auditors employed by the Custodian or a Fund and
by employees and agents of the Securities and Exchange Commission, provided
that all such individuals shall observe all security requirements of the





                                     - 34 -
<PAGE>   38


Subcustodian applicable to its own employees having access to similar records
within the Subcustodian and such regulations as may be reasonably imposed by
the Subcustodian.
       6.      Standard of Care and Related Matters:
       6.1     Liability of the Subcustodian with Respect to Proper
Instructions; Evidence of Authority, Etc. The Subcustodian shall not be liable
for any action taken or omitted in reliance upon proper instructions reasonably
believed by it to be genuine or upon any other written notice, request,
direction, instruction, certificate or other instrument believed by it to be
genuine and signed by the proper party or parties.
       The Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Custodian and of each Fund
shall certify to the Subcustodian the names, signatures and scope of authority
of all persons authorized to give proper instructions or any other such notice,
request, direction, instruction, certificate or instrument on behalf of the
Custodian or the Fund, respectively, the names and signatures of the officers
of the Custodian or the Fund, respectively, the name and address of the
Shareholder Servicing Agent, and any resolutions, votes, instructions or
directions of the Custodian or the Fund's respective Board of Directors or
Trustees or shareholders. Such certificate may be accepted and relied upon by
the Subcustodian as conclusive evidence of the facts set forth therein and may
be considered in full force and effect until receipt of a similar certificate
to the contrary.
       So long as and to the extent that it is in the exercise of





                                     - 35 -
<PAGE>   39


reasonable care, the Subcustodian shall not be responsible for the title,
validity or genuineness of any property or evidence of title thereto received
by it or delivered by it pursuant to this Agreement.
       The Subcustodian shall be entitled, at the expense of a Fund, to receive
and act upon advice of (i) counsel regularly retained by the Subcustodian in
respect of custodian matters, (ii) counsel for the Custodian or the Fund, or
(iii) such other counsel as the Custodian or the Fund and the Subcustodian may
agree upon, with respect to all matters, and the Subcustodian shall be without
liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to such advice.
       6.2     Liability of the Subcustodian with Respect to Use of Securities
Systems and Foreign Depositories - With respect to the portfolio securities,
funds and other property of a Fund held by a Securities System or by a Foreign
Depository utilized by the Subcustodian or any Secondary Subcustodian, the
Subcustodian shall be liable to the Custodian or a Fund only for any loss,
damage or expense to the Custodian or the Fund resulting from use of the
Securities System or Foreign Depository if caused by any negligence,
misfeasance or misconduct of the Subcustodian or any of its Agents (as said
term is defined in Section 6.6) or of any of its or its Agents' employees or
from any failure of the Subcustodian or any such Agent to enforce effectively
such rights as it may have against the Securities System or Foreign Depository.
At the election of the Custodian or a Fund, it shall





                                     - 36 -
<PAGE>   40

be entitled to be subrogated to the rights of the Subcustodian with respect to
any claim against the Securities System, Foreign Depository or any other person
which the Subcustodian may have as a consequence of any such loss, damage or
expense to the Custodian or the Fund if and to the extent that the Custodian or
the Fund has not been made whole for any such loss, damage or expense.  The
Subcustodian agrees to cooperate with the Fund or the Custodian, as the case
may be, and take all actions reasonably requested by the Fund or the Custodian,
at the Fund's expense, in connection with the enforcement of any rights of the
Subcustodian by the Fund or the Custodian.
       6.3     Liability of the Subcustodian with respect to Secondary
Subcustodians - The Subcustodian shall be liable to a Fund for the actions or
omissions of any Secondary Subcustodian to the same extent as if such actions
or omissions were performed by the Subcustodian itself in the country in which
the Secondary Subcustodian is operating under the terms of the secondary
subcustodian agreement; provided, however, that if there has been a final
adjudication of any term or provision thereof or of the governing law of such
agreement by a court of competent jurisdication, then such determination shall
govern the determination of the Subcustodian's liability under this Section
6.3.  In the event of any loss, damage or expense suffered or incurred by a
Fund caused by or resulting from the actions or omissions of any Secondary
Subcustodian for which the Subcustodian would be liable pursuant to this
Section 6.3, the





                                     - 37 -
<PAGE>   41

Subcustodian shall promptly reimburse the Fund in the amount of any such loss,
damage or expense.
       The Subcustodian shall also be liable to a Fund for the Subcustodian's
own negligence in transmitting any instructions received by it from a Fund and
for the Subcustodian's own negligence in connection with the delivery of any
securities, funds or other property held by it to any Secondary Subcustodian.
       6.4     Standard of Care; Liability; Indemnification - The Subcustodian
shall be held to the exercise of reasonable care and diligence in carrying out
the provisions of this Agreement, and shall be liable to the Custodian and the
relevant Fund for all loss, damage and expense suffered or incurred by the
Custodian or the Fund resulting from the failure of the Subcustodian to
exercise such reasonable care and diligence; provided that the Subcustodian
shall not thereby be required to take any action which is in contravention of
any applicable law, rule or regulation or any order or judgment of any court of
competent jurisdiction.
       The Custodian and each Fund agree to indemnify and hold harmless the
Subcustodian and its nominees from all claims and liabilities (including
counsel fees) incurred or assessed against it or its nominees in connection
with the performance of this Agreement, except such as may arise from the
Subcustodian or its nominee's breach of the relevant standard of conduct set
forth in this Agreement. Notwithstanding the above, no Fund shall be liable to
indemnify the Subcustodian for any claims and liabilities other than those
arising from services provided to that particular Fund.  Without limiting the





                                     - 38 -
<PAGE>   42


foregoing indemnification obligation of the Custodian and each Fund, the
Custodian and each relevant Fund agree to indemnify the Subcustodian and any
nominee in whose name portfolio securities or other property of the Fund is
registered against any liability the Subcustodian or such nominee may incur by
reason of taxes assessed to the Subcustodian or such nominee or other costs,
liability or expense incurred by the Subcustodian or such nominee resulting
directly or indirectly from the fact that portfolio securities or other
property of the Fund is registered in the name of the Subcustodian or such
nominee.
       In no event shall the Subcustodian incur liability under this Agreement
if the Subcustodian or any Secondary Subcustodian, Securities System, Foreign
Depository, Banking Institution or any agent or entity utilized by any of them
(each individually, a "Person") is prevented, forbidden or delayed from
performing, or omits to perform, any act or thing which this Ageement provides
shall be performed or omitted to be performed, by reason of (i) any Sovereign
Risk or (ii) any provision of any present or future law or regulation or order
of the United States of America or any state thereof, or of any foreign country
or political subdivision thereof, or of any securities depository or clearing
agency which operates a central system for handling of securities or equivalent
book-entries in a country or which operates a transnational system for the
central handling of securities or equivalent book-entries, or (iii) any
provision of any order or judgment of any court of competent jurisdiction.  A
"Sovereign Risk" shall mean nationalization, expropriation, devaluation,
revaluation,





                                     - 39 -
<PAGE>   43

confiscation, seizure, cancellation, destruction or similar action by any
governmental authority, de facto or de jure; or enactment, promulgation,
imposition or enforcement by any such governmental authority of currency
restrictions, exchange controls, taxes, levies or other charges affecting a
Fund's property; or acts of war, terrorism, insurrection or revolution; or any
other act or event beyond the Subcustodian's control.
       6.5     Mitigation by Subcustodian - Upon the occurence of any event
that causes or may cause loss, damage or expense to the Custodian or a Fund,
(i) the Subcustodian or a Secondary Subcustodian shall and (ii) the
Subcustodian or a Secondary Subcustodian shall cause any applicable
Subcustodian or Secondary Subcustodian to use all commercially reasonable
efforts and take all reasonable steps under the circumstances to mitigate the
effects of such event and to avoid continuing harm to the Custodian or the
Fund.
       6.6     Expenses of the Custodian and the Funds - In addition to the
liability of the Subcustodian or a Secondary Subcustodian under this Section 6,
the Subcustodian or a Secondary Subcustodian shall be liable to the Custodian
or the relevant Fund for all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the
Custodian or the Fund in connection with any claim by the Custodian or the Fund
against the Subcustodian or a Secondary Subcustodian arising from the
obligations of the Subcustodian or Secondary Subcustodian hereunder including,
without limitation,





                                     - 40 -
<PAGE>   44


all reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses incurred by the Custodian or the
Fund in asserting any such claim, and all expenses incurred by the Fund in
connection with any investigations, lawsuits or proceedings relating to such
claims; provided, that the Custodian or relevant Fund has recovered from the
Subcustodian or a Secondary Subcustodian for such claim.
       6.7     Liability for Past Records - The Subcustodian shall have no
liability in respect of any loss, damage or expense suffered by a Fund, insofar
as such loss, damage or expense arises from the performance of the
Subcustodian's duties hereunder by reason of the Subcustodian's reasonable
reliance upon records that were maintained for the Fund by entities other than
the Subcustodian prior to the Subcustodian's employment hereunder.
       6.8     Reimbursement of Disbursements, Etc. - The Subcustodian shall be
entitled to receive reimbursement from the Custodian or the relevant Fund on
demand, in the manner provided in Section 7, for its cash disbursements,
expenses and charges (including the fees and expenses of any Secondary
Subcustodian or any Agent) in connection with this Agreement, but excluding
salaries and usual overhead expenses.
       6.9     Notice of Litigation; Right to Prosecute, Etc. - Neither the
Custodian nor the Fund shall be liable for indemnification under Section 6 of
this Agreement unless a Person shall have promptly notified the Custodian or
the relevant Fund in writing of the commencement of any litigation or
proceeding





                                     - 41 -
<PAGE>   45

brought against such Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought under
Section 6.  With respect to claims in such litigation or proceedings for which
indemnity by the Custodian or a Fund may be sought and subject to applicable
law and the ruling of any court of competent jurisdiction, the Custodian and
the Fund shall be entitled to participate in any such litigation or proceeding
and, after written notice from the Custodian or the Fund to any Person, the
Custodian or the relevant Fund may assume the defense of such litigation or
proceeding with counsel of its choice at its own expense in respect of that
portion of the litigation for which the Custodian or the Fund may be subject to
an indemnification obligation; provided, however, a Person shall be entitled to
participate in (but not control), at its own expense, the defense of any such
litigation or proceeding if the Custodian or the Fund has not acknowledged in
writing its obligation to indemnify the Person with respect to such litigation
or proceeding.  If the Custodian or the Fund is not permitted to participate in
or control such litigation or proceeding under applicable law or by a ruling of
a court of competent jurisdiction, such Person shall reasonably prosecute such
litigation or proceeding.
       6.10    Security for Obligations to Subcustodian - If the Subcustodian
or any nominee thereof shall incur or be assessed any taxes, charges, expenses,
assessments, claims or liabilities in connection with the performance of this
Agreement (collectively a "Liability"), except such as may arise from its





                                     - 42 -
<PAGE>   46


or such nominee's breach of the relevant standard of conduct set forth in this
Agreement, or if the Subcustodian shall make any Advance to a Fund, then in
such event property equal in value to not more than 125% of such Advance and
accrued interest on the Advance or the anticipated amount of such Liability,
held at any time for the account of the Fund by the Subcustodian or a Secondary
Subcustodian may be held as security for such Liability or for such Advance and
accrued interest on the Advance.  The Subcustodian shall designate the security
or securities constituting security for an Advance or Liability (the
"Designated Securities") by notice in writing to the Fund (which may be sent by
telefax or telex).  In the event the value of the Designated Securities shall
decline to less than 110% of the amount of such Advance and accrued interest on
the Advance or the anticipated amount of such Liability, then the Subcustodian
may designate in the same manner an additional security for such obligation but
the aggregate value of the Designated Securities and Additional Securities
shall not be in excess of 125% of the amount of such Advance and the accrued
interest on the Advance or the anticipated amount of such Liability.  At the
request of the Fund, the Subcustodian shall agree to substitution of a security
or securities which have a value equal to the value of the Designated or
Additional Securities which the Fund desires be released from their status as
security, and such release from status as security shall be effective upon the
Subcustodian and the Fund agreeing in writing as to the identity of the





                                     - 43 -
<PAGE>   47


substituted security or securities, which shall thereupon become Designated
Securities.
       Notwithstanding the above, the Subcustodian shall, at the request of a
Fund, immediately release from their status as security any or all of the
Designated Securities or Additional Securities upon the Subcustodian's receipt
from such Fund cash or cash equivalents in an amount equal to 100% of the value
of the Designated Securities or Additional Securities that the Fund desires to
be released from their status as security pursuant to this Section.  The Fund
shall reimburse or indemnify the Subcustodian and shall pay any Advances upon
demand; provided, however, that the Subcustodian first notified the Custodian
or the Fund of such demand for repayment, reimbursement or indemnification.
If, upon notification, the Custodian or the Fund shall fail to pay such Advance
or interest when due or shall fail to reimburse or indemnify the Subcustodian
promptly in respect of a Liability, the Subcustodian shall be entitled to
dispose of the Designated Securities and Additional Securities to the extent
necessary to obtain repayment, reimbursement or indemnification.  Interest,
dividends and other distributions paid or received on the Designated Securities
and Additional Securities, other than payments of principal or payments upon
retirement, redemption or repurchase, shall remain the property of the Fund,
and shall not be subject to this Section 6.10. To the extent that the
disposition of a Fund's property, designated as security for such Advance or
Liability, results in an amount





                                     - 44 -
<PAGE>   48


less than necessary to obtain repayment, reimbursement or indemnification, the
Fund shall continue to be liable to the Subcustodian for the difference between
the proceeds of the disposition of the Fund's property, designated as security
for such Advance or Liability, and the amount of the repayment, reimbursement
or indemnification due to the Subcustodian.
       6.11    Appointment of Agents - The Subcustodian may at any time or
times in its discretion appoint (and may at any time remove) any other bank or
trust company as its agent (an "Agent") to carry out such of the provisions of
this Agreement as the Subcustodian may from time to time direct, provided,
however, that the appointment of such Agent (other than an Agent appointed
pursuant to the third paragraph of Section 3) shall not relieve the
Subcustodian of any of its responsibilities under this Agreement.
       In the event of any loss, damage, or expense suffered or incurred by the
Custodian or a Fund caused by or resulting from the actions or omissions of any
Agent for which the Subcustodian would otherwise be liable, the Subcustodian
shall promptly reimburse the Custodian or the Fund, as the case may be, in the
amount of any such loss, damage or expense.
       6.12    Powers of Attorney - Upon request, the Custodian or a Fund shall
deliver to the Subcustodian such proxies, powers of attorney or other
instruments as may be reasonable and necessary or desirable in connection with
the performance by the Subcustodian or any Secondary Subcustodian of their
respective





                                     - 45 -
<PAGE>   49
obligations under this Agreement or any applicable subcustodian agreement.
       7.      Compensation of the Subcustodian: The Custodian or such Fund
shall pay the Subcustodian a custody fee based on such fee schedule as may from
time to time be agreed upon in writing by the Subcustodian, the Custodian and
each Fund.  Such fee,  together with all amounts for which the Subcustodian is
to be reimbursed in accordance with Section 6.4, shall be billed to the
Custodian or the Fund and be paid in cash to the Subcustodian.
       8.      Termination; Successor Custodian/Subcustodian; Additional Funds:
This Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until terminated as to
one or more of the Funds by the Custodian,  the Subcustodian or such Fund or
Funds by an instrument in writing delivered or mailed, postage prepaid, to the
other parties, such termination to take effect not sooner than sixty (60) days
after the date of such delivery or mailing. In the event of termination, the
Subcustodian shall be entitled to receive prior to delivery of the securities,
funds and other property held by it all accrued fees and unreimbursed expenses
the payment of which is contemplated by Sections 6.4 and 7, and all Advances
and Liabilities, upon receipt by the Custodian or the relevant Fund or Funds of
a statement setting forth such fees, expenses, Advances and Liabilities.
       In the event of the appointment of a successor custodian, the
Subcustodian shall take all reasonable steps to execute an agreement with the
successor custodian and a Fund or Funds on





                                     - 46 -
<PAGE>   50

substantially the same terms as contained in this Agreement.  The Subcustodian
agrees to cooperate with the Custodian, the successor custodian, and such Fund
or Funds in execution of documents and performance of other actions necessary
or desirable in order to substitute the successor custodian for the Custodian.
       In the event of the appointment of a successor subcustodian, it is
agreed that the securities, funds and other property owned by a Fund or Funds
as to which this Agreement has been terminated and held by the Subcustodian or
any Secondary Subcustodian shall be delivered to the successor subcustodian,
unless the Subcustodian is otherwise instructed by the Custodian or the Fund or
Funds.  The Subcustodian agrees to cooperate with the Custodian, the successor
custodian, and such Fund or Funds in execution of documents and performance of
other actions necessary or desirable in order to substitute the successor
subcustodian for the Subcustodian under this Agreement.
       An additional Fund or Funds may become a party to this Agreement after
the date hereof by an instrument in writing to such effect signed by such Fund
or Funds, the Custodian and the Subcustodian.  If this Agreement is terminated
as to one or more of the Funds (but less than all of the Funds) of if an
additional Fund or Funds shall become a party to this Agreement, there shall be
delivered to the Subcustodian by the Custodian an amended Appendix B deleting
or adding such Fund or Funds, as the case may be.  The termination of this
Agreement as to less than all of the Funds shall not affect the obligations of
the Custodian, the





                                     - 47 -
<PAGE>   51

Subcustodian and the remaining Funds hereunder as set forth in Appendix B, as
revised from time to time.
       9.      Amendment; Waiver: This Agreement constitutes the entire
understanding and agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject
matter hereof.  No provision of this Agreement may be waived, amended or
terminated except by a statement in writing signed by the party or parties
against which enforcement of the waiver, amendment or termination is sought.
       In connection with the operation of this Agreement, the Subcustodian,
the Custodian and one or more of the Funds may agree in writing from time to
time on such provisions interpretative of or in addition to the provisions of
this Agreement as may in their joint opinion be consistent with the general
tenor of this Agreement.  No interpretative or additional provisions made as
provided in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be an amendment of this
Agreement.
       The section headings in this Agreement are for the convenience of the
parties and in no way alter, amend, limit or restrict the contractual
obligations of the parties set forth in this Agreement.
       10.     Governing Law: This Agreement is executed and delivered in The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts and shall be governed by and construed according
to the laws of said Commonwealth.
       11.       Notices: Notices and other writings delivered or mailed
postage prepaid to a Fund addressed to the Fund at 100




                                     - 48 -
<PAGE>   52


Heritage Reserve, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin 53051 Attention: Helge Krist Lee,
or to such other address as the Fund may have designated to the Subcustodian
and the Custodian in writing, or to the Custodian at 615 East Michigan Street,
P. 0. Box 701,  Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201, Attention: J. Redwine, or to such
other address as the Custodian may have designated to the Funds and the
Subcustodian in writing or to the Subcustodian at 40 Water Street, Boston,
Massachusetts 02109, Attention: Manager,  Securities Department, or to such
other address as the Subcustodian may have designated to the Custodian and the
Funds in writing, shall be deemed to have been properly delivered or given
hereunder to the respective addressee.
       12.     Binding Effect: This Agreement shall be binding on and shall
inure to the benefit of the Funds, the Custodian and the Subcustodian and their
respective successors and assigns, provided that no party hereto may assign
this Agreement or any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior
written consent of the other parties (except that assignment by a Fund shall
not require the consent of any other Funds).
       13.     Severability: If any provision of this Agreement shall be held
or made unenforceable by a court decision, statute, rule, regulation or
otherwise, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected
thereby.
       14.     Counterparts: This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original.  This Agreement shall
become effective when one or more





                                     - 49 -
<PAGE>   53

counterparts have been signed and delivered by each of the parties.
       IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this Agreement to be
executed in its name and behalf on the day and year first above written.

       FIRSTAR TRUST COMPANY                    BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO.

       By   _____________________               per pro  ______________________
       Title  ____________________

       FUNDS  LISTED IN APPENDIX B

       By   ______________________
       Title  _____________________





                                     - 50 -
<PAGE>   54


                       GLOBAL CUSTODY TRI-PARTY AGREEMENT

                           WITH FIRSTAR TRUST COMPANY

                   AND THE INDIVIDUAL STRONG FUNDS LISTED IN

                           APPENDIX B ATTACHED HERETO

                      DATE ______________________________

                       SPECIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS RIDER


1.     Multiple Accounts

Pursuant to Sections 1 and 8 of the Agreement, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
and Firstar Trust Company have established the Accounts set forth on Appendix B
to be separately accounted for under the terms of this Agreement.  Appendix B
shall be updated from time to time by the Custodian to reflect any changes in
the Funds a party to the Agreement.





                                     - 51 -
<PAGE>   55


             BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO. - GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
                                THE STRONG FUNDS
                                   APPENDIX A


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
COUNTRY                               SUBCUSTODIAN                                       DEPOSITORY
- -------                               ------------                                       ----------
<S>                     <C>                                                   <C>
ARGENTINA               CITIBANK N.A., BUENOS AIRES                                    Caja de Valores
                           Citibank, N.A., New York Agt. 7/16/81
                           New York Agreement Amendment 8/31/90

AUSTRALIA               NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LTD                                    Austraclear Ltd.
                           National Australia Bank Agt. 5/1/85                     Reserve Bank of Australia
                           Agreement Amendment 2/13/92
                           Omnibus Amendment 11/22/93

AUSTRIA                 CREDITANSTALT BANKVEREIN                                            OEKB
                           Creditanstalt Bankverein Agreement 12/18/89
                           Omnibus Amendment 1/17/94

BANGLADESH              STANDARD CHARTERED BANK, DHAKA                                      None
                           Standard Chartered Bank Agreement 2/18/92

BELGIUM                 BANQUE BRUXELLES LAMBERT                                            CIK
                           Banque Bruxelles Lambert Agt. 11/15/90                Banque Nationale de Belgique
                           Omnibus Amendment 3/1/94

BOTSWANA                BARCLAYS BANK PLC                                                  None
                           Barclays Bank Agreement 10/5/94

BRAZIL                  BANK OF BOSTON, SAO PAULO                                         BOVESPA
                           First National Bank of Boston                                    CLC
                           Agreement 1/5/88                   
                           Omnibus Amendment 2/22/94

CANADA                  CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE                                  CDS
                           Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce 
                           Agreement 9/9/88
                           Omnibus Amendment 12/1/93

CHILE                   CITIBANK N.A., SANTIAGO                                 Bolso Deposito Centralidado
                           Citibank N.A., New York Agreement 7/16/81                de Valores de Chile
                           New York Agreement Amendment 8/31/90                 (to be established in 1994)

CHINA                   STANDARD CHARTERED BANK, SHANGHAI                                SSCCRC
                           Standard Chartered Bank Agreement 2/18/92





2/24/95                                 PAGE 1 OF 6                                  RefStrong
                                                                                              
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   56


             BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO. - GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
                                THE STRONG FUNDS
                                   APPENDIX A


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
COUNTRY                               SUBCUSTODIAN                                         DEPOSITORY
- -------                               ------------                                         ----------
<S>                     <C>                                                         <C>
CHINA                   STANDARD CHARTERED BANK, SHENZHEN                                    SSRC
                          Standard Chartered Bank Agreement 2/18/92

COLOMBIA                CITITRUST COLOMBIA S.A. SOCIEDAD FIDUCIARIA                          None
                          Citibank N.A., New York Agreement 7/16/81
                          New York Agreement Amendment 8/31/90
                          Citibank N.A. Subsidiary Amendment 8/7/92
                          Citibank N.A./Cititrust Colombia Agreement 12/2/91

CZECH REPUBLIC          CESKOSLOVENSKA OBCHODNI BANKA, A.S.                                  SCP
                          Ceskoslovenska Obchodni Banka Agreement 2/28/92            Czech National Bank

DENMARK                 DEN DANSKE BANK                                                      VP
                          Den Danske Bank Agreement 1/1/89
                          Omnibus Amendment 12/1/93

FINLAND                 UNION BANK OF FINLAND                                               CSR
                          Union Bank of Finland Agreement 2/27/89                          HMMC
                          Omnibus Amendment 04/06/94

FRANCE                  BANQUE INDOSUEZ                                                   SICOVAM
                          Banque Indosuez Agreement 7/19/90                           Banque de France
                          Omnibus Amendment 3/10/94

GERMANY                 BERLINER HANDELS UND FRANKFURTER BANK                          Kassenverein
                          Berliner Handels und Frankfurter Bank Agt. 6/28/90

GHANA                   BARCLAYS BANK PLC                                                 None
                          Barclays Bank Agreement 10/5/94

GREECE                  CITIBANK, N.A., ATHENS                                      Apothetirion Titlon A.E.
                          Citibank N.A., New York Agreement 7/16/81
                          New York Agreement Amendment 8/31/90

HONG KONG               CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, HONG KONG                                    HKSCC
                          Chase Manhattan Bank, Hong Kong Agreement 6/4/79
                          Chase Manhattan Bank, Hong Kong Amendment 9/17/90
                          Chase Manhattan Bank, Hong Kong Supplement 8/12/92





2/24/95                                 PAGE 2 OF 6                                  RefStrong
                                                                                              
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   57


             BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO. - GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
                                THE STRONG FUNDS
                                   APPENDIX A


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
COUNTRY                               SUBCUSTODIAN                                       DEPOSITORY
- -------                               ------------                                       ----------
<S>                     <C>                                                        <C>
HUNGARY                 CITIBANK BUDAPEST RT.                                            KELER Ltd.
                            Citibank N.A., New York Agreement 7/16/81
                            New York Agreement Amendment 8/31/90
                            Citibank N.A. Subsidiary Amendment 8/7/92
                            Citibank N.A./Citibank Budapest Agreement 1/24/92

INDIA                   CITIBANK N.A., BOMBAY                                               None
                            Citibank N.A., New York Agreement 7/16/81
                            New York Agreement Amendment 8/31/90
                            Citibank, Bombay Amendment 11/17/93

INDIA                   STANDARD CHARTERED BANK, BOMBAY                                     None
                            Standard Chartered Bank Agreement 2/18/92
                            SCB, Bombay Annexure and Side Letter 7/18/94

INDONESIA               CITIBANK N.A., JAKARTA                                              None
                            Citibank N.A., New York Agreement 7/16/81
                            New York Agreement Amendment 8/31/90

IRELAND                 ALLIED IRISH BANKS PLC                                      Gilt Settlement Office
                            Allied Irish Banks Agreement 1/10/89
                            Omnibus Amendment 4/8/94

ISRAEL                  BANK HAPOALIM B.M.                                         TASE Clearinghouse Ltd.
                            Bank Hapoalim Agreement 8/27/92

ITALY                   BANCA COMMERCIALE ITALIANA                                      Monte Titoli
                            Banca Commerciale Italiana Agreement 5/8/89                 Banca D'Italia
                            Agreement Amendment 10/8/93
                            Omnibus Amendment 12/14/93

JAPAN                   MITSUI TRUST & BANKING CO. LTD.                                    JASDEC
                            Mitsui Trust & Banking Agreement 3/1/89                    Bank of Japan

JAPAN                   SUMITOMO TRUST & BANKING COMPANY, LTD.                             JASDEC
                            Sumitomo Trust & Banking Agreement 7/17/92                 Bank of Japan
                            Omnibus Amendment 1/13/94

KENYA                   BARCLAYS BANK PLC                                                   None
                            Barclays Bank Agreement 10/5/94




2/24/95                                 PAGE 3 OF 6                                      RefStrong
                                                                                              
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   58




             BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO. - GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
                                THE STRONG FUNDS
                                   APPENDIX A


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
COUNTRY                               SUBCUSTODIAN                                     DEPOSITORY
- -------                               ------------                                     ----------
<S>                     <C>                                                       <C>
KOREA                   CITIBANK N.A., SEOUL                                              KSD
                            Citibank N.A., New York Agreement 7/16/81
                            New York Agreement Amendment 8/31/90
                            Citibank, Seoul Agreement Supplement 3/7/94

MALAYSIA                HONGKONG BANK MALAYSIA BERHAD                                     MCD
                            Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corp. Agt. 4/19/91     Bank Negara Malaysia
                            Omnibus Supplement 12/29/93
                            Malaysia Subsidiary Supplement 5/23/94

MEXICO                  CITIBANK MEXICO, S. A.                                          Indeval
                            Citibank N.A., New York Agreement 7/16/81                Banco de Mexico
                            New York Agreement Amendment 8/31/90

MOROCCO                 BANQUE MAROCAINE DU COMMERCE EXTERIEUR                           None
                            BMCE Agreement 7/6/94

NETHERLANDS             ABN-AMRO BANK                                                  NECIGEF
                            ABN-AMRO Agreement 12/19/88                          De Nederlandsche Bank

NEW ZEALAND             NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LTD.                                 Reserve Bank of
                            National Australia Bank Agreement 5/1/85                  New Zealand
                            Agreement Amendment 2/13/92
                            Omnibus Amendment 11/22/93
                            New Zealand Addendum 3/7/89

NORWAY                  CHRISTIANIA BANK                                                 VPS
                            Christiania Bank Agreement 3/2/89

PAKISTAN                STANDARD CHARTERED BANK, KARACHI                                None
                            Standard Chartered Bank Agreement 2/18/92

PERU                    CITIBANK N.A., LIMA                                            CAVAL
                            Citibank N.A., New York Agreement 7/16/81
                            New York Agreement Amendment 8/31/90

PHILIPPINES             CITIBANK N.A., MANILA                                          None
                            Citibank N.A., New York Agreement 7/16/81
                            New York Agreement Amendment 8/31/90


2/24/95                                 PAGE 4 OF 6                                  RefStrong
                                                                                              
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   59




             BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO. - GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
                                THE STRONG FUNDS
                                   APPENDIX A


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
COUNTRY                               SUBCUSTODIAN                                      DEPOSITORY
- -------                               ------------                                      ----------
<S>                     <C>                                                       <C>
POLAND                  CITIBANK (POLAND) S.A.                                            CKDPW
                            Citibank N.A., New York Agreement 7/16/81
                            New York Agreement Amendment 8/31/90
                            Citibank Subsidiary Amendment 8/7/92
                            Citibank, N.A./Citibank Poland S.A. Agt. 11/6/92

PORTUGAL                BANCO ESPIRITO SANTO E COMERCIAL                                 Interbolsa
                        DE LISBOA, S.A.
                            BESCL Agreement 4/26/89
                            Omnibus Amendment 2/23/94

SINGAPORE               HONGKONG & SHANGHAI BANKING CORP.                                   CDP
                            Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corp. Agt. 4/19/91
                            Omnibus Supplement 12/29/93

SOUTH AFRICA            FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF SOUTHERN AFRICA                              CD
                            First National Bank of Southern Africa Agt. 8/7/91
                            FNBSA Depository Amendment Proposed

SPAIN                   BANCO SANTANDER                                                    SCLV
                            Banco Santander Agreement 12/14/88                        Banco de Espana

SRI LANKA               HONGKONG & SHANGHAI BANKING CORP.                                  CDS
                            Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corp. Agt. 4/19/91
                            Omnibus Supplement 12/29/93

SWAZILAND               BARCLAYS BANK PLC                                                  None
                            Barclays Bank Agreement 10/5/94

SWEDEN                  SKANDINAVISKA ENSKILDA BANKEN                                      VPC
                            Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken Agreement 2/20/89
                            Omnibus Amendment 12/3/93

SWITZERLAND             UNION BANK OF SWITZERLAND                                          SEGA
                            Union Bank of Switzerland Agreement 12/20/88

TAIWAN                  STANDARD CHARTERED BANK, TAIPEI                                    TSCD
                            Standard Chartered Bank Agreement 2/18/92





2/24/95                                 PAGE 5 OF 6                                     RefStrong
                                                                                              
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   60
             BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO. - GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
                                THE STRONG FUNDS
                                   APPENDIX A


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
COUNTRY                               SUBCUSTODIAN                                     DEPOSITORY
- -------                               ------------                                     ----------
<S>                     <C>                       <C>                            <C>
THAILAND                HONGKONG & SHANGHAI BANKING CORP.                                 SDC
                          Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corp. Agt. 4/19/91
                          Omnibus Amendment 12/29/93

TRANSNATIONAL           BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO.                                     Cedel
                                                                                        Euroclear

TURKEY                  CITIBANK N.A., ISTANBUL                                            TVS
                          Citibank N.A., New York Agreement 7/16/81                Central Bank of Turkey
                          New York Agreement Amendment 8/31/90
                                                                                    
UNITED KINGDOM          MIDLAND BANK PLC                                                   CGO
                          Midland Bank Agreement 8/8/90                                    CMO
                          Omnibus Amendment 12/15/93

URUGUAY                 CITIBANK N.A., MONTEVIDEO                                          None
                          Citibank N.A., New York Agreement 7/16/81
                          New York Agreement Amendment 8/31/90

VENEZUELA               CITIBANK N.A., CARACAS                                             None
                          Citibank N.A., New York Agreement 7/16/81
                          New York Agreement Amendment 8/31/90

ZAMBIA                  BARCLAYS BANK PLC                                                  None
                          Barclays Bank Agreement 10/5/94

ZIMBABWE                BARCLAYS BANK PLC                                                  None 
                          Barclays Bank Agreement 10/5/94 




   I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT AT ITS MEETING ON __________________________ THE BOARD
APPROVED THE COUNTRIES, SUBCUSTODIANS, AGREEMENTS, AND CENTRAL DEPOSITORIES
LISTED ON THIS APPENDIX.

____________________________                      __________________________
(SIGNATURE)                                       (DATE)

____________________________
(TITLE)




2/24/95                         PAGE 6 OF 6                                              RefStrong
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   61



                         BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO.

                  STRONG/CORNELIUSON CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.

                              DOMESTIC MUTUAL FUND

                          GLOBAL CUSTODY FEE SCHEDULE
                                 FEBRUARY, 1993

Payable quarterly on the value of assets:

         Foreign (excluding Euroclear)
                                     
         .0015 per year on first $50 million
         .0012 per year on next $50 million
         .0010 per year on all over $100 million

         Euroclear
                 
         .0012 per year on first $50 million
         .0010 per year on next $50 million
         .0008 per year on all over $100 million

Minimum: $45,000 (all domestic portfolios combined)

Transaction Charge:  $35

Emerging markets will be negotiated at the time of investment

                             OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES

         Out-of-pocket expenses including, but not limited to telex, legal,
telephone, postage and direct expenses including but not limited to customized
systems programming, registration and certificate fees would be additional.
Brokerage, stamp duty and Euroclear deposit and withdrawl charges are for the
account of the Fund.

         This schedule includes all custody fees and transaction charges of
subcustodians.  Emerging markets may require the use of a local administrative
agent.  Administrative fees will be for the account of the Fund.  Charges
associated with income collection, governmental stamp or other taxes will also
be for the account of the Fund.
<PAGE>   62
                         BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO.

                  STRONG/CORNELIUSON CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.

                              DOMESTIC MUTUAL FUND

                          DOMESTIC CUSTODY FEE SCHEDULE
                                   JULY, 1993

Payable quarterly on the value of assets:

Domestic Assets (Based on Entire Relationship)

         .0001 per year on first $1 billion
         .000075 per year on all over $1 billion

Transaction Charges:
         DTC Eligible:                                            $8
         Non-DTC Eligible:                                        $10
         Domestic Wires:                                          $10
         Options and Futures Variation Margin:                    $10
         Mortgage Backed Securities Paydowns:                     $8
         Transaction charges on trades where BBH&Co. acts as broker will be
         waived.

Brokerage Credit
         Brokerage commissions executed through BBH&Co. will be available to
reduce custody and transaction charges on the basis of the offset formula of
2:1.


                             OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES
         Out-of-pocket expenses including, but not limited to, telex, legal,
telephone and postage would be additional.
<PAGE>   63




                                   APPENDIX B


                                Strong  Total Return Fund, Inc.
                                Strong  Discovery Fund, Inc.
                                Strong  Opportunity Fund, Inc.
                                Strong  Advantage Fund, Inc.
                                Strong  Short-Term Bond Fund, Inc.
                                Strong  Corporate Bond Fund Inc.
                                Strong  Asset Allocation Fund, Inc.
                                Strong  Common Stock Fund, Inc.
                                Strong  Special Fund II, Inc.
                                Strong  Money Market Fund, Inc.
                                Strong  American Utilities Fund, Inc.
                                Strong  Growth Fund, Inc.
                                Strong  Variable Insurance Funds, Inc.
                                         Strong Advantage Fund II
                                Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc.
                                         Strong Asset Allocation Fund II
                                Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc.
                                         Strong Discovery Fund II
                                Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc
                                         Strong Growth Fund II





         __________________________           ________________________
                                               Date
         By:  ______________________

         Title:  _____________________
               Firstar Trust Company





                                     - 52 -

<PAGE>   1
                                                                  EXHIBIT 99.B9




                     SHAREHOLDER SERVICING AGENT AGREEMENT

         THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into on this ___ day of _____,
1995, between STRONG VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC., a Wisconsin corporation
(the "Company"), on behalf of the Funds (as defined below) of the Company, and
STRONG CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC., a Wisconsin corporation ("Strong").

                                   WITNESSETH

         WHEREAS, the Company is an open-end management investment company
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 for the purpose of serving
as an investment medium for separate accounts of certain life insurance
companies authorized by the Company's Board of Directors (the "Separate
Accounts");

         WHEREAS, the Company is authorized to create separate series, each
with its own separate investment portfolio, and the beneficial interest in each
such series will be represented by a separate series of shares (each series is
hereinafter individually referred to as a "Fund" and collectively, the
"Funds");

         WHEREAS, the Company is authorized to issue shares of its $.00001 par
value common stock (the "Shares") of each Fund;

         WHEREAS, Strong is, among other things, in the business of
administering transfer and dividend disbursing agent functions;

         WHEREAS, the Company desires to retain Strong as the shareholder
servicing agent of the Shares of each Fund on whose behalf this Agreement has
been executed.

         NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and Strong do mutually agree and promise
as follows:

         1.      Appointment.  The Company hereby appoints Strong to act as
shareholder servicing agent of the Shares of each Fund listed on Schedule A
hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time.  Strong shall, at
its own expense, render the services and assume the obligations herein set
forth subject to being compensated therefor as herein provided.

         2.      Authority of Strong.  Strong is hereby authorized by the
Company to receive all cash which may from time to time be delivered to it by
or for the account of the Funds; to issue confirmations and/or certificates for
Shares of the Funds upon receipt of payment; to redeem or repurchase on behalf
of the Funds Shares upon receipt of certificates properly endorsed or properly
executed written requests as described in the current prospectus of each Fund
and to act as dividend disbursing agent for the Funds.

         3.      Duties of Strong.  Strong hereby agrees to:

                 A.       Process new accounts for Separate Accounts.
<PAGE>   2


                 B.       Process purchases, both initial and subsequent, of
                          Fund Shares in accordance with conditions set forth
                          in the prospectus of each Fund as mutually agreed by
                          the Company and Strong.

                 C.       Transfer Fund Shares to an existing account or to a
                          new account upon receipt of required documentation 
                          in good order.

                 D.       Redeem uncertificated and/or certificated shares upon
                          receipt of required documentation in good order.

                 E.       Issue and/or cancel certificates as instructed;
                          replace lost, stolen or destroyed certificates upon
                          receipt of satisfactory indemnification or bond.

                 F.       Distribute dividends and/or capital gain
                          distributions.  This includes disbursement as cash or
                          reinvestment and to change the disbursement option at
                          the request of shareholders.

                 G.       Process exchanges between Funds (process and direct
                          purchase/redemption and initiate new account or
                          process to existing account).

                 H.       Make miscellaneous changes to records.

                 I.       Prepare and mail a confirmation to shareholders as
                          each transaction is recorded in a shareholder
                          account.  Duplicate confirmations to be available on
                          request within current year.

                 J.       Handle phone calls and correspondence in reply to
                          shareholder requests except those items set forth in
                          Referrals to Company, below.

                 K.       Prepare Reports for the Funds:

                          i.      Monthly analysis of transactions and accounts
                                  by types.

                          ii.     Quarterly state sales analysis; sales by
                                  size; analysis of withdrawals; print-out of 
                                  shareholder balances.

                 L.       Perform daily control and reconciliation of Fund
                          Shares with Strong's records and the Company's office
                          records.

                 M.       Prepare address labels or confirmations for four
                          reports to shareholders per year.

                                      2
<PAGE>   3


                 N.       Mail and tabulate proxies for one Annual Meeting of
                          Shareholders, including preparation of certified
                          shareholder list and daily report to Company
                          management, if required.

                 O.       Prepare and mail required Federal income taxation
                          information to shareholders to whom dividends or
                          distributions are paid, with a copy for the IRS and a
                          copy for the Company if required.

                 P.       Provide readily obtainable data which may from time
                          to time be requested for audit purposes.

                 Q.       Continuously maintain all records for active and
                          closed accounts.

         4.      Referrals to Company.  Strong hereby agrees to refer to the
                 Company for reply the following:

                 A.       Requests for investment information, including
                          performance and outlook.
 
                 B.       Requests for information about exchanges between
                          Funds.

                 C.       Requests for historical Fund prices.

                 D.       Requests for information about the value and timing
                          of dividend payments.

                 E.       Questions regarding correspondence from the Company
                          and newspaper articles.

                 F.       Any requests for information from non-shareholders.

                 G.       Any other types of shareholder requests as the
                          Company may request from Strong in writing.

         5.      Compensation to Strong.  Strong shall be compensated for its
services hereunder in accordance with the Shareholder Servicing Fee Schedule
(the "Fee Schedule") attached hereto as Schedule B and as such Fee Schedule may
from time to time be amended in writing between the two parties.  The Company
will reimburse Strong for all out-of-pocket expenses, including, but not
necessarily limited to, postage, confirmation forms, etc.  Special projects,
not included in the Fee Schedule and requested by proper instructions from the
Company with respect to the relevant Funds, shall be completed by Strong and
invoiced to the Company and the relevant Funds as mutually agreed upon.

         6.      Rights and Powers of Strong.  Strong's rights and powers with
respect to acting for and on behalf of the Company, including rights and powers
of Strong's officers and directors, shall be as follows:





                                       3
<PAGE>   4


                 A.       No order, direction, approval, contract or obligation
         on behalf of the Company with or in any way affecting Strong shall be
         deemed binding unless made in writing and signed on behalf of the
         Company by an officer or officers of the Company who have been duly
         authorized to so act on behalf of the Company by its Board of
         Directors.

                 B.       Directors, officers, agents and shareholders of the
         Company are or may at any time or times be interested in Strong as
         officers, directors, agents, shareholders, or otherwise.
         Correspondingly, directors, officers, agents and shareholders of
         Strong are or may at any time or times be interested in the Company as
         directors, officers, agents, shareholders or otherwise.  Strong shall,
         if it so elects, also have the right to be a shareholder of the
         Company.

                 C.       The services of Strong to the Company are not to be
         deemed exclusive and Strong shall be free to render similar services
         to others as long as its services for others do not in any manner or
         way hinder, preclude or prevent Strong from performing its duties and
         obligations under this Agreement.

                 D.       The Company will indemnify Strong and hold it
         harmless from and against all costs, losses, and expenses which may be
         incurred by it and all claims or liabilities which may be asserted or
         assessed against it as a result of any action taken by it without
         negligence and in good faith, and for any act, omission, delay or
         refusal made by Strong in connection with this agency in reliance upon
         or in accordance with any instruction or advice of any duly authorized
         officer of the Company.

         7.      Effective Date.  This Agreement shall become effective as of
the date hereof.

         8.      Termination of Agreement.  This Agreement shall continue in
force and effect until terminated or amended to such an extent that a new
Agreement is deemed advisable by either party.  Notwithstanding anything herein
to the contrary, this Agreement may be terminated at any time, without payment
of any penalty, by the Company or Strong upon ninety (90) days' written notice
to the other party.

         9.      Amendment.  This Agreement may be amended by the mutual
written consent of the parties.  If, at any time during the existence of this
Agreement, the Company deems it necessary or advisable in the best interests of
Company that any amendment of this Agreement be made in order to comply with
the recommendations or requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission
or state regulatory agencies or other governmental authority, or to obtain any
advantage under state or federal laws, the Company shall notify Strong of the
form of amendment which it deems necessary or advisable and the reasons
therefor, and if Strong declines to assent to such amendment, the Company may
terminate this Agreement forthwith.





                                       4
<PAGE>   5


         10.     Notice.  Any notice that is required to be given by the
parties to each other under the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing,
addressed and delivered, or mailed postpaid to the other party at the principal
place of business of such party.





                                       5
<PAGE>   6

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be signed as of the day and year first stated above.


Attest:                                   Strong Capital Management, Inc.


______________________________________    ___________________________________
Thomas P. Lemke, Senior Vice President    John Dragisic, Vice Chairman

Attest:                                   Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc.



______________________________________    ___________________________________
Ann E. Oglanian, Secretary                Lawrence A. Totsky, Vice President





                                       6
<PAGE>   7

                                   SCHEDULE A

The Fund(s) of the Company currently subject to this Agreement are as follows:

                                                 Date of Addition
              Fund(s)                            to this Agreement
              -------                            ------------------
Strong Advantage Fund II
Strong Asset Allocation Fund II
Strong Discovery Fund II
Strong Government Securities Fund II
Strong Growth Fund II
Strong International Stock Fund II


Attest:                                   Strong Capital Management, Inc.



______________________________________    ____________________________________
Thomas P. Lemke, Senior Vice President    John Dragisic, Vice Chairman

Attest:                                   Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc.



______________________________________    ____________________________________
Ann E. Oglanian, Secretary                Lawrence A. Totsky, Vice President





                                       7
<PAGE>   8

                                   SCHEDULE B

                       SHAREHOLDER SERVICING FEE SCHEDULE

         Until such time that this schedule is replaced or modified, Strong
Variable Insurance Funds, Inc. (the "Company"), on behalf of each Fund set
forth on Schedule A to this Agreement, agrees to compensate Strong Capital
Management, Inc. ("Strong") for performing as shareholder servicing agent as
specified below per Fund account (each account being a Separate Account of an
insurance company authorized by the Company's Board of Directors (a "Separate
Account") and holding Fund shares on behalf of its contract owners (the
"Contract Owners")), plus out-of-pocket expenses attributable to the Company
and the Funds.  For purposes of this Fee Schedule "shareholder" or
"shareholders" includes Contract Owners of a Separate Account.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                        Annual Rate
              Fund(s)                                                                 per Fund Account
              -------                                                                ----------------
<S>                                                                                         <C>
Strong Advantage Fund II                                                                    $31.50
Strong Asset Allocation Fund II                                                             $21.75
Strong Discovery Fund II                                                                    $21.75
Strong Government Securities Fund II                                                        $31.50
Strong Growth Fund II                                                                       $21.75
Strong International Stock Fund II                                                          $21.75
</TABLE>


         Out-of-pocket expenses include, but are not limited to, the following:

         1.      All materials, paper and other costs associated with necessary
                 and ordinary shareholder correspondence.

         2.      Postage and printing of confirmations, statements, tax forms
                 and any other necessary shareholder correspondence.  Printing
                 is to include the cost of printing account statements and
                 confirmations by third-party vendors as well as the cost of
                 printing the actual forms.

         3.      The cost of mailing (sorting, inserting, etc.) by third-party
                 vendors.

         4.      All banking charges of Company, including deposit slips and
                 stamps, checks and share drafts, wire fees not paid by
                 shareholders, and any other deposit account or checking
                 account fees.

         5.      The cost of storage media for Company records, including phone
                 recorder tapes, microfilm and microfiche, forms and paper.





                                       8
<PAGE>   9


         6.      Offsite storage costs for older Company records.

         7.      Charges incurred in the delivery of Company materials and mail.

         8.      Any costs for outside contractors used in providing necessary
                 and ordinary services to the Company, a Fund or shareholders,
                 not contemplated to be performed by Strong.

         9.      Any costs associated with enhancing, correcting or developing
                 the record keeping system currently used by the Company,
                 including the development of new statement or tax form
                 formats.

         For purposes of calculating Strong's compensation pursuant to this
Agreement, all subaccounts which hold shares in a Fund through a Separate
Account shall be treated as direct open accounts of the Fund upon approval of
such arrangement by the Company's Board of Directors.  Out-of-pocket expenses
will be charged to the applicable Fund, except for those out-of-pocket expenses
attributable to the Company in general, which shall be charged pro rata to each
Fund.

         All fees will be billed to the Company monthly based upon the number
of open and closed accounts existing on the last day of the month plus any
out-of-pocket expenses paid by Strong during the month.  These fees are in
addition to any fees the Company may pay Strong for providing investment
management services or for underwriting the sale of Company shares.


Attest:                                   Strong Capital Management, Inc.



_______________________________________   ________________________________
Thomas P. Lemke, Senior Vice President    John Dragisic, Vice Chairman

Attest:                                   Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc.



_______________________________________   ________________________________
Ann E. Oglanian, Secretary                Lawrence A. Totsky, Vice President






                                       9

<PAGE>   1
                                                                 EXHIBIT 99.B10

                      [GODFREY & KAHN, S.C. LETTERHEAD]




                                 June 11, 1995





Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc.
100 Heritage Reserve
Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin 53051

Gentlemen:

   We have acted as your counsel in connection with the preparation of a
Post-Effective Amendment to a Registration Statement on Form N-1A (Registration
No. 33-45321) (the "Registration Statement") relating to the sale by you of an
indefinite number of shares (the "Shares") of common stock, $.00001 par value
of Strong Advantage Fund II (the "Fund"), a series of Strong Variable Insurance
Funds, Inc. (the "Company"), in the manner set forth in the Registration
Statement (and the Prospectus of the Fund included therein).

   We have examined: (a) the Registration Statement (and the Prospectus of the
Fund included therein), (b) the Company's Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation, as amended, and By-Laws, (c) certain resolutions of the
Company's Board of Directors, and (d) such other proceedings, documents and
records as we have deemed necessary to enable us to render this opinion.

   Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares, when sold
as contemplated in the Registration Statement, will be duly authorized and
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable except to the extent provided in
Section 180.0622(2)(b) of the Wisconsin Statutes, or any successor provision,
which provides that shareholders of a corporation organized under Chapter 180
of the Wisconsin Statutes may be assessed up to the par value of their shares
to satisfy the obligations of such corporation to its employees for services
rendered, but not exceeding six months service in the case of any individual
employee; certain Wisconsin courts have interpreted "par value" to mean the
full amount paid by the purchaser of shares upon the issuance thereof.
<PAGE>   2

Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc.
June 11, 1995
Page 2




   We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement.  In giving this consent, however, we do not admit that we are
"experts" within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, or within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section
7 of said Act.




                                       Very truly yours,


                                       /s/ Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.
                                       GODFREY & KAHN, S.C.


PMK/slv








<PAGE>   1
                                                              EXHIBIT 99.B10.1
 
                      [GODFREY & KAHN, S.C. LETTERHEAD]




                                 June 11, 1995





Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc.
100 Heritage Reserve
Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin 53051

Gentlemen:

   We have acted as your counsel in connection with the preparation of a
Post-Effective Amendment to a Registration Statement on Form N-1A (Registration
No. 33-45321) (the "Registration Statement") relating to the sale by you of an
indefinite number of shares (the "Shares") of common stock, $.00001 par value
of Strong Asset Allocation Fund II (the "Fund"), a series of Strong Variable 
Insurance Funds, Inc. (the "Company"), in the manner set forth in the 
Registration Statement (and the Prospectus of the Fund included therein).

   We have examined: (a) the Registration Statement (and the Prospectus of the
Fund included therein), (b) the Company's Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation, as amended, and By-Laws, (c) certain resolutions of the
Company's Board of Directors, and (d) such other proceedings, documents and
records as we have deemed necessary to enable us to render this opinion.

   Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares, when sold
as contemplated in the Registration Statement, will be duly authorized and
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable except to the extent provided in
Section 180.0622(2)(b) of the Wisconsin Statutes, or any successor provision,
which provides that shareholders of a corporation organized under Chapter 180
of the Wisconsin Statutes may be assessed up to the par value of their shares
to satisfy the obligations of such corporation to its employees for services
rendered, but not exceeding six months service in the case of any individual
employee; certain Wisconsin courts have interpreted "par value" to mean the
full amount paid by the purchaser of shares upon the issuance thereof.
<PAGE>   2

Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc.
June 11, 1995
Page 2




   We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement.  In giving this consent, however, we do not admit that we are
"experts" within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, or within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section
7 of said Act.




                                       Very truly yours,


                                       /s/ Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.
                                       GODFREY & KAHN, S.C.



PMK/slv








<PAGE>   1
                                                            EXHIBIT 99.B10.2


                      [GODFREY & KAHN, S.C. LETTERHEAD]





                                 June 11, 1995





Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc.
100 Heritage Reserve
Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin 53051

Gentlemen:

   We have acted as your counsel in connection with the preparation of a
Post-Effective Amendment to a Registration Statement on Form N-1A (Registration
No. 33-45321) (the "Registration Statement") relating to the sale by you of an
indefinite number of shares (the "Shares") of common stock, $.00001 par value
of Strong Growth Fund II (the "Fund"), a series of Strong Variable
Insurance Funds, Inc. (the "Company"), in the manner set forth in the
Registration Statement (and the Prospectus of the Fund included therein).

   We have examined: (a) the Registration Statement (and the Prospectus of the
Fund included therein), (b) the Company's Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation, as amended, and By-Laws, (c) certain resolutions of the
Company's Board of Directors, and (d) such other proceedings, documents and
records as we have deemed necessary to enable us to render this opinion.

   Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares, when sold
as contemplated in the Registration Statement, will be duly authorized and
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable except to the extent provided in
Section 180.0622(2)(b) of the Wisconsin Statutes, or any successor provision,
which provides that shareholders of a corporation organized under Chapter 180
of the Wisconsin Statutes may be assessed up to the par value of their shares
to satisfy the obligations of such corporation to its employees for services
rendered, but not exceeding six months service in the case of any individual
employee; certain Wisconsin courts have interpreted "par value" to mean the
full amount paid by the purchaser of shares upon the issuance thereof.
<PAGE>   2

Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc.
June 11, 1995
Page 2




   We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement.  In giving this consent, however, we do not admit that we are
"experts" within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, or within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section
7 of said Act.




                                       Very truly yours,


                                       /s/ Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.
                                       GODFREY & KAHN, S.C.




PMK/slv








<PAGE>   1
                                                              EXHIBIT 99.B10.3

                      [GODFREY & KAHN, S.C. LETTERHEAD]




                                 June 11, 1995





Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc.
100 Heritage Reserve
Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin 53051

Gentlemen:

   We have acted as your counsel in connection with the preparation of a
Post-Effective Amendment to a Registration Statement on Form N-1A 
(Registration No. 33-45321) (the "Registration Statement") relating to the 
sale by you of an indefinite number of shares (the "Shares") of common stock, 
$.00001 par value of Strong Government Securities Fund II (the "Fund"), a 
series of Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc. (the "Company"), in the manner 
set forth in the Registration Statement (and the Prospectus of the Fund 
included therein).

   We have examined: (a) the Registration Statement (and the Prospectus of the
Fund included therein), (b) the Company's Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation, as amended, and By-Laws, (c) certain resolutions of the 
Company's Board of Directors, and (d) such other proceedings, documents and 
records as we have deemed necessary to enable us to render this opinion.

   Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares, when sold
as contemplated in the Registration Statement, will be duly authorized and
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable except to the extent provided in
Section 180.0622(2)(b) of the Wisconsin Statutes, or any successor provision,
which provides that shareholders of a corporation organized under Chapter 180
of the Wisconsin Statutes may be assessed up to the par value of their shares
to satisfy the obligations of such corporation to its employees for services
rendered, but not exceeding six months service in the case of any individual
employee; certain Wisconsin courts have interpreted "par value" to mean the
full amount paid by the purchaser of shares upon the issuance thereof.
<PAGE>   2

Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc.
June 11, 1995
Page 2




   We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement.  In giving this consent, however, we do not admit that we are
"experts" within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, or within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section
7 of said Act.




                                       Very truly yours,


                                       /s/ Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.
                                       GODFREY & KAHN, S.C.


PMK/slv








<PAGE>   1
                                                             EXHIBIT 99.B10.4

                      [GODFREY & KAHN, S.C. LETTERHEAD]




                                 June 11, 1995





Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc.
100 Heritage Reserve
Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin 53051

Gentlemen:

   We have acted as your counsel in connection with the preparation of a
Post-Effective Amendment to a Registration Statement on Form N-1A (Registration
No. 33-45321) (the "Registration Statement") relating to the sale by you of an
indefinite number of shares (the "Shares") of common stock, $.00001 par value
of Strong International Stock Fund II (the "Fund"), a series of Strong Variable
Insurance Funds, Inc. (the "Company"), in the manner set forth in the
Registration Statement (and the Prospectus of the Fund included therein).

   We have examined: (a) the Registration Statement (and the Prospectus of the
Fund included therein), (b) the Company's Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation, as amended, and By-Laws, (c) certain resolutions of the
Company's Board of Directors, and (d) such other proceedings, documents and
records as we have deemed necessary to enable us to render this opinion.

   Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares, when sold
as contemplated in the Registration Statement, will be duly authorized and
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable except to the extent provided in
Section 180.0622(2)(b) of the Wisconsin Statutes, or any successor provision,
which provides that shareholders of a corporation organized under Chapter 180
of the Wisconsin Statutes may be assessed up to the par value of their shares
to satisfy the obligations of such corporation to its employees for services
rendered, but not exceeding six months service in the case of any individual
employee; certain Wisconsin courts have interpreted "par value" to mean the
full amount paid by the purchaser of shares upon the issuance thereof.
<PAGE>   2

Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc.
June 11, 1995
Page 2




   We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement.  In giving this consent, however, we do not admit that we are
"experts" within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, or within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section
7 of said Act.




                                       Very truly yours,


                                       /s/ Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.
                                       GODFREY & KAHN, S.C.



PMK/slv








<PAGE>   1
                                                                 EXHIBIT 99.B11



                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS



To the Board of Directors of
Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc. - Strong Discovery Fund II
(formerly Strong Discovery Fund II, Inc.)


         We consent to the inclusion in Post-Effective Amendment No. 9 to the
Registration Statement of Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc. - Strong
Discovery Fund II on Form N-1A of our report dated February 7, 1995 on our
audit of the financial statements and financial highlights of Strong Discovery
Fund II, Inc., which report is included in the Annual Report to Shareholders
for the year ended December 31, 1994, which is also included in the
Registration Statement.  We also consent to the reference to our Firm under the
caption "Independent Accountants" in the Statement of Additional Information
and under the caption "Financial Highlights" in the Prospectus.





Milwaukee, Wisconsin
July 6, 1995

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000883644
<NAME> STRONG DISCOVERY FUND II, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1994
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1994
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1994
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                          118,195
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                         115,512
<RECEIVABLES>                                    5,788
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                      17
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 121,317
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                         2,253
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                          137
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                              2,390
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                       123,829
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                           11,814
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                            6,233
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                        (2,219)<F3>
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                       (2,683)<F3>
<NET-ASSETS>                                   118,927
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                1,596
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                  561
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                 (1,110)<F3>
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                          1,047
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                         2,742
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                      (8,202)<F3>
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                          (4,413)<F3>
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                      (5,520)<F3>
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                       (3,295)<F3>
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                          9,272
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                    (4,542)<F3>
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                851
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                          46,989
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                            (4)<F3>
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                        2,811
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                            (926)<F3>
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                (1,110)<F3>
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                            92,037
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            11.54<F1>
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.10<F1>
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         (0.71)<F1>
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.53)<F1>
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                       (0.33)<F1>
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              10.07<F1>
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                    1.2<F2>
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
<FN>
<F1>Per share amounts not stated in 000's. Debit amounts shown as negative ().
<F2>Stated in percent.
<F3>All debit balances except assets stated as negative ().
</FN>
        

</TABLE>

<PAGE>   1
                                                                  EXHIBIT 99.B19

                      [GODFREY & KAHN, S.C. LETTERHEAD]



                                 JULY 6, 1995               



Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20549

          Re:   Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc.
                -------------------------------------

Gentlemen:

          We represent Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc. (the
"Corporation") in connection with its filing of Post-Effective Amendment No. 9
(the "Post-Effective Amendment") to the Corporation's Registration Statement
(Registration Nos. 33-45321; 811-6553) on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of
1933 (the "Securities Act") and the Investment Company Act of 1940.  The
Post-Effective Amendment is being filed pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the
Securities Act. We have reviewed the Post-Effective Amendment and, in
accordance with Rule 485(b) (4) under the Securities Act, hereby represent that
the Post-Effective Amendment does not contain disclosures which would render 
it ineligible to become effective pursuant to Rule 485(b).



                               Very truly yours,

                               GODFREY & KAHN, S.C.



                           /s/ Scott A. Moehrke
                               Scott A. Moehrke

SAM/slv



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