PREFERRED GROUP OF MUTUAL FUNDS
DEF 14C, 1997-12-12
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                       THE PREFERRED SHORT-TERM GOVERNMENT
                                 SECURITIES FUND
                 A SERIES OF THE PREFERRED GROUP OF MUTUAL FUNDS

                                                              December 12, 1997

                              INFORMATION STATEMENT

                               GENERAL INFORMATION

         This information statement, which is first being mailed on or about
December 12, 1997, is distributed in connection with action to be taken by
written consent of the Majority Shareholders (as defined below) of the Preferred
Short-Term Government Securities Fund (the "Fund), a series of The Preferred
Group of Mutual Funds (the "Trust"), on or about January 1, 1998, all as more
fully described below. THIS DOCUMENT IS REQUIRED UNDER THE FEDERAL SECURITIES
LAWS AND IS PROVIDED SOLELY FOR YOUR INFORMATION. WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU FOR A
PROXY AND YOU ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SEND US A PROXY.

         The Trustees have set October 23, 1997 (the "Record Date") as the
record date for determining the number of shares and the shareholders entitled
to give consent and to receive this information statement. On the Record Date,
5,742,735.661 shares of the Fund were outstanding, and the Trustees and Officers
of the Fund owned less than 1% of the Fund's outstanding shares. Information
concerning shareholders who were known to be the beneficial owners of more than
5% of the Fund's shares as of the Record Date is set forth below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                AMOUNT AND                     PERCENT
NAME AND ADDRESS                                NATURE OF                      OF THE
OF BENEFICIAL OWNER                             BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP           FUND
<S>                                             <C>                            <C>
Caterpillar Investment Trust 401(k) Plan        1,460,524.399                  25.43%

Caterpillar Inc. Supplemental Unemployment      1,844,215.337                  32.11%
and Benefits Group Insurance Trust A
and Trust B (together with the Caterpillar
Investment Trust 401(k) Plan, the "Majority
Shareholders")

American Bankers' Insurance Co. of  Florida
for the benefit of
Caterpillar Insurance Company Limited           2,201,234.403                  38.33%
</TABLE>

         The address of each of the Majority Shareholders listed above is 100
N.E. Adams Street, Peoria, Illinois 61629, the address of American Bankers
Insurance Company of Florida is 11222 Quail Roost Dr., Miami, FL 31357-6543, and
the address of Caterpillar Insurance Company Limited is 3322 West End Avenue,
Nashville Tennessee 37203-1031.


                                                      -1-
3250133.06

<PAGE>



         As described more fully below, Caterpillar Investment Management Ltd.
("CIML") has proposed that J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. ("Morgan")
serve as subadviser to the Fund pursuant to a subadvisory agreement (the
"Proposed Agreement") with respect to the Fund. In order for Morgan to serve as
subadviser for the Fund, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
"1940 Act"), requires approval of the Proposed Agreement by both the Trust's
Board of Trustees and the Fund's shareholders.

         The Proposed Agreement was approved (to be effective upon shareholder
approval) by all the Trustees, including those Trustees who are not "interested
persons" or affiliates (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any party to the Proposed
Agreement (the "Independent Trustees"), on October 23, 1997. The Trustees,
including the Independent Trustees, have recommended approval of the Proposed
Agreement by shareholders and the Majority Shareholders have indicated on a
preliminary basis that they intend to grant such approval by written consent.

         A description of the Proposed Agreement, the services to be provided
thereunder, and the procedures for termination and renewal thereof is set forth
below under "Description of Proposed Agreement." Such description is qualified
in its entirety by reference to the form of the Proposed Agreement set forth in
Appendix A to this Information Statement. Additional information about Morgan is
set forth below under "Other Information."

         FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THE FUND IS CONTAINED IN ITS MOST RECENT
ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS, WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FREE OF CHARGE BY WRITING
TO THE PREFERRED GROUP, P.O. BOX 8320, BOSTON, MA 02266-8320 OR BY TELEPHONING
1-800-662- 4769.

                        DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED AGREEMENT

         In order to assist it in carrying out its responsibilities as manager
of the Fund, CIML has proposed to retain Morgan under the Proposed Agreement to
render subadvisory services to the Fund under the supervision of CIML and the
Trustees of the Trust.

         CIML would pay the fees of Morgan under the Proposed Agreement. Under
the Proposed Agreement, Morgan would receive a fee based on the assets of the
Fund, calculated based on the average quarterly net asset value, determined as
of the last business day of each month in the calendar quarter, of the Fund at
the annual rate of 0.20%.

         The Proposed Agreement provides that, subject to the supervision of the
Trustees and CIML, Morgan would furnish continuously an investment program for
the Fund, make investment decisions on behalf of the Fund and place all orders
for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities and all other investments in
accordance with its Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information. The
Proposed Agreement would also require Morgan to furnish, at its expense, (i) all
necessary investment and management facilities, including salaries of

                                                      -2-

<PAGE>



personnel, required for it to execute its duties thereunder faithfully and (ii)
administrative facilities, including bookkeeping, clerical personnel and
equipment necessary for the efficient conduct of the investment affairs of the
Fund, including assistance in obtaining and verifying prices for portfolio
securities (but excluding determination of net asset value, shareholder
accounting services and fund accounting services).

         The Proposed Agreement provides that it will continue in effect for an
initial term of two years from its date of execution (which, in the case of the
Proposed Agreement, is expected to be as of November 3, 1997) and thereafter so
long as it is approved at least annually in accordance with the 1940 Act. The
1940 Act requires that, after the initial two-year term, all subadvisory
agreements be approved at least annually by (i) the vote, cast in person at a
meeting called for the purpose, of a majority of the Independent Trustees and
(ii) the majority vote of the full Board of Trustees or the vote of a majority
of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund.
The Proposed Agreement terminates automatically in the event of its assignment,
and may be terminated without penalty by the Trust at any time, on written
notice to CIML and Morgan, by CIML on sixty days' written notice to Morgan and
by Morgan on ninety days' written notice to CIML and the Trust. The Proposed
Agreement generally may be amended only by the affirmative vote of the holders
of a "majority of the outstanding voting securities" of the Fund (as defined in
the 1940 Act).

         The Proposed Agreement provides that Morgan shall not be subject to any
liability to the Trust, the Fund or CIML, or to any shareholder, officer,
director or Trustee thereof, for any act or omission in the course of, or
connected with, rendering services thereunder, in the absence of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its
obligations and duties by Morgan.

                               SHAREHOLDER CONSENT

         Approval of the Proposed Agreement will require the consent of a
"majority of the outstanding voting securities" of the Fund (as defined in the
1940 Act), which means the affirmative vote of the lesser of (1) more than 50%
of the outstanding shares of the Fund or (2) 67% or more of the shares of the
Fund present at a meeting if more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund
are represented at the meeting in person or by proxy. As stated above, the
Majority Shareholders have indicated that, as permitted by the Trust's by-laws,
they intend to execute a consent to be effective on or about December 1, 1998,
which would by itself constitute the necessary shareholder approval under the
1940 Act. NO ACTION IS REQUIRED TO BE TAKEN BY YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER OF THE FUND;
THIS INFORMATION STATEMENT IS FURNISHED TO YOU FOR YOUR INFORMATION ONLY IN
LIGHT OF RELEVANT FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS.


                                                      -3-

<PAGE>



                                OTHER INFORMATION

         TRUSTEE REVIEW. The Trustees, including the Independent Trustees,
reviewed all material provided by Morgan, and requested and received all
information which they deemed relevant to form a judgment as to whether the
Proposed Agreement is in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.

         In their consideration of the Proposed Agreement, the Trustees noted
that Morgan may receive research services from brokers in connection with
portfolio securities transactions for the Fund. The Trustees realize that
research services furnished by brokers through which the Fund effects securities
transactions may be used by Morgan in advising other accounts that it advises.
Conversely, research services furnished to Morgan in connection with other
accounts Morgan advises may be used by Morgan in advising the Fund.

         CATERPILLAR INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LIMITED. CIML serves as manager of
the Fund pursuant to a management contract (the "Management Contract") dated as
of June 29, 1992. The sole initial shareholder of the Fund approved the
Management Contract on June 10, 1992, and the Trustees of the Trust last
approved the continuance of the Management Contract at a meeting held on April
27, 1997.

         Under the Management Contract, subject to the control of the Trustees,
CIML has agreed to furnish continuously an investment program for the Fund, make
investment decisions on behalf of the Fund and place all orders for the purchase
and sale of portfolio securities and all other investments in accordance with
its Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information. The Management Contract
expressly permits advisory services to be delegated to and performed by a
subadviser. CIML also manages, supervises and conducts the other affairs and
business of the Trust, furnishes office space and equipment, provides
bookkeeping and certain clerical services and pays all salaries, fees and
expenses of the officers and Trustees of the Trust who are affiliated with CIML.

         Under the Management Contract, the Fund pays CIML a monthly fee based
on average net assets of the Fund at an annual rate of 0.35% of such average net
assets. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 1997, the Fund paid CIML $187,517.
Under the Management Contract, the Fund bears all expenses of the Fund not
expressly assumed by CIML. CIML's compensation under the Management Contract is
subject to reduction to the extent that in any year the expenses of the Fund
exceed the limits on investment company expenses imposed by any statute or
regulatory authority of any jurisdiction in which shares of the Fund are
qualified for offer or sale.

         The Management Contract provides that CIML shall not be subject to any
liability in connection with the performance of its services thereunder in the
absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless
disregard of its obligations and duties.


                                                      -4-

<PAGE>



         The directors and principal executive officers of CIML are: Ronald R. 
Rossmann, President and Director, and Robert C. Franz, Vice President and
Director. The principal occupation of each of CIML's directors and principal
executive officer is as a director or executive officer of CIML and certain of
its corporate affiliates. Mr. Rossmann also serves as President of the Trust. In
addition, Ms. Carol K. Burns, Manager of Marketing for CIML, serves as Vice
President and Assistant Clerk of the Trust, Mr. Fred Kaufman, Vice President and
Treasurer of CIML, serves as Vice President and Treasurer of the Trust, Mr.
Richard P. Konrath, Clerk of CIML, serves as Clerk of the Trust, and James F.
Masterson and F. Lynn McPheeters, Director, Investor Relations and Treasurer,
respectively, for Caterpillar Inc., serve as Trustees of the Trust. CIML is a
Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc., a
Delaware corporation. The address of the principal executive offices of each of
CIML, and of its directors and principal executive officer; Caterpillar
Securities Inc., the Trust's principal underwriter; the Fund and Caterpillar
Inc. is 100 N.E. Adams Street, Peoria, Illinois 61629.

         J. P. MORGAN INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT INC.  Morgan provides investment 
advice to mutual funds and other entities. The directors and principal executive
officers of Morgan are: C. Nicholas Potter, Chairman of the Board; retired
Managing Director; Keith M. Schappert, President, Director and Managing
Director; William L. Cobb, Jr., Vice Chairman, Director, Managing Director;
Thomas M. Luddy, Director, Managing Director; Michael R. Granito, Director;
Managing Director; M. Steven Soltis, Director, Managing Director; Kenneth W.
Anderson, Director, Managing Director; Robert A. Anselmi, Director, Managing
Director, Secretary; Jean L.P. Brunel, Director; Michael E. Patterson, Director;
and John R. Thomas, Director. Morgan is a Delaware corporation and a
wholly-owned subsidiary of J.P. Morgan & Co. Incorporated, a Delaware
corporation and an international financial services corporation. The address of
the principal executive offices of each of Morgan and its directors and
principal executive officer is 522 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10036,
except for Messrs. Anderson, Patterson and Thomas, whose addresses are 28 King
Street, London, England SW1Y 6XA, 60 Wall Street, New York, New York 10260, and
101 California Street, San Francisco, California 94111, respectively. The
address of J.P. Morgan & Co. Incorporated is 60 Wall Street, New York, New York
10260.

         OTHER INVESTMENT COMPANIES. Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York,
an affiliate of Morgan ("Morgan Guaranty"), also provides investment advisory
service to two investment companies the investment objectives of which might be
deemed similar to that of the Fund. Morgan Guaranty receives a fee at the annual
rate of 0.25% of such fund's average net asset value. As of June 30, 1997, the
total assets of the JPM Pierpont Short Term Bond Portfolio and The JPM
Institutional Short Term Bond Portfolio were approximately $11,870,000 and
$22,500,000, respectively.

         AFFILIATED BROKERAGE AND FEES TO MORGAN. The Trust has been informed by
CIML that CIML paid fees of $240,532 and $143,165 to Morgan for the fiscal year
ended June 30, 1997 for its services as subadviser to the Preferred Fixed Income
Fund and the Preferred

                                                      -5-

<PAGE>



Money Market Fund, each a series of the Trust and an affiliate of the Fund,
respectively. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 1997, the Preferred Growth
Fund and the Preferred International Fund, each a series of the Trust and on
affiliate of the Fund, paid $5,835 and $322, respectively, in brokerage
commissions to J. P. Morgan Securities Inc., an affiliate of Morgan.

WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY AND YOU ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SEND US A PROXY


                                                      -6-

<PAGE>



                                                                     APPENDIX A



                 PREFERRED SHORT-TERM GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND

                              SUBADVISER AGREEMENT


         Subadviser Agreement executed as of ___________, 1997 between
CATERPILLAR INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LTD., a Delaware corporation (the "Manager"),
and J. P. MORGAN INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC., a Delaware general partnership
(the "Subadviser").

                                   WITNESSETH:

         That in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, it is
agreed as follows:

1.       SERVICES TO BE RENDERED BY SUBADVISER TO THE TRUST.

         a. Subject always to the control of the trustees of The Preferred
            Group of Mutual Funds (the "Trustees"), a Massachusetts business 
            trust (the "Trust"), the Subadviser, at its expense, will furnish
            continuously an investment program for the Preferred Short-Term 
            Government Securities Fund series of the Trust (the "Fund") and 
            will make investment decisions on behalf of the Fund and place all
            orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities and all 
            other investments. In the performance of its duties, the Subadviser
            (i) will comply with the provisions of the Trust's Agreement and 
            Declaration of Trust and By-laws, including any amendments thereto
            (upon receipt of such amendments by the Subadviser), and the 
            investment objectives, policies and restrictions of the Fund
            as set forth in its current Prospectus and Statement of Additional
            Information (copies of which will be supplied to the Subadviser
            upon filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission), (ii) will
            use its best efforts to safeguard and promote the welfare of the
            Fund, (iii) will comply with other policies which the Trustees or
            the Manager, as the case may be, may from time to time determine as
            promptly as practicable after such policies have been communicated
            to the Subadviser in writing, and (iv) shall exercise the same care
            and diligence expected of the Trustees.  The Subadviser and the 
            Manager shall each make its officers and employees available to the
            other from time to time at reasonable times to review investment 
            policies of the Fund and to consult with each other regarding the
            investment affairs of the Fund.



3250133.06
                                                  A-1

<PAGE>



         b. The Subadviser, at its expense, will furnish (i) all necessary
            investment and management facilities, including salaries of
            personnel, required for it to execute its duties hereunder
            faithfully and (ii) administrative facilities, including
            bookkeeping, clerical personnel and equipment necessary for
            the efficient conduct of the investment affairs of the Fund,
            including assistance in obtaining and verifying prices for
            portfolio securities (but excluding determination of net asset
            value, shareholder accounting services and fund accounting
            services).

         c. In the selection of brokers, dealers or futures commissions 
            merchants (collectively, "brokers") and the placing of orders for 
            the purchase and sale of portfolio investments for the Fund, the 
            Subadviser shall seek to obtain for the Fund the most favorable 
            price and execution available, except to the extent it may be 
            permitted to pay higher brokerage commissions for brokerage and
            research services as described below.  In using its best efforts to
            obtain for the Fund the most favorable price and execution 
            available, the Subadviser, bearing in mind the Fund's best
            interests at all times, shall consider all factors it deems
            relevant, including, by way of illustration, price, the size of the
            transaction, the nature of the market for the security, the amount 
            of the commission, the timing of the transaction taking into 
            account market prices and trends, the reputation, experience and 
            financial stability of the broker involved and the quality of
            service rendered by the broker in other transactions. Subject to 
            such policies as the Trustees may determine and communicate to the 
            Subadviser in writing, the Subadviser shall not be deemed to have
            acted unlawfully or to have breached any duty created by this 
            Agreement or otherwise solely by reason of its having caused the 
            Fund to pay a broker that provides brokerage and research services
            to the Subadviser or any affiliated person of the Subadviser an 
            amount of commission for effecting a portfolio investment
            transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker
            would have charged for effecting that transaction, if the 
            Subadviser determines in good faith that such amount of commission 
            was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and
            research services provided by such broker, viewed in terms of 
            either that particular transaction or the Subadviser's overall 
            responsibilities with respect to the Fund and to other clients of 
            the Subadviser and any affiliated person of the Subadviser as to
            which the Subadviser or any affiliated person of the Subadviser
            exercises investment discretion.  The Trust agrees that any entity
            or person associated with the Subadviser or any affiliated person 
            of the Subadviser which is a member of a national securities
            exchange is authorized to effect any transaction on such exchange
            for the account of the Fund which is permitted by Section 11(a) of
            the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), 
            and Rule 11a2-2(T) thereunder, and the Trust hereby consents to the
            retention of compensation for such transactions in accordance with
            Rule 11a2-2(T)(2)(iv).



3250133.06
                                                  A-2

<PAGE>



         d. The Subadviser shall not be obligated to pay any expenses of or for
            the Trust or of or for the Fund not expressly assumed by the 
            Subadviser pursuant to this Section 1.

2.       OTHER AGREEMENTS, ETC.

         It is understood that any of the shareholders, Trustees, officers and
employees of the Trust may be a shareholder, partner, director, officer or
employee of, or be otherwise interested in, the Subadviser, and in any person
controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Subadviser, and that
the Subadviser and any person controlling, controlled by or under common control
with the Subadviser may have an interest in the Trust. It is also understood
that the Subadviser and persons controlling, controlled by or under common
control with the Subadviser have and may have advisory, management service,
distribution or other contracts with other organizations and persons, and may
have other interests and businesses.

3.       COMPENSATION TO BE PAID BY THE MANAGER TO THE SUBADVISER.

         The Manager will pay to the Subadviser as compensation for the
Subadviser's services rendered, for the facilities furnished and for the
expenses borne by the Subadviser pursuant to Section 1, a fee in accordance with
Schedule A of this Agreement.

4.       ASSIGNMENT TERMINATES THIS AGREEMENT; AMENDMENTS OF THIS AGREEMENT.

         This Agreement shall automatically terminate, without the payment of
any penalty, in the event of its assignment or in the event that the Management
Contract dated as of June __, 1992 between the Manager and the Trust, with
respect to the Fund, shall have terminated for any reason, and the Manager shall
provide notice of any such termination of the Management Contract to the
Subadviser; and this Agreement shall not be amended unless such amendment be
approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the
Fund, and by the vote, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on such approval, of a majority of the Trustees who are not interested
persons of the Trust or of the Manager or of the Subadviser.

5.       EFFECTIVE PERIOD AND TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT.

         This Agreement shall become effective upon its execution, and shall
remain in full force and effect continuously thereafter (unless terminated
automatically as set forth in Section 4) until terminated as follows:



3250133.06
                                                        A-3

<PAGE>



         a. The Trust may at any time terminate this Agreement by written 
            notice delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, to
            the Manager and the Subadviser, or

         b. If (i) the Trustees or the shareholders of the Trust by the 
            affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the
            Fund, and (ii) a majority of the Trustees who are not interested 
            persons of the Trust or of the Manager or of the Subadviser, by 
            vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting
            on such approval, do not specifically approve at least annually the
            continuance of this Agreement, then this Agreement shall 
            automatically terminate at the close of business on the second 
            anniversary of its execution, or upon the expiration of one year
            from the effective date of the last such continuance, whichever is
            later; provided, however, that if the continuance of this Agreement
            is submitted to the shareholders of the Fund for their approval and
            such shareholders fail to approve such continuance of this
            Agreement as provided herein, the Subadviser may continue to serve
            hereunder in a manner consistent with the Investment Company Act
            of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), and the rules and regulations
            thereunder, or

         c. The Manager may at any time terminate this Agreement by not less 
            than 60 days' written notice delivered or mailed by registered 
            mail, postage prepaid, to the Subadviser, and the Subadviser may at
            any time terminate this Agreement by not less than 90 days'
            written notice delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage
            prepaid, to the Manager.

         Action by the Trust under paragraph (a) above may be taken either (i)
by vote of a majority of the Trustees, or (ii) by the affirmative vote of a
majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund.

         Termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 5 shall be
without the payment of any penalty.

6.       CERTAIN INFORMATION.

         The Subadviser shall promptly notify the Manager in writing of the
occurrence of any of the following events: (a) the Subadviser shall fail to be
registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940,
as amended from time to time, and under the laws of any jurisdiction in which
the Subadviser is required to be registered as an investment adviser in order to
perform its obligations under this Agreement or any other agreement concerning
the provision of investment advisory services to the Trust, (b) the Subadviser
shall have been served or otherwise have notice of any action, suit, proceeding,
inquiry or investigation, at law or in equity, before or by any court, public
board or body, involving the affairs of the Trust, (c) there is a change in
control of the Subadviser or any parent of the


3250133.06
                                                        A-4

<PAGE>



Subadviser within the meaning of the 1940 Act or (d) there is a material adverse
change in the business or financial position of the Subadviser.

7.       CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.

         For the purposes of this Agreement, the "affirmative vote of a majority
of the outstanding shares" means the affirmative vote, at a duly called and held
meeting of shareholders, (a) of the holders of 67% or more of the shares of the
Fund present (in person or by proxy) and entitled to vote at such meeting, if
the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund entitled to
vote at such meeting are present in person or by proxy, or (b) of the holders of
more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund entitled to vote at such
meeting, whichever is less.

         For the purposes of this Agreement, the terms "affiliated person",
"control", "interested person" and "assignment" shall have their respective
meanings defined in the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder,
subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the 1940 Act; the term "specifically approve at least
annually" shall be construed in a manner consistent with the 1940 Act and the
rules and regulations thereunder; and the term "brokerage and research services"
shall have the meaning given in the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder.

8.       NONLIABILITY OF SUBADVISER.

         In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on
the part of the Subadviser, or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties
hereunder, the Subadviser shall not be subject to any liability to the Manager,
to the Trust, to the Fund, or to any shareholder, officer, director or Trustee
thereof, for any act or omission in the course of, or connected with, rendering
services hereunder.

9.       EXERCISE OF VOTING RIGHTS.

         Except with the agreement or on the specific instructions of the
Trustees or the Manager, the Subadviser shall exercise or procure the exercise
of any voting right attaching to investments of the Fund.

10.      NOTICES.

         All notices, requests and consents shall be in writing and shall be
personally delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, to the other
party at such address as may be furnished in writing by such party.



3250133.06
                                                        A-5

<PAGE>



11.      DISCLOSURE.

         The Manager shall not, without the prior written or oral consent of the
Subadviser, make representations regarding or reference to the Subadviser in any
disclosure document, advertisement, sales literature or other promotional
materials, provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Manager will be
permitted to identify the Subadviser (but not to include any information
relating to the Subadviser that does not relate to the Fund except to the extent
required by applicable law) in any such disclosure document, advertisement,
sales literature or other promotional materials.


3250133.06
                                                        A-6

<PAGE>



         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, CATERPILLAR INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LTD.
and J. P. MORGAN INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC. have each caused this
instrument to be signed in duplicate on its behalf by its duly authorized
representative, all as of the day and year first above written.


                                     CATERPILLAR INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LTD.



                                     By: _______________________________
                                         Title:


                                     J. P. MORGAN INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT INC.


                                     By: _______________________________
                                         Title:


         The foregoing is accepted by:


                                     THE PREFERRED GROUP OF MUTUAL FUNDS


                                     By: _______________________________
                                         Title:


3250133.06
                                       A-7

<PAGE>


                                   SCHEDULE A


         1.       For purposes of calculating the fee to be paid to the 
Subadviser under this Agreement:

                  "Fund Assets" shall mean the net assets of the Fund;

                  "Average Quarterly Net Assets" shall mean the average of the
         net asset value of the Fund Assets, as the case may be, as of the last
         business day of each month in the calendar quarter.

         2. The Subadviser fee shall be paid in arrears (within 10 days of
receipt by the Manager of an invoice from the Subadviser) based upon the Average
Quarterly Net Assets during the preceding calendar quarter. The fee payable for
the calendar quarter shall be calculated by applying the annual rate of 0.20% to
the Average Quarterly Net Assets and dividing by four. For a calendar quarter in
which this Agreement becomes effective or terminates, the portion of the
Subadviser fee due hereunder shall be prorated on the basis of the number of
days that the Agreement is in effect during the calendar quarter.



3250133.06
                                                        A-1

<PAGE>


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