ARK FUNDS/MA
497, 2000-05-11
Previous: SANTA FE ENERGY TRUST, 10-Q, 2000-05-11
Next: CANANDAIGUA FUNDS, 497, 2000-05-11





                                                                     Rule 497(e)
                                                  File Nos. 333-53690; 811-07310

[Logo Omitted]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Graphic Omitted]

CORPORATE CLASS
PROSPECTUS

APRIL 21, 2000

U.S. TREASURY CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO
U.S. GOVERNMENT CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO
PRIME CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO
TAX-FREE CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO
<PAGE>

[Logo Omitted] CORPORATE CLASS PROSPECTUS   APRIL 21, 2000

HOW TO READ THIS PROSPECTUS

ARK FUNDS IS A MUTUAL FUND FAMILY THAT OFFERS SHARES IN SEPARATE INVESTMENT
PORTFOLIOS (PORTFOLIOS). THE PORTFOLIOS HAVE INDIVIDUAL INVESTMENT GOALS AND
STRATEGIES. THIS PROSPECTUS GIVES YOU IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE CORPORATE
CLASS SHARES OF THE PORTFOLIOS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE INVESTING. PLEASE
READ THIS PROSPECTUS AND KEEP IT FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.


INTRODUCTION - INFORMATION COMMON TO ALL PORTFOLIOS

Each Portfolio is a mutual fund. A mutual fund pools shareholders' money and,
using professional investment managers, invests it in securities.

Each Portfolio has its own investment goal and strategies for reaching that
goal. The investment advisor invests each Portfolio's assets in a way that it
believes will help each Portfolio achieve its goal. Still, investing in each
Portfolio involves risk, and there is no guarantee that a Portfolio will achieve
its goal. The investment advisor's judgments about the markets, the economy, or
companies may not anticipate actual market movements, economic conditions or
company performance, and these judgments may affect the return on your
investment. In fact, no matter how good a job the investment advisor does, you
could lose money on your investment in a Portfolio, just as you could with other
investments. A Portfolio share is not a bank deposit and it is not insured or
guaranteed by the FDIC or any government agency.

THE PORTFOLIOS TRY TO MAINTAIN A CONSTANT PRICE PER SHARE OF $1.00, BUT THERE IS
NO GUARANTEE THAT THESE PORTFOLIOS WILL ACHIEVE THIS GOAL.

THIS PROSPECTUS HAS BEEN ARRANGED INTO DIFFERENT SECTIONS SO THAT YOU CAN EASILY
REVIEW THIS IMPORTANT INFORMATION. FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT EACH
PORTFOLIO, PLEASE SEE:

                                                                            PAGE
U.S. TREASURY CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO                                        2
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. GOVERNMENT CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO                                      4
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRIME CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO                                                6
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAX-FREE CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO                                             8
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT RISK                                             10
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EACH PORTFOLIO'S OTHER INVESTMENTS                                            11
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT ADVISOR                                                            12
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PURCHASING, SELLING AND EXCHANGING PORTFOLIO SHARES                           13
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISTRIBUTION OF PORTFOLIO SHARES                                              15
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS                                                   15
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAXES                                                                         15
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT ARK FUNDS                                                       BACK COVER
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

INVESTMENT ADVISOR:
ALLIED INVESTMENT ADVISORS, INC.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these
securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to
the contrary is a criminal offense.

<PAGE>


ARK U.S. TREASURY CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

INVESTMENT GOAL
Maximizing current income and providing liquidity and security of principal

INVESTMENT FOCUS
Short-term U.S. Treasury securities

SHARE PRICE VOLATILITY
Very low

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY
Investing in U.S. Treasury obligations

INVESTOR PROFILE
Conservative investors seeking current income through a low-risk, liquid
investment

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY OF THE U.S. TREASURY CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO

The U.S. Treasury Cash Management Portfolio is a money market fund that seeks
its investment goal by investing exclusively in U.S. Treasury obligations.

In selecting securities for the Portfolio, the Advisor considers factors such as
current yield, the anticipated level of interest rates, and the maturity of the
instrument relative to the maturity of the entire Portfolio. In addition, the
Portfolio may only purchase securities that meet certain SEC requirements
relating to maturity, diversification and credit quality. Under these
requirements, the Portfolio's securities must have remaining maturities of 397
days or less, and the Portfolio must have a dollar-weighted average maturity of
90 days or less.


PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE U.S. TREASURY CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO
An investment in the Portfolio is subject to income risk, which is the
possibility that the Portfolio's yield will decline due to falling interest
rates. A Portfolio share is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed
by the FDIC or any government agency. In addition, although a money market fund
seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is
possible to lose money by investing in the Portfolio.

The Portfolio's U.S. Treasury securities are not guaranteed against price
movements due to changing interest rates.


PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
As of the date of this prospectus the Portfolio has not yet commenced operations
and does not have a full calendar year of performance.

2 PROSPECTUS


<PAGE>

PORTFOLIO FEES AND EXPENSES
Every mutual fund has operating expenses to pay for services such as
professional advisory, shareholder, distribution, administration and custody
services and other costs of doing business. This table describes the fees and
expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

ANNUAL PORTFOLIO OPERATING EXPENSES
(EXPENSES DEDUCTED FROM PORTFOLIO ASSETS)

                                        CORPORATE
                                          CLASS

Investment Advisory Fees                  0.15%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Distribution and Shareholder
Service (12b-1) Fees                       None
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Other Expenses                            0.18%*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TOTAL ANNUAL PORTFOLIO
OPERATING EXPENSES                        0.33%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fee Waivers and
Expense Reimbursements                    0.09%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES              0.24%**
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 * AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS THE PORTFOLIO HAS NOT YET COMMENCED
   OPERATIONS AND OTHER EXPENSES ARE BASED ON ESTIMATES FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL
   YEAR.
** THE PORTFOLIO'S ADVISOR HAS AGREED TO CONTRACTUALLY WAIVE FEES AND
   REIMBURSE EXPENSES IN ORDER TO KEEP TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES FROM EXCEEDING
   0.24% UNTIL APRIL 30, 2001.

   FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE FEES, SEE "INVESTMENT ADVISOR" AND
   "DISTRIBUTION OF PORTFOLIO SHARES."

EXAMPLE
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the
Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes
that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and that
you sell your shares at the end of the period.

The Example also assumes that each year your investment has a 5% return and
Portfolio expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs and returns might
be different, your approximate costs of investing $10,000 in the Portfolio would
be:

                  1 YEAR      3 YEARS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                    $25          $97
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    PROSPECTUS 3

<PAGE>

ARK U.S. GOVERNMENT CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

INVESTMENT GOAL
Maximizing current income and providing liquidity and security of principal

INVESTMENT FOCUS
Short-term U.S. government securities

SHARE PRICE VOLATILITY
Very low

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY
Investing in U.S. government obligations and repurchase agreements

INVESTOR PROFILE
Conservative investors seeking current income through a low-risk, liquid
investment

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO
The U.S. Government Cash Management Portfolio is a money market fund that seeks
its investment goal by investing exclusively in obligations issued by the U.S.
government and its agencies and instrumentalities and in repurchase agreements.

In selecting securities for the Portfolio, the Advisor considers factors such as
current yield, the anticipated level of interest rates, and the maturity of the
instrument relative to the maturity of the entire Portfolio. In addition, the
Portfolio may only purchase securities that meet certain SEC requirements
relating to maturity, diversification and credit quality. Under these
requirements, the Portfolio's securities must have remaining maturities of 397
days or less, and the Portfolio must have a dollar-weighted average maturity of
90 days or less.


PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE U.S. GOVERNMENT CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO
An investment in the Portfolio is subject to income risk, which is the
possibility that the Portfolio's yield will decline due to falling interest
rates. A Portfolio share is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed
by the FDIC or any government agency. In addition, although a money market fund
seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is
possible to lose money by investing in the Portfolio.

The Portfolio's U.S. government securities are not guaranteed against price
movements due to changing interest rates. Obligations issued by some U.S.
government agencies are backed by the U.S. Treasury, while others are backed
solely by the ability of the agency to borrow from the U.S. Treasury or by the
agency's own resources.


PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
As of the date of this prospectus the Portfolio has not yet commenced operations
and does not have a full calendar year of performance.

4 PROSPECTUS


<PAGE>

PORTFOLIO FEES AND EXPENSES
Every mutual fund has operating expenses to pay for services such as
professional advisory, shareholder, distribution, administration and custody
services and other costs of doing business. This table describes the fees and
expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

ANNUAL PORTFOLIO OPERATING EXPENSES
(EXPENSES DEDUCTED FROM PORTFOLIO ASSETS)

                                        CORPORATE
                                          CLASS

Investment Advisory Fees                  0.15%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Distribution and Shareholder
Service (12b-1) Fees                       None
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Other Expenses                            0.18%*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TOTAL ANNUAL PORTFOLIO
 OPERATING EXPENSES                       0.33%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fee Waivers and
Expense Reimbursements                    0.09%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES              0.24%**
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 * AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS THE PORTFOLIO HAS NOT YET COMMENCED
   OPERATIONS AND OTHER EXPENSES ARE BASED ON ESTIMATES FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL
   YEAR.
** THE PORTFOLIO'S ADVISOR HAS AGREED TO CONTRACTUALLY WAIVE FEES AND
   REIMBURSE EXPENSES IN ORDER TO KEEP TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES FROM EXCEEDING
   0.24% UNTIL APRIL 30, 2001.

   FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE FEES, SEE "INVESTMENT ADVISOR" AND
   "DISTRIBUTION OF PORTFOLIO SHARES."

EXAMPLE
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the
Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes
that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and that
you sell your shares at the end of the period.

The Example also assumes that each year your investment has a 5% return and
Portfolio expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs and returns might
be different, your approximate costs of investing $10,000 in the Portfolio would
be:

                  1 YEAR      3 YEARS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                    $25          $97
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    PROSPECTUS 5


                                                                          <PAGE>

ARK PRIME CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

INVESTMENT GOAL
Maximizing current income and providing liquidity and security of principal

INVESTMENT FOCUS
Short-term money market instruments

SHARE PRICE VOLATILITY
Very low

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY
Investing in high-quality U.S. dollar-denominated money market securities

INVESTOR PROFILE
Conservative investors seeking current income through a low-risk, liquid
investment


PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY OF THE PRIME CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO
The Prime Cash Management Portfolio is a money market fund that seeks its
investment goal by investing primarily in high-quality, short-term U.S.
dollar-denominated debt securities issued by corporations, the U.S. government
and banks, including U.S. and foreign branches of U.S. banks and U.S. branches
of foreign banks. At least 95% of such securities are rated in the highest
rating category by two or more nationally recognized statistical rating
organizations.

In selecting securities for the Portfolio, the Advisor considers factors such as
current yield, the anticipated level of interest rates, and the maturity of the
instrument relative to the maturity of the entire Portfolio. In addition, the
Portfolio may only purchase securities that meet certain SEC requirements
relating to maturity, diversification and credit quality. Under these
requirements, the Portfolio's securities must have remaining maturities of 397
days or less, and the Portfolio must have a dollar-weighted average maturity of
90 days or less.


PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE PRIME CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO
An investment in the Portfolio is subject to income risk, which is the
possibility that the Portfolio's yield will decline due to falling interest
rates. A Portfolio share is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed
by the FDIC or any government agency. In addition, although a money market fund
seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is
possible to lose money by investing in the Portfolio.

The Portfolio's securities are not guaranteed against price movements due to
changing interest rates. Obligations issued by some U.S. government agencies are
backed by the U.S. Treasury, while others are backed solely by the ability of
the agency to borrow from the U.S. Treasury or by the agency's own resources.


PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
As of the date of this prospectus the Portfolio has not yet commenced operations
and does not have a full calendar year of performance.

6 PROSPECTUS


<PAGE>

PORTFOLIO FEES AND EXPENSES
Every mutual fund has operating expenses to pay for services such as
professional advisory, shareholder, distribution, administration and custody
services and other costs of doing business. This table describes the fees and
expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

ANNUAL PORTFOLIO OPERATING EXPENSES
(EXPENSES DEDUCTED FROM PORTFOLIO ASSETS)

                                        CORPORATE
                                          CLASS

Investment Advisory Fees                  0.15%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution and Shareholder
Service (12b-1) Fees                       None
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other Expenses                            0.18%*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL ANNUAL PORTFOLIO
OPERATING EXPENSES                        0.33%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fee Waivers and
Expense Reimbursements                    0.09%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES              0.24%**
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 * AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS THE PORTFOLIO HAS NOT YET COMMENCED
   OPERATIONS AND OTHER EXPENSES ARE BASED ON ESTIMATES FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL
   YEAR.
** THE PORTFOLIO'S ADVISOR HAS AGREED TO CONTRACTUALLY WAIVE FEES AND
   REIMBURSE EXPENSES IN ORDER TO KEEP TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES FROM EXCEEDING
   0.24% UNTIL APRIL 30, 2001.

   FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE FEES, SEE "INVESTMENT ADVISOR" AND
   "DISTRIBUTION OF PORTFOLIO SHARES."

EXAMPLE
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the
Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes
that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and that
you sell your shares at the end of the period.

The Example also assumes that each year your investment has a 5% return and
Portfolio expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs and returns might
be different, your approximate costs of investing $10,000 in the Portfolio would
be:

                  1 YEAR      3 YEARS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    $25          $97
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    PROSPECTUS 7


                                                                          <PAGE>

ARK TAX-FREE CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

INVESTMENT GOAL
Maximizing current income exempt from Federal income taxes and providing
liquidity and security of principal

INVESTMENT FOCUS
Short-term, high-quality municipal money market obligations

SHARE PRICE VOLATILITY
Very low

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY
Investing in tax-exempt U.S. dollar-denominated money market securities

INVESTOR PROFILE
Conservative investors seeking tax-exempt income through a low-risk, liquid
investment


PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY OF THE TAX-FREE CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO
The Tax-Free Cash Management Portfolio is a money market fund that seeks its
investment goal by investing substantially all of its assets in a broad range of
high quality, short-term municipal money market instruments that pay interest
that is exempt from Federal income taxes. The issuers of these securities may be
state and local governments and agencies located in any of the 50 states, the
District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories and possessions.
The Portfolio is well diversified among issuers and comprised only of short-term
debt securities that are rated in the two highest categories by nationally
recognized statistical rating organizations or determined by the Advisor to be
of equal credit quality. The Portfolio will not invest in securities subject to
the alternative minimum tax or in taxable municipal securities.

In selecting securities for the Portfolio, the Advisor considers factors such as
current yield, the anticipated level of interest rates, and the maturity of the
instrument relative to the maturity of the entire Portfolio. In addition, the
Portfolio may only purchase securities that meet certain SEC requirements
relating to maturity, diversification and credit quality. Under these
requirements, the Portfolio's securities must have remaining maturities of 397
days or less, and the Portfolio must have a dollar-weighted average maturity of
90 days or less.


PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE TAX-FREE CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO
An investment in the Portfolio is subject to income risk, which is the
possibility that the Portfolio's yield will decline due to falling interest
rates. A Portfolio share is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed
by the FDIC or any government agency. In addition, although a money market fund
seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is
possible to lose money by investing in the Portfolio.

There may be economic or political changes that impact the ability of municipal
issuers to repay principal and to make interest payments on municipal
securities. Changes in the financial condition or credit rating of municipal
issuers also may adversely affect the value of the Portfolio's securities.


PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
The Portfolio commenced operations on the date of this prospectus and does not
have a full calendar year of performance.

8 PROSPECTUS


<PAGE>

PORTFOLIO FEES AND EXPENSES
Every mutual fund has operating expenses to pay for services such as
professional advisory, shareholder, distribution, administration and custody
services and other costs of doing business. This table describes the fees and
expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

ANNUAL PORTFOLIO OPERATING EXPENSES
(EXPENSES DEDUCTED FROM PORTFOLIO ASSETS)

                                         CORPORATE
                                           CLASS

Investment Advisory Fees                  0.15%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution and Shareholder
Service (12b-1) Fees                       None
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other Expenses                            0.18%*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL ANNUAL PORTFOLIO
OPERATING EXPENSES                        0.33%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fee Waivers and
Expense Reimbursements                    0.09%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES              0.24%**
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 * AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS THE PORTFOLIO HAS NOT YET COMMENCED
   OPERATIONS AND OTHER EXPENSES ARE BASED ON ESTIMATES FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL
   YEAR.
** THE PORTFOLIO'S ADVISOR HAS AGREED TO CONTRACTUALLY WAIVE FEES AND
   REIMBURSE EXPENSES IN ORDER TO KEEP TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES FROM EXCEEDING
   0.24% UNTIL APRIL 30, 2001.

   FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE FEES, SEE "INVESTMENT ADVISOR" AND
   "DISTRIBUTION OF PORTFOLIO SHARES."

EXAMPLE
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the
Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes
that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and that
you sell your shares at the end of the period.

The Example also assumes that each year your investment has a 5% return and
Portfolio expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs and returns might
be different, your approximate costs of investing $10,000 in the Portfolio would
be:

                  1 YEAR      3 YEARS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    $25          $97
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    PROSPECTUS 9

                                                                          <PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT RISK

RISKS                                                                             PORTFOLIOS AFFECTED BY THE RISKS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                               <C>
MUNICIPAL ISSUER RISK - There may be economic or political changes that           Tax-Free Cash Management Portfolio
impact the ability of municipal issuers to repay principal and to make interest
payments on municipal securities. Changes to the financial condition or credit
rating of municipal issuers may also adversely affect the value of the
Portfolio's municipal securities. Constitutional or legislative limits on
borrowing by municipal issuers may result in reduced supplies of municipal
securities. Moreover, certain municipal securities are backed only by a
municipal issuer's ability to levy and collect taxes.

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

YEAR 2000 RISK - The Portfolios depend on the smooth functioning of               All Portfolios
computer systems in almost every aspect of their business. Like other mutual
funds, businesses and individuals around the world, the Portfolios could be
adversely affected if the computer systems used by their mission-critical
service providers do not properly process dates on and after January 1, 2000,
and do not distinguish between the year 2000 and the year 1900, or are subject
to other date recognition or similar systems issues. Since January 1, 2000, the
Portfolios and their mission-critical service providers have not experienced any
material adverse consequences to the computer systems affecting the Portfolios.
The Portfolios and their shareholders may experience losses if any computer
difficulties are experienced in the future by issuers of portfolio securities or
third parties, such as custodians, banks, broker-dealers or others with which
the Portfolios do business.
</TABLE>



10 PROSPECTUS


<PAGE>

EACH PORTFOLIO'S OTHER INVESTMENTS
This prospectus describes the Portfolios' primary strategies, and each Portfolio
will invest at least 80% of its total assets in the types of securities
described in this prospectus. However, each Portfolio also may invest in other
securities, use other strategies and engage in other investment practices. These
investments and strategies, as well as those described in this prospectus, are
described in detail in our Statement of Additional Information. Of course, there
is no guarantee that any Portfolio will achieve its investment goal.



                                                                   PROSPECTUS 11


                                                                          <PAGE>

INVESTMENT ADVISOR

The Portfolio's Investment Advisor makes investment decisions for the Portfolios
and continuously reviews, supervises and administers the Portfolios' respective
investment programs.

The Board of Trustees of the ARK Funds supervises the Advisor and establishes
policies that the Advisor must follow in its management activities.

Allied Investment Advisors, Inc. (AIA), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Allfirst
Bank (formerly, First National Bank of Maryland) (Allfirst) serves as the
Advisor to the Portfolios. As of March 31, 2000, AIA had approximately $14.7
billion in assets under management. Under the advisory contract between ARK
Funds and AIA, AIA is entitled to receive advisory fees of:

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Treasury Cash Management Portfolio                    0.15%*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Government Cash Management Portfolio                  0.15%*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prime Cash Management Portfolio                            0.15%*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tax-Free Cash Management Portfolio                         0.15%*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS THE PORTFOLIOS HAVE NOT YET COMMENCED
  OPERATIONS AND HAVE NOT PAID ANY ADVISORY FEES. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES HAS
  APPROVED AN INVESTMENT ADVISORY FEE OF 0.15%, HOWEVER, THE PORTFOLIO'S ADVISOR
  HAS AGREED TO CONTRACTUALLY WAIVE FEES AND REIMBURSE EXPENSES IN ORDER TO KEEP
  TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES FROM EXCEEDING 0.24% UNTIL APRIL 30, 2001. WITH THESE
  FEE WAIVERS, THE ACTUAL ADVISORY FEES RECEIVED BY AIA WILL BE LOWER THAN
  0.15%.


PORTFOLIO MANAGER

JAMES M. HANNAN is a Principal of AIA and manager of each Portfolio. He is also
manager of the ARK U.S. Treasury Money Market Portfolio, the ARK U.S. Government
Money Market Portfolio, the ARK Money Market Portfolio, the ARK Tax-Free Money
Market Portfolio, the ARK Pennsylvania Tax-Free Money Market Portfolio, and the
ARK Short-Term Treasury Portfolio and is responsible for several separately
managed institutional portfolios which he has managed since 1992. Since 1987 he
has served in several capacities at Allfirst and currently is a Vice President.
Prior to 1987 he served as the Treasurer for the city of Hyattsville, Maryland.

12 PROSPECTUS

<PAGE>


PURCHASING, SELLING AND EXCHANGING PORTFOLIO SHARES

This section tells you how to purchase, sell (sometimes called "redeem") or
exchange Corporate Class Shares of the Portfolios.

Purchases of Corporate Class Shares are subject to minimum investment
requirements, which are described below. For information call 1-888-427-5386.


HOW TO PURCHASE PORTFOLIO SHARES
You may purchase Corporate Class Shares by placing orders with the Fund's
transfer agent (or its authorized agent). You may purchase shares directly by
Federal funds, wire or other funds immediately available to the Portfolios. A
Portfolio cannot accept checks, third-party checks, credit cards, credit card
checks or cash.

Investors who deal directly with a financial institution or financial
intermediary (investor representative) will have to follow the institution's or
intermediary's procedures for transacting with the Fund. For more information
about how to purchase or sell Fund shares through your financial institution,
you should contact your financial institution directly. Investors may be charged
a fee for purchase and/or redemption transactions effectuated through certain of
these broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries.


GENERAL INFORMATION
You may purchase shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and
the Federal Reserve are open for business (a Business Day). Shares cannot be
purchased by Federal Reserve wire on days when either the NYSE or the Federal
Reserve is closed.

A Portfolio or its distributor may reject any purchase order if it is determined
that accepting the order would not be in the best interests of the Portfolio or
its shareholders.

The price per share (the offering price) will be the net asset value per share
(NAV) next determined after a Portfolio receives your purchase order. We expect
that the NAV of the Portfolios will remain constant at $1.00 per share.

The U.S. Treasury Cash Management Portfolio and Tax-Free Cash Management
Portfolio calculate their NAV each Business Day at 12:00 noon Eastern time and
4:00 p.m. Eastern time. So, for you to be eligible to receive dividends declared
on the day you submit your purchase order, generally the Portfolio must receive
and accept your order and receive Federal funds (readily available funds) before
12:00 noon Eastern time. For orders received and accepted after 12:00 noon
Eastern time but before 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, you will begin earning dividends
on the next Business Day.

The Prime Cash Management Portfolio and U.S. Government Cash Management
Portfolio calculate their NAV each Business Day at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time. So,
for you to be eligible to receive dividends declared on the day you submit your
purchase order, generally the Portfolio must receive and accept your order and
receive Federal funds before 5:00 p.m. Eastern time.

When you purchase or sell Corporate Class Shares through certain financial
institutions (rather than directly from the Fund), you may have to transmit your
purchase and sale requests to your financial institution at an earlier time for
your transaction to become effective that day. This allows your financial
institution time to process your requests and transmit them to the Fund.

When the NYSE or Federal Reserve Bank of New York close early, the Portfolios
will advance the time on any such day by which purchase orders must be received.

                                                                   PROSPECTUS 13

                                                                          <PAGE>


PURCHASING, SELLING AND EXCHANGING PORTFOLIO SHARES


HOW WE CALCULATE NAV
NAV for one Portfolio share is the value of that share's portion of all of the
net assets in the Portfolio.

In calculating NAV for the Portfolios, we generally value a Portfolio's
investment portfolio using the amortized cost valuation method, which is
described in detail in our Statement of Additional Information. If this method
is determined to be unreliable during certain market conditions or for other
reasons, a Portfolio may value its securities at market price or fair value
prices may be determined in good faith using methods approved by the Board of
Trustees.

MINIMUM PURCHASES
To purchase shares for the first time, you must invest (through one or more
accounts) at least $10,000,000 in any Portfolio. Your subsequent investments in
any Portfolio may be made in any amount. There may be other minimums or
restrictions established by financial institutions or intermediaries when you
open your account.


HOW TO SELL YOUR PORTFOLIO SHARES
Holders of Corporate Class Shares may sell shares by telephone or by mail on any
Business Day. If you have questions, call 1-888-427-5386 or your investor
representative.

BY MAIL. To redeem by mail, send a written request to ARK Funds, P.O. Box 8525,
Boston, MA 02266-8525, or to your correspondent bank and follow their
procedures.

BY TELEPHONE. To redeem by telephone, call 1-888-427-5386 or your investor
representative.

RECEIVING YOUR MONEY
Normally, if we receive your redemption request by 12:00 noon Eastern time for
the U.S. Treasury Cash Management and Tax-Free Cash Management Portfolios or
1:30 p.m. Eastern time for the U.S. Government Cash Management and Prime Cash
Management Portfolios) on any Business Day, we will send your sale proceeds on
that day. Your proceeds can be wired to your bank account. The Portfolios
reserve the right to charge wire fees to investors. You may not close your
account by telephone.

SUSPENSION OF YOUR RIGHT TO SELL YOUR SHARES
A Portfolio may suspend your right to sell your shares if the NYSE restricts
trading, the SEC declares an emergency or for other reasons. More information
about this is in our Statement of Additional Information.


HOW TO EXCHANGE YOUR SHARES
You may exchange your Corporate Class Shares on any Business Day by contacting
us directly by telephone by calling 1-888-427-5386 or your investor
representative.

When you exchange shares, you are really selling your shares and buying other
Portfolio shares. So, your sale price and purchase price will be based on the
NAV next calculated after the Portfolio receives your exchange request. The
Portfolios reserve the right to modify or suspend this exchange privilege. An
exchange between the Corporate Class and another class of any Portfolio is
generally not permitted.

If your account drops below the minimum level because of redemptions, you may be
required to sell your shares. But, we will always give you at least 30 days'
written notice to give you time to add to your account and avoid the sale of
your shares.

14 PROSPECTUS

<PAGE>


DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS/TAXES

TELEPHONE TRANSACTIONS
Purchasing, selling and exchanging Portfolio shares over the telephone is
extremely convenient, but not without risk. Although the Fund has certain
safeguards and procedures to confirm the identity of callers and the
authenticity of instructions, the Fund is not responsible for any losses or
costs incurred by following telephone instructions we reasonably believe to be
genuine. If you or your financial institution transact with the Fund is over the
telephone, you will generally bear the risk of any loss.


DISTRIBUTION OF PORTFOLIO SHARES
SEI Investments Distribution Co., the distributor of ARK Funds, receives no
compensation for its distribution of Corporate Class Shares.


DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Dividends are declared daily and paid monthly. Each Portfolio makes
distributions of capital gains, if any, at least annually. If you own Portfolio
shares on a Portfolio's record date, you will be entitled to receive the
distribution.

You will receive dividends and distributions in the form of additional Portfolio
shares unless you elect to receive payment in cash. To elect cash payment, you
must notify your financial institution or intermediary in writing prior to the
date of the distribution. Your election will be effective for dividends and
distributions paid after your notice is received. To cancel your election,
simply send written notice.


TAXES
PLEASE CONSULT YOUR TAX ADVISOR REGARDING YOUR SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT FEDERAL,
STATE AND LOCAL INCOME TAXES. Below we have summarized some important tax issues
that affect the Portfolios and their shareholders. This summary is based on
current tax laws, which may change.

Each Portfolio will distribute substantially all of its income and capital
gains, if any. The dividends and distributions you receive may be subject to
Federal, state and local taxation, depending upon your tax situation.
Distributions you receive from a Portfolio may be taxable whether or not you
reinvest them. Income distributions are generally taxable at ordinary income tax
rates. Capital gains distributions are generally taxable at the rates applicable
to long-term capital gains. A SALE OR EXCHANGE OF SHARES IS GENERALLY A TAXABLE
EVENT.

The Tax-Free Cash Management Portfolio intends to distribute Federally
tax-exempt income. Income exempt from Federal tax may be subject to state and
local taxes. Any capital gains distributed by the Portfolio may be taxable.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT TAXES IS IN THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

                                                                   PROSPECTUS 15

                                                                          <PAGE>

NOTES

<PAGE>

HOW TO OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ARK FUNDS

INVESTMENT ADVISOR
Allied Investment Advisors, Inc.
100 E. Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21202

DISTRIBUTOR
SEI Investments Distribution Co.
One Freedom Valley Drive
Oaks, PA 19456

LEGAL COUNSEL
Piper Marbury Rudnick & Wolfe LLP
6225 Smith Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21209

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
KPMG LLP
99 High Street
Boston, MA 02110

[Logo Omitted]

More information about the Portfolios is available without charge through the
following:

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI)
The SAI dated April 21, 2000, includes detailed information about ARK Funds. The
SAI is on file with the SEC and is incorporated by reference into this
prospectus. This means that the SAI, for legal purposes, is a part of this
prospectus.

ANNUAL AND SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTS
These reports list each Portfolio's holdings and contain information from the
Portfolio's managers about strategies and recent market conditions and trends
and their impact on performance. The reports also contain detailed financial
information about the Portfolios.

TO OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION:
By Telephone: Call 1-888-427-5386
By Mail: Write to us at:
ARK Funds
P.O. Box 8525
Boston, MA 02266-8525

From the SEC: You can also obtain the SAI or the Annual and
Semi-Annual Reports, as well as other information about ARK Funds, from the
SEC's website (http://www.sec.gov). You may review and copy documents at the SEC
Public Reference Room in Washington, DC (for information call (202) 942-8090).
You may request documents by mail from the SEC, upon payment of a duplicating
fee, by (1) writing to: Securities and Exchange Commission, Public Reference
Section, Washington, DC 20549-6009 or (2) sending an electronic request to
[email protected]. ARK Funds' Investment Company Act registration number is
811-7310.
<PAGE>

[Logo Omitted]
[Graphic omitted]

[Logo Omitted]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Graphic Omitted]

CORPORATE II CLASS
PROSPECTUS

APRIL 21, 2000

U.S. TREASURY CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO
U.S. GOVERNMENT CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO
PRIME CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO
TAX-FREE CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO
<PAGE>

[Logo Omitted] CORPORATE II CLASS PROSPECTUS   APRIL 21, 2000

HOW TO READ THIS PROSPECTUS

ARK FUNDS IS A MUTUAL FUND FAMILY THAT OFFERS SHARES IN SEPARATE INVESTMENT
PORTFOLIOS (PORTFOLIOS). THE PORTFOLIOS HAVE INDIVIDUAL INVESTMENT GOALS AND
STRATEGIES. THIS PROSPECTUS GIVES YOU IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE CORPORATE
II CLASS SHARES OF THE PORTFOLIOS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE INVESTING. PLEASE
READ THIS PROSPECTUS AND KEEP IT FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.


INTRODUCTION - INFORMATION COMMON TO ALL PORTFOLIOS

Each Portfolio is a mutual fund. A mutual fund pools shareholders' money and,
using professional investment managers, invests it in securities.

Each Portfolio has its own investment goal and strategies for reaching that
goal. The investment advisor invests each Portfolio's assets in a way that it
believes will help each Portfolio achieve its goal. Still, investing in each
Portfolio involves risk, and there is no guarantee that a Portfolio will achieve
its goal. The investment advisor's judgments about the markets, the economy, or
companies may not anticipate actual market movements, economic conditions or
company performance, and these judgments may affect the return on your
investment. In fact, no matter how good a job the investment advisor does, you
could lose money on your investment in a Portfolio, just as you could with other
investments. A Portfolio share is not a bank deposit and it is not insured or
guaranteed by the FDIC or any government agency.

THE PORTFOLIOS TRY TO MAINTAIN A CONSTANT PRICE PER SHARE OF $1.00, BUT THERE IS
NO GUARANTEE THAT THESE  PORTFOLIOS  WILL ACHIEVE THIS GOAL.

THIS PROSPECTUS HAS BEEN ARRANGED INTO DIFFERENT SECTIONS SO THAT YOU CAN EASILY
REVIEW THIS IMPORTANT INFORMATION. FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT EACH
PORTFOLIO, PLEASE SEE:
                                                                            PAGE
U.S. TREASURY CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO                                        2
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. GOVERNMENT CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO                                      4
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRIME CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO                                                6
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAX-FREE CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO                                             8
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT RISK                                             10
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EACH PORTFOLIO'S OTHER INVESTMENTS                                            11
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT ADVISOR                                                            12
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PURCHASING, SELLING AND EXCHANGING PORTFOLIO SHARES                           13
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISTRIBUTION OF PORTFOLIO SHARES                                              15
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS                                                   15
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAXES                                                                         15
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT ARK FUNDS                                                       BACK COVER
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

INVESTMENT ADVISOR:
ALLIED INVESTMENT ADVISORS, INC.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these
securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to
the contrary is a criminal offense.
<PAGE>

ARK U.S. TREASURY CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

INVESTMENT GOAL
Maximizing current income and providing liquidity and security of principal

INVESTMENT FOCUS
Short-term U.S. Treasury securities

SHARE PRICE VOLATILITY
Very low

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY
Investing in U.S. Treasury obligations

INVESTOR PROFILE
Conservative investors seeking current income through a low-risk, liquid
investment

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY OF THE U.S. TREASURY CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO
The U.S. Treasury Cash Management Portfolio is a money market fund that seeks
its investment goal by investing exclusively in U.S. Treasury obligations.

In selecting securities for the Portfolio, the Advisor considers factors such as
current yield, the anticipated level of interest rates, and the maturity of the
instrument relative to the maturity of the entire Portfolio. In addition, the
Portfolio may only purchase securities that meet certain SEC requirements
relating to maturity, diversification and credit quality. Under these
requirements, the Portfolio's securities must have remaining maturities of 397
days or less, and the Portfolio must have a dollar-weighted average maturity of
90 days or less.


PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE U.S. TREASURY CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO
An investment in the Portfolio is subject to income risk, which is the
possibility that the Portfolio's yield will decline due to falling interest
rates. A Portfolio share is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed
by the FDIC or any government agency. In addition, although a money market fund
seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is
possible to lose money by investing in the Portfolio.

The Portfolio's U.S. Treasury securities are not guaranteed against price
movements due to changing interest rates.


PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
As of the date of this prospectus the Portfolio has not yet commenced operations
and does not have a full calendar year of performance.


2 PROSPECTUS

<PAGE>

PORTFOLIO FEES AND EXPENSES
Every mutual fund has operating expenses to pay for services such as
professional advisory, shareholder, distribution, administration and custody
services and other costs of doing business. This table describes the fees and
expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

ANNUAL PORTFOLIO OPERATING EXPENSES
(EXPENSES DEDUCTED FROM PORTFOLIO ASSETS)

                                       CORPORATE II
                                          CLASS

Investment Advisory Fees                  0.15%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution and Shareholder
Service (12b-1) Fees                      0.25%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other Expenses                            0.18%*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL ANNUAL PORTFOLIO
OPERATING EXPENSES                        0.58%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fee Waivers and
Expense Reimbursements                    0.09%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES              0.49%**
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 * AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS THE PORTFOLIO HAS NOT YET COMMENCED
   OPERATIONS AND OTHER EXPENSES ARE BASED ON ESTIMATES FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL
   YEAR.
** THE PORTFOLIO'S ADVISOR HAS AGREED TO CONTRACTUALLY WAIVE FEES AND
   REIMBURSE EXPENSES IN ORDER TO KEEP TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES FROM EXCEEDING
   0.49% UNTIL APRIL 30, 2001.

   FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE FEES, SEE "INVESTMENT ADVISOR" AND
   "DISTRIBUTION OF PORTFOLIO SHARES."

EXAMPLE
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the
Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes
that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and that
you sell your shares at the end of the period.

The Example also assumes that each year your investment has a 5% return and
Portfolio expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs and returns might
be different, your approximate costs of investing $10,000 in the Portfolio would
be:

                  1 YEAR      3 YEARS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    $50         $177
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    PROSPECTUS 3

<PAGE>

ARK U.S. GOVERNMENT CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

INVESTMENT GOAL
Maximizing current income and providing liquidity and security of principal

INVESTMENT FOCUS
Short-term U.S. government securities

SHARE PRICE VOLATILITY
Very low

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY
Investing in U.S. government obligations and repurchase agreements

INVESTOR PROFILE
Conservative investors seeking current income through a low-risk, liquid
investment



PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT
STRATEGY OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO
The U.S. Government Cash Management Portfolio is a money market fund that seeks
its investment goal by investing exclusively in obligations issued by the U.S.
government and its agencies and instrumentalities and in repurchase agreements.

In selecting securities for the Portfolio, the Advisor considers factors such as
current yield, the anticipated level of interest rates, and the maturity of the
instrument relative to the maturity of the entire Portfolio. In addition, the
Portfolio may only purchase securities that meet certain SEC requirements
relating to maturity, diversification and credit quality. Under these
requirements, the Portfolio's securities must have remaining maturities of 397
days or less, and the Portfolio must have a dollar-weighted average maturity of
90 days or less.


PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE U.S. GOVERNMENT CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO
An investment in the Portfolio is subject to income risk, which is the
possibility that the Portfolio's yield will decline due to falling interest
rates. A Portfolio share is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed
by the FDIC or any government agency. In addition, although a money market fund
seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is
possible to lose money by investing in the Portfolio.

The Portfolio's U.S. government securities are not guaranteed against price
movements due to changing interest rates. Obligations issued by some U.S.
government agencies are backed by the U.S. Treasury, while others are backed
solely by the ability of the agency to borrow from the U.S. Treasury or by the
agency's own resources.


PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
As of the date of this prospectus the Portfolio has not yet commenced operations
and does not have a full calendar year of performance.


4 PROSPECTUS

<PAGE>

PORTFOLIO FEES AND EXPENSES
Every mutual fund has operating expenses to pay for services such as
professional advisory, shareholder, distribution, administration and custody
services and other costs of doing business. This table describes the fees and
expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

ANNUAL PORTFOLIO OPERATING EXPENSES
(EXPENSES DEDUCTED FROM PORTFOLIO ASSETS)

                                       CORPORATE II
                                          CLASS

Investment Advisory Fees                  0.15%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution and Shareholder
Service (12b-1) Fees                      0.25%

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other Expenses                            0.18%*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL ANNUAL PORTFOLIO
 OPERATING EXPENSES                       0.58%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fee Waivers and
Expense Reimbursements                    0.09%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES              0.49%**
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 * AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS THE PORTFOLIO HAS NOT YET COMMENCED
   OPERATIONS AND OTHER EXPENSES ARE BASED ON ESTIMATES FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL
   YEAR.
** THE PORTFOLIO'S ADVISOR HAS AGREED TO CONTRACTUALLY WAIVE FEES AND
   REIMBURSE EXPENSES IN ORDER TO KEEP TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES FROM EXCEEDING
   0.49% UNTIL APRIL 30, 2001.

   FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE FEES, SEE "INVESTMENT ADVISOR" AND
   "DISTRIBUTION OF PORTFOLIO SHARES."

EXAMPLE
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the
Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes
that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and that
you sell your shares at the end of the period.

The Example also assumes that each year your investment has a 5% return and
Portfolio expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs and returns might
be different, your approximate costs of investing $10,000 in the Portfolio would
be:

                  1 YEAR      3 YEARS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    $50         $177
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    PROSPECTUS 5

<PAGE>


ARK PRIME CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

INVESTMENT GOAL
Maximizing current income and providing liquidity and security of principal

INVESTMENT FOCUS
Short-term money market instruments

SHARE PRICE VOLATILITY
Very low

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY
Investing in high-quality U.S. dollar-denominated money market securities

INVESTOR PROFILE
Conservative investors seeking current income through a low-risk, liquid
investment

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY OF THE PRIME CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO
The Prime Cash Management Portfolio is a money market fund that seeks its
investment goal by investing primarily in high-quality, short-term U.S.
dollar-denominated debt securities issued by corporations, the U.S. government
and banks, including U.S. and foreign branches of U.S. banks and U.S. branches
of foreign banks. At least 95% of such securities are rated in the highest
rating category by two or more nationally recognized statistical rating
organizations.

In selecting securities for the Portfolio, the Advisor considers factors such as
current yield, the anticipated level of interest rates, and the maturity of the
instrument relative to the maturity of the entire Portfolio. In addition, the
Portfolio may only purchase securities that meet certain SEC requirements
relating to maturity, diversification and credit quality. Under these
requirements, the Portfolio's securities must have remaining maturities of 397
days or less, and the Portfolio must have a dollar-weighted average maturity of
90 days or less.


PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE PRIME CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO
An investment in the Portfolio is subject to income risk, which is the
possibility that the Portfolio's yield will decline due to falling interest
rates. A Portfolio share is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed
by the FDIC or any government agency. In addition, although a money market fund
seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is
possible to lose money by investing in the Portfolio.

The Portfolio's securities are not guaranteed against price movements due to
changing interest rates. Obligations issued by some U.S. government agencies are
backed by the U.S. Treasury, while others are backed solely by the ability of
the agency to borrow from the U.S. Treasury or by the agency's own resources.


PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
As of the date of this prospectus the Portfolio has not yet commenced operations
and does not have a full calendar year of performance.

6 PROSPECTUS

<PAGE>

PORTFOLIO FEES AND EXPENSES
Every mutual fund has operating expenses to pay for services such as
professional advisory, shareholder, distribution, administration and custody
services and other costs of doing business. This table describes the fees and
expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

ANNUAL PORTFOLIO OPERATING EXPENSES
(EXPENSES DEDUCTED FROM PORTFOLIO ASSETS)

                                       CORPORATE II
                                          CLASS

Investment Advisory Fees                   0.15%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution and Shareholder
Service (12b-1) Fees                       0.25%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Other Expenses                             0.18%*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL ANNUAL PORTFOLIO
OPERATING EXPENSES                         0.58%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fee Waivers and
Expense Reimbursements                     0.09%

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES              0.49%**
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 * AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS THE PORTFOLIO HAS NOT YET COMMENCED
   OPERATIONS AND OTHER EXPENSES ARE BASED ON ESTIMATES FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL
   YEAR.
** THE PORTFOLIO'S ADVISOR HAS AGREED TO CONTRACTUALLY WAIVE FEES AND
   REIMBURSE EXPENSES IN ORDER TO KEEP TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES FROM EXCEEDING
   0.49% UNTIL APRIL 30, 2001.

   FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE FEES, SEE "INVESTMENT ADVISOR" AND
   "DISTRIBUTION OF PORTFOLIO SHARES."

EXAMPLE
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the
Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes
that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and that
you sell your shares at the end of the period.

The Example also assumes that each year your investment has a 5% return and
Portfolio expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs and returns might
be different, your approximate costs of investing $10,000 in the Portfolio would
be:

                  1 YEAR      3 YEARS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    $50         $177
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    PROSPECTUS 7

<PAGE>
ARK TAX-FREE CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

INVESTMENT GOAL
Maximizing current income exempt from Federal income taxes and providing
liquidity and security of principal

INVESTMENT FOCUS
Short-term, high-quality municipal money market obligations

SHARE PRICE VOLATILITY
Very low

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY
Investing in tax-exempt U.S. dollar-denominated money market securities

INVESTOR PROFILE
Conservative investors seeking tax-exempt income through a low-risk, liquid
investment

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY OF THE TAX-FREE CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO
The Tax-Free Cash Management Portfolio is a money market fund that seeks its
investment goal by investing substantially all of its assets in a broad range of
high quality, short-term municipal money market instruments that pay interest
that is exempt from Federal income taxes. The issuers of these securities may be
state and local governments and agencies located in any of the 50 states, the
District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories and possessions.
The Portfolio is well diversified among issuers and comprised only of short-term
debt securities that are rated in the two highest categories by nationally
recognized statistical rating organizations or determined by the Advisor to be
of equal credit quality. The Portfolio will not invest in securities subject to
the alternative minimum tax or in taxable municipal securities.

In selecting securities for the Portfolio, the Advisor considers factors such as
current yield, the anticipated level of interest rates, and the maturity of the
instrument relative to the maturity of the entire Portfolio. In addition, the
Portfolio may only purchase securities that meet certain SEC requirements
relating to maturity, diversification and credit quality. Under these
requirements, the Portfolio's securities must have remaining maturities of 397
days or less, and the Portfolio must have a dollar-weighted average maturity of
90 days or less.


PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE TAX-FREE CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO
An investment in the Portfolio is subject to income risk, which is the
possibility that the Portfolio's yield will decline due to falling interest
rates. A Portfolio share is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed
by the FDIC or any government agency. In addition, although a money market fund
seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is
possible to lose money by investing in the Portfolio.

There may be economic or political changes that impact the ability of municipal
issuers to repay principal and to make interest payments on municipal
securities. Changes in the financial condition or credit rating of municipal
issuers also may adversely affect the value of the Portfolio's securities.


PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
The Portfolio commenced operations on the date of this prospectus and does not
have a full calendar year of performance.

8 PROSPECTUS

<PAGE>

PORTFOLIO FEES AND EXPENSES
Every mutual fund has operating expenses to pay for services such as
professional advisory, shareholder, distribution, administration and custody
services and other costs of doing business. This table describes the fees and
expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

ANNUAL PORTFOLIO OPERATING EXPENSES
(EXPENSES DEDUCTED FROM PORTFOLIO ASSETS)

                                       CORPORATE II
                                           CLASS

Investment Advisory Fees                  0.15%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution and Shareholder
Service (12b-1) Fees                      0.25%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other Expenses                            0.18%*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL ANNUAL PORTFOLIO
OPERATING EXPENSES                        0.58%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fee Waivers and
Expense Reimbursements                    0.09%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES              0.49%**
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 * AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS THE PORTFOLIO HAS NOT YET COMMENCED
   OPERATIONS AND OTHER EXPENSES ARE BASED ON ESTIMATES FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL
   YEAR.
** THE PORTFOLIO'S ADVISOR HAS AGREED TO CONTRACTUALLY WAIVE FEES AND
   REIMBURSE EXPENSES IN ORDER TO KEEP TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES FROM EXCEEDING
   0.49% UNTIL APRIL 30, 2001.

   FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE FEES, SEE "INVESTMENT ADVISOR" AND
   "DISTRIBUTION OF PORTFOLIO SHARES."

EXAMPLE
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the
Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes
that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and that
you sell your shares at the end of the period.

The Example also assumes that each year your investment has a 5% return and
Portfolio expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs and returns might
be different, your approximate costs of investing $10,000 in the Portfolio would
be:

                  1 YEAR      3 YEARS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    $50         $177
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    PROSPECTUS 9
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT RISK

<S>                                                                                <C>
RISKS                                                                              PORTFOLIOS AFFECTED BY THE RISKS
MUNICIPAL ISSUER RISK - There may be economic or political changes that            Tax-Free Cash Management Portfolio
impact the ability of municipal issuers to repay principal and to make interest
payments on municipal securities. Changes to the financial condition or credit
rating of municipal issuers may also adversely affect the value of the
Portfolio's municipal securities. Constitutional or legislative limits on
borrowing by municipal issuers may result in reduced supplies of municipal
securities. Moreover, certain municipal securities are backed only by a
municipal issuer's ability to levy and collect taxes.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YEAR 2000 RISK - The Portfolios depend on the smooth functioning of                All Portfolios
computer systems in almost every aspect of their business. Like other mutual
funds, businesses and individuals around the world, the Portfolios could be
adversely affected if the computer systems used by their mission-critical
service providers do not properly process dates on and after January 1, 2000,
and do not distinguish between the year 2000 and the year 1900, or are subject
to other date recognition or similar systems issues. Since January 1, 2000, the
Portfolios and their mission-critical service providers have not experienced any
material adverse consequences to the computer systems affecting the Portfolios.
The Portfolios and their shareholders may experience losses if any computer
difficulties are experienced in the future by issuers of portfolio securities or
third parties, such as custodians, banks, broker-dealers or others with which
the Portfolios do business.
</TABLE>

10 PROSPECTUS

<PAGE>


EACH PORTFOLIO'S OTHER INVESTMENTS
This prospectus describes the Portfolios' primary strategies, and each Portfolio
will invest at least 80% of its total assets in the types of securities
described in this prospectus. However, each Portfolio also may invest in other
securities, use other strategies and engage in other investment practices. These
investments and strategies, as well as those described in this prospectus, are
described in detail in our Statement of Additional Information. Of course, there
is no guarantee that any Portfolio will achieve its investment goal.


                                                                   PROSPECTUS 11
<PAGE>

INVESTMENT ADVISOR

The Portfolio's Investment Advisor makes investment decisions for the
Portfolios and continuously reviews, supervises and administers the Portfolios'
respective investment programs.

The Board of Trustees of the ARK Funds supervises the Advisor and establishes
policies that the Advisor must follow in its management activities.

Allied Investment Advisors, Inc. (AIA), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Allfirst
Bank (formerly, First National Bank of Maryland) (Allfirst) serves as the
Advisor to the Portfolios. As of March 31, 2000, AIA had approximately $14.7
billion in assets under management. Under the advisory contract between ARK
Funds and AIA, AIA is entitled to receive advisory fees of:

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Treasury Cash Management Portfolio                    0.15%*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Government Cash Management Portfolio                  0.15%*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prime Cash Management Portfolio                           0.15%*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tax-Free Cash Management Portfolio                        0.15%*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS THE PORTFOLIOS HAVE NOT YET COMMENCED
  OPERATIONS AND HAVE NOT PAID ANY ADVISORY FEES. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS
  APPROVED AN INVESTMENT ADVISORY FEE OF 0.15%, HOWEVER, THE PORTFOLIO'S ADVISOR
  HAS AGREED TO CONTRACTUALLY WAIVE FEES AND REIMBURSE EXPENSES IN ORDER TO KEEP
  TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES FROM EXCEEDING 0.49% UNTIL APRIL 30, 2001. WITH THESE
  FEE WAIVERS, THE ACTUAL ADVISORY FEES RECEIVED BY AIA WILL BE LOWER THAN
  0.15%.


PORTFOLIO MANAGER

JAMES M. HANNAN is a Principal of AIA and manager of each Portfolio. He is also
manager of the ARK U.S. Treasury Money Market Portfolio, the ARK U.S. Government
Money Market Portfolio, the ARK Money Market Portfolio, the ARK Tax-Free Money
Market Portfolio, the ARK Pennsylvania Tax-Free Money Market Portfolio, and the
ARK Short-Term Treasury Portfolio and is responsible for several separately
managed institutional portfolios which he has managed since 1992. Since 1987 he
has served in several capacities at Allfirst and currently is a Vice President.
Prior to 1987 he served as the Treasurer for the city of Hyattsville, Maryland.

12 PROSPECTUS

<PAGE>


PURCHASING, SELLING AND EXCHANGING PORTFOLIO SHARES

This section tells you how to purchase, sell (sometimes called "redeem") or
exchange Corporate II Class Shares of the Portfolios.

Purchases of Corporate II Class Shares are subject to minimum investment
requirements, which are described below. For information call 1-888-427-5386.


HOW TO PURCHASE PORTFOLIO SHARES
You may purchase Corporate II Class Shares by placing orders with the Fund's
transfer agent (or its authorized agent). You may purchase shares directly by
Federal funds, wire or other funds immediately available to the Portfolios. A
Portfolio cannot accept checks, third-party checks, credit cards, credit card
checks or cash.

Investors who deal directly with a financial institution or financial
intermediary (investor representative) will have to follow the institution's or
intermediary's procedures for transacting with the Fund. For more information
about how to purchase or sell Fund shares through your financial institution,
you should contact your financial institution directly. Investors may be charged
a fee for purchase and/or redemption transactions effectuated through certain of
these broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries.


GENERAL INFORMATION
You may purchase shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and
the Federal Reserve are open for business (a Business Day). Shares cannot be
purchased by Federal Reserve wire on days when either the NYSE or the Federal
Reserve is closed.

A Portfolio or its distributor may reject any purchase order if it is determined
that accepting the order would not be in the best interests of the Portfolio or
its shareholders.

The price per share (the offering price) will be the net asset value per share
(NAV) next determined after a Portfolio receives your purchase order. We expect
that the NAV of the Portfolios will remain constant at $1.00 per share.

The U.S. Treasury Cash Management Portfolio and Tax-Free Cash Management
Portfolio calculate their NAV each Business Day at 12:00 noon Eastern time and
4:00 p.m. Eastern time. So, for you to be eligible to receive dividends declared
on the day you submit your purchase order, generally the Portfolio must receive
and accept your order and receive Federal funds (readily available funds) before
12:00 noon Eastern time. For orders received and accepted after 12:00 noon
Eastern time but before 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, you will begin earning dividends
on the next Business Day.

The Prime Cash Management Portfolio and U.S. Government Cash Management
Portfolio calculate their NAV each Business Day at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time. So,
for you to be eligible to receive dividends declared on the day you submit your
purchase order, generally the Portfolio must receive and accept your order and
receive Federal funds before 5:00 p.m. Eastern time.

When you purchase or sell Corporate II Class Shares through certain financial
institutions (rather than directly from the Fund), you may have to transmit your
purchase and sale requests to your financial institution at an earlier time for
your transaction to become effective that day. This allows your financial
institution time to process your requests and transmit them to the Fund.

When the NYSE or Federal Reserve Bank of New York close early, the Portfolios
will advance the time on any such day by which purchase orders must be received.

                                                                   PROSPECTUS 13

<PAGE>


PURCHASING, SELLING AND EXCHANGING PORTFOLIO SHARES

HOW WE CALCULATE NAV
NAV for one Portfolio share is the value of that share's portion of all of the
net assets in the Portfolio.

In calculating NAV for the Portfolios, we generally value a Portfolio's
investment portfolio using the amortized cost valuation method, which is
described in detail in our Statement of Additional Information. If this method
is determined to be unreliable during certain market conditions or for other
reasons, a Portfolio may value its securities at market price or fair value
prices may be determined in good faith using methods approved by the Board of
Trustees.

MINIMUM PURCHASES
To purchase shares for the first time, you must invest (through one or more
accounts) at least $10,000,000 in any Portfolio. Your subsequent investments in
any Portfolio may be made in any amount. There may be other minimums or
restrictions established by financial institutions or intermediaries when you
open your account.


HOW TO SELL YOUR PORTFOLIO SHARES
Holders of Corporate II Class Shares may sell shares by telephone or by mail on
any Business Day. If you have questions, call 1-888-427-5386 or your investor
representative.

BY MAIL. To redeem by mail, send a written request to ARK Funds, P.O.Box 8525,
Boston, MA 02266-8525, or to your correspondent bank and follow their
procedures.

BY TELEPHONE. To redeem by telephone, call 1-888-427-5386 or your investor
representative.

RECEIVING YOUR MONEY
Normally, if we receive your redemption request by 12:00 noon Eastern time for
the U.S. Treasury Cash Manage-ment and Tax-Free Cash Management Portfolios or
1:30 p.m. Eastern time for the U.S. Government Cash Management and Prime Cash
Management Portfolios on any Business Day, we will send your sale proceeds on
that day. Your proceeds can be wired to your bank account. The Portfolios
reserve the right to charge wire fees to investors. You may not close your
account by telephone.

SUSPENSION OF YOUR RIGHT TO SELL YOUR SHARES
A Portfolio may suspend your right to sell your shares if the NYSE restricts
trading, the SEC declares an emergency or for other reasons. More information
about this is in our Statement of Additional Information.


HOW TO EXCHANGE YOUR SHARES
You may exchange your Corporate II Class Shares on any Business Day by
contacting us directly by telephone by calling 1-888-427-5386 or your investor
representative.

When you exchange shares, you are really selling your shares and buying other
Portfolio shares. So, your sale price and purchase price will be based on the
NAV next calculated after the Portfolio receives your exchange request. The
Portfolios reserve the right to modify or suspend this exchange privilege. An
exchange between the Corporate II Class and another class of any Portfolio is
generally not permitted.

If your account drops below the minimum level because of redemptions, you may be
required to sell your shares. But, we will always give you at least 30 days'
written notice to give you time to add to your account and avoid the sale of
your shares.

14 PROSPECTUS

<PAGE>

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS/TAXES

TELEPHONE TRANSACTIONS
Purchasing, selling and exchanging Portfolio shares over the telephone is
extremely convenient, but not without risk. Although the Fund has certain
safeguards and procedures to confirm the identity of callers and the
authenticity of instructions, the Fund is not responsible for any losses or
costs incurred by following telephone instructions we reasonably believe to be
genuine. If you or your financial institution transact with the Fund over the
telephone, you will generally bear the risk of any loss.


DISTRIBUTION OF PORTFOLIO SHARES
Each Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan that allows the Portfolio to pay
distribution and service fees for the sale and distribution of its shares, and
for services provided to shareholders. Because these fees are paid out of a
Portfolio's assets continuously, over time these fees will increase the cost of
your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.

Distribution fees, as a percentage of average daily net assets of each
Portfolio, are 0.25%.


DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Dividends are declared daily and paid monthly. Each Portfolio makes
distributions of capital gains, if any, at least annually. If you own Portfolio
shares on a Portfolio's record date, you will be entitled to receive the
distribution.

You will receive dividends and distributions in the form of additional Portfolio
shares unless you elect to receive payment in cash. To elect cash payment, you
must notify your financial institution or intermediary in writing prior to the
date of the distribution. Your election will be effective for dividends and
distributions paid after your notice is received. To cancel your election,
simply send written notice.


TAXES
PLEASE CONSULT YOUR TAX ADVISOR REGARDING YOUR SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT FEDERAL,
STATE AND LOCAL INCOME TAXES. Below we have summarized some important tax issues
that affect the Portfolios and their shareholders. This summary is based on
current tax laws, which may change.

Each Portfolio will distribute substantially all of its income and capital
gains, if any. The dividends and distributions you receive may be subject to
Federal, state and local taxation, depending upon your tax situation.
Distributions you receive from a Portfolio may be taxable whether or not you
reinvest them. Income distributions are generally taxable at ordinary income tax
rates. Capital gains distributions are generally taxable at the rates applicable
to long-term capital gains. A SALE OR EXCHANGE OF SHARES IS GENERALLY A TAXABLE
EVENT.

The Tax-Free Cash Management Portfolio intends to distribute Federally
tax-exempt income. Income exempt from Federal tax may be subject to state and
local taxes. Any capital gains distributed by the Portfolio may be taxable.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT TAXES IS IN THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.


                                                                   PROSPECTUS 15

<PAGE>

NOTES

<PAGE>



INVESTMENT ADVISOR
Allied Investment Advisors, Inc.
100 E. Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21202

DISTRIBUTOR
SEI Investments Distribution Co.
One Freedom Valley Drive
Oaks, PA 19456

LEGAL COUNSEL
Piper Marbury Rudnick & Wolfe LLP
6225 Smith Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21209

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
KPMG LLP
99 High Street
Boston, MA 02110

[Logo Omitted]

More information about the Portfolios is available without charge through the
following:

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI)
The SAI dated April 21, 2000, includes detailed information about ARK Funds. The
SAI is on file with the SEC and is incorporated by reference into this
prospectus. This means that the SAI, for legal purposes, is a part of this
prospectus.

ANNUAL AND SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTS
These reports list each Portfolio's holdings and contain information from the
Portfolio's managers about strategies and recent market conditions and trends
and their impact on performance. The reports also contain detailed financial
information about the Portfolios.

TO OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION:
By Telephone: Call 1-888-427-5386
By Mail: Write to us at:
ARK Funds
P.O. Box 8525
Boston, MA 02266-8525

From the SEC: You can also obtain the SAI or the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports,
as well as other information about ARK Funds, from the SEC's website
(http://www.sec.gov). You may review and copy documents at the SEC Public
Reference Room in Washington, DC (for information call (202) 942-8090). You may
request documents by mail from the SEC, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by
(1) writing to: Securities and Exchange Commission, Public Reference Section,
Washington, DC 20549-6009 or (2) sending an electronic request to
[email protected]. ARK Funds' Investment Company Act registration number is
811-7310.


<PAGE>
[Logo omitted]
[Graphic omitted]
[ARK Logo Omitted]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Graphic Omitted]

CORPORATE III CLASS
PROSPECTUS

APRIL 21, 2000

U.S. TREASURY CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO

U.S. GOVERNMENT CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO

PRIME CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO

TAX-FREE CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO

<PAGE>

[LOGO OMITTED] CORPORATE CLASS III PROSPECTUS   APRIL 21, 2000

HOW TO READ THIS PROSPECTUS

ARK FUNDS IS A MUTUAL FUND FAMILY THAT OFFERS SHARES IN SEPARATE INVESTMENT
PORTFOLIOS (PORTFOLIOS). THE PORTFOLIOS HAVE INDIVIDUAL INVESTMENT GOALS AND
STRATEGIES. THIS PROSPECTUS GIVES YOU IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE CORPORATE
III CLASS SHARES OF THE PORTFOLIOS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE INVESTING. PLEASE
READ THIS PROSPECTUS AND KEEP IT FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.

INTRODUCTION - INFORMATION COMMON TO ALL PORTFOLIOS

Each Portfolio is a mutual fund. A mutual fund pools shareholders' money and,
using professional investment managers, invests it in securities.

Each Portfolio has its own investment goal and strategies for reaching that
goal. The investment advisor invests each Portfolio's assets in a way that it
believes will help each Portfolio achieve its goal. Still, investing in each
Portfolio involves risk, and there is no guarantee that a Portfolio will achieve
its goal. The investment advisor's judgments about the markets, the economy, or
companies may not anticipate actual market movements, economic conditions or
company performance, and these judgments may affect the return on your
investment. In fact, no matter how good a job the investment advisor does, you
could lose money on your investment in a Portfolio, just as you could with other
investments. A Portfolio share is not a bank deposit and it is not insured or
guaranteed by the FDIC or any government agency.

THE PORTFOLIOS TRY TO MAINTAIN A CONSTANT PRICE PER SHARE OF $1.00, BUT THERE IS
NO GUARANTEE THAT THESE PORTFOLIOS WILL ACHIEVE THIS GOAL.

THIS PROSPECTUS HAS BEEN ARRANGED INTO DIFFERENT SECTIONS SO THAT YOU CAN EASILY
REVIEW THIS IMPORTANT INFORMATION. FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT EACH
PORTFOLIO, PLEASE SEE:

                                                                          PAGE

U.S. TREASURY CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO                                      2
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. GOVERNMENT CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO                                    4
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRIME CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO                                              6
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAX-FREE CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO                                           8
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT RISK                                           10
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EACH PORTFOLIO'S OTHER INVESTMENTS                                          11
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT ADVISOR                                                          12
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PURCHASING, SELLING AND EXCHANGING PORTFOLIO SHARES                         13
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISTRIBUTION OF PORTFOLIO SHARES                                            15
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS                                                 15
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAXES                                                                       15
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT ARK FUNDS                                                     BACK COVER
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


INVESTMENT ADVISOR:
ALLIED INVESTMENT ADVISORS, INC.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these
securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to
the contrary is a criminal offense.

<PAGE>

ARK U.S. TREASURY CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

INVESTMENT GOAL

Maximizing current
income and providing
liquidity and security of
principal

INVESTMENT FOCUS

Short-term U.S.
Treasury securities

SHARE PRICE VOLATILITY

Very low

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT
STRATEGY

Investing in U.S.
Treasury obligations

INVESTOR PROFILE

Conservative investors
seeking current income
through a low-risk,
liquid investment

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY OF THE U.S. TREASURY CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO

The U.S. Treasury Cash Management Portfolio is a money market fund that seeks
its investment goal by investing exclusively in U.S. Treasury obligations.

In selecting securities for the Portfolio, the Advisor considers factors such as
current yield, the anticipated level of interest rates, and the maturity of the
instrument relative to the maturity of the entire Portfolio. In addition, the
Portfolio may only purchase securities that meet certain SEC requirements
relating to maturity, diversification and credit quality. Under these
requirements, the Portfolio's securities must have remaining maturities of 397
days or less, and the Portfolio must have a dollar-weighted average maturity of
90 days or less.

PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE U.S. TREASURY CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO

An investment in the Portfolio is subject to income risk, which is the
possibility that the Portfolio's yield will decline due to falling interest
rates. A Portfolio share is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed
by the FDIC or any government agency. In addition, although a money market fund
seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is
possible to lose money by investing in the Portfolio.

The Portfolio's U.S. Treasury securities are not guaranteed against price
movements due to changing interest rates.

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

As of the date of this prospectus the Portfolio has not yet commenced operations
and does not have a full calendar year of performance.

2 PROSPECTUS

<PAGE>


PORTFOLIO FEES AND EXPENSES

Every mutual fund has operating expenses to pay for services such as
professional advisory, shareholder, distribution, administration and custody
services and other costs of doing business. This table describes the fees and
expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

ANNUAL PORTFOLIO OPERATING EXPENSES
(EXPENSES DEDUCTED FROM PORTFOLIO ASSETS)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            CORPORATE III
                                                                 CLASS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Advisory Fees                                         0.15%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution and Shareholder
Service (12b-1) Fees                                             0.40%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other Expenses                                                   0.18%*
================================================================================
TOTAL ANNUAL PORTFOLIO
OPERATING EXPENSES                                               0.73%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fee Waivers and
Expense Reimbursements                                           0.09%
================================================================================
NET TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES                                     0.64%**
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 * AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS, THE PORTFOLIO HAS NOT YET COMMENCED
   OPERATIONS AND OTHER EXPENSES ARE BASED ON ESTIMATES FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL
   YEAR.

** THE PORTFOLIO'S ADVISOR HAS AGREED TO CONTRACTUALLY WAIVE FEES AND REIMBURSE
   EXPENSES IN ORDER TO KEEP TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES FROM EXCEEDING 0.64% UNTIL
   APRIL 30, 2001.

   FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE FEES, SEE "INVESTMENT ADVISOR" AND
   "DISTRIBUTION OF PORTFOLIO SHARES."

EXAMPLE

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the
Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes
that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and that
you sell your shares at the end of the period.

The Example also assumes that each year your investment has a 5% return and
Portfolio expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs and returns might
be different, your approximate costs of investing $10,000 in the Portfolio would
be:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  1 YEAR      3 YEARS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    $65         $224
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                                                    PROSPECTUS 3

<PAGE>


ARK U.S. GOVERNMENT CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

INVESTMENT GOAL

Maximizing current
income and providing
liquidity and security of
principal

INVESTMENT FOCUS

Short-term U.S.
government securities

SHARE PRICE VOLATILITY

Very low

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT
STRATEGY

Investing in U.S.
government obligations
and repurchase
agreements

INVESTOR PROFILE

Conservative investors
seeking current income
through a low-risk,
liquid investment

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO

The U.S. Government Cash Management Portfolio is a money market fund that seeks
its investment goal by investing exclusively in obligations issued by the U.S.
government and its agencies and instrumentalities and in repurchase agreements.

In selecting securities for the Portfolio, the Advisor considers factors such as
current yield, the anticipated level of interest rates, and the maturity of the
instrument relative to the maturity of the entire Portfolio. In addition, the
Portfolio may only purchase securities that meet certain SEC requirements
relating to maturity, diversification and credit quality. Under these
requirements, the Portfolio's securities must have remaining maturities of 397
days or less, and the Portfolio must have a dollar-weighted average maturity of
90 days or less.

PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE U.S. GOVERNMENT CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO

An investment in the Portfolio is subject to income risk, which is the
possibility that the Portfolio's yield will decline due to falling interest
rates. A Portfolio share is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed
by the FDIC or any government agency. In addition, although a money market fund
seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is
possible to lose money by investing in the Portfolio.

The Portfolio's U.S. government securities are not guaranteed against price
movements due to changing interest rates. Obligations issued by some U.S.
government agencies are backed by the U.S. Treasury, while others are backed
solely by the ability of the agency to borrow from the U.S. Treasury or by the
agency's own resources.

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

As of the date of this prospectus the Portfolio has not yet commenced operations
and does not have a full calendar year of performance.

4 PROSPECTUS

<PAGE>


PORTFOLIO FEES AND EXPENSES

Every mutual fund has operating expenses to pay for services such as
professional advisory, shareholder, distribution, administration and custody
services and other costs of doing business. This table describes the fees and
expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

ANNUAL PORTFOLIO OPERATING EXPENSES
(EXPENSES DEDUCTED FROM PORTFOLIO ASSETS)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            CORPORATE III
                                                                 CLASS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Advisory Fees                                         0.15%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution and Shareholder
Service (12b-1) Fees                                             0.40%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other Expenses                                                   0.18%*
================================================================================
TOTAL ANNUAL PORTFOLIO
OPERATING EXPENSES                                               0.73%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fee Waivers and
Expense Reimbursements                                           0.09%
================================================================================
NET TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES                                     0.64%**
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 * AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS, THE PORTFOLIO HAS NOT YET COMMENCED
   OPERATIONS AND OTHER EXPENSES ARE BASED ON ESTIMATES FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL
   YEAR.

** THE PORTFOLIO'S ADVISOR HAS AGREED TO CONTRACTUALLY WAIVE FEES AND
   REIMBURSE EXPENSES IN ORDER TO KEEP TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES FROM EXCEEDING
   0.64% UNTIL APRIL 30, 2001.

   FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE FEES, SEE "INVESTMENT ADVISOR" AND
   "DISTRIBUTION OF PORTFOLIO SHARES."

EXAMPLE

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the
Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes
that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and that
you sell your shares at the end of the period.

The Example also assumes that each year your investment has a 5% return and
Portfolio expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs and returns might
be different, your approximate costs of investing $10,000 in the Portfolio would
be:

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  1 YEAR      3 YEARS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    $65         $224
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------




                                                                    PROSPECTUS 5

<PAGE>



ARK PRIME CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

INVESTMENT GOAL

Maximizing current
income and providing
liquidity and security of
principal

INVESTMENT FOCUS

Short-term money
market instruments

SHARE PRICE VOLATILITY

Very low

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT
STRATEGY

Investing in high-quality
U.S. dollar-denominated
money market securities

INVESTOR PROFILE

Conservative investors
seeking current income
through a low-risk,
liquid investment

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY OF THE PRIME CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO

The Prime Cash Management Portfolio is a money market fund that seeks its
investment goal by investing primarily in high-quality, short-term U.S. dollar-
denominated debt securities issued by corporations, the U.S. government and
banks, including U.S. and foreign branches of U.S. banks and U.S. branches of
foreign banks. At least 95% of such securities is rated in the highest rating
category by two or more nationally recognized statistical rating organizations.

In selecting securities for the Portfolio, the Advisor considers factors such as
current yield, the anticipated level of interest rates, and the maturity of the
instrument relative to the maturity of the entire Portfolio. In addition, the
Portfolio may only purchase securities that meet certain SEC requirements
relating to maturity, diversification and credit quality. Under these
requirements, the Portfolio's securities must have remaining maturities of 397
days or less, and the Portfolio must have a dollar-weighted average maturity of
90 days or less.

PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE PRIME CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO

An investment in the Portfolio is subject to income risk, which is the
possibility that the Portfolio's yield will decline due to falling interest
rates. A Portfolio share is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed
by the FDIC or any government agency. In addition, although a money market fund
seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is
possible to lose money by investing in the Portfolio.

The Portfolio's securities are not guaranteed against price movements due to
changing interest rates. Obligations issued by some U.S. government agencies are
backed by the U.S. Treasury, while others are backed solely by the ability of
the agency to borrow from the U.S. Treasury or by the agency's own resources.

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

As of the date of this prospectus the Portfolio has not yet commenced operations
and does not have a full calendar year of performance.

6 PROSPECTUS

<PAGE>

PORTFOLIO FEES AND EXPENSES

Every mutual fund has operating expenses to pay for services such as
professional advisory, shareholder, distribution, administration and custody
services and other costs of doing business. This table describes the fees and
expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

ANNUAL PORTFOLIO OPERATING EXPENSES
(EXPENSES DEDUCTED FROM PORTFOLIO ASSETS)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            CORPORATE III
                                                                 CLASS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Advisory Fees                                         0.15%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution and Shareholder
Service (12b-1) Fees                                             0.40%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other Expenses                                                   0.18%*
================================================================================
TOTAL ANNUAL PORTFOLIO
OPERATING EXPENSES                                               0.73%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fee Waivers and
Expense Reimbursements                                           0.09%
================================================================================
NET TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES                                     0.64%**
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 * AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS, THE PORTFOLIO HAS NOT YET COMMENCED
   OPERATIONS AND OTHER EXPENSES ARE BASED ON ESTIMATES FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL
   YEAR.

** THE PORTFOLIO'S ADVISOR HAS AGREED TO CONTRACTUALLY WAIVE FEES AND
   REIMBURSE EXPENSES IN ORDER TO KEEP TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES FROM EXCEEDING
   0.64% UNTIL APRIL 30, 2001.

   FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE FEES, SEE "INVESTMENT ADVISOR" AND
   "DISTRIBUTION OF PORTFOLIO SHARES."

EXAMPLE

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the
Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes
that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and that
you sell your shares at the end of the period.

The Example also assumes that each year your investment has a 5% return and
Portfolio expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs and returns might
be different, your approximate costs of investing $10,000 in the Portfolio would
be:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  1 YEAR      3 YEARS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    $65         $224
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------




PROSPECTUS 7

<PAGE>

ARK TAX-FREE CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

INVESTMENT GOAL

Maximizing current
income exempt from
Federal income taxes
and providing liquidity
and security of principal

INVESTMENT FOCUS

Short-term, high-quality
municipal money
market obligations

SHARE PRICE VOLATILITY

Very low

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT
STRATEGY

Investing in tax-exempt
U.S. dollar-denominated
money market securities

INVESTOR PROFILE

Conservative investors
seeking tax-exempt
income through a low-risk,
liquid investment

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY OF THE TAX-FREE CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO

The Tax-Free Cash Management Portfolio is a money market funds that seeks its
investment goal by investing substantially all of its assets in a broad range of
high quality, short-term municipal money market instruments that pay interest
that is exempt from Federal income taxes. The issuers of these securities may be
state and local governments and agencies located in any of the 50 states, the
District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories and possessions.
The Portfolio is well diversified among issuers and comprised only of short-term
debt securities that are rated in the two highest categories by nationally
recognized statistical rating organizations or determined by the Advisor to be
of equal credit quality. The Portfolio will not invest in securities subject to
the alternative minimum tax or in taxable municipal securities.

In selecting securities for the Portfolio, the Advisor considers factors such as
current yield, the anticipated level of interest rates, and the maturity of the
instrument relative to the maturity of the entire Portfolio. In addition, the
Portfolio may only purchase securities that meet certain SEC requirements
relating to maturity, diversification and credit quality. Under these
requirements, the Portfolio's securities must have remaining maturities of 397
days or less, and the Portfolio must have a dollar-weighted average maturity of
90 days or less.

PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE TAX-FREE CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO

An investment in the Portfolio is subject to income risk, which is the
possibility that the Portfolio's yield will decline due to falling interest
rates. A Portfolio share is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed
by the FDIC or any government agency. In addition, although a money market fund
seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is
possible to lose money by investing in the Portfolio.

There may be economic or political changes that impact the ability of municipal
issuers to repay principal and to make interest payments on municipal
securities. Changes in the financial condition or credit rating of municipal
issuers also may adversely affect the value of the Portfolio's securities.

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

As of the date of this prospectus the Portfolio has not yet commenced operations
and does not have a full calendar year of performance.

8 PROSPECTUS

<PAGE>

PORTFOLIO FEES AND EXPENSES

Every mutual fund has operating expenses to pay for services such as
professional advisory, shareholder, distribution, administration and custody
services and other costs of doing business. This table describes the fees and
expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

ANNUAL PORTFOLIO OPERATING EXPENSES
(EXPENSES DEDUCTED FROM PORTFOLIO ASSETS)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            CORPORATE III
                                                                 CLASS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Advisory Fees                                         0.15%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution and Shareholder
Service (12b-1) Fees                                             0.40%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other Expenses                                                   0.18%*
================================================================================
TOTAL ANNUAL PORTFOLIO
OPERATING EXPENSES                                               0.73%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fee Waivers and
Expense Reimbursements                                           0.09%
================================================================================
NET TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES                                     0.64%**
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 * AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS, THE PORTFOLIO HAS NOT YET COMMENCED
   OPERATIONS AND OTHER EXPENSES ARE BASED ON ESTIMATES FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL
   YEAR.

** THE PORTFOLIO'S ADVISOR HAS AGREED TO CONTRACTUALLY WAIVE FEES AND
   REIMBURSE EXPENSES IN ORDER TO KEEP TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES FROM EXCEEDING
   0.64% UNTIL APRIL 30, 2001.

   FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE FEES, SEE "INVESTMENT ADVISOR" AND
   "DISTRIBUTION OF PORTFOLIO SHARES."

EXAMPLE

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the
Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes
that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and that
you sell your shares at the end of the period.

The Example also assumes that each year your investment has a 5% return and
Portfolio expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs and returns might
be different, your approximate costs of investing $10,000 in the Portfolio would
be:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  1 YEAR      3 YEARS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    $65         $224
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------




                                                                    PROSPECTUS 9

<PAGE>

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT RISK
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                                              <C>
RISKS                                                                                          PORTFOLIOS AFFECTED BY THE RISKS

MUNICIPAL ISSUER RISK - There may be economic or political changes that                        Tax-Free Cash Management Portfolio
impact the ability of municipal issuers to repay principal and to make interest
payments on municipal securities. Changes to the financial condition or credit
rating of municipal issuers may also adversely affect the value of the
Portfolio's municipal securities. Constitutional or legislative limits on
borrowing by municipal issuers may result in reduced supplies of municipal
securities. Moreover, certain municipal securities are backed only by a
municipal issuer's ability to levy and collect taxes.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YEAR 2000 RISK - The Portfolios depend on the smooth functioning of                            All Portfolios
computer systems in almost every aspect of their business. Like other mutual
funds, businesses and individuals around the world, the Portfolios could be
adversely affected if the computer systems used by their mission-critical
service providers do not properly process dates on and after January 1, 2000,
and do not distinguish between the year 2000 and the year 1900, or are subject
to other date recognition or similar systems issues. Since January 1, 2000, the
Portfolios and their mission-critical service providers have not experienced any
material adverse consequences to computer systems affecting the Portfolios. The
Portfolios and their shareholders may experience losses if any computer
difficulties are experienced in the future by issuers of portfolio securities or
third parties, such as custodians, banks, broker-dealers or others with which
the Portfolios do business.
</TABLE>

10 PROSPECTUS

<PAGE>

                                              EACH PORTFOLIO'S OTHER INVESTMENTS

                             This prospectus describes the Portfolios' primary
                             strategies, and each Portfolio will invest at
                             least 80% of its total assets in the types of
                             securities described in this prospectus. However,
                             each Portfolio also may invest in other securities,
                             use other strategies and engage in other investment
                             practices. These investments and strategies, as
                             well as those described in this prospectus, are
                             described in detail in our Statement of Additional
                             Information. Of course, there is no guarantee that
                             any Portfolio will achieve its investment goal.



                                                                   PROSPECTUS 11

<PAGE>

INVESTMENT ADVISOR

The Portfolio's Investment Advisor makes investment decisions for the Portfolios
and continuously reviews, supervises and administers the Portfolios' respective
investment programs.

The Board of Trustees of the ARK Funds supervises the Advisor and establishes
policies that the Advisor must follow in its management activities.

Allied Investment Advisors, Inc. (AIA), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Allfirst
Bank (formerly, First National Bank of Maryland) (Allfirst) serves as the
Advisor to the Portfolios. As of March 31, 2000, AIA had approximately $14.7
billion in assets under management. Under the advisory contract between ARK
Funds and AIA, AIA is entitled to receive advisory fees of:

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Treasury Cash Management Portfolio                               0.15%*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Government Cash Management Portfolio                             0.15%*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prime Cash Management  Portfolio                                      0.15%*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tax-Free  Cash Management Portfolio                                   0.15%*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS THE PORTFOLIOS HAVE NOT YET COMMENCED
  OPERATIONS AND HAVE NOT PAID ANY ADVISORY FEES. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS
  APPROVED AN INVESTMENT ADVISORY FEE OF 0.15%, HOWEVER, THE PORTFOLIO'S
  ADVISOR HAS AGREED TO CONTRACTUALLY WAIVE FEES AND REIMBURSE EXPENSES IN ORDER
  TO KEEP TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES FROM EXCEEDING 0.64% UNTIL APRIL 30, 2001.
  WITH THESE FEE WAIVERS, THE ACTUAL ADVISORY FEES RECEIVED BY AIA WILL BE LOWER
  THAN 0.15%.


PORTFOLIO MANAGER

JAMES M. HANNAN is a Principal of AIA and manager of each Portfolio. He is also
manager of the ARK U.S. Treasury Money Market Portfolio, the ARK U.S. Government
Money Market Portfolio, the ARK Money Market Portfolio, the ARK Tax-Free Money
Market Portfolio, the ARK Pennsylvania Tax-Free Money Market Portfolio, and the
ARK Short-Term Treasury Portfolio and is responsible for several separately
managed institutional portfolios which he has managed since 1992. Since 1987 he
has served in several capacities at Allfirst and currently is a Vice President.
Prior to 1987 he served as the Treasurer for the city of Hyattsville, Maryland.

12 PROSPECTUS

<PAGE>

              PURCHASING, SELLING AND EXCHANGING PORTFOLIO SHARES

This section tells you how to purchase, sell (sometimes called "redeem") or
exchange Corporate III Class Shares of the Portfolios.

Purchases of Corporate III Class Shares are subject to minimum investment
requirements, which are described below. For information call 1-888-427-5386.

HOW TO PURCHASE PORTFOLIO SHARES

You may purchase Corporate III Class Shares by placing orders with the Fund's
transfer agent (or its authorized agent). You may purchase shares directly by
Federal funds, wire or other funds immediately available to the Portfolios. A
Portfolio cannot accept checks, third-party checks, credit cards, credit card
checks or cash.

Investors who deal directly with a financial institution or financial
intermediary (investor representative) will have to follow the institution's or
intermediary's procedures for transacting with the Fund. For more information
about how to purchase or sell Fund shares through your financial institution,
you should contact your financial institution directly. Investors may be charged
a fee for purchase and/or redemption transactions effectuated through certain of
these broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries.

GENERAL INFORMATION

You may purchase shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and
the Federal Reserve are open for business (a Business Day). Shares cannot be
purchased by Federal Reserve wire on days when either the NYSE or the Federal
Reserve is closed.

A Portfolio or its distributor may reject any purchase order if it is determined
that accepting the order would not be in the best interests of the Portfolio or
its shareholders.

The price per share (the offering price) will be the net asset value per share
(NAV) next determined after a Portfolio receives your purchase order. We expect
that the NAV of the Portfolios will remain constant at $1.00 per share.

The U.S. Treasury Cash Management Portfolio and Tax-Free Cash Management
Portfolio calculate their NAV each Business Day at 12:00 noon Eastern time and
4:00 p.m. Eastern time. So, for you to be eligible to receive dividends declared
on the day you submit your purchase order, generally the Portfolio must receive
and accept your order and receive Federal funds (readily available funds) before
12:00 noon Eastern time. For orders received and accepted after 12:00 noon
Eastern time but before 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, you will begin earning dividends
on the next Business Day.

The Prime Cash Management Portfolio and U.S. Government Cash Management
Portfolio calculate their NAV each Business Day at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time. So,
for you to be eligible to receive dividends declared on the day you submit your
purchase order, generally the Portfolio must receive and accept your order and
receive Federal funds before 5:00 p.m. Eastern time.

When you purchase or sell Corporate III Class Shares through certain financial
institutions (rather than directly from the Fund), you may have to transmit your
purchase and sale requests to your financial institution at an earlier time for
your transaction to become effective that day. This allows your financial
institution time to process your requests and transmit them to the Fund.

When the NYSE or Federal Reserve Bank of New York close early, the Portfolios
will advance the time on any such day by which purchase orders must be received.

                                                                   PROSPECTUS 13

<PAGE>

PURCHASING, SELLING AND EXCHANGING PORTFOLIO SHARES

HOW WE CALCULATE NAV

NAV for one Portfolio share is the value of that share's portion of all of the
net assets in the Portfolio.

In calculating NAV for the Portfolios, we generally value a Portfolio's
investment portfolio using the amortized cost valuation method, which is
described in detail in our Statement of Additional Information. If this method
is determined to be unreliable during certain market conditions or for other
reasons, a Portfolio may value its securities at market price or fair value
prices may be determined in good faith using methods approved by the Board of
Trustees.

MINIMUM PURCHASES

To purchase shares for the first time, you must invest (through one or more
accounts) at least $10,000,000 in any Portfolio. Your subsequent investments in
any Portfolio may be made in any amount. There may be other minimums or
restrictions established by financial institutions or intermediaries when you
open your account.

HOW TO SELL YOUR PORTFOLIO SHARES

Holders of Corporate III Class Shares may sell shares by telephone or by mail on
any Business Day. If you have questions, call 1-888-427-5386 or your investor
representative.

BY MAIL. To redeem by mail, send a written request to ARK Funds, P.O. Box 8525,
Boston, MA 02266-8525, or to your correspondent bank and follow their
procedures.

BY TELEPHONE. To redeem by telephone, call 1-888-427-5386 or your investor
representative.

RECEIVING YOUR MONEY

Normally, if we receive your redemption request by 12:00 noon Eastern time for
the U.S. Treasury Cash Management and Tax-Free Cash Management Portfolios or
1:30 p.m. Eastern time for the U.S. Government Cash Management and Prime Cash
Management Portfolios on any Business Day, we will send your sale proceeds on
that day. Your proceeds can be wired to your bank account. The Portfolios
reserve the right to charge wire fees to investors. You may not close your
account by telephone.

SUSPENSION OF YOUR RIGHT TO SELL YOUR SHARES

A Portfolio may suspend your right to sell your shares if the NYSE restricts
trading, the SEC declares an emergency or for other reasons. More information
about this is in our Statement of Additional Information.

HOW TO EXCHANGE YOUR SHARES

You may exchange your Corporate Class III Shares on any Business Day by
contacting us directly by telephone by calling 1-888-427-5386 or your investor
representative.

When you exchange shares, you are really selling your shares and buying other
Portfolio shares. So, your sale price and purchase price will be based on the
NAV next calculated after the Portfolio receives your exchange request. The
Portfolios reserve the right to modify or suspend this exchange privilege. An
exchange between the Corporate III Class and another class of any Portfolio is
generally not permitted.

If your account drops below the minimum level because of redemptions, you may be
required to sell your shares. But, we will always give you at least 30 days'
written notice to give you time to add to your account and avoid the sale of
your shares.

14 PROSPECTUS

<PAGE>

TELEPHONE TRANSACTIONS

Purchasing, selling and exchanging Portfolio shares over the telephone is
extremely convenient, but not without risk. Although the Fund has certain
safeguards and procedures to confirm the identity of callers and the
authenticity of instructions, the Fund is not responsible for any losses or
costs incurred by following telephone instructions we reasonably believe to be
genuine. If you or your financial institution transact with the Fund over the
telephone, you will generally bear the risk of any loss.

DISTRIBUTION OF PORTFOLIO SHARES

Each Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan that allows the Portfolio to pay
distribution and service fees for the sale and distribution of its shares, and
for services provided to shareholders. Because these fees are paid out of a
Portfolio's assets continuously, over time these fees will increase the cost of
your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.

Distribution fees, as a percentage of average daily net assets of each
Portfolio, are 0.40%.

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

Dividends are declared daily and paid monthly. Each Portfolio makes
distributions of capital gains, if any, at least annually. If you own Portfolio
shares on a Portfolio's record date, you will be entitled to receive the
distribution.

You will receive dividends and distributions in the form of additional Portfolio
shares unless you elect to receive payment in cash. To elect cash payment, you
must notify your financial institution or intermediary in writing prior to the
date of the distribution. Your election will be effective for dividends and
distributions paid after your notice is received. To cancel your election,
simply send written notice.

TAXES

PLEASE CONSULT YOUR TAX ADVISOR REGARDING YOUR SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT FEDERAL,
STATE AND LOCAL INCOME TAXES. Below we have summarized some important tax issues
that affect the Portfolios and their shareholders. This summary is based on
current tax laws, which may change.

Each Portfolio will distribute substantially all of its income and capital
gains, if any. The dividends and distributions you receive may be subject to
Federal, state and local taxation, depending upon your tax situation.
Distributions you receive from a Portfolio may be taxable whether or not you
reinvest them. Income distributions are generally taxable at ordinary income tax
rates. Capital gains distributions are generally taxable at the rates applicable
to long-term capital gains. A SALE OR EXCHANGE OF SHARES IS GENERALLY A TAXABLE
EVENT.

The Tax-Free Cash Management Portfolio intends to distribute Federally
tax-exempt income. Income exempt from Federal tax may be subject to state and
local taxes. Any capital gains distributed by the Portfolio may be taxable.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT TAXES IS IN THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.


                                                                   PROSPECTUS 15

<PAGE>


NOTES

<PAGE>

HOW TO OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ARK FUNDS

INVESTMENT ADVISOR
Allied Investment Advisors, Inc.
100 E. Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21202

DISTRIBUTOR
SEI Investments Distribution Co.
One Freedom Valley Drive
Oaks, PA 19456

LEGAL COUNSEL
Piper Marbury Rudnick & Wolfe LLP
6225 Smith Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21209

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
KPMG LLP
99 High Street
Boston, MA 02110

[Logo Omitted]                 More information about the Portfolios is
                               available without charge through the following:

                               STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI)

                               The SAI dated April 21, 2000, includes detailed
                               information about ARK Funds. The SAI is on file
                               with the SEC and is incorporated by reference
                               into this prospectus. This means that the SAI,
                               for legal purposes, is a part of this prospectus.

                               ANNUAL AND SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTS

                               These reports list each Portfolio's holdings and
                               contain information from the Portfolio's managers
                               about strategies and recent market conditions and
                               trends and their impact on performance. The
                               reports also contain detailed financial
                               information about the Portfolios.

                               TO OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION:

                               By Telephone: Call 1-888-427-5386
                               By Mail: Write to us at:
                               ARK Funds
                               P.O. Box 8525
                               Boston, MA 02266-8525

                               From the SEC: You can also obtain the SAI or the
                               Annual and Semi-Annual Reports, as well as other
                               information about ARK Funds, from the SEC's
                               website (http://www.sec.gov). You may review and
                               copy documents at the SEC Public Reference Room
                               in Washington, DC (for information call
                               (202) 942-8090). You may request documents by
                               mail from the SEC, upon payment of a duplicating
                               fee, by (1) writing to: Securities and Exchange
                               Commission, Public Reference Section, Washington,
                               DC 20549-6009 or (2) sending an electronic
                               request to [email protected]. ARK Funds'
                               Investment Company Act registration number is
                               811-7310.
<PAGE>

[Logo Omitted]
[Graphic Omitted]

                                    ARK FUNDS
                       STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
           CORPORATE CLASS - CORPORATE II CLASS - CORPORATE III CLASS
                                 APRIL 21, 2000

         This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus but should
be read in conjunction with the current  prospectuses  dated April 21, 2000, for
Corporate Class,  Corporate II Class and Corporate III Class shares of ARK Funds
(the  "Fund").  Please retain this  document for future  reference.  Capitalized
terms  used  by  not  defined  herein  have  the  meanings  given  them  in  the
prospectuses.  To obtain additional copies of the prospectuses or this Statement
of Additional Information, please call 1-888-427-5386.

TABLE OF CONTENTS                                                           PAGE

INVESTMENT GOALS AND STRATEGIES................................................1

INVESTMENT POLICIES AND LIMITATIONS............................................3

INVESTMENT PRACTICES...........................................................7

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS........................................................17

VALUATION OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES.............................................18

PORTFOLIO PERFORMANCE.........................................................19

ADDITIONAL PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION................................19

TAXES.........................................................................21

TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS.........................................................25

CODE OF ETHICS................................................................28

INVESTMENT ADVISOR............................................................29

ADMINISTRATOR AND DISTRIBUTOR.................................................30

TRANSFER AGENT................................................................33

DESCRIPTION OF THE FUND.......................................................33

CUSTODIAN.....................................................................35

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS..........................................................36

APPENDIX A - 2000 TAX RATES..................................................A-1


<PAGE>


                         INVESTMENT GOALS AND STRATEGIES

         The Fund consists of separate  investment  portfolios with a variety of
investment  objectives  and  policies.  A  Portfolio's   investment  advisor  is
responsible for providing a continuous investment program in accordance with its
investment objective and policies. Except for its investment objective and those
policies  identified as fundamental,  the investment  policies of the Portfolios
are not  fundamental  and may be  changed by the Board of  Trustees  of the Fund
without  shareholder  approval.  The  investment  objectives and policies of the
Portfolios are set forth below.  Additional  information  regarding the types of
securities  in  which  the   Portfolios   may  invest  and  certain   investment
transactions  is  provided  in the Fund's  prospectuses  and  elsewhere  in this
Statement of Additional Information. See "Investment Policies and Limitations."

         The U.S.  TREASURY CASH  MANAGEMENT  PORTFOLIO,  U.S.  GOVERNMENT  CASH
MANAGEMENT  PORTFOLIO,  PRIME  CASH  MANAGEMENT  PORTFOLIO,  and  TAX-FREE  CASH
MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO (the "PORTFOLIOS") invest in high-quality, short-term, U.S.
dollar-denominated  instruments  determined  by the  adviser to present  minimal
credit risks in accordance with guidelines adopted by the Board of Trustees. The
Portfolios  seek to maintain a net asset  value per share of $1.00,  limit their
investments  to securities  with  remaining  maturities of 397 days or less, and
maintain a dollar-weighted average maturity of 90 days or less. Estimates may be
used in determining a security's  maturity for purposes of  calculating  average
maturity. An estimated maturity can be substantially shorter than a stated final
maturity.  Although the  Portfolios'  policies  are designed to help  maintain a
stable $1.00 share price, all money market  instruments can change in value when
interest rates or issuers' creditworthiness change, or if an issuer or guarantor
of a security  fails to pay interest or principal  when due. If these changes in
value are large  enough,  a Portfolio's  share price could fall below $1.00.  In
general, securities with longer maturities are more vulnerable to price changes,
although they may provide higher yields.

         The investment goal of the U.S.  TREASURY CASH MANAGEMENT  PORTFOLIO is
to maximize  current  income and provide  liquidity and security of principal by
investing in  instruments  which are issued or  guaranteed  as to principal  and
interest by the U.S.  government and thus constitute  direct  obligations of the
United States.  As a  non-fundamental  operating  policy,  the Portfolio invests
exclusively in U.S. Treasury bills,  notes and bonds, and limits its investments
to U.S. Treasury obligations that pay interest which is specifically exempt from
state and local taxes under Federal law.

         The investment goal of the U.S. GOVERNMENT CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO is
to maximize  current  income and provide  liquidity and security of principal by
investing in  instruments  which are issued or  guaranteed  as to principal  and
interest by the U.S.  government  or any of its  agencies  or  instrumentalities
("U.S.  Government  Securities"),  or in  repurchase  agreements  backed by such
instruments.  As a non-fundamental  policy, the Portfolio invests

                                       1

<PAGE>

exclusively in U.S. Government Securities and in repurchase agreements backed by
such  instruments.  The  Portfolio  normally  may not invest more than 5% of its
total  assets  in the  securities  of any  single  issuer  (other  than the U.S.
government).  Under certain conditions,  however, the Portfolio may invest up to
25% of its total assets in  first-tier  securities  of a single issuer for up to
three days.

         The  investment  goal of the  PRIME  CASH  MANAGEMENT  PORTFOLIO  is to
maximize  current  income and provide  liquidity  and  security of  principal by
investing in abroad range of short-term,  high-quality  U.S.  dollar-denominated
debt securities ("Money Market Instruments").  At least 95% of the assets of the
Portfolio  will be invested in securities  that have received the highest rating
assigned  by any two  nationally  recognized  statistical  rating  organizations
("NRSROs") or, if only one such rating  organization has assigned a rating, such
single  organization.  Up to 5% of the  Portfolio's  assets may be  invested  in
securities that have received  ratings in the second highest category by any two
NRSROs or, if only one such  rating  organization  has  assigned a rating,  such
single   organization.   The  Portfolio  may  also  acquire  unrated  securities
determined  by the advisor to be  comparable  in quality to rated  securities in
accordance with guidelines  adopted by the Board of Trustees.  The Portfolio may
invest in U.S. dollar-denominated obligations of U.S. banks and foreign branches
of U.S.  banks  ("Eurodollars"),  U.S.  branches and  agencies of foreign  banks
("Yankee  dollars"),  and foreign  branches of foreign banks.  The Portfolio may
also invest more than 25% of its total assets in certain obligations of domestic
banks and  normally  may not  invest  more  than 5% of its  total  assets in the
securities of any single issuer (other than the U.S. government).  Under certain
conditions,  however,  the Portfolio may invest up to 25% of its total assets in
first-tier securities of a single issuer for up to three days.

         The  investment  goal of the TAX-FREE CASH  MANAGEMENT  PORTFOLIO is to
provide a high level of interest  income by investing  primarily in high-quality
municipal  obligations  that are exempt from Federal income taxes. The Portfolio
attempts to invest 100% of its assets in securities  exempt from Federal  income
tax (not  including the  alternative  minimum tax),  and maintains a fundamental
policy that at least 80% of its income will, under normal market conditions,  be
exempt from Federal income tax, including the Federal  alternative  minimum tax.
The Portfolio invests in high-quality,  short-term  municipal securities but may
also  invest in  high-quality,  long-term  fixed,  variable,  or  floating  rate
instruments  (including  tender  option  bonds)  which have  demand  features or
interest rate adjustment features that result in interest rates, maturities, and
prices  similar  to  short-term  instruments.  The  Portfolio's  investments  in
municipal  securities  may include tax,  revenue,  or bond  anticipation  notes;
tax-exempt  commercial  paper;  general  obligation or revenue bonds  (including
municipal lease obligations and resource recovery bonds); and zero coupon bonds.
At least 95% of the assets of the Portfolio will be invested in securities  that
have received the highest rating assigned by any two NRSROs or, if only one such
rating  organization  has  assigned  a rating,  such  single

                                       2
<PAGE>

organization.  The Portfolio may also acquire unrated  securities  determined by
the advisor to be of comparable quality in accordance with guidelines adopted by
the Board of Trustees.

         The portfolios'  advisor  anticipates that the TAX-FREE CASH MANAGEMENT
PORTFOLIO will be as fully invested as is practicable in municipal  obligations.
However,  the Portfolio  reserves the right for temporary  defensive purposes to
invest  without  limitation  in taxable Money Market  Instruments.  There may be
occasions  when, as a result of  maturities of portfolio  securities or sales of
portfolio  shares,  or in order to meet  anticipated  redemption  requests,  the
Portfolios may hold cash which is not earning income.

         The TAX-FREE CASH MANAGEMENT  PORTFOLIO may invest up to 25% of its net
assets in a single issuer's securities.  The Portfolio may invest any portion of
its assets in industrial revenue bonds ("IRBs") backed by private companies, and
may invest up to 25% of its total assets in IRBs  related to a single  industry.
The  Portfolio  also may  invest 25% or more of its total  assets in  tax-exempt
securities  whose  revenue  sources are from  similar  types of projects  (E.G.,
education,  electric  utilities,  health care, housing,  transportation,  water,
sewer,  and  gas  utilities).  There  may be  economic,  business  or  political
developments or changes that affect all securities of a similar type. Therefore,
developments  affecting a single  issuer or industry,  or  securities  financing
similar types of projects,  could have a significant  effect on the  Portfolios'
performance.

                       INVESTMENT POLICIES AND LIMITATIONS

         The following  policies and limitations  supplement  those set forth in
the  prospectuses.  Unless  otherwise  expressly  noted,  whenever an investment
policy or limitation  states a maximum  percentage of a Portfolio's  assets that
may be invested in any security or other asset, or sets forth a policy regarding
quality  standards,  such percentage or standard will be determined  immediately
after and as a result of the  Portfolio's  acquisition of such security or other
asset.  Accordingly,  any  subsequent  change in  value,  net  assets,  or other
circumstances  will not be considered  when  determining  whether the investment
complies with the Portfolio's investment policies and limitations.

                                       3
<PAGE>


         The  Portfolios'  investment  limitations  are listed in the  following
tables.  Fundamental  investment  policies  and  limitations  cannot be  changed
without  approval by a  "majority  of the  outstanding  voting  securities"  (as
defined in the 1940 Act) of a Portfolio.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES:                                                              PORTFOLIOS TO WHICH THE
                                                                                   POLICY APPLIES:

<S>                                                                                <C>
The Portfolio may not issue senior securities, except as permitted under the       All Portfolios
1940 Act.

The Portfolio may not borrow money, except that the Portfolio may (i) borrow       All Portfolios
money from a bank for temporary or emergency purposes (not for leveraging or
investment) and (ii) engage in reverse repurchase agreements for any purpose;
provided that (i) and (ii) in combination do not exceed 33 1/3% of the value of
the Portfolio's total assets (including the amount borrowed) less liabilities
(other than borrowings)  Any borrowings that come to exceed this amount will be
reduced within three business days to the extent necessary to comply with the 33
1/3% limitation.

The Portfolio may not with respect to 75% of its total assets,  purchase the       All Portfolios
securities of any issuer (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S.
government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities) if, as a result, (a)
more than 5% of the Portfolio's total assets would be invested in the securities
of that issuer, or (b) the Portfolio would hold more than 10% of the outstanding
voting securities of that issuer.
</TABLE>

                                       4
<PAGE>



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES:                                                              PORTFOLIOS TO WHICH THE POLICY
                                                                                   APPLIES:

<S>                                                                                <C>
The Portfolio may not underwrite  securities issued by others, except to the       All Portfolios
extent that the Portfolio may be considered an underwriter within the meaning of
the Securities Act of 1933 in the disposition of portfolio securities.

The Portfolios may not purchase the securities of any issuer (other than           U.S. Treasury Cash
securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or   Management Portfolio and
instrumentalities) if, as a result, more than 25% of the Portfolio's total Cash    U.S. Government Cash
assets would be invested in the securities of companies whose principal business   Management Portfolio
activities are in the same industry.

The Portfolio may not purchase the securities of any issuer (other than            Prime Cash Management
securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or   Portfolio
instrumentalities) if, as a result, more than 25% of the Portfolio's total
assets would be invested in the securities of companies whose principal business
activities are in the same industry, except that the Portfolio may invest 25% or
more of its assets in obligations of domestic banks.

The Portfolios may not purchase or sell real estate unless acquired as a result    All Portfolios
of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not prevent the
Portfolios from investing in securities or other instruments backed by real
estate or securities of companies engaged in the real estate business).

The Portfolios may not purchase or sell commodities  unless acquired as a result   All Portfolios
of ownership of securities or other instruments.

The Portfolio may not lend any security or make any other loan if, as a result,    All Portfolios
more than 33 1/3% of its total assets would be lent to other parties,  but this
limitation does not apply to purchases of debt securities or to repurchase
agreements.
</TABLE>

                                       5
<PAGE>

THE FOLLOWING INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS ARE NOT FUNDAMENTAL AND MAY BE CHANGED
WITHOUT SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

NON-FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES:                                                          PORTFOLIOS TO WHICH THE POLICY
                                                                                   APPLIES:

<S>                                                                                <C>
The Portfolio does not currently intend to sell securities short, unless it owns   All  Portfolios
or has the right to obtain securities equivalent in kind and amount to the
securities sold short, and provided that transactions in futures contracts and
options are not deemed to constitute selling securities short.

The Portfolio does not currently intend to purchase a security (other than a       U.S. Government
security issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or     Cash Management Portfolio and
instrumentalities) if, as a result, more than 5% of a Portfolio's total assets     Prime Cash Management
would be  invested  in the  securities  of a single  issuer;  provided  that the   Portfolio
Portfolio may invest up to 25% of its total assets in the first tier  securities
of a single issuer for up to three business days.

The Portfolio will not purchase any security while borrowings (including reverse   All Portfolios
repurchase agreements) representing more than 5% of its total assets are
outstanding.

The Portfolio does not currently intend to purchase securities on margin, except   All Portfolios
that the Portfolio may obtain such short-term credits as are necessary for the
clearance of transactions, and provided that margin payments in connection with
futures contracts and options shall not constitute purchasing securities on
margin.

The Portfolio does not currently intend to engage in repurchase agreements or      U.S. Treasury Cash
make loans, but this limitation does not apply to purchases of debt securities.    Management Portfolio and
                                                                                   Tax-Free Cash
                                                                                   Management Portfolio

The  Portfolio  does not  currently  intend to purchase  securities of other       All Portfolios
investment companies, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act.
</TABLE>

                                       6
<PAGE>



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NON-FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES:                                                          PORTFOLIOS TO WHICH THE POLICY
                                                                                   APPLIES:

<S>                                                                                <C>
The Portfolio  does not  currently  intend to purchase any security if, as a       All Portfolios
result,  more  than  10% of its net  assets  would  be  invested  in securities
that are deemed to be illiquid  because they are subject to legal or contractual
restrictions on resale or because they cannot be sold or disposed of in the
ordinary course of business at approximately the prices at which they are
valued.
</TABLE>

                             INVESTMENT PRACTICES

         The  Portfolios  may  engage  in  the  following  investment  practices
consistent with their investment objectives,  policies and restrictions.  Please
refer to the current  prospectuses  and the  section  "Investment  Policies  and
Limitations" contained in this Statement of Additional Information for a further
description   of  each   Portfolio's   investment   objectives,   policies   and
restrictions.

DELAYED DELIVERY TRANSACTIONS

         Buying securities on a  delayed-delivery  or when-issued basis and sell
securities on a delayed-delivery  basis involve a commitment by the Portfolio to
purchase or sell specific securities at a predetermined price and/or yield, with
payment and delivery taking place after the customary settlement period for that
type of  security  (and more  than  seven  days in the  future).  Typically,  no
interest accrues to the purchaser until the security is delivered. The Portfolio
may receive fees for entering into delayed-delivery transactions.

         When purchasing  securities on a delayed-delivery or when-issued basis,
the Portfolio  assumes the rights and risks of ownership,  including the risk of
price and yield  fluctuations.  Because the Portfolio is not required to pay for
securities  until the  delivery  date,  these risks are in addition to the risks
associated  with the Portfolio's  other  investments.  If the Portfolio  remains
substantially  fully  invested at a time when  delayed-delivery  or  when-issued
purchases are outstanding, such purchases may result in a form of leverage. When
delayed-delivery  or when-issued  purchases are outstanding,  the Portfolio will
set aside appropriate  liquid assets in a segregated  custodial account to cover
its  purchase  obligations.  When  the  Portfolio  has  sold  a  security  on  a
delayed-delivery  basis,  the Portfolio does not participate in further gains or
losses with respect to the  security.  If the other party to a  delayed-delivery
transaction fails to deliver
                                       7
<PAGE>

or pay for the securities, the Portfolio could miss a favorable price or yield
opportunity, or could suffer a loss.

         The  Portfolio  may   renegotiate   delayed-delivery   or   when-issued
transactions  after they are entered into,  and may sell  underlying  securities
before they are delivered, which may result in capital gains or losses.

FEDERALLY TAXABLE OBLIGATIONS

         The Tax-Free Cash  Management  Portfolio  generally  does not intend to
invest in securities whose interest is taxable;  however,  from time to time the
Portfolio  may invest on a temporary  basis in  fixed-income  obligations  whose
interest is subject to Federal income tax. For example, the Portfolio may invest
in obligations  whose interest is taxable pending the investment or reinvestment
in  municipal  securities  of  proceeds  from the sale of its shares or sales of
portfolio securities.

         Should the Portfolio invest in taxable  obligations,  it would purchase
securities  that, in the  advisor's  judgment,  are of high quality.  This would
include obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or
instrumentalities,  obligations of domestic banks and repurchase agreements. The
Portfolios'  standards for high-quality  taxable obligations are essentially the
same as those described by Moody's in rating  corporate  obligations  within its
two highest ratings of Prime-1 and Prime-2, and those described by S&P in rating
corporate  obligations  within  its two  highest  ratings  of A-1 and  A-2.  The
Portfolios may also acquire unrated  securities  determined by the advisor to be
of comparable  quality in  accordance  with  guidelines  adopted by the Board of
Trustees.

         The  Supreme  Court of the  United  States has held that  Congress  may
subject the interest on municipal  obligations to Federal income tax.  Proposals
to restrict  or  eliminate  the Federal  income tax  exemption  for  interest on
municipal  obligations  are  introduced  before  Congress  from  time  to  time.
Proposals may also be introduced before state legislatures that would affect the
state tax treatment of the  Portfolios'  distributions.  If such  proposals were
enacted,  the  availability  of  municipal  obligations  and  the  value  of the
Portfolios'  holdings  would  be  affected  and  the  Board  of  Trustees  would
reevaluate the Portfolios' investment objectives and policies.

         The  Tax-Free  Cash  Management  Portfolio  anticipates  being as fully
invested  in  municipal  securities  as is  practicable;  however,  there may be
occasions  when as a result of maturities of portfolio  securities,  or sales of
portfolio  shares,  or in order to meet redemption  requests,  the Portfolio may
hold cash that is not earning income. In addition,  there may be occasions when,
in order to raise cash to meet  redemptions or to preserve credit  quality,  the
Portfolio may be required to sell securities at a loss.

                                       8
<PAGE>

ILLIQUID INVESTMENTS

         Illiquid  investments  cannot be sold or  disposed  of in the  ordinary
course of business at approximately  the prices at which they are valued.  Under
the supervision of the Board of Trustees, the Portfolios' advisor determines the
liquidity of the Portfolio's  investments and, through reports from the advisor,
the Board  monitors  investment  in illiquid  instruments.  In  determining  the
liquidity  of the  Portfolios'  investments,  the advisor may  consider  various
factors including (1) the frequency of trades and quotations,  (2) the number of
dealers and prospective  purchasers in the marketplace,  (3) dealer undertakings
to make a market, (4) the nature of the security (including any demand or tender
features),  (5) the nature of the marketplace for trades  (including the ability
to assign or offset the  Portfolio's  rights  and  obligations  relating  to the
investment), and (6) general credit quality. Investments currently considered by
the Portfolios to be illiquid  include  repurchase  agreements not entitling the
holder to payment of principal  and interest  within seven days,  non-government
stripped   fixed-rate   mortgage-backed   securities  and  government   stripped
fixed-rate mortgage-backed securities,  loans and other direct debt instruments,
over-the-counter options and swap agreements. Although restricted securities and
municipal lease obligations are sometimes considered  illiquid,  the Portfolios'
advisor  may  determine  certain  restricted   securities  and  municipal  lease
obligations  to be  liquid.  In  the  absence  of  market  quotations,  illiquid
investments  are valued for purposes of monitoring  amortized  cost valuation at
fair value as determined in good faith by a committee  appointed by the Board of
Trustees.  If,  as a  result  of  a  change  in  values,  net  assets  or  other
circumstances,  the  Portfolio  were in a  position  where  more than 10% of its
assets were invested in illiquid  securities,  it would seek to take appropriate
steps to protect liquidity.

LOANS AND OTHER DIRECT DEBT INSTRUMENTS

         Direct debt  instruments  are interests in amounts owed by a corporate,
governmental or other borrower to lenders or lending  syndicates (loans and loan
participations),  to  suppliers  of goods or  services  (trade  claims  or other
receivables),  or to other parties.  Direct debt  instruments are subject to the
Portfolio's policies regarding the quality of debt securities.

         Purchasers  of loans and  other  forms of  direct  indebtedness  depend
primarily upon the creditworthiness of the borrower for payment of principal and
interest.  Direct  debt  instruments  may  not be  rated  by any  NRSRO.  If the
Portfolio  does not receive  scheduled  interest or  principal  payments on such
indebtedness,  its share price and yield could be adversely affected. Loans that
are fully secured offer the Portfolio 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

                                       9
<PAGE>

indebtedness,  or may pay  only a small  fraction  of the  amount  owed.  Direct
indebtedness  of  developing  countries  also  will  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.

         Investments  in  loans  through   direct   assignment  of  a  financial
institution's  interests with respect to a loan may involve  additional risks to
the Portfolio. For example, if a loan is foreclosed,  the Portfolio could become
part  owner  of any  collateral,  and  would  bear  the  costs  and  liabilities
associated  with owning and  disposing of the  collateral.  In  addition,  it is
conceivable  that  under  emerging  legal  theories  of  lender  liability,  the
Portfolio could be held liable as a co-lender.  Direct debt instruments also may
involve a risk of insolvency of the lending bank or other  intermediary.  Direct
debt  instruments  that are not in the form of  securities  may offer less legal
protection to the Portfolio in the event of fraud or  misrepresentation.  In the
absence of definitive regulatory guidance,  the Portfolio's advisor will conduct
research  and  analysis  in an  attempt  to  avoid  situations  where  fraud  or
misrepresentation could adversely affect the Portfolio.

         A loan is often  administered by a bank or other financial  institution
which  acts as agent for all  holders.  The agent  administers  the terms of the
loan, as specified in the loan agreement. Unless, under the terms of the loan or
other indebtedness,  the Portfolio has direct recourse against the borrower,  it
may have to rely on the agent to apply  appropriate  credit remedies against the
borrower.  If assets  held by the agent for the  benefit of the  Portfolio  were
determined  to be subject to the claims of the agent's  general  creditors,  the
Portfolio might incur certain costs and delays in realizing  payment on the loan
or loan participation and could suffer a loss of principal or interest.

         The  Portfolios  limit the amount of total assets that they will invest
in any one  issuer or in  issuers  within  the same  industry  (see  fundamental
limitations  for  the  Portfolios).  For  purposes  of  these  limitations,  the
Portfolio generally will treat the borrower as the "issuer" of indebtedness held
by the  Portfolio.  In the  case of loan  participations  where a bank or  other
lending institution serves as financial  intermediary  between the Portfolio and
the borrower,  if the  participation  does not shift to the Portfolio the direct
debtor-creditor  relationship with the borrower, SEC interpretations require the
Portfolio, in appropriate circumstances, to treat both the lending bank or other
lending   institution  and  the  borrower  as  "issuers"  for  the  purposes  of
determining  whether the Portfolio has invested more than 5% of its total assets
in  a  single  issuer.  Treating  a  financial  intermediary  as  an  issuer  of
indebtedness  may restrict  the  Portfolio's  ability to invest in  indebtedness
related to a single financial intermediary, or a group of intermediaries engaged
in the same industry,  even if the underlying borrowers represent many different
companies and industries.

                                       10
<PAGE>

MARKET DISRUPTION RISK

         The value of municipal  securities may be affected by  uncertainties in
the municipal market related to legislation or litigation involving the taxation
of municipal  securities  or the rights of municipal  securities  holders in the
event of a bankruptcy.  Municipal  bankruptcies are relatively rare, and certain
provisions of the U.S.  Bankruptcy Code governing such  bankruptcies are unclear
and remain untested.  Further, the application of state law to municipal issuers
could produce  varying  results among the states or among  municipal  securities
issuers  within a state.  These legal  uncertainties  could affect the municipal
securities  market  generally,  certain specific  segments of the market, or the
relative credit quality of particular securities.

         Any of these effects  could have a significant  impact on the prices of
some or all of the  municipal  securities  held by the  Portfolio.  Investing in
these securities may make it more difficult to maintain a stable net asset value
per share.

MUNICIPAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS

         Municipal leases and participation  interests  therein,  which may take
the form of a lease, an installment  purchase,  or a conditional  sale contract,
are issued by state and local  governments and authorities to acquire land and a
wide variety of equipment and facilities,  such as fire and sanitation vehicles,
telecommunications   equipment,   and  other  capital  assets.   Generally,  the
Portfolios will not hold such obligations  directly as a lessor of the property,
but will purchase a participation interest in a municipal obligation from a bank
or other third party. A participation  interest gives the Portfolio a specified,
undivided  interest in the obligation in proportion to its purchased interest in
the total amount of the obligation.

         Municipal  leases  frequently have risks distinct from those associated
with general obligation or revenue bonds.  State  constitutions and statutes set
forth requirements that states or municipalities  must meet to incur debt. These
may include voter referenda,  interest rate limits, or public sale requirements.
Leases,  installment  purchases,  or conditional  sale contracts (which normally
provide for title to the leased asset to pass to the  governmental  issuer) have
evolved as a means for  governmental  issuers to acquire  property and equipment
without meeting their constitutional and statutory requirements for the issuance
of debt. Many leases and contracts include "non-appropriation" clauses providing
that the governmental issuer has no obligation to make future payments under the
lease  or  contract  unless  money  is  appropriated  for  such  purpose  by the
appropriate   legislative   body  on  a   yearly   or  other   periodic   basis.
Non-appropriation clauses free the issuer from debt issuance obligations.

         In  determining  the  liquidity of a municipal  lease  obligation,  the
Portfolio's  advisor will  differentiate  between  direct  municipal  leases and
municipal  lease-backed  securities,  the latter of which may take the form of a
lease-backed  revenue  bond, a tax-exempt  asset-backed  security,

                                       11
<PAGE>

or any other investment structure using a municipal  lease-purchase agreement as
its base. While the former may present liquidity issues, the latter are based on
a well-established method of securing payment of a municipal lease obligation.

REFUNDING CONTRACTS

         Refunding  obligations  require the issuer to sell and the Portfolio to
buy refunded  municipal  obligations at a stated price and yield on a settlement
date that may be several months or years in the future. The Portfolio  generally
will not be  obligated  to pay the full  purchase  price if it fails to  perform
under a refunding contract.  Instead,  refunding contracts generally provide for
payment  of  liquidated  damages  to  the  issuer  (currently  15% to 20% of the
purchase  price).  The  Portfolio may secure its  obligations  under a refunding
contract by depositing  collateral or a letter of credit equal to the liquidated
damages provisions of the refunding  contract.  When required by SEC guidelines,
the Portfolio will place liquid assets in a segregated  custodial  account equal
in amount to its obligations under refunding contracts.

REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

         In a  repurchase  agreement,  the  Portfolio  purchases a security  and
simultaneously  commits to resell it to the seller at an agreed upon price on an
agreed  upon  date.  The  resale  price  reflects  the  purchase  price  plus an
agreed-upon incremental amount which is unrelated to the coupon rate or maturity
of the purchased security. A repurchase agreement involves the obligation of the
seller to pay the agreed-upon  price,  which  obligation is in effect secured by
the value (at least  equal to the  amount of the  agreed-upon  resale  price and
marked to market daily) of the underlying  security.  The risk  associated  with
repurchase  agreements is that a Portfolio may be unable to sell the  collateral
at its  full  value  in the  event of the  seller's  default.  While it does not
presently  appear  possible  to  eliminate  all risks  from  these  transactions
(particularly the possibility of a decline in the market value of the underlying
securities,  as well as delays and costs to the  Portfolio  in  connection  with
bankruptcy  proceedings),  it  is  each  Portfolio's  current  policy  to  limit
repurchase agreements to those parties whose  creditworthiness has been reviewed
and found satisfactory by its advisor.

RESTRICTED SECURITIES

         Restricted securities are securities that generally can only be sold in
privately  negotiated  transactions,  pursuant to an exemption from registration
under the  Securities  Act of 1933, or in a registered  public  offering.  Where
registration  is required,  the Portfolio may be obligated to pay all or part of
the registration  expense and a considerable  period may elapse between the time
it  decides  to seek  registration  and the time it may be  permitted  to sell a
security under an effective  registration  statement.  If, during such a period,
adverse market  conditions  were to develop,  the Portfolio  might obtain a less
favorable  price than  prevailed  when it decided  to seek  registration  of the
security.

                                       12
<PAGE>

REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

         In a reverse  repurchase  agreement,  the  Portfolio  sells a portfolio
instrument to another party, such as a bank or broker-dealer, in return for cash
and agrees to repurchase the instrument at a particular  price and time. While a
reverse  repurchase  agreement  is  outstanding,  the  Portfolio  will  maintain
appropriate  liquid  assets  in a  segregated  custodial  account  to cover  its
obligation under the agreement. The Portfolio will enter into reverse repurchase
agreements only with parties whose  creditworthiness has been found satisfactory
by its advisor. These transactions may increase fluctuations in the market value
of the Portfolio's assets and may be viewed as a form of leverage.

SOVEREIGN DEBT OBLIGATIONS

         Sovereign  debt  instruments  are  securities  issued or  guaranteed by
foreign governments or their agencies,  including debt of Latin American nations
or other developing countries. Sovereign debt may be in the form of conventional
securities  or  other  types  of  debt  instruments,   such  as  loans  or  loan
participations. Sovereign debt of developing countries may involve a high degree
of risk,  and may be in  default or present  the risk of  default.  Governmental
entities  responsible  for  repayment  of the debt may be unable or unwilling to
repay  principal  and  interest  when  due,  and  may  require  negotiations  or
rescheduling of debt payments. In addition, prospects for repayment of principal
and interest may depend on political as well as economic factors.  Although some
sovereign  debt,  such as Brady  Bonds,  is  collateralized  by U.S.  government
securities,  repayment of principal  and interest is not  guaranteed by the U.S.
government.

STANDBY COMMITMENTS

         The  Tax-Free   Cash   Management   Portfolio  may  invest  in  standby
commitments.  These  obligations  are  puts  that  entitle  holders  to same day
settlement at an exercise  price equal to the amortized  cost of the  underlying
security plus accrued interest,  if any, at the time of exercise.  The Portfolio
may acquire standby commitments to enhance the liquidity of portfolio securities
when the issuers of the commitments present minimal risk of default.

         Ordinarily  a Portfolio  will not  transfer a standby  commitment  to a
third party, although it could sell the underlying municipal security to a third
party at any time. The Portfolio may purchase standby commitments  separate from
or in conjunction with the purchase of securities  subject to such  commitments.
In the latter  case,  a Portfolio  would pay a higher  price for the  securities
acquired,  thus reducing their yield to maturity.  Standby  commitments will not
affect the dollar-weighted  average maturity of the Portfolio,  or the valuation
of the securities underlying the commitments.

                                       13
<PAGE>

         Standby commitments are subject to certain risks, including the ability
of  issuers  of  standby  commitments  to pay for  securities  at the  time  the
commitments are exercised;  the fact that standby commitments are not marketable
by the  Portfolio and the  possibility  that the  maturities  of the  underlying
securities may be different from those of the commitments.

SWAP AGREEMENTS

         Swap  agreements  can be  individually  negotiated  and  structured  to
include  exposure  to a variety  of  different  types of  investments  or market
factors.  Depending on their structure, swap agreements may increase or decrease
the  Portfolio's  exposure to long- or short-term  interest rates (in the United
States or abroad),  foreign  currency  values,  mortgage  securities,  corporate
borrowing  rates, or other factors such as security  prices or inflation  rates.
Swap  agreements  can take many  different  forms and are known by a variety  of
names.  A Portfolio is not limited to any  particular  form of swap agreement if
its  advisor  determines  it  is  consistent  with  the  Portfolio's  investment
objective and policies.

         In a typical cap or floor agreement,  one party agrees to make payments
only under  specified  circumstances,  usually in return for payment of a fee by
the other  party.  For  example,  the buyer of an interest  rate cap obtains the
rights to receive payments to the extent that a specified  interest rate exceeds
an agreed-upon level, while the seller of an interest rate floor is obligated to
make  payments  to the extent  that a  specified  interest  rate falls  below an
agreed-upon level. An interest rate collar combines elements of buying a cap and
selling a floor.

         Swap agreements will tend to shift the Portfolio's  investment exposure
from one type of investment to another.  For example, if the Portfolio agreed to
exchange  payments  in  dollars  for  payments  in  foreign  currency,  the swap
agreement would tend to decrease the Portfolio's exposure to U.S. interest rates
and  increase its exposure to foreign  currency  and  interest  rates.  Caps and
floors have an effect  similar to buying or writing  options.  Depending  on how
they are used, swap agreements may increase or decrease the overall volatility a
Portfolio's investments and its share price and yield.

         The most  significant  factor in the  performance of swap agreements is
the change in the  specific  interest  rate,  currency,  or other  factors  that
determine  the  amounts  of  payments  due to and  from a  Portfolio.  If a swap
agreement  calls for payments by a Portfolio,  the Portfolio must be prepared to
make such payments when due. In addition, if the counterparty's creditworthiness
declined, the value of a swap agreement would be likely to decline,  potentially
resulting in losses.  The Portfolios  expect to be able to reduce their exposure
under swap agreements either by assignment or other disposition,  or by entering
into  an  offsetting   swap  agreement  with  the  same  party  or  a  similarly
creditworthy party.

                                       14
<PAGE>
         The  Portfolio  will maintain  appropriate  liquid assets in segregated
custodial accounts to cover its current obligations under swap agreements.  If a
Portfolio  enters into a swap agreement on a net basis, it will segregate assets
with a daily  value at least equal to the  excess,  if any,  of the  Portfolio's
accrued  obligations  under  the swap  agreement  over the  accrued  amount  the
Portfolio is entitled to receive under the agreement. If a Portfolio enters into
a swap  agreement  on other than a net basis,  it will  segregate  assets with a
value equal to the full amount of the Portfolio's  accrued obligations under the
agreement.

TENDER OPTION BONDS

         The Tax-Free  Cash  Management  Portfolio  may invest in tender  option
bonds.  These  bonds are  created by  coupling  an  intermediate-  or  long-term
fixed-rate  tax-exempt bond  (generally held pursuant to a custodial  agreement)
with a tender  agreement  that gives the holder the option to tender the bond at
its face value. As  consideration  for providing the tender option,  the sponsor
(usually  a  bank,  broker-dealer,  or  other  financial  institution)  receives
periodic fees equal to the  difference  between the bond's fixed coupon rate and
the rate  (determined  by a remarketing  or similar  agent) that would cause the
bond,  coupled  with  the  tender  option  to  trade  at par on the date of such
determination. After payment of the tender option fee, the Portfolio effectively
holds a demand  obligation  that bears  interest  at the  prevailing  short-term
tax-exempt rate.  Subject to applicable  regulatory  requirements,  the Tax-Free
Cash Management Portfolio may buy tender option bonds if the agreement gives the
Portfolio  the right to tender the bond to its sponsor no less  frequently  than
once every 397 days.  In selecting  tender  option  bonds for a  Portfolio,  the
advisor  will,  pursuant to  procedures  established  by the Board of  Trustees,
consider  the  creditworthiness  of the  issuer  of  the  underlying  bond,  the
custodian,  and the  third-party  provider  of the  tender  option.  In  certain
instances,  a sponsor may terminate a tender option if, for example,  the issuer
of the underlying bond defaults on interest payments.

VARIABLE OR FLOATING RATE DEMAND OBLIGATIONS

         The Prime  Cash  Management  Portfolio  and  Tax-Free  Cash  Management
Portfolio   may  invest  in  variable  or  floating   rate  demand   obligations
(VRDOs/FRDOs).  These obligations are tax-exempt  obligations that bear variable
or  floating  interest  rates and carry  rights  that  permit  holders to demand
payment of the unpaid  principal  balance plus accrued interest from the issuers
or certain  financial  intermediaries.  Floating rate  obligations have interest
rates that change  whenever  there is a change in a  designated  base rate while
variable rate  obligations  provide for a specified  periodic  adjustment in the
interest  rate.  These formulas are designed to result in a market value for the
VRDO or FRDO that approximates its par value.

         A  demand  obligation  with a  conditional  demand  feature  must  have
received both a short-term  and a long-term high quality rating from a NRSRO or,
if unrated,  have been determined by the Portfolio's advisor to be of comparable
quality  pursuant  to  procedures

                                       15
<PAGE>

adopted by the Board of  Trustees.  A demand  obligation  with an  unconditional
demand feature may be acquired solely in reliance upon a short-term high quality
rating or, if unrated, upon finding of comparable short-term quality pursuant to
procedures adopted by the Board.

         A Portfolio  may invest in  fixed-rate  bonds that are subject to third
party puts and in participation  interests in such bonds held by a bank in trust
or otherwise.  These bonds and  participation  interests  have tender options or
demand  features  that  permit a  Portfolio  to tender  (or put) the bonds to an
institution at periodic intervals of up to one year and to receive the principal
amount thereof. A Portfolio  considers  variable rate obligations  structured in
this way (participating VRDOs) to be essentially  equivalent to other VRDOs that
it may purchase.  The Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") has not ruled whether
or not the interest on participating VRDOs is tax-exempt and,  accordingly,  the
Portfolios  intend to  purchase  these  obligations  based on  opinions  of bond
counsel.

         A variable  rate  instrument  that  matures in 397 or fewer days may be
deemed  to  have a  maturity  equal  to the  period  remaining  until  the  next
readjustment  of the interest rate. A variable rate  obligation  that matures in
more than 397 days but that is subject to a demand  feature  that is 397 days or
fewer  may be  deemed  to have a  maturity  equal to the  longer  of the  period
remaining  until  the  next  readjustment  of the  interest  rate or the  period
remaining until the principal amount can be recovered through demand. A floating
rate  obligation  that is  subject to a demand  feature  may be deemed to have a
maturity  equal to the  period  remaining  until  the  principal  amount  may be
recovered through demand. The Portfolios may purchase a demand obligation with a
remaining final maturity in excess of 397 days only if the demand feature can be
exercised  on no more than 30 days'  notice  (a) at any time or (b) at  specific
intervals not exceeding 397 days.

VARIABLE OR FLOATING RATE INSTRUMENTS

         The Portfolios may invest in variable or floating rate instruments that
ultimately  mature in more than 397 days, if the  Portfolio  acquires a right to
sell the securities that meet certain  requirements set forth in Rule 2a-7 under
the 1940 Act.  Variable rate  instruments  (including  instruments  subject to a
demand feature) that mature in 397 days or less may be deemed to have maturities
equal to the period remaining until the next  readjustment of the interest rate.
Other  variable rate  instruments  with demand  features may be deemed to have a
maturity equal to the longer of the period remaining until the next readjustment
of the interest rate or the period  remaining until the principal  amount can be
recovered through demand. A floating rate instrument subject to a demand feature
may be  deemed  to have a  maturity  equal to the  period  remaining  until  the
principal amount can be recovered through demand.

                                       16
<PAGE>

TRANSPORTATION

         Transportation  debt may be  issued  to  finance  the  construction  of
airports,  toll roads, and highways.  Airport bonds are dependent on the general
stability of the airline industry and stability of a specific carrier which uses
the airport as a hub. Air traffic  generally follows broader economic trends and
is also affected by the price and availability of fuel. Toll-road bonds are also
affected  by the  cost  and  availability  of fuel as well as toll  levels,  the
presence of competing  roads and the general  economic  health of an area.  Fuel
costs and availability also affect other transportation-related  services, as do
the   presence   of   alternate   forms  of   transportation,   such  as  public
transportation.

                             PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

         The Portfolios'  advisor seeks the most favorable execution result with
respect to transactions.  In seeking the most favorable execution,  the advisor,
having in mind a  Portfolio's  best  interest,  considers  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 process and trends;  the
reputation,  experience and financial  stability of the broker-dealer  involved;
and the quality of service rendered by the broker-dealer in other  transactions.
For  additional  information  about the  Portfolios'  advisor,  see  "Investment
Advisor" below.

         Certain  investments  may be appropriate  for a Portfolio and for other
clients advised by the advisor.  Investment  decisions for a Portfolio and other
clients are made with a view to achieving their respective investment objectives
and after consideration of such factors as their current holdings,  availability
of  cash  for  investment,  and the  size  of  their  investments  generally.  A
particular  security  may be bought or sold for only one client or in  different
amounts  and at  different  times for more than one but fewer than all  clients.
Likewise,  a particular  security may be bought for one or more clients when one
or more other clients are selling the security. In addition,  purchases or sales
of the same  security  may be made for two or more clients of the advisor on the
same day. In each of these situations,  the transactions will be allocated among
the clients in a manner  considered  by the advisor to be equitable to each.  In
some cases,  this procedure  could have an adverse effect on the price or amount
of the securities purchased or sold by a Portfolio. Purchase and sale orders for
a  Portfolio  may be  combined  with those of other  clients in the  interest of
achieving the most favorable execution for the Portfolio.

         As of the  date  of  this  Statement  of  Additional  Information,  the
Portfolios  have not yet  commenced  operations  and have not paid any brokerage
commissions.

                                       17
<PAGE>
         The Fund is required to identify any securities of its "regular brokers
or  dealers"  (as such  term is  defined  in the 1940  Act)  which  the Fund has
acquired during its most recent fiscal year. As of the date of this Statement of
Additional Information,  the Portfolios had not yet commenced operations and had
not acquired any securities of its "regular brokers or dealers."

                        VALUATION OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES

         Each Portfolio  values its  investments on the basis of amortized cost.
This  method  involves  valuing  an  instrument  at its  cost  as  adjusted  for
amortization  of premium or accretion of discount rather than its value based on
current  market  quotations or  appropriate  substitutes  which reflect  current
market  conditions.  The amortized  cost value of an instrument may be higher or
lower than the price the Portfolio would receive if it sold the instrument.

         Valuing a Portfolio's  instruments  on the basis of amortized  cost and
use of the term "money  market  portfolio"  are permitted by Rule 2a-7 under the
1940 Act. Each Portfolio must adhere to certain conditions under Rule 2a-7.

         The Board of Trustees  oversees  the  advisor's  adherence to SEC rules
concerning  money  market  funds,  and has  established  procedures  designed to
stabilize each  Portfolio's  net asset value per share ("NAV") at $1.00. At such
intervals as they deem  appropriate,  the trustees  consider the extent to which
NAV calculated by using market valuations would deviate from $1.00 per share. If
the trustees  believe that a deviation from the  Portfolio's  amortized cost per
share may result in material  dilution or other unfair results to  shareholders,
the trustees will take such corrective  action, if any, as they deem appropriate
to eliminate or reduce, to the extent reasonably  practicable,  such dilution or
other unfair result.  Such  corrective  action could include  selling  portfolio
instruments  prior to maturity to realize  capital gains or losses or to shorten
average portfolio  maturity;  withholding  dividends;  redeeming shares in kind;
establishing NAV by using available market  quotations;  and such other measures
as the trustees may deem appropriate.

         During periods of declining  interest rates, a Portfolio's  yield based
on amortized cost may be higher than the yield based on market valuations. Under
these  circumstances,  a shareholder in the Portfolio  would be able to obtain a
somewhat  higher  yield  than  would  result if the  Portfolio  utilized  market
valuations to determine its NAV. The converse  would apply in a period of rising
interest rates.

                                       18
<PAGE>
                              PORTFOLIO PERFORMANCE

YIELD CALCULATIONS

         In computing the yield of shares of a Portfolio  for a period,  the net
change in value of a  hypothetical  account  containing  one share  reflects the
value of additional  shares purchased with dividends from the one original share
and dividends declared on both the original share and any additional shares. The
net change is then  divided by the value of the account at the  beginning of the
period to obtain a base period return.  This base period return is annualized to
obtain a current  annualized  yield. A Portfolio may also calculate a compounded
effective  yield for its shares by  compounding  the base  period  return over a
one-year  period.  In addition to the current  yield,  the  Portfolios may quote
yields in advertising based on any historical  seven-day period.  Yields for the
shares of the  Portfolios are calculated on the same basis as other money market
funds, as required by regulation.

         Income  calculated for the purposes of  determining  yield differs from
income as determined  for other  accounting  purposes.  Because of the different
accounting  methods used,  and because of the  compounding  of income assumed in
yield calculations, a Portfolio's yield may not equal its distribution rate, the
income paid to your account,  or income  reported in the  Portfolio's  financial
statements.

         For the Tax-Free Cash Management  Portfolio,  a tax-equivalent yield is
the rate an investor would have to earn from a fully taxable  investment  before
taxes to  equal  the  Portfolio's  tax-free  yield.  Tax-equivalent  yields  are
calculated by dividing a  Portfolio's  yield by the result of one minus a stated
Federal or combined  Federal,  state and city tax rate.  (If only a portion of a
Portfolio's  yield  was  tax-exempt,  only  that  portion  is  included  in  the
calculation.) If any portion of a Portfolio's income is derived from obligations
subject  to state  or  Federal  income  taxes,  its  tax-equivalent  yield  will
generally be lower.

         See  Appendix A for tables  showing the effect of a  shareholder's  tax
status on effective yield under the Federal income tax laws for 2000.

         As of the  date  of  this  Statement  of  Additional  Information,  the
Portfolios  have not yet commenced  operations and no  calculations of yield are
available.

                 ADDITIONAL PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION

         Each Portfolio is open for business and its NAV is calculated  each day
that the  Federal  Reserve  Bank of New  York  ("FRB")  and the New  York  Stock
Exchange ("NYSE") are open for trading (a "Business Day").

                                       19
<PAGE>
         The  calculation  of  the  NAV,   dividends  and   distributions  of  a
Portfolio's  Corporate Class,  Corporate II Class and Corporate III Class shares
recognizes  two  types  of  expenses.  General  expenses  that  do  not  pertain
specifically  to any class are  allocated  pro rata to the shares of each class,
based on the percentage of the net assets of such class to the Portfolio's total
assets,  and then equally to each outstanding  share within a given class.  Such
general expenses include (i) management fees, (ii) legal,  bookkeeping and audit
fees,  (iii)  printing and mailing costs of shareholder  reports,  prospectuses,
statements  of   additional   information   and  other   materials  for  current
shareholders,  (iv) fees to independent trustees,  (v) custodian expenses,  (vi)
share issuance costs,  (vii)  organization and start-up costs,  (viii) interest,
taxes  and  brokerage  commissions,  and (ix)  non-recurring  expenses,  such as
litigation costs.  Other expenses that are directly  attributable to a class are
allocated  equally to each  outstanding  share within that class.  Such expenses
include (i)  distribution  and/or  other fees,  (ii)  transfer  and  shareholder
servicing agent fees and expenses,  (iii) registration fees and (iv) shareholder
meeting  expenses,  to the extent that such expenses pertain to a specific class
rather than to a Portfolio as a whole.

         The NAV of the U.S.  Treasury  Cash  Management  Portfolio and Tax-Free
Cash Management  Portfolio are determined at 12:00 noon, Eastern Time, and as of
the close of regular trading on the NYSE, normally 4:00 p.m. The NAV of the U.S.
Government Cash Management  Portfolio and Prime Cash Money Market  Portfolio are
determined at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time.

         The following  holiday  closings  have been  scheduled for 2000 and the
Fund expects the schedule to be the same in the future:  New Year's Day,  Martin
Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday,  Memorial Day,  Independence
Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day,  Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
The  NYSE or FRB may  also  close  on  other  days.  When the NYSE or the FRB is
closed,  or when trading is  restricted  for any reason other than its customary
weekend or holiday closings,  or under emergency  circumstances as determined by
the SEC to merit such action, each Portfolio will determine its NAV at the close
of business,  the time of which will  coincide  with the closing of the NYSE. To
the extent that  securities  held by a Portfolio  are traded in other markets on
days  the NYSE or FRB is  closed  (when  investors  do not  have  access  to the
Portfolio  to  purchase  or  redeem   shares),   the   Portfolio's  NAV  may  be
significantly affected.

         If, in the  opinion of the Board of  Trustees,  conditions  exist which
make cash payment  undesirable,  redemption  payments may be made in whole or in
part in securities or other property, valued for this purpose as they are valued
in computing  the NAV of the  Portfolio.  Shareholders  receiving  securities or
other  property on  redemption  may realize a gain or loss for tax  purposes and
will incur any costs of sale as well as the associated inconveniences.

                                       20
<PAGE>

                                      TAXES

         The following is only a summary of certain  additional  Federal  income
tax  considerations  generally  affecting the Portfolios and their  shareholders
that are not  described  in the  prospectuses.  No  attempt is made to present a
detailed  explanation  of the  Federal,  state or  local  tax  treatment  of the
Portfolios  or  their   shareholders,   and  the  discussion  here  and  in  the
prospectuses is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning.

         The following discussion of Federal income tax consequences is based on
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"),  and the regulations
issued  thereunder  as in effect  on the date of this  Statement  of  Additional
Information.  New  legislation,  as  well as  administrative  changes  or  court
decisions,  may significantly  change the conclusions  expressed herein, and may
have a retroactive effect with respect to the transactions contemplated herein.

         Each  Portfolio  calculates  dividend  and capital  gain  distributions
separately,  and is  treated  as a  separate  entity  in all  respects  for  tax
purposes.

TAXATION OF THE PORTFOLIOS

         Each  Portfolio  intends to qualify as a regulated  investment  company
("RIC")  under  Subchapter  M of the Code.  In order to qualify as a RIC for any
taxable  year,  a Portfolio  must  derive at least 90% of its gross  income from
dividends, interest, certain payments with respect to securities loans and gains
from the sale or other  disposition of stock,  securities or foreign  currencies
and other income (including,  but not limited to gains from options,  futures or
forward  contracts)  derived  with  respect to its business of investing in such
stock, securities or currencies (the "Income Requirement").  In addition, at the
close of each quarter of the  Portfolio's  taxable year, (1) at least 50% of the
value  of its  assets  must  consist  of cash and cash  items,  U.S.  government
securities,  securities  of other RICs,  and  securities of other issuers (as to
which  the  Portfolio  has not  invested  more than 5% of the value of its total
assets in securities  of any one such issuer and as to which the Portfolio  does
not hold  more than 10% of the  outstanding  voting  securities  of any one such
issuer),  and (2) no more  than 25% of the  value  of its  total  assets  may be
invested  in the  securities  of any one  issuer  (other  than  U.S.  government
securities  and  securities  of other RICs),  or in two or more issuers that the
Portfolio  controls  and  that are  engaged  in the same or  similar  trades  or
businesses or related trades or businesses (the "Asset  Diversification  Test").
Generally, a Portfolio will not lose its status as a RIC if it fails to meet the
Asset  Diversification  Test  solely  as a result of a  fluctuation  in value of
Portfolio assets not attributable to a purchase.

         Under  Subchapter  M of the Code, a Portfolio is not subject to Federal
income tax on the portion of its taxable net  investment  income and net capital
gains  that  it  distributes  to  shareholders,   provided   generally  that  it
distributes  at  least  90%  of  its  investment  company  taxable  income  (net
investment  income  and the  excess of net  short-term  capital  gains  over net

                                       21
<PAGE>

long-term  capital  loss)  for the year and at least  90% of the  excess  of its
tax-exempt   interest   income  over   related   expenses   (the   "Distribution
Requirement")  and complies with the other  requirements  of the Code  described
above.  The  Distribution  Requirement  for  any  year  may be  waived  if a RIC
establishes  to the  satisfaction  of the  Internal  Revenue  Service that it is
unable to  satisfy  the  Distribution  Requirement  by  reason of  distributions
previously  made for the purpose of avoiding  liability  for Federal  excise tax
(discussed below).

         If for any taxable  year a Portfolio  does not qualify as a RIC, all of
its taxable income will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any
deduction for distributions to shareholders,  and such  distributions  generally
will be taxable as ordinary  dividends to the extent of the Portfolio's  current
and  accumulated  earnings  and  profits.  However,  in the  case  of  corporate
shareholders,  such  distributions  generally  will  be  eligible  for  the  70%
dividends received deduction for "qualifying dividends."

         The Code  imposes a  nondeductible  4%  excise  tax on RICs that do not
distribute in each calendar year an amount equal to 98% of their ordinary income
for the  calendar  year  plus 98% of their  capital  gains  net  income  for the
one-year  period ending on October 31 of such calendar year. The balance of such
income must be  distributed  during the next  calendar  year.  For the foregoing
purposes,  a RIC will include in the amount  distributed any amount taxed to the
RIC as investment  company  taxable income or capital gains for any taxable year
ending  in such  calendar  year.  Each  Portfolio  intends  to  make  sufficient
distributions  of its ordinary  income and capital gains net income prior to the
end of each  calendar  year to  avoid  liability  for  excise  tax.  However,  a
Portfolio  may in certain  circumstances  be  required  to  liquidate  portfolio
investments  in order to make  sufficient  distributions  to  avoid  excise  tax
liability.

TAXATION OF SHAREHOLDERS

         Distributions  from each Portfolio's  taxable net investment income and
short-term  capital  gain are  taxed as  dividends.  Distributions  that are (i)
designated  by a Portfolio as capital  gains  dividends and (ii) made out of the
"net capital gain" (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term
capital  loss),  if any, of a  Portfolio  will be taxed to  shareholders  as net
capital gain,  regardless  of the length of time a shareholder  has held shares,
whether  such gain was  reflected  in the price paid for the shares,  or whether
such gain was  attributable to bonds bearing  tax-exempt  interest.  Net capital
gain  of  a  noncorporate  taxpayer  is  generally  taxed  at  a  rate  of  20%.
Distributions  that  are not  net  capital  gain  dividends  or  exempt-interest
dividends  will  generally be taxed at a maximum  marginal  rate of 39.6% in the
case of non-corporate taxpayers.  Corporate taxpayers are currently taxed at the
same maximum  marginal  rates on both  ordinary  income and capital  gains.  The
Portfolios'  distributions are taxable when they are paid, whether taken in cash
or  reinvested  in  additional  shares,  except that  distributions  declared in
October,  November or December  and  payable to  shareholders  of record in such
month, if paid in January of the following year, will be taxed as though paid on
December 31. The Portfolios will send non-corporate shareholders a tax statement
by January

                                       22
<PAGE>

31 showing the tax status of the distributions  received in the prior
year. Shareholders also will be notified as to the portion of distributions from
the Tax-Free  Cash  Management  Portfolio  that are exempt from  Federal  income
taxes. It is suggested that shareholders keep all statements  received to assist
in personal record keeping.

         Shareholders may realize a capital gain or loss when they redeem (sell)
or exchange shares of the Portfolios. For most types of accounts, the Portfolios
will report the proceeds of a  shareholder's  redemptions to the shareholder and
the IRS  annually.  However,  because  the tax  treatment  also  depends  on the
purchase price and the shareholder's personal tax position,  shareholders should
keep their regular  account  statements for use in  determining  their tax. If a
shareholder  receives a long-term  capital  gain  distribution  on shares of the
Portfolios,  and such shares are held six months or less and are sold at a loss,
the  portion  of the loss  equal to the  amount of the  long-term  capital  gain
distribution  will be considered a long-term  loss for tax purposes.  Short-term
capital gains  distributed  by the  Portfolios  are taxable to  shareholders  as
dividends, not as capital gains.

         Any gain or loss  recognized  on a sale or  redemption  of  shares of a
Portfolio by a shareholder  who is not a dealer in securities  generally will be
treated as a  long-term  capital  gain or loss if the shares  have been held for
more than twelve months and otherwise  generally will be treated as a short-term
capital gain or loss.  Any resultant net capital gain will be subject to the 20%
rate.

TAX-FREE CASH MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO

         Dividends (i) designated by this Portfolio as exempt-interest dividends
and (ii) paid to  shareholders  out of tax-exempt  interest income earned by the
Portfolio  (exempt-interest  dividends) generally will not be subject to Federal
income  tax  by  the  Portfolio's   shareholders.   However,   persons  who  are
"substantial  users" or  "related  persons"  of  facilities  financed by private
activity  bonds held by the  Portfolio  may be subject to tax on their  pro-rata
share of the  interest  income  from such  bonds and  should  consult  their tax
advisors before purchasing shares of the Portfolio.  Realized market discount on
tax-exempt  obligations  purchased  after  April 30, 1993 is treated as ordinary
income  and not as a capital  gain.  Dividends  paid by a  Portfolio  out of its
taxable net investment income (including  realized net short-term capital gains,
if any) are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income notwithstanding that such
dividends  are  reinvested in additional  shares of the  Portfolio.  The "exempt
interest  dividend"  portion of a distribution is determined by the ratio of the
net  tax-exempt  income  realized  by a  Portfolio  for the  entire  year to the
aggregate amount of distributions for such year and, thus, is an annual average,
rather than a day-to-day  determination for each  shareholder.  Distributions of
long-term  capital gains, if any, are taxable as long-term  capital gains to the
shareholder  receiving them  regardless of the length of time he or she may have
held his or her shares.  Under  current tax law (1) interest on certain  private
activity  bonds is  treated as an item of tax  preference  for  purposes  of the
Federal  Alternative  Minimum  Tax  imposed  on  individuals  and  corporations,


                                       23
<PAGE>

although for regular  Federal  income tax purposes such  interest  remains fully
tax-exempt,  and (2)  interest  on all  tax-exempt  obligations  is  included in
"adjusted current earnings" of corporations for Federal  Alternative Minimum Tax
purposes.  Because the Portfolio  expects to purchase  private activity bonds, a
portion  (not  expected  to  exceed  20%)  of  the  Portfolio's  exempt-interest
dividends  may  constitute  an item of tax  preference  for  those  shareholders
subject to the Federal Alternative Minimum Tax.

         Interest on indebtedness  incurred by shareholders to purchase or carry
shares  of  Portfolio  generating  exempt-interest  dividends  generally  is not
deductible for Federal income tax purposes. Under IRS rules for determining when
borrowed funds are used for purchasing or carrying particular assets,  shares of
the Portfolio may be considered to have been  purchased or carried with borrowed
funds even though those funds are not directly linked to the shares.

         The exemption for Federal income tax purposes of dividends derived from
interest on municipal  securities  does not  necessarily  result in an exemption
under  the  income or other  tax laws of any  state or local  taxing  authority.
Shareholders  of a  Portfolio  may be  exempt  from  state  and  local  taxes on
distributions  of tax-exempt  interest  income  derived from  obligations of the
state and/or municipalities of the state in which they reside but may be subject
to tax on income derived from the municipal  securities of other  jurisdictions.
Shareholders  are  advised to consult  with their tax  advisors  concerning  the
application of state and local taxes to  investments in the Portfolio  which may
differ from the Federal income tax consequences described above.

         Receipt of tax-exempt  income may result in collateral tax consequences
to certain taxpayers,  including,  without limitation,  financial  institutions,
property and casualty insurance  companies,  certain foreign  corporations doing
business  in the United  States,  certain S  corporations  with  excess  passive
income, individual recipients of social security or railroad retirement benefits
and individuals  otherwise  eligible for the earned income credit.  For example,
shareholders  who receive  social  security  benefits  may be subject to Federal
income  tax on up to 85% of such  benefits  to the  extent  that  their  income,
including   tax-exempt  income,   exceeds  certain  base  amounts.   Prospective
purchasers of Portfolio  shares should  consult their own tax advisors as to the
applicability of any such collateral consequences.

         The Portfolio purchases municipal obligations based on opinions of bond
counsel  regarding  the  Federal  income  tax status of the  obligations.  These
opinions  generally  will be  based  upon  covenants  by the  issuers  regarding
continuing  compliance  with  Federal  tax  requirements.  If the  issuer  of an
obligation  fails to  comply  with its  covenant  at any time,  interest  on the
obligation could become Federally taxable retroactive to the date the obligation
was issued.

                                       24
<PAGE>


         Corporate investors should note that the corporate  Alternative Minimum
Tax base is increased by 75% of the amount by which  adjusted  current  earnings
(which includes  tax-exempt interest not already included as a specified item of
tax  preference)   exceeds  the  alternative   minimum  taxable  income  of  the
corporation  (computed  without  regard to such increase and net operating  loss
deductions).

         If a shareholder receives an exempt-interest  dividend and sells shares
at a loss after  holding them for a period of six months or less,  the loss will
be disallowed to the extent of the amount of exempt-interest dividend.

         Shares of the Tax-Free Cash Management  Portfolio would not be suitable
for  tax-exempt  institutions  and  may not be  suitable  for  retirement  plans
qualified under Section 401 of the Code, H.R. 10 plans and Individual Retirement
Accounts,  because such plans and accounts are generally tax-exempt.  Therefore,
such  plans  and  accounts  would  not  gain  any  additional  benefit  from the
tax-exempt  status of the Portfolio's  dividends and,  moreover,  such dividends
would be taxable when distributed to the beneficiary.

OTHER TAX INFORMATION

         In addition to Federal taxes,  shareholders  may be subject to state or
local taxes on their investment, depending on state law.

         The Fund will be required in certain cases to withhold and remit to the
U.S.  Treasury  31% of  distributions  payable  to any  shareholder  who (1) has
provided the Fund either an incorrect tax identification  number or no number at
all, (2) is subject to backup  withholding by the Internal  Revenue  Service for
failure to properly report payments of interest or dividends,  or (3) has failed
to  certify  to the  Fund  that  such  shareholder  is  not  subject  to  backup
withholding.

                              TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

         The trustees and officers of the Fund and their  principal  occupations
during  the  past  five  years  are set  forth  below.  Each  trustee  who is an
"interested  person" of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act) is indicated by an
asterisk (*).  Unless  otherwise  indicated the business  address of each is One
Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, PA 19456.

     WILLIAM H. COWIE,  JR.,  1408 Ruxton  Road,  Baltimore,  MD 21204.  Date of
Birth:  1/24/31.  Trustee since 1993.  Prior to retirement,  Mr. Cowie was Chief
Financial  Officer  (1991-1995) of Pencor,  Inc.  (developers  of  environmental
projects).  Prior  to 1991,  Mr.  Cowie  was Vice  Chairman  of  Signet  Banking
Corporation.

                                       25
<PAGE>

     CHARLOTTE R. KERR,  American City Building,  10227 Wincopin  Circle,  Suite
108, Columbia, MD 21044. Date of Birth: 9/26/46. Trustee since 1993. Ms. Kerr is
Practitioner and faculty member at the Traditional Acupuncture Institute.

     *DAVID D. DOWNES,  210 Allegheny  Ave.,  Towson,  MD 21204.  Date of Birth:
7/16/35.  President and Trustee since 1995. Mr. Downes is an attorney in private
practice (since October 1996). Prior thereto he was a partner (1989-1995) and of
counsel (1995-Sept. 1996) of Venable, Baetjer & Howard (law firm).

     THOMAS SCHWEIZER,  6 Betty Bush Lane,  Baltimore,  MD 21212. Date of Birth:
8/21/22.  Trustee since 1993. Prior to his retirement in 1987, Mr. Schweizer was
self-employed.  He currently is a board member of various charity  organizations
and hospitals.

     RICHARD B. SEIDEL,  770 Hedges Lane,  Wayne,  Pennsylvania  19087.  Date of
Birth:  4/20/41.  Trustee  since 1998.  Mr.  Seidel is a Director and  President
(since 1994) of Girard  Partners,  Ltd. (a registered  broker-dealer).  Prior to
1994, Mr. Seidel was a Director and President of Fairfield Group, Inc.

     JAMES F. VOLK.  Date of Birth:  8/28/62.  Controller,  Treasurer  and Chief
Financial  Officer  since  March  1997.  Mr.  Volk  is  Director  of  Investment
Accounting  Operations.  He joined  SEI  Investments  Mutual  Fund  Services  in
February 1996 and is co-director of the  International  Fund  Accounting  Group.
From December 1993 to January 1996, Mr. Volk was Assistant  Chief  Accountant of
the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission's  Division of Investment  Management.
Prior to December 1993, Mr. Volk spent nine years with Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.,
most recently as a senior manager.

     LYNDA J. STRIEGEL.  Date of Birth:  10/30/48.  Vice President and Secretary
since June 1998. Ms. Striegel is Vice President and Assistance  Secretary of SEI
Investments,  since  1998.  Prior  to  1998,  Ms.  Striegel  was  Senior  Assets
Management  Counsel,  Barnet  Banks  from  1997 to  1998;  Partners,  Groom  and
Nordberg,  Chartered from 1996 to 1997;  Associate General Counsel,  Riggs Bank,
N.A. from 1991 to 1995.

     LYDIA A.  GAVALIS.  Date of Birth:  6/5/64.  Vice  President  and Assistant
Secretary since 1998. Vice President and Assistant  Secretary of SEI Investments
Company  since 1998.  Assistant  General  Counsel and  Director of  Arbitration,
Philadelphia Stock Exchange from 1989 to 1998.

     KATHY  HEILIG.  Date of  Birth:  12/21/58.  Vice  President  and  Assistant
Secretary since 1998. Treasurer of SEI Investments Company since 1997. Assistant
Controller  of  SEI  Investments  Company  since  1995;  Vice  President  of SEI
Investments  Company since 1991;  Director of Taxes of SEI  Investments  Company
from 1987 to 1991; Tax Manager - Arthur Anderson LLP prior to 1987.

                                       26
<PAGE>

     KEVIN P. ROBINS.  Date of Birth:  4/15/61.  Vice  President  and  Assistant
Secretary  since  November 1995.  Mr. Robins is Senior Vice  President,  General
Counsel and Secretary of SEI Investments  since 1994.  Prior to 1994, Mr. Robins
was Vice President and Assistant  Secretary of SEI  Investments.  Prior to 1992,
Mr. Robins was an Associate with Morgan Lewis & Bockius (law firm) since 1988.

     TODD  CIPPERMAN.  Date of Birth:  2/14/66.  Vice  President  and  Assistant
Secretary  since November  1995.  Mr.  Cipperman is Vice President and Assistant
Secretary of SEI Investments  since 1995.  From 1994 to May 1995, Mr.  Cipperman
was an Associate with Dewey Ballantine (law firm).  Prior to 1994, Mr. Cipperman
was an Associate with Winston & Strawn (law firm) since 1991.

     JAMES R.  FOGGO.  Date of Birth:  6/30/64.  Vice  President  and  Assistant
Secretary since 1998. Mr. Foggo is Vice President and Assistant Secretary of the
Administrator  and the  Distributor  since  1998.  In  1998,  Mr.  Foggo  was an
Associate with Paul Weiss, Rifkind,  Wharton & Garrison.  From 1995 to 1998, Mr.
Foggo was an Associate  with Baker & McKenzie.  From 1993 to 1995, Mr. Foggo was
an Associate  with Battle Fowler L.L.P.  Prior to 1990, Mr. Foggo was Operations
Manager with The Shareholder Services Group, Inc. since 1986.

         The following table sets forth information  describing the compensation
of each  current  trustee of the Fund for his or her services as trustee for the
fiscal year ended April 30, 1999.

                           TRUSTEE COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                               PENSION OR
                                                               RETIREMENT           ESTIMATED
                                                                BENEFITS             ANNUAL                 TOTAL
                                          AGGREGATE           ACCRUED FROM         RETIREMENT            COMPENSATION
                                         COMPENSATION           THE FUND          FROM THE FUND          FROM THE FUND
          NAME OF TRUSTEE                FROM THE FUND          COMPLEX*             COMPLEX*              COMPLEX*

<S>                                         <C>                                                            <C>
William H. Cowie, Jr.                       $16,000                --                   --                 $16,000
David D. Downes                              13,500                --                   --                  13,500
Charlotte R. Kerr                            13,500                --                   --                  13,500
Thomas Schweizer                             13,500                --                   --                  13,500
Richard B. Seidel                            11,750                --                   --                  11,750
</TABLE>

         *The Fund's trustees do not receive any pension or retirement  benefits
from the Fund as  compensation  for their  services as trustees of the Fund. The
Fund, a Massachusetts business trust, is the sole investment company in the fund
complex.

                                       27
<PAGE>
                                 CODE OF ETHICS

         The Board of Trustees of the Fund has adopted a Code of Ethics pursuant
to Rule 17j-1  under the 1940 Act.  The Code of Ethics  applies to the  personal
investing  activities  of all trustees  and officers of the Fund,  as well as to
designated  officers,  directors  and employees of AIA and the  Distributor.  As
described  below, the Code of Ethics imposes  significant  restrictions on AIA's
investment personnel, including the portfolio managers and employees who execute
or help execute a portfolio  manager's  decisions or who obtain  contemporaneous
information regarding the purchase or sale of a security by the Portfolios.

         The Code of Ethics requires that covered  employees of AIA and trustees
who are "interested  persons",  preclear personal  securities  investments (with
certain exceptions, such as non-volitional purchases, purchases that are part of
an automatic dividend  reinvestment plan or purchases of securities that are not
eligible for  purchase by the  Portfolios).  The  preclearance  requirement  and
associated  procedures are designed to identify any  substantive  prohibition or
limitation applicable to the proposed investment.  The substantive  restrictions
applicable to investment  personnel include a ban on acquiring any securities in
an initial public offering,  a prohibition from profiting on short-term  trading
in  securities  and special  preclearance  of the  acquisition  of securities in
private  placements.  Furthermore,  the  Code of  Ethics  provides  for  trading
"blackout  periods"  that prohibit  trading by investment  personnel and certain
other  employees  within  periods  of  trading  by the  Portfolios  in the  same
security.  Officers,  directors  and  employees of AIA and the  Distributor  may
comply with codes  instituted by those entities so long as they contain  similar
requirements and restrictions.

                                       28
<PAGE>
                               INVESTMENT ADVISOR

         The investment advisor of the Fund is Allied Investment Advisors,  Inc.
("AIA").  AIA provides the Portfolios  with day-to-day  management  services and
makes  investment  decisions on the  Portfolios'  behalf in accordance with each
Portfolio's investment policies.

         Corporate,  Corporate II and Corporate III Class shares of the Fund are
available  for  individuals,  financial  institutions,  corporations  and  other
entities  that  have  established  trust  relationships  with  Allfirst  or  its
affiliates or  correspondent  banks.  Allfirst  Trust Company,  N.A.  ("Allfirst
Trust").  Allfirst Trust, an affiliate of Allfirst,  also provides custodial and
administrative  services to the Fund.  AIA and Allfirst  Trust are  wholly-owned
subsidiaries of Allfirst Bank, a Maryland-chartered  Federal Reserve member bank
based in  Baltimore,  Maryland.  Allfirst Bank is a  wholly-owned  subsidiary of
Allfirst  Financial  Inc.,  which is owned by Allied  Irish  Banks,  p.l.c.,  an
international  financial  services  organization based in Dublin,  Ireland.  SEI
Investments  Distribution  Co., the  distributor  of the Fund, is not affiliated
with Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c. or its affiliates.

         Pursuant to an investment  advisory agreement with the Fund dated as of
February 12, 1998, AIA furnishes,  at its own expense, all services,  facilities
and personnel  necessary to manage each applicable  Portfolio's  investments and
effect portfolio transactions on its behalf.

         The advisory  contract  has been  approved by the Board of Trustees and
will continue in effect with respect to a Portfolio only if such  continuance is
specifically  approved  at  least  annually  by  the  Board  or by  vote  of the
shareholders of the Portfolio,  and in either case by a majority of the trustees
who are not parties to the advisory  contract or interested  persons of any such
party,  at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the advisory  contract.
The advisory  contract is terminable with respect to a Portfolio without penalty
on 60 days' written notice when authorized either by vote of the shareholders of
the Portfolio or by a vote of a majority of the trustees, or by AIA, on 60 days'
written notice, and will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment.

         The advisory  contract  provides that,  with respect to each Portfolio,
neither  AIA nor its  personnel  shall be liable  for any error of  judgment  or
mistake of law or for any act or omission in the  performance of its duties to a
Portfolio, except for willful misfeasance,  bad faith or gross negligence in the
performance  by AIA of its  duties  or by reason of  reckless  disregard  of its
obligations  and duties  under the  advisory  contract.  The  advisory  contract
provides that AIA may render services to others.

         As of the  date  of  this  Statement  of  Additional  Information,  the
Portfolios  have not yet  commenced  operations  and have not paid any  advisory
fees.

                                       29
<PAGE>

         In addition to  receiving  its  advisory  fee,  AIA may also act and be
compensated  as investment  manager for clients with respect to assets which are
invested in a Portfolio.  In some  instances AIA may elect to credit against any
investment  management fee received from a client who is also a shareholder in a
Portfolio an amount equal to all or a portion of the fee received by AIA, or its
affiliates, from a Portfolio with respect to the client's assets invested in the
Portfolio.

         Each  Portfolio  has,  under  its  advisory  contract,   confirmed  its
obligation to pay all expenses,  including  interest charges,  taxes,  brokerage
fees and commissions;  certain insurance  premiums;  fees,  interest charges and
expenses  of the  custodian,  transfer  agent  and  dividend  disbursing  agent;
telecommunications   expenses;   auditing,   legal  and   compliance   expenses;
organization  costs and costs of maintaining  existence;  costs of preparing and
printing the Portfolios' prospectuses,  statements of additional information and
shareholder   reports  and   delivering   them  to  existing   and   prospective
shareholders;  costs  of  maintaining  books of  original  entry  for  portfolio
accounting  and other  required  books and  accounts of  calculating  the NAV of
shares  of the  Portfolios;  costs of  reproduction,  stationery  and  supplies;
compensation  of trustees and officers of the Fund and costs of other  personnel
performing  services for the Fund who are not officers of the  Administrator  or
Distributor, or their respective affiliates;  costs of shareholder meetings; SEC
registration fees and related expenses;  state securities laws registration fees
and related  expenses;  fees payable under the advisory  contracts and under the
administration   agreement,  and  all  other  fees  and  expenses  paid  by  the
Portfolios.

                          ADMINISTRATOR AND DISTRIBUTOR

ADMINISTRATOR AND SUB-ADMINISTRATOR

         SEI  Investments  Mutual Funds Services  serves as  administrator  (the
"Administrator")  to the Fund.  The  Administrator  assists in  supervising  all
operations of the  Portfolios,  except those performed by AIA under the advisory
contracts,  by the Distributor under the distribution  agreement and by Allfirst
Trust under the sub-administration and custodian agreements.

         Under its administration agreement with the Fund, the Administrator has
agreed to maintain office  facilities for the Fund. The  Administrator  prepares
annual  and  semi-annual  reports  to the SEC,  prepares  Federal  and state tax
returns,  prepares  filings with state  securities  commissions,  and  generally
assists  in all  aspects  of the Fund's  operations  other than those  discussed
above. Under the administration  agreement, the Administrator also provides fund
accounting and related accounting  services.  The Administrator may delegate its
responsibilities  under the  administration  agreement  with the Fund's  written
approval.

         The  Administrator,  a  Delaware  business  trust,  has  its  principal
business  offices at 1 Freedom  Valley Drive,  Oaks, PA 19456.  SEI  Investments
Management  Corporation,  a wholly-owned  subsidiary of SEI Investments  Company
("SEI"), is the owner of all beneficial

                                       30
<PAGE>

interest in the  Administrator.  SEI and its  subsidiaries  and  affiliates  are
leading providers of funds evaluation  services,  trust accounting systems,  and
brokerage  and  information  services to financial  institutions,  institutional
investors and money managers.  The Administrator also serves as administrator or
sub-administrator  to the following  mutual funds:  SEI Daily Income Trust,  SEI
Liquid Asset Trust,  SEI Tax Exempt Trust,  SEI Index Funds,  SEI  Institutional
Managed Trust, SEI Institutional International Trust, The Advisors' Inner Circle
Fund, The Pillar Funds,  CUFUND,  STI Classic Funds, First American Funds, Inc.,
First American  Investment  Funds,  Inc., The Arbor Fund, Boston 1784 Funds, The
PBHG Funds, Inc., The Achievement Funds Trust, Bishop Street Funds,  CrestFunds,
Inc., STI Classic Variable Trust,  Huntington Funds, SEI Asset Allocation Trust,
TIP Funds, SEI Institutional  Investments  Trust, First American Strategy Funds,
Inc., HighMark Funds, PBHG Insurance Series Fund, Inc.,  Expedition Funds, Alpha
Select Funds, Oak Associates Funds, The Nevis Fund, Inc., The Parkstone Group of
Funds,  CNI Charter Funds,  The Armada  Advantage  Fund,  Amerindo  Funds,  Inc.
Huntington VA Funds, Friends Ivory Funds and SEI Insurance Products.

         As of the  date  of  this  Statement  of  Additional  Information,  the
Portfolios   have  not  yet   commenced   operations   and  have  not  paid  any
administration fees.

         The  administration  agreement permits the Administrator to subcontract
its services thereunder, provided that the Administrator will not be relieved of
its obligations  under the agreement by the  appointment of a subcontractor  and
the  Administrator  shall  be  responsible  to the  Fund  for  all  acts  of the
subcontractor  as if such acts were its own,  except for losses  suffered by any
Portfolio resulting from willful  misfeasance,  bad faith or gross negligence by
the subcontractor in the performance of its duties or for reckless  disregard by
it of its obligations  and duties.  Pursuant to a  sub-administration  agreement
between the Administrator  and Allfirst Trust,  Allfirst Trust performs services
which  may  include  clerical,   bookkeeping,   accounting,   stenographic,  and
administrative services, for which it receives a fee, paid by the Administrator,
at the annual rate of up to 0.0275% of aggregate average net assets.

         As of the  date  of  this  Statement  of  Additional  Information,  the
Portfolios   have  not  yet   commenced   operations   and  have  not  paid  any
sub-administration fees.

DISTRIBUTOR

         SEI  Investments  Distribution  Co. (formerly  SEI  Financial  Services
Company)  serves  as  the  distributor  (the  "Distributor")  of the  Fund.  The
Distributor offers shares continuously and has agreed to use its best efforts to
solicit purchase orders.

DISTRIBUTION PLANS

         The Board of Trustees has adopted  distribution  and service plans (the
"Plans") pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the "Rule") on behalf of the
Corporate  II Class  and

                                       31
<PAGE>

Corporate  III  Class  shares.  The  Plans  allow  the  Portfolios  to  pay  the
Distributor  a  distribution  fee at the annual rate of up to 0.25% and 0.40% of
the  average  net  assets of the  Corporate  II Class and  Corporate  III Class,
respectively,  or such lesser amount as approved from time to time by the Board.
These  fees  may be used to pay  expenses  associated  with  the  promotion  and
administration of activities  primarily intended to result in the sale of shares
of the Portfolios,  including,  but not limited to: advertising the availability
of services and products; designing material to send to customers and developing
methods of making such materials accessible to customers;  providing information
about the product needs of customers;  providing facilities to solicit sales and
to  answer  questions  from   prospective  and  existing   investors  about  the
Portfolios;  receiving and answering  correspondence from prospective investors,
including  requests  for  sales  literature,   prospectuses  and  statements  of
additional information;  displaying and making sales literature and prospectuses
available; acting as liaison between shareholders and the Portfolios,  including
obtaining information from the Portfolios regarding the Portfolios and providing
performance and other information about the Portfolios; and providing additional
distribution-related services.

         The Plans have been  approved by the Board of Trustees,  including  the
majority of  disinterested  trustees,  and where  approved  by the initial  sole
shareholder of the classes.  As required by the Rule,  the Board  considered all
pertinent  factors relating to the  implementation of each of the Plans prior to
its  approval,  and the  trustees  have  determined  that there is a  reasonable
likelihood  that the  Plans  will  benefit  the  classes  and  their  respective
shareholders.  To the  extent  that the Plans  provide  greater  flexibility  in
connection with the  distribution of shares of the Portfolios,  additional sales
may result.  The Board has approved  distribution fees of 0.25% and 0.40% of the
average  net  assets  of  the  Corporate  II  Class  and  Corporate  III  Class,
respectively.

         As of the  date  of  this  Statement  of  Additional  Information,  the
Portfolios have not yet commenced  operations and have not paid any distribution
fees.

         As of the  date  of  this  Statement  of  Additional  Information,  all
distribution  fees  received  by the  Distributor  under  the  Plans are paid to
qualified  securities  brokers or  financial  institutions  or other  investment
professionals  in respect of their share accounts.  The Plans are a compensation
plan  because  the  Distributor  is paid a fixed  fee  and is  given  discretion
concerning what expenses are payable under the Plans.  The Distributor may spend
more for marketing and distribution  than it receives in fees.  However,  to the
extent fees  received  exceed  expenses,  including  indirect  expenses  such as
overhead,  the Distributor could be said to have received a profit. For example,
if the  Distributor  pays $1 for  distribution-related  expenses and receives $2
under  the  Plan,  the $1  difference  could  be  said  to be a  profit  for the
Distributor.   If,  after  payments  by  the   Distributor   for  marketing  and
distribution,  there are any remaining fees which have been paid under the Plan,
they may be used as the Distributor  may elect.  Since the amounts payable under
the Plan are commingled  with the  Distributor's  general  funds,  including the
revenues it receives in the conduct of its business, it is possible that

                                       32
<PAGE>

certain of the Distributor's  overhead expenses will be paid out of distribution
fees and that these  expenses  may  include  the costs of leases,  depreciation,
communications, salaries, training and supplies.

                                 TRANSFER AGENT

         The Fund has a Transfer Agency and Services Agreement dated November 1,
1995, with SEI Investments  Management  Corporation.  SEI Investments Management
Corporation has subcontracted  transfer agency services to State Street Bank and
Trust Company ("State Street Bank").  State Street Bank maintains an account for
each  shareholder,  provides tax reporting for each  Portfolio,  performs  other
transfer  agency  functions  and  acts as  dividend  disbursing  agent  for each
Portfolio.

                             DESCRIPTION OF THE FUND

TRUST ORGANIZATION

         The  Portfolios  are  series  of  ARK  Funds,  an  open-end  management
investment company organized as a Massachusetts  business trust by a Declaration
of Trust dated  October 22, 1992,  and amended and restated on March 19, 1993. A
supplement to the Declaration of Trust was executed and filed on March 23, 1993.
The  Declaration  of Trust  permits  the Board to create  additional  series and
classes of shares. The Fund has the following  additional series:  U.S. Treasury
Money Market Portfolio,  U.S.  Government Money Market  Portfolio,  Money Market
Portfolio,  Tax-Free Money Market Portfolio,  Pennsylvania Tax-Free Money Market
Portfolio,  U.S.  Treasury  Cash  Management  Portfolio,  U.S.  Government  Cash
Management Portfolio, Prime Cash Management Portfolio,  Tax-Free Cash Management
Portfolio,  Short-Term Treasury Portfolio,  Short-Term Bond Portfolio,  Maryland
Tax-Free Portfolio,  Pennsylvania Tax-Free Portfolio,  Intermediate Fixed Income
Portfolio, U.S. Government Bond Portfolio, Income Portfolio, Balanced Portfolio,
Equity Income Portfolio,  Value Equity Portfolio,  Equity Index Portfolio,  Blue
Chip Equity  Portfolio,  Capital Growth  Portfolio,  Mid-Cap  Equity  Portfolio,
Small-Cap Equity Portfolio and International Equity Selection Portfolio.

         In the event that an affiliate of Allied Irish Banks,  p.l.c. ceases to
be the investment advisor to the Portfolios, the right of the Fund and Portfolio
to use the identifying name "ARK" may be withdrawn.

         The  assets of the Fund  received  for the issue or sale of shares of a
Portfolio and all income,  earnings,  profits and proceeds thereof are allocated
to the Portfolio and constitute the underlying  assets  thereof.  The underlying
assets of a  Portfolio  are  segregated  on the books of account and are charged
with the  liabilities  with  respect  to the  Portfolio  and with a share of the
general  expenses of the Fund.  General  expenses of the Fund are  allocated  in
proportion  to the

                                       33
<PAGE>

asset value of the  respective  Portfolios,  except where  allocations of direct
expense can otherwise  fairly be made. The officers of the Fund,  subject to the
general supervision of the Board of Trustees,  have the power to determine which
expenses are allocable to a given  Portfolio,  or which are general or allocable
to all of the Portfolios.  In the event of the dissolution or liquidation of the
Fund,  shareholders  of a  Portfolio  are  entitled  to  receive  as a class the
underlying assets of the Portfolio available for distribution.

BANKING LAW MATTERS

         Banking laws and regulations  generally permit a bank or bank affiliate
to act as an investment  advisor and to purchase shares of an investment company
as agent  for and  upon  the  order of a  customer.  However,  banking  laws and
regulations,  including the Glass-Steagall  Act as currently  interpreted by the
Board of  Governors  of the  Federal  Reserve  System,  prohibit a bank  holding
company  registered  under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 or any affiliate
thereof from sponsoring, organizing, controlling or distributing the shares of a
registered,  open-end investment company continuously engaged in the issuance of
its shares, and prohibit banks generally from issuing, underwriting,  selling or
distributing securities.  Upon advice of legal counsel, AIA believes that it may
perform the advisory services described in the prospectuses or this Statement of
Additional  Information  for the Fund  and its  shareholders  without  violating
applicable Federal banking laws or regulations.

         Judicial or administrative  decisions or interpretations of, as well as
changes in,  either  Federal or state  statutes or  regulations  relating to the
activities of banks and their  affiliates could prevent a bank or bank affiliate
from  continuing to perform all or a part of the activities  contemplated by the
prospectuses  or this  Statement  of  Additional  Information.  If banks or bank
affiliates were prohibited from so acting,  changes in the operating of the Fund
might occur. It is not anticipated,  however,  that any such change would affect
the net asset value of the shares of any  Portfolio  or result in any  financial
loss to any shareholder.

SHAREHOLDER AND TRUSTEE LIABILITY

         The Fund is an entity of the type  commonly  known as a  "Massachusetts
business trust." Under Massachusetts law,  shareholders of such a business trust
may, under certain circumstances,  be held personally liable for the obligations
of the trust. The Declaration of Trust provides that the Fund shall not have any
claim  against  shareholders,  except for the payment of the  purchase  price of
shares, and requires that each agreement,  obligation or instrument entered into
or executed by the Fund or the trustees  shall include a provision  limiting the
obligations created thereby to the Fund and its assets. The Declaration of Trust
provides for indemnification  out of a Portfolio's  property of any shareholders
of the Portfolio held  personally  liable for the  obligations of the Portfolio.
The  Declaration  of Trust also provides that a Portfolio  shall,  upon request,
assume the  defense of any claim made  against  any  shareholder  for any act or
obligation of the Portfolio and satisfy any judgment thereon. Thus,

                                       34
<PAGE>

the risk of a  shareholder  incurring  financial  loss  because  of  shareholder
liability is limited to  circumstances  in which the  Portfolio  itself would be
unable  to meet its  obligations.  In view of the  above,  the risk of  personal
liability to shareholders is remote.

         The  Declaration of Trust further  provides that the trustees,  if they
have  exercised  reasonable  care,  will  not  be  liable  for  any  neglect  or
wrongdoing,  but nothing in the  Declaration of Trust protects a trustee against
any liability to which he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful
misfeasance,  bad faith,  gross negligence,  or reckless disregard of the duties
involved in the conduct of his or her office.

SHARES

         Shares of a Portfolio  of any class are fully paid and  non-assessable,
except as set forth under the heading "Shareholder and Trustee Liability" above.
Shareholders  may, as set forth in the  Declaration of Trust,  call meetings for
any purpose related to the Fund, a Portfolio or a class, respectively, including
in the case of a meeting of the entire Fund, the purpose of voting on removal of
one or more trustees.  The Fund or any Portfolio may be terminated upon the sale
of its  assets  to  another  open-end  management  investment  company,  or upon
liquidation and  distribution of its assets,  if approved by vote of the holders
of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund or the Portfolio.  If not so
terminated, the Fund and the Portfolios will continue indefinitely.

SHARE OWNERSHIP

         As of April 20, 2000,  the officers and trustees of the Fund owned less
than  1% of  the  outstanding  shares  of any  Portfolio  and  no  person  owned
beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Portfolios.

         A  shareholder  owning  beneficially  more  than  25%  of a  particular
Portfolio's  shares  may be  considered  to be a  "controlling  person"  of that
Portfolio. Accordingly, its vote could have a more significant effect on matters
presented  at  shareholder  meetings  than the  votes of the  Portfolio's  other
shareholders.  Allfirst  Bank or its  affiliates,  however,  may receive  voting
instructions from certain underlying  customer accounts and will vote the shares
in  accordance  with those  instructions.  In the absence of such  instructions,
Allfirst Bank or its affiliates will vote those shares in the same proportion as
it votes the shares for which it has received  instructions  from its  customers
and fiduciary accounts.

                                    CUSTODIAN

         Allfirst  Trust, 25 South Charles  Street,  Baltimore,  Maryland 21201,
serves as custodian for the  Portfolios.  Under the custody  agreement  with the
Fund,  Allfirst Trust holds the Fund's  portfolio  securities in safekeeping and
keeps all  necessary  records and  documents  relating  to its

                                       35
<PAGE>

duties. For the services provided to the Fund pursuant to the custody agreement,
the Fund pays  Allfirst  Trust a monthly fee at the annual rate of 0.015% of the
average  net assets of the  Portfolios.  Allfirst  Trust also  charges  the Fund
transaction  handling fees ranging from $5 to $75 per  transaction  and receives
reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses.

                              INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

         KPMG LLP, located at 99 High Street,  Boston,  Massachusetts 02110, are
the Fund's  independent  auditors,  providing audit services and consultation in
connection  with the  review  of  various  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission
filings.

                                       36
<PAGE>


                                   APPENDIX A

                                 2000 TAX RATES

         The following  tables show the effect of a shareholder's  tax status on
effective  yield under the Federal  income tax laws for 2000.  The second  table
shows the  approximate  yield a taxable  security must provide at various income
brackets  to  produce  after-tax  yields  equivalent  to those  of  hypothetical
tax-exempt  obligations  yielding from 3% to 7%. Of course,  no assurance can be
given that a Portfolio  will achieve any specific  tax-exempt  yield.  While the
Portfolios  invest  principally  in  obligations  whose  interest is exempt from
Federal income tax other income received by a Portfolio may be taxable.

         Use the first  table to find your  approximate  Federal  effective  tax
bracket for 2000.


           SINGLE RETURN                JOINT RETURN            FEDERAL INCOME
          TAXABLE INCOME*              TAXABLE INCOME*           TAX BRACKET**

        26,251  --  63,550            43,851 -- 105,950            28.00%
        63,551  -- 132,600           105,951 -- 161,450            31.00%
       132,601  -- 288,350           161,451 -- 288,350            36.00%
       288,351                       288,351                       39.60%

*   Net amount subject to Federal income tax after deductions and exemptions.
    Assumes ordinary income only.

**  Excludes the impact of the phaseout of personal exemptions, limitations
    on itemized deductions, and other credits,  exclusions, and adjustments
    which may  increase a taxpayer's  marginal  tax rate.  An increase in a
    shareholder's  marginal  tax rate  would  increase  that  shareholder's
    tax-equivalent yield.

*** Excludes  the  impact of state  income  taxes.  It is likely  that your
    exempt-interest  dividends  from the Fund will be  subject to state and
    local income taxes, if any, imposed by your state of residence.

Having determined your effective tax bracket above, use the following table to
determine the tax equivalent yield for a given tax-free yield.

           28.00%         31.00%          36.00%          39.60%

                                      A-1
<PAGE>

To match these tax free rates:  Your taxable  investment  would have to earn the
following yield:

            3.00%          4.17%           4.35%           4.69%           4.97%
            4.00%          5.56%           5.80%           6.25%           6.62%
            5.00%          6.94%           7.25%           7.81%           8.28%
            6.00%          8.33%           8.70%           9.38%           9.93%
            7.00%          9.72%          10.14%          10.94%          11.59%

Yield  information  may be useful in reviewing a Portfolio's  performance and in
providing a basis for comparison with other  investment  alternatives.  However,
each Portfolio's yield fluctuates,  unlike investments that pay a fixed interest
rate  over a stated  period of time.  When  comparing  investment  alternatives,
investors should also note the quality and maturity of the portfolio  securities
of the respective investment companies that they have chosen to consider.

Investors  should  recognize  that in  periods  of  declining  interest  rates a
Portfolio's  yield will tend to be somewhat higher than prevailing market rates,
and in  periods of rising  interest  rates a  Portfolio's  yield will tend to be
somewhat  lower.  Also,  when interest rates are falling,  the inflow of net new
money to a  Portfolio  from the  continuous  sale of its shares  will  likely be
invested  in  instruments  producing  lower  yields  than  the  balance  of  the
Portfolio's holdings, thereby reducing the Portfolio's current yield. In periods
of rising interest rates,  the opposite can be expected to occur.  THE YIELDS OF
THE  CORPORATE  CLASS,  CORPORATE II CLASS OR CORPORATE III CLASS OF A PORTFOLIO
ARE EACH CALCULATED SEPARATELY.

                                      A-2


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission