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OCTOBER 1, 1998 | PROSPECTUS
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J.P. MORGAN INSTITUTIONAL
DISCIPLINED EQUITY FUND
===================================
Seeking to outperform the market in
which it invests over the long term
through a disciplined management
approach
This prospectus contains essential information for anyone investing in the fund.
Please read it carefully and keep it for reference.
Shares in the fund are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by
any bank, government entity, or the FDIC.
As with all mutual funds, the fact that these shares are registered with the
Securities and Exchange Commission does not mean that the commission approves
them as an investment or guarantees that the information in this prospectus is
correct or adequate. It is a criminal offense for anyone to state or suggest
otherwise.
[LOGO] JPMorgan
Distributed by Funds Distributor, Inc.
<PAGE>
CONTENTS
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<S> <C>
2 | U.S. EQUITY MANAGEMENT APPROACH
U.S. equity investment process ...........................................................2
4 | J.P. MORGAN INSTITUTIONAL DISCIPLINED EQUITY FUND
The fund's goal, investment approach, Fund description .........................................................................3
risks, expenses, performance
and financial highlights Investor expenses ........................................................................3
Performance ..............................................................................4
Financial highlights......................................................................5
6 | YOUR INVESTMENT
Investing in the J.P. Morgan Investing through a financial professional ...............................................6
Institutional Disciplined
Equity Fund Investing through an employer-sponsored retirement plan ..................................6
Investing through an IRA or Rollover IRA .................................................6
Investing directly .......................................................................6
Opening your account .....................................................................6
Adding to your account ...................................................................6
Selling shares ...........................................................................7
Account and transaction policies .........................................................7
Dividends and distributions ..............................................................8
Tax considerations .......................................................................8
9 | FUND DETAILS
More about risk and the fund's Master/feeder structure ..................................................................9
business operations
Management and administration ............................................................9
Risk and reward elements ................................................................10
FOR MORE INFORMATION ............................................................back cover
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
INTRODUCTION
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J.P. MORGAN INSTITUTIONAL DISCIPLINED EQUITY FUND
This fund invests primarily in U.S. stocks by investing through a master
portfolio (another fund with the same goal). As a shareholder, you should
anticipate risks and rewards beyond those of a typical bond fund or a typical
balanced fund.
WHO MAY WANT TO INVEST
The fund is designed for investors who:
o are pursuing a long-term goal such as retirement
o want to add an investment with growth potential to further diversify a
portfolio
o want a fund that seeks to outperform the market in which it invests over
the long term
The fund is not designed for investors who:
o want a fund that pursues market trends or focuses only on particular
industries or sectors
o require regular income or stability of principal
o are pursuing a short-term goal or investing emergency reserves
J.P. MORGAN
Known for its commitment to proprietary research and its disciplined investment
strategies, J.P. Morgan is the asset management choice for many of the world's
most respected corporations, financial institutions, governments, and
individuals. Today, J.P. Morgan employs over 300 analysts and portfolio managers
around the world and has more than $275 billion in assets under management,
including assets managed by the fund's advisor, J.P. Morgan Investment
Management Inc.
========================================
Before you invest
Investors considering the fund should
understand that:
o The value of the fund's shares will
fluctuate over time. You could lose
money if you sell when the fund's
share price is lower than when you
invested.
o There is no assurance that the fund
will meet its investment goal.
o Future returns will not necessarily
resemble past performance.
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| 1
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<PAGE>
U.S. EQUITY MANAGEMENT APPROACH
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The J.P. Morgan Institutional
Disciplined Equity Fund invests
primarily in U.S. stocks.
The fund's investment philosophy,
developed by its advisor, focuses on
stock picking while largely avoiding
sector or market-timing strategies.
Also, under normal market conditions,
the fund will remain fully invested.
U.S. EQUITY INVESTMENT PROCESS
In managing the fund, J.P. Morgan
employs a three-step process:
[GRAPHIC] Research J.P. Morgan takes an in-depth
look at company prospects over a
J.P. Morgan analysts develop relatively long period -- often as much
proprietary fundamental research as five years -- rather than focusing on
near-term expectations. This approach is
designed to provide insight into a
company's real growth potential. J.P.
Morgan's in-house research is developed
by an extensive worldwide network of
over 120 career analysts. The team of
analysts dedicated to U.S. equities
includes more than 20 members, with an
average of over ten years of experience.
[GRAPHIC] Valuation The research findings allow
J.P. Morgan to rank the companies in
Stocks in each industry are ranked each industry group according to their
with the help of models relative value. The greater a company's
estimated worth compared to the current
market price of its stock, the more
undervalued the company. The valuation
rankings are produced with the help of a
variety of models that quantify the
research team's findings.
[GRAPHIC] Stock selection The fund buys and sells
stocks according to its own policies,
Using research and valuations, using the research and valuation
the fund's management team rankings as a basis. In general, the
chooses stocks for its fund management team buys stocks that are
identified as undervalued and considers
selling them when they appear
overvalued. Along with attractive
valuation, the fund's managers often
consider a number of other criteria:
o catalysts that could trigger a rise
in a stock's price
o high potential reward compared to
potential risk
o temporary mispricings caused by
market overreactions
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2 | U.S. EQUITY MANAGEMENT APPROACH
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<PAGE>
J.P. MORGAN INSTITUTIONAL
DISCIPLINED EQUITY FUND
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REGISTRANT: J.P. MORGAN INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS
(J.P. MORGAN INSTITUTIONAL DISCIPLINED EQUITY FUND)
[GRAPHIC] GOAL
The fund's goal is to provide a consistently high total return from a
broadly diversified portfolio of equity securities with risk characteristics
similar to the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index (S&P 500). This goal can be
changed without shareholder approval.
[GRAPHIC] INVESTMENT APPROACH
The fund invests primarily in large- and medium-capitalization U.S.
companies. Industry by industry, the fund's weightings are similar to those of
the S&P 500. The fund does not look to overweight or underweight industries.
Within each industry, the fund modestly overweights stocks that are ranked as
undervalued or fairly valued while modestly underweighting or not holding stocks
that appear overvalued. (The process used to rank stocks according to their
relative valuations is described on page 2.)
[GRAPHIC] POTENTIAL RISKS AND REWARDS
The value of your investment in the fund will fluctuate in response to
movements in the stock market. Fund performance will also depend on the
effectiveness of J.P. Morgan's research and the management team's stock picking
decisions.
By owning a large number of stocks within the S&P 500, with an emphasis on those
that appear undervalued or fairly valued, and by tracking the industry
weightings of that index, the fund seeks returns that modestly exceed those of
the S&P 500 over the long term with virtually the same level of volatility.
The fund's securities are described in more detail on page 10, along with their
main risks, which may cause the fund's share price to decline, and the fund's
strategies to reduce these risks.
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
The fund's assets are managed by J.P. Morgan, which currently manages over $275
billion, including more than $13 billion using the same strategy as the fund.
The portfolio management team is led by James C. Wiess and Timothy J. Devlin,
both vice presidents, who have been on the team since the fund's inception in
January of 1997. Mr. Wiess has been at J.P. Morgan since 1992, and prior to
managing this fund managed other structured equity portfolios for J.P. Morgan.
Mr. Devlin has been at J.P. Morgan since July of 1996, and prior to that time
was an equity portfolio manager at Mitchell Hutchins Asset Management Inc.
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INVESTOR EXPENSES
The current expenses you should expect to pay as an investor in the fund are
shown at right. The fund has no sales, redemption, exchange, or account fees,
although some institutions may charge you a fee for shares you buy through them.
The annual fund expenses shown are deducted from fund assets prior to
performance calculations.
Footnotes for this section are shown on next page.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
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Annual fund operating expenses(1) (%)
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<S> <C>
Management fees (actual) 0.35
Marketing (12b-1) fees none
Other expenses(2)
(after reimbursement) 0.10
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Total operating expenses(2)
(after reimbursement) 0.45
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</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
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Expense example
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The example below uses the same assumptions as other fund prospectuses: $1,000
initial investment, 5% annual total return, expenses unchanged, all shares sold
at the end of each time period. The example is for comparison only; the fund's
actual return and expenses will be different.
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1 yr. 3 yrs. 5 yrs. 10 yrs.
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Your cost($) 5 14 25 57
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</TABLE>
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J.P. MORGAN INSTITUTIONAL DISCIPLINED EQUITY FUND | 3
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<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
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PERFORMANCE (unaudited)
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Average annual total return (%) Shows performance over time, for periods ended December 31, 1997
==================================--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 yr. 5 yrs. Since 10/31/89(3)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
J.P. Morgan Institutional Disciplined Equity Fund (after expenses) n/a n/a n/a
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Private Account Composite (after expense)(4) 33.37 20.61 17.63
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S&P 500(5) (no expenses) 33.36 20.27 16.89
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</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
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Total returns (%) Shows changes in returns for periods ended December 31, 1997
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[THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS REPRESENTED BY A BAR CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.]
3 mos. Since inception(6)
<S> <C> <C>
J.P. Morgan Institutional Disciplined Equity Fund 2.41 25.79
Private Account Composite(4) 2.26 25.54
S&P 500(5) 2.87 25.52
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
=================================
Year-by-year total return (%) Shows changes in returns by calendar year
==================================--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS REPRESENTED BY A BAR CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.]
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Private Account Composite(4) (2.94) 30.39 11.75 10.20 2.21 37.87 23.26 33.37
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S&P 500(5) (3.11) 30.47 7.62 10.08 1.32 37.58 22.96 33.36
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</TABLE>
(1) The fund has a master/feeder structure as described on page 9. This table
shows the fund's expenses and its share of master portfolio expenses for
the past fiscal year, expressed as a percentage of the fund's average net
assets and reflecting reimbursement for ordinary expenses over 0.45%.
(2) Without reimbursement, other expenses and total operating expenses would
have been 0.37% and 0.72%, respectively. This reimbursement arrangement can
be changed or terminated at any time at the option of J.P. Morgan.
(3) The inception date of the Private Account Composite is 10/31/89.
(4) The performance of the Private Account Composite does not represent the
fund's performance and should not be interpreted as indicative of the
fund's future performance. The Composite reflects the historical
performance of discretionary investment management accounts under the
management of the fund's advisor with substantially similar objectives and
policies as the fund. Historical Composite performance information reflects
the deduction of the fund's total expenses of 0.45%. The performance of
accounts in the Composite might have been lower if they were subject to the
extra restrictions imposed on mutual funds. AIMR performance requirements
went into effect 1/1/93 and prior to that date the Composite may not have
included all discretionary accounts.
(5) The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index of U.S. stocks widely used as a measure
of overall stock market performance.
(6) The fund commenced operations on 1/3/97 and performance is calculated as of
1/31/97.
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4 | J.P. MORGAN INSTITUTIONAL DISCIPLINED EQUITY FUND
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<PAGE>
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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
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Per-share data For fiscal periods ended May 31
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1997(1) 1998
<S> <C> <C>
Net asset value, beginning of period ($) 10.00 11.47
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Income from investment operations:
Net investment income ($) 0.04 0.12
Net realized and unrealized gain
on investment ($) 1.43 3.62
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Total from investment operations ($) 1.47 3.74
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Less distributions to shareholders from:
Net investment income ($) -- (0.12)
Net realized gains (loss) ($) -- (0.13)
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Total distributions ($) -- (0.25)
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Net asset value, end of period ($) 11.47 14.96
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=================================
Ratios and supplemental data
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Total return (%) 14.70(2) 32.98
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Net assets, end of period ($ thousands) 49,726 296,191
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Ratio to average net assets:
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Expenses (%) 0.45(3) 0.45
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Net investment income (%) 1.58(3) 1.27
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Expenses without reimbursement (%) 1.34(3) 0.72
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</TABLE>
The Financial Highlights above have been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP,
the fund's independent accountants.
(1) The fund commenced operations on 1/3/97.
(2) Not annualized.
(3) Annualized.
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J.P. MORGAN INSTITUTIONAL DISCIPLINED EQUITY FUND | 5
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<PAGE>
YOUR INVESTMENT
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For your convenience, the J.P. Morgan Institutional Funds offer several ways to
start and add to fund investments.
INVESTING THROUGH A FINANCIAL PROFESSIONAL
If you work with a financial professional, either at J.P. Morgan or elsewhere,
he or she is prepared to handle your planning and transaction needs. Your
financial professional will be able to assist you in establishing your fund
account, executing transactions, and monitoring your investment. If your fund
investment is not held in the name of your financial professional and you prefer
to place a transaction order yourself, please use the instructions for investing
directly.
INVESTING THROUGH AN EMPLOYER-SPONSORED RETIREMENT PLAN
Your fund investments are handled through your plan. Refer to your plan
materials or contact your benefits office for information on buying, selling, or
exchanging fund shares.
INVESTING THROUGH AN IRA OR ROLLOVER IRA
Please contact a J.P. Morgan Retirement Services Specialist at 1-888-576-4472
for information on J.P. Morgan's comprehensive IRA services, including lower
minimum investments.
INVESTING DIRECTLY
Investors may establish accounts without the help of an intermediary by using
the instructions below and at right:
o Determine the amount you are investing. The minimum amount for initial
investments in the fund is $1,000,000 and for additional investments
$25,000, although these minimums may be less for some investors. For more
information on minimum investments, call 1-800-766-7722.
o Complete the application, indicating how much of your investment you want
to allocate to which fund(s). Please apply now for any account privileges
you may want to use in the future, in order to avoid the delays associated
with adding them later on.
o Mail in your application, making your initial investment as shown at right.
For answers to any questions, please speak with a J.P. Morgan Funds Services
Representative at 1-800-766-7722.
OPENING YOUR ACCOUNT
By wire
o Mail your completed application to the Shareholder Services Agent.
o Call the Shareholder Services Agent to obtain an account number and to
place a purchase order. Funds that are wired without a purchase order will
be returned uninvested.
o After placing your purchase order, instruct your bank to wire the amount of
your investment to:
Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York
Routing number: 021-000-238
Credit: J.P. Morgan Institutional Funds
Account number: 001-57-689
FFC: your account number, name of registered owner(s) and fund name
By check
o Make out a check for the investment amount payable to J.P. Morgan
Institutional Funds.
o Mail the check with your completed application to the Shareholder Services
Agent.
By exchange
o Call the Shareholder Services Agent to effect an exchange.
ADDING TO YOUR ACCOUNT
By wire
o Call the Shareholder Services Agent to place a purchase order. Funds that
are wired without a purchase order will be returned uninvested.
o Once you have placed your purchase order, instruct your bank to wire the
amount of your investment as described above.
By check
o Make out a check for the investment amount payable to J.P. Morgan
Institutional Funds.
o Mail the check with a completed investment slip to the Shareholder Services
Agent. If you do not have an investment slip, attach a note indicating your
account number and how much you wish to invest in which fund(s).
By exchange
o Call the Shareholder Services Agent to effect an exchange.
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6 | YOUR INVESTMENT
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<PAGE>
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SELLING SHARES
By phone - wire payment
o Call the Shareholder Services Agent to verify that the wire redemption
privilege is in place on your account. If it is not, a representative can
help you add it.
o Place your wire request. If you are transferring money to a non-Morgan
account, you will need to provide the representative with the personal
identification number (PIN) that was provided to you when you opened your
fund account.
By phone - check payment
o Call the Shareholder Services Agent and place your request. Once your
request has been verified, a check for the net amount, payable to the
registered owner(s), will be mailed to the address of record. For checks
payable to any other party or mailed to any other address, please make your
request in writing (see below).
In writing
o Write a letter of instruction that includes the following information: The
name of the registered owner(s) of the account; the account number; the
fund name; the amount you want to sell; and the recipient's name and
address or wire information, if different from those of the account
registration.
o Indicate whether you want the proceeds sent by check or by wire.
o Make sure the letter is signed by an authorized party. The Shareholder
Services Agent may require additional information, such as a signature
guarantee.
o Mail the letter to the Shareholder Services Agent.
By exchange
o Call the Shareholder Services Agent to effect an exchange.
ACCOUNT AND TRANSACTION POLICIES
Telephone orders The fund accepts telephone orders from all shareholders. To
guard against fraud, the fund requires shareholders to use a PIN, and may record
telephone orders or take other reasonable precautions. However, if the fund does
take such steps to ensure the authenticity of an order, you may bear any loss if
the order later proves fraudulent.
Exchanges You may exchange shares in this fund for shares in any other J.P.
Morgan Institutional or J.P. Morgan mutual fund at no charge (subject to the
securities laws of your state). When making exchanges, it is important to
observe any applicable minimums. Keep in mind that for tax purposes an exchange
is considered a sale.
The fund may alter, limit, or suspend its exchange policy at any time.
Business hours and NAV calculations The fund's regular business days and hours
are the same as those of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The fund calculates
its net asset value per share (NAV) every business day as of the close of
trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. eastern time). The fund's securities are
typically priced using market quotes or pricing services. When these methods
are not available or do not represent a security's value at the time of pricing,
the security is valued in accordance with the fund's fair valuation procedures.
Timing of orders Orders to buy or sell shares are executed at the next NAV
calculated after the order has been accepted. Orders are accepted until the
close of trading on the NYSE every business day and are executed the same day,
at that day's NAV. The fund has the right to suspend redemption of shares and to
postpone payment of proceeds for up to seven days or as permitted by law.
================================================================================
Shareholder Services Agent
J.P. Morgan Funds Services
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036
1-800-766-7722
Representatives are available 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
eastern time on fund business days.
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YOUR INVESTMENT | 7
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<PAGE>
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Timing of settlements When you buy shares, you will become the owner of record
when the fund receives your payment, generally the day following execution. When
you sell shares, proceeds are generally available the day following execution
and will be forwarded according to your instructions.
When you sell shares that you recently purchased by check, your order will be
executed at the next NAV but the proceeds will not be available until your check
clears. This may take up to 15 days.
Statements and reports The fund sends monthly account statements as well as
confirmations after each purchase or sale of shares (except reinvestments).
Every six months the fund sends out an annual or semi-annual report containing
information on the fund's holdings and a discussion of recent and anticipated
market conditions and fund performance.
Accounts with below-minimum balances If your account balance falls below the
minimum for 30 days as a result of selling shares (and not because of
performance), the fund reserves the right to request that you buy more shares or
close your account. If your account balance is still below the minimum 60 days
after notification, the fund reserves the right to close out your account and
send the proceeds to the address of record.
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
The fund typically pays income dividends four times a year and makes capital
gains distributions, if any, once per year (usually in August). However, the
fund may make more or fewer payments in a given year, depending on its
investment results and its tax compliance situation. These dividends and
distributions consist of most or all of the fund's net investment income and net
realized capital gains.
Dividends and distributions are reinvested in additional fund shares.
Alternatively, you may instruct your financial professional or J.P. Morgan Funds
Services to have them sent to you by check, credited to a separate account, or
invested in another J.P. Morgan Institutional Fund.
TAX CONSIDERATIONS
In general, selling shares, exchanging shares, and receiving distributions
(whether reinvested or taken in cash) are all taxable events. These transactions
typically create the following tax liabilities for taxable accounts:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
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Transaction Tax status
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<S> <C>
Income dividends Ordinary income
Short-term capital gains Ordinary income
distributions
Long-term capital gains Capital gains
distributions
Sales or exchanges of shares Capital gains or losses
owned for more than one year
Sales or exchanges of shares Gains are treated as ordinary
owned for one year or less income; losses are subject
to special rules
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</TABLE>
Because long-term capital gains distributions are taxable as capital gains
regardless of how long you have owned your shares, you may want to avoid making
a substantial investment when the fund is about to declare a long-term capital
gains distribution.
Every January, the fund issues tax information on its distributions for the
previous year.
Any investor for whom the fund does not have a valid taxpayer identification
number will be subject to backup withholding for taxes.
The tax considerations described in this section do not apply to tax-deferred
accounts or other non-taxable entities.
Because each investor's tax circumstances are unique, please consult your tax
professional about your fund investment.
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8 | YOUR INVESTMENT
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<PAGE>
FUND DETAILS
================================================================================
MASTER/FEEDER STRUCTURE
As noted earlier, the fund is a "feeder" fund that invests in a master
portfolio. (Except where indicated, this prospectus uses the term "the fund" to
mean the feeder fund and its master portfolio taken together.)
The master portfolio accepts investments from other feeder funds, and the
feeders bear the master portfolio's expenses in proportion to their assets.
However, each feeder can set its own transaction minimums, fund-specific
expenses, and other conditions. This means that one feeder could offer access to
the same master portfolio on more attractive terms, or could experience better
performance, than another feeder. Information about other feeders is available
by calling 1-800-766-7722. Generally, when the master portfolio seeks a vote,
the fund will hold a shareholder meeting and cast its vote proportionately, as
instructed by its shareholders. Fund shareholders are entitled to one full or
fractional vote for each dollar or fraction of a dollar invested.
The fund and its master portfolio expect to maintain consistent goals, but if
they do not, the fund will withdraw from the master portfolio, receiving its
assets either in cash or securities. The fund's trustees would then consider
whether the fund should hire its own investment adviser, invest in a different
master portfolio, or take other action.
MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
The fund and its master portfolio are governed by the same trustees. The
trustees are responsible for overseeing all business activities. The trustees
are assisted by Pierpont Group, Inc., which they own and operate on a cost
basis; costs are shared by all funds governed by these trustees. Funds
Distributor, Inc., as co-administrator, provides fund officers. J.P. Morgan, as
co-administrator, along with J.P. Morgan, oversees the fund's other service
providers.
J.P. Morgan, subject to the expense reimbursements described earlier in this
prospectus, receives the following fees for investment advisory and other
services:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
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Advisory services 0.35% of the master
portfolio's average net assets
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<S> <C>
Administrative services Master portfolio's and fund's
(fee shared with Funds pro-rata portions of 0.09% of
Distributor, Inc.) the first $7 billion in
J.P. Morgan-advised portfolios,
plus 0.04% of average net
assets over $7 billion
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shareholder services 0.10% of the fund's average
net assets
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</TABLE>
J.P. Morgan may pay fees to certain firms and professionals for providing
recordkeeping or other services in connection with investments in the fund.
Year 2000 Fund operations and shareholders could be adversely affected if the
computer systems used by J.P. Morgan, the fund's other service providers and
other entities with computer systems linked to the fund do not properly process
and calculate January 1, 2000 and after date-related information. J.P. Morgan is
working to avoid these problems and to obtain assurances from other service
providers that they are taking similar steps. However, it is not certain that
these actions will be sufficient to prevent these problems from adversely
impacting fund operations and shareholders. In addition, to the extent that
operations of issuers of securities held by the fund are impaired by
date-related problems or prices of securities decline as a result of real or
perceived date-related problems of issuers held by the fund or generally, the
net asset value of the fund will decline.
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FUND DETAILS | 9
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<PAGE>
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RISK AND REWARD ELEMENTS
This table discusses the main elements that make up the fund's overall risk and
reward characteristics (described on page 3). It also outlines the fund's
policies toward various securities, including those that are designed to help
the fund manage risk.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
====================================================================================================================================
Potential risks Potential rewards Policies to balance risk and reward
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<S> <C> <C>
Market conditions
o The fund's share price and o Stocks have generally outperformed o Under normal circumstances the fund
performance will fluctuate in more stable investments (such as plans to remain fully invested,
response to stock market movements bonds and cash equivalents) over with at least 65% in stocks; stock
the long term investments may include U.S. and
o Adverse market conditions may from foreign common stocks, convertible
time to time cause the fund to take securities, preferred stocks, trust
temporary defensive positions that or partnership interests, warrants,
are inconsistent with its principal rights, and investment company
investment strategies and may securities
hinder the fund from achieving its
investment objective o The fund seeks to limit risk
through diversification
o During severe market downturns, the
fund has the option of investing up
to 100% of assets in investment-grade
short-term securities
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Management choices
o The fund could underperform its o The fund could outperform its o J.P. Morgan focuses its active
benchmark due to its securities and benchmark due to these same choices management on securities selection,
asset allocation choices the area where it believes its
commitment to research can most
enhance returns
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Foreign investments
o Currency exchange rate movements o Favorable exchange rate movements o The fund anticipates that its total
could reduce gains or create losses could generate gains or reduce foreign investments will not exceed
losses 20% of assets.
o The fund could lose money because
of foreign government actions, o Foreign investments, which o The fund actively manages the
political instability, or lack of represent a major portion of the currency exposure of its foreign
adequate and accurate information world's securities, offer investments relative to its
attractive potential performance benchmark, and may hedge back into
and opportunities for the U.S. dollar from time to time
diversification (see also "Derivatives")
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Derivatives
o Derivatives such as futures, o Hedges that correlate well with o The fund uses derivatives for
options, swaps and forward foreign underlying positions can reduce or hedging and for risk management
currency contracts that are used eliminate losses at low cost (i.e., to establish or adjust
for hedging the portfolio or exposure to particular securities,
specific securities may not fully o The fund could make money and markets or currencies); risk
offset the underlying positions(1) protect against losses if management may include management
management's analysis proves of the fund's exposure relative to
o Derivatives used for risk correct its benchmark
management may not have the
intended effects and may result in o Derivatives that involve leverage o The fund only establishes hedges
losses or missed opportunities could generate substantial gains at that it expects will be highly
low cost correlated with underlying
o The counterparty to a derivatives positions
contract could default
o While the fund may use derivatives
o Derivatives that involve leverage that incidentally involve leverage,
could magnify losses it does not use them for the
specific purpose of leveraging the
portfolio
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1) A futures contract is an agreement to buy or sell a set quantity of an
underlying instrument at a future date, or to make or receive a cash
payment based on changes in the value of a securities index. An option is
the right to buy or sell a set quntity of an underlying instrument at
pre-determined price. A swap is a privately negotiated agreement to
exchange one stream of payments for another. A forward foreign currency
contract is an obligation to buy or sell a given currency on a future date
and at a set price.
|
10 | FUND DETAILS
|
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
====================================================================================================================================
Potential risks Potential rewards Policies to balance risk and reward
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Illiquid holdings
o The fund could have difficulty o These holdings may offer more o The fund may not invest more than
valuing these holdings precisely attractive yields or potential 15% of net assets in illiquid
growth than comparable widely holdings
o The fund could be unable to sell traded securities
these holdings at the time or price o To maintain adequate liquidity to
it desires meet redemptions, the fund may hold
investment-grade short-term
securities (including repurchase
agreements) and, for temporary or
extraordinary purposes, may borrow
from banks up to 33 1/3% of its
assets
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When-issued and delayed
delivery securities
o When the fund buys securities o The fund can take advantage of o The fund uses segregated accounts
before issue or for delayed attractive transaction to offset leverage risk
delivery, it could be exposed to opportunities
leverage risk if it does not use
segregated accounts
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Short-term trading
o Increased trading would raise the o The fund could realize gains in a o The fund anticipates a portfolio
fund's brokerage and related costs short period of time turnover rate of approximately 100%
o Increased short-term capital gains o The fund could protect against o The fund generally avoids
distributions would raise losses if a stock is overvalued and short-term trading, except to take
shareholders' income tax liability its value later falls advantage of attractive or
unexpected opportunities or to meet
demands generated by shareholder
activity
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
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FUND DETAILS | 11
|
<PAGE>
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|
12 |
|
<PAGE>
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| 13
|
<PAGE>
================================================================================
FOR MORE INFORMATION
================================================================================
For investors who want more information on the fund, the following documents are
available free upon request:
Annual/Semi-annual Reports Contain financial statements, performance data,
information on portfolio holdings, and a written analysis of market conditions
and fund performance for the fund's most recently completed fiscal year or
half-year.
Statement of Additional Information (SAI) Provides a fuller technical and legal
description of the fund's policies, investment restrictions, and business
structure. This prospectus incorporates the SAI by reference.
Copies of the current versions of these documents, along with other information
about the fund, may be obtained by contacting:
J.P. Morgan Institutional Disciplined Equity Fund
J.P. Morgan Funds Services
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036
Telephone: 1-800-766-7722
Hearing impaired: 1-888-468-4015
Email: [email protected]
Text-only versions of these documents and this prospectus are available, upon
payment of a duplicating fee, from the Public Reference Room of the Securities
and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. (1-800-SEC-0330) and may be viewed
on-screen or downloaded from the SEC's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. The
fund's investment company and 1933 Act registration numbers are 811-07342 and
033-54642.
J.P. MORGAN INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS AND THE MORGAN TRADITION
The J.P. Morgan Institutional Funds combine a heritage of integrity and
financial leadership with comprehensive, sophisticated analysis and management
techniques. Drawing on J.P. Morgan's extensive experience and depth as an
investment manager, the J.P. Morgan Institutional Funds offer a broad array of
distinctive opportunities for mutual fund investors.
[LOGO] JPMorgan
================================================================================
J.P. Morgan Institutional Funds
Advisor Distributor
J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. Funds Distributor, Inc.
522 Fifth Avenue 60 State Street
New York, NY 10036 Boston, MA 02109
1-800-766-7722 1-800-221-7930
PROS304-9810
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
OCTOBER 1, 1998 | Prospectus
|
================================================================================
J.P. MORGAN INSTITUTIONAL
U.S. EQUITY FUND
=========================================
Seeking to outperform the market in which
it invests over the long term through a
disciplined management approach
This prospectus contains essential information for anyone investing in the fund.
Please read it carefully and keep it for reference.
Shares in the fund are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by
any bank, government entity, or the FDIC.
As with all mutual funds, the fact that these shares are registered with the
Securities and Exchange Commission does not mean that the commission approves
them as an investment or guarantees that the information in this prospectus is
correct or adequate. It is a criminal offense for anyone to state or suggest
otherwise.
[LOGO] JPMorgan
Distributed by Funds Distributor, Inc.
<PAGE>
CONTENTS
<TABLE>
====================================================================================================================================
<S> <C>
2 | U.S. EQUITY MANAGEMENT APPROACH
U.S. equity investment process .............................................2
4 | J.P. MORGAN INSTITUTIONAL U.S. EQUITY FUND
Fund description ...........................................................4
The fund's goal, investment approach,
risks, expenses, performance, and Investor expenses ..........................................................4
financial highlights
Performance ................................................................5
Financial highlights .......................................................5
6 | YOUR INVESTMENT
Investing through a financial professional .................................6
Investing in the J.P. Morgan Institutional
U.S. Equity Fund Investing through an employer-sponsored retirement plan ....................6
Investing through an IRA or Rollover IRA ...................................6
Investing directly .........................................................6
Opening your account .......................................................6
Adding to your account .....................................................6
Selling shares .............................................................7
Account and transaction policies ...........................................7
Dividends and distributions ................................................8
Tax considerations .........................................................8
9 | FUND DETAILS
Master/feeder structure ....................................................9
More about risk and the fund's
business operations Management and administration ..............................................9
Risk and reward elements ..................................................10
FOR MORE INFORMATION ...............................................back cover
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
INTRODUCTION
================================================================================
J.P. MORGAN INSTITUTIONAL U.S.EQUITY FUND
This fund invests primarily in U.S. stocks by investing through a master
portfolio (another fund with the same goal). As a shareholder, you should
anticipate risks and rewards beyond those of a typical bond fund or a typical
balanced fund.
WHO MAY WANT TO INVEST
The fund is designed for investors who:
o are pursuing a long-term goal such as retirement
o want to add an investment with growth potential to further diversify a
portfolio
o want a fund that seeks to outperform the market in which it invests over
the long term
The fund is not designed for investors who:
o want a fund that pursues market trends or focuses only on particular
industries or sectors
o require regular income or stability of principal
o are pursuing a short-term goal or investing emergency reserves
J.P. MORGAN
Known for its commitment to proprietary research and its disciplined investment
strategies, J.P. Morgan is the asset management choice for many of the world's
most respected corporations, financial institutions, governments, and
individuals. Today, J.P. Morgan employs over 300 analysts and portfolio managers
around the world and has more than $275 billion in assets under management,
including assets managed by the fund's advisor, J.P. Morgan Investment
Management Inc.
=========================================
Before you invest
Investors considering the fund should
understand that:
o The value of the fund's shares will
fluctuate over time. You could lose
money if you sell when the fund's
share price is lower than when you
invested.
o There is no assurance that the fund
will meet its investment goal.
o Future returns will not necessarily
resemble past performance.
- -----------------------------------------
|
| 1
|
<PAGE>
U.S. EQUITY MANAGEMENT APPROACH
================================================================================
The J.P. Morgan Institutional U.S.
Equity Fund invests primarily in U.S.
stocks.
The fund's investment philosophy,
developed by its advisor, focuses on
stock picking while largely avoiding
sector or market-timing strategies.
Also, under normal market conditions,
the fund will remain fully invested.
U.S. EQUITY INVESTMENT PROCESS
In managing the fund, J.P. Morgan
employs a three-step process:
Research J.P. Morgan takes an
in-depth look at company prospects
over a relatively long period --
often as much as five years -- rather
[GRAPHIC] than focusing on near-term
expectations. This approach is
J.P. Morgan analysts develop proprietary designed to provide insight into a
fundamental research company's real growth potential. J.P.
Morgan's in-house research is
developed by an extensive worldwide
network of over 120 career analysts.
The team of analysts dedicated to
U.S. equities includes more than 20
members, with an average of over ten
years of experience.
Valuation The research findings allow
J.P. Morgan to rank the companies in
each industry group according to
their relative value. The greater a
company's estimated worth compared to
[GRAPHIC] the current market price of its
stock, the more undervalued the
Stocks in each industry are ranked company. The valuation rankings are
with the help of models produced with the help of a variety
of models that quantify the research
team's findings.
Stock selection The fund buys and
sells stocks according to its own
policies, using the research and
valuation rankings as a basis. In
general, the management team buys
stocks that are identified as
[GRAPHIC] undervalued and considers selling
them when they appear overvalued.
Using research and valuations, Along with attractive valuation, the
the fund's management team fund's managers often consider a
chooses stocks for its fund number of other criteria:
o catalysts that could trigger a
rise in a stock's price
o high potential reward compared
to potential risk
o temporary mispricings caused by
market overreactions
|
2 | U.S. EQUITY MANAGEMENT APPROACH
|
<PAGE>
================================================================================
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|
| 3
|
<PAGE>
J.P. MORGAN INSTITUTIONAL
U.S. EQUITY FUND | TICKER SYMBOL: JMUEX
================================================================================
REGISTRANT: J.P. MORGAN INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS
(J.P. MORGAN INSTITUTIONAL U.S. EQUITY FUND)
[GRAPHIC] GOAL
The fund's goal is to provide high total return from a portfolio of
selected equity securities. This goal can be changed without shareholder
approval.
[GRAPHIC] INVESTMENT APPROACH
The fund invests primarily in large- and medium-capitalization U.S.
companies. Industry by industry, the fund's weightings are similar to those of
the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index (S&P 500). The fund can moderately
underweight or overweight industries when it believes it will benefit
performance.
Within each industry, the fund focuses on those stocks that are ranked as most
undervalued according to the investment process described on page 2. The fund
generally considers selling stocks that appear overvalued.
[GRAPHIC] POTENTIAL RISKS AND REWARDS
The value of your investment in the fund will fluctuate in response to
movements in the stock market. Fund performance will also depend on the
effectiveness of J.P. Morgan's research and the management team's stock picking
decisions.
By emphasizing undervalued stocks, the fund has the potential to produce returns
that exceed those of the S&P 500. At the same time, by controlling the industry
weightings of the fund so they can differ only moderately from the industry
weightings of the S&P 500, the fund seeks to limit its volatility to that of the
overall market, as represented by this index.
The fund's securities are described in more detail on page 10, along with their
main risks, which may cause the fund's share price to decline, and the fund's
strategies to reduce these risks.
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
The fund's assets are managed by J.P. Morgan, which currently manages over $275
billion, including more than $12.5 billion using the same strategy as the fund.
The portfolio management team is led by William M. Riegel, Jr., managing
director, who has been on the team since 1993 and has been at J.P. Morgan since
1979, and Henry D. Cavanna, managing director, who joined the team in February
of 1998, and has been at J.P. Morgan since 1971. Both served as managers of U.S.
equity portfolios prior to managing the fund.
================================================================================
INVESTOR EXPENSES
The current expenses you should expect to pay as an investor in the fund are
shown at right. The fund has no sales, redemption, exchange, or account fees,
although some institutions may charge you a fee for shares you buy through them.
The annual fund expenses shown are deducted from fund assets prior to
performance calculations.
Footnotes for this section are shown on next page
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
================================================================================
Annual fund operating expenses(1) %
================================================================================
<S> <C>
Management fees (actual) 0.40
Marketing (12b-1) fees none
Other expenses(2)
(after reimbursement) 0.20
================================================================================
Total operating expenses(2)
(after reimbursement) 0.60
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
================================================================================
Expense example
================================================================================
The example below uses the same assumptions as other fund prospectuses: $1,000
initial investment, 5% annual total return, expenses unchanged, all shares sold
at the end of each time period. The example is for comparison only; the fund's
actual return and expenses will be different.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 yr. 3 yrs. 5 yrs. 10 yrs.
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Your cost($) 6 19 33 75
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
|
4 | J.P. MORGAN INSTITUTIONAL U.S. EQUITY FUND
|
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
====================================================================================================================================
PERFORMANCE (unaudited)
==================================
Average annual total (%) Shows performance over time, for periods ended December 31, 1997
==================================--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 yr. 5 yrs. 10 yrs. Since Inception(3)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
J.P. Morgan Institutional U.S. Equity Fund(3) (after expenses) 28.58 18.04 17.65 16.39
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
S&P 500(4) (no expenses) 33.36 20.27 18.05 17.34
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
==================================
Year-by-year total return (%) Shows changes in returns by calendar year
==================================--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS REPRESENTED BY A BAR CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.]
1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
J.P. Morgan Institutional U.S. Equity Fund 14.12 31.43 1.38 34.12 8.73 11.06 (O.32) 32.83 21.22 28.58
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
S&P 500(4) 16.61 31.69 (3.11) 30.47 7.62 10.08 1.32 37.58 22.96 33.36
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
====================================================================================================================================
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
==================================
Per-share data For fiscal periods ended May 31
==================================--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1994(3) 1995 1996 1997 1998
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net asset value, beginning of period ($) 10.00 10.92 12.10 14.00 15.66
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income ($) 0.08 0.18 0.27 0.17 0.15
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
on investments ($) 0.88 1.42 2.66 3.02 3.81
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total from investment operations ($) 0.96 1.60 2.93 3.19 3.96
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less distributions to shareholders from:
Net investment income ($) (0.04) (0.14) (0.20) (0.25) (0.18)
Net realized gains ($) -- (0.28) (0.83) (1.28) (2.71)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total distributions ($) (0.04) (0.42) (1.03) (1.53) (2.89)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of period ($) 10.92 12.10 14.00 15.66 16.73
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
==================================
Ratios and supplemental data
==================================-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total return (%) 9.61(5) 15.40 25.43 25.21 28.53
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets, end of period ($ thousands) 47,473 172,497 221,368 329,776 378,988
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio to average net assets:
Expenses (%) 0.60(6) 0.60 0.60 0.60 0.60
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net investment income (%) 1.74(6) 2.07 2.08 1.33 0.89
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expenses without reimbursement (%) 1.03(6) 0.71 0.62 0.65 0.63
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Financial Highlights above have been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP,
the fund's independent accountants.
</TABLE>
(1) The fund has a master/feeder structure as described on page 9. This table
shows the fund's expenses and its share of master portfolio expenses for
the past fiscal year, expressed as a percentage of the fund's average net
assets and reflecting reimbursement for ordinary expenses over 0.60%.
(2) Without reimbursement, other expenses and total operating expenses would
have been 0.23% and 0.63%, respectively. This reimbursement arrangement can
be changed or terminated at any time at the option of J.P. Morgan.
(3) The fund commenced operations on 7/19/93 and commenced public investment
operations on 9/17/93 and returns reflect performance of The Pierpont
Equity Fund, the fund's predecessor, prior to that date. The Pierpont
Equity Fund commenced operations on 6/27/85 and performance is calculated
as of 6/30/85.
(4) The S&P500 is an unmanaged index of U.S. stocks widely used as a measure of
overall stock market performance.
(5) Not annualized.
(6) Annualized.
|
J.P. MORGAN INSTITUTIONAL U.S. EQUITY FUND | 5
|
<PAGE>
YOUR INVESTMENT
================================================================================
For your convenience, the J.P. Morgan Institutional Funds offer several ways to
start and add to fund investments.
INVESTING THROUGH A FINANCIAL PROFESSIONAL
If you work with a financial professional, either at J.P. Morgan or elsewhere,
he or she is prepared to handle your planning and transaction needs. Your
financial professional will be able to assist you in establishing your fund
account, executing transactions, and monitoring your investment. If your fund
investment is not held in the name of your financial professional and you prefer
to place a transaction order yourself, please use the instructions for investing
directly.
INVESTING THROUGH AN EMPLOYER-SPONSORED RETIREMENT PLAN
Your fund investments are handled through your plan. Refer to your plan
materials or contact your benefits office for information on buying, selling, or
exchanging fund shares.
INVESTING THROUGH AN IRA OR ROLLOVER IRA
Please contact a J.P. Morgan Retirement Services Specialist at 1-888-576-4472
for information on J.P. Morgan's comprehensive IRA services, including lower
minimum investments.
INVESTING DIRECTLY
Investors may establish accounts without the help of an intermediary by using
the instructions below and at right:
o Determine the amount you are investing. The minimum amount for initial
investments in the fund is $3,000,000 and for additional investments
$25,000, although these minimums may be less for some investors. For more
information on minimum investments, call 1-800-766-7722.
o Complete the application, indicating how much of your investment you want
to allocate to which fund(s). Please apply now for any account privileges
you may want to use in the future, in order to avoid the delays associated
with adding them later on.
o Mail in your application, making your initial investment as shown at right.
For answers to any questions, please speak with a J.P. Morgan Funds Services
Representative at 1-800-766-7722.
OPENING YOUR ACCOUNT
By wire
o Mail your completed application to the Shareholder Services Agent.
o Call the Shareholder Services Agent to obtain an account number and to
place a purchase order. Funds that are wired without a purchase order will
be returned uninvested.
o After placing your purchase order, instruct your bank to wire the amount of
your investment to:
Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York
Routing number: 021-000-238
Credit: J.P. Morgan Institutional Funds
Account number: 001-57-689
FFC: your account number, name of registered owner(s) and fund name
By check
o Make out a check for the investment amount payable to J.P. Morgan
Institutional Funds.
o Mail the check with your completed application to the Shareholder Services
Agent.
By exchange
o Call the Shareholder Services Agent to effect an exchange.
ADDING TO YOUR ACCOUNT
By wire
o Call the Shareholder Services Agent to place a purchase order. Funds that
are wired without a purchase order will be returned uninvested.
o Once you have placed your purchase order, instruct your bank to wire the
amount of your investment as described above.
By check
o Make out a check for the investment amount payable to J.P. Morgan
Institutional Funds.
o Mail the check with a completed investment slip to the Shareholder Services
Agent. If you do not have an investment slip, attach a note indicating your
account number and how much you wish to invest in which fund(s).
By exchange
o Call the Shareholder Services Agent to effect an exchange.
|
6 | YOUR INVESTMENT
|
<PAGE>
================================================================================
SELLING SHARES
By phone - wire payment
o Call the Shareholder Services Agent to verify that the wire redemption
privilege is in place on your account. If it is not, a representative can
help you add it.
o Place your wire request. If you are transferring money to a non-Morgan
account, you will need to provide the representative with the personal
identification number (PIN) that was provided to you when you opened your
fund account.
By phone - check payment
o Call the Shareholder Services Agent and place your request. Once your
request has been verified, a check for the net amount, payable to the
registered owner(s), will be mailed to the address of record. For checks
payable to any other party or mailed to any other address, please make your
request in writing (see below).
In writing
o Write a letter of instruction that includes the following information: The
name of the registered owner(s) of the account; the account number; the
fund name; the amount you want to sell; and the recipient's name and
address or wire information, if different from those of the account
registration.
o Indicate whether you want the proceeds sent by check or by wire.
o Make sure the letter is signed by an authorized party. The Shareholder
Services Agent may require additional information, such as a signature
guarantee.
o Mail the letter to the Shareholder Services Agent.
By exchange
o Call the Shareholder Services Agent to effect an exchange.
ACCOUNT AND TRANSACTION POLICIES
Telephone orders The fund accepts telephone orders from all shareholders. To
guard against fraud, the fund requires shareholders to use a PIN, and may record
telephone orders or take other reasonable precautions. However, if the fund does
take such steps to ensure the authenticity of an order, you may bear any loss if
the order later proves fraudulent.
Exchanges You may exchange shares in this fund for shares in any other J.P.
Morgan Institutional or J.P. Morgan mutual fund at no charge (subject to the
securities laws of your state). When making exchanges, it is important to
observe any applicable minimums. Keep in mind that for tax purposes an exchange
is considered a sale.
The fund may alter, limit, or suspend its exchange policy at any time.
Business hours and NAV calculations The fund's regular business days and hours
are the same as those of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The fund calculates
its net asset value per share (NAV) every business day as of the close of
trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. eastern time). The fund's securities are
typically priced using market quotes or pricing services. When these methods
are not available or do not represent a security's value at the time of pricing,
the security is valued in accordance with the fund's fair valuation procedures.
Timing of orders Orders to buy or sell shares are executed at the next NAV
calculated after the order has been accepted. Orders are accepted until the
close of trading on the NYSE every business day and are executed the same day,
at that day's NAV. The fund has the right to suspend redemption of shares and to
postpone payment of proceeds for up to seven days or as permitted by law.
================================================================================
Shareholder Services Agent
J.P. Morgan Funds Services
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036
1-800-766-7722
Representatives are available 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
eastern time on fund business days.
|
YOUR INVESTMENT | 7
|
<PAGE>
================================================================================
Timing of settlements When you buy shares, you will become the owner of record
when the fund receives your payment, generally the day following execution. When
you sell shares, proceeds are generally available the day following execution
and will be forwarded according to your instructions.
When you sell shares that you recently purchased by check, your order will be
executed at the next NAV but the proceeds will not be available until your check
clears. This may take up to 15 days.
Statements and reports The fund sends monthly account statements as well as
confirmations after each purchase or sale of shares (except reinvestments).
Every six months the fund sends out an annual or semi-annual report containing
information on the fund's holdings and a discussion of recent and anticipated
market conditions and fund performance.
Accounts with below-minimum balances If your account balance falls below the
minimum for 30 days as a result of selling shares (and not because of
performance), the fund reserves the right to request that you buy more shares or
close your account. If your account balance is still below the minimum 60 days
after notification, the fund reserves the right to close out your account and
send the proceeds to the address of record.
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
The fund typically pays income dividends four times a year and makes capital
gains distributions, if any, once per year (usually in August). However, the
fund may make more or fewer payments in a given year, depending on its
investment results and its tax compliance situation. These dividends and
distributions consist of most or all of the fund's net investment income and net
realized capital gains.
Dividends and distributions are reinvested in additional fund shares.
Alternatively, you may instruct your financial professional or J.P. Morgan Funds
Services to have them sent to you by check, credited to a separate account, or
invested in another J.P. Morgan Institutional Fund.
TAX CONSIDERATIONS
In general, selling shares, exchanging shares, and receiving distributions
(whether reinvested or taken in cash) are all taxable events. These transactions
typically create the following tax liabilities for taxable accounts:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transaction Tax status
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Income dividends Ordinary income
Short-term capital gains Ordinary income
distributions
Long-term capital gains Capital gains
distributions
Sales or exchanges of shares Capital gains or losses
owned for more than one year
Sales or exchanges of shares Gains are treated as ordinary
owned for one year or less income; losses are subject
to special rules
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
Because long-term capital gains distributions are taxable as capital gains
regardless of how long you have owned your shares, you may want to avoid making
a substantial investment when the fund is about to declare a long-term capital
gains distribution.
Every January, the fund issues tax information on its distributions for the
previous year.
Any investor for whom the fund does not have a valid taxpayer identification
number will be subject to backup withholding for taxes.
The tax considerations described in this section do not apply to tax-deferred
accounts or other non-taxable entities.
Because each investor's tax circumstances are unique, please consult your tax
professional about your fund investment.
|
8 | YOUR INVESTMENT
|
<PAGE>
FUND DETAILS
================================================================================
MASTER/FEEDER STRUCTURE
As noted earlier, the fund is a "feeder" fund that invests in a master
portfolio. (Except where indicated, this prospectus uses the term "the fund" to
mean the feeder fund and its master portfolio taken together.)
The master portfolio accepts investments from other feeder funds, and the
feeders bear the master portfolio's expenses in proportion to their assets.
However, each feeder can set its own transaction minimums, fund-specific
expenses, and other conditions. This means that one feeder could offer access to
the same master portfolio on more attractive terms, or could experience better
performance, than another feeder. Information about other feeders is available
by calling 1-800-766-7722. Generally, when the master portfolio seeks a vote,
the fund will hold a shareholder meeting and cast its vote proportionately, as
instructed by its shareholders. Fund shareholders are entitled to one full or
fractional vote for each dollar or fraction of a dollar invested.
The fund and its master portfolio expect to maintain consistent goals, but if
they do not, the fund will withdraw from the master portfolio, receiving its
assets either in cash or securities. The fund's trustees would then consider
whether the fund should hire its own investment adviser, invest in a different
master portfolio, or take other action.
MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
The fund and its master portfolio are governed by the same trustees. The
trustees are responsible for overseeing all business activities. The trustees
are assisted by Pierpont Group, Inc., which they own and operate on a cost
basis; costs are shared by all funds governed by these trustees. Funds
Distributor, Inc., as co-administrator, along with J.P. Morgan, provides fund
officers. J.P. Morgan, as co-administrator, oversees the fund's other service
providers.
J.P. Morgan, subject to the expense reimbursements described earlier in this
prospectus, receives the following fees for investment advisory and other
services:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Advisory services 0.40% of the master
portfolio's average net assets
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Administrative services Master portfolio's and fund's
(fee shared with Funds pro-rata portions of 0.09% of
Distributor, Inc.) the first $7 billion in
J.P. Morgan-advised portfolios,
plus 0.04% of average net
assets over $7 billion
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shareholder services 0.10% of the fund's average
net assets
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
J.P. Morgan may pay fees to certain firms and professionals for providing
recordkeeping or other services in connection with investments in the fund.
Year 2000 Fund operations and shareholders could be adversely affected if the
computer systems used by J.P. Morgan, the fund's other service providers and
other entities with computer systems linked to the fund do not properly process
and calculate January 1, 2000 and after date-related information. J.P. Morgan is
working to avoid these problems and to obtain assurances from other service
providers that they are taking similar steps. However, it is not certain that
these actions will be sufficient to prevent these problems from adversely
impacting fund operations and shareholders. In addition, to the extent that
operations of issuers of securities held by the fund are impaired by
date-related problems or prices of securities decline as a result of real or
perceived date-related problems of issuers held by the fund or generally, the
net asset value of the fund will decline.
|
FUND DETAILS | 9
|
<PAGE>
================================================================================
RISK AND REWARD ELEMENTS
This table discusses the main elements that make up the fund's overall risk and
reward characteristics (described on page 3). It also outlines the fund's
policies toward various securities, including those that are designed to help
the fund manage risk.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
====================================================================================================================================
Potential risks Potential rewards Policies to balance risk and reward
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Market conditions
o The fund's share price and o Stocks have generally outperformed o Under normal circumstances the fund
performance will fluctuate in more stable investments (such as plans to remain fully invested,
response to stock market movements bonds and cash equivalents) over with at least 65% in stocks; stock
the long term investments may include U.S. and
o Adverse market conditions may from foreign common stocks, convertible
time to time cause the fund to take securities, preferred stocks, trust
temporary defensive positions that or partnership interests, warrants,
are inconsistent with its principal rights, and investment company
investment strategies and may securities
hinder the fund from achieving its
investment objective o The fund seeks to limit risk
through diversification
o During severe market downturns, the
fund has the option of investing up
to 100% of assets in investment-grade
short-term securities
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management choices
o The fund could underperform its o The fund could outperform its o J.P. Morgan focuses its active
benchmark due to its securities and benchmark due to these same choices management on securities selection,
asset allocation choices the area where it believes its
commitment to research can most
enhance returns
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Foreign investments
o Currency exchange rate movements o Favorable exchange rate movements o The fund anticipates that its total
could reduce gains or create losses could generate gains or reduce foreign investments will not exceed
losses 20% of assets.
o The fund could lose money because
of foreign government actions, o Foreign investments, which o The fund actively manages the
political instability, or lack of represent a major portion of the currency exposure of its foreign
adequate and accurate information world's securities, offer investments relative to its
attractive potential performance benchmark, and may hedge back into
and opportunities for the U.S. dollar from time to time
diversification (see also "Derivatives")
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Derivatives
o Derivatives such as futures, o Hedges that correlate well with o The fund uses derivatives for
options, swaps and forward foreign underlying positions can reduce or hedging and for risk management
currency contracts that are used eliminate losses at low cost (i.e., to establish or adjust
for hedging the portfolio or exposure to particular securities,
specific securities may not fully o The fund could make money and markets or currencies); risk
offset the underlying positions(1) protect against losses if management may include management
management's analysis proves of the fund's exposure relative to
o Derivatives used for risk correct its benchmark
management may not have the
intended effects and may result in o Derivatives that involve leverage o The fund only establishes hedges
losses or missed opportunities could generate substantial gains at that it expects will be highly
low cost correlated with underlying
o The counterparty to a derivatives positions
contract could default
o While the fund may use derivatives
o Derivatives that involve leverage that incidentally involve leverage,
could magnify losses it does not use them for the
specific purpose of leveraging the
portfolio
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1) A futures contract is an agreement to buy or sell a set quantity of an
underlying instrument at a future date, or to make or receive a cash
payment based on changes in the value of a securities index. An option is
the right to buy or sell a set quantity of an underlying instrument at
pre-determined price. A swap is a privately negotiated agreement to
exchange one stream of payments for another. A forward foreign currency
contract is an obligation to buy or sell a given currency on a future date
and at a set price.
|
10 | FUND DETAILS
|
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
====================================================================================================================================
Potential risks Potential rewards Policies to balance risk and reward
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Illiquid holdings
o The fund could have difficulty o These holdings may offer more o The fund may not invest more than
valuing these holdings precisely attractive yields or potential 15% of net assets in illiquid
growth than comparable widely holdings
o The fund could be unable to sell traded securities
these holdings at the time or price o To maintain adequate liquidity to
it desires meet redemptions, the fund may hold
investment-grade short-term
securities (including repurchase
agreements) and, for temporary or
extraordinary purposes, may borrow
from banks up to 33 1/3% of its
assets
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When-issued and delayed
delivery securities
o When the fund buys securities o The fund can take advantage of o The fund uses segregated accounts
before issue or for delayed attractive transaction to offset leverage risk
delivery, it could be exposed to opportunities
leverage risk if it does not use
segregated accounts
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Short-term trading
o Increased trading would raise the o The fund could realize gains in a o The fund anticipates a portfolio
fund's brokerage and related costs short period of time turnover rate of approximately 100%
o Increased short-term capital gains o The fund could protect against o The fund generally avoids
distributions would raise losses if a stock is overvalued and short-term trading, except to take
shareholders' income tax liability its value later falls advantage of attractive or
unexpected opportunities or to meet
demands generated by shareholder
activity
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
|
FUND DETAILS | 11
|
<PAGE>
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|
12 |
|
<PAGE>
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|
| 13
|
<PAGE>
================================================================================
FOR MORE INFORMATION
================================================================================
For investors who want more information on the fund, the following documents are
available free upon request:
Annual/Semi-annual Reports Contain financial statements, performance data,
information on portfolio holdings, and a written analysis of market conditions
and fund performance for the fund's most recently completed fiscal year or
half-year.
Statement of Additional Information (SAI) Provides a fuller technical and legal
description of the fund's policies, investment restrictions, and business
structure. This prospectus incorporates the SAI by reference.
Copies of the current versions of these documents, along with other information
about the fund, may be obtained by contacting:
J.P. Morgan Institutional U.S. Equity Fund
J.P. Morgan Funds Services
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036
Telephone: 1-800-766-7722
Hearing impaired: 1-888-468-4015
Email: [email protected]
Text-only versions of these documents and this prospectus are available, upon
payment of a duplicating fee, from the Public Reference Room of the Securities
and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. (1-800-SEC-0330) and may be viewed
on-screen or downloaded from the SEC's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. The
fund's investment company and 1933 Act registration numbers are 811-07342 and
033-54642.
J.P. MORGAN INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS AND THE MORGAN TRADITION
The J.P. Morgan Institutional Funds combine a heritage of integrity and
financial leadership with comprehensive, sophisticated analysis and management
techniques. Drawing on J.P. Morgan's extensive experience and depth as an
investment manager, the J.P. Morgan Institutional Funds offer a broad array of
distinctive opportunities for mutual fund investors.
[LOGO] JPMorgan
================================================================================
J.P. Morgan Institutional Funds
Advisor Distributor
J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. Funds Distributor, Inc.
522 Fifth Avenue 60 State Street
New York, NY 10036 Boston, MA 02109
1-800-766-7722 1-800-221-7930
PROS382-9810
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
OCTOBER 1, 1998 | PROSPECTUS
|
================================================================================
J.P. MORGAN INSTITUTIONAL
U.S. SMALL COMPANY FUND
===================================
Seeking to outperform the market in
which it invests over the long term
through a disciplined management
approach
This prospectus contains essential information for anyone investing in the fund.
Please read it carefully and keep it for reference.
Shares in the fund are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by
any bank, government entity, or the FDIC.
As with all mutual funds, the fact that these shares are registered with the
Securities and Exchange Commission does not mean that the commission approves
them as an investment or guarantees that the information in this prospectus is
correct or adequate. It is a criminal offense for anyone to state or suggest
otherwise.
Distributed by Funds Distributor, Inc.
[LOGO] JPMorgan
<PAGE>
CONTENTS
<TABLE>
====================================================================================================================================
<S> <C>
2 | U.S. EQUITY MANAGEMENT APPROACH
U.S. equity investment process ...........................................................2
4 | J.P. MORGAN INSTITUTIONAL U.S. SMALL COMPANY FUND
The fund's goal, investment approach, Fund description .........................................................................4
risks, expenses, performance
and financial highlights Investor expenses ........................................................................4
Performance ..............................................................................5
Financial highlights......................................................................5
6 | YOUR INVESTMENT
Investing in the J.P. Morgan Investing through a financial professional ...............................................6
Institutional Small
Company Fund Investing through an employer-sponsored retirement plan ..................................6
Investing through an IRA or Rollover IRA .................................................6
Investing directly .......................................................................6
Opening your account .....................................................................6
Adding to your account ...................................................................6
Selling shares ...........................................................................7
Account and transaction policies .........................................................7
Dividends and distributions ..............................................................8
Tax considerations .......................................................................8
9 | FUND DETAILS
More about risk and the fund's Master/feeder structure ..................................................................9
business operations
Management and administration ............................................................9
Risk and reward elements ................................................................10
FOR MORE INFORMATION ............................................................back cover
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
INTRODUCTION
================================================================================
J.P. MORGAN INSTITUTIONAL U.S. SMALL COMPANY FUND
This fund invests primarily in U.S. small company stocks by investing through a
master portfolio (another fund with the same goal). As a shareholder, you should
anticipate risks and rewards beyond those of a typical bond, balanced or
large-cap equity fund.
WHO MAY WANT TO INVEST
The fund is designed for investors who:
o are pursuing a long-term goal such as retirement
o want to add an investment with growth potential to further diversify a
portfolio
o want a fund that seeks to outperform the market in which it invests over
the long term
The fund is not designed for investors who:
o want a fund that pursues market trends or focuses only on particular
industries or sectors
o require regular income or stability of principal
o are pursuing a short-term goal or investing emergency reserves
J.P. MORGAN
Known for its commitment to proprietary research and its disciplined investment
strategies, J.P. Morgan is the asset management choice for many of the world's
most respected corporations, financial institutions, governments, and
individuals. Today, J.P. Morgan employs over 300 analysts and portfolio managers
around the world and has more than $275 billion in assets under management,
including assets managed by the fund's advisor, J.P. Morgan Investment
Management Inc.
========================================
Before you invest
Investors considering the fund should
understand that:
o The value of the fund's shares will
fluctuate over time. You could lose
money if you sell when the fund's
share price is lower than when you
invested.
o There is no assurance that the fund
will meet its investment goal.
o Future returns will not necessarily
resemble past performance.
- ----------------------------------------
|
| 1
|
<PAGE>
U.S. EQUITY MANAGEMENT APPROACH
================================================================================
The J.P. Morgan Institutional U.S. Small
Company Fund invests primarily in U.S.
small company stocks.
The fund's investment philosophy,
developed by its advisor, focuses on
stock picking while largely avoiding
sector or market-timing strategies.
Also, under normal market conditions,
the fund will remain fully invested.
U.S. EQUITY INVESTMENT PROCESS
In managing the fund, J.P. Morgan
employs a three-step process:
[GRAPHIC] Research J.P. Morgan takes an in-depth
look at company prospects over a
J.P. Morgan analysts develop relatively long period -- often as much
proprietary fundamental research as five years -- rather than focusing on
near-term expectations. This approach is
designed to provide insight into a
company's real growth potential. J.P.
Morgan's in-house research is developed
by an extensive worldwide network of
over 120 career analysts. The team of
analysts dedicated to U.S. equities
includes more than 20 members, with an
average of over ten years of experience.
[GRAPHIC] Valuation The research findings allow
J.P. Morgan to rank the companies in
Stocks in each industry are ranked each industry group according to their
with the help of models relative value. The greater a company's
estimated worth compared to the current
market price of its stock, the more
undervalued the company. The valuation
rankings are produced with the help of a
variety of models that quantify the
research team's findings.
[GRAPHIC] Stock selection The fund buys and sells
stocks according to its own policies,
Using research and valuations, using the research and valuation
the fund's management team rankings as a basis. In general, the
chooses stocks for its fund management team buys stocks that are
identified as undervalued and considers
selling them when they appear
overvalued. Along with attractive
valuation, the fund's managers often
consider a number of other criteria:
o catalysts that could trigger a rise
in a stock's price
o high potential reward compared to
potential risk
o temporary mispricings caused by
market overreactions
|
2 | U.S. EQUITY MANAGEMENT APPROACH
|
<PAGE>
================================================================================
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|
| 3
|
<PAGE>
J.P. MORGAN INSTITUTIONAL
U.S. SMALL COMPANY FUND TICKER SYMBOL: JUSSX
================================================================================
REGISTRANT: J.P. MORGAN INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS
(J.P. MORGAN INSTITUTIONAL U.S. SMALL COMPANY FUND)
[GRAPHIC] GOAL
The fund's goal is to provide high total return from a portfolio of small
company stocks. This goal can be changed without shareholder approval.
[GRAPHIC] INVESTMENT APPROACH
The fund invests primarily in small and medium sized U.S. companies whose
market capitalizations are greater than $110 million and less than $2.5 billion.
Industry by industry, the fund's weightings are similar to those of the Russell
2000 Index. The fund can moderately underweight or overweight industries when it
believes it will benefit performance.
Within each industry, the fund focuses on those stocks that are ranked as most
undervalued according to the process described on page 2. The fund generally
considers selling stocks that appear overvalued or have grown into large-cap
stocks.
[GRAPHIC] POTENTIAL RISKS AND REWARDS
The value of your investment in the fund will fluctuate in response to
movements in the stock market. Fund performance will also depend on the
effectiveness of J.P. Morgan's research and the management team's stock picking
decisions.
Small-cap stocks have historically offered higher long-term growth than
large-cap stocks, and have also involved higher risks. The fund's small-cap
emphasis means it is likely to be more sensitive to economic news and is likely
to fall further in value during broad market downturns. The fund pursues returns
that exceed those of the Russell 2000 Index while seeking to limit its
volatility relative to this index.
The fund's securities are described in more detail on page 10, along with their
main risks, which may cause the fund's share price to decline, and the fund's
strategies to reduce these risks.
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
The fund's assets are managed by J.P. Morgan, which currently manages over $275
billion, including more than $2.4 billion using the same strategy as the fund.
The portfolio management team is led by Denise Higgins, Candice Eggerss and
Stephen J. Rich, all vice presidents. Ms. Higgins joined the team in January of
1998 and has been with J.P. Morgan since 1994. Prior to managing the fund, Ms.
Higgins served as a balanced and equity portfolio manager and member of the U.S.
asset allocation committee, and prior to 1994 was a mid-to-small cap portfolio
manager at Lord Abbett & Company. Ms. Eggerss has been with J.P. Morgan since
May of 1996 as a member of the U.S. small company portfolio management team and
from June of 1993 to May of 1996 held a similar position with Weiss, Peck and
Greer. Mr. Rich joined the team in January of 1997 and has been at J.P. Morgan
since 1991, and prior to managing the fund held positions in J.P. Morgan's
structured equity and balanced/equity groups.
================================================================================
INVESTOR EXPENSES
The current expenses you should expect to pay as an investor in the fund are
shown at right. The fund has no sales, redemption, exchange, or account fees,
although some institutions may charge you a fee for shares you buy through them.
The annual fund expenses shown are deducted from fund assets prior to
performance calculations.
Footnotes for this section are shown on next page.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
================================================================================
Annual fund operating expenses(1) (%)
================================================================================
<S> <C>
Management fees (actual) 0.60
Marketing (12b-1) fees none
Other expenses(2)
(after reimbursement) 0.20
================================================================================
Total operating expenses(2)
(after reimbursement) 0.80
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
================================================================================
Expense example
================================================================================
The example below uses the same assumptions as other fund prospectuses: $1,000
initial investment, 5% annual total return, expenses unchanged, all shares sold
at the end of each time period. The example is for comparison only; the fund's
actual return and expenses will be different.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 yr. 3 yrs. 5 yrs. 10 yrs.
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Your cost($) 8 26 44 99
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
|
4 | J.P. MORGAN INSTITUTIONAL U.S. SMALL COMPANY FUND
|
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
====================================================================================================================================
PERFORMANCE (unaudited)
=================================
Average annual total return (%) Shows performance over time, for periods ended December 31, 1996
=================================---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 yr. 5 yrs. 10 yrs. Since Inception(3)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
J.P. Morgan Institutional U.S. Small Company Fund(3) (after expenses) 22.70 14.87 15.47 14.40
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Russell 2500 Index(4) (no expenses) 24.36 17.59 16.94 14.89
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Russell 2000 Index(4) (no expenses) 22.36 16.41 15.76 13.04
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
=================================
Year-by-year total return (%) Shows changes in returns by calendar year
=================================---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS REPRESENTED BY A BAR CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.]
1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
J.P. Morgan Institutional
U.S. Small Company Fund 13.67 29.01 (24.34) 59.59 18.98 8.59 (5.81) 31.88 20.84 22.70
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Russell 2500 Index(4) 22.73 19.43 (14.88) 46.70 16.19 16.54 (1.06) 31.70 19.03 24.36
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Russell 2000 Index(4) 22.36
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
=================================
Per-share data For fiscal periods ended May 31
=================================--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1994(3) 1995 1996 1997 1998
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net asset value, beginning of period ($) 10.00 10.03 11.16 13.97 14.09
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income (loss) ($) 0.04 0.10 0.13 0.10 0.09
Net realized and unrealized gain
on investment ($) -- 1.12 3.66 1.07 3.04
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total from investment operations ($) 0.04 1.22 3.79 1.17 3.13
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributions to shareholders from
Net investment income ($) (0.01) (0.09) (0.12) (0.13) (0.08)
Net realized gain ($) -- -- (0.86) (0.92) (1.84)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total distributions ($) (0.01) (0.09) (0.98) (1.05) (1.92)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of period ($) 10.03 11.16 13.97 14.09 15.30
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
=================================
Ratios and supplemental data
=================================--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total return (%) 0.42(5) 12.26 35.60 9.44 23.55
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets, end of period ($ thousands) 74,141 149,279 291,931 401,797 420,413
Ratio to average net assets:
Expenses (%) 0.80(6) 0.80 0.80 0.80 0.80
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net investment income (loss) (%) 0.93(6) 1.14 1.20 0.81 0.55
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expenses without reimbursement and including interest expense (%) 1.07(6) 0.91 0.83 0.85 0.85
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interest expense (%) -- -- -- -- 0.00(7)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
The Financial Highlights above have been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP,
the fund's independent accountants.
(1) The fund has a master/feeder structure as described on page 9. This table
shows the fund's expenses and its share of master portfolio expenses for
the past fiscal year, expressed as a percentage of the fund's average net
assets and reflecting reimbursement for ordinary expenses over 0.80%.
(2) Without reimbursement, other expenses and total operating expenses would
have been 0.25% and 0.85%, respectively. This reimbursement arrangement can
be changed or terminated at any time at the option of J.P. Morgan.
(3) The fund commenced operations on 7/19/93 and commenced public investment
operations on 11/4/93 and returns reflect performance of The Capital
Appreciation Fund, the fund's predecessor, prior to that date. The Capital
Appreciation Fund commenced operations on 6/27/85.
(4) Effective 3/1/98, the fund's benchmark changed from the Russell 2500 Index,
a widely recognized, unmanaged index used primarily to measure the
performance of small- to medium- cap U.S. stocks, to the Russell 2000
Index, a widely recognized, unmanaged index used primarily to measure the
performance of small-cap U.S. stocks. The Russell 2000 Index represents the
returns of small-cap stocks only, better captures that universe's
performance and fits more neatly into an investor's asset allocation model.
(5) Not annualized.
(6) Annualized.
(7) Less than 0.01%.
|
J.P. Morgan Institutional U.S. Small Company Fund | 5
|
<PAGE>
YOUR INVESTMENT
================================================================================
For your convenience, the J.P. Morgan Institutional Funds offer several ways to
start and add to fund investments.
INVESTING THROUGH A FINANCIAL PROFESSIONAL
If you work with a financial professional, either at J.P. Morgan or elsewhere,
he or she is prepared to handle your planning and transaction needs. Your
financial professional will be able to assist you in establishing your fund
account, executing transactions, and monitoring your investment. If your fund
investment is not held in the name of your financial professional and you prefer
to place a transaction order yourself, please use the instructions for investing
directly.
INVESTING THROUGH AN EMPLOYER-SPONSORED RETIREMENT PLAN
Your fund investments are handled through your plan. Refer to your plan
materials or contact your benefits office for information on buying, selling, or
exchanging fund shares.
INVESTING THROUGH AN IRA OR ROLLOVER IRA
Please contact a J.P. Morgan Retirement Services Specialist at 1-888-576-4472
for information on J.P. Morgan's comprehensive IRA services, including lower
minimum investments.
INVESTING DIRECTLY
Investors may establish accounts without the help of an intermediary by using
the instructions below and at right:
o Determine the amount you are investing. The minimum amount for initial
investments in the fund is $1,000,000 and for additional investments
$25,000, although these minimums may be less for some investors. For more
information on minimum investments, call 1-800-766-7722.
o Complete the application, indicating how much of your investment you want
to allocate to which fund(s). Please apply now for any account privileges
you may want to use in the future, in order to avoid the delays associated
with adding them later on.
o Mail in your application, making your initial investment as shown at right.
For answers to any questions, please speak with a J.P. Morgan Funds Services
Representative at 1-800-766-7722.
OPENING YOUR ACCOUNT
By wire
o Mail your completed application to the Shareholder Services Agent.
o Call the Shareholder Services Agent to obtain an account number and to
place a purchase order. Funds that are wired without a purchase order will
be returned uninvested.
o After placing your purchase order, instruct your bank to wire the amount of
your investment to:
Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York
Routing number: 021-000-238
Credit: J.P. Morgan Institutional Funds
Account number: 001-57-689
FFC: your account number, name of registered owner(s) and fund name
By check
o Make out a check for the investment amount payable to J.P. Morgan
Institutional Funds.
o Mail the check with your completed application to the Shareholder Services
Agent.
By exchange
o Call the Shareholder Services Agent to effect an exchange.
ADDING TO YOUR ACCOUNT
By wire
o Call the Shareholder Services Agent to place a purchase order. Funds that
are wired without a purchase order will be returned uninvested.
o Once you have placed your purchase order, instruct your bank to wire the
amount of your investment as described above.
BY CHECK
o Make out a check for the investment amount payable to J.P. Morgan
Institutional Funds.
o Mail the check with a completed investment slip to the Shareholder Services
Agent. If you do not have an investment slip, attach a note indicating your
account number and how much you wish to invest in which fund(s).
By exchange
o Call the Shareholder Services Agent to effect an exchange.
|
6 | YOUR INVESTMENT
|
<PAGE>
================================================================================
SELLING SHARES
By phone - wire payment
o Call the Shareholder Services Agent to verify that the wire redemption
privilege is in place on your account. If it is not, a representative can
help you add it.
o Place your wire request. If you are transferring money to a non-Morgan
account, you will need to provide the representative with the personal
identification number (PIN) that was provided to you when you opened your
fund account.
By phone - check payment
o Call the Shareholder Services Agent and place your request. Once your
request has been verified, a check for the net amount, payable to the
registered owner(s), will be mailed to the address of record. For checks
payable to any other party or mailed to any other address, please make your
request in writing (see below).
In writing
o Write a letter of instruction that includes the following information: The
name of the registered owner(s) of the account; the account number; the
fund name; the amount you want to sell; and the recipient's name and
address or wire information, if different from those of the account
registration.
o Indicate whether you want the proceeds sent by check or by wire.
o Make sure the letter is signed by an authorized party. The Shareholder
Services Agent may require additional information, such as a signature
guarantee.
o Mail the letter to the Shareholder Services Agent.
By exchange
o Call the Shareholder Services Agent to effect an exchange.
ACCOUNT AND TRANSACTION POLICIES
Telephone orders The fund accepts telephone orders from all shareholders. To
guard against fraud, the fund requires shareholders to use a PIN, and may record
telephone orders or take other reasonable precautions. However, if the fund does
take such steps to ensure the authenticity of an order, you may bear any loss if
the order later proves fraudulent.
Exchanges You may exchange shares in this fund for shares in any other J.P.
Morgan Institutional or J.P. Morgan mutual fund at no charge (subject to the
securities laws of your state). When making exchanges, it is important to
observe any applicable minimums. Keep in mind that for tax purposes an exchange
is considered a sale.
The fund may alter, limit, or suspend its exchange policy at any time.
Business hours and NAV calculations The fund's regular business days and hours
are the same as those of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The fund calculates
its net asset value per share (NAV) every business day as of the close of
trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. eastern time). The fund's securities are
typically priced using market quotes or pricing services. When these methods
are not available or do not represent a security's value at the time of pricing,
the security is valued in accordance with the fund's fair valuation procedures.
Timing of orders Orders to buy or sell shares are executed at the next NAV
calculated after the order has been accepted. Orders are accepted until the
close of trading on the NYSE every business day and are executed the same day,
at that day's NAV. The fund has the right to suspend redemption of shares and to
postpone payment of proceeds for up to seven days or as permitted by law.
================================================================================
Shareholder Services Agent
J.P. Morgan Funds Services
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036
1-800-766-7722
Representatives are available 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
eastern time on fund business days.
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YOUR INVESTMENT | 7
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<PAGE>
================================================================================
Timing of settlements When you buy shares, you will become the owner of record
when the fund receives your payment, generally the day following execution. When
you sell shares, proceeds are generally available the day following execution
and will be forwarded according to your instructions.
When you sell shares that you recently purchased by check, your order will be
executed at the next NAV but the proceeds will not be available until your check
clears. This may take up to 15 days.
Statements and reports The fund sends monthly account statements as well as
confirmations after each purchase or sale of shares (except reinvestments).
Every six months the fund sends out an annual or semi-annual report containing
information on the fund's holdings and a discussion of recent and anticipated
market conditions and fund performance.
Accounts with below-minimum balances If your account balance falls below the
minimum for 30 days as a result of selling shares (and not because of
performance), the fund reserves the right to request that you buy more shares or
close your account. If your account balance is still below the minimum 60 days
after notification, the fund reserves the right to close out your account and
send the proceeds to the address of record.
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
The fund typically pays income dividends two times a year and makes capital
gains distributions, if any, once per year (usually in August). However, the
fund may make more or fewer payments in a given year, depending on its
investment results and its tax compliance situation. These dividends and
distributions consist of most or all of the fund's net investment income and net
realized capital gains.
Dividends and distributions are reinvested in additional fund shares.
Alternatively, you may instruct your financial professional or J.P. Morgan Funds
Services to have them sent to you by check, credited to a separate account, or
invested in another J.P. Morgan Institutional Fund.
TAX CONSIDERATIONS
In general, selling shares, exchanging shares, and receiving distributions
(whether reinvested or taken in cash) are all taxable events. These transactions
typically create the following tax liabilities for taxable accounts:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transaction Tax status
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Income dividends Ordinary income
Short-term capital gains Ordinary income
distributions
Long-term capital gains Capital gains
distributions
Sales or exchanges of shares Capital gains or losses
owned for more than one year
Sales or exchanges of shares Gains are treated as ordinary
owned for one year or less income; losses are subject
to special rules
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
Because long-term capital gains distributions are taxable as capital gains
regardless of how long you have owned your shares, you may want to avoid making
a substantial investment when the fund is about to declare a long-term capital
gains distribution.
Every January, the fund issues tax information on its distributions for the
previous year.
Any investor for whom the fund does not have a valid
taxpayer identification number will be subject to backup withholding for taxes.
The tax considerations described in this section do not apply to tax-deferred
accounts or other non-taxable entities.
Because each investor's tax circumstances are unique, please consult your tax
professional about your fund investment.
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8 | YOUR INVESTMENT
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<PAGE>
FUND DETAILS
================================================================================
MASTER/FEEDER STRUCTURE
As noted earlier, the fund is a "feeder" fund that invests in a master
portfolio. (Except where indicated, this prospectus uses the term "the fund" to
mean the feeder fund and its master portfolio taken together.)
The master portfolio accepts investments from other feeder funds, and the
feeders bear the master portfolio's expenses in proportion to their assets.
However, each feeder can set its own transaction minimums, fund-specific
expenses, and other conditions. This means that one feeder could offer access to
the same master portfolio on more attractive terms, or could experience better
performance, than another feeder. Information about other feeders is available
by calling 1-800-766-7722. Generally, when the master portfolio seeks a vote,
the fund will hold a shareholder meeting and cast its vote proportionately, as
instructed by its shareholders. Fund shareholders are entitled to one full or
fractional vote for each dollar or fraction of a dollar invested.
The fund and its master portfolio expect to maintain consistent goals, but if
they do not, the fund will withdraw from the master portfolio, receiving its
assets either in cash or securities. The fund's trustees would then consider
whether the fund should hire its own investment adviser, invest in a different
master portfolio, or take other action.
MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
The fund and its master portfolio are governed by the same trustees. The
trustees are responsible for overseeing all business activities. The trustees
are assisted by Pierpont Group, Inc., which they own and operate on a cost
basis; costs are shared by all funds governed by these trustees. Funds
Distributor, Inc., as co-administrator, provides fund officers. J.P. Morgan, as
co-administrator, along with J.P. Morgan, oversees the fund's other service
providers.
J.P. Morgan, subject to the expense reimbursements described earlier in this
prospectus, receives the following fees for investment advisory and other
services:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Advisory services 0.60% of the master
portfolio's average net assets
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Administrative services Master portfolio's and fund's
(fee shared with Funds pro-rata portions of 0.09% of
Distributor, Inc.) the first $7 billion in
J.P. Morgan-advised portfolios,
plus 0.04% of average
net assets over $7 billion
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shareholder services 0.10% of the fund's average
net assets
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
J.P. Morgan may pay fees to certain firms and professionals for providing
recordkeeping or other services in connection with investments in the fund.
Year 2000 Fund operations and shareholders could be adversely affected if the
computer systems used by J.P. Morgan, the fund's other service providers and
other entities with computer systems linked to the fund do not properly process
and calculate January 1, 2000 and after date-related information. J.P. Morgan is
working to avoid these problems and to obtain assurances from other service
providers that they are taking similar steps. However, it is not certain that
these actions will be sufficient to prevent these problems from adversely
impacting fund operations and shareholders. In addition, to the extent that
operations of issuers of securities held by the fund are impaired by
date-related problems or prices of securities decline as a result of real or
perceived date-related problems of issuers held by the fund or generally, the
net asset value of the fund will decline.
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FUND DETAILS | 9
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<PAGE>
================================================================================
RISK AND REWARD ELEMENTS
This table discusses the main elements that make up the fund's overall risk and
reward characteristics (described on page 3). It also outlines the fund's
policies toward various securities, including those that are designed to help
the fund manage risk.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
====================================================================================================================================
Potential risks Potential rewards Policies to balance risk and reward
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Market conditions
o The fund's share price and o Stocks have generally outperformed o Under normal circumstances the fund
performance will fluctuate in more stable investments (such as plans to remain fully invested,
response to stock market movements bonds and cash equivalents) over with at least 65% in stocks; stock
the long term investments may include U.S. and
o Adverse market conditions may from foreign common stocks, convertible
time to time cause the fund to take securities, preferred stocks, trust
temporary defensive positions that or partnership interests, warrants,
are inconsistent with its principal rights, and investment company
investment strategies and may securities
hinder the fund from achieving its
investment objective o The fund seeks to limit risk
through diversification
o During severe market downturns, the
fund has the option of investing up
to 100% of assets in investment-grade
short-term securities
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management choices
o The fund could underperform its o The fund could outperform its o J.P. Morgan focuses its active
benchmark due to its securities and benchmark due to these same choices management on securities selection,
asset allocation choices the area where it believes its
commitment to research can most
enhance returns
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Foreign investments
o Currency exchange rate movements o Favorable exchange rate movements o The fund anticipates that its total
could reduce gains or create losses could generate gains or reduce foreign investments will not exceed
losses 20% of assets.
o The fund could lose money because
of foreign government actions, o Foreign investments, which o The fund actively manages the
political instability, or lack of represent a major portion of the currency exposure of its foreign
adequate and accurate information world's securities, offer investments relative to its
attractive potential performance benchmark, and may hedge back into
and opportunities for the U.S. dollar from time to time
diversification (see also "Derivatives")
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Derivatives
o Derivatives such as futures, o Hedges that correlate well with o The fund uses derivatives for
options, swaps and forward foreign underlying positions can reduce or hedging and for risk management
currency contracts that are used eliminate losses at low cost (i.e., to establish or adjust
for hedging the portfolio or exposure to particular securities,
specific securities may not fully o The fund could make money and markets or currencies); risk
offset the underlying positions(1) protect against losses if management may include management
management's analysis proves of the fund's exposure relative to
o Derivatives used for risk correct its benchmark
management may not have the
intended effects and may result in o Derivatives that involve leverage o The fund only establishes hedges
losses or missed opportunities could generate substantial gains at that it expects will be highly
low cost correlated with underlying
o The counterparty to a derivatives positions
contract could default
o While the fund may use derivatives
o Derivatives that involve leverage that incidentally involve leverage,
could magnify losses it does not use them for the
specific purpose of leveraging the
portfolio
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1) A futures contract is an agreement to buy or sell a set quantity of an
underlying instrument at a future date, or to make or receive a cash
payment based on changes in the value of a securities index. An option is
the right to buy or sell a set quantity of an underlying instrument at
pre-determined price. A swap is a privately negotiated agreement to
exchange one stream of payments for another. A forward foreign currency
contract is an obligation to buy or sell a given currency on a future date
and at a set price.
|
10 | FUND DETAILS
|
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
====================================================================================================================================
Potential risks Potential rewards Policies to balance risk and reward
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Illiquid holdings
o The fund could have difficulty o These holdings may offer more o The fund may not invest more than
valuing these holdings precisely attractive yields or potential 15% of net assets in illiquid
growth than comparable widely holdings
o The fund could be unable to sell traded securities
these holdings at the time or price o To maintain adequate liquidity to
it desires meet redemptions, the fund may hold
investment-grade short-term
securities (including repurchase
agreements) and, for temporary or
extraordinary purposes, may borrow
from banks up to 33 1/3% of its
assets
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When-issued and delayed
delivery securities
o When the fund buys securities o The fund can take advantage of o The fund uses segregated accounts
before issue or for delayed attractive transaction to offset leverage risk
delivery, it could be exposed to opportunities
leverage risk if it does not use
segregated accounts
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Short-term trading
o Increased trading would raise the o The fund could realize gains in a o The fund anticipates a portfolio
fund's brokerage and related costs short period of time turnover rate of approximately 100%
o Increased short-term capital gains o The fund could protect against o The fund generally avoids
distributions would raise losses if a stock is overvalued and short-term trading, except to take
shareholders' income tax liability its value later falls advantage of attractive or
unexpected opportunities or to meet
demands generated by shareholder
activity
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
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FUND DETAILS | 11
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12 |
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| 13
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<PAGE>
================================================================================
FOR MORE INFORMATION
================================================================================
For investors who want more information on the fund, the following documents are
available free upon request:
Annual/Semi-annual Reports Contain financial statements, performance data,
information on portfolio holdings, and a written analysis of market conditions
and fund performance for the fund's most recently completed fiscal year or
half-year.
Statement of Additional Information (SAI) Provides a fuller technical and legal
description of the fund's policies, investment restrictions, and business
structure. This prospectus incorporates the SAI by reference.
Copies of the current versions of these documents, along with other information
about the fund, may be obtained by contacting:
J.P. Morgan Institutional U.S. Small Company Fund
J.P. Morgan Funds Services
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036
Telephone: 1-800-766-7722
Hearing impaired: 1-888-468-4015
Email: [email protected]
Text-only versions of these documents and this prospectus are available, upon
payment of a duplicting fee, from the Public Reference Room of the Securities
and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. (1-800-SEC-0330) and may be viewed
on-screen or downloaded from the SEC's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. The
fund's investment company and 1933 Act registration numbers are 811-07342 and
033-54642.
J.P. MORGAN INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS AND THE MORGAN TRADITION
The J.P. Morgan Institutional Funds combine a heritage of integrity and
financial leadership with comprehensive, sophisticated analysis and management
techniques. Drawing on J.P. Morgan's extensive experience and depth as an
investment manager, the J.P. Morgan Institutional Funds offer a broad array of
distinctive opportunities for mutual fund investors.
[LOGO] JPMorgan
================================================================================
J.P. Morgan Institutional Funds
Advisor Distributor
J.P. Morgan Investment Managment Inc. Funds Distributor, Inc.
522 Fifth Avenue 60 State Street
New York, NY 10036 Boston, MA 02109
1-800-766-7722 1-800-221-7930
PROS384-9810
<PAGE>
J.P. MORGAN INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS
J.P. MORGAN INSTITUTIONAL DISCIPLINED EQUITY FUND
J.P. MORGAN INSTITUTIONAL U.S. EQUITY FUND
J.P. MORGAN INSTITUTIONAL U.S. SMALL COMPANY FUND
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
OCTOBER 1, 1998
THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NOT A PROSPECTUS, BUT CONTAINS
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WHICH SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PROSPECTUS
DATED OCTOBER 1, 1998 FOR EACH OF THE FUNDS LISTED ABOVE, AS SUPPLEMENTED FROM
TIME TO TIME. ADDITIONALLY, THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS INCLUDED IN THE SHAREHOLDER
REPORTS RELATING TO EACH OF THE FUNDS LISTED ABOVE DATED MAY 31, 1998. THE
PROSPECTUSES AND THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, INCLUDING THE AUDITOR'S REPORT
THEREON, ARE AVAILABLE, WITHOUT CHARGE, UPON REQUEST FROM FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR,
INC., ATTENTION: J.P. MORGAN INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS (800) 221-7930.
<PAGE>
Table of Contents
PAGE
General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Investment Objectives and Policies . . . . . . 1
Investment Restrictions . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Trustees and Officers . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Investment Advisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Distributor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Co-Administrator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Services Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Custodian and Transfer Agent . . . . . . . . . 30
Shareholder Servicing . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Financial Professionals. . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Independent Accountants . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Purchase of Shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Redemption of Shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Exchange of Shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Dividends and Distributions . . . . . . . . . 35
Net Asset Value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Performance Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Portfolio Transactions . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Massachusetts Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Description of Shares . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Special Information Concerning
Investment Structure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Additional Information . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Financial Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Appendix A - Description of Securities
Ratings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Appendix A - 1
<PAGE>
GENERAL
This Statement of Additional Information relates only to J.P. Morgan
Institutional Disciplined Equity Fund, J.P. Morgan Institutional U.S. Equity
Fund and J.P. Morgan Institutional U.S. Small Company Fund (collectively, the
"Funds"). Each of the Funds is a series of shares of beneficial interest of J.P.
Morgan Institutional Funds, an open-end management investment company formed as
a Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust"). In addition to the Funds, the
Trust consists of other series representing separate investment funds (each a
"J.P. Morgan Institutional Fund"). The other J.P. Morgan Institutional Funds are
covered by separate Statements of Additional Information.
This Statement of Additional Information describes the financial
history, investment objectives and policies, management and operation of each of
the Funds in order to enable investors to select the Fund or Funds which best
suit their needs. The Funds operate through a two-tier master-feeder investment
fund structure.
This Statement of Additional Information provides additional
information with respect to the Funds and should be read in conjunction with the
relevant Fund's current Prospectus (the "Prospectus"). Capitalized terms not
otherwise defined herein have the meanings accorded to them in the Prospectus.
The Funds' executive offices are located at 60 State Street, Suite 1300, Boston,
Massachusetts 02109.
Unlike other mutual funds which directly acquire and manage their own
portfolio of securities, the Funds seek to achieve their investment objectives
by investing all of their investable assets in separate Master Portfolios (each
a "Portfolio"), a corresponding diversified open-end management investment
company having the same investment objective as the corresponding Fund. Each
Fund invests in a Portfolio through a two-tier master-feeder investment fund
structure. See "Special Information Concerning Investment Structure."
The Portfolios are advised by J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc.
("JPMIM" or the "Advisor").
Investments in the Funds are not deposits or obligations of, or
guaranteed or endorsed by any bank. Shares of the Funds are not federally
insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board,
or any other governmental agency. An investment in a Fund is subject to risk
that may cause the value of the investment to fluctuate, and when the investment
is redeemed, the value may be higher or lower than the amount originally
invested by the investor.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES
The following discussion supplements the information regarding the
investment objective of each Fund and the policies to be employed to achieve
this objective by its corresponding Portfolio as set forth above and in the
Prospectus. The investment objective of each Fund and its corresponding
Portfolio is identical. Accordingly, references below to a Fund also include the
Fund's corresponding Portfolio; similarly, references to a Portfolio also
include the corresponding Fund that invests in the Portfolio unless the context
requires otherwise.
J.P. MORGAN INSTITUTIONAL DISCIPLINED EQUITY FUND (the "Disciplined Equity
Fund") is designed for investors seeking enhanced total return relative to that
of large and medium sized companies, typically represented by the S&P
<PAGE>
500 Index. The Disciplined Equity Fund's investment objective is to provide a
consistently high total return from a broadly diversified portfolio of equity
securities with risk characteristics similar to the S&P 500 Index. This
investment objective can be changed without shareholder approval. The
Disciplined Equity Fund attempts to achieve its investment objective by
investing all of its investable assets in The Disciplined Equity Portfolio, a
diversified open-end management investment company having the same investment
objective as the Disciplined Equity Fund.
The Disciplined Equity Fund invests primarily in a diversified
portfolio of common stocks and other equity securities. Under normal
circumstances, the Disciplined Equity Fund expects to invest at least 65% of its
total assets in such securities.
INVESTMENT PROCESS FOR THE DISCIPLINED EQUITY FUND
Research: The Advisor's more than 20 domestic equity analysts, each an
industry specialist with an average of over 10 years of experience, follow
approximately 600 medium and large capitalization U.S. companies. Their research
goal is to forecast intermediate-term earnings and prospective dividend growth
rates for the companies that they cover.
Valuation: The analysts' forecasts are converted into comparable
expected returns using a proprietary dividend discount model, which calculates
the intermediate-term earnings by comparing a company's current stock price with
its forecasted dividends and earnings. Within each sector, companies are ranked
according to their relative value and grouped into quintiles: those with the
highest expected returns (Quintile 1) are deemed the most undervalued relative
to their long-term earnings power, while those with the lowest expected returns
(Quintile 5) are deemed the most overvalued.
Stock Selection: A broadly diversified portfolio is constructed using
disciplined buy and sell rules. Purchases are allocated among stocks in the
first three quintiles. Once a stock falls into the fourth and fifth quintiles --
either because its price has risen or its fundamentals have deteriorated -- it
generally becomes a candidate for sale,. The Disciplined Equity Fund's sector
weightings are matched to those of the S&P 500 Index, the Disciplined Equity
Fund's benchmark. The Advisor, also controls the Disciplined Equity Fund's
exposure to style and theme bets and maintains near-market security weightings
in individual security holdings. This process results in an investment portfolio
containing approximately 300 stocks.
J.P. MORGAN INSTITUTIONAL U.S. EQUITY FUND (the "U.S. Equity Fund") is
designed for investors who want an actively managed portfolio of selected equity
securities that seeks to outperform the S&P 500 Index. The U.S. Equity Fund's
investment objective is to provide a high total return from a portfolio of
selected equity securities. This investment objective can be changed without
shareholder approval. The U.S. Equity Fund attempts to achieve its investment
objective by investing all of its investable assets in The U.S. Equity
Portfolio, a diversified open-end management investment company having the same
investment objective as the U.S.
Equity Fund.
In normal circumstances, at least 65% of the U.S. Equity Fund's net
assets will be invested in equity securities consisting of U.S. and foreign
common stocks and other securities with equity characteristics comprised of
preferred stock, warrants, rights, convertible securities, depository receipts
(such as ADRs and EDRs) trust certifications, limited partnership interests and
investment company securities (collectively, "Equity Securities"). The U.S.
Equity Fund's primary equity investments are the common stock of large
<PAGE>
capitalization U.S. corporations and, to a limited extent, similar
securities of foreign corporations.
INVESTMENT PROCESS FOR THE U.S. EQUITY FUND
Research: The Advisor's more than 20 domestic equity analysts, each an
industry specialist with an average of over 10 years of experience, follow
approximately 700 predominantly large- and medium-sized U.S. companies --
approximately 500 of which form the universe for the U.S. Equity Fund's
investments. Their research goal is to forecast normalized, longer term earnings
and dividends for the companies that they cover. In doing this, they may work in
concert with the Advisor's international equity analysts in order to gain a
broader perspective for evaluating industries and companies in today's global
economy.
Valuation: The analysts' forecasts are converted into comparable
expected returns using a proprietary dividend discount model, which calculates
the long-term earnings by comparing a company's current stock price with its
forecasted dividends and earnings. Within each sector, companies are ranked
according to their relative value and grouped into quintiles: those with the
highest expected returns (Quintile 1) are deemed the most undervalued relative
to their long-term earnings power, while those with the lowest expected returns
(Quintile 5) are deemed the most overvalued.
Stock Selection: A diversified portfolio is constructed using
disciplined buy and sell rules. Purchases are concentrated among first-quintile
stocks; the specific names selected reflect the portfolio manager's judgment
concerning the soundness of the underlying forecasts, the likelihood that the
perceived misvaluation will be corrected within a reasonable time frame, and the
magnitude of the risks versus the rewards. Once a stock falls into the third
quintile -- because its price has risen or its fundamentals have deteriorated --
it generally becomes a candidate for sale. The portfolio manager seeks to hold
sector weightings close to those of the S&P 500 Index, the U.S. Equity Fund's
benchmark.
J.P. MORGAN INSTITUTIONAL U.S. SMALL COMPANY FUND (the "U.S. Small
Company Fund") is designed for investors who are willing to assume the somewhat
higher risk of investing in small companies in order to seek a higher return
over time than might be expected from a portfolio of stocks of large companies.
The U.S. Small Company Fund's investment objective is to provide high total
return from a portfolio of small company stocks. This investment objective can
be changed without shareholder approval. The U.S. Small Company Fund attempts to
achieve its investment objective by investing all of its investable assets in
The U.S. Small Company Portfolio, a diversified open-end management investment
company having the same investment objective as the U.S. Small Company Fund.
The U.S. Small Company Fund attempts to achieve its investment
objective by investing primarily in the common stock of small sized U.S.
companies that are included in the Russell 2000 Index, which is composed of
2,000 common stocks of U.S. small-cap companies with market capitalizations
ranging from $110 million to $2.5 billion.
INVESTMENT PROCESS FOR THE U.S. SMALL COMPANY FUND
Research: The Advisor's more than 20 domestic equity analysts, each an
industry specialist with an average of over 10 years of experience, continuously
monitor the small cap stocks in their respective sectors with the aim of
identifying companies that exhibit superior financial strength and
<PAGE>
operating returns. Meetings with management and on-site visits play a key role
in shaping their assessments. Their research goal is to forecast normalized,
long-term earnings and dividends for the most attractive small cap companies
among those they monitor -- a universe that contains a total of approximately
600 names. Because the Advisor's analysts follow both the larger and smaller
companies in their industries -- in essence, covering their industries from top
to bottom -- they are able to bring broad perspective to the research they do on
both.
Valuation: The analysts' forecasts are converted into comparable
expected returns using a proprietary dividend discount model, which calculates
the long-term earnings by comparing a company's current stock price with the its
forecasted dividends and earnings. Within each industry, companies are ranked
according to their relative value and grouped into quintiles: those with the
highest expected returns (Quintile 1) are deemed the most undervalued relative
to their long-term earnings power, while those with the lowest expected returns
(Quintile 5) are deemed the most overvalued.
Stock Selection: A diversified portfolio is constructed using
disciplined buy and sell rules. Purchases are concentrated among the stocks in
the top two quintiles of the rankings; the specific names selected reflect the
portfolio manager's judgment concerning the soundness of the underlying
forecasts, the likelihood that the perceived misvaluation will soon be
corrected, and the magnitude of the risks versus the rewards. Once a stock falls
into the third quintile -- because its price has risen or its fundamentals have
deteriorated -- it generally becomes a candidate for sale. The portfolio manager
seeks to hold sector weightings close to those of the Russell 2000 Index, the
U.S. Small Company Fund's benchmark.
The various types of securities in which the Funds may invest are
described below.
EQUITY INVESTMENTS
The Funds invest primarily in Equity Securities. The Equity Securities
in which the Funds invest include those listed on any domestic or foreign
securities exchange or traded in the over-the-counter (OTC) market as well as
certain restricted or unlisted securities.
EQUITY SECURITIES. The Equity Securities in which the Funds may invest may
or may not pay dividends and may or may not carry voting rights. Common stock
occupies the most junior position in a company's capital structure.
The convertible securities in which the Funds may invest include any
debt securities or preferred stock which may be converted into common stock or
which carry the right to purchase common stock. Convertible securities entitle
the holder to exchange the securities for a specified number of shares of common
stock, usually of the same company, at specified prices within a certain period
of time.
The terms of any convertible security determine its ranking in a
company's capital structure. In the case of subordinated convertible debentures,
the holders' claims on assets and earnings are subordinated to the claims of
other creditors, and are senior to the claims of preferred and common
shareholders. In the case of convertible preferred stock, the holders' claims on
assets and earnings are subordinated to the claims of all creditors and are
senior to the claims of common shareholders.
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COMMON STOCK WARRANTS
The Funds may invest in common stock warrants that entitle the holder
to buy common stock from the issuer of the warrant at a specific price (the
strike price) for a specific period of time. The market price of warrants may be
substantially lower than the current market price of the underlying common
stock, yet warrants are subject to similar price fluctuations. As a result,
warrants may be more volatile investments than the underlying common stock.
Warrants generally do not entitle the holder to dividends or voting
rights with respect to the underlying common stock and do not represent any
rights in the assets of the issuer company. A warrant will expire worthless if
it is not exercised on or prior to the expiration date.
FOREIGN INVESTMENTS
The Funds may invest in certain foreign securities. The Funds do not
expect to invest more than 20% of their respective total assets, at the time of
purchase, in securities of foreign issuers. This 20% limit is designed to
accommodate the increased globalization of companies as well as the
re-domiciling of companies for tax treatment purposes. It is not currently
expected to be used to increase direct non-U.S. exposure.
Investors should realize that the value of the Funds' investments in
foreign securities may be adversely affected by changes in political or social
conditions, diplomatic relations, confiscatory taxation, expropriation,
nationalization, limitation on the removal of funds or assets, or imposition of
(or change in) exchange control or tax regulations in those foreign countries.
In addition, changes in government administrations or economic or monetary
policies in the United States or abroad could result in appreciation or
depreciation of portfolio securities and could favorably or unfavorably affect
the Funds' operations. Furthermore, the economies of individual foreign nations
may differ from the U.S. economy, whether favorably or unfavorably, in areas
such as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital
reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments position; it may
also be more difficult to obtain and enforce a judgment against a foreign
issuer. Any foreign investments made by the Funds must be made in compliance
with U.S. and foreign currency restrictions and tax laws restricting the amounts
and types of foreign investments.
In addition, while the volume of transactions effected on foreign stock
exchanges has increased in recent years, in most cases it remains appreciably
below that of domestic security exchanges. Accordingly, a Fund's foreign
investments may be less liquid and their prices may be more volatile than
comparable investments in securities of U.S. companies. Moreover, the settlement
periods for foreign securities, which are often longer than those for securities
of U.S. issuers, may affect portfolio liquidity. In buying and selling
securities on foreign exchanges, purchasers normally pay fixed commissions that
are generally higher than the negotiated commissions charged in the United
States. In addition, there is generally less government supervision and
regulation of securities exchanges, brokers and issuers located in foreign
countries than in the United States.
Foreign investments may be made directly in securities of foreign
issuers or in the form of American Depository Receipts ("ADRs"), European
Depository Receipts ("EDRs") and Global Depository Receipts ("GDRs") or other
similar securities of foreign issuers. ADRs are securities, typically issued by
a U.S. financial institution (a "depository"), that evidence ownership interests
in a security or a pool of securities issued by a foreign issuer and deposited
with the depository. ADRs include American Depository Shares and
<PAGE>
New York Shares. EDRs are receipts issued by a European financial institution.
GDRs, which are sometimes referred to as Continental Depository Receipts
("CDRs"), are securities, typically issued by a non-U.S. financial institution,
that evidence ownership interests in a security or a pool of securities issued
by either a U.S. or foreign issuer. ADRs, EDRs, GDRs and CDRs may be available
for investment through "sponsored" or "unsponsored" facilities. A sponsored
facility is established jointly by the issuer of the security underlying the
receipt and a depository, whereas an unsponsored facility may be established by
a depository without participation by the issuer of the receipt's underlying
security.
Holders of an unsponsored depository receipt generally bear all costs
of the unsponsored facility. The depository of an unsponsored facility
frequently is under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications
received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through to the
holders of the receipts voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.
Since investments in foreign securities may involve foreign currencies,
the value of a Fund's assets as measured in U.S. dollars may be affected
favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency rates and in exchange control
regulations, including currency blockage. The Funds may enter into forward
commitments for the purchase or sale of foreign currencies in connection with
the settlement of foreign securities transactions or to manage the Funds'
currency exposure related to foreign investments.
FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE TRANSACTIONS
Because each Fund may buy and sell securities and receive interest and
dividends in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, a Fund may enter from time
to time into foreign currency exchange transactions. Each Fund either enters
into these transactions on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing
in the foreign currency exchange market or uses forward contracts to purchase or
sell foreign currencies. The cost of a Fund's spot currency exchange
transactions is generally the difference between the bid and offer spot rate of
the currency being purchased or sold.
A forward foreign currency exchange contract is an obligation by the
Fund to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any
fixed number of days from the date of the contract. Forward foreign currency
exchange contracts establish an exchange rate at a future date. These contracts
are derivative instruments, as their value derives from the spot exchange rates
of the currencies underlying the contract. These contracts are entered into in
the interbank market directly between currency traders (usually large commercial
banks) and their customers. A forward foreign currency exchange contract
generally has no deposit requirement and is traded at a net price without
commission. Neither spot transactions nor forward foreign currency exchange
contracts eliminate fluctuations in the prices of a Fund's securities or in
foreign exchange rates, or prevent loss if the prices of these securities should
decline.
Each Fund may enter into foreign currency exchange transactions in an
attempt to protect against changes in foreign currency exchange rates between
the trade and settlement dates of specific securities transactions or
anticipated securities transactions. Each Fund may also enter into forward
contracts to hedge against a change in foreign currency exchange rates that
would cause a decline in the value of existing investments denominated or
principally traded in a foreign currency. To do this, a Fund would enter into a
forward contract to sell the foreign currency in which the investment is
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denominated or principally traded in exchange for U.S. dollars or in exchange
for another foreign currency. The Funds will only enter into forward contracts
to sell a foreign currency in exchange for another foreign currency if the
Advisor expects the foreign currency purchased to appreciate against the U.S.
dollar.
Although these transactions are intended to minimize the risk of loss
due to a decline in the value of the hedged currency, at the same time they
limit any potential gain that might be realized should the value of the hedged
currency increase. In addition, forward contracts that convert a foreign
currency into another foreign currency will cause a Fund to assume the risk of
fluctuations in the value of the currency purchased vis a vis the hedged
currency and the U.S. dollar. The precise matching of the forward contract
amounts and the value of the securities involved will not generally be possible
because the future value of such securities in foreign currencies will change as
a consequence of market movements in the value of such securities between the
date the forward contract is entered into and the date it matures. The
projection of currency market movements is extremely difficult, and the
successful execution of a hedging strategy is highly uncertain.
ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS
WHEN-ISSUED AND DELAYED DELIVERY SECURITIES. Each of the Funds may
purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis. For example,
delivery of and payment for these securities can take place a month or more
after the date of the purchase commitment. The purchase price and the interest
rate payable, if any, on the securities are fixed on the purchase commitment
date or at the time the settlement date is fixed. The value of such securities
is subject to market fluctuation and for money market instruments and other
fixed income securities no interest accrues to a Fund until settlement takes
place. At the time a Fund makes the commitment to purchase securities on a
when-issued or delayed delivery basis, it will record the transaction, reflect
the value each day of such securities in determining its net asset value, and
calculate the maturity for the purposes of average maturity from that date. At
the time of settlement a when-issued security may be valued at less than the
purchase price. To facilitate such acquisitions, each Fund will maintain with
the custodian a segregated account with liquid assets, consisting of cash, U.S.
Government securities or other appropriate securities, in an amount at least
equal to such commitments. On delivery dates for such transactions, each Fund
will meet its obligations from maturities or sales of the securities held in the
segregated account and/or from cash flow. If a Fund chooses to dispose of the
right to acquire a when-issued security prior to its acquisition, it could, as
with the disposition of any other portfolio obligation, incur a gain or loss due
to market fluctuation. Also, a Fund may be disadvantaged if the other party to
the transaction defaults. It is the current policy of each Fund not to enter
into when-issued commitments exceeding in the aggregate 15% of the market value
of the Fund's total assets, less liabilities other than the obligations created
by when-issued commitments.
INVESTMENT COMPANY SECURITIES. Securities of other investment companies
may be acquired by each of the Funds and their corresponding Portfolios to the
extent permitted under the 1940 Act. These limits require that, as determined
immediately after a purchase is made, (i) not more than 5% of the value of a
Fund's total assets will be invested in the securities of any one investment
company, (ii) not more than 10% of the value of its total assets will be
invested in the aggregate in securities of investment companies as a group, and
(iii) not more than 3% of the outstanding voting stock of any one
<PAGE>
investment company will be owned by a Fund, provided however, that a Fund may
invest all of its investable assets in an open-end investment company that has
the same investment objective as the Fund (its corresponding Portfolio). As a
shareholder of another investment company, a Fund or Portfolio would bear, along
with other shareholders, its pro rata portion of the other investment company's
expenses, including advisory fees. These expenses would be in addition to the
advisory and other expenses that a Fund or Portfolio bears directly in
connection with its own operations. The Funds have applied for exemptive relief
from the SEC to permit the Funds to invest in affiliated investment companies.
If the requested relief is granted, the Funds would then be permitted to invest
in affiliated Funds, subject to certain conditions specified in the applicable
order.
REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. Each of the Funds may enter into reverse
repurchase agreements. In a reverse repurchase agreement, a Fund sells a
security and agrees to repurchase the same security at a mutually agreed upon
date and price reflecting the interest rate effective for the term of the
agreement. For purposes of the 1940 Act a reverse repurchase agreement is also
considered as the borrowing of money by the Fund and, therefore, a form of
leverage. Leverage may cause any gains or losses for a Fund to be magnified. The
Funds will invest the proceeds of borrowings under reverse repurchase
agreements. In addition, a Fund will enter into a reverse repurchase agreement
only when the interest income to be earned from the investment of the proceeds
is greater than the interest expense of the transaction. A Fund will not invest
the proceeds of a reverse repurchase agreement for a period which exceeds the
duration of the reverse repurchase agreement. Each Fund will establish and
maintain with the custodian a separate account with a segregated portfolio of
securities in an amount at least equal to its purchase obligations under its
reverse repurchase agreements. See "Investment Restrictions" for each Fund's
limitations on reverse repurchase agreements and bank borrowings.
LOANS OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES. Each Fund is permitted to lend its
securities in an amount up to 331/3% of the value of such Fund's net assets.
Each of the Funds may lend its securities if such loans are secured continuously
by cash or equivalent collateral or by a letter of credit in favor of the Fund
at least equal at all times to 100% of the market value of the securities
loaned, plus accrued interest. While such securities are on loan, the borrower
will pay the Fund any income accruing thereon. Loans will be subject to
termination by the Funds in the normal settlement time, generally three business
days after notice, or by the borrower on one day's notice. Borrowed securities
must be returned when the loan is terminated. Any gain or loss in the market
price of the borrowed securities which occurs during the term of the loan inures
to a Fund and its respective investors. The Funds may pay reasonable finders'
and custodial fees in connection with a loan. In addition, a Fund will consider
all facts and circumstances before entering into such an agreement, including
the creditworthiness of the borrowing financial institution, and no Fund will
make any loans in excess of one year. The Funds will not lend their securities
to any officer, Trustee, Director, employee or other affiliate of the Funds, the
Advisor or the Distributor, unless otherwise permitted by applicable law.
ILLIQUID INVESTMENTS; PRIVATELY PLACED AND OTHER UNREGISTERED
SECURITIES. No Fund may acquire any illiquid securities if, as a result thereof,
more than 15% of its net assets would be in illiquid investments. Subject to
this non-fundamental policy limitation, each Fund may acquire investments that
are illiquid or have limited liquidity, such as private placements or
investments that are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "1933 Act"), and cannot be offered for public sale in
<PAGE>
the United States without first being registered under the 1933 Act. An illiquid
investment is any investment that cannot be disposed of within seven days in the
normal course of business at approximately the amount at which it is valued by a
Fund. The price a Fund pays for illiquid securities or receives upon resale may
be lower than the price paid or received for similar securities with a more
liquid market. Accordingly the valuation of these securities will reflect any
limitations on their liquidity.
Each Fund may also purchase Rule 144A securities sold to institutional
investors without registration under the 1933 Act. These securities may be
determined to be liquid in accordance with guidelines established by the Advisor
and approved by the Trustees. The Trustees will monitor the Advisor's
implementation of these guidelines on a periodic basis.
As to illiquid investments, a Fund is subject to a risk that should a
Fund decide to sell them when a ready buyer is not available at a price the Fund
deems representative of their value, the value of the Fund's net assets could be
adversely affected. Where an illiquid security must be registered under the 1933
Act, before it may be sold, a Fund may be obligated to pay all or part of the
registration expenses, and a considerable period may elapse between the time of
the decision to sell and the time a Fund may be permitted to sell a security
under an effective registration statement. If, during such a period, adverse
market conditions were to develop, a Fund might obtain a less favorable price
than prevailed when it decided to sell.
MONEY MARKET INSTRUMENTS
Although the Funds intend, under normal circumstances and to the extent
practicable, to be fully invested in equity securities, each Fund may invest in
money market instruments to the extent consistent with its respective investment
objective and policies. The Funds may make money market investments pending
other investment or settlement, for liquidity or in adverse market conditions. A
description of the various types of money market instruments that may be
purchased by the Funds appears below. Also see "Quality and Diversification
Requirements."
U.S. TREASURY SECURITIES. Each of the Funds may invest in direct
obligations of the U.S. Treasury, including Treasury bills, notes and bonds, all
of which are backed as to principal and interest payments by the full faith and
credit of the United States.
ADDITIONAL U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS. Each of the Funds may invest in
obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. Government agencies or
instrumentalities. These obligations may or may not be backed by the "full faith
and credit" of the United States. Securities which are backed by the full faith
and credit of the United States include obligations of the Government National
Mortgage Association, the Farmers Home Administration, and the Export-Import
Bank. In the case of securities not backed by the full faith and credit of the
United States, each Fund must look principally to the federal agency issuing or
guaranteeing the obligation for ultimate repayment and may not be able to assert
a claim against the United States itself in the event the agency or
instrumentality does not meet its commitments. Securities in which each Fund may
invest that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States
include, but are not limited to: (i) obligations of the Tennessee Valley
Authority, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, the Federal Home Loan
Banks and the U.S. Postal Service, each of which has the right to borrow from
the U.S. Treasury to meet its obligations; (ii) securities issued by the Federal
National Mortgage Association, which are supported by the discretionary
authority of the U.S. Government to purchase
<PAGE>
the agency's obligations; and (iii) obligations of the Federal Farm Credit
System and the Student Loan Marketing Association, each of whose obligations may
be satisfied only by the individual credits of the issuing agency.
FOREIGN GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS. Each of the Funds, subject to its
applicable investment policies, may also invest in short-term obligations of
foreign sovereign governments or of their agencies, instrumentalities,
authorities or political subdivisions. These securities may be denominated in
the U.S. dollar or in another currency. See "Foreign Investments."
BANK OBLIGATIONS. Each of the Funds may invest in negotiable
certificates of deposit, time deposits and bankers' acceptances of (i) banks,
savings and loan associations and savings banks which have more than $2 billion
in total assets (the "Asset Limitation") and are organized under the laws of the
United States or any state, (ii) foreign branches of these banks or of foreign
banks of equivalent size (Euros) and (iii) U.S. branches of foreign banks of
equivalent size (Yankees). See "Foreign Investments." The Funds will not invest
in obligations for which the Advisor, or any of its affiliated persons, is the
ultimate obligor or accepting bank. Each of the Funds may also invest in
obligations of international banking institutions designated or supported by
national governments to promote economic reconstruction, development or trade
between nations (e.g., the European Investment Bank, the Inter-American
Development Bank, or the World Bank).
COMMERCIAL PAPER. Each of the Funds may invest in commercial paper,
including master demand obligations. Master demand obligations are obligations
that provide for a periodic adjustment in the interest rate paid and permit
daily changes in the amount borrowed. Master demand obligations are governed by
agreements between the issuer and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York
("Morgan"), an affiliate of the Advisor, acting as agent, for no additional fee.
The monies loaned to the borrower come from accounts managed by Morgan or its
affiliates, pursuant to arrangements with such accounts. Interest and principal
payments are credited to such accounts. Morgan, an affiliate of the Advisor, has
the right to increase or decrease the amount provided to the borrower under an
obligation. The borrower has the right to pay without penalty all or any part of
the principal amount then outstanding on an obligation together with interest to
the date of payment. Since these obligations typically provide that the interest
rate is tied to the Federal Reserve commercial paper composite rate, the rate on
master demand obligations is subject to change. Repayment of a master demand
obligation to participating accounts depends on the ability of the borrower to
pay the accrued interest and principal of the obligation on demand which is
continuously monitored by Morgan. Since master demand obligations typically are
not rated by credit rating agencies, the Funds may invest in such unrated
obligations only if at the time of an investment the obligation is determined by
the Advisor to have a credit quality which satisfies the Fund's quality
restrictions. See "Quality and Diversification Requirements." It is possible
that the issuer of a master demand obligation could be a client of Morgan, to
whom Morgan, an affiliate of the Advisor, in its capacity as a commercial bank,
has made a loan.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. Each of the Funds may enter into repurchase
agreements with brokers, dealers or banks that meet the credit guidelines
approved by the Funds' Trustees. In a repurchase agreement, a Fund buys a
security from a seller that has agreed to repurchase the same security at a
mutually agreed upon date and price. The resale price normally is in excess of
the purchase price, reflecting an agreed upon interest rate. This interest rate
is effective for the period of time the Fund is invested in the agreement and is
not related to the coupon rate on the underlying security. A
<PAGE>
repurchase agreement may also be viewed as a fully collateralized loan of money
by a Fund to the seller. The period of these repurchase agreements will usually
be short, from overnight to one week, and at no time will the Funds invest in
repurchase agreements for more than thirteen months. The securities which are
subject to repurchase agreements, however, may have maturity dates in excess of
thirteen months from the effective date of the repurchase agreement. The Funds
will always receive securities as collateral whose market value is, and during
the entire term of the agreement remains, at least equal to 100% of the dollar
amount invested by the Funds in each agreement plus accrued interest, and the
Funds will make payment for such securities only upon physical delivery or upon
evidence of book entry transfer to the account of the custodian. If the seller
defaults, a Fund might incur a loss if the value of the collateral securing the
repurchase agreement declines and might incur disposition costs in connection
with liquidating the collateral. In addition, if bankruptcy proceedings are
commenced with respect to the seller of the security, realization upon disposal
of the collateral by a Fund may be delayed or limited.
Each of the Funds may make investments in other debt securities with
remaining effective maturities of not more than thirteen months, including
without limitation corporate and foreign bonds, asset-backed securities and
other obligations described in this Statement of Additional Information.
QUALITY AND DIVERSIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Each of the Funds intends to meet the diversification requirements of
the 1940 Act. To meet these requirements, 75% of the assets of each Fund is
subject to the following fundamental limitations: (1) a Fund may not invest more
than 5% of its total assets in the securities of any one issuer, except
obligations of the U.S. Government, its agencies and instrumentalities, and (2)
a Fund may not own more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one
issuer. As for the other 25% of a Fund's assets not subject to the limitation
described above, there is no limitation on investment of these assets under the
1940 Act, so that all of such assets may be invested in securities of any one
issuer. Investments not subject to the limitations described above could involve
an increased risk to a Fund should an issuer, or a state or its related
entities, be unable to make interest or principal payments or should the market
value of such securities decline.
The Funds will also comply with the diversification requirements imposed by
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), for qualification as
a regulated investment company. See "Taxes."
The Funds may invest in convertible debt securities, for which there
are no specific quality requirements. In addition, at the time a Fund invests in
any commercial paper, bank obligation or repurchase agreement, the issuer must
have outstanding debt rated A or higher by Moody's or Standard & Poor's, the
issuer's parent corporation, if any, must have outstanding commercial paper
rated Prime-1 by Moody's or A-1 by Standard & Poor's, or if no such ratings are
available, the investment must be of comparable quality in the Advisor's
opinion. At the time a Fund invests in any other short-term debt securities,
they must be rated A or higher by Moody's or Standard & Poor's, or if unrated,
the investment must be of comparable quality in the Advisor's opinion.
In determining suitability of investment in a particular unrated
security, the Advisor takes into consideration asset and debt service coverage,
the purpose of the financing, history of the issuer, existence of other rated
securities of the issuer, and other relevant conditions, such as comparability
to other issuers.
<PAGE>
OPTIONS AND FUTURES TRANSACTIONS
Each of the Funds may (a) purchase and sell exchange traded and
over-the-counter (OTC) put and call options on equity securities or indexes of
equity securities, (b) purchase and sell futures contracts on indexes of equity
securities and (c) purchase and sell put and call options on futures contracts
on indexes of equity securities. Each of these instruments is a derivative
instrument as its value derives from the underlying asset or index.
Each Fund may utilize options and futures contracts to manage its
exposure to changing interest rates and/or security prices. Some options and
futures strategies, including selling futures contracts and buying puts, tend to
hedge a Fund's investments against price fluctuations. Other strategies,
including buying futures contracts, writing puts and calls, and buying calls,
tend to increase market exposure. Options and futures contracts may be combined
with each other or with forward contracts in order to adjust the risk and return
characteristics of a Fund's overall strategy in a manner deemed appropriate to
the Advisor and consistent with a Fund's objective and policies. Because
combined options positions involve multiple trades, they result in higher
transaction costs and may be more difficult to open and close out.
The use of options and futures is a highly specialized activity which
involves investment strategies and risks different from those associated with
ordinary portfolio securities transactions, and there can be no guarantee that
their use will increase a Fund's return. While the use of these instruments by a
Fund may reduce certain risks associated with owning its portfolio securities,
these techniques themselves entail certain other risks. If the Advisor applies a
strategy at an inappropriate time or judges market conditions or trends
incorrectly, options and futures strategies may lower a Fund's return. Certain
strategies limit a Fund's possibilities to realize gains as well as limiting its
exposure to losses. A Fund could also experience losses if the prices of its
options and futures positions were poorly correlated with its other investments,
or if it could not close out its positions because of an illiquid secondary
market. In addition, a Fund will incur transaction costs, including trading
commissions and option premiums, in connection with its futures and options
transactions and these transactions could significantly increase a Fund's
turnover rate.
Each Fund may purchase put and call options on securities, indexes of
securities and futures contracts, or purchase and sell futures contracts, only
if such options are written by other persons and if (i) the aggregate premiums
paid on all such options which are held at any time do not exceed 20% of a
Fund's net assets, and (ii) the aggregate margin deposits required on all such
futures or options thereon held at any time do not exceed 5% of a Fund's total
assets.
OPTIONS
PURCHASING PUT AND CALL OPTIONS. By purchasing a put option, a Fund
obtains the right (but not the obligation) to sell the instrument underlying the
option at a fixed strike price. In return for this right, a Fund pays the
current market price for the option (known as the option premium). Options have
various types of underlying instruments, including specific securities, indexes
of securities, indexes of securities prices, and futures contracts. A Fund may
terminate its position in a put option it has purchased by allowing it to expire
or by exercising the option. A Fund may also close out a put option position by
entering into an offsetting transaction, if a liquid market exists. If the
option is allowed to expire, a Fund will lose the entire
<PAGE>
premium it paid. If a Fund exercises a put option on a security, it will sell
the instrument underlying the option at the strike price. If a Fund exercises an
option on an index, settlement is in cash and does not involve the actual sale
of securities. If an option is American style, it may be exercised on any day up
to its expiration date. A European style option may be exercised only on its
expiration date.
The buyer of a typical put option can expect to realize a gain if the
price of the underlying instrument falls substantially. However, if the price of
the instrument underlying the option does not fall enough to offset the cost of
purchasing the option, a put buyer can expect to suffer a loss (limited to the
amount of the premium paid, plus related transaction costs).
The features of call options are essentially the same as those of put
options, except that the purchaser of a call option obtains the right to
purchase, rather than sell, the instrument underlying the option at the option's
strike price. A call buyer typically attempts to participate in potential price
increases of the instrument underlying the option with risk limited to the cost
of the option if security prices fall. At the same time, the buyer can expect to
suffer a loss if security prices do not rise sufficiently to offset the cost of
the option.
SELLING (WRITING) PUT AND CALL OPTIONS. When a Fund writes a put
option, it takes the opposite side of the transaction from the option's
purchaser. In return for receipt of the premium, a Fund assumes the obligation
to pay the strike price for the instrument underlying the option if the other
party to the option chooses to exercise it. A Fund may seek to terminate its
position in a put option it writes before exercise by purchasing an offsetting
option in the market at its current price. If the market is not liquid for a put
option a Fund has written, however, a Fund must continue to be prepared to pay
the strike price while the option is outstanding, regardless of price changes,
and must continue to post margin as discussed below.
If the price of the underlying instrument rises, a put writer would
generally expect to profit, although its gain would be limited to the amount of
the premium it received. If security prices remain the same over time, it is
likely that the writer will also profit, because it should be able to close out
the option at a lower price. If security prices fall, the put writer would
expect to suffer a loss. This loss should be less than the loss from purchasing
and holding the underlying instrument directly, however, because the premium
received for writing the option should offset a portion of the decline.
Writing a call option obligates a Fund to sell or deliver the option's
underlying instrument in return for the strike price upon exercise of the
option. The characteristics of writing call options are similar to those of
writing put options, except that writing calls generally is a profitable
strategy if prices remain the same or fall. Through receipt of the option
premium a call writer offsets part of the effect of a price decline. At the same
time, because a call writer must be prepared to deliver the underlying
instrument in return for the strike price, even if its current value is greater,
a call writer gives up some ability to participate in security price increases.
The writer of an exchange traded put or call option on a security, an
index of securities or a futures contract is required to deposit cash or
securities or a letter of credit as margin and to make mark to market payments
of variation margin as the position becomes unprofitable.
<PAGE>
OPTIONS ON INDEXES. Options on securities indexes are similar to
options on securities, except that the exercise of securities index options is
settled by cash payment and does not involve the actual purchase or sale of
securities. In addition, these options are designed to reflect price
fluctuations in a group of securities or segment of the securities market rather
than price fluctuations in a single security. A Fund, in purchasing or selling
index options, is subject to the risk that the value of its portfolio securities
may not change as much as an index because a Fund's investments generally will
not match the composition of an index.
For a number of reasons, a liquid market may not exist and thus a Fund
may not be able to close out an option position that it has previously entered
into. When a Fund purchases an OTC option, it will be relying on its
counterparty to perform its obligations, and a Fund may incur additional losses
if the counterparty is unable to perform.
EXCHANGE TRADED AND OTC OPTIONS. All options purchased or sold by the
Funds will be traded on a securities exchange or will be purchased or sold by
securities dealers (OTC options) that meet creditworthiness standards approved
by a Funds' Board of Trustees. While exchange-traded options are obligations of
the Options Clearing Corporation, in the case of OTC options, a Fund relies on
the dealer from which it purchased the option to perform if the option is
exercised. Thus, when a Fund purchases an OTC option, it relies on the dealer
from which it purchased the option to make or take delivery of the underlying
securities. Failure by the dealer to do so would result in the loss of the
premium paid by a Fund as well as loss of the expected benefit of the
transaction.
Provided that a Fund has arrangements with certain qualified dealers
who agree that the Fund may repurchase any option it writes for a maximum price
to be calculated by a predetermined formula, a Fund may treat the underlying
securities used to cover written OTC options as liquid. In these cases, the OTC
option itself would only be considered illiquid to the extent that the maximum
repurchase price under the formula exceeds the intrinsic value of the option.
FUTURES CONTRACTS AND OPTIONS ON FUTURES CONTRACTS. The Funds may
purchase or sell (write) futures contracts and purchase or sell put and call
options, including put and call options on futures contracts. Futures contracts
obligate the buyer to take and the seller to make delivery at a future date of a
specified quantity of a financial instrument or an amount of cash based on the
value of a securities index. Currently, futures contracts are available on
various types of fixed income securities, including but not limited to U.S.
Treasury bonds, notes and bills, Eurodollar certificates of deposit and on
indexes of fixed income securities and indexes of equity securities.
Unlike a futures contract, which requires the parties to buy and sell a
security or make a cash settlement payment based on changes in a financial
instrument or securities index on an agreed date, an option on a futures
contract entitles its holder to decide on or before a future date whether to
enter into such a contract. If the holder decides not to exercise its option,
the holder may close out the option position by entering into an offsetting
transaction or may decide to let the option expire and forfeit the premium
thereon. The purchaser of an option on a futures contract pays a premium for the
option but makes no initial margin payments or daily payments of cash in the
nature of "variation" margin payments to reflect the change in the value of the
underlying contract as does a purchaser or seller of a futures contract.
<PAGE>
The seller of an option on a futures contract receives the premium paid
by the purchaser and may be required to pay initial margin. Amounts equal to the
initial margin and any additional collateral required on any options on futures
contracts sold by a Fund are paid by a Fund into a segregated account, in the
name of the Futures Commission Merchant, as required by the 1940 Act and the
SEC's interpretations thereunder.
COMBINED POSITIONS. The Funds are permitted to purchase and write
options in combination with each other, or in combination with futures or
forward contracts, to adjust the risk and return characteristics of the overall
position. For example, a Fund may purchase a put option and write a call option
on the same underlying instrument, in order to construct a combined position
whose risk and return characteristics are similar to selling a futures contract.
Another possible combined position would involve writing a call option at one
strike price and buying a call option at a lower price, in order to reduce the
risk of the written call option in the event of a substantial price increase.
Because combined options positions involve multiple trades, they result in
higher transaction costs and may be more difficult to open and close out.
CORRELATION OF PRICE CHANGES. Because there are a limited number of
types of exchange-traded options and futures contracts, it is likely that the
standardized options and futures contracts available will not match a Fund's
current or anticipated investments exactly. A Fund may invest in options and
futures contracts based on securities with different issuers, maturities, or
other characteristics from the securities in which it typically invests, which
involves a risk that the options or futures position will not track the
performance of a Fund's other investments.
Options and futures contracts prices can also diverge from the prices
of their underlying instruments, even if the underlying instruments match a
Fund's investments well. Options and futures contracts prices are affected by
such factors as current and anticipated short term interest rates, changes in
volatility of the underlying instrument, and the time remaining until expiration
of the contract, which may not affect security prices the same way. Imperfect
correlation may also result from differing levels of demand in the options and
futures markets and the securities markets, from structural differences in how
options and futures and securities are traded, or from imposition of daily price
fluctuation limits or trading halts. A Fund may purchase or sell options and
futures contracts with a greater or lesser value than the securities it wishes
to hedge or intends to purchase in order to attempt to compensate for
differences in volatility between the contract and the securities, although this
may not be successful in all cases. If price changes in a Fund's options or
futures positions are poorly correlated with its other investments, the
positions may fail to produce anticipated gains or result in losses that are not
offset by gains in other investments.
LIQUIDITY OF OPTIONS AND FUTURES CONTRACTS. There is no assurance a
liquid market will exist for any particular option or futures contract at any
particular time even if the contract is traded on an exchange. In addition,
exchanges may establish daily price fluctuation limits for options and futures
contracts and may halt trading if a contract's price moves up or down more than
the limit in a given day. On volatile trading days when the price fluctuation
limit is reached or a trading halt is imposed, it may be impossible for a Fund
to enter into new positions or close out existing positions. If the market for a
contract is not liquid because of price fluctuation limits or otherwise, it
could prevent prompt liquidation of unfavorable positions, and could potentially
require a Fund to continue to hold a position until delivery or expiration
regardless of changes in its
<PAGE>
value. As a result, a Fund's access to other assets held to cover its options or
futures positions could also be impaired. (See "Exchange Traded and OTC Options"
above for a discussion of the liquidity of options not traded on an exchange.)
POSITION LIMITS. Futures exchanges can limit the number of futures and
options on futures contracts that can be held or controlled by an entity. If an
adequate exemption cannot be obtained, a Fund or the Advisor may be required to
reduce the size of its futures and options positions or may not be able to trade
a certain futures or options contract in order to avoid exceeding such limits.
ASSET COVERAGE FOR FUTURES CONTRACTS AND OPTIONS POSITIONS. The Funds
intend to comply with Section 4.5 of the regulations under the Commodity
Exchange Act, which limits the extent to which a Fund can commit assets to
initial margin deposits and option premiums. In addition, the Funds will comply
with guidelines established by the SEC with respect to coverage of options and
futures contracts by mutual funds, and if the guidelines so require, will set
aside appropriate liquid assets in a segregated custodial account in the amount
prescribed. Securities held in a segregated account cannot be sold while the
futures contract or option is outstanding, unless they are replaced with other
suitable assets. As a result, there is a possibility that segregation of a large
percentage of a Fund's assets could impede portfolio management or a Fund's
ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.
SWAPS AND RELATED SWAP PRODUCTS
Each of the Funds may engage in swap transactions, including, but not
limited to, interest rate, currency, securities index, basket, specific security
and commodity swaps, interest rate caps, floors and collars and options on
interest rate swaps (collectively defined as "swap transactions").
Each Fund may enter into swap transactions for any legal purpose
consistent with its investment objective and policies, such as for the purpose
of attempting to obtain or preserve a particular return or spread at a lower
cost than obtaining that return or spread through purchases and/or sales of
instruments in cash markets, to protect against currency fluctuations, as a
duration management technique, to protect against any increase in the price of
securities a Fund anticipates purchasing at a later date, or to gain exposure to
certain markets in the most economical way possible. A Fund will not sell
interest rate caps, floors or collars if it does not own securities with coupons
which provide the interest that a Fund may be required to pay.
Swap agreements are two-party contracts entered into primarily by
institutional counterparties for periods ranging from a few weeks to several
years. In a standard swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns
(or differentials in rates of return) that would be earned or realized on
specified notional investments or instruments. The gross returns to be exchanged
or "swapped" between the parties are calculated by reference to a "notional
amount," i.e., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount
invested at a particular interest rate, in a particular foreign currency or
commodity, or in a "basket" of securities representing a particular index. The
purchaser of an interest rate cap or floor, upon payment of a fee, has the right
to receive payments (and the seller of the cap is obligated to make payments) to
the extent a specified interest rate exceeds (in the case of a cap) or is less
than (in the case of a floor) a specified level over a specified period of time
or at specified dates. The purchaser of an interest rate collar, upon payment of
a fee, has the right to receive
<PAGE>
payments (and the seller of the collar is obligated to make payments) to the
extent that a specified interest rate falls outside an agreed upon range over a
specified period of time or at specified dates. The purchaser of an option on an
interest rate swap, upon payment of a fee (either at the time of purchase or in
the form of higher payments or lower receipts within an interest rate swap
transaction) has the right, but not the obligation, to initiate a new swap
transaction of a pre-specified notional amount with pre-specified terms with the
seller of the option as the counterparty.
The "notional amount" of a swap transaction is the agreed upon basis
for calculating the payments that the parties have agreed to exchange. For
example, one swap counterparty may agree to pay a floating rate of interest
(e.g., 3 month LIBOR) calculated based on a $10 million notional amount on a
quarterly basis in exchange for receipt of payments calculated based on the same
notional amount and a fixed rate of interest on a semi-annual basis. In the
event a Fund is obligated to make payments more frequently than it receives
payments from the other party, it will incur incremental credit exposure to that
swap counterparty. This risk may be mitigated somewhat by the use of swap
agreements which call for a net payment to be made by the party with the larger
payment obligation when the obligations of the parties fall due on the same
date. Under most swap agreements entered into by a Fund, payments by the parties
will be exchanged on a "net basis", and a Fund will receive or pay, as the case
may be, only the net amount of the two payments.
The amount of a Fund's potential gain or loss on any swap transaction
is not subject to any fixed limit. Nor is there any fixed limit on a Fund's
potential loss if it sells a cap or collar. If the Fund buys a cap, floor or
collar, however, the Fund's potential loss is limited to the amount of the fee
that it has paid. When measured against the initial amount of cash required to
initiate the transaction, which is typically zero in the case of most
conventional swap transactions, swaps, caps, floors and collars tend to be more
volatile than many other types of instruments.
The use of swap transactions, caps, floors and collars involves
investment techniques and risks which are different from those associated with
portfolio security transactions. If the Advisor is incorrect in its forecasts of
market values, interest rates, and other applicable factors, the investment
performance of a Fund will be less favorable than if these techniques had not
been used. These instruments are typically not traded on exchanges. Accordingly,
there is a risk that the other party to certain of these instruments will not
perform its obligations to a Fund or that a Fund may be unable to enter into
offsetting positions to terminate its exposure or liquidate its position under
certain of these instruments when it wishes to do so. Such occurrences could
result in losses to a Fund.
The Advisor will, however, consider such risks and will enter into
swap and other derivatives transactions only when it believes that the risks are
not unreasonable.
Each Fund will maintain cash or liquid assets in a segregated account
with its custodian in an amount sufficient at all times to cover its current
obligations under its swap transactions, caps, floors and collars. If a Fund
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 a Fund's accrued
obligations under the swap agreement over the accrued amount a Fund is entitled
to receive under the agreement. If a Fund enters into a swap agreement on other
than a net basis, or sells a cap, floor or collar, it will segregate assets with
a daily value at least equal to the full amount of a Fund's accrued obligations
under the agreement.
<PAGE>
Each Fund will not enter into any swap transaction, cap, floor, or
collar, unless the counterparty to the transaction is deemed creditworthy by the
Advisor. If a counterparty defaults, a Fund may have contractual remedies
pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction. The swap markets in which
many types of swap transactions are traded have grown substantially in recent
years, with a large number of banks and investment banking firms acting both as
principals and as agents utilizing standardized swap documentation. As a result,
the markets for certain types of swaps (e.g., interest rate swaps) have become
relatively liquid. The markets for some types of caps, floors and collars are
less liquid.
The liquidity of swap transactions, caps, floors and collars will be as
set forth in guidelines established by the Advisor and approved by the Trustees
which are based on various factors, including (1) the availability of dealer
quotations and the estimated transaction volume for the instrument, (2) the
number of dealers and end users for the instrument in the marketplace, (3) the
level of market making by dealers in the type of instrument, (4) the nature of
the instrument (including any right of a party to terminate it on demand) and
(5) the nature of the marketplace for trades (including the ability to assign or
offset a Fund's rights and obligations relating to the instrument). Such
determination will govern whether the instrument will be deemed within the 15%
restriction on investments in securities that are not readily marketable.
During the term of a swap, cap, floor or collar, changes in the value
of the instrument are recognized as unrealized gains or losses by marking to
market to reflect the market value of the instrument. When the instrument is
terminated, a Fund will record a realized gain or loss equal to the difference,
if any, between the proceeds from (or cost of) the closing transaction and a
Fund's basis in the contract.
The federal income tax treatment with respect to swap transactions,
caps, floors, and collars may impose limitations on the extent to which a Fund
may engage in such transactions.
RISK MANAGEMENT
The Funds may employ non-hedging risk management techniques. Risk
management strategies are used to keep the Funds fully invested and to reduce
the transaction costs associated with cash flows into and out of the Funds. The
objective where equity futures are used to "equitize" cash is to match the
notional value of all futures contracts to a Fund's cash balance. The notional
value of futures and of the cash is monitored daily. As the cash is invested in
securities and/or paid out to participants in redemptions, the Advisor
simultaneously adjusts the futures positions. Through such procedures, the Funds
not only gain equity exposure from the use of futures, but also benefit from
increased flexibility in responding to client cash flow needs. Additionally,
because it can be less expensive to trade a list of securities as a package or
program trade rather than as a group of individual orders, futures provide a
means through which transaction costs can be reduced. Such non-hedging risk
management techniques are not speculative, but because they involve leverage
include, as do all leveraged transactions, the possibility of losses as well as
gains that are greater than if these techniques involved the purchase and sale
of the securities themselves rather than their synthetic derivatives.
<PAGE>
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
The table below sets forth the portfolio turnover rates for the Funds.
A rate of 100% indicates that the equivalent of all of the Fund's assets have
been sold and reinvested in a year. High portfolio turnover may result in the
realization of substantial net capital gains or losses. To the extent net short
term capital gains are realized, any distributions resulting from such gains are
considered ordinary income for federal income tax purposes. See "Taxes" below.
THE DISCIPLINED EQUITY PORTFOLIO (Disciplined Equity Fund) -- For the period
December 30, 1996 (commencement of operations) through May 31, 1997: 20%. For
the fiscal year ended May 31, 1998: 61%.
THE U.S. EQUITY PORTFOLIO (U.S. Equity Fund) -- For the fiscal year ended
May 31, 1996: 85%. For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1997: 99%. For the fiscal
year ended May 31, 1998: 106%.
THE U.S. SMALL COMPANY PORTFOLIO (U.S. Small Company Fund) -- For the
fiscal year ended May 31, 1996: 93%. For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1997:
98%. For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1998: 96%.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
The investment restrictions of each Fund and its corresponding
Portfolio are identical, unless otherwise specified. Accordingly, references
below to a Fund also include the Fund's corresponding Portfolio unless the
context requires otherwise; similarly, references to a Portfolio also include
its corresponding Fund unless the context requires otherwise.
The investment restrictions below have been adopted by the Trust with
respect to each Fund and by each corresponding Portfolio. Except where otherwise
noted, these investment restrictions are "fundamental" policies which, under the
1940 Act, may not be changed without the vote of a majority of the outstanding
voting securities of the Fund or Portfolio, as the case may be. A "majority of
the outstanding voting securities" is defined in the 1940 Act as the lesser of
(a) 67% or more of the voting securities present at a meeting if the holders of
more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities are present or represented by
proxy, or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities. The percentage
limitations contained in the restrictions below apply at the time of the
purchase of securities. Whenever a Fund is requested to vote on a change in the
fundamental investment restrictions of its corresponding Portfolio, the Trust
will hold a meeting of Fund shareholders and will cast its votes as instructed
by the Fund's shareholders.
Unless Sections 8(b)(1) and 13(a) of the 1940 Act or any SEC or SEC
staff interpretations thereof are amended or modified, the Funds and their
corresponding Portfolios:
1. May not make any investments inconsistent with a Fund's classification as
a diversified investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940;
2. May not purchase any security which would cause a Fund to concentrate its
investments in the securities of issuers primarily engaged in any
particular industry except as permitted by the SEC;
3. May not issue senior securities, except as permitted under the Investment
Company Act of 1940 or any rule, order or interpretation thereunder;
<PAGE>
4. May not borrow money, except to the extent permitted by applicable law;
5. May not underwrite securities of other issuers, except to the extent that
a Fund, in disposing of portfolio securities, may be deemed an underwriter
within the meaning of the 1933 Act;
6. May not purchase or sell real estate, except that, to the extent permitted
by applicable law, a Fund may (a) invest in securities or other
instruments directly or indirectly secured by real estate, and (b) invest
in securities or other instruments issued by issuers that invest in real
estate;
7. May not purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts unless
acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments
issued by persons that purchase or sell commodities or commodities
contracts; but this shall not prevent a Fund from purchasing, selling and
entering into financial futures contracts (including futures contracts on
indices of securities, interest rates and currencies), options on
financial futures contracts (including futures contracts on indices of
securities, interest rates and currencies), warrants, swaps, forward
contracts, foreign currency spot and forward contracts or other derivative
instruments that are not related to physical commodities; and
8. May make loans to other persons, in accordance with their respective
investment objectives and policies and to the extent permitted by
applicable law.
NON-FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS The investment restrictions
described below are not fundamental policies of these Funds and their
corresponding Portfolios and may be changed by their respective Trustees.
These non-fundamental investment policies require that the Funds:
(i) May not acquire any illiquid securities, such as repurchase agreements with
more than seven days to maturity or fixed time deposits with a duration of over
seven calendar days, if as a result thereof, more than 15% of the market value
of a Fund's net assets would be in investments which are illiquid;
(ii) May not purchase securities on margin, make short sales of securities, or
maintain a short position, provided that this restriction shall not be deemed to
be applicable to the purchase or sale of when-issued or delayed delivery
securities, or to short sales that are covered in accordance with SEC rules; and
(iii) May not acquire securities of other investment companies, except as
permitted by the 1940 Act or any order pursuant thereto.
There will be no violation of any investment restriction if that
restriction is complied with at the time the relevant action is taken
notwithstanding a later change in market value of an investment, in net or total
assets, in the securities rating of the investment, or any other later change.
For purposes of fundamental investment restrictions regarding industry
concentration, the Advisor may classify issuers by industry in accordance with
classifications set forth in the DIRECTORY OF COMPANIES FILING ANNUAL REPORTS
WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION or other sources. In the absence of
such classification or if the Advisor determines in good faith based on its own
information that the economic characteristics affecting a particular
<PAGE>
issuer make it more appropriately considered to be engaged in a different
industry, the Advisor may classify an issuer accordingly. For instance, personal
credit finance companies and business credit finance companies are deemed to be
separate industries and wholly owned finance companies are considered to be in
the industry of their parents if their activities are primarily related to
financing the activities of their parents.
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
TRUSTEES
The Trustees of the Trust, who are also the Trustees of each of the
Portfolios and the other Master Portfolios, as defined below, their business
addresses, principal occupations during the past five years and dates of birth
are set forth below.
FREDERICK S. ADDY--Trustee; Retired; Prior to April 1994, Executive Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer, Amoco Corporation. His address is 5300
Arbutus Cove, Austin, Texas 78746, and his date of birth is January 1, 1932.
WILLIAM G. BURNS--Trustee; Retired, Former Vice Chairman and Chief
Financial Officer, NYNEX. His address is 2200 Alaqua Drive, Longwood, Florida
32779, and his date of birth is November 2, 1932.
ARTHUR C. ESCHENLAUER--Trustee; Retired; Former Senior Vice President,
Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York. His address is 14 Alta Vista Drive,
RD #2, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, and his date of birth is May 23, 1934.
MATTHEW HEALEY1--Trustee, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer; Chairman,
Pierpont Group, Inc., since prior to 1993. His address is Pine Tree Country Club
Estates, 10286 Saint Andrews Road, Boynton Beach, Florida 33436, and his date of
birth is August 23, 1937.
MICHAEL P. MALLARDI--Trustee; Retired; Prior to April 1996, Senior Vice
President, Capital Cities/ABC, Inc. and President, Broadcast Group. His address
is 10 Charnwood Drive, Suffern, New York 10910, and his date of birth is March
17, 1934.
The Trustees of the Trust are the same as the Trustees of each of the
Portfolios. A majority of the disinterested Trustees have adopted written
procedures reasonably appropriate to deal with potential conflicts of interest
arising from the fact that the same individuals are Trustees of the Trust, each
of the Portfolios and the J.P. Morgan Funds, up to and including creating a
separate board of trustees.
Each Trustee is currently paid an annual fee of $75,000 (adjusted as of
April 1, 1997) for serving as Trustee of the Trust, each of the Master
Portfolios (as defined below), J.P. Morgan Funds and J.P. Morgan Series Trust
and is reimbursed for expenses incurred in connection with service as a Trustee.
The Trustees may hold various other directorships unrelated to these funds.
- --------
1 Mr. Healey is an "interested person" of the Trust, the Advisor and each
Portfolio as that term is defined in the 1940 Act.
<PAGE>
Trustee compensation expenses paid by the Trust for the calendar year ended
December 31, 1997 are set forth below.
- -------------------------------- -------------------- --------------------------
TOTAL TRUSTEE COMPENSATION
ACCRUED BY THE MASTER
AGGREGATE TRUSTEE PORTFOLIOS(*), J.P. MORGAN
COMPENSATION FUNDS, J.P. MORGAN SERIES
PAID BY THE TRUST AND THE TRUST DURING
NAME OF TRUSTEE TRUST DURING 1997 1997 (**) __
- -------------------------------- -------------------- --------------------------
- -------------------------------- -------------------- --------------------------
Frederick S. Addy, Trustee $11,772.77 $72,500
- -------------------------------- -------------------- --------------------------
- -------------------------------- -------------------- --------------------------
William G. Burns, Trustee $11,786.38 $72,500
- -------------------------------- -------------------- --------------------------
- -------------------------------- -------------------- --------------------------
Arthur C. Eschenlauer, Trustee $11,786.38 $72,500
- -------------------------------- -------------------- --------------------------
- -------------------------------- -------------------- --------------------------
Matthew Healey, Trustee(***), $11,786.38 $72,500
Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer
- -------------------------------- -------------------- --------------------------
- -------------------------------- -------------------- --------------------------
Michael P. Mallardi, Trustee $11,786.38 $72,500
- -------------------------------- -------------------- --------------------------
(*) Includes the Portfolios and 18 other Portfolios (collectively the "Master
Portfolios") for which JPMIM acts as investment advisor.
(**) No investment company within the fund complex has a pension or retirement
plan. Currently there are 18 investment companies (15 investment companies
comprising the Master Portfolios, the Trust, J.P. Morgan Funds and J.P. Morgan
Series Trust) in the fund complex.
(***) During 1997, Pierpont Group, Inc. paid Mr. Healey, in his role as
Chairman of Pierpont Group, Inc., compensation in the amount of $147,500,
contributed $21,100 to a defined contribution plan on his behalf and paid
$20,500 in insurance premiums for his benefit.
The Trustees, decide upon general policies and are responsible for
overseeing the Trust's and Portfolio's business affairs. Each of the Portfolios
and the Trust has entered into a Fund Services Agreement with Pierpont Group,
Inc. to assist the Trustees in exercising their overall supervisory
responsibilities over the affairs of the Portfolios and the Trust. Pierpont
Group, Inc. was organized in July 1989 to provide services for The Pierpont
Family of Funds (now the J.P. Morgan Family of Funds), and the Trustees are the
equal and sole shareholders of Pierpont Group, Inc. The Trust and the Portfolios
have agreed to pay Pierpont Group, Inc. a fee in an amount representing its
reasonable costs in performing these services to the Trust, the Portfolios and
certain other registered investment companies subject to similar agreements with
Pierpont Group, Inc. These costs are periodically reviewed by the Trustees. The
principal offices of Pierpont Group Inc. are located at 461 Fifth Avenue, New
York, New York 10017.
The aggregate fees paid to Pierpont Group, Inc. by each Fund and its
corresponding Portfolio during the indicated fiscal years are set forth below:
DISCIPLINED EQUITY FUND -- For the period January 3, 1997 (commencement of
operations) through May 31, 1997: $320. For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1998:
$5,296.
THE DISCIPLINED EQUITY PORTFOLIO -- For the period December 30, 1996
(commencement of operations) through May 31, 1997: $607. For the fiscal year
ended May 31, 1998: $5,818.
<PAGE>
U.S. EQUITY FUND -- For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1996: $13,993. For
the fiscal year ended May 31, 1997: $9,112. For the fiscal year ended May 31,
1998: $12,419.
THE U.S. EQUITY PORTFOLIO -- For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1996:
$46,626. For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1997: $26,486. For the fiscal year
ended May 31, 1998: $30,613.
U.S. SMALL COMPANY FUND -- For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1996: $14,539.
For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1997: $11,350. For the fiscal year ended May
31, 1998: $15,145.
THE U.S. SMALL COMPANY PORTFOLIO -- For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1996:
$48,688. For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1997: $31,320. For the fiscal year
ended May 31, 1998: $36,011.
OFFICERS
The Trust's and Portfolios' executive officers (listed below), other
than the Chief Executive Officer and the officers who are employees of the
Advisor, are provided and compensated by Funds Distributor, Inc. ("FDI"), a
wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Boston Institutional Group, Inc. The
officers conduct and supervise the business operations of the Trust and the
Portfolios. The Trust and the Portfolios have no employees.
The officers of the Trust and the Portfolios, their principal
occupations during the past five years and dates of birth are set forth below.
Unless otherwise specified, each officer holds the same position with the Trust,
each Portfolio and the other Master Portfolios. The business address of each of
the officers unless otherwise noted is Funds Distributor, Inc., 60 State Street,
Suite 1300, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.
MATTHEW HEALEY; Chief Executive Officer; Chairman, Pierpont Group, since
prior to 1993. His address is Pine Tree Country Club Estates, 10286 Saint
Andrews Road, Boynton Beach, Florida 33436. His date of birth is August 23,
1937.
MARGARET W. CHAMBERS; Vice President and Secretary. Senior Vice President
and General Counsel of FDI since April, 1998. From August 1996 to March 1998,
Ms. Chambers was Vice President and Assistant General Counsel for Loomis, Sayles
& Company, L.P. From January 1986 to July 1996, she was an associate with the
law firm of Ropes & Gray. Her date of birth is October 12, 1959.
MARIE E. CONNOLLY; Vice President and Assistant Treasurer. President,
Chief Executive Officer, Chief Compliance Officer and Director of FDI, Premier
Mutual Fund Services, Inc., an affiliate of FDI ("Premier Mutual") and an
officer of certain investment companies distributed or administered by FDI.
Prior to July 1994, she was President and Chief Compliance Officer of FDI. Her
date of birth is August 1, 1957.
DOUGLAS C. CONROY; Vice President and Assistant Treasurer. Assistant Vice
President and Assistant Department Manager of Treasury Services and
Administration of FDI and an officer of certain investment companies distributed
or administered by FDI. Prior to April 1997, Mr. Conroy was Supervisor of
Treasury Services and Administration of FDI. From April 1993 to January 1995,
Mr. Conroy was a Senior Fund Accountant for Investors Bank & Trust Company. His
date of birth is March 31, 1969.
<PAGE>
JACQUELINE HENNING; Assistant Secretary and Assistant Treasurer of the
Portfolios only. Managing Director, State Street Cayman Trust Company, Ltd.
since October 1994. Prior to October 1994, Mrs. Henning was head of mutual funds
at Morgan Grenfell in Cayman and was Managing Director of Bank of Nova Scotia
Trust Company (Cayman) Limited prior to September 1993. Address: P.O. Box 2508
GT, Elizabethan Square, 2nd Floor, Shedden Road, George Town, Grand Cayman,
Cayman Islands, BWI. Her date of birth is March 24, 1942.
KAREN JACOPPO-WOOD; Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Vice President
and Senior Counsel of FDI and an officer of certain investment companies
distributed or administered by FDI. From June 1994 to January 1996, Ms.
Jacoppo-Wood was a Manager of SEC Registration at Scudder, Stevens & Clark, Inc.
Prior to May 1994, Ms. Jacoppo-Wood was a senior paralegal at The Boston Company
Advisors, Inc. ("TBCA"). Her date of birth is December 29, 1966.
CHRISTOPHER J. KELLEY; Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Vice
President and Senior Associate General Counsel of FDI and Premier Mutual and an
officer of certain investment companies distributed or administered by FDI. From
April 1994 to July 1996, Mr. Kelley was Assistant Counsel at Forum Financial
Group. Prior to April 1994, Mr. Kelley was employed by Putnam Investments in
legal and compliance capacities. His date of birth is December 24, 1964.
KATHLEEN K. MORRISEY; Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Vice
President and Assistant Secretary of FDI. Manager of Treasury Services
Administration and an officer of certain investment companies advised or
administered by Montgomery Asset Management, L.P. and Dresdner RCM Global
Investors, Inc., and their respective affiliates. From July 1994 to November
1995, Ms. Morrisey was a Fund Accountant II for Investors Bank & Trust Company.
Prior to July 1994 she was a finance student at Stonehill College. Her date of
birth is July 5, 1972.
MARY A. NELSON; Vice President and Assistant Treasurer. Vice President and
Manager of Treasury Services and Administration of FDI and Premier Mutual and an
officer of certain investment companies distributed or administered by FDI.
Prior to August 1994, Ms. Nelson was an Assistant Vice President and Client
Manager for The Boston Company, Inc. Her date of birth is April 22, 1964.
MARY JO PACE; Assistant Treasurer. Vice President, Morgan Guaranty Trust
Company of New York. Ms. Pace serves in the Funds Administration group as a
Manager for the Budgeting and Expense Processing Group. Prior to September 1995,
Ms. Pace served as a Fund Administrator for Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New
York. Her address is 60 Wall Street, New York, New York 10260. Her date of birth
is March 13, 1966.
MICHAEL S. PETRUCELLI; Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Senior Vice
President and Director of Strategic Client Initiatives for FDI since December
1996. From December 1989 through November 1996, Mr. Petrucelli was employed with
GE Investments where he held various financial, business development and
compliance positions. He also served as Treasurer of the GE Funds and as
Director of GE Investment Services. Address: 200 Park Avenue, New York, New
York, 10166. His date of birth is May 18, 1961.
STEPHANIE D. PIERCE; Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Vice President
and Client Development Manager for FDI since April 1998. From April 1997 to
March 1998, Ms. Pierce was employed by Citibank, NA as an officer of Citibank
and Relationship Manager on the Business and Professional Banking
<PAGE>
team handling over 22,000 clients. Address: 200 Park Avenue, New York, New
York 10166. Her date of birth is August 18, 1968.
GEORGE A. RIO; President and Treasurer. Executive Vice President and Client
Service Director of FDI since April 1998. From June 1995 to March 1998, Mr. Rio
was Senior Vice President and Senior Key Account Manager for Putnam Mutual
Funds. From May 1994 to June 1995, Mr. Rio was Director of Business Development
for First Data Corporation. From September 1983 to May 1994, Mr. Rio was Senior
Vice President & Manager of Client Services and Director of Internal Audit at
The Boston Company. His date of birth is January 2, 1955.
CHRISTINE ROTUNDO; Assistant Treasurer. Vice President, Morgan Guaranty
Trust Company of New York. Ms. Rotundo serves in the Funds Administration group
as a Manager of the Tax Group and is responsible for U.S. mutual fund tax
matters. Prior to September 1995, Ms. Rotundo served as a Senior Tax Manager in
the Investment Company Services Group of Deloitte & Touche LLP. Her address is
60 Wall Street, New York, New York 10260. Her date of birth is September 26,
1965.
JOSEPH F. TOWER III; Vice President and Assistant Treasurer. Senior Vice
President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, Chief Administrative Officer
and Director of FDI. Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial
Officer, Chief Administrative Officer and Director of Premier Mutual and an
officer of certain investment companies distributed or administered by FDI.
Prior to November 1993, Mr. Tower was Financial Manager of The Boston Company,
Inc. His date of birth is June 13, 1962.
INVESTMENT ADVISOR
The Funds have not retained the services of an investment adviser
because each Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing all of
its investable assets in a corresponding Portfolio. Subject to the supervision
of each Portfolio's Trustees, the Advisor makes each Portfolio's day-to-day
investment decisions, arranges for the execution of portfolio transactions and
generally manages each Portfolio's investments. Effective October 1, 1998 each
Portfolio's Investment Advisor is JPMIM. Prior to that date, Morgan was the
Investment Advisor.
JPMIM, a wholly owned subsidiary of J.P. Morgan & Co. Incorporated
("J.P. Morgan"), is a registered investment adviser under the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and manages employee benefit funds of
corporations, labor unions and state and local governments and the accounts of
other institutional investors, including investment companies. Certain of the
assets of employee benefit accounts under its management are invested in
commingled pension trust funds for which Morgan serves as trustee.
J.P. Morgan, through the Advisor and other subsidiaries, acts as
investment advisor to individuals, governments, corporations, employee benefit
plans, mutual funds and other institutional investors with combined assets under
management of more than $275 billion.
J.P. Morgan has a long history of service as adviser, underwriter and
lender to an extensive roster of major companies and as a financial advisor to
national governments. The firm, through its predecessor firms, has been in
business for over a century and has been managing investments since 1913.
The basis of the Advisor's investment process is fundamental investment
research as the firm believes that fundamentals should determine an asset's
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value over the long term. J.P. Morgan currently employs over 100 full time
research analysts, among the largest research staffs in the money management
industry, in its investment management divisions located in New York, London,
Tokyo, Frankfurt and Singapore to cover companies, industries and countries on
site. In addition, the investment management divisions employ approximately 300
capital market researchers, portfolio managers and traders. The conclusions of
the equity analysts' fundamental research is quantified into a set of projected
returns for individual companies through the use of a dividend discount model.
These returns are projected for 2 to 5 years to enable analysts to take a longer
term view. These returns, or normalized earnings, are used to establish relative
values among stocks in each industrial sector. These values may not be the same
as the markets' current valuations of these companies. This provides the basis
for ranking the attractiveness of the companies in an industry according to five
distinct quintiles or rankings. This ranking is one of the factors considered in
determining the stocks purchased and sold in each sector.
The investment advisory services the Advisor provides to the Portfolios
are not exclusive under the terms of the Advisory Agreements. The Advisor is
free to and does render similar investment advisory services to others. The
Advisor serves as investment advisor to personal investors and other investment
companies and acts as fiduciary for trusts, estates and employee benefit plans.
Certain of the assets of trusts and estates under management are invested in
common trust funds for which the Advisor serves as trustee. The accounts which
are managed or advised by the Advisor have varying investment objectives and the
Advisor invests assets of such accounts in investments substantially similar to,
or the same as, those which are expected to constitute the principal investments
of the Portfolios. Such accounts are supervised by officers and employees of the
Advisor who may also be acting in similar capacities for the Portfolios. See
"Portfolio Transactions."
Sector weightings are generally similar to a benchmark with the
emphasis on security selection as the method to achieve investment performance
superior to the benchmark. The benchmarks for the Portfolios in which the Funds
invest are currently: The U.S. Equity Portfolio and The Disciplined Equity
Portfolio--S&P 500 Index; and The U.S. Small Company Portfolio--Russell 2000
Index.
Morgan, also a wholly owned subsidiary of J.P. Morgan, is a bank
holding company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware. Morgan, whose
principal offices are at 60 Wall Street, New York, New York 10260, is a New York
trust company which conducts a general banking and trust business. Morgan is
subject to regulation by the New York State Banking Department and is a member
bank of the Federal Reserve System. Through offices in New York City and abroad,
Morgan offers a wide range of services, primarily to governmental,
institutional, corporate and high net worth individual customers in the United
States and throughout the world.
The Portfolios are managed by officers of the Advisor who, in acting
for their customers, including the Portfolios, do not discuss their investment
decisions with any personnel of J.P. Morgan or any personnel of other divisions
of the Advisor or with any of its affiliated persons, with the exception of
certain investment management affiliates of J.P. Morgan.
As compensation for the services rendered and related expenses such as
salaries of advisory personnel borne by the Advisor under the Advisory
Agreements, the Portfolio corresponding to each Fund has agreed to pay the
Advisor a fee, which is computed daily and may be paid monthly, equal to the
annual rates of each Portfolio's average daily net assets shown below.
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DISCIPLINED EQUITY: 0.35%
U.S. EQUITY: 0.40%
U.S. SMALL COMPANY: 0.60%
The table below sets forth for each Fund listed the advisory fees paid
by its corresponding Portfolio to Morgan for the fiscal periods indicated. See
also the Fund's financial statements which are incorporated herein by reference.
THE DISCIPLINED EQUITY PORTFOLIO (Disciplined Equity Fund) -- For the period
December 30, 1996 (commencement of operations) through May 31, 1997: $73,985.
For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1998: $628,965.
THE U.S. EQUITY PORTFOLIO (U.S. Equity Fund) -- For the fiscal year ended
May 31, 1996: $2,744,054. For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1997: $3,049,388.
For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1998: $3,534,791.
THE U.S. SMALL COMPANY PORTFOLIO (U.S. Small Company Fund) -- For the
fiscal year ended May 31, 1996: $4,286,311. For the fiscal year ended May 31,
1997: $5,424,514. For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1998: $6,161,868.
The Investment Advisory Agreements provide that they will continue in
effect for a period of two years after execution only if specifically approved
thereafter annually in the same manner as the Distribution Agreement. See
"Distributor" below. Each of the Investment Advisory Agreements will terminate
automatically if assigned and is terminable at any time without penalty by a
vote of a majority of the Portfolio's Trustees, or by a vote of the holders of a
majority of the Portfolio's outstanding voting securities, on 60 days' written
notice to the Advisor and by the Advisor on 90 days' written notice to the
Portfolio. See "Additional Information."
The Glass-Steagall Act and other applicable laws generally prohibit
banks and their subsidiaries, such as the Advisor, from engaging in the business
of underwriting or distributing securities, and the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System has issued an interpretation to the effect that under
these laws a bank holding company registered under the federal Bank Holding
Company Act or certain subsidiaries thereof may not sponsor, organize, or
control a registered open-end investment company continuously engaged in the
issuance of its shares, such as the Trust. The interpretation does not prohibit
a holding company or a subsidiary thereof from acting as investment advisor and
custodian to such an investment company. The Advisor believes that it may
perform the services for the Portfolios contemplated by the Advisory Agreements
without violation of the Glass-Steagall Act or other applicable banking laws or
regulations. State laws on this issue may differ from the interpretation of
relevant federal law, and banks and financial institutions may be required to
register as dealers pursuant to state securities laws. However, it is possible
that future changes in either federal or state statutes and regulations
concerning the permissible activities of banks or trust companies, as well as
further judicial or administrative decisions and interpretations of present and
future statutes and regulations, might prevent the Advisor from continuing to
perform such services for the Portfolios.
If the Advisor were prohibited from acting as investment advisor to any
Portfolio, it is expected that the Trustees of the Portfolios would recommend to
investors that they approve the Portfolios' entering into a new investment
<PAGE>
advisory agreement with another qualified investment advisor selected by
the Trustees.
Under separate agreements, Morgan provides certain financial, fund
accounting and administrative services to the Trust and the Portfolios and
shareholder services for the Trust. See "Services Agent" and "Shareholder
Servicing" below.
DISTRIBUTOR
FDI serves as the Trust's exclusive Distributor and holds itself
available to receive purchase orders for each of the Fund's shares. In that
capacity, FDI has been granted the right, as agent of the Trust, to solicit and
accept orders for the purchase of each of the Fund's shares in accordance with
the terms of the Distribution Agreement between the Trust and FDI. Under the
terms of the Distribution Agreement between FDI and the Trust, FDI receives no
compensation in its capacity as the Trust's distributor. FDI is a wholly owned
indirect subsidiary of Boston Institutional Group, Inc. FDI also serves as
exclusive placement agent for each Portfolio. FDI currently provides
administration and distribution services for a number of other investment
companies.
The Distribution Agreement shall continue in effect with respect to
each of the Funds for a period of two years after execution only if it is
approved at least annually thereafter (i) by a vote of the holders of a majority
of each Fund's outstanding shares or by its Trustees and (ii) by a vote of a
majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not "interested persons" (as
defined by the 1940 Act) of the parties to the Distribution Agreement, cast in
person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval (see
"Trustees and Officers"). The Distribution Agreement will terminate
automatically if assigned by either party thereto and is terminable at any time
without penalty by a vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust, a vote of
a majority of the Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Trust, or by
a vote of the holders of a majority of the Fund's outstanding shares as defined
under "Additional Information," in any case without payment of any penalty on 60
days' written notice to the other party. The principal offices of FDI are
located at 60 State Street, Suite 1300, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.
CO-ADMINISTRATOR
Under Co-Administration Agreements with the Trust and the Portfolios
dated August 1, 1996, FDI also serves as the Trust's and the Portfolios'
Co-Administrator. The Co-Administration Agreements may be renewed or amended by
the respective Trustees without a shareholder vote. The Co-Administration
Agreements are terminable at any time without penalty by a vote of a majority of
the Trustees of the Trust or the Portfolios, as applicable, on not more than 60
days' written notice nor less than 30 days' written notice to the other party.
The Co-Administrator may subcontract for the performance of its obligations,
provided, however, that unless the Trust or the Portfolios, as applicable,
expressly agrees in writing, the Co-Administrator shall be fully responsible for
the acts and omissions of any subcontractor as it would for its own acts or
omissions. See "Services Agent" below.
FDI (i) provides office space, equipment and clerical personnel for
maintaining the organization and books and records of the Trust and the
Portfolio; (ii) provides officers for the Trust and the Portfolio; (iii)
prepares and files documents required for notification of state securities
administrators; (iv) reviews and files marketing and sales literature; (v)
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files Portfolio regulatory documents and mails Portfolio communications to
Trustees and investors; and (vi) maintains related books and records.
For its services under the Co-Administration Agreements, each Fund and
Portfolio has agreed to pay FDI fees equal to its allocable share of an annual
complex-wide charge of $425,000 plus FDI's out-of-pocket expenses. The amount
allocable to each Fund or Portfolio is based on the ratio of its net assets to
the aggregate net assets of the Trust, the Master Portfolios and other
investment companies subject to similar agreements with FDI.
The table below sets forth for each Fund listed and its corresponding
Portfolio the administrative fees paid to FDI for the fiscal periods indicated.
DISCIPLINED EQUITY FUND -- For the period January 3, 1997 (commencement of
operations) through May 31, 1997: $392. For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1998:
$4,082.
THE DISCIPLINED EQUITY PORTFOLIO -- For the period December 30, 1996
(commencement of operations) through May 31, 1997: $520. For the fiscal year
ended May 31, 1998: $3,742.
U.S. EQUITY FUND -- For the period August 1, 1996 through May 31, 1997:
$7,865. For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1998: $9,349.
THE U.S. EQUITY PORTFOLIO -- For the period August 1, 1996 through May 31,
1997: $16,536. For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1998: $18,971.
U.S. SMALL COMPANY FUND -- For the period August 1, 1996 through May 31,
1997: $9,753. For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1998: $11,396.
THE U.S. SMALL COMPANY PORTFOLIO -- For the period August 1, 1996 through
May 31, 1997: $19,652. For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1998: $22,248.
The table below sets forth for each Fund listed and its corresponding
Portfolio the administrative fees paid to Signature Broker-Dealer Services, Inc.
(which provided distribution and administrative services to the Trust and
placement agent and administrative services to the Portfolios prior to August 1,
1996) for the fiscal periods indicated.
U.S. EQUITY FUND -- For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1996: $41,556. For
the period June 1, 1996 through July 31, 1996: $4,553.
THE U.S. EQUITY PORTFOLIO -- For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1996:
$62,404. For the period June 1, 1996 through July 31, 1996: $14,675.
U.S. SMALL COMPANY FUND -- For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1996: $42,829.
For the period June 1, 1996 through July 31, 1996: $5,925.
THE U.S. SMALL COMPANY PORTFOLIO -- For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1996:
$65,079. For the period June 1, 1996 through July 31, 1996: $17,162.
SERVICES AGENT
The Trust, on behalf of each Fund, and the Portfolios have entered into
Administrative Services Agreements (the "Services Agreements") with Morgan
effective December 29, 1995, as amended August 1, 1996, pursuant to which Morgan
is responsible for certain administrative and related services provided to each
Fund and its corresponding Portfolio. The Services Agreements may be
<PAGE>
terminated at any time, without penalty, by the Trustees or Morgan, in each case
on not more than 60 days' nor less than 30 days' written notice to the other
party.
Under the Services Agreements, Morgan provides certain administrative
and related services to the Funds and the Portfolios, including services related
to tax compliance, preparation of financial statements, calculation of
performance data, oversight of service providers and certain regulatory and
Board of Trustee matters.
Under the amended Services Agreements, the Funds and the Portfolios
have agreed to pay Morgan fees equal to its allocable share of an annual
complex-wide charge. This charge is calculated daily based on the aggregate net
assets of the Master Portfolios and J.P. Morgan Series Trust in accordance with
the following annual schedule: 0.09% of the first $7 billion of their aggregate
average daily net assets and 0.04% of their aggregate average daily net assets
in excess of $7 billion, less the complex-wide fees payable to FDI. The portion
of this charge payable by each Fund and Portfolio is determined by the
proportionate share that its net assets bear to the total net assets of the
Trust, the Master Portfolios, the other investors in the Master Portfolios for
which Morgan provides similar services and J.P. Morgan Series Trust.
Under Administrative Services Agreements in effect from December 29,
1995 through July 31, 1996, with Morgan, each Fund and its corresponding
Portfolio paid Morgan a fee equal to its proportionate share of an annual
complex-wide charge. This charge was calculated daily based on the aggregate net
assets of the Master Portfolios in accordance with the following schedule: 0.06%
of the first $7 billion of the Master Portfolios' aggregate average daily net
assets, and 0.03% of the Master Portfolios' aggregate average daily net assets
in excess of $7 billion.
Prior to December 29, 1995, the Trust and each Portfolio had entered
into Financial and Fund Accounting Services Agreements with Morgan, the
provisions of which included certain of the activities described above and,
prior to September 1, 1995, also included reimbursement of usual and customary
expenses. The table below sets forth for each Fund listed and its corresponding
Portfolio the fees paid to Morgan, net of fee waivers and reimbursements, as
Services Agent.
DISCIPLINED EQUITY FUND -- For the period January 3, 1997 (commencement of
operations) through May 31, 1997: $3,801. For the fiscal year ended May 31,
1998: $49,243.
THE DISCIPLINED EQUITY PORTFOLIO -- For the period December 30, 1996
(commencement of operations) through May 31, 1997: $6,614. For the fiscal year
ended May 31, 1998: $53,654.
U.S. EQUITY FUND -- For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1996: $15,882. For
the fiscal year ended May 31, 1997: $80,756. For the fiscal year ended May 31,
1998: $108,362.
THE U.S. EQUITY PORTFOLIO -- For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1996:
$138,134. For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1997: $232,617. For the fiscal year
ended May 31, 1998: $265,956.
U.S. SMALL COMPANY FUND -- For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1996: $21,392.
For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1997: $100,607. For the fiscal year ended May
31, 1998: $131,588.
<PAGE>
THE U.S. SMALL COMPANY PORTFOLIO -- For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1996:
$144,277. For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1997: $275,962. For the fiscal year
ended May 31, 1998: $309,695.
CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT
State Street Bank and Trust Company ("State Street"), 225 Franklin
Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, serves as the Trust's and each of the
Portfolio's custodian and fund accounting agent and each Fund's transfer and
dividend disbursing agent. Pursuant to the Custodian Contracts, State Street is
responsible for maintaining the books of account and records of portfolio
transactions and holding portfolio securities and cash. In the case of foreign
assets held outside the United States, the Custodian employs various
subcustodians who were approved by the Trustees of the Portfolios in accordance
with the regulations of the SEC. The custodian maintains portfolio transaction
records. As transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent, State Street is
responsible for maintaining account records detailing the ownership of Fund
shares and for crediting income, capital gains and other changes in share
ownership to shareholder accounts.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICING
The Trust on behalf of each of the Funds has entered into a Shareholder
Servicing Agreement with Morgan pursuant to which Morgan acts as shareholder
servicing agent for its customers and for other Fund investors who are customers
of a financial professional. Under this agreement, Morgan is responsible for
performing shareholder account, administrative and servicing functions, which
include but are not limited to, answering inquiries regarding account status and
history, the manner in which purchases and redemptions of Fund shares may be
effected, and certain other matters pertaining to a Fund; assisting customers in
designating and changing dividend options, account designations and addresses;
providing necessary personnel and facilities to coordinate the establishment and
maintenance of shareholder accounts and records with the Funds' transfer agent;
transmitting purchase and redemption orders to the Funds' transfer agent and
arranging for the wiring or other transfer of funds to and from customer
accounts in connection with orders to purchase or redeem Fund shares; verifying
purchase and redemption orders, transfers among and changes in accounts;
informing the Distributor of the gross amount of purchase orders for Fund
shares; and providing other related services.
Under the Shareholder Servicing Agreement, each Fund has agreed to pay
Morgan for these services at an annual rate of 0.10% (expressed as a percentage
of the average daily net assets of Fund shares owned by or for shareholders for
whom Morgan is acting as Shareholder Servicing Agent). Morgan acts as
Shareholder Servicing Agent for all shareholders.
The table below sets forth for each Fund listed the shareholder
servicing fees paid by each Fund to Morgan, net of fee waivers and
reimbursements, for the fiscal periods indicated.
DISCIPLINED EQUITY FUND -- For the period January 3, 1997 (commencement of
operations) through May 31, 1997: $12,168. For the fiscal year ended May 31,
1998: $165,144.
U.S. EQUITY FUND -- For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1996: $151,111. For
the fiscal year ended May 31, 1997: $264,300. For the fiscal year ended May 31,
1998: $360,672.
<PAGE>
U.S. SMALL COMPANY FUND -- For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1996:
$162,465. For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1997: $329,689. For the fiscal year
ended May 31, 1998: $437,716.
As discussed under "Investment Advisor," the Glass-Steagall Act and
other applicable laws and regulations limit the activities of bank holding
companies and certain of their subsidiaries in connection with registered
open-end investment companies. The activities of Morgan in acting as shareholder
servicing agent for Fund shareholders under the Shareholder Servicing Agreement
and providing administrative services to the Funds and the Portfolios under the
Services Agreements, and JPMIM in acting as Advisor to the Portfolios under the
Investment Advisory Agreements, may raise issues under these laws. However,
Morgan and JPMIM believe that they may properly perform these services and the
other activities described herein without violation of the Glass-Steagall Act or
other applicable banking laws or regulations.
If Morgan were prohibited from providing any of the services under the
Shareholder Servicing Agreement and the Services Agreements, the Trustees would
seek an alternative provider of such services. In such event, changes in the
operation of the Funds or the Portfolios might occur and a shareholder might no
longer be able to avail himself or herself of any services then being provided
to shareholders by Morgan.
The Fund may be sold to or through financial intermediaries who are
customers of J.P. Morgan ("financial professionals"), including financial
institutions and broker-dealers, that may be paid fees by J.P. Morgan or its
affiliates for services provided to their clients that invest in a Fund. See
"Financial Professionals" below. Organizations that provide recordkeeping or
other services to certain employee benefit or retirement plans that include a
Fund as an investment alternative may also be paid a fee.
FINANCIAL PROFESSIONALS
The services provided by financial professionals may include
establishing and maintaining shareholder accounts, processing purchase and
redemption transactions, arranging for bank wires, performing shareholder
subaccounting, answering client inquiries regarding the Trust, assisting clients
in changing dividend options, account designations and addresses, providing
periodic statements showing the client's account balance and integrating these
statements with those of other transactions and balances in the client's other
accounts serviced by the financial professional, transmitting proxy statements,
periodic reports, updated prospectuses and other communications to shareholders
and, with respect to meetings of shareholders, collecting, tabulating and
forwarding executed proxies and obtaining such other information and performing
such other services as J.P. Morgan or the financial professional's clients may
reasonably request and agree upon with the financial professional.
Although there is no sales charge levied directly by a Fund, financial
professionals may establish their own terms and conditions for providing their
services and may charge investors a transaction-based or other fee for their
services. Such charges may vary among financial professionals but in all cases
will be retained by the financial professional and not be remitted to a Fund or
J.P. Morgan.
Each Fund has authorized one or more brokers to accept purchase and
redemption orders on its behalf. Such brokers are authorized to designate other
intermediaries to accept purchase and redemption orders on a Fund's
<PAGE>
behalf. A Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order
when an authorized broker or, if applicable, a broker's authorized designee,
accepts the order. These orders will be priced at the Fund's net asset value
next calculated after they are so accepted.
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
The independent accountants of the Trust and the Portfolios are
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, 1177 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York
10036. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP conducts an annual audit of the financial
statements of each of the Funds and the Portfolios, assists in the preparation
and/or review of each of the Fund's and the Portfolio's federal and state income
tax returns and consults with the Funds and the Portfolios as to matters of
accounting and federal and state income taxation.
EXPENSES
In addition to the fees payable to Pierpont Group, Inc., JPMIM, Morgan
and FDI under various agreements discussed under "Trustees and Officers,"
"Investment Advisor," "Co-Administrator", "Distributor," "Services Agent" and
"Shareholder Servicing" above, the Funds and the Portfolios are responsible for
usual and customary expenses associated with their respective operations. Such
expenses include organization expenses, legal fees, accounting and audit
expenses, insurance costs, the compensation and expenses of the Trustees,
registration fees under federal securities laws and extraordinary expenses
applicable to the Funds or the Portfolios. For the Funds, such expenses also
include transfer, registrar and dividend disbursing costs, the expenses of
printing and mailing reports, notices and proxy statements to Fund shareholders
and filing fees under state securities laws. For the Portfolios, such expenses
also include applicable registration fees under foreign securities laws,
custodian fees and brokerage expenses. Under fee arrangements prior to September
1, 1995, Morgan as Services Agent was responsible for reimbursements to the
Trust and certain Portfolios and the usual and customary expenses described
above (excluding organization and extraordinary expenses, custodian fees and
brokerage expenses).
PURCHASE OF SHARES
METHOD OF PURCHASE. Investors may open accounts with a Fund only
through the Distributor. All purchase transactions in Fund accounts are
processed by Morgan as shareholder servicing agent and the Fund is authorized to
accept any instructions relating to a Fund account from Morgan as shareholder
servicing agent for the customer. All purchase orders must be accepted by the
Distributor. Prospective investors who are not already customers of Morgan may
apply to become customers of Morgan for the sole purpose of Fund transactions.
There are no charges associated with becoming a Morgan customer for this
purpose. Morgan reserves the right to determine the customers that it will
accept, and the Trust reserves the right to determine the purchase orders that
it will accept.
References in the Prospectus and this Statement of Additional
Information to customers of Morgan or a financial professional include customers
of their affiliates and references to transactions by customers with Morgan or a
financial professional include transactions with their affiliates. Only Fund
investors who are using the services of a financial institution acting as
shareholder servicing agent pursuant to an agreement with the Trust on behalf of
a Fund may make transactions in shares of a Fund.
<PAGE>
Each Fund may, at its own option, accept securities in payment for
shares. The securities delivered in such a transaction are valued by the method
described in "Net Asset Value" as of the day the Fund receives the securities.
This is a taxable transaction to the shareholder. Securities may be accepted in
payment for shares only if they are, in the judgment of the Advisor, appropriate
investments for a Fund's corresponding Portfolio. In addition, securities
accepted in payment for shares must: (i) meet the investment objective and
policies of the acquiring Fund's corresponding Portfolio; (ii) be acquired by
the applicable Fund for investment and not for resale (other than for resale to
the Fund's corresponding Portfolio); (iii) be liquid securities which are not
restricted as to transfer either by law or liquidity of market; and (iv) if
stock, have a value which is readily ascertainable as evidenced by a listing on
a stock exchange, OTC market or by readily available market quotations from a
dealer in such securities. Each Fund reserves the right to accept or reject at
its own option any and all securities offered in payment for its shares.
Prospective investors may purchase shares with the assistance of a
financial professional, and the financial professional may establish its own
minimums and charge the investor a fee for this service and other services it
provides to its customers. J.P. Morgan may pay fees to financial professionals
for services in connection with fund investments. See "Financial Professionals"
above.
REDEMPTION OF SHARES
If the Trust on behalf of a Fund and its corresponding Portfolio
determine that it would be detrimental to the best interest of the remaining
shareholders of a Fund to make payment wholly or partly in cash, payment of the
redemption price may be made in whole or in part by a distribution in-kind of
securities from a Fund, in lieu of cash, in conformity with the applicable rule
of the SEC. If shares are redeemed in-kind, the redeeming shareholder might
incur transaction costs in converting the assets into cash. The method of
valuing portfolio securities is described under "Net Asset Value," and such
valuation will be made as of the same time the redemption price is determined.
The Trust on behalf of all of the Funds and their corresponding Portfolios have
elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act pursuant to which the
Funds and their corresponding Portfolios are obligated to redeem shares solely
in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or one percent of the net asset value of a
Fund during any 90 day period for any one shareholder. The Trust will redeem
Fund shares in-kind only if it has received a redemption in kind from a
corresponding Portfolio and therefore shareholders of a Fund that receive
redemptions in-kind will receive securities of a Portfolio. The Portfolios have
advised the Trust that the Portfolios will not redeem in-kind except in
circumstances in which a Fund is permitted to redeem in-kind.
FURTHER REDEMPTION INFORMATION. Investors should be aware that
redemptions from a Fund may not be processed if a redemption request is not
submitted in proper form. To be in proper form, a Fund must have received the
shareholder's taxpayer identification number and address. In addition, if a
shareholder sends a check for the purchase of fund shares and shares are
purchased before the check has cleared, the transmittal of redemption proceeds
from the shares will occur upon clearance of the check which may take up to 15
days. The Trust, on behalf of a Fund, and the Portfolios reserve the right to
suspend the right of redemption and to postpone the date of payment upon
redemption as follows: (i) for up to seven days, (ii) during periods when the
New York Stock Exchange is closed for other than weekends and holidays or when
trading on such Exchange is restricted as determined by the SEC by rule or
regulation, (iii) during periods in which an emergency, as determined by the
<PAGE>
SEC, exists that causes disposal by a Portfolio of, or evaluation of the net
asset value of, its portfolio securities to be unreasonable or impracticable, or
(iv) for such other periods as the SEC may permit.
For information regarding redemption orders placed through a financial
professional, please see "Financial Professionals" above.
EXCHANGE OF SHARES
An investor may exchange shares from any J.P. Morgan Institutional Fund
into any other J.P. Morgan Institutional Fund or J.P. Morgan Fund without
charge. An exchange may be made so long as after the exchange the investor has
shares, in each fund in which he or she remains an investor, with a value of at
least that fund's minimum investment amount. Shareholders should read the
prospectus of the fund into which they are exchanging and may only exchange
between fund accounts that are registered in the same name, address and taxpayer
identification number. Shares are exchanged on the basis of relative net asset
value per share. Exchanges are in effect redemptions from one fund and purchases
of another fund and the usual purchase and redemption procedures and
requirements are applicable to exchanges. Shareholders subject to federal income
tax who exchange shares in one fund for shares in another fund may recognize
capital gain or loss for federal income tax purposes. Shares of a fund to be
acquired are purchased for settlement when the proceeds from redemption become
available. In the case of investors in certain states, state securities laws may
restrict the availability of the exchange privilege. The Trust reserves the
right to discontinue, alter or limit the exchange privilege at any time.
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Each Fund declares and pays dividends and distributions as described in
the Prospectus.
Dividends and capital gains distributions paid by the Fund are
reinvested in additional shares of a Fund unless the shareholder has elected to
have them paid in cash. Dividends and distributions to be paid in cash are
credited to the shareholder's account at J.P. Morgan or at his financial
professional or, in the case of certain J.P. Morgan customers, are mailed by
check in accordance with the customer's instructions. The Fund reserves the
right to discontinue, alter or limit the automatic reinvestment privilege at any
time.
If a shareholder has elected to receive dividends and/or capital gain
distributions in cash and the postal or other delivery service is unable to
deliver checks to the shareholder's address of record, such shareholder's
distribution option will automatically be converted to having all dividend and
other distributions reinvested in additional shares. No interest will accrue on
amounts represented by uncashed distribution or redemption checks.
NET ASSET VALUE
Each of the Funds computes its net asset value once daily on Monday
through Friday at the time described in the prospectus. The net asset value will
not be computed on the day the following legal holidays are observed: New Year's
Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day,
Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. On days when
U.S. trading markets close early in observance of these holidays, the Fund will
close for purchases and redemptions at the same time. The Funds and the
Portfolios may also close for purchases and redemptions at
<PAGE>
such other times as may be determined by the Board of Trustees to the extent
permitted by applicable law. The days on which net asset value is determined are
the Funds' business days.
The net asset value of each Fund is equal to the value of a Fund's
investment in its corresponding Portfolio (which is equal to a Fund's pro rata
share of the total investment of a Fund and of any other investors in a
Portfolio less a Fund's pro rata share of a Portfolio's liabilities) less a
Fund's liabilities. The following is a discussion of the procedures used by the
Portfolio corresponding to each Fund in valuing its assets.
The value of investments listed on a domestic securities exchange,
other than options on stock indexes, is based on the last sale prices on such
exchange. Securities listed on a foreign exchange are valued at the last quoted
sale prices on such exchange. Unlisted securities are valued at the average of
the quoted bid and asked prices in the OTC market. The value of each security
for which readily available market quotations exist is based on a decision as to
the broadest and most representative market for such security. For purposes of
calculating net asset value all assets and liabilities initially expressed in
foreign currencies will be converted into U.S. dollars at the prevailing rate
currency average on the valuation date.
Options on stock indexes traded on national securities exchanges are
valued at the close of options trading on such exchanges which is currently 4:10
p.m. New York time. Stock index futures and related options, which are traded on
commodities exchanges, are valued at their last sales price as of the close of
such commodities exchanges which is currently 4:15 p.m., New York time.
Securities or other assets for which market quotations are not readily available
(including certain restricted and illiquid securities) are valued at fair value
in accordance with procedures established by and under the general supervision
and responsibility of the Trustees. Such procedures include the use of
independent pricing services which use prices based upon yields or prices of
securities of comparable quality, coupon, maturity and type; indications as to
values from dealers; and general market conditions. Short-term investments which
mature in 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost if their original
maturity was 60 days or less, or by amortizing their value on the 61st day prior
to maturity, if their original maturity when acquired by the Portfolio was more
than 60 days, unless this is determined not to represent fair value by the
Trustees.
Trading in securities on most foreign exchanges and OTC markets is
normally completed before the close of the New York Stock Exchange (normally
4:00 p.m.) and may also take place on days on which the New York Stock Exchange
is closed. If events materially affecting the value of securities occur between
the time when the exchange on which they are traded closes and the time when a
Fund's net asset value is calculated, such securities will be valued at fair
value in accordance with procedures established by and under the general
supervision of the Trustees.
PERFORMANCE DATA
From time to time, the Funds may quote performance in terms of actual
distributions, total return or capital appreciation in reports, sales literature
and advertisements published by the Trust. Shareholders may obtain current
performance information by calling the number provided on the cover page of this
Statement of Additional Information. See also the Prospectus.
<PAGE>
Composite performance information shown in the prospectus has been
calculated in accordance with Performance Presentation Standards of the
Association for Investment Management and Research ("AIMR").
TOTAL RETURN QUOTATIONS. As required by regulations of the SEC, the
annualized total return of the Funds for a period is computed by assuming a
hypothetical initial payment of $1,000. It is then assumed that all of the
dividends and distributions by the Fund over the period are reinvested. It is
then assumed that at the end of the period, the entire amount is redeemed. The
annualized total return is then calculated by determining the annual rate
required for the initial payment to grow to the amount which would have been
received upon redemption.
Aggregate total returns, reflecting the cumulative percentage change
over a measuring period, may also be calculated.
Historical performance information for periods prior to the
establishment of each Fund will be that of each corresponding predecessor J.P.
Morgan Fund, as permitted by applicable SEC staff interpretations, since each
J.P. Morgan Fund commenced operations before the corresponding J.P. Morgan
Institutional Fund. Additionally, historical performance information for periods
prior to the establishment of the U.S. Equity and U.S. Small Company funds will
be that of their respective predecessor free-standing funds and will be
presented in accordance with applicable SEC staff interpretations. The
applicable financial information in the registration statements for J.P. Morgan
Funds (Registration Nos. 033-54632 and 811-07340) is incorporated herein by
reference.
Below is set forth historical return information for the Funds or their
predecessors for the periods indicated:
DISCIPLINED EQUITY FUND (5/31/98): Average annual total return, 1 year:
32.98%; average annual total return, 5 years: N/A; average annual total return,
commencement of operations (January 3, 1997) to period end: 35.04%; aggregate
total return, 1 year: 32.98%; aggregate total return, 5 years: N/A; aggregate
total return, commencement of operations (January 3, 1997) to period end:
52.53%.
U.S. EQUITY FUND (5/31/98): Average annual total return, 1 year: 28.53%;
average annual total return, 5 years: 20.42%; average annual total return, 10
years: 18.47%; aggregate total return, 1 year: 28.53%; aggregate total return, 5
years: 153.26%; aggregate total return, 10 years: 444.69%.
U.S. SMALL COMPANY FUND (5/31/98): Average annual total return, 1 year:
23.55%; average annual total return, 5 years: 15.81%; average annual total
return, 10 years: 15.24%; aggregate total return, 1 year: 23.55%; aggregate
total return, 5 years: 108.30%; aggregate total return, 10 years: 313.09%.
GENERAL. A Fund's performance will vary from time to time depending
upon market conditions, the composition of its corresponding Portfolio, and its
operating expenses. Consequently, any given performance quotation should not be
considered representative of a Fund's performance for any specified period in
the future. In addition, because performance will fluctuate, it may not provide
a basis for comparing an investment in a Fund with certain bank deposits or
other investments that pay a fixed yield or return for a stated period of time.
Comparative performance information may be used from time to time in
advertising the Funds' shares, including appropriate market indices including
<PAGE>
the benchmarks indicated under "Investment Advisor" above or data from Lipper
Analytical Services, Inc., Micropal, Inc., Ibbotson Associates, Morningstar
Inc., the Dow Jones Industrial Average and other industry publications.
From time to time, the Funds may, in addition to any other permissible
information, include the following types of information in advertisements,
supplemental sales literature and reports to shareholders: (1) discussions of
general economic or financial principles (such as the effects of compounding and
the benefits of dollar-cost averaging); (2) discussions of general economic
trends; (3) presentations of statistical data to supplement such discussions;
(4) descriptions of past or anticipated portfolio holdings for one or more of
the Funds; (5) descriptions of investment strategies for one or more of the
Funds; (6) descriptions or comparisons of various savings and investment
products (including, but not limited to, qualified retirement plans and
individual stocks and bonds), which may or may not include the Funds; (7)
comparisons of investment products (including the Funds) with relevant markets
or industry indices or other appropriate benchmarks; (8) discussions of Fund
rankings or ratings by recognized rating organizations; and (9) discussions of
various statistical methods quantifying the Fund's volatility relative to its
benchmark or to past performance, including risk adjusted measures. The Funds
may also include calculations, such as hypothetical compounding examples, which
describe hypothetical investment results in such communications. Such
performance examples will be based on an express set of assumptions and are not
indicative of the performance of any of the Funds.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
The Advisor places orders for all Portfolios for all purchases and sales of
portfolio securities, enters into repurchase agreements, and may enter into
reverse repurchase agreements and execute loans of portfolio securities on
behalf of all the Portfolios. See "Investment Objectives and Policies."
Fixed income and debt securities and municipal bonds and notes are
generally traded at a net price with dealers acting as principal for their own
accounts without a stated commission. The price of the security usually includes
profit to the dealers. In underwritten offerings, securities are purchased at a
fixed price which includes an amount of compensation to the underwriter,
generally referred to as the underwriter's concession or discount. On occasion,
certain securities may be purchased directly from an issuer, in which case no
commissions or discounts are paid. The Advisor intends to seek best execution on
a competitive basis for both purchases and sales of securities.
In selecting a broker, the Advisor considers a number of factors
including: the price per unit of the security; the broker's reliability for
prompt, accurate confirmations and on-time delivery of securities; the firm's
financial condition; as well as the commissions charged. A broker may be paid a
brokerage commission in excess of that which another broker might have charged
for effecting the same transaction if, after considering the foregoing factors,
the Advisor decides that the broker chosen will provide the best execution. The
Advisor monitors the reasonableness of the brokerage commissions paid in light
of the execution received. The Trustees of each Portfolio review regularly the
reasonableness of commissions and other transaction costs incurred by the
Portfolios in light of facts and circumstances deemed relevant from time to
time, and, in that connection, will receive reports from the Advisor and
published data concerning transaction costs incurred by institutional investors
generally. Research services provided by brokers to which the Advisor has
allocated brokerage business in the past include economic statistics and
forecasting services, industry and company analyses, portfolio strategy
services, quantitative data, and
<PAGE>
consulting services from economists and political analysts. Research services
furnished by brokers are used for the benefit of all the Advisor's clients and
not solely or necessarily for the benefit of an individual Portfolio. The
Advisor believes that the value of research services received is not
determinable and does not significantly reduce its expenses. The Portfolios do
not reduce their fee to the Advisor by any amount that might be attributable to
the value of such services.
The Portfolios corresponding to the Funds paid the following
approximate brokerage commissions for the indicated periods:
DISCIPLINED EQUITY (For the period December 30, 1996 (commencement of
operations of the Disciplined Equity Portfolio) through May 31, 1997): $25,351.
For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1998: $175,629.
U.S. EQUITY (May 31): 1998: $1,594,078; 1997: $1,614,293; 1996: $1,375,696.
U.S. SMALL COMPANY (May 31): 1998: $1,662,968; 1997: $2,174,321; 1996:
$1,554,459.
The increases in brokerage commissions reflected above were due to
increased portfolio activity and an increase in net investments by investors in
a Portfolio or its predecessor.
Subject to the overriding objective of obtaining the best execution of
orders, the Advisor may allocate a portion of a Portfolio's brokerage
transactions to affiliates of the Advisor. In order for affiliates of the
Advisor to effect any portfolio transactions for a Portfolio, the commissions,
fees or other remuneration received by such affiliates must be reasonable and
fair compared to the commissions, fees, or other remuneration paid to other
brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving similar securities
being purchased or sold on a securities exchange during a comparable period of
time. Furthermore, the Trustees of each Portfolio, including a majority of the
Trustees who are not "interested persons," have adopted procedures which are
reasonably designed to provide that any commissions, fees, or other remuneration
paid to such affiliates are consistent with the foregoing standard.
Portfolio securities will not be purchased from or through or sold to
or through the Co-Administrator, the Distributor or the Advisor or any other
"affiliated person" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Co-Administrator,
Distributor or Advisor when such entities are acting as principals, except to
the extent permitted by law. In addition, the Portfolios will not purchase
securities during the existence of any underwriting group relating thereto of
which the Advisor or an affiliate of the Advisor is a member, except to the
extent permitted by law.
On those occasions when the Advisor deems the purchase or sale of a
security to be in the best interests of a Portfolio as well as other customers
including other Portfolios, the Advisor to the extent permitted by applicable
laws and regulations, may, but is not obligated to, aggregate the securities to
be sold or purchased for a Portfolio with those to be sold or purchased for
other customers in order to obtain best execution, including lower brokerage
commissions if appropriate. In such event, allocation of the securities so
purchased or sold as well as any expenses incurred in the transaction will be
made by the Advisor in the manner it considers to be most equitable and
consistent with its fiduciary obligations to a Portfolio. In some instances,
this procedure might adversely affect a Portfolio.
<PAGE>
If a Portfolio that writes options effects a closing purchase
transaction with respect to an option written by it, normally such transaction
will be executed by the same broker-dealer who executed the sale of the option.
The writing of options by a Portfolio will be subject to limitations established
by each of the exchanges governing the maximum number of options in each class
which may be written by a single investor or group of investors acting in
concert, regardless of whether the options are written on the same or different
exchanges or are held or written in one or more accounts or through one or more
brokers. The number of options which a Portfolio may write may be affected by
options written by the Advisor for other investment advisory clients. An
exchange may order the liquidation of positions found to be in excess of these
limits, and it may impose certain other sanctions.
MASSACHUSETTS TRUST
The Trust is a trust fund of the type commonly known as a
"Massachusetts business trust" of which each Fund is a separate and distinct
series. A copy of the Declaration of Trust for the Trust is on file in the
office of the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Declaration of
Trust and the By-Laws of the Trust are designed to make the Trust similar in
most respects to a Massachusetts business corporation. The principal distinction
between the two forms concerns shareholder liability described below.
Effective May 12, 1997, the name of the U.S. Equity Fund was changed
from "The JPM Institutional Selected U.S. Equity Fund" to "The JPM Institutional
U.S. Equity Fund", and the Fund's corresponding Portfolio changed its name
accordingly. Effective January 1, 1998, the name of the Trust was changed from
"The JPM Institutional Funds to "J.P. Morgan Institutional Funds", and each
Fund's name changed accordingly.
Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of such a trust may, under
certain circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for the obligations
of the trust which is not the case for a corporation. However, the Trust's
Declaration of Trust provides that the shareholders shall not be subject to any
personal liability for the acts or obligations of any Fund and that every
written agreement, obligation, instrument or undertaking made on behalf of any
Fund shall contain a provision to the effect that the shareholders are not
personally liable thereunder.
No personal liability will attach to the shareholders under any
undertaking containing such provision when adequate notice of such provision is
given, except possibly in a few jurisdictions. With respect to all types of
claims in the latter jurisdictions, (i) tort claims, (ii) contract claims where
the provision referred to is omitted from the undertaking, (iii) claims for
taxes, and (iv) certain statutory liabilities in other jurisdictions, a
shareholder may be held personally liable to the extent that claims are not
satisfied by the Fund. However, upon payment of such liability, the shareholder
will be entitled to reimbursement from the general assets of the Fund. The
Trustees intend to conduct the operations of the Trust in such a way so as to
avoid, as far as possible, ultimate liability of the shareholders for
liabilities of the Funds.
The Trust's Declaration of Trust further provides that the name of the
Trust refers to the Trustees collectively as Trustees, not as individuals or
personally, that no Trustee, officer, employee or agent of a Fund is liable to a
Fund or to a shareholder, and that no Trustee, officer, employee, or agent is
liable to any third persons in connection with the affairs of a Fund, except as
such liability may arise from his or its own bad faith, willful misfeasance,
gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or its duties to
<PAGE>
such third persons. It also provides that all third persons shall look solely to
Fund property for satisfaction of claims arising in connection with the affairs
of a Fund. With the exceptions stated, the Trust's Declaration of Trust provides
that a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent is entitled to be indemnified
against all liability in connection with the affairs of a Fund.
The Trust shall continue without limitation of time subject to the
provisions in the Declaration of Trust concerning termination by action of the
shareholders or by action of the Trustees upon notice to the shareholders.
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES
The Trust is an open-end management investment company organized as a
Massachusetts business trust in which each Fund represents a separate series of
shares of beneficial interest. See "Massachusetts Trust."
The Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to issue an unlimited
number of full and fractional shares ($0.001 par value) of one or more series
and classes within any series and to divide or combine the shares (of any
series, if applicable) without changing the proportionate beneficial interest of
each shareholder in a Fund (or in the assets of other series, if applicable). To
date shares of 21 series have been authorized and are available for sale to the
public. Each share represents an equal proportional interest in a Fund with each
other share. Upon liquidation of a Fund, holders are entitled to share pro rata
in the net assets of a Fund available for distribution to such shareholders. See
"Massachusetts Trust." Shares of a Fund have no preemptive or conversion rights
and are fully paid and nonassessable. The rights of redemption and exchange are
described in the Prospectus and elsewhere in this Statement of Additional
Information.
The shareholders of the Trust are entitled to one full or fractional
vote for each dollar or fraction of a dollar invested. Subject to the 1940 Act,
the Trustees themselves have the power to alter the number and the terms of
office of the Trustees, to lengthen their own terms, or to make their terms of
unlimited duration subject to certain removal procedures, and appoint their own
successors, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that immediately after such appointment the
requisite majority of the Trustees have been elected by the shareholders of the
Trust. The voting rights of shareholders are not cumulative so that holders of
more than 50% of the shares voting can, if they choose, elect all Trustees being
selected while the shareholders of the remaining shares would be unable to elect
any Trustees. It is the intention of the Trust not to hold meetings of
shareholders annually. The Trustees may call meetings of shareholders for action
by shareholder vote as may be required by either the 1940 Act or the Trust's
Declaration of Trust.
Shareholders of the Trust have the right, upon the declaration in
writing or vote of more than two-thirds of its outstanding shares, to remove a
Trustee. The Trustees will call a meeting of shareholders to vote on removal of
a Trustee upon the written request of the record holders of 10% of the Trust's
shares. In addition, whenever ten or more shareholders of record who have been
such for at least six months preceding the date of application, and who hold in
the aggregate either shares having a net asset value of at least $25,000 or at
least 1% of the Trust's outstanding shares, whichever is less, shall apply to
the Trustees in writing, stating that they wish to communicate with other
shareholders with a view to obtaining signatures to request a meeting for the
purpose of voting upon the question of removal of any Trustee or Trustees and
accompanied by a form of communication and request which they wish to transmit,
the Trustees shall within five business days after receipt of such application
either: (1) afford to such applicants access to a list of
<PAGE>
the names and addresses of all shareholders as recorded on the books of the
Trust; or (2) inform such applicants as to the approximate number of
shareholders of record, and the approximate cost of mailing to them the proposed
communication and form of request. If the Trustees elect to follow the latter
course, the Trustees, upon the written request of such applicants, accompanied
by a tender of the material to be mailed and of the reasonable expenses of
mailing, shall, with reasonable promptness, mail such material to all
shareholders of record at their addresses as recorded on the books, unless
within five business days after such tender the Trustees shall mail to such
applicants and file with the SEC, together with a copy of the material to be
mailed, a written statement signed by at least a majority of the Trustees to the
effect that in their opinion either such material contains untrue statements of
fact or omits to state facts necessary to make the statements contained therein
not misleading, or would be in violation of applicable law, and specifying the
basis of such opinion. After opportunity for hearing upon the objections
specified in the written statements filed, the SEC may, and if demanded by the
Trustees or by such applicants shall, enter an order either sustaining one or
more of such objections or refusing to sustain any of them. If the SEC shall
enter an order refusing to sustain any of such objections, or if, after the
entry of an order sustaining one or more of such objections, the SEC shall find,
after notice and opportunity for hearing, that all objections so sustained have
been met, and shall enter an order so declaring, the Trustees shall mail copies
of such material to all shareholders with reasonable promptness after the entry
of such order and the renewal of such tender.
The Trustees have authorized the issuance and sale to the public of
shares of 22 series of the Trust. The Trustees have no current intention to
create any classes within the initial series or any subsequent series. The
Trustees may, however, authorize the issuance of shares of additional series and
the creation of classes of shares within any series with such preferences,
privileges, limitations and voting and dividend rights as the Trustees may
determine. The proceeds from the issuance of any additional series would be
invested in separate, independently managed portfolios with distinct investment
objectives, policies and restrictions, and share purchase, redemption and net
asset valuation procedures. Any additional classes would be used to distinguish
among the rights of different categories of shareholders, as might be required
by future regulations or other unforeseen circumstances. All consideration
received by the Trust for shares of any additional series or class, and all
assets in which such consideration is invested, would belong to that series or
class, subject only to the rights of creditors of the Trust and would be subject
to the liabilities related thereto. Shareholders of any additional series or
class will approve the adoption of any management contract or distribution plan
relating to such series or class and of any changes in the investment policies
related thereto, to the extent required by the 1940 Act.
For information relating to mandatory redemption of Fund shares or
their redemption at the option of the Trust under certain circumstances, see
"Redemption of Shares".
As of August 31, 1998, the following owned of record or, to the
knowledge of management, beneficially owned more than 5% of the outstanding
shares of:
DISCIPLINED EQUITY FUND -- Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. special custody
account for the benefit of customers (18.13%); The Queen's Health Systems
(9.65%); Baystate Health Systems Inc. (9.18%); Baystate Health Systems Inc.
(7.05%);
<PAGE>
Punahou School (6.42%); Morgan as agent for Tenet Healthcare Foundation (5.52%).
U.S. EQUITY FUND - Morgan as trustee for Degussa Defined Benefit Trust (8.97%);
Morgan as agent for Diversified Growth Fund (8.78)%; Morgan as trustee for Major
League Baseball Master Pension Trust (8.76%); JPMIM as agent for Wachovia Bank
of North Carolina T/U/A DTD 1/1/88 Newmont Gold Co. Master Pension Trust
(6.47%); LIN Television Corporation Retirement Plan (5.99%); Harris Trust and
Savings Bank as trustee of the CTS Corporate Employee Benefit Plans Master Trust
(5.72%).
The address of each owner listed above is c/o JPMIM, 522 Fifth Avenue,
New York, New York 10036. As of the date of this Statement of Additional
Information, the officers and Trustees as a group owned less than 1% of the
shares of each Fund.
SPECIAL INFORMATION CONCERNING INVESTMENT STRUCTURE
Unlike other mutual funds which directly acquire and manage their own
portfolio of securities, each Fund is an open-end management investment company
which seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing all of its
investable assets in a corresponding Master Portfolio, a separate registered
investment company with the same investment objective and policies as the Fund.
Generally, when a corresponding Master Portfolio seeks a vote to change a
fundamental investment restriction, its feeder fund(s) will hold a shareholder
meeting and cast its vote proportionately, as instructed by its shareholders.
The shareholders of the Trust are entitled to a full or fractional vote for each
dollar or fraction of a dollar invested.
In addition to selling a beneficial interest to a Fund, a Portfolio may
sell beneficial interests to other mutual funds or institutional investors. Such
investors will invest in the Portfolio on the same terms and conditions and will
bear a proportionate share of the Portfolio's expenses. However, the other
investors investing in the Portfolio may sell shares of their own fund using a
different pricing structure than the Fund. Such different pricing structures may
result in differences in returns experienced by investors in other funds that
invest in the Portfolio. Such differences in returns are not uncommon and are
present in other mutual fund structures. Information concerning other holders of
interests in the Portfolio is available from Morgan at (800) 521-5411.
The Trust may withdraw the investment of a Fund from a Portfolio at any
time if the Board of Trustees of the Trust determines that it is in the best
interests of the Fund to do so. Upon any such withdrawal, the Board of Trustees
would consider what action might be taken, including the investment of all the
assets of the Fund in another pooled investment entity having the same
investment objective and restrictions in accordance with the investment policies
with respect to the Portfolio described above and in each Fund's Prospectus.
Certain changes in a Portfolio's fundamental investment policies or
restrictions, or a failure by a Fund's shareholders to approve such change in a
Portfolio's investment restriction, may require withdrawal of a Fund's interest
in the Portfolio. Any such withdrawal could result in a distribution in-kind of
portfolio securities (as opposed to a cash distribution) from a Portfolio which
may or may not be readily marketable. The distribution in-kind may result in a
Fund having a less diversified portfolio of investments or adversely affect a
Fund's liquidity, and a Fund could incur brokerage, tax or other charges in
converting the securities to cash. Notwithstanding the
<PAGE>
above, there are other means for meeting shareholder redemption requests, such
as borrowing.
Smaller funds investing in a Portfolio may be materially affected by
the actions of larger funds investing in a Portfolio. For example, if a large
fund withdraws from a Portfolio, the remaining funds may subsequently experience
higher pro rata operating expenses, thereby producing lower returns.
Additionally, because a Portfolio would become smaller, it may become
less diversified, resulting in potentially increased portfolio risk (however,
these possibilities also exist for traditionally structured funds which have
large or institutional investors who may withdraw from a fund). Also funds with
a greater pro rata ownership in a Portfolio could have effective voting control
of the operations of a Portfolio. Whenever a Fund is requested to vote on
matters pertaining to its corresponding Portfolio (other than a vote by a Fund
to continue the operation of its corresponding Portfolio upon the withdrawal of
another investor in a Portfolio), the Trust will hold a meeting of shareholders
of a Fund and will cast all of its votes proportionately as instructed by a
Fund's shareholders. The Trust will vote the shares held by Fund shareholders
who do not give voting instructions in the same proportion as the shares of Fund
shareholders who do give voting instructions. Shareholders of a Fund who do not
vote will have no effect on the outcome of such matters.
TAXES
Each Fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment
company under Subchapter M of the Code. As a regulated investment company, a
Fund must, among other things, (a) derive at least 90% of its gross income from
dividends, interest, payments with respect to loans of stock and securities,
gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign
currency and other income (including but not limited to gains from options,
futures, and forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of
investing in such stock, securities or foreign currency; and (b) diversify its
holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of its taxable year, (i) at least
50% of the value of the Fund's total assets is represented by cash, cash items,
U.S. Government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies,
and other securities limited, in respect of any one issuer, to an amount not
greater than 5% of the Fund's total assets, and 10% of the outstanding voting
securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of its total
assets is invested in the securities of any one issuer (other than U.S.
Government securities or securities of other regulated investment companies).
As a regulated investment company, a Fund (as opposed to its
shareholders) will not be subject to federal income taxes on the net investment
income and capital gain that it distributes to its shareholders, provided that
at least 90% of its net investment income and realized net short-term capital
gain in excess of net long-term capital loss for the taxable year is distributed
in accordance with the Code's timing requirements.
Under the Code, a Fund will be subject to a 4% excise tax on a portion
of its undistributed taxable income and capital gains if it fails to meet
certain distribution requirements by the end of the calendar year. Each Fund
intends to make distributions in a timely manner and accordingly does not expect
to be subject to the excise tax.
<PAGE>
For federal income tax purposes, dividends that are declared by a Fund
in October, November or December as of a record date in such month and actually
paid in January of the following year will be treated as if they were paid on
December 31 of the year declared. Therefore, such dividends will be taxable to a
shareholder in the year declared rather than the year paid.
Distributions of net investment income, certain foreign currency gains,
and realized net short-term capital gain in excess of net long-term capital loss
(other than exempt interest dividends) are generally taxable to shareholders of
the Funds as ordinary income whether such distributions are taken in cash or
reinvested in additional shares. The Funds expect that a portion of these
distributions to corporate shareholders will be eligible for the
dividends-received deduction, subject to applicable limitations under the Code.
If dividend payments exceed income earned by a Fund, the over distribution would
be considered a return of capital rather than a dividend payment. The Funds
intend to pay dividends in such a manner so as to minimize the possibility of a
return of capital. Distributions of net long-term capital gain (i.e., net
long-term capital gain in excess of net short-term capital loss) are taxable to
shareholders of a Fund as long-term capital gain, regardless of whether such
distributions are taken in cash or reinvested in additional shares and
regardless of how long a shareholder has held shares in the Fund. In general,
long-term capital gain of an individual shareholder will be subject to a reduced
rate of tax. Investors should consult their tax advisors concerning the
treatment of capital gains and losses.
Gains or losses on sales of portfolio securities will be treated as
long-term capital gains or losses if the securities have been held for more than
one year except in certain cases where a put is acquired or a call option is
written thereon or the straddle rules described below are otherwise applicable.
Other gains or losses on the sale of securities will be short-term capital gains
or losses. Gains and losses on the sale, lapse or other termination of options
on securities will be treated as gains and losses from the sale of securities.
Except as described below, if an option written by a Portfolio lapses or is
terminated through a closing transaction, such as a repurchase by the Portfolio
of the option from its holder, the Portfolio will realize a short-term capital
gain or loss, depending on whether the premium income is greater or less than
the amount paid by the Portfolio in the closing transaction. If securities are
purchased by a Portfolio pursuant to the exercise of a put option written by it,
the Portfolio will subtract the premium received from its cost basis in the
securities purchased.
Any distribution of net investment income or capital gains will have
the effect of reducing the net asset value of Fund shares held by a shareholder
by the same amount as the distribution. If the net asset value of the shares is
reduced below a shareholder's cost as a result of such a distribution, the
distribution, although constituting a return of capital to the shareholder, will
be taxable as described above.
Any gain or loss realized on the redemption or exchange of Fund shares
by a shareholder who is not a dealer in securities will be treated as long-term
capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than one year, and
otherwise as short-term capital gain or loss. However, any loss realized by a
shareholder upon the redemption or exchange of shares in the Fund held for six
months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any
long-term capital gain distributions received by the shareholder with respect to
such shares. In addition, no loss will be allowed on the redemption or exchange
of shares of the Fund, if within a period beginning 30 days before the date of
such redemption or exchange and ending 30 days after such date, the shareholder
acquires (such as through dividend
<PAGE>
reinvestment) securities that are substantially identical to shares of the Fund.
Under the Code, gains or losses attributable to disposition of foreign
currency or to certain foreign currency contracts, or to fluctuations in
exchange rates between the time a Portfolio accrues income or receivables or
expenses or other liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time a
Portfolio actually collects such income or pays such liabilities, are generally
treated as ordinary income or ordinary loss. Similarly, gains or losses on the
disposition of debt securities held by a Portfolio, if any, denominated in
foreign currency, to the extent attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates
between the acquisition and disposition dates are also treated as ordinary
income or loss.
Forward currency contracts, options and futures contracts entered into
by a Portfolio may create "straddles" for U.S. federal income tax purposes and
this may affect the character and timing of gains or losses realized by the
Portfolio on forward currency contracts, options and futures contracts or on the
underlying securities.
Certain options, futures and foreign currency contracts held by a
Portfolio at the end of each taxable year will be required to be "marked to
market" for federal income tax purposes -- i.e., treated as having been sold at
market value. For options and futures contracts, 60% of any gain or loss
recognized on these deemed sales and on actual dispositions will be treated as
long-term capital gain or loss, and the remainder will be treated as short-term
capital gain or loss regardless of how long the Portfolio has held such options
or futures. However, gain or loss recognized on certain foreign currency
contracts will be treated as ordinary income or loss.
The Funds may invest in Equity Securities of foreign issuers. If a
Portfolio purchases shares in certain foreign corporations (referred to as
passive foreign investment companies ("PFICs") under the Code), the
corresponding fund may be subject to federal income tax on a portion of an
"excess distribution" from such foreign corporation, including any gain from the
disposition of such shares, even though a portion of such income may have to be
distributed as a taxable dividend by the Fund to its shareholders. In addition,
certain interest charges may be imposed on a Fund as a result of such
distributions. Alternatively, a Fund may in some cases be permitted to include
each year in its income and distribute to shareholders a pro rata portion of the
foreign investment fund's income, whether or not distributed to the Fund.
The Portfolios will be permitted to "mark to market" any marketable
stock held by a Portfolio in a PFIC. If a Portfolio made such an election, the
corresponding Fund would include in income each year an amount equal to its
share of the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the PFIC stock as of
the close of the taxable year over the adjusted basis of such stock. The Fund
would be allowed a deduction for its share of the excess, if any, of the
adjusted basis of the PFIC stock over its fair market value as of the close of
the taxable year, but only to the extent of any net mark-to-market gains with
respect to the stock included by the Fund for prior taxable years.
If a correct and certified taxpayer identification number is not on
file, the Fund is required, subject to certain exemptions, to withhold 31% of
certain payments made or distributions declared to non-corporate shareholders.
FOREIGN SHAREHOLDERS. Dividends of net investment income and distributions
of realized net short-term gain in excess of net long-term loss
<PAGE>
to a shareholder who, as to the United States, is a nonresident alien
individual, fiduciary of a foreign trust or estate, foreign corporation or
foreign partnership (a "foreign shareholder") will be subject to U.S.
withholding tax at the rate of 30% (or lower treaty rate) unless the dividends
are effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the shareholder, in
which case the dividends will be subject to tax on a net income basis at the
graduated rates applicable to U.S. individuals or domestic corporations.
Distributions treated as long term capital gains to foreign shareholders will
not be subject to U.S. tax unless the distributions are effectively connected
with the shareholder's trade or business in the United States or, in the case of
a shareholder who is a nonresident alien individual, the shareholder was present
in the United States for more than 182 days during the taxable year and certain
other conditions are met.
In the case of a foreign shareholder who is a nonresident alien
individual or foreign entity, a Fund may be required to withhold U.S. federal
income tax as "backup withholding" at the rate of 31% from distributions treated
as long-term capital gains and from the proceeds of redemptions, exchanges or
other dispositions of Fund shares unless IRS Form W-8 is provided. Transfers by
gift of shares of a Fund by a foreign shareholder who is a nonresident alien
individual will not be subject to U.S. federal gift tax, but the value of shares
of the Fund held by such a shareholder at his or her death will be includible in
his or her gross estate for U.S. federal estate tax purposes.
FOREIGN TAXES. It is expected that the Funds may be subject to foreign
withholding taxes or other foreign taxes with respect to income (possibly
including, in some cases, capital gains) received from sources within foreign
countries.
STATE AND LOCAL TAXES. Each Fund may be subject to state or local taxes
in jurisdictions in which the Fund is deemed to be doing business. In addition,
the treatment of a Fund and its shareholders in those states which have income
tax laws might differ from treatment under the federal income tax laws.
Shareholders should consult their own tax advisors with respect to any state or
local taxes.
OTHER TAXATION. The Trust is organized as a Massachusetts business
trust and, under current law, neither the Trust nor any Fund is liable for any
income or franchise tax in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, provided that each
Fund continues to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M
of the Code. The Portfolios are organized as New York trusts. The Portfolios are
not subject to any federal income taxation or income or franchise tax in the
State of New York or The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The investment by a Fund
in its corresponding Portfolio does not cause the Fund to be liable for any
income or franchise tax in the State of New York.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
As used in this Statement of Additional Information and the Prospectus,
the term "majority of the outstanding voting securities" means the vote of (i)
67% or more of the Fund's shares or the Portfolio's outstanding voting
securities present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of a Fund's
outstanding shares or the Portfolio's outstanding voting securities are present
or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of a Fund's outstanding shares or
the Portfolio's outstanding voting securities, whichever is less.
Telephone calls to the Funds, J.P. Morgan or Financial Professionals as
shareholder servicing agent may be tape recorded. With respect to the
<PAGE>
securities offered hereby, this Statement of Additional Information and the
Prospectus do not contain all the information included in the Trust's
registration statement filed with the SEC under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act
and the Portfolios' registration statements filed under the 1940 Act. Pursuant
to the rules and regulations of the SEC, certain portions have been omitted. The
registration statements including the exhibits filed therewith may be examined
at the office of the SEC in Washington, D.C.
Statements contained in this Statement of Additional Information and
the Prospectus concerning the contents of any contract or other document are not
necessarily complete, and in each instance, reference is made to the copy of
such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the applicable
Registration Statements.
Each such statement is qualified in all respects by such reference.
No dealer, salesman or any other person has been authorized to give any
information or to make any representations, other than those contained in the
Prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information, in connection with the
offer contained therein and, if given or made, such other information or
representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by any of the
Trust, the Funds or the Distributor. The Prospectus and this Statement of
Additional Information do not constitute an offer by any Fund or by the
Distributor to sell or solicit any offer to buy any of the securities offered
hereby in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful for the Fund or
the Distributor to make such offer in such jurisdictions.
THE YEAR 2000 INITIATIVE
With the new millennium rapidly approaching, organizations are
examining their computer systems to ensure they are year 2000 compliant. The
issue, in simple terms, is that many existing computer systems use only two
numbers to identify a year in the date field with the assumption that the first
two digits are always 19. As the century is implied in the date, on January 1,
2000, computers that are not year 2000 compliant will assume the year is 1900.
Systems that calculate, compare, or sort using the incorrect date will cause
erroneous results, ranging from system malfunctions to incorrect or incomplete
transaction processing. If not remedied, potential risks include business
interruption or shutdown, financial loss, reputation loss, and/or legal
liability.
J.P. Morgan has undertaken a firmwide initiative to address the year
2000 issue and has developed a comprehensive plan to prepare, as appropriate,
its computer systems. Each business line has taken responsibility for
identifying and fixing the problem within its own area of operation and for
addressing all interdependencies. A multidisciplinary team of internal and
external experts supports the business teams by providing direction and firmwide
coordination. Working together, the business and multidisciplinary teams have
completed a thorough education and awareness initiative and a global inventory
and assessment of J.P. Morgan's technology and application portfolio to
understand the scope of the year 2000 impact at J.P. Morgan. J.P. Morgan
presently is renovating and testing these technologies and applications in
partnership with external consulting and software development organizations, as
well as with year 2000 tool providers. J.P. Morgan is on target with its plan to
substantially complete renovation, testing, and validation of its key systems by
year-end 1998 and to participate in industry-wide testing (or streetwide
testing) in 1999. J.P. Morgan is also working with key external parties,
including clients, counterparties, vendors, exchanges, depositories, utilities,
suppliers, agents and regulatory agencies,
<PAGE>
to stem the potential risks the year 2000 problem poses to J.P. Morgan and
to the global financial community.
Costs associated with efforts to prepare J.P. Morgan's systems for the
year 2000 approximated $95 million in 1997. In 1998, J.P. Morgan will continue
its efforts to prepare its systems for the year 2000. The total cost to become
year-2000 compliant is estimated at $250 million, for internal systems
renovation and testing, testing equipment, and both internal and external
resources working on the project. Remaining costs will be incurred primarily in
1998. The costs associated with J.P. Morgan becoming year-2000 compliant will be
borne by J.P. Morgan and not the Funds.
<PAGE>
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The following financial statements of the Funds and the report thereon
of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP are incorporated herein by reference from their
respective annual report filings made with the SEC pursuant to Section 30(b) of
the 1940 Act and Rule 30b2-1 thereunder. Any of the following financial reports
are available without charge upon request by calling J.P. Morgan Funds Services
at (800) 766-7722. Each Fund's financial statements include the financial
statements of the Fund's corresponding Portfolio.
- --------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------
Date of Annual Report; Date
Annual Report Filed; and
Name of Fund Accession Number
- --------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------
J.P. Morgan Institutional Disciplined Equity Fund 5/31/98; 7/31/98
0001047469-98-028837
- --------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------
J.P. Morgan Institutional U.S. Equity Fund 5/31/98; 7/31/98
0001047469-98-028917
- --------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------
J.P. Morgan Institutional U.S. Small Company Fund 5/31/98; 7/29/98
0001047469-98-028627
- --------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------
<PAGE>
APPENDIX A
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITY RATINGS
STANDARD & POOR'S
CORPORATE AND MUNICIPAL BONDS
AAA - Debt rated AAA have the highest ratings assigned by Standard & Poor's
to a debt obligation. Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is
extremely strong.
AA - Debt rated AA have a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay
principal and differ from the highest rated issues only in a small degree.
A - Debt rated A have a strong capacity to pay interest and repay
principal although they are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse
effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than debt
in higher rated categories.
BBB - Debt rated BBB are regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay
interest and repay principal. Whereas they normally exhibit adequate
protection parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing
circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay
interest and repay principal for debt in this category than for debt in
higher rated categories.
BB - Debt rated BB are regarded as having less near-term vulnerability to
default than other speculative issues. However, they face major ongoing
uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial or economic
conditions which could lead to inadequate capacity to meet timely
interest and principal payments.
B - An obligation rated B is more vulnerable to nonpayment than
obligations rated BB, but the obligor currently has the capacity to
meet its financial commitment on the obligation. Adverse business,
financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor's
capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the
obligation.
CCC - An obligation rated CCC is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is
dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions
for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In
the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the
obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial
commitment on the obligation.
CC - An obligation rated CC is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.
C - The C rating may be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy
petition has been filed or similar action has been taken, but payments
on this obligation are being continued.
COMMERCIAL PAPER, INCLUDING TAX EXEMPT
A - Issues assigned this highest rating are regarded as having the
greatest capacity for timely payment. Issues in this category are
further refined with the designations 1, 2, and 3 to indicate the
relative degree of safety.
<PAGE>
A-1 - This designation indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely
payment is very strong.
SHORT-TERM TAX-EXEMPT NOTES
SP-1 - The short-term tax-exempt note rating of SP-1 is the highest
rating assigned by Standard & Poor's and has a very strong or
strong capacity to pay principal and interest. Those issues
determined to possess overwhelming safety characteristics are
given a "plus" (+) designation.
SP-2 - The short-term tax-exempt note rating of SP-2 has a satisfactory
capacity to pay principal and interest.
MOODY'S
CORPORATE AND MUNICIPAL BONDS
Aaa - Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They
carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred
to as "gilt edge." Interest payments are protected by a large or by an
exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While the various
protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be
visualized are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong
position of such issues.
Aa - Bonds which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all
standards. Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally
known as high grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds
because margins of protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities
or fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or
there may be other elements present which make the long term risks
appear somewhat larger than in Aaa securities.
A - Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes
and are to be considered as upper medium grade obligations. Factors
giving security to principal and interest are considered adequate but
elements may be present which suggest a susceptibility to impairment
sometime in the future.
Baa - Bonds which are rated Baa are considered as medium grade obligations,
i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest
payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but
certain protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically
unreliable over any great length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding
investment characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics
as well.
Ba - Bonds which are rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements;
their future cannot be considered as well-assured. Often the protection
of interest and principal payments may be very moderate, and thereby
not well safeguarded during both good and bad times over the future.
Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this class.
B - Bonds which are rated B generally lack characteristics of the
desirable investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or
of maintenance of other terms of the contract over any long period of
time may be small.
<PAGE>
Caa - Bonds which are rated Caa are of poor standing. Such issues may be in
default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to
principal or interest.
Ca - Bonds which are rated Ca represent obligations which are speculative
in a high degree. Such issues are often in default or have other marked
shortcomings.
C - Bonds which are rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds and
issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of
ever attaining any real investment standing.
COMMERCIAL PAPER, INCLUDING TAX EXEMPT
Prime-1 - Issuers rated Prime-1 (or related supporting institutions)
have a superior capacity for repayment of short-term
promissory obligations. Prime-1 repayment capacity will
normally be evidenced by the following characteristics:
- Leading market positions in well established industries.
- High rates of return on funds employed.
- Conservative capitalization structures with moderate reliance
on debt and ample asset protection.
- Broad margins in earnings coverage of fixed financial charges
and high internal cash generation.
- Well established access to a range of financial markets and
assured sources of alternate liquidity.
SHORT-TERM TAX EXEMPT NOTES
MIG-1 - The short-term tax-exempt note rating MIG-1 is the highest
rating assigned by Moody's for notes judged to be the best
quality. Notes with this rating enjoy strong protection from
established cash flows of funds for their servicing or from
established and broad-based access to the market for
refinancing, or both.
MIG-2 - MIG-2 rated notes are of high quality but with margins of
protection not as large as MIG-1.
