TENNESSEE TAX-FREE BOND FUND
(A PORTFOLIO OF THE PLANTERS FUNDS)
PROSPECTUS
The shares of Tennessee Tax-Free Bond Fund (the "Fund") offered by this
prospectus represent interests in a non-diversified portfolio of securities
which is an investment portfolio in The Planters Funds (the "Trust"), an
open-end management investment company (a mutual fund).
The investment objective of the Fund is to provide current income exempt from
federal income tax and personal income taxes imposed by the state of Tennessee
and Tennessee municipalities. The Fund invests primarily in a portfolio of
municipal securities which are exempt from federal income tax and personal
income taxes imposed by the state of Tennessee and Tennessee municipalities
("Tennessee Municipal Securities"). These securities include those issued by or
on behalf of the state of Tennessee and Tennessee municipalities as well as
those issued by states, territories and possessions of the United States that
are not issued by or on behalf of Tennessee and its political subdivisions, but
which are exempt from Tennessee state income tax.
THE SHARES OFFERED BY THIS PROSPECTUS ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF UNION
PLANTERS NATIONAL BANK, ARE NOT ENDORSED OR GUARANTEED BY UNION PLANTERS
NATIONAL BANK, OR ANY BANK, AND ARE NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE
CORPORATION ("FDIC"), THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY.
INVESTMENT IN THESE SHARES INVOLVES INVESTMENT RISKS, INCLUDING THE POSSIBLE
LOSS OF PRINCIPAL.
This prospectus contains the information you should read and know before you
invest in the Fund. Keep this prospectus for future reference.
The Fund has also filed a Statement of Additional Information, dated November
30, 1998, with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The information
contained in the Statement of Additional Information is incorporated by
reference into this prospectus. You may request a copy of the Statement of
Additional Information free of charge, obtain other information, or make
inquiries about the Fund by calling Union Planters Brokerage Services at 1-
800-238-7125. The Statement of Additional Information, material incorporated by
reference into this document, and other information regarding the Trust is
maintained electronically with the SEC at Internet Web site
(http://www.sec.gov).
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PASSED UPON
THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE
CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
Prospectus dated November 30, 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES 1
- -------------------------------------
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 2
- -------------------------------------
GENERAL INFORMATION 3
- -------------------------------------
INVESTMENT INFORMATION 3
- -------------------------------------
Investment Objective 3
Investment Policies 4
Tennessee Municipal Securities 6
Investment Risks 6
Non-Diversification 7
Investment Limitation 7
THE PLANTERS FUNDS INFORMATION 7
- -------------------------------------
Management of the Trust 7
Distribution of Fund Shares 8
Administration of the Fund 9
NET ASSET VALUE 9
- -------------------------------------
INVESTING IN THE FUND 9
- -------------------------------------
Share Purchases 9
Minimum Investment Required 10
What Shares Cost 10
Reducing the Sales Charge 11
REDEEMING SHARES 12
- -------------------------------------
By Telephone 12
By Mail 13
Accounts with Low Balances 13
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION 14
- -------------------------------------
Voting Rights 14
Massachusetts Partnership Law 14
EFFECT OF BANKING LAWS 14
- -------------------------------------
TAX INFORMATION 15
- -------------------------------------
Federal Income Tax 15
State of Tennessee Taxes 15
State and Local Taxes 15
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION 16
- -------------------------------------
ADDRESSES 17
- -------------------------------------
TENNESSEE TAX-FREE BOND FUND
SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTION EXPENSES
<S> <C>
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage
of offering price)........................................ 2.00%
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Reinvested Dividends (as a
percentage of
offering price)........................................... None
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a percentage of
original purchase
price or redemption proceeds, as applicable).............. None
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed, if
applicable)............................................... None
Exchange Fee............................................... None
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
(As a percentage of average net assets)*
Management Fee (after waiver) (1).......................... 0.00%
12b-1 Fee.................................................. None
Other Expenses............................................. 1.34%
Total Fund Operating Expenses (2)......................... 1.34%
</TABLE>
(1) The management fee is reduced to reflect the voluntary waiver by the
investment adviser. The adviser can terminate this voluntary waiver at any
time at its sole discretion. The maximum management fee is 0.75%.
(2) The Total Fund Operating Expenses in the table above are based on expenses
expected during the fiscal year ending July 31, 1999. The Total Fund
Operating Expenses were 1.19% for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1998, and
would have been 1.94% absent the voluntary waiver of 0.75%.
*The Total Fund Operating Expenses are estimated based on average expenses
expected to be incurred during the year ending July 31, 1999. During the course
of this period, expenses may be more or less than the average amount shown.
The purpose of this table is to assist an investor in understanding the various
costs and expenses that a shareholder of the Fund will bear, either directly or
indirectly. For more complete descriptions of the various costs and expenses,
see "The Planters Funds Information," and "Investing in the Fund."
Wire-transferred redemptions of less than $5,000 may be subject to additional
fees.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
EXAMPLE ------ ------- ------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment assuming (1) 5%
annual return; (2) redemption at the end of each time period; and (3) payment of
the maximum sales charge. As noted in the table above,
the Fund charges no redemption fees......... $33 $62 $92 $178
</TABLE>
THE ABOVE EXAMPLE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A REPRESENTATION OF PAST OR FUTURE
EXPENSES. ACTUAL EXPENSES MAY BE GREATER OR LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN.
TENNESSEE TAX-FREE BOND FUND
(A PORTFOLIO OF THE PLANTERS FUNDS)
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(FOR A SHARE OUTSTANDING THROUGHOUT EACH PERIOD)
The following table has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Fund's
independent accountants. Their report dated September 16, 1998, on the Fund's
financial statements for the year ended July 31, 1998, is included in the Annual
Report, which is incorporated by reference. This table should be read in
conjunction with the Fund's financial statements and notes thereto, which may be
obtained from the Fund.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED JULY 31,
-------------------------------------------
1998 1997 1996 1995 1994(A)
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF
PERIOD $10.91 $10.54 $10.46 $10.22 $10.50
- ----------------------------------
INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS
- ----------------------------------
Net investment income 0.44 0.45 0.50 0.51 0.44
- ----------------------------------
Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) on investments (0.02) 0.38 0.07 0.24 (0.31)
- ---------------------------------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Total from investment operations 0.42 0.83 0.57 0.75 0.13
- ---------------------------------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS
- ----------------------------------
Distributions from net investment
income (0.43) (0.46) (0.49) (0.51) (0.41)
- ---------------------------------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD $10.90 $10.91 $10.54 $10.46 $10.22
- ---------------------------------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
TOTAL RETURN (B) 3.91% 8.12% 5.57% 7.60% 1.19%
- ----------------------------------
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS
- ----------------------------------
Expenses 1.19% 1.10% 0.86% 0.61% 0.56%*
- ----------------------------------
Net investment income 3.92% 4.23% 4.62% 4.93% 4.69%*
- ----------------------------------
Expense waiver/reimbursement (c) 0.75% 0.75% 0.80% 0.95% 0.87%*
- ----------------------------------
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
- ----------------------------------
Net assets, end of period (000
omitted) $19,907 $25,849 $29,668 $35,888 $42,400
- ----------------------------------
Portfolio turnover 4% 11% 0% 3% 30%
- ----------------------------------
</TABLE>
* Computed on an annualized basis.
(a) Reflects operations for the period from August 30, 1993 (date of initial
public investment) to July 31, 1994. For the period from August 5, 1993
(start of business) to August 29, 1993, all income was distributed to the
administrator.
(b) Based on net asset value, which does not reflect the sales charge or
contingent deferred sales charge, if applicable.
(c) This voluntary expense decrease is reflected in both the expense and net
investment income ratios shown above.
FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND'S PERFORMANCE IS CONTAINED IN THE FUND'S
ANNUAL REPORT, DATED JULY 31, 1998, WHICH CAN BE OBTAINED FREE OF CHARGE.
GENERAL INFORMATION
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Trust was established as a Massachusetts business trust under a Declaration
of Trust dated May 14, 1993. The Declaration of Trust permits the Trust to offer
separate series of shares of beneficial interest representing interests in
separate portfolios of securities. The shares in any one portfolio may be
offered in separate classes. With respect to this Fund, as of the date of this
prospectus, the Board of Trustees ("Trustees") has not established separate
classes of shares.
Shares of the Fund are designed for customers of financial institutions such as
broker/dealers, banks, fiduciaries, and investment advisers as a convenient
means of accumulating an interest in a professionally managed, non-diversified
portfolio investing primarily in Tennessee Municipal Securities. A minimum
initial investment of $1,000 is required. The Fund is not likely to be a
suitable investment for non-Tennessee taxpayers or retirement plans since the
Fund invests in Tennessee Municipal Securities.
Except as otherwise noted in this prospectus, shares of the Fund are sold at net
asset value plus a sales charge and are redeemed at net asset value.
YEAR 2000 STATEMENT
Like other mutual funds and business organizations worldwide, the Fund's service
providers (among them, the adviser, distributor, administrator and transfer
agent) must ensure that their computer systems are adjusted to properly process
and calculate date-related information from and after January 1, 2000. Many
software programs and, to a lesser extent, the computer hardware in use today
cannot distinguish the year 2000 from the year 1900. Such a design flaw could
have a negative impact in the handling of securities trades, pricing and
accounting services. The Fund and its service providers are actively working on
necessary changes to computer systems to deal with the year 2000 issue and
believe that systems will be year 2000 compliant when required. Analysis
continues regarding the financial impact of instituting a year 2000 compliant
program.
INVESTMENT INFORMATION
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The investment objective of the Fund is to provide current income exempt from
federal income tax and personal income taxes imposed by the state of Tennessee
and Tennessee municipalities. The investment objective cannot be changed without
approval of shareholders of a majority of the Fund's shares. While there is no
assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective, it endeavors to
do so by following the investment policies described in this prospectus.
Interest income of the Fund that is exempt from the income tax described above
retains its exempt status when distributed to the Fund's shareholders. However,
income distributed by the Fund may not necessarily be exempt from state or
municipal taxes in states other than Tennessee.
INVESTMENT POLICIES
The Fund pursues its investment objective by investing primarily in a portfolio
of Tennessee Municipal Securities. As a matter of investment policy, which may
not be changed without shareholder approval, under normal market conditions at
least 80% of the Fund's income will be exempt from federal income tax (including
alternative minimum tax) and personal income tax imposed by the state of
Tennessee and Tennessee municipalities. Unless indicated otherwise, the other
investment policies of the Fund described below may be changed by the Trustees
without approval of shareholders. Shareholders will be notified before any
material changes in these policies become effective.
ACCEPTABLE INVESTMENTS. The Tennessee Municipal Securities in which the Fund
invests are:
. obligations issued by or on behalf of the state of Tennessee, its
political subdivisions, or agencies;
. debt obligations of any state, territory, or possession of the United
States, including the District of Columbia or any political subdivision
of any of these; and
. participation interests, as described below, in any of the above
obligations, the interest from which is, in the opinion of bond counsel for
the issuers or in the opinion of officers of the Fund and/or the investment
adviser to the Fund, exempt from both federal income tax and the personal
income taxes imposed by the state of Tennessee and Tennessee municipalities.
CHARACTERISTICS. The Tennessee Municipal Securities in which the Fund invests
are rated "investment grade," i.e., Baa or above by Moody's Investors Service,
Inc. ("Moody's") or BBB or above by Standard & Poor's ("S&P") or Fitch IBCA,
Inc. ("Fitch"). A description of the rating categories is contained in the
Appendix to the Statement of Additional Information. In certain cases, the
Fund's adviser may choose bonds that are unrated if it judges the bonds to be of
comparable quality to one of the foregoing rating categories. Bonds rated "BBB"
by S&P or "Baa" by Moody's have speculative characteristics. Changes in economic
conditions or other circumstances are more likely to lead to weakened capacity
to make principal and interest payments than higher rated bonds. The prices of
fixed income securities fluctuate inversely to the direction of interest rates.
If the Fund purchases an investment grade bond, and the rating of such bond is
subsequently downgraded so that the bond is no longer classified as investment
grade, the Fund is not required to sell the bond, but will consider whether such
action is appropriate. As a matter of investment policy, under normal market
conditions, the Fund will invest at least 65% of its assets in bonds.
PARTICIPATION INTERESTS. The Fund may purchase participation interests in
Tennessee Municipal Securities from financial institutions such as commercial
banks, savings associations and insurance companies. These participation
interests may take the form of participations, beneficial interests in a trust,
partnership interests or any other form of indirect ownership that allows the
Fund to treat the income from the investment as exempt from federal income tax.
The financial institutions from which the Fund purchases participation interests
frequently provide or secure irrevocable letters of credit or guarantees to
assure that the participation interests are of high quality.
VARIABLE RATE MUNICIPAL SECURITIES. Some of the Tennessee Municipal Securities
which the Fund purchases may have variable interest rates. Variable interest
rates are ordinarily based on a published interest rate or interest rate index.
Many variable rate municipal securities are subject to payment of principal on
demand by the Fund in not more than seven days. All variable rate municipal
securities will meet the quality standards for the Fund. The Fund's adviser has
been instructed by the Trustees to monitor the pricing, quality, and liquidity
of the variable rate municipal securities, including participation interests
held by the Fund, on the basis of published financial information and reports of
the rating agencies and other analytical services.
MUNICIPAL LEASES. Municipal leases are obligations issued by state and local
governments or authorities to finance the acquisition of equipment and
facilities and may be considered to be illiquid. They may take the form of a
lease, an installment purchase contract, a conditional sales contract or a
participation certificate on any of the above. The lease payments and other
rights under the lease provide for and secure the payments on the certificates.
Lease obligations may be limited by municipal charter or the nature of the
appropriation for the lease. In particular, lease obligations may be subject to
periodic appropriation. If the entity does not appropriate funds for future
lease payments, the entity cannot be compelled to make such payments.
Furthermore, a lease may provide that the certificate trustee cannot accelerate
lease obligations upon default. The trustee would only be able to enforce lease
payments as they become due. In the event of a default or failure of
appropriation, it is unlikely that the trustee would be able to obtain an
acceptable substitute source of payment.
If the Fund purchases unrated municipal leases, the Trustees will be responsible
for determining on an ongoing basis, the credit quality of such leases and the
likelihood that a lease will not be canceled.
RESTRICTED AND ILLIQUID SECURITIES. The Fund may invest in restricted
securities. Restricted securities are any securities in which the Fund may
otherwise invest pursuant to its investment objective and policies but which are
subject to restriction upon resale under federal securities laws. To the extent
these securities are deemed to be illiquid, the Fund will limit its purchases,
together with other securities considered to be illiquid, to 15% of its net
assets.
INVESTING IN SECURITIES OF OTHER INVESTMENT COMPANIES. The Fund may invest its
assets in securities of other investment companies as an efficient means of
carrying out its investment policies. It should be noted that investment
companies incur certain expenses, such as management fees, and, therefore, any
investment by the Fund in shares of other investment companies may be subject to
such duplicate expenses.
WHEN-ISSUED AND DELAYED DELIVERY TRANSACTIONS. The Fund may purchase securities
on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis. These transactions are arrangements
in which the Fund purchases securities with payment and delivery scheduled for a
future time. The seller's failure to complete these transactions may cause the
Fund to miss a price or yield considered to be advantageous. Settlement dates
may be a month or more after entering into these transactions, and the market
values of the securities purchased may vary from the purchase prices.
Accordingly, the Fund may pay more/less than the market value of the securities
on the settlement date.
The Fund may dispose of a commitment prior to settlement if the adviser deems it
appropriate to do so. In addition, the Fund may enter into transactions to sell
its purchase commitments to third parties at current market values and
simultaneously acquire other commitments to purchase similar securities at later
dates. The Fund may realize short-term profits or losses upon the sale of such
commitments.
TEMPORARY INVESTMENTS. The Fund normally invests its assets so that at least 80%
of its annual interest income is exempt from federal income tax and the personal
income taxes imposed by the state of Tennessee and Tennessee municipalities and
at least 65% of the value of its total assets will be invested in bonds. From
time to time, during periods of other than normal market conditions, the Fund
may invest in short-term tax exempt or taxable temporary investments. These
temporary investments include: notes issued by or on behalf of municipal or
corporate issuers; obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its
agencies, or instrumentalities; other debt securities; commercial paper;
certificates of deposit of banks; and repurchase agreements (arrangements in
which the organization selling the Fund a bond or temporary investment agrees at
the time of sale to repurchase it at a mutually agreed upon time and price).
The adviser will limit temporary investments to those rated within the
investment grade categories described under "Acceptable Investments--
Characteristics" (if rated) or of comparable quality (if unrated).
Although the Fund is permitted to make taxable, temporary investments, there is
no current intention of generating income subject to federal income tax or
personal income taxes imposed by the state of Tennessee or Tennessee
municipalities.
TENNESSEE MUNICIPAL SECURITIES
Tennessee Municipal Securities are generally issued to finance public works,
such as airports, bridges, highways, housing, hospitals, mass transportation
projects, schools, streets, and water and sewer works. They are also issued to
repay outstanding obligations, to raise funds for general operating expenses,
and to make loans to other public institutions and facilities.
Tennessee Municipal Securities include industrial development bonds issued by or
on behalf of public authorities to provide financing aid to acquire sites or
construct and equip facilities for privately or publicly owned corporations. The
availability of this financing encourages these corporations to locate within
the sponsoring communities and thereby increases local employment.
The two principal classifications of municipal securities are "general
obligation" and "revenue" bonds. General obligation bonds are secured by the
issuer's pledge of its full faith and credit and taxing power for the payment of
principal and interest. However, interest on and principal of revenue bonds are
payable only from the revenue generated by the facility financed by the bond or
other specified sources of revenue. Revenue bonds do not represent a pledge of
credit or create any debt of or charge against the general revenues of a
municipality or public authority. Industrial development bonds are typically
classified as revenue bonds.
INVESTMENT RISKS
Yields on municipal securities depend on a variety of factors, including: the
general conditions of the short-term municipal bond market and the municipal
bond market; the size and maturity of the particular offering; and the rating of
the issue. Further, any adverse economic conditions or developments affecting
the issuer or its municipalities could impact the Fund's portfolio. The ability
of the Fund to achieve its investment objective also depends on the continuing
ability of the issuers of Tennessee Municipal Securities and participation
interests, or the credit enhancers of either, to meet their obligations for the
payment of interest and principal when due. See the Fund's Statement of
Additional Information for a discussion of the state's economy.
Investing in municipal securities which meet the Fund's quality standards may
not be possible if the issuer or its municipalities do not maintain their
current credit ratings. In addition, certain constitutional amendments,
legislative measures, executive orders, administrative regulations, and voter
initiatives could result in adverse consequences affecting municipal securities.
NON-DIVERSIFICATION
The Fund is a non-diversified investment portfolio. As such, there is no limit
on the percentage of assets which can be invested in any single issuer. An
investment in the Fund, therefore, will entail greater risk than investment in a
diversified portfolio of securities because the higher percentage of investments
among fewer issuers may result in greater fluctuation in the total market value
of the Fund's portfolio. Any economic, political, or regulatory developments
affecting the value of the securities in the Fund's portfolio will have a
greater impact on the total value of the portfolio than would be the case if the
portfolio were diversified among more issuers.
The Fund intends to comply with Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, as
amended. This undertaking requires that at the end of each quarter of the
taxable year: (a) with regard to at least 50% of the Fund's total assets, no
more than 5% of its total assets are invested in the securities of a single
issuer; and (b) no more than 25% of its total assets are invested in the
securities of a single issuer.
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS
The Fund will not borrow money directly or through reverse repurchase agreements
(arrangements in which the Fund sells a portfolio instrument for a percentage of
its cash value with an agreement to buy it back on a set date) or pledge
securities except, under certain circumstances, the Fund may borrow up to
one-third of the value of its total assets and pledge assets as necessary to
secure such borrowings.
The above investment limitations cannot be changed without shareholder approval.
THE PLANTERS FUNDS INFORMATION
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST
BOARD OF TRUSTEES. The Trust is managed by a Board of Trustees. The Trustees are
responsible for managing the Trust's business affairs and for exercising all the
Trust's powers except those reserved for the shareholders. The Executive
Committee of the Board of Trustees handles the Board's responsibilities between
meetings of the Board.
INVESTMENT ADVISER. Pursuant to an investment advisory contract with the Trust,
investment decisions for the Fund are made by Union Planters National Bank
("Union Planters" or the "adviser"), the Fund's investment adviser, subject to
direction by the Trustees. The adviser continually conducts investment research
and supervision for the Fund and is responsible for the purchase or sale of
portfolio instruments, for which it receives an annual fee from the assets of
the Fund.
From time to time, to the extent consistent with the objective, policies and
restrictions of the Fund, the Fund may invest in securities of issuers with
which the adviser has a lending relationship.
ADVISORY FEES. The adviser receives an investment advisory fee at an annual
rate equal to 0.75% of the Fund's average daily net assets. The fee paid by
the Fund, while higher than the advisory fees paid by other mutual funds in
general, is comparable to fees paid by other mutual funds with similar
objectives and policies. The adviser may voluntarily choose to waive a portion
of its fee or reimburse the Fund for certain other expenses, but reserves the
right to terminate such waiver or reimbursement at any time at its sole
discretion.
ADVISER'S BACKGROUND. Founded in 1869, Union Planters, a national banking
association, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Union Planters Corporation (the
"Corporation") a multi-bank holding company headquartered in Memphis,
Tennessee. Union Planters is a commercial bank offering a wide range of
banking services to its customers. The adviser has been managing trust assets
for over 80 years. As of December 31, 1997, the Trust Group of Union Planters
had approximately $5.4 billion under administration, of which it had
investment discretion over approximately $1 billion. The adviser has served as
adviser to the Fund since its inception.
As part of its regular banking operations, Union Planters may make loans to
public companies. Thus, it may be possible, from time to time, for the Fund to
hold or acquire the securities of issuers which are also lending clients of
Union Planters. The lending relationship will not be a factor in the selection
of securities.
PORTFOLIO MANAGER. The following individual is primarily responsible for
the day-to-day management of the Fund's portfolio:
L. Clark Zedric is the Fund's portfolio manager. Mr. Zedric managed common
trust funds and mutual funds for Magna Bank, N.A. from 1987 until it
merged its operations with Union Planters. Mr. Zedric received his MBA
from Illinois State University.
DISTRIBUTION OF FUND SHARES
Federated Securities Corp. is the principal distributor for shares of the
Fund. Federated Securities Corp. is a Pennsylvania corporation organized on
November 14, 1969, and is the principal distributor for a number of investment
companies. Federated Securities Corp. is a subsidiary of Federated Investors.
PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS. The distributor, the adviser, or their
affiliates may offer to pay a fee from their own assets to financial
institutions as financial assistance for providing substantial marketing and
sales support. The support may include initiating customer accounts, providing
sales literature, or participating in sales, educational and training seminars
(including those held at recreational facilities). Such assistance will be
predicated upon the amount of shares the financial institution sells or may sell
and/or upon the type and nature of sales or marketing support furnished by the
financial institution. Any payments made by the distributor may be reimbursed by
the adviser or its affiliates.
The Glass-Steagall Act prohibits a depository institution (such as a commercial
bank or a savings association) from being an underwriter or distributor of most
securities. In the event the Glass-Steagall Act is deemed to prohibit depository
institutions from acting in the administrative capacities described above or
should Congress relax current restrictions on depository institutions the
Trustees will consider appropriate changes in the services.
ADMINISTRATION OF THE FUND
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES. Federated Services Company, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a
subsidiary of Federated Investors, Inc., provides the Fund with certain
administrative personnel and services necessary to operate the Fund, such as
legal and accounting services. Federated Services Company provides these at an
annual rate as specified below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MAXIMUM AVERAGE AGGREGATE
FEE DAILY NET ASSETS
------- -----------------------------------
<S> <C>
0.150% on the first $250 million
0.125% on the next $250 million
0.100% on the next $250 million
0.075% on assets in excess of $750 million
</TABLE>
The administrative fee received during any fiscal year shall be at least
$120,000 per Fund. Federated Services Company may voluntarily choose to waive a
portion of its fee.
NET ASSET VALUE
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund's net asset value per share fluctuates. It is determined by dividing
the sum of the market value of all securities and all other assets, less
liabilities, by the number of shares outstanding.
INVESTING IN THE FUND
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SHARE PURCHASES
Shares are sold on days on which the New York Stock Exchange and Federal Reserve
wire system are open for business. An individual investor can purchase shares of
the Fund by telephoning Union Planters Brokerage Services at 1-800- 238-7125 or
by calling his financial institution (such as a bank or an investment dealer).
Orders through a financial institution are considered received when the Fund is
notified of the purchase order. Purchase orders through a registered
broker/dealer must be received by the broker before 4:00 p.m. (Eastern time) and
must be transmitted by the broker to the Fund before 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) in
order for shares to be purchased at that day's price. Purchase orders through
other financial institutions must be received by the financial institution and
transmitted to the Fund before 4:00 p.m. (Eastern time) in order for shares to
be purchased at that day's price. It is the financial institution's
responsibility to transmit orders promptly.
Texas residents must purchase shares of the Fund through Federated Securities
Corp. at 1-800-618-8573. In connection with the sale of shares, the distributor
may, from time to time, offer certain items of nominal value to any shareholder
or investor. The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase request.
Payment may be made by either check or federal funds. Payments should be made to
your financial institution, broker/dealer, Union Planters Brokerage Services or
Federated Securities Corp., as appropriate. It is the Fund's policy to be as
fully invested as possible so that maximum interest may be earned. To this end,
all payments from shareholders must be in federal funds or be converted into
federal funds before shareholders begin to earn dividends.
MINIMUM INVESTMENT REQUIRED
The minimum initial investment in the Fund is $1,000. Subsequent investments
must be in amounts of at least $100.
WHAT SHARES COST
Shares of the Fund are sold at their net asset value next determined after an
order is received plus a sales charge as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SALES CHARGE AS A SALES CHARGE AS A
PERCENTAGE OF PERCENTAGE OF NET
AMOUNT OF TRANSACTION PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE AMOUNT INVESTED
--------------------------------- --------------------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C>
Less than $250,000 2.00% 2.04%
$250,000 but less than $500,000 1.50% 1.52%
$500,000 but less than $1,000,000 1.00% 1.01%
$1,000,000 or more 0.00% --
</TABLE>
The net asset value is determined as of the close of trading (normally 4:00
p.m., Eastern time) on the New York Stock Exchange, Monday through Friday,
except on: (i) days on which there are not sufficient changes in the value of
the Fund's portfolio securities that its net asset value might be materially
affected; (ii) days during which no shares are tendered for redemption and no
orders to purchase shares are received; and (iii) the following holidays: New
Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial
Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
PURCHASES AT NET ASSET VALUE. Shares of the Fund may be purchased at net asset
value, without a sales charge, by Trust customers of Union Planters and
employees and retired employees of Union Planters and its affiliates and their
spouses and children under age 21.
No sales charge is imposed for shares purchased through bank trust departments,
investment advisers registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as
amended, insurance companies and credit unions. However, investors who purchase
shares through a trust department or investment adviser may be charged an
additional service fee by that institution.
DEALER CONCESSIONS. For sales of shares of the Fund, a dealer will normally
receive up to 85% of the applicable sales charge. Any portion of the sales
charge which is not paid to a dealer will be retained by the distributor.
However, the distributor, in its sole discretion, may uniformly offer to pay to
all dealers selling shares of the Fund, all or a portion of the sales
charge it normally retains. If accepted by the dealer, such additional payments
will be predicated upon the amount of Fund shares sold.
The sales charge for shares sold other than through registered broker/dealers
will be retained by the distributor. The distributor may pay fees to banks out
of the sales charge in exchange for sales and/or administrative services
performed on behalf of the bank's customers including the initiation of customer
accounts and purchases of shares.
REDUCING THE SALES CHARGE
The sales charge can be reduced on the purchase of shares of the Fund through:
. quantity discounts and accumulated purchases;
. signing a 13-month letter of intent; or
. using the reinvestment privilege.
QUANTITY DISCOUNTS AND ACCUMULATED PURCHASES. As shown in the table under "What
Shares Cost," larger purchases reduce the sales charge paid.
The Fund
will combine purchases of shares made on the same day by the investor, his
spouse, and his children under age 21 when it calculates the sales charge.
If an additional purchase of shares is made, the Fund will consider the previous
purchases still invested in the Fund. For example, if a shareholder already owns
shares having a current value at the public offering price of $240,000 and
purchases $10,000 more at the current public offering price, the sales charge on
the additional purchase according to the schedule now in effect would be 1.50%,
not 2.00%.
To receive the sales charge reduction, Federated Securities Corp. must be
notified by the shareholder in writing or by the shareholder's financial
institution at the time the purchase is made that shares are already owned or
that purchases are being combined. The Fund will reduce the sales charge after
it confirms the purchases.
LETTER OF INTENT. If a shareholder intends to purchase at least $100,000 of
shares in the Fund over the next 13 months, the sales charge may be reduced by
signing a letter of intent to that effect. This letter of intent includes a
provision for a sales charge adjustment depending on the amount actually
purchased within the 13-month period and a provision for the custodian to hold
up to 2.00% of the total amount intended to be purchased in escrow (in shares)
until such purchase is completed.
The amount held in escrow will be applied to the shareholder's account at the
end of the 13-month period unless the amount specified in the letter of intent
is not purchased. In this event, an appropriate number of escrowed shares may be
redeemed in order to realize the difference in the sales charge.
This letter of intent will not obligate the shareholder to purchase shares, but
if he does, each purchase during the period will be at the sales charge
applicable to the total amount intended to be purchased. This letter may be
dated as of a prior date to include any purchases made within the past 90 days
towards the dollar fulfillment of the letter of intent. Prior trade prices will
not be adjusted.
REINVESTMENT PRIVILEGE. If shares in the Fund have been redeemed, the
shareholder has a one-time right, within 30 days, to reinvest the redemption
proceeds at the next-determined net asset value without any sales charge.
Federated Securities Corp. must be notified by the shareholder in writing or by
the shareholder's financial institution of the reinvestment in order to
eliminate a sales charge. If the shareholder redeems shares in the Fund, there
may be tax consequences, and exercise of the reinvestment privilege may result
in additional tax considerations. Shareholders contemplating such transactions
should consult their own tax advisers.
CONFIRMATIONS AND ACCOUNT STATEMENTS. Shareholders will receive detailed
confirmations of transactions. In addition, shareholders will receive periodic
statements reporting all account activity, including dividends paid. Share
certificates are not issued.
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS. Dividends are declared and paid monthly to all
shareholders invested in the Fund on the record date.
Dividends are declared just prior to determining net asset value. Capital gains
realized by the Fund, if any, will be distributed at least once every 12 months.
Dividends and capital gains will be reinvested in additional shares on payment
dates at the ex-dividend date's net asset value without a sales charge, unless
cash payments are requested by writing to your financial institution,
broker/dealer, Union Planters Brokerage Services or Federated Securities Corp.,
as appropriate.
REDEEMING SHARES
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund redeems shares at their net asset value next determined after the Fund
receives the redemption request. Redemptions will be made on days on which the
Fund computes its net asset value. Telephone or written requests for redemption
must be received in proper form.
BY TELEPHONE
A shareholder may redeem shares by calling his financial institution (such as a
bank or an investment dealer) to request the redemption. Shares will be redeemed
at the net asset value next determined after the Fund receives the redemption
request from the financial institution. Redemption requests through a registered
broker/dealer must be received by the broker before 4:00 p.m. (Eastern time) and
must be transmitted by the broker to the Fund before 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) in
order for shares to be redeemed at that day's net asset value. Redemption
requests through other financial institutions must be received by the financial
institution and transmitted to the Fund before 4:00 p.m. (Eastern time) in order
for shares to be redeemed at that day's net asset value. The financial
institution is responsible for promptly submitting redemption requests and
providing proper written redemption instructions to the Fund. The financial
institution may charge customary fees and commissions for this service.
For orders received before 4:00 p.m. (Eastern time), proceeds will normally be
wired the next day to the shareholder's account as instructed on the
shareholder's authorization form or a check will be sent to the address of
record. Proceeds delivered in the form of a check will be sent within seven days
after a proper request for redemption has been received, provided Federated
Shareholder Services Company has received the purchase price for the shares from
the shareholder. Before a financial institution may request redemption by
telephone on behalf of a shareholder, an authorization form permitting the Fund
to accept redemption requests by telephone must be completed.
Telephone redemption instructions may be recorded. If reasonable procedures are
not followed by the Fund, it may be liable for losses due to unauthorized or
fraudulent telephone instructions.
In the event of drastic economic or market changes, a shareholder may experience
difficulty in redeeming by telephone. If such a case should occur, it is
recommended that a redemption request be made in writing and be hand delivered
or sent by overnight mail to Federated Securities Corp. If, at any time, the
Fund should determine it necessary to terminate or modify this method of
redemption, shareholders would be promptly notified.
BY MAIL
Shareholders may redeem shares by sending a written request to Federated
Securities Corp., as appropriate. The written request should include the
shareholder's name, the Fund name, the account number, and the share or dollar
amount requested. If share certificates have been issued, they must be properly
endorsed and should be sent by registered or certified mail with the written
request. Shareholders should call Federated Securities Corp. at 1-800- 618-8573
for assistance in redeeming by mail.
SIGNATURES. Shareholders requesting a redemption of any amount to be sent to an
address other than that on record with the Fund, or a redemption payable other
than to the shareholder of record, must have signatures on written redemption
requests guaranteed by:
. a trust company or commercial bank whose deposits are insured by the
Bank Insurance Fund, which is administered by the FDIC;
. a member of the New York, American, Boston, Midwest, or Pacific Stock
Exchange;
. a savings bank or savings association whose deposits are insured by the
Savings Association Insurance Fund, which is administered by the FDIC;
or
. any other "eligible guarantor institution," as defined in the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934.
The Fund does not accept signatures guaranteed by a notary public.
The Fund and its transfer agent have adopted standards for accepting signature
guarantees from the above institutions. The Fund may elect in the future to
limit eligible signature guarantors to institutions that are members of a
signature guarantee program. The Fund and its transfer agent reserve the right
to amend these standards at any time without notice.
ACCOUNTS WITH LOW BALANCES
Due to the high cost of maintaining accounts with low balances, the Fund may
redeem shares in any account and pay the proceeds to the shareholder if the
account balance falls below the required minimum of $1,000 due to shareholder
redemptions.
Before shares are redeemed to close an account, the shareholder is notified in
writing and allowed 30 days to purchase additional shares to meet the minimum
requirement.
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VOTING RIGHTS
Each share of the Fund gives the shareholder one vote in Trustee elections and
other matters submitted to shareholders for vote. As of November 2, 1998, Union
Planters National Bank, Memphis, Tennessee, acting in various capacities for
numerous accounts, was the owner of record of approximately 1,626,301 shares
(90.32%) of the Fund, and therefore, may, for certain purposes, be deemed to
control the Fund and be able to affect the outcome of certain matters presented
for a vote of shareholders.
As a Massachusetts business trust, the Trust is not required to hold annual
shareholder meetings. Shareholder approval will be sought only for certain
changes in the Trust's or the Fund's operation and for the election of Trustees
under certain circumstances. Trustees may be removed by the Trustees or by
shareholders at a special meeting. A special meeting of the shareholders for
this purpose shall be called by the Trustees upon the written request of
shareholders owning at least 10% of the outstanding shares of all series in the
Trust entitled to vote.
MASSACHUSETTS PARTNERSHIP LAW
Under certain circumstances, shareholders may be held personally liable as
partners under Massachusetts law for acts or obligations of the Trust on behalf
of the Fund. To protect shareholders of the Fund, the Trust has filed legal
documents with Massachusetts that expressly disclaim the liability of
shareholders of the Fund for such acts or obligations of the Trust. These
documents require notice of this disclaimer to be given in each agreement,
obligation, or instrument that the Trust or its Trustees enter into or sign on
behalf of the Fund.
In the unlikely event that a shareholder of the Fund is held personally liable
for the Trust's obligations on behalf of the Fund, the Trust is required to use
the property of the Fund to protect or compensate the shareholder. On request,
the Trust will defend any claim made and pay any judgment against a shareholder
of the Fund for any act or obligation of the Trust on behalf of the Fund.
Therefore, financial loss resulting from liability as a shareholder of the Fund
will occur only if the Trust cannot meet its obligations to indemnify
shareholders and pay judgments against them from the assets of the Fund.
EFFECT OF BANKING LAWS
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Glass-Steagall Act and other banking laws and regulations presently prohibit
a bank holding company registered under the Federal Bank Holding Company Act of
1956 or any affiliate thereof from sponsoring, organizing or controlling a
registered, open-end investment company continuously engaged in the issuance of
its shares, and from issuing, underwriting, selling or distributing securities
in general. Such laws and regulations do not prohibit such a holding company or
affiliate from acting as investment adviser, transfer agent or custodian to such
an investment company or from purchasing shares of such a company as agent for
and upon the order of their customers. The Fund's adviser, Union Planters, is
subject to such banking laws and regulations.
Union Planters believes that it may perform the investment advisory services for
the Fund contemplated by its advisory agreement with the Trust without violating
the Glass-Steagall Act or other applicable banking laws or regulations. Changes
in either federal or state statutes and regulations relating to the permissible
activities of banks and their subsidiaries or affiliates, as well as further
judicial or administrative decisions or interpretations of present or future
statutes and regulations, could prevent Union Planters from continuing to
perform all or a part of the above services for its customers and/or the Fund.
In such event, changes in the operation of a Fund may occur, including the
possible alteration or termination of any automatic or other Fund share
investment or redemption services then being provided by Union Planters, and the
Trustees would consider alternative investment advisers and other means of
continuing available investment services. It is not expected that the Fund's
existing shareholders would suffer any adverse financial consequences (if
another adviser with equivalent abilities to Union Planters is found) as a
result of any of these occurrences.
TAX INFORMATION
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL INCOME TAX
The Fund expects to pay no federal income tax because it expects to meet
requirements of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended ("the Code"), applicable
to regulated investment companies and to receive the special tax treatment
afforded to such companies.
Dividends of the Fund representing net interest income earned on some temporary
investments and any realized net short-term gains are taxed as ordinary income.
Distributions representing net long-term capital gains realized by the Fund, if
any, will be taxable as long-term capital gains regardless of the length of time
shareholders have held their shares.
These tax consequences apply whether dividends are received in cash or as
additional shares. Information on the tax status of dividends and distributions
is provided annually.
STATE OF TENNESSEE TAXES
Under existing Tennessee law, shareholders of the Fund will not be subject to
Tennessee personal income taxes on Fund dividends to the extent that such
dividends represent "exempt-interest dividends" as defined in the Code, which
are directly attributable to (i) interest on obligations of the state of
Tennessee or any of its political subdivisions; or (ii) interest on certain
obligations of the United States, or any agency or instrumentality thereof.
To the extent that distributions by the Fund are derived from capital gains on
such obligations, or from dividends or capital gains on other types of
obligations, such distributions will be subject to Tennessee income taxes.
STATE AND LOCAL TAXES
Income from the Fund is not necessarily free from state income taxes in states
other than Tennessee. Shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisers
regarding the status of their accounts under state and local tax laws.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From time to time the Fund advertises total return, yield, and tax-equivalent
yield. Total return represents the change, over a specified period of time, in
the value of an investment in shares after reinvesting all income and capital
gains distributions. It is calculated by dividing that change by the initial
investment and is expressed as a percentage.
The yield of the Fund is calculated by dividing the net investment income per
share (as defined by the SEC) earned by the Fund over a thirty-day period by the
maximum offering price per share of the Fund on the last day of the period. This
number is then annualized using semi-annual compounding. The tax- equivalent
yield of the Fund is calculated similarly to the yield, but is adjusted to
reflect the taxable yield that the Fund would have had to earn to equal its
actual yield, assuming a specific tax rate. The yield and the tax- equivalent
yield do not necessarily reflect income actually earned by the Fund and,
therefore, may not correlate to the dividends or other distributions paid to
shareholders.
The performance information reflects the effect of the sales charge, which, if
excluded, would increase the total return, yield, and tax-equivalent yield.
From time to time, advertisements for the Fund may refer to ratings, rankings,
and other information in certain financial publications and/or compare the
Fund's performance to certain indices.
ADDRESSES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Tennessee Tax-Free Bond Fund 5800 Corporate Drive
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15237-7010
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributor
Federated Securities Corp. Federated Investors Tower
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-3779
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Adviser
Union Planters National Bank P.O. Box 387
Memphis, Tennessee 38147
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Custodian
State Street Bank and P.O. Box 8600
Trust Company Boston, Massachusetts 02266-8600
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transfer Agent, Dividend Disbursing Agent,
and Portfolio Accounting Services
Federated Shareholder Federated Investors Tower
Services Company 1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-3779
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Independent Accountants
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 200 East Randolph Street
Chicago, Illinois 60601
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
TENNESSEE TAX-FREE BOND FUND
PROSPECTUS
A Non-Diversified Portfolio
of The Planters Funds
An Open-End, Management
Investment Company
November 30, 1998
Union Planters National Bank
Investment Adviser
[LOGO OF FEDERATED INVESTORS]
Federated Securities Corp., Distributor
Cusip 727426108
3072709A (11/98)
[RECYCLED LOGO]
[LOGO OF THE PLANTERS FUNDS]
Tennessee Tax-Free Bond Fund
(A Portfolio of The Planters Funds)
Statement of Additional Information
This Statement of Additional Information should be read with the prospectus of
Tennessee Tax-Free Bond Fund (the "Fund") dated November 30, 1998. This
Statement is not a prospectus. To receive a copy of the prospectus free of
charge write or call Union Planters Brokerage Services at 1-800-238-7125.
Tennessee Tax-Free Bond Fund
5800 Corporate Drive
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15237-7010
Statement dated November 30, 1998
Federated Investors Logo
Cusip 727426108
3072709B (11/98)
Table of Contents
General Information About the Fund 1
Investment Objective and Policies 1
Acceptable Investments 1
When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Transactions 2
Temporary Investments 2
Repurchase Agreements 2
Portfolio Turnover 2
Investment Limitations 2
Tennessee Investment Risks 4
The Planters Funds Management 4
The Funds 8
Fund Ownership 8
Trustee Compensation 9
Trustee Liability 9
Investment Advisory Services 9
Adviser to the Fund 9
Advisory Fees 10
Brokerage Transactions 10
Other Services 10
Fund Administration 10
Custodian and Portfolio Accountant 10
Transfer Agent 11
Independent Accountants 11
Purchasing Shares 11
Determining Net Asset Value 11
Valuing Municipal Bonds 11
Use of Amortized Cost 11
Redeeming Shares 11
Redemption in Kind 11
Tax Status 12
The Fund's Tax Status 12
Shareholder's Tax Status 12
Total Return 12
Yield 12
Tax-Equivalent Yield 13
Tax-Equivalency Table 13
Performance Comparisons 13
Economic and Market Information 14
Appendix 15
General Information About the Fund
The Fund is a portfolio in The Planters Funds (the "Trust"). The Trust was
established as a Massachusetts business trust under a Declaration of Trust dated
May 14, 1993.
Investment Objective and Policies
The Fund's investment objective is to provide current income exempt from federal
income tax and personal income taxes imposed by the state of Tennessee and
Tennessee municipalities. The investment objective cannot be changed without the
approval of shareholders.
Acceptable Investments
The Fund invests primarily in a portfolio of municipal securities which are
exempt from federal income tax and personal income taxes imposed by the state of
Tennessee and Tennessee municipalities ("Tennessee Municipal Securities"). The
municipal securities in which the Fund invests include those issued by or on
behalf of the state of Tennessee and Tennessee municipalities as well as those
issued by states, territories, and possessions of the United States which are
exempt from federal income tax and personal income taxes imposed by the state of
Tennessee and Tennessee municipalities.
Characteristics
The Tennessee Municipal Securities in which the Fund invests have the
characteristics set forth in the prospectus. If ratings made by Moody's
Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's"), Standard & Poor's ("S&P") or Fitch
IBCA, Inc. ("Fitch") change because of changes in those organizations or in
their rating systems, the Fund will try to use comparable ratings as
standards in accordance with the investment policies described in the
Fund's prospectus.
Types of Acceptable Investments
Examples of Tennessee Municipal Securities include:
. governmental lease certificates of participation issued by state or
municipal authorities where payment is secured by installment payments for
equipment, buildings, or other facilities being leased by the state or
municipality;
. municipal notes and tax-exempt commercial paper;
. serial bonds;
. tax anticipation notes sold to finance working capital needs of
municipalities in anticipation of receiving taxes;
. bond anticipation notes sold in anticipation of the issuance of long-
term bonds;
. pre-refunded municipal bonds whose timely payment of interest and
principal is ensured by an escrow of U.S. government obligations; and
. general obligation bonds.
Participation Interests
The financial institutions from which the Fund purchases participation
interests frequently provide or secure from another financial institution
irrevocable letters of credit or guarantees and give the Fund the right to
demand payment of the principal amounts of the participation interests plus
accrued interest on short notice (usually within seven days).
Variable-Rate Municipal Securities
Variable interest rates generally reduce changes in the market value of
municipal securities from their original purchase prices. Accordingly, as
interest rates decrease or increase, the potential for capital appreciation
or depreciation is less for variable-rate municipal securities than for
fixed-income obligations. Many municipal securities with variable interest
rates purchased by the Fund are subject to repayment of principal (usually
within seven days) on the Fund's demand. The terms of these variable-rate
demand instruments require payment of principal and accrued interest from
the issuer of the municipal obligations, the issuer of the participation
interests, or a guarantor of either issuer.
Municipal Leases
In determining the liquidity of municipal lease securities, the adviser,
under the authority delegated by the Board of Trustees ("Trustees"), will
base its determination on the following factors: (a) whether the lease can
be terminated by the lessee; (b) the potential recovery, if any, from a
sale of the leased property upon termination of the lease; (c) the lessee's
general credit strength (e.g., its debt, administrative, economic and
financial characteristics, and prospects); (d) the likelihood that the
lessee will discontinue appropriating funding for the leased property
because the property is no longer deemed essential to its operations (e.g.,
the potential for an event of nonappropriation); and (e) any credit
enhancement or legal recourse provided upon an event of nonappropriation or
other termination of the lease.
Investing in Securities of Other Investment Companies
The Fund may invest in the securities of affiliated mutual funds as an efficient
means of managing the Fund's uninvested cash.
When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Transactions
These transactions are made to secure what is considered to be an advantageous
price or yield for the Fund. Settlement dates may be a month or more after
entering into these transactions, and the market values of the securities
purchased may vary from the purchase prices. No fees or other expenses, other
than normal transaction costs, are incurred. However, liquid assets of the Fund
sufficient to make payment for the securities to be purchased are segregated on
the Fund's records at the trade date. These assets are marked to market daily
and are maintained until the transaction has been settled. The Fund does not
intend to engage in when-issued and delayed delivery transactions to an extent
that would cause the segregation of more than 20% of the total value of its
assets.
Temporary Investments
From time to time, during periods of other than normal market conditions, the
Fund may invest in short-term tax-exempt or taxable temporary investments.
Repurchase Agreements
The Fund requires its custodian to take possession of the securities subject to
repurchase agreements. To the extent that the original seller does not
repurchase the securities from the Fund, the Fund could receive less than the
repurchase price on any sale of such securities. In the event that such a
defaulting seller filed for bankruptcy or became insolvent, disposition of such
securities by the Fund might be delayed pending court action. The Fund believes
that under the regular procedures normally in effect for custody of the Fund's
portfolio securities subject to repurchase agreements, a court of competent
jurisdiction would rule in favor of the Fund and allow retention or disposition
of such securities. The Fund may only enter into repurchase agreements with
banks and other recognized financial institutions such as broker/dealers which
are found by the Fund's adviser to be creditworthy pursuant to guidelines
established by the Trustees.
From time to time, such as when suitable Tennessee Municipal Securities are not
available, the Fund may invest a portion of its assets in cash. Any portion of
the Fund's assets maintained in cash will reduce the amount of assets in
Tennessee Municipal Securities and thereby affect the Fund's yield.
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may trade or dispose of portfolio securities as considered necessary to
meet its investment objective. It is not anticipated that the portfolio trading
engaged in by the Fund will result in its annual rate of portfolio turnover
exceeding 100%. For the fiscal years ended July 31, 1998 and 1997, the portfolio
turnover rates were 4% and 11%, respectively.
Investment Limitations
Selling Short and Buying on Margin
The Fund will not sell any securities short or purchase any securities on
margin but may obtain such short-term credits as may be necessary for
clearance of purchases and sales of securities.
Issuing Senior Securities and Borrowing Money
The Fund will not issue senior securities except that the Fund may borrow
money in amounts up to one-third of the value of its total assets,
including the amounts borrowed. The Fund will not borrow money for
investment leverage, but rather as a temporary, extraordinary, or emergency
measure to facilitate management of the portfolio by enabling the Fund to
meet redemption requests when the liquidation of portfolio securities is
deemed to be inconvenient or disadvantageous. The Fund will not purchase
any securities while borrowings in excess of 5% of its total assets are
outstanding.
Pledging Assets
The Fund will not mortgage, pledge, or hypothecate its assets except to
secure permitted borrowings. In those cases, it may mortgage, pledge, or
hypothecate assets having a market value not exceeding 10% of the value of
its total assets at the time of the pledge.
Underwriting
The Fund will not underwrite any issue of securities except as it may be
deemed to be an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933 in connection
with the sale of securities in accordance with its investment objective,
policies, and limitations.
Investing in Commodities
The Fund will not buy or sell commodities, commodity contracts, or
commodity futures contracts.
Investing in Real Estate
The Fund will not purchase or sell real estate, including limited
partnership interests, although it may invest in municipal bonds secured by
real estate or interests in real estate.
Lending Cash or Securities
The Fund will not lend any of its assets except portfolio securities up to
one-third of the value of its total assets. The Fund may, however, acquire
publicly or non-publicly issued municipal bonds or temporary investments or
enter into repurchase agreements in accordance with its investment
objective, policies and limitations.
Dealing in Puts And Calls
The Fund will not buy or sell puts, calls, straddles, spreads, or any
combination of these.
Concentration of Investments
The Fund will not purchase securities if, as a result of such purchase, 25%
or more of the value of its total assets would be invested in any one
industry or in industrial development bonds or other securities, the
interest upon which is paid from revenues of similar types of projects.
However, under other than normal market conditions, the Fund may invest
more than 25% of the value of its assets in cash or cash items, securities
issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or
instrumentalities, or instruments secured by these money market
instruments, i.e., repurchase agreements.
The above investment limitations cannot be changed without shareholder approval.
The following limitation, however, may be changed by the Trustees without
shareholder approval. Shareholders will be notified before any material change
in these limitations becomes effective.
Investing in Illiquid Securities
The Fund will not invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid
obligations, including repurchase agreements providing for settlement in
more than seven days after notice, and certain restricted securities not
determined by the Trustees to be liquid, including certain municipal
leases.
The Fund does not expect to borrow money or pledge securities in excess of
5% of the value of its net assets during the coming fiscal year.
For purposes of its policies and limitations, the Fund considers
certificates of deposit and demand and time deposits issued by a U.S.
branch of a domestic bank or savings association having capital, surplus,
and undivided profits in excess of $100,000,000 at the time of investment
to be "cash items." Cash items may include obligations such as:
. certificates of deposit (including those issued by domestic and foreign
branches of FDIC insured banks);
. obligations issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the
U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities; and
. repurchase agreements.
Tennessee Investment Risks
The Fund's performance can be expected to be closely tied to the prevailing
economic conditions of the state of Tennessee as a whole, its particular
geographic regions, and the industries located within the state.
Tennessee represents Union Planters' largest customer base. A population of
about 5.4 million ranks Tennessee 17th in the country. Manufacturing employs
about 19% of the 2.6 million workers in the state, the highest percentage of any
business sector, but a decline from 27% just twelve years ago. Transportation
equipment and machinery, metal products, and printing/publishing contribute
significantly to the manufacturing sector. Retail trade and a large service
sector also measure heavily in the state's economy. Some plant layoffs took
place in the industrial sector during 1997, and as a result, the remarkable
growth experienced by the state for the last several years slowed in early 1997.
Bright prospects in the transportation equipment manufacturing sector partially
offset these events. Auto manufacturers have moved many facilities to Tennessee
in response to lower costs and tax incentives. Auto body parts and components
made in Tennessee are in demand for local assembly plants. Additionally, exports
of automobile parts to Canada, Mexico, and Japan surged beginning in 1996.
Nashville, a fast-growing manufacturing service center, is the largest
metropolitan area in Tennessee with about 1.1 million people or 21% of the
state's population. The Nashville Health Care Council, founded in 1995, has
helped Nashville attract many major health care players including PhyCor,
Columbia Healthcare, Quorum Health Group, and Vanderbilt University Health
Center.
Memphis, Union Planters' corporate headquarters, is the second largest
metropolitan area in the state. Only slightly smaller than Nashville, Memphis is
less dependent on manufacturing and services. Centralized in the Southern U.S.
with a Mississippi riverport and mild year-round climate, the city developed
into an important distribution center. Federal Express, the area's largest
employer, will soon finish construction of a 501,000 square foot computer
development center.
The Planters Funds Management
Officers and Trustees are listed with their addresses, birthdates, present
positions with The Planters Funds, and principal occupations.
John F. Donahue@*
Federated Investors Tower
Pittsburgh, PA
Birthdate: July 28, 1924
Chairman and Trustee
Chief Executive Officer and Director or Trustee of the Funds; Chairman and
Director, Federated Investors, Inc.; Chairman and Trustee, Federated Advisers,
Federated Management, and Federated Research; Chairman and Director, Federated
Research Corp. and Federated Global Research Corp.; Chairman, Passport Research,
Ltd.; Mr. Donahue is the father of J. Christopher Donahue, Executive Vice
President of the Trust.
Thomas G. Bigley
15 Old Timber Trail
Pittsburgh, PA
Birthdate: February 3, 1934
Trustee
Director or Trustee of the Funds; Director, Member of Executive Committee,
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh; formerly, Senior Partner, Ernst & Young LLP;
Director, MED 3000 Group, Inc.; Director, Member of Executive Committee,
University of Pittsburgh.
John T. Conroy, Jr.
Wood/IPC Commercial Department
John R. Wood and Associates, Inc., Realtors
3255 Tamiami Trail North
Naples, FL
Birthdate: June 23, 1937
Trustee
Director or Trustee of the Funds; President, Investment Properties Corporation;
Senior Vice President, John R. Wood and Associates, Inc., Realtors; Partner or
Trustee in private real estate ventures in Southwest Florida; formerly,
President, Naples Property Management, Inc. and Northgate Village Development
Corporation.
Nicholas P. Constantakis
175 Woodshire Drive
Pittsburgh, PA
Birthdate: September 3, 1939
Trustee
Director or Trustee of the Funds; formerly, Partner, Andersen Worldwide SC.
William J. Copeland
One PNC Plaza - 23rd Floor
Pittsburgh, PA
Birthdate: July 4, 1918
Trustee
Director or Trustee of the Funds; Director and Member of the Executive
Committee, Michael Baker, Inc.; formerly, Vice Chairman and Director, PNC Bank,
N.A., and PNC Bank Corp.; Director, Ryan Homes, Inc.; Director, United Refinery;
Chairman, Pittsburgh Foundation; Director, Forbes Fund; Chairman, Pittsburgh
Civic Light Opera.
James E. Dowd, Esq.
571 Hayward Mill Road
Concord, MA
Birthdate: May 18, 1922
Trustee
Director or Trustee of the Funds; Attorney-at-law; Director, The Emerging
Germany Fund, Inc.; formerly, President, Boston Stock Exchange, Inc.; Regional
Administrator, United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Lawrence D. Ellis, M.D.*
3471 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1111
Pittsburgh, PA
Birthdate: October 11, 1932
Trustee
Director or Trustee of the Funds; Professor of Medicine, University of
Pittsburgh; Medical Director, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center \\
Downtown; Hematologist, Oncologist, and Internist, Presbyterian and Montefiore
Hospitals; formerly, Member, National Board of Trustees, Leukemia Society of
America.
Edward L. Flaherty, Jr., Esq.@
Miller, Ament, Henny & Kochuba
205 Ross Street
Pittsburgh, PA
Birthdate: June 18, 1924
Trustee
Director or Trustee of the Funds; Attorney, Of Counsel, Miller, Ament, Henny &
Kochuba; Director, Eat'N Park Restaurants, Inc.; formerly, Counsel, Horizon
Financial, F.A., Western Region; Partner, Meyer and Flaherty.
Edward C. Gonzales
Federated Investors Tower
Pittsburgh, PA
Birthdate: October 22, 1930
President, Treasurer and Trustee
Trustee or Director of some of the Funds; President, Executive Vice President
and Treasurer of some of the Funds; Vice Chairman, Federated Investors, Inc.;
Vice President, Federated Advisers, Federated Management, Federated Research,
Federated Research Corp., Federated Global Research Corp. and Passport Research,
Ltd.; Executive Vice President and Director, Federated Securities Corp.;
Trustee, Federated Shareholder Services Company.
Peter E. Madden
One Royal Palm Way
100 Royal Palm Way
Palm Beach, FL
Birthdate: March 16, 1942
Trustee
Director or Trustee of the Funds; formerly, Representative, Commonwealth of
Massachusetts General Court; President, State Street Bank and Trust Company and
State Street Corporation; Director, VISA USA and VISA International; Chairman
and Director, Massachusetts Banker Association; Director, Depository Trust
Corporation.
John E. Murray, Jr., J.D., S.J.D.
President, Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA
Birthdate: December 20, 1932
Trustee
Director or Trustee of the Funds; President, Law Professor, Duquesne University;
Consulting Partner, Mollica & Murray; formerly, Dean and Professor of Law,
University of Pittsburgh School of Law; Dean and Professor of Law, Villanova
University School of Law.
Wesley W. Posvar
1202 Cathedral of Learning
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
Birthdate: September 14, 1925
Trustee
Director or Trustee of the Funds; President, World Society of Ekistics, Athens;
Professor, International Politics; Management Consultant; Trustee, Carnegie
Endowment for International Peace, RAND Corporation, Online Computer Library
Center, Inc., National Defense University, and U.S. Space Foundation; President
Emeritus, University of Pittsburgh; Founding Chairman, National Advisory,
Council for Environmental Policy and Technology, Federal Emergency Management
Advisory Board and Czech Management Center, Prague; formerly, Professor, United
States Military Academy; Professor, United States Air Force Academy.
Marjorie P. Smuts
4905 Bayard Street
Pittsburgh, PA
Birthdate: June 21, 1935
Trustee
Director or Trustee of the Funds; Public relations/Marketing/Conference
Planning; formerly, National Spokesperson, Aluminum Company of America; business
owner.
J. Christopher Donahue
Federated Investors Tower
Pittsburgh, PA
Birthdate: April 11, 1949
Executive Vice President
President or Executive Vice President of the Funds; President and Director,
Federated Investors, Inc.; President and Trustee, Federated Advisers, Federated
Management, and Federated Research; President and Director, Federated Research
Corp. and Federated Global Research Corp.; President, Passport Research, Ltd.;
Trustee, Federated Shareholder Services Company, and Federated Shareholder
Services; Director, Federated Services Company; Director or Trustee of some of
the Funds. Mr. Donahue is the son of John F. Donahue, Chairman and Trustee of
the Trust.
John W. McGonigle
Federated Investors Tower
Pittsburgh, PA
Birthdate: October 26, 1938
Executive Vice President and Secretary
Executive Vice President and Secretary of the Funds; Treasurer of some of the
Funds; Executive Vice President, Secretary, and Director, Federated Investors,
Inc.; Trustee, Federated Advisers, Federated Management, and Federated Research;
Director, Federated Research Corp. and Federated Global Research Corp.; Trustee,
Federated Shareholder Services Company; Director, Federated Services Company;
President and Trustee, Federated Shareholder Services; Director, Federated
Securities Corp.
Richard B. Fisher
Federated Investors Tower
Pittsburgh, PA
Birthdate: May 17, 1923
Vice President
President or Vice President of some of the Funds; Director or Trustee of some of
the Funds; Executive Vice President, Federated Investors, Inc.; Chairman and
Director, Federated Securities Corp.
Judith J. Mackin
Federated Investors Tower
Pittsburgh, PA
Birthdate: May 30, 1960
Vice President and Assistant Treasurer
Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of some of the Funds.
* This Trustee is deemed to be an "interested person" as defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940.
@ Member of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee of the Board of
Trustees handles the responsibilities of the Board between meetings of the
Board.
The Funds
As referred to in the list of Trustees and Officers, "Funds" includes the
following investment companies: Automated Government Money Trust; Cash Trust
Series II; Cash Trust Series, Inc.; CCB Funds; DG Investor Series; Edward D.
Jones & Co. Daily Passport Cash Trust; Federated Adjustable Rate U.S. Government
Fund, Inc.; Federated American Leaders Fund, Inc.; Federated ARMs Fund;
Federated Core Trust; Federated Equity Funds; Federated Equity Income Fund,
Inc.; Federated Fund for U.S. Government Securities, Inc.; Federated GNMA Trust;
Federated Government Income Securities, Inc.; Federated Government Trust;
Federated High Income Bond Fund, Inc.; Federated High Yield Trust; Federated
Income Securities Trust; Federated Income Trust; Federated Index Trust;
Federated Institutional Trust; Federated Insurance Series; Federated Master
Trust; Federated Municipal Opportunities Fund, Inc.; Federated Municipal
Securities Fund, Inc.; Federated Municipal Trust; Federated Short-Term Municipal
Trust; Federated Short-Term U.S. Government Trust; Federated Stock and Bond
Fund, Inc.; Federated Stock Trust; Federated Tax-Free Trust; Federated Total
Return Series, Inc.; Federated U.S. Government Bond Fund; Federated U.S.
Government Securities Fund: 1-3 Years; Federated U.S. Government Securities
Fund: 2-5 Years; Federated U.S. Government Securities Fund: 5-10 Years;
Federated Utility Fund, Inc.; Fixed Income Securities, Inc.; Intermediate
Municipal Trust; International Series, Inc.; Investment Series Funds, Inc.;
Liberty Term Trust, Inc. - 1999; Liberty U.S. Government Money Market Trust;
Liquid Cash Trust; Managed Series Trust; Money Market Management, Inc.; Money
Market Obligations Trust; Money Market Obligations Trust II; Money Market Trust;
Municipal Securities Income Trust; Newpoint Funds; Regions Funds; RIGGS Funds;
Tax-Free Instruments Trust; The Planters Funds; Trust for Government Cash
Reserves; Trust for Short-Term U.S. Government Securities; Trust for U.S.
Treasury Obligations; WesMark Funds; WCT Funds; World Investment Series, Inc.;
Blanchard Funds; Blanchard Precious Metals Fund, Inc.; High Yield Cash Trust;
Investment Series Trust; Targeted Duration Trust; The Virtus Funds, and Trust
for Financial Institutions.
Fund Ownership
Officers and Trustees own less than 1% of the Fund's outstanding shares.
As of November 2, 1998, the following shareholders of record owned 5% or more of
the shares of the Fund: Union Planters National Bank, Memphis, Tennessee, acting
in various capacities for numerous accounts, owned approximately 1,626,301
shares (90.32%); National Financial Services, Corp., for the exclusive benefit
of its customers, New York, New York, owned approximately 135,690 shares
(7.54%).
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Trustee Compensation
AGGREGATE
NAME, COMPENSATION
POSITION WITH FROM
TRUST TRUST*#
<S> <C>
John F. Donahue $ 0
Chairman and Trustee
Thomas G. Bigley $1,041.82
Trustee
John T. Conroy, Jr. $1,146.19
Trustee
Nicholas P. Constantakis+ $ 531.76
Trustee
William J. Copeland $1,146.19
Trustee
James E. Dowd, Esq. $1,146.19
Trustee
Lawrence D. Ellis, M.D. $1,041.82
Trustee
Edward L. Flaherty, Jr., Esq. $1,146.19
Trustee
Edward C. Gonzales $ 0
President, Treasurer and Trustee
Peter E. Madden $1,041.82
Treasurer and Trustee
John E. Murray, Jr., J.D., S.J.D. $1,041.82
Trustee
Wesley W. Posvar $1,041.82
Trustee
Marjorie P. Smuts $1,041.82
Trustee
</TABLE>
* Information is furnished for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1998.
# The aggregate compensation is provided for the Trust which is comprised of
one portfolio. The Fund is the only investment company in the Fund Complex.
+ Mr. Constantakis became a member of the Board of Trustees on February 23,
1998.
Trustee Liability
The Trust's Declaration of Trust provides that the Trustees will not be liable
for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law. However, they are not
protected against any liability to which they would otherwise be subject by
reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless
disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of their office.
Investment Advisory Services
Adviser to the Fund
The Fund's investment adviser is Union Planters National Bank ("Union Planters"
or the "adviser"). Union Planters is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Union Planters
Corporation, a multi-bank holding company headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee.
Because of the internal controls maintained by Union Planters to restrict the
flow of non-public information, Fund investments are typically made without any
knowledge of Union Planters or its affiliates' lending relationships with an
issuer. The adviser shall not be liable to the Trust, the Fund or any
shareholder of the Fund for any losses that may be sustained in the purchase,
holding, or sale of any security, or for anything done or omitted by it, except
acts or omissions involving willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or
reckless disregard of the duties imposed upon it by its contract with the Fund.
From time to time, to the extent consistent with the objective, policies and
restrictions of the Fund, the Fund may invest in securities of issuers with
which the adviser has a lending relationship.
Advisory Fees
For its advisory services, Union Planters receives an annual investment advisory
fee as described in the prospectus. For the fiscal years ended July 31, 1998,
1997, and 1996, the adviser earned advisory fees of $169,700, $209,558, and
$234,612, respectively, all of which were voluntarily waived. For the fiscal
years ended July 31, 1998, 1997, and 1996, the adviser reimbursed operating
expenses of $0, $0, and $17,000, respectively.
Brokerage Transactions
When selecting brokers and dealers to handle the purchase and sale of portfolio
instruments, the adviser looks for prompt execution of the order at a favorable
price. In working with dealers, the adviser will generally use those which are
recognized dealers in specific portfolio instruments, except when a better price
and execution of the order can be obtained elsewhere. The adviser makes
decisions on portfolio transactions and selects brokers and dealers subject to
review by the Trustees. The adviser may select brokers and dealers who offer
brokerage and research services. These services may be furnished directly to the
Fund or to the adviser and may include: advice as to the advisability of
investing in securities; security analysis and reports; economic studies;
industry studies; receipt of quotations for portfolio evaluations; and similar
services. Research services provided by brokers may be used by the adviser and
other accounts. To the extent that receipt of these services may supplant
services for which the adviser or its affiliates might otherwise have paid, it
would tend to reduce their expenses. The adviser and its affiliates exercise
reasonable business judgment in selecting brokers who offer brokerage and
research services to execute securities transactions. They determine in good
faith that commissions charged by such persons are reasonable in relationship to
the value of the brokerage and research services provided. For the fiscal years
ended July 31, 1998, 1997, and 1996, the Fund paid no commissions on brokerage
transactions.
Although investment decisions for the Fund are made independently from those of
the other accounts managed by the adviser, investments of the type the Fund may
make may also be made by those other accounts. When the Fund and one or more
other accounts managed by the adviser are prepared to invest in, or desire to
dispose of, the same security, available investments or opportunities for sales
will be allocated in a manner believed by the adviser to be equitable to each.
In some cases, this procedure may adversely affect the price paid or received by
the Fund or the size of the position obtained or disposed of by the Fund. In
other cases, however, it is believed that coordination and the ability to
participate in volume transactions will be to the benefit of the Fund.
Other Services
Fund Administration
Federated Services Company, a subsidiary of Federated Investors, Inc., provides
administrative personnel and services to the Fund for a fee as described in the
prospectus. From March 1, 1994, to March, 1, 1996, Federated Administrative
Services, a subsidiary of Federated Investors, served as the Fund's
Administrator. For purposes of this Statement of Additional Information,
Federated Services Company and Federated Administrative Services may hereinafter
collectively be referred to as the "Administrators." For the fiscal years ended
July 31, 1998, 1997, and 1996, the Administrators earned $120,001, $120,000, and
$120,000, respectively.
Custodian and Portfolio Accountant
State Street Bank and Trust Company, Boston, MA, is custodian for the securities
and cash of the Fund. Federated Shareholder Services Company, Pittsburgh, PA,
provides certain accounting and recordkeeping services with respect to the
Fund's portfolio investments. The fee paid for this service is based upon the
level of the Fund's average net assets for the period plus out-of-pocket
expenses.
Transfer Agent
Federated Services Company, through its subsidiary, Federated Shareholder
Services Company, maintains all necessary shareholder records. For its services
the transfer agent receives a fee based on the size, type, and number of
accounts and transactions made by shareholders.
Independent Accountants
The independent accountants for the Fund are PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP,
Chicago, IL.
Purchasing Shares
Shares of the Fund are sold at their net asset value with a sales charge on days
the New York Stock Exchange and Federal Reserve wire system are open for
business. The procedure for purchasing shares is explained in the prospectus
under "Investing in the Fund."
Determining Net Asset Value
Net asset value generally changes each day. The days on which net asset value is
calculated for the Fund are described in the prospectus.
Valuing Municipal Bonds
The Trustees use an independent pricing service to value municipal bonds. The
independent pricing service takes into consideration yield, stability, risk,
quality, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics, special
circumstances of a security or trading market, and any other factors or market
data it considers relevant in determining valuations for normal institutional
size trading units of debt securities, and does not rely exclusively on quoted
prices.
Use of Amortized Cost
The Trustees have decided that the fair value of debt securities authorized to
be purchased by the Fund with remaining maturities of 60 days or less at the
time of purchase shall be their amortized cost value, unless the particular
circumstances of the security indicate otherwise. Under this method, portfolio
instruments and assets are valued at the acquisition cost as adjusted for
amortization of premium or accumulation of discount rather than at current
market value. The Executive Committee continually assesses this method of
valuation and recommends changes where necessary to assure that the Fund's
portfolio instruments are valued at their fair value as determined in good faith
by the Trustees.
Redeeming Shares
Shares are redeemed at the next computed net asset value after the Fund receives
the redemption request. Redemption procedures are explained in the prospectus
under "Redeeming Shares." Although the Fund does not charge for telephone
redemptions, it reserves the right to charge a fee for the cost of wire-
transferred redemptions of less than $5,000.
Redemption in Kind
The Fund has elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 of the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended under which the Fund is obligated to redeem shares for any
one shareholder in cash only up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Fund's
net asset value during any 90-day period.
Any redemption beyond this amount will also be in cash unless the Trustees
determine that payments should be in kind. In such a case, the Fund will pay all
or a portion of the remainder of the redemption in portfolio instruments, valued
in the same way as the Fund determines net asset value. The portfolio
instruments will be selected in a manner that the Trustees deem fair and
equitable. To the extent available, such securities will be readily marketable.
Redemption in kind is not as liquid as a cash redemption. If redemption is made
in kind, shareholders receiving their securities could receive less than the
redemption value of their securities when they are sold or mature and could
incur certain transactions costs if they are sold.
Tax Status
The Fund's Tax Status
The Fund will pay no federal income tax because it expects to meet the
requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended,
applicable to regulated investment companies and to receive the special tax
treatment afforded to such companies. To qualify for this treatment, the Fund
must, among other requirements:
. derive at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, and gains
from the sale of securities;
. invest in securities within certain statutory limits; and
. distribute to its shareholders at least 90% of its net income earned during
the year.
Shareholder's Tax Status
No portion of any income dividend paid by the Fund is eligible for the dividends
received deduction available to corporations.
Capital Gains
Capital gains or losses may be realized by the Fund on the sale of
portfolio securities. Sales would generally be made because of:
. the availability of higher relative yields;
. differentials in market values;
. new investment opportunities;
. changes in creditworthiness of an issuer; or
. an attempt to preserve gains or limit losses.
Distributions of long-term capital gains are taxed as such, whether they are
taken in cash or reinvested, and regardless of the length of time that the
shareholder has owned shares. Any loss by a shareholder on shares held for less
than six months and sold after a capital gains distribution will be treated as a
long-term capital loss to the extent of the capital gains distribution.
Distributions of short-term capital gains, if any, are taxed as ordinary income.
Total Return
The Fund's average annual total returns based on offering price for the one-year
period ended July 31, 1998, and for the period from August 30, 1993 (date of
initial public investment) to July 31, 1998, were 1.86% and 4.90%, respectively.
The average annual total return for the Fund is the average compounded rate of
return for a given period that would equate a $1,000 initial investment to the
ending redeemable value of that investment. The ending redeemable value is
computed by multiplying the number of shares owned at the end of the period by
the offering price per share at the end of the period. The number of shares
owned at the end of the period is based on the number of shares purchased at the
beginning of the period with $1,000, less any applicable sales charge, adjusted
over the period by any additional shares, assuming the monthly reinvestment of
all dividends and distributions.
Yield
The Fund's yield for the thirty-day period ended July 31, 1998, was 3.09% based
on offering price.
The yield for the Fund is determined by dividing the net investment income per
share (as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission) earned by the Fund
over a thirty-day period by the maximum offering price per share of the Fund on
the last day of the period. This value is then annualized using semi-annual
compounding. This means that the amount of income generated during the
thirty-day period is assumed to be generated each month over a twelve-month
period and is reinvested every six months. The yield does not necessarily
reflect income actually earned by the Fund because of certain adjustments
required by the Securities and Exchange Commission and therefore, may not
correlate to the dividends or other distributions paid to shareholders.
To the extent that financial institutions and broker/dealers charge fees in
connection with services provided in conjunction with an investment in the Fund,
performance will be reduced for those shareholders paying those fees.
Tax-Equivalent Yield
The Fund's tax-equivalent yield for the thirty-day period ended July 31, 1998
was 4.68% based on offering price. The tax-equivalent yield of the Fund is
calculated similarly to the yield, but is adjusted to reflect the taxable yield
that the Fund would have had to earn to equal its actual yield, assuming a
combined federal and state tax rate of 34%, and assuming that income is 100%
tax-exempt.
Tax-Equivalency Table
The Fund may also use a tax-equivalency table in advertising and sales
literature. The interest earned by the municipal obligations in the Fund's
portfolio generally remains free from federal regular income tax, and often is
free from taxes imposed by the state of Tennessee and Tennessee municipalities.*
As the table on the next page indicates, a "tax-free" investment is an
attractive choice for investors, particularly in times of narrow spreads between
tax-free and taxable yields.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TAXABLE YIELD EQUIVALENT FOR 1998
STATE OF TENNESSEE
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
TAX BRACKET:
FEDERAL 15.00% 28.00% 31.00% 36.00% 39.60%
COMBINED FEDERAL
AND STATE 21.00% 34.00% 37.00% 42.00% 45.60%
JOINT $ 1- $42,351- $102,301- $155,951- OVER
RETURN 42,350 102,300 155,950 278,450 $278,450
SINGLE $ 1- $25,351- $ 61,401- $128,101- OVER
RETURN 25,350 61,400 128,100 278,450 $278,450
Tax-Exempt
Yield Taxable Yield Equivalent
1.50% 1.90% 2.27% 2.38% 2.59% 2.76%
2.00% 2.53% 3.03% 3.17% 3.45% 3.68%
2.50% 3.16% 3.79% 3.97% 4.31% 4.60%
3.00% 3.80% 4.55% 4.76% 5.17% 5.51%
3.50% 4.43% 5.30% 5.56% 6.03% 6.43%
4.00% 5.06% 6.06% 6.35% 6.90% 7.35%
4.50% 5.70% 6.82% 7.14% 7.76% 8.27%
5.00% 6.33% 7.58% 7.94% 8.62% 9.19%
5.50% 6.96% 8.33% 8.73% 9.48% 10.11%
6.00% 7.59% 9.09% 9.52% 10.34% 11.03%
</TABLE>
Note: The maximum marginal tax rate for each bracket was used in calculating the
taxable yield equivalent. Furthermore, additional state and local taxes paid on
comparable taxable investments were not used to increase federal deductions.
The above chart is for illustrative purposes only. It is not an indicator of
past or future performance of Fund shares.
* Some portion of the Fund's income may be subject to the federal alternative
minimum tax and state and local income taxes.
Performance Comparisons
The performance of the Fund depends upon such variables as:
. portfolio quality;
. average portfolio maturity;
. type of instruments in which the portfolio is invested;
. changes in interest rates and market value of portfolio securities;
. changes in the Fund's expenses; and
. various other factors.
The Fund's performance fluctuates on a daily basis largely because net earnings
and offering price per share fluctuate daily. Both net earnings and offering
price per share are factors in the computation of yield and total return as
described above.
Investors may use financial publications and/or indices to obtain a more
complete view of the Fund's performance. When comparing performance, investors
should consider all relevant factors such as the composition of any index used,
prevailing market conditions, portfolio comparisons of other funds, and methods
used to value portfolio securities and compute offering price. The financial
publications and/or indices which the Fund uses in advertising may include:
. Lipper Analytical Services, Inc. ranks funds in various fund categories by
making comparative calculations using total return. Total return assumes the
reinvestment of all capital gains distributions and income dividends and takes
into account any change in offering price over a specific period of time.
. Morningstar, Inc., an independent rating service, is the publisher of the
bi-weekly Mutual Fund Values. Mutual Fund Values rates more than 1,000 NASDAQ-
listed mutual funds of all types, according to their risk-adjusted returns.
The maximum rating is five stars, and ratings are effective for two weeks.
Advertisements and other sales literature for the Fund may quote total returns
which are calculated on non-standardized base periods. The total returns
represent the historic change in the value of an investment in the Fund based on
monthly reinvestment of dividends over a specified period of time.
Advertisements may quote performance information which does not reflect the
effect of the sales charge.
Advertising and other promotional literature may include charts, graphs and
other illustrations using the Fund's returns, or returns in general, that
demonstrate basic investment concepts such as tax-deferred compounding,
dollar-cost averaging and systematic investment. In addition, the Fund can
compare its performance, or performance for the types of securities in which it
invests, to a variety of other investments, such as bank savings accounts,
certificates of deposit, and Treasury bills.
Economic and Market Information
Advertising and sales literature for the Fund may include discussions of
economic, financial and political developments and their effect on the
securities market. Such discussions may take the form of commentary on these
developments by the Fund portfolio managers and their views and analysis on how
such developments could affect the Fund. In addition, advertising and sales
literature may quote statistics and give general information about the mutual
fund industry, including the growth of the industry, from sources such as the
Investment Company Institute ("ICI"). For example, according to the ICI,
thirty-seven percent of American households are pursuing their financial goals
through mutual funds. These investors, as well as businesses and institutions,
have entrusted over $4.4 trillion to the more than 6,700 funds available.
Appendix
Standard and Poor's ("S&P") Municipal Bond Ratings
AAA--Debt rated "AAA" has the highest rating assigned by S&P. Capacity to pay
interest and repay principal is extremely strong.
AA--Debt rated "AA" has a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay
principal and differs from the higher rated issues only in small degree.
A--Debt rated "A" has a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal
although it is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in
circumstances and economic conditions than debt in higher rated categories.
BBB--Debt rated "BBB" is regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay interest
and repay principal. Whereas it normally exhibits adequate protection
parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more
likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for
debt in this category than in higher rated categories.
NR--Indicates that no public rating has been requested, that there is
insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that S&P does not rate a
particular type of obligation as a matter of policy.
Plus (+) or minus (-): Ratings may be modified by the addition of a plus or
minus sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.
Moody's Investors Service, Inc., ("Moody's") Municipal Bond Ratings
Aaa--Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They carry
the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as "gilt
edged." Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable
margin and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are likely
to change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the
fundamentally strong position of such issues.
Aa--Bonds which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all standards.
Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally known as high grade
bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of protection
may not be as large as in Aaa securities or fluctuation of protective elements
may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present which make
the long-term 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.
NR-- Not rated by Moody's.
Moody's applies numerical modifiers, 1, 2 and 3 in its generic rating category;
the modifier 1 indicates that the security ranks in the higher end of its
generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the
modifier 3 indicates that the issue ranks in the lower end of its generic rating
category.
Fitch IBCA, Inc., ("Fitch") Long-Term Debt Ratings
AAA--Bonds considered to be investment grade and of the highest credit quality.
The obligor has an exceptionally strong ability to pay interest and repay
principal, which is unlikely to be affected by reasonably foreseeable events.
AA--Bonds considered to be investment grade and of very high quality. The
obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is very strong, although
not quite as strong as bonds rated "AAA". Because bonds rated in the "AAA" and
"AA" categories are not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable future
developments, short-term debt of these issuers is generally rated F-1+.
A--Bonds considered to be investment grade and of high credit quality. The
obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is considered strong, but
may be more vulnerable to adverse changes in economic conditions and
circumstances than bonds with higher ratings.
BBB--Bonds considered to be investment grade and of satisfactory credit quality.
The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is considered to be
adequate. Adverse changes in economic conditions and circumstances, however, are
more likely to have adverse impact on these bonds, and therefore, impair timely
payment. The likelihood that the ratings of these bonds will fall below
investment grade is higher than for bonds with higher ratings.
NR--NR indicates that Fitch does not rate the specific issue.
Plus (+) or minus (-): Plus and minus signs are used with a rating symbol to
indicate the relative position of a credit within the rating category. Plus and
minus signs, however, are not used in the "AAA" category.
S&P Group Municipal Note Ratings
SP-1--Very strong or strong capacity to pay principal and interest. Those issues
determined to possess overwhelming safety characteristics will be given a plus
sign (+) designation.
SP-2--Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest.
Moody's Short-Term Loan Ratings
MIG1/VMIG1--This designation denotes best quality. There is present strong
protection by established cash flows, superior liquidity support or demonstrated
broad-based access to the market for refinancing.
MIG2/VMIG2--This designation denotes high quality. Margins of protection are
ample although not so large as in the preceding group.
Fitch Short-Term Debt Ratings
F-1+--Exceptionally Strong Credit Quality. Issues assigned this rating are
regarded as having the strongest degree of assurance for timely payment.
F-1--Very Strong Credit Quality. Issues assigned this rating reflect an
assurance of timely payment only slightly less in degree than issues rated F-1+.
F-2--Good Credit Quality. Issues carrying this rating have a satisfactory degree
of assurance for timely payment, but the margin of safety is not as great as the
F-1+ and F-1 categories.
S&P Commercial Paper Ratings
A-1--This highest category designation indicates that the degree of safety
regarding timely payment is strong. Those issues determined to possess extremely
strong safety characteristics are denoted with a plus sign (+) designation.
A-2--Capacity for timely payment on issues with this designation is
satisfactory. However, the relative degree of safety is not as high as for
issues designated A-1.
Moody's Commercial Paper Ratings
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 structure with moderate reliance on debt and
ample asset protection.
. Broad margins in earning 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.
Prime-2--Issuers rated PRIME-2 (or related supporting institutions) have a
strong capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations. This will
normally be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above, but to a
lesser degree. Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, will be more
subject to variation. Capitalization characteristics, while still appropriate,
may be more affected by external conditions. Ample alternate liquidity is
maintained.
