As Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 27, 2000
File No. 811-07860
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
AMENDMENT NO. 10
THE DIVERSIFIED PORTFOLIO
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
60 State Street, Suite 1300, Boston, Massachusetts 02109
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (617) 557-0700
Margaret W. Chambers, c/o Funds Distributor, Inc.
60 State Street, Suite 1300, Boston, Massachusetts 02109
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
Copy to: John E. Baumgardner, Esq.
Sullivan & Cromwell
125 Broad Street
New York, NY 10004
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EXPLANATORY NOTE
This Registration Statement has been filed by the Registrant pursuant
to Section 8(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. However,
beneficial interests in the Registrant are not being registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), because such interests will
be issued solely in private placement transactions that do not involve any
"public offering" within the meaning of Section 4(2) of the 1933 Act.
Investments in the Registrant may only be made by other investment companies,
insurance company separate accounts, common or commingled trust funds or similar
organizations or entities that are "accredited investors" within the meaning of
Regulation D under the 1933 Act. This Registration Statement does not constitute
an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy any beneficial
interests in the Registrant.
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PART A
Responses to Items 1,2,3,5 and 9 have been omitted pursuant to paragraph
2(b) of Instruction B of the General Instructions to Form N-1A.
Item 4. Investment Objectives, Principal Investment Strategies, and Related
Risks for the Diversified Portfolio (the "Portfolio").
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The Portfolio's investment objective, which is non-fundamental and can be
changed without the approval of interest holders, is to provide a high total
return from a diversified portfolio of equity and fixed income securities. Total
return will consist of realized and unrealized capital gains and losses plus
income.
PORTFOLIO MANAGER
The portfolio management team is led by John M. Devlin, Vice President, who
joined the team in December of 1993 and has been at J.P. Morgan since 1986, and
Anne Lester, Vice President, who joined the team in June of 2000 and has been at
J.P. Morgan since 1992. Prior to managing, this fund Ms. Lester worked in
Product Development group and prior to that, was a fixed income and currency
trader and portfolio manager in Milan.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS
Drawing on a variety of analytical tools, the portfolio management team
allocates assets among various types of stock and bond investments. The Advisor
expects that the model allocation of the Portfolio will be 52% in equity
securities of large and medium sized companies, 3% in small-cap U.S. stocks, 10%
in foreign issuers and 35% in U.S. and foreign bonds. The team periodically
adjusts the Portfolio's actual asset allocation according to the relative
attractiveness of each asset class.
Within this asset allocation framework, the team selects the Portfolio's
securities. With the stock portion of the portfolio, the Portfolio keeps its
economic sector weightings in line with the markets in which it invests, while
actively seeking the most attractive stocks within each sector. In choosing
individual stocks, the team ranks them according to their relative value using a
proprietary model that incorporates research from the Advisor's worldwide
network of analysts. Foreign stocks are chosen using a similar process, while
also monitoring country allocation and currency exposure.
With the bond portion of the Portfolio, the team uses fundamental, economic, and
capital markets research to select securities. The team actively manages the mix
of U.S. and foreign bonds while typically keeping duration--a common measurement
of sensitivity to interest rate movements--within one year of the average for
the U.S. investment-grade bond universe (currently about five years).
There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the Portfolio will be
achieved. Future returns will not necessarily resemble past performance. The
Portfolio does not represent a complete investment program.
The value of investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate in response to movements
in the stock and bond markets. The Portfolio's broad diversification among asset
classes and among individual stocks and bonds is more effective in reducing
volatility when asset classes perform differently. Portfolio performance will
also depend on the management team's asset allocation and securities selection.
Over the long term, investors can anticipate that the Portfolio's total return
and volatility should exceed those of bonds but remain less than those of
medium- and large-capitalization domestic stocks.
INVESTMENT PROCESS
J.P. Morgan seeks to generate an information advantage through the depth of its
global fixed-income research and the sophistication of its analytical systems.
Using a team-oriented approach, J.P. Morgan seeks to gain insights in a broad
range of distinct areas, and when consistent with the Portfolio's investment
approach takes positions in many different areas, helping the Portfolio to limit
exposure to concentrated sources of risk.
In managing the equity portion of the Portfolio, J.P. Morgan employs a
three-step process:
J.P. Morgan analysts develop proprietary fundamental research.
RESEARCH J.P. Morgan takes an in-depth look at company prospects over a
relatively long period - often as much as five years rather than focusing on
near-term expectations. This approach is designed to provide insight into a
company's real growth potential. J.P. Morgan's in-house research is developed by
an extensive worldwide network of over 150 career analysts. The team of analysts
dedicated to U.S. equities includes more than 20 members, with an average of
over ten years of experience.
Stocks in each industry are ranked with the help of models.
VALUATION The research findings allow J.P. Morgan to rank the companies in each
industry group according to their relative value. The greater a company's
estimated worth compared to the current market price of its stock, the more
undervalued the company. The valuation rankings are produced with the help of a
variety of models that quantify the research team's findings.
Using research and valuations, each fund's management team chooses stocks for
its fund.
STOCK SELECTION The Portfolio buys and sells stocks according to its policies,
using the research and valuation rankings as a basis. In general, the
Portfolio's management team buys stocks that are identified as undervalued and
considers selling them when they appear overvalued. Along with attractive
valuation, the Portfolio's managers often consider a number of criteria:
-catalysts that could trigger a rise in a stock's price -high potential reward
compared to potential risk -temporary mispricings caused by market overreactions
In managing the fixed income portion of the fund, J.P. Morgan employs a
three-step process that combines sector allocation, fundamental research for
identifying portfolio securities, and duration management:
The portfolio invests across a range of different types of securities
SECTOR ALLOCATION The sector allocation team meets monthly, analyzing the
fundamentals of a broad range of sectors in which the Portfolio may invest. The
team seeks to enhance performance and manage risk by underweighting or
overweighting sectors.
The portfolio makes its decisions as described later in this prospectus
SECURITY SELECTION Relying on the insights of different specialists, including
credit analysts, quantitative researchers, and dedicated fixed income traders,
the portfolio managers make buy and sell decisions according to the Portfolio's
goal and strategy.
J.P. Morgan uses a disciplined process to control the Portfolio's
sensitivity to interest rates
DURATION MANAGEMENT Forecasting teams use fundamental economic factors to
develop strategic forecasts of the direction of interest rates. Based on these
forecasts, strategists establish the Portfolio's target duration a common
measurement of a security's sensitivity to interest rate movements. For
securities owned by the Portfolio, duration measures the average time needed to
receive the present value of all principal and interest payments by analyzing
cash flows and interest rate movements. The Portfolio's duration is generally
shorter than the Portfolio's average maturity because the maturity of a security
only measures the time until final payment is due. The Portfolio's target
duration typically remains relatively close to the duration of the market as a
whole, as represented by the Portfolio's benchmark. The strategists closely
monitor the Portfolio and make tactical adjustments as necessary.
The following table discusses the customary types of securities which can be
held by the Portfolio. In each case the principal types of risk (along with
their definitions) are listed.
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ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES Interests in a stream of payments from specific assets,
such as auto or credit card receivables.
Risk: credit, interest rate, market, prepayment
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BANK OBLIGATIONS Negotiable certificates of deposit, time deposits and bankers'
acceptances of domestic and foreign issuers.
Risk*: credit, currency, liquidity, political
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COMMERCIAL PAPER Unsecured short term debt issued by domestic and foreign banks
or corporations. These securities are usually discounted and are rated by S&P or
Moody's.
Risk: credit, currency, interest rate, liquidity, market, political
---------------------------------------------------------
CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES Domestic and foreign debt securities that can be
converted into equity securities at a future time and price.
Risk: credit, currency, interest rate, liquidity, market, political, valuation
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CORPORATE BONDS Debt securities of domestic and foreign industrial, utility,
banking, and other financial institutions.
Risk: credit, currency, interest rate, liquidity, market, political, valuation
MORTGAGES
(directly held) Domestic debt instrument which gives the lender a lien on
property as security for the loan payment.
Risk: credit, environmental, extension, interest rate, liquidity, market,
natural event, political, prepayment, valuation Permitted, but not typically
used
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MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES Domestic and foreign securities (such as Ginnie Maes,
Freddie Macs, Fannie Maes) which represent interests in pools of mortgages,
whereby the principal and interest paid every month is passed through to the
holder of the securities.
Risk: credit, currency, extension, interest rate, leverage, liquidity,
market, political, prepayment
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MORTAGE DOLLAR ROLLS The purchase of mortgage-backed securities with the promise
to purchase similar securities upon the maturity of the original security.
Segregated accounts are used to offset leverage risk.
Risk: currency, extension, interest rate, leverage, liquidity,
market, political, prepayment Permitted (331/3% of net assets limitation)
------------------------PARTICIPATION
INTERESTS Interests that represent a share of bank debt or similar securities or
obligations.
Risk: credit, currency, extension, interest rate, liquidity, political,
prepayment
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PRIVATE PLACEMENTS Bonds or other investments that are sold directly to an
institutional investor.
Risk: credit, interest rate, liquidity, market, valuation
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REITs and other REAL ESTATE RELATED INSTRUMENTS Securities of issuers that
invest in real estate or are secured by real estate.
Risk: credit, interest rate, liquidity, market, natural event, prepayment,
valuation
-----REPURCHASE
AGREEMENTS Contracts whereby the portfolio agrees to purchase a security and
resell it to the seller on a particular date and at a specific price.
Risk: credit
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REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS Contracts whereby the portfolio sells a security
and agrees to repurchase it from the buyer on a particular date and at a
specific price. Considered a form of borrowing.
Risk: credit
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SOVERIGN DEBT, BRADY BONDS, AND DEBT OF SUPRANATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS Dollar- or
non-dollar-denominated securities issued by foreign governments or supranational
organizations. Brady bonds are issued in connection with debt restructurings.
Risk: credit, currency, interest rate, market, political
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SWAPS Contractual agreement whereby a party agrees to exchange periodic payments
with a counterparty. Segregated accounts are used to offset leverage risk.
Risk: credit, currency, interest rate, leverage, market, political
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TAX EXEMPT MUNICIPAL SECURITIES Securities, generally issued as general
obligation and revenue bonds, whose interest is exempt from federal taxation and
state and/or local taxes in the state where the securities were issued.
Risk: credit, interest rate, market, natural event, political Permitted,
but not typically used U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES Debt instruments (Treasury
bills, notes, and bonds) guaranteed by the U.S. government for the timely
payment of principal and interest.
Risk: interest rate
ZERO COUPON,
PAY-IN-KIND, AND DEFERRED PAYMENT SECURITIES Securities offering non-cash or
delayed-cash payment. Their prices are typically more volatile than those of
some other debt instruments and involve certain special tax considerations.
Risk: credit, currency, interest rate, liquidity, market, political, valuation
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RISK RELATED TO CERTAIN SECURITIES HELD BY THE DIVERSIFIED PORTFOLIO:
CREDIT RISK The risk a financial obligation will not be met by the issuer of a
security or the counterparty to a contract, resulting in a loss to the
purchaser.
CURRENCY RISK The risk currency exchange rate fluctuations may reduce gains or
increase losses on foreign investments.
ENVIRONMENTAL RISK The risk that an owner or operator of real estate may be
liable for the costs associated with hazardous or toxic substances located on
the property.
EXTENSION RISK The risk a rise in interest rates will extend the life of a
mortgage-backed security to a date later than the anticipated prepayment date,
causing the value of the investment to fall.
INTEREST RATE RISK The risk a change in interest rates will adversely affect the
value of an investment. The value of fixed income securities generally moves in
the opposite direction of interest rates (decreases when interest rates rise and
increases when interest rates fall).
LEVERAGE RISK The risk of gains or losses disproportionately higher than
the amount invested
LIQUIDITY RISK The risk the holder may not be able to sell the security at the
time or price it desires.
MARKET RISK The risk that when the market as a whole declines, the value of a
specific investment will decline proportionately. This systematic risk is common
to all investments and the mutual funds that purchase them.
NATURAL EVENT RISK The risk of a natural disaster, such as a hurricane or
similar event, will cause severe economic losses and default in payments by the
issuer of the security.
POLITICAL RISK The risk governmental policies or other political actions will
negatively impact the value of the investment.
PREPAYMENT RISK The risk declining interest rates will result in unexpected
prepayments, causing the value of the investment to fall.
VALUATION RISK The risk the estimated value of a security does not match the
actual amount that can be realized if the security is sold.
* Under normal circumstances, the fund expects to invest no more than 30%
of total assets in foreign securities.
The following table discusses the main elements that make up the Portfolio's
overall risk characteristics. It also outlines the Portfolio's policies toward
various securities, including those that are designed to help the Portfolio
manage risk.
Potential risks Policies to balance risk
MARKET CONDITIONS
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-The Portfolio's share price and under normal circumstances the Portfolio plans
performance will fluctuate in to remain fully invested, with approximately 65%
response to stock and bond market in stocks and 35% in bonds and other fixed
movements income securites; stock investments may include
U.S. and foreign common stocks, convertible
-The value of the Portfolio's securities, preferred stocks, trust or bonds(and
potentially its convertible partnership interests, warrants, rights, and
securities and stocks) will fall when investment company securities; bond
investments interest rates rise; the longer a may include U.S. and foreign
corporate and bond's maturity and the lower its government bonds,
mortgage-backed and credit quality, the more its value asset-backed securities,
convertible securities, typically falls participation interests and private
placements
-Mortgage-backed and asset-backed -The Portfolio seeks to limit risk through
securities (securities representing an diversification
interest in, or secured by, a pool of
mortgages or other assets such as -The Portfolio seeks to limit risk and enhance
receivables) could generate capital total returns or yields through careful
losses or periods of low yields if management, sector allocation, individual
they are paid off substantially securities selection and duration management
earlier or later than anticipated
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-J.P. Morgan monitors interest rate trends, as
- Adverse market conditions may from well as geographic and demographic
information time cause a fund to take temporary related to asset-backed
securities and mortgage defensive positions that are prepayments inconsistent
with its principal investment strategies and may hinder -During severe market
downturns, the Portfolio the Portfolio from achieving its has the option of
investing up to 100% of assets investment objective in investment-grade
short-term securities
CREDIT QUALITY
-The default of an issuer would leave -The Portfolio maintains its own policies
for the Portfolio with unpaid interest or balancing credit quality against
potential principal yields and gains in light of its investment goals
-Junk bonds (those rated BB/Ba or -At least 75% of the Portfolio's bonds must be
lower) have a higher risk of default, investment-grade (BBB/Baa or better, of
which tend to be less liquid, and may be 65% must be A or better), and no more
than 25% more difficult to value BB/Ba or B; the Portfolio may include unrated
bonds of equivalent quality in these categories
-J.P. Morgan develops its own ratings of unrated
securities and makes a credit quality
determination for unrated securities
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MANAGEMENT CHOICES
-The Portfolio could underperform its J.P. Morgan focuses its active management on
benchmark due to its securities and securities selection, the area where it believes
asset allocation choices its commitment to research can most enhance
returns
FOREIGN INVESTMENTS
-Currency exchange rate movements -The Portfolio anticipates that total foreign
could reduce gains or create losses investments will not exceed 30% of assets
-The Portfolio could lose money -The fund actively manages the currency exposure
because of foreign government actions, of its foreign investments relative to
its political instability, or lack if benchmark, and may hedge back into the
U.S. adequate and accurate information dollar from time to time (see also
("Derivatives")
DERIVATIVES
-Derivatives such as futures, options, -The portfolio uses derivatives, such as futures,
swaps, and forward foreign currency options, swaps and forward foreign currency
contracts that are used for hedging contracts, for hedging and for risk management
the portfolio or specific securities (i.e., to adjust duration or yield curve
may not fully offset the underlying exposure, or to establish or adjust exposure to
positions1 and this could result in particular securities, markets, or currencies);
losses to the portfolio that would not risk management may include management of the
have otherwise occurred portfolio's exposure relative to its benchmark.
-Derivatives used for risk management -The portfolio only establishes hedges
that they may not have the intended effects and expect will be highly correlated
with underlying may result in losses or missed positions opportunities
-While the portfolio may use derivatives that may
-The counterparty to a derivatives use derivatives that incidentally involve
contract could default leverage, it does not use them for the specific
purpose of leveraging its portfolio
-Certain types of derivatives involve
costs to the portfolio which can
reduce returns
-Derivatives that involve leverage
could magnify losses
SECURITIES LENDING
-When the Portfolio lends a security, -J.P. Morgan maintains a list of approved
there is a risk that the loaned borrowers
securities may not be returned if the
borrower defaults -The Portfolio receives collateral equal to at
least 100% of the current value of the securities
-The collateral will be subject to the loaned
risks of the securities in which it is
invested -The lending agents indemnify the Portfolio
against borrower default
-J.P. Morgan's collateral investment guidelines
limit the quality and duration of collateral
investment to minimize losses
-Upon recall, the borrower must return the
securities loaned within the normal settlement
period
ILLIQUID HOLDINGS -The Portfolio may not invest more than 15% of
net assets in illiquid holdings
-The Portfolio could have difficulty
valuing these holdings precisely -To maintain adequate liquidity to meet
redemption, the Portfolio may hold
-The Portfolio could be unable to sell investment-grade short-term securities
(including these holdings at the time or price repurchase agreements) and, for
temporary or desires extraordinary purposes, may borrow from banks up
to 33 1/3% of the value of its assets
WHEN ISSUED AND DELAYED DELIVERY
SECURITIES
-When the Portfolio buys securities -The Portfolio uses segregated accounts to
offset before issue or for delayed delivery, leverage risk it could be exposed
to leverage risk if it does not use segregate accounts
SHORT-TERM TRADING
-Increased trading would raise the -The Portfolio generally avoids short-term
Portfolio's transaction costs trading, except to take advantage of attractive
or unexpected opportunities or to meet demands
generated by shareholder activity. The
Portfolio's turnover rate for the fiscal year
-Increased short-term capital gains ended June 30, 2000 was 217%.
distribution would raise shareholders'
income tax liability
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1. A futures contract is an agreement to buy or sell a set quantity of an
underlying instrument at a future date, or to make or receive a cash payment
based on changes in the value of a securities index. An option is the right to
buy or sell quantity of an underlying instrument at a pre-determined price. A
swap is a privately negotiated agreement to exchange one stream of payments for
another. A forward foreign currency contract is an obligation to buy or sell a
given currency on a future date and at a set price.
ITEM 6. MANAGEMENT, ORGANIZATION and CAPITAL STRUCTURE
BUSINESS STRUCTURE
The Diversified Portfolio (the "Portfolio") is a no-load diversified open-end
management investment company which was organized as a trust under the laws of
the State of New York on January 29, 1993. Beneficial interests in the Portfolio
are issued solely in private placement transactions that do not involve any
"public offering" within the meaning of Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"). Investments in the Portfolio may only be made
by other investment companies, insurance company separate accounts, common or
commingled trust funds or similar organizations or entities that are "accredited
investors" within the meaning of Regulation D under the 1933 Act. This
Registration Statement does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation
of an offer to buy, any "security" within the meaning of the 1933 Act.
MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
The Board of Trustees provides broad supervision over the affairs of the
Portfolio. The Portfolio has retained the services of JPMIM as investment
adviser and Morgan as administrative services agent. The Portfolio has retained
the services of Funds Distributor, Inc. ("FDI") as co-administrator (the
"Co-Administrator").
The Portfolio has not retained the services of a principal underwriter or
distributor, since interests in the Portfolio are offered solely in private
placement transactions. FDI, acting as agent for the Portfolio, serves as
exclusive placement agent of interests in the Portfolio. FDI receives no
additional compensation for serving in this capacity.
The Portfolio has entered into an Amended and Restated Portfolio Fund Services
Agreement, dated July 11, 1996, with Pierpont Group, Inc. ("Pierpont Group") to
assist the Trustees in exercising their overall supervisory responsibilities for
the Portfolio. The fees to be paid under the agreement approximate the
reasonable cost of Pierpont Group in providing these services to the Portfolio
and other registered investment companies subject to similar agreements with
Pierpont Group. Pierpont Group was organized in 1989 at the request of the
Trustees of the Pierpont Family of Funds for the purpose of providing these
services at cost to those funds. See Item 14 in Part B. The principal offices of
Pierpont Group are located at 461 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10017.
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Advisory services 0.55% of the portfolio's average net assets
....................................................... .....................................................
Administrative services (fee shared with Funds Portfolio's pro-rata portions of 0.09% of the first
Distributor, Inc.) $7 billion of average net assets in J.P.
Morgan-advised portfolios, plus 0.04% of average
net assets over $7 billion
....................................................... .....................................................
J.P. Morgan may pay fees to certain firms and professionals for providing recordkeeping or other services in connection with
investments in a fund.
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ITEM 7. SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION.
INVESTING
Beneficial interests in the Portfolio are issued solely in private placement
transactions that do not involve any "public offering" within the meaning of
Section 4(2) of the 1933 Act. Investments in the Portfolio may only be made by
other investment companies, insurance company separate accounts, common or
commingled trust funds, or similar organizations or entities which are
"accredited investors" as defined in Rule 501 under the 1933 Act. This
Registration Statement does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation
of an offer to buy, any "security" within the meaning of the 1933 Act.
An investment in the Portfolio may be made without a sales load. All investments
are made at net asset value next determined after an order is received in "good
order" by the Portfolio. The net asset value of the Portfolio is determined on
each Portfolio Business Day.
There is no minimum initial or subsequent investment in the Portfolio. However,
because the Portfolio intends to be as fully invested at all times as is
reasonably practicable in order to enhance the yield on its assets, investments
must be made in federal funds (i.e., monies credited to the account of the
Custodian by a Federal Reserve Bank).
The Portfolio may, at its own option, accept securities in payment for
investments in its beneficial interests. The securities delivered in kind are
valued by the method described in Item 19 of Part B as of the business day prior
to the day the Portfolio receives the securities. Securities may be accepted in
payment for beneficial interests only if they are, in the judgment of Morgan,
appropriate investments for the Portfolio. In addition, securities accepted in
payment for beneficial interests must: (i) meet the investment objective and
policies of the Portfolio; (ii) be acquired by the Portfolio for investment and
not for resale; (iii) be liquid securities which are not restricted as to
transfer either by law or liquidity of market; and (iv) if stock, have a value
which is readily ascertainable as evidenced by a listing on a stock exchange,
OTC market or by readily available market quotations from a dealer in such
securities. The Portfolio reserves the right to accept or reject at its own
option any and all securities offered in payment for beneficial interests.
The Portfolio and FDI reserve the right to cease accepting investments at any
time or to reject any investment order.
ADDING TO YOUR ACCOUNT
Each investor in the Portfolio may add to or reduce its investment in the
Portfolio on each Portfolio Business Day. At the Valuation Time on each such
day, the value of each investor's beneficial interest in the Portfolio will be
determined by multiplying the net asset value of the Portfolio by the
percentage, effective for that day, which represents that investor's share of
the aggregate beneficial interests in the Portfolio. Any additions or
reductions, which are to be effected at the Valuation Time on such day, will
then be effected. The investor's percentage of the aggregate beneficial
interests in the Portfolio will then be recomputed as the percentage equal to
the fraction (i) the numerator of which is the value of such investor's
investment in the Portfolio at the Valuation Time on such day plus or minus, as
the case may be, the amount of net additions to or reductions in the investor's
investment in the Portfolio effected as of the Valuation Time, and (ii) the
denominator of which is the aggregate net asset value of the Portfolio as of the
Valuation Time on such day, plus or minus, as the case may be, the amount of net
additions to or reductions in the aggregate investments in the Portfolio by all
investors in the Portfolio. The percentage so determined will then be applied to
determine the value of the investor's interest in the Portfolio as of the
Valuation Time on the following Portfolio Business Day.
SELLING SHARES
An investor in the Portfolio may reduce all or any portion of its investment at
the net asset value next determined after a request in "good order" is furnished
by the investor to the Portfolio. The proceeds of a reduction will be paid by
the Portfolio in federal funds normally on the next Portfolio Business Day after
the reduction is effected, but in any event within seven days. Investments in
the Portfolio may not be transferred.
The right of any investor to receive payment with respect to any reduction may
be suspended or the payment of the proceeds therefrom postponed during any
period in which the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") is closed (other than
weekends or holidays) or trading on the NYSE is restricted or, to the extent
otherwise permitted by the 1940 Act, if an emergency exists.
REDEMPTION IN KIND
The Portfolio reserves the right under certain circumstances, such as
accommodating requests for substantial withdrawals or liquidations, to pay
distributions in kind to investors (i.e., to distribute portfolio securities as
opposed to cash). If securities are distributed, an investor could incur
brokerage, tax or other charges in converting the securities to cash. In
addition, distribution in kind may result in a less diversified portfolio of
investments or adversely affect the liquidity of the Portfolio or the investor's
portfolio, as the case may be.
ACCOUNT AND TRANSACTION POLICIES
Business Hours and NAV Calculations
The net asset value of the Portfolio is determined each business day other than
the holidays listed in Part B ("Portfolio Business Day"). This determination is
made once each Portfolio Business Day as of the close of trading on the NYSE
(normally 4:00pm eastern time)(the "Valuation Time").
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
It is intended that the Portfolio's assets, income and distributions will be
managed in such a way that an investor in the Portfolio will be able to satisfy
the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code, assuming that the investor
invested all of its assets in the Portfolio.
Investor inquiries may be directed to FDI at 60 State Street, Boston,
Massachusetts 02109 or by calling FDI at (617) 557-0700.
TAX CONSIDERATIONS
Under the anticipated method of operation of the Portfolio, the Portfolio will
not be subject to any income tax. However, each investor in the Portfolio will
be taxable on its share (as determined in accordance with the governing
instruments of the Portfolio) of the Portfolio's ordinary income and capital
gain in determining its income tax liability. The determination of such share
will be made in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the "Code"), and regulations promulgated thereunder.
ITEM 8. DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS: Not applicable
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B-124
PART B
ITEM 10. COVER PAGE.
Not applicable.
ITEM 11. TABLE OF CONTENTS. PAGE
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES B-1
MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIO B-29
CODES OF ETHICS B-34
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL
HOLDERS OF SECURITIES B-34
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES B-34
BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES B-38
CAPITAL STOCK AND OTHER SECURITIES B-40
PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SECURITIES BEING OFFERED B-41
TAX STATUS B-42
CALCULATIONS OF PERFORMANCE DATA B-45
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS B-45
APPENDIX Appendix A-1
ITEM 12. GENERAL INFORMATION AND HISTORY.
Not applicable.
ITEM 13. INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES.
The investment objective of The Diversified Portfolio (the "Portfolio")
is to provide a high total return from a diversified portfolio of equity and
fixed income securities. The Portfolio seeks to attain real appreciation over
the long-term but with somewhat less price fluctuation than a portfolio
consisting solely of debt securities.
The Portfolio is advised by J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. ("JPMIM"
or the "Advisor").
INVESTMENT PROCESS
Investment Process for the Portfolio's Equity Component
With respect to the equity portion of the Portfolio, JPMIM uses:
Fundamental research: JPMIM's team of domestic equity analysts includes
more than 20 members, each an industry specialist with an average of over ten
years of experience, follow 600 medium and large capitalization U.S. companies.
Their research goal is to forecast intermediate-term earnings and prospective
dividend growth rates for the most attractive companies among those researched.
Systematic valuation: The analysts' forecasts are converted into
comparable expected returns using a proprietary dividend discount model, which
calculates the intermediate-term earnings by comparing a company's current stock
price with the "fair value" price forecasted by the estimated intermediate-term
earnings power. Within each sector, companies are ranked according to their
relative value and grouped into quintiles: those with the highest expected
returns (Quintile 1) are deemed the most undervalued relative to their long-term
earnings power, while those with the lowest expected returns (Quintile 5) are
deemed the most overvalued.
Disciplined portfolio construction: A broadly diversified portfolio is
constructed using disciplined buy and sell rules. Purchases are allocated among
stocks in the first three quintiles. The stocks selected reflect the portfolio
manager's judgment concerning the soundness of the underlying forecasts, the
likelihood that a perceived misvaluation will be corrected within a reasonable
time frame, and the manager's estimate of the magnitude of the risks versus the
potential rewards. A stock that falls into the fourth and fifth quintiles
generally becomes a candidate for sale, either because its price has risen or
its fundamentals have deteriorated. The Portfolio's sector weightings are
matched to those of the S&P 500 Index, reflecting JPMIM's belief that its
research has the potential to add value at the individual stock level, but not
at the sector level. JPMIM also controls the Portfolio's exposure to style and
theme bets and maintains near-market security weightings in individual security
holdings. This process results in an investment portfolio containing 250-300
stocks.
Investment Process for the Portfolio's Fixed Income Component
Duration/yield curve management: JPMIM's duration decision begins with
an analysis of real yields, which its research indicates are generally a
reliable indicator of longer term interest rate trends. Other factors JPMIM
studies in regard to interest rates include economic growth and inflation,
capital flows and monetary policy. Based on this analysis, JPMIM forms a view of
the most likely changes in the level and shape of the yield curve -- as well as
the timing of those changes -- and sets the Portfolio's duration and maturity
structure accordingly. JPMIM typically limits the overall duration of the
Portfolio to a range between one year shorter and one year longer than that of
the Salomon Smith Barney Broad Investment Grade Bond Index. The maturities of
the individual fixed income securities in the Portfolio may vary widely,
however.
Sector allocations: Sector allocations are driven by JPMIM's
fundamental and quantitative analysis of the relative valuation of a broad array
of fixed income sectors. Specifically, JPMIM utilizes market and credit analysis
to assess whether the current risk-adjusted yield spreads of various sectors are
likely to widen or narrow. JPMIM then overweights (underweights) those sectors
its analysis indicates offer the most (least) relative value, basing the speed
and magnitude of these shifts on valuation considerations.
Security selection: Securities are selected by the portfolio manager,
with substantial input from JPMIM's fixed income analysts and traders. Using
quantitative analysis as well as traditional valuation methods, JPMIM's applied
research analysts aim to optimize security selection within the bounds of the
Portfolio's investment objective. In addition, credit analysts -- supported by
JPMIM's equity analysts -- assess the creditworthiness of issuers and
counterparties. A dedicated trading desk contributes to security selection by
tracking new issuance, monitoring dealer inventories, and identifying
attractively priced bonds. The traders also handle all transactions for the
Portfolio.
Investment Process for the Portfolio's U.S. Small Company Component
Fundamental research: JPMIM's domestic equity analysts also
continuously monitor 300-500 small cap stocks with the aim of identifying
companies that exhibit superior financial strength and operating returns.
Meetings with management and on-site visits play a key role in shaping their
assessments. Because JPMIM's analysts follow both the larger and smaller
companies in their industries -- in essence, covering their industries from top
to bottom -- they are able to bring broad perspective to the research they do on
both.
See "Systematic Valuation" above.
Disciplined portfolio construction: A diversified portfolio is
constructed as for the equity component, but purchases are concentrated among
the stocks in the top two quintiles of the rankings. Once a stock falls into the
third quintile, it generally becomes a candidate for sale. The portfolio manager
seeks to hold sector weightings close to those of the Russell 2000 Index. Sector
neutrality is also seen as a way to help to protect the portfolio from
macroeconomic risks and--together with diversification--represents an important
element of JPMIM's investment strategy.
Investment Process for the Portfolio's International Equity Component
Country allocation: JPMIM's country allocation decision begins with a
forecast of equity risk premiums, which provide a valuation signal by measuring
the relative attractiveness of stocks versus bonds. Using a proprietary
approach, JPMIM calculates this risk premium for each of the nations in the
Portfolio's universe, determines the extent of its deviation -- if any -- from
its historical norm, and then ranks countries according to the size of those
deviations. Countries with high (low) rankings are overweighted (underweighted)
in comparisons to the Morgan Stanley Capital International Europe, Australia and
Far East Index (EAFE) to reflect the above-average (below-average)
attractiveness of their stock markets. In determining weightings, JPMIM analyzes
a variety of qualitative factors as well -- including the liquidity, earnings
momentum and interest rate climate of the market at hand. These qualitative
assessments can change the magnitude but not the direction of the country
allocations called for by the risk premium forecast. JPMIM places limits on the
total size of the Portfolio's country over- and under-weightings relative to the
EAFE Index.
Stock selection: JPMIM's more than 30 international equity analysts,
each an industry and country specialist, forecast normalized earnings and
dividend payouts for roughly 1,200 non-U.S. companies -- taking a long-term
perspective rather than the short time frame common to consensus estimates. The
comparable expected returns generated by the dividend discount model are used to
rank companies from most to least attractive by industry and country. A
diversified portfolio is constructed using disciplined buy and sell rules. The
portfolio manager's objective is to concentrate the purchases in the stocks
deemed most undervalued and to keep sector weightings close to those of the EAFE
Index. Once a stock falls into the bottom half of the rankings, it generally
becomes a candidate for sale. Where available, warrants and convertibles may be
purchased instead of common stock if they are deemed a more attractive means of
investing in an undervalued company.
Currency management: Currency is actively managed, in conjunction with
country and stock allocation, with the goal of protecting and possibly enhancing
return. JPMIM's currency decisions are supported by a proprietary tactical model
which forecasts currency movements based on an analysis of four fundamental
factors -- trade balance trends, purchasing power parity, real short-term
interest differentials and real bond yields -- plus a technical factor designed
to improve the timing of transactions. Combining the output of this model with a
subjective assessment of economic, political and market factors, JPMIM's
currency group recommends currency strategies that are implemented in
conjunction with the Portfolio's investment strategy.
The following discussion supplements the information regarding the
investment objective of the Portfolio and the policies to be employed to achieve
this objective as set forth above and in Part A.
Fixed Income Investments
The Portfolio may invest in a broad range of debt securities of
domestic and foreign corporate and government issuers. The corporate securities
in which the Portfolio may invest include debt securities of various types and
maturities, e.g., debentures, notes, mortgage securities, equipment trust
certificates and other collateralized securities and zero coupon securities.
Collateralized securities are backed by a pool of assets such as loans or
receivables which generate cash flow to cover the payments due on the
securities. Collateralized securities are subject to certain risks, including a
decline in the value of the collateral backing the security, failure of the
collateral to generate the anticipated cash flow or in certain cases more rapid
prepayment because of events affecting the collateral, such as accelerated
prepayment of mortgages or other loans backing these securities or destruction
of equipment subject to equipment trust certificates. In the event of any such
prepayment the Portfolio will be required to reinvest the proceeds of
prepayments at interest rates prevailing at the time of reinvestment, which may
be lower. In addition, the value of zero coupon securities which do not pay
interest is more volatile than that of interest bearing debt securities with the
same maturity.
Corporate Bonds and Other Debt Securities
As discussed in Part A, the Portfolio may invest in bonds and other
debt securities of domestic and foreign issuers to the extent consistent with
its investment objectives and policies. A description of these investments
appears in Part A and below. See "Quality and Diversification Requirements." For
information on short-term investments in these securities, see "Money Market
Instruments."
Mortgage-Backed Securities. The Portfolio may invest in mortgage-backed
securities. Each mortgage pool underlying mortgage-backed securities consists of
mortgage loans evidenced by promissory notes secured by first mortgages or first
deeds of trust or other similar security instruments creating a first lien on
owner occupied and non-owner occupied one-unit to four-unit residential
properties, multifamily (i.e., five or more) properties, agriculture properties,
commercial properties and mixed use properties. The investment characteristics
of adjustable and fixed rate mortgage-backed securities differ from those of
traditional fixed income securities. The major differences include the payment
of interest and principal on mortgage-backed securities on a more frequent
(usually monthly) schedule and the possibility that principal may be prepaid at
any time due to prepayments on the underlying mortgage loans or other assets.
These differences can result in significantly greater price and yield volatility
than is the case with traditional fixed income securities. As a result, a faster
than expected prepayment rate will reduce both the market value and the yield to
maturity from those which were anticipated. A prepayment rate that is slower
than expected will have the opposite effect of increasing yield to maturity and
market value.
Government Guaranteed Mortgage-Backed Securities. Government National
Mortgage Association mortgage-backed certificates ("Ginnie Maes") are supported
by the full faith and credit of the United States. Certain other U.S. Government
securities, issued or guaranteed by federal agencies or government sponsored
enterprises, are not supported by the full faith and credit of the United
States, but may be supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S.
Treasury. These securities include obligations of instrumentalities such as the
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("Freddie Macs") and the Federal National
Mortgage Association ("Fannie Maes"). No assurance can be given that the U.S.
Government will provide financial support to these federal agencies,
authorities, instrumentalities and government sponsored enterprises in the
future.
There are several types of guaranteed mortgage-backed securities
currently available, including guaranteed mortgage pass-through certificates and
multiple class securities, which include guaranteed real estate mortgage
investment conduit certificates ("REMIC Certificates"), other collateralized
mortgage obligations ("CMOs") and stripped mortgage-backed securities.
Mortgage pass-through securities are fixed or adjustable rate
mortgage-backed securities which provide for monthly payments that are a
"pass-through" of the monthly interest and principal payments (including any
prepayments) made by the individual borrowers on the pooled mortgage loans, net
of any fees or other amounts paid to any guarantor, administrator and/or
servicer of the underlying mortgage loans.
Multiple class securities include CMOs and REMIC Certificates issued by
U.S. Government agencies, instrumentalities (such as Fannie Mae) and sponsored
enterprises (such as Freddie Mac) or by trusts formed by private originators of,
or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations,
mortgage bankers, commercial banks, insurance companies, investment banks and
special purpose subsidiaries of the foregoing. In general, CMOs are debt
obligations of a legal entity that are collateralized by, and multiple class
mortgage-backed securities represent direct ownership interests in, a pool of
mortgage loans or mortgaged-backed securities and payments on which are used to
make payments on the CMOs or multiple class mortgage-backed securities.
CMOs and guaranteed REMIC Certificates issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie
Mac are types of multiple class mortgage-backed securities. Investors may
purchase beneficial interests in REMICs, which are known as "regular" interests
or "residual" interests. The Portfolio does not intend to purchase residual
interests in REMICs. The REMIC Certificates represent beneficial ownership
interests in a REMIC trust, generally consisting of mortgage loans or Fannie
Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae guaranteed mortgage-backed securities (the
"Mortgage Assets"). The obligations of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac under their
respective guaranty of the REMIC Certificates are obligations solely of Fannie
Mae and Freddie Mac, respectively.
CMOs and REMIC Certificates are issued in multiple classes. Each class
of CMOs or REMIC Certificates, often referred to as a "tranche," is issued at a
specific adjustable or fixed interest rate and must be fully retired no later
than its final distribution date. Principal prepayments on the assets underlying
the CMOs or REMIC Certificates may cause some or all of the classes of CMOs or
REMIC Certificates to be retired substantially earlier than their final
scheduled distribution dates. Generally, interest is paid or accrues on all
classes of CMOs or REMIC Certificates on a monthly basis.
Stripped Mortgage-Backed Securities. Stripped mortgage-backed
securities ("SMBS") are derivative multiclass mortgage securities, issued or
guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities or by
private issuers. Although the market for such securities is increasingly liquid,
privately issued SMBS may not be readily marketable and will be considered
illiquid for purposes of the Portfolio's limitation on investments in illiquid
securities. The Advisor may determine that SMBS which are U.S. Government
securities are liquid for purposes of the Portfolio's limitation on investments
in illiquid securities in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of
Trustees. The market value of the class consisting entirely of principal
payments generally is unusually volatile in response to changes in interest
rates. The yields on a class of SMBS that receives all or most of the interest
from Mortgage Assets are generally higher than prevailing market yields on other
mortgage-backed securities because their cash flow patterns are more volatile
and there is a greater risk that the initial investment will not be fully
recouped.
Mortgages (Directly held). The Portfolio may invest directly in
mortgages. Mortgages are debt instruments secured by real property. Unlike
mortgage-backed securities, which generally represent an interest in a pool of
mortgages, direct investments in mortgages involve prepayment and credit risks
of an individual issuer and real property. Consequently, these investments
require different investment and credit analysis by the Advisor.
The directly placed mortgages in which the Portfolio invests may
include residential mortgages, multifamily mortgages, mortgages on cooperative
apartment buildings, commercial mortgages, and sale-leasebacks. These
investments are backed by assets such as office buildings, shopping centers,
retail stores, warehouses, apartment buildings and single-family dwellings. In
the event that the Portfolio forecloses on any non-performing mortgage, and
acquires a direct interest in the real property, the Portfolio will be subject
to the risks generally associated with the ownership of real property. There may
be fluctuations in the market value of the foreclosed property and its occupancy
rates, rent schedules and operating expenses. There may also be adverse changes
in local, regional or general economic conditions, deterioration of the real
estate market and the financial circumstances of tenants and sellers,
unfavorable changes in zoning, building environmental and other laws, increased
real property taxes, rising interest rates, reduced availability and increased
cost of mortgage borrowings, the need for unanticipated renovations, unexpected
increases in the cost of energy, environmental factors, acts of God and other
factors which are beyond the control of the Portfolio or the Advisor. Hazardous
or toxic substances may be present on, at or under the mortgaged property and
adversely affect the value of the property. In addition, the owners of property
containing such substances may be held responsible, under various laws, for
containing, monitoring, removing or cleaning up such substances. The presence of
such substances may also provide a basis for other claims by third parties.
Costs of clean-up or of liabilities to third parties may exceed the value of the
property. In addition, these risks may be uninsurable. In light of these and
similar risks, it may be impossible to dispose profitably of properties in
foreclosure.
Zero Coupon, Pay-in-Kind and Deferred Payment Securities. Zero coupon
securities are securities that are sold at a discount to par value and on which
interest payments are not made during the life of the security. Upon maturity,
the holder is entitled to receive the par value of the security. Pay-in-kind
securities are securities that have interest payable by delivery of additional
securities. Upon maturity, the holder is entitled to receive the aggregate par
value of the securities. The Portfolio accrues income with respect to zero
coupon and pay-in-kind securities prior to the receipt of cash payments.
Deferred payment securities are securities that remain zero coupon securities
until a predetermined date, at which time the stated coupon rate becomes
effective and interest becomes payable at regular intervals. While interest
payments are not made on such securities, holders of such securities are deemed
to have received "phantom income." Because the Portfolio will distribute
"phantom income" to shareholders, to the extent that shareholders elect to
receive dividends in cash rather than reinvesting such dividends in additional
shares, the Portfolio will have fewer assets with which to purchase income
producing securities.
Asset-Backed Securities. Asset-backed securities directly or indirectly
represent a participation interest in, or are secured by and payable from, a
stream of payments generated by particular assets such as motor vehicle or
credit card receivables or other asset-backed securities collateralized by such
assets. Payments of principal and interest may be guaranteed up to certain
amounts and for a certain time period by a letter of credit issued by a
financial institution unaffiliated with the entities issuing the securities. The
asset-backed securities in which the Portfolio may invest are subject to the
Portfolio's overall credit requirements. However, asset-backed securities, in
general, are subject to certain risks. Most of these risks are related to
limited interests in applicable collateral. For example, credit card debt
receivables are generally unsecured and the debtors are entitled to the
protection of a number of state and federal consumer credit laws, many of which
give such debtors the right to set off certain amounts on credit card debt
thereby reducing the balance due. Additionally, if the letter of credit is
exhausted, holders of asset-backed securities may also experience delays in
payments or losses if the full amounts due on underlying sales contracts are not
realized. Because asset-backed securities are relatively new, the market
experience in these securities is limited and the market's ability to sustain
liquidity through all phases of the market cycle has not been tested.
Money Market Instruments
As discussed in Part A, the Portfolio may invest in money market
instruments and other short-term securities to the extent consistent with its
investment objective and policies. A description of the various types of money
market instruments that may be purchased by the Portfolio appears below. Also
see "Quality and Diversification Requirements."
U.S. Treasury Securities. The Portfolio may invest in direct obligations of
the U.S. Treasury, including Treasury bills, notes and bonds, all of which are
backed as to principal and interest payments by the full faith and credit of the
United States.
Additional U.S. Government Obligations. The Portfolio may invest in
obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. Government agencies or
instrumentalities. These obligations may or may not be backed by the "full faith
and credit" of the United States. Securities which are backed by the full faith
and credit of the United States include obligations of the Government National
Mortgage Association, the Farmers Home Administration, and the Export-Import
Bank. In the case of securities not backed by the full faith and credit of the
United States, the Portfolio must look principally to the federal agency issuing
or guaranteeing the obligation for ultimate repayment and may not be able to
assert a claim against the United States itself in the event the agency or
instrumentality does not meet its commitments. Securities in which the Portfolio
may invest that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States
include, but are not limited to: (i) obligations of the Tennessee Valley
Authority, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, the Federal Home Loan
Banks and the U.S. Postal Service, each of which has the right to borrow from
the U.S. Treasury to meet its obligations; (ii) securities issued by the Federal
National Mortgage Association, which are supported by the discretionary
authority of the U.S. Government to purchase the agency's obligations; and (iii)
obligations of the Federal Farm Credit System and the Student Loan Marketing
Association, each of whose obligations may be satisfied only by the individual
credits of the issuing agency.
Foreign Government Obligations. The Portfolio, subject to its applicable
investment policies, may also invest in short-term obligations of foreign
sovereign governments or of their agencies, instrumentalities, authorities or
political subdivisions. These securities may be denominated in the U.S. dollar
or in another currency. See "Foreign Investments".
Bank Obligations. The Portfolio, unless otherwise noted in Part A or
below, may invest in negotiable certificates of deposit, time deposits and
bankers' acceptances of (i) banks, savings and loan associations and savings
banks which have more than $2 billion in total assets and are organized under
the laws of the United States or any state, (ii) foreign branches of these banks
or of foreign banks of equivalent size (Euros) and (iii) U.S. branches of
foreign banks of equivalent size (Yankees). The Portfolio will not invest in
obligations for which the Advisor, or any of its affiliated persons, is the
ultimate obligor or accepting bank. The Portfolio may also invest in obligations
of international banking institutions designated or supported by national
governments to promote economic reconstruction, development or trade between
nations (e.g., the European Investment Bank, the Inter-American Development
Bank, or the World Bank).
Commercial Paper. The Portfolio may invest in commercial paper
including master demand obligations. Master demand obligations are obligations
that provide for a periodic adjustment in the interest rate paid and permit
daily changes in the amount borrowed. Master demand obligations are governed by
agreements between the issuer and Morgan acting as agent, for no additional fee,
in its capacity as investment advisor to the Portfolio and as fiduciary for
other clients for whom it exercises investment discretion. The monies loaned to
the borrower come from accounts managed by Morgan or its affiliates, pursuant to
arrangements with such accounts. Interest and principal payments are credited to
such accounts. Morgan, acting as a fiduciary on behalf of its clients, has the
right to increase or decrease the amount provided to the borrower under an
obligation. The borrower has the right to pay without penalty all or any part of
the principal amount then outstanding on an obligation together with interest to
the date of payment. Since these obligations typically provide that the interest
rate is tied to the Federal Reserve commercial paper composite rate, the rate on
master demand obligations is subject to change. Repayment of a master demand
obligation to participating accounts depends on the ability of the borrower to
pay the accrued interest and principal of the obligation on demand which is
continuously monitored by Morgan. Since master demand obligations typically are
not rated by credit rating agencies, the Portfolio may invest in such unrated
obligations only if at the time of an investment the obligation is determined by
the Advisor to have a credit quality which satisfies the Portfolio's quality
restrictions. See "Quality and Diversification Requirements." Although there is
no secondary market for master demand obligations, such obligations are
considered by the Portfolio to be liquid because they are payable upon demand.
The Portfolio does not have any specific percentage limitation on investments in
master demand obligations. It is possible that the issuer of a master demand
obligation could be a client of Morgan to whom Morgan, in its capacity as a
commercial bank, has made a loan.
Repurchase Agreements. The Portfolio may enter into repurchase
agreements with brokers, dealers or banks that meet the credit guidelines
approved by the Trustees. In a repurchase agreement, the Portfolio buys a
security from a seller that has agreed to repurchase the same security at a
mutually agreed upon date and price. The resale price normally is in excess of
the purchase price, reflecting an agreed upon interest rate. This interest rate
is effective for the period of time the Portfolio is invested in the agreement
and is not related to the coupon rate on the underlying security. A repurchase
agreement may also be viewed as a fully collateralized loan of money by the
Portfolio to the seller. The period of these repurchase agreements will usually
be short, from overnight to one week, and at no time will the Portfolio invest
in repurchase agreements for more than thirteen months. The securities which are
subject to repurchase agreements, however, may have maturity dates in excess of
thirteen months from the effective date of the repurchase agreement. The
Portfolio will always receive securities as collateral whose market value is,
and during the entire term of the agreement remains, at least equal to 100% of
the dollar amount invested by the Portfolio in each agreement plus accrued
interest, and the Portfolio will make payment for such securities only upon
physical delivery or upon evidence of book entry transfer to the account of the
Portfolio's custodian (the "Custodian"). If the seller defaults, the Portfolio
might incur a loss if the value of the collateral securing the repurchase
agreement declines and might incur disposition costs in connection with
liquidating the collateral. In addition, if bankruptcy proceedings are commenced
with respect to the seller of the security, realization upon disposal of the
collateral by the Portfolio may be delayed or limited.
The Portfolio may make investments in other debt securities, including
without limitation corporate and foreign bonds, asset-backed securities and
other obligations described in Part A or this Part B.
Corporate Fixed Income Securities. The Portfolio may invest in publicly
and privately issued debt obligations of U.S. and non-U.S. corporations,
including obligations of industrial, utility, banking and other financial
issuers. These securities are subject to the risk of an issuer's inability to
meet principal and interest payments on the obligation and may also be subject
to price volatility due to such factors as market interest rates, market
perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and general market liquidity.
Equity Investments
As discussed in Part A, the equity portion of the Portfolio invests
primarily in equity securities consisting of common stock and other securities
with equity characteristics comprised of preferred stock, warrants, rights,
convertible securities, trust certificates, limited partnership interests and
equity participations (collectively, "Equity Securities"). The Equity Securities
in which the Portfolio invests include those listed on any domestic or foreign
securities exchange or traded in the over-the-counter (OTC) market as well as
certain restricted or unlisted securities.
Equity Securities. The Equity Securities in which the Portfolio may invest
may or may not pay dividends and may or may not carry voting rights. Common
stock occupies the most junior position in a company's capital structure.
The convertible securities in which the Portfolio may invest include
any debt securities or preferred stock which may be converted into common stock
or which carry the right to purchase common stock. Convertible securities
entitle the holder to exchange the securities for a specified number of shares
of common stock, usually of the same company, at specified prices within a
certain period of time.
The terms of any convertible security determine its ranking in a
company's capital structure. In the case of subordinated convertible debentures,
the holders' claims on assets and earnings are subordinated to the claims of
other creditors, and are senior to the claims of preferred and common
shareholders. In the case of convertible preferred stock, the holders' claims on
assets and earnings are subordinated to the claims of all creditors and are
senior to the claims of common shareholders.
Common Stock Warrants
The Portfolio may invest in common stock warrants that entitle the
holder to buy common stock from the issuer of the warrant at a specific price
(the strike price) for a specific period of time. The market price of warrants
may be substantially lower than the current market price of the underlying
common stock, yet warrants are subject to similar price fluctuations. As a
result, warrants may be more volatile investments than the underlying common
stock.
Warrants generally do not entitle the holder to dividends or voting
rights with respect to the underlying common stock and do not represent any
rights in the assets of the issuer company. A warrant will expire worthless if
it is not exercised on or prior to the expiration date.
Foreign Investments
The Portfolio may invest in certain foreign securities. The Portfolio
does not expect to invest more than 30% of its total assets at the time of
purchase in securities of foreign issuers and in obligations of foreign branches
of domestic banks. The economies of individual foreign nations may differ from
the U.S. economy, whether favorably or unfavorably, in areas such as growth of
gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource
self-sufficiency and balance of payments position; it may also be more difficult
to obtain and enforce a judgment against a foreign issuer. Any foreign
investments made by the Portfolio must be made in compliance with U.S. and
foreign currency restrictions and tax laws restricting the amounts and types of
foreign investments.
Foreign investments may be made directly in securities of foreign
issuers or in the form of American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"), European
Depositary Receipts ("EDRs") and Global Depositary Receipts ("GDRs") or other
similar securities of foreign issuers. ADRs are securities, typically issued by
a U.S. financial institution (a "depositary"), that evidence ownership interests
in a security or a pool of securities issued by a foreign issuer and deposited
with the depositary. ADRs include American Depositary Shares and New York
Shares. EDRs are receipts issued by a European financial institution. GDRs,
which are sometimes referred to as Continental Depositary Receipts ("CDRs"), are
securities, typically issued by a non-U.S. financial institution, that evidence
ownership interests in a security or a pool of securities issued by either a
U.S. or foreign issuer. ADRs, EDRs, GDRs and CDRs may be available for
investment through "sponsored" or "unsponsored" facilities. A sponsored facility
is established jointly by the issuer of the security underlying the receipt and
a depository, whereas an unsponsored facility may be established by a depositary
without participation by the issuer of the receipt's underlying security. An
unsponsored depositary may not provide the same shareholder information that a
sponsored depositary is required to provide under its contractual arrangements
with the issuer of the underlying foreign security. Generally, ADRs, in
registered form, are designed for use in the U.S. securities markets, and EDRs,
in bearer form, are designed for use in European securities markets.
Holders of an unsponsored depositary receipt generally bear all costs
of the unsponsored facility. The depositary of an unsponsored facility
frequently is under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications
received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through to the
holders of the receipts voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.
Investment in securities of foreign issuers and in obligations of
foreign branches of domestic banks involves somewhat different investment risks
from those affecting securities of U.S. domestic issuers. There may be limited
publicly available information with respect to foreign issuers, and foreign
issuers are not generally subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial
standards and requirements comparable to those applicable to domestic companies.
Dividends and interest paid by foreign issuers may be subject to withholding and
other foreign taxes which may decrease the net return on foreign investments as
compared to dividends and interest paid to the Portfolio by domestic companies.
Investors should realize that the value of the Portfolio's investments
in foreign securities may be adversely affected by changes in political or
social conditions, diplomatic relations, confiscatory taxation, expropriation,
nationalization, limitation on the removal of funds or assets, or imposition of
(or change in) exchange control or tax regulations in those foreign countries.
In addition, changes in government administration or economic or monetary
policies in the United States or abroad could result in appreciation or
depreciation of portfolio securities and could favorably or unfavorably affect
the Portfolio's operations. Furthermore, the economies of individual foreign
nations may differ from the U.S. economy, whether favorably or unfavorably, in
areas such as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital
reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments position; it may
also be more difficult to obtain and enforce a judgment against a foreign
issuer. Any foreign investment made by the Portfolio must be made in compliance
with U.S. and foreign currency restrictions and tax laws restricting the amounts
and types of foreign investments.
In addition, while the volume of transactions effected on foreign
exchanges has increased in recent years, in most cases it remains appreciably
below that of domestic security exchanges. Accordingly, the Portfolio's foreign
investments may be less liquid and their prices may be more volatile than
comparable investments in securities of U.S. companies. Moreover, the settlement
periods for foreign securities, which are often longer than those for securities
of U.S. issuers, may affect portfolio liquidity. In addition, there is generally
less government supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers and
issuers located in foreign countries than in the United States.
Since investments in foreign securities may involve foreign currencies,
the value of the Portfolio's assets as measured in U.S. dollars may be affected
favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency rates and in exchange control
regulations, including currency blockage. The Portfolio may enter into forward
commitments for the purchase or sale of foreign currencies in connection with
the settlement of foreign securities transactions or to manage the Portfolio's
currency exposure. See "Foreign Currency Exchange Transactions" below.
Foreign Currency Exchange Transactions. Because the Portfolio may buy
and sell securities and receive interest and dividends in currencies other than
the U.S. dollar, the Portfolio may enter from time to time into foreign currency
exchange transactions. The Portfolio either enters into these transactions on a
spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency
exchange market or uses forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign
currencies. The cost of the Portfolio's spot currency exchange transactions is
generally the difference between the bid and offer spot rate of the currency
being purchased or sold.
A forward foreign currency exchange contract is an obligation by the
Portfolio to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be
any fixed number of days from the date of the contract. Forward foreign currency
exchange contracts establish an exchange rate at a future date. These contracts
are derivative instruments, as their value derives from the spot exchange rates
of the currencies underlying the contract. These contracts are entered into in
the interbank market directly between currency traders (usually large commercial
banks) and their customers. A forward foreign currency exchange contract
generally has no deposit requirement and is traded at a net price without
commission. Neither spot transactions nor forward foreign currency exchange
contracts eliminate fluctuations in the prices of the Portfolio's securities or
in foreign exchange rates, or prevent loss if the prices of these securities
should decline.
The Portfolio may enter into foreign currency forward exchange
contracts to adjust its currency exposure relative to the MSCI EAFE Index, the
benchmark for its international equity investments. The Portfolio may enter into
foreign currency exchange transactions in an attempt to protect against changes
in foreign currency exchange rates between the trade and settlement dates of
specific securities transactions or anticipated securities transactions. The
Portfolio may also enter into forward contracts to hedge against a change in
foreign currency exchange rates that would cause a decline in the value of
existing investments denominated or principally traded in a foreign currency. To
do this, the Portfolio would enter into a forward contract to sell the foreign
currency in which the investment is denominated or principally traded in
exchange for U.S. dollars or in exchange for another foreign currency. The
Portfolio will only enter into forward contracts to sell a foreign currency for
another foreign currency if the Advisor expects the foreign currency purchased
to appreciate against the U.S. dollar.
Although these transactions are intended to minimize the risk of loss
due to a decline in the value of the hedged currency, at the same time they
limit any potential gain that might be realized should the value of the hedged
currency increase. In addition, forward contracts that convert a foreign
currency into another foreign currency will cause the Portfolio to assume the
risk of fluctuations in the value of the currency purchased vis a vis the hedged
currency and the U.S. dollar. The precise matching of the forward contract
amounts and the value of the securities involved will not generally be possible
because the future value of such securities in foreign currencies will change as
a consequence of market movements in the value of such securities between the
date the forward contract is entered into and the date it matures. The
projection of currency market movements is extremely difficult, and the
successful execution of a hedging strategy is highly uncertain.
Sovereign Fixed Income Securities. The Portfolio may invest in fixed
income securities issued or guaranteed by a foreign sovereign government or its
agencies, authorities or political subdivisions. Investment in sovereign fixed
income securities involves special risks not present in corporate fixed income
securities. The issuer of the sovereign debt or the governmental authorities
that control the repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to repay
principal or interest when due, and the Portfolio may have limited recourse in
the event of a default. During periods of economic uncertainty, the market
prices of sovereign debt, and the Portfolio's net asset value, may be more
volatile than prices of U.S. debt obligations. In the past, certain foreign
countries have encountered difficulties in servicing their debt obligations,
withheld payments of principal and interest and declared moratoria on the
payment of principal and interest on their sovereign debts.
A sovereign debtor's willingness or ability to repay principal and pay
interest in a timely manner may be affected by, among other factors, its cash
flow situation, the extent of its foreign currency reserves, the availability of
sufficient foreign exchange, the relative size of the debt service burden, the
sovereign debtor's policy toward international lenders and local political
constraints. Sovereign debtors may also be dependent on expected disbursements
from foreign governments, multilateral agencies and other entities to reduce
principal and interest arrearages on their debt. The failure of a sovereign
debtor to implement economic reforms, achieve specified levels of economic
performance or repay principal or interest when due may result in the
cancellation of third-party commitments to lend funds to the sovereign debtor,
which may further impair such debtor's ability or willingness to service its
debts.
Obligations of Supranational Entities. The Portfolio may invest in
obligations of supranational entities designated or supported by governmental
entities to promote economic reconstruction or development and of international
banking institutions and related government agencies. Examples include the
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the "World Bank"), the
European Coal and Steel Community, the Asian Development Bank and the
Inter-American Development Bank. Each supranational entity's lending activities
are limited to a percentage of its total capital (including "callable capital"
contributed by its governmental members at the entity's call), reserves and net
income. There is no assurance that participating governments will be able or
willing to honor their commitments to make capital contributions to a
supranational entity.
Additional Investments
Convertible Securities. The Portfolio may invest in convertible
securities of domestic and foreign issuers. The convertible securities in which
the Portfolio may invest include any debt securities or preferred stock which
may be converted into common stock or which carry the right to purchase common
stock. Convertible securities entitle the holder to exchange the securities for
a specified number of shares of common stock, usually of the same company, at
specified prices within a certain period of time.
When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Securities. The Portfolio may purchase
securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis. For example, delivery of
and payment for these securities can take place a month or more after the date
of the purchase commitment. The purchase price and the interest rate payable, if
any, on the securities are fixed on the purchase commitment date or at the time
the settlement date is fixed. The value of such securities is subject to market
fluctuation and for money market instruments and other fixed income securities
no interest accrues to the Portfolio until settlement takes place. At the time
the Portfolio makes the commitment to purchase securities on a when-issued or
delayed delivery basis, it will record the transaction, reflect the value each
day of such securities in determining its net asset value and, if applicable,
calculate the maturity for the purposes of average maturity from that date. At
the time of settlement a when-issued security may be valued at less than the
purchase price. To facilitate such acquisitions, the Portfolio will maintain
with the Custodian a segregated account with liquid assets, consisting of cash,
U.S. Government securities or other appropriate securities, in an amount at
least equal to such commitments. On delivery dates for such transactions, the
Portfolio will meet its obligations from maturities or sales of the securities
held in the segregated account and/or from cash flow. If the Portfolio chooses
to dispose of the right to acquire a when-issued security prior to its
acquisition, it could, as with the disposition of any other portfolio
obligation, incur a gain or loss due to market fluctuation.
Also, the Portfolio may be disadvantaged if the other party to the transaction
defaults.
Investment Company Securities. Securities of other investment
companies may be acquired by the Portfolio to the extent permitted under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended ("1940 Act") or any order pursuant
thereto. These limits currently require that, as determined immediately after a
purchase is made, (i) not more than 5% of the value of the Portfolio's total
assets will be invested in the securities of any one investment company, (ii)
not more than 10% of the value of its total assets will be invested in the
aggregate in securities of investment companies as a group, and (iii) not more
than 3% of the outstanding voting stock of any one investment company will be
owned by the Portfolio. As a shareholder of another investment company, the
Portfolio would bear, along with other shareholders, its PRO RATA portion of the
other investment company's expenses, including advisory fees. These expenses
would be in addition to the advisory and other expenses that the Portfolio bears
directly in connection with its own operations.
The Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") has granted the
Portfolio an exemptive order permitting it to invest its uninvested cash in any
of the following affiliated money market funds: J.P. Morgan Institutional Prime
Money Market Fund, J.P. Morgan Institutional Tax Exempt Money Market Fund, J.P.
Morgan Institutional Federal Money Market Fund and J.P. Morgan Institutional
Treasury Money Market Fund. The order sets the following conditions: (1) the
Portfolio may invest in one or more of the permitted money market funds up to an
aggregate limit of 25% of its assets; and (2) the Advisor will waive and/or
reimburse its advisory fee from the Portfolio in an amount sufficient to offset
any doubling up of investment advisory and shareholder servicing fees. The
Portfolio has applied for additional exemptive relief from the SEC to permit the
Portfolio to invest in additional affiliated investment companies. If the
requested relief is granted, the Portfolio would then be permitted to invest in
non-money market affiliated funds, subject to certain conditions specified in
the applicable order.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements. The Portfolio may enter into reverse
repurchase agreements. In a reverse repurchase agreement, the Portfolio sells a
security and agrees to repurchase the same security at a mutually agreed upon
date and price reflecting the interest rate effective for the term of the
agreement. For purposes of the 1940 Act, a reverse repurchase agreement is also
considered as the borrowing of money by the Portfolio and, therefore, a form of
leverage. Leverage may cause any gains or losses for the Portfolio to be
magnified. The Portfolio will invest the proceeds of borrowings under reverse
repurchase agreements. In addition, the Portfolio will enter into a reverse
repurchase agreement only when the interest income to be earned from the
investment of the proceeds is greater than the interest expense of the
transaction. The Portfolio will not invest the proceeds of a reverse repurchase
agreement for a period which exceeds the duration of the reverse repurchase
agreement. The Portfolio will establish and maintain with the Custodian a
separate account with a segregated portfolio of securities in an amount at least
equal to its purchase obligations under its reverse repurchase agreements. See
"Investment Restrictions" for the Portfolio's limitations on reverse repurchase
agreements and bank borrowings.
Mortgage Dollar Roll Transactions. The Portfolio may engage in mortgage
dollar roll transactions with respect to mortgage securities issued by the
Government National Mortgage Association, the Federal National Mortgage
Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. In a mortgage dollar
roll transaction, the Portfolio sells a mortgage backed security and
simultaneously agrees to repurchase a similar security on a specified future
date at an agreed upon price. During the roll period, the Portfolio will not be
entitled to receive any interest or principal paid on the securities sold. The
Portfolio is compensated for the lost interest on the securities sold by the
difference between the sales price and the lower price for the future repurchase
as well as by the interest earned on the reinvestment of the sales proceeds. The
Portfolio may also be compensated by receipt of a commitment fee. When the
Portfolio enters into a mortgage dollar roll transaction, liquid assets in an
amount sufficient to pay for the future repurchase are segregated with the
custodian. Mortgage dollar roll transactions are considered reverse repurchase
agreements for purposes of the Portfolio's investment restrictions.
Loans of Portfolio Securities. The Portfolio may lend its securities in
an amount up to 33 1/3% of the value of the Portfolio's net assets if such loans
are secured continuously by cash or equivalent collateral or by a letter of
credit in favor of the Portfolio at least equal at all times to 100% of the
market value of the securities loaned, plus accrued interest. While such
securities are on loan, the borrower will pay the Portfolio any income accruing
thereon. Loans will be subject to termination by the Portfolio in the normal
settlement time, generally three business days after notice, or by the borrower
on one day's notice. Borrowed securities must be returned when the loan is
terminated. Any gain or loss in the market price of the borrowed securities
which occurs during the term of the loan inures to the Portfolio and its
investors. The Portfolio may pay reasonable finders' and custodial fees in
connection with a loan. In addition, the Portfolio will consider all facts and
circumstances including the creditworthiness of the borrowing financial
institution, and the Portfolio will not make any loans in excess of one year.
The Portfolio will not lend its securities to any officer, Trustee, Director,
employee or other affiliate of the Portfolio, the Advisor, Exclusive Placement
Agent or Administrator, unless otherwise permitted by applicable law.
Illiquid Investments, Privately Placed and Certain Unregistered
Securities. The Portfolio may not acquire any illiquid holdings if, as a result
thereof, more than 15% of the Portfolio's net assets would be in illiquid
investments. Subject to this non-fundamental policy limitation, the Portfolio
may acquire investments that are illiquid or have limited liquidity, such as
private placements or investments that are not registered under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") and cannot be offered for public sale
in the United States without first being registered under the 1933 Act. An
illiquid investment is any investment that cannot be disposed of within seven
days in the normal course of business at approximately the amount at which it is
valued by the Portfolio. The price the Portfolio pays for illiquid securities or
receives upon resale may be lower than the price paid or received for similar
securities with a more liquid market. Accordingly the valuation of these
securities will reflect any limitations on their liquidity.
The Portfolio may also purchase Rule 144A securities sold to
institutional investors without registration under the 1933 Act. These
securities may be determined to be liquid in accordance with guidelines
established by the Advisor and approved by the Trustees. The Trustees will
monitor the Advisor's implementation of these guidelines on a periodic basis.
As to illiquid investments, the Portfolio is subject to a risk that
should the Portfolio decide to sell them when a ready buyer is not available at
a price the Portfolio deems representative of their value, the value of the
Portfolio's net assets could be adversely affected. Where an illiquid holding
must be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933
Act"), before it may be sold, the Portfolio may be obligated to pay all or part
of the registration expenses and a considerable period may elapse between the
time of the decision to sell and the time the Portfolio may be permitted to sell
a holding under an effective registration statement. If, during such a period,
adverse market conditions were to develop, the Portfolio might obtain a less
favorable price than prevailed when it decided to sell.
Quality and Diversification Requirements
The Portfolio intends to meet the diversification requirements of the
1940 Act. Current 1940 Act diversification requirements require that with
respect to 75% of the assets of the Portfolio: (1) the Portfolio may not invest
more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of any one issuer, except
obligations of the U.S. Government, its agencies and instrumentalities, and (2)
the Portfolio may not own more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of
any one issuer. As for the other 25% of the Portfolio's assets not subject to
the limitation described above, there is no limitation on investment of these
assets under the 1940 Act, so that all of such assets may be invested in
securities of any one issuer. Investments not subject to the limitations
described above could involve an increased risk to the Portfolio should an
issuer, or a state or its related entities, be unable to make interest or
principal payments or should the market value of such securities decline.
The Portfolio will comply with the diversification requirements imposed
by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), for qualification
as a regulated investment company. See "Taxes".
Below Investment Grade Debt. Certain lower rated securities purchased
by the Portfolio, such as those rated Ba or B by Moody's Investors Service
("Moody's") or BB or B by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group ("Standard &
Poor's")(commonly known as junk bonds), may be subject to certain risks with
respect to the issuing entity's ability to make scheduled payments of principal
and interest and to greater market fluctuations. While generally providing
higher coupons or interest rates than investments in higher quality securities,
lower quality fixed income securities involve greater risk of loss of principal
and income, including the possibility of default or bankruptcy of the issuers of
such securities, and have greater price volatility, especially during periods of
economic uncertainty or change. These lower quality fixed income securities tend
to be affected by economic changes and short-term corporate and industry
developments to a greater extent than higher quality securities, which react
primarily to fluctuations in the general level of interest rates. To the extent
that the Portfolio invests in such lower quality securities, the achievement of
its investment objective may be more dependent on the Advisor's own credit
analysis.
Lower quality fixed income securities are affected by the market's
perception of their credit quality, especially during times of adverse
publicity, and the outlook for economic growth. Economic downturns or an
increase in interest rates may cause a higher incidence of default by the
issuers of these securities, especially issuers that are highly leveraged. The
market for these lower quality fixed income securities is generally less liquid
than the market for investment grade fixed income securities. It may be more
difficult to sell these lower rated securities to meet redemption requests, to
respond to changes in the market, or to value accurately the Portfolio's
portfolio securities for purposes of determining the Portfolio's net asset
value. See Appendix A for more detailed information on these ratings.
The Portfolio may invest in convertible debt securities, for which
there are no specific quality requirements. In addition, at the time the
Portfolio invests in any commercial paper, bank obligation or repurchase
agreement, the issuer must have outstanding debt rated A or higher by Moody's or
Standard & Poor's, the issuer's parent corporation, if any, must have
outstanding commercial paper rated Prime-1 by Moody's or A-1 by Standard &
Poor's, or if no such ratings are available, the investment must be of
comparable quality in the Advisor's opinion. At the time the Portfolio invests
in any other short-term debt securities, they must be rated A or higher by
Moody's or Standard & Poor's, or if unrated, the investment must be of
comparable quality in the Advisor's opinion. A description of illustrative
credit ratings is set forth in Appendix A attached to this Part B.
In determining suitability of investment in a particular unrated
security, the Advisor takes into consideration asset and debt service coverage,
the purpose of the financing, history of the issuer, existence of other rated
securities of the issuer, and other relevant conditions, such as comparability
to other issuers.
Options and Futures Transactions
The Portfolio may purchase and sell (a) exchange traded and
over-the-counter (OTC) put and call options on fixed income or equity
securities, indexes of fixed income or equity securities and futures contracts
on fixed income securities and indexes of fixed income or equity securities and
(b) futures contracts on fixed income securities and indexes of fixed income or
equity securities. Each of these instruments is a derivative instrument as its
value derives from the underlying asset or index.
The Portfolio may use futures contracts and options for hedging and
risk management purposes. The Portfolio may not use futures contracts and
options for speculation.
The Portfolio may utilize options and futures contracts to manage its
exposure to changing interest rates and/or security prices. Some options and
futures strategies, including selling futures contracts and buying puts, tend to
hedge the Portfolio's investments against price fluctuations. Other strategies,
including buying futures contracts, writing puts and calls, and buying calls,
tend to increase market exposure. Options and futures contracts may be combined
with each other or with forward contracts in order to adjust the risk and return
characteristics of the Portfolio's overall strategy in a manner deemed
appropriate to the Advisor and consistent with the Portfolio's objective and
policies. Because combined options positions involve multiple trades, they
result in higher transaction costs and may be more difficult to open and close
out.
The use of options and futures is a highly specialized activity which
involves investment strategies and risks different from those associated with
ordinary portfolio securities transactions, and there can be no guarantee that
their use will increase the Portfolio's return. While the use of these
instruments by the Portfolio may reduce certain risks associated with owning its
portfolio securities, these techniques themselves entail certain other risks. If
the Advisor applies a strategy at an inappropriate time or judges market
conditions or trends incorrectly, options and futures strategies may lower the
Portfolio's return. Certain strategies limit the Portfolio's possibilities to
realize gains as well as limiting its exposure to losses. The Portfolio could
also experience losses if the prices of its options and futures positions were
poorly correlated with its other investments, or if it could not close out its
positions because of an illiquid secondary market. In addition, the Portfolio
will incur transaction costs, including trading commissions and option premiums,
in connection with its futures and options transactions and these transactions
could significantly increase the Portfolio's turnover rate.
The Portfolio may purchase put and call options on securities, indexes
of securities and futures contracts, or purchase and sell futures contracts,
only if such options are written by other persons and if (i) the aggregate
premiums paid on all such options which are held at any time do not exceed 20%
of the Portfolio's net assets, and (ii) the aggregate margin deposits required
on all such futures or options thereon held at any time do not exceed 5% of the
Portfolio's total assets. In addition, the Portfolio will not purchase or sell
(write) futures contracts, options on futures contracts or commodity options for
risk management purposes if, as a result, the aggregate initial margin and
options premiums required to establish these positions exceed 5% of the net
asset value of the Portfolio.
Options
Purchasing Put and Call Options. By purchasing a put option, the
Portfolio obtains the right (but not the obligation) to sell the instrument
underlying the option at a fixed strike price. In return for this right, the
Portfolio pays the current market price for the option (known as the option
premium). Options have various types of underlying instruments, including
specific securities, indexes of securities, indexes of securities prices, and
futures contracts. The Portfolio may terminate its position in a put option it
has purchased by allowing it to expire or by exercising the option. The
Portfolio may also close out a put option position by entering into an
offsetting transaction, if a liquid market exists. If the option is allowed to
expire, the Portfolio will lose the entire premium it paid. If the Portfolio
exercises a put option on a security, it will sell the instrument underlying the
option at the strike price. If the Portfolio exercises an option on an index,
settlement is in cash and does not involve the actual sale of securities. If an
option is American style, it may be exercised on any day up to its expiration
date. A European style option may be exercised only on its expiration date.
The buyer of a typical put option can expect to realize a gain if the
price of the underlying instrument falls substantially. However, if the price of
the instrument underlying the option does not fall enough to offset the cost of
purchasing the option, a put buyer can expect to suffer a loss (limited to the
amount of the premium paid, plus related transaction costs).
The features of call options are essentially the same as those of put
options, except that the purchaser of a call option obtains the right to
purchase, rather than sell, the instrument underlying the option at the option's
strike price. A call buyer typically attempts to participate in potential price
increases of the instrument underlying the option with risk limited to the cost
of the option if security prices fall. At the same time, the buyer can expect to
suffer a loss if security prices do not rise sufficiently to offset the cost of
the option.
Selling (Writing) Put and Call Options. When the Portfolio writes a put
option, it takes the opposite side of the transaction from the option's
purchaser. In return for receipt of the premium, the Portfolio assumes the
obligation to pay the strike price for the instrument underlying the option if
the other party to the option chooses to exercise it. The Portfolio may seek to
terminate its position in a put option it writes before exercise by purchasing
an offsetting option in the market at its current price. If the market is not
liquid for a put option the Portfolio has written, however, the Portfolio must
continue to be prepared to pay the strike price while the option is outstanding,
regardless of price changes, and must continue to post margin as discussed
below.
If the price of the underlying instrument rises, a put writer would
generally expect to profit, although its gain would be limited to the amount of
the premium it received. If security prices remain the same over time, it is
likely that the writer will also profit, because it should be able to close out
the option at a lower price. If security prices fall, the put writer would
expect to suffer a loss. This loss should be less than the loss from purchasing
and holding the underlying instrument directly, however, because the premium
received for writing the option should offset a portion of the decline.
Writing a call option obligates the Portfolio to sell or deliver the
option's underlying instrument in return for the strike price upon exercise of
the option. The characteristics of writing call options are similar to those of
writing put options, except that writing calls generally is a profitable
strategy if prices remain the same or fall. Through receipt of the option
premium a call writer offsets part of the effect of a price decline. At the same
time, because a call writer must be prepared to deliver the underlying
instrument in return for the strike price, even if its current value is greater,
a call writer gives up some ability to participate in security price increases.
The writer of an exchange traded put or call option on a security, an
index of securities or a futures contract is required to deposit cash or
securities or a letter of credit as margin and to make mark to market payments
of variation margin as the position becomes unprofitable.
Options on Indexes. Options on securities indexes are similar to
options on securities, except that the exercise of securities index options is
settled by cash payment and does not involve the actual purchase or sale of
securities. In addition, these options are designed to reflect price
fluctuations in a group of securities or segment of the securities market rather
than price fluctuations in a single security. The Portfolio, in purchasing or
selling index options, is subject to the risk that the value of its portfolio
securities may not change as much as an index because the Portfolio's
investments generally will not match the composition of an index.
For a number of reasons, a liquid market may not exist and thus the
Portfolio may not be able to close out an option position that it has previously
entered into. When the Portfolio purchases an OTC option, it will be relying on
its counterparty to perform its obligations, and the Portfolio may incur
additional losses if the counterparty is unable to perform.
Exchange Traded and OTC Options. All options purchased or sold by the
Portfolio will be traded on a securities exchange or will be purchased or sold
by securities dealers (OTC options) that meet creditworthiness standards
approved by the Portfolio's Board of Trustees. While exchange-traded options are
obligations of the Options Clearing Corporation, in the case of OTC options, the
Portfolio relies on the dealer from which it purchased the option to perform if
the option is exercised. Thus, when the Portfolio purchases an OTC option, it
relies on the dealer from which it purchased the option to make or take delivery
of the underlying securities. Failure by the dealer to do so would result in the
loss of the premium paid by the Portfolio as well as loss of the expected
benefit of the transaction.
Provided that the Portfolio has arrangements with certain qualified
dealers who agree that the Portfolio may repurchase any option it writes for a
maximum price to be calculated by a predetermined formula, the Portfolio may
treat the underlying securities used to cover written OTC options as liquid. In
these cases, the OTC option itself would only be considered illiquid to the
extent that the maximum repurchase price under the formula exceeds the intrinsic
value of the option.
Futures Contracts
The Portfolio may purchase and sell futures contracts. When the
Portfolio purchases a futures contract, it agrees to purchase a specified
quantity of an underlying instrument at a specified future date or to make a
cash payment based on the value of a securities index. When the Portfolio sells
a futures contract, it agrees to sell a specified quantity of the underlying
instrument at a specified future date or to receive a cash payment based on the
value of a securities index. The price at which the purchase and sale will take
place is fixed when the Portfolio enters into the contract. Futures can be held
until their delivery dates or the position can be (and normally is) closed out
before then. There is no assurance, however, that a liquid market will exist
when the Portfolio wishes to close out a particular position.
When the Portfolio purchases a futures contract, the value of the
futures contract tends to increase and decrease in tandem with the value of its
underlying instrument. Therefore, purchasing futures contracts will tend to
increase the Portfolio's exposure to positive and negative price fluctuations in
the underlying instrument, much as if it had purchased the underlying instrument
directly. When the Portfolio sells a futures contract, by contrast, the value of
its futures position will tend to move in a direction contrary to the value of
the underlying instrument. Selling futures contracts, therefore, will tend to
offset both positive and negative market price changes, much as if the
underlying instrument had been sold.
The purchaser or seller of a futures contract is not required to
deliver or pay for the underlying instrument unless the contract is held until
the delivery date. However, when the Portfolio buys or sells a futures contract
it will be required to deposit "initial margin" with its custodian in a
segregated account in the name of its futures broker, known as a futures
commission merchant (FCM). Initial margin deposits are typically equal to a
small percentage of the contract's value. If the value of either party's
position declines, that party will be required to make additional "variation
margin" payments equal to the change in value on a daily basis. The party that
has a gain may be entitled to receive all or a portion of this amount. The
Portfolio may be obligated to make payments of variation margin at a time when
it is disadvantageous to do so. Furthermore, it may not always be possible for
the Portfolio to close out its futures positions. Until it closes out a futures
position, the Portfolio will be obligated to continue to pay variation margin.
Initial and variation margin payments do not constitute purchasing on margin for
purposes of a Portfolio's investment restrictions. In the event of the
bankruptcy of an FCM that holds margin on behalf of the Portfolio, the Portfolio
may be entitled to return of margin owed to it only in proportion to the amount
received by the FCM's other customers, potentially resulting in losses to the
Portfolio.
The Portfolio will segregate liquid assets in connection with its use
of options and futures contracts to the extent required by the staff of the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Securities held in a segregated account
cannot be sold while the futures contract or option is outstanding, unless they
are replaced with other suitable assets. As a result, there is a possibility
that segregation of a large percentage of a Portfolio's assets could impede
portfolio management or the Portfolio's ability to meet redemption requests or
other current obligations.
Options on Futures Contracts. The Portfolio may purchase and sell put
and call options, including put and call options on futures contracts. Futures
contracts obligate the buyer to take and the seller to make delivery at a future
date of a specified quantity of a financial instrument or an amount of cash
based on the value of a securities index. Currently, futures contracts are
available on various types of fixed income securities, including but not limited
to U.S. Treasury bonds, notes and bills, Eurodollar certificates of deposit and
on indexes of fixed income securities and indexes of equity securities.
Unlike a futures contract, which requires the parties to buy and sell a
security or make a cash settlement payment based on changes in a financial
instrument or securities index on an agreed date, an option on a futures
contract entitles its holder to decide on or before a future date whether to
enter into such a contract. If the holder decides not to exercise its option,
the holder may close out the option position by entering into an offsetting
transaction or may decide to let the option expire and forfeit the premium
thereon. The purchaser of an option on a futures contract pays a premium for the
option but makes no initial margin payments or daily payments of cash in the
nature of "variation" margin payments to reflect the change in the value of the
underlying contract as does a purchaser or seller of a futures contract.
The seller of an option on a futures contract receives the premium paid
by the purchaser and may be required to pay initial margin. Amounts equal to the
initial margin and any additional collateral required on any options on futures
contracts sold by the Portfolio are paid by the Portfolio into a segregated
account, in the name of the FCM, as required by the 1940 Act and the SEC's
interpretations thereunder.
Combined Positions. The Portfolio may purchase and write options in
combination with each other, or in combination with futures or forward
contracts, to adjust the risk and return characteristics of the overall
position. For example, the Portfolio may purchase a put option and write a call
option on the same underlying instrument, in order to construct a combined
position whose risk and return characteristics are similar to selling a futures
contract. Another possible combined position would involve writing a call option
at one strike price and buying a call option at a lower price, in order to
reduce the risk of the written call option in the event of a substantial price
increase. Because combined options positions involve multiple trades, they
result in higher transaction costs and may be more difficult to open and close
out.
Correlation of Price Changes. Because there are a limited number of
types of exchange-traded options and futures contracts, it is likely that the
standardized options and futures contracts available will not match the
Portfolio's current or anticipated investments exactly. The Portfolio may invest
in options and futures contracts based on securities with different issuers,
maturities, or other characteristics from the securities in which it typically
invests, which involves a risk that the options or futures position will not
track the performance of the Portfolio's other investments.
Options and futures contracts prices can also diverge from the prices
of their underlying instruments, even if the underlying instruments match the
Portfolio's investments well. Options and futures contracts prices are affected
by such factors as current and anticipated short term interest rates, changes in
volatility of the underlying instrument, and the time remaining until expiration
of the contract, which may not affect security prices the same way. Imperfect
correlation may also result from differing levels of demand in the options and
futures markets and the securities markets, from structural differences in how
options and futures and securities are traded, or from imposition of daily price
fluctuation limits or trading halts. The Portfolio may purchase or sell options
and futures contracts with a greater or lesser value than the securities it
wishes to hedge or intends to purchase in order to attempt to compensate for
differences in volatility between the contract and the securities, although this
may not be successful in all cases. If price changes in the Portfolio's options
or futures positions are poorly correlated with its other investments, the
positions may fail to produce anticipated gains or result in losses that are not
offset by gains in other investments.
Liquidity of Options and Futures Contracts. There is no assurance a
liquid market will exist for any particular option or futures contract at any
particular time even if the contract is traded on an exchange. In addition,
exchanges may establish daily price fluctuation limits for options and futures
contracts and may halt trading if a contract's price moves up or down more than
the limit in a given day. On volatile trading days when the price fluctuation
limit is reached or a trading halt is imposed, it may be impossible for the
Portfolio to enter into new positions or close out existing positions. If the
market for a contract is not liquid because of price fluctuation limits or
otherwise, it could prevent prompt liquidation of unfavorable positions, and
could potentially require the Portfolio to continue to hold a position until
delivery or expiration regardless of changes in its value. As a result, the
Portfolio's access to other assets held to cover its options or futures
positions could also be impaired. (See "Exchange Traded and OTC Options" above
for a discussion of the liquidity of options not traded on an exchange.)
Position Limits. Futures exchanges can limit the number of futures and
options on futures contracts that can be held or controlled by an entity. If an
adequate exemption cannot be obtained, the Portfolio or the Advisor may be
required to reduce the size of its futures and options positions or may not be
able to trade a certain futures or options contract in order to avoid exceeding
such limits.
Asset Coverage for Futures Contracts and Options Positions. Although
the Portfolio will not be a commodity pool, certain derivatives subject the
Portfolio to the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission which limit
the extent to which the Portfolio can invest in such derivatives. The Portfolio
may invest in futures contracts and options with respect thereto for hedging
purposes without limit. However, the Portfolio may not invest in such contracts
and options for other purposes if the sum of the amount of initial margin
deposits and premiums paid for unexpired options with respect to such contracts,
other than for bona fide hedging purposes, exceeds 5% of the liquidation value
of the Portfolio's assets, after taking into account unrealized profits and
unrealized losses on such contracts and options; provided, however, that in the
case of an option that is in-the-money at the time of purchase, the in-the-money
amount may be excluded in calculating the 5% limitation.
In addition, the Portfolio will comply with guidelines established by
the SEC with respect to coverage of options and futures contracts by mutual
funds, and if the guidelines so require, will set aside appropriate liquid
assets in a segregated custodial account in the amount prescribed. Securities
held in a segregated account cannot be sold while the futures contract or option
is outstanding, unless they are replaced with other suitable assets. As a
result, there is a possibility that segregation of a large percentage of the
Portfolio's assets could impede portfolio management or the Portfolio's ability
to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.
Swaps and Related Swap Products. The Portfolio may engage in swap
transactions, including, but not limited to, interest rate, currency, securities
index, basket, specific security and commodity swaps, interest rate caps, floors
and collars and options on interest rate swaps (collectively defined as "swap
transactions").
The Portfolio may enter into swap transactions for any legal purpose
consistent with its investment objective and policies, such as for the purpose
of attempting to obtain or preserve a particular return or spread at a lower
cost than obtaining that return or spread through purchases and/or sales of
instruments in cash markets, to protect against currency fluctuations, as a
duration management technique, to protect against any increase in the price of
securities the Portfolio anticipates purchasing at a later date, or to gain
exposure to certain markets in the most economical way possible. The Portfolio
will not sell interest rate caps, floors or collars if it does not own
securities with coupons which provide the interest that the Portfolio may be
required to pay.
Swap agreements are two-party contracts entered into primarily by
institutional counterparties for periods ranging from a few weeks to several
years. In a standard swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns
(or differentials in rates of return) that would be earned or realized on
specified notional investments or instruments. The gross returns to be exchanged
or "swapped" between the parties are calculated by reference to a "notional
amount," i.e., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount
invested at a particular interest rate, in a particular foreign currency or
commodity, or in a "basket" of securities representing a particular index. The
purchaser of an interest rate cap or floor, upon payment of a fee, has the right
to receive payments (and the seller of the cap is obligated to make payments) to
the extent a specified interest rate exceeds (in the case of a cap) or is less
than (in the case of a floor) a specified level over a specified period of time
or at specified dates. The purchaser of an interest rate collar, upon payment of
a fee, has the right to receive payments (and the seller of the collar is
obligated to make payments) to the extent that a specified interest rate falls
outside an agreed upon range over a specified period of time or at specified
dates. The purchaser of an option on an interest rate swap, upon payment of a
fee (either at the time of purchase or in the form of higher payments or lower
receipts within an interest rate swap transaction) has the right, but not the
obligation, to initiate a new swap transaction of a pre-specified notional
amount with pre-specified terms with the seller of the option as the
counterparty.
The "notional amount" of a swap transaction is the agreed upon basis
for calculating the payments that the parties have agreed to exchange. For
example, one swap counterparty may agree to pay a floating rate of interest
(e.g., 3 month LIBOR) calculated based on a $10 million notional amount on a
quarterly basis in exchange for receipt of payments calculated based on the same
notional amount and a fixed rate of interest on a semi-annual basis. In the
event the Portfolio is obligated to make payments more frequently than it
receives payments from the other party, it will incur incremental credit
exposure to that swap counterparty. This risk may be mitigated somewhat by the
use of swap agreements which call for a net payment to be made by the party with
the larger payment obligation when the obligations of the parties fall due on
the same date. Under most swap agreements entered into by the Portfolio,
payments by the parties will be exchanged on a "net basis", and the Portfolio
will receive or pay, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two
payments.
The amount of the Portfolio 's potential gain or loss on any swap
transaction is not subject to any fixed limit. Nor is there any fixed limit on
the Portfolio 's potential loss if it sells a cap or collar. If the Portfolio
buys a cap, floor or collar, however, the Portfolio 's potential loss is limited
to the amount of the fee that it has paid. When measured against the initial
amount of cash required to initiate the transaction, which is typically zero in
the case of most conventional swap transactions, swaps, caps, floors and collars
tend to be more volatile than many other types of instruments.
The use of swap transactions, caps, floors and collars involves
investment techniques and risks which are different from those associated with
portfolio security transactions. If the Advisor is incorrect in its forecasts of
market values, interest rates, and other applicable factors, the investment
performance of the Portfolio will be less favorable than if these techniques had
not been used. These instruments are typically not traded on exchanges.
Accordingly, there is a risk that the other party to certain of these
instruments will not perform its obligations to the Portfolio or that the
Portfolio may be unable to enter into offsetting positions to terminate its
exposure or liquidate its position under certain of these instruments when it
wishes to do so.
Such occurrences could result in losses to the Portfolio.
The Advisor will, however, consider such risks and will enter into
swap and other derivatives transactions only when it believes that the risks are
not unreasonable.
The Portfolio will maintain cash or liquid assets in a segregated
account with its custodian in an amount sufficient at all times to cover its
current obligations under its swap transactions, caps, floors and collars. If
the Portfolio enters into a swap agreement on a net basis, it will segregate
assets with a daily value at least equal to the excess, if any, of the
Portfolio's accrued obligations under the swap agreement over the accrued amount
the Portfolio is entitled to receive under the agreement. If the Portfolio
enters into a swap agreement on other than a net basis, or sells a cap, floor or
collar, it will segregate assets with a daily value at least equal to the full
amount of the Portfolio 's accrued obligations under the agreement.
The Portfolio will not enter into any swap transaction, cap, floor, or
collar, unless the counterparty to the transaction is deemed creditworthy by the
Advisor. If a counterparty defaults, the Portfolio may have contractual remedies
pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction. The swap markets in which
many types of swap transactions are traded have grown substantially in recent
years, with a large number of banks and investment banking firms acting both as
principals and as agents utilizing standardized swap documentation. As a result,
the markets for certain types of swaps (e.g., interest rate swaps) have become
relatively liquid. The markets for some types of caps, floors and collars are
less liquid.
The liquidity of swap transactions, caps, floors and collars will be as
set forth in guidelines established by the Advisor and approved by the Trustees
which are based on various factors, including (1) the availability of dealer
quotations and the estimated transaction volume for the instrument, (2) the
number of dealers and end users for the instrument in the marketplace, (3) the
level of market making by dealers in the type of instrument, (4) the nature of
the instrument (including any right of a party to terminate it on demand) and
(5) the nature of the marketplace for trades (including the ability to assign or
offset the Portfolio 's rights and obligations relating to the instrument). Such
determination will govern whether the instrument will be deemed within the 15%
restriction on investments in securities that are not readily marketable.
During the term of a swap, cap, floor or collar, changes in the value
of the instrument are recognized as unrealized gains or losses by marking to
market to reflect the market value of the instrument. When the instrument is
terminated, the Portfolio will record a realized gain or loss equal to the
difference, if any, between the proceeds from (or cost of) the closing
transaction and the Portfolio's basis in the contract.
The federal income tax treatment with respect to swap transactions,
caps, floors, and collars may impose limitations on the extent to which the
Portfolio may engage in such transactions.
Risk Management
The Portfolio may employ non-hedging risk management techniques.
Examples of risk management strategies include synthetically altering the
duration of the fixed income portion of the Portfolio or the mix of securities
in the Portfolio. For example, if the Advisor wishes to extend maturities in the
fixed income portion of the portfolio in order to take advantage of an
anticipated decline in interest rates, but does not wish to purchase the
underlying long-term securities, it might cause the portfolio to purchase
futures contracts on long-term debt securities. Similarly, if the Advisor wishes
to decrease fixed income securities or purchase equities, it could cause the
portfolio to sell futures contracts on debt securities and purchase futures
contracts on a stock index. Such non-hedging risk management techniques are not
speculative, but because they involve leverage include, as do all leveraged
transactions, the possibility of losses as well as gains that are greater than
if these techniques involved the purchase and sale of the securities themselves
rather than their synthetic derivatives.
Portfolio Turnover. The portfolio turnover rates for the fiscal years
ended June 30, 1997, 1998 and 1999 were 100%, 82% and 144% respectively. A rate
of 100% indicates that the equivalent of all of the Portfolio's assets have been
sold and reinvested in a year. High portfolio turnover may result in the
realization of substantial net capital gains. To the extent net short term
capital gains are realized, any distributions resulting from such gains are
considered ordinary income for federal income tax purposes. See Item 20 below.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
The investment restrictions below have been adopted by the Portfolio.
Except where otherwise noted, these investment restrictions are "fundamental"
policies which, under the 1940 Act, may not be changed without the vote of a
"majority of the outstanding voting securities" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of
the Portfolio. A "majority of the outstanding voting securities" is defined in
the 1940 Act as the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the voting securities present
at a meeting if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting
securities are present and represented by proxy, or (b) more than 50% of the
outstanding voting securities. The percentage limitations contained in the
restrictions below apply at the time of the purchase of securities.
The Portfolio:
1. May not make any investments inconsistent with its classification as a
diversified investment company under the 1940 Act;
2. May not purchase any security which would cause the Portfolio to concentrate
its investments in the securities of issuers primarily engaged in any particular
industry except as permitted by the SEC;
3. May not issue senior securities, except as permitted under the 1940 Act
or any rule, order or interpretation thereunder;
4. May not borrow money, except to the extent permitted by applicable law;
5. May not underwrite securities of other issuers, except to the extent that the
Portfolio, in disposing of portfolio securities, may be deemed an underwriter
within the meaning of the 1933 Act;
6. May not purchase or sell real estate, except that, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, the Portfolio may (a) invest in securities or other instruments
directly or indirectly secured by real estate, and (b) invest in securities or
other instruments issued by issuers that invest in real estate and (c) make
direct investments in mortgages.
7. May not purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts unless acquired
as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments issued by persons
that purchase or sell commodities or commodities contracts; but this shall not
prevent the Portfolio from purchasing, selling and entering into financial
futures contracts (including futures contracts on indices of securities,
interest rates and currencies), options on financial futures contracts
(including futures contracts on indices of securities, interest rates and
currencies), warrants, swaps, forward contracts, foreign currency spot and
forward contracts or other derivative instruments that are not related to
physical commodities; and
8. May make loans to other persons, in accordance with its investment objective
and policies and to the extent permitted by applicable law.
NON-FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS. The investment restrictions
described below are not fundamental policies of the Portfolio and may be changed
by the Trustees. These non-fundamental investment policies require that the
Portfolio:
(i) May not acquire any illiquid securities, such as repurchase
agreements with more than seven days to maturity or fixed time deposits with a
duration of over seven calendar days, if as a result thereof, more than 15% of
the market value of the Portfolio's total assets would be in investments which
are illiquid;
(ii) May not purchase securities on margin, make short sales of
securities, or maintain a short position, provided that this restriction shall
not be deemed to be applicable to the purchase or sale of when-issued or delayed
delivery securities.
(iii) May not acquire securities of other investment companies, except as
permitted by the 1940 Act or any order pursuant
thereto.
There will be no violation of any investment restriction if that
restriction is complied with at the time the relevant action is taken
notwithstanding a later change in market value of an investment, in net or total
assets, in the securities rating of the investment, or any other later change.
For purposes of the fundamental investment restriction regarding
industry concentration, JPMIM may classify issuers by industry in accordance
with classifications set forth in the Directory of Companies Filing Annual
Reports With The Securities and Exchange Commission or other sources. In the
absence of such classification or if JPMIM determines in good faith based on its
own information that the economic characteristics affecting a particular issuer
make it more appropriately considered to be engaged in a different industry,
JPMIM may classify an issuer accordingly. For instance, personal credit finance
companies and business credit finance companies are deemed to be separate
industries and wholly owned finance companies are considered to be in the
industry of their parents if their activities are primarily related to financing
the activities of their parents.
ITEM 14. MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIO.
The Trustees and officers of the Portfolio, their business addresses
and principal occupations during the past five years and dates of birth are set
forth below. The mailing address of the Trustees is c/o Pierpont Group Inc., 461
Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10017.
TRUSTEES, ADVISOR BOARD AND OFFICERS
Trustees
Frederick S. Addy - Trustee; Former Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer, Amoco Corporation. His date of birth is January 1, 1932.
William G. Burns - Trustee; Retired, Former Vice Chairman and Chief
Financial Officer, NYNEX. His date of birth is November
2, 1932.
Arthur C. Eschenlauer - Trustee; Retired, Former Senior Vice President,
Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York. His date of birth is May 23, 1934.
Matthew Healey* - Trustee, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Chairman,
Pierpont Group, Inc. ("Pierpont Group ") since prior to 1992. His date of birth
is August 23, 1937.
Michael P. Mallardi - Trustee; Retired, Prior to April 1996, Senior Vice
President, Capital Cities/ABC, Inc. and President, Broadcast Group. His date of
birth is March 17, 1934.
---------------------------------- * Mr. Healey is an "interested person"
(as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Portfolio.
<PAGE>
Each Trustee is currently paid an annual fee of $75,000 for serving as
Trustee of the Master Portfolios (as defined below), J.P. Morgan Funds, J.P.
Morgan Institutional Funds and JPM Series Trust and is reimbursed for expenses
incurred in connection with service as a Trustee. The Trustees may hold various
other directorships unrelated to the Portfolio.
Trustee compensation expenses accrued by the Portfolio for the calendar
year ended December 31, 1999 is set forth below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
---------------------------------------- --------------------------------- -----------------------------------------
TOTAL TRUSTEE COMPENSATION ACCRUED BY
THE MASTER PORTFOLIO(*), J.P. MORGAN
FUNDS, J.P. MORGAN INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS
AGGREGATE TRUSTEE COMPENSATION AND J.P. MORGAN SERIES TRUST DURING
ACCRUED BY THE PORTFOLIO DURING 1999(***)
NAME OF TRUSTEE 1999
---------------------------------------- --------------------------------- -----------------------------------------
---------------------------------------- --------------------------------- -----------------------------------------
Frederick S. Addy, $2,125 $75,000
Trustee
William G. Burns, $2,125 $75,000
Trustee
Arthur C. Eschenlauer, $2,125 $75,000
Trustee
Matthew Healey, $2,125 $75,000
Trustee(**), Chairman
and Chief Executive
Officer
Michael P. Mallardi, $2,125 $75,000
Trustee
</TABLE>
(*) Includes the Portfolio and 18 other portfolios (collectively, the
"Master Portfolios") for which JPMIM acts as investment adviser.
(**) During 1999, Pierpont Group paid Mr. Healey, in his role as Chairman of
Pierpont Group, compensation in the amount of $153,800, contributed
$23,100 to a defined contribution plan on his behalf and paid $17,300
in insurance premiums for his benefit.
(***) No investment company within the fund complex has a pension or
retirement plan. Currently there are 17 investment companies (14
investment companies comprising the Master Portfolios, J.P. Morgan
Funds, J.P. Morgan Institutional Funds and JPM Series Trust) in the
fund complex.
The Trustees of the Portfolio are the same as the Trustees of each of
the other Master Portfolios, J.P. Morgan Funds, J.P. Morgan Institutional Funds
and J.P. Morgan Series Trust. In accordance with applicable state requirements,
a majority of the disinterested Trustees have adopted written procedures
reasonably appropriate to deal with potential conflicts of interest arising from
the fact that the same individuals are Trustees of the Master Portfolios, J.P.
Morgan Funds, J.P. Morgan Institutional Funds and JPM Series Trust, up to and
including creating a separate board of trustees.
The Trustees of the Portfolio, decide upon matters of general policy
and are responsible for overseeing the Trust's and Portfolio's business affairs.
On January 15, 1994 the Portfolio entered into a Portfolio Fund Services
Agreement with Pierpont Group to assist the Trustees in exercising their overall
supervisory responsibilities for the Portfolio's affairs. Pierpont Group was
organized in July 1989 to provide services for the J.P. Morgan Family of Funds
(formerly, "The Pierpont Family of Funds"), and the Trustees are the equal and
sole shareholders of Pierpont Group. The Portfolio has agreed to pay Pierpont
Group a fee in an amount representing its reasonable costs in performing these
services to the Portfolio and other registered investment companies subject to
similar agreements with Pierpont Group. These costs are periodically reviewed by
the Trustees.
The aggregate fees paid to Pierpont Group by the Portfolio for the
fiscal years ended June 30, 1998, 1999 and 2000 were $13,886, $16,444 and
$15,670, respectively. The Portfolio has no employees; its executive officers
(listed below), other than the Chief Executive Officer, are provided and
compensated by Funds Distributor, Inc. ("FDI"), a wholly owned indirect
subsidiary of Boston Institutional Group, Inc. The Portfolio's officers conduct
and supervise the business operations of the Portfolio.
Advisory Board
.........The Trustees determined as of January 26, 2000 to establish an
advisory board and appoint four members ("Members of the Advisory Board")
thereto. Each member serves at the pleasure of the Trustees. The advisory board
is distinct from the Trustees and provides advice to the Trustees as to
investment, management and operations of the Trust; but has no power to vote
upon any matter put to a vote of the Trustees. The advisory board and the
members thereof also serve each of the Trusts and the Master Portfolios. It is
also the current intention of the Trustees that the Members of the Advisory
Board will be proposed at the next shareholders' meeting, expected to be held
within a year from the date hereof, for election as Trustees of each of the
Trusts and the Master Portfolios. The creation of the Advisory Board and the
appointment of the members thereof was designed so that the Board of Trustees
will continuously consist of persons able to assume the duties of Trustees and
be fully familiar with the business and affairs of each of the Trusts and the
Master Portfolios, in anticipation of the current Trustees reaching the
mandatory retirement age of seventy. Each member of the Advisory Board is paid
an annual fee of $75,000 for serving in this capacity for the Trust, each of the
Master Portfolios, the J.P. Morgan Funds and the J.P. Morgan Series Trust and is
reimbursed for expenses incurred in connection for such service. The members of
the Advisory Board may hold various other directorships unrelated to these
funds. The mailing address of the Members of the Advisory Board is c/o Pierpont
Group, Inc., 461 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10017. Their names, principal
occupations during the past five years and dates of birth are set forth below:
Ann Maynard Gray - Former President, Diversified Publishing Group and
Vice President, Capital Cities/ABC, Inc. Her date of birth is August 22, 1945.
John R. Laird -- Retired; Former Chief Executive Officer, Shearson
Lehman Brothers and The Boston Company. His date of birth is June 21, 1942.
Gerard P. Lynch -- Retired; Former Managing Director, Morgan Stanley
Group and President and Chief Operating Officer, Morgan Stanley Services, Inc.
His date of birth is October 5, 1936.
James J. Schonbachler -- Retired; Prior to September, 1998, Managing
Director, Bankers Trust Company and Chief Executive Officer and Director,
Bankers Trust A.G., Zurich and BT Brokerage Corp. His date of birth is January
26, 1943.
Officers
The officers of the Portfolio, their principal occupations during the
past five years and dates of birth are set forth below. The business address of
each of the officers unless otherwise noted is 60 State Street, Suite 1300,
Boston, Massachusetts 02109.
MATTHEW HEALEY - Chief Executive Officer, Chairman, Pierpont Group,
since prior to 1993. His address is Pine Tree Country Club Estates, 10286 Saint
Andrews Road, Boynton Beach, Florida 33436. His date of birth is August 23,
1937.
MARGARET W. CHAMBERS - Vice President and Secretary. Senior Vice President
and General Counsel of FDI since April, 1998. From August 1996 to March 1998,
Ms. Chambers was Vice President and Assistant General Counsel for Loomis, Sayles
& Company, L.P. from January 1986 to July 1996, she was an associate with the
law firm of Ropes & Gray. Her date of birth is October 12, 1959.
MARIE E. CONNOLLY - Vice President and Assistant Treasurer. President,
Chief Executive Officer, Chief Compliance Officer and Director of FDI, Premier
Mutual Fund Services, Inc., an affiliate of FDI ("Premier Mutual") and an
officer of certain investment companies distributed or administered by FDI.
Prior to July 1994, she was President and Chief Compliance Officer of FDI. Her
date of birth is August 1, 1957.
DOUGLAS C. CONROY - Vice President and Assistant Treasurer. Assistant Vice
President and Assistant Department Manager of Treasury Services and
Administration of FDI and an officer of certain investment companies distributed
or administered by FDI. Prior to April 1997, Mr. Conroy was Supervisor of
Treasury Services and Administration of FDI. From April 1993 to January 1995,
Mr. Conroy was a Senior Fund Accountant for Investors Bank & Trust Company. His
date of birth is March 31, 1969.
KAREN JACOPPO-WOOD - Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Vice President
and Senior Counsel of FDI and an officer of certain investment companies
distributed or administered by FDI. From June 1994 to January 1996, Ms.
Jacoppo-Wood was a Manager of SEC Registration at Scudder, Stevens & Clark, Inc.
Prior to May 1994, Ms. Jacoppo-Wood was a senior paralegal at The Boston Company
Advisors, Inc. ("TBCA"). Her date of birth is December 29, 1966.
CHRISTOPHER J. KELLEY - Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Vice
President and Senior Associate General Counsel of FDI and Premier Mutual and an
officer of certain investment companies distributed or administered by FDI. From
April 1994 to July 1996, Mr. Kelley was Assistant Counsel at Forum Financial
Group. Prior to April 1994, Mr. Kelley was employed by Putnam Investments in
legal and compliance capacities. His date of birth is December 24, 1964.
KATHLEEN K. MORRISEY - Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Vice
President and Assistant Secretary of FDI. Manager of Treasury Services
Administration and an officer of certain investment companies advised or
administered by Montgomery Asset Management, L.P. and Dresdner RCM Global
Investors, Inc., and their respective affiliates. From July 1994 to November
1995, Ms. Morrisey was a Fund Accountant II for Investors Bank & Trust Company.
Prior to July 1994 she was a finance student at Stonehill College. Her date of
birth is July 5, 1972.
MARY A. NELSON - Vice President and Assistant Treasurer. Vice President and
Manager of Treasury Services and Administration of FDI and Premier Mutual and an
officer of certain investment companies distributed or administered by FDI.
Prior to August 1994, Ms. Nelson was an Assistant Vice President and Client
Manager for The Boston Company, Inc. Her date of birth is April 22, 1964.
MARY JO PACE - Assistant Treasurer. Vice President, Morgan Guaranty Trust
Company of New York. Ms. Pace serves in the Funds Administration group as a
Manager for the Budgeting and Expense Processing Group. Prior to September 1995,
Ms. Pace served as a Fund Administrator for Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New
York. Her address is 60 Wall Street, New York, New York 10260. Her date of birth
is March 13, 1966.
GEORGE A. RIO - President and Treasurer. Executive Vice President and
Client Service Director of FDI since April 1998. From June 1995 to March 1998,
Mr. Rio was Senior Vice President and Senior Key Account Manager for Putnam
Mutual Funds. From May 1994 to June 1995, Mr. Rio was Director of Business
Development for First Data Corporation. From September 1983 to May 1994, Mr. Rio
was Senior Vice President & Manager of Client Services and Director of Internal
Audit at The Boston Company. His date of birth is January 2, 1955.
CHRISTINE ROTUNDO - Assistant Treasurer. Vice President, Morgan Guaranty
Trust Company of New York. Ms. Rotundo serves as Manager of the Funds
Infrastructure group and is responsible for the management of special projects.
Prior to January 2000, she served as Manager of the Tax Group in the Funds
Administration group and was responsible for U.S. mutual fund tax matters. Her
address is 60 Wall Street, New York, New York 10260. Her date of birth is
September 26, 1965.
.........ELBA VASQUEZ - Vice President and Assistant Secretary. Vice
President of FDI since February 1999. Ms. Vasquez served as a Sales Associate
for FDI from May 1996. Prior to that she served in various mutual fund sales and
marketing positions for U.S. Trust Company of New York. Her date of birth is
December 14, 1961.
The Portfolio's Declaration of Trust provides that it will indemnify
its Trustees and officers against liabilities and expenses incurred in
connection with litigation in which they may be involved because of their
offices with the Portfolio, unless, as to liability to the Portfolio or its
investors, it is finally adjudicated that they engaged in willful misfeasance,
bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in
their offices, or unless with respect to any other matter it is finally
adjudicated that they did not act in good faith in the reasonable belief that
their actions were in the best interests of the Portfolio. In the case of
settlement, such indemnification will not be provided unless it has been
determined by a court or other body approving the settlement or other
disposition, or by a reasonable determination, based upon a review of readily
available facts, by vote of a majority of disinterested Trustees or in a written
opinion of independent counsel, that such officers or Trustees have not engaged
in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of
their duties.
CODES OF ETHICS. The Trust, FDI and the Advisor have adopted codes of
ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act. Each of these codes permits
personnel subject to such code to invest in securities, including securities
that may be purchased or held by the Funds. Such purchases, however, are subject
to procedures reasonably necessary to prevent access persons from engaging in
any unlawful conduct set forth in Rule 17j-1.
ITEM 15. CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES.
As of September 30, 2000, J.P. Morgan Institutional Diversified Fund, J.P.
Morgan Diversified Fund and J.P. Morgan Diversified Fund - Advisor Series
(series of J.P. Morgan Institutional Funds and J.P. Morgan Funds, respectively)
owned 64%, 36% and less than .0001%, respectively, of the outstanding beneficial
interests in the Portfolio. So long as J.P. Morgan Institutional Diversified
Fund controls the Portfolio, it may take actions without the approval of any
other holders of beneficial interest in the Portfolio.
Each of the Portfolio's investors has informed the Portfolio that
whenever it is requested to vote on matters pertaining to the Portfolio (other
than a vote by the Portfolio to continue the operation of the Portfolio upon the
withdrawal of another investor in the Portfolio), it will hold a meeting of its
shareholders and will cast its vote as instructed by those shareholders.
The officers and Trustees of the Portfolio own none of the outstanding
beneficial interests in the Portfolio.
ITEM 16. INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES.
INVESTMENT ADVISOR. The investment advisor to the Portfolio is JPMIM, a
wholly-owned subsidiary of J.P. Morgan. Subject to the supervision of the
Portfolio's Trustees, the Advisor makes the Portfolio's day-to-day investment
decisions, arranges for the execution of portfolio transactions and generally
manages the Portfolio's investments. Prior to October 28, 1998, Morgan was the
investment advisor. JPMIM, a wholly owned subsidiary of J.P. Morgan, is a
registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as
amended, manages employee benefit funds of corporations, labor unions and state
and local governments and the accounts of other institutional investors,
including investment companies. Certain of the assets of employee benefit
accounts under its management are invested in commingled pension trust funds for
which Morgan serves as trustee.
J.P. Morgan, through the Advisor and other subsidiaries, acts as
investment advisor to individuals, governments, corporations, employee benefit
plans, mutual funds and other institutional investors with combined assets under
management of approximately $373 billion.
J.P. Morgan has a long history of service as adviser, underwriter and
lender to an extensive roster of major companies and as a financial advisor to
national governments. The firm, through its predecessor firms, has been in
business for over a century and has been managing investments since 1913.
Morgan, whose principal offices are at 60 Wall Street, New York, New
York 10260, is a New York trust company which conducts a general banking and
trust business. Morgan is subject to regulation by the New York State Banking
Department and is a member bank of the Federal Reserve System. Through offices
in New York City and abroad, Morgan offers a wide range of services, primarily
to governmental, institutional, corporate and high net worth individual
customers in the United States and throughout the world. Morgan, also a wholly
owned subsidiary of J.P. Morgan, is a bank holding company organized under the
laws of the State of Delaware.
The basis of the Advisor's investment process is fundamental investment
research as the firm believes that fundamentals should determine an asset's
value over the long term. J.P. Morgan currently employs approximately 380 full
time research analysts, capital market researchers, portfolio managers and
traders and has one of the largest research staffs in the money management
industry. The Advisor has investment management divisions located in New York,
London, Tokyo, Frankfurt and Singapore to cover companies, industries and
countries on site.
The investment advisory services the Advisor provides to the Portfolio
are not exclusive under the terms of the Advisory Agreement. The Advisor is free
to and does render similar investment advisory services to others. The Advisor
serves as investment advisor to personal investors and other investment
companies and acts as fiduciary for trusts, estates and employee benefit plans.
Certain of the assets of trusts and estates under management are invested in
common trust funds for which the Advisor serves as trustee. The accounts which
are managed or advised by the Advisor have varying investment objectives and the
Advisor invests assets of such accounts in investments substantially similar to,
or the same as, those which are expected to constitute the principal investments
of the Portfolio. Such accounts are supervised by officers and employees of the
Advisor who may also be acting in similar capacities for the Portfolio. See Item
17 below.
Sector weightings are generally similar to the Portfolio's benchmark
with the emphasis on security selection as the method to achieve investment
performance superior to the benchmark. The benchmarks for the Portfolio are
currently: 52% S&P 500 Index, 35% Salomon Smith Barney Broad Investment Grade
Bond, 3% Russell 2000 and 10% MSCI EAFE indexes.
The Portfolio is managed by employees of the Advisor who, in acting for
their customers, including the Portfolio, do not discuss their investment
decisions with any personnel of J.P. Morgan or any personnel of other divisions
of the Advisor or with any of its affiliated persons, with the exception of
certain other investment management affiliates of J.P. Morgan.
As compensation for the services rendered and related expenses such as
salaries of advisory personnel borne by the Advisor under the Investment
Advisory Agreement, the Portfolio has agreed to pay the Advisor a fee, which is
computed daily and may be paid monthly, equal to the annual rate of 0.55% of the
Portfolio's average daily net assets.
For the fiscal years ended June 30, 1998, 1999 and 2000 the advisory
fees paid by the Portfolio to Morgan, the Portfolio's investment adviser prior
to October 1, 1998 were $2,359,972, $3,834,721 and $5,129,204 respectively, in
advisory fees.
The Investment Advisory Agreement provides that it will continue in
effect for a period of two years after execution only if specifically approved
annually thereafter (i) by a vote of the holders of a majority of the
Portfolio's outstanding securities or by its Trustees and (ii) by a vote of a
majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or
"interested persons" as defined by the 1940 Act cast in person at a meeting
called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Investment Advisory
Agreement will terminate automatically if assigned and is terminable at any time
without penalty by a vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Portfolio or by a
vote of the holders of a majority of the Portfolio's voting securities on 60
days' written notice to the Advisor and by the Advisor on 90 days' written
notice to the Portfolio.
Under separate agreements, Morgan provides administrative and related
services to the Portfolio. See "Administrative Services Agent" in Part A above.
CO-ADMINISTRATOR. Under the Portfolio's Co-Administration Agreement
dated August 1, 1996, FDI serves as the Portfolio's Co-Administrator. FDI (i)
provides office space, equipment and clerical personnel for maintaining the
organization and books and records of the Portfolio; (ii) provides officers for
the Portfolio; (iii) files Portfolio regulatory documents and mails Portfolio
communications to Trustees and investors; and (iv) maintains related books and
records. The Co-Administration Agreement may be renewed or amended by the
Trustees without an investor vote. The Co-Administration Agreement is terminable
at any time without penalty by a vote of a majority of the Trustees of the
Portfolio on not more than 60 days' written notice nor less than 30 days'
written notice to the other party. The Co-Administrator may, subject to the
consent of the Trustees of the Portfolio, subcontract for the performance of its
obligations, provided, however, that unless the Portfolio expressly agrees in
writing, the Co-Administrator shall be fully responsible for the acts and
omissions of any subcontractor as it would for its own acts or omissions. See
"Administrative Services Agent" below.
For its services under the Co-Administration Agreement, the Portfolio
has agreed to pay FDI fees equal to its allocable share of an annual
complex-wide charge of $425,000 plus FDI's out-of-pocket expenses. The amount
allocable to the Portfolio is based on the ratio of its net assets to the
aggregate net assets of J.P. Morgan Funds, J.P. Morgan Institutional Funds, the
Master Portfolios, and certain other investment companies subject to similar
agreements with FDI. For the fiscal years ended June 30 1998, 1999 and 2000, the
fees for services provided were $8,817, $9,900 and $8,873, respectively.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AGENT. The Portfolio has entered into a
Restated Administrative Services Agreement (the "Services Agreement") with
Morgan, pursuant to which Morgan provides administrative and related services to
the Portfolio, including services related to tax compliance, preparation of
financial statements, calculation of performance data, oversight of service
providers and certain regulatory and Board of Trustees matters.
Under the Services Agreement, effective August 1, 1996, the Portfolio
has agreed to pay Morgan fees equal to its allocable share of an annual
complex-wide charge. This charge is calculated daily based on the aggregate net
assets of the Master Portfolios and JPM Series Trust in accordance with the
following annual schedule: 0.09% on the first $7 billion of their aggregate
average daily net assets and 0.04% of their aggregate average daily net assets
in excess of $7 billion, less the complex-wide fees payable to FDI. The portion
of this charge payable by the Portfolio is determined by the proportionate share
that its net assets bear to the total net assets of J.P. Morgan Funds, J.P.
Morgan Institutional Funds, the Master Portfolios, the other investors in the
Master Portfolios for which Morgan provides similar services and JPM Series
Trust.
Under Administrative Services Agreements in effect with Morgan from
December 29, 1995 through July 31, 1996, the Portfolio paid Morgan a fee equal
to its proportionate share of an annual complex-wide charge. This charge was
calculated daily based on the aggregate net assets of the Portfolios in
accordance with the following schedule: 0.06% of the first $7 billion of the
Portfolios' aggregate average daily net assets and 0.03% of the Portfolios'
aggregate average daily net assets in excess of $7 billion.
For the fiscal years ended June 30, 1998, 1999 and 2000 the portfolio paid
Morgan $127,584, $186,594 and $238,077, respectively, in administrative services
fees.
CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT
The Bank of New York ("BONY"), One Wall Street, New York, New York
10286, serves as the Trust's custodian and fund accounting agent. Pursuant to
the Custodian Contract and Fund Accounting Agreement with the Trust, BONY is
responsible for holding portfolio securities and cash and maintaining the books
of account and records of the Fund's portfolio transactions.
State Street Bank and Trust Company ("State Street"), 225 Franklin
Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, serves as the Trust's transfer and dividend
disbursing agent. As transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent, State Street
is responsible for maintaining account records detailing the ownership of Fund
shares and for crediting income, capital gains and other changes in share
ownership to shareholder accounts.
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS. The independent accountants of the Portfolio
are PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, 1177 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York
10036. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP conducts an annual audit of the financial
statements of the Portfolio, assists in the preparation and/or review of the
Portfolio's federal and state income tax returns and consults with the Portfolio
as to matters of accounting and federal and state income taxation.
EXPENSES. In addition to the fees payable to the service providers
identified above, the Portfolio is responsible for usual and customary expenses
associated with its operations. Such expenses include organization expenses,
legal fees, insurance costs, the compensation and expenses of the Trustees,
registration fees under federal securities laws, and extraordinary expenses
applicable to the Portfolio. Such expenses also include registration fees under
foreign securities laws and brokerage expenses. Under fee arrangements prior to
September 1, 1995, Morgan as service agent was responsible for reimbursements to
the Portfolio for SBDS's fees as administrator and the usual and customary
expenses described above (excluding organization and extraordinary expenses,
custodian fees and brokerage expenses).
For the fiscal years ended June 30, 1998, 1999 and 2000, Morgan reimbursed
the Portfolio $247,773 $183,744 and $238,773, respectively.
ITEM 17. BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES.
The Advisor places orders for the Portfolio for all purchases and sales
of portfolio securities, enters into repurchase agreements and may enter into
reverse repurchase agreements and execute loans of portfolio securities on
behalf of the Portfolio.
See Item 13 above.
Fixed income and debt securities and municipal bonds and notes are
generally traded at a net price with dealers acting as principal for their own
accounts without a stated commission. The price of the security usually includes
profit to the dealers. In underwritten offerings, securities are purchased at a
fixed price which includes an amount of compensation to the underwriter,
generally referred to as the underwriter's concession or discount. On occasion,
certain securities may be purchased directly from an issuer, in which case no
commissions or discounts are paid.
In connection with portfolio transactions for the Portfolio, the
Advisor intends to seek best execution on a competitive basis for both purchases
and sales of securities.
Portfolio transactions for the Portfolio will be undertaken principally
to accomplish the Portfolio's objective in relation to expected movements in the
general level of interest rates. The Portfolio may engage in short term trading
consistent with its objective.
In selecting a broker, the Advisor considers a number of factors
including: the price per unit of the security; the broker's reliability for
prompt, accurate confirmations and on-time delivery of securities; the firm's
financial condition; as well as the commissions charged. A broker may be paid a
brokerage commission in excess of that which another broker might have charged
for effecting the same transaction if, after considering the foregoing factors,
the Advisor decides that the broker chosen will provide the best execution. The
Advisor monitors the reasonableness of the brokerage commissions paid in light
of the execution received. The Trustees of the Portfolio review regularly the
reasonableness of commissions and other transaction costs incurred by the
Portfolio in light of facts and circumstances deemed relevant from time to time,
and, in that connection, will receive reports from the Advisor and published
data concerning transaction costs incurred by institutional investors generally.
Research services provided by brokers to which the Advisor has allocated
brokerage business in the past include economic statistics and forecasting
services, industry and company analyses, portfolio strategy services,
quantitative data, and consulting services from economists and political
analysts. Research services furnished by brokers are used for the benefit of all
the Advisor's clients and not solely or necessarily for the benefit of the
Portfolio. The Advisor believes that the value of research services received is
not determinable and does not significantly reduce its expenses. The Portfolio
does not reduce its fee to the Advisor by any amount that might be attributable
to the value of such services.
The Portfolio paid the following approximate brokerage commissions for the
fiscal years ended June 30 1998, 1999 and 2000: $314,363, $557,819 and $712,450,
respectively.
Subject to the overriding objective of obtaining the best execution of
orders, the Advisor may allocate a portion of the Portfolio's portfolio
brokerage transactions to affiliates of the Advisor. In order for affiliates of
the Advisor to effect any portfolio transactions for the Portfolio, the
commissions, fees or other remuneration received by such affiliates must be
reasonable and fair compared to the commissions, fees, or other remuneration
paid to other brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving
similar securities being purchased or sold on a securities exchange during a
comparable period of time. Furthermore, the Trustees of the Portfolio, including
a majority of the Trustees who are not "interested persons," have adopted
procedures which are reasonably designed to provide that any commissions, fees,
or other remuneration paid to such affiliates are consistent with the foregoing
standard.
The Portfolio's portfolio securities will not be purchased from or
through or sold to or through the Exclusive Placement Agent or Advisor or any
other "affiliated person" (as defined in the 1940 Act), of the Exclusive
Placement Agent or Advisor when such entities are acting as principals, except
to the extent permitted by law. In addition, the Portfolio will not purchase
securities during the existence of any underwriting group relating thereto of
which the Advisor or an affiliate of the Advisor is a member, except to the
extent permitted by law.
On those occasions when the Advisor deems the purchase or sale of a
security to be in the best interests of the Portfolio as well as other
customers, including other Portfolios, the Advisor, to the extent permitted by
applicable laws and regulations, may, but is not obligated to, aggregate the
securities to be sold or purchased for the Portfolio with those to be sold or
purchased for other customers in order to obtain best execution, including lower
brokerage commissions if appropriate. In such event, allocation of the
securities so purchased or sold as well as any expenses incurred in the
transaction will be made by the Advisor in the manner it considers to be most
equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Portfolio. In
some instances, this procedure might adversely affect the Portfolio.
If the Portfolio effects a closing purchase transaction with respect to
an option written by it, normally such transaction will be executed by the same
broker-dealer who executed the sale of the option. The writing of options by the
Portfolio will be subject to limitations established by each of the exchanges
governing the maximum number of options in each class which may be written by a
single investor or group of investors acting in concert, regardless of whether
the options are written on the same or different exchanges or are held or
written in one or more accounts or through one or more brokers. The number of
options which the Portfolio may write may be affected by options written by the
Advisor for other investment advisory clients. An exchange may order the
liquidation of positions found to be in excess of these limits, and it may
impose certain other sanctions.
ITEM 18. CAPITAL STOCK AND OTHER SECURITIES.
Under the Declaration of Trust, the Trustees are authorized to issue
beneficial interests in the Portfolio. Investors are entitled to participate pro
rata in distributions of taxable income, loss, gain and credit of the Portfolio.
Upon liquidation or dissolution of the Portfolio, investors are entitled to
share pro rata in the Portfolio's net assets available for distribution to its
investors. Investments in the Portfolio have no preference, preemptive,
conversion or similar rights and are fully paid and nonassessable, except as set
forth below. Investments in the Portfolio may not be transferred. Certificates
representing an investor's beneficial interest in the Portfolio are issued only
upon the written request of an investor.
Each investor is entitled to a vote in proportion to the amount of its
investment in the Portfolio. Investors in the Portfolio do not have cumulative
voting rights, and investors holding more than 50% of the aggregate beneficial
interest in the Portfolio may elect all of the Trustees if they choose to do so
and in such event the other investors in the Portfolio would not be able to
elect any Trustee. The Portfolio is not required and has no current intention to
hold annual meetings of investors but the Portfolio will hold special meetings
of investors when in the judgment of the Portfolio's Trustees it is necessary or
desirable to submit matters for an investor vote. No material amendment may be
made to the Portfolio's Declaration of Trust without the affirmative majority
vote of investors (with the vote of each being in proportion to the amount of
its investment).
The Portfolio may enter into a merger or consolidation, or sell all or
substantially all of its assets, if approved by the vote of two thirds of its
investors (with the vote of each being in proportion to its percentage of the
beneficial interests in the Portfolio), except that if the Trustees recommend
such sale of assets, the approval by vote of a majority of the investors (with
the vote of each being in proportion to its percentage of the beneficial
interests of the Portfolio) will be sufficient. The Portfolio may also be
terminated (i) upon liquidation and distribution of its assets if approved by
the vote of two thirds of its investors (with the vote of each being in
proportion to the amount of its investment) or (ii) by the Trustees by written
notice to its investors.
The Portfolio is organized as a trust under the laws of the State of
New York. Investors in the Portfolio will be held personally liable for its
obligations and liabilities, subject, however, to indemnification by the
Portfolio in the event that there is imposed upon an investor a greater portion
of the liabilities and obligations of the Portfolio than its proportionate
beneficial interest in the Portfolio. The Declaration of Trust also provides
that the Portfolio shall maintain appropriate insurance (for example, fidelity
bonding and errors and omissions insurance) for the protection of the Portfolio,
its investors, Trustees, officers, employees and agents covering possible tort
and other liabilities. Thus, the risk of an investor incurring financial loss on
account of investor liability is limited to circumstances in which both
inadequate insurance existed and the Portfolio itself was unable to meet its
obligations.
The Portfolio's Declaration of Trust further provides that obligations
of the Portfolio are not binding upon the Trustees individually but only upon
the property of the Portfolio and that the Trustees will not be liable for any
action or failure to act, but nothing in the Declaration of Trust protects a
Trustee against any liability to which he would otherwise be subject by reason
of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of
the duties involved in the conduct of his office.
ITEM 19. PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SECURITIES BEING OFFERED.
Beneficial interests in the Portfolio are issued solely in private
placement transactions that do not involve any "public offering" within the
meaning of Section 4(2) of the 1933 Act.
The Portfolio computes its net asset value separately for each class of
shares outstanding once daily as of the close of trading on the New York Stock
Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m. eastern time) on each business day as described in
the prospectus. The net asset value will not be computed on the day the
following legal holidays are observed: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr.
Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day,
Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. On days when U.S. trading markets close
early in observance of these holidays, the Portfolio will close for purchases
and redemptions at the same time. The Portfolio may also close for purchases and
redemptions at such other times as may be determined by the Board of Trustees to
the extent permitted by applicable law. The days on which net asset value is
determined are the Portfolios' business days.
The following is a discussion of the procedures used by the Portfolio
in valuing its assets.
The value of Portfolio investments listed on a domestic or foreign
securities exchange, including National Association of Securities Dealers
Automated Quotations ("NASDAQ"), other than options on stock indexes, is based
on the last sale prices on the exchange on which the security is principally
traded (the "primary exchange"). If there has been no sale on the primary
exchange on the valuation date, and the spread between bid and asked quotations
on the primary exchange is less than or equal to 10% of the bid price for the
security, the security shall be valued at the average of the closing bid and
asked quotations on the primary exchange. Under all other circumstances (e.g.
there is no last sale on the primary exchange, there are no bid and asked
quotations on the primary exchange, or the spread between bid and asked
quotations is greater than 10% of the bid price), the value of the security
shall be the last sale price on the primary exchange up to ten days prior to the
valuation date unless, in the judgment of the portfolio manager, material events
or conditions since such last sale necessitate fair valuation of the security.
The value of each security for which readily available market quotations exist
is based on a decision as to the broadest and most representative market for
such security. For purposes of calculating net asset value all assets and
liabilities initially expressed in foreign currencies will be converted into
U.S. dollars at the prevailing average currency exchange rate on the valuation
date.
Options on stock indexes traded on national securities exchanges are
valued at the close of options trading on such exchanges which is currently 4:10
p.m. New York time. Stock index futures and related options, which are traded on
commodities exchanges, are valued at their last sales price as of the close of
such commodities exchanges which is currently 4:15 p.m., New York time. Options
and futures traded on foreign exchanges are valued at the last sale price
available prior to the calculation of the Fund's net asset value. Securities or
other assets for which market quotations are not readily available (including
certain restricted and illiquid securities) are valued at fair value in
accordance with procedures established by and under the general supervision and
responsibility of the Trustees. Such procedures include the use of independent
pricing services which use prices based upon yields or prices of securities of
comparable quality, coupon, maturity and type; indications as to values from
dealers; and general market conditions. Short-term investments which mature in
60 days or less are valued at amortized cost if their original maturity was 60
days or less, or by amortizing their value on the 61st day prior to maturity, if
their original maturity when acquired by the Portfolio was more than 60 days,
unless this is determined not to represent fair value by the Trustees.
Trading in securities on most foreign markets is normally completed
before the close of trading in U.S. markets and may also take place on days on
which the U.S. markets are closed. If events materially affecting the value of
securities occur between the time when the market in which they are traded
closes and the time when the Fund's net asset value is calculated, such
securities will be valued at fair value in accordance with procedures
established by and under the general supervision of the Trustees.
If the Portfolio determines that it would be detrimental to the best
interest of the remaining investors in the Portfolio to make payment wholly or
partly in cash, payment of the redemption price may be made in whole or in part
by a distribution in kind of securities from the Portfolio, in lieu of cash, in
conformity with the applicable rule of the SEC. If interests are redeemed in
kind, the redeeming investor might incur transaction costs in converting the
assets into cash. The method of valuing portfolio securities is described above
and such valuation will be made as of the same time the redemption price is
determined. The Portfolio has elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the
1940 Act pursuant to which the Portfolio is obligated to redeem interests solely
in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net asset value of the
Portfolio during any 90 day period for any one investor. The Portfolio will not
redeem in kind except in circumstances in which an investor is permitted to
redeem in kind.
ITEM 20. TAX STATUS.
The Portfolio is organized as a New York trust. The Portfolio is not
subject to any income or franchise tax in the State of New York. However, each
investor in the Portfolio will be subject to U.S. Federal income tax in the
manner described below on its share (as determined in accordance with the
governing instruments of the Portfolio) of the Portfolio's ordinary income and
capital gain in determining its income tax liability. The determination of such
share will be made in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code") and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Although, as described above, the Portfolio will not be subject to
federal income tax, it will file appropriate income tax returns.
It is intended that the Portfolio's assets will be managed in such a
way that an investor in the Portfolio will be able to satisfy the requirements
of Subchapter M of the Code. To ensure that investors will be able to satisfy
the requirements of subchapter M, the Portfolio must satisfy certain gross
income and diversification requirements, including, among other things, a
requirement that the Portfolio derive less than 30% of its gross income from the
sale of stock, securities, options, futures or forward contracts held less than
three months. Effective as of July 1, 1998, the 30% of gross income test
described in (b) above will no longer apply to the Fund.
Gains or losses on sales of portfolio securities will be treated as
long-term capital gains or losses if the securities have been held for more than
one year except in certain cases where, if applicable, a put option is acquired
or a call option is written thereon. Other gains or losses on the sale of
securities will be short-term capital gains or losses. Gains and losses on the
sale, lapse or other termination of options on securities will be treated as
gains and losses from the sale of securities. If an option written by the
Portfolio lapses or is terminated through a closing transaction, such as a
repurchase by the Portfolio of the option from its holder, the Portfolio will
realize a short-term capital gain or loss, depending on whether the premium
income is greater or less than the amount paid by the Portfolio in the closing
transaction. If securities are purchased by the Portfolio pursuant to the
exercise of a put option written by it, the Portfolio will subtract the premium
received from its cost basis in the securities purchased.
Under the Code, gains or losses attributable to disposition of foreign
currency or to foreign currency contracts, or to fluctuations in exchange rates
between the time the Portfolio accrues income or receivables or expenses or
other liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time the Portfolio
actually collects such income or pays such liabilities, are treated as ordinary
income or ordinary loss. Similarly, gains or losses on the disposition of debt
securities held by the Portfolio, if any, denominated in foreign currency, to
the extent attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates between the
acquisition and disposition dates are also treated as ordinary income or loss.
Forward currency contracts, options and futures contracts entered into
by the Portfolio may create "straddles" for U.S. federal income tax purposes and
this may affect the character and timing of gains or losses realized by the
Portfolio on forward currency contracts, options and futures contracts or on the
underlying securities. Straddles may also result in the loss of the holding
period of underlying securities for purposes of the 30% of gross income test
described above, and therefore, the Portfolio's ability to enter into forward
currency contracts, options and futures contracts may be limited under current
law. Effective as of July 1, 1998, the 30% of gross income test described in (b)
above will no longer apply to the Fund.
Certain options, futures and foreign currency contracts held by the
Portfolio at the end of each fiscal year will be required to be "marked to
market" for federal income tax purposes -- i.e., treated as having been sold at
market value. For options and futures contracts, 60% of any gain or loss
recognized on these deemed sales and on actual dispositions will be treated as
long-term capital gain or loss, and the remainder will be treated as short-term
capital gain or loss regardless of how long the Portfolio has held such options
or futures. Any gain or loss recognized on foreign currency contracts will be
treated as ordinary income.
The Portfolio may invest in equity securities of foreign issuers. If
the investors who are U.S. persons purchases shares in certain foreign
investment funds (referred to as passive foreign investment companies ("PFICs")
under the Code), generally would be subject to special rules on any "excess
distribution" from such foreign investment fund or gain from the disposition of
such shares. Under these special rules, (i) the gain or excess distribution
would be allocated ratably over the investor's holding period for such shares,
(ii) the amount allocated to the taxable year in which the gain or excess
distribution was realized would be taxable as ordinary income, (iii) the amount
allocated to each prior year, with certain exceptions, would be subject to tax
at the highest tax rate in effect for that year and (iv) the interest charge
generally applicable to underpayments of tax would be imposed in respect of the
tax attributable to each such year. Alternatively, an investor may, if certain
conditions are met, include in its income each year a pro rata portion of the
foreign investment fund's income, whether or not distributed to the Portfolio.
For taxable years of the Portfolio beginning after 1997, the Portfolio
will be permitted to "mark to market" any marketable stock held by the Portfolio
in a PFIC. If the Portfolio made such an election, the investor in the Portfolio
would include in income each year an amount equal to its share of the excess, if
any, of the fair market value of the PFIC stock as of the close of the taxable
year over the adjusted basis of such stock. The investor would be allowed a
deduction for its share of the excess, if any, of the adjusted basis of the PFIC
stock over its fair market value as of the close of the taxable year, but only
to the extent of any net mark-to-market gains with respect to the stock included
by the investor for prior taxable years.
FOREIGN INVESTORS. It is intended that the Portfolio will conduct its
affairs such that its income and gains will not be effectively connected with
the conduct of a U.S. trade or business. Provided the Portfolio conducts its
affairs in such a manner, allocations of U.S. source dividend income to an
investor who, as to the United States, is a foreign trust, foreign corporation
or other foreign investor will be subject to U.S. withholding tax at the rate of
30% (or lower treaty rate), and allocations of portfolio interest (as defined in
the Code) or short term or net long term capital gains to such investors
generally will not be subject to U.S. tax.
STATE AND LOCAL TAXES. The Portfolio may be subject to state or local
taxes in jurisdictions in which the Portfolio is deemed to be doing business. In
addition, the treatment of the Portfolio and its investors in those states which
have income tax laws might differ from treatment under the federal income tax
laws. Investors should consult their own tax advisors with respect to any state
or local taxes.
FOREIGN TAXES. The Portfolio may be subject to foreign withholding taxes
with respect to income received from sources within foreign countries.
OTHER TAXATION. The investment by an investor in the Portfolio does not
cause the investor to be liable for any income or franchise tax in the State of
New York. Investors are advised to consult their own tax advisors with respect
to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in the Portfolio.
ITEM 22. CALCULATIONS OF PERFORMANCE DATA.
Not applicable.
ITEM 23. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
The Portfolio's June 30, 2000 annual report filed on August 25, 2000,
with the SEC pursuant to Section 30(b) of the 1940 Act and Rule 30b2-1
thereunder are incorporated herein by reference to (Accession Number
0000912057-00-039111).
<PAGE>
Appendix A-9
APPENDIX A
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITY RATINGS
STANDARD & POOR'S
CORPORATE AND MUNICIPAL BONDS
AAA - Debt rated AAA has the highest ratings assigned by Standard & Poor's
to a debt obligation. Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely
strong.
AA - Debt rated AA has a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay
principal and differs from the highest rated issues only in a 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 for debt in
higher rated categories.
BB - Debt rated BB is regarded as having less near-term vulnerability to
default than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing
uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial or economic
conditions which could lead to inadequate capacity to meet timely
interest and principal payments.
B - An obligation rated B is more vulnerable to nonpayment than
obligations rated BB, but the obligor currently has the capacity to
meet its financial commitment on the obligation. Adverse business,
financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor's
capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the
obligation.
CCC - An obligation rated CCC is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is
dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions
for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In
the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the
obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial
commitment on the obligation.
CC - An obligation rated CC is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.
C - The C rating may be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy
petition has been filed or similar action has been taken, but payments on this
obligation are being continued.
COMMERCIAL PAPER, INCLUDING TAX EXEMPT
A - Issues assigned this highest rating are regarded as having the
greatest capacity for timely payment. Issues in this category are
further refined with the designations 1, 2, and 3 to indicate the
relative degree of safety.
A-1 - This designation indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely
payment is very strong.
SHORT-TERM TAX-EXEMPT NOTES
SP-1 - The short-term tax-exempt note rating of SP-1 is the highest
rating assigned by Standard & Poor's and has a very strong or
strong capacity to pay principal and interest. Those issues
determined to possess overwhelming safety characteristics are
given a "plus" (+) designation.
SP-2 - The short-term tax-exempt note rating of SP-2 has a satisfactory
capacity to pay principal and interest.
MOODY'S
CORPORATE AND MUNICIPAL BONDS
Aaa - Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They
carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred
to as "gilt edge." Interest payments are protected by a large or by an
exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While the various
protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be
visualized are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong
position of such issues.
Aa - Bonds which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all
standards. Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally
known as high grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds
because margins of protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities
or fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or
there may be other elements present which make the long term risks
appear somewhat larger than in Aaa securities.
A - Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes
and are to be considered as upper medium grade obligations. Factors
giving security to principal and interest are considered adequate but
elements may be present which suggest a susceptibility to impairment
sometime in the future.
Baa - Bonds which are rated Baa are considered as medium grade obligations,
i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest
payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but
certain protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically
unreliable over any great length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding
investment characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics
as well.
Ba - Bonds which are rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements;
their future cannot be considered as well-assured. Often the protection
of interest and principal payments may be very moderate, and thereby
not well safeguarded during both good and bad times over the future.
Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this class.
B - Bonds which are rated B generally lack characteristics of the
desirable investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or
of maintenance of other terms of the contract over any long period of
time may be small.
Caa - Bonds which are rated Caa are of poor standing. Such issues may be in
default or there may be present elements of danger
with respect to principal or interest.
Ca - Bonds which are rated Ca represent obligations which are speculative
in a high degree. Such issues are often in default or have other marked
shortcomings.
C - Bonds which are rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds and
issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of
ever attaining any real investment standing.
COMMERCIAL PAPER, INCLUDING TAX EXEMPT
Prime-1 - Issuers rated Prime-1 (or related supporting institutions)
have a superior capacity for repayment of short-term
promissory obligations. Prime-1 repayment capacity will
normally be evidenced by the following characteristics:
- Leading market positions in well established industries. - High rates of
return on funds employed. - Conservative capitalization structures with moderate
reliance on debt and ample asset protection. - Broad margins in earnings
coverage of fixed financial charges and high internal cash generation. - Well
established access to a range of financial markets and assured sources of
alternate liquidity.
SHORT-TERM TAX EXEMPT NOTES
MIG-1 The short-term tax-exempt note rating MIG-1 is the highest
rating assigned by Moody's for notes judged to be the best
quality. Notes with this rating enjoy strong protection from
established cash flows of funds for their servicing or from
established and broad-based access to the market for
refinancing, or both.
MIG-2 - MIG-2 rated notes are of high quality but with margins of
protection not as large as MIG-1.
<PAGE>
PART C
ITEM 23. EXHIBITS
(a). Declaration of Trust of the Registrant incorporated herein by
reference from Amendment No. 6 to the Registrant's Registration Statement as
filed with the SEC on October 7, 1997. (Accession No. 0001016964-97-000151).
(b). Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant incorporated herein by
reference from Amendment No. 4 to the Registrant's Registration Statement as
filed with the SEC on May 9, 1997. (Accession No. 0001016964-97-000075).
(c). None
(d). Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and ("Morgan")
Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York incorporated herein by reference from
Amendment No. 6 to the Registrant's Registration Statement as filed with the SEC
on October 7, 1997. (Accession No. 0001016964-97-000151).
(d)(1). Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and J.P.
Morgan Investment Management Inc. ("Morgan") incorporated herein by reference
from Amendment No. 7 to the Registrant's Registration Statement as filed with
the SEC on October 28, 1998. (Accession No. 0001041455-98-00084).
(e). none
(f). N/A
(g). Custodian Contract between the Registrant and State Street Bank and
Trust Company ("State Street") incorporated herein by reference from Amendment
No. 6 to the Registrant's Registration Statement as filed with the SEC on
October 7, 1997. (Accession No. 0001016964-97-000151).
(h). Co-Administration Agreement between the Registrant and Funds
Distributor, Inc. dated August 1, 1996 incorporated herein by reference from
Amendment No. 3 to Registrant's Registration Statement as filed with the SEC on
October 9, 1996. (Accession No.0000912057-96-022355).
(h)(1). Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between the Registrant and
State Street incorporated herein by reference from Amendment No. 6 to the
Registrant's Registration Statement as filed with the SEC on October 7, 1997.
(Accession No. 0001016964-97-000151).
(h)(2). Restated Administrative Services Agreement between the
Registrant and Morgan dated August 1, 1996 incorporated herein
by reference from Amendment No. 3 to Registrant's Registration
Statement as filed with the SEC on October 9, 1996.
(Accession No.0000912057-96-022355).
(h)(2)(i) Amendment, dated April 28, 1999, to Administrative Services
Agreement between the Registrant and Morgan dated August 1,
1996 filed incorporated herein by reference from Amendment No.
9 to Registrant's Registration Statement as filed with the SEC
on October 28, 1999. (Accession No.0001041455-99-000096).
(h)(3). Amended and Restated Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant
and Pierpont Group, Inc. dated July 11, 1996 incorporated herein by reference
from Amendment No. 3 to Registrant's Registration Statement as filed with the
SEC on October 9, 1996. (Accession No.0000912057-96-022355).
(h)(4). Investment representation letters of initial investors incorporated
herein by reference from Amendment No. 6 to the Registrant's Registration
Statement as filed with the SEC on October 7, 1997. (Accession No.
0001016964-97-000151).
(i). none
(j). none
(k). N/A
(l). N/A
(m). N/A
(n). N/A
(o). none
(p) Codes of Ethics filed herewith.
ITEM 24. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH REGISTRANT.
Not applicable.
ITEM 25. INDEMNIFICATION.
Reference is hereby made to Article V of the Registrant's Declaration
of Trust, filed as an Exhibit hereto.
The Trustees and officers of the Registrant and the personnel of the
Registrant's co-administrator are insured under an errors and omissions
liability insurance policy. The Registrant and its officers are also insured
under the fidelity bond required by Rule 17g-1 under the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended.
ITEM 26. BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF INVESTMENT ADVISER.
The business of J.P. Morgan is summarized in the Prospectus constituting
Part A of this Registration Statement, which is incorporated herein by
reference. The business or other connections of each director and officer of J.
P. Morgan is currently listed in the investment advisor registration on Form ADV
for J.P. Morgan (File No. 801-21011)
ITEM 27. PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITERS.
Not applicable.
ITEM 28. LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS.
The accounts and records of the Registrant are located, in whole or in
part, at the office of the Registrant and the following locations:
J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. and Morgan Trust Guaranty Company of
New York, 522 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10036 and/or 60 Wall Street, New
York, New York 10260-0060 (records relating to its functions as investment
adviser and administrative services agent).
State Street Bank and Trust Company, 225 Franklin Street, Boston,
Massachusetts 02110 or 40 King Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5H 3Y8
(records relating to its functions as custodian and fund accounting and transfer
agent).
Funds Distributor, Inc., 60 State Street, Suite 1300, Boston,
Massachusetts 02109 (records relating to its functions as co-administrator and
exclusive placement agent).
Pierpont Group, Inc., 461 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10017
(records relating to its assisting the Trustees in carrying out their duties in
supervising the Registrant's affairs).
ITEM 29. MANAGEMENT SERVICES.
Not applicable.
ITEM 30. UNDERTAKINGS.
Not applicable
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement on Form N-1A
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the
City of New York and the State of New York, on the 27th day of October, 2000.
THE DIVERSIFIED PORTFOLIO
By: /S/ Christopher Kelley
-------------------------------------------
Christopher Kelley
Vice President and Assistant Secretary
Exhibit Index
Code of Ethics for Funds Distributor Inc.
Code of Ethics for JP Morgan Funds
Code of Ethics for JP Morgan Investment Management
