File No. 33-81396
811-8614
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 2 549
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FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 [ ]
Pre-Effective Amendment No. [ ]
Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 [x]
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY
ACT OF 1940 [ ]
Amendment No. 6 [x]
BRANDES INVESTMENT TRUST
(formerly Brandes International Fund)
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
12750 High Bluff Drive, Suite 420
San Diego, CA 92130
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's Telephone Number (including area code): (619) 755-0239
Charles H. Brandes
Brandes Investment Partners, L.P.
12750 High Bluff Drive, Suite 420
San Diego, CA 92130
(Name and address of agent for service of process)
Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering: As soon as practicable after the
effective date of the registration statement.
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It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)
[x] immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
[ ] on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)
[ ] 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(i)
[ ] on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(i)
[ ] 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii)
[ ] on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii) of Rule 485
If appropriate, check the following box
[ ] this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for
a previously filed post-effective amendment.
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Pursuant to Rule 24f-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
Registrant has previously elected to register an indefinite number of shares of
beneficial interest, $.001 par value.
Registrant filed its 24f-2 Notice on December 30, 1996.
<PAGE>
BRANDES INTERNATIONAL FUND
12750 High Bluff Drive
San Diego, CA 92130
(619) 755-0239
BRANDES INVESTMENT TRUST (the "Trust") is a mutual fund consisting of two
separate series, including the Brandes International Fund (the "Fund") described
in this prospectus. The Fund seeks to achieve long-term capital appreciation by
investing principally in equity securities of foreign issuers. The Fund invests
primarily in equity securities of companies with market capitalizations greater
than $1 billion. Brandes Investment Partners, L.P. (the "Advisor") serves as
investment advisor to the Trust.
The Fund offers two separate classes of shares: Class A Shares, offered at
their net asset value plus a sales charge of 4.75%, or less, depending on the
amount invested; and Class C Shares, offered at their net asset value without a
sales charge, but subject to a 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge upon
certain early redemptions. Both classes of shares also pay distribution and
service fees. See "Purchases" and "Redeeming Shares" at pages 12 and 18,
respectively.
The Fund is not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or any U.S.
Government agency and is subject to investment risk, including possible loss of
principal.
The Board of Trustees of the Trust has approved tax-free reorganization of
the Fund into the Northstar International Value Fund, subject to approval of the
shareholders of the Fund. See page 2.
This Prospectus sets forth basic information about the Fund that
prospective investors should know before investing. It should be read and
retained for future reference. A Statement of Additional Information dated
February 28, 1997, as may be amended from time to time, has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and is incorporated herein by reference. This
Statement of Additional Information is available without charge by calling the
number listed above or upon written request to the Fund at the address given
above.
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PASSED UPON
THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY
IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
Prospectus dated February 28, 1997
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Expense Table....................................................... 3
Financial Highlights................................................ 4
Investment Objective, Policies and Risks............................ 5
Other Securities and Investment Techniques and Risks................ 8
Investment Restrictions............................................. 11
Organization and Management......................................... 11
Purchases........................................................... 12
Shareholder Services................................................ 16
Redeeming Shares.................................................... 17
Distribution Plan................................................... 19
Shareholder Service Plan............................................ 20
Dividends, Distributions and Tax Status............................. 20
Performance Information............................................. 21
General Information................................................. 22
BRANDES INVESTMENT TRUST (the "Trust") is a diversified registered open-end
management investment company or mutual fund. The Trust consists of two separate
Funds, including the Brandes International Fund (the "Fund") described in this
prospectus. The investment objective of the Fund is long-term capital
appreciation. The Fund offers two separate classes of shares. Class A Shares of
the Fund are offered to investors at their net asset value plus a sales charge
of 4.75% or less, depending upon the amount invested. Class C Shares of the Fund
are offered to investors at their net asset value without an initial sales
charge, but are subject to a 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge upon certain
early redemptions. Both classes of shares also pay distribution and service
fees. See "Purchases" and "Redeeming Shares" at pages 12 and 17, respectively.
The minimum initial investment is $2,500 ($1,000 and $100, respectively, for
retirement plans and automatic purchase arrangements). The minimum subsequent
investment is $100.
Like all equity investments, an investment in the Fund involves certain
risks. The value of the Fund's shares will fluctuate with market conditions, and
an investor's shares when redeemed may be worth more or less than their original
cost. International investing, especially in small capitalization companies,
also is subject to certain additional risks, which are described on page 5. The
Fund may invest in certain options and stock index futures transactions, which
may be regarded as transactions in derivative securities that involve special
risks. These transactions and the related risks are described under "Options"
and "Stock Index Futures" at pages 9 and 10 of the prospectus.
Proposed Reorganization
The Board of Trustees of the Trust has approved a proposed tax-free
reorganization ("Proposed Reorganization") of the Fund into the Northstar
International Value Fund ("Northstar International Value Fund"). The Northstar
International Value Fund is a newly organized series of the Northstar Trust, a
registered investment company, with investment objectives and policies
substantially similar to those of the Fund. Upon the completion of the Proposed
Reorganization, the Class A and C shareholders of the Fund will become
shareholders of Class A and Class C shares of the Northstar International Value
Fund, respectively. Northstar will serve as advisor to the Northstar
International Value Fund, and Brandes Investment Partners, L.P. will serve as
sub-advisor and will manage the investment portfolio of the Northstar
International Value Fund. Consummation of the Proposed Reorganization is subject
to the approval of the Proposed Reorganization by the shareholders of the Fund.
Further details will be provided to the shareholders in a proxy statement which
will be distributed in connection with a special shareholders meeting to
consider the Proposed Reorganization which is currently anticipated to be held
no later than April, 1997.
2
<PAGE>
EXPENSE TABLE
Expenses are among several factors to consider when investing in the Fund.
The purpose of the following fee table is to provide an understanding of the
various costs and expenses which may be borne directly or indirectly by an
investor in the Fund. The expenses of the Fund are based on its actual expenses
for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1996. Actual expenses in the future may be
more or less than those shown.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class A Shares Class C Shares
-------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C>
Shareholder Transaction Expenses
Maximum sales charge on purchases (as % of offering price) 4.75% None
Sales charge on reinvested dividends None None
Maximum contingent deferred sales charge
(as % of redemption proceeds) None1 1.00%
Redemption fee2 None None
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(as a percentage of average net assets)
Management fees 1.00% 1.00%
12b-1 expenses 0.25% 0.75%
Other expenses:
Shareholder service fees 0.10% 0.25%
Other expenses (after reimbursement)3 0.50% 0.50%
---- ----
Total operating expenses (after reimbursement)3 1.85% 2.50%
==== ====
</TABLE>
1 Although purchases of $1 million or more are not subject to an initial sales
charge, a contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% applies on certain
redemptions made within 12 months of purchase. See "Purchases-Contingent
Deferred Sales Charge on Redemptions of Class A Shares."
2 A $7 charge is deducted on redemptions paid by wire transfer. See "Redeeming
Shares-Redemption Payments."
3 The Advisor has voluntarily agreed to reimburse the Fund through at least
October 31, 1997 to ensure that the Fund's total operating expenses will not
exceed the percentages set forth above. Shareholders will receive 30 days notice
prior to any change in this policy. In the absence of this reimbursement, "Other
expenses" of Class A Shares and Class C Shares of the Fund would have been 1.47%
and 1.71%, respectively, for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1996, and "Total
operating expenses" of the Class A Shares and Class C Shares of the Fund would
have been 2.82% and 3.71%, respectively. To the extent that the Advisor
reimburses the Fund, the Fund will repay the Advisor during the following three
years when operating expenses (before reimbursement) are less than the expense
limitation. Thus, overall operating expenses in the future may not fall below
the expense limitation until the Advisor has been fully repaid for any of its
reimbursements to the Fund; see "Operating Expenses; Expense Limitation," page
11.
For more information regarding costs and expenses, see "Organization and
Management," page 11. Long-term shareholders may pay more than the economic
equivalent of the maximum front-end sales charges permitted by the rules of the
National Association of Securities Dealers. See "Distribution Plan," page 19.
Example of Effect of Fund Expenses
An investor would directly or indirectly pay the following expenses on a
$1,000 investment in the Fund over the following periods, assuming a 5% annual
return:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
One Three Five Ten
Year Years Years Years
---- ----- ----- -----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Class A Shares $65 $103 $143 $254
Class C Shares
Assuming complete redemption at the end of the period,
with contingent deferred sales charge (first year only) $36 $78 $133 $284
Assuming no redemption $25 $78 $133 $284
</TABLE>
3
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The Example shown on the previous page should not be considered a
representation of past or future expenses, and actual expenses may be greater or
less than those shown. In addition, although federal regulations require the use
of an assumed 5% annual return in preparing the Example, the Fund's actual
return may be higher or lower. See "Organization and Management."
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
(For a share of the Brandes International Fund
outstanding throughout the period)
The following information regarding the Fund has been audited by Ernst &
Young LLP, independent accountants, whose unqualified report covering the fiscal
period ended October 31, 1996 is included in the Statement of Additional
Information. This information should be read in conjunction with the financial
statements and accompanying notes thereto which also appear in the Statement of
Additional Information. Further information about the Fund's performance is
included in the annual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended
October 31, 1996, which may be obtained without charge by writing or calling the
Fund at the address or telephone number on the cover page.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class A Class C
------------------------------ ------------------------------
Nov. 1, 1995 March 6, 1995* Nov. 1, 1995 March 6, 1995*
through through through through
Oct. 31, 1996 Oct. 31, 1995 Oct. 31, 1996 Oct. 31, 1995
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<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net asset value, beginning of period..... $13.26 $12.50 $13.22 $12.50
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income** ............. .23 .15 .09 .10
Net unrealized appreciation
(depreciation) on investments**.... .39 (.45) .49 (.39)
Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments***...... .99 1.06 .92 1.01
Total from investment operations ........ 1.61 .76 1.50 .72
------- ------ ------- ------
Distributions paid from net
investment income .................... (.06) -0- (.04) -0-
------- ------ ------- ------
Net Asset Value, End of Period........... $14.81 $13.26 $14.68 $13.22
======= ====== ======= ======
Total return (sales load not included)... 6.09% 9.39%+ 5.46% 8.89%+
RATIOS / SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Net assets, end of period (thousands) ... $16,777 $5,188 $14,530 $5,749
Ratio of expenses to average net assets:
Before expense reimbursement.......... 2.82% 7.93%+ 3.71% 8.58%+
After expense reimbursement........... 1.85% 1.85%+ 2.50% 2.50%+
Ratio of net investment income
(loss) to average net assets:
Before expense reimbursement.......... 0.56% (4.41)%+ (0.60)% (4.95)%+
After expense reimbursement.......... 1.52% 1.67%+ 0.62% 1.13%+
Portfolio turnover rate.................. 74.00% 0.00% 74.00% 0.00%
Average commission rate paid per share... $ 0.0314 -- $ 0.0314 --
</TABLE>
*Commencement of operations.
**Calculated based on average shares outstanding.
***The amount shown in this caption for a share outstanding throughout the
period does not correspond with the change in realized gains and losses in the
portfolio securities for the period because of the timing of sales and
repurchases of portfolio shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the
portfolio.
+Annualized.
4
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE, POLICIES AND RISKS
The Brandes International Fund has the investment objective of long-term
capital appreciation. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing
principally in equity securities of foreign issuers. No assurance can be given
that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. Brandes Investment
Partners, L.P. serves as investment advisor to the Fund.
International Investing
During the past decade, there has been significant growth in foreign
capital markets. Because of this growth, nearly two-thirds of the world's equity
value is located outside of the United States. Accordingly, the Advisor believes
that significant investment opportunities exist throughout the world.
The Fund normally invests at least 65% of its total assets in equity
securities of foreign issuers with market capitalizations greater than $1
billion. However, the Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in small
capitalization companies, i.e., those with market capitalizations of $1 billion
or less. (Small capitalization companies are generally subject to greater risks
than companies with larger capitalizations, as discussed below.)
Small capitalization companies have historically offered greater growth
potential than larger ones, but they are often overlooked by investors. However,
small capitalization companies often have limited product lines, markets or
financial resources and may be dependent on one person or a few key persons for
management. The securities of such companies may be subject to more volatile
market movements than securities of larger, more established companies, both
because the securities typically are traded in lower volume and because the
issuers typically are more subject to changes in earnings and prospects. Because
the Fund applies a U.S. size standard on a global basis, it may invest in
issuers which might, in some countries, rank among the largest companies in
terms of capitalization.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 65% of its total
assets in equity securities of issuers located in at least three countries other
than the United States. Countries in which the Fund may invest include, but are
not limited to, the nations of Western Europe, North and South America,
Australia and Asia. Equity securities include common stocks, preferred stocks
and securities convertible into common stocks. It is anticipated that securities
generally will be purchased in the form of common stock, American Depositary
Receipts ("ADRs"), European Depositary Receipts ("EDRs") or Global Depositary
Receipts ("GDRs"). ADRs, EDRs and GDRs, which may be sponsored or unsponsored,
are receipts typically issued by a U.S. bank or trust company evidencing
ownership of the underlying foreign securities. The issuers of securities
underlying unsponsored ADRs, EDRs and GDRs are not obligated to disclose
material information in the United States and, accordingly, there may not be a
correlation between such information and the market value of the Depositary
Receipts.
In seeking out foreign securities for purchase, the Advisor does not
attempt to match the security allocations of foreign stock market indices.
Therefore, the Fund's country weightings may differ significantly from country
weightings found in published foreign stock indices. For example, the Advisor
may choose not to invest the Fund's assets in a country whose stock market, at
any given time, may comprise a large portion of a published foreign stock market
index. At the same time, the Advisor may invest the Fund's assets in countries
whose representation in such an index may be small or non-existent. The Advisor
selects stocks for the Fund based on their individual merits and not necessarily
on their geographic locations.
5
<PAGE>
The Advisor will apply the principles of value investing in the analysis
and selection of securities of foreign companies for the Fund's investment
portfolio.
Value Investing
The Advisor is committed to the use of the Graham and Dodd Value Investing
approach as introduced in the classic book Security Analysis. Utilizing this
philosophy, the Advisor views stocks as parts of businesses which are for sale.
It seeks to purchase a diversified group of these businesses at prices its
research indicates are well below their true long-term, or intrinsic, value. By
purchasing stocks whose current prices are believed to be considerably below
their intrinsic value, the Advisor believes it can buy not only a possible
margin of safety against price declines, but also an attractive opportunity for
profit over the business cycle.
In estimating a company's true long-term value, the Advisor uses sources of
information such as company reports, filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC"), computer databases, industry publications, general and
business publications, brokerage firm research reports, and interviews with
company management. The Advisor's analysis is focused on fundamental
characteristics of a company, including, but not limited to, book value, cash
flow and capital structure, as well as management's record and broad industry
issues. Once the intrinsic value of a company is estimated, this value is
compared to the price of the stock. If the price is substantially lower than the
estimated intrinsic value, the stock may be purchased. The Advisor believes that
the margin between current price and estimated intrinsic value should provide a
margin of safety against price declines. In addition, over a business cycle of
three to five years, the Advisor believes the market should begin to recognize
the company's value and drive its price up toward its intrinsic value. As a
result, the investor could realize profits. Of course, there can be no assurance
that companies selected using the value investing approach will generate profits
or that the Advisor's assessment of intrinsic value will be correct.
Risks of International Investing
Investments in foreign securities involve special risks. These include
currency fluctuations, a risk which was not addressed by Graham and Dodd, whose
work focused on U.S. stocks. The Advisor has applied the value method of stock
selection to foreign securities. By looking outside the U.S. for investment
opportunities, the Advisor believes that the likelihood of finding undervalued
companies is increased. The Advisor does not believe that currency fluctuation,
over the long term, on a group of broadly diversified companies, representing a
number of currencies and countries, significantly affects portfolio performance.
In having this ability to search world-wide for undervalued companies, rather
than being limited to searching only among U.S. stocks, the Advisor believes
that over the long term the benefits of strict value investing apply just as
well with an added currency risk as they would without such risk.
There are additional risks in international investing, including political
or economic instability in the country of issue and the possible imposition of
exchange controls or other laws or restrictions. In addition, securities prices
in foreign markets are generally subject to different economic, financial,
political and social factors than are the prices of securities in U.S. markets.
With respect to some foreign countries there may be the possibility of
expropriation or confiscatory taxation, limitations on liquidity of securities
or political or economic developments which could affect the foreign investments
of the Fund. Moreover, securities of foreign issuers generally will not be
registered with the SEC, and such issuers will generally not be subject to the
SEC's reporting requirements. Accordingly, there is likely to be less publicly
available
6
<PAGE>
information concerning certain of the foreign issuers of securities held by the
Fund than is available concerning U.S. companies. Foreign companies are also
generally not subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting
standards or to practices and requirements comparable to those applicable to
U.S. companies. There may also be less government supervision and regulation of
foreign broker-dealers, financial institutions and listed companies than exists
in the U.S. These factors could make foreign investments, especially those in
developing countries, more volatile. All of the above issues should be
considered before investing in the Fund.
Emerging Markets and Related Risks
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its assets in securities of companies
located in countries with emerging securities markets. Emerging markets are the
capital markets of any country that in the opinion of the Advisor is generally
considered a developing country by the international financial community.
Currently, these markets include, but are not limited to, the markets of
Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary,
India, Indonesia, Israel, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, the
Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand,
Turkey, Venezuela and countries that comprise the former Soviet Union. As
opportunities to invest in other emerging markets countries develop, the Fund
expects to expand and diversify further the countries in which it invests.
Investing in emerging market securities involves risks which are in
addition to the usual risks inherent in foreign investments. Some emerging
markets countries may have fixed or managed currencies that are not
free-floating against the U.S. dollar. Further, certain currencies may not be
traded internationally. Certain of these currencies have experienced a steady
devaluation relative to the U.S. dollar. Any devaluations in the currencies in
which the Fund's portfolio securities are denominated may have a detrimental
impact on the Fund.
Some countries with emerging securities markets have experienced
substantial, and in some periods extremely high, rates of inflation for many
years. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had and may
continue to have negative effects on the economies and securities markets of
certain countries. Moreover, the economies of some countries may differ
favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as rate of
growth of gross domestic product, the rate of inflation, capital reinvestment,
resource self-sufficiency, number and depth of industries forming the economy's
base, governmental controls and investment restrictions that are subject to
political change and balance of payments position. Further, there may be greater
difficulties or restrictions with respect to investments made in emerging
markets countries.
Emerging securities markets typically have substantially less volume than
U.S. markets, securities in many of such markets are less liquid, and their
prices often are more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. companies.
Such markets often have different clearance and settlement procedures for
securities transactions, and in some markets there have been times when
settlements have been unable to keep pace with the volume of transactions,
making it difficult to conduct transactions. Delays in settlement could result
in temporary periods when assets which the Fund desires to invest in emerging
markets may be uninvested. Settlement problems in emerging markets countries
also could cause the Fund to miss attractive investment opportunities.
Satisfactory custodial services may not be available in some emerging markets
countries, which may result in the Fund's incurring additional costs and delays
in the transportation and custody of such securities.
7
<PAGE>
OTHER SECURITIES AND INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES AND RISKS
Short-Term Investments
At times the Fund may invest in short-term cash equivalent securities
either for temporary, defensive purposes, or as part of its overall investment
strategy. These securities consist of high quality debt obligations maturing in
one year or less from the date of purchase, such as U.S. Government securities,
certificates of deposit, bankers' acceptances and commercial paper. High quality
means the obligations have been rated at least A-1 by Standard & Poor's
Corporation ("S&P") or Prime-1 by Moody's Investor's Service, Inc. ("Moody's"),
have an outstanding issue of debt securities rated at least AA by S&P or Aa by
Moody's, or are of comparable quality in the opinion of the Advisor.
Repurchase Agreements
Short-term investments also include repurchase agreements with respect to
the high quality debt obligations listed above. A repurchase agreement is a
transaction in which the Fund purchases a security and, at the same time, the
seller (normally a commercial bank or broker-dealer) agrees to repurchase the
same security (and/or a security substituted for it under the repurchase
agreement) at an agreed-upon price and date in the future. The resale price is
in excess of the purchase price in that it reflects an agreed-upon market
interest rate effective for the period of time during which the Fund holds the
securities. The majority of these transactions run from day to day and not more
than seven days from the original purchase. The Fund's risk is limited to the
ability of the seller to pay the agreed-upon sum on the delivery date; in the
event of bankruptcy or the default by the seller, there may be possible delays
and expenses in liquidating the instrument purchased, decline in its value and
loss of interest. The securities will be marked to market every business day so
that their value is at least equal to the amount due from the seller, including
accrued interest. The Advisor will also consider the credit-worthiness of any
bank or broker-dealer involved in repurchase agreements under procedures adopted
by the Trust's Board of Trustees.
U.S. Government Securities
The Fund may invest in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S.
Government, its agencies and instrumentalities. U.S. Government securities
include direct obligations issued by the United States Treasury, such as
Treasury bills, certificates of indebtedness, notes and bonds. U.S. Government
agencies and instrumentalities that issue or guarantee securities include, but
are not limited to, the Federal Home Loan Banks, the Federal National Mortgage
Association, and the Student Loan Marketing Association. Except for U.S.
Treasury securities, obligations of U.S. Government agencies and
instrumentalities may or may not be supported by the full faith and credit of
the United States. Some, such as those of the Federal Home Loan Banks, are
backed by the right of the issuer to borrow from the Treasury, others by
discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase the agencies'
obligations, while still others, such as the Student Loan Marketing Association,
are supported only by the credit of the instrumentality. In the case of
securities not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, the
investor must look principally to the 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 commitment.
8
<PAGE>
When-Issued Securities
The Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery
basis, generally in connection with an underwriting or other offering.
When-issued and delayed-delivery transactions occur when securities are bought
with payment for and delivery of the securities scheduled to take place at a
future time, beyond normal settlement dates, generally from 15 to 45 days after
the transaction. No interest accrues to the purchaser during the period before
delivery. There is a risk in these transactions that the value of the securities
at settlement may be more or less than the agreed upon price, or that the party
with which the Fund enters into such a transaction may not perform its
commitment. The Fund will segregate liquid assets, such as cash, U.S. Government
securities and other liquid debt or equity securities in an amount sufficient to
meet its payment obligations with respect to these transactions.
Securities Lending
The Fund may lend its securities in an amount not exceeding 30% of its
assets to financial institutions such as banks and brokers if the loan is
collateralized in accordance with applicable regulations. Under the present
regulatory requirements which govern loans of portfolio securities, the loan
collateral must, on each business day, at least equal the value of the loaned
securities and must consist of cash, letters of credit of domestic banks or
domestic branches of foreign banks, or securities of the U.S. Government. Loans
of securities involve risks of delay in receiving additional collateral or in
recovering the securities loaned or even loss of rights in the collateral should
the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, such securities
lending will be made only when, in the opinion of the Advisor, the income to be
earned from the loans justifies the attendant risks. Loans are subject to
termination at the option of the Fund or the borrower.
Options
The Fund may write (sell) covered call options on individual securities and
on stock indices and engage in related closing transactions. A covered call
option on a security is an agreement by the writer of the option, in exchange
for a premium, to sell a particular portfolio security if the option is
exercised at a specified price before a set date. An option on a stock index
gives the option holder the right to receive, upon exercising the option, a cash
settlement amount based on the difference between the exercise price and the
value of the underlying stock index. Risks associated with writing covered
options include the possible inability to effect closing transactions at
favorable prices and an appreciation limit on the securities set aside for
settlement. The Fund may also purchase call options in closing transactions, to
terminate option positions written by the Fund. There is no assurance of
liquidity in the secondary market for purposes of closing out covered call
option positions.
The Fund may purchase put and call options with respect to securities which
are eligible for purchase by the Fund and with respect to various stock indices
for the purpose of hedging against the risk of unfavorable price movements
adversely affecting the value of the Fund's securities or securities the Fund
intends to buy. A put option on a security is an agreement by the writer of the
option, in exchange for a premium, to purchase the security from the Fund, if
the option is exercised, at a specified price before a set date. The Fund may
also sell put and call options in closing transactions.
Special risks are associated with the use of options. There can be no
guarantee of a correlation between price movements in the option and in the
underlying securities or index. A lack of correlation could result in a loss on
both the Fund's portfolio holdings and the option so that the Fund's return
might have been
9
<PAGE>
better had the option not been purchased or sold. There can be no assurance that
a liquid market will exist at a time when the Fund seeks to close out an option
position. The Fund may purchase a put or call option only if the value of its
premium, when aggregated with the premiums on all other options held by the
Fund, does not exceed 5% of the Fund's total assets.
Stock Index Futures
The Fund may buy and sell stock index futures contracts for bona fide
hedging purposes, e.g., in order to hedge against changes in prices of the
Fund's securities. No more than 25% of a Fund's assets will be hedged.
A stock index futures contract is an agreement pursuant to which one party
agrees to deliver to the other an amount of cash equal to a specific dollar
amount times the difference between the value of a specific stock index at the
close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the
agreement is made. No physical delivery of securities is made, but profits and
losses resulting from changes in the market value of the contract are settled
daily. If the Advisor expected general stock market prices to rise, it might
purchase a stock index futures contract as a hedge against an increase in prices
of particular equity securities it wanted ultimately to buy. If in fact the
stock index did rise, the price of the equity securities intended to be
purchased might also increase, but that increase would be offset in part by the
increase in the value of the Fund's futures contract resulting from the increase
in the index. On the other hand, if the Advisor expected general stock market
prices to decline, it might sell a futures contract on the index. If that index
did in fact decline, the value of some or all of the equity securities held by
the Fund might also be expected to decline, but that decrease would be offset in
part by the increase in the value of the futures contract.
There is no assurance that it will be possible at any particular time to
close a futures position. In the event that the Fund could not close a futures
position and the value of the position declined, the Fund would be required to
continue to make daily cash payments to the other party to the contract to
offset the decline in value of the position. There can be no assurance that
hedging transactions will be successful, as there may be an imperfect
correlation between movements in the prices of the futures contracts and of the
securities being hedged, or price distortions due to market conditions in the
futures markets. Successful use of futures contracts is subject to the Advisor's
ability to predict correctly movements in the direction of interest rates,
market prices and other factors affecting the value of securities.
Illiquid and Restricted Securities; Short Sales Against the Box
The Fund may invest up to 5% of its net assets in illiquid securities,
including (i) securities for which there is no readily available market; (ii)
securities which may be subject to legal restrictions on resale (so-called
"restricted securities") other than Rule 144A securities noted below; (iii)
repurchase agreements having more than seven days to maturity; and (iv) fixed
time deposits subject to withdrawal penalties (other than those with a term of
less than seven days). Illiquid securities do not include those which meet the
requirements of Securities Act Rule 144A and which the Trustees have determined
to be liquid based on the applicable trading markets. The Fund is also permitted
to engage in short sales "against the box." Such short sales are a method of
locking in unrealized capital gains without current recognition of such gains.
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<PAGE>
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
The Fund has adopted certain investment restrictions, which are described
fully in the Statement of Additional Information. Like the Fund's investment
objectives, certain of these restrictions are fundamental and may be changed
only by a majority vote of the Fund's outstanding shares.
ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT
The Trust is organized as a Delaware business trust, and is registered as
an open-end diversified management investment company. The Trust's Board of
Trustees decides on matters of general policy and reviews the activities of the
Advisor, Distributor and Administrator. The Trust's officers conduct and
supervise its daily business operations.
The Advisor
The Advisor is a limited partnership organized in May 1996 as the successor
to its general partner, Brandes Investment Partners, Inc., which was founded in
1974. The Advisor currently manages over $9 billion in assets for various
clients, including corporations, public and corporate pension plans, foundations
and charitable endowments, and individuals. Charles H. Brandes, who owns a
controlling interest in Brandes Investment Partners, Inc., serves as a Trustee
of the Trust. The Advisor's offices are located at 12750 High Bluff Drive, San
Diego, California 92130.
Management Fee. Subject to the direction and control of the Trustees, the
Advisor formulates and implements an investment program for the Fund, including
determining which securities should be bought and sold. The Advisor also
provides certain officers for the Trust. For its services, the Advisor receives
a fee, accrued daily and paid monthly at the annual rate of 1.00% of average net
assets.
Managers of the Fund. The Fund is team-managed by the Advisor's
Investment Committee, whose members are firm principals and/or portfolio
managers. Current members of the Investment Committee are Charles H. Brandes,
CFA; Walter J. Brown, CFA; Jeffrey A. Busby, CFA; Glenn R. Carlson, CFA; Douglas
C. Edman; Robert J. Gallagher; Ann W. Humphreville; Marnelle A. Marchese, CFA;
Jeffrey R. Meyer, CFA; William A. Pickering, CFA; Ann M. Priebe; and Brent V.
Woods, J.D.
Operating Expenses; Expense Limitation
The Fund is responsible for paying its operating expenses, including, but
not limited to, management and administrative fees, legal and auditing fees,
fees and expenses of its custodian, accounting services and shareholder
servicing agents, 12b-1 and shareholder servicing fees, Trustees' fees, the cost
of communicating with shareholders and registration fees. The Advisor has
voluntarily agreed through at least October 31, 1997 to limit the Fund's
operating expenses to 1.85% of average net assets in the case of Class A Shares
and 2.50% of average net assets in the case of Class C Shares. Any such
reductions made by the Advisor in its fees or reimbursement of expenses with
respect to the Fund are subject to reimbursement by the Fund within the
following three years, provided that the Fund is able to effect such
reimbursement while
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<PAGE>
remaining within the expense limitation. Shareholders will receive 30 days prior
notice in the event the Advisor determines not to maintain this voluntary limit
in the future.
Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage
The Advisor considers a number of factors in determining which brokers or
dealers to use for the Fund's portfolio transactions. These factors include, but
are not limited to, the reasonableness of commissions, quality of services and
execution, and the availability of research which the Advisor may lawfully and
appropriately use in its investment management and advisory capacities. Provided
the Fund receives prompt execution at competitive prices, the Advisor may also
consider the sale of shares of the Fund as a factor in selecting broker-dealers
for the Fund's portfolio transactions. The Advisor does not expect the portfolio
turnover rate of the Fund to exceed, under normal conditions, 50% per year.
The Administrator
Investment Company Administration Corporation (the "Administrator"),
pursuant to administration agreements with the Trust, supervises the overall
administration of the Fund including, among other responsibilities, the
preparation and filing of documents required for compliance by the Fund with
applicable laws and regulations, arranging for the maintenance of books and
records of the Fund, and supervision of other organizations that provide
services to the Fund. Certain officers of the Trust may be provided by the
Administrator. For its services, the Administrator receives a fee from the Trust
at the annual rate of 0.10% of average net assets, subject to a minimum of
$60,000 per year.
PURCHASES
General
Class A Shares of the Fund are offered to investors continuously, subject
to an initial sales charge. Class C Shares of the Fund are sold without an
initial sales charge but are subject to higher ongoing expenses than Class A
Shares and a contingent deferred sales charge payable upon certain redemptions.
The Fund's Distributor is Worldwide Value Distributors, L.L.C., an affiliate of
the Advisor.
In deciding whether to purchase Class A Shares or Class C Shares, an
investor should consider which class best suits the investor's individual
circumstances; i.e., whether it is more advantageous to incur an initial sales
charge and lower annual fees, or to have the entire purchase price invested in
shares of the Fund with the investment thereafter being subject to a contingent
deferred sales charge for a period of one year from the date of purchase, as
well as higher annual fees. For example, an investor who is making a large
investment may prefer to purchase Class A Shares, because the investment may
qualify for a reduced sales charge, and reduced sales charges are not applicable
in the case of purchases of Class C Shares. Moreover, all Class A Shares are
subject to lower distribution and shareholder service fees and, accordingly, may
pay correspondingly higher dividends on a per share basis than Class C Shares.
Even if an investment will not qualify for reduced initial sales charges, a
purchaser may prefer Class A Shares if the Shares will be held for an extended
period of time, because, depending on the number of years the investment is
held, the accumulated continuing distribution and shareholder service charges on
Class C Shares would eventually exceed the initial sales charge plus the lower
continuing distribution and shareholder service charges on Class A Shares during
the life of the investment. However, because initial sales charges are deducted
from Class A Shares at the time of purchase, an investor would not have all of
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<PAGE>
the purchase payment for Class A Shares invested initially. See "Distribution
Plan" at page 19. Shares of Distributor (a "selected dealer") or directly from
the Fund's transfer agent, Rodney Square Management Corporation (the "Transfer
Agent"), acting as agent for a selected dealer. The Trust and the Distributor
reserve the right to refuse any order for the purchase of shares.
Purchases through a Securities Dealer
An investor may place an order for shares of the Fund with a selected
dealer. If the dealer receives the order prior to the time the Fund calculates
its net asset value and forwards it to the Fund on the same day, the order will
be confirmed at the offering price (determined as described below) calculated on
that day. If the order is received by the selected dealer after the time the net
asset value is calculated, or if it is not forwarded on the same day, the order
will be confirmed at the offering price calculated on the following business
day. It is the responsibility of the dealer to transmit the order and payment
promptly to the Fund. The Trust and the Distributor may cancel an order for
which payment is not received from a selected dealer by the third business day
following the order. An order placed with a selected dealer may be subject to
postage and handling charges imposed by the dealer.
Purchases through the Transfer Agent
An investor who wishes to purchase shares of the Fund directly from the
Transfer Agent may do so by completing the Application Form (included with this
prospectus, or available from the Transfer Agent or a selected dealer) and
mailing it to the Transfer Agent at the address shown on the Application Form.
Payment may be made by a negotiable check in U.S. dollars that accompanies the
Application Form, or it may be made by a wire transfer of funds, as described
below. Payments made by check will be invested at the net asset value determined
on the day the check is received by the Transfer Agent. Subsequent investments
may be made by mailing a check, together with the investment form from a recent
account statement. Subsequent investments may also be made by wire, as described
below.
Payment by Wire
For payment by wire of an initial investment in the Fund, the investor
should first call the Transfer Agent at (800) 543-7518 between the hours of 9:00
a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on a day when the New York Stock Exchange is
open for trading in order to receive an account number. The Transfer Agent will
request the investor's name, address, tax identification number, amount being
wired and wiring bank. The investor should then instruct the wiring bank to
transfer funds by wire to: RSMC, c/o Wilmington Trust Company, Wilmington,
Delaware, ABA # 0311-0009-2, DDA #2670-3514, for credit to Brandes International
Fund, for further credit to [Investor's name and account number]. The investor
should also ensure that the wiring bank includes the name of the Fund and the
account number with the wire. If the funds are received by the Transfer Agent
prior to the time that the Fund's net asset value is calculated, the funds will
be invested on that day; otherwise, they will be invested on the next business
day at the next calculated net asset value. Finally, the investor should write
the account number provided by the Transfer Agent on the Application Form and
mail the Form promptly to the Transfer Agent.
To make a subsequent purchase by wire, the investor should call the
Transfer Agent at (800) 543-7518 before the wire is sent. Failure to do so may
cause the purchase to be delayed indefinitely. The investor should wire funds to
the Transfer Agent, care of Wilmington Trust Company, in the manner described
above, including the name of the Fund and the investor's account number with the
wire.
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<PAGE>
Share Certificates
Shares are credited to an investor's account, and certificates are not
issued unless specifically requested. This eliminates the costly problem of lost
or destroyed certificates.
Investment Minimums
The minimum initial investment in the Fund is $2,500. For retirement plan
investments and custodial accounts under the Uniform Gifts or Transfers to
Minors Act the minimum is $1,000. The minimum is reduced to $100 for purchases
through the Automatic Investment plan or to $100 for purchases by retirement
plans through payroll deductions. The minimum for additional investments is
$100.
Purchasing with Securities
In addition to cash purchases, shares may be purchased by tendering payment
in kind in the form of securities, provided that any such securities are
consistent with the Fund's investment objective and policies, are acquired for
investment and not for resale, are liquid, unrestricted and have a readily
determinable value by exchange or NASDAQ listing, and that such a purchase has
been approved by the Advisor.
Net Asset Value
To determine the net asset value per share of a class of shares of the
Fund, the current value of the Fund's total assets, less all liabilities, is
divided by the total number of shares of that class outstanding, and the result
is rounded to the nearer cent. The Fund values its investments on the basis of
their market value. Securities and other assets for which market prices are not
readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the
Board of Trustees. Debt securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less
are normally valued at amortized cost, unless the Board of Trustees determines
that amortized cost does not represent fair value. Cash and receivables will be
valued at their face amounts. Interest will be recorded as accrued, and
dividends will be recorded on their ex-dividend date.
The Fund will calculate its net asset value once daily at the close of
public trading on the New York Stock Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time)
on days that the Exchange is open for trading, except on days on which no orders
to purchase, sell or redeem shares have been received by the Fund. The New York
Stock Exchange is closed on the following holidays: New Year's Day, Presidents'
Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day
and Christmas Day.
Class A Shares
Sales Charges. The public offering price per Class A Share is equal to the
net asset value per share, plus a sales charge, which is reduced on purchases
involving amounts of $50,000 or more, as set forth in the table below. The
reduced sales charges apply to quantity purchases made at one time by (i) an
individual, (ii) members of a family (i.e., an individual, spouse and children
under age 21), or (iii) a trustee or fiduciary of a single trust estate or a
single fiduciary account.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Sales Charge as % of Dealer Commission
------------------------------
Amount of purchase Offering Net amount as % of
at offering price price invested Offering Price
- ------------------ -------- ---------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Less than $50,000 4.75% 4.99% 4.25%
$50,000 up to $99,999 4.50% 4.71% 4.00%
$100,000 up to $249,999 3.50% 3.62% 3.00%
$250,000 up to $499,999 2.50% 2.56% 2.00%
$500,000 up to $999,999 2.00% 2.04% 1.50%
$1,000,000 or more None None (See below)
</TABLE>
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<PAGE>
Although no initial sales charge applies on purchases of $1 million or more
of the Class A Shares, a contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% will be
imposed on certain redemptions within one year of the purchase of $1 million or
more. The Distributor may pay commissions to dealers who initiate and are
responsible for purchases of $1 million or more.
Net Asset Value Purchases. The Trust may sell Class A Shares of the Fund at
net asset value to (1) current or retired trustees, directors, officers and
employees of the Trust, the Distributor and the Advisor, certain family members
of these persons, and trusts or plans primarily for such persons; (2) current or
retired registered representatives or full-time employees and their spouses and
minor children of dealers having selling group agreements with the Distributor
and plans for such persons; (3) companies or other entities exchanging
securities with the Fund through a merger, acquisition or exchange offer; (4)
trustees or other fiduciaries purchasing shares for certain retirement plans (or
the trusts which fund them) of organizations with retirement plan assets of $5
million or more, including, but not limited to, those defined in sections
401(k), 401(a), 403(b) or 457 of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code"), and
"rabbi trusts;" (5) participants in certain pension, profit-sharing or employee
benefit plans that are sponsored by the Distributor and its affiliates; (6)
investment advisers or financial planners or their clients, who may clear
transactions through a broker-dealer, bank or trust company which may maintain
an omnibus account with the Transfer Agent (each of which may impose fees with
respect to such transactions or accounts); and (7) such other persons as are
determined by the Board of Trustees (or by the Distributor pursuant to
guidelines established by the Board) to have acquired shares under circumstances
not involving any sales expenses to the Trust or the Distributor. In addition,
Class A Shares may be sold at net asset value to shareholders and former
shareholders of another mutual fund which has a sales charge, so long as shares
of the Fund are purchased with the proceeds of a redemption, made within 60 days
of the purchase, of shares of such other mutual fund; however, this benefit is
not available if the shares redeemed were subject to a contingent deferred sales
charge or redemption fee. In order to obtain this benefit, the redemption check,
endorsed to the Fund, or a copy of the confirmation showing the redemption must
be forwarded to the Transfer Agent. Shares are offered at net asset value to
these persons and organizations due to anticipated economies in sales effort and
expense. No sales charges are imposed on shares of the Fund purchased upon the
reinvestment of dividends and distributions.
Right of Accumulation. The sales charge for an investment may be reduced by
taking into account a shareholder's existing holdings in Class A Shares of the
Fund. See the Application Form for further details.
Letter of Intent. An investor may reduce sales charges on all investments
by meeting the terms of a letter of intent, a non-binding commitment to invest a
certain amount within a 13-month period. Existing holdings in Class A Shares of
the Fund also may be combined with the investment commitment set forth in the
letter of intent to reduce the sales charge further. Up to 5% of the letter
amount will be held in escrow to cover additional sales charges which may be due
if the total investments made over the letter period are not sufficient to
qualify for a sales charge reduction. See the Application Form for further
details.
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge on Redemptions of Class A Shares. A
contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% applies to certain redemptions of
shares of Class A Shares of the Fund within the first year on investments of $1
million or more. The charge is 1.00% of the lesser of the value of the shares
redeemed (exclusive of reinvested dividends and capital gain distributions) or
the total cost of such shares. The charge is waived for redemptions in
connection with mergers, acquisitions and exchange offers involving
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<PAGE>
Class A Shares of the Fund; for distributions from qualified retirement plans
and other employee benefit plans; for distributions from custodial accounts
under Section 403(b)(7) of the Code or from IRAs due to death, disability or
attainment of age 59 1/2; for tax-free returns of excess contributions to IRAs;
for any partial or complete redemption following the death or disability of a
shareholder, provided the redemption is made within one year of death or initial
determination of disability; and for redemptions through certain automatic
withdrawals.
Class C Shares
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge. The public offering price of Class C
Shares is the net asset value, and no initial sales charge is imposed. A
contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00%, however, is imposed upon most
redemptions of Class C Shares made within one year from the date of their
purchase. Class C Shares that are redeemed within one year will not be subject
to a contingent deferred sales charge to the extent that the value of such
shares represents (1) capital appreciation of Fund assets or (2) reinvestment of
dividends or capital gain distributions. Otherwise, redemptions of Class C
Shares will be subject to the 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge.
In determining the applicability of any contingent deferred sales charge,
it will be assumed that a redemption is made from shares held by the shareholder
for the longest period of time. For federal income tax purposes, the amount of
the contingent deferred sales charge will reduce the gain or increase the loss,
as the case may be, on the amount realized on redemption. The amount of any
contingent deferred sales charge will be deducted from the redemption proceeds
and paid to the Distributor.
Waivers of Contingent Deferred Sales Charges. The contingent deferred sales
charge is waived for redemptions of Class C Shares by (1) current or retired
trustees, directors, officers and employees of the Trust, the Distributor, the
Advisor, certain family members of these persons, and trusts or plans primarily
for such persons; (2) redemptions made in connection with the Fund's Automatic
Withdrawal Plan; (3) for distributions from qualified retirement plans and other
employee benefit plans; (4) for distributions from custodial accounts under
Section 403(b)(7) of the Code or from IRAs due to death, disability or
attainment of age 59 1/2; (5) for tax-free returns of excess contributions to
IRAs; and (6) for any partial or complete redemption following the death or
disability of a shareholder, provided the redemption is made within one year of
death or initial determination of disability.
Other Series
Currently, the Trust consists of two separate series. One series is offered
pursuant to this prospectus; shares of the Brandes Institutional International
Equity Fund (the "Institutional Fund") are offered pursuant to a separate
prospectus which can be obtained by calling (619) 755-0239. The Institutional
Fund, which has a higher minimum investment and is offered to institutional
investors, has different expenses which may affect its performance.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
Automatic Investment Plan
An investor may make regular monthly or quarterly investments in the Fund
through automatic withdrawals of specified amounts from a bank account once an
automatic investment plan is established. See the Check-A-Matic Application for
further details about this service or call the Transfer Agent at (800) 543-7518.
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<PAGE>
Automatic Reinvestment
Dividends and capital gain distributions are reinvested without any sales
charge in additional shares unless indicated otherwise on the Application Form.
A shareholder may elect to have dividends or capital gain distributions paid in
cash.
Automatic Withdrawals
A shareholder may make automatic withdrawals from the Fund of $100 or more
on a monthly or quarterly basis if the shareholder's account has a value of
$10,000 or more. Withdrawal proceeds will normally be received prior to the end
of the month or quarter. See the Application Form for further information.
Retirement Plans and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)
Shares of the Fund are available for purchase by any retirement plan,
including 401(k) plans, profit sharing plans, 403(b) plans and IRAs. More
information is available from investment dealers or the Transfer Agent at (800)
543-7518.
Shareholder Reports
Shareholders will receive an audited annual report and an unaudited
semiannual report, both of which present the financial statements of the Fund.
Exchange Privilege
A shareholder may exchange shares of the Fund for shares of the Money
Market Portfolio of The Rodney Square Fund, a money market mutual fund advised
by Rodney Square Management Corporation and not affiliated with the Fund. Prior
to making such an exchange, a shareholder should obtain and read a prospectus
for The Rodney Square Fund, by calling (800) 543-7518. A contingent deferred
sales charge will be imposed, if applicable, on shares of the Fund being
redeemed in connection with an exchange into The Rodney Square Fund. Exchanges
are limited to four per shareholder account per year; the exchange privilege is
available only in states where all funds are qualified for sale. The exchange
privilege may be modified or terminated on 60 days written notice to
shareholders. For tax purposes, an exchange is considered a redemption and a new
purchase.
REDEEMING SHARES
How to Redeem Shares
A shareholder may redeem shares of the Fund by contacting the shareholder's
selected dealer. The selected dealer may arrange for the repurchase of the
shares through the Trust's distributor at the net asset value next determined
after receipt by the selected dealer of instructions from the shareholder. The
dealer may charge the shareholder for this service. Shares held in street name
must be redeemed through the dealer holding the shares.
An investor may also redeem shares by mailing instructions to the Transfer
Agent, Rodney Square Management Corporation, P.O. Box 8987, Wilmington, DE
19899, or by delivering instructions to the Transfer Agent at 1105 N. Market
Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890. The instructions must specify the
17
<PAGE>
name of the Fund, the number of shares or dollar amount to be redeemed and the
shareholder's name and account number. If a redemption is requested by a
corporation, partnership, trust or fiduciary, written evidence of authority
acceptable to the Transfer Agent must be submitted before such request will be
accepted. If the proceeds of the redemption exceed $50,000, are to be paid to a
person other than the record owner, are to be sent to an address other than the
address on the Transfer Agent's records, or are to be paid to a corporation,
partnership, trust or fiduciary, the signature(s) on the redemption request and
on the certificates, if any, or stock powers must be guaranteed by an "eligible
guarantor," which includes a bank or savings and loan association that is
federally insured or a member firm of a national securities exchange. Except as
noted above with respect to contingent deferred sales charges that may apply,
the price the shareholder will receive for the Fund shares redeemed is at the
next determined net asset value for the shares after a completed redemption
request is received by the Transfer Agent.
Telephone Redemptions. A shareholder may establish telephone redemption
privileges by checking the appropriate box and supplying the necessary
information on the Application Form. Shares may then be redeemed by telephoning
the Transfer Agent at (800) 543-7518, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00
p.m. Eastern time on a day when the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading.
Redemptions by telephone must be at least $5,000. Redemption requests received
by the Transfer Agent before 4:00 p.m. Eastern time on a day when the New York
Stock Exchange is open for trading will be processed that day; otherwise
processing will occur on the next business day.
Special Factors Regarding Telephone Redemptions. The Trust will use
procedures, such as assigned personal identification numbers, designed to
provide reasonable verification of the identity of a person making a telephone
redemption request. The Trust reserves the right to refuse a telephone
redemption request if it believes that the person making the request is neither
the record owner of the shares being redeemed nor otherwise authorized by the
shareholder to request the redemption. Shareholders will be promptly notified of
any refused request for a telephone redemption. If these normal identification
procedures are not followed, the Trust or its agents could be liable for any
loss, liability or cost which results from acting upon instructions of a person
believed to be a shareholder with respect to the telephone redemption privilege.
Redemption Payments
Payment for redemptions will be made within seven days after receipt by the
Transfer Agent of the written or telephone redemption request, any share
certificates, and, if required, a signature guarantee and any other necessary
documents, except as indicated below. Payment may be postponed or the right of
redemption suspended at times when the New York Stock Exchange is closed for
other than customary weekends and holidays, when trading on such exchange is
restricted, when an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the Trust
of securities owned by the Fund is not reasonably practicable or it is not
reasonably practicable for the Trust fairly to determine the value of the Fund's
net assets, or during any other period when the SEC, by order, so permits.
Payment for redemption of recently purchased shares will be delayed until the
Transfer Agent has been advised that the purchase check has been honored, up to
15 calendar days from the time of receipt of the purchase check by the Transfer
Agent. This delay may be avoided by purchasing shares by wire or by certified or
official bank checks.
Redemption proceeds are generally paid by check. However, at the
shareholder's request, redemption proceeds of $300 or more may be wired by the
Transfer Agent to the shareholder's bank account. Requests
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<PAGE>
for redemption by wire should include the name, location and ABA or bank routing
number (if known) of the designated bank and the shareholder's bank account
number. A $7 fee for wire transmission of redemption proceeds will be charged by
the Transfer Agent, which will be deducted from the proceeds.
Reinstatement Privilege-Class A Shares
A shareholder may reinvest proceeds from a redemption of Class A Shares
without a sales charge, provided that a written request and check are sent to
the Transfer Agent within 90 days after the date of the redemption. Reinvestment
will be at the next calculated net asset value after receipt. The tax status of
a gain realized on a redemption will not be affected by exercise of the
reinstatement privilege, but a loss may be nullified if reinvestment is made
within 30 days.
Redemption of Small Accounts
In order to reduce expenses, the Fund may redeem shares in any account,
other than retirement plan or Uniform Gift or Transfer to Minors Act accounts,
if at any time, due to redemptions, the total value of a shareholder's account
falls below $500. Shareholders will be given 30 days prior written notice in
which to purchase sufficient additional shares to avoid such a redemption.
DISTRIBUTION PLAN
The Trust has adopted a Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act") with respect to the Fund. Under
the Plan, the Fund pays the Distributor monthly distribution fees at the annual
rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Class A Shares of the Fund
and 0.75% of the average daily net assets of the Class C Shares of the Fund.
The Distributor uses the distribution fees under the Plan to offset the
commissions and other payments made to broker-dealers for selling the Fund's
shares, and to offset the Trust's marketing costs, such as preparation of sales
literature, advertising and printing and distributing prospectuses and other
shareholder materials to prospective investors. The Distributor also receives a
portion of the initial sales charge paid upon the purchase of Class A Shares and
the contingent deferred sales charge paid upon certain redemptions of Class C
Shares, and may use these proceeds for any of the distribution expenses
described above.
During the period they are in effect, the Plan and related distribution
contracts pertaining to each class of shares ("Distribution Contracts") obligate
the Fund to pay distribution fees as compensation for distribution activities,
not as reimbursement for specific expenses incurred. Thus, even if distribution
expenses exceed distribution fees, the Fund will not be obligated to pay more
than those fees, and if distribution expenses are less than those fees, the
Distributor will retain its full fees and realize a profit. The Fund will pay
the distribution fees under the Plan until either the applicable Plan or
Distribution Contract is terminated or not renewed. In that event, the
distribution expenses in excess of distribution fees received or accrued through
the termination date will be the Distributor's sole responsibility and not
obligations of the Fund. In their annual consideration of the continuation of
the Plan, the Trustees will consider and review the Plan and corresponding
expenses for each class separately.
19
<PAGE>
SHAREHOLDER SERVICE PLAN
The Trust has adopted a Shareholder Service Plan with respect to the Fund,
under which the Fund reimburses the Distributor for shareholder servicing
expenses. Under this Plan, the Fund pays the Distributor a fee at the annual
rate of 0.10% of the average daily net assets of the Class A Shares and 0.25% of
the average daily net assets of the Class C Shares as reimbursement for certain
expenses actually incurred in connection with shareholder services provided by
the Distributor and for payments to investment dealers, retirement plan
administrators and others for the provision of such services. These services
include establishing and maintaining accounts and records relating to clients
who invest in the Fund, responding to shareholder inquiries, assisting
shareholders in changing account options, transmitting communications to
shareholders and providing such other information and assistance to shareholders
as they may reasonably request.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAX STATUS
Dividends and Distributions
The Fund expects to pay income dividends for each class of shares annually.
Distributions of net capital gains with respect to each class of shares, if any,
will be made at least annually. The Board of Trustees may determine to declare
dividends and make distributions more frequently.
Dividends and capital gain distributions are automatically reinvested in
additional shares at the net asset value per share on the reinvestment date
unless the shareholder has previously requested in writing to the Transfer Agent
that payment be made in cash.
Any dividend or distribution paid by the Fund has the effect of reducing
the net asset value per share on the reinvestment date by the amount of the
dividend or distribution. Investors should note that a dividend or distribution
paid on shares purchased shortly before such dividend or distribution was
declared will be subject to income taxes as discussed below even though the
dividend or distribution represents, in substance, a partial return of capital
to the shareholder.
Tax Status
The Fund intends to qualify and elect to be treated as a regulated
investment company under Subchapter M of the Code. As long as the Fund continues
to qualify, and as long as the Fund distributes all of its income each year to
shareholders, the Fund will not be subject to any federal income or excise
taxes. The distributions made by the Fund will be taxable to shareholders
whether received in shares (through dividend reinvestment) or in cash.
Distributions derived from net investment income, including net short-term
capital gains, are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. A portion of
these distributions may qualify for the intercorporate dividends-received
deduction. Distributions designated as capital gains dividends are taxable as
long-term capital gains regardless of the length of time shares of the Fund have
been held. Although distributions are generally taxable when received, certain
distributions made in January are taxable as if received in the prior December.
Shareholders will be informed annually of the amount and nature of the Fund's
distributions.
20
<PAGE>
The Trust may be required to impose backup withholding at a rate of 31%
from income dividends and capital gain distributions and upon payment of
redemption proceeds if provisions of the Code relating to the furnishing and
certification of taxpayer identification numbers and reporting of dividends are
not complied with by a shareholder. Any shareholder account without a tax
identification number may be liquidated and distributed to the shareholder, net
of withholding, after the sixtieth day of investment. In addition, dividends and
capital gains distributions to foreign shareholders may be subject to U.S.
withholding at a rate of up to 30%.
Dividends and interest earned by the Fund may be subject to withholding and
other taxes imposed by foreign countries, at rates from 10% to 40%, which taxes
would reduce the Fund's investment income. However, under certain circumstances
shareholders may be able to claim credits against their U.S. taxes for such
foreign taxes. The Trust will also notify shareholders each year as to the
amounts available as credits.
Additional information about taxes is set forth in the Statement of
Additional Information. Shareholders should consult their own advisers
concerning federal, state and local taxation of distributions from the Fund.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
From time to time, the Trust may publish the total return of the Fund in
advertisements and communications to investors. As discussed above under
"Purchases," because of the differences in sales charges and expenses, total
return of Class A Shares will be different from that of Class C Shares. Total
return information will include the Fund's average annual compounded rate of
return over the four most recent calendar quarters and over the period from the
Fund's inception of operations. The Trust may also advertise aggregate and
average total return information of the Fund over different periods of time. The
Fund's total return will be based upon the value of the shares acquired through
a hypothetical $1,000 investment (at the maximum public offering price) at the
beginning of the specified period and the net asset value of such shares at the
end of the period, assuming reinvestment of all distributions and after giving
effect to the maximum applicable sales charge. Total return figures will reflect
all recurring charges against Fund income for each respective class. Investors
should note that the investment results of the Fund will fluctuate over time,
and any presentation of the Fund's total return for any prior period should not
be considered as a representation of what an investor's total return may be in
any future period.
In addition to standardized return, performance advertisements and sales
literature may also include other total return performance data
("non-standardized return"). Non-standardized return may be quoted for the same
or different periods as those for which standardized return is quoted and may
consist of aggregate or average annual percentage rate of return, actual
year-by-year rates or any combination thereof. All data included in performance
advertisements will reflect past performance and will not necessarily be
indicative of future results. The Trust may also advertise relative rankings by
mutual fund ranking services such as Lipper Analytical Services or Morningstar,
Inc. The investment return and principal value of an investment in the Fund will
fluctuate and an investor's proceeds upon redeeming Fund shares may be more or
less than the original cost of the shares.
21
<PAGE>
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Trust was organized as a Delaware business trust on July 6, 1994. The
Trustees have authority to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial
interest of separate series, par value $.01 per share. Although it has no
present intention to do so, the Trust has reserved the right to convert to a
master-feeder structure in the future by investing all of the assets of the Fund
in the securities of another investment company, upon notice to and approval of
shareholders.
Shares of beneficial interest of the Fund are currently divided into two
classes, designated Class A Shares and Class C Shares. Each class represents
interests in the same assets of the Fund. The classes differ as follows: (1)
each class has exclusive voting rights on matters pertaining to its plan of
distribution; (2) Class A Shares are subject to an initial sales charge; (3) all
Class C Shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge, whereas only
some Class A Shares are subject to such a charge; and (4) each class may bear
differing amounts of certain class-specific expenses, such as distribution fees.
The Board of Trustees does not anticipate that there will be any conflicts among
the interests of the holders of the different classes of shares of the Fund. On
an ongoing basis, the Board will consider whether any such conflict exists and,
if so, take appropriate action.
The Trust does not hold annual shareholder meetings of the Fund. There
normally will be no meetings of shareholders to elect Trustees unless fewer than
a majority of the trustees holding office have been elected by shareholders.
Shareholders of record holding at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of
the Trust may remove a Trustee by votes cast in person or by proxy at a meeting
called for that purpose. The Trustees are required to call a meeting of
shareholders for the purpose of voting upon the question of removal of any
Trustee when so requested in writing by the shareholders of record owning at
least 10% of the Trust's outstanding shares. Each share of the Fund has equal
voting rights except as noted above. Each share of the Fund is entitled to
participate equally in dividends and distributions and the proceeds of any
liquidation from the Fund except that, due to the differing expenses borne by
the two classes, such dividends and proceeds are likely to be lower for the
Class C Shares than for the Class A Shares. The shares of the Fund will be voted
together except when a separate vote by class is required by the 1940 Act.
Custodian and Transfer Agent. Investors Bank and Trust Company is the
custodian of the Fund's assets and employs foreign sub-custodians, approved by
the Board of Trustees in accordance with applicable requirements under the 1940
Act, to provide custody of the Fund's foreign assets. Rodney Square Management
Corporation is the Fund's transfer and dividend disbursing agent.
22
<PAGE>
BRANDES INTERNATIONAL FUND
Statement of Additional Information
Dated February 28, 1997
This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus, and it
should be read in conjunction with the prospectus of Brandes International Fund
(the "Fund") dated February 28, 1997. Brandes Investment Partners, L.P. (the
"Advisor") is the Advisor to the Fund. Copies of the prospectus may be obtained
from Brandes Investment Trust (the "Trust"), at 12750 High Bluff Drive, San
Diego, CA 92130 or by calling 1-800-237-7119.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Cross-reference to page in
prospectus for
Page Class A and Class C Shares
---- --------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Investment Objectives and Policies............................ B-2 5
Investment Restrictions....................................... B-2 11
Other Securities and Investment Techniques.................... B-4 8
Repurchase Agreements................................ B-4 8
When-Issued Securities............................... B-5 9
Rule 144A Securities................................. B-5 10
Put and Call Options................................. B-6 9
Futures Contracts.................................... B-8 10
Management.................................................... B-9 11
Advisory Agreement................................... B-10 11
Administration Agreement............................. B-11 12
Distribution Arrangements..................................... B-12 19
Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage.......................... B-13 12
Net Asset Value............................................... B-14 15
Redemptions................................................... B-15 17
Taxation...................................................... B-15 20
Dividends and Distributions................................... B-17 20
Performance Information....................................... B-17 21
General Information........................................... B-18 22
Financial Statements.......................................... B-18 4
Appendix...................................................... B-19
</TABLE>
B-1
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES
The investment objective of the Fund is long-term capital appreciation.
The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing principally in equity
securities of foreign issuers.
Foreign Securities
The U.S. Government has, from time to time, imposed restrictions,
through taxation or otherwise, on foreign investments by U.S. entities such as
the Fund. If such restrictions should be reinstituted, the Board of Trustees of
the Trust would consider alternative arrangements, including reevaluation of the
Fund's investment objective and policies. However, the Fund would adopt any
revised investment objective and fundamental policies only after approval by the
holders of a "majority of the outstanding voting securities" of the Fund, which
is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act") to mean the
lesser of (i) 67% of the shares represented at a meeting at which more than 50%
of the outstanding shares are represented or (ii) more than 50% of the
outstanding shares.
Investments in foreign securities involve certain inherent risks.
Individual foreign economies may differ from the U.S. economy in such aspects as
growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment,
resource self-sufficiency, diversification and balance of payments position. The
internal politics of certain foreign countries may not be as stable as those of
the United States. Governments in certain foreign countries also continue to
participate to a significant degree in their respective economies. Action by
these governments could include restrictions on foreign investment,
nationalization, expropriation of property or imposition of taxes, and could
have a significant effect on market prices of securities and payment of
interest. The economies of many foreign countries are heavily dependent on
international trade and are accordingly affected by the trade policies and
economic conditions of their trading partners. Enactment by these trading
partners of protectionist trade legislation could have a significant adverse
effect on the securities markets of such countries.
Because most of the securities in which the Fund invests are
denominated in foreign currencies, a change in the value of any such currency
against the U.S. dollar will result in a corresponding change in the U.S. dollar
value of the Fund's assets which are denominated in that currency. Such changes
will also affect the Fund's income. The values of the Fund's assets may also be
affected significantly by currency restrictions and exchange control regulations
imposed from time to time.
Foreign securities markets may be more volatile than those in the
United States. While growing in volume, they usually have substantially less
volume than U.S. markets, and the Fund's portfolio securities may be less liquid
and more volatile than U.S. securities. Settlement practices for transactions
may differ from those in the United States and may include delays beyond periods
customary in the United States. Such differences and potential delays may expose
the Fund to increased risk of loss in the event of a failed trade or the
insolvency of a foreign broker-dealer.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
The Trust has adopted the following fundamental investment policies and
restrictions with respect to the Fund in addition to the policies and
restrictions discussed in the prospectus. The policies and restrictions listed
below cannot be changed with respect to the Fund without approval by the holders
of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. As a matter of
fundamental policy, the Fund is diversified; i.e., at least 75% of the value of
its total assets is
B-2
<PAGE>
represented by cash and cash items (including receivables), Government
securities, securities of other investment companies, and other securities for
the purposes of this calculation limited in respect of any one issuer to an
amount not greater in value than 5% of the value of the total assets of the Fund
and to not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer.
In addition, the Fund may not:
1. Issue senior securities, borrow money or pledge its assets, except
that the Fund may borrow on an unsecured basis from banks for temporary or
emergency purposes or for the clearance of transactions in amounts not exceeding
10% of its total assets (not including the amount borrowed), provided that it
will not make investments while borrowings in excess of 5% of the value of its
total assets are outstanding;
2. Make short sales of securities or maintain a short position, except
for short sales against the box;
3. Purchase securities on margin, except such short-term credits as may
be necessary for the clearance of transactions;
4. Write put or call options, except that the Fund may (i) write
covered call options on individual securities and on stock indices; (ii)
purchase put and call options on securities which are eligible for purchase by
the Fund and on stock indices; and (iii) engage in closing transactions with
respect to its options writing and purchases, in all cases subject to applicable
federal and state laws and regulations;
5. Act as underwriter (except to the extent the Fund may be deemed to
be an underwriter in connection with the sale of securities in its investment
portfolio);
6. Invest 25% or more of its total assets, calculated at the time of
purchase and taken at market value, in any one industry (other than U.S.
Government securities), except that the Fund reserves the right to invest all of
its assets in shares of another investment company;
7. Purchase or sell real estate or interests in real estate or real
estate limited partnerships (although the Fund may purchase and sell securities
which are secured by real estate, securities of companies which invest or deal
in real estate and securities issued by real estate investment trusts);
8. Purchase or sell commodities or commodity futures contracts, except
that the Fund may purchase and sell stock index futures contracts for hedging
purposes to the extent permitted under applicable federal and state laws and
regulations and except that the Fund may engage in foreign exchange forward
contracts, although it has no current intention to do so;
9. Make loans (except for purchases of debt securities consistent with
the investment policies of the Fund and except for repurchase agreements);
10. Make investments for the purpose of exercising control or
management;
11. Invest in oil and gas limited partnerships or oil, gas or mineral
leases;
The Fund observes the following restrictions as a matter of operating,
but not fundamental, policy, which can be changed by the Board of Trustees
without shareholder approval, pursuant to positions taken by federal and state
regulatory authorities:
B-3
<PAGE>
The Fund may not:
1. Purchase any security if as a result the Fund would then hold more
than 10% of any class of voting securities of an issuer (taking all common stock
issues as a single class, all preferred stock issues as a single class, and all
debt issues as a single class), except that the Fund reserves the right to
invest all of its assets in a class of voting securities of another investment
company;
2. Invest in securities of any issuer if any officer or Trustee of the
Trust or any officer or Director of the Advisor owns more than 1/2 of 1% of the
outstanding securities of such issuer, and such officers, Trustees and Directors
who own more than 1/2 of 1% own in the aggregate more than 5% of the outstanding
securities of such issuer;
3. Invest more than 10% of its assets in real estate investment trusts;
4. Invest more than 5% of the value of its net assets in warrants
(included in that amount, but not to exceed 2% of the value of the Fund's net
assets, may be warrants which are not listed on the New York or American Stock
Exchange), although the Fund has no present intention to invest in warrants;
5. Invest in any security if, as a result, the Fund would have more
than 5% of its total assets invested in securities of companies which together
with any predecessor have been in continuous operation for fewer than three
years ("unseasoned securities");
6. Invest more than 10% of its assets in the securities of other
investment companies or purchase more than 3% of any other investment company's
voting securities or make any other investment in other investment companies
except as permitted by federal and state law, except that the Fund reserves the
right to invest all of its assets in another investment company;
7. Invest more than 5% of its total assets in restricted securities,
other than restricted securities eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under
the Securities Act of 1933 that have been determined to be liquid;
8. Invest more than 5% in the aggregate of illiquid and unseasoned
securities;
9. Invest more than 15% of its total assets in unseasoned securities
and illiquid securities, including Rule 144A securities.
OTHER SECURITIES AND INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES
Repurchase Agreements
Repurchase agreements are transactions in which the Fund purchases a
security from a bank or recognized securities dealer and simultaneously commits
to resell that security to the bank or dealer at an agreed-upon date and price
reflecting a market rate of interest unrelated to the coupon rate or maturity of
the purchased security. The purchaser maintains custody of the underlying
securities prior to their repurchase; thus the obligation of the bank or dealer
to pay the repurchase price on the date agreed to is, in effect, secured by such
underlying securities. If the value of such securities is less than the
repurchase price, the other party to the agreement will provide additional
collateral so that at all times the collateral is at least equal to the
repurchase price.
Although repurchase agreements carry certain risks not associated with
direct investments in securities, the Fund intends to enter into repurchase
agreements only with banks and dealers believed
B-4
<PAGE>
by the Advisor to present minimum credit risks in accordance with guidelines
established by the Board of Trustees. The Advisor will review and monitor the
creditworthiness of such institutions under the Board's general supervision. To
the extent that the proceeds from any sale of collateral upon a default in the
obligation to repurchase were less than the repurchase price, the purchaser
would suffer a loss. If the other party to the repurchase agreement petitions
for bankruptcy or otherwise becomes subject to bankruptcy or other liquidation
proceedings, there might be restrictions on the purchaser's ability to sell the
collateral and the purchaser could suffer a loss. However, with respect to
financial institutions whose bankruptcy or liquidation proceedings are subject
to the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, the Fund intends to comply with provisions under
such Code that would allow it immediately to resell the collateral.
When-Issued Securities
The Fund may from time to time purchase securities on a "when-issued"
basis. The price of such securities, which may be expressed in yield terms, is
fixed at the time the commitment to purchase is made, but delivery and payment
for the when-issued securities take place at a later date. Normally, the
settlement date occurs within one month of the purchase; during the period
between purchase and settlement, no payment is made by the Fund to the issuer
and no interest accrues to the Fund. To the extent that assets of the Fund are
held in cash pending the settlement of a purchase of securities, the Fund would
earn no income. While when-issued securities may be sold prior to the settlement
date, the Fund intends to purchase such securities with the purpose of actually
acquiring them unless a sale appears desirable for investment reasons. At the
time the Fund makes the commitment to purchase a security on a when-issued
basis, it will record the transaction and reflect the value of the security in
determining its net asset value. The market value of the when-issued securities
may be more or less than the purchase price. The Advisor does not believe that
the Fund's net asset value or income will be adversely affected by the purchase
of securities on a when-issued basis. The Fund will establish a segregated
account with the Custodian in which it will maintain cash or liquid assets such
as U.S. Government securities or other liquid debt or equity securities equal in
value to commitments for when-issued securities. Such segregated securities
either will mature or, if necessary, be sold on or before the settlement date.
Rule 144A Securities
As noted in the prospectus, the Fund may invest no more than 5% of its
net assets in securities that at the time of purchase have legal or contractual
restrictions on resale, are otherwise illiquid or do not have readily available
market quotations. Historically, illiquid securities have included securities
subject to contractual or legal restrictions on resale because they have not
been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 ("restricted securities"),
securities which are otherwise not readily marketable such as over-the-counter,
or dealer traded, options, and repurchase agreements having a maturity of more
than seven days. Mutual funds do not typically hold a significant amount of
restricted or other illiquid securities because of the potential for delays on
resale and uncertainty in valuation. Limitations on resale may have an adverse
effect on the marketability of portfolio securities, and the Fund might not be
able to dispose of such securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might
thereby experience difficulty satisfying redemptions. The Fund might also have
to register such restricted securities in order to dispose of them, resulting in
additional expense and delay.
In recent years, however, a large institutional market has developed
for certain securities that are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933,
including repurchase agreements, commercial paper, foreign securities, municipal
securities and corporate bonds and notes. Institutional investors
B-5
<PAGE>
depend on an efficient institutional market in which the unregistered security
can be readily resold or on an issuer's ability to honor a demand for repayment.
The fact that there are contractual or legal restrictions on resale to the
general public or to certain institutions may not be indicative of the liquidity
of such investments. If such securities are subject to purchase by institutional
buyers in accord with Rule 144A promulgated by the Securities and Exchange
Commission, the Trustees may determine that such securities, up to a limit of 5%
of the Fund's total net assets, are not illiquid notwithstanding their legal or
contractual restrictions on resale.
Put and Call Options
Purchasing Options. By purchasing a put option, the Fund obtains the
right (but not the obligation) to sell the option's underlying instrument at a
fixed "strike" price. In return for this right, the Fund pays the current market
price for the option (known as the option premium). Options have various types
of underlying instruments, including specific securities, indices of securities
prices, and futures contracts. The Fund may terminate its position in a put
option it has purchased by allowing it to expire or by exercising the option. If
the option is allowed to expire, the Fund will lose the entire premium it paid.
If the Fund exercises the option, it completes the sale of the underlying
instrument at the strike price. The Fund also may terminate a put option
position by closing it out in the secondary market at its current price (i.e.,
by selling an option of the same series as the option purchased), if a liquid
secondary market exists.
The buyer of a typical put option can expect to realize a gain if
security prices fall substantially. However, if the underlying instrument's
price 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 underlying instrument at the option's strike
price. A call buyer typically attempts to participate in potential price
increases of the underlying instrument 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 the underlying prices do not rise sufficiently to offset the cost of
the option.
Writing Options. When the Fund writes a call option, it takes the
opposite side of the transaction from the option's purchaser. In return for
receipt of the premium, the Fund assumes the obligation to sell or deliver the
option's underlying instrument, in return for the strike price, upon exercise of
the option. The Fund may seek to terminate its position in a call option it
writes before exercise by closing out the option in the secondary market at its
current price (i.e., by buying an option of the same series as the option
written). If the secondary market is not liquid for a call option the Fund has
written, however, the Fund must continue to be prepared to deliver the
underlying instrument in return for the strike price while the option is
outstanding, regardless of price changes, and must continue to segregate assets
to cover its position. The Fund will establish a segregated account with the
Custodian in which it will maintain the security underlying the option written,
or securities convertible into that security, or cash or liquid assets such as
U.S. Government securities or other high-grade debt obligations equal in value
to commitments for options written.
Writing a call generally is a profitable strategy if the price of the
underlying security remains the same or falls. Through receipt of the option
premium, a call writer mitigates the effects 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 the underlying price
increases.
B-6
<PAGE>
Combined Positions. The Fund may purchase and write options in
combination with each other to adjust the risk and return characteristics of the
overall position. For example, the Fund may purchase a put option and write a
call option on the same underlying instrument, in order to construct a combined
position whose risk and return characteristics are similar to selling a futures
contract. Another possible combined position would involve writing a call option
at one strike price and buying a call option at a lower price, in order to
reduce the risk of the written call option in the event of a substantial price
increase. Because combined options positions involve multiple trades, they
result in higher transaction costs and may be more difficult to open and close
out.
Correlation of Price Changes. Because there are a limited number of
types of exchange-traded options contracts, it is likely that the standardized
contracts available will not match the Fund's current or anticipated investments
exactly. The Fund may invest in options contracts based on securities with
different issuers, maturities, or other characteristics from the securities in
which it typically invests.
Options prices also can diverge from the prices of their underlying
instruments, even if the underlying instruments match the Fund's investments
well. Options 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
the security prices the same way. Imperfect correlation also may result from:
differing levels of demand in the options markets and the securities markets,
structural differences in how options are traded, or imposition of daily price
fluctuation limits or trading halts. The Fund may purchase or sell options 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 Fund's options 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. There is no assurance a liquid secondary market
will exist for any particular options contract at any particular time. Options
may have relatively low trading volume and liquidity if their strike prices are
not close to the underlying instrument's current price. In addition, exchanges
may establish daily price fluctuation limits for options contracts, and may halt
trading if a contract's price moves upward or downward 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 Fund to enter into
new positions or close out existing positions. If the secondary market for a
contract is not liquid because of price fluctuation limits or otherwise, it
could prevent prompt liquidation of unfavorable positions, and potentially could
require the Fund to continue to hold a position until delivery or expiration
regardless of changes in its value. As a result, the Fund's access to other
assets held to cover its options positions also could be impaired.
OTC Options. Unlike exchange-traded options, which are standardized
with respect to the underlying instrument, expiration date, contract size, and
strike price, the terms of over-the-counter options, i.e., options not traded on
exchanges ("OTC options"), generally are established through negotiation with
the other party to the option contract. While this type of arrangement allows
the Fund greater flexibility to tailor an option to its needs, OTC options
generally involve greater credit risk than exchange-traded options, which are
guaranteed by the clearing organization of the exchanges where they are traded.
OTC options are considered to be illiquid, since these options generally can be
closed out only by negotiation with the other party to the option.
B-7
<PAGE>
Stock Index Options. The distinctive characteristics of options on
stock indices create certain risks that are not present with stock options
generally. Because the value of an index option depends on movements in the
level of the index rather than the price of a particular stock, whether the Fund
will realize a gain or loss on an options transaction depends on movements in
the level of stock prices generally rather than movements in the price of a
particular stock. Accordingly, successful use of options on a stock index will
be subject to the Advisor's ability to predict correctly movements in the
direction of the stock market generally. Index prices may be distorted if
trading in certain stocks included in the index is interrupted. Trading of index
options also may be interrupted in certain circumstances, such as if trading
were halted in a substantial number of stocks included in the index. If this
were to occur, the Fund would not be able to close out positions it holds. It is
the policy of the Fund to engage in options transactions only with respect to an
index which the Advisor believes includes a sufficient number of stocks to
minimize the likelihood of a trading halt in the index.
Futures Contracts
The Fund may buy and sell stock index futures contracts. Such a futures
contract is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell an index for a set
price on a future date. Futures contracts are traded on designated "contract
markets" which, through their clearing corporations, guarantee performance of
the contracts. A stock index futures contract does not require the physical
delivery of securities, but merely provides for profits and losses resulting
from changes in the market value of the contract to be credited or debited at
the close of each trading day to the respective accounts of the parties to the
contract. On the contract's expiration date, a final cash settlement occurs.
Changes in the market value of a particular stock index futures contract
reflects changes in the specified index of equity securities on which the future
is based.
There are several risks in connection with the use of futures
contracts. In the event of an imperfect correlation between the index and the
portfolio position which is intended to be protected, the desired protection may
not be obtained and the Fund may be exposed to risk of loss. Further,
unanticipated changes in stock price movements may result in a poorer overall
performance for the Fund than if it had not entered into any futures on stock
indexes.
In addition, the market prices of futures contracts may be affected by
certain factors. First, all participants in the futures market are subject to
margin deposit and maintenance requirements. Rather than meeting additional
margin deposit requirements, investors may close futures contracts through
offsetting transactions which could distort the normal relationship between the
securities and futures markets. Second, from the point of view of speculators,
the deposit requirements in the futures market are less onerous than margin
requirements in the securities market. Therefore, increased participation by
speculators in the futures market may also cause temporary price distortions.
Finally, positions in futures contracts may be closed out only on an
exchange or board of trade which provides a secondary market for such futures.
There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an exchange or board of
trade will exist for any particular contract or at any particular time.
The Fund will engage in futures transactions only as a hedge against
the risk of unexpected changes in the values of securities held or intended to
be held by the Fund. As a general rule, the Fund will not purchase or sell
futures if, immediately thereafter, more than 25% of its net assets would be
hedged. In addition, the Fund will not purchase or sell futures or related
options if, immediately thereafter, the sum of the amount of margin deposits on
the Fund's existing futures positions and premiums paid for such options would
exceed 5% of the market value of the Fund's net assets.
B-8
<PAGE>
MANAGEMENT
The overall management of the business and affairs of the Trust is
vested with its Board of Trustees. The Board approves all significant agreements
between the Trust and persons or companies furnishing services to it, including
the agreements with the Advisor, Administrator, Custodian and Transfer Agent.
The day-to-day operations of the Trust are delegated to its officers, subject to
the Fund's investment objectives and policies and to general supervision by the
Board of Trustees.
The Trustees and officers of the Trust, their business addresses and
principal occupations during the past five years are:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Barry P. O'Neil* (age 49), President and Trustee Managing Partner of the Advisor since May
12750 High Bluff Drive 1996, and Managing Director of its
San Diego, CA 92130 predecessor since 1991; formerly Vice
President, Investment Brokerage of Dean
Witter & Co. Director, RCM Equity Funds,
Inc.
DeWitt F. Bowman, C.F.A. (age 66), Trustee Pension investment consultant; Director,
79 Eucalyptus Knoll RCM Capital Funds, Inc. and RCM Equity
Mill Valley, CA 94941 Funds, Inc. (mutual funds) since 1996;
formerly Chief Investment Officer of the
California Public Employees Retirement
System.
Charles H. Brandes* (age 53), Trustee Managing Partner of the Advisor since May
12750 High Bluff Drive 1996 and Managing Director of its
San Diego, CA 92130 predecessor prior thereto.
Gordon Clifford Broadhead (age 72), Trustee Marine biologist and consultant in fisheries.
P.O. Box 1427
Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
Joseph E. Coberly, Jr. (age 79), Trustee Managing Partner, Red Tail Golf Association
P.O. Box 944 (real estate developer).
Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
W. Daniel Larsen (age 69), Trustee Retired. Honorary Danish Consul for San
1405 Savoy Circle Diego.
San Diego, CA 92107
Betsy M. Blodgett (age 39), Vice President Manager, Product Development of the
121 Corte Ramon Advisor since May 1996 and Vice President
Greenbrae, CA 94904 of its predecessor since 1994. Formerly
Principal, Cameron Capital Management
(investment adviser) from 1992 to 1994 and
consultant in 1994; Vice President, Van
Kasper & Co. (broker-dealer) from 1991 to
1992; Vice President, Prudential Capital
Corporation (investments) prior thereto.
Glenn R. Carlson (age 35), Secretary Managing Partner of the Advisor since May
12750 High Bluff Drive 1996 and Managing Director of its
San Diego, CA 92130 predecessor prior thereto.
Gregory S. Houck (age 35), Treasurer Principal Operations Officer of the
12750 High Bluff Drive Advisor since May 1996 and Vice
San Diego, CA 92130 President of its predecessor since 1994.
Formerly Senior Consultant, Ernst & Young.
</TABLE>
- ------------------------------------
*Denotes "interested person" as defined in the 1940 Act.
B-9
<PAGE>
The table below illustrates the compensation paid to each Trustee who is not
affiliated with the Advisor for the Trust's most recently completed fiscal year:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Aggregate Pension or Estimated
Compensation Retirement Benefits Annual Total
from the Accrued as Part of Benefits Upon Compensation
Name Trust Fund Expenses Retirement from the Trust
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
DeWitt F. Bowman $3,200 $0 $0 $3,200
Gordon Clifford
Broadhead $3,200 $0 $0 $3,200
Joseph E. Coberly, Jr. $3,200 $0 $0 $3,200
W. Daniel Larsen $3,200 $0 $0 $3,200
</TABLE>
The Trust pays a fee of $800 per meeting to Trustees who are not
"interested persons" of the Trust. Trustees also receive a fee of $800 for any
committee meetings held on dates other than scheduled Board meeting dates. Such
Trustees are reimbursed for any expenses incurred in attending meetings. For the
period ended October 31, 1996, the Trust paid $12,800 to the Trustees.
Mr. O'Neil is the President, and Ms. Blodgett is Vice President and
Secretary, of Worldwide Value Distributors, L.L.C., the Distributor of the
Fund's shares.
Advisory Agreement
Subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees, investment
management and services are provided to the Fund by the Advisor, pursuant to an
Investment Advisory Agreement (the "Advisory Agreement"). Under the Advisory
Agreement, the Advisor provides a continuous investment program for the Fund and
makes decisions and place orders to buy, sell or hold particular securities. In
addition to the fees payable to the Advisor and the Administrator, the Fund is
responsible for its operating expenses, including: (I) interest and taxes; (ii)
brokerage commissions; (iii) insurance premiums; (iv) compensation and expenses
of Trustees other than those affiliated with the Advisor or the Administrator;
(v) legal and audit expenses; (vi) fees and expenses of the custodian,
shareholder service and transfer agents; (vii) fees and expenses for
registration or qualification of the Fund and its shares under federal and state
securities laws; (viii) expenses of preparing, printing and mailing reports and
notices and proxy material to shareholders; (ix) other expenses incidental to
holding any shareholder meetings; (x) dues or assessments of or contributions to
the Investment Company Institute or any successor; (xi) such non-recurring
expenses as may arise, including litigation affecting the Trust or the Fund and
the legal obligations with respect to which the Trust or the Fund may have to
indemnify the Trust's officers and Trustees; and (xii) amortization of
organization costs.
Under the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor and its officers, directors,
agents, employees, controlling persons, shareholders and other affiliates will
not be liable to the Fund for any error of judgment by the Advisor or any loss
sustained by the Fund, except in the case of a breach of fiduciary duty with
respect to the receipt of compensation for services (in which case any award of
damages will be limited as provided in the 1940 Act) or of willful misfeasance,
bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of duty. In addition, the Fund
will indemnify the Advisor and such other persons from any such liability to the
extent permitted by applicable law.
B-10
<PAGE>
The Advisory Agreement with respect to the Fund will remain in effect
for two years from its execution. Thereafter, if not terminated, it will
continue automatically for successive annual periods, provided that such
continuance is specifically approved at least annually (i) by a majority vote of
the Trustees who are not parties to the Agreement or "interested persons" of the
Fund as defined in the 1940 Act, cast in person at a meeting called for the
purpose of voting on such approval, and (ii) by the Board of Trustees or by vote
of a majority of the outstanding voting securities.
The Advisory Agreement with respect to the Fund is terminable by vote
of the Board of Trustees or by the holders of a majority of the outstanding
voting securities of the Fund at any time without penalty, on 60 days written
notice to the Advisor. The Advisory Agreement also may be terminated by the
Advisor on 60 days written notice to the Fund. The Advisory Agreement terminates
automatically upon its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).
During the years ended October 31, 1995 and 1996, the Advisor
voluntarily agreed to limit the total operating expenses of the Class A Shares
of the Fund to 1.85% of average net assets, and the total operating expenses of
the Class C Shares of the Fund to 2.50% of average net assets. As a result of
those limitations, the Advisor waived its entire advisory fee of $34,019 and
$259,033 and reimbursed the Fund for expenses in excess of such limitations in
an additional amount of $173,175 and $18,592, for the years ended October 31,
1995 and 1996, respectively. The Advisor has agreed to continue such limitations
through October 31, 1997.
The Fund does not invest in any security for the purpose of exercising
control or management. When the Fund receives a proxy in connection with matters
to be voted on by holders of securities in which it invests, that proxy will be
voted by the Advisor in accordance with the Advisor's judgment as to the best
interests of the Fund, considering the effect of any such vote on the value of
the Fund's investment. The Advisor does not solicit or consider the views of
individual shareholders of the Fund in voting proxies. Because voting proxies of
foreign securities m,ay entail additional costs to the Fund, the Advisor
considers the costs and benefits to the Fund in deciding whether or not to vote
a particular proxy.
Administration Agreement
Investment Company Administration Corporation serves as Administrator
for the Trust, subject to the overall supervision of the Trustees. The
Administrator is responsible for providing such services as the Trustees may
reasonably request, including but not limited to (i) maintaining the Fund's
books and records (other than financial or accounting books and records
maintained by any custodian, transfer agent or accounting services agent); (ii)
overseeing the Trust's insurance relationships; (iii) preparing for the Fund (or
assisting counsel and/or auditors in the preparation of) all required tax
returns, proxy statements and reports to the Fund's shareholders and Trustees
and reports to and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and
any other governmental agency; (iv) preparing such applications and reports as
may be necessary to register or maintain the Fund's registration and/or the
registration of the shares of the Fund under the blue sky laws of the various
states; (v) responding to all inquiries or other communications of shareholders;
(vi) overseeing all relationships between the Trust and any custodian(s),
transfer agent(s) and accounting services agent(s); and (vii) authorizing and
directing any of the Administrator's directors, officers and employees who may
be elected as Trustees or officers of the Trust to serve in the capacities in
which they are elected. The Trust's Agreement with the Administrator contains
limitations on liability and indemnification provisions similar to those of the
Advisory Agreement described above. For its services to the Trust, the
Administrator receives a fee at the annual rate of 0.10% of the Fund's average
net assets, subject to a $60,000 annual minimum. During the fiscal year ended
October 31, 1996, the Administrator received a fee in the amount of $60,000 from
the Fund.
B-11
<PAGE>
DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS
As described in the prospectus, under the Distribution Plan adopted by
the Trustees with respect to the Class A and Class C Shares, the Fund pays the
Distributor monthly distribution fees at the annual rate of 0.25% of the average
daily net assets of the Class A shares and 0.75% of the average daily net assets
of the Class C shares of the Fund. During the fiscal year ended October 31,
1996, the Fund paid to the Distributor distribution fees aggregating $37,042 and
$82,666, for Class A Shares and Class C Shares of the Fund, respectively. Of the
fees paid, $22,225 and $11,385 were paid to dealers who sold Class A Shares and
Class C Shares of the Fund, respectively, and the balance was paid for
expenditures in connection with advertising and marketing. During the fiscal
year ended October 31, 1996, the Distributor also received gross sales charges
in connection with the sale of Class A Shares of the Fund in the amount of
$274,269, of which $243,873 was reallowed to selling dealers.
Among other things, the Fund's Plan provides that (1) the Distributor
will submit to the Trustees at least quarterly, and the Trustees will review,
reports regarding all amounts expended under the Plan and the purposes for which
such expenditures were made; (2) the Plan will continue in effect only so long
as it is approved at least annually, and any material amendment thereto is
approved, by the Trustees, including those Trustees who are not "interested
persons" of the Trust and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in
the Plan or any agreement related thereto, acting in person at a meeting called
for that purpose; (3) the Plan may be terminated at any time by such Trustees or
by a vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund; (4) payments by
the Fund under the Plan shall not be materially increased without the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the
relevant Class of the Fund; and (5) while the Plan remains in effect, the
selection and nomination of the Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the
Trust shall be committed to the discretion of such Trustees.
In reporting amounts expended under the Plan to the Trustees, the
Distributor will allocate expenses attributable to the sale of both Classes of
Fund shares to each Class based on the ratio of sales of shares of such Class to
the sales of both Classes of shares.
The Trust has also adopted a Shareholder Service Plan with respect to
the Class A and Class C Shares of the Fund, pursuant to which the Fund pays the
Distributor for expenses incurred in connection with non-distribution
shareholder services provided by the Distributor to securities broker-dealers
and other securities professionals ("Service Organizations") and/or beneficial
owners of the shares of the Fund, including, but not limited to, shareholder
servicing provided by the Distributor at facilities dedicated to the Fund,
provided that such shareholder servicing is not duplicative of the servicing
otherwise provided on behalf of the Fund.
Under the Plan, the Fund also reimburses the Distributor for fees paid
by the Distributor to Service Organizations (which may include the Distributor
itself) for the providing of support services to beneficial owners of shares of
the Fund ("Clients"). Such services may include, but are not limited to, (a)
establishing and maintaining accounts and records relating to Clients who invest
in the Fund; (b) aggregating and processing orders involving the shares of the
Fund; (c) processing dividend and other distribution payments from the Fund on
behalf of Clients; (d) providing information to Clients as to their ownership of
shares of the Fund or about other aspects of the operations of the Fund; (e)
preparing tax reports or forms on behalf of Clients; (f) forwarding
communications from the Fund to Clients; (g) assisting Clients in changing the
Fund's records as to their addresses, dividend options, account registrations or
other data; and (h) providing such other similar services as the Distributor may
reasonably request to the extent the Service Organization is permitted to do so
under applicable statutes, rules or regulations.
B-12
<PAGE>
The Fund reimburses the Distributor, for its services under the
Shareholder Service Plan, at an annual rate of 0.10% of the average daily net
assets of the Class A Shares and 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the
Class C Shares of the Fund. Payments to the Distributor may be discontinued, or
the rate amended, at any time by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, in its sole
discretion. The Plan provides that (1) the Distributor will report in writing at
least quarterly to the Trustees, and the Trustees will review, the amounts
expended under the Plan and the purposes for which such expenditures were made;
(2) the Plan will continue in effect only so long as it has been approved at
least annually, by the Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees who are
not "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust and who have
no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan, acting in
person at a meeting called for that purpose; and (3) the Plan may be terminated
at any time by a vote of a majority of such Trustees or by the vote of the
holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. The
amounts paid by the Fund to the Distributor under the Shareholder Service Plan
for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1996 aggregated $14,817 and $27,555 for
the Class A Shares and the Class C Shares, respectively.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE
In all purchases and sales of securities for the Fund, the primary
consideration is to obtain the most favorable price and execution available.
Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor determines which securities are
to be purchased and sold by the Fund and which broker-dealers are eligible to
execute portfolio transactions, subject to the instructions of and review by the
Trust's Board of Trustees.
Purchases of portfolio securities may be made directly from issuers or
from underwriters. Where possible, purchase and sale transactions are effected
through dealers (including banks) which specialize in the types of securities
which the Fund will be holding, unless better executions are available
elsewhere. Dealers and underwriters usually act as principals for their own
accounts. Purchases from underwriters include a commission paid by the issuer to
the underwriter and purchases from dealers include the spread between the bid
and the asked price.
In placing portfolio transactions, the Advisor uses its best efforts to
choose a broker-dealer capable of providing the services necessary to obtain the
most favorable price and execution available. The full range and quality of
services available are considered in making these determinations, such as the
size of the order, the difficulty of execution, the operational facilities of
the firm involved, the firm's risk in positioning a block of securities, and
other factors.
In those instances where it is reasonably determined that more than one
broker-dealer can offer the services needed to obtain the most favorable price
and execution available and the transaction involves a brokerage commission,
consideration may be given to those broker-dealers which furnish or supply
research and statistical information to the Advisor that it may lawfully and
appropriately use in its investment advisory capacity for the Fund and for other
accounts, as well as provide other services in addition to execution services.
The Advisor considers such information, which is in addition to, and not in lieu
of, the services required to be performed by it under the Agreement, to be
useful in varying degrees, but of indeterminable value. The Board of Trustees
reviews brokerage allocations where services other than best price/execution
capabilities are a factor to ensure that the other services provided meet the
tests outlined above and produce a benefit to the Fund. Brokerage commissions
paid by the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 1996 aggregated
$99,789, all of which was paid to brokers which provided research to the
Advisor.
The placement of portfolio transactions with broker-dealers who sell
shares of the Fund is subject to rules adopted by the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD"). Provided
B-13
<PAGE>
the Trust's officers are satisfied that the Fund is receiving the most favorable
price and execution available, the Advisor may also consider the sale of the
Fund's shares as a factor in the selection of broker-dealers to execute its
portfolio transactions.
Investment decisions for the Fund and the other series of the Trust are
made independently from those of other client accounts of the Advisor.
Nevertheless, it is possible that at times the same securities will be
acceptable for the Fund and for one or more of such client accounts. To the
extent any of these client accounts and the Fund seek to acquire the same
security at the same time, the Fund may not be able to acquire as large a
portion of such security as it desires, or it may have to pay a higher price or
obtain a lower yield for such security. Similarly, the Fund may not be able to
obtain as high a price for, or as large an execution of, an order to sell any
particular security at the same time. If one or more of such client accounts
simultaneously purchases or sells the same security that the Fund is purchasing
or selling, each day's transactions in such security will be allocated between
the Fund and all such client accounts in a manner deemed equitable by the
Advisor, taking into account the respective sizes of the accounts, the amount
being purchased or sold and other factors deemed relevant by the Advisor. It is
recognized that in some cases this system could have a detrimental effect on the
price or value of the security insofar as the Fund is concerned. In other cases,
however, it is believed that the ability of the Fund to participate in volume
transactions may produce better executions for the Fund.
The Fund does not effect securities transactions through broker-dealers
in accordance with any formula, nor does it effect securities transactions
through such broker-dealers solely for selling shares of the Fund. However, as
stated above, broker-dealers who execute transactions for the Fund may from time
to time effect purchases of shares of the Fund for their customers.
NET ASSET VALUE
The net asset value of the Fund's shares will fluctuate and is
determined as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (normally
4:00 p.m. Eastern time) each business day. The Exchange annually announces the
days on which it will not be open for trading. The most recent announcement
indicates that it will not be open on the following days: New Year's Day,
Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day,
Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. However, the Exchange may close on days not
included in that announcement.
Options and futures contracts which are traded on exchanges are valued
at their last sale or settlement price as of the close of such exchanges or, if
no sales are reported, at the mean between the last reported bid and asked
prices. However, if an exchange closes later than the New York Stock Exchange,
the options or futures traded on it are valued based on the sales price, or the
mean between bid and asked prices, as the case may be, as of the close of the
New York Stock Exchange.
Trading in securities in foreign securities markets is normally
completed well before the close of the New York Stock Exchange. In addition,
foreign securities trading may not take place on all days on which the New York
Stock Exchange is open for trading, and may occur in certain foreign markets on
days on which the Fund's net asset value is not calculated. Events affecting the
values of portfolio securities that occur between the time their prices are
determined and the close of the New York Stock Exchange will not be reflected in
the calculation of net asset value unless the Board of Trustees deems that the
particular event would materially affect net asset value, in which case an
adjustment will be made. Assets or liabilities expressed in foreign currencies
are translated, in determining net asset value, into U.S. dollars based on the
spot exchange rates at 1:00 p.m., Eastern time, or at such other rates as the
Advisor may determine to be appropriate.
B-14
<PAGE>
The Fund may use a pricing service approved by the Board of Trustees.
Prices provided by such a service represent evaluations of the mean between
current bid and asked prices, may be determined without exclusive reliance on
quoted prices, and may reflect appropriate factors such as institution-size
trading in similar groups of securities, yield, quality, coupon rate, maturity,
type of issue, individual trading characteristics, indications of values from
dealers and other market data. Such services also may use electronic data
processing techniques and/or a matrix system to determine valuations.
Securities and other assets for which market quotations are not readily
available, or for which the Board of Trustees or its designate determines the
foregoing methods do not accurately reflect current market value, are valued at
fair value as determined in good faith by or under the direction of the Board of
Trustees. Such valuations and procedures, as well as any pricing services, are
reviewed periodically by the Board of Trustees.
REDEMPTIONS
The Fund intends to pay cash (U.S. dollars) for all shares redeemed,
but, under abnormal conditions which make payment in cash unwise, the Fund may
make payment partly in readily marketable securities with a current market value
equal to the redemption price. Although the Fund does not anticipate that it
will make any part of a redemption payment in securities, if such payment were
made, an investor may incur brokerage costs in converting such securities to
cash. The Trust has elected to be governed by the provisions of Rule 18f-1 under
the 1940 Act, which commits the Fund to paying redemptions in cash, limited in
amount with respect to each shareholder during any 90-day period to the lesser
of $250,000 or 1% of the Fund's total net assets at the beginning of such 90-day
period.
TAXATION
The Fund qualified for treatment as a regulated investment company
("RIC") under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code") during its
last fiscal year, and the Fund intends to do so in the future. In each taxable
year that the Fund qualifies, the Fund (but not its shareholders) will be
relieved of federal income tax on that part of its investment company taxable
income (consisting generally of interest and dividend income, net short-term
capital gain and net realized gains from currency transactions) and net capital
gain that is distributed to shareholders.
In order to qualify for treatment as a RIC, the Fund must distribute
annually to shareholders at least 90% of its investment company taxable income
and must meet several additional requirements. Among these requirements are the
following: (1) at least 90% of the Fund's gross income each taxable year must be
derived from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans and
gains from the sale or other disposition of securities or foreign currencies, or
other income derived with respect to its business of investing in securities or
currencies; (2) less than 30% of the Fund's gross income each taxable year may
be derived from the sale or other disposition of securities held for less than
three months; (3) at the close of each quarter of the Fund's taxable year, at
least 50% of the value of its total assets must be represented by cash and cash
items, U.S. Government securities, securities of other RICs and other
securities, limited in respect of any one issuer to an amount that does not
exceed 5% of the value of the Fund and that does not represent more than 10% of
the outstanding voting securities of such issuer; and (4) at the close of each
quarter of the Fund's taxable year, not more than 25% of the value of its assets
may be invested in securities (other than U.S. Government securities or the
securities of other RICs) of any one issuer.
B-15
<PAGE>
The Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax to the extent
it fails to distribute by the end of any calendar year substantially all of its
ordinary income for that year and capital gain net income for the one-year
period ending on October 31 of that year, plus certain other amounts.
Dividends and interest received by the Fund may give rise to
withholding and other taxes imposed by foreign countries. Tax conventions
between certain countries and the U.S. may reduce or eliminate such taxes.
Shareholders may be able to claim U.S. foreign tax credits with respect to such
taxes, subject to provisions and limitations contained in the Code. For example,
certain retirement accounts cannot claim foreign tax credits on investments in
foreign securities held by the Fund. If more than 50% in value of the Fund's
total assets at the close of its taxable year consists of securities of foreign
corporations, the Fund will be eligible, and intends, to file an election with
the Internal Revenue Service pursuant to which shareholders of the Fund will be
required to include their proportionate share of such withholding taxes in the
U.S. income tax returns as gross income, treat such proportionate share as taxes
paid by them, and deduct such proportionate share in computing their taxable
incomes or, alternatively, use them as foreign tax credits against their U.S.
income taxes. No deductions for foreign taxes, however, may be claimed by
non-corporate shareholders who do not itemize deductions. A shareholder that is
a nonresident alien individual or foreign corporation may be subject to U.S.
withholding tax on the income resulting from the Fund's election described in
this paragraph but may not be able to claim a credit or deduction against such
U.S. tax for the foreign taxes treated as having been paid by such shareholder.
The Fund will report annually to its shareholders the amount per share of such
withholding taxes.
Many of the options, futures and forwards contracts used by the Fund
are "section 1256 contracts." Any gains or losses on section 1256 contracts are
generally treated as 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gains or losses
("60/40") although gains and losses from hedging transactions, certain mixed
straddles and certain foreign currency transactions from such contracts may be
treated as ordinary in character. Also section 1256 contracts held by the Fund
at the end of its fiscal year (and, for purposes of the 4% excise tax, on
certain other dates as prescribed under the Code) are "marked to market" with
the result that unrealized gains or losses are treated as though they were
realized, and the resulting gain or loss is treated as ordinary or 60/40 gain or
loss, depending on the circumstances.
Generally, the transactions in options, futures and forward contracts
undertaken by the Fund may result in "straddles" for federal income tax
purposes. The straddle rules may affect the character of gains or losses
realized by the Fund. In addition, losses realized on positions that are part of
a straddle may be deferred under the rules, rather than being taken into account
in the fiscal year in which the losses were realized. Because only a few
regulations implementing the straddle rules have been promulgated, the tax
consequences of transactions in options, futures and forward contracts are not
entirely clear. These transactions may increase the amount of short-term capital
gain realized by the Fund and taxed as ordinary income when distributed to
shareholders. The Fund may make certain elections available under the Code which
are applicable to straddles. If the Fund makes such elections, recognition of
gains or losses from certain straddle positions may be accelerated.
The tests which the Fund must meet to qualify as a RIC, described
above, may limit the extent to which the Fund will be able to engage in
transactions in options, futures contracts or forward contracts.
Under the Code, fluctuations in exchange rates which occur between the
dates various transactions are entered into or accrued and subsequently settled
may cause gains or losses, referred to as "section 988" gains or losses. Section
988 gains or losses may increase or decrease the amount of income taxable as
ordinary income distributed to shareholders.
B-16
<PAGE>
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Dividends from the Fund's investment company taxable income (whether
paid in cash or invested in additional shares) will be taxable to shareholders
as ordinary income to the extent of the Fund's earnings and profits.
Distributions of the Fund's net capital gain (whether paid in cash or invested
in additional shares) will be taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gain,
regardless of how long they have held their Fund shares. Dividends declared by
the Fund in October, November or December of any year and payable to
shareholders of record on a date in one of such months will be deemed to have
been paid by the Fund and received by the shareholders on the record date if the
dividends are paid by the Fund during the following January. Accordingly, such
dividends will be taxed to shareholders for the year in which the record date
falls.
The Fund is required to withhold 31% of all dividends, capital gain
distributions and repurchase proceeds payable to any individuals and certain
other noncorporate shareholders who do not provide the Fund with a correct
taxpayer identification number. The Fund also is required to withhold 31% of all
dividends and capital gain distributions paid to such shareholders who otherwise
are subject to backup withholding.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
Total Return
Average annual total return quotations used in the Fund's advertising
and promotional materials are calculated according to the following formula:
n
P(1 + T) = ERV
where P equals a hypothetical initial payment of $1000; T equals average annual
total return; n equals the number of years; and ERV equals the ending redeemable
value at the end of the period of a hypothetical $1000 payment made at the
beginning of the period.
The time periods used in advertising will be updated to the last day of
the most recent quarter prior to submission of the advertising for publication.
Average annual total return, or "T" in the above formula, is computed by finding
the average annual compounded rates of return over the period that would equate
the initial amount invested to the ending redeemable value. Average annual total
return assumes the reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. Any
performance information used in advertising and sales literature will include
information based on this formula for the most recent one, five and ten year
periods, or for the life of the Fund, whichever is available.
Other Information
Performance data of the Fund quoted in advertising and other
promotional materials represents past performance and is not intended to predict
or indicate future results. The return and principal value of an investment in
the Fund will fluctuate, and an investor's redemption proceeds may be more or
less than the original investment amount. In advertising and promotional
materials the Fund may compare its performance with data published by Lipper
Analytical Services, Inc. ("Lipper"), Morningstar, Inc. ("Morningstar") or CDA
Investment Technologies, Inc.("CDA").The Fund also may refer in such materials
to mutual fund performance rankings and other data, such as comparative asset,
expense and fee levels, published by Lipper, CDA or Morningstar. Advertising and
promotional materials also may refer to discussions of the Fund and comparative
mutual fund data and ratings reported in independent periodicals including, but
not limited to, The Wall Street Journal, Money Magazine, Forbes, Business Week,
Financial World and Barron's.
B-17
<PAGE>
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Fund might determine to allocate certain of its expenses (in
addition to distribution fees) to the specific classes of the Fund's shares to
which those expenses are attributable. For example, Class C shares may bear
higher transfer agency fees per shareholder account than those borne by Class A
shares. The higher fee is imposed due to the higher costs incurred by the
Transfer Agent in tracking shares subject to a contingent deferred sales charge.
The specific extent to which such fees may differ between the Classes as a
percentage of net assets is not certain because fees will be affected by the
number of accounts and relative amounts of net assets in each Class.
The Trust's custodian, Investors Bank & Trust Company, is responsible
for holding the Fund's assets and also acts as the Fund's accounting services
agent. Rodney Square Management Corporation acts as the Fund's transfer agent.
The Trust's independent accountants, Ernst & Young, LLP, examine the Fund's
financial statements annually and prepare the Fund's tax returns.
The Trust's Declaration of Trust provides that obligations of the Trust
are not binding on the Trustees, officers, employees and agents individually and
that the Trustees, officers, employees and agents will not be liable to the
Trust or its investors for any action or failure to act, but nothing in the
Declaration of Trust protects a Trustee, officer, employee or agent against any
liability to the Trust, the Fund or its investors to which the Trustee, officer,
employee or agent would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance,
bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties.
As of January 31, 1997 the following persons owned more than 5% of the
Fund's outstanding Class A Shares: Dreyfus Trust Company, Trustee for Brown
Profit Sharing Plan, 144 Glenn Curtis Boulevard, Uniondale, New York. No person
owned more than 5% of the outstanding Class C Shares at January 31, 1997. The
Class A Shares owned by the Trustees and officers as a group amounted to 5.81%
of the outstanding shares; the Class C Shares owned by such Trustees and
officers as a group amounted to less than 1% of the outstanding shares.
The Trust's Registration Statement on Form N-1A may be examined at the
office of the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, DC. Statements
contained in the prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information as to
the contents of any contract or other document are not necessarily complete and,
in each instance, reference is made to the copy of such contract or document
filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, each such statement being
qualified in all respects by such reference.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The annual report to shareholders of the Fund for the fiscal year ended
October 31, 1996 is a separate document supplied with this Statement of
Additional Information and the financial statements, accompanying notes and
report of independent accountants appearing therein are incorporated by
reference in this Statement of Additional Information.
B-18
<PAGE>
APPENDIX
Description of Ratings
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.: Corporate Bond Ratings
Aaa--Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality and
carry the smallest degree of investment risk. 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.
Moody's applies numerical modifiers "1", "2" and "3" to both the Aaa
and Aa rating classifications. The modifier "1" indicates that the security
ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier "2"
indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier "3" indicates that the issue
ranks in the lower end of its generic rating category.
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 period of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment
characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as well.
Standard & Poor's Corporation: Corporate Bond Ratings
AAA--This is the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor's to a debt
obligation and indicates an extremely strong capacity to pay principal and
interest.
AA--Bonds rated AA also qualify as high-quality debt obligations.
Capacity to pay principal and interest is very strong, and in the majority of
instances they differ from AAA issues only in small degree.
A--Bonds rated A have a strong capacity to pay principal and interest,
although they are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in
circumstances and economic conditions.
BBB--Bonds rated BBB are regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay
principal and interest. Whereas they normally exhibit adequate protection
parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more
likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay principal and interest for bonds in
this category than for bonds in the A category.
Commercial Paper Ratings
Moody's commercial paper ratings are assessments of the issuer's
ability to repay punctually promissory obligations. Moody's employs the
following three designations, all judged to be investment grade, to indicate the
relative repayment capacity of rated issuers: Prime 1--highest quality; Prime
2--higher quality; Prime 3--high quality.
B-19
<PAGE>
A Standard & Poor's commercial paper rating is a current assessment of
the likelihood of timely payment. Ratings are graded into four categories,
ranging from "A" for the highest quality obligations to "D" for the lowest.
Issues assigned the highest rating, A, are regarded as having the
greatest capacity for timely payment. Issues in this category are delineated
with the numbers "1", "2" and "3" to indicate the relative degree of safety. The
designation A-1 indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely payment is
either overwhelming or very strong. A "+" designation is applied to those issues
rated "A- 1" which possess extremely strong safety characteristics. Capacity for
timely payment on issues with the designation "A-2" is strong. However, the
relative degree of safety is not as high as for issues designated A-1. Issues
carrying the designation "A-3" have a satisfactory capacity for timely payment.
They are, however, somewhat more vulnerable to the adverse effect of changes in
circumstances than obligations carrying the higher designations.
B-20
<PAGE>
PART C
OTHER INFORMATION
Item 24. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(a) Financial Statements:
The following financial statements are incorporated into Part
B of this Post-Effective Amendment by reference to the Annual
Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended October 31,
1996:
Portfolio of Investments as of October 31, 1996
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of October 31, 1996
Statement of Operations - November 1, 1995 to October 31, 1996
Statement of Changes in Net Assets - November 1, 1995 to
October 31, 1996
Financial Highlights
Notes to Financial Statements
Report of Independent Certified Public Accountants
(b) Exhibits:
The following exhibits are included with this Post-
Effective Amendment, except as noted:
(1) (I) Agreement and Declaration of Trust3
(ii) Amendment to Agreement and Declaration of
Trust3
(iii) Amendment to Agreement and Declaration of
Trust4
(2) By-Laws3
(3) Not applicable
(4) Specimen stock certificate4
(5) (I) Investment Advisory Agreement3
(ii) Investment Advisory Agreement relating to the
Brandes Small Cap International Fund3
(iii) Investment Advisory Agreement relating to the
Brandes Institutional International Fund
(6) (I) Distribution Agreement with First Fund
Distributors, Inc.1
(ii) Distribution Agreement with Worldwide
Value Distributors, Inc.3
(7) Not applicable
(8) Custodian Agreement6
(9) (I) Administration Agreement3
(ii) Transfer Agency Agreement5
(iii) Shareholder Service Plan3
(iv) Shareholder Service Plan relating to the
Brandes Small Cap International Fund3
(v) Multiple Class Plan3
(10) Opinion and consent of counsel4
(11) Consent of independent accountants4
(12) Not applicable
(13) Investment letter3
(14) Individual Retirement Account forms3
(15) (I) Distribution Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-13
(ii) Distribution Plan relating to the Brandes
Small Cap International Fund3
(16) Not applicable
(17) Financial Data Schedules
C-1
<PAGE>
1 Previously filed with the Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File
No. 33-81396), filed on July 11, 1994, and incorporated herein by reference.
2 Previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-81396), filed on August 31,
1995, and incorporated herein by reference.
3 Previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-81396), filed on January 9,
1996, and incorporated herein by reference.
4 Previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-81396), filed on February 7,
1996, and incorporated herein by reference.
5 To be filed by amendment
Item 25. Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with Registrant.
The Registrant does not control, nor is it under common control, with
any other person.
Item 26. Number of Holders of Securities.
As of December 31, 1996, the Brandes International Fund had 982 holders
of Class A shares and 1,059 holders of Class C shares.
Item 27. Indemnification.
Article VI of Registrant's By-Laws states as follows:
Section 1. AGENTS, PROCEEDINGS AND EXPENSES. For the purpose of this
Article, "agent" means any person who is or was a Trustee, officer, employee or
other agent of this Trust or is or was serving at the request of this Trust as a
Trustee, director, officer, employee or agent of another foreign or domestic
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise or was a
Trustee, director, officer, employee or agent of a foreign or domestic
corporation which was a predecessor of another enterprise at the request of such
predecessor entity; "proceeding" means any threatened, pending or completed
action or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative;
and "expenses" includes without limitation attorney's fees and any expenses of
establishing a right to indemnification under this Article.
Section 2. ACTIONS OTHER THAN BY TRUST. This Trust shall indemnify any
person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of this Trust) by reason of
the fact that such person is or was an agent of this Trust, against expenses,
judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred
in connection with such proceeding, if it is determined that person acted in
good faith and reasonably believed:
(a) in the case of conduct in his official capacity as a Trustee
of the Trust, that his conduct was in the Trust's best
interests, and
(b) in all other cases, that his conduct was at least not opposed
to the Trust's best interests, and
(c) in the case of a criminal proceeding, that he had no
reasonable cause to believe the conduct of that person was
unlawful.
C-2
<PAGE>
The termination of any proceeding by judgment, order, settlement,
conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not of
itself create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a
manner which the person reasonably believed to be in the best interests of this
Trust or that the person had reasonable cause to believe that the person's
conduct was unlawful.
Section 3. ACTIONS BY THE TRUST. This Trust shall indemnify any person
who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened,
pending or completed action by or in the right of this Trust to procure a
judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was an agent
of this Trust, against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by that person
in connection with the defense or settlement of that action if that person acted
in good faith, in a manner that person believed to be in the best interests of
this Trust and with such care, including reasonable inquiry, as an ordinarily
prudent person in a like position would use under similar circumstances.
Section 4. EXCLUSION OF INDEMNIFICATION. Notwithstanding any provision
to the contrary contained herein, there shall be no right to indemnification for
any liability arising by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross
negligence, or the reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of
the agent's office with this Trust.
No indemnification shall be made under Sections 2 or 3 of this Article:
(a) In respect of any claim, issue, or matter as to which that
person shall have been adjudged to be liable on the basis that
personal benefit was improperly received by him, whether or
not the benefit resulted from an action taken in the person's
official capacity; or
(b) In respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which that
person shall have been adjudged to be liable in the
performance of that person's duty to this Trust, unless and
only to the extent that the court in which that action was
brought shall determine upon application that in view of all
the circumstances of the case, that person was not liable by
reason of the disabling conduct set forth in the preceding
paragraph and is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity
for the expenses which the court shall determine; or
(c) of amounts paid in settling or otherwise disposing of a
threatened or pending action, with or without court approval,
or of expenses incurred in defending a threatened or pending
action which is settled or otherwise disposed of without court
approval, unless the required approval set forth in Section 6
of this Article is obtained.
Section 5. SUCCESSFUL DEFENSE BY AGENT. To the extent that an agent of
this Trust has been successful on the merits in defense of any proceeding
referred to in Sections 2 or 3 of this Article or in defense of any claim, issue
or matter therein, before the court or other body before whom the proceeding was
brought, the agent shall be indemnified against expenses actually and reasonably
incurred by the agent in connection therewith, provided that the Board of
Trustees, including a majority who are disinterested, non-party Trustees, also
determines that based upon a review of the facts, the agent was not liable by
reason of the disabling conduct referred to in Section 4 of this Article.
C-3
<PAGE>
Section 6. REQUIRED APPROVAL. Except as provided in Section 5 of this
Article, any indemnification under this Article shall be made by this Trust only
if authorized in the specific case on a determination that indemnification of
the agent is proper in the circumstances because the agent has met the
applicable standard of conduct set forth in Sections 2 or 3 of this Article and
is not prohibited from indemnification because of the disabling conduct set
forth in Section 4 of this Article, by:
(a) A majority vote of a quorum consisting of Trustees who are not
parties to the proceeding and are not interested persons of
the Trust (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940);
or
(b) A written opinion by an independent legal counsel.
Section 7. ADVANCE OF EXPENSES. Expenses incurred in defending any
proceeding may be advanced by this Trust before the final disposition of the
proceeding upon a written undertaking by or on behalf of the agent, to repay the
amount of the advance if it is ultimately determined that he or she is not
entitled to indemnification, together with at least one of the following as a
condition to the advance: (I) security for the undertaking; or (ii) the
existence of insurance protecting the Trust against losses arising by reason of
any lawful advances; or (iii) a determination by a majority of a quorum of
Trustees who are not parties to the proceeding and are not interested persons of
the Trust, or by an independent legal counsel in a written opinion, based on a
review of readily available facts that there is reason to believe that the agent
ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification. Determinations and
authorizations of payments under this Section must be made in the manner
specified in Section 6 of this Article for determining that the indemnification
is permissible.
Section 8. OTHER CONTRACTUAL RIGHTS. Nothing contained in this Article
shall affect any right to indemnification to which persons other than Trustees
and officers of this Trust or any subsidiary hereof may be entitled by contract
or otherwise.
Section 9. LIMITATIONS. No indemnification or advance shall be made
under this Article, except as provided in Sections 5 or 6 in any circumstances
where it appears:
(a) that it would be inconsistent with a provision of the
Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust, a resolution
of the shareholders, or an agreement in effect at the time of
accrual of the alleged cause of action asserted in the
proceeding in which the expenses were incurred or other
amounts were paid which prohibits or otherwise limits
indemnification; or
(b) that it would be inconsistent with any condition expressly
imposed by a court in approving a settlement.
Section 10. INSURANCE. Upon and in the event of a determination by the
Board of Trustees of this Trust to purchase such insurance, this Trust shall
purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any agent of this Trust against any
liability asserted against or incurred by the agent in such capacity or arising
out of the agent's status as such, but only to the extent that this Trust would
have the power to indemnify the agent against that liability under the
provisions of this Article and the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the
Trust.
C-4
<PAGE>
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of
Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, Registrant has
been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in that Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities (other than the payment by Registrant of expenses incurred or
paid by a trustee, officer or controlling person of Registrant in the successful
defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such trustee, officer
or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered,
Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been
settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction
the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as
expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.
Item 28. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser.
Brandes Investment Partners, L.P. is the investment advisor of the
Registrant. For information as to the business, profession, vocation or
employment of a substantial nature of Brandes Investment Partners, L.P. and
its officers, reference is made to Part B of this Registration Statement and
to the Form ADV filed under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 by Brandes
Investment Partners, L.P. (File No. 801-24896).
Item 29. Principal Underwriters.
(a) First Fund Distributors, Inc. also acts as principal underwriter
for the following investment companies:
Guinness Flight Investment Funds, Inc.
Hotchkis and Wiley Funds
Jurika & Voyles Fund Group
Kayne, Anderson Mutual Funds
PIC Investment Trust
Professionally Managed Portfolios
Rainier Investment Management Mutual Funds
RNC Liquid Assets Fund, Inc.
Worldwide Value Distributors, Inc. does not act as principal
underwriter for any other investment company.
(b) The following information is furnished with respect to the officers
and directors of First Fund Distributors, Inc.:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Position and Offices Position and
Name and Principal with Principal Offices with
Business Address Underwriter Registrant
- ------------------ -------------------- ------------
<S> <C> <C>
Robert H. Wadsworth President, Assistant
4455 E. Camelback Rd, Treasurer and Secretary
Suite 261E Director
Phoenix, AZ 85018
Steven J. Paggioli Vice President, Assistant
479 West 22nd Street Secretary and Secretary
New York, New York 10011 Director
</TABLE>
C-5
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Position and Offices Position and
Name and Principal with Principal Offices with
Business Address Underwriter Registrant
- ------------------ -------------------- ------------
<S> <C> <C>
Eric M. Banhazl Vice President Assistant
2025 E. Financial Way and Director Treasurer
Glendora, CA 91741
</TABLE>
The following information is furnished with respect to the officers and
directors of Worldwide Value Distributors, Inc.:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Position and Offices Position and
Name and Principal with Principal Offices with
Business Address Underwriter Registrant
- ------------------ -------------------- ------------
<S> <C> <C>
Barry P. O'Neil President President
12750 High Bluff Drive and
San Diego, CA 92130 Director
Betsy M. Blodgett Vice President, Vice President
121 Corte Ramon Secretary and
Greenbrae, CA 94904 Director
Richard D. Burritt Treasurer Assistant
4455 E. Camelback Road Treasurer
Phoenix, AZ 85018
</TABLE>
(C) Not applicable.
Item 30. Location of Accounts and Records.
The accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by
Registrant pursuant to Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and
the rules promulgated thereunder are in the possession of Registrant and
Registrant's Administrator and custodian, as follows: the documents required to
be maintained by paragraphs (5), (6), (7), (10) and (11) of Rule 31a-1(b) will
be maintained by the Registrant at 12750 High Bluff Drive, San Diego, CA 92130;
the documents required to be maintained by paragraph (4) of Rule 31a-1(b) will
be maintained by the Administrator at 4455 E. Camelback Road, Suite 261E,
Phoenix, AZ 85018, and all other records will be maintained by the Custodian at
89 South Street, Boston, MA 02111.
Item 31. Management Services.
Not applicable.
Item 32. Undertakings.
The Registrant undertakes, if requested to do so by the holders of at
least 10% of the Trust's outstanding shares, to call a meeting of shareholders
for the purposes of voting upon the question of removal of a director and will
assist in communications with other shareholders.
The Registrant undertakes, in the event the information required by
Item 5A is contained in an annual report to shareholders, to furnish a copy of
such latest report to shareholders to each person to whom a prospectus is
delivered, upon request and without charge.
C-6
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all the
requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement pursuant to Rule
485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this Amendment to
the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Brandes Investment Trust to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City of San
Diego and State of California on the 28th day of February, 1997.
BRANDES INVESTMENT TRUST
By Barry P. O'Neil
------------------------
Barry P. O'Neil
This Amendment to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Brandes
Investment Trust has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities indicated on February 28, 1997.
Barry P. O'Neil President and
- ------------------------------
Barry P. O'Neil Trustee
Charles H. Brandes Trustee
- ------------------------------
Charles H. Brandes
Dewill F. Bowman* Trustee
- ------------------------------
DeWitt F. Bowman
Gordon Clifford Broadhead* Trustee
- ------------------------------
Gordon Clifford Broadhead
Trustee
- ------------------------------
Joseph E. Coberly, Jr.
W. Daniel Larsen* Trustee
- ------------------------------
W. Daniel Larsen
Gregory S. Houck Treasurer and Principal
- ------------------------------
Gregory S. Houck Financial and Accounting
Officer
* Robert H. Wadsworth
-------------------
By: Robert H. Wadsworth
Attorney-in-fact
ERNST & YOUNG LLP {}515 South Flower Street {}Phone: 213 977 3200
Los Angeles, California 90071
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
To the Board of Trustees of
Brandes International Fund
We consent to the reference to our firm under the captions "Financial
Highlights" and "General Information" and to the use of our report dated
December 4, 1996, in Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A and related Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information of Brandes International Fund.
Ernst & Young LLP
Los Angeles, California
February 28, 1997
<TABLE> <S> <C>
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<CIK> 926678
<NAME> Brandes Investment Trust
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 01
<NAME> Brandes International Fund - Cass A
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<CURRENCY> U.S. Dollars
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> Oct-31-1996
<PERIOD-START> Nov-01-1995
<PERIOD-END> Oct-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE> 1
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 30,334
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 30,933
<RECEIVABLES> 377
<ASSETS-OTHER> 88
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 452
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 31,850
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 398
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 145
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 543
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 29,343
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 1,133
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 392
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 287
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 1,078
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 599
<NET-ASSETS> 16,777
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 673
<INTEREST-INCOME> 171
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 550
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 294
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1,078
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 757
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 2,129
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 54
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 2,086
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 1,347
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 2
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 20,369
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 46
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 259
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 828
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 14,846
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 13.26
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.23
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.99
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.33)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 14.81
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.85
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
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<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 926678
<NAME> Brandes Investment Trust
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 02
<NAME> Brandes International Fund - Cass C
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<CURRENCY> U.S. Dollars
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> Oct-31-1996
<PERIOD-START> Nov-01-1995
<PERIOD-END> Oct-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE> 1
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 30,334
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 30,933
<RECEIVABLES> 377
<ASSETS-OTHER> 88
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 452
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 31,850
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 398
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 145
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 543
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 29,343
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 990
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 435
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 287
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 1,078
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
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<NET-ASSETS> 16,777
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 673
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<OTHER-INCOME> 0
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<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 294
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1,078
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 757
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 2,129
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 54
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 657
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 104
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 2
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 20,369
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<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
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<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
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<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 11,042
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 13.22
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.09
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.92
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.45)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
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<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 14.68
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 2.50
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
