Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 1, 2000
1933 Act Registration File No.33-84762
1940 Act File No. 811-8648
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Pre-Effective Amendment No. / /
-----
Post-Effective Amendment No. 12 /x/
and
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
Amendment No 13 /x/
WT MUTUAL FUND
--------------
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, DE 19890
----------------------------------------------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code: (800) 254-3948
Robert J. Christian, President Copy to:
Wilmington Trust Company Joseph V. Del Raso, Esq.
1100 North Market Street Pepper Hamilton LLP
Wilmington, DE 19890 3000 Two Logan Square
(Name and Address of Agent for Service) Philadelphia, PA 19103
It is proposed that this filing will become effective
/x/ immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
/ / on November 1, 2000 pursuant to paragraph (b)
/ / 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
/ / on November 1, 2000 pursuant to paragraph (a)
/ / 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
/ / on November 1, 2000 pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) 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.
<PAGE>
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
[WILMINGTON FUNDS LOGO]
WILMINTON FUNDS
EQUITY PORTFOLIOS
TRUSTEES
Robert H. Arnold
Eric Brucker
Robert J. Christian
Louis Klein Jr.
Nicholas A. Giordano
Clement C. Moore, II
John J. Quindlen
William P. Richards
-----------------------
OFFICERS
Robert J. Christian, President
Eric Cheung, Vice President
Gary M. Gardner, Secretary
Pat Colletti, Treasurer
-----------------------
INVESTMENT ADVISER
Wilmington Trust Company
Rodney Square North
1100 North Market Street
Wilmington, DE 19890
Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, LLC
707 Westchester Avenue
White Plains, NY 10640
Roxbury Capital Management, LLC
100 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 600
Santa Monica, CA90401
-----------------------
CUSTODIAN
Wilmington Trust Company
Rodney Square North
1100 North Market Street
Wilmington, DE 19890
-----------------------
DISTRIBUTOR
Provident Distributors, Inc.
3200 Horizon Drive
King of Prussia,PA 19406
-----------------------
ADMINISTRATOR,
TRANSFER AGENT AND
ACCOUNTING AGENT
PFPC Inc.
400 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809Prospectus
-----------------------
PROSPECTUS
WEP-Pros-11/00 November 1, 2000
<PAGE>
THE WILMINGTON LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON LARGE CAP CORE PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON SMALL CAP CORE PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON INTERNATIONAL MULTI-MANAGER PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON LARGE CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON SMALL CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO
OF WT MUTUAL FUND
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROSPECTUS DATED NOVEMBER 1, 2000
This prospectus gives vital information about these mutual funds, including
information on investment policies, risks and fees. For your own benefit and
protection, please read it before you invest, and keep it on hand for future
reference.
Please note that these Portfolios:
(BULLET) are not bank deposits
(BULLET) are not obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed by Wilmington
Trust Company or any of its affiliates
(BULLET) are not federally insured
(BULLET) are not obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed or otherwise
supported by the U.S. Government, the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other governmental
agency
(BULLET) are not guaranteed to achieve their goal(s)
Like all mutual fund shares, these securities have not been approved or
disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission nor has the Securities and
Exchange Commission determined whether this prospectus is accurate or complete.
Anyone who tells you otherwise is committing a crime.
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PORTFOLIO DESCRIPTIONS
A LOOK AT THE GOALS, STRATEGIES, Summary ............................ 3
RISKS, EXPENSES AND FINANCIAL Performance Information ............ 6
HISTORY OF EACH PORTFOLIO. Fees and Expenses .................. 13
Investment Objectives .............. 14
Primary Investment Strategies ...... 15
Additional Risk Information ........ 22
Financial Highlights ............... 24
MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIO
DETAILS ABOUT THE SERVICE Investment Adviser ................. 29
PROVIDERS. Portfolio Managers ................. 30
Sub-Advisers ....................... 31
Service Providers .................. 33
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
POLICIES AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR Pricing of Shares .................. 34
OPENING, MAINTAINING AND Purchase of Shares ................. 34
CLOSING AN ACCOUNT IN ANY OF Redemption of Shares ............... 36
THE PORTFOLIOS. Exchange of Shares ................. 38
Distributions ...................... 39
Taxes .............................. 39
DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS
DETAILS ON THE PORTFOLIOS' Master/Feeder Structure ............ 40
MASTER/FEEDER ARRANGEMENTS. Share Classes ...................... 40
FOR MORE INFORMATION .................... 41
For information about key terms and concepts, look for our "PLAIN TALK"
explanations.
2
<PAGE>
THE WILMINGTON LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON LARGE CAP CORE PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON SMALL CAP CORE PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON INTERNATIONAL MULTI-MANAGER PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON LARGE CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON SMALL CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PORTFOLIO DESCRIPTIONS
PLAIN TALK
========================================================================
WHAT IS A MUTUAL FUND?
A mutual fund pools shareholders' money and, using a professional
investment manager, invests it in securities like stocks and bonds. Each
Portfolio is a separate mutual fund.
========================================================================
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLAIN TALK
========================================================================
WHAT IS "CAP"?
Cap or the market capitalization of a company means the value of the
company's common stock in the stock market.
========================================================================
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Objective (BULLET) The Large Cap Growth Portfolio and the Small Cap
Core Portfolio each seek superior long-term
growth of capital.
(BULLET) The Large Cap Core Portfolio, the Large Cap Value
Portfolio, the Mid Cap Value Portfolio and the
Small Cap Value Portfolio each seek to achieve
long-term capital appreciation.
(BULLET) The International Multi-Manager Portfolio seeks
superior long-term capital appreciation.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Focus (BULLET) Equity (or related) securities
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share Price Volatility(BULLET) Moderate to high
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3
<PAGE>
Principal Investment (BULLET) Each Portfolio operates as a "feeder fund" which
Strategy means that the Portfolio does not buy Strategy
individual securities directly. Instead, it
invests in a corresponding mutual fund or "master
fund," which in turn purchases investment
securities. The Portfolios invest all of their
assets in master funds which are separate series
of WT Investment Trust I. Each Portfolio and its
corresponding Series have the same investment
objective, policies and limitations.
(BULLET) The LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO invests in the WT
Large Cap Growth Series, which invests at least
65% of its total assets in a diversified
portfolio of U.S. equity (or related) securities
of corporations with a market cap of $2 billion
or more, which have above average earnings
potential compared to the securities market as a
whole. The Series' adviser purchases stocks it
believes exhibit consistent, above-average
earnings growth, superior quality and attractive
risk/reward characteristics. The adviser analyzes
the stocks of over 2000 companies using a
bottom-up approach to search for high quality
companies which are growing at about double the
market's average rate. The adviser generally
sells stocks when the risk/rewards of a stock
turn negative, when company fundamentals
deteriorate, and when a stock under performs the
market or its peer group.
(BULLET) The LARGE CAP CORE PORTFOLIO invests in the Large
Cap Core Series, which invests at least 65% of
its total assets, under normal conditions,
primarily in a diversified portfolio of U.S.
equity (or related) securities of medium and
large cap corporations. The Series' investment
adviser employs a combined growth and value
investment approach and invests in the stocks of
companies with the most attractive combination of
long-term earnings, growth and valuation.
(BULLET) The SMALL CAP CORE PORTFOLIO invests in the Small
Cap Core Series, which invests at least 65% of
its total assets in a diversified portfolio of
U.S. equity (or related) securities with a market
cap which at the time of purchase is less than
that of the largest stock in the Russell 2000
Index. The Series' investment adviser employs a
combined growth and value investment approach and
invests in the stocks of companies with the most
attractive combination of long-term earnings,
growth and valuation.
(BULLET) The INTERNATIONAL MULTI-MANAGER PORTFOLIO invests
in the International Multi-Manager Series, which
invests at least 85% of its total assets in a
diversified portfolio of equity (or related)
securities of foreign issuers. The Series'
adviser allocates the Series' assets among three
sub-advisers; the sub-advisers select stocks to
be purchased or sold by the Series based upon
fundamental research, country and trend analysis
and whether the stocks are undervalued or have
above average growth potential.
(BULLET) The LARGE CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO invests in the
Large Cap Value Series, which invests at least
65% of its total assets in a diversified
portfolio of U.S. equity (or related) securities
with a market cap of $10 billion or higher at the
time of purchase. The Series invests in
securities believed to be undervalued as compared
to the company's potential profitability, and
invests in stocks which are ignored by financial
analysts. The Series' adviser looks for companies
facing dynamic changes such as merger or
acquisition, restructuring, change of management,
or other type of change in operation, financing
or management. The Series' adviser sets valuation
parameters using relative ratios and target
prices. The adviser seeks stocks believed to have
a greater upside potential than
4
<PAGE>
downside risk over an 18 to 24 month holding
period. The Series' adviser sells a stock when
its target price has been reached, and when
company fundamentals do not change within the
stock holding period to bring the stock to its
target price.
(BULLET) The MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO invests in the Mid
Cap Value Series, which invests at least 65% of
its total assets in a diversified portfolio of
U.S. equity (or related) securities with a market
cap between $1 and $10 billion at the time of
purchase. The Series invests in securities
believed to be undervalued as compared to the
company's potential profitability. The Series'
adviser buys and sells stocks based upon the same
considerations described above for Large Cap
Value Portfolio.
(BULLET) The SMALL CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO invests in the
Small Cap Value Series, which invests at least
65% of its total assets in a diversified
portfolio of U.S. equity (or related) securities
with a market cap of $1 billion or less at the
time of purchase. The Series invests in
securities believed to be undervalued as compared
to the company's potential profitability. The
Series' adviser buys and sells stocks based upon
the same considerations described above for Large
Cap Value Portfolio.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Principal Risks The Portfolios are subject to the risks summarized below
which are further described under "Additional Risk
Information."
(BULLET) An investment in a Portfolio is not a deposit of
Wilmington Trust Company or any of its affiliates
and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other
government agency.
(BULLET) It is possible to lose money by investing in a
Portfolio.
(BULLET) A Portfolio's share price will fluctuate in
response to changes in the market value of the
Portfolio's investments. Market value changes
result from business developments affecting an
issuer as well as general market and economic
conditions.
(BULLET) Small cap companies may be more vulnerable than
larger companies to adverse business or economic
developments, and their securities may be less
liquid and more volatile than securities of
larger companies.
(BULLET) The International Multi-Manager Portfolio is
subject to foreign security risk and the risk of
losses caused by changes in foreign currency
exchange rates.
(BULLET) Growth-oriented investments may be more volatile
than the rest of the U.S. stock market as a
whole.
(BULLET) A value-oriented investment approach is subject
to the risk that a security believed to be
undervalued does not appreciate in value as
anticipated.
(BULLET) The performance of a Portfolio will depend on
whether or not the adviser or sub-adviser is
successful in pursuing an investment strategy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investor Profile (BULLET) Investors who want the value of their investment
to grow and who are willing to accept more
volatility for the possibility of higher returns.
5
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WILMINGTON LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO
The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and
volatility of an investment in the Portfolio. Total Return would have been lower
had certain fees and expenses not been voluntarily waived and/or reimbursed. Of
course, the past performance does not necessarily indicate how the Portfolio
will perform in the future.
ANNUAL RETURNS FOR THE PAST 10 CALENDAR YEARS
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
[EDGAR REPRESENTATION OF DATA POINTS IN PRINTED GRAPHIC]
PERFORMANCE
YEARS RETURNS
----------- -------
1990 -7.15%
1991 41.54
1992 5.95
1993 14.57
1994 -0.23
1995 28.43
1996 24.25
1997 27.50
1998 23.58
1999 48.10
2000 Total Return as of September 30: -3.91%
THIS BAR CHART SHOWS CHANGES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO'S
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES FROM CALENDAR YEAR TO CALENDAR YEAR.
BEST QUARTER WORST QUARTER
------------ -------------
41.39% -17.12%
(December 31, 1999) (September 30, 1990)
PLAIN TALK
========================================================================
WHAT IS AN INDEX?
An index is a broad measure of the market performance of a specific
group of securities in a particular market, or securities in a market
sector. You cannot invest directly in an index. An index does not have
an investment adviser and does not pay any commissions or expenses. If
an index had expenses, its performance would be lower.
========================================================================
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/99 1 YEAR 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
------------------------------------- ------- ------- --------
Large Cap Growth Portfolio 48.10% 30.08% 19.48%
Russell 1000 Growth Index* 33.16% 32.42% 20.32%
S&P 500 Index 21.04% --% --%
* THE RUSSELL 1000 GROWTH INDEX IS FORMED BY ASSIGNING A STYLE COMPOSITE SCORE
TO ALL OF THE COMPANIES IN THE RUSSELL 1000 INDEX, A PASSIVE INDEX THAT
INCLUDES THE LARGEST 1,000 STOCKS IN THE U.S. AS MEASURED BY MARKET
CAPITALIZATION, TO DETERMINE THEIR GROWTH OR VALUE CHARACTERISTICS.
APPROXIMATELY 70% OF THE STOCKS ARE PLACED IN EITHER A GROWTH OR VALUE INDEX.
THE REMAINING STOCKS ARE PLACED IN BOTH INDICES WITH A WEIGHT PROPORTIONAL TO
THEIR GROWTH OR VALUE CHARACTERISTICS. PREVIOUSLY, THE FUND USED THE S&P 500
INDEX AS ITS PERFORMANCE BENCHMARK. HOWEVER, THE FUND'S INVESTMENT ADVISOR
HAS DETERMINED THAT COMPARING THE FUND'S PERFORMANCE TO THE RUSSELL 1000
GROWTH INDEX MAY BE A MORE APPROPRIATE INDICATOR OF THE FUND'S PERFORMANCE IN
LIGHT OF THE FUND'S PORTFOLIO INVESTMENTS AND INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE.
6
<PAGE>
PLAIN TALK
========================================================================
WHAT IS TOTAL RETURN?
Total return is a measure of the per-share change in the total value of
a fund's portfolio, including any distributions paid to you. It is
measured from the beginning to the end of a specific time period.
========================================================================
WILMINGTON LARGE CAP CORE PORTFOLIO
The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and
volatility of an investment in the Portfolio. Total Return would have been lower
had certain fees and expenses not been voluntarily waived and/or reimbursed. Of
course, past performance does not necessarily indicate how the Portfolio will
perform in the future.
ANNUAL RETURNS SINCE INCEPTION
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
[EDGAR REPRESENTATION OF DATA POINTS USED IN PRINTED GRAPHIC]
PERFORMANCE
YEARS RETURNS
----------- -------
1996 16.56%
1997 25.13
1998 29.66
1999 22.41
2000 Total Return as of September 30: -2.03%
THIS BAR CHART SHOWS CHANGES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO'S
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES FROM CALENDAR YEAR TO CALENDAR YEAR.
BEST QUARTER WORST QUARTER
------------ -------------
21.62% -9.56%
(December 31, 1998) (September 30, 1998)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/99 1 YEAR SINCE INCEPTION (JANUARY 5, 1995)
---------------------------------- ------ ---------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Large Cap Core Portfolio 22.41% 23.99%
S&P 500 Index* 21.04% 28.43%
</TABLE>
* THE S&P 500 INDEX IS THE STANDARD AND POOR'S COMPOSITE INDEX OF 500 STOCKS, A
WIDELY RECOGNIZED, UNMANAGED INDEX OF COMMON STOCK PRICES.
7
<PAGE>
WILMINGTON SMALL CAP CORE PORTFOLIO
The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and
volatility of an investment in the Portfolio and its predecessor the Small Cap
Stock Fund, a collective investment fund. The Small Cap Stock Fund's performance
has been included for the periods prior to July 1, 1998 and has been adjusted to
reflect the annual deduction of fees and expenses applicable to shares of the
Small Cap Equity Portfolio (i.e. adjusted to reflect anticipated expenses,
absent investment advisory fees waivers). The Small Cap Stock Fund was not
registered as a mutual fund under Investment Company Act of 1940 and therefore
was not subject to certain investment restrictions, limitations and
diversification requirements imposed by the 1940 Act and the Internal Revenue
Service Code. If the Small Cap Stock Fund had been registered under the 1940
Act, its performance may have been different. Total Return would have been lower
had certain fees and expenses not been voluntarily waived and/or reimbursed. Of
course, past performance does not necessarily indicate how the Portfolio will
perform in the future.
ANNUAL RETURNS SINCE INCEPTION
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
[EDGAR REPRESENTATION OF DATA POINTS USED IN PRINTED GRAPHIC]
PERFORMANCE
YEARS RETURNS
----------- -------
1998 -2.32%
1999 21.86
2000 Total Return as of September 30: 17.52%
THIS BAR CHART SHOWS CHANGES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO'S
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES FROM CALENDAR YEAR TO CALENDAR YEAR.
BEST QUARTER WORST QUARTER
------------ -------------
22.77% -17.92%
(December 31, 1999) (June 30, 1998)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/99 1 YEAR SINCE INCEPTION (APRIL 1, 1997)
------------------------------------- ------ ------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Small Cap Core Portfolio 21.86% 19.00%
Russell 2000 Index* 21.26% 16.58%
</TABLE>
* THE RUSSELL 2000 INDEX MEASURES THE PERFORMANCE OF THE 2,000 SMALLEST
COMPANIES IN THE RUSSELL 3000 INDEX, WHICH REPRESENTS APPROXIMATELY 8% OF THE
TOTAL MARKET CAPITALIZATION OF THE RUSSELL 3000 INDEX. THE RUSSELL 3000 INDEX
MEASURES THE PERFORMANCE OF THE 3,000 LARGEST U.S. COMPANIES BASED ON MARKET
CAPITALIZATION. THE INDEX IS UNMANAGED AND REFLECTS THE REINVESTMENT OF
DIVIDENDS.
8
<PAGE>
WILMINGTON INTERNATIONAL MULTI-MANAGER PORTFOLIO
The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and
volatility of an investment in the Portfolio and its predecessor the
International Stock Fund, a collective investment fund. The International Stock
Fund's performance has been included for periods prior to July 1, 1998 and has
been adjusted to reflect the annual deduction of fees and expenses applicable to
shares of the International Equity Portfolio (i.e. adjusted to reflect
anticipated expenses, absent investment advisory fees waivers). The
International Stock Fund was not registered as a mutual fund under the 1940 Act
and therefore was not subject to certain investment restrictions, limitations
and diversification requirements imposed by the 1940 Act and the Internal
Revenue Code. If the International Stock Fund had been registered under the 1940
Act, its performance may have been different. Total Return would have been lower
had certain fees and expenses not been voluntarily waived and/or reimbursed. Of
course, the past performance does not necessarily indicate how the Portfolio
will perform in the future.
ANNUAL RETURNS FOR THE PAST 10 CALENDAR YEARS
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
[EDGAR REPRESENTATION OF DATA POINTS USED IN PRINTED GRAPHIC]
PERFORMANCE
YEARS RETURNS
----------- -------
1990 -15.39%
1991 14.63
1992 -0.19
1993 42.64
1994 -1.36
1995 7.30
1996 8.60
1997 3.43
1998 13.48
1999 41.72
2000 Total Return as of September 30: -13.75%
THIS BAR CHART SHOWS CHANGES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO'S
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES FROM CALENDAR YEAR TO CALENDAR YEAR
BEST QUARTER WORST QUARTER
------------ -------------
30.08% -22.76%
(December 31, 1999) (September 30, 1990)
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/99 1 YEAR 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
------------------------------------- ------ ------- --------
International Multi-Manager Portfolio 41.72% 14.15% 10.20%
Morgan Stanley Capital International Europe,
Australasia and Far East Index (MSCI EAFE)* 26.96% 12.83% 7.33%
* THE MSCI EAFE INDEX IS AN UNMANAGED INDEX COMPRISED OF STOCKS OF
APPROXIMATELY 1,100 COMPANIES LISTED ON MAJOR STOCK EXCHANGES IN EUROPE,
AUSTRALASIA AND THE FAR EAST.
9
<PAGE>
WILMINGTON LARGE CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO
The chart below shows the changes in annual total returns of complete calendar
years for the Portfolio, which commenced operations on June 29, 1998, and for
its predecessor the Value Stock Fund, a collective instrument fund, whose assets
were transferred into the Portfolio on June 29, 1998. The information shows you
how the Portfolio's performance has varied year by year and provides some
indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The Value Stock Fund's
performance has been adjusted to reflect the annual deduction of fees and
expenses applicable to shares of the Portfolio (i.e., adjusted to reflect
anticipated expenses, absent investment advisory fees waivers). The Value Stock
Fund was not registered as a mutual fund under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended, (the "1940 Act") and therefore was not subject to certain
investment restrictions, limitations and diversification requirements imposed by
the 1940 Act and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). If
the Value Stock Fund had been registered under the 1940 Act, its performance may
have been different. Total Return would have been lower had certain fees and
expenses not been voluntarily waived and/or reimbursed. Of course, past
performance does not necessarily indicate how the Portfolio will perform in the
future.
ANNUAL RETURNS SINCE INCEPTION
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
[EDGAR REPRESENTATION OF DATA POINTS USED IN PRINTED GRAPHIC]
PERFORMANCE
YEARS RETURNS
----------- -------
1992 13.49%
1993 13.75
1994 -1.64
1995 34.38
1996 21.86
1997 24.55
1998 -2.75
1999 3.02
2000 Total Return as of September 30: 15.78%
THIS BAR CHART SHOWS CHANGES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO'S
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES FROM CALENDAR YEAR TO CALENDAR YEAR.
BEST QUARTER WORST QUARTER
------------ -------------
13.48% -10.62%
(June 30, 1997) (September 30, 1998)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SINCE INCEPTION
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/9 9 1 YEAR 5 YEARS (DECEMBER 1, 1991)
---------------------------------- ------ ------- ------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Large Cap Value Portfolio 3.02% 15.37% 13.70%
Russell 1000 Index* 7.35% 23.07% 20.86%
</TABLE>
* THE RUSSELL 1000 INDEX MEASURES THE PERFORMANCE OF THE 1,000 LARGEST
COMPANIES IN THE RUSSELL 3000 INDEX WHICH REPRESENTS APPROXIMATELY 92% OF THE
TOTAL MARKET CAPITALIZATION OF THE RUSSELL 3000 INDEX. THE RUSSELL 3000 INDEX
MEASURES THE PERFORMANCE OF THE 3,000 LARGEST U.S. COMPANIES BASED ON MARKET
CAPITALIZATION.
10
<PAGE>
WILMINGTON MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO
The performance information below reflects the preformance of the CRM Mid Cap
Value Fund, which is the predecessor of the Portfolio's master series. The bar
chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and volatility of an
investment in the Portfolio. Total Return would have been lower had certain fees
and expenses not been voluntarily waived and/or reimbursed. Of course, past
performance does not necessarily indicate how the Portfolio will perform in the
future.
ANNUAL RETURNS SINCE INCEPTION
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
[EDGAR REPRESENTATION OF DATA POINTS USED IN PRINTED GRAPHIC]
PERFORMANCE
YEARS RETURNS
----------- -------
1999 4.57%
2000 Total Return as of September 30: 38.32%
THIS BAR CHART SHOWS CHANGES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO'S
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES FROM CALENDAR YEAR TO CALENDAR YEAR.
BEST QUARTER WORST QUARTER
------------ -------------
18.84% -16.35%
(December 31, 1999) (September 30, 1999)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/99 1 YEAR SINCE INCEPTION (JANUARY 6, 1998)
------------------------------------- ------ --------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Mid Cap Value Portfolio 4.57% 5.68%
Russell Mid Cap Value Index* 1.49% -0.23%
Russell Mid Cap Index --% --%
</TABLE>
* THE RUSSELL MID CAP VALUE INDEX IS AN UNMANAGED INDEX THAT MEASURES THE
PERFORMANCE OF THE 800 SMALLEST COMPANIES IN THE RUSSELL 1000 INDEX, WHICH
REPRESENT APPROXIMATELY 35% OF THE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALIZATION OF THE RUSSELL
1000 INDEX. PREVIOUSLY, THE FUND USED THE RUSSELL MID CAP INDEX AS ITS
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARK. HOWEVER, THE FUND'S INVESTMENT ADVISOR HAS DETERMINED
THAT COMPARING THE FUND'S PREFORMANCE TO THE RUSSELL MID CAP VALUE INDEX MAY BE
A MORE APPROPRIATE INDICATOR OF THE FUND'S PERFORMANCE IN LIGHT OF THE FUND'S
PORTFOLIO INVESTMENTS AND INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE.
11
<PAGE>
WILMINGTON SMALL CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO
The performance information below reflects the performance of the CRM Small Cap
Value Fund, which is the predecessor of the Portfolio's master series. The bar
chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and volatility of an
investment in the Portfolio. Total Return would have been lower had certain fees
and expenses not been voluntarily waived and/or reimbursed. Of course, past
performance does not necessarily indicate how the Portfolio will perform in the
future.
ANNUAL RETURNS SINCE INCEPTION
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
[EDGAR REPRESENTATION OF DATA POINTS USED IN PRINTED GRAPHIC]
PERFORMANCE
YEARS RETURNS
----------- -------
1996 38.95%
1997 21.73
1998 -12.21
1999 11.45
2000 Total Return as of September 30: 14.22%
THIS BAR CHART SHOWS CHANGES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO'S
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES FROM CALENDAR YEAR TO CALENDAR YEAR.
BEST QUARTER WORST QUARTER
------------ -------------
17.86% -22.80%
(June 30, 1999) (September 30, 1998)
SINCE INCEPTION
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/99 1 YEAR (JANUARY 27, 1998)
------------------------------------- ------ ---------------
Small Cap Value Portfolio 11.45% -0.08%
Russell 2000 Value Index* -1.49% -3.26%
Russell 2000 Index --% --%
* THE RUSSELL 2000 VALUE INDEX IS A MARKET WEIGHTED INDEX COMPOSED OF COMPANIES
WITHIN THE RUSSELL 2000 INDEX THAT HAVE A LOWER-TO-BOOK RATIO AND LOWER
FORECASTED GROWTH VALUES WITH MARKET CAPITALIZATIONS FROM $50 MILLION TO $1.8
BILLION. THE INDEX IS UNMANAGED AND REFLECTS THE REINVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS.
PREVIOUSLY, THE FUND USED THE RUSSELL 2000 INDEX AS ITS PERFORMANCE
BENCHMARK. HOWEVER, THE FUND'S INVESTMENT ADVISOR HAS DETERMINED THAT
COMPARING THE FUND'S PERFORMANCE TO THE RUSSELL 2000 VALUE INDEX MAY BE A
MORE APPROPRIATE INDICATOR OF THE FUND'S PERFORMANCE IN LIGHT OF THE FUNDS'
PORTFOLIO INVESTMENTS AND INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE.
12
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FEES AND EXPENSES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLAIN TALK
========================================================================
WHAT ARE FUND EXPENSES?
Unlike an index, every mutual fund has operating expenses to pay for
professional advisory, distribution, administration and custody
services. Each Portfolio's expenses in the table below are shown as a
percentage of its net assets. These expenses are deducted from Portfolio
assets.
========================================================================
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy
and hold shares of a Portfolio. No sales charges or other fees are paid directly
from your investment.
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (EXPENSES THAT ARE DEDUCTED FROM PORTFOLIO
ASSETS)1:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INTERNATIONAL
LARGE CAP LARGE CAP SMALL CAP MULTI-MANAGER
GROWTH PORTFOLIO CORE PORTFOLIO CORE PORTFOLIO PORTFOLIO
---------------- -------------- -------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Management fees ................... 0.55% 0.70% 0.60% 0.65%
Distribution (12b-1) fees ......... None None None None
Other Expenses .................... 0.22% 0.24% 0.31% 0.56%
TOTAL ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENSES2 .. 0.77% 0.94% 0.91% 1.21%
Waivers/reimbursements ............ 0.02% 0.14% 0.11% 0.21%
Net Expenses ...................... 0.75% 0.80% 0.80% 1.00%
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LARGE CAP VALUE MID CAP VALUE SMALL CAP VALUE
PORTFOLIO PORTFOLIO PORTFOLIO
--------------- ------------- ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Management fees ................... 0.55% 0.75% 0.75%
Distribution (12b-1) fees ......... None None None
Other Expenses .................... 0.42% 1.45% 0.34%
TOTAL ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENSES2 .. 0.97% 2.20% 1.09%
Waivers/reimbursements ............ 0.22% 1.20% 0.09%
Net Expenses ...................... 0.75% 1.00% 1.00%
</TABLE>
1 The table above and the Example below each reflect the aggregate annual
operating expenses of each Portfolio and the corresponding Series of the
Trust in which the Portfolio invests.
2 For Institutional Shares, the investment adviser has agreed to waive a
portion of its advisory fee or reimburse expenses to the extent total annual
operating expenses exceed 0.75% for the Large Cap Growth Portfolio; 0.80% for
the Large Core Portfolio; 0.80% for the Small Cap Core Portfolio; 1.00% for
the International Multi-Manager Portfolio; 0.75% for the Large Cap Value
Portfolio; 1.00% for the Mid Cap Value Portfolio; and 1.00% for the Small Cap
Value Portfolio. This waiver will remain in place until the Board of Trustees
approves its termination.
13
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXAMPLE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in a
Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The table below
shows what you would pay if you invested $10,000 over the various time frames
indicated. The example assumes that:
(BULLET) you reinvested all dividends and other distributions;
(BULLET) the average annual return was 5%;
(BULLET) the Portfolio's maximum (without regard to waivers or
reimbursements) total operating expenses are charged and
remain the same over the time periods; and
(BULLET) you redeemed all of your investment at the end of the time
period.
Although your actual cost may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions,
your costs would be:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES 1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
-------------------- ------ ------- ------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Large Cap Growth Portfolio .................... $79 $246 $428 $954
Large Cap Core Portfolio ...................... $96 $300 $520 $1,155
Small Cap Core Portfolio ...................... $93 $290 $504 $1,120
International Multi-Manager Portfolio ......... $123 $384 $665 $1,466
Large Cap Value Portfolio ..................... $99 $309 $536 $1,190
Mid Cap Value Portfolio ....................... $223 $688 $1,180 $2,534
Small Cap Value Portfolio ..................... $111 $347 $601 $1,329
</TABLE>
THE ABOVE EXAMPLE IS FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT A REPRESENTATION
OF A PORTFOLIO'S ACTUAL EXPENSES AND RETURNS, EITHER PAST OR FUTURE.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the SMALL CAP CORE PORTFOLIO each seek
superior long-term growth of capital. THE LARGE CAP CORE PORTFOLIO, the LARGE
CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO, the MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO and the SMALL CAP VALUE
PORTFOLIO each seek to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The INTERNATIONAL
MULTI-MANAGER PORTFOLIO seeks superior long-term capital appreciation. The
investment objectives for each Portfolio except Large Cap Core Portfolio may not
be changed without shareholder approval. There is no guarantee that a Portfolio
will achieve its investment objective.
For purposes of these investment objectives, "superior" long-term growth of
capital means to exceed the long-term growth of capital from an investment in
the securities comprising the S&P 500 Index for the Large Cap Core Portfolio;
the Russell 1000 Growth Index for the Large Cap Growth Portfolio and Large Cap
Value Portfolio; the Russell 2000 Index for the Small Cap Core Portfolio; the
Russell 2000 Value Index for the Small Cap Value Portfolio; the Russell Mid Cap
Value Index for the Mid Cap Value Portfolio; and the Morgan Stanley Capital
International Europe, Australasia and Far East Index for the International
Multi-Manager Portfolio. For more information on the specific indexes, see the
Section entitled "Primary Investment Strategies."
14
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Primary Investment Strategies
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLAIN TALK
========================================================================
WHAT ARE GROWTH FUNDS?
Growth funds invest in the common stock of growth-oriented companies
seeking maximum growth of earnings and share price with little regard
for dividend earnings. Generally, companies with high relative rates of
growth tend to reinvest more of their profits into the company and pay
out less to shareholders in the form of dividends. As a result,
investors in growth funds tend to receive most of their return in the
form of capital appreciation.
========================================================================
The LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO invests its assets in the WT Large Cap Growth
Series, which, under normal market conditions, invests at least 65% of its total
assets in the following equity (or related) securities:
(BULLET) common stocks of U.S. corporations that are judged by the adviser
to have strong growth characteristics and, with respect to at
least 65% of the Series' total assets, have a market
capitalization of $2 billion or higher at the time of purchase;
(BULLET) options on, or securities convertible (such as convertible
preferred stock and convertible bonds) into, the common stock of
U.S. corporations described above;
(BULLET) options on indexes of the common stock of U.S. corporations
described above; and
(BULLET) contracts for either the future delivery, or payment in respect
of the future market value, of certain indexes of the common
stock of U.S. corporations described above, and options upon such
futures contracts.
The adviser looks for high quality, sustainable growth stocks while paying
careful attention to valuation. Research is bottom-up, emphasizing business
fundamentals, including financial statement analysis and industry and competitor
evaluations. The adviser selects stocks it believes exhibit consistent,
above-average earnings growth, superior quality and attractive risk/reward
characteristics. These dominant companies are expected to generate consistent
earnings growth in a variety of economic environments.
The adviser also seeks to provide a greater margin of safety and stability in
the Series. Superior earnings growth is expected to translate ultimately into
superior compounding of returns. Additionally, several valuation tools are used
to avoid over-paying for growth or chasing "hot" stocks. Over time, the adviser
believes these favorable characteristics will produce superior returns with less
risk than many growth styles.
The adviser's research team analyzes a broad universe of over 2,000 companies.
Industry specialists search for high-quality companies growing at roughly double
the market's average. Approximately 150 stocks pass these initial screens and
are subject to thorough research. Dominant market share, strong financials, the
power to price, significant free cash flow and shareholder-oriented management
are critical variables.
Final purchase candidates are selected by the adviser's investment committee
based on attractive risk/reward characteristics and diversification guidelines.
Certain industries may be over or under-weighted by the adviser based upon
favorable growth rates or valuation parameters.
15
<PAGE>
The adviser attempts to maintain portfolio continuity by purchasing
sustainable growth companies that are less sensitive to short-term economic
trends than cyclical, low quality companies. The adviser generally sells stocks
when the risk/reward characteristics of a stock turn negative, company
fundamentals deteriorate, or the stock underperforms the market or its peer
group. The latter device is employed to minimize mistakes and protect capital.
The Series combines three distinct components, each of which is intended to
enhance returns and add balance.
The LARGE CAP GROWTH STOCKS (over $5 billion in total market cap) -- Up to
100%, but not less than 65%, of the Series' total
assets:
(BULLET) Mature, predictable businesses
(BULLET) Capital appreciation and income
(BULLET) Highest liquidity
The MEDIUM CAP GROWTH STOCKS (between $1 and $5 billion in total market cap)
-- Up to 20% of the Series' total assets:
(BULLET) Superior long-term potential
(BULLET) Strong niche or franchise
(BULLET) Seasoned management
The SPECIAL SITUATIONS GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES -- Up to 20% of the Series' total
assets:
(BULLET) Stable return, independent of the market
(BULLET) Unusually favorable risk/reward characteristics
(BULLET) Typically involve corporate restructuring
In order to respond to adverse market, economic, political or other
conditions, the Series may assume a temporary defensive position and invest
without limit in commercial paper and other money market instruments that are
rated investment grade. The result of this action may be that the Series will be
unable to achieve its investment objective.
The LARGE CAP CORE PORTFOLIO invests its assets in the Large Cap Core Series,
which, under normal market conditions, invests at least 65% of its total assets
in the following equity (or related) securities:
(BULLET) securities of U.S. corporations that are judged by the
adviser to have strong growth and valuation characteristics;
(BULLET) options on, or securities convertible (such as convertible
preferred stock and convertible bonds) into, the common
stock of U.S. corporations described above;
(BULLET) receipts or American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"), which are
typically issued by a U.S. bank or trust company as evidence
of ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign
corporation; and
(BULLET) cash reserves and money market instruments (including
securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its
agencies or instrumentalities, repurchase agreements,
certificates of deposit and bankers' acceptances issued by
banks or savings and loan associations, and commercial
paper).
16
<PAGE>
The Large Cap Core Series is a diversified portfolio of U.S. equity (or
related) securities, including common stocks, preferred stocks and securities
convertible into common stock of companies with market capitalizations of at
least $2 billion. Dividend income is an incidental consideration compared to
growth in capital in the selection of securities. The adviser seeks securities
that possess strong growth and value characteristics based on the evaluation of
the issuer's background, industry position, historical returns and the
experience and qualifications of the management team. The adviser may rotate the
Series' holdings among various market sectors based on economic analysis of the
overall business cycle.
As a temporary defensive investment policy, the Large Cap Core Series may
invest up to 100% of its assets in money market instruments and other short-term
debt instruments, rated investment grade or higher at the time of purchase, and
may hold a portion of its assets in cash. The result of this action may be that
the Series will be unable to achieve its investment objective.
PLAIN TALK
========================================================================
WHAT ARE SMALL CAP FUNDS?
Small cap funds invest in the common stock of companies with smaller
market capitalizations. Small cap stocks may provide the potential for
higher growth, but they also typically have greater risk and more
volatility.
========================================================================
The SMALL CAP CORE PORTFOLIO invests its assets in the Small Cap Core Series,
which, under normal market conditions, invests at least 65% of its total assets
in the following equity (or related) securities:
(BULLET) common stocks of U.S. corporations that are judged by the
adviser to have strong growth characteristics or to be
undervalued in the marketplace relative to underlying
profitability and have a market capitalization which, at the
time of purchase, is less than that of the largest stock in
the Russell 2000 Index.
(BULLET) options on, or securities convertible (such as convertible
preferred stock and convertible bonds) into, the common
stock of U.S. corporations described above;
(BULLET) options on indexes of the common stock of U.S. corporations
described above; and
(BULLET) contracts for either the future delivery, or payment in
respect of the future market value, of certain indexes of
the common stock of U.S. corporations described above, and
options upon such futures contracts.
The Small Cap Core Series is a diversified portfolio of small cap U.S. equity
(or related) securities with a market capitalization which, at the time of
purchase, is less than that of the largest stock in the Russell 2000 Index. To
achieve the Series' objective of long-term growth of capital, the Series'
adviser employs a combined growth and value investment approach. The adviser
uses proprietary quantitative research techniques to find companies with
long-term growth potential or that seem undervalued. After analyzing those
companies, the adviser invests the Series' assets in the stocks of companies
with the most attractive combination of long-term earnings, growth and
valuation. Securities will be sold to make room for new companies with superior
growth, valuation and projected return characteristics or to preserve capital
where the original assessment of the company's growth prospects was too
optimistic.
17
<PAGE>
In the Series' efforts to achieve its investment objective, it seeks to
outperform the Russell 2000 Index (assuming a similar investment in the
securities comprising this index would reinvest dividends and capital gains
distributions). The Russell 2000 Index is a passive index of the smallest 2000
stocks in the Russell 3000 Index of the 3000 largest stocks in the U.S. as
measured by market capitalization.
PLAIN TALK
========================================================================
WHAT ARE INTERNATIONAL FUNDS?
International funds invest in securities traded in markets of at least
three different countries outside of the United States. An investor in
an international fund can avoid the hassles of investing directly in
foreign securities and let that fund's adviser handle the foreign laws,
trading practices, customs and time zones of the foreign countries.
========================================================================
The INTERNATIONAL MULTI-MANAGER Portfolio invests its assets in the
International Multi-Manager Series, which, at all times, invests at least 85% of
its total assets in the following equity (or related) securities:
(BULLET) common stocks of foreign issuers;
(BULLET) preferred stocks and/or debt securities that are convertible
securities of such foreign issuers; and
(BULLET) open or closed-end investment companies (mutual funds) that
invest primarily in the equity securities of issuers in
countries where it is impossible or impractical to invest
directly.
The International Multi-Manager Series is a diversified portfolio of equity
securities (including convertible securities) of issuers which (1) are organized
under the laws of a non-U.S. country, or (2) derives at least 50% of its
revenues or profits from goods produced or sold, investments made, or services
performed in a non-U.S. country or has at least 50% of its assets situated in a
non-U.S. country. The Series may use forward currency contracts, options,
futures contracts and options on futures contracts to attempt to hedge actual or
anticipated investment security positions. Three sub-advisers, Clemente Capital,
Inc., Invista Capital Management Inc., and Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc.,
manage the assets of the Series. The adviser allocates the Series' assets among
each sub-adviser in roughly equal portions and then allows each sub-adviser to
use its own investment approach and strategy to achieve the Series' objective.
Clemente's investment approach begins with a global outlook, identifying the
major forces (i.e., political events, social developments, trade and capital
flows) affecting the global environment and then identifying the themes (i.e.,
corporate restructuring, infrastructure spending, consumer's coming of age) that
are responding to the major forces. The third step is to decide which countries
or sectors will benefit from these themes and then seek companies with favorable
growth characteristics in those countries or sectors. The next steps are to
research and identify specific holdings and ongoing monitoring and evaluation of
the Series. Series holdings are sold when shares reach the target price, the
fundamentals of a company have deteriorated or when new companies with superior
growth and valuation characteristics have been identified.
Invista's investment approach focuses on identifying opportunities through a
fundamentally sound, economic value driven process applied evenly across all
international markets. Candidates for purchase are companies whose current price
is substantially below investment value as determined by Invista's estimate of
future free cash flows. Once this evaluation process is applied, purchases are
made among those companies that provide optimal combinations of valuation,
growth and risk. Series holdings are sold when the relative attractiveness of a
security is not as great as additions proposed by a member of the investment
team.
18
<PAGE>
Scudder Kemper's investment approach involves a top-down/bottom-up approach
with a focus on fundamental research. Investment ideas are generated by regional
analysts, global industry analysts and portfolio managers through the
integration of three analytical disciplines; global themes (identification of
sectors and industries likely to gain or lose during specific phases of a
theme's cycle); country analysis (quantitative assessment of each country's
fundamental and political characteristics combined with an objective,
quantitative analysis of market and economic data); and company analysis
(identification of company opportunities by searching for unique attributes such
as franchise or monopoly, above average growth potential, innovation or
scarcity). Series holdings are sold when the analysts indicate that the
underlying fundamentals are no longer strong.
The Series utilizes this multiple sub-adviser arrangement to reduce volatility
through multiple investment approaches, a strategy used by many institutional
investors. For example, a particular investment approach used by a sub-adviser
may be successful in a bear (falling) market, while another investment approach
used by a different sub-adviser may be more successful in a bull (rising)
market. The multiple investment approach is designed to soften the impact of a
single sub-adviser's performance in a market cycle during which that
sub-adviser's investment approach is less successful. Because each sub-adviser
has different investment approaches, the performance of one or more of the
sub-advisers is expected to offset the impact of any other sub-adviser's poor
performance, regardless of the market cycle. Unfortunately, this also works the
opposite way. The successful performance of a sub-adviser will be diminished by
the less successful performances of the other sub-advisers. There can be no
guarantee that the expected advantages of the multiple adviser technique will be
achieved.
In the Series' efforts to achieve its investment objective, it seeks to
outperform the Morgan Stanley Capital International Europe, Australasia & Far
East ("EAFE") Index (assuming a similar investment in the securities comprising
this index would reinvest dividends and capital gains distributions). The EAFE
Index is an unmanaged index comprised of the stocks of approximately 1100
companies, screened for liquidity, cross ownership and industry representation
and listed on major stock exchanges in Europe, Australasia and the Far East.
PLAIN TALK
========================================================================
WHAT ARE VALUE FUNDS?
Value funds invest in the common stock of companies that are considered
by the adviser to be undervalued relative to their underlying
profitability, or rather their stock price does not reflect the value of
the company.
========================================================================
The VALUE PORTFOLIOS: Through their investment in corresponding Series, the
Large Cap Value, Mid Cap Value and Small Cap Value Portfolios seek to invest in
stocks that are less expensive than comparable companies, as determined by
price/earnings ratios, cash flows or other measures. Value investing therefore
may reduce risk while offering potential for capital appreciation as a stock
gains favor among other investors and its price rises.
The Series are managed using investment ideas that the adviser has used for
over twenty-five years. The Series' adviser relies on selecting individual
stocks and does not try to predict when the stock market might rise or fall. It
seeks out those stocks that are undervalued and, in some cases, neglected by
financial analysts. The adviser evaluates the degree of analyst recognition by
monitoring the number of analysts who follow the company and recommend its
purchase or sale to investors.
19
<PAGE>
The adviser starts by identifying early change in a company's operations,
finances or management. The adviser is attracted to companies which will look
different tomorrow -- operationally, financially, managerially -- when compared
to yesterday. This type of dynamic change often creates confusion and
misunderstandings and may lead to a drop in the company's stock price. Examples
of change include mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, restructuring, change of
management, new market/product/means of production/distribution, regulatory
change, etc. Once change is identified, the adviser evaluates the company on
several levels. It analyzes:
(BULLET) Financial models based principally upon projected cash flows
(BULLET) The price of the company's stock in the context of what the
market is willing to pay for stock of comparable companies
and what a strategic buyer would pay for the whole company
(BULLET) The extent of management's ownership interest in the company
(BULLET) The company's market by corroborating its observations and
assumptions by meeting with management, customers and
suppliers
The adviser also evaluates the degree of recognition of the business by the
investors by monitoring the number of sell side analysts who closely follow the
company and the nature of the shareholder base. Before deciding to purchase a
stock, the adviser conducts an extensive amount of business due diligence to
corroborate its observations and assumptions.
The identification of change comes from a variety of sources including the
private capital network which the adviser has established among its clients,
historical investments and intermediaries. The adviser also makes extensive use
of clipping services and regional brokers and bankers to identify elements of
change. The investment professionals regularly meet companies around the country
and sponsor more than 200 company/management meetings in its New York office.
By reviewing historical relationships and understanding the characteristics of
a business, the adviser establishes valuation parameters using relative ratios
or target prices. In its overall assessment, the adviser seeks stocks that it
believes have a greater upside potential than downside risk over an 18 to
24-month holding period.
An important function of the adviser is to set a price target, that is, the
price at which the stock will be sold when there has been no fundamental change
in the investment case. The adviser constantly monitors the companies held by
the Series to determine if there have been any fundamental changes in the
reasons that prompted the initial purchase of the stock. If significant changes
for the better have not materialized, the stock will be sold. The initial
investment case for stock purchase, which has been documented, is examined by
the adviser's investment professionals. A final decision on selling the stock is
made after all such factors are analyzed.
The LARGE CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO invests its assets in the Large Cap Value
Series, which, under normal conditions, invests at least 65% of its total assets
in the following equity (or related) securities:
(BULLET) common stocks of U.S. corporations that are judged by the
adviser to be undervalued in the marketplace relative to
underlying profitability and have a market capitalization of
$10 billion or higher at the time of purchase;
(BULLET) options on, or securities convertible (such as convertible
preferred stock and convertible bonds) into, the common
stock of U.S. corporations described above;
(BULLET) options on indexes of the common stock of U.S. corporations
described above;
20
<PAGE>
(BULLET) contracts for either the future delivery, or payment in
respect of the future market value, of certain indexes of
the common stock of U.S. corporations described above, and
options upon such futures contracts; and
(BULLET) without limit in commercial paper and other money market
instruments rated in one of the two highest rating
categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating
organization ("NRSRO"), in response to adverse market
conditions, as a temporary defensive position. The result of
this action may be that the Series will be unable to achieve
its investment objective.
The Large Cap Value Series is a diversified portfolio of large cap U.S. equity
(or related) securities that are deemed by the adviser to be undervalued as
compared to the company's profitability potential.
The MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO invests its assets in the Mid Cap Value Series,
which, under normal conditions, invests at least 65% of its total assets in the
following equity (or related) securities:
(BULLET) common and preferred stocks of U.S. corporations that are
judged by the adviser to be undervalued in the marketplace
relative to underlying profitability and have a market
capitalization between $1 and $10 billion at the time of
purchase;
(BULLET) securities convertible (such as convertible preferred stock
and convertible bonds) into, the common stock of U.S.
corporations described above;
(BULLET) warrants; and
(BULLET) without limit in commercial paper and other money market
instruments rated in one of the two highest rating
categories by a NRSRO, in response to adverse market
conditions, as a temporary defensive position. The result of
this action may be that the Series will be unable to achieve
its investment objective.
The Mid Cap Value Series is a diversified portfolio of medium cap U.S. equity
(or related) securities that are deemed by the adviser to be undervalued as
compared to the company's profitability potential.
The Small Cap Value Portfolio invests its assets in the Small Cap Value
Series, which, under normal conditions, invests at least 65% of its total assets
in the following equity (or related) securities:
(BULLET) common and preferred stocks of U.S. corporations that are
judged by the adviser to be undervalued in the marketplace
relative to underlying profitability and have a market
capitalization of $1 billion or less at the time of
purchase;
(BULLET) securities convertible (such as convertible preferred stock
and convertible bonds) into, the common stock of U.S.
corporations described above;
(BULLET) warrants; and
(BULLET) without limit in commercial paper and other money market
instruments rated in one of the two highest rating
categories by a NRSRO, in response to adverse market
conditions, as a temporary defensive position. The result of
this action may be that the Series will be unable to achieve
its investment objective.
The Small Cap Value Series is a diversified portfolio of small cap U.S. equity
(or related) securities that are deemed by the adviser to be undervalued as
compared to the company's profitability potential.
21
<PAGE>
ALL SERIES. The frequency of portfolio transactions and a Series' turnover
rate will vary from year to year depending on the market. Increased turnover
rates incur the cost of additional brokerage commissions and may cause you to
receive larger capital gain distributions. Series turnover rate is normally
expected to be less than 100% for each of the Series.
Each Series also may use other strategies and engage in other investment
practices, which are described in detail in our Statement of Additional
Information.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADDITIONAL RISK INFORMATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following is a list of certain risks that may apply to your investment in
a Portfolio, unless otherwise indicated. Further information about investment
risks is available in our Statement of Additional Information:
(BULLET) CURRENCY RISK: The risk related to investments denominated
in foreign currencies. Foreign securities are usually
denominated in foreign currency therefore changes in foreign
currency exchange rates can affect the net asset value of
the International Multi-Manager Portfolio. (International
Multi-Manager Portfolio)
(BULLET) DERIVATIVES RISK: Some of the Series' investments may be
referred to as "derivatives" because their value depends on,
or derives from, the value of an underlying asset, reference
rate or index. These investments include options, futures
contracts and similar investments that may be used in
hedging and related income strategies. The market value of
derivative instruments and securities is sometimes more
volatile than that of other investments, and each type of
derivative may pose its own special risks. As a fundamental
policy, no more than 15% of a Series' total assets may at
any time be committed or exposed to derivative strategies.
(BULLET) FOREIGN SECURITY RISK: The risk of losses due to political,
regulatory, economic, social or other uncontrollable forces
in a foreign country not normally associated with investing
in the U.S. markets. (International Multi-Manager Portfolio
and the Large Cap Core Portfolio)
(BULLET) GROWTH-ORIENTED INVESTING RISK: The risk that an investment
in a growth-oriented portfolio, which invests in
growth-oriented companies, will be more volatile than the
rest of the U.S. market as a whole. (Large Cap Growth, Large
Cap Core and Small Cap Core Portfolios)
(BULLET) MARKET RISK: The risk that the market value of a security
may move up and down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably.
The prices of equity securities change in response to many
factors including the historical and prospective earnings of
the issuer, the value of its assets, general economic
conditions, interest rates, investor perceptions and market
liquidity.
(BULLET) MASTER/FEEDER RISK: The Portfolios' master/feeder structure
is relatively new and more complex. While this structure is
designed to reduce costs, it may not do so, and the
Portfolios might encounter operational or other
complications. For example, large-scale redemptions by other
feeders of their shares of a master fund could have adverse
effects on a Portfolio such as requiring the liquidation of
a substantial portion of the master fund's holdings at a
time when it could be disadvantageous to do so. Also, other
feeders of a master fund may have a greater ownership
interest in the master fund than a Portfolio's interest,
and, therefore, could have effective voting control over the
operation of the master fund.
22
<PAGE>
(BULLET) Opportunity Risk: The risk of missing out on an investment
opportunity because the assets necessary to take advantage
of it are tied up in less advantageous investments.
(BULLET) Small Cap Risk: Small cap companies may be more vulnerable
than larger companies to adverse business or economic
developments. Small cap companies may also have limited
product lines, markets or financial resources, may be
dependent on relatively small or inexperienced management
groups and may operate in industries characterized by rapid
technological obsolescence. Securities of such companies may
be less liquid and more volatile than securities of larger
companies and therefore may involve greater risk than
investing in larger companies. (Small Cap Core Portfolio)
(BULLET) Valuation Risk: The risk that a Series has valued certain of
its securities at a higher price than it can sell them.
(BULLET) Value Investing Risk: The risk that a Series' investment in
companies whose securities are believed to be undervalued,
relative to their underlying profitability, do not
appreciate in value as anticipated. (Large Cap Value, Mid
Cap Value, Small Cap Value and Small Cap Core Portfolios)
23
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand each
Portfolio's financial performance for the past 5 years or since the Portfolio's
inception, if shorter. Certain information reflects financial results for a
single Institutional share of a Portfolio. The total returns in the table
represent the rate that a shareholder would have earned (or lost) on an
investment in a Portfolio (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and other
distributions). Financial highlights (except those of Large Cap Core Portfolio
for the fiscal years ended June 30, 1998, 1997, 1996 and 1995 which were audited
by other auditors), have been audited by Ernst & Young, LLP, whose report, along
with each Portfolio's financial statements, is included in the Annual Report,
which is available without charge upon request.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE FOR THE PERIOD
FISCAL YEAR JANUARY 1, 1999 FOR THE FISCAL YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
ENDED THROUGH
WILMINGTON LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO -- JUNE 30, 20003,4(DAGGER) JUNE 30, 1999(DAGGER) 19981(DAGGER) 1997(DAGGER)
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES ----------------------- --------------------- ------------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
NET ASSET VALUE -- BEGINNING OF PERIOD ....... $ 25.76 $ 23.59 $ 21.37 $ 19.22
-------- -------- -------- -------
Investment Operations:
Net investment loss ....................... (0.14)2 (0.02) (0.01) (0.19)2
Net realized and unrealized gain
on investments .......................... 8.70 2.19 5.02 5.44
-------- -------- -------- -------
Total from investment operations ........ 8.56 2.17 5.01 5.25
-------- -------- -------- -------
Distributions:
From net investment income ................ -- -- -- --
From net realized gain .................... (0.93) -- (2.79) (3.10)
-------- -------- -------- -------
Total distributions ..................... (0.93) -- (2.79) (3.10)
-------- -------- -------- -------
NET ASSET VALUE -- END OF PERIOD ............. $ 33.39 $ 25.76 $ 23.59 $ 21.37
======== ======== ======== =======
TOTAL RETURN ................................. 33.27% 9.20%** 23.58% 27.50%
RATIOS (TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS)/
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Expenses:
Including expense limitations ............. 0.75% 0.75%* 0.80% 1.38%
Excluding expense limitations ............. 0.77% 0.80%* 0.92% N/A
Net investment loss .......................... (0.45)% (0.14)%* (0.08)% (0.86)%
Portfolio turnover rate ...................... 111.49% 15.50% 51.64% 28.05%
Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted) ............................. $277,290 $222,538 $223,151 $91,445
FOR THE FISCAL YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
WILMINGTON LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO -- 1996(DAGGER) 1995(DAGGER)
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES ------------ ------------
NET ASSET VALUE -- BEGINNING OF PERIOD ....... $ 17.41 $ 15.14
------- -------
Investment Operations:
Net investment loss ....................... (0.15)2 (0.10)
Net realized and unrealized gain
on investments .......................... 4.37 4.38
------- -------
Total from investment operations ........ 4.22 4.28
------- -------
Distributions:
From net investment income ................ -- --
From net realized gain .................... (2.41) (2.01)
------- -------
Total distributions ..................... (2.41) (2.01)
------- -------
NET ASSET VALUE -- END OF PERIOD ............. $ 19.22 $ 17.41
======= =======
TOTAL RETURN ................................. 24.25% 28.43%
RATIOS (TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS)/
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Expenses:
Including expense limitations ............. 1.43% 1.43%
Excluding expense limitations ............. N/A N/A
Net investment loss .......................... (0.78)% (0.53)%
Portfolio turnover rate ...................... 34.84% 49.12%
Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted) ............................. $76,174 $66,311
<FN>
-----------------------
* Annualized.
** Not annualized.
1 Effective February 23, 1998, Wilmington Trust Company (WTC) assumed the
responsibility of Adviser to the Large Cap Growth Portfolio.
2 The net investment loss per share was calculated using average shares
outstanding method.
3 Effective November 1, 1999, the expense and net investment income ratios
include expenses allocated from the WT Investment Trust I -- WT Large Cap
Growth Series (the "Series") and the portfolio turnover reflects the
investment activity of the Series.
4 Effective November 1, 1999, Roxbury Capital Management, LLC, assumed the
responsibility of Adviser to the WT Large Cap Growth Series.
(DAGGER) Effective November 1, 1999, the Rodney Square Large Cap Growth
Portfolio ("Rodney Square Portfolio") was merged into the Wilmington Large
Cap Growth Portfolio. The financial highlights for periods prior to November
1, 1999 reflect the performance history of the Rodney Square Portfolio.
</FN>
</TABLE>
24
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE FISCAL YEARS ENDED JUNE 30,
---------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
WILMINGTON LARGE CAP CORE PORTFOLIO -- 2000 1 1999 1 1998 1 1997 1 1996
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES -------- -------- -------- ------- -------
NET ASSET VALUE -- BEGINNING OF PERIOD ................ $ 22.50 $ 18.72 $ 20.56 $ 16.58 $ 14.04
-------- -------- -------- ------- -------
Investment Operations:
Net investment income .............................. 0.10 0.12 0.16 0.13 0.13
Net realized and unrealized gain on
investments ..................................... 1.83 4.14 4.52 4.09 2.56
-------- -------- -------- ------- -------
Total from investment operations ................ 1.93 4.26 4.68 4.22 2.69
-------- -------- -------- ------- -------
Distributions:
From net investment income ......................... (0.12) (0.14) (0.16) (0.15) (0.15)
From net realized gain ............................. (0.28) (0.34) (6.36) (0.09) --
-------- -------- -------- ------- -------
Total distributions ............................. (0.40) (0.48) (6.52) (0.24) (0.15)
-------- -------- -------- ------- -------
NET ASSET VALUE -- END OF PERIOD ...................... $ 24.03 $ 22.50 $ 18.72 $ 20.56 $ 16.58
======== ======== ======== ======= =======
TOTAL RETURN .......................................... 8.57% 23.25% 29.09% 25.67% 19.24%
RATIOS (TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS)/
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Expenses:
Including expense limitations ...................... 0.80% 0.80% 0.80% 0.80% 0.80%
Excluding expense limitations ...................... 0.94% 0.91% 0.93% 0.94% 1.05%
Net investment income ................................. 0.40% 0.65% 0.81% 0.80% 1.34%
Portfolio turnover rate ............................... 11.52% 5.19% 93.08% 26.33% 16.95%
Net assets at end of period (000 omitted) ............. $127,812 $139,228 $110,052 $88,763 $66,137
<FN>
----------------------
1 The expense and net investment income ratios for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2000, 1999, 1998 and 1997 include expenses
allocated from the WT Investment Trust I -- Large Cap Core Series (the "Series") and the portfolio turnover reflects the
investment activity of the Series.
</FN>
</TABLE>
25
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE FOR THE PERIOD FOR THE PERIOD
FISCAL YEAR JANUARY 1, 1999 JUNE 29, 19981
ENDED THROUGH THROUGH
WILMINGTON LARGE CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO -- JUNE 30, 20002,3(DAGGER) JUNE 30, 1999(DAGGER) DECEMBER 31, 1998(DAGGER)
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES ----------------------- -------------------- -------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
NET ASSET VALUE -- BEGINNING OF PERIOD ................ $ 9.82 $ 9.30 $ 10.00
------- ------- -------
Investment Operations:
Net investment income .............................. 0.13 0.10 0.10
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on
investments ..................................... 0.50 0.42 (0.58)
------- ------- -------
Total from investment operations ................ 0.63 0.52 (0.48)
------- ------- -------
Distributions:
From net investment income ......................... (0.20) -- (0.10)
In excess of net realized gain ..................... -- -- (0.12)
------- ------- -------
Total distributions ............................. (0.20) -- (0.22)
------- ------- -------
NET ASSET VALUE -- END OF PERIOD ...................... $ 10.25 $ 9.82 $ 9.30
======= ======= =======
TOTAL RETURN .......................................... 6.61% 5.59%** (4.79)%**
RATIOS (TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS)/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Expenses
Including expense limitations ...................... 0.75% 0.75%* 0.75%*
Excluding expense limitations ...................... 0.97% 0.84%* 0.88%*
Net investment income ................................. 1.06% 1.92%* 2.07%*
Portfolio turnover rate ............................... 136.45% 25.14% 36.78%
Net assets at end of period (000 omitted) ............. $64,272 $79,060 $93,780
<FN>
-----------------------
* Annualized.
** Not annualized.
1 Commencement of operations.
2 Effective November 1, 1999, the expense and net investment income ratios include expenses allocated from the WT Investment Trust
I -- Large Cap Value Series (the "Series") and the portfolio turnover reflects the investment activity of the Series.
3 Effective November 1, 1999, Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, LLC, assumed the responsibility of Adviser to the Large Cap Value Series.
(DAGGER) Effective November 1, 1999, the Rodney Square Large Cap Value Portfolio ("Rodney Square Portfolio") was merged into the
Wilmington Large Cap Value Portfolio. The financial highlights for periods prior to November 1, 1999 reflect the performance
history of the Rodney Square Portfolio.
</FN>
</TABLE>
26
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE FOR THE PERIOD FOR THE PERIOD
FISCAL YEAR JANUARY 1, 1999 JUNE 29, 19981
ENDED THROUGH THROUGH
WILMINGTON SMALL CAP CORE PORTFOLIO -- JUNE 30, 20002,3(DAGGER) JUNE 30, 1999(DAGGER) DECEMBER 31, 1998(DAGGER)
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES ----------------------- -------------------- ------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
NET ASSET VALUE -- BEGINNING OF PERIOD ................ $ 9.51 $ 9.36 $ 10.00
-------- ------- -------
Investment Operations:
Net investment income .............................. -- 0.02 0.02
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on
investments ..................................... 3.50 0.13 (0.62)
-------- ------- -------
Total from investment operations ................... 3.50 0.15 (0.60)
-------- ------- -------
Distributions:
From net investment income ......................... (0.02) -- (0.02)
From net realized gain ............................. (0.02) -- --
In excess of net realized gain ..................... -- -- (0.02)
-------- ------- -------
Total distributions ............................. (0.04) 0.00 (0.04)
-------- ------- -------
NET ASSET VALUE -- END OF PERIOD ...................... $ 12.97 $ 9.51 $ 9.36
======== ======= =======
TOTAL RETURN .......................................... 36.93% 1.60%** (6.03)%**
RATIOS (TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS)/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Expenses:
Including expense limitations ...................... 0.80% 0.80%* 0.80%*
Excluding expense limitations ...................... 0.91% 0.90%* 0.95%*
Net investment income ................................. 0.02% 0.39%* 0.45%*
Portfolio turnover rate ............................... 46.80% 7.42% 9.81%
Net assets at end of period (000 omitted) ............. $103,456 $76,316 $82,156
<FN>
----------------------
* Annualized.
** Not annualized.
1 Commencement of operations.
2 Effective November 1, 1999, the expense and net investment income ratios include expenses allocated from the WT Investment Trust
I -- Small Cap Core Series (the "Series") and the portfolio turnover reflects the investment activity of the Series.
(DAGGER) Effective November 1, 1999, the Rodney Square Small Cap Equity Portfolio ("Rodney Square Portfolio") was merged into the
Wilmington Small Cap Core Portfolio. The financial highlights for periods prior to November 1, 1999 reflect the performance
history of the Rodney Square Portfolio.
</FN>
</TABLE>
27
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE FOR THE PERIOD FOR THE PERIOD
FISCAL YEAR JANUARY 1, 1999 JUNE 29, 19981
ENDED THROUGH THROUGH
WILMINGTON INTERNATIONAL MULTI-MANAGER PORTFOLIO -- JUNE 30, 20003(DAGGER) JUNE 30, 1999(DAGGER) DECEMBER 31, 1998(DAGGER)
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES --------------------- -------------------- -------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
NET ASSET VALUE -- BEGINNING OF PERIOD ................ $ 10.03 $ 9.82 $ 10.00
------- ------- -------
Investment Operations:
Net investment income2 ............................. 0.08 0.06 0.02
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on
investments and foreign currency ................ 3.09 0.26 (0.09)
------- ------- -------
Total from investment operations ................ 3.17 0.32 (0.07)
------- ------- -------
Distributions:
From net investment income ......................... (0.06) -- --
From net realized gain ............................. (0.66) (0.11) (0.11)
------- ------- -------
Total distributions ............................. (0.72) (0.11) (0.11)
------- ------- -------
NET ASSET VALUE -- END OF PERIOD ...................... $ 12.48 $ 10.03 $ 9.82
======= ======= =======
TOTAL RETURN .......................................... 31.52% 3.29%** (0.70)%**
RATIOS (TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS)/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Expenses:
Including expense limitations ...................... 1.00% 1.00%* 1.00%*
Excluding expense limitations ...................... 1.21% 1.19%* 1.10%*
Net investment income ................................. 0.66% 1.86%* 0.46%*
Portfolio turnover rate ............................... 78.24% 33.02% 27.66%
Net assets at end of period (000 omitted) ............. $84,078 $69,401 $73,784
<FN>
------------------------
* Annualized.
** Not annualized.
1 Commencement of operations.
2 The net investment income per share was calculated using the average share outstanding method.
3 Effective November 1, 1999, the expense and net investment income ratios include expenses allocated from the WT Investment Trust
I -- International Multi-Manager Series (the "Series") and the portfolio turnover reflects the investment activity of the
Series.
(DAGGER) Effective November 1, 1999, the Rodney Square International Equity Portfolio ("Rodney Square Portfolio") was merged into
the Wilmington International Multi-Manager Portfolio. The financial highlights for periods prior to November 1, 1999 reflect the
performance history of the Rodney Square Portfolio.
</FN>
</TABLE>
28
<PAGE>
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
The Board of Trustees for each Portfolio supervises the management, activities
and affairs of the Portfolio and has approved contracts with various financial
organizations to provide, among other services, the day-to-day management
required by the Portfolio and its shareholders.
PLAIN TALK
========================================================================
WHAT IS AN INVESTMENT ADVISER?
The investment adviser makes investment decisions for a mutual fund and
continuously reviews, supervises and administers the fund's investment
program. The Board of Trustees supervises the investment adviser and
establishes policies that the adviser must follow in its management
activities.
========================================================================
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT ADVISER
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wilmington Trust Company, the investment adviser for the Large Cap Core Series,
the Small Cap Core Series and the International Multi-Manager Series, is located
at 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890. WTC is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Wilmington Trust Corporation, which is a publicly held bank
holding company. WTC, subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees,
directs the investments of these Series in accordance with their respective
investment objectives, policies and limitations. For the International
Multi-Manager Series, WTC allocates the Series' assets equally among the
sub-advisers and then oversees their investment activities. In addition to
serving as investment adviser for the Series, WTC is engaged in a variety of
investment advisory activities, including the management of other mutual funds
and collective investment pools.
Under an advisory agreement, the Large Cap Core Series pays a monthly fee to WTC
at the annual rate of 0.70% of the Series' first $1 billion of average daily net
assets; 0.65% of the Series' next $1 billion of average daily net assets; and
0.60% of the Series' average daily net assets over $2 billion. The Small Cap
Core Series pays WTC a monthly advisory fee at the annual rate of 0.60% of the
Series' first $1 billion of average daily net assets; 0.55% of the Series' next
$1 billion of average daily net assets; and 0.50% of the Series' average daily
net assets over $2 billion. The International Multi-Manager Series pays WTC a
monthly advisory fee at the annual rate of 0.65% of the Series' average daily
net assets. Prior to November 1, 1999, WTC served as investment adviser to the
Large Cap Growth Series and the Large Cap Value Series. For its services from
July 1, 1999 through October 31, 1999, WTC received 0.55%, as a percentage of
each Portfolio's average daily net assets. For the twelve months ended June 30,
2000, WTC received the following fees (after fee waivers), as a percentage of
each Series' average daily net assets:
Large Cap Core Series 0.70%
Small Cap Core Series 0.60%
International Multi-Manager Series 0.65%
Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, LLC, 707 Westchester Avenue, White Plains, New York
10604, serves as the investment adviser to the Large Cap Value Series, the Mid
Cap Value Series and the Small Cap Value Series. Subject to the supervision of
the Board of Trustees, CRM makes investment decisions for these Series. CRM and
its predecessors have managed equity investments, including a mutual fund, for
more than twenty-five years. As of September 30, 2000, CRM has over $3 billion
of assets under management.
29
<PAGE>
Under the advisory agreement, the Large Cap Value Series pays a monthly advisory
fee to CRM at the annual rate of 0.55% of its first 1 billion of average daily
net assets; 0.50% of the Series' next $1 billion of average daily net assets;
and 0.45% of the Series' average daily net assets over $2 billion. The Mid Cap
Value Series and the Small Cap Value Series each pay CRM a monthly advisory fee
of 0.75% of the Series' first $1 billion of average daily net assets; 0.70% of
the Series' next $1 billion of average daily net assets; and 0.65% of the
Series' average daily net assets over $2 billion. For the twelve months ended
June 30, 2000, CRM received advisory fees of 0.55% for the Large Cap Value
Series, 0.75% for Mid Cap Value Series and 0.75% for Small Cap Value Series, as
a percentage of the Series' average daily net assets.
Roxbury Capital Management, LLC, 100 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 600, Santa
Monica, California 90401, serves as the investment adviser for the WT Large Cap
Growth Series. Roxbury is engaged in a variety of investment advisory activities
including the management of separate accounts and, as of August 31, 2000, had
assets under management of approximately $-- billion.
Under the advisory agreement, the WT Large Cap Growth Series pays a monthly
advisory fee to Roxbury at the annual rate of 0.55% of the Series' first $1
billion of average daily net assets; 0.50% of the Series next $1 billion of
average daily net assets; and 0.45% of the Series' average daily net assets over
$2 billion. For the period November 1, 1999 through June 30, 2000 Roxbury
received advisory fees of 0.55% of the WT Large Cap Growth Series' average daily
net assets.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E. MATTHEW BROWN, Vice President of WTC is responsible for the management
process of the Large Cap Core and Small Cap Core Series. Mr. Brown joined WTC in
October of 1996. Prior to joining WTC, he served as Chief Investment Officer of
PNC Bank, Delaware, from 1993 through 1996.
RAFAEL E. TAMARGO, Vice President, Director of Equity Research, is responsible
for the day-to-day management of the Large Cap Core Series. Mr. Tamargo joined
WTC in 1996 as an equities analyst. Prior to joining WTC, Mr. Tamargo was
employed by U.S. Trust as an Equities Analyst.
THOMAS P. NEALE, CFA, Vice President, Equity Research Division of WTC is
responsible for the management of the Small Cap Core Series. Mr. Neale joined
Wilmington Trust in 1986 as an Institutional Multi-Manager Portfolio Manager.
Currently he specializes in managing taxable accounts for Delaware holding
companies and has equity research responsibilities following the insurance and
brokerage industries.
ROBERT J. CHRISTIAN, Chief Investment Officer of WTC, or his delegate, is
primarily responsible for monitoring the day-to-day investment activities of the
sub-advisers to the International Multi-Manager Series. Mr. Christian has been a
Director of Rodney Square Management Corporation since February 1996, and was
Chairman and Director of PNC Equity Advisors Company, and President and Chief
Investment Officer of PNC Asset Management Group, Inc. from 1994 to 1996. He was
Chief Investment Officer of PNC Bank, N.A. from 1992 to 1996 and Director of
Provident Capital Management from 1993 to 1996.
The day-to-day management of the Large Cap Value Series, the Mid Cap Value
Series and the Small Cap Value Series is shared by a team of individuals
employed by the CRM. Ronald H. McGlynn and Jay B. Abramson are responsible for
the overall management of these Series. In addition, Michael A. Prober is part
of the team responsible for the management of Mid Cap Value Series; Scott L.
Scher and Christopher Fox are part of the team responsible for the management of
Small Cap Value Series; and Kevin M. Chin and Adam L. Starr are part of the team
responsible for the management of the Large Cap Value Series. Each portfolio
manager's business experience and educational background is as follows:
30
<PAGE>
RONALD H. MCGLYNN President and Chief Executive Officer since 1983 and
Co-Chief Investment Officer of CRM. He has been with CRM for twenty-five years
and is responsible for investment policy, portfolio management and investment
research. Prior to his association with CRM, Mr. McGlynn was a Portfolio Manager
at Oppenheimer & Co. He received a B.A. from Williams College and a M.B.A. from
Columbia University.
JAY B. ABRAMSON, CPA Executive Vice President since 1989 and Director of
Research and Co-Chief Investment Officer of CRM. He has been with CRM for twelve
years and is responsible for investment research and portfolio management. Mr.
Abramson received a B.S.E. and J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton
School and Law School, respectively, and is a Certified Public Accountant.
MICHAEL A. PROBER Vice President of CRM since 1993 where he is responsible for
investment research. Prior to joining CRM in 1993, he worked in corporate
finance and commercial banking at Chase Manhattan Bank and as a Research Analyst
for Alpha Capital Venture Partners. Mr. Prober received a B.B.A. from the
University of Michigan and an M.M. from the Northwestern University J.L. Kellogg
Graduate School of Management.
SCOTT L. SCHER, CFA Vice President of CRM since 1995 where he is responsible
for investment research. Prior to joining CRM in 1995, he worked as an
analyst/portfolio manager at The Prudential from 1988. Mr. Scher received a B.A.
from Harvard College, a M.B.A. from Columbia Business School and is a Chartered
Financial Analyst.
KEVIN M. CHIN is a Vice President at CRM. Kevin joined CRM in 1989. He is
responsible for investment research. Formerly, Kevin was a Financial Analyst for
the Mergers and Acquisitions Department of Morgan Stanley and a risk arbitrageur
with The First Boston Corporation. He received a BS from Columbia University
School of Engineering and Applied Science.
CHRISTOPHER S. FOX, CFA joined CRM in 1999 as a Vice President and has over
fifteen years experience in the Investment business. In 1995 Chris co-founded
Schaenen Fox Capital Management, LLC, a hedge fund with small cap value
investments. He previously was at Schaenen Wood & Associates, Inc. as Vice
President and Senior Manager/Analyst; Chemical Bank's Private Banking Division
as a portfolio manager and analyst; and Drexel Burnham Lambert, Inc. as a
financial analyst. Chris earned a BA in Economics from the State University of
New York at Albany and an MBA in Finance from New York University's Stern School
of Business.
ADAM L. STARR joined CRM in 1999 as a Vice President and is responsible for
investment research. Prior to CRM, he was a Partner and Portfolio Manager at
Weiss, Peck & Greer, LLC. Previously, he was an Analyst and Portfolio Manager at
Charter Oak Partners and First Manhattan Company. Adam earned an MBA from
Columbia University.
The day-to-day management of the Large Cap Growth Series is the responsibility
of Roxbury's Investment Committee. The Investment Committee meets regularly to
make investment decisions for the Series and relies on Roxbury's research team.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUB-ADVISERS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The International Multi-Manager Series has three sub-advisers, Clemente
Capital Inc., Invista Capital Management, LLC. and Scudder Kemper Investments,
Inc. Clemente, located at Carnegie Hall Tower, 152 West 57th Street, 25th Floor,
New York, New York 10019, registered as an investment adviser in 1979. Clemente
manages in excess of $620 million in assets. Leopoldo M. Clemente, President and
Chief Investment Officer
31
<PAGE>
serves as portfolio manager for the portion of the International Multi-Manager
Series' assets under Clemente's management. Mr. Clemente has been responsible
for portfolio management and security selection for the past eight years.
Invista, located at 1800 Hub Tower, 699 Walnut Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50309,
is a registered investment adviser organized in 1984. Invista is an indirect,
wholly owned subsidiary of Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company. Invista
manages in excess of $26 billion in assets, of which approximately $3.8 billion
are in foreign equities in separately managed accounts and mutual funds for
public funds, corporations, endowments and foundations, insurance companies and
individuals. Scott D. Opsal, CFA, Executive Vice President and lead portfolio
manager of international equities for Invista, is the portfolio manager for the
portion of the International Multi-Manager Series under Invista's management.
Mr. Opsal joined Invista at its inception in 1985 and assumed his current
responsibilities in 1993. Before 1993, his responsibilities included security
analysis and portfolio management activities for various U.S. equity portfolios,
managing the firm's convertible securities and overseeing Invista's index fund
and derivatives positions. Kurtis D. Spieler, CFA, Vice President and manager of
the firm's dedicated emerging market portfolios, is Mr. Opsal's backup. Mr.
Spieler has been Invista's emerging markets portfolio manager since joining
Invista in 1995.
Scudder Kemper, located at 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154, was
founded as America's first independent investment counselor and has served as
investment adviser, administrator and distributor of mutual funds since 1928.
Scudder Kemper manages in excess of $200 billion in assets, with approximately
$30 billion of those assets in foreign investments in separately managed
accounts for pension funds, foundations, educational institutions and government
entities and in open-end and closed-end investment companies. Irene T. Cheng
serves as the lead portfolio manager for the portion of the International
Multi-Manager Series' assets under Scudder Kemper's management. Ms. Cheng has
been in the asset management business for over nine years and joined Scudder
Kemper as a portfolio manager in 1993.
32
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SERVICE PROVIDERS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The chart below provides information on the Portfolios' primary service
providers.
Asset Shareholder
Management Services
---------------------------------- -------------------------------
INVESTMENT ADVISERS
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY TRANSFER AGENT
RODNEY SQUARE NORTH PFPC INC.
1100 N. MARKET STREET 400 BELLEVUE PARKWAY
WILMINGTON, DE 19890-0001 WILMINGTON, DE 19809
CRAMER ROSENTHAL MCGLYNN, LLC
707 WESTCHESTER AVENUE Handles shareholder services,
WHITE PLAINS, NY 10604 including recordkeeping and
ROXBURY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC statements, payment of
100 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD, SUITE 600 distributions and processing
SANTA MONICA, CA 90401 of buy and sell requests.
Manages each Portfolio's
investment activities.
---------------------------------- -------------------------------
----------------
WT MUTUAL FUND
----------------
Fund Asset
Operations Safe Keeping
--------------------------- --------------------------------
ADMINISTRATOR AND CUSTODIAN
ACCOUNTING AGENT WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
PFPC INC. 1100 N. MARKET STREET
400 BELLEVUE PARKWAY WILMINGTON, DE 19890
WILMINGTON, DE 19809 BANKERS TRUST
(INTERNATIONAL MULTI-MANAGER
Provides facilities, PORTFOLIO ONLY)[ADDRESS]
equipment and personnel to 130 LIBERTY STREET
carry out administrative NEW YORK, NY 10006
services related to each
Portfolio and calculates Holds each Portfolio's assets,
each Portfolio's NAV per settles all portfolio trades and
share and distributions. collects most of the valuation
data required for calculating
each Portfolio's NAV per share.
--------------------------- --------------------------------
33
<PAGE>
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRICING OF SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Portfolios value their assets based on current market values when such
values are available. These prices normally are supplied by a pricing service.
Any assets held by a Portfolio that are denominated in foreign currencies are
valued daily in U.S. dollars at the foreign currency exchange rates that are
prevailing at the time that PFPC determines the daily net asset value. To
determine the value of those securities, PFPC may use a pricing service that
takes into account not only developments related to specific securities, but
also transactions in comparable securities. Securities that do not have a
readily available current market value are valued in good faith under the
direction of the Board of Trustees.
PLAIN TALK
========================================================================
WHAT IS THE NET ASSET VALUE OR "NAV"?
NAV = Assets -- Liabilities
---------------------
Outstanding Shares
========================================================================
PFPC determines the NAV per share of each Portfolio as of the close of regular
trading on the New York Stock Exchange (currently 4:00 p.m. Eastern time), on
each Business Day (a day that the Exchange, the Transfer Agent and the
Philadelphia branch of the Federal Reserve Bank are open for business). The NAV
is calculated by adding the value of all securities and other assets in a
Portfolio, deducting its liabilities and dividing the balance by the number of
outstanding shares in that Portfolio.
Shares will not be priced on those days the Portfolios are closed. As of the
date of this prospectus, those days are:
New Year's Day Memorial Day Veterans' Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Independence Day Thanksgiving Day
President's Day Labor Day Christmas Day
Good Friday Columbus Day
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PURCHASE OF SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLAIN TALK
========================================================================
HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES:
(BULLET) Directly by mail or by wire
(BULLET) As a client of WTC through a trust account or a corporate cash
management account
(BULLET) As a client of a Service Organization
========================================================================
34
<PAGE>
Portfolio shares are offered on a continuous basis and are sold without any
sales charges. The minimum initial investment in Institutional class shares of
each Portfolio is $1,000. Additional investments in any Portfolio may be made in
any amount. You may purchase shares as specified below.
You may also purchase shares if you are a client of WTC through your trust or
corporate cash management accounts. If you are a client of an institution (such
as a bank or broker-dealer) that has entered into a servicing agreement with the
distributor ("Service Organization"), you may also purchase shares through such
Service Organization. You should also be aware that you may be charged a fee by
WTC or the Service Organization in connection with your investment in the
Portfolios. If you wish to purchase Portfolio shares through your account at WTC
or a Service Organization, you should contact that entity directly for
information and instructions on purchasing shares.
BY MAIL: You may purchase shares by sending a check drawn on a U.S. bank
payable to Wilmington Equity Portfolios, indicating the name of the Portfolio,
along with a completed application (included at the end of this prospectus). If
a subsequent investment is being made, the check should also indicate your
Portfolio account number. When you make purchases by check, each Portfolio may
withhold payment on redemptions until it is reasonably satisfied that the funds
are collected (which can take up to 10 days). If you purchase shares with a
check that does not clear, your purchase will be canceled and you will be
responsible for any losses or fees incurred in that transaction. Send the check
and application to:
Regular mail: Overnight mail:
------------- ---------------
Wilmington Equity Portfolios Wilmington Equity Portfolios
c/o PFPC Inc. c/o PFPC Inc.
P.O. Box 8951 400 Bellevue Parkway, Suite 108
Wilmington, DE 19899 Wilmington, DE 19809
BY WIRE: You may purchase shares by wiring federal funds readily available.
Please call PFPC at (800) 336-9970 for instructions and to make specific
arrangements before making a purchase by wire, and if making an initial
purchase, to also obtain an account number.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING PURCHASES: Purchase orders received by the
Transfer Agent before the close of regular trading on the Exchange on any
Business Day will be priced at the NAV that is determined as of the close of
trading. Purchase orders received after the close of regular trading on the
Exchange will be priced as of the close of regular trading on the following
Business Day.
Any purchase order may be rejected if a Portfolio determines that accepting
the order would not be in the best interest of the Portfolio or its
shareholders.
It is the responsibility of WTC or the Service Organization to transmit orders
for the purchase of shares by its customers to the Transfer Agent and to deliver
required funds on a timely basis, in accordance with the procedures stated
above.
For information on other ways to purchase shares, including through an
individual retirement account (IRA), an automatic investment plan or a payroll
investment plan, please refer to the Statement of Additional Information.
35
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REDEMPTION OF SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLAIN TALK
========================================================================
HOW TO REDEEM (SELL) SHARES:
(BULLET) By mail
(BULLET) By telephone
========================================================================
You may sell your shares on any Business Day, as described below. Redemptions
are effected at the NAV next determined after the Transfer Agent has received
your redemption request. There is no fee when Portfolio shares are redeemed. It
is the responsibility of WTC or the Service Organization to transmit redemption
orders and credit their customers' accounts with redemption proceeds on a timely
basis. Redemption checks are mailed on the next Business Day following receipt
by the Transfer Agent of redemption instructions, but never later than 7 days
following such receipt. Amounts redeemed by wire are normally wired on the date
of receipt of redemption instructions or the next Business Day if received after
4:00 p.m. Eastern time, or on a non-Business Day, but never later than 7 days
following such receipt. If you purchased your shares through an account at WTC
or a Service Organization, you should contact WTC or the Service Organization
for information relating to redemptions. The Portfolio's name and your account
number should accompany any redemption requests.
BY MAIL: If you redeem your shares by mail, you should submit written
instructions with a "signature guarantee." A signature guarantee verifies the
authenticity of your signature. You can obtain one from most banking
institutions or securities brokers, but not from a notary public. You must
indicate the Portfolio name, your account number and your name. The written
instructions and signature guarantee should be mailed to:
Regular mail: Overnight mail:
------------- ---------------
Wilmington Equity Portfolios Wilmington Equity Portfolios
c/o PFPC Inc. c/o PFPC Inc.
P.O. Box 8951 400 Bellevue Parkway, Suite 108
Wilmington, DE 19899 Wilmington, DE 19809
BY TELEPHONE: If you prefer to redeem your shares by telephone you may elect
to do so. However there are certain risks. The Portfolios have certain
safeguards and procedures to confirm the identity of callers and to confirm that
the instructions communicated are genuine. If such procedures are followed, you
will bear the risk of any losses.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING REDEMPTIONS: Redemption proceeds may be wired
to your predesignated bank account in any commercial bank in the United States
if the amount is $1,000 or more. The receiving bank may charge a fee for this
service. Proceeds may also be mailed to your bank or, for amounts of $10,000 or
less, mailed to your Portfolio account address of record if the address has been
established for at least 60 days. In order to authorize the Transfer Agent to
mail redemption proceeds to your Portfolio account address of record, complete
the appropriate section of the Application for Telephone Redemptions or include
your Portfolio account address of record when you submit written instructions.
You may change the account that you have designated to
36
<PAGE>
receive amounts redeemed at any time. Any request to change the account
designated to receive redemption proceeds should be accompanied by a guarantee
of your signature by an eligible institution. A signature and a signature
guarantee are required for each person in whose name the account is registered.
Further documentation will be required to change the designated account when a
corporation, other organization, trust, fiduciary or other institutional
investor holds the Portfolio shares.
If the shares to be redeemed represent a recent investment made by check, the
Portfolio reserves the right not to send the redemption proceeds until it
believes that the check has been collected (which could take up to 10 days).
SMALL ACCOUNTS: If the value of your Portfolio account falls below $500, the
Portfolio may ask you to increase your balance. If the account value is still
below $500 after 60 days, the Portfolio may close your account and send you the
proceeds. The Portfolio will not close your account if it falls below $500
solely as a result of a reduction in your account's market value.
The Mid Cap Value, Small Cap Value and Large Cap Value Portfolios reserve the
right to make "redemptions in kind" -- payments of redemption proceeds in
portfolio securities rather than cash -- if the amount redeemed is large enough
to affect their respective Series' operations (for example, if it represents
more than 1% of the Series' assets).
For additional information on other ways to redeem shares, please refer to the
Statement of Additional Information.
37
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXCHANGE OF SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLAIN TALK
========================================================================
WHAT IS AN EXCHANGE OF SHARES?
An exchange of shares allows you to move your money from one fund to
another fund within a family of funds.
========================================================================
You may exchange all or a portion of your shares in a Portfolio for
Institutional class shares of the following Portfolios:
Wilmington Prime Money Market Portfolio
Wilmington Premier Money Market Portfolio
Wilmington U.S. Government Portfolio
Wilmington Tax-Exempt Portfolio
Wilmington Short/Intermediate Bond Portfolio
Wilmington Intermediate Bond Portfolio
Wilmington Municipal Bond Portfolio
Wilmington Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Wilmington Large Cap Core Portfolio
Wilmington Small Cap Core Portfolio
Wilmington International Multi-Manager Portfolio
Wilmington Large Cap Value Portfolio
Wilmington Mid Cap Value Portfolio
Wilmington Small Cap Value Portfolio
Redemption of shares through an exchange will be effected at the NAV per share
next determined after the Transfer Agent receives your request. A purchase of
shares through an exchange will be effected at the NAV per share determined at
that time or as next determined thereafter.
Exchange transactions will be subject to the minimum initial investment and
other requirements of the Portfolio into which the exchange is made. An exchange
may not be made if the exchange would leave a balance in a shareholder's account
of less than $500.
To obtain prospectuses of the other Portfolios, you may call (800) 336-9970.
To obtain more information about exchanges, or to place exchange orders, contact
the Transfer Agent, or, if your shares are held in a trust account with WTC or
in an account with a Service Organization, contact WTC or the Service
Organization. The Portfolios may terminate or modify the exchange offer
described here and will give you 60 days' notice of such termination or
modification. This exchange offer is valid only in those jurisdictions where the
sale of Portfolio shares to be acquired through such exchange may be legally
made.
38
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISTRIBUTIONS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLAIN TALK
========================================================================
WHAT IS NET INVESTMENT INCOME?
Net investment income consists of interest and dividends earned by a
fund on its investments less accrued expenses.
========================================================================
Distributions from the net investment income of each Portfolio are declared
and paid annually to you. Any net capital gain realized by a Portfolio will be
distributed annually. Net realized gains or losses from foreign currency
transactions in the International Multi-Manager Portfolio are included as a
component of net investment income.
Distributions are payable to the shareholders of record at the time the
distributions are declared (including holders of shares being redeemed, but
excluding holders of shares being purchased). All distributions are reinvested
in additional shares, unless you have elected to receive the distributions in
cash.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAXES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As long as a Portfolio meets the requirements for being a "regulated
investment company," it pays no Federal income tax on the earnings and gains it
distributes to shareholders. While each Portfolio may invest in securities that
earn interest exempt from Federal income tax, the Portfolios invest primarily in
taxable securities. Each Portfolio will notify you following the end of the
calendar year of the amount of dividends and other distributions paid that year.
The Portfolios distributions of net investment income, whether recieved in
cash or reinvested in additional Portfolio shares, are generally taxable to you
as ordinary income. The Portfolios' distributions of net capital gain, whether
received in cash or reinvested in additional Portfolio shares, are taxable to
you as long-term capital gain, regardless of the length of time you have held
your shares. You should be aware that if Portfolio shares are purchased shortly
before the record date for any dividend or net capital gain distribution, you
will pay the full price for the shares and will receive some portion of the
price back as a taxable distribution. Each of the Large Cap Growth Portfolio,
the Small Cap Core Portfolio and the International Multi-Manager Portfolio
anticipates the distribution of net capital gain. Each of the Large Cap Value
Portfolio, the Mid Cap Value Portfolio and the Small Cap Value Portfolio
anticipates the distribution of net investment income.
It is a taxable event for you if you sell or exchange shares of any Portfolio.
Depending on the purchase price and the sale price of the shares you exchange,
you may have a taxable gain or loss on the transaction. You are responsible for
any tax liability generated by your transactions.
STATE AND LOCAL INCOME TAXES: You should consult your tax adviser concerning
state and local taxes, which may have different consequences from those of the
Federal income law.
This section is only a summary of some important income tax considerations
that may affect your investment in a Portfolio. More information regarding those
considerations appears in our Statement of Additional Information. You are urged
to consult your tax adviser regarding the effects of an investment on your tax
situation.
39
<PAGE>
DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS
The Distributor manages the Portfolios' distribution efforts and provides
assistance and expertise in developing marketing plans and materials, enters
into dealer agreement with broker-dealers to sell shares and provides
shareholder support services, directly or through affiliates. The Portfolios do
not charge any sales loads, deferred sales loads or other fees in connection
with the purchase of shares.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MASTER/FEEDER STRUCTURE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other institutional investors, including other mutual funds, may invest in the
master funds. The master/feeder structure enables various institutional
investors, including a Portfolio, to pool their assets, which may be expected to
result in economies by spreading certain fixed costs over a larger asset base.
Each shareholder of a master fund, including a Portfolio, will pay its
proportionate share of the master fund's expenses.
For reasons relating to costs or a change in investment goal, among others, a
Portfolio could switch to another master fund or decide to manage its assets
itself. No Portfolio is currently contemplating such a move.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SHARE CLASSES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Portfolios issue Investor and Institutional classes of shares. The
Institutional class is offered to retirement plans. The Investor class pays an
additional 12b-1 fee. Any investor may purchase Investor class shares.
40
<PAGE>
FOR MORE INFORMATION
FOR INVESTORS WHO WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE PORTFOLIOS, THE FOLLOWING
DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE FREE UPON REQUEST:
ANNUAL/SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTS: Contain performance data and information on
portfolio holdings, operating results and a discussion of the market conditions
and investment strategies that significantly affected a Portfolio's performance
for the most recently completed fiscal year or half-year.
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI): Provides a complete technical and
legal description of a Portfolio's policies, investment restrictions, risks, and
business structure. This prospectus incorporates the SAI by reference.
Copies of these documents and answers to questions about the Portfolios may be
obtained without charge by contacting:
WT Mutual Fund
c/o PFPC Inc.
400 Bellevue Parkway
Suite 108
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
(800) 336-9970
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Eastern time
Information about the Portfolios (including the SAI) can be reviewed and
copied at the Public Reference Room of the Securities and Exchange Commission in
Washington, D.C. Copies of this information may be obtained, upon payment of a
duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address:
[email protected], or by writing the Public Reference Room of the SEC,
Washington, DC, 20549-0102. Information on the operation of the Public Reference
Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-(202)-942-8090. Reports and other
information about the Portfolios may be viewed on-screen or downloaded from the
SEC's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OPENING A NEW ACCOUNT, MAKING CHANGES TO EXISTING
ACCOUNTS, PURCHASING, EXCHANGING OR REDEEMING SHARES, OR OTHER INVESTOR
SERVICES, PLEASE CALL 1-(800)-336-9970.
The investment company registration number for WT Mutual Fund is 811-08648.
41
<PAGE>
[THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]
<PAGE>
[GRAPHIC OMITTED] 11/99
[WILMINGTON FUNDS LOGO]
WILMINGTON FUNDS
Equity
Portfolios
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
APPLICATION & NEW ACCOUNT REGISTRATION
INSTRUCTIONS: RETURN THIS COMPLETED FORM TO:
FOR WIRING INSTRUCTIONS OR FOR WILMINGTON EQUITY PORTFOLIOS
ASSISTANCE IN COMPLETING THIS C/O PFPC Inc.
FORM CALL (800) 336-9970 P.O. Box 8951
WILMINGTON, DE 19899-9752
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PORTFOLIO SELECTION ($1,000 MINIMUM)
[box] WILMINGTONLARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO $
----------------
[box] WILMINGTON LARGE CAP CORE PORTFOLIO $
----------------
[box] WILMINGTON SMALL CAP CORE PORTFOLIO $
----------------
[box] WILMINGTON LARGE CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO $
----------------
[box] WILMINGTON MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO $
----------------
[box] WILMINGTON SMALL CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO $
----------------
[box] WILMINGTON INTERNATIONAL
MULTI-MANAGER PORTFOLIO $
----------------
TOTAL AMOUNT TO BE INVESTED $
----------------
By check. (Make payable to the applicable Portfolio.)
---------
By wire. Call 1-800-336-9970 for Instructions.
---------
Bank from which funds will be wired wire date
------------------ ---------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACCOUNT REGISTRATION
1. Individual
------------- --- ---------------- ----------------------
First Name MI Last Name Customer Tax ID No.*
2. Joint Tenancy
------------- --- ---------------- ----------------------
First Name MI Last Name Customer Tax ID No.*
("Joint Tenants with Rights of Survivorship" unless otherwise Specified)
3. Gifts to Minors
Uniform
------------ -------------- under the ------ Gifts/Transfers
Minor's Name Customer Tax ID No.* State to Minors Act
4. Other Registration
--------------------------------------- -------------------
Customer Tax ID No.*
5. If Trust, Date of Trust Instrument:
------------------------------------------
As joint tenants use Lines 1 and 2; as custodian for a minor, use Lines 1 and
3. In the name of a corporation, trust or other organization or any fiduciary
capacity, use Line 4.
* Customer Tax Identification No.:(a) for an individual, joint tenants, or a
custodial account under the Uniform Gifts/Transfers to Minors Act, supply the
Social Security number of the registered account owner who is to be taxed; (b)
for a trust, a corporation, a partnership, an organization, a fiduciary, etc.,
supply the Employer Identification number of the legal entity or organization
that will report income and/or gains.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADDRESS OF RECORD
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Street
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
City State Zip Code
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISTRIBUTION OPTIONS -- If these boxes are not checked, all distributions will
be invested in additional shares.
Pay Cash for:
Income Dividends Other
WILMINGTON LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO [box] [box]
WILMINGTON LARGE CAP CORE PORTFOLIO [box] [box]
WILMINGTON SMALL CAP CORE PORTFOLIO [box] [box]
WILMINGTON LARGE CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO [box] [box]
WILMINGTON MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO [box] [box]
WILMINGTON SMALL CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO [box] [box]
WILMINGTON INTERNATIONAL
MULTI-MANAGER PORTFOLIO [box] [box]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CERTIFICATIONS AND SIGNATURE(S) -- Please sign exactly as registered under
"Account Registration."
I have received and read the Prospectus for the Wilmington Equity Portfolios
and agree to its terms; I am of legal age.I understand that the shares offered
by this Prospectus are not deposits of, or guaranteed by, Wilmington Trust
Company, or any other bank, nor are the shares insured by theFederal Deposit
Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other agency.I further
understand that investment in these shares involves investment risks, including
possible loss of principal. If a corporate customer, I certify that appropriate
corporate resolutions authorizing investment in the Wilmington Equity Portfolios
have been duly adopted.
I certify under penalties of perjury that the Social Security number or
taxpayer identification number shown above is correct. Unless the box below is
checked, I certify under penalties of perjury that I am not subject to backup
withholding because the InternalRevenue Service (a) has not notified me that I
am as a result of failure to report all interest or dividends, or (b) has
notified me that I am no longer subject to backup withholding. The
certifications in this paragraph are required from all nonexempt persons to
prevent backup withholding of 31% of all taxable distributions and gross
redemption proceeds under the federal income tax law.
[box] Check here if you are subject to backup withholding.
Signature Date
------------------------------------- ----------------------------
Signature Date
------------------------------------- ----------------------------
Joint Owner/Trustee
Check one: [box] Owner [box] Trustee [box] Custodian [box] Other
----------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IDENTIFICATION OF SERVICE ORGANIZATION
We authorize the Transfer Agent, and the Distributor in the case of transactions
by telephone, to act as our agents in connection with transactions authorized by
this order form.
Service Organization Name and Code
-------------------------------------- [boxes]
Branch Address and Code
------------------------------------------------- [boxes]
Representative or Other EmployeeCode
------------------------------------ [boxes]
Authorized Signature of Service Organization Telephone( )
----------- ------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
[GRAPHIC OMITTED] 11/99
[WILMINGTON FUNDS LOGO]
WILMINGTON FUNDS
Equity
Portfolios
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
APPLICATION for TELEPHONE REDEMPTION OPTION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Telephone redemption permits redemption of fund shares by telephone, with
proceeds directed only to the fund account address of record or to the bank
account designated below.For investments by check, telephone redemption is
available only after these shares have been on the Fund's books for 10 days.
This form is to be used to add or change the telephone redemption option on your
Wilmington Funds account(s).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACCOUNT INFORMATION
Portfolio Name(s):
-----------------------------------------------------------
Fund Account Number(s):
------------------------------------------------------
(Please provide if you are a current account holder:)
REGISTERED IN THE NAME(S) OF:
--------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------
REGISTERED ADDRESS:
--------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------
Note: If this form is not submitted together with the application, a corporate
resolution must be included for accounts registered to other than an individual,
a fiduciary or partnership.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REDEMPTION INSTRUCTIONS
[box] Add [box] Change
Check one or more:
[box] Mail proceeds to my fund account address of record (must be $10,000 or
less and address must be established for a minimum of 60 days)
[box] Mail proceeds to my bank
[box] Wire proceeds to my bank (minimum $1,000)
[box] All of the above
Telephone redemption by wire can be used only with financial institutions that
are participants in the Federal Reserve Bank WireSystem. If the financial
institution you designate is not a Federal Reserve participant, telephone
redemption proceeds will be mailed to the named financial institution. In either
case, it may take a day or two, upon receipt for your financial institution to
credit your bank account with the proceeds, depending on its internal crediting
procedures.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BANK INFORMATION
Please complete the following information only if proceeds mailed/wired to your
bank was selected. A VOIDED BANK CHECK MUST BE ATTACHED TO THIS APPLICATION.
Name of Bank
--------------------------------------------------------
Bank Routing Transit #
--------------------------------------------------------
Bank Address
--------------------------------------------------------
City/State/Zip
--------------------------------------------------------
Bank Account Number
--------------------------------------------------------
Name(s) on BankAccount
--------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AUTHORIZATIONS
By electing the telephone redemption option, I appoint the Transfer Agent my
agent to redeem shares of any designated fund when so instructed by telephone.
This power will continue if I am disabled or incapacitated.I understand that a
request for telephone redemption may be made by anyone, but the proceeds will
be sent only to the account address of record or to the bank listed above.
Proceeds in excess of $10,000 will only be sent to my predesignated bank. By
signing below,I agree on behalf of myself, my assigns, and successors, not to
hold the Transfer Agent and any of its affiliates, or any fund responsible for
acting under the powers I have given the Transfer Agent.I also agree that all
account and registration information I have given will remain the same unlessI
instruct the Transfer Agent otherwise in a written form, including a signature
guarantee.If I want to terminate this agreement, I will give the Transfer
Agent at least ten days notice in writing.If the Transfer Agent or the fund
want to terminate this agreement, they will give me at least ten days notice
in writing.
ALL OWNERS ON THE ACCOUNT MUST SIGN BELOW AND OBTAIN SIGNATURE GUARANTEE(S).
------------------------------ ---------------------------------
Signature of Individual Owner Signature of Joint Owner (if any)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Signature of Corporate Officer, Trustee or other -- please include your title
You must have a signature(s) guaranteed by an eligible institution acceptable
to the Fund's transfer agent, such as a bank or trust company, broker/dealer,
clearing agency or savings association who are participants in a medallion
program recognized by the Securities Transfer Association. ANotary Public is
not an acceptable guarantor.For more information on signature guarantees, see
"Redemption of Shares" in the prospectus.
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE(S) (stamp)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
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<PAGE>
[THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]
<PAGE>
THE WILMINGTON LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON LARGE CAP CORE PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON SMALL CAP CORE PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON LARGE CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON SMALL CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON INTERNATIONAL MULTI-MANAGER PORTFOLIO
OF WT MUTUAL FUND
INVESTOR SHARES
================================================================================
PROSPECTUS DATED NOVEMBER 1, 2000
This prospectus gives vital information about these mutual funds, including
information on investment policies, risks and fees. For your own benefit and
protection, please read it before you invest, and keep it on hand for future
reference.
Please note that these mutual funds:
o are not bank deposits
o are not obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed by Wilmington Trust
Company or any of its affiliates
o are not federally insured
o are not obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed or otherwise supported by
the U.S. Government, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal
Reserve Board or any other governmental agency
o are not guaranteed to achieve their goal(s)
Like all mutual fund shares, these securities have not been approved or
disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission nor has the Securities and
Exchange Commission determined whether this prospectus is accurate or complete.
Anyone who tells you otherwise is committing a crime.
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A LOOK AT THE GOALS, STRATEGIES, PORTFOLIO DESCRIPTION
RISKS, EXPENSES AND FINANCIAL Summary....................................1
HISTORY OF EACH PORTFOLIO. Performance Information....................3
Fees and Expenses..........................7
Investment Objectives......................9
Primary Investment Strategies..............9
Additional Risk Information...............17
Financial Highlights......................19
DETAILS ABOUT THE SERVICE MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
PROVIDERS. Investment Advisers.......................20
Portfolio Managers........................21
Service Providers.........................24
POLICIES AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
OPENING, MAINTAINING AND Pricing of Shares.........................26
CLOSING AN ACCOUNT IN ANY OF Purchase of Shares........................26
THE PORTFOLIOS. Redemption of Shares......................28
Exchange of Shares........................29
Distributions.............................30
Taxes.....................................30
DETAILS ON DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS
PLANS AND THE PORTFOLIOS' Rule 12b-1 Fees...........................31
MASTER/FEEDER FUND Master/Feeder Structure...................32
ARRANGEMENT. Share Classes.............................32
FOR MORE INFORMATION..............back cover
For information about key terms and concepts, look for our "PLAIN TALK"
explanations.
<PAGE>
THE WILMINGTON LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON LARGE CAP CORE PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON SMALL CAP CORE PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON LARGE CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON SMALL CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON INTERNATIONAL MULTI-MANAGER PORTFOLIO
INVESTOR SHARES
PORTFOLIO DESCRIPTION
PLAIN TALK
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WHAT IS A MUTUAL FUND?
A mutual fund pools shareholders' money and, using a professional
investment manager, invests it in securities like stocks and bonds.
Each Portfolio is a separate mutual fund.
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SUMMARY
PLAIN TALK
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WHAT IS "CAP"?
Cap or the market capitalization of a company means the value of the
company's common stock in the stock market.
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Investment Objective o The LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the SMALL CAP
CORE PORTFOLIO each seek superior long-term growth
of capital.
o The LARGE CAP CORE PORTFOLIO, the LARGE CAP VALUE
PORTFOLIO, the MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO and the SMALL
CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO each seek to achieve long-term
capital appreciation.
o The INTERNATIONAL MULTI-MANAGER PORTFOLIO seeks
superior long-term capital appreciation.
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Investment Focus o Equity (or related) securities
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Share Price Volatility o Moderate to high
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Principal Investment o Each Portfolio operates as a "feeder fund" which
Strategy means that the Portfolio does not buy individual
securities directly. Instead, it invests in a
corresponding mutual fund or "master fund," which in
turn purchases investment securities. The Portfolios
invest all of their assets in master funds which are
separate series of WT Investment Trust I. Each
Portfolio and its corresponding Series have the same
investment objective, policies and limitations.
o The LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO invests in the WT
Large Cap Growth Series, which invests at least 65%
of its total assets in a diversified portfolio of
U.S. equity (or related) securities of corporations
with a market cap of $2 billion or more, which have
above average earnings potential compared to the
securities market as a whole. The Series' adviser
purchases stock it believes exhibit consistent,
above-average earnings growth, superior quality and
attractive risk/reward characteristics. The adviser
analyzes the Stocks of over 2000 companies using a
bottom-up approach to search for high quality
companies which are growing at about double the
market's average rate. The adviser generally sells
stocks when the risk/rewards of a stock turn
negative, when company fundamentals deteriorate, and
when a stock under performs the market or its peer
group.
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o The LARGE CAP CORE PORTFOLIO invests in the Large
Cap Core Series, which invests at least 65% of its
total assets, under normal conditions, primarily in
a diversified portfolio of U.S. equity (or related)
securities of medium and large cap corporations. The
Series' investment adviser employs a combined growth
and value investment approach and invests in the
stocks of companies with the most attractive
combination of long-term earnings, growth and
valuation.
o The SMALL CAP CORE PORTFOLIO invests in the Small
Cap Core Series, which invests at least 65% of its
total assets in a diversified portfolio of U.S.
equity (or related) securities with a market cap
which, at the time of purchase, is less than that of
the largest stock in the Russell 2000 Index. The
Series' investment adviser employs a combined growth
and value investment approach and invests in the
stocks of companies with the most attractive
combination of long-term earnings, growth and
valuation.
o The INTERNATIONAL MULTI-MANAGER PORTFOLIO invests in
the International Multi-Manager Series, which
invests at least 85% of its total assets in a
diversified portfolio of equity (or related)
securities of foreign issuers. The Series' adviser
allocates the Series' assets among three
sub-advisers; the sub-advisers select stocks to be
purchased or sold by the Series based upon
fundamental research, country and trend analysis and
whether the stocks are undervalued or have above
average growth potential.
o The LARGE CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO invests in the Large
Cap Value Series, which invests at least 65% of its
total assets in a diversified portfolio of U.S.
equity (or related) securities with a market cap of
$10 billion or higher at the time of purchase. The
Series invests in securities believed to be
undervalued as compared to the company's potential
profitability, and invests in stocks which are
ignored by financial analysts. The Series' adviser
looks for companies facing dynamic changes such as
merger or acquisition, restructuring, change of
management, or other type of change in operation,
financing or management. The series' adviser sets
valuation parameters using relative ratios and
target prices. The adviser seeks stocks believed to
have a greater upside potential than downside risk
over an 18 to 24 month holding period. The Series'
adviser sells a stock when its target price has been
reached, and when company fundamentals do not change
within the stock holding period to bring the stock
to its target price.
o The MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO invests in the Mid Cap
Value Series, which invests at least 65% of its
total assets in a diversified portfolio of U.S.
equity (or related) securities with a market cap
between $1 and $10 billion at the time of purchase.
The Series invests in securities believed to be
undervalued as compared to the company's potential
profitability. The Series' adviser buys and sells
stocks based upon the same considerations described
above for Large Cap Value Portfolio.
o The SMALL CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO invests in the Small
Cap Value Series, which invests at least 65% of its
total assets in a diversified portfolio of U.S.
equity (or related) securities with a market cap of
$1 billion or less at the time of purchase. The
Series invests in securities believed to be
undervalued as compared to the company's potential
profitability. The Series' adviser buys and sells
stocks based upon the same considerations described
above for Large Cap Value Portfolio.
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Principal Risks The Portfolios are subject to the
following risks summarized below which are further
described under "Additional Risk Information." o An
investment in a Portfolio is not a deposit of
Wilmington Trust Company or any of its affiliates
and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other
government agency. o It is possible to lose money by
investing in a Portfolio. o A Portfolio's share
price will fluctuate in response to changes in the
market value of the Portfolio's investments. Market
value changes result from business developments
affecting an issuer as well as general market and
economic conditions.
----------------------------------------------------
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o Small cap companies may be more vulnerable than
larger companies to adverse business or economic
developments, and their securities may be less
liquid and more volatile than securities of larger
companies.
o The International Multi-Manager Portfolio is subject
to foreign security risk and the risk of losses
caused by changes in foreign currency exchange
rates.
o The International Multi-Manager Portfolio is not
authorized to depart from its primary investment
policies and temporarily pursue a defensive
investment policy, even during periods of declining
markets. Consequently, they are subject to a greater
risk of capital loss if adverse market conditions
arise and persist in the future than funds which are
permitted to adopt a defensive position.
o Growth-oriented investments may be more volatile
than the rest of the U.S. stock market as a whole.
o A value-oriented investment approach is subject to
the risk that a security believed to be undervalued
does not appreciate in value as anticipated.
o The performance of a Portfolio will depend on
whether or not the adviser or sub-adviser is
successful in pursuing an investment strategy.
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Investor Profile Investors who want the value of their investment to grow
and who are willing to accept more volatility for the
possibility of higher returns.
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PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
WILMINGTON LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO
The chart below shows the changes in annual total returns for the Large Cap
Growth Portfolio for the last 10 calendar years of the Portfolio through
December 31, 1999. The information shows you how the Portfolio's performance has
varied year by year and provides some indication of the risks of investing in
the Portfolio. Until February 23, 1998, the Portfolio invested in both large and
small capitalization securities. The Portfolio's investment policy now calls for
investments to be made exclusively in large capitalization equity securities
with strong growth characteristics. Accordingly, the Portfolio's historical
performance may not reflect its current investment practices. Past performance
is not necessarily an indicator of how the Portfolio will perform in the future.
[EDGAR presentation of data points]
1990 -7.15%
1991 41.54%
1992 5.95%
1993 14.57%
1994 -0.23%
1995 28.43%
1996 24.25%
1997 27.50%
1998 23.58%
1999 48.10%
2000 Total Return as of September 30: -3.91%
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<PAGE>
THIS BAR CHART SHOWS CHANGES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO'S INSTITUTIONAL
SHARES FROM CALENDAR YEAR TO CALENDAR YEAR. THE BAR CHART DOES NOT REFLECT
DEDUCTIONS FOR RULE 12B-1 DISTRIBUTION FEES; IF SUCH AMOUNTS WERE REFLECTED,
RETURNS WOULD BE LESS.
BEST QUARTER WORST QUARTER
41.39% -4.08%
(December 31, 1999) (September 30, 1999)
PLAIN TALK
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WHAT IS AN INDEX?
An index is a broad measure of the market performance of a specific
group of securities in a particular market, or securities in a market
sector. You cannot invest directly in an index. An index does not have
an investment adviser and does not pay any commissions or expenses. If
an index had expenses, its performance would be lower.
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Institutional Shares
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/99 1 YEAR 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
------------------------------------- ------ ------- --------
Large Cap Growth Portfolio 48.10% 30.08% 19.48%
Russell 1000 Growth Index* 33.16% 32.42% 20.32%
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* The Russell 1000 Growth Index is formed by assigning a style composite score
to all of the companies in the Russell 1000 Index, a passive index that includes
the largest 1,000 stocks in the U.S. as measured by market capitalization, to
determine their growth or value characteristics. Approximately 70% of the stocks
are placed in either a growth or value index. The remaining stocks are placed in
both indices with a weight proportional to their growth or value
characteristics.
PLAIN TALK
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WHAT IS TOTAL RETURN?
Total return is a measure of the per-share change in the total value of
a fund's portfolio, including any distributions paid to you. It is
measured from the beginning to the end of a specific time period.
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WILMINGTON LARGE CAP CORE PORTFOLIO
The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and
volatility of an investment in the Portfolio. Of course, past performance does
not necessarily indicate how the Portfolio will perform in the future.
[EDGAR presentation of data points]
1996 16.56%
1997 25.13%
1998 29.66%
1999 22.41%
2000 Total Return as of September 30: -2.03%
THIS BAR CHART SHOWS CHANGES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO'S INSTITUTIONAL
SHARES FROM CALENDAR YEAR TO CALENDAR YEAR. THE BAR CHART DOES NOT REFLECT
DEDUCTIONS FOR RULE 12B-1 DISTRIBUTION FEES; IF SUCH AMOUNTS WERE REFLECTED,
RETURNS WOULD BE LESS.
BEST QUARTER WORST QUARTER
21.62% -9.56%
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<PAGE>
(December 31, 1998) (September 30, 1998)
Institutional Shares SINCE INCEPTION
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/99 1 YEAR (JANUARY 5, 1995)
------------------------------------- ------ ---------------
Large Cap Core Portfolio 22.41% 23.99%
S&P 500 Index* 21.04% 28.43%
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* The S&P 500 Index is the Standard and Poor's Composite Index of 500 Stocks, a
widely recognized, unmanaged index of common stock prices.
WILMINGTON SMALL CAP CORE PORTFOLIO
The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and
volatility of an investment in the Portfolio and its predecessor the Small Cap
Stock Fund, a collective investment fund. The Small Cap Stock Fund's performance
has been included for the periods prior to July 1, 1998 and has been adjusted to
reflect the annual deduction of fees and expenses applicable to shares of the
Small Cap Equity Portfolio (i.e. adjusted to reflect anticipated expenses,
absent investment advisory fees waivers). The Small Cap Stock Fund was not
registered as a mutual fund under Investment Company Act of 1940 and therefore
was not subject to certain investment restrictions, limitations and
diversification requirements imposed by the 1940 Act and the Internal Revenue
Service Code. If the Small Cap Stock Fund had been registered under the 1940
Act, its performance may have been different. Of course, past performance does
not necessarily indicate how the Portfolio will perform in the future.
[EDGAR presentation of data points]
1998 -2.32%
1999 21.86%
2000 Total Return as of September 30: 17.52%
THIS BAR CHART SHOWS CHANGES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO'S INSTITUTIONAL
SHARES FROM CALENDAR YEAR TO CALENDAR YEAR. THE BAR CHART DOES NOT REFLECT
DEDUCTIONS FOR RULE 12B-1 DISTRIBUTION FEES; IF SUCH AMOUNTS WERE REFLECTED,
RETURNS WOULD BE LESS.
BEST QUARTER WORST QUARTER
22.77% -17.92%
(December 31, 1999) (June 30, 1998)
Institutional Shares SINCE INCEPTION
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/99 1 YEAR (APRIL 1, 1997)
------------------------------------- ------ ---------------
Small Cap Core Portfolio 21.86% 19.00%
Russell 2000 Index* 21.26% 16.58%
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* The Russell 2000 Index measures the performance of the 2,000 smallest
companies in the Russell 3000 Index, which represents approximately 8% of the
total market capitalization of the Russell 3000 Index. The Russell 3000 Index
measures the performance of the 3,000 largest U.S. companies based on total
market capitalization. The Index is unmanaged and reflects the reinvestment of
dividends.
WILMINGTON INTERNATIONAL MULTI-MANAGER PORTFOLIO
The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and
volatility of an investment in the Portfolio and its predecessor the
International Stock Fund, a collective investment fund. The International Stock
Fund's performance has been included for periods prior to July 1, 1998
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<PAGE>
and has been adjusted to reflect the annual deduction of fees and expenses
applicable to shares of the International Equity Portfolio (i.e. adjusted to
reflect anticipated expenses, absent investment advisory fees waivers). The
International Stock Fund was not registered as a mutual fund under the 1940 Act
and therefore was not subject to certain investment restrictions, limitations
and diversification requirements imposed by the 1940 Act and the Internal
Revenue Code. If the International Stock Fund had been registered under the 1940
Act, its performance may have been different. Of course, the past performance
does not necessarily indicate how the Portfolio will perform in the future.
[EDGAR presentation of data points]
1990 -15.39%
1991 14.63%
1992 -0.19%
1993 42.64%
1994 -1.36%
1995 7.30%
1996 8.60%
1997 3.43%
1998 13.48%
1999 41.72%
2000 Total Return as of September 30: -13.75%
THIS BAR CHART SHOWS CHANGES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO'S INSTITUTIONAL
SHARES FROM CALENDAR YEAR TO CALENDAR YEAR. THE BAR CHART DOES NOT REFLECT
DEDUCTIONS FOR RULE 12B-1 DISTRIBUTION FEES; IF SUCH AMOUNTS WERE REFLECTED,
RETURNS WOULD BE LESS.
BEST QUARTER WORST QUARTER
30.08% -22.76%
(December 31, 1999) (September 30, 1990)
Institutional Shares
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/99 1 YEAR 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
------------------------------------- ------ ------- --------
International Multi-Manager Portfolio 41.72% 14.15% 10.20%
Morgan Stanley Capital International Europe,
Australasia and Far East Index (MSCI EAFE)* 26.96% 12.83% 7.33%
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* The MSCI EAFE Index is an unmanaged index comprised of stocks of
approximately 1,100 companies listed on major stock exchanges in Europe,
Australasia and the Far East.
WILMINGTON LARGE CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO
The chart below shows the changes in annual total returns of complete calendar
years for the Portfolio, which commenced operations on June 29, 1998, and for
its predecessor the Value Stock Fund, a collective instrument fund, whose assets
were transferred into the Portfolio on June 29, 1998. The information shows you
how the Portfolio's performance has varied year by year and provides some
indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The Value Stock Fund's
performance has been adjusted to reflect the annual deduction of fees and
expenses applicable to shares of the Portfolio (i.e., adjusted to reflect
anticipated expenses, absent investment advisory fees waivers). The Value Stock
Fund was not registered as a mutual fund
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<PAGE>
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the "1940 Act") and
therefore was not subject to certain investment restrictions, limitations and
diversification requirements imposed by the 1940 Act and the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). If the Value Stock Fund had been
registered under the 1940 Act, its performance may have been different. Of
course, past performance does not necessarily indicate how the Portfolio will
perform in the future.
[EDGAR presentation of data points]
1992 13.49%
1993 13.75%
1994 -1.64%
1995 34.38%
1996 21.86%
1997 24.55%
1998 -2.75%
1999 3.02%
2000 Total Return as of September 30: 15.78%
THIS BAR CHART SHOWS CHANGES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO'S INSTITUTIONAL
SHARES FROM CALENDAR YEAR TO CALENDAR YEAR. THE BAR CHART DOES NOT REFLECT
DEDUCTIONS FOR RULE 12B-1 DISTRIBUTION FEES; IF SUCH AMOUNTS WERE REFLECTED,
RETURNS WOULD BE LESS.
BEST QUARTER WORST QUARTER
13.48% -10.62%
(June 30, 1997) (September 30, 1998)
Institutional Shares SINCE INCEPTION
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/99 1 YEAR 5 YEARS (DECEMBER 1, 1991)
------------------------------------- ------ ------- ------------------
Large Cap Value Portfolio 3.02% 15.37% 13.70%
Russell 1000 Value Index* 7.35% 23.07% 20.86%
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* The Russell 1000 Value Index measures the performance of the 1,000 largest
companies in the Russell 3000 Index which represents approximately 92% of
the total market capitalization of the Russell 3000 Index. The Russell 3000
Index measures the performance of the 3,000 largest U.S. companies based on
total market capitalization.
WILMINGTON MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO
The Portfolio has not been in operation for a full calendar year. The following
bar chart and performance table below illustrate the risks and volatility of an
investment in the Portfolio by showing you the performance of the Portfolio's
Master Series, which has the same investment objective as the Portfolio. Of
course, past performance does not necessary indicate how the Portfolio will
perform in the future.
[EDGAR presentation of data points]
1999 4.57%
2000 Total Return as of September 30: 38.32%
THIS BAR CHART SHOWS CHANGES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO'S MASTER SERIES
FROM CALENDAR YEAR TO CALENDAR YEAR. THE BAR CHART DOES NOT REFLECT DEDUCTIONS
FOR RULE 12B-1 DISTRIBTION FEES; IF SUCH AMOUNTS WERE REFLECTED, RETURNS WOULD
BE LESS.
BEST QUARTER WORST QUARTER
18.84% -16.35%
(December 31, 1999) (September 30, 1999)
Institutional Shares SINCE INCEPTION
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/99 1 YEAR (JANUARY 6, 1998)
------------------------------------- ------ -----------------
Mid Cap Value Portfolio 4.57% 5.68%
Russell Mid Cap Value Index* 1.49% -0.23%
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* The Russell Mid Cap Value Index is an unmanaged index that measures the
performance of the 800 smallest companies in the Russell 1000 Index, which
represent approximately 35% of the total market capitalization of the Russell
1000 Index.
WILMINGTON SMALL CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO
The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and
volatility of an investment in the Portfolio. The Portfolio has not been in
operation for a full calendar year. The following bar chart and performance
table below illustrate the risks and volatility of an investment in the
Portfolio by showing you the performance of the Portfolio's Master Series, which
has the same investment objective as the Portfolio.Of course, past performance
does not necessarily indicate how the Portfolio will perform in the future.
[EDGAR presentation of data points]
1996 38.95%
1997 21.73%
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<PAGE>
1998 -12.21%
1999 11.45%
2000 Total Return as of September 30: 14.22%
THIS BAR CHART SHOWS CHANGES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO'S MASTER SERIES
FROM CALENDAR YEAR TO CALENDAR YEAR. THE BAR CHART DOES NOT REFLECT DEDUCTIONS
FOR RULE 12B-1 DISTRIBUTION FEES; IF SUCH AMOUNTS WERE REFLECTED, RETURNS WOULD
BE LESS.
BEST QUARTER WORST QUARTER
17.86% -22.80%
(June 30, 1999) (September 30, 1998)
Institutional Shares SINCE INCEPTION
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/99 1 YEAR (JANUARY 6, 1998)
------------------------------------- ------ -----------------
Small Cap Value Portfolio 11.45% -0.08%
Russell 2000 Value Index* -1.49% -3.26%
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* The Russell 2000 Value Index is a market weighted index composed of companies
within the Russell 2000 Index that have a lower-to-book ratio and lower
forecasted growth values, with market capitalizations from $50 million to $1.8
billion. The Index is unmanaged and reflects the reinvestment of dividends.
FEES AND EXPENSES
PLAIN TALK
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WHAT ARE FUND EXPENSES?
Unlike an index, every mutual fund has operating expenses to pay for
professional advisory, distribution, administration and custody
services. Each Portfolio's expenses in the table below are shown as a
percentage of its net assets. These expenses are deducted from
Portfolio assets.
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The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and
hold shares of a Portfolio. No sales charges or other fees are paid directly
from your investment.
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<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INVESTOR SHARES
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING International
EXPENSES (EXPENSES THAT ARE Large Cap Growth Large Cap Core Small Cap Core Multi-Manager
DEDUCTED FROM PORTFOLIO ASSETS) 1 PORTFOLIO PORTFOLIO PORTFOLIO PORTFOLIO
--------- --------- --------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Management fees 0.55% 0.70% 0.60% 0.65%
Distribution (12b-1) fees 0.25% 0.25% 0.25% 0.25%
Other expenses 0.22% 0.24% 0.31% 0.56%
TOTAL ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENSES 2 1.02% 1.19% 1.16% 1.46%
Waivers/reimbursements 0.02% 0.14% 0.11% 0.21%
Net expenses 1.00% 1.05% 1.05% 1.25%
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING
EXPENSES (EXPENSES THAT ARE Large Cap Value Mid Cap Value Small Cap Value
DEDUCTED FROM PORTFOLIO ASSETS) 1 PORTFOLIO PORTFOLIO PORTFOLIO
--------- --------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Management fees 0.55% 0.75% 0.75%
Distribution (12b-1) fees 0.25% 0.25% 0.25%
Other expenses 0.42% 1.45% 0.34%
TOTAL ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENSES 2 1.22% 2.45% 1.34%
Waivers/reimbursements 0.22% 0.70% --
Net expenses 1.00% 1.75% 1.34%
</TABLE>
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1 The table above and the Example below each reflect the aggregate annual
operating expenses of each Portfolio and the corresponding Series of the
Trust in which the Portfolio invests.
2 For Investor Shares, the investment adviser has agreed to waive a portion
of its advisory fee or reimburse expenses to the extent total annual
operating expenses for Investor shares exceed 1.00% for the Large Cap
Growth Portfolio, 1.05% for the Large Cap Core Portfolio, 1.05% for the
Small Cap Core Portfolio, 1.25% for the International Multi-Manager
Portfolio, 1.00% for the Large Cap Value Portfolio, 1.75% for the Mid Cap
Value Portfolio and 1.75% for the Small Cap Value Portfolio. This waiver
will remain in place until the Board of Trustees approves its termination.
EXAMPLE
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in a
Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The table below
shows what you would pay if you invested $10,000 over the various time frames
indicated. The example assumes that:
o you reinvested all dividends and other distributions;
o the average annual return was 5%;
o the Portfolio's maximum (without regard to waivers or expenses) total
operating expenses are charged and remain the same over the time periods;
and
o you redeemed all of your investment at the end of the time period.
Although your actual cost may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions,
your costs would be:
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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INVESTOR SHARES 1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
--------------- ------ ------- ------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Large Cap Growth Portfolio $104 $325 $563 $1,248
Large Cap Core Portfolio $121 $378 $654 $1,443
Small Cap Core Portfolio $118 $368 $638 $1,409
International Multi-Manager Portfolio $149 $462 $797 $1,746
Large Cap Value Portfolio $124 $387 $670 $1,477
Mid Cap Value Portfolio $248 $764 $1,306 $2,786
Small Cap Value Portfolio $136 $425 $792 $1,613
</TABLE>
THE ABOVE EXAMPLE IS FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT A REPRESENTATION OF
A PORTFOLIO'S ACTUAL EXPENSES AND RETURNS, EITHER PAST OR FUTURE.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES
The LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the SMALL CAP CORE PORTFOLIO each seek
superior long-term growth of capital. The LARGE CAP CORE PORTFOLIO, the LARGE
CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO, the MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO and the SMALL CAP VALUE
PORTFOLIO each seek to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The INTERNATIONAL
MULTI-MANAGER PORTFOLIO seeks superior long-term capital appreciation. The
investment objectives for each Portfolio except Large Cap Core Portfolio may not
be changed without shareholder approval. There is no guarantee that a Portfolio
will achieve its investment objective.
For purposes of these investment objectives, "superior" long-term growth of
capital means to exceed the long-term growth of capital from an investment in
the securities comprising the S&P 500 Index for the Large Cap Core Portfolio;
the Russell 1000 Growth Index for the Large Cap Growth Portfolio; the Russell
1000 Value Index for the Large Cap Value Portfolio; the Russell 2000 Index for
the Small Cap Core; the Russell 2000 Value Index for the Small Cap Value
Portfolios; the Russell Mid Cap Index for the Mid Cap Value Portfolio; and the
Morgan Stanley Capital International Europe, Australia and Far East Index for
the International Multi-Manager Portfolio. For more information on the specific
Indexes, see the Section entitled "Primary Investment Strategies."
PRIMARY INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
PLAIN TALK
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WHAT ARE GROWTH FUNDS?
Growth funds invest in the common stock of growth-oriented companies
seeking maximum growth of earnings and share price with little regard
for dividend earnings. Generally, companies with high relative rates of
growth tend to reinvest more of their profits into the company and pay
out less to shareholders in the form of dividends. As a result,
investors in growth funds tend to receive most of their return in the
form of capital appreciation.
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The LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO invests its assets in the WT Large Cap Growth
Series, which, under normal market conditions, invests at least 65% of its total
assets in the following equity (or
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related) securities:
o common stocks of U.S. corporations that are judged by the adviser to have
strong growth characteristics and, with respect to at least 65% of the
Series' total assets, have a market capitalization of $2 billion or higher
at the time of purchase;
o options on, or securities convertible (such as convertible preferred stock
and convertible bonds) into, the common stock of U.S. corporations
described above;
o options on indexes of the common stock of U.S. corporations described
above; and
o contracts for either the future delivery, or payment in respect of the
future market value, of certain indexes of the common stock of U.S.
corporations described above, and options upon such futures contracts.
The adviser looks for high quality, sustainable growth stocks while paying
careful attention to valuation. Research is bottom-up, emphasizing business
fundamentals, including financial statement analysis and industry and competitor
evaluations. The adviser selects stocks it believes exhibit consistent,
above-average earnings growth, superior quality and attractive risk/reward
characteristics. These dominant companies are expected to generate consistent
earnings growth in a variety of economic environments.
The adviser also seeks to provide a greater margin of safety and stability in
the Series. Superior earnings growth is expected to translate ultimately into
superior compounding of returns. Additionally, several valuation tools are used
to avoid over-paying for growth or chasing "hot" stocks. Over time, the adviser
believes these favorable characteristics will produce superior returns with less
risk than many growth styles.
The adviser's research team analyzes a broad universe of over 2,000 companies.
Industry specialists search for high-quality companies growing at roughly double
the market's average. Approximately 150 stocks pass these initial screens and
are subject to thorough research. Dominant market share, strong financials, the
power to price, significant free cash flow and shareholder-oriented management
are critical variables. Final purchase candidates are selected by the adviser's
investment committee based on attractive risk/reward characteristics and
diversification guidelines. Certain industries may be over or under-weighted by
the adviser based upon favorable growth rates or valuation parameters.
The adviser attempts to maintain portfolio continuity by purchasing sustainable
growth companies that are less sensitive to short-term economic trends than
cyclical, low quality companies. The adviser generally sells stocks when the
risk/reward characteristics of a stock turn negative, company fundamentals
deteriorate, or the stock underperforms the market or its peer group. The latter
device is employed to minimize mistakes and protect capital.
The Series combines three distinct components, each of which is intended to
enhance returns and add balance.
LARGE CAP GROWTH STOCKS (over $5 billion in total market cap) - Up to 100%, but
not less than 65%, of the Series' total assets:
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o Mature, predictable businesses
o Capital appreciation and income
o Highest liquidity
MEDIUM CAP GROWTH STOCKS (between $1 and $5 billion in total market cap) - Up to
20% of the Series' total assets:
o Superior long-term potential
o Strong niche or franchise
o Seasoned management
SPECIAL SITUATIONS GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES - Up to 20% of the Series' total assets:
o Stable return, independent of the market
o Unusually favorable risk/reward characteristics
o Typically involve corporate restructuring
In order to respond to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions,
the Series may assume a temporary defensive position and invest without limit in
commercial paper and other money market instruments that are rated investment
grade. The result of this action may be that the Series will be unable to
achieve its investment objective.
The LARGE CAP CORE PORTFOLIO invests its assets in the Large Cap Core Series,
which, under normal market conditions, invests at least 65% of its total assets
in the following equity (or related) securities:
o securities of U.S. corporations that are judged by the adviser to have
strong growth and valuation characteristics;
o options on, or securities convertible (such as convertible preferred stock
and convertible bonds) into, the common stock of U.S. corporations
described above;
o receipts or American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"), which are typically
issued by a U.S. bank or trust company as evidence of ownership of
underlying securities issued by a foreign corporation; and
o cash reserves and money market instruments (including securities issued or
guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities,
repurchase agreements, certificates of deposit and bankers' acceptances
issued by banks or savings and loan associations, and commercial paper).
The Large Cap Core Series is a diversified portfolio of U.S. equity (or related)
securities, including common stocks, preferred stocks and securities convertible
into common stock of companies with market capitalizations of at least $2
billion. Dividend income is an incidental consideration compared to growth in
capital in the selection of securities. The adviser seeks securities that
possess strong growth and value characteristics based on the evaluation of the
issuer's background, industry position, historical returns and the experience
and qualifications of the management team. The adviser may rotate the Series'
holdings among various market sectors based on economic analysis of the overall
business cycle.
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As a temporary defensive investment policy, the Large Cap Core Series may invest
up to 100% of its assets in money market instruments and other short-term debt
instruments, rated investment grade or higher at the time of purchase, and may
hold a portion of its assets in cash. The result of this action may be that the
Series will be unable to achieve its investment objective.
PLAIN TALK
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WHAT ARE SMALL CAP FUNDS?
Small cap funds invest in the common stock of companies with smaller
market capitalizations. Small cap stocks may provide the potential for
higher growth, but they also typically have greater risk and more
volatility.
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The SMALL CAP CORE PORTFOLIO invests its assets in the Small Cap Core Series,
which, under normal market conditions, invests at least 65% of its total assets
in the following equity (or related) securities:
o common stocks of U.S. corporations that are judged by the adviser to have
strong growth characteristics or to be undervalued in the marketplace
relative to underlying profitability and have a market capitalization
which, at the time of purchase, is less than that of the largest stock in
the Russell 2000 Index;
o options on, or securities convertible (such as convertible preferred stock
and convertible bonds) into, the common stock of U.S. corporations
described above;
o options on indexes of the common stock of U.S. corporations described
above; and
o contracts for either the future delivery, or payment in respect of the
future market value, of certain indexes of the common stock of U.S.
corporations described above, and options upon such futures contracts.
The Small Cap Core Series is a diversified portfolio of small cap U.S. equity
(or related) securities with a market capitalization which, at the time of
purchase, is less than that of the largest stock in the Russell 2000 Index. To
achieve the Series' objective of long-term growth of capital, the Series'
adviser employs a combined growth and value investment approach. The adviser
uses proprietary quantitative research techniques to find companies with
long-term growth potential or that seem undervalued. After analyzing those
companies, the adviser invests the Series' assets in the stocks of companies
with the most attractive combination of long-term earnings, growth and
valuation. Securities will be sold to make room for new companies with superior
growth, valuation and projected return characteristics or to preserve capital
where the original assessment of the company's growth prospects was too
optimistic.
In the Series' efforts to achieve its investment objective, it seeks to
outperform the Russell 2000 Index (assuming a similar investment in the
securities comprising this index would reinvest dividends and capital gains
distributions). The Russell 2000 Index is a passive index of the smallest 2000
stocks in the Russell 3000 Index of the 3000 largest stocks in the U.S. as
measured by market capitalization.
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PLAIN TALK
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WHAT ARE INTERNATIONAL FUNDS?
International funds invest in securities traded in markets of at least
three different countries outside of the United States. An investor in
an international fund can avoid the hassles of investing directly in
foreign securities and let that fund's adviser handle the foreign laws,
trading practices, customs and time zones of the foreign countries.
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The INTERNATIONAL MULTI-MANAGER PORTFOLIO invests its assets in the
International Multi-Manager Series, which, at all times, invests at least 85% of
its total assets in the following equity (or related) securities:
o common stocks of foreign issuers;
o preferred stocks and/or debt securities that are convertible securities of
such foreign issuers; and
o open or closed-end investment companies (mutual funds) that invest
primarily in the equity securities of issuers in countries where it is
impossible or impractical to invest directly.
The International Multi-Manager Series is a diversified portfolio of equity
securities (including convertible securities) of issuers which (1) are organized
under the laws of a non-U.S. country, or (2) derives at least 50% of its
revenues or profits from goods produced or sold, investments made, or services
performed in a non-U.S. country or has at least 50% of its assets situated in a
non-U.S. country. The Series may use forward currency contracts, options,
futures contracts and options on futures contracts to attempt to hedge actual or
anticipated investment security positions. Three sub-advisers, Clemente Capital,
Inc., Invista Capital Management LLC, and Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc.,
manage the assets of the Series. The adviser allocates the Series' assets among
each sub-adviser in roughly equal portions and then allows each sub-adviser to
use its own investment approach and strategy to achieve the Series' objective.
Clemente's investment approach begins with a global outlook, identifying the
major forces (i.e., political events, social developments, trade and capital
flows) affecting the global environment and then identifying the themes (i.e.,
corporate restructuring, infrastructure spending, consumer's coming of age) that
are responding to the major forces. The third step is to decide which countries
or sectors will benefit from these themes and then seek companies with favorable
growth characteristics in those countries or sectors. The next steps are to
research and identify specific holdings and ongoing monitoring and evaluation of
the Series. Series holdings are sold when shares reach the target price, the
fundamentals of a company have deteriorated or when new companies with superior
growth and valuation characteristics have been identified.
Invista's investment approach focuses on identifying opportunities through a
fundamentally sound, economic value driven process applied evenly across all
international markets. Candidates for purchase are companies whose current price
is substantially below investment value as determined by Invista's estimate of
future free cash flows. Once this evaluation process is applied, purchases are
made among those companies that provide optimal combinations of valuation,
growth and risk. Series holdings are sold when the relative attractiveness of a
security is not as great as additions proposed by a member of the investment
team.
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Scudder Kemper's investment approach involves a top-down/bottom-up approach with
a focus on fundamental research. Investment ideas are generated by regional
analysts, global industry analysts and portfolio managers through the
integration of three analytical disciplines; global themes (identification of
sectors and industries likely to gain or lose during specific phases of a
theme's cycle); country analysis (quantitative assessment of each country's
fundamental and political characteristics combined with an objective,
quantitative analysis of market and economic data); and company analysis
(identification of company opportunities by searching for unique attributes such
as franchise or monopoly, above average growth potential, innovation or
scarcity). Series holdings are sold when the analysts indicate that the
underlying fundamentals are no longer strong.
The Series utilizes this multiple sub-adviser arrangement to reduce volatility
through multiple investment approaches, a strategy used by many institutional
investors. For example, a particular investment approach used by a sub-adviser
may be successful in a bear (falling) market, while another investment approach
used by a different sub-adviser may be more successful in a bull (rising)
market. The multiple investment approach is designed to soften the impact of a
single sub-adviser's performance in a market cycle during which that
sub-adviser's investment approach is less successful. Because each sub-adviser
has different investment approaches, the performance of one or more of the
sub-advisers is expected to offset the impact of any other sub-adviser's poor
performance, regardless of the market cycle. Unfortunately, this also works the
opposite way. The successful performance of a sub-adviser will be diminished by
the less successful performances of the other sub-advisers. There can be no
guarantee that the expected advantages of the multiple adviser technique will be
achieved.
In the Series' efforts to achieve its investment objective, it seeks to
outperform the Morgan Stanley Capital International Europe, Australasia & Far
East ("EAFE") Index (assuming a similar investment in the securities comprising
this index would reinvest dividends and capital gains distributions). The EAFE
Index is an unmanaged index comprised of the stocks of approximately 1100
companies, screened for liquidity, cross ownership and industry representation
and listed on major stock exchanges in Europe, Australasia and the Far East.
PLAIN TALK
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WHAT ARE VALUE FUNDS?
Value funds invest in the common stock of companies that are considered
by the adviser to be undervalued relative to their underlying
profitability, or rather their stock price does not reflect the value
of the company.
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THE VALUE PORTFOLIOS: Through their investment in corresponding Series, the
Large Cap Value, Mid Cap Value and Small Cap Value Portfolios seek to invest in
stocks that are less expensive than comparable companies, as determined by
price/earnings ratios, cash flows or other measures. Value investing therefore
may reduce risk while offering potential for capital appreciation as a stock
gains favor among other investors and its price rises.
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The Series are managed using investment ideas that the adviser has used
for over twenty-five years. The Series' adviser relies on selecting individual
stocks and does not try to predict when the stock market might rise or fall. It
seeks out those stocks that are undervalued and, in some cases, neglected by
financial analysts. The adviser evaluates the degree of analyst recognition by
monitoring the number of analysts who follow the company and recommend its
purchase or sale to investors.
The adviser starts by identifying early change in a company's
operations, finances or management. The adviser is attracted to companies which
will look different tomorrow - operationally, financially, managerially when
compared to yesterday. This type of dynamic change often creates confusion and
misunderstandings and may lead to a drop in the company's stock price. Examples
of change include mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, restructuring, change of
management, new market/product/means of production/distribution, regulatory
change, etc. Once change is identified, the adviser evaluates the company on
several levels. It analyzes:
o Financial models based principally upon projected cash flows
o The price of the company's stock in the context of what the market is
willing to pay for stock of comparable companies and what a strategic
buyer would pay for the whole company
o The extent of management's ownership interest in the company
o The company's market by corroborating its observations and assumptions
by meeting with management, customers and suppliers
The adviser also evaluates the degree of recognition of the business by
the investors by monitoring the number of sell side analysts who closely follow
the company and the nature of the shareholder base. Before deciding to purchase
a stock, the adviser conducts an extensive amount of business due diligence to
corroborate its observations and assumptions.
The identification of change comes from a variety of sources including
the private capital network which the adviser has established among its clients,
historical investments and intermediaries. The adviser also makes extensive use
of clipping services and regional brokers and bankers to identify elements of
change. The investment professionals regularly meet companies around the country
and sponsor more than 200 company/management meetings in its New York office.
By reviewing historical relationships and understanding the
characteristics of a business, the adviser establishes valuation parameters
using relative ratios or target prices. In its overall assessment, the adviser
seeks stocks that it believes have a greater upside potential than downside risk
over an 18 to 24-month holding period.
An important function of the adviser is to set a price target, that is,
the price at which the stock will be sold when there has been no fundamental
change in the investment case. The adviser constantly monitors the companies
held by the Series to determine if there have been any
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fundamental changes in the reasons that prompted the initial purchase of the
stock. If significant changes for the better have not materialized, the stock
will be sold. The initial investment case for stock purchase, which has been
documented, is examined by the adviser's investment professionals. A final
decision on selling the stock is made after all such factors are analyzed.
The LARGE CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO invests its assets in the Large Cap Value Series,
which, under normal conditions, invests at least 65% of its total assets in the
following equity (or related) securities:
o common stocks of U.S. corporations that are judged by the adviser to be
undervalued in the marketplace relative to underlying profitability and
have a market capitalization of $10 billion or higher at the time of
purchase;
o options on, or securities convertible (such as convertible preferred stock
and convertible bonds) into, the common stock of U.S. corporations
described above;
o options on indexes of the common stock of U.S. corporations described
above;
o contracts for either the future delivery, or payment in respect of the
future market value, of certain indexes of the common stock of U.S.
corporations described above, and options upon such futures contracts; and
o without limit in commercial paper and other money market instruments rated
in one of the two highest rating categories by a nationally recognized
statistical rating organization ("NSRO"), in response to adverse market
conditions, as a temporary defensive position. The result of this action
may be that the Series will be unable to achieve its investment objective.
The Large Cap Value Series is a diversified portfolio of large cap U.S. equity
(or related) securities that are deemed by the adviser to be undervalued as
compared to the company's profitability potential.
The MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO invests its assets in the Mid Cap Value Series,
which, under normal conditions, invests at least 65% of its total assets in the
following equity (or related) securities:
o common and preferred stocks of U.S. corporations that are judged by the
adviser to be undervalued in the marketplace relative to underlying
profitability and have a market capitalization between $1 and $10 billion
at the time of purchase;
o securities convertible (such as convertible preferred stock and convertible
bonds) into, the common stock of U.S. corporations described above;
o warrants; and
o without limit in commercial paper and other money market instruments rated
in one of the two highest rating categories by a "NRSRO", in response to
adverse market conditions, as a temporary defensive position. The result of
this action may be that the Series will be unable to achieve its investment
objective.
The Mid Cap Value Series is a diversified portfolio of medium cap U.S. equity
(or related) securities that are deemed by the adviser to be undervalued as
compared to the company's profitability potential.
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The SMALL CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO invests its assets in the Small Cap Value Series,
which, under normal conditions, invests at least 65% of its total assets in the
following equity (or related) securities:
o common and preferred stocks of U.S. corporations that are judged by the
adviser to be undervalued in the marketplace relative to underlying
profitability and have a market capitalization of $1 billion or less at the
time of purchase;
o securities convertible (such as convertible preferred stock and convertible
bonds) into, the common stock of U.S. corporations described above;
o warrants; and
o without limit in commercial paper and other money market instruments rated
in one of the two highest rating categories by a NRSRO, in response to
adverse market conditions, as a temporary defensive position. The result of
this action may be that the Series will be unable to achieve its investment
objective.
The Small Cap Value Series is a diversified portfolio of small cap U.S. equity
(or related) securities that are deemed by the adviser to be undervalued as
compared to the company's profitability potential.
ALL SERIES. The frequency of portfolio transactions and a Series' turnover rate
will vary from year to year depending on the market. Increased turnover rates
incur the cost of additional brokerage commissions and may cause you to receive
larger capital gain distributions. Series turnover rate is normally expected to
be less than 100% for each of the Series.
Each Series also may use other strategies and engage in other investment
practices, which are described in detail in our Statement of Additional
Information.
ADDITIONAL RISK INFORMATION
The following is a list of certain risks that may apply to your investment in a
Portfolio, unless otherwise indicated. Further information about investment
risks is available in our Statement of Additional Information:
o CURRENCY RISK: The risk related to investments denominated in foreign
currencies. Foreign securities are usually denominated in foreign currency
therefore changes in foreign currency exchange rates can affect the net
asset value of the International Multi-Manager Portfolio. (International
Multi-Manager Portfolio)
o DERIVATIVES RISK: Some of the Series' investments may be referred to as
"derivatives" because their value depends on, or derives from, the value of
an underlying asset, reference rate or index. These investments include
options, futures contracts and similar investments that may be used in
hedging and related income strategies. The market value of derivative
instruments and securities is sometimes more volatile than that of other
investments, and each type of derivative may pose its own special risks. As
a fundamental policy, no more than 15% of a Series' total assets may at any
time be committed or exposed to derivative strategies.
o FOREIGN SECURITY RISK: The risk of losses due to political, regulatory,
economic, social or
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other uncontrollable forces in a foreign country not normally associated
with investing in the U.S. markets. (International Multi-Manager Portfolio
and the Large Cap Core Portfolio)
o GROWTH-ORIENTED INVESTING RISK: The risk that an investment in a
growth-oriented portfolio, which invests in growth-oriented companies, will
be more volatile than the rest of the U.S. market as a whole. (Large Cap
Growth, Large Cap Core and Small Cap Core Portfolios)
o MARKET RISK: The risk that the market value of a security may move up and
down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. The prices of equity securities
change in response to many factors including the historical and prospective
earnings of the issuer, the value of its assets, general economic
conditions, interest rates, investor perceptions and market liquidity.
o MASTER/FEEDER RISK: The Portfolios' master/feeder structure is relatively
new and more complex. While this structure is designed to reduce costs, it
may not do so, and the Portfolios might encounter operational or other
complications. For example, large-scale redemptions by other feeders of
their shares of a master fund could have adverse effects on a Portfolio
such as requiring the liquidation of a substantial portion of the master
fund's holdings at a time when it could be disadvantageous to do so. Also,
other feeders of a master fund may have a greater ownership interest in the
master fund than a Portfolio's interest, and, therefore, could have
effective voting control over the operation of the master fund.
o OPPORTUNITY RISK: The risk of missing out on an investment opportunity
because the assets necessary to take advantage of it are tied up in less
advantageous investments.
o SMALL CAP RISK: Small cap companies may be more vulnerable than larger
companies to adverse business or economic developments. Small cap companies
may also have limited product lines, markets or financial resources, may be
dependent on relatively small or inexperienced management groups and may
operate in industries characterized by rapid technological obsolescence.
Securities of such companies may be less liquid and more volatile than
securities of larger companies and therefore may involve greater risk than
investing in larger companies. (Small Cap Core Portfolio)
o VALUATION RISK: The risk that a Series has valued certain of its securities
at a higher price than it can sell them
o VALUE INVESTING RISK: The risk that a portfolio's investment in companies
whose securities are believed to be undervalued, relative to their
underlying profitability, do not appreciate in value as anticipated. (Large
Cap Value, Mid Cap Value, Small Cap Value and Small Cap Core Portfolios)
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MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
The Board of Trustees for each Portfolio supervises the management, activities
and affairs of the Portfolio and has approved contracts with various financial
organizations to provide, among other services, the day-to-day management
required by a Portfolio and its shareholders.
INVESTMENT ADVISER
PLAIN TALK
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WHAT IS AN INVESTMENT ADVISER?
The investment adviser makes investment decisions for a mutual fund and
continuously reviews, supervises and administers the fund's investment
program. The Board of Trustees supervises the investment adviser and
establishes policies that the adviser must follow in its management
activities.
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Wilmington Trust Company, the investment adviser for the Large Cap Core Series,
the Small Cap Core Series and the International Multi-Manager Series, is located
at 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890. WTC is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Wilmington Trust Corporation, which is a publicly held bank
holding company. WTC, subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees,
directs the investments of these Series in accordance with their respective
investment objectives, policies and limitations. For the International
Multi-Manager Series, WTC allocates the Series' assets equally among the
sub-advisers and then oversees their investment activities. In addition to
serving as investment adviser for the Series, WTC is engaged in a variety of
investment advisory activities, including the management of other mutual funds
and collective investment pools.
Under an advisory agreement, the Large Cap Core Series pays a monthly fee to WTC
at the annual rate of 0.70% of the Series' first $1 billion of average daily net
assets; 0.65% of the Series' next $1 billion of average daily net assets; and
0.60% of the Series' average daily net assets over $2 billion. The Small Cap
Core Series pays WTC a monthly advisory fee at the annual rate of 0.60% of the
Series' first $1 billion of average daily net assets; 0.55% of the Series' next
$1 billion of average daily net assets; and 0.50% of the Series' average daily
net assets over $2 billion. The International Multi-Manager Series pays WTC a
monthly advisory fee at the annual rate of 0.65% of the Series' average daily
net assets. Prior to November 1, 1999, WTC served as investment adviser to the
Large Cap Growth Series and the Large Cap Value Series. For the twelve months
ended June 30, 2000, WTC received the following fees (after fee waivers), as a
percentage of each Series, average daily net assets:
Small Cap Core Series ____%
International Multi-Manager Series ____%
Prior to November 1, 1999, WTC served as investment adviser to WT Large Cap
Growth Series and the Large Cap Value Series. For the period of June 30, 1999 to
November 1, 1999, WTC received advisory fees (after waivers) of 0.47% of WT
Large Cap Growth Series average daily net assets. WTC received no compensation
for its services to the Large Cap Value Series during the same period.
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Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, LLC, 707 Westchester Avenue, White Plains, New York
10604, serves as the investment adviser to the Large Cap Value Series, the Mid
Cap Value Series and the Small Cap Value Series. Subject to the supervision of
the Board of Trustees, CRM makes investment decisions for these Series. CRM and
its predecessors have managed equity investments, including a mutual fund, for
more than twenty-five years. As of September 30, 2000, CRM has over $4 billion
of assets under management.
Under the advisory agreement, the Large Cap Value Series pays a monthly advisory
fee to CRM at the annual rate of 0.55% of its first 1 billion of average daily
net assets; 0.50% of the Series' next $1 billion of average daily net assets;
and 0.45% of the Series' average daily net assets over $2 billion. The Mid Cap
Value Series and the Small Cap Value Series each pay CRM a monthly advisory fee
of 0.75% of the Series' first $1 billion of average daily net assets; 0.70% of
the Series' next $1 billion of average daily net assets; and 0.55% of the
Series' average daily net assets over $2 billion. For the twelve months ended
June 30, 2000, CRM received advisory fees, after waivers, of 0.30% for the Large
Cap Value Series, 0.00% for Mid Cap Value Series and 0.75% for Small Cap Value
Series, as a percentage of the Series' average daily net assets.
Roxbury Capital Management, Inc., 100 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 600, Santa
Monica, California 90401, serves as the investment adviser for the WT Large Cap
Growth Series. Roxbury is engaged in a variety of investment advisory activities
including the management of separate accounts and, as of August 31, 2000, had
assets under management of $_____________. Roxbury does not currently advise any
other mutual fund.
Under the advisory agreement, the WT Large Cap Growth Series pays a monthly
advisory fee to Roxbury at the annual rate of 0.55% of the Series' first $1
billion of average daily net assets; 0.50% of the Series next $1 billion of
average daily net assets; and 0.45% of the Series' average daily net assets. For
the period of November 1, 1999 to June 30, 2000, Roxbury received advisory fees
(after waivers) of 0.55% of the WT Large Cap Growth Series average daily net
assets.
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
E. MATTHEW BROWN, Vice President of WTC leads a "growth" team and is responsible
for the management process of the Large Cap Core and Small Cap Core Series. Mr.
Brown joined WTC in October of 1996. Prior to joining WTC, he served as Chief
Investment Officer of PNC Bank, Delaware, from 1993 through 1996.
RAFAEL E. TAMARGO, Vice President, Director of Equity Research, is responsible
for the day-to-day management of the Large Cap Core Series. Mr. Tamargo joined
WTC in 1996 as an equities analyst. Prior to joining WTC, Mr. Tamargo was
employed by U.S. Trust as an Equities Analyst.
THOMAS P. NEALE, CFA, Vice President, Equity Research Division of WTC is
responsible for the management of the Small Cap Core Series. Mr. Neale joined
Wilmington Trust in 1986 as an Institutional Multi-Manager Portfolio Manager.
Currently he specializes in managing taxable accounts for Delaware holding
companies and has equity research responsibilities following the insurance and
brokerage industries.
ROBERT J. CHRISTIAN, Chief Investment Officer of WTC, or his delegate, is
primarily responsible for monitoring the day-to-day investment activities of the
sub-advisers to the International Multi-
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Manager Series. Mr. Christian has been a Director of Wilmington Management
Corporation since February 1996, and was Chairman and Director of PNC Equity
Advisors Company, and President and Chief Investment Officer of PNC Asset
Management Group, Inc. from 1994 to 1996. He was Chief Investment Officer of PNC
Bank, N.A. from 1992 to 1996 and Director of Provident Capital Management from
1993 to 1996.
The day-to-day management of the Large Cap Value Series, the Mid Cap Value
Series and the Small Cap Value Series is shared by a team of individuals
employed by the CRM. Ronald H. McGlynn and Jay B. Abramson are responsible for
the overall management of these Series. In addition, Michael A. Prober is part
of the team responsible for the management of Mid Cap Value Series; Scott L.
Scher and Christopher Fox are part of the team responsible for the management of
Small Cap Value Series; and Kevin M. Chin and Adam L. Starr are part of the team
responsible for the management of the Large Cap Value Series. Each portfolio
manager's business experience and educational background is as follows:
RONALD H. MCGLYNN President and Chief Executive Officer since 1983 and Co-Chief
Investment Officer of CRM. He has been with CRM for twenty-five years and is
responsible for investment policy, portfolio management and investment research.
Prior to his association with CRM, Mr. McGlynn was a Portfolio Manager at
Oppenheimer &Co. He received a B.A. from Williams College and a M.B.A. from
Columbia University.
JAY B. ABRAMSON, CPA Executive Vice President since 1989 and Director of
Research and Co-Chief Investment Officer of CRM. He has been with CRM for twelve
years and is responsible for investment research and portfolio management. Mr.
Abramson received a B.S.E. and J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton
School and Law School, respectively, and is a Certified Public Accountant.
MICHAEL A. PROBER Vice President of CRM since 1993 where he is responsible for
investment research. Prior to joining CRM in 1993, he worked in corporate
finance and commercial banking at Chase Manhattan Bank and as a Research Analyst
for Alpha Capital Venture Partners. Mr. Prober received a B.B.A. from the
University of Michigan and an M.M. from the Northwestern University J.L. Kellogg
Graduate School of Management.
SCOTT L. SCHER, CFA Vice President of CRM since 1995 where he is responsible for
investment research. Prior to joining CRM in 1995, he worked as an
analyst/portfolio manager at The Prudential from 1988. Mr. Scher received a B.A.
from Harvard College, a M.B.A. from Columbia Business School and is a Chartered
Financial Analyst.
KEVIN M. CHIN is a Vice President at CRM. Kevin joined CRM in 1989. He is
responsible for investment research. Formerly, Kevin was a Financial Analyst for
the Mergers and Acquisitions Department of Morgan Stanley and a risk arbitrageur
with The First Boston Corporation. He received a BS from Columbia University
School of Engineering and Applied Science.
CHRISTOPHER S. FOX, CFA joined CRM in 1999 as a Vice President and has over
fifteen years experience in the Investment business. In 1995 Chris co-founded
Schaenen Fox Capital
-22-
<PAGE>
Management, LLC, a hedge fund with small cap value investments. He previously
was at Schaenen Wood & Associates, Inc. as Vice President and Senior
Manager/Analyst; Chemical Bank's Private Banking Division as a portfolio manager
and analyst; and Drexel Burnham Lambert, Inc. as a financial analyst. Chris
earned a BA in Economics from the State University of New York at Albany and an
MBA in Finance from New York University's Stern School of Business.
ADAM L. STARR joined CRM in 1999 as a Vice President and is responsible for
investment research. Prior to CRM, he was a Partner and Portfolio Manager at
Weiss, Peck & Greer, LLC. Previously, he was an Analyst and Portfolio Manager at
Charter Oak Partners and First Manhattan Company. Adam earned an MBA from
Columbia University.
The day-to-day management of the Large Cap Growth Series is the responsibility
of Roxbury's Investment Committee. The Investment Committee meets regularly to
make investment decisions for the Series and relies on Roxbury's research team.
SUB-ADVISERS
The International Multi-Manager Series has three sub-advisers, Clemente Capital
Inc., Invista Capital Management, LLC. and Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc.
Clemente, located at Carnegie Hall Tower, 152 West 57th Street, 25th Floor, New
York, New York 10019, registered as an investment adviser in 1979. Clemente
manages in excess of $500 million in assets. Leopoldo M. Clemente, President and
Chief Investment Officer serves as portfolio manager for the portion of the
International Multi-Manager Series' assets under Clemente's management. Mr.
Clemente has been responsible for portfolio management and security selection
for the past eight years.
Invista, located at 1800 Hub Tower, 699 Walnut Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50309,
is a registered investment adviser organized in 1984. Invista is an indirect,
wholly owned subsidiary of Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company. Invista
manages in excess of $26 billion in assets, of which approximately $3.8 billion
are in foreign equities in separately managed accounts and mutual funds for
public funds, corporations, endowments and foundations, insurance companies and
individuals. Scott D. Opsal, CFA, Executive Vice President and lead portfolio
manager of international equities for Invista, is the portfolio manager for the
portion of the International Multi-Manager Series under Invista's management.
Mr. Opsal joined Invista at its inception in 1985 and assumed his current
responsibilities in 1993. Before 1993, his responsibilities included security
analysis and portfolio management activities for various U.S. equity portfolios,
managing the firm's convertible securities and overseeing Invista's index fund
and derivatives positions. Kurtis D. Spieler, CFA, Vice President and manager of
the firm's dedicated emerging market portfolios, is Mr. Opsal's backup. Mr.
Spieler has been Invista's emerging markets portfolio manager since joining
Invista in 1995.
Scudder Kemper, located at 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154, was
founded as America's first independent investment counselor and has served as
investment adviser, administrator and distributor of mutual funds since 1928.
Scudder Kemper manages in excess of $200 billion in assets, with approximately
$30 billion of those assets in foreign investments in separately managed
accounts for pension funds, foundations, educational institutions and
-23-
<PAGE>
government entities and in open-end and closed-end investment companies. Irene
T. Cheng serves as the lead portfolio manager for the portion of the
International Multi-Manager Series' assets under Scudder Kemper's management.
Ms. Cheng has been in the asset management business for over nine years and
joined Scudder Kemper as a portfolio manager in 1993.
SERVICE PROVIDERS
The chart below provides information on the Portfolios' primary service
providers.
-24-
<PAGE>
Asset Shareholder
Management Services
------------------------------------ -------------------------------
INVESTMENT ADVISERS TRANSFER AGENT
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY PFPC INC.
RODNEY SQUARE NORTH 400 BELLEVUE PARKWAY
1100 N. MARKET STREET WILMINGTON, DE 19809
WILMINGTON, DE 19890-0001
CRAMER ROSENTHAL MCGLYNN
707 WESTCHESTER AVE.
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. 10604
ROXBURY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
100 WILSHIRE BLVD, SUITE 600
SANTA MONICA, CA 90401
Handles shareholder services,
including recordkeeping and
statements, payment of
Manages each Portfolio's business distribution and processing of
and investment activities. buy and sell requests.
------------------------------------ -------------------------------
---------------------------------
WT MUTUAL FUND
---------------------------------
Fund Asset
Operations Safe Keeping
------------------------------------ -------------------------------
ADMINISTRATOR AND CUSTODIAN
ACCOUNTING AGENT
PFPC TRUST COMPANY
PFPC INC.
200 STEVENS DRIVE
400 BELLEVUE PARKWAY
LESTER, PA 19113
WILMINGTON, DE 19809
BANKERS TRUST
(INTERNATIONAL MULTI-MANAGER
SERIES ONLY)
[ADDRESS]
Provides facilities, equipment and
personnel to carry out Holds each Portfolio's assets,
administrative services related to settles all portfolio trades
each Portfolio and calculates each and collects most of the
Portfolio's NAV and distributions. valuation data required for
calculating each Portfolio's
NAV per share.
------------------------------------ -------------------------------
-30-
<PAGE>
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
PRICING OF SHARES
The Portfolios value their assets based on current market values when such
values are available. These prices normally are supplied by a pricing service.
Any assets held by a Portfolio that are denominated in foreign currencies are
valued daily in U.S. dollars at the foreign currency exchange rates that are
prevailing at the time that PFPC determines the daily net asset value. To
determine the value of those securities, PFPC may use a pricing service that
takes into account not only developments related to specific securities, but
also transactions in comparable securities. Securities that do not have a
readily available current market value are valued in good faith under the
direction of the Board of Trustees.
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS THE NET ASSET VALUE or "NAV"?
NAV = ASSETS - LIABILITIES
--------------------
Outstanding Shares
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PFPC determines the NAV per share of each Portfolio as of the close of regular
trading on the New York Stock Exchange (currently 4:00 p.m., Eastern time), on
each Business Day (a day that the Exchange, the Transfer Agent and the
Philadelphia branch of the Federal Reserve Bank are open for business). The NAV
is calculated by adding the value of all securities and other assets in a
Portfolio, deducting its liabilities and dividing the balance by the number of
outstanding shares in that Portfolio.
Shares will not be priced on those days the Portfolios are closed. As of the
date of this prospectus, those days are:
New Year's Day Memorial Day Veterans Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Independence Day Thanksgiving Day
President's Day Labor Day Christmas Day
Good Friday Columbus Day
PURCHASE OF SHARES
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES:
o Directly by mail or by wire
o As a client of WTC through a trust account or a corporate cash
management account
o As a client of a Service Organization
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio shares are offered on a continuous basis and are sold without any
sales charges. The minimum initial investment in Investor class shares of each
Portfolio is $1,000, but additional investments may be made in any amount. You
may purchase shares as specified below.
-31-
<PAGE>
You may also purchase shares if you are a client of WTC through your trust or
corporate cash management accounts. If you are a client of an institution (such
as a bank or broker-dealer) that has entered into a servicing agreement with the
distributor ("Service Organization"), you may also purchase shares through such
Service Organization. You should also be aware that you may be charged a fee by
WTC or the Service Organization in connection with your investment in the
Portfolios. If you wish to purchase Portfolio shares through your account at WTC
or a Service Organization, you should contact that entity directly for
information and instructions on purchasing shares.
BY MAIL: You may purchase shares by sending a check drawn on a U.S. bank payable
to WT Mutual Fund, indicating the name of the Portfolio, along with a completed
application (included at the end of this prospectus). If a subsequent investment
is being made, the check should also indicate your Portfolio account number.
When you make purchases by check, each Portfolio may withhold payment on
redemptions until it is reasonably satisfied that the funds are collected (which
can take up to 10 days). If you purchase shares with a check that does not
clear, your purchase will be canceled and you will be responsible for any losses
or fees incurred in that transaction. Send the check and application to:
BY REGULAR MAIL: BY OVERNIGHT MAIL:
--------------- -----------------
WT Mutual Fund WT Mutual Fund
c/o PFPC Inc. c/o PFPC Inc.
P.O. Box 8951 400 Bellevue Parkway, Suite 108
Wilmington, DE 19899 Wilmington, DE 19809
BY WIRE: You may purchase shares by wiring federal funds readily available.
Please call PFPC at (800) 336-9970 for instructions and to make specific
arrangements before making a purchase by wire, and if making an initial
purchase, to also obtain an account number.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING PURCHASES: Purchase orders received by the
Transfer Agent before the close of regular trading on the Exchange on any
Business Day will be priced at the NAV that is determined as of the close of
trading. Purchase orders received after the close of regular trading on the
Exchange will be priced as of the close of regular trading on the following
Business Day.
Any purchase order may be rejected if a Portfolio determines that accepting the
order would not be in the best interest of the Portfolio or its shareholders.
It is the responsibility of WTC or the Service Organization to transmit orders
for the purchase of shares by its customers to the Transfer Agent and to deliver
required funds on a timely basis, in accordance with the procedures stated
above.
For information on other ways to purchase shares, including through an
individual retirement account (IRA), an automatic investment plan or a payroll
investment plan, please refer to the Statement of Additional Information.
-32-
<PAGE>
REDEMPTION OF SHARES
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO REDEEM (SELL) SHARES:
o By mail
o By telephone
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You may sell your shares on any Business Day as described below. Redemptions are
effected at the NAV next determined after the Transfer Agent has received your
redemption request. There is no fee when Portfolio shares are redeemed. It is
the responsibility of WTC or the Service Organization to transmit redemption
orders and credit their customers' accounts with redemption proceeds on a timely
basis. Redemption checks are mailed on the next Business Day following receipt
by the Transfer Agent of redemption instructions, but never later than 7 days
following such receipt. Amounts redeemed by wire are normally wired on the date
of receipt of redemption instructions (if received by the Transfer Agent before
4:00 p.m. Eastern time), or the next Business Day (if received after 4:00 p.m.
Eastern time, or on a non-Business Day), but never later than 7 days following
such receipt. If you purchased your shares through an account at WTC or a
Service Organization, you should contact WTC or the Service Organization for
information relating to redemptions. The Portfolio's name and your account
number should accompany any redemption requests.
BY MAIL: If you redeem your shares by mail, you should submit written
instructions with a "signature guarantee." A signature guarantee verifies the
authenticity of your signature. You can obtain one from most banking
institutions or securities brokers, but not from a notary public. You must
indicate the Portfolio name, your account number and your name. The written
instructions and signature guarantee should be mailed to:
BY REGULAR MAIL: BY OVERNIGHT MAIL:
--------------- -----------------
WT Mutual Fund WT Mutual Fund
c/o PFPC Inc. c/o PFPC Inc.
P.O. Box 8951 400 Bellevue Parkway, Suite 108
Wilmington, DE 19899 Wilmington, DE 19809
BY TELEPHONE: If you prefer to redeem your shares by telephone you may elect to
do so. However there are certain risks. The Portfolios have certain safeguards
and procedures to confirm the identity of callers and to confirm that the
instructions communicated are genuine. If such procedures are followed, you will
bear the risk of any losses.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING REDEMPTIONS: Redemption proceeds may be wired
to your predesignated bank account in any commercial bank in the United States
if the amount is $1,000 or more. The receiving bank may charge a fee for this
service. Proceeds may also be mailed to your bank or, for amounts of $10,000 or
less, mailed to your Portfolio account address of record if the address has been
established for at least 60 days. In order to authorize the Transfer Agent to
mail redemption proceeds to your Portfolio account address of record, complete
the appropriate
-33-
<PAGE>
section of the Application for Telephone Redemptions or include your Portfolio
account address of record when you submit written instructions. You may change
the account that you have designated to receive amounts redeemed at any time.
Any request to change the account designated to receive redemption proceeds
should be accompanied by a guarantee of your signature by an eligible
institution. A signature and a signature guarantee are required for each person
in whose name the account is registered. Further documentation will be required
to change the designated account when a corporation, other organization, trust,
fiduciary or other institutional investor holds the Portfolio shares.
If shares to be redeemed represent a recent investment made by check, each
Portfolio reserves the right not to make the redemption proceeds available until
it has reasonable grounds to believe that the check has been collected (which
could take up to 10 days).
SMALL ACCOUNTS: If the value of your Portfolio account falls below $500, the
Portfolio may ask you to increase your balance. If the account value is still
below such amount after 60 days, the Portfolio may close your account and send
you the proceeds. The Portfolio will not close your account if it falls below
$500 solely as a result of a reduction in your account's market value.
The Mid Cap Value, Small Cap Value and Large Cap Value Portfolios reserve the
right to make "redemptions in kind" - payments of redemption proceeds in
portfolio securities rather than cash - if the amount redeemed is large enough
to affect their respective Series' operations (for example, if it represents
more than 1% of the Series' assets).
For information on other ways to redeem shares, please refer to the Statement of
Additional Information.
EXCHANGE OF SHARES
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS AN EXCHANGE OF SHARES?
An exchange of shares allows you to move your money from one fund to
another fund within the family of funds.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You may exchange all or a portion of your shares in a Portfolio for Investor
class shares of the following Portfolios:
Wilmington Prime Money Market Portfolio
Wilmington U.S. Government Portfolio
Wilmington Tax-Exempt Portfolio
Wilmington Short/Intermediate Bond Portfolio
Wilmington Intermediate Bond Portfolio
Wilmington Municipal Bond Portfolio
Wilmington Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Wilmington Large Cap Core Portfolio
Wilmington Small Cap Core Portfolio
-34-
<PAGE>
Wilmington Large Cap Value Portfolio
Wilmington Mid Cap Value Portfolio
Wilmington Small Cap Value Portfolio
Wilmington International Multi-Manager Portfolio
Redemption of shares through an exchange will be effected at the NAV per share
next determined after the Transfer Agent receives your request. A purchase of
shares through an exchange will be effected at the NAV per share determined at
that time or as next determined thereafter.
Exchange transactions will be subject to the minimum initial investment and
other requirements of the Portfolio into which the exchange is made. An exchange
may not be made if the exchange would leave a balance in a shareholder's account
of less than $500.
To obtain prospectuses of the other Portfolios, you may call (800) 336-9970. To
obtain more information about exchanges, or to place exchange orders, contact
the Transfer Agent, or, if your shares are held in a trust account with WTC or
in an account with a Service Organization, contact WTC or the Service
Organization. The Portfolios may terminate or modify the exchange offer
described here and will give you 60 days' notice of such termination or
modification. This exchange offer is valid only in those jurisdictions where the
sale of Portfolio shares to be acquired through such exchange may be legally
made.
DISTRIBUTIONS
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS NET INVESTMENT INCOME?
Net investment income consists of interest and dividends earned by a
fund on its investments less accrued expenses.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributions from the net investment income of each Portfolio dividends are
declared and paid annually to you. Any net capital gain realized by a Portfolio
will be distributed annually. Net realized gains or losses from foreign currency
transactions in the International Multi-Manager Portfolio are included as a
component of net investment income.
Distributions are payable to the shareholders of record at the time the
distributions are declared (including holders of shares being redeemed, but
excluding holders of shares being purchased). All distributions are reinvested
in additional Portfolio shares unless you have elected to receive the
distributions in cash.
TAXES
As long as a Portfolio meets the requirements for being a "regulated investment
company," it pays no Federal income tax on the earnings and gains it distributes
to shareholders. While each Portfolio may invest in Securities that earn
interest exempt from Federal income tax, the Portfolios invest primarily in
taxable Securities. Each Portfolio will notify you following the end of the
calendar year of the amount of dividends and other distributions paid that year.
-35-
<PAGE>
Dividends you receive from the Portfolio, whether reinvested in Portfolio shares
or taken as cash, are generally taxable to you as ordinary income. The
Portfolios' distributions of a net capital gain, whether received in cash or
reinvested in additional Portfolio shares, are taxable to you as long-term
capital gain, regardless of the length of time you have held your shares. You
should be aware that if Portfolio shares are purchased shortly before the record
date for any dividend or capital gain distribution, you will pay the full price
for the shares and will receive some portion of the price back as a taxable
distribution. Each of the Large Cap Growth Portfolio, the Small Cap Core
Portfolio and the International Multi-Manager Portfolio, anticipates the
distribution of net capital gain. Each of the Large Cap Value Portfolio, the Mid
Cap Value Portfolio and the Small Cap Value Portfolio anticipates the
distribution of net investment income.
It is a taxable event for you if you sell or exchange shares of any Portfolio.
Depending on the purchase price and the sale price of the shares you exchange,
you may have a taxable gain or loss on the transaction. You are responsible for
any tax liability generated by your transactions.
STATE AND LOCAL INCOME TAXES: You should consult your tax adviser concerning
state and local taxes, which may have different consequences from those of the
Federal income tax law.
This section is only a summary of some important income tax considerations that
may affect your investment in a Portfolio. More information regarding those
considerations appears in our Statement of Additional Information. You are urged
to consult your tax adviser regarding the effects of an investment on your tax
situation.
DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS
The Distributor manages the Portfolios' distribution efforts and provides
assistance and expertise in developing marketing plans and materials, enters
into dealer agreement with broker-dealers to sell shares and provides
shareholder support services, directly or through affiliates. The Portfolios do
not charge any sales loads, deferred sales loads or other fees in connection
with the purchase of shares.
RULE 12B-1 FEES
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE 12b-1 FEES?
12b-1 fees, charged by some funds, are deducted from fund assets to pay
for marketing and advertising expenses or, more commonly, to compensate
sales professionals for selling fund shares.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Investor class of each Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan under Rule
12b-1 that allows a Portfolio to pay a fee to the Distributor for the sale and
distribution of Investor class shares, and for services provided to Investor
class shareholders. Because these fees are paid out of a Portfolio's assets
continuously, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and
may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges. For the Investor
class of shares, the maximum distribution fees as a percentage of average daily
net assets are as follows:
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<PAGE>
Large Cap Growth Portfolio Investor Class 0.25%
Large Cap Core Portfolio Investor Class 0.25%
Small Cap Core Portfolio Investor Class 0.25%
International Multi-Manager Portfolio Investor Class 0.25%
Large Cap Value Portfolio Investor Class 0.25%
Mid Cap Value Portfolio Investor Class 0.25%
Small Cap Value Portfolio Investor Class 0.25%
MASTER/FEEDER STRUCTURE
Other institutional investors, including other mutual funds, may invest in the
master funds. The master/feeder structure enables various institutional
investors, including a Portfolio, to pool their assets, which may be expected to
result in economies by spreading certain fixed costs over a larger asset base.
Each shareholder of a master fund, including a Portfolio, will pay its
proportionate share of the master fund's expenses.
For reasons relating to costs or a change in investment goal, among others, a
Portfolio could switch to another master fund or decide to manage its assets
itself. No Portfolio is currently contemplating such a move.
SHARE CLASSES
The Portfolios issue Investor and Institutional classes. The Institutional class
is offered to retirement plans. The Investor class pays an additional 12b-1 fee.
Any investor may purchase Investor class shares.
-37-
<PAGE>
FOR MORE INFORMATION
FOR INVESTORS WHO WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE PORTFOLIOS, THE FOLLOWING
DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE FREE UPON REQUEST:
ANNUAL/SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTS: Contain performance data and information on
portfolio holdings, operating results and a discussion of the market conditions
and investment strategies that significantly affect the Portfolios' performance
for the most recently completed fiscal year or half-year.
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI): Provides a complete technical and
legal description of the Portfolios' policies, investment restrictions, risks,
and business structure. This prospectus incorporates the SAI by reference.
Copies of these documents and answers to questions about the Portfolios may be
obtained without charge by contacting:
WT Mutual Fund
c/o PFPC Inc.
400 Bellevue Parkway
Suite 108
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
(800) 336-9970
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time
Information about the Portfolios (including the SAI) can be reviewed and copied
at the Public Reference Room of the Securities and Exchange Commission in
Washington, D.C. Copies of this information may be obtained, upon payment of a
duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address:
[email protected], or by writing the Public Reference Room of the SEC,
Washington, DC, 20549-0102. Information on the operation of the Public Reference
Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-(202) 942-8090. Reports and other
information about the Portfolios may be viewed on-screen or downloaded from the
SEC's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OPENING A NEW ACCOUNT, MAKING
CHANGES TO EXISTING ACCOUNTS, PURCHASING, EXCHANGING
OR REDEEMING SHARES, OR OTHER INVESTOR SERVICES,
PLEASE CALL 1-(800)-336-9970.
The investment company registration number for the WT Mutual Fund is 811-08648.
<PAGE>
[Wilmington Funds logo omitted]
WILMINGTON FUNDS
FIXED INCOME
PORTFOLIOS
PROSPECTUS
NOVEMBER 1, 2000
WFIP-Pros-11/00
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
THE WILMINGTON SHORT/INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO
OF WT MUTUAL FUND
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROSPECTUS DATED NOVEMBER 1, 2000
This prospectus gives vital information about these mutual funds, including
information on investment policies, risks and fees. For your own benefit and
protection, please read it before you invest, and keep it on hand for future
reference.
Please note that these Portfolios:
o are not bank deposits
o are not obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed by Wilmington
Trust Company or any of its affiliates
o are not federally insured
o are not obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed or otherwise
supported by the U.S. Government, the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other governmental
agency
o are not guaranteed to achieve their goal(s)
Like all mutual fund shares, these securities have not been approved or
disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission nor has the Securities and
Exchange Commission determined whether this prospectus is accurate or complete.
Anyone who tells you otherwise is committing a crime.
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PORTFOLIO DESCRIPTIONS
A LOOK AT THE GOALS, STRATEGIES, Summary ................................3
RISKS, EXPENSES AND FINANCIAL Performance Information ................4
HISTORY OF EACH PORTFOLIO. Fees and Expenses ......................8
Investment Objectives ..................9
Primary Investment Strategies ..........9
Series Composition ....................11
Additional Risk Information ...........12
Financial Highlights ..................14
MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIO
DETAILS ABOUT THE SERVICE Investment Adviser ....................17
PROVIDERS. Portfolio Managers ....................17
Service Providers .....................18
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
POLICIES AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR Pricing of Shares .....................19
OPENING, MAINTAINING AND Purchase of Shares ....................19
CLOSING AN ACCOUNT IN ANY OF Redemption of Shares ..................21
THE PORTFOLIOS. Exchange of Shares ....................22
Distributions .........................23
Taxes .................................23
DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS
DETAILS ON THE PORTFOLIO'S Master/Feeder Structure ...............25
MASTER/FEEDER ARRANGEMENTS. Share Classes .........................25
FOR MORE INFORMATION .......................26
For information about key terms and concepts, look for our "PLAIN TALK"
explanations.
2
<PAGE>
THE WILMINGTON SHORT/INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PORTFOLIO DESCRIPTIONS
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS A MUTUAL FUND?
A mutual fund pools shareholders' money and, using a professional investment
manager, invests it in securities like stocks and bonds. Each Portfolio
described in this prospectus is a separate mutual fund.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Objective o The SHORT/INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO and
the INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO each seek
a high total return, consistent with high
current income.
o The MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO seeks a high
level of income exempt from federal income
tax, consistent with the preservation of
capital.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Focus o Fixed income securities
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share Price Volatility o Moderate
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Principal InvestmentStrategy o Each Portfolio operates as a "feeder fund"
which means that the Portfolio does not buy
individual securities directly. Instead, it
invests in a corresponding mutual fund or
"master fund," which in turn purchases
investment securities. The Portfolios
invest all of their assets in master funds
which are separate series of WT Investment
Trust I. Each Portfolio and its
corresponding Series have the same
investment objective, policies and
limitations.
o The SHORT/INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO
invests in the Short/Intermediate Bond
Series, which invests at least 85% of its
total assets in various types of
investment grade fixed income securities.
o The INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO invests in
the Intermediate Bond Series, which
invests at least 85% of its total assets
in various types of investment grade fixed
income securities.
3
<PAGE>
o The MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO invests in
the Municipal Bond Series, which invests
at least 80% of its net assets in
municipal securities that provide interest
exempt from federal income tax.
o The Series' adviser purchases securities
based on their yield or potential capital
appreciation, or both. The adviser may sell
securities in anticipation of market
declines or if the securities are
downgraded to below investment grade.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Principal Risks The Portfolios are subject to the risks
summarized below which are further described
under "Additional Risk Information."
o An investment in a Portfolio is not a
deposit of Wilmington Trust Company or any
of its affiliates and is not insured or
guaranteed by the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation or any other
government agency.
o It is possible to lose money by investing
in a Portfolio.
o The fixed income securities in which the
Portfolios invest through their
corresponding Series are subject to credit
risk, prepayment risk, market risk,
liquidity risk and interest rate risk.
Typically, when interest rates rise, the
market prices of fixed income securities
go down.
o The performance of a Portfolio will depend
on whether or not the adviser is
successful in pursuing an investment
strategy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investor Profile o Investors who want income from their
investments without the volatility of an
equity portfolio.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS TOTAL RETURN?
Total return is a measure of the per-share change in the total value of a
fund's portfolio, including any distributions paid to you. It is measured from
the beginning to the end of a specific time period.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WILMINGTON SHORT/INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO
The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and
volatility of an investment in the Portfolio. The performance prior to November
1, 1999, reflects the performance of the Rodney Square Short/Intermediate Bond
Portfolio, which was merged into the Wilmington Short/Intermediate Bond
Portfolio, effective November 1, 1999. In connection with the merger, the
Wilmington Short/Intermediate Bond Portfolio changed its investment objective,
policies and limitations to match those of the Rodney Square Short/Intermediate
Bond Portfolio. Total Return would have been lower had certain fees and expenses
not been voluntarily waived and/or reimbursed. Of course, the Portfolio's past
performance does not necessarily indicate how the Portfolio will perform in the
future.
4
<PAGE>
ANNUAL RETURNS SINCE INCEPTION
[bar graph omitted]
plot points as follows:
PERFORMANCE YEARS RETURNS
1992 6.73%
1993 7.92
1994 -2.02
1995 14.95
1996 3.70
1997 7.56
1998 7.75
1999 0.33
2000 Total Return as of September 30: 6.13%
THIS BAR CHART SHOWS CHANGES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO'S
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES FROM CALENDAR YEAR TO CALENDAR YEAR.
BEST QUARTER WORST QUARTER
------------ ----------------
5.13% -1.77%
(June 30, 1995) (March 31, 1994)
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS AN INDEX?
An index is a broad measure of the market performance of a specific group of
securities in a particular market, or securities in a market sector. You
cannot invest directly in an index. An index does not have an investment
adviser and does not pay any commissions or expenses. If an index had
expenses, its performance would be lower.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/99 1 YEAR 5 YEARS SINCE INCEPTION (APRIL 2, 1991)
------------------------------------- ------ ------ -------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Short/Intermediate Bond Portfolio 0.33% 6.68% 6.42%
Merrill Lynch 1-10 Year U.S.
Treasury Index* 0.55% 6.98% 6.74%
Lehman Intermediate Government/
Credit Index** 0.39% 7.10% 6.88%
<FN>
* The Merrill Lynch 1 to 10 Year U.S. Treasury Index is an unmanaged index of
fixed rate coupon bearing U.S.Treasury securities with a maturity range of 1
to 10 years.
** The Lehman Intermediate Government/Credit Index is an unmanaged index of
fixed rate U.S. Treasury Bonds and Notes, U.S. Government Agency obligations
and investment grade corporate debt obligations with maturities between 1 to
10 years.
</FN>
</TABLE>
5
<PAGE>
WILMINGTON INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO
The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and
volatility of an investment in the Portfolio and its predecessor, the Bond Fund,
a collective investment fund. The Bond Fund's performance has been included for
the periods prior to July 1, 1998 and has been adjusted to reflect the annual
deduction of fees and expenses applicable to shares of the Intermediate Bond
Portfolio (i.e. adjusted to reflect anticipated expenses, absent investment
advisory fees waivers). The Bond Fund was not registered as a mutual fund under
the Investment Company Act of 1940, and therefore was not subject to certain
investment restrictions, limitations and diversification requirements imposed by
the 1940 Act and the Internal Revenue Code. If the Bond Fund had been registered
under the 1940 Act, its performance may have been different. Total Return would
have been lower had certain fees and expenses not been voluntarily waived and/or
reimbursed. Of course, the Portfolio's past performance does not necessarily
indicate how the Portfolio will perform in the future.
ANNUAL RETURNS SINCE INCEPTION
[bar chart omitted]
plot points as follows:
PERFORMANCE YEARS ANNUAL RETURNS
1991 14.36%
1992 6.82
1993 10.6
1994 -4.2
1995 18.9
1996 1.73
1997 9.06
1998 8.73
1999 -2.19
2000 Total Return as of September 30: 7.39%
THIS BAR CHART SHOWS CHANGES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO'S
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES FROM CALENDAR YEAR TO CALENDAR YEAR.
BEST QUARTER WORST QUARTER
------------ ---------------
6.54 % -3.41%
(June 30, 1995) (March 31, 1994)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/99 1 YEAR 5 YEAR SINCE INCEPTION (DECEMBER 31, 1990)
------------------------------------- ------ ------ -----------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Intermediate Bond Portfolio -2.19% 7.01% 6.85%
Merrill Lynch U.S. Treasury Master Index* -2.38% 7.43% 7.33%
Lehman Government/Credit Index** -2.15% 7.60% 7.59%
<FN>
* The Merrill Lynch U.S. Treasury Master Index is an unmanaged index of
fixed rate coupon bearing U.S. Treasury securities with a maturity range of 1
to 30 years.
** The Lehman Government/Credit Index is an unmanaged index of fixed rate U.S.
Treasury Bonds and Notes, U.S. Government Agency obligations and investment
grade corporate debt obligations with maturities no less than 1 year.
</FN>
</TABLE>
6
<PAGE>
WILMINGTON MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO
The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and
volatility of an investment in the Portfolio. Total Return would have been lower
had certain fees and expenses not been voluntarily waived and/or reimbursed. Of
course, the Portfolio's past performance does not necessarily indicate how the
Portfolio will perform in the future.
ANNUAL RETURNS SINCE INCEPTION
[bar chart omitted]
plot points as follows:
PERFORMANCE YEARS ANNUAL RETURNS
1994 -4.17%
1995 14.08
1996 3.51
1997 7.18
1998 5.24
1999 -0.64
2000 Total Return as of September 30: 5.38%
THIS BAR CHART SHOWS CHANGES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO'S
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES FROM CALENDAR YEAR TO CALENDAR YEAR.
BEST QUARTER WORST QUARTER
------------ ----------------
5.86 % -4.79%
(March 31, 1995) (March 31, 1994)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/99 1 YEAR 5 YEAR SINCE INCEPTION (NOVEMBER 1, 1993)
------------------------------------- ------ ------ ----------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Municipal Bond Portfolio -0.64% 5.76% 4.16%
Merrill Lynch Intermediate
Municipal Index* -0.01% 6.31% 4.98%
<FN>
* The Merrill Lynch Intermediate Municipal Index is an unmanaged weighted index
including investment grade tax-exempt bonds with a maturity range of 0 to 22
years.
</FN>
</TABLE>
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS YIELD?
Yield is a measure of the income (dividends and interest) earned by the
securities in a fund's portfolio and paid to you over a specified time
period. The yield is expressed as a percentage of the offering price per
share on a specified date.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You may call (800) 336-9970 to obtain a Portfolio's current yield.
7
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FEES AND EXPENSES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE FUND EXPENSES?
Unlike an index, every mutual fund has operating expenses to pay for
professional advisory, shareholder distribution, administration and custody
services. Each Portfolio's expenses in the table below are shown as a
percentage of its net assets. These expenses are deducted from Portfolio
assets.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy
and hold shares of a Portfolio. No sales charges or other fees are paid directly
from your investment.
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (EXPENSES THAT ARE DEDUCTED FROM PORTFOLIO
ASSETS)1:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHORT/INTERMEDIATE INTERMEDIATE MUNICIPAL
BOND PORTFOLIO BOND PORTFOLIO BOND PORTFOLIO
------------------ -------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Management fees ................................... 0.35% 0.35% 0.35%
Distribution (12b-1) fees ......................... None None None
Other Expenses .................................... 0.37% 0.36% 0.68%
TOTAL ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENSES2 .................. 0.72% 0.71% 1.03%
Waivers/reimbursements ............................ 0.17% 0.16% 0.28%
Net Expenses ...................................... 0.55% 0.55% 0.75%
<FN>
1 The table above and the Example below each reflect the aggregate annual
operating expenses of each Portfolio and the corresponding Series of the
Trust in which the Portfolio invests.
2 For Institutional shares, WTC has agreed to waive a portion of its advisory
fee or reimburse expenses to the extent total annual operating expenses
exceed 0.55% for the Short/Intermediate Bond Portfolio; 0.55% for the
Intermediate Bond Portfolio; and 0.75% for the Municipal Bond Portfolio. This
waiver will remain in place until the Board of Trustees approves its
termination.
</FN>
</TABLE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXAMPLE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in a
Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The table below
shows what you would pay if you invested $10,000 over the various time frames
indicated. The example assumes that:
o you reinvested all dividends and other distributions;
o the average annual return was 5%;
o the Portfolio's maximum (without regard to waivers or
reimbursements) total operating expenses are charged and remain the
same over the time periods; and
o you redeemed all of your investment at the end of the time period.
8
<PAGE>
Although your actual cost may be higher or lower, based on these
assumptions, your costs would be:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
-------------------- ------ ------- ------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Short/Intermediate Bond Portfolio ................. $74 $230 $401 $894
Intermediate Bond Portfolio ....................... $73 $227 $395 $883
Municipal Bond Portfolio .......................... $105 $328 $569 $1,259
</TABLE>
THE ABOVE EXAMPLE IS FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT A
REPRESENTATION OF A PORTFOLIO'S ACTUAL EXPENSES AND RETURNS, EITHER PAST OR
FUTURE.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The SHORT/INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO and the INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO
each seek a high total return, consistent with high current income. The
MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO seeks a high level of income exempt from federal income
tax, consistent with the preservation of capital. These investment objectives
may not be changed without shareholder approval. There is no guarantee that a
Portfolio will achieve its investment objective.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRIMARY INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE FIXED INCOME SECURITIES?
Fixed income securities are generally bonds, which is a type of security that
functions like a loan. Bonds are IOUs issued by private companies,
municipalities or government agencies. By comparison, when you buy a stock,
you are buying ownership in a company. With a bond, your "loan" is for a
specific period, usually 2 to 30 years. You receive regular interest payments
at the rate stated when you bought the bond. Hence, the term "fixed income"
security.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The SHORT/INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO invests its assets in the
Short/Intermediate Bond Series, which:
o will invest at least 85% of its total assets in various types of
investment grade fixed income securities;
o may invest up to 10% of its total assets in investment grade fixed
income securities of foreign issuers;
o will, as a matter of fundamental policy, maintain a
short-to-intermediate average duration (21/2 to 4 years); and
o the average dollar-weighted duration of securities held by the
Short/Intermediate Bond Series will normally fall within a range of
21/2 to 4 years.
9
<PAGE>
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS DURATION?
Duration measures the sensitivity of fixed income securities held by a
Portfolio to a change in interest rates. The value of a security with a longer
duration will normally fluctuate to a greater degree than will the value of a
security with a shorter duration should interest rates change. For example, if
interest rates were to move 1%, a bond with a 3-year duration would experience
approximately a 3% change in principal value. An identical bond with a 5-year
duration would experience approximately a 5% change in its principal value.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO invests its assets in the Intermediate Bond
Series, which:
o will invest at least 85% of its total assets in various types of
investment grade fixed income securities;
o may invest up to 10% of its total assets in investment grade fixed
income securities of foreign issuers;
o will, as a matter of fundamental policy, maintain an intermediate
average duration (4 to 7 years); and
o the average dollar-weighted duration of securities held by the
Intermediate Bond Series will normally fall within a range of 4 to
7 years.
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE INVESTMENT GRADE SECURITIES?
Investment grade securities are securities that have been determined by a
rating agency to have a medium to high probability of being paid, although
there is always a risk of default. Investment grade securities are rated BBB,
A, AA or AAA by Standard & Poor's Corporation or Baa, A, Aa or Aaa by Moody's
Investors Service.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE MUNICIPAL SECURITIES?
Municipal securities are bonds issued by state and local governments to raise
money for their activities.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO invests its assets in the Municipal Bond
Series, which:
o will, as a fundamental policy, invest substantially all (at least
80%) of its net assets in a diversified portfolio of municipal
securities that provide interest that is exempt from federal income
tax;
o may invest up to 20% of its net assets in other types of fixed
income securities that provide income that is subject to federal
tax; and
o will, as a matter of fundamental policy, maintain an intermediate
average duration (4 to 8 years); and
o the average dollar-weighted duration of securities held by the
Municipal Bond Series will normally fall within a range of 4 to 8
years.
10
<PAGE>
The Municipal Bond Series may not invest more than 25% of its total assets
in any one industry. You should note that governmental issuers of municipal
securities are not considered part of any industry. The 25% limitation applies
to municipal securities backed by the assets and revenues of non-governmental
users, such as private operators of educational, hospital or housing facilities.
However, the investment adviser may decide that the yields available from
concentrating in obligations of a particular market sector or political
subdivision justify the risk that the performance of the Municipal Bond Series
may be adversely affected by such concentration. Under such market conditions,
the Municipal Bond Series may invest more than 25% of its assets in sectors of
the municipal securities market, such as health care or housing, or in
securities relating to one political subdivision, such as a given state or U.S.
territory. Under these conditions, the Municipal Bond Series' vulnerability to
any special risks that affects that sector or jurisdiction could have an adverse
impact on the value of an investment in the Series. There are no limitations on
the Municipal Bond Series' investment in any one of the three general categories
of municipal obligations: general obligation bonds, revenue (or special)
obligation bonds and private activity bonds.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SERIES COMPOSITION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The composition of each Series' holdings varies, depending upon the
investment adviser's analysis of the fixed income markets, the municipal
securities market and the expected trends in those markets. The securities
purchased by the Series may be purchased based upon their yield, the income
earned by the security, or their potential capital appreciation, the potential
increase in the security's value, or both. The investment adviser seeks to
protect the Series' principal value by reducing fluctuations in value relative
to those that may be experienced by fixed income funds with a longer average
duration. This strategy may reduce the level of income attained by the Series.
There is no guarantee that principal value can be protected during periods of
extreme interest volatility.
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CORPORATE BONDS VS. GOVERNMENT BONDS:
Bonds issued by corporations generally pay a higher interest rate than
government bonds. That's because corporate bonds are somewhat riskier than
government bonds and the interest payments on government bonds are exempt from
some or all taxes. For example, if you live in Delaware and buy a bond issued
by the state of Delaware or by any other government or municipal agency in
Delaware, your interest on the bond is exempt from state and federal income
taxes. But if your bond is issued by any state other than the one in which you
reside, the interest would only be exempt from federal income tax and you
would have to pay your state income tax. Interest payments on U.S. Treasury
bonds are exempt from state and local taxes.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Series invest only in securities that are rated, at the time of
purchase, in the top four categories by a rating agency such as Moody's
Investors Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor's. If the securities are not rated,
then the investment adviser must determine that they are of comparable quality.
The table below shows each Series' principal investments. These are the
types of securities that will most likely help a Series achieve its investment
objective.
11
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<CAPTION>
SHORT/INTERMEDIATE INTERMEDIATE MUNICIPAL
BOND BOND BOND
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Asset-Backed Securities X X
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bank Obligations X X
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Corporate Bonds, Notes and Commercial Paper X X
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mortgage-Backed Securities X X
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Municipal Securities X X X
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Obligations Issued By Supranational Agencies X X
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Government Obligations X X
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
Each Series also may use other strategies and engage in other investment
practices, which are described in detail in our Statement of Additional
Information. The investments and strategies listed above and described
throughout this prospectus are those that we use under normal market conditions.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADDITIONAL RISK INFORMATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following is a list of certain risks that may apply to your investment
in a Portfolio. Further information about investment risks is available in our
Statement of Additional Information:
o CREDIT RISK: The risk that the issuer of a security, or the
counterparty to a contract, will default or otherwise become unable
to honor a financial obligation.
o FOREIGN SECURITY RISK: The risk of losses due to political,
regulatory, economic, social or other uncontrollable forces in a
foreign country (Short/Intermediate Bond and Intermediate Bond
Series only).
o INTEREST RATE RISK: The risk of market losses attributable to
changes in interest rates. With fixed-rate securities, a rise in
interest rates typically causes a fall in values, while a fall in
rates typically causes a rise in values. The yield earned by a
Portfolio will vary with changes in interest rates.
o LEVERAGE RISK: The risk associated with securities or practices
(such as when-issued and forward commitment transactions) that
multiply small market movements into larger changes in value.
o LIQUIDITY RISK: The risk that certain securities may be difficult
or impossible to sell at the time and the price that the seller
would like.
o MARKET RISK: The risk that the market value of a security may move
up and down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably.
12
<PAGE>
o MASTER/FEEDER RISK: The Portfolios' master/feeder structure is
relatively new and more complex. While this structure is designed
to reduce costs, it may not do so, and the Portfolios might
encounter operational or other complications. For example,
large-scale redemptions by other feeders of their shares of a
master fund could have adverse effects on a Portfolio such as
requiring the liquidation of a substantial portion of the master
fund's holdings at a time when it could be disadvantageous to do
so. Also, other feeders of a master fund may have a greater
ownership interest in the master fund than a Portfolio's interest
and, therefore, could have effective voting control over the
operation of the master fund.
o OPPORTUNITY RISK: The risk of missing out on an investment
opportunity because the assets necessary to take advantage of it
are tied up in less advantageous investments.
o PREPAYMENT RISK: The risk that a debt security may be paid off and
proceeds invested earlier than anticipated. Depending on market
conditions, the new investments may or may not carry the same
interest rate.
o VALUATION RISK: The risk that a Series has valued certain of its
securities at a higher price than it can sell them for.
13
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand each
Portfolio's financial performance for the past 5 years or since the Portfolio's
inception, if shorter. Certain information reflects financial results for a
single Institutional share of a Portfolio. The total returns in the table
represent the rate that you would have earned (or lost) on an investment in a
Portfolio (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions).
Financial Highlights have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, whose report, along
with each Portfolio's financial statements, is included in the Annual Report,
which is available without charge upon request.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE PERIOD
FOR THE NOVEMBER 1,
FISCAL YEAR 1998 FOR THE FISCAL YEARS
ENDED THROUGH ENDED OCTOBER 31,
JUNE 30, JUNE 30, ----------------------------------------
20001+ 1999+ 1998+ 1997+ 1996+ 1995+
WILMINGTON SHORT/INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO -- ----------- ------------ ------- -------- ------- --------
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
NET ASSET VALUE -- BEGINNING OF PERIOD ........... $ 9.86 $ 10.27 $ 10.03 $ 9.94 $ 10.04 $ 9.53
-------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Investment Operations:
Net investment income ......................... 0.52 0.37 0.58 0.59 0.60 0.64
Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) on investments ...................... (0.16) (0.39) 0.24 0.09 (0.10) 0.51
-------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Total from investment operations ........... 0.36 (0.02) 0.82 0.68 0.50 1.15
-------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Distributions:
From net investment income .................... (0.52) (0.37) (0.58) (0.59) (0.60) (0.64)
From net realized gain ........................ (0.03) (0.02) -- -- -- --
-------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Total distributions ........................ (0.55) (0.39) (0.58) (0.59) (0.60) (0.64)
-------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
NET ASSET VALUE -- END OF PERIOD ................. $ 9.67 $ 9.86 $ 10.27 $ 10.03 $ 9.94 $ 10.04
======== ======= ======= ======= ======= =======
TOTAL RETURN ..................................... 4.28% 0.27)%** 8.40% 7.13% 5.18% 12.41%
RATIOS (TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS)/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Expenses:
Including expense limitations ................. 0.55% 0.55%* 0.59% 0.65% 0.65% 0.65%
Excluding expense limitations ................. 0.72% 0.67%* 0.83% 1.12% 1.09% 1.14%
Net investment income ............................ 6.35% 5.47%* 5.64% 5.98% 6.07% 6.56%
Portfolio turnover ............................... 47.23% 29.71% 40.66% 83.54% 85.77% 116.40%
Net assets at end of period (000 omitted) ........ $140,015 $89,383 $94,597 $31,456 $31,777 $32,214
---------------------------
<FN>
* Annualized.
** Not annualized.
+ Effective November 1, 1999, the Rodney Square Short/Intermediate Bond
Portfolio ("Rodney Square Portfolio") was merged into the Wilmington
Short/Intermediate Bond Portfolio. The financial highlights for periods
prior to November 1, 1999 reflect the performance history of the Rodney
Square Portfolio which have been restated to reflect the share conversion
ratio applied in the merger.
(1) Effective November 1, 1999, the expense and net investment income ratios
include expenses allocated from the WT Investment Trust I -
Short/Intermediate Bond Series (the "Series") and the portfolio turnover
reflects the investment activity of the Series.
</FN>
</TABLE>
14
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS -- CONTINUED
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR FOR THE PERIOD FOR THE PERIOD
ENDED NOVEMBER 1, 1998 JUNE 29, 1998
JUNE 30, THROUGH THROUGH
WILMINGTON INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO -- 20001+ JUNE 30, 1999+ OCTOBER 31, 1998+
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES ----------- ---------------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
NET ASSET VALUE -- BEGINNING OF PERIOD $ 9.63 $ 10.19 $ 10.00
------- ------- -------
Investment Operations:
Net investment income 0.58 0.38 0.20
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on
investments (0.15) (0.53) 0.19
------- ------- -------
Total from investment operations 0.43 (0.15) 0.39
------- ------- -------
Distributions:
From net investment income (0.58) (0.38) (0.20)
From net realized gain (0.02) (0.03) --
------- ------- -------
Total distributions (0.60) (0.41) (0.20)
------- ------- -------
NET ASSET VALUE -- END OF PERIOD $ 9.46 $ 9.63 $ 10.19
======= ======= =======
TOTAL RETURN 4.72% (1.52)%** 3.89%**
RATIOS (TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS)/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Expenses:
Including expense limitations 0.55% 0.55%* 0.55%*
Excluding expense limitations 0.71% 0.67%* 0.66%*
Net investment income 6.15% 5.71%* 5.69%*
Portfolio turnover 53.23% 18.23% 17.66%
Net assets at end of period (000 omitted) $79,310 $87,297 $93,002
----------------------------
<FN>
* Annualized.
** Not annualized.
+ Effective November 1, 1999, the Rodney Square Intermediate Bond Portfolio
("Rodney Square Portfolio") was merged into the Wilmington Intermediate Bond
Portfolio. The financial highlights for periods prior to November 1, 1999
reflect the performance history of the Rodney Square Portfolio.
(1) Effective November 1, 1999, the expense and net investment income ratios
include expenses allocated from the WT Investment Trust I - Intermediate
Bond Series (the "Series") and the portfolio turnover reflects the
investment activity of the Series.
</FN>
</TABLE>
15
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS -- CONTINUED
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR FOR THE PERIOD
ENDED NOVEMBER 1, 1998 FOR THE FISCAL YEARS ENDED OCTOBER 31,
JUNE 30, THROUGH ---------------------------------------
WILMINGTON MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO -- 20001+ JUNE 30, 1999+ 1998+ 1997+ 1996+ 1995+
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES ----------- ---------------- ------- ------- ------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
NET ASSET VALUE -- BEGINNING OF PERIOD $ 12.48 $ 12.94 $ 12.74 $ 12.46 $ 12.49 $ 11.64
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Investment Operations:
Net investment income 0.56 0.36 0.56 0.55 0.55 0.54
Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) on investments (0.15) (0.40) 0.20 0.28 (0.03) 0.85
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Total from investment operations 0.41 (0.04) 0.76 0.83 0.52 1.39
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Distributions:
From net investment income (0.56) (0.36) (0.56) (0.55) (0.55) (0.54)
From net realized gain (0.08) (0.06) -- -- -- --
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Total distributions (0.64) (0.42) (0.56) (0.55) (0.55) (0.54)
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
NET ASSET VALUE -- END OF PERIOD $ 12.25 $ 12.48 $ 12.94 $ 12.74 $ 12.46 $ 12.49
======= ======= ======= ======= ======= =======
TOTAL RETURN 3.40% (0.30)%** 6.07% 6.85% 4.24% 12.23%
RATIOS (TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS)/
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Expenses:
Including expense limitations 0.75% 0.75%* 0.75% 0.75% 0.75% 0.75%
Excluding expense limitations 1.03% 0.90%* 1.23% 1.52% 1.37% 1.45%
Net investment income 4.59% 4.29%* 4.35% 4.42% 4.41% 4.50%
Portfolio turnover 50.26% 19.13% 43.72% 28.56% 15.91% 42.08%
Net assets at end of period (000 omitted) $16,009 $16,612 $17,579 $17,446 $16,619 $16,570
-------------------------------------------------
<FN>
* Annualized.
** Not annualized.
+ Effective November 1, 1999, the Rodney Square Municipal Bond Portfolio
("Rodney Square Portfolio") was merged into the Wilmington Municipal Bond
Portfolio. The financial highlights for periods prior to November 1, 1999
reflect the performance history of the Rodney Square Portfolio.
(1) Effective November 1, 1999, the expense and net investment income ratios
include expenses allocated from the WT Investment Trust I - Municipal Bond
Series (the "Series") and the portfolio turnover reflects the investment
activity of the Series.
</FN>
</TABLE>
16
<PAGE>
MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIOS
The Board of Trustees for each Portfolio supervises the management,
activities and affairs of the Portfolio and has approved contracts with various
organizations to provide, among other services, day-to-day management required
by the Portfolio and its shareholders.
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS AN INVESTMENT ADVISER?
The investment adviser makes investment decisions for a mutual fund and
continuously reviews, supervises and administers the fund's investment
program. The Board of Trustees supervises the investment adviser and
establishes policies that the adviser must follow in its management
activities.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT ADVISER
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wilmington Trust Company ("WTC"), the Series' investment adviser, is located
at 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890. WTC is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Wilmington Trust Corporation, which is a publicly held bank
holding company. WTC, subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees,
directs the investments of each Series in accordance with its investment
objective, policies and limitations. In addition to serving as investment
adviser for the Series, WTC is engaged in a variety of investment advisory
activities, including the management of other mutual funds and collective
investment pools.
Each Series pays a monthly fee to WTC at the annual rate of 0.35% of the
Series' first $1 billion of average daily net assets; 0.30% of the Series' next
$1 billion of average daily net assets; and 0.25% of the Series' average daily
net assets in excess of $2 billion, as determined at the close of business on
each day throughout the month. For the twelve months ended June 30, 2000, WTC
received 0.35% as a percentage for investment advisory services for the Series.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eric K. Cheung, Vice President and Manager of the Fixed Income Management
Division, Clayton M. Albright, III, Vice President of the Fixed Income
Management Division and Dominick J. D'Eramo, CFA, Vice President of the Fixed
Income Management Division, all of the Asset Management Department of WTC, are
primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Short/Intermediate
Bond Series and the Intermediate Bond Series. From 1978 until 1986, Mr. Cheung
was the Portfolio Manager for fixed income assets of the Meritor Financial
Group. In 1986, Mr. Cheung joined WTC. In 1991, he became the Division Manager
for all fixed income products. Mr. Albright has been employed at WTC since 1976.
In 1987, he joined the Fixed Income Management Division and since then has
specialized in the management of intermediate and long-term fixed income
portfolios. Mr. D'Eramo began his career with WTC in 1986 as a fixed income
trader and was promoted to portfolio manager in 1990.
Lisa More, Vice President of Credit Research and Municipal Trading within
the Fixed Income Management Division of Asset Management Department of WTC is
primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Municipal Bond
Portfolio. Mrs. More has been employed at WTC since 1988. In 1990, she joined
the Fixed Income Management Division specializing in the management of municipal
income portfolios.
17
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SERVICE PROVIDERS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The chart below provides information on the Portfolios' primary service
providers.
Asset Shareholder
Management Services
INVESTMENT ADVISER TRANSFER AGENT
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY PFPC INC.
RODNEY SQUARE NORTH 400 BELLEVUE PARKWAY
1100 N. MARKET STREET WILMINGTON, DE 19809
WILMINGTON, DE 19890-0001
Manages each Portfolio's Handles shareholder services, including
investment activities. recordkeeping and statements, payment of
distributions and processing of buy and
sell requests.
WT MUTUAL FUND
WILMINGTON SHORT/INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO
WILMINGTON INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO
WILMINGTON MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO
Fund Asset
Operations Safe Keeping
ADMINISTRATOR AND CUSTODIAN
ACCOUNTING AGENT
PFPC INC. WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
400 BELLEVUE PARKWAY 1100 N. MARKET STREET
WILMINGTON, DE 19809 WILMINGTON, DE 19890
Provides facilities, equipment and Holds each Portfolio's assets,
personnel to carry out administrative settles all portfolio trades and
services related to each Portfolio collects most of the
and distributions. and valuation data required for
calculating each calculates each
Portfolio's NAV per share Portfolio's
NAV per share.
18
<PAGE>
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRICING OF SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Portfolios value their assets based on current market value when such
values are available. Prices for fixed income securities normally are supplied
by a pricing service. Fixed income securities maturing within 60 days of the
valuation date are valued at amortized cost. Any assets held by the
Short/Intermediate Bond Series and the Intermediate Bond Series that are
denominated in foreign currencies are valued daily in U.S. dollars at the
foreign currency exchange rates that are prevailing at the time that PFPC
determines the daily net asset value per share. Securities that do not have a
readily available current market value are valued in good faith by, or under the
direction of, the Board of Trustees.
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS THE NET ASSET VALUE OR "NAV"?
NAV = Assets - Liabilities
--------------------
Outstanding Shares
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PFPC determines the NAV per share of each Portfolio as of the close of
regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (currently 4:00 p.m. Eastern
time), on each Business Day (a day that the New York Stock Exchange, the
Transfer Agent and the Philadelphia branch of the Federal Reserve Bank are open
for business). The NAV is calculated by adding the value of all securities and
other assets in a Portfolio, deducting its liabilities and dividing the balance
by the number of outstanding shares in that Portfolio.
Shares will not be priced on those days the Portfolios are closed. As of
the date of this prospectus, those days are:
New Year's Day Memorial Day Veterans' Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Independence Day Thanksgiving Day
President's Day Labor Day Christmas Day
Good Friday Columbus Day
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PURCHASE OF SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES:
o Directly by mail or by wire
o As a client of WTC through a trust account or a corporate cash management
account
o As a client of a Service Organization
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19
<PAGE>
Portfolio shares are offered on a continuous basis and are sold without any
sales charges. The minimum initial investment in Institutional class shares of
the Portfolios is $1,000. Additional investments in any Portfolio may be made in
any amount. You may purchase shares as specified below.
You may also purchase shares if you are a client of WTC through your trust
or corporate cash management accounts. If you are a client of an institution
(such as a bank or broker-dealer) that has entered into a servicing agreement
with the Portfolios' distributor ("Service Organization"), you may also purchase
shares through such Service Organization. You should also be aware that you may
be charged a fee by WTC or the Service Organization in connection with your
investment in the Portfolios. If you wish to purchase Portfolio shares through
your account at WTC or a Service Organization, you should contact that entity
directly for information and instructions on purchasing shares.
BY MAIL: You may purchase shares by sending a check drawn on a U.S. bank
payable to Wilmington Fixed Income Portfolios, indicating the name of the
Portfolio, along with a completed application (included at the end of this
prospectus). If a subsequent investment is being made, the check should also
indicate your Portfolio account number. When you make purchases by check, each
Portfolio may withhold payment on redemptions until it is reasonably satisfied
that the funds are collected (which can take up to 10 days). If you purchase
shares with a check that does not clear, your purchase will be canceled and you
will be responsible for any losses or fees incurred in that transaction. Send
the check and application to:
Regular mail: Overnight mail:
--------------- ------------------
Wilmington Fixed Income Portfolios Wilmington Fixed Income Portfolios
c/o PFPC Inc. c/o PFPC Inc.
P.O. Box 8951 400 Bellevue Parkway, Suite 108
Wilmington, DE 19899 Wilmington, DE 19809
BY WIRE: You may purchase shares by wiring federal funds readily available.
Please call PFPC at (800) 336-9970 for instructions and to make specific
arrangements before making a purchase by wire, and if making an initial
purchase, to also obtain an account number.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING PURCHASES: Purchase orders received by the
Transfer Agent before the close of regular trading on the Exchange on any
Business Day will be priced at the NAV that is determined as of the close of
trading. Purchase orders received after the close of regular trading on the
Exchange will be priced as of the close of regular trading on the following
Business Day.
Any purchase order may be rejected if a Portfolio determines that accepting
the order would not be in the best interest of the Portfolio or its
shareholders.
It is the responsibility of WTC or the Service Organization to transmit
orders for the purchase of shares by its customers to the Transfer Agent and to
deliver required funds on a timely basis, in accordance with the procedures
stated above.
For information on other ways to purchase shares, including through an
individual retirement account (IRA), an automatic investment plan or a payroll
investment plan, please refer to the Statement of Additional Information.
20
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REDEMPTION OF SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO REDEEM (SELL) SHARES:
o By mail
o By telephone
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You may sell your shares on any Business Days, as described below.
Redemptions are effected at the NAV next determined after the Transfer Agent has
received your redemption request. There is no fee when Portfolio shares are
redeemed. It is the responsibility of WTC or the Service Organization to
transmit redemption orders and credit their customers' accounts with redemption
proceeds on a timely basis. Redemption checks are mailed on the next Business
Day following receipt by the Transfer Agent of redemption instructions, but
never later than 7 days following such receipt. Amounts redeemed by wire are
normally wired on the date of receipt of redemption instructions or the next
Business Day if received after 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, or on a non-Business Day,
but never later than 7 days following such receipt. If you purchased your shares
through an account at WTC or a Service Organization, you should contact WTC or
the Service Organization for information relating to redemptions. The
Portfolio's name and your account number should accompany any redemption
requests.
BY MAIL: If you redeem your shares by mail, you should submit written
instructions with a "signature guarantee". A signature guarantee verifies the
authenticity of your signature. You can obtain one from most banking
institutions or securities brokers, but not from a notary public. You must
indicate the Portfolio name, your account number and your name. The written
instructions and signature guarantee should be mailed to:
Regular mail: Overnight mail:
--------------- ------------------
Wilmington Fixed Income Portfolios Wilmington Fixed Income Portfolios
c/o PFPC Inc. c/o PFPC Inc.
P.O. Box 8951 400 Bellevue Parkway, Suite 108
Wilmington, DE 19899 Wilmington, DE 19809
BY TELEPHONE: If you prefer to redeem your shares by telephone, you may
elect to do so. However there are certain risks. The Portfolios have certain
safeguards and procedures to confirm the identity of callers and to confirm that
the instructions communicated are genuine. If such procedures are followed, you
will bear the risk of any losses.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING REDEMPTIONS: Redemption proceeds may be
wired to your predesignated bank account in any commercial bank in the United
States if the amount is $1,000 or more. The receiving bank may charge a fee for
this service. Proceeds may also be mailed to your bank or, for amounts of
$10,000 or less, mailed to your Portfolio account address of record if the
address has been established for at least 60 days. In order to authorize the
Transfer Agent to mail redemption proceeds to your Portfolio account address of
record, complete the appropriate section of the Application for Telephone
Redemptions or include your Portfolio account address of record when you submit
written instructions. You may change the account that you have designated to
21
<PAGE>
receive amounts redeemed at any time. Any request to change the account
designated to receive redemption proceeds should be accompanied by a guarantee
of your signature by an eligible institution. A signature and a signature
guarantee are required for each person in whose name the account is registered.
Further documentation will be required to change the designated account when a
corporation, other organization, trust, fiduciary or other institutional
investor holds the Portfolio shares.
If the shares to be redeemed represent a recent investment made by check,
the Portfolio reserves the right not to send the redemption proceeds until it
believes that the check has been collected (which could take up to 10 days).
SMALL ACCOUNTS: If the value of your Portfolio account falls below $500,
the Portfolio may ask you to increase your balance. If the account value is
still below $500 after 60 days, the Portfolio may close your account and send
you the proceeds. The Portfolio will not close your account if it falls below
$500 solely as a result of a reduction in your account's market value.
For additional information on other ways to redeem shares, please refer to
the Statement of Additional Information.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXCHANGE OF SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS AN EXCHANGE OF SHARES?
An exchange of shares allows you to move your money from one fund to another
fund within a family of funds.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You may exchange all or a portion of your shares in a Portfolio for
Institutional class shares of the following Portfolios:
Wilmington Prime Money Market Portfolio
Wilmington Premier Money Market Portfolio
Wilmington U.S. Government Portfolio
Wilmington Tax-Exempt Portfolio
Wilmington Short/Intermediate Bond Portfolio
Wilmington Intermediate Bond Portfolio
Wilmington Municipal Bond Portfolio
Wilmington Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Wilmington Large Cap Core Portfolio
Wilmington Small Cap Core Portfolio
Wilmington International Multi-Manager Portfolio
Wilmington Large Cap Value Portfolio
Wilmington Mid Cap Value Portfolio
Wilmington Small Cap Value Portfolio
22
<PAGE>
Redemption of shares through an exchange will be effected at the NAV per
share next determined after the Transfer Agent receives your request. A purchase
of shares through an exchange will be effected at the NAV per share determined
at that time or as next determined thereafter.
Exchange transactions will be subject to the minimum initial investment and
other requirements of the Portfolio into which the exchange is made. An exchange
may not be made if the exchange would leave a balance in a shareholder's account
of less than $500.
To obtain prospectuses of the other Portfolios, you may call (800)
336-9970. To obtain more information about exchanges, or to place exchange
orders, contact the Transfer Agent, or, if your shares are held in a trust
account with WTC or in an account with a Service Organization, contact WTC or
the Service Organization. The Portfolios may terminate or modify the exchange
offer described here and will give you 60 days' notice of such termination or
modification. This exchange offer is valid only in those jurisdictions where the
sale of the Portfolio shares to be acquired through such exchange may be legally
made.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISTRIBUTIONS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS NET INVESTMENT INCOME?
Net investment income consists of interest and dividends (and, in the case of
the Municipal Bond Portfolio, market discount on tax-exempt securities)
earned by a fund on its investments less accrued expenses.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributions from the net investment income of each Portfolio are declared
daily as a dividend and paid monthly to you. Any net capital gain realized by a
Portfolio will be distributed annually. The Short/Intermediate Bond Portfolio
and the Intermediate Bond Portfolio will distribute net realized gains from
foreign currency transactions, if any, after the end of the fiscal year in which
the gain was realized by them.
Distributions are payable to the shareholders of record at the time the
distributions are declared (including holders of shares being redeemed, but
excluding holders of shares being purchased). All distributions are reinvested
in additional shares, unless you elect to receive distributions in cash. Shares
become entitled to receive distributions on the day after the shares are issued.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAXES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As long as a Portfolio meets the requirements for being a "regulated
investment company" it pays no Federal income tax on the earnings and gains it
distributes to shareholders. The Portfolios' distributions of net investment
income and net short-term capital gains, if any, whether received in cash or
reinvested in additional Portfolio shares, are generally taxable to you as
ordinary income. Each Portfolio will notify you following the end of the
calendar year of the amount of dividends paid that year.
23
<PAGE>
Dividend distributions by the Municipal Bond Portfolio of the excess of its
interest income on tax-exempt securities over certain amounts disallowed as
deductions ("exempt-interest dividends") may be treated by you as interest
excludable from your gross income. The Municipal Bond Portfolio intends to
distribute income that is exempt from federal income tax, though it may invest a
portion of its assets in securities that generate taxable income. Income exempt
from federal income tax may be subject to state and local income tax.
Additionally, any capital gains distributed by the Municipal Bond Portfolio may
be taxable.
It is a taxable event for you if you sell or exchange shares of any
Portfolio, including the Municipal Bond Portfolio. Depending on the purchase
price and the sale price of the shares you exchange, you may have a taxable gain
or loss on the transaction. You are responsible for any tax liability generated
by your transactions.
STATE AND LOCAL INCOME TAXES: You should consult your tax adviser
concerning state and local taxes, which may have different consequences from
those of the Federal income law.
This section is only a summary of some important income tax considerations
that may affect your investment in a Portfolio. More information regarding those
considerations appears in our Statement of Additional Information. You are urged
to consult your tax adviser regarding the effects of an investment on your tax
situation.
24
<PAGE>
DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS
The Distributor manages the Portfolios' distribution efforts and provides
assistance and expertise in developing marketing plans and materials, enters
into dealer agreement with broker-dealers to sell shares and provides
shareholder support services, directly or through affiliates. The Portfolios do
not charge any sales loads, deferred sales loads or other fees in connection
with the purchase of shares.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MASTER/FEEDER STRUCTURE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other institutional investors, including other mutual funds, may invest in
the master funds. The master/feeder structure enables various institutional
investors, including a Portfolio, to pool their assets, which may be expected to
result in economies by spreading certain fixed costs over a larger asset base.
Each shareholder of a master fund, including a Portfolio, will pay its
proportionate share of the master fund's expenses.
For reasons relating to costs or a change in investment goal, among others,
a Portfolio could switch to another master fund or decide to manage its assets
itself. No Portfolio is currently contemplating such a move.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SHARE CLASSES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Portfolios issue Investor and Institutional classes of shares. The
Institutional class is offered to retirement plans. The Investor class pays an
additional 12b-1 fee. Any investor may purchase Investor class shares.
25
<PAGE>
FOR MORE INFORMATION
FOR INVESTORS WHO WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE PORTFOLIOS, THE FOLLOWING
DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE FREE UPON REQUEST:
ANNUAL/SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTS: Contain performance data and information on
portfolio holdings, operating results, and a discussion of the market conditions
and investment strategies that significantly affected a Portfolio's performance
for the most recently completed fiscal year or half-year.
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI): Provides a complete technical
and legal description of a Portfolio's policies, investment restrictions, risks,
and business structure. This prospectus incorporates the SAI by reference.
Copies of these documents and answers to questions about the Portfolios may
be obtained without charge by contacting:
WT Mutual Fund c/o PFPC Inc.
400 Bellevue Parkway
Suite 108
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
(800) 336-9970
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Eastern time
Information about the Portfolios (including the SAI) can be reviewed and
copied at the Public Reference Room of the Securities and Exchange Commission in
Washington, D.C. Copies of this information may be obtained, upon payment of a
duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address:
[email protected], or by writing the Public Reference Room of the SEC,
Washington, DC, 20549-0102. Information on the operation of the Public Reference
Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-(202)-942-8090. Reports and other
information about the Portfolios may be viewed on-screen or downloaded from the
SEC's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OPENING A NEW ACCOUNT, MAKING CHANGES TO EXISTING
ACCOUNTS, PURCHASING, EXCHANGING OR REDEEMING SHARES, OR OTHER INVESTOR
SERVICES, PLEASE CALL 1-(800)-336-9970.
The investment company registration number for WT Mutual Fund is 811-08648.
26
<PAGE>
11/99
[Wilmington Funds logo omitted]
FIXED INCOME
PORTFOLIOS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
APPLICATION & NEW ACCOUNT REGISTRATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INSTRUCTIONS: RETURN THIS COMPLETED FORM TO:
FOR WIRING INSTRUCTIONS OR FOR WILMINGTON FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIOS
ASSISTANCE IN COMPLETING THIS C/O PFPC Inc
FORM CALL (800) 336-9970 P.O. Box 8951
WILMINGTON, DE 19899-9752
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PORTFOLIO SELECTION ($1,000 MINIMUM)
[box] WILMINGTON SHORT/INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO $_________________
[box] WILMINGTON INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO $_________________
[box] WILMINGTON MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO $_________________
TOTAL AMOUNT TO BE INVESTED $_________________
______ By check. (Make payable to the applicable Portfolio.)
______ By wire.Call 1-800-336-9970 for Instructions.
Bank from which funds will be wired _______________wire date_____________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACCOUNT REGISTRATION
1. Individual ________________ ____ _________________ __________________
First Name MI Last Name Customer Tax IDNo.*
2. Joint Tenancy ________________ ____ _________________ __________________
First Name MI Last Name Customer Tax IDNo.*
("Joint Tenants with Rights of Survivorship" unless otherwise Specified)
Uniform
3. Gifts to Minors ____________ __________________ under the _____ Gifts/
Minor's Name Customer Tax ID No.* State Transfers
to Minors
Act
4. Other Registration___________________________________ ____________________
Customer Tax ID No.*
5. If Trust, Date of Trust Instrument:__________________________________________
As joint tenants use Lines 1 and 2; as custodian for a minor, use Lines 1 and
3. In the name of a corporation, trust or other organization or any fiduciary
capacity, use Line 4.
* Customer Tax Identification No.:(a) for an individual, joint tenants, or a
custodial account under the Uniform Gifts/Transfers to Minors Act, supply the
Social Security number of the registered account owner who is to be taxed;
(b) for a trust, a corporation, a partnership, an organization, a fiduciary,
etc., supply the Employer Identification number of the legal entity or
organization that will report income and/or gains.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADDRESS OF RECORD
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Street
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
City State Zip Code
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISTRIBUTION OPTIONS -- If these boxes are not checked, all distributions will
be invested in additional shares.
Pay Cash for:
Income Dividends Other
WILMINGTON SHORT/INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO [box] [box]
WILMINGTON INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO [box] [box]
WILMINGTON MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO [box] [box]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CERTIFICATIONS AND SIGNATURE(S) -- Please sign exactly as registered under
"Account Registration."
I have received and read the Prospectus for the Wilmington Fixed Income
Portfolios and agree to its terms; I am of legal age.I understand that the
shares offered by this Prospectus are not deposits of, or guaranteed by,
Wilmington Trust Company, or any other bank, nor are the shares insured by
theFederal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other
agency.I further understand that investment in these shares involves investment
risks, including possible loss of principal. If a corporate customer, I certify
that appropriate corporate resolutions authorizing investment in the Wilmington
Fixed Income Portfolios have been duly adopted.
I certify under penalties of perjury that the Social Security number or
taxpayer identification number shown above is correct. Unless the box below is
checked, I certify under penalties of perjury that I am not subject to backup
withholding because the InternalRevenue Service (a) has not notified me that I
am as a result of failure to report all interest or dividends, or (b) has
notified me that I am no longer subject to backup withholding. The
certifications in this paragraph are required from all nonexempt persons to
prevent backup withholding of 31% of all taxable distributions and gross
redemption proceeds under the federal income tax law.
[box] Check here if you are subject to backup withholding.
Signature_______________________________________________ Date__________________
Signature_______________________________________________ Date__________________
Joint Owner/Trustee
Check one: [box] Owner [box] Trustee [box] Custodian [box] Other_____________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IDENTIFICATION OF SERVICE ORGANIZATION
We authorize the Transfer Agent, and the Distributor in the case of transactions
by telephone, to act as our agents in connection with transactions authorized by
this order form.
Service Organization Name and
Code_____________________________________________________________ [boxes]
Branch Address and
Code____________________________________________________________________ [boxes]
Representative or Other
Employee Code___________________________________________________________ [boxes]
Authorized Signature of Service Organization___________________________
Telephone ( )_________________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
11/99
[Wilmington Funds logo omitted]
FIXED INCOME
PORTFOLIOS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
APPLICATION FOR TELEPHONE REDEMPTION OPTION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Telephone redemption permits redemption of fund shares by telephone, with
proceeds directed only to the fund account address of record or to the bank
account designated below.For investments by check, telephone redemption is
available only after these shares have been on the Fund's books for 10 days.
This form is to be used to add or change the telephone redemption option on your
fund account(s).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACCOUNT INFORMATION
Portfolio Name(s):____________________________________________________________
Fund Account Number(s):_______________________________________________________
(Please provide if you are a current account holder:)
REGISTERED IN THE NAME(S) OF: ________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
REGISTERED ADDRESS: ________________________________________________
________________________________________________
NOTE: If this form is not submitted together with the application, a corporate
resolution must be included for accounts registered to other than an individual,
a fiduciary or partnership.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REDEMPTION INSTRUCTIONS
[box] Add [box] Change
Check one or more:
[box] Mail proceeds to my fund account address of record (must be $10,000
or less and address must be established for a minimum of 60 days)
[box] Mail proceeds to my bank
[box] Wire proceeds to my bank (minimum $1,000)
[box] All of the above
Telephone redemption by wire can be used only with financial institutions that
are participants in the Federal Reserve Bank WireSystem. If the financial
institution you designate is not a Federal Reserve participant, telephone
redemption proceeds will be mailed to the named financial institution. In either
case, it may take a day or two, upon receipt for your financial institution to
credit your bank account with the proceeds, depending on its internal crediting
procedures.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BANK INFORMATION
Please complete the following information only if proceeds mailed/wired to your
bank was selected. A VOIDED BANK CHECK MUST BE ATTACHED TO THIS APPLICATION.
Name of Bank ______________________________________________________
Bank Routing Transit # ______________________________________________________
Bank Address ______________________________________________________
City/State/Zip ______________________________________________________
Bank Account Number ______________________________________________________
Name(s) on Bank Account ______________________________________________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AUTHORIZATIONS
By electing the telephone redemption option, I appoint the Transfer Agent my
agent to redeem shares of any designated fund when so instructed by
telephone. This power will continue if I am disabled or incapacitated.I
understand that a request for telephone redemption may be made by anyone, but
the proceeds will be sent only to the account address of record or to the
bank listed above. Proceeds in excess of $10,000 will only be sent to my
predesignated bank. By signing below,I agree on behalf of myself, my assigns,
and successors, not to hold the Transfer Agent and any of its affiliates, or
any fund responsible for acting under the powers I have given the Transfer
Agent.I also agree that all account and registration information I have given
will remain the same unlessI instruct the Transfer Agent otherwise in a
written form, including a signature guarantee.If I want to terminate this
agreement, I will give the Transfer Agent at least ten days notice in
writing.If the Transfer Agent or the fund wants to terminate this agreement,
they will give me at least ten days notice in writing.
ALL OWNERS ON THE ACCOUNT MUST SIGN BELOW AND OBTAIN SIGNATURE GUARANTEE(S).
------------------------------- -------------------------------------------
Signature of Individual Owner Signature of Joint Owner (if any)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Signature of Corporate Officer, Trustee or other -- please include your title
You must have a signature(s) guaranteed by an eligible institution acceptable to
the Fund's transfer agent, such as a bank or trust company, broker/dealer,
clearing agency or savings association who are participants in a medallion
program recognized by the Securities Transfer Association. ANotary Public is not
an acceptable guarantor.For more information on signature guarantees, see
"Redemption of Shares" in the prospectus.
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE(S) (stamp)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
[THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]
<PAGE>
TRUSTEES
Robert H. Arnold
Eric Brucker
Robert J. Christian
Louis Klein Jr.
Nicholas A. Giordano
Clement C. Moore, II
John J. Quindlen
William P. Richards
------------------------------------
OFFICERS
Robert J. Christian, PRESIDENT
Eric Cheung, VICE PRESIDENT
Gary M. Gardner, SECRETARY
Pat Colletti, TREASURER
------------------------------------
INVESTMENT ADVISER
Wilmington Trust Company
Rodney Square North
1100 North Market Street
Wilmington, DE 19890
------------------------------------
CUSTODIAN
Wilmington Trust Company
Rodney Square North
1100 North Market Street
Wilmington, DE 19890
------------------------------------
DISTRIBUTOR
Provident Distributors, Inc.
3200 Horizon Drive
King of Prussia, PA 29406
------------------------------------
ADMINISTRATOR,
TRANSFER AGENT AND
ACCOUNTING AGENT
PFPC Inc.
400 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
------------------------------------
<PAGE>
THE WILMINGTON SHORT/INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO
OF WT MUTUAL FUND
INVESTOR SHARES
================================================================================
PROSPECTUS DATED NOVEMBER 1, 2000
This prospectus gives vital information about these mutual funds, including
information on investment policies, risks and fees. For your own benefit and
protection, please read it before you invest, and keep it on hand for future
reference.
Please note that these Portfolios:
o are not bank deposits
o are not obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed by Wilmington Trust
Company or any of its affiliates
o are not federally insured
o are not obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed or otherwise
supported by the U.S. Government, the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other governmental agency
o are not guaranteed to achieve their goal(s)
Like all mutual fund shares, these securities have not been approved or
disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission nor has the Securities and
Exchange Commission determined whether this prospectus is accurate or complete.
Anyone who tells you otherwise is committing a crime.
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A LOOK AT THE GOALS, STRATEGIES, PORTFOLIO DESCRIPTIONS
RISKS, EXPENSES AND FINANCIAL Summary...........................3
HISTORY OF EACH PORTFOLIO. Performance Information...........4
Fees and Expenses.................6
Investment Objectives.............7
Primary Investment Strategies.....8
Additional Risk Information......11
DETAILS ABOUT THE SERVICE MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIOS
PROVIDERS. Investment Adviser...............14
Service Providers................15
POLICIES AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
OPENING, MAINTAINING AND Pricing of Shares................17
CLOSING AN ACCOUNT IN ANY OF Purchase of Shares...............17
THE PORTFOLIOS. Redemption of Shares.............19
Exchange of Shares...............20
Distributions....................21
Taxes............................22
DETAILS ON THE PORTFOLIOS' DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS
MASTER/FEEDER ARRANGEMENTS. Rule 12b-1 Fees..................22
Master/Feeder Structure..........23
Share Classes....................23
FOR MORE INFORMATION......back cover
For information about key terms and concepts, look for our "PLAIN TALK"
explanations.
<PAGE>
WILMINGTON SHORT/INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO
WILMINGTON INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO
WILMINGTON MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO
INVESTOR SHARES
PORTFOLIO DESCRIPTIONS
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS A MUTUAL FUND?
A mutual fund pools shareholders' money and, using a professional
investment manager, invests it in securities like stocks and bonds.
Each Portfolio described in this prospectus is a separate mutual fund.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
Investment Objective o The SHORT/INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO and the
INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO each seek a high
total return, consistent with high current
income.
o The MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO seeks a high level
of income exempt from federal income tax,
consistent with the preservation of capital.
-------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
Investment Focus o Fixed income securities
-------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
Share Price Volatility o Moderate
-------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
Principal Investment o Each Portfolio operates as a "feeder fund" which
Strategy means that the Portfolio does not buy individual
securities directly. Instead, it invests in a
corresponding mutual fund or "master fund,"
which in turn purchases investment securities.
The Portfolios invest all of their assets in
master funds which are separate series of WT
Investment Trust I. Each Portfolio and its
corresponding Series have the same investment
objective, policies and limitations.
o The SHORT/INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO invests in
the Short/Intermediate Bond Series, which
invests at least 85% of its total assets in
various types of investment grade fixed income
securities.
o The INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO invests in the
Intermediate Bond Series, which invests at least
85% of its total assets in various types of
investment grade fixed income securities.
o The MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO invests in the
Municipal Bond Series, which invests at least
80% of its net assets in municipal securities
that provide interest exempt from federal income
tax.
o The Series' adviser purchases securities based
on their yield or potential capital
appreciation, or both. The adviser may sell
securities in anticipation of market declines or
if the securities are downgraded to below
investment grade.
-------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
Principal Risks The Portfolios are subject to the following
risks summarized below which are further described
under "Additional Risk Information."
o An investment in a Portfolio is not a deposit of
Wilmington Trust Company or any of its
affiliates and is not insured or guaranteed by
the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any
other government agency.
o It is possible to lose money by investing in a
Portfolio.
o The fixed income securities in which the
Portfolios invest through their corresponding
Series are subject to credit risk, prepayment
risk, market risk, liquidity risk and interest
rate risk. Typically, when interest rates rise,
the market prices of fixed income securities go
down.
o The performance of a Portfolio will depend on
whether or not the adviser is
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
successful in pursuing an investment strategy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investor Profile o Investors who want income from their investments
without the volatility of an equity portfolio.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS TOTAL RETURN?
Total return is a measure of the per-share change in the total
value of a fund's portfolio, including any distributions paid to
you. It is measured from the beginning to the end of a specific
time period.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WILMINGTON SHORT/INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO The bar chart and the
performance table below illustrate the risks and volatility of an investment in
the Portfolio. The performance prior to November 1, 1999, reflects the
performance of the Rodney Square Short/Intermediate Bond Portfolio, which was
merged into the Wilmington Short/Intermediate Bond Portfolio, effective November
1, 1999. In connection with the merger, the Wilmington Short/Intermediate Bond
Portfolio changed its investment objective, policies and limitations to match
those of the Rodney Square Short/Intermediate Bond Portfolio. Total Return would
have been lower had certain fees and expenses not been voluntarily waived and/or
reimbursed. Of course, the Portfolio's past performance does not necessarily
indicate how the Portfolio will perform in the future.
1995 14.95%
1996 3.37%
1997 7.56%
1998 7.75%
1999 0.33%
2000 Total Return as of September 30: 6.13%
THIS BAR CHART SHOWS CHANGES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO'S INSTITUTIONAL
SHARES FROM CALENDAR YEAR TO CALENDAR YEAR. THE BAR CHART DOES NOT REFLECT
DEDUCTIONS FOR RULE 12B-1 DISTRIBUTION FEES. IF SUCH AMOUNTS WERE REFLECTED,
RETURNS WOULD BE LESS.
BEST QUARTER WORST QUARTER
4.54% -1.33%
(September 30, 1998) (March 31, 1996)
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS AN INDEX?
An index is a broad measure of the market performance of a specific
group of securities in a particular market, or securities in a
market sector. You cannot invest directly in an index. An index does
not have an investment adviser and does not pay any commissions or
expenses. If an index had expenses, its performance would be lower.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SINCE INCEPTION
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/99 1 YEAR 5 YEARS (NOVEMBER 1,1993)
------------------------------------- ------ ------- ------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Short/Intermediate Bond Portfolio 0.33% 6.68% 6.42%
Merrill Lynch 1-10 Year U.S. Treasury Index* 0.55% 6.98% 6.74%
Lehman Intermediate Government/Credit Index** 0.39% 7.10% 6.88%
-------------------------
<FN>
* The Merrill Lynch 1 to 10 Year U.S. Treasury Index is an unmanaged index of
fixed rate coupon bearing U.S. Treasury securities with a maturity range of 1 to
10 years.
</FN>
</TABLE>
4
<PAGE>
** The Lehman Intermediate Government/Credit Index is an unmanaged index of
fixed rate U.S. Treasury Bonds and Notes, U.S. Government Agency obligations and
investment grade corporate debt obligations with maturities between 1 to 10
years.
WILMINGTON INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO
The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and
volatility of an investment in the Portfolio and its predecessor, the Bond Fund,
a collective investment fund. The Bond Fund's performance has been included for
the periods prior to July 1, 1998 and has been adjusted to reflect the annual
deduction of fees and expenses applicable to shares of the Intermediate Bond
Portfolio (i.e. adjusted to reflect anticipated expenses, absent investment
advisory fees waivers). The Bond Fund was not registered as a mutual fund under
the Investment Company Act of 1940, and therefore was not subject to certain
investment restrictions, limitations and diversification requirements imposed by
the 1940 Act and the Internal Revenue Code. If the Bond Fund had been registered
under the 1940 Act, its performance may have been different. Total Return would
have been lower had certain fees and expenses not been voluntarily waived and/or
reimbursed. Of course, the Portfolio's past performance does not necessarily
indicate how the Portfolio will perform in the future.
1991 14.36%
1992 6.82%
1993 10.60%
1994 -4.20%
1995 18.90%
1996 1.73%
1997 9.06%
1998 8.73%
1999 -2.19%
2000 Total Return as of September 30: 7.39%
THIS BAR CHART SHOWS CHANGES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO'S INSTITUTIONAL
SHARES FROM CALENDAR YEAR TO CALENDAR YEAR. THE BAR CHART DOES NOT REFLECT
DEDUCTIONS FOR RULE 12B-1 DISTRIBUTION FEES. IF SUCH AMOUNTS WERE REFLECTED,
RETURNS WOULD BE LESS.
BEST QUARTER WORST QUARTER
6.54% -3.41%
(June 30, 1995) (March 31, 1994)
SINCE INCEPTION
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/99 1 YEAR 5 YEAR (DECEMBER 31, 1990)
------------------------------------- ------ ------ -------------------
Intermediate Bond Portfolio -2.19% 7.01% 6.85%
Merrill Lynch U.S. Treasury Master Index* -2.38% 7.43% 7.33%
Lehman Government/Credit Index** -2.15% 7.60% 7.59%
-------------------------
* The Merrill Lynch U.S. Treasury Master Index is an unmanaged index of fixed
rate coupon bearing U.S. Treasury securities with a maturity range of 1 to 30
years.
** The Lehman Government/Credit Index is an unmanaged index of fixed rate U.S.
Treasury Bonds and Notes, U.S. Government Agency obligations and investment
grade corporate debt obligations with maturities no less than 1 year.
5
<PAGE>
WILMINGTON MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO
The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and
volatility of an investment in the Portfolio. Of course, the Portfolio's past
performance does not necessarily indicate how the Portfolio will perform in the
future.
1994 -4.17%
1995 14.08%
1996 3.51%
1997 7.18%
1998 5.24%
1999 -0.64%
2000 Total Return as of September 30: 5.38%
THIS BAR CHART SHOWS CHANGES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO'S INSTITUTIONAL
SHARES FROM CALENDAR YEAR TO CALENDAR YEAR. THE BAR CHART DOES NOT REFLECT
DEDUCTIONS FOR RULE 12B-1 DISTRIBUTION FEES. IF SUCH AMOUNTS WERE REFLECTED,
RETURNS WOULD BE LESS.
BEST QUARTER WORST QUARTER
5.86% -4.79%
(March 31, 1995) (March 31, 1994)
SINCE INCEPTION
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/99 1 YEAR 5 YEAR (NOVEMBER 1, 1993)
------------------------------------- ------ ------ ------------------
Municipal Bond Portfolio -0.64% 5.76% 4.16%
Merrill Lynch Intermediate Municipal Index* -0.01% 6.31% 4.98%
-------------------------
* The Merrill Lynch Intermediate Municipal Index is an unmanaged weighted index
including investment grade tax-exempt bonds with a maturity range of 0 to 22
years.
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS YIELD?
Yield is a measure of the income (dividends and interest) earned by
the securities in a fund's portfolio and paid to you over a specified
time period. The yield is expressed as a percentage of the offering
price per share on a specified date.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
You may call (800) 336-9970 to obtain a Portfolio's current yield.
FEES AND EXPENSES
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE FUND EXPENSES?
Unlike an index, every mutual fund has operating expenses to pay
for professional advisory, shareholder distribution, administration
and custody services. Each Portfolio's expenses in the table below are
shown as a percentage of its net assets. These expenses are deducted
from Portfolio assets.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
6
<PAGE>
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and
hold shares of a Portfolio. No sales charges or other fees are paid directly
from your investment.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INVESTOR SHARES
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING SHORT/INTERMEDIATE INTERMEDIATE MUNICIPAL
EXPENSES (EXPENSES THAT ARE DEDUCTED FROM BOND PORTFOLIO BOND PORTFOLIO BOND PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO ASSETS) 1
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Management fees 0.35% 0.35% 0.35%
Distribution (12b-1) fees 0.25% 0.25% 0.25%
Other expenses 0.33% 0.36% 0.68%
TOTAL ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENSES 2 0.93% 0.96% 1.28%
Waivers/reimbursements 0.13% 0.16% 0.28%
Net annual operating expenses 0.80% 0.80% 1.00%
<FN>
-----------------------
1 The table above and the Example below each reflect the aggregate annual
operating expenses of each Portfolio and the corresponding Series of the Trust
in which the Portfolio invests.
2 For Investor shares, WTC has agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee or
reimburse expenses to the extent total annual operating expenses for Investor
shares exceed 0.80% for the Short/Intermediate Portfolio, 0.80% for the
Intermediate Bond Portfolio and 1.00% for the Municipal Bond Portfolio. This
waiver will remain in place until the Board of Trustees approves its
termination.
</FN>
</TABLE>
EXAMPLE
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in a
Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The table below
shows what you would pay if you invested $10,000 over the various time frames
indicated. The example assumes that:
o you reinvested all dividends and other distributions;
o the average annual return was 5%;
o the Portfolio's maximum (without regard to waivers or expenses) total
operating expenses are charged and remain the same over the time periods; and
o you redeemed all of your investment at the end of the time period.
Although your actual cost may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions,
your costs would be:
INVESTOR SHARES 1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
--------------- ------ ------- ------- --------
Short/Intermediate Bond Portfolio $ 95 $296 $515 $1,143
Intermediate Bond Portfolio $ 98 $306 $531 $1,178
Municipal Bond Portfolio $130 $406 $702 $1,545
THE ABOVE EXAMPLE IS FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT A REPRESENTATION OF
A PORTFOLIO'S ACTUAL EXPENSES AND RETURNS, EITHER PAST OR FUTURE.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES
The SHORT/INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO and the INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO each
seek a high total return, consistent with high current income. The MUNICIPAL
BOND PORTFOLIO seeks a high level of income exempt from federal income tax,
consistent with the preservation of capital.
7
<PAGE>
These investment objectives may not be changed without shareholder approval.
There is no guarantee that a Portfolio will achieve its investment objective.
PRIMARY INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE FIXED INCOME SECURITIES?
Fixed income securities are generally bonds, which is a type of
security that functions like a loan. Bonds are IOUs issued by private
companies, municipalities or government agencies. By comparison, when
you buy a stock, you are buying ownership in a company. With a bond,
your "loan" is for a specific period, usually 2 to 30 years. You
receive regular interest payments at the rate stated when you bought
the bond. Hence, the term "fixed income" security.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The SHORT/INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO invests its assets in the
Short/Intermediate Bond Series, which:
o will invest at least 85% of its total assets in various types of investment
grade fixed income securities;
o may invest up to 10% of its total assets in investment grade fixed income
securities of foreign issuers; o will, as a matter of fundamental policy,
maintain a short-to-intermediate average duration (2 1/2 to 4
years); and
o the average dollar-weighted duration of securities held by the
Short/Intermediate Bond Series will normally fall within a range of 2 1/2
to 4 years.
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS DURATION?
Duration measures the sensitivity of fixed income securities held by a
Portfolio to a change in interest rates. The value of a security with a
longer duration will normally fluctuate to a greater degree than will
the value of a security with a shorter duration should interest rates
change. For example, if interest rates were to move 1%, a bond with a
3-year duration would experience approximately a 3% change in principal
value. An identical bond with a 5-year duration would experience
approximately a 5% change in its principal value.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO invests its assets in the Intermediate Bond
Series, which:
o will invest at least 85% of its total assets in various types of investment
grade fixed income securities;
o may invest up to 10% of its total assets in investment grade fixed income
securities of foreign issuers;
o will, as a matter of fundamental policy, maintain an intermediate average
duration (4 to 7 years); and o the average dollar-weighted duration of
securities held by the Intermediate Bond Series will normally fall within a
range of 4 to 7 years.
8
<PAGE>
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE INVESTMENT GRADE SECURITIES?
Investment grade securities are securities that have been determined
by a rating agency to have a medium to high probability of being paid,
although there is always a risk of default. Investment grade securities
are rated BBB, A, AA or AAA by Standard & Poor's Corporation or Baa, A,
Aa or Aaa by Moody's Investors Service.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE MUNICIPAL SECURITIES?
Municipal securities are bonds issued by state and local governments to
raise money for their activities.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO invests its assets in the Municipal Bond Series,
which:
o will, as a fundamental policy, invest substantially all (at least 80%) of
its net assets in a diversified portfolio of municipal securities that
provide interest that is exempt from federal income tax;
o may invest up to 20% of its net assets in other types of fixed income
securities that provide income that is subject to federal tax; and
o will, as a matter of fundamental policy, maintain an intermediate average
duration (4 to 8 years); and
o the average dollar-weighted duration of securities held by the Municipal
Bond Series will normally fall within a range of 4 to 8 years.
The Municipal Bond Series may not invest more than 25% of its total assets in
any one industry. You should note that governmental issuers of municipal
securities are not considered part of any industry. The 25% limitation applies
to municipal securities backed by the assets and revenues of non-governmental
users, such as private operators of educational, hospital or housing facilities.
However, the investment adviser may decide that the yields available from
concentrating in obligations of a particular market sector or political
subdivision justify the risk that the performance of the Municipal Bond Series
may be adversely affected by such concentration. Under such market conditions,
the Municipal Bond Series may invest more than 25% of its assets in sectors of
the municipal securities market, such as health care or housing, or in
securities relating to one political subdivision, such as a given state or U.S.
territory. Under these conditions, the Municipal Bond Series' vulnerability to
any special risks that affects that sector or jurisdiction could have an adverse
impact on the value of an investment in the Series. There are no limitations on
the Municipal Bond Series' investment in any one of the three general categories
of municipal obligations: general obligation bonds, revenue (or special)
obligation bonds and private activity bonds.
SERIES COMPOSITION. The composition of each Series' holdings varies, depending
upon the investment adviser's analysis of the fixed income markets, the
municipal securities market and the expected trends in those markets. The
securities purchased by the Series may be purchased
9
<PAGE>
based upon their yield, the income earned by the security, or their potential
capital appreciation, the potential increase in the security's value, or both.
The investment adviser seeks to protect the Series' principal value by reducing
fluctuations in value relative to those that may be experienced by fixed income
funds with a longer average duration. This strategy may reduce the level of
income attained by the Series. There is no guarantee that principal value can be
protected during periods of extreme interest volatility.
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
CORPORATE BONDS VS. GOVERNMENT BONDS:
Bonds issued by corporations generally pay a higher interest rate than
government bonds. That's because corporate bonds are somewhat riskier
than government bonds and the interest payments on government bonds are
exempt from some or all taxes. For example, if you live in Delaware and
buy a bond issued by the state of Delaware or by any other government
or municipal agency in Delaware, your interest on the bond is exempt
from state and federal income taxes. But if your bond is issued by any
state other than the one in which you reside, the interest would only
be exempt from federal income tax and you would have to pay your state
income tax. Interest payments on U.S. Treasury bonds are exempt from
state and local taxes.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Series invest only in securities that are rated, at the time of purchase, in
the top four categories by a rating agency such as Moody's Investors Service,
Inc. or Standard & Poor's. If the securities are not rated, then the investment
adviser must determine that they are of comparable quality.
The table below shows each Series' principal investments. These are the types of
securities that will most likely help a Series achieve its investment objective.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
---------------------------------------------- ------------------------- -------------------- --------------------
SHORT/INTERMEDIATE BOND INTERMEDIATE BOND MUNICIPAL BOND
---------------------------------------------- ------------------------- -------------------- --------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Asset-Backed Securities [CHECK MARK] [CHECK MARK]
---------------------------------------------- ------------------------- -------------------- --------------------
Bank Obligations [CHECK MARK] [CHECK MARK]
---------------------------------------------- ------------------------- -------------------- --------------------
Corporate Bonds, Notes and Commercial Paper [CHECK MARK] [CHECK MARK]
---------------------------------------------- ------------------------- -------------------- --------------------
Mortgage-Backed Securities [CHECK MARK] [CHECK MARK]
---------------------------------------------- ------------------------- -------------------- --------------------
Municipal Securities [CHECK MARK] [CHECK MARK] [CHECK MARK]
---------------------------------------------- ------------------------- -------------------- --------------------
Obligations Issued By Supranational Agencies [CHECK MARK] [CHECK MARK]
---------------------------------------------- ------------------------- -------------------- --------------------
U.S. Government Obligations [CHECK MARK] [CHECK MARK]
---------------------------------------------- ------------------------- -------------------- --------------------
</TABLE>
Each Series also may use other strategies and engage in other investment
practices, which are described in detail in our Statement of Additional
Information. The investments and strategies listed above and described
throughout this prospectus are those that we use under normal market conditions.
10
<PAGE>
ADDITIONAL RISK INFORMATION
The following is a list of certain risks that may apply to your investment in a
Portfolio. Further information about investment risks is available in our
Statement of Additional Information:
o CREDIT RISK: The risk that the issuer of a security, or the counterparty
to a contract, will default or otherwise become unable to honor a financial
obligation.
o FOREIGN SECURITY RISK: The risk of losses due to political, regulatory,
economic, social or other uncontrollable forces in a foreign country
(Short/Intermediate Bond and Intermediate Bond Portfolios only).
o INTEREST RATE RISK: The risk of market losses attributable to changes in
interest rates. With fixed-rate securities, a rise in interest rates
typically causes a fall in values, while a fall in rates typically causes a
rise in values. The yield earned by a Portfolio will vary with changes in
interest rates.
o LEVERAGE RISK: The risk associated with securities or practices (such as
when-issued and forward commitment transactions) that multiply small market
movements into larger changes in value.
o LIQUIDITY RISK: The risk that certain securities may be difficult or
impossible to sell at the time and the price that the seller would like.
o MARKET RISK: The risk that the market value of a security may move up and
down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably.
o MASTER/FEEDER RISK: The Portfolios' master/feeder structure is relatively
new and more complex. While this structure is designed to reduce costs, it
may not do so, and the Portfolios might encounter operational or other
complications. For example, large-scale redemptions by other feeders of
their shares of a master fund could have adverse effects on a Portfolio
such as requiring the liquidation of a substantial portion of the master
fund's holdings at a time when it could be disadvantageous to do so. Also,
other feeders of a master fund may have a greater ownership interest in the
master fund than a Portfolio's interest and, therefore, could have
effective voting control over the operation of the master fund.
o OPPORTUNITY RISK: The risk of missing out on an investment opportunity
because the assets necessary to take advantage of it are tied up in less
advantageous investments.
o PREPAYMENT RISK: The risk that a debt security may be paid off and proceeds
invested earlier than anticipated. Depending on market conditions, the new
investments may or may not carry the same interest rate.
o VALUATION RISK: The risk that a Series has valued certain of its
securities at a higher price than it can sell them for.
11
<PAGE>
MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIOS
The Board of Trustees for each Portfolio supervises the management, activities
and affairs of the Portfolio and has approved contracts with various
organizations to provide, among other services, day-to-day management required
by the Portfolio and its shareholders.
INVESTMENT ADVISER
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS AN INVESTMENT ADVISER?
The investment adviser makes investment decisions for a mutual fund
and continuously reviews, supervises and administers the fund's
investment program. The Board of Trustees supervises the investment
adviser and establishes policies that the adviser must follow in its
management activities.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Wilmington Trust Company ("WTC"), the Series' investment adviser, is located at
1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890. WTC is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Wilmington Trust Corporation, which is a publicly held bank
holding company. WTC, subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees,
directs the investments of each Series in accordance with its investment
objective, policies and limitations. In addition to serving as investment
adviser for the Series, WTC is engaged in a variety of investment advisory
activities, including the management of other mutual funds and collective
investment pools.
Under an advisory agreement, each Series pays a monthly fee to WTC at the annual
rate of 0.35% of the Series' first $1 billion of average daily net assets; 0.30%
of the Series' next $1 billion of average daily net assets; and 0.25% of the
Series' average daily net assets over $2 billion. For the twelve months ended
June 30, 2000, WTC received the following fees (after fee waivers) as a
percentage of each Series' average daily net assets for investment advisory
services:
Short/Intermediate Bond Series 0.35%
Intermediate Bond Series 0.30%
Municipal Bond Series 0.25%
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
Eric K. Cheung, Vice President and Manager of the Fixed Income Management
Division, Clayton M. Albright, III, Vice President of the Fixed Income
Management Division and Dominick J. D'Eramo, CFA, Vice President of the Fixed
Income Management Division, all of the Asset Management Department of WTC, are
primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Short/Intermediate
Bond Series and the Intermediate Bond Series. From 1978 until 1986, Mr. Cheung
was the Portfolio Manager for fixed income assets of the Meritor Financial
Group. In 1986, Mr. Cheung joined WTC. In 1991, he became the Division Manager
for all fixed income products. Mr. Albright has been employed at WTC since 1976.
In 1987, he joined the Fixed Income Management Division and since then has
specialized in the management
12
<PAGE>
of intermediate and long-term fixed income portfolios. Mr. D'Eramo began his
career with WTC in 1986 as a fixed income trader and was promoted to portfolio
manager in 1990.
Lisa More, Vice President of Credit Research and Municipal Trading within the
Fixed Income Management Divisions of Asset Management Department of WTC is
primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Municipal Bond
Portfolio. Mrs. More has been employed at WTC since 1988. In 1990, she joined
the Fixed Income Division specializing in the management of municipal income
portfolios.
SERVICE PROVIDERS
The chart below provides information on the Portfolios' primary service
providers.
13
<PAGE>
Asset Shareholder
Management Services
------------------------------------ --------------------------------
INVESTMENT ADVISER TRANSFER AGENT
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY PFPC INC.
RODNEY SQUARE NORTH 400 BELLEVUE PARKWAY
1100 N. MARKET STREET WILMINGTON, DE 19809
WILMINGTON, DE 19890-0001
Handles shareholder services,
including recordkeeping and
statements, payment of
distribution and processing of
Manages each Portfolio's buy and sell requests.
investment activities.
------------------------------------ --------------------------------
---------------------------------
WT MUTUAL FUND
---------------------------------
Fund Asset
Operations Safe Keeping
------------------------------------ --------------------------------
ADMINISTRATOR AND CUSTODIAN
ACCOUNTING AGENT WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
PFPC INC. 1100 N. MARKET STREET
400 BELLEVUE PARKWAY WILMINGTON, DE 19890
WILMINGTON, DE 19809
Provides facilities, equipment and
personnel to carry out Holds each Portfolio's assets,
administrative services related to settles all portfolio trades
each Portfolio and calculates each and collects most of the
Portfolio's NAV and distributions. valuation data required for
calculating each Portfolio's
NAV per share.
------------------------------------ --------------------------------
14
<PAGE>
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
PRICING OF SHARES
The Portfolios value their assets based on current market value when such values
are available. Prices for fixed income securities normally are supplied by a
pricing service. Fixed income securities maturing within 60 days of the
valuation date are valued at amortized cost. Securities that do not have a
readily available current market value are valued in good faith by, or under the
direction of the Series' Board of Trustees.
The assets held by the Short/Intermediate Bond Series and the Intermediate Bond
Series that are denominated in foreign currencies are valued daily in U.S.
dollars at the foreign currency exchange rates that are prevailing at the time
that PFPC determines the daily net asset value per share.
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS THE NET ASSET VALUE or "NAV"?
NAV = ASSETS - LIABILITIES
--------------------
Outstanding Shares
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PFPC determines the NAV per share of each Portfolio as of the close of regular
trading on the New York Stock Exchange (currently 4:00 p.m., Eastern time), on
each Business Day (a day that the New York Stock Exchange, the Transfer Agent
and the Philadelphia branch of the Federal Reserve Bank are open for business).
The NAV is calculated by adding the value of all securities and other assets in
a Portfolio, deducting its liabilities and dividing the balance by the number of
outstanding shares in that Portfolio.
Shares will not be priced on those days the Portfolios are closed. As of the
date of this prospectus, those days are:
New Year's Day Memorial Day Veterans Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Independence Day Thanksgiving Day
President's Day Labor Day Christmas Day
Good Friday Columbus Day
PURCHASE OF SHARES
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES:
o Directly by mail or by wire
o As a client of WTC through a trust account or a corporate cash
management account
o As a client of a Service Organization
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio shares are offered on a continuous basis and are sold without any
sales charges. The minimum initial investment in Investor class shares of the
Portfolios is $1,000, but additional investments may be made in any amount. You
may purchase shares as specified below.
15
<PAGE>
You may also purchase shares if you are a client of WTC through your trust or
corporate cash management accounts. If you are a client of an institution (such
as a bank or broker-dealer) that has entered into a servicing agreement with the
Portfolios' distributor ("Service Organization"), you may also purchase shares
through such Service Organization. You should also be aware that you may be
charged a fee by WTC or the Service Organization in connection with your
investment in the Portfolios. If you wish to purchase Portfolio shares through
your account at WTC or a Service Organization, you should contact that entity
directly for information and instructions on purchasing shares.
BY MAIL: You may purchase shares by sending a check drawn on a U.S. bank payable
to WT Mutual Fund, indicating the name of the Portfolio, along with a completed
application (included at the end of this prospectus). If a subsequent investment
is being made, the check should also indicate your Portfolio account number.
When you make purchases by check, each Portfolio may withhold payment on
redemptions until it is reasonably satisfied that the funds are collected (which
can take up to 10 days). If you purchase shares with a check that does not
clear, your purchase will be canceled and you will be responsible for any losses
or fees incurred in that transaction. Send the check and application to:
REGULAR MAIL: OVERNIGHT MAIL:
------------ --------------
WT Mutual Fund WT Mutual Fund
c/o PFPC Inc. c/o PFPC Inc.
P.O. Box 8951 400 Bellevue Parkway, Suite 108
Wilmington, DE 19899 Wilmington, DE 19809
BY WIRE: You may purchase shares by wiring federal funds readily available.
Please call PFPC at (800) 336-9970 for instructions and to make specific
arrangements before making a purchase by wire, and if making an initial
purchase, to also obtain an account number.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING PURCHASES: Purchase orders received by the
Transfer Agent before the close of regular trading on the Exchange on any
Business Day will be priced at the NAV that is determined as of the close of
trading. Purchase orders received after the close of regular trading on the
Exchange will be priced as of the close of regular trading on the following
Business Day.
Any purchase order may be rejected if a Portfolio determines that accepting the
order would not be in the best interest of the Portfolio or its shareholders.
It is the responsibility of WTC or the Service Organization to transmit orders
for the purchase of shares by its customers to the Transfer Agent and to deliver
required funds on a timely basis, in accordance with the procedures stated
above.
16
<PAGE>
For information on other ways to purchase shares, including through an
individual retirement account (IRA), an Automatic Investment Plan or a Payroll
Investment Plan, please refer to the Statement of Additional Information.
REDEMPTION OF SHARES
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO REDEEM (SELL) SHARES:
o By mail
o By telephone
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
You may sell your shares on any Business Day as described below. Redemptions are
effected at the NAV next determined after the Transfer Agent has received your
redemption request. There is no fee when Portfolio shares are redeemed. It is
the responsibility of WTC or the Service Organization to transmit redemption
orders and credit their customers' accounts with redemption proceeds on a timely
basis. Redemption checks are mailed on the next Business Day following receipt
by the Transfer Agent of redemption instructions, but never later than 7 days
following such receipt. Amounts redeemed by wire are normally wired on the date
of receipt of redemption instructions (if received by the Transfer Agent before
4:00 p.m. Eastern time) or the next Business Day (if received after 4:00 p.m.
Eastern time, or on a non-Business Day), but never later than 7 days following
such receipt. If you purchased your shares through an account at WTC or a
Service Organization, you should contact WTC or the Service Organization for
information relating to redemptions. The Portfolio's name and your account
number should accompany any redemption requests.
BY MAIL: If you redeem your shares by mail, you should submit written
instructions with a "signature guarantee". A signature guarantee verifies the
authenticity of your signature. You can obtain one from most banking
institutions or securities brokers, but not from a notary public. You must
indicate the Portfolio name, your account number and your name. The written
instructions and signature guarantee should be mailed to:
REGULAR MAIL: OVERNIGHT MAIL:
------------ --------------
WT Mutual Fund WT Mutual Fund
c/o PFPC Inc. c/o PFPC Inc.
P.O. Box 8951 400 Bellevue Parkway, Suite 108
Wilmington, DE 19899 Wilmington, DE 19809
BY TELEPHONE: If you prefer to redeem your shares by telephone, you may elect to
do so. However there are certain risks. The Portfolios have certain safeguards
and procedures to confirm the identity of callers and to confirm that the
instructions communicated are genuine. If such procedures are followed, you will
bear the risk of any losses.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING REDEMPTIONS: Redemption proceeds may be wired
to your predesignated bank account in any commercial bank in the United States
if the amount is $1,000
17
<PAGE>
or more. The receiving bank may charge a fee for this service. Proceeds may also
be mailed to your bank or, for amounts of $10,000 or less, mailed to your
Portfolio account address of record if the address has been established for at
least 60 days. In order to authorize the Transfer Agent to mail redemption
proceeds to your Portfolio account address of record, complete the appropriate
section of the Application for Telephone Redemptions or include your Portfolio
account address of record when you submit written instructions. You may change
the account that you have designated to receive amounts redeemed at any time.
Any request to change the account designated to receive redemption proceeds
should be accompanied by a guarantee of your signature by an eligible
institution. A signature and a signature guarantee are required for each person
in whose name the account is registered. Further documentation will be required
to change the designated account when a corporation, other organization, trust,
fiduciary or other institutional investor holds the Portfolio shares.
If shares to be redeemed represent a recent investment made by check, each
Portfolio reserves the right not to make the redemption proceeds available until
it has reasonable grounds to believe that the check has been collected (which
could take up to 10 days).
SMALL ACCOUNTS: If the value of your Portfolio account falls below $500, the
Portfolio may ask you to increase your balance. If the account value is still
below $500 after 60 days, the Portfolio may close your account and send you the
proceeds. The Portfolio will not close your account if it falls below $500
solely as a result of a reduction in your account's market value.
For information on other ways to redeem shares, please refer to the Statement of
Additional Information.
EXCHANGE OF SHARES
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS AN EXCHANGE OF SHARES?
An exchange of shares allows you to move your money from one fund to
another fund within a family of funds.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
You may exchange all or a portion of your shares in a Portfolio for Investor
class shares of the following Portfolios:
Wilmington Prime Money Market Portfolio
Wilmington Premier Money Market Portfolio
Wilmington U.S. Government Portfolio
Wilmington Tax-Exempt Portfolio
Wilmington Short/Intermediate Bond Portfolio
Wilmington Intermediate Bond Portfolio
Wilmington Municipal Bond Portfolio
Wilmington Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Wilmington Large Cap Core Portfolio
Wilmington Small Cap Core Portfolio
Wilmington International Multi-Manager Portfolio
Wilmington Small Cap Value Portfolio
18
<PAGE>
Wilmington Large Cap Value Portfolio
Wilmington Mid Cap Value Portfolio
Wilmington Small Cap Value Portfolio
Redemption of shares through an exchange will be effected at the NAV per share
next determined after the Transfer Agent receives your request. A purchase of
shares through an exchange will be effected at the NAV per share determined at
that time or as next determined thereafter.
Exchange transactions will be subject to the minimum initial investment and
other requirements of the Portfolio into which the exchange is made. An exchange
may not be made if the exchange would leave a balance in a shareholder's account
of less than $500.
To obtain prospectuses of the other Portfolios, you may call (800) 336-9970. To
obtain more information about exchanges, or to place exchange orders, contact
the Transfer Agent, or, if your shares are held in a trust account with WTC or
in an account with a Service Organization, contact WTC or the Service
Organization. The Portfolios may terminate or modify the exchange offer
described here and will give you 60 days' notice of such termination or
modification. This exchange offer is valid only in those jurisdictions where the
sale of the Portfolio shares to be acquired through such exchange may be legally
made.
DISTRIBUTIONS
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS NET INVESTMENT INCOME?
Net investment income consists of interest and dividends (and, in the
case of the Municipal Bond Portfolio, market discount on tax-exempt
securities) earned by a fund on its investments less accrued expenses.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
As a shareholder of a Portfolio, you are entitled to receive dividends and other
distributions arising from the net investment income and net realized gains, if
any, earned on the investments held by the Portfolio. Generally, dividends are
declared daily and paid monthly. Each Portfolio expects to distribute any net
realized gains once a year. The Short/Intermediate Bond Portfolio and the
Intermediate Bond Portfolio will distribute net realized gains from foreign
currency transactions, if any, after the end of the fiscal year in which the
gain was realized by them.
Distributions are payable to the shareholders of record at the time the
distributions are declared (including holders of shares being redeemed, but
excluding holders of shares being purchased). All distributions are reinvested
in additional shares, unless you elect to receive distributions in cash. Shares
become entitled to receive distributions on the day after the shares are issued.
Any net capital gain realized by a Portfolio will be distributed at least
annually.
TAXES
19
<PAGE>
Each Portfolio generally intends to operate in a manner such that it will not be
liable for Federal income or excise tax. The Portfolios' distributions of net
investment income (which include net short-term capital gains), whether received
in cash or reinvested in additional Portfolio shares, may be taxable to you as
ordinary income. Each Portfolio will notify you following the end of the
calendar year of the amount of dividends paid that year.
Dividend distributions by the Municipal Bond Portfolio of the excess of its
interest income on tax-exempt securities over certain amounts disallowed as
deductions ("exempt-interest dividends") may be treated by you as interest
excludable from your gross income. The Municipal Bond Portfolio intends to
distribute income that is exempt from federal income tax, though it may invest a
portion of its assets in securities that generate taxable income. Income exempt
from federal income tax may be subject to state and local income tax.
Additionally, any capital gains distributed by the Portfolio may be taxable.
It is a taxable event for you if you sell or exchange shares of any Portfolio,
including the Municipal Bond Portfolio. Depending on the purchase price and the
sale price of the shares you exchange, you may have a taxable gain or loss on
the transaction. You are responsible for any tax liability generated by your
transactions.
This section is only a summary of some important income tax considerations that
may affect your investment in a Portfolio. More information regarding those
considerations appears in our Statement of Additional Information. You are urged
to consult your tax adviser regarding the effects of an investment on your tax
situation.
DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS
The Distributor manages the Portfolios' distribution efforts and provides
assistance and expertise in developing marketing plans and materials, enters
into dealer agreement with broker-dealers to sell shares and provides
shareholder support services, directly or through affiliates. The Portfolios do
not charge any sales loads, deferred sales loads or other fees in connection
with the purchase of shares.
RULE 12B-1 FEES
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE 12b-1 FEES?
12b-1 fees, charged by some funds, are deducted from fund assets to pay
for marketing and advertising expenses or, more commonly, to compensate
sales professionals for selling fund shares.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Investor class of each Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan under Rule
12b-1 that allows a Portfolio to pay a fee to the Distributor for the sale and
distribution of Investor class shares, and for services provided to Investor
class shareholders. Because these fees are paid out of a Portfolio's assets
continuously, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and
may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges. For the Investor
class of shares, maximum distribution fees as a percentage of average daily net
assets, are as follows:
20
<PAGE>
Short/Intermediate Bond Portfolio - Investor Class 0.25%
Intermediate Bond Portfolio - Investor Class 0.25%
Municipal Bond Portfolio - Investor Class 0.25%
MASTER/FEEDER STRUCTURE
Other institutional investors, including other mutual funds, may invest in the
master funds. The master/feeder structure enables various institutional
investors, including a Portfolio, to pool their assets, which may be expected to
result in economies by spreading certain fixed costs over a larger asset base.
Each shareholder of a master fund, including a Portfolio, will pay its
proportionate share of the master fund's expenses.
For reasons relating to costs or a change in investment goal, among others, a
Portfolio could switch to another master fund or decide to manage its assets
itself. No Portfolio is currently contemplating such a move.
SHARE CLASSES
The Portfolios issue Investor and Institutional classes of shares. The
Institutional class is offered to retirement plans. The Investor class pays an
additional 12b-1 fee. Any investor may purchase Investor class shares.
21
<PAGE>
FOR MORE INFORMATION
FOR INVESTORS WHO WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE PORTFOLIOS, THE FOLLOWING
DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE FREE UPON REQUEST:
ANNUAL/SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTS: Contain performance data and information on
portfolio holdings, operating results, and a discussion of the market conditions
and investment strategies that significantly affect the Portfolios' performance
for the most recently completed fiscal year or half-year.
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI): Provides a complete technical and
legal description of the Portfolios' policies, investment restrictions, risks,
and business structure. This prospectus incorporates the SAI by reference.
Copies of these documents and answers to questions about the Portfolios may be
obtained without charge by contacting:
WT Mutual Fund c/o PFPC Inc.
400 Bellevue Parkway
Suite 108
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
(800) 336-9970
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time
Information about the Portfolios (including the SAI) can be reviewed and copied
at the Public Reference Room of the Securities and Exchange Commission in
Washington, D.C. Copies of this information may be obtained, upon payment of a
duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address:
[email protected], or by writing the Public Reference Room of the SEC,
Washington, DC, 20549-0102. Information on the operation of the Public Reference
Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-(202) 942-8090. Reports and other
information about the Portfolios may be viewed on-screen or downloaded from the
SEC's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OPENING A NEW ACCOUNT, MAKING
CHANGES TO EXISTING ACCOUNTS, PURCHASING, EXCHANGING
OR REDEEMING SHARES, OR OTHER INVESTOR SERVICES,
PLEASE CALL 1-(800)-336-9970.
The investment company registration number for WT Mutual Fund is 811-08648.
<PAGE>
THE WILMINGTON PRIME MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON U.S. GOVERNMENT PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON TAX-EXEMPT PORTFOLIO
OF WT MUTUAL FUND
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES
================================================================================
PROSPECTUS DATED NOVEMBER 1, 2000
This prospectus gives vital information about these money market mutual funds,
including information on investment policies, risks and fees. For your own
benefit and protection, please read it before you invest, and keep it on hand
for future reference.
Please note that these Portfolios:
o are not bank deposits
o are not obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed by Wilmington Trust
Company or any of its affiliates
o are not federally insured
o are not obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed or otherwise supported by
the U.S. Government, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal
Reserve Board or any other governmental agency
o are not guaranteed to achieve their goal(s)
o may not be able to maintain a stable $1 share price
Like all mutual fund shares, these securities have not been approved or
disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission nor has the Securities and
Exchange Commission determined whether this prospectus is accurate or complete.
Anyone who tells you otherwise is committing a crime.
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A LOOK AT THE GOALS, STRATEGIES, PORTFOLIO DESCRIPTIONS
RISKS, EXPENSES AND FINANCIAL Summary.................................3
HISTORY OF EACH PORTFOLIO. Performance Information.................4
Fees and Expenses.......................6
Investment Objectives...................7
Primary Investment Strategies...........7
Additional Risk Information.............8
DETAILS ABOUT THE SERVICE MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIOS
PROVIDERS. Investment Adviser.....................11
Service Providers......................11
POLICIES AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
OPENING, MAINTAINING AND Pricing of Shares......................13
CLOSING AN ACCOUNT IN ANY OF Purchase of Shares.....................13
THE PORTFOLIOS. Redemption of Shares...................15
Exchange of Shares.....................17
Distributions..........................18
Taxes..................................18
DETAILS ON THE PORTFOLIOS' DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS
MASTER/FEEDER ARRANGE- Master/Feeder Structure................19
MENT AND SHARE CLASSES. Share Classes..........................19
FOR MORE INFORMATION...........back cover
For information about key terms and concepts, look for our "PLAIN TALK"
explanations.
2
<PAGE>
THE WILMINGTON PRIME MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON U.S. GOVERNMENT PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON TAX-EXEMPT PORTFOLIO
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES
PORTFOLIO DESCRIPTIONS
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE MONEY MARKET FUNDS?
Money market funds invest only in high quality, short-term debt
securities, commonly known as money market instruments. Money market
funds follow strict rules about credit risk, maturity and
diversification of their investments. An investment in a money market
fund is not a bank deposit. Although a money market fund seeks to keep
a constant share price of $1.00, you may lose money by investing in a
money market fund.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
Investment Objective o The PRIME MONEY MARKET AND U.S. GOVERNMENT
each seek high current income, while
preserving capital and liquidity.
o The TAX EXEMPT PORTFOLIO seeks high current
interest income exempt from federal income
taxes while preserving principal.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Focus o Money market instruments.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share Price Volatility o Each Portfolio will strive to maintain a
stable $1.00 share price.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Principal Investment Strategy o Each Portfolio operates as a "feeder fund"
which means that the Portfolio does not buy
individual securities directly. Instead, it
invests in a corresponding mutual fund or
"master fund," which in turn purchases
investment securities. The Portfolios invest
all of their assets in master funds, which are
separate series of WT Investment Trust I. Each
Portfolio and its corresponding Series have
the same investment objective, policies and
limitations.
o The U.S. GOVERNMENT PORTFOLIO invests in the
U.S. Government Series, which invests at least
65% of its assets in U.S. Government
obligations and repurchase agreements
collateralized by such obligations.
o The PRIME MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO invests in
the Prime Money Market Series, which invests
in money market instruments, including bank
obligations, high quality commercial paper and
U.S. Government obligations.
o The TAX-EXEMPT PORTFOLIO invests in the
Tax-Exempt Series, which invests in high
quality municipal obligations, municipal bonds
and other instruments exempt from federal
income tax.
o In selecting securities for the Series, the
adviser seeks current income, liquidity and
safety of principal. The adviser may sell
securities if the securities are downgraded to
a lower ratings category.
o Each of the U.S. Government Portfolio and
Prime Money Market Portfolio, through its
corresponding Series, may invest more than 25%
of its total assets in the obligations of
banks and finance companies.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Principal Risks The Portfolios are subject to risks summarized
below which are further described under
"Additional Risk Information." o An investment
in a Portfolio is not a deposit of Wilmington
Trust Company or any of its affiliates and is
not insured or guaranteed by the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other
government agency. Although each
3
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio seeks to preserve the value of your
investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible
to lose money by investing in a Portfolio.
o The obligations in which the Portfolios invest
through their corresponding Series are subject
to credit risk and interest rate risk.
Typically, when interest rates rise, the
market prices of debt securities go down.
o The performance of a Portfolio will depend on
whether or not the adviser is successful in
pursuing an investment strategy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investor Profile o Conservative
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
THE WILMINGTON PRIME MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO
The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and
volatility of an investment in the Portfolio. Of course, past performance is not
necessarily an indicator of how the Portfolio will perform in the future.
1990 8.04%
1991 6.08%
1992 3.61%
1993 2.86%
1994 3.89%
1995 5.63%
1996 5.08%
1997 5.22%
1998 5.17%
1999 4.80%
THIS BAR CHART SHOWS CHANGES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO'S INVESTOR
SHARES FROM CALENDAR YEAR TO CALENDAR YEAR. THE BAR CHART REFLECTS THE
IMPOSITION OF RULE 12B-1 DISTRIBUTION FEES. IF SUCH AMOUNTS WERE NOT DEDUCTED,
RETURNS WOULD BE HIGHER.
2000 Total Return as of September 30: 4.50%
BEST QUARTER WORST QUARTER
1.92% 0.70%
(December 31, 1990) (June 30, 1993)
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/98 1 YEAR 5 YEAR 10 YEAR
------------------------------------- ------ ------ -------
Prime Money Market Portfolio 4.80% 5.50% 5.03%
THE WILMINGTON U.S. GOVERNMENT PORTFOLIO
The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and
volatility of an investment in the Portfolio. Of course, past performance is not
necessarily an indicator of how the Portfolio will perform in the future.
4
<PAGE>
1990 7.86%
1991 5.73%
1992 3.38%
1993 2.82%
1994 3.82%
1995 5.51%
1996 4.99%
1997 5.12%
1998 5.07%
1999 4.69%
THIS BAR CHART SHOWS CHANGES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO'S INVESTOR
SHARES FROM CALENDAR YEAR TO CALENDAR YEAR. THE BAR CHART REFLECTS THE
IMPOSITION OF RULE 12B-1 DISTRIBUTION FEES. IF SUCH AMOUNTS WERE NOT DEDUCTED,
RETURNS WOULD BE HIGHER.
2000 Total Return as of September 30: 4.33%
BEST QUARTER WORST QUARTER
1.86% 0.69%
(December 31, 1990) (March 31, 1993)
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/98 1 YEAR 5 YEAR 10 YEAR
------------------------------------- ------ ------ -------
U.S. Government Portfolio 4.69% 5.08% 4.89%
THE WILMINGTON TAX-EXEMPT PORTFOLIO
The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and
volatility of an investment in the Portfolio. Of course, past performance is not
necessarily an indicator of how the Portfolio will perform in the future.
1990 5.57%
1991 4.15%
1992 2.66%
1993 1.98%
1994 2.42%
1995 3.47%
1996 3.01%
1997 3.15%
1998 2.98%
1999 2.76%
5
<PAGE>
THIS BAR CHART SHOWS CHANGES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO'S INVESTOR
SHARES FROM CALENDAR YEAR TO CALENDAR YEAR. THE BAR CHART REFLECTS THE
IMPOSITION OF RULE 12B-1 DISTRIBUTION FEES. IF SUCH AMOUNTS WERE NOT DEDUCTED,
RETURNS WOULD BE HIGHER.
2000 Total Returns as of September 30: 2.98%
BEST QUARTER WORST QUARTER
1.41% 0.47%
(December 31, 1990) (March 31, 1994)
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/99 1 YEAR 5 YEAR 10 YEAR
------------------------------------- ------ ------ -------
Tax-Exempt Portfolio 2.76% 3.07% 3.21%
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS YIELD?
Yield is a measure of the income (dividends and interest) earned by the
securities in a fund's portfolio and paid to you over a specified time
period. The yield is expressed as a percentage of the offering price
per share on a specified date.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You may call (800) 336-9970 to obtain a Portfolio's current 7-day yield.
FEES AND EXPENSES
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE MUTUAL FUND EXPENSES?
Unlike an index, every mutual fund has operating expenses to pay for
professional advisory, distribution, administration and custody
services. The Portfolios' expenses in the table below are shown as a
percentage of the Portfolios' net assets. These expenses are deducted
from Portfolio assets.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and
hold shares of a Portfolio. No sales charges or other fees are paid directly
from your investment.
INSTITUTIONAL CLASS
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING THE U.S.
EXPENSES (EXPENSES THAT ARE THE PRIME MONEY GOVERNMENT THE TAX-EXEMPT
DEDUCTED FROM PORTFOLIO ASSETS)1 MARKET PORTFOLIO PORTFOLIO PORTFOLIO
---------------- --------- ---------
Management fees 0.44% 0.47% 0.47%
Distribution (12b-1) fees None None None
Other expenses 0.04% 0.06% 0.06%
TOTAL ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENSES2 0.48% 0.53% 0.53%
-------------------------------------------
1 The table above and the Example below each reflect the aggregate annual
operating expenses of each Portfolio and the corresponding Series of the
Trust in which the Portfolio invests.
6
<PAGE>
EXAMPLE
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in a
Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The tables below
show what you would pay if you invested $10,000 over the various time frames
indicated. The example assumes that:
o you reinvested all dividends;
o the average annual return was 5%;
o the Portfolio's maximum total operating expenses are charged and remain the
same over the time periods; and
o you redeemed all of your investment at the end of the time period.
Although your actual cost may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions,
your costs would be:
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES 1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
-------------------- ------ ------- ------- --------
Prime Money Market Portfolio $49 $154 $269 $604
U.S. Government Portfolio $54 $170 $296 $665
Tax-Exempt Portfolio $54 $170 $296 $665
THE ABOVE EXAMPLE IS FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT A REPRESENTATION OF
A PORTFOLIO'S ACTUAL EXPENSES AND RETURNS, EITHER PAST OR FUTURE.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES
o The PRIME MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO AND U.S. GOVERNMENT PORTFOLIO each seek a
high level of current income consistent with the preservation of capital
and liquidity.
o The TAX-EXEMPT PORTFOLIO seeks as high a level of interest income exempt
from federal income tax as is consistent with preservation of principal.
The investment objectives for each Portfolio may not be changed without
shareholder approval. Each Portfolio is a money market fund and intends to
maintain a stable $1 share price, although this may not be possible under
certain circumstances. There can be no guarantee that any Portfolio will achieve
its investment objective.
PRIMARY INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
The PRIME MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO invests its assets in the Prime Money Market
Series, which in turn invests in:
o U.S. dollar-denominated obligations of major U.S. and foreign banks and
their branches located outside of the United States, of U.S. branches of
foreign banks, of foreign branches of foreign banks, of U.S. agencies of
foreign banks and wholly-owned banking subsidiaries of foreign banks;
o high quality commercial paper and corporate obligations;
o U.S. Government obligations;
o high quality municipal securities; and
o repurchase agreements that are fully collateralized by U.S. Government
obligations.
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U.S. Government obligations are debt securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S.
Government, its agencies or instrumentalities.
The U.S. GOVERNMENT PORTFOLIO invests its assets in the U.S. Government Series,
which in turn invests at least 65% of its total assets in:
o U.S. Government obligations; and
o repurchase agreements that are fully collateralized by such obligations.
The TAX-EXEMPT PORTFOLIO invests its assets in the Tax-Exempt Series, which in
turn invests in:
o high quality municipal obligations and municipal bonds;
o floating and variable rate obligations;
o participation interests;
o high quality tax-exempt commercial paper; and
o high quality short-term municipal notes.
The Tax-Exempt Series has adopted a policy that, under normal circumstances, at
least 80% of its annual income will be exempt from federal income tax.
Additionally, at least 80% of its annual income will not be a tax preference
item for purposes of the federal alternative minimum tax.
High quality securities include those that (1) are rated in one of the two
highest short-term rating categories by two NRSRO, such as S&P, Moody's and
Fitch IBCA (or by one NRSRO if only one NRSRO has issued a rating) or; (2) if
unrated are issued by an issuer with comparable outstanding debt that is rated
or are otherwise unrated and determined by the investment adviser to be of
comparable quality.
Each Series also may invest in other securities, use other strategies and engage
in other investment practices, which are described in detail in our Statement of
Additional Information.
ADDITIONAL RISK INFORMATION
The following is a list of certain risks that may apply to your investment in a
Portfolio. Further information about investment risks is available in our
Statement of Additional Information:
o CREDIT RISK: The risk that the issuer of a security, or the counterparty
to a contract, will default or otherwise become unable to honor a financial
obligation.
o FOREIGN SECURITY RISK: The risk of losses due to political, regulatory,
economic, social or other uncontrollable forces in a foreign country.
o INTEREST RATE RISK: The risk of market losses attributable to changes in
interest rates. With fixed-rate securities, a rise in interest rates
typically causes a fall in values, while a fall in rates typically causes a
rise in values. The yield paid by a Portfolio will vary with changes in
interest rates.
o MARKET RISK: The risk that the market value of a security may move up and
down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably.
o MASTER/FEEDER RISK: The Portfolios' master/feeder structure is relatively
new and more complex. While this structure is designed to reduce costs, it
may not do so, and the
8
<PAGE>
Portfolios might encounter operational or other complications. For example,
large-scale redemptions by other feeders of their shares of a master fund
could have adverse effects on a Portfolio such as requiring the liquidation
of a substantial portion of the master fund's holdings at a time when it
could be disadvantageous to do so. Also, other feeders of a master fund may
have a greater ownership interest in the master fund than a Portfolio's
interest and, therefore, could have effective voting control over the
operation of the master fund.
o PREPAYMENT RISK: The risk that a debt security may be paid off and proceeds
invested earlier than anticipated. Depending on market conditions, the new
investments may or may not carry the same interest rate.
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MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIOS
The Board of Trustees for each Portfolio supervises the management, activities
and affairs of the Portfolio and has approved contracts with various
organizations to provide, among other services, the day-to-day management
required by the Portfolio and its shareholders.
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS AN INVESTMENT ADVISER?
The investment adviser makes investment decisions for a mutual fund and
continuously reviews, supervises and administers the fund's investment
program. The Board of Trustees supervises the investment adviser and
establishes policies that the adviser must follow in its management
activities.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT ADVISER
Rodney Square Management Corporation, the Series' investment adviser, is located
at 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890. RSMC is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Wilmington Trust Company, which is wholly owned by Wilmington
Trust Corporation. RSMC also provides asset management services to collective
investment funds maintained by WTC. In the past, RSMC has provided asset
management services to individuals, personal trusts, municipalities,
corporations and other organizations.
Each of the U.S. Government Series, the Prime Money Market Series, and the
Tax-Exempt Series pays a monthly fee to RSMC at the annual rate of 0.47% of the
Series' first $1 billion of average daily net assets; 0.43% of the Series' next
$500 million of average daily net assets; 0.40% of the Series' next $500 million
of average daily net assets; and 0.37% of the Series' average daily net assets
in excess of $2 billion, as determined at the close of business on each day
throughout the month. Out of its fees, RSMC makes payments to PFPC Inc. for the
provision of administration, accounting and transfer agency services and to PFPC
Trust Company for provision of custodial services.
For the twelve months ended June 30, 2000, the Prime Money Market Series, U.S.
Government Series and Tax-Exempt Series paid RSMC 0.44%, 0.47% and 0.47%,
respectively, of the Series' average daily net assets for investment advisory
services.
SERVICE PROVIDERS
The chart below provides information on the Portfolios' primary service
providers.
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Asset Shareholder
Management Services
------------------------------------ --------------------------------
INVESTMENT ADVISER TRANSFER AGENT
RODNEY SQUARE MANAGEMENT CORP. PFPC INC.
RODNEY SQUARE NORTH 400 BELLEVUE PARKWAY
1100 N. MARKET STREET WILMINGTON, DE 19809
WILMINGTON, DE 19890-0001
Handles shareholder services,
including recordkeeping and
statements, payment of
distribution and processing of
Manages each Portfolio's business buy and sell requests.
and investment activities.
------------------------------------ --------------------------------
---------------------------------
WT MUTUAL FUND
---------------------------------
Fund Asset
Operations Safe Keeping
------------------------------------ --------------------------------
ADMINISTRATOR AND CUSTODIAN
ACCOUNTING AGENT
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
PFPC INC.
1100 N. MARKET STREET
400 BELLEVUE PARKWAY
WILMINGTON, DE 19890
WILMINGTON, DE 19809
Provides facilities, equipment and
personnel to carry out Holds each Portfolio's assets,
administrative services related to settles all portfolio trades
each Portfolio and calculates each and collects most of the
Portfolio's NAV and distributions. valuation data required for
calculating each Portfolio's
NAV per share.
------------------------------------ --------------------------------
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SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
PRICING OF SHARES
Each Portfolio uses its best effort to maintain its $1 constant share price and
values its securities at amortized cost. This involves valuing a security
initially at its cost and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to
maturity of any discount or premium, regardless of fluctuating interest rates on
the market value of the security. All cash, receivables and current payables are
carried at their face value. Other assets, if any, are valued at fair value as
determined in good faith by, or under the direction of, the Board of Trustees.
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS THE NET ASSET VALUE or "NAV"?
NAV = ASSETS - LIABILITIES
--------------------
Outstanding Shares
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PFPC determines the NAV per share of each Portfolio as of 12:00 p.m. Eastern
time for the Tax-Exempt Portfolio and as of 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time for the U.S.
Government Portfolio and the Prime Money Market Portfolio, on each Business Day
(a day that the New York Stock Exchange, the Transfer Agent and the Philadelphia
branch of the Federal Reserve Bank are open for business). The NAV is calculated
by adding the value of all securities and other assets in a Portfolio, deducting
its liabilities and dividing the balance by the number of outstanding shares in
that Portfolio.
Shares will not be priced on those days the Portfolios are closed. As of the
date of this prospectus, those days are:
New Year's Day Memorial Day Veterans Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Independence Day Thanksgiving Day
President's Day Labor Day Christmas Day
Good Friday Columbus Day
PURCHASE OF SHARES
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES:
o Directly by mail or by wire
o As a client of WTC through a trust account or a corporate cash
management account
o As a client of a Service Organization
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio shares are offered on a continuous basis and are sold without any
sales charges. The minimum initial investment in Institutional shares of the
Portfolios is $1,000. Additional investments in any Portfolio may be made in any
amount. You may purchase shares as specified below.
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<PAGE>
You may also purchase shares if you are a client of WTC through your trust or
corporate cash management accounts. If you are a client of an institution (such
as a bank or broker-dealer) that has entered into a servicing agreement with the
Portfolios' distributor ("Service Organization"), you may also purchase shares
through such Service Organization. You should also be aware that you may be
charged a fee by WTC or the Service Organization in connection with your
investment in the Portfolios. If you wish to purchase Portfolio shares through
your account at WTC or a Service Organization, you should contact that entity
directly for information and instructions on purchasing shares.
BY MAIL: You may purchase shares by sending a check drawn on a U.S. bank payable
to WT Mutual Fund, indicating the name of the Portfolio, along with a completed
application (included at the end of this prospectus). If a subsequent investment
is being made, the check should also indicate your Portfolio account number.
When you make purchases by check, each Portfolio may withhold payment on
redemptions until it is reasonably satisfied that the funds are collected (which
can take up to 10 days). If you purchase shares with a check that does not
clear, your purchase will be canceled and you will be responsible for any losses
or fees incurred in that transaction. Send the check and application to:
REGULAR MAIL: OVERNIGHT MAIL:
------------ --------------
WT Mutual Fund WT Mutual Fund
c/o PFPC Inc. c/o PFPC Inc.
P.O. Box 8951 400 Bellevue Parkway, Suite 108
Wilmington, DE 19899 Wilmington, DE 19809
BY WIRE: You may purchase shares by wiring federal funds readily available.
Please call PFPC at (800) 336-9970 for instructions and to make specific
arrangements before making a purchase by wire, and if making an initial
purchase, to also obtain an account number.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING PURCHASES: Investments in a Portfolio are
accepted on the Business Day that federal funds are deposited for your account
on or before 12:00 p.m. Eastern time for the Tax-Exempt Portfolio and on or
before 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time for the U.S. Government Portfolio and the Prime
Money Market Portfolio. Monies immediately convertible to federal funds are
deposited for your account on or before 12:00 p.m. Eastern time for the
Tax-Exempt Portfolio and on or before 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time for the U.S.
Government Portfolio and the Prime Money Market Portfolio or checks deposited
for your account have been converted to federal funds (usually within two
Business Days after receipt). All investments in a Portfolio are credited to
your account as shares of the Portfolio immediately upon acceptance and become
entitled to dividends declared as of the day and time of investment.
Any purchase order may be rejected if a Portfolio determines that accepting the
order would not be in the best interest of the Portfolio or its shareholders.
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<PAGE>
It is the responsibility of WTC or the Service Organization to transmit orders
for the purchase of shares by its customers to the Transfer Agent and to deliver
required funds on a timely basis, in accordance with the procedures stated
above.
For information on other ways to purchase shares, including through an
individual retirement account (IRA), an automatic investment plan or a payroll
investment plan, please refer to the Statement of Additional Information.
REDEMPTION OF SHARES
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO REDEEM (SELL) SHARES:
o By mail
o By telephone
o By check
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You may sell your shares on any Business Day, as described below. Redemptions
are effected at the NAV next determined after the Transfer Agent has received
your redemption request. There is no fee when Portfolio shares are redeemed. It
is the responsibility of WTC or the Service Organization to transmit redemption
orders and credit their customers' accounts with redemption proceeds on a timely
basis. Redemption checks are mailed on the next Business Day following receipt
by the Transfer Agent of redemption instructions, but never later than 7 days
following such receipt. Amounts redeemed by wire are normally wired on the date
of receipt of redemption instructions or the next Business Day (if received
after 12:00 p.m. Eastern time for the Tax-Exempt Portfolio and after 2:00 p.m.
Eastern Time for the U.S. Government Portfolio and the Prime Money Market
Portfolio, or on a non-Business Day), but never later than 7 days following such
receipt. If you purchased your shares through an account at WTC or a Service
Organization, you should contact WTC or the Service Organization for information
relating to redemptions. The Portfolio's name and your account number should
accompany any redemption requests.
BY MAIL: If you redeem your shares by mail, you should submit written
instructions with a "signature guarantee." A signature guarantee verifies the
authenticity of your signature. You can obtain one from most banking
institutions or securities brokers, but not from a notary public. You must
indicate the Portfolio name, your account number and your name. The written
instructions and signature guarantee should be mailed to:
REGULAR MAIL: OVERNIGHT MAIL:
------------ --------------
WT Mutual Fund WT Mutual Fund
c/o PFPC Inc. c/o PFPC Inc.
P.O. Box 8951 400 Bellevue Parkway, Suite 108
Wilmington, DE 19899 Wilmington, DE 19809
BY TELEPHONE: If you prefer to redeem your shares by telephone you may elect to
do so. However there are certain risks. The Portfolios have certain safeguards
and procedures to
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<PAGE>
confirm the identity of callers and to confirm that the instructions
communicated are genuine. If such procedures are followed, you will bear the
risk of any losses.
BY CHECK: You may use the checkwriting option to redeem Portfolio shares by
drawing a check for $500 or more against a Portfolio account, except for the
Wilmington Premier Money Market Portfolio. When the check is presented for
payment, a sufficient number of shares will be redeemed from your account to
cover the amount of the check. This procedure enables you to continue receiving
dividends on those shares until the check is presented for payment. Because the
aggregate amount of Portfolio shares owned is likely to change each day, you
should not attempt to redeem all shares held in your account by using the
checkwriting procedure. Charges will be imposed for specially imprinted checks,
business checks, copies of canceled checks, stop payment orders, checks returned
due to "nonsufficient funds" and other returned checks. These charges will be
paid by redeeming automatically an appropriate number of Portfolio shares. Each
Portfolio and the Transfer Agent reserve the right to terminate or alter the
checkwriting service at any time. The Transfer Agent also reserves the right to
impose a service charge in connection with the checkwriting service. If you are
interested in the check writing service, contact the Transfer Agency for further
information. This service is generally not available for clients of WTC through
their trust or corporate cash management accounts, since it is already provided
for these customers through WTC. The service may also not be available for
Service Organization clients who are provided a similar service by those
organizations.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING REDEMPTIONS: Redemption proceeds may be wired
to your predesignated bank account in any commercial bank in the United States
if the amount is $1,000 or more. The receiving bank may charge a fee for this
service. Proceeds may also be mailed to your bank or, for amounts of $10,000 or
less, mailed to your Portfolio account address of record if the address has been
established for at least 60 days. In order to authorize the Transfer Agent to
mail redemption proceeds to your Portfolio account address of record, complete
the appropriate section of the Application for Telephone Redemptions or include
your Portfolio account address of record when you submit written instructions.
You may change the account that you have designated to receive amounts redeemed
at any time. Any request to change the account designated to receive redemption
proceeds should be accompanied by a guarantee of your signature by an eligible
institution. A signature and a signature guarantee are required for each person
in whose name the account is registered. Further documentation will be required
to change the designated account when a corporation, other organization, trust,
fiduciary or other institutional investor holds the Portfolio shares.
If the shares to be redeemed represent a recent investment made by a check, each
Portfolio reserves the right not to send the redemption proceeds until it
believes that the check has been collected (which could take up to 10 days).
SMALL ACCOUNTS: If the value of your Portfolio account falls below $500, the
Portfolio may ask you to increase your balance. If the account value is still
below $500 after 60 days, the Portfolio may close your account and send you the
proceeds. The Portfolio will not close your account if it falls below $500
solely as a result of a reduction in your account's market value.
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<PAGE>
For additional information on other ways to redeem shares, please refer to the
Statement of Information.
EXCHANGE OF SHARES
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS AN EXCHANGE OF SHARES?
An exchange of shares allows you to move your money from one fund to
another fund within a family of funds.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You may exchange all or a portion of your shares in a Portfolio for
Institutional class shares of the following Portfolios:
Wilmington Prime Money Market Portfolio
Wilmington U.S. Government Portfolio
Wilmington Premier Money Market Portfolio
Wilmington Tax-Exempt Portfolio
Wilmington Short/Intermediate Bond Portfolio
Wilmington Intermediate Bond Portfolio
Wilmington Municipal Bond Portfolio
Wilmington Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Wilmington Large Cap Core Portfolio
Wilmington Small Cap Core Portfolio
Wilmington International Multi-Manager Portfolio
Wilmington Large Cap Value Portfolio
Wilmington Mid Cap Value Portfolio
Wilmington Small Cap Value Portfolio
Redemption of shares through an exchange will be effected at the NAV per share
next determined after the Transfer Agent receives your request. A purchase of
shares through an exchange will be effected at the NAV per share determined at
that time or as next determined thereafter.
Exchange transactions will be subject to the minimum initial investment and
other requirements of the Portfolio into which the exchange is made. An exchange
may not be made if the exchange would leave a balance in a shareholder's account
of less than $500.
To obtain prospectuses of the other Portfolios, you may call (800) 336-9970. To
obtain more information about exchanges, or to place exchange orders, contact
the Transfer Agent, or, if your shares are held in a trust account with WTC or
in an account with a Service Organization, contact WTC or the Service
Organization. The Portfolios may terminate or modify the exchange offer
described here and will give you 60 days' notice of such termination or
modification. This exchange offer is valid only in those jurisdictions where the
sale of the Portfolio shares to be acquired through such exchange may be legally
made.
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<PAGE>
DISTRIBUTIONS
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS NET INVESTMENT INCOME?
Net investment income consists of interest and dividends earned by a
fund on its investments less accrued expenses.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributions from the net investment income of each Portfolio are declared
daily as a dividend and paid monthly to you. Any net capital gain realized by a
Portfolio will be distributed annually.
All distributions are reinvested in additional shares, unless you elect to
receive distributions in cash. Shares become entitled to receive distributions
on the day after the shares are issued.
TAXES
As long as a Portfolio meets the requirements for being a "regulated investment
company," it pays no Federal income tax on the earnings and gains it distributes
to shareholders. The Portfolios' distributions of net investment income (which
include net short-term capital gains), whether received in cash or reinvested in
additional Portfolio shares, are taxable to you as ordinary income. Each
Portfolio will notify you following the end of the calendar year of the amount
of dividends paid that year.
You will not recognize any gain or loss on the sale (redemption) or exchange of
shares of a Portfolio so long as that Portfolio maintains a stable price of
$1.00 a share. Dividend distributions by the Tax-Exempt Portfolio of the excess
of its interest income on tax-exempt securities over certain amounts disallowed
as deductions ("exempt-interest dividends") may be treated by you as interest
excludable from your gross income. The Tax-Exempt Portfolio intends to
distribute income that is exempt from federal income tax, though it may invest a
portion of its assets in securities that generate taxable income. Income exempt
from federal income tax may be subject to state and local income tax.
Additionally, any capital gains distributed by the Tax-Exempt Portfolio may be
taxable.
STATE AND LOCAL INCOME TAXES: You should consult your tax adviser concerning
state and local taxes, which may have different consequences from those of the
Federal income law.
This section is only a summary of some important income tax considerations that
may affect your investment in a Portfolio. More information regarding those
considerations appears in our Statement of Additional Information. You are urged
to consult your tax adviser regarding the effects of an investment on your tax
situation.
DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS
The Distributor manages the Portfolios' distribution efforts and provides
assistance and expertise in developing marketing plans and materials, enters
into dealer agreement with broker-dealers to sell shares and provides
shareholder support services, directly
17
<PAGE>
or through affiliates. The Portfolios do not charge any sales loads, deferred
sales loads or other fees in connection with the purchase of shares.
MASTER/FEEDER STRUCTURE
Other institutional investors, including other mutual funds, may invest in the
master funds. The master/feeder structure enables various institutional
investors, including a Portfolio, to pool their assets, which may be expected to
result in economies by spreading certain fixed costs over a larger asset base.
Each shareholder of a master fund, including a Portfolio, will pay its
proportionate share of the master fund's expenses.
For reasons relating to costs or a change in investment goal, among others, a
Portfolio could switch to another master fund or decide to manage its assets
itself. No Portfolio is currently contemplating such a move.
SHARE CLASSES
The Portfolios issue Investor and Institutional share classes. The Institutional
class is offered to retirement plans. The Investor class pays an additional
12b-1 fee. Any investor may purchase Investor class shares.
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<PAGE>
FOR MORE INFORMATION
FOR INVESTORS WHO WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE PORTFOLIOS, THE FOLLOWING
DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE FREE UPON REQUEST:
ANNUAL/SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTS: Contain performance data and information on
portfolio holdings and operating results for a Portfolio's most recently
completed fiscal year or half-year. The annual report includes a discussion of
the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the
Portfolios' performance.
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI): Provides a complete technical and
legal description of a Portfolio's policies, investment restrictions, risks, and
business structure. This prospectus incorporates the SAI by reference.
Copies of these documents and answers to questions about the Portfolios may be
obtained without charge by contacting:
WT Mutual Fund
c/o PFPC Inc.
400 Bellevue Parkway
Suite 108
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
(800) 336-9970
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Eastern time
Information about the Portfolios (including the SAI) can be reviewed and copied
at the Public Reference Room of the Securities and Exchange Commission in
Washington, D.C. Copies of this information may be obtained, upon payment of a
duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address:
[email protected], or by writing the Public Reference Room of the SEC,
Washington, DC, 20549-0102. Information on the operation of the Public Reference
Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-(202) 942-8090. Reports and other
information about the Portfolios may be viewed on-screen or downloaded from the
SEC's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OPENING A NEW ACCOUNT, MAKING CHANGES TO EXISTING
ACCOUNTS, PURCHASING, EXCHANGING OR REDEEMING SHARES, OR OTHER INVESTOR
SERVICES, PLEASE CALL 1-(800)-336-9970.
The investment company registration number for WT Mutual Fund 811-08648.
<PAGE>
[GRAPHIC OF WILMINGTON FUNDS LOGO OMITTED]
MONEY MARKET
PORTFOLIOS
PROSPECTUS
NOVEMBER 1, 2000
<PAGE>
THE WILMINGTON PRIME MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON U.S. GOVERNMENT PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON TAX-EXEMPT PORTFOLIO
OF WT MUTUAL FUND
INVESTOR SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROSPECTUS DATED NOVEMBER 1, 2000
This prospectus gives vital information about these money market mutual
funds, including information on investment policies, risks and fees. For your
own benefit and protection, please read it before you invest, and keep it on
hand for future reference.
Please note that these Portfolios:
[BULLET] are not bank deposits
[BULLET] are not obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed by
Wilmington Trust Company or any of its affiliates
[BULLET] are not federally insured
[BULLET] are not obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed or
otherwise supported by the U.S. Government, the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or
any other governmental agency
[BULLET] are not guaranteed to achieve their goal(s)
[BULLET] may not be able to maintain a stable $1 share price
Like all mutual fund shares, these securities have not been approved or
disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission nor has the Securities and
Exchange Commission determined whether this prospectus is accurate or complete.
Anyone who tells you otherwise is committing a crime.
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PORTFOLIO DESCRIPTIONS
A LOOK AT THE GOALS, STRATEGIES, Summary ..............................3
RISKS, EXPENSES AND FINANCIAL Performance Information ..............5
HISTORY OF EACH PORTFOLIO Fees and Expenses ....................8
Investment Objectives ................9
Primary Investment Strategies ........9
Additional Risk Information .........10
Financial Highlights ................12
MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIOS
DETAILS ABOUT THE SERVICE Investment Adviser ..................15
PROVIDERS. Service Providers ...................16
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
POLICIES AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR Pricing of Shares ...................17
OPENING, MAINTAINING AND Purchase of Shares ..................17
CLOSING AN ACCOUNT IN ANY OF Redemption of Shares ................19
THE PORTFOLIOS. Exchange of Shares ..................21
Distributions .......................22
Taxes ...............................22
DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS
DETAILS ON DISTRIBUTION Rule 12b-1 Fees .....................23
PLANS AND THE PORTFOLIOS' Master/Feeder Structure .............23
MASTER/FEEDER ARRANGEMENT. Share Classes .......................23
FOR MORE INFORMATION .....................24
For information about key terms and concepts, look for our "PLAIN TALK"
explanations.
2
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THE WILMINGTON PRIME MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON U.S. GOVERNMENT PORTFOLIO
THE WILMINGTON TAX-EXEMPT PORTFOLIO
INVESTOR SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PORTFOLIO DESCRIPTIONS
PLAIN TALK
=============================================================
WHAT ARE MONEY MARKET FUNDS?
Money market funds invest only in high quality, short-term
debt securities, commonly known as money market instruments.
Money market funds follow strict rules about credit risk,
maturity and diversification of their investments. An
investment in a money market fund is not a bank deposit.
Although a money market fund seeks to keep a constant share
price of $1.00, you may lose money by investing in a money
market fund.
=============================================================
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Objective [BULLET] The PRIME MONEY MARKET and U.S. GOVERNMENT
PORTFOLIOS each seek high current income,
while preserving capital and liquidity.
[BULLET] The TAX EXEMPT PORTFOLIO seeks high current
interest income exempt from federal income
taxes while preserving principal.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Focus [BULLET] Money market instruments.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share Price Volatility [BULLET] Each Portfolio will strive to maintain a stable
$1.00 share price.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Principal Investment
Strategy [BULLET] Each Portfolio operates as a "feeder fund"
which means that the Portfolio does not buy
individual securities directly. Instead, it
invests in a corresponding mutual fund or
"master fund," which in turn purchases
investment securities. The Portfolios invest
all of their assets in master funds, which are
separate series of WT Investment Trust I. Each
Portfolio and its corresponding Series have the
same investment objective, policies and
limitations.
[BULLET] The U.S. GOVERNMENT PORTFOLIO invests in the
U.S. Government Series, which invests at least
65% of its assets in U.S. Government
obligations and repurchase agreements
collateralized by such obligations.
3
<PAGE>
[BULLET] The PRIME MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO invests in the
Prime Money Market Series, which invests in
money market instruments, including bank
obligations, high quality commercial paper and
U.S. Government obligations.
[BULLET] The TAX-EXEMPT PORTFOLIO invests in the
Tax-Exempt Series, which invests in high
quality municipal obligations, municipal bonds
and other instruments exempt from federal
income tax.
[BULLET] In selecting securities for the Series, the
adviser seeks current income, liquidity and
safety of principal. The adviser may sell
securities if the securities are downgraded to
a lower ratings category.
[BULLET] Each of the U.S. Government Portfolio and Prime
Money Market Portfolio, through its
corresponding Series, may invest more than 25%
of its total assets in the obligations of banks
and finance companies.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Principal Risks The Portfolios are subject to the risks summarized below
which are further described under "Additional Risk
Information."
[BULLET] An investment in a Portfolio is not a deposit
of Wilmington Trust Company or any of its
affiliates and is not insured or guaranteed by
the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or
any other government agency. Although each
Portfolio seeks to preserve the value of your
investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible
to lose money by investing in a Portfolio.
[BULLET] The obligations in which the Portfolios invest
through their corresponding Series are subject
to credit risk and interest rate risk.
Typically, when interest rates rise, the market
prices of debt securities go down.
[BULLET] The performance of a Portfolio will depend on
whether or not the adviser is successful in
pursuing an investment strategy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investor Profile [BULLET] Conservative
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE WILMINGTON PRIME MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO
The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and
volatility of an investment in the Portfolio. Of course, past performance is not
necessarily an indicator of how the Portfolio will perform in the future.
ANNUAL RETURNS FOR THE PAST 10 CALENDAR YEARS
[Line chart omitted, plot points as follows]
PERFORMANCE YEARS RETURNS
1990 8.04%
1991 6.05
1992 3.61
1993 2.86
1994 3.89
1995 5.63
1996 5.08
1997 5.22
1998 5.17
1999 4.80
2000 Total Return as of September 30: 4.50%
THIS BAR CHART SHOWS CHANGES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO'S INVESTOR
SHARES FROM CALENDAR YEAR TO CALENDAR YEAR.
BEST QUARTER WORST QUARTER
------------ ---------------
1.92% 0.70%
(December 31, 1990) (June 30, 1993)
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/99 1 YEAR 5 YEAR 10 YEAR
------------------------------------- ------ ------ -------
Prime Money Market Portfolio 4.80% 5.18% 5.03%
5
<PAGE>
THE WILMINGTON U.S. GOVERNMENT PORTFOLIO
The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and
volatility of an investment in the Portfolio. Of course, past performance is not
necessarily an indicator of how the Portfolio will perform in the future.
ANNUAL RETURNS FOR THE PAST 10 CALENDAR YEARS
[Line chart omitted, plot points as follows]
PERFORMANCE YEARS RETURNS
1990 7.86
1991 5.73
1992 3.38
1993 2.82
1994 3.82
1995 5.51
1996 4.99
1997 5.12
1998 5.07
1999 4.69
2000 Total Return as of September 30: 4.33%
THIS BAR CHART SHOWS CHANGES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO'S INVESTOR
SHARES FROM CALENDAR YEAR TO CALENDAR YEAR.
BEST QUARTER WORST QUARTER
------------ ----------------
1.86% 0.69%
(December 31, 1990) (June 30, 1993)
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/99 1 YEAR 5 YEAR 10 YEAR
------------------------------------- ------ ------ -------
U.S. Government Portfolio 4.69% 5.08% 4.89%
6
<PAGE>
THE WILMINGTON TAX-EXEMPT PORTFOLIO
The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and
volatility of an investment in the Portfolio. Of course, past performance is not
necessarily an indicator of how the Portfolio will perform in the future.
ANNUAL RETURNS FOR THE PAST 10 CALENDAR YEARS
[Line chart omitted, plot points as follows]
PERFORMANCE YEARS RETURNS
1990 5.57%
1991 4.15
1992 2.66
1993 1.98
1994 2.42
1995 3.47
1996 3.01
1997 3.15
1998 2.98
1999 2.76
2000 Total Return as of September 30: 2.67%
THIS BAR CHART SHOWS CHANGES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO'S INVESTOR
SHARES FROM CALENDAR YEAR TO CALENDAR YEAR.
BEST QUARTER WORST QUARTER
------------ ----------------
1.41% 0.47%
(December 31, 1990) (March 31, 1994)
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/99 1 YEAR 5 YEAR 10 YEAR
------------------------------------- ------ ------ -------
Tax-Exempt Portfolio 2.76% 3.07% 3.21%
7
<PAGE>
PLAIN TALK
=============================================================
WHAT IS YIELD?
Yield is a measure of the income (interest) earned by the
securities in a fund's portfolio and paid to you over a
specified time period. The annualized yield is expressed as a
percentage of the offering price per share on a specified
date.
=============================================================
You may call (800) 336-9970 to obtain a Portfolio's current 7-day yield.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FEES AND EXPENSES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLAIN TALK
=============================================================
WHAT ARE MUTUAL FUND EXPENSES?
Unlike an index, every mutual fund has operating expenses to
pay for professional advisory, distribution, administration
and custody services. The Portfolio's expenses in the table
below are shown as a percentage of the Portfolio's net
assets. These expenses are deducted from Portfolio assets.
=============================================================
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy
and hold shares of a Portfolio. No sales charges or other fees are paid directly
from your investment.
INVESTOR CLASS
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (EXPENSES THAT ARE DEDUCTED FROM
PORTFOLIO ASSETS)(1):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
THE PRIME MONEY THE U.S. THE TAX-EXEMPT
MARKET PORTFOLIO GOVERNMENT PORTFOLIO PORTFOLIO
---------------- -------------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Management fees ..................... .44% .47% .47%
Distribution (12b-1) fees2 .......... .02% .01% .02%
Other expenses ...................... .04% .06% .06%
TOTAL ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENSES ..... .50% .54% .55%
<FN>
1 The table above and the Example below each reflect the aggregate annual
operating expenses of each Portfolio and the corresponding Series of the Trust
in which the Portfolio invests.
2 While the Distribution (12b-1) Plan provides for reimbursement of up to 0.20%
of each Portfolio's average net assets, the Board of Trustees has authorized
annual payments of up to 0.05% of each Portfolio's average net assets for the
current fiscal year. The expenses above reflect the actual expenses incurred
for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2000.
</FN>
</TABLE>
8
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXAMPLE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in a
Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The tables below
show what you would pay if you invested $10,000 over the various time frames
indicated. The example assumes that:
[BULLET] you reinvested all dividends;
[BULLET] the average annual return was 5%;
[BULLET] the Portfolio's maximum total operating expenses are charged
and remain the same over the time periods; and
[BULLET] you redeemed all of your investment at the end of the time
period.
Although your actual cost may be higher or lower, based on these
assumptions, your costs would be:
INVESTOR SHARES 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
-------------- ------ ------- ------- --------
Prime Money Market Portfolio ..... $51 $160 $280 $628
U.S. Government Portfolio ........ $55 $173 $302 $677
Tax-Exempt Portfolio ............. $56 $176 $307 $689
THE ABOVE EXAMPLE IS FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT A
REPRESENTATION OF A PORTFOLIO'S ACTUAL EXPENSES AND RETURNS, EITHER PAST OR
FUTURE.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[BULLET] The PRIME MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO and U.S. GOVERNMENT
PORTFOLIO each seek a high level of current income consistent
with the preservation of capital and liquidity.
[BULLET] The TAX-EXEMPT PORTFOLIO seeks as high a level of interest
income exempt from federal income tax as is consistent with
preservation of principal.
The investment objectives for each Portfolio may not be changed without
shareholder approval. Each Portfolio is a money market fund and intends to
maintain a stable $1 share price, although this may not be possible under
certain circumstances. There can be no guarantee that any Portfolio will achieve
its investment objective.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRIMARY INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The PRIME MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO invests its assets in the Prime Money
Market Series, which in turn invests in:
[BULLET] U.S. dollar-denominated obligations of major U.S. and foreign
banks and their branches located outside of the United
States, of U.S. branches of foreign banks, of foreign
branches of foreign banks, of U.S. agencies of foreign banks
and wholly-owned banking subsidiaries of foreign banks;
9
<PAGE>
[BULLET] high quality commercial paper and corporate obligations;
[BULLET] U.S. Government obligations;
[BULLET] high quality municipal securities; and
[BULLET] repurchase agreements that are fully collateralized by U.S.
Government obligations.
U.S. Government obligations are debt securities issued or guaranteed by the
U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities.
The U.S. GOVERNMENT PORTFOLIO invests its assets in the U.S. Government
Series, which in turn invests at least 65% of its total assets in:
[BULLET] U.S. Government obligations; and
[BULLET] repurchase agreements that are fully collateralized by such
obligations.
The TAX-EXEMPT PORTFOLIO invests its assets in the Tax-Exempt Series, which
in turn invests in:
[BULLET] high quality municipal obligations and municipal bonds;
[BULLET] floating and variable rate obligations;
[BULLET] participation interests;
[BULLET] high quality tax-exempt commercial paper; and
[BULLET] high quality short-term municipal notes.
The Tax-Exempt Series has adopted a policy that, under normal
circumstances, at least 80% of its annual income will be exempt from federal
income tax. Additionally, at least 80% of its annual income will not be a tax
preference item for purposes of the federal alternative minimum tax.
High quality securities include those that (1) are rated in one of the two
highest short-term rating categories by two nationally recognized statistical
rating organizations ("NRSRO"), such as S&P, Moody's and Fitch IBCA (or by one
NRSRO if only one NRSRO has issued a rating) or; (2) if unrated are issued by an
issuer with comparable outstanding debt that is rated or are otherwise unrated
and determined by the investment adviser to be of comparable quality.
Each Series also may invest in other securities, use other strategies and
engage in other investment practices, which are described in detail in our
Statement of Additional Information.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADDITIONAL RISK INFORMATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following is a list of certain risks that may apply to your investment
in a Portfolio. Further information about investment risks is available in our
Statement of Additional Information:
[BULLET] CREDIT RISK: The risk that the issuer of a security, or the
counterparty to a contract, will default or otherwise become
unable to honor a financial obligation.
10
<PAGE>
[BULLET] FOREIGN SECURITY RISK: The risk of losses due to political,
regulatory, economic, social or other uncontrollable forces
in a foreign country.
[BULLET] INTEREST RATE RISK: The risk of market losses attributable to
changes in interest rates. With fixed-rate securities, a rise
in interest rates typically causes a fall in values, while a
fall in rates typically causes a rise in values. The yield
paid by a Portfolio will vary with changes in interest rates.
[BULLET] MARKET RISK: The risk that the market value of a security may
move up and down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably.
[BULLET] MASTER/FEEDER RISK: The Portfolios' master/feeder structure
is relatively new and more complex. While this structure is
designed to reduce costs, it may not do so, and the
Portfolios might encounter operational or other
complications. For example, large-scale redemptions by other
feeders of their shares of a master fund could have adverse
effects on a Portfolio such as requiring the liquidation of a
substantial portion of the master fund's holdings at a time
when it could be disadvantageous to do so. Also, other
feeders of a master fund may have a greater ownership
interest in the master fund than a Portfolio's interest and,
therefore, could have effective voting control over the
operation of the master fund.
[BULLET] PREPAYMENT RISK: The risk that a debt security may be paid
off and proceeds invested earlier than anticipated. Depending
on market conditions, the new investments may or may not
carry the same interest rate.
11
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand each
Portfolio's financial performance for the past 5 years or since the inception of
the Portfolio, if shorter. Certain information reflects financial results for a
single Investor share of a Portfolio. The total returns in the table represent
the rate that you would have earned (or lost) on an investment in a Portfolio
(assuming reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions). Financial
highlights have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, whose report, along with each
Portfolio's financial statements, is included in the Annual Report, which is
available without charge upon request.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE FOR THE PERIOD
FISCAL YEAR OCTOBER 1, 1998
ENDED THROUGH FOR THE FISCAL YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
JUNE 30, 2000(1)+ JUNE 30, 1999+ 1998+ 1997+ 1996+ 1995+
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
WILMINGTON PRIME MONEY
MARKET PORTFOLIO --
INVESTOR SHARES
NET ASSET VALUE-- BEGINNING OF PERIOD $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Operations:
Net investment income ............ 0.05 0.04 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributions:
From net investment income ....... (0.05) (0.04) (0.05) (0.05) (0.05) (0.05)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET ASSET VALUE-- END OF PERIOD ..... $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00
=====================================================================================
TOTAL RETURN ........................ 5.45% 3.51%** 5.26% 5.17% 5.17% 5.50%
RATIOS (TO AVERAGE NET
ASSETS)/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Expenses ......................... 0.50% 0.52%* 0.53% 0.54% 0.53% 0.54%
Net investment income ............ 5.35% 4.61%* 5.13% 5.06% 5.03% 5.37%
Net assets at end of period
(000 omitted) .................... $2,064,018 $1,651,174 $1,702,734 $1,191,271 $980,856 $751,125
------------------------
<FN>
* Annualized.
**Not annualized.
1 Effective November 1, 1999, the expense and net investment income ratios
include expenses allocated from the WT Investment Trust I - Prime Money Market
Series.
+ Effective November 1, 1999, the Rodney Square Money Market Portfolio ("Rodney
Square Portfolio") was merged into the Wilmington Prime Money Market
Portfolio. The financial highlights for the periods prior to November 1, 1999
reflect the performance history of the Rodney Square Portfolio.
</FN>
</TABLE>
12
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE FOR THE PERIOD
FISCAL YEAR OCTOBER 1, 1998
ENDED THROUGH FOR THE FISCAL YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
JUNE 30, 2000(1)+ JUNE 30, 1999+ 1998+ 1997+ 1996+ 1995+
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
WILMINGTON U.S. GOVERNMENT PORTFOLIO --
INVESTOR SHARES
NET ASSET VALUE-- BEGINNING OF PERIOD $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Operations:
Net investment income ............ 0.05 0.03 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributions:
From net investment income ....... (0.05) (0.03) (0.05) (0.05) (0.05) (0.05)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET ASSET VALUE-- END OF PERIOD ..... $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00
====================================================================================
TOTAL RETURN ........................ 5.25% 3.42%** 5.19% 5.07% 5.08% 5.37%
RATIOS (TO AVERAGE NET
ASSETS)/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Expenses ......................... 0.54% 0.54%* 0.54% 0.55% 0.55% 0.55%
Net investment income ............ 5.17% 4.51%* 5.06% 4.96% 4.97% 5.25%
Net assets at end of period (000 omitted) $765,121 $547,833 $802,153 $378,475 $341,426 $306,096
------------------------
<FN>
* Annualized.
** Not annualized.
1 Effective November 1, 1999, the expense and net investment income ratios
include expenses allocated from the WT Investment Trust I - U.S. Government
Series.
+ Effective November 1, 1999, the Rodney Square U.S. Government Portfolio
("Rodney Square Portfolio") was merged into the Wilmington U.S. Government
Portfolio. The financial highlights for the periods prior to November 1, 1999
reflect the performance history of the Rodney Square Portfolio.
</FN>
</TABLE>
13
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE FOR THE PERIOD
FISCAL YEAR OCTOBER 1, 1998
ENDED THROUGH FOR THE FISCAL YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
JUNE 30, 2000(1)+ JUNE 30, 1999+ 1998+ 1997+ 1996+ 1995+
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
WILMINGTON TAX-EXEMPT PORTFOLIO --
INVESTOR SHARES
NET ASSET VALUE -- BEGINNING OF PERIOD $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00
------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Investment Operations:
Net investment income 0.03 0.02 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03
------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Distributions:
From net investment income (0.03) (0.02) (0.03) (0.03) (0.03) (0.03)
------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
NET ASSET VALUE -- END OF PERIOD $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00
======= ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
TOTAL RETURN 3.23% 1.96%** 3.11% 3.09% 3.11% 3.36%
RATIOS (TO AVERAGE NET
ASSETS)/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Expenses 0.55% 0.55%* 0.55% 0.57% 0.56% 0.54%
Net investment income 3.21% 2.58%* 3.05% 3.05% 3.08% 3.29%
Net assets at end of period (000 omitted) $483,092 $451,509 $392,610 $280,864 $237,185 $318,213
------------------------
<FN>
* Annualized.
** Not annualized.
1 Effective November 1, 1999, the expense and net investment income ratios
include expenses allocated from the WT Investment Trust I - Tax-Exempt Series.
+ Effective November 1, 1999, the Rodney Square Tax-Exempt Fund ("Rodney Square
Portfolio") was merged into the Wilmington Tax-Exempt Portfolio. The financial
highlights for the periods prior to November 1, 1999 reflect the performance
history of the Rodney Square Portfolio.
</FN>
</TABLE>
14
<PAGE>
MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIOS
The Board of Trustees for each Portfolio supervises the management,
activities and affairs of the Portfolio and has approved contracts with various
organizations to provide, among other services, the day-to-day management
required by the Portfolio and its shareholders.
PLAIN TALK
=============================================================
WHAT IS AN INVESTMENT ADVISER?
The investment adviser makes investment decisions for a
mutual fund and continuously reviews, supervises and
administers the fund's investment program. The Board of
Trustees supervises the investment adviser and establishes
policies that the adviser must follow in its management
activities.
=============================================================
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT ADVISER
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rodney Square Management Corporation, the Series' investment adviser, is
located at 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890. RSMC is a
wholly owned subsidiary of Wilmington Trust Company, which is wholly owned by
Wilmington Trust Corporation. RSMC also provides asset management services to
collective investment funds maintained by WTC. In the past, RSMC has provided
asset management services to individuals, personal trusts, municipalities,
corporations and other organizations.
Each of the U.S. Government Series, the Prime Money Market Series, and the
Tax-Exempt Series pays a monthly fee to RSMC at the annual rate of 0.47% of the
Series' first $1 billion of average daily net assets; 0.43% of the Series' next
$500 million of average daily net assets; 0.40% of the Series' next $500 million
of average daily net assets; and 0.37% of the Series' average daily net assets
in excess of $2 billion, as determined at the close of business on each day
throughout the month. Out of its fees, RSMC makes payments to PFPC Inc. for the
provision of administration, accounting and transfer agency services and to PFPC
Trust Company for provision of sub-custodial services.
For the twelve months ended June 30, 2000, the Prime Money Market Series,
the U.S. Government Series, and Tax-Exempt Series paid RSMC 0.44%, 0.47% and
0.47%, respectively, of the Series' average daily net assets for investment
advisory services.
15
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SERVICE PROVIDERS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The chart below provides information on the Portfolios' primary service
providers.
Asset Shareholder
Management Services
------------------------------- ----------------------------------------
INVESTMENT ADVISER TRANSFER AGENT
RODNEY SQUARE MANAGEMENT CORP. PFPC INC.
RODNEY SQUARE NORTH 400 BELLEVUE PARKWAY
1100 N. MARKET STREET WILMINGTON, DE 19809
WILMINGTON, DE 19890-0001
Handles shareholder services,
including recordkeeping and
Manages each Portfolio's statements, payment of distributions
investment activities. and processing of buy and sell requests.
------------------------------- ----------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
WT MUTUAL FUND
WILMINGTON PRIME MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO
WILMINGTON U.S. GOVERNMENT PORTFOLIO
WILMINGTON TAX-EXEMPT PORTFOLIO
---------------------------------------
Fund Asset
Operations Safe Keeping
--------------------------------- -----------------------------------
ADMINISTRATOR AND CUSTODIAN
ACCOUNTING AGENT WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
PFPC INC. 1100 NORTH MARKET STREET
400 BELLEVUE PARKWAY WILMINGTON, DE 19890
WILMINGTON, DE 19809
Provides facilities, equipment
and personnel to carry out Holds each Portfolio's assets,
administrative services related settles all portfolio trades and
to each Portfolio and calculates collects most of the valuation
each Portfolio's NAV and data required for calculating
distributions. each Portfolio's NAV per share.
--------------------------------- ---------------------------------
16
<PAGE>
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRICING OF SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Each Portfolio uses its best effort to maintain its $1 constant share price
and values its securities at amortized cost. This involves valuing a security
initially at its cost and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to
maturity of any discount or premium, regardless of fluctuating interest rates on
the market value of the security. All cash, receivables and current payables are
carried at their face value. Other assets, if any, are valued at fair value as
determined in good faith by, or under the direction of, the Board of Trustees.
PLAIN TALK
=============================================================
WHAT IS THE NET ASSET VALUE OR "NAV"?
NAV = Assets - Liabilities
--------------------
Outstanding Shares
=============================================================
PFPC determines the NAV per share of each Portfolio as of 12:00 p.m.
Eastern time for the Tax-Exempt Portfolio and as of 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time for
the U.S. Government Portfolio and the Prime Money Market Portfolio on each
Business Day (a day that the New York Stock Exchange, the Transfer Agent and the
Philadelphia branch of the Federal Reserve Bank are open for business). The NAV
is calculated by adding the value of all securities and other assets in a
Portfolio, deducting its liabilities and dividing the balance by the number of
outstanding shares in that Portfolio.
Shares will not be priced on those days the Portfolios are closed. As of
the date of this prospectus, those days are:
New Year's Day Memorial Day Veterans' Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Independence Day Thanksgiving Day
President's Day Labor Day Christmas Day
Good Friday Columbus Day
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PURCHASE OF SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLAIN TALK
=============================================================
HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES:
[BULLET] Directly by mail or by wire
[BULLET] As a client of WTC through a trust account or a
corporate cash management account
[BULLET] As a client of a Service Organization
=============================================================
17
<PAGE>
Portfolio shares are offered on a continuous basis and are sold without any
sales charges. The minimum initial investment in Investor shares of the
Portfolios is $1,000. Additional investments in any Portfolio may be made in any
amount. You may purchase shares as specified below.
You may also purchase shares if you are a client of WTC through your trust
or corporate cash management accounts. If you are a client of an institution
(such as a bank or broker-dealer) that has entered into a servicing agreement
with the Portfolios' distributor ("Service Organization"), you may also purchase
shares through such Service Organization. You should also be aware that you may
be charged a fee by WTC or the Service Organization in connection with your
investment in the Portfolios. If you wish to purchase Portfolio shares through
your account at WTC or a Service Organization, you should contact that entity
directly for information and instructions on purchasing shares.
BY MAIL: You may purchase shares by sending a check drawn on a U.S. bank
payable to Wilmington Money Market Portfolios, indicating the name of the
Portfolio, along with a completed application (included at the end of this
prospectus). If a subsequent investment is being made, the check should also
indicate your Portfolio account number. When you make purchases by check, each
Portfolio may withhold payment on redemptions until it is reasonably satisfied
that the funds are collected (which can take up to 10 days). If you purchase
shares with a check that does not clear, your purchase will be canceled and you
will be responsible for any losses or fees incurred in that transaction. Send
the check and application to:
Regular mail: Overnight mail:
------------ --------------
Wilmington Money Market Portfolios Wilmington Money Market Portfolios
c/o PFPC Inc. c/o PFPC Inc.
P.O. Box 8951 400 Bellevue Parkway, Suite 108
Wilmington, DE 19899 Wilmington, DE 19809
BY WIRE: You may purchase shares by wiring federal funds readily available.
Please call PFPC at (800) 336-9970 for instructions and to make specific
arrangements before making a purchase by wire, and if making an initial
purchase, to also obtain an account number.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING PURCHASES: Investments in a Portfolio are
accepted on the Business Day that federal funds are deposited for your account
on or before 12:00 p.m. Eastern time for the Tax-Exempt Portfolio and on or
before 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time for the U.S. Government Portfolio and the Prime
Money Market Portfolio. Monies immediately convertible to federal funds are
deposited for your account on or before 12:00 p.m. Eastern time for the
Tax-Exempt Portfolio and on or before 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time for the U.S.
Government Portfolio and the Prime Money Market Portfolio or checks deposited
for your account have been converted to federal funds (usually within two
Business Days after receipt). All investments in a Portfolio are credited to
your account as shares of the Portfolio immediately upon acceptance and become
entitled to dividends declared as of the day and time of investment.
Any purchase order may be rejected if a Portfolio determines that accepting
the order would not be in the best interest of the Portfolio or its
shareholders.
It is the responsibility of WTC or the Service Organization to transmit
orders for the purchase of shares by its customers to the Transfer Agent and to
deliver required funds on a timely basis, in accordance with the procedures
stated above.
For information on other ways to purchase shares, including through an
individual retirement account (IRA), an automatic investment plan or a payroll
investment plan, please refer to the Statement of Additional Information.
18
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REDEMPTION OF SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLAIN TALK
=============================================================
HOW TO REDEEM (SELL) SHARES:
[BULLET] By mail
[BULLET] By telephone
[BULLET] By check
=============================================================
You may sell your shares on any Business Day, as described below.
Redemptions are effected at the NAV next determined after the Transfer Agent has
received your redemption request. There is no fee when Portfolio shares are
redeemed. It is the responsibility of WTC or the Service Organization to
transmit redemption orders and credit their customers' accounts with redemption
proceeds on a timely basis. Redemption checks are mailed on the next Business
Day following receipt by the Transfer Agent of redemption instructions, but
never later than 7 days following such receipt. Amounts redeemed by wire are
normally wired on the date of receipt of redemption instructions or the next
Business Day if received after 12:00 p.m. Eastern time for the Tax-Exempt
Portfolio and after 2:00 p.m. Eastern time for the U.S. Government Portfolio and
the Prime Money Market Portfolio, or on a non-Business Day, but never later than
7 days following such receipt. If you purchased your shares through an account
at WTC or a Service Organization, you should contact WTC or the Service
Organization for information relating to redemptions. The Portfolio's name and
your account number should accompany any redemption requests.
BY MAIL: If you redeem your shares by mail, you should submit written
instructions with a "signature guarantee." A signature guarantee verifies the
authenticity of your signature. You can obtain one from most banking
institutions or securities brokers, but not from a notary public. You must
indicate the Portfolio name, your account number and your name. The written
instructions and signature guarantee should be mailed to:
Regular mail: Overnight mail:
------------ --------------
Wilmington Money Market Portfolios Wilmington Money Market Portfolios
c/o PFPC Inc. c/o PFPC Inc.
P.O. Box 8951 400 Bellevue Parkway, Suite 108
Wilmington, DE 19899 Wilmington, DE 19809
BY TELEPHONE: If you prefer to redeem your shares by telephone you may
elect to do so. However there are certain risks. The Portfolios have certain
safeguards and procedures to confirm the identity of callers and to confirm that
the instructions communicated are genuine. If such procedures are followed, you
will bear the risk of any losses.
BY CHECK: You may use the checkwriting option to redeem Portfolio shares by
drawing a check for $500 or more against a Portfolio account. When the check is
presented for payment, a sufficient number of shares will be redeemed from your
account to cover the amount of the check. This procedure enables you to continue
receiving dividends on those shares until the check is presented for payment.
Because the aggregate amount of Portfolio shares owned is likely to change each
day, you should not attempt to redeem all shares held in your account by using
the checkwriting procedure. Charges will be imposed for specially imprinted
checks, business checks,
19
<PAGE>
copies of canceled checks, stop payment orders, checks returned due to
"nonsufficient funds" and other returned checks. These charges will be paid by
redeeming automatically an appropriate number of Portfolio shares. Each
Portfolio and the Transfer Agent reserve the right to terminate or alter the
checkwriting service at any time. The Transfer Agent also reserves the right to
impose a service charge in connection with the checkwriting service. If you are
interested in the check writing service, contact the Transfer Agency for further
information. This service is generally not available for clients of WTC through
their trust or corporate cash management accounts, since it is already provided
for these customers through WTC. The service may also not be available for
Service Organization clients who are provided a similar service by those
organizations.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING REDEMPTIONS: Redemption proceeds may be
wired to your predesignated bank account in any commercial bank in the United
States if the amount is $1,000 or more. The receiving bank may charge a fee for
this service. Proceeds may also be mailed to your bank or, for amounts of
$10,000 or less, mailed to your Portfolio account address of record if the
address has been established for at least 60 days. In order to authorize the
Transfer Agent to mail redemption proceeds to your Portfolio account address of
record, complete the appropriate section of the Application for Telephone
Redemptions or include your Portfolio account address of record when you submit
written instructions. You may change the account that you have designated to
receive amounts redeemed at any time. Any request to change the account
designated to receive redemption proceeds should be accompanied by a guarantee
of your signature by an eligible institution. A signature and a signature
guarantee are required for each person in whose name the account is registered.
Further documentation will be required to change the designated account when a
corporation, other organization, trust, fiduciary or other institutional
investor holds the Portfolio shares.
If the shares to be redeemed represent a recent investment made by a check,
the Portfolio reserves the right not to send the redemption proceeds until it
believes that the check has been collected (which could take up to 10 days).
SMALL ACCOUNTS: If the value of your Portfolio account falls below $500,
the Portfolio may ask you to increase your balance. If the account value is
still below $500 after 60 days, the Portfolio may close your account and send
you the proceeds. The Portfolio will not close your account if it falls below
$500 solely as a result of a reduction in your account's market value.
For additional information on other ways to redeem shares, please refer to
the Statement of Additional Information.
20
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXCHANGE OF SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLAIN TALK
=============================================================
WHAT IS AN EXCHANGE OF SHARES?
An exchange of shares allows you to move your money from one
fund to another fund within a family of funds.
=============================================================
You may exchange all or a portion of your shares in a Portfolio for
Investor class shares of the following Portfolios:
Wilmington Prime Money Market Portfolio
Wilmington U.S. Government Portfolio
Wilmington Tax-Exempt Portfolio
Wilmington Short/Intermediate Bond Portfolio
Wilmington Intermediate Bond Portfolio
Wilmington Municipal Bond Portfolio
Wilmington Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Wilmington Large Cap Core Portfolio
Wilmington Small Cap Core Portfolio
Wilmington International Multi-Manager Portfolio
Wilmington Large Cap Value Portfolio
Wilmington Mid Cap Value Portfolio
Wilmington Small Cap Value Portfolio
Redemption of shares through an exchange will be effected at the NAV per
share next determined after the Transfer Agent receives your request. A purchase
of shares through an exchange will be effected at the NAV per share determined
at that time or as next determined thereafter.
Exchange transactions will be subject to the minimum initial investment and
other requirements of the Portfolio into which the exchange is made. An exchange
may not be made if the exchange would leave a balance in a shareholder's account
of less than $500.
To obtain prospectuses of the other Portfolios, you may call (800)
336-9970. To obtain more information about exchanges, or to place exchange
orders, contact the Transfer Agent, or, if your shares are held in a trust
account with WTC or in an account with a Service Organization, contact WTC or
the Service Organization. The Portfolios may terminate or modify the exchange
offer described here and will give you 60 days' notice of such termination or
modification. This exchange offer is valid only in those jurisdictions where the
sale of the Portfolio shares to be acquired through such exchange may be legally
made.
21
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISTRIBUTIONS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLAIN TALK
=============================================================
WHAT IS NET INVESTMENT INCOME?
Net investment income consists of interest earned by a fund
on its investments less accrued expenses.
=============================================================
Distributions from the net investment income of each Portfolio are declared
daily as a dividend and paid monthly to you. Any net capital gain realized by a
Portfolio will be distributed annually.
All distributions are reinvested in additional shares, unless you elect to
receive distributions in cash. Shares become entitled to receive distributions
on the day after the shares are issued.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAXES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As long as a Portfolio meets the requirements for being a "regulated
investment company," it pays no Federal income tax on the earnings and gains it
distributes to shareholders. The Portfolios' distributions of net investment
income (which include net short-term capital gains), whether received in cash or
reinvested in additional Portfolio shares, are taxable to you as ordinary
income. Each Portfolio will notify you following the end of the calendar year of
the amount of dividends paid that year.
You will not recognize any gain or loss on the sale (redemption) or
exchange of shares of a Portfolio so long as that Portfolio maintains a stable
price of $1.00 a share. Dividend distributions by the Tax-Exempt Portfolio of
the excess of its interest income on tax-exempt securities over certain amounts
disallowed as deductions ("exempt-interest dividends") may be treated by you as
interest excludable from your gross income. The Tax-Exempt Portfolio intends to
distribute income that is exempt from federal income tax, though it may invest a
portion of its assets in securities that generate taxable income. Income exempt
from federal income tax may be subject to state and local income tax.
Additionally, any capital gains distributed by the Tax-Exempt Portfolio may be
taxable.
STATE AND LOCAL INCOME TAXES: You should consult your tax adviser
concerning state and local taxes, which may have different consequences from
those of the Federal income law.
This section is only a summary of some important income tax considerations
that may affect your investment in a Portfolio. More information regarding those
considerations appears in our Statement of Additional Information. You are urged
to consult your tax adviser regarding the effects of an investment on your tax
situation.
22
<PAGE>
DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS
The Distributor manages the Portfolios' distribution efforts and provides
assistance and expertise in developing marketing plans and materials, enters
into dealer agreement with broker-dealers to sell shares and provides
shareholder support services, directly or through affiliates. The Portfolios do
not charge any sales loads, deferred sales loads or other fees in connection
with the purchase of shares.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RULE 12B-1 FEES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLAIN TALK
=============================================================
WHAT ARE 12B-1 FEES?
12b-1 fees, charged by some funds, are deducted from fund
assets to pay for marketing and advertising expenses or, more
commonly, to compensate sales professionals for selling fund
shares.
=============================================================
The Investor class of each Portfolio has adopted a distribution plan under
Rule 12b-1 that allows a Portfolio to pay a fee to the Distributor for the sale
and distribution of Investor class shares, and for services provided to Investor
class shareholders. Because these fees are paid out of a Portfolio's assets
continuously, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and
may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges. For the current
fiscal year, the maximum distribution fees for Investor shares as a percentage
of average daily net assets are as follows:
Prime Money Market Portfolio - Investor Class ....... 0.05%
U.S. Government Portfolio - Investor Class .......... 0.05%
Tax-Exempt Portfolio - Investor Class ............... 0.05%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MASTER/FEEDER STRUCTURE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other institutional investors, including other mutual funds, may invest in
the master funds. The master/feeder structure enables various institutional
investors, including a Portfolio, to pool their assets, which may be expected to
result in economies by spreading certain fixed costs over a larger asset base.
Each shareholder of a master fund, including a Portfolio, will pay its
proportionate share of the master fund's expenses.
For reasons relating to costs or a change in investment goal, among others,
a Portfolio could switch to another master fund or decide to manage its assets
itself. No Portfolio is currently contemplating such a move.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SHARE CLASSES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Portfolios issue Investor and Institutional classes of shares. The
Institutional class is offered to retirement plans. The Investor class pays an
additional 12b-1 fee. Any investor may purchase the Investor class shares.
23
<PAGE>
FOR MORE INFORMATION
FOR INVESTORS WHO WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE PORTFOLIOS, THE FOLLOWING
DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE FREE UPON REQUEST:
ANNUAL/SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTS: Contain performance data and information on
portfolio holdings and operating results for a Portfolio's most recently
completed fiscal year or half-year. The annual reports include a discussion of
the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected a
Portfolio's performance.
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI): Provides a complete technical
and legal description of a Portfolio's policies, investment restrictions, risks,
and business structure. This prospectus incorporates the SAI by reference.
Copies of these documents and answers to questions about the Portfolios may
be obtained without charge by contacting:
WT Mutual Fund c/o PFPC Inc.
400 Bellevue Parkway
Suite 108
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
(800) 336-9970
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Eastern time
Information about the Portfolios (including the SAI) can be reviewed and
copied at the Public Reference Room of the Securities and Exchange Commission in
Washington, D.C. Copies of this information may be obtained, upon payment of a
duplicating fee by electronic request at the following e-mail address:
[email protected], or by writing the Public Reference Room of the SEC,
Washington, DC, 20549-0102. Information on the operation of the Public Reference
Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-(202)-942-8090. Reports and other
information about the Portfolios may be viewed on-screen or downloaded from the
SEC's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OPENING A NEW ACCOUNT, MAKING CHANGES TO EXISTING
ACCOUNTS, PURCHASING, EXCHANGING OR REDEEMING SHARES, OR OTHER INVESTOR
SERVICES, PLEASE CALL 1-(800)336-9970.
The investment company registration number for WT Mutual Fund is 811-08648.
24
<PAGE>
11/99
[GRAPHIC OF WILMINGTON FUNDS LOGO OMITTED]
MONEY MARKET
PORTFOLIOS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTOR SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
APPLICATION & NEW ACCOUNT REGISTRATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INSTRUCTIONS: RETURN THIS COMPLETED FORM TO:
FOR WIRING INSTRUCTIONS OR FOR WILMINGTON MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIOS
ASSISTANCE IN COMPLETING THIS C/O PFPC Inc
FORM CALL (800) 336-9970 P.O. Box 8951
WILMINGTON, DE 19899-9752
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PORTFOLIO SELECTION ($1,000 MINIMUM)
[ ]WILMINGTON PRIME MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO $______________
[ ]WILMINGTON U.S. GOVERNMENT PORTFOLIO $______________
[ ]WILMINGTON TAX-EXEMPT PORTFOLIO $______________
TOTAL AMOUNT TO BE INVESTED $______________
________ By check. (Make payable to the applicable Portfolio.)
________ By wire.Call 1-800-336-9970 for Instructions.
Bank from which funds will be wired _____________wire date_______
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ACCOUNT REGISTRATION
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1. Individual _____________________ ____ ____________________________ ____________________
First Name MI Last Name Customer Tax ID No.*
2. Joint Tenancy _____________________ ____ ____________________________ ____________________
First Name MI Last Name Customer Tax IDNo.*
("Joint Tenants with Rights of Survivorship" unless otherwise Specified)
Uniform
3. Gifts to Minors ___________________________ __________________ under the ______ Gifts/Transfers
Minor's Name Customer Tax IDNo.* State to Minors Act
4. Other Registration________________________________________________________________ ____________________
Customer Tax IDNo.*
5. If Trust, Date of Trust Instrument:__________________________________________________________________________
</TABLE>
As joint tenants use Lines 1 and 2; as custodian for a minor, use Lines 1 and
3.
In the name of a corporation, trust or other organization or any fiduciary
capacity, use Line 4.
* Customer Tax Identification No.:(a) for an individual, joint tenants, or a
custodial account under the Uniform Gifts/Transfers to Minors Act, supply the
Social Security number of the registered account owner who is to be taxed;
(b) for a trust, a corporation, a partnership, an organization, a fiduciary,
etc., supply the Employer Identification number of the legal entity or
organization that will report income and/or gains.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADDRESS OF RECORD
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Street
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
City State Zip Code
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISTRIBUTION OPTIONS -- If these boxes are not checked, all distributions will
be invested in additional shares.
Pay Cash for:
Income Dividends Other
WILMINGTON PRIME MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO [ ] [ ]
WILMINGTON U.S. GOVERNMENT PORTFOLIO [ ] [ ]
WILMINGTON TAX EXEMPT PORTFOLIO [ ] [ ]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CERTIFICATIONS AND SIGNATURE(S) -- Please sign exactly as registered under
"Account Registration."
I have received and read the Prospectus for the Wilmington Money Market
Portfolios and agree to its terms; I am of legal age.I understand that the
shares offered by this Prospectus are not deposits of, or guaranteed by,
Wilmington Trust Company, or any other bank, nor are the shares insured by
theFederal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other
agency.I further understand that investment in these shares involves investment
risks, including possible loss of principal. If a corporate customer, I certify
that appropriate corporate resolutions authorizing investment in the Wilmington
Money Market Portfolios have been duly adopted.
I certify under penalties of perjury that the Social Security number or
taxpayer identification number shown above is correct. Unless the box below is
checked, I certify under penalties of perjury that I am not subject to backup
withholding because the InternalRevenue Service (a) has not notified me that I
am as a result of failure to report all interest or dividends, or (b) has
notified me that I am no longer subject to backup withholding. The
certifications in this paragraph are required from all nonexempt persons to
prevent backup withholding of 31% of all taxable distributions and gross
redemption proceeds under the federal income tax law.
[ ] Check here if you are subject to backup withholding.
Signature____________________________________________ Date_____________________
Signature____________________________________________ Date_____________________
Joint Owner/Trustee
Check one: [ ] Owner [ ] Trustee [ ] Custodian [ ] Other_______________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IDENTIFICATION OF SERVICE ORGANIZATION
We authorize the Transfer Agent, and the Distributor in the case of transactions
by telephone, to act as our agents in connection with transactions authorized by
this order form.
Service Organization Name and Code_______________________ [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]
Branch Address and Code__________________________________ [ ][ ][ ]
Representative or Other EmployeeCode_____________________ [ ][ ][ ][ ]
Authorized Signature of Service Organization_____________ Telephone ( )_________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
11/99
[GRAPHIC OF WILMINGTON FUNDS LOGO OMITTED]
MONEY MARKET
PORTFOLIOS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTOR SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
APPLICATION & NEW ACCOUNT REGISTRATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Telephone redemption permits redemption of fund shares by telephone, with
proceeds directed only to the fund account address of record or to the bank
account designated below.For investments by check, telephone redemption is
available only after these shares have been on the Fund's books for 10 days.
This form is to be used to add or change the telephone redemption option on your
Wilmington Funds account(s).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACCOUNT INFORMATION
Portfolio Name(s):__________________________________________________________
Fund Account Number(s):_____________________________________________________
(Please provide if you are a current account holder:)
REGISTERED IN THE NAME(S) OF: ____________________________________________
____________________________________________
REGISTERED ADDRESS: ____________________________________________
____________________________________________
NOTE: If this form is not submitted together with the application, a corporate
resolution must be included for accounts registered to other than an individual,
a fiduciary or partnership.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REDEMPTION INSTRUCTIONS
[ ] Add [ ] Change
Check one or more:
[ ] Mail proceeds to my fund account address of record (must be
$10,000 or less and address must be established for a minimum
of 60 days)
[ ] Mail proceeds to my bank
[ ] Wire proceeds to my bank (minimum $1,000)
[ ] All of the above
Telephone redemption by wire can be used only with financial institutions that
are participants in the Federal Reserve Bank WireSystem. If the financial
institution you designate is not a Federal Reserve participant, telephone
redemption proceeds will be mailed to the named financial institution. In either
case, it may take a day or two, upon receipt for your financial institution to
credit your bank account with the proceeds, depending on its internal crediting
procedures.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BANK INFORMATION
Please complete the following information only if proceeds mailed/wired to your
bank was selected. A VOIDED BANK CHECK MUST BE ATTACHED TO THIS APPLICATION.
Name of Bank ____________________________________________
Bank Routing Transit # ____________________________________________
Bank Address ____________________________________________
City/State/Zip ____________________________________________
Bank Account Number ____________________________________________
Name(s) on Bank Account ____________________________________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AUTHORIZATIONS
By electing the telephone redemption option, I appoint the Transfer Agent my
agent to redeem shares of any designated fund when so instructed by
telephone. This power will continue if I am disabled or incapacitated.I
understand that a request for telephone redemption may be made by anyone, but
the proceeds will be sent only to the account address of record or to the
bank listed above. Proceeds in excess of $10,000 will only be sent to my
predesignated bank. By signing below,I agree on behalf of myself, my assigns,
and successors, not to hold the Transfer Agent and any of its affiliates, or
any fund responsible for acting under the powers I have given the Transfer
Agent.I also agree that all account and registration information I have given
will remain the same unlessI instruct the Transfer Agent otherwise in a
written form, including a signature guarantee.If I want to terminate this
agreement, I will give the Transfer Agent at least ten days notice in
writing.If the Transfer Agent or the fund want to terminate this agreement,
they will give me at least ten days notice in writing.
ALL OWNERS ON THE ACCOUNT MUST SIGN BELOW AND OBTAIN SIGNATURE GUARANTEE(S).
--------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Signature of Individual Owner Signature of Joint Owner (if any)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Signature of Corporate Officer, Trustee or other -- please include your title
You must have a signature(s) guaranteed by an eligible institution acceptable to
the Fund's transfer agent, such as a bank or trust company, broker/dealer,
clearing agency or savings association who are participants in a medallion
program recognized by the Securities Transfer Association. ANotary Public is not
an acceptable guarantor.For more information on signature guarantees, see
"Redemption of Shares" in the prospectus.
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE(S) (stamp)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
TRUSTEES
Robert H. Arnold
Eric Brucker
Robert J. Christian
Louis Klein Jr.
Nicholas A. Giordano
Clement C. Moore, II
John J. Quindlen
William P. Richards
---------------------------
OFFICERS
Robert J. Christian, PRESIDENT
Eric Cheung, VICE PRESIDENT
Gary M. Gardner, SECRETARY
Pat Colletti, TREASURER
---------------------------
INVESTMENT ADVISER
Rodney Square Management Corporation
Rodney Square North
1100 North Market Street
Wilmington, DE 19890
---------------------------
CUSTODIAN
Wilmington Trust Company
Rodney Square North
1100 North Market Street
Wilmington, DE 19890
---------------------------
DISTRIBUTOR
Provident Distributors, Inc.
3200 Horizon Drive
King of Prussia, PA 19406
---------------------------
ADMINISTRATOR,
TRANSFER AGENT AND
ACCOUNTING AGENT
PFPC Inc.
400 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
---------------------------
WMMP-PROS-11/00
<PAGE>
[Wilmington Funds logo omitted]
WILMINTON FUNDS
PREMIER MONEY
MARKET PORTFOLIO
TRUSTEES
Robert H. Arnold
Eric Brucker
Robert J. Christian
Louis Klein Jr.
Nicholas A. Giordano
Clement C. Moore, II
John J. Quindlen
William P. Richards
OFFICERS
Robert J. Christian, PRESIDENT
Eric Cheung, VICE PRESIDENT
Gary M. Gardner, SECRETARY
Pat Colletti, TREASURER
INVESTMENT ADVISER
Rodney Square Management Corporation
Rodney Square North
1100 North Market Street
Wilmington, DE 19890
CUSTODIAN
Wilmington Trust Company
Rodney Square North
1100 North Market Street
Wilmington, DE 19890
DISTRIBUTOR
Provident Distributors, Inc.
3200 Horizon Drive
King of Prussia, PA 19406
ADMINISTRATOR,
TRANSFER AGENT AND
ACCOUNTING AGENT
PFPC Inc.
400 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
ADMINISTRATOR,
TRANSFER AGENT AND
ACCOUNTING AGENT
PFPCInc.
400 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WPRE-Pros-11/00 PROSPECTUS
November 1, 2000
<PAGE>
THE WILMINGTON PREMIER MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO
OF WT MUTUAL FUND
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROSPECTUS DATED NOVEMBER 1, 2000
This prospectus gives vital information about the Wilmington Premier Money
Market Portfolio, including information on investment policies, risks and fees.
For your own benefit and protection, please read it before you invest, and keep
it on hand for future reference.
Please note that this Portfolio:
(BULLET) is not a bank deposit
(BULLET) is not an obligation of, or guaranteed or endorsed by Wilmington
Trust Company or any of its affiliates
(BULLET) is not federally insured
(BULLET) is not an obligation of, or guaranteed or endorsed or otherwise
supported by the U.S. Government, the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other governmental
agency
(BULLET) is not guaranteed to achieve its goals
(BULLET) may not be able to maintain a stable $1 share price
Like all mutual fund shares, these securities have not been approved or
disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission nor has the Securities and
Exchange Commission determined whether this prospectus is accurate or complete.
Anyone who tells you otherwise is committing a crime.
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PORTFOLIO DESCRIPTION
A LOOK AT THE GOALS, STRATEGIES, Summary.................................3
RISKS, EXPENSES AND FINANCIAL Performance Information.................4
HISTORY OF THE PORTFOLIO. Fees and Expenses.......................5
Investment Objectives...................6
Primary Investment Strategies ..........6
Additional Risk Information.............7
Financial Highlights....................9
MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIO
DETAILS ABOUT THE SERVICE Investment Adviser.....................10
PROVIDERS. Service Providers......................11
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
POLICIES AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR Pricing of Shares......................12
OPENING, MAINTAINING AND Purchase of Shares.....................13
CLOSING AN ACCOUNT IN THE Redemption of Shares...................14
PORTFOLIO. Exchange of Shares.....................16
Distributions..........................17
Taxes..................................17
DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS
DETAILS ON THE PORTFOLIO'S Master/Feeder Structure................18
MASTER/FEEDER ARRANGEMENT
FOR MORE INFORMATION........................19
For information about key terms and concepts, look for our "PLAIN TALK"
explanations.
2
<PAGE>
THE WILMINGTON PREMIER MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PORTFOLIO DESCRIPTION
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE MONEY MARKET FUNDS?
Money market funds invest only in high quality, short-term debt securities,
commonly known as money market instruments. Money market funds follow
strict rules about credit risk, maturity and diversification of their
investments. An investment in a money market fund is not a bank deposit.
Although a money market fund seeks to keep a constant share price of $1.00,
you may lose money by investing in a money market fund.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Objective (BULLET) The PREMIER MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO seeks
high current income, while preserving
capital and liquidity.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Focus (BULLET) Money market instruments.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share Price Volatility (BULLET) The Portfolio will strive to maintain
a stable $1.00 share price.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Principal Investment Strategy (BULLET) The Portfolio operates as a "feeder
fund" which means that the Portfolio
does not buy individual securities
directly. Instead, it invests in a
corresponding mutual fund or "master
fund," which in turn purchases
investment securities. The Portfolio
invests all of its assets in a master
fund, which is a separate series of WT
Investment Trust I. The Portfolio and
its corresponding Series has the same
investment objective, policies and
limitations.
(BULLET) The PREMIER MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO
invests in the Premier Money Market
Series, which invests in money market
instruments, including bank obligations,
high quality commercial paper and U.S.
Government obligations.
(BULLET) In selecting securities for the Series,
the adviser seeks current income,
liquidity and safety of principal. The
adviser may sell securities if the
securities are downgraded to a lower
ratings category.
(BULLET) The Premier Money Market Portfolio,
through its corresponding Series, may
invest more than 25% of its total assets
in the obligations of banks and finance
companies.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3
<PAGE>
Principal Risks The Portfolio is subject to the risks summarized
below which are further described under
"Additional Risk Information."
(BULLET) An investment in the Portfolio is not a
deposit of Wilmington Trust Company or
any of its affiliates and is not insured
or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation or any other
government agency. Although the
Portfolio seeks to preserve the value of
your investment at $1.00 per share, it
is possible to lose money by investing
in the Portfolio.
(BULLET) The obligations in which the Portfolio
invests through its corresponding Series
are subject to credit risk and interest
rate risk. Typically, when interest
rates rise, the market prices of debt
securities go down.
(BULLET) The performance of the Portfolio will
depend on whether or not the adviser is
successful in pursuing an investment
strategy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investor Profile (BULLET) Conservative
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE WILMINGTON PREMIER MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO
The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and
volatility of an investment in the Portfolio. Total Return would have been lower
had certain expenses not been voluntarliy waived and/or reimbursed. Of course,
past performance is not necessarily an indicator of how the Portfolio will
perform in the future.
ANNUAL RETURNS SINCE INCEPTION
[bar chart omitted]
plot points as follows:
PERFORMANCE YEARS RETURNS
1995 5.90%
1996 5.40%
1997 5.54%
1998 5.49%
1999 5.17%
2000 Total Return as of September 30: 4.73%
THIS BAR CHART SHOWS CHANGES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIO'S SHARES
FROM CALENDAR YEAR TO CALENDAR YEAR.
BEST QUARTER WORST QUARTER
------------ ---------------
1.47% 1.19%
(June 30, 1995) (June 30, 1999)
4
<PAGE>
SINCE INCEPTION
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/99 1 YEAR 5 YEARS (DECEMBER 6, 1994)
------------------------------------- ------ ------- ------------------
Premier Money Market Portfolio 5.17% 5.50% 5.54%
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS YIELD?
Yield is a measure of the income (interest) earned by the securities in a
fund's portfolio and paid to you over a specified time period. The annualized
yield is expressed as a percentage of the offering price per share on a
specified date.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You may call (800) 336-9970 to obtain the Portfolio's current 7-day yield.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FEES AND EXPENSES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE MUTUAL FUND EXPENSES?
Unlike an index, every mutual fund has operating expenses to pay for
professional advisory, distribution, administration and custody services. The
Portfolio's expenses in the table below are shown as a percentage of the
Portfolio's net assets. These expenses are deducted from Portfolio assets.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy
and hold shares of the Portfolio. No sales charges or other fees are paid
directly from your investment.
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (EXPENSES THAT ARE DEDUCTED FROM PORTFOLIO
ASSETS)1
THE PREMIER MONEY
MARKET PORTFOLIO
-----------------
Management fees ....................................... 0.20%
Other Expenses ........................................ 0.06%
TOTAL ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENSES2 ...................... 0.26%
Waivers/reimbursements ................................ 0.06%
Net annual operating expenses ......................... 0.20%
1 The table above and the Example below each reflect the aggregate annual
operating expenses of the Portfolio and the corresponding Series of the Trust
in which the Portfolio invests.
2 The adviser has agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee or reimburse
expenses to the extent total operating expenses exceed 0.20%. This waiver
will remain in place until the Board of Trustees approves its termination.
5
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXAMPLE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the
Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The table below
shows what you would pay if you invested $10,000 over the various time frames
indicated. The example assumes that:
(BULLET) you reinvested all dividends;
(BULLET) the average annual return was 5%;
(BULLET) the Portfolio's maximum (without regard to waivers or reimbursements)
total operating expenses are charged and remain the same over the
time periods; and
(BULLET) you redeemed all of your investment at the end of the time period.
Although your actual cost may be higher or lower, based on these
assumptions, your costs would be:
1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
------ ------- ------- --------
Premier Money Market Portfolio .... $27 $84 $146 $331
THE ABOVE EXAMPLE IS FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT A
REPRESENTATION OF THE PORTFOLIO'S ACTUAL EXPENSES AND RETURNS, EITHER PAST OR
FUTURE.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(BULLET) The PREMIER MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO seeks a high level of current
income consistent with the preservation of capital and liquidity.
The investment objective for the Portfolio may be changed without
shareholder approval. The Portfolio is a money market fund and intends to
maintain a stable $1 share price, although this may not be possible under
certain circumstances. There can be no guarantee that the Portfolio will achieve
its investment objective.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRIMARY INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The PREMIER MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO invests its assets in the Premier Money
Market Series, which in turn invests in:
(BULLET) U.S. dollar-denomination obligations of major U.S. and foreign
banks and their branches located outside of the United States, of
U.S. branches of foreign banks, of foreign branches of foreign
banks, of U.S. agencies of foreign banks and wholly-owned banking
subsidiaries of foreign banks;
(BULLET) commercial paper rated, at the time of purchase, in the highest
category of short-term debt ratings of any two nationally
recognized statistical rating organizations ("NRSRO");
6
<PAGE>
(BULLET) corporate obligations having a remaining maturity of 397 calendar
days or less, issued by corporations having outstanding comparable
obligations that are (a) rated in the two highest categories of any
two NRSROs or (b) rated no lower than the two highest long-term
debt ratings categories by any NRSRO.
(BULLET) U.S. Government obligations;
(BULLET) high quality municipal securities; and
(BULLET) repurchase agreements that are fully collateralized by U.S.
Government obligations.
High quality securities include those that (1) are rated in one of the two
highest short-term rating categories by two NRSROs, such as S&P, Moody's and
Fitch IBCA (or by one NRSRO if only one NRSRO has issued a rating) or; (2) if
unrated are issued by an issuer with comparable outstanding debt that is rated
or are otherwise unrated and determined by the investment adviser to be of
comparable quality.
The Series may also invest in other securities, use other strategies and
engage in other investment practices, which are described in detail in our
Statement of Additional Information.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADDITIONAL RISK INFORMATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following is a list of certain risks that may apply to your investment
in the Portfolio. Further information about investment risks is available in our
Statement of Additional Information:
(BULLET) CREDIT RISK: The risk that the issuer of a security, or the
counterparty to a contract, will default or otherwise become unable
to honor a financial obligation.
(BULLET) FOREIGN SECURITY RISK: The risk of losses due to political,
regulatory, economic, social or other uncontrollable forces in a
foreign country.
(BULLET) INTEREST RATE RISK: The risk of market losses attributable to
changes in interest rates. With fixed-rate securities, a rise in
interest rates typically causes a fall in values, while a fall in
rates typically causes a rise in values. The yield paid by the
Portfolio will vary with changes in interest rates.
(BULLET) MARKET RISK: The risk that the market value of a security may move
up and down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably.
(BULLET) MASTER/FEEDER RISK: The Portfolio's master/feeder structure is
relatively new and more complex. While this structure is designed
to reduce costs, it may not do so, and the Portfolio might
encounter operational or other complications. For example,
large-scale redemptions by other feeders of their shares of a
master fund could have adverse effects on the Portfolio such as
requiring the liquidation of a substantial portion of the master
fund's holdings at a time when it could be disadvantageous to do
so. Also, other feeders of a master fund may have a greater
ownership interest in the master fund than the Portfolio's interest
and, therefore, could have effective voting control over the
operation of the master fund.
(BULLET) PREPAYMENT RISK: The risk that a debt security may be paid off and
proceeds invested earlier than anticipated. Depending on market
conditions, the new investments may or may not carry the same
interest rate.
7
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the
Portfolio's financial performance for the past 5 years or since the inception of
the Portfolio, if shorter. Certain information reflects financial results for a
single share of the Portfolio. The total returns in the table represent the rate
that you would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Portfolio (assuming
reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions). Financial highlights
(except for the fiscal years ended June 30, 1996, 1997 and 1998 which were
audited by other auditors) have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, whose report,
along with the Portfolio's financial statements, is included in the Annual
Report, which is available without charge upon request.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE FISCAL YEARS ENDED JUNE 30,
20002 19991 1998 1997 1996
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
WILMINGTON PREMIER MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO
NET ASSET VALUE -- BEGINNING OF PERIOD $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Investment Operations:
Net investment income 0.06 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05
------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Distributions:
From net investment income (0.06) (0.05) (0.05) (0.05) (0.05)
------ ------ ------ ------ ------
NET ASSET VALUE -- END OF PERIOD $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
TOTAL RETURN 5.80% 5.15% 5.61% 5.43% 5.61%
RATIOS (TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS)/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA3:
Expenses:
Including expense limitations 0.20% 0.20% 0.20% 0.20% 0.20%
Excluding expense limitations 0.26% 0.31% 0.31% 0.27% 0.27%
Net investment income 5.66% 5.00% 5.46% 5.31% 5.47%
Net assets at end of period (000 omitted) $503,234 $411,701 $240,359 $415,285 $389,967
</TABLE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Effective October 20, 1998, Wilmington Trust Company ("WTC"), a wholly owned
subsidiary of Wilmington Trust Corporation, became the investment adviser to
the WT Investment Trust I - Premier Money Market Series.
2 Effective November 1, 1999, Rodney Square Management Corporation, a wholly
owned subsidiary of WTC, became the investment adviser to the WT Investment
Trust I Premier Money Market Series.
3 The expense and net investment income ratios for the fiscal years ended
June 30, 2000, 1999, 1998 and 1997 include expenses allocated from the WT
Investment Trust I - Premier Money Market Series.
8
<PAGE>
MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIO
The Board of Trustees for the Portfolio supervises the management,
activities and affairs of the Portfolio and has approved contracts with various
organizations to provide, among other services, the day-to-day management
required by the Portfolio and its shareholders.
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS AN INVESTMENT ADVISER?
The investment adviser makes investment decisions for a mutual fund and
continuously reviews, supervises and administers the fund's investment
program. The Board of Trustees supervises the investment adviser and
establishes policies that the adviser must follow in its management
activities.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT ADVISER
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rodney Square Management Corporation, the Series' investment adviser, is
located at 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890. RSMC is a
wholly owned subsidiary of Wilmington Trust Company, which is wholly owned by
Wilmington Trust Corporation. RSMC also provides asset management services to
collective investment funds maintained by WTC. In the past, RSMC has provided
asset management services to individuals, personal trusts, municipalities,
corporations and other organizations.
The Premier Money Market Series pays a monthly fee to RSMC at the annual
rate of 0.20% of its average daily net assets. For the twelve months ended June
30, 2000, RSMC received a fee (after waivers) of 0.14% of its average daily net
assets.
9
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SERVICE PROVIDERS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The chart below provides information on the Portfolio's primary service
providers.
Asset Shareholder
Management Services
--------------------------------------- -------------------------------------
INVESTMENT ADVISER TRANSFER AGENT
RODNEY SQUARE MANAGEMENT CORP. PFPC INC.
RODNEY SQUARE NORTH 400 BELLEVUE PARKWAY
1100 N. MARKET STREET WILMINGTON, DE 19809
WILMINGTON, DE 19890-0001 Handles shareholder services,
Manages the Portfolio's investment. including recordkeeping and
activities statements, payment of distributions
and processing of buy and sell
requests.
--------------------------------------- -------------------------------------
----------------------
WT MUTUAL FUND
WILMINGTON PREMIER
MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO
----------------------
Fund Asset
Operations Safe Keeping
--------------------------------------- -------------------------------------
ADMINISTRATOR AND CUSTODIAN
ACCOUNTING AGENT
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
PFPC INC. RODNEY SQUARE NORTH
400 BELLEVUE PARKWAY 1100 NORTH MARKET STREET
WILMINGTON, DE 19809 WILMINGTON, DE 19890
Provides facilities, equipment and Holds the Portfolio's assets, settles
personnel to carry out all portfolio trades and collects
administrative services related most of the valuation data required
to the Portfolio and calculates for calculating the Portfolio's
the Portfolio's NAV and NAV per share.
distributions.
--------------------------------------- -------------------------------------
10
<PAGE>
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRICING OF SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Portfolio uses its best effort to maintain its $1 constant share price
and values its securities at amortized cost. This involves valuing a security
initially at its cost and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to
maturity of any discount or premium, regardless of fluctuating interest rates on
the market value of the security. All cash, receivables and current payables are
carried at their face value. Other assets, if any, are valued at fair value as
determined in good faith by, or under the direction of, the Board of Trustees.
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS THE NET ASSET VALUE OR "NAV"?
NAV = Assets - Liabilities
--------------------
Outstanding Shares
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PFPC determines the NAV per share of the Portfolio as of 2:00 p.m. Eastern
Time on each Business Day (a day that the New York Stock Exchange, the Transfer
Agent and the Philadelphia branch of the Federal Reserve Bank are open for
business). The NAV is calculated by adding the value of all securities and other
assets in the Portfolio, deducting its liabilities and dividing the balance by
the number of outstanding shares in the Portfolio.
Shares will not be priced on those days the Portfolio is closed. As of the
date of this prospectus, those days are:
New Year's Day Memorial Day Veterans' Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Independence Day Thanksgiving Day
President's Day Labor Day Christmas Day
Good Friday Columbus Day
11
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PURCHASE OF SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES:
(BULLET) Directly by mail or by wire
(BULLET) As a client of WTC through a trust account or a corporate cash
management account
(BULLET) As a client of a Service Organization
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio shares are offered on a continuous basis and are sold without any
sales charges. The minimum initial purchase is $10,000,000. Additional
investments in the Portfolio may be made in any amount. You may purchase shares
as specified below.
You may also purchase shares if you are a client of WTC through your trust
or corporate cash management accounts. If you are a client of an institution
(such as a bank or broker-dealer) that has entered into a servicing agreement
with the Portfolio's distributor ("Service Organization"), you may also purchase
shares through such Service Organization. You should also be aware that you may
be charged a fee by WTC or the Service Organization in connection with your
investment in the Portfolio. If you wish to purchase Portfolio shares through
your account at WTC or a Service Organization, you should contact that entity
directly for information and instructions on purchasing shares.
BY MAIL: You may purchase shares by sending a check drawn on a U.S. bank
payable to Wilmington Premier Money Market Portfolio, indicating the name of the
Portfolio, along with a completed application (included at the end of this
prospectus). If a subsequent investment is being made, the check should also
indicate your Portfolio account number. When you make purchases by check, the
Portfolio may withhold payment on redemptions until it is reasonably satisfied
that the funds are collected (which can take up to 10 days). If you purchase
shares with a check that does not clear, your purchase will be canceled and you
will be responsible for any losses or fees incurred in that transaction. Send
the check and application to:
Regular mail: Overnight mail:
------------- ---------------
Wilmington Premier Wilmington Premier
Money Market Portfolio Money Market Portfolio
c/o PFPC Inc. c/o PFPC Inc.
P.O. Box 8951 400 Bellevue Parkway, Suite 108
Wilmington, DE 19899 Wilmington, DE 19809
BY WIRE: You may purchase shares by wiring federal funds readily available.
Please call PFPC at (800) 336-9970 for instructions and to make specific
arrangements before making a purchase by wire, and if making an initial
purchase, to also obtain an account number.
12
<PAGE>
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING PURCHASES: Investments in the Portfolio
are accepted on the Business Day that federal funds are deposited for your
account on or before 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Monies immediately convertible to
federal funds are deposited for your account on or before 2:00 p.m. Eastern
Time, or checks deposited for your account have been converted to federal funds
(usually within two Business Days after receipt). All investments in the
Portfolio are credited to your account as shares of the Portfolio immediately
upon acceptance and become entitled to dividends declared as of the day and time
of investment.
Any purchase order may be rejected if the Portfolio determines that
accepting the order would not be in the best interest of the Portfolio or its
shareholders.
It is the responsibility of WTC or the Service Organization to transmit
orders for the purchase of shares by its customers to the Transfer Agent and to
deliver required funds on a timely basis, in accordance with the procedures
stated above.
For information on other ways to purchase shares, including through an
individual retirement account (IRA), an automatic investment plan or a payroll
investment plan, please refer to the Statement of Additional Information.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REDEMPTION OF SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO REDEEM (SELL) SHARES:
(BULLET) By mail
(BULLET) By telephone
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You may sell your shares on any Business Day, as described below.
Redemptions are effected at the NAV next determined after the Transfer Agent has
received your redemption request. There is no fee when Portfolio shares are
redeemed. It is the responsibility of WTC or the Service Organization to
transmit redemption orders and credit their customers' accounts with redemption
proceeds on a timely basis. Redemption checks are mailed on the next Business
Day following receipt by the Transfer Agent of redemption instructions, but
never later than 7 days following such receipt. Amounts redeemed by wire are
normally wired on the date of receipt of redemption instructions or the next
Business Day if received after 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, or on a non-Business Day,
but never later than 7 days following such receipt. If you purchased your shares
through an account at WTC or a Service Organization, you should contact WTC or
the Service Organization for information relating to redemptions. The
Portfolio's name and your account number should accompany any redemption
requests.
BY MAIL: If you redeem your shares by mail, you should submit written
instructions with a "signature guarantee." A signature guarantee verifies the
authenticity of your signature. You can obtain one from most banking
institutions or securities brokers, but not from a notary public. You must
indicate the Portfolio name, your account number and your name. The written
instructions and signature guarantee should be mailed to:
13
<PAGE>
Regular mail: Overnight mail:
------------- ---------------
Wilmington Premier Wilmington Premier
Money Market Portfolio Money Market Portfolio
c/o PFPC Inc. c/o PFPC Inc.
P.O. Box 8951 400 Bellevue Parkway, Suite 108
Wilmington, DE 19899 Wilmington, DE 19809
BY TELEPHONE: If you prefer to redeem your shares by telephone you may
elect to do so. However there are certain risks. The Portfolio has certain
safeguards and procedures to confirm the identity of callers and to confirm that
the instructions communicated are genuine. If such procedures are followed, you
will bear the risk of any losses.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING REDEMPTIONS: Redemption proceeds may be
wired to your predesignated bank account in any commercial bank in the United
States if the amount is $1,000 or more. The receiving bank may charge a fee for
this service. Proceeds may also be mailed to your bank or, for amounts of
$10,000 or less, mailed to your Portfolio account address of record if the
address has been established for at least 60 days. In order to authorize the
Transfer Agent to mail redemption proceeds to your Portfolio account address of
record, complete the appropriate section of the Application for Telephone
Redemptions or include your Portfolio account address of record when you submit
written instructions. You may change the account that you have designated to
receive amounts redeemed at any time. Any request to change the account
designated to receive redemption proceeds should be accompanied by a guarantee
of your signature by an eligible institution. A signature and a signature
guarantee are required for each person in whose name the account is registered.
Further documentation will be required to change the designated account when a
corporation, other organization, trust, fiduciary or other institutional
investor holds the Portfolio shares.
If the shares to be redeemed represent a recent investment made by a check,
the Portfolio reserves the right not to send the redemption proceeds until it
believes that the check has been collected (which could take up to 10 days).
SMALL ACCOUNTS: If the value of your Portfolio account falls below $500,
the Portfolio may ask you to increase your balance. If the account value is
still below $500 after 60 days, the Portfolio may close your account and send
you the proceeds. The Portfolio will not close your account if it falls below
$500 solely as a result of a reduction in your account's market value.
For additional information on other ways to redeem shares, please refer to
the Statement of Additional Information.
14
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXCHANGE OF SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS AN EXCHANGE OF SHARES?
An exchange of shares allows you to move your money from one fund to
another fund within a family of funds.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You may exchange all or a portion of your shares in the Portfolio for
Institutional shares of the following Portfolios:
Wilmington Prime Money Market Portfolio
Wilmington U.S. Government Portfolio
Wilmington Tax-Exempt Portfolio
Wilmington Short/Intermediate Bond Portfolio
Wilmington Intermediate Bond Portfolio
Wilmington Municipal Bond Portfolio
Wilmington Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Wilmington Large Cap Core Portfolio
Wilmington Small Cap Core Portfolio
Wilmington International Multi-Manager Portfolio
Wilmington Large Cap Value Portfolio
Wilmington Mid Cap Value Portfolio
Wilmington Small Cap Value Portfolio
Redemption of shares through an exchange will be effected at the NAV per
share next determined after the Transfer Agent receives your request. A purchase
of shares through an exchange will be effected at the NAV per share determined
at that time or as next determined thereafter.
Exchange transactions will be subject to the minimum initial investment and
other requirements of the Portfolio into which the exchange is made. An exchange
may not be made if the exchange would leave a balance in a shareholder's account
of less than $500.
To obtain prospectuses of the other Portfolios, you may call (800)
336-9970. To obtain more information about exchanges, or to place exchange
orders, contact the Transfer Agent, or, if your shares are held in a trust
account with WTC or in an account with a Service Organization, contact WTC or
the Service Organization. The Portfolio may terminate or modify the exchange
offer described here and will give you 60 days' notice of such termination or
modification. This exchange offer is valid only in those jurisdictions where the
sale of the Portfolio shares to be acquired through such exchange may be legally
made.
15
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISTRIBUTIONS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS NET INVESTMENT INCOME?
Net investment income consists of interest earned by a fund
on its investments less accrued expenses.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributions from the net investment income of the Portfolio are declared
daily as a dividend and paid monthly to you. Any net capital gain realized by
the Portfolio will be distributed annually.
All distributions are reinvested in additional shares, unless you elect to
receive distributions in cash. Shares become entitled to receive distributions
on the day after the shares are issued.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAXES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As long as the Portfolio meets the requirements for being a "regulated
investment company," it pays no Federal income tax on the earnings and gains it
distributes to shareholders. The Portfolio's distributions of net investment
income (which include net short-term capital gains), whether received in cash or
reinvested in additional Portfolio shares, are taxable to you as ordinary
income. The Portfolio will notify you following the end of the calendar year of
the amount of dividends paid that year.
You will not recognize any gain or loss on the sale (redemption) or
exchange of shares of the Portfolio so long as the Portfolio maintains a stable
price of $1.00 a share.
STATE AND LOCAL INCOME TAXES: You should consult your tax advisers
concerning state and local taxes, which may have different consequences from
those of the Federal income law.
This section is only a summary of some important income tax considerations
that may affect your investment in the Portfolio. More information regarding
those considerations appears in our Statement of Additional Information. You are
urged to consult your tax adviser regarding the effects of an investment on your
tax situation.
16
<PAGE>
DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS
The Distributor manages the Portfolio's distribution efforts and provides
assistance and expertise in developing marketing plans and materials, enters
into dealer agreement with broker-dealers to sell shares and provides
shareholder support services, directly or through affiliates. The Portfolio does
not charge any sales loads, deferred sales loads or other fees in connection
with the purchase of shares.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MASTER/FEEDER STRUCTURE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other institutional investors, including other mutual funds, may invest in
the master funds. The master/feeder structure enables various institutional
investors, including the Portfolio, to pool their assets, which may be expected
to result in economies by spreading certain fixed costs over a larger asset
base. Each shareholder of a master fund, including the Portfolio, will pay its
proportionate share of the master fund's expenses.
For reasons relating to costs or a change in investment goal, among others,
the Portfolio could switch to another master fund or decide to manage its assets
itself. The Portfolio is not currently contemplating such a move.
17
<PAGE>
FOR MORE INFORMATION
FOR INVESTORS WHO WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE PORTFOLIO, THE FOLLOWING
DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE FREE UPON REQUEST:
ANNUAL/SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTS: Contain performance data and information on
portfolio holdings and operating results for the Portfolio's most recently
completed fiscal year or half-year. The annual report includes a discussion of
the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the
Portfolio's performance.
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI): Provides a complete technical
and legal description of the Portfolio's policies, investment restrictions,
risks, and business structure. This prospectus incorporates the SAI by
reference.
Copies of these documents and answers to questions about the Portfolio may
be obtained without charge by contacting:
WT Mutual Fund c/o PFPC Inc.
400 Bellevue Parkway
Suite 108
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
(800) 336-9970
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Eastern time
Information about the Portfolio (including the SAI) can be reviewed and
copied at the Public Reference Room of the Securities and Exchange Commission in
Washington, D.C. Copies of this information may be obtained, upon payment of a
duplicating fee by electronic request at the following e-mail address:
[email protected], or by writing the Public Reference Room of the SEC,
Washington, DC, 20549-0102. Information on the operation of the Public Reference
Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-(202)-942-8090. Reports and other
information about the Portfolio may be viewed on-screen or downloaded from the
SEC's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OPENING A NEW ACCOUNT, MAKING CHANGES TO EXISTING
ACCOUNTS, PURCHASING, EXCHANGING OR REDEEMING SHARES, OR OTHER INVESTOR
SERVICES, PLEASE CALL 1-(800)-336-9970.
The investment company registration number for WT Mutual Fund is 811-08648.
18
<PAGE>
[Wilmington Funds logo omitted] 11/99
WILMINGTON FUNDS
PREMIER MONEY
MARKET PORTFOLIO
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
APPLICATION & NEW ACCOUNT REGISTRATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INSTRUCTIONS: RETURN THIS COMPLETED FORM TO:
FOR WIRING INSTRUCTIONS OR FOR WILMINGTON PREMIER MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO
ASSISTANCE IN COMPLETING THIS C/O PFPC Inc.
FORM CALL (800) 336-9970 P.O. Box 8951
WILMINGTON, DE 19899-9752
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PORTFOLIO SELECTION ($10,000,000 MINIMUM)
[box] WILMINGTON PREMIER MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO
TOTAL AMOUNT TO BE INVESTED $______________
_______ By check. (Make payable to the applicable Portfolio.)
_______ By wire. Call 1-800-336-9970 for Instructions.
Bank from which funds will be wired __________________ wire date________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACCOUNT REGISTRATION
1. Individual ____________________ ____
First Name MI
_________________________ __________________
Last Name Customer Tax ID No.*
2. Joint Tenancy ____________________ ____
First Name MI
_________________________ __________________
Last Name Customer Tax ID No.*
("Joint Tenants with Rights of Survivorship" unless otherwise Specified)
3. Gifts to Minors ___________________________ __________________
Minor's Name Customer Tax ID No.*
Uniform
under the ______ Gifts/Transfers
State to Minors Act
4. Other Registration.___________________________________ __________________
Customer Tax ID No.*
5. If Trust, Date of Trust Instrument:__________________________________________
As joint tenants use Lines 1 and 2; as custodian for a minor, use Lines 1 and
3. In the name of a corporation, trust or other organization or any fiduciary
capacity, use Line 4.
* Customer Tax Identification No.:(a) for an individual, joint tenants, or a
custodial account under the Uniform Gifts/Transfers to Minors Act, supply
theSocial Security number of the registered account owner who is to be taxed;
(b) for a trust, a corporation, a partnership, an organization, a fiduciary,
etc., supply the Employer Identification number of the legal entity or
organization that will report income and/or gains.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADDRESS OF RECORD
________________________________________________________________________________
Street
________________________________________________________________________________
City State Zip Code
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISTRIBUTION OPTIONS -- If these boxes are not checked, all distributions will
be invested in additional shares.
Pay Cash for:
Income Dividends Other
WILMINGTON PREMIER MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO [box] [box]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CERTIFICATIONS AND SIGNATURE(S) -- Please sign exactly as registered under
"Account Registration."
I have received and read the Prospectus for the Wilmington Premier Money
Market Portfolio and agree to its terms; I am of legal age.I understand that the
shares offered by this Prospectus are not deposits of, or guaranteed by,
Wilmington Trust Company, or any other bank, nor are the shares insured by
theFederal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other
agency.I further understand that investment in these shares involves investment
risks, including possible loss of principal. If a corporate customer, I certify
that appropriate corporate resolutions authorizing investment in the Wilmington
Premier Money Market Portfolio have been duly adopted.
I certify under penalties of perjury that the Social Security number or
taxpayer identification number shown above is correct. Unless the box below is
checked, I certify under penalties of perjury that I am not subject to backup
withholding because the InternalRevenue Service (a) has not notified me that I
am as a result of failure to report all interest or dividends, or (b) has
notified me that I am no longer subject to backup withholding. The
certifications in this paragraph are required from all nonexempt persons to
prevent backup withholding of 31% of all taxable distributions and gross
redemption proceeds under the federal income tax law.
[box] Check here if you are subject to backup withholding.
Signature _____________________________________________ Date __________________
Signature _____________________________________________ Date __________________
Joint Owner/Trustee
Check one: [box] Owner [box] Trustee [box] Custodian [box] Other____________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IDENTIFICATION OF SERVICE ORGANIZATION
We authorize the Transfer Agent, and the Distributor in the case of transactions
by telephone, to act as our agents in connection with transactions authorized
by this order form.
Service Organization Name and Code _______________ [box] [box] [box] [box] [box]
Branch Address and Code __________________________ [box] [box] [box]
Representative or Other Employee Code_____________ [box] [box] [box] [box]
Authorized Signature of Service Organization ___________________________________
Telephone ( ) _______________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
[Wilmington Funds logo omitted] 11/99
WILMINGTON FUNDS
PREMIER MONEY
MARKET PORTFOLIO
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
APPLICATION FOR TELEPHONE REDEMPTION OPTION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Telephone redemption permits redemption of fund shares by telephone, with
proceeds directed only to the fund account address of record or to the bank
account designated below. For investments by check, telephone redemption is
available only after these shares have been on the Fund's books for 10 days.
This form is to be used to add or change the telephone redemption option on your
account(s).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACCOUNT INFORMATION
Portfolio Name(s): ____________________________________________________
Fund Account Number(s): _____________________________________________
(Please provide if you are a current account holder:)
REGISTERED IN THE NAME(S) OF: _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
REGISTERED ADDRESS: _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
NOTE: If this form is not submitted together with the application, a corporate
resolution must be included for accounts registered to other than an individual,
a fiduciary or partnership.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REDEMPTION INSTRUCTIONS
[box] Add [box] Change
Check one or more:
[box] Mail proceeds to my fund account address of record (must be $10,000
or less and address must be established for a minimum of 60 days)
[box] Mail proceeds to my bank
[box] Wire proceeds to my bank (minimum $1,000)
[box] All of the above
Telephone redemption by wire can be used only with financial institutions that
are participants in the Federal Reserve Bank Wire System. If the financial
institution you designate is not a Federal Reserve participant, telephone
redemption proceeds will be mailed to the named financial institution. In either
case, it may take a day or two, upon receipt for your financial institution to
credit your bank account with the proceeds, depending on its internal crediting
procedures.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BANK INFORMATION
Please complete the following information only if proceeds mailed/wired to your
bank was selected. A VOIDED BANK CHECK MUST BE ATTACHED TO THIS APPLICATION.
Name of Bank __________________________________________________
Bank Routing Transit # __________________________________________________
Bank Address __________________________________________________
City/State/Zip __________________________________________________
Bank Account Number __________________________________________________
Name(s) on Bank Account __________________________________________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AUTHORIZATIONS
By electing the telephone redemption option, I appoint the Transfer Agent my
agent to redeem shares of any designated fund when so instructed by
telephone. This power will continue if I am disabled or incapacitated.I
understand that a request for telephone redemption may be made by anyone, but
the proceeds will be sent only to the account address of record or to the
bank listed above. Proceeds in excess of $10,000 will only be sent to my
predesignated bank. By signing below,I agree on behalf of myself, my assigns,
and successors, not to hold the Transfer Agent and any of its affiliates, or
any fund responsible for acting under the powers I have given the Transfer
Agent.I also agree that all account and registration information I have given
will remain the same unlessI instruct the Transfer Agent otherwise in a
written form, including a signature guarantee.If I want to terminate this
agreement, I will give the Transfer Agent at least ten days notice in
writing.If the Transfer Agent or the wants to terminate this agreement, they
will give me at least ten days notice in writing.
ALL OWNERS ON THE ACCOUNT MUST SIGN BELOW AND OBTAIN SIGNATURE GUARANTEE(S).
_____________________________________ _______________________________________
Signature of Individual Owner Signature of Joint Owner (if any)
________________________________________________________________________________
Signature of Corporate Officer, Trustee or other -- please include your title
You must have a signature(s) guaranteed by an eligible institution acceptable to
the Fund's transfer agent, such as a bank or trust company, broker/dealer,
clearing agency or savings association who are participants in a medallion
program recognized by the Securities Transfer Association. ANotary Public is not
an acceptable guarantor.For more information on signature guarantees, see
"Redemption of Shares" in the prospectus.
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE(S) (stamp)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
FOR MORE INFORMATION
FOR INVESTORS WHO WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE FUNDS,
THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE FREE UPON REQUEST:
ANNUAL/SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTS
Contain performance data and information on fund holdings, operating results
and a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that
significantly affect the Funds' performance for the most recently completed
fiscal year or half-year.
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI)
Provides a complete technical and legal description of the Funds' policies,
investment restrictions, risks, and business structure.
This prospectus incorporates the SAI by reference.
Copies of these documents and answers to questions about the Funds may be
obtained without charge by contacting:
CRM Funds
c/o PFPC Inc.
400 Bellevue Parkway
Suite 108
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
(800) CRM-2883
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time
Information about the Funds (including the SAI) can be reviewed and copied at
the Public Reference Room of the Securities and Exchange Commission in
Washington, D.C. Copies of this information may be obtained, upon payment of a
duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address:
[email protected], or writing the Public Reference Room of the SEC, Washington,
DC, 20549-0102. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be
obtained by calling the SEC at 1-(202) 942-8090. Reports and other information
about the Funds may be viewed on-screen or downloaded from the SEC's Internet
site at http://www.sec.gov.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OPENING A NEW ACCOUNT,
MAKING CHANGES TO EXISTING ACCOUNTS, PURCHASING,
EXCHANGING OR REDEEMING SHARES, OR OTHER
INVESTOR SERVICES, PLEASE CALL 1-(800)-CRM-2883.
The investment company registration number is 811-08648.CRM FUNDS
[GRAPHICS OMITTED]
CRM FUNDS
CRM LARGE CAP
VALUE FUND
CRM MID CAP
VALUE FUND
CRM SMALL CAP
VALUE FUND
CRM FUNDS
C/O PFPC
400 BELLEVUE PARKWAY
WILMINGTON, DE 19809
800-CRM-2883
WEB SITE:
WWW.CRMFUNDS.COM
<PAGE>
[GRAPHICS OMITTED]
CRM FUNDS
THIS PROSPECTUS GIVES VITAL
INFORMATION ABOUT THESE MUTUAL
FUNDS, INCLUDING INFORMATION ON
INVESTMENT POLICIES, RISKS AND FEES.
FOR YOUR OWN BENEFIT AND PROTECTION,
PLEASE READ IT BEFORE YOU INVEST, AND
KEEP IT ON HAND FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
LIKE ALL MUTUAL FUND SHARES, THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR
DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION DETERMINED WHETHER THIS PROSPECTUS IS ACCURATE OR COMPLETE.
ANYONE WHO TELLS YOU OTHERWISE IS COMMITTING A CRIME.
PROSPECTUS
NOVEMBER 1, 2000
CRM LARGE CAP
VALUE FUND
CRM MID CAP
VALUE FUND
CRM SMALL CAP
VALUE FUND
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A LOOK AT THE GOALS, STRATEGIES,
RISKS, EXPENSES AND FINANCIAL
HISTORY OF EACH FUND.
FUND DESCRIPTIONS
SUMMARY .................................................. 2
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION .................................. 4
FEES AND EXPENSES ........................................ 7
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES .................................... 9
PRIMARY INVESTMENT STRATEGIES ............................ 9
ADDITIONAL RISK INFORMATION .............................. 12
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS ..................................... 14
DETAILS ABOUT THE SERVICE
PROVIDERS.
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
INVESTMENT ADVISER ....................................... 16
SERVICE PROVIDERS ........................................ 19
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
POLICIES AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR
OPENING, MAINTAINING AND
CLOSING AN ACCOUNT IN ANY OF
THE FUNDS.
PRICING OF SHARES ........................................ 20
PURCHASE OF SHARES ....................................... 21
REDEMPTION OF SHARES ..................................... 23
EXCHANGE OF SHARES ....................................... 25
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS .............................. 26
TAXES .................................................... 26
DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS
DETAILS ON THE FUNDS' SHARE
CLASSES AND MASTER/FEEDER
ARRANGEMENT.
MASTER/FEEDER STRUCTURE .................................. 26
SHARE CLASSES ............................................ 28
FOR MORE INFORMATION .......................................... BACK COVER
For information about key terms and concepts, look for our "PLAIN TALK"
explanations.
<PAGE>
FUND DESCRIPTION
CRM LARGE CAP VALUE FUND
CRM MID CAP VALUE FUND
CRM SMALL CAP VALUE FUND
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS A MUTUAL FUND?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A mutual fund pools shareholders' money and, using a professional investment
manager, invests it in securities like stocks and bonds. Each Fund is a
separate mutual fund.
SUMMARY
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS "CAP"?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cap or the market capitalization of a company means the value of the
company's common stock in the stock market.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE o The LARGE CAP VALUE FUND, MID CAP VALUE FUND and
SMALL CAP VALUE FUND each seek to achieve long-term
capital appreciation.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT FOCUS o Equity (or related) securities
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SHARE PRICE VOLATILITY o Moderate to high
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT o Each Fund operates as a "feeder fund," which means
STRATEGY that the Fund does not buy individual securities
directly. Instead, the Funds' invest in a
corresponding mutual fund or "master fund," which in
turn purchases investment securities. Each Fund
invests all of its assets in a master fund which is a
separate series of WT Investment Trust I. The Funds
and their corresponding Series have the same
investment objective, policies and limitations.
o The LARGE CAP VALUE FUND will invest its assets in the
Large Cap Value Series, which invests at least 65% of
its total assets in a diversified portfolio of U.S.
equity (or related) securities with a market cap of
$10 billion or higher at the time of purchase. The
Series invests in securities whose prices are low
relative to comparable companies. The Series' adviser
looks for companies facing dynamic changes such as
merger or acquisition, restructuring, change of
2
<PAGE>
management, or other type of change in operation,
financing or management. The adviser seeks stocks
believed to have a greater upside potential than
downside risk over an 18-24 month holding period. An
important aspect of an investment case is setting a
price target. This target typically reflects a
risk/reward ratio of 50% appreciation potential
achievable over a two-year period versus a perceived
risk of no more than 10% of capital. The achievement
of the target price is the Series' adviser's primary
sell discipline. In other words, if there has been no
fundamental change in the investment case, the stock
will be sold once the target price is met. Portfolio
companies are constantly monitored to determine
whether there is any fundamental change, for better or
worse, in the reasons for which the stock was
purchased. If the dynamics do not appear to be
materializing, the stock will be sold.
o The MID CAP VALUE FUND will invest its assets in the
Mid Cap Value Series, which invests at least 65% of
its total assets in a diversified portfolio of U.S.
equity (or related) securities with a market cap
between $1 and $10 billion at the time of purchase.
The Series invests in securities whose prices are low
relative to comparable companies. The Series' adviser
buys and sells stocks based upon the same
considerations described above for Large Cap Value
Fund.
o The SMALL CAP VALUE FUND will invest its assets in the
Small Cap Value Series, which invests at least 65% of
its total assets in a diversified portfolio of U.S.
equity (or related) securities with a market cap of $1
billion or less at the time of purchase. The Series
invests in securities whose prices are low relative to
comparable companies. The Series' adviser buys and
sells stocks based upon the same considerations
described above for Large Cap Value Fund.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRINCIPAL RISKS The Funds are subject to the risks
summarized below which arefurther described under
"Additional Risk Information."
o It is possible to lose money by investing in a Fund.
o A Fund's share price will fluctuate in response to
changes in the market value of the Fund's investments.
Market value changes result from business developments
affecting an issuer as well as general market and
economic conditions.
o A value-oriented investment approach is subject to the
risk that a security believed to be undervalued does
not appreciate in value as anticipated. o Small cap
companies may be more vulnerable than larger companies
to adverse business or economic developments, and
their securities may be less liquid and more volatile
than securities of larger companies. o The performance
of a Fund will depend on whether or not the adviser is
successful in pursuing its investment strategy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTOR PROFILE o Investors who want the value of their investment to
grow and who are willing to accept more volatility for
the possibility of higher returns.
3
<PAGE>
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
CRM LARGE CAP VALUE FUND
The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and
volatility of an investment in the Fund. Total Return would have been lower had
certain fees and expenses not been voluntarily waived and/or reimbursed. Of
course, the Fund's past performance does not necessarily indicate how the Fund
will perform in the future.
[GRAHICS OMITTED]
EDGAR REPRESENTATION OF DATA POINTS USED IN PRINTED GRAPHIC
LARGE CAP VALUE
1999 -5.39%
Year-to-Date Total Return as of September 30, 2000: 15.18%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BEST QUARTER WORST QUARTER
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13.48% -18.24%
(June 30, 1997) (September 30, 1999)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS AN INDEX?
An index is a broad measure of the market performance of a specific group of
securities in a particular market or securities in a market sector. You
cannot invest directly in an index. An index does not have an investment
adviser and does not pay any commissions or expenses. If an index had
expenses, its performance would be lower.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4
<PAGE>
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YEAR(S) LARGE CAP VALUE FUND RUSSELL 1000 INDEX* S&P 500 INDEX
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/99
1 Year -5.39% 7.35%
Since Inception (August 25, 1998) 6.64% 20.86%
<FN>
* The Russell 1000 Index measures the performance of the 1000 largest companies
in the Russell 3000 Index which represents approximately 92% of the total
market capitalization of the Russell 3000 Index. Previously, the Fund used
the S&P 500 Index as its performance benchmark. However, the Fund's
investment advisor has determined that comparing the Fund's performance to
the Russell 1000 Index may be a more appropriate indicator of the Fund's
performance in light of the Fund's portfolio investments and investment
objective.
</FN>
</TABLE>
CRM MID CAP VALUE FUND
The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and
volatility of an investment in the Fund. Total Return would have been lower had
certain fees and expenses not been voluntarily waived and/or reimbursed. Of
course, the Fund's past performance does not necessarily indicate how the Fund
will perform in the future.
[GRAHICS OMITTED]
EDGAR REPRESENTATION OF DATA POINTS USED IN PRINTED GRAPHIC
Mid Cap
1999 4.57
Year-to-Date Total Return as of September 30, 2000: 38.82%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BEST QUARTER WORST QUARTER
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18.84 % -16.35%
(December 31, 1999) (September 30, 1999)
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YEAR MID CAP VALUE FUND RUSSELL MID CAP VALUE INDEX* RUSSELL MID CAP INDEX
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/99
1 Year 4.57% --% 1.49%
Since Inception (January 6, 1998) 5.68% --% -0.23%
<FN>
* The Russell Mid Cap Value Index measures the performance of the 800 smallest
companies in the Russell 1000 Index, which represent approximately 35% of the
total market capitalization of the Russell 1000 index. Previously, the Fund
used the Russell Mid Cap Index as its performance benchmark. However, the
Fund's investment advisor has determined that comparing the Fund's
performance to the Russell Mid Cap Value Index may be a more appropriate
indicator of the Fund's performance in light of the Fund's portfolio
investments and investment objective.
</FN>
</TABLE>
5
<PAGE>
CRM SMALL CAP VALUE FUND
The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and
volatility of an investment in the Fund. Total Return would have been lower had
certain fees and expenses not been voluntarily waived and/or reimbursed. Of
course, the Fund's past performance does not necessarily indicate how the Fund
will perform in the future.
[GRAHICS OMITTED]
EDGAR REPRESENTATION OF DATA POINTS USED IN PRINTED GRAPHIC
1999 11.45
Year-to-Date Total Return as of September 30, 2000: 14.22%
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BEST QUARTER WORST QUARTER
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17.86% -22.79%
(June 30, 1999) (September 30, 1998)
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES*
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YEAR(S) SMALL CAP VALUE FUND RUSSELL 2000 VALUE INDEX* RUSSELL 2000 INDEX
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/99
1 Year 11.45% --% -1.49%
Since Inception
(January 27, 1998) -0.08% --% -3.26%
<FN>
* The Russell 2000 Value Index is a market weighted index composed of companies
within the Russell 2000 Index that have a lower-to-book ratio forecasted
growth values with market capitalizations from $50 million to $1.8 billion.
The Index is unmanaged and reflects the reinvestment of dividends.
Previously, the Fund used the Russell 2000 Index as its performance
benchmark. However, the Fund's investment advisor has determined that
comparing the Fund's performance to the Russell 2000 Value Index may be a
more appropriate indicator of the Fund's performance in light of the Fund's
portfolio investments and investment objective.
</FN>
</TABLE>
6
<PAGE>
FEES AND EXPENSES
PLAIN TALK
WHAT ARE FUND EXPENSES?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unlike an index, every mutual fund has operating expenses to pay for
professional advisory, distribution, administration and custody services. Each
Fund's expenses in the table below are shown as a percentage of its net assets.
These expenses are deducted from Fund assets.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and
hold shares of a Fund. No sales charges or other fees are paid directly from
your investment.
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES(1) (EXPENSES THAT ARE DEDUCTED FROM FUND ASSETS)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LARGE CAP VALUE FUND
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management fees 0.55%
Distribution (12b-1 fees) None
Other expenses 1.55%
TOTAL ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENSES(2) 2.10%
Fee Waiver 0.95%
Net Expenses 1.15%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MID CAP VALUE FUND
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management fees 0.75%
Distribution (12b-1 fees) None
Other expenses 1.45%
TOTAL ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENSES(2) 2.20%
Fee Waiver 1.05%
Net Expenses 1.15%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SMALL CAP VALUE FUND
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management fees 0.75%
Distribution (12b-1 fees) None
Other expenses 0.34%
TOTAL ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENSES(2) 1.09%
(1) The table above and the Example below each reflect the aggregate annual
operating expenses of each Fund and the corresponding Series in which the
Fund invests.
(2) The adviser has voluntarily undertaken to waive a portion of its fees and
assume certain expenses of the above Funds to the extent that the total
annual operating expenses exceed 1.15% of net assets. This undertaking will
remain in place until the Board of Trustees approves its termination.
7
<PAGE>
EXAMPLE
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in a Fund
with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The table below shows what you
would pay if you invested $10,000 over the various time frames indicated. The
example assumes that:
o you reinvested all dividends and other distributions
o the average annual return was 5%
o the Fund's maximum (without regard to waivers or expenses) total
operating expenses are charged and remain the same over the time periods
o you redeemed all of your investment at the end of the time period.
Although your actual cost may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions,
your costs would be:
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LARGE CAP MID CAP SMALL CAP
VALUE FUND VALUE FUND VALUE FUND
<S> <C> <C> <C>
1 year $ 213 $ 223 $ 111
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 years $ 658 $ 688 $ 347
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 years $1,129 $1,180 $ 601
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 years $2,431 $2,534 $1,329
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
THE ABOVE EXAMPLE IS FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT A REPRESENTATION OF
A FUND'S ACTUAL EXPENSES AND RETURNS, EITHER PAST OR FUTURE.
8
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES
The Large Cap Value Fund, Mid Cap Value Fund and Small Cap Value Fund each seek
to achieve long-term capital appreciation. These investment objectives may not
be changed without shareholder approval. There is no guarantee that a Fund will
achieve its investment objective.
PRIMARY INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
PLAIN TALK
WHAT ARE VALUE FUNDS?
Value funds invest in the common stock of companies that are considered by
the adviser to be undervalued relative to their underlying profitability, or
rather their stock price does not reflect the value of the company.
VALUE INVESTING. Through their investment in the corresponding Series, the Large
Cap Value, Mid Cap Value and Small Cap Value Funds seek to invest in stocks that
are less expensive than comparable companies, as determined by price/earnings
ratios, price/cash flow ratios, asset value/per share or other measures. Value
investing therefore may reduce risk while offering potential for capital
appreciation as a stock gains favor among other investors and its price rises.
The Series are managed using investment strategies that the adviser has used for
over twenty-five years. The Series' adviser relies on selecting individual
stocks and does not try to predict when the stock market might rise or fall. It
seeks out those stocks that are undervalued and, in some cases, neglected by
financial analysts. The adviser evaluates the degree of analyst recognition by
monitoring the number of analysts who follow the company and recommend its
purchase or sale to investors.
THE ADVISER'S PROCESS. The adviser starts by identifying early change in a
company's operations, finances or management. The adviser is attracted to
companies which will look different tomorrow -- operationally, financially,
managerially -when compared to yesterday. This type of dynamic change often
creates confusion and misunderstanding and may lead to a drop in the company's
stock price. Examples of change include mergers, acquisitions, divestitures,
restructuring, change of management, new market/product/means of
production/distribution, regulatory change, etc. Once change is identified, the
adviser evaluates the company on several levels. It analyzes:
o Financial models based principally upon projected cash flows
o The price of the company's stock in the context of what the market is
willing to pay for stock of comparable companies and what a strategic
buyer would pay for the whole company
9
<PAGE>
o The extent of management's ownership interest in the company
o The company's market position by corroborating its observations
and assumptions by meeting with management, customers and suppliers
The adviser also evaluates the degree of recognition of the business by
investors by monitoring the number of sell side analysts who closely follow the
company and nature of the shareholder base. Before deciding to purchase a stock,
the adviser conducts an extensive amount of business due diligence to
corroborate its observations and assumptions.
The identification of change comes from a variety of sources including the
private capital network which the adviser has established among its clients,
historical investments and intermediaries. The advisor also makes extensive use
of clipping services and regional brokers and bankers to identify elements of
change. The investment professionals regularly meet with companies around the
country and sponsor more than 200 company/management meetings in its New York
office.
In order to place a valuation on the proposed investment, the adviser will
consider the company's historic valuation multiples, multiples of comparable
companies and multiples paid in private market transactions. In its overall
assessment, the adviser seeks stocks that it believes have a greater upside
potential than downside risk over an 18-24 month holding period.
An important function of the adviser is to set a price target, that is, the
price at which the stock will be sold when there has been no fundamental change
in the investment case. The adviser constantly monitors the companies held by
the Series to determine if there have been any fundamental changes in the
reasons that prompted the initial purchase of the stock. If significant changes
for the better have not materialized, the stock will be sold. The initial
investment case for stock purchase, which has been documented, is examined by
the adviser's investment professionals. A final decision on selling the stock is
made after all such factors are analyzed.
THE LARGE CAP VALUE FUND invests its assets in the Large Cap Value Series,
which, under normal conditions, invests at least 65% of its total assets in the
following equity (or related) securities:
o common stocks of U.S. corporations that are judged by the adviser to be
undervalued in the marketplace relative to underlying profitability and
have a market capitalization of $10 billion or higher at the time of
purchase;
o options on, or securities convertible (such as convertible preferred
stock and convertible bonds) into, the common stock of U.S. corporations
described above;
o options on indexes of the common stock of U.S. corporations described
above;
o contracts for either the future delivery, or payment in respect of the
future market value, of certain indexes of the common stock of U.S.
corporations described above, and options upon such futures contracts;
and
10
<PAGE>
o without limit in commercial paper and other money market instruments
rated in one of the two highest rating categories by a nationally
recognized statistical rating organization ("NRSRO"), in response to
adverse market conditions, as a temporary defensive position. The result
of this action may be that the Series will be unable to achieve its
investment objective.
The Large Cap Value Series is a diversified fund of large cap U.S. equity (or
related) securities that are deemed by the adviser to be undervalued as compared
to the company's profitability potential.
The MID CAP VALUE FUND invests its assets in the Mid Cap Value Series, which,
under normal conditions, invests at least 65% of its total assets in the
following equity (or related) securities:
o common and preferred stocks of U.S. corporations that are judged by the
adviser to be undervalued in the marketplace relative to underlying
profitability and have a market capitalization between $1 and $10
billion at the time of purchase;
o securities convertible (such as convertible preferred stock and
convertible bonds) into, the common stock of U.S. corporations described
above;
o warrants; and
o without limit in commercial paper and other money market instruments
rated in one of the two highest rating categories by a NRSRO, in
response to adverse market conditions, as a temporary defensive
position. The result of this action may be that the Series will be
unable to achieve its investment objective.
The Mid Cap Value Series is a diversified fund of medium cap U.S. equity (or
related) securities that are deemed by the adviser to be undervalued as compared
to the company's profitability potential.
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE SMALL CAP FUNDS?
Small cap funds invest in the common stock of companies with smaller market
capitalizations. Small cap stocks may provide the potential for higher growth
but they also typically have greater risk and more volatility.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The SMALL CAP VALUE FUND invests its assets in the Small Cap Value Series,
which, under normal conditions, invests at least 65% of its total assets in the
following equity (or related) securities:
o common and preferred stocks of U.S. corporations that are judged by the
adviser to be undervalued in the market- place relative to underlying
profitability and have a market capitalization of $1 billion or less at
the time of purchase;
11
<PAGE>
o securities convertible (such as convertible preferred stock and
convertible bonds) into, the common stock of U.S. corporations described
above;
o warrants; and
o without limit in commercial paper and other money market instruments
rated in one of the two highest rating categories by a NRSRO, in
response to adverse market conditions, as a temporary defensive
position. The result of this action may be that the Series will be
unable to achieve its investment objective.
The Small Cap Value Series is a diversified fund of large cap U.S. equity (or
related) securities that are deemed by the adviser to be undervalued as compared
to the company's profitability potential.
ALL SERIES. The frequency of fund transactions and a Series' turnover rate will
vary from year to year depending on the market. Increased turnover rates incur
the cost of additional brokerage commissions and may cause you to receive larger
capital gain distributions. Series turnover rate is normally expected to be less
than 100% for each of the Series.
Each Series also may use other strategies and engage in other investment
practices, which are described in detail in our Statement of Additional
Information.
ADDITIONAL RISK INFORMATION
The following is a list of certain risks that may apply to your investment in
the Funds unless otherwise indicated. Further information about a Fund's
investments is available in our Statement of Additional Information:
o DERIVATIVES RISK: Some of the Series' investments may be referred to as
"derivatives" because their value depends on, or derives from, the value
of an underlying asset, reference rate or index. These investments
include options, futures contracts and similar investments that may be
used in hedging and related income strategies. The market value of
derivative instruments and securities is sometimes more volatile than
that of other investments, and each type of derivative may pose its own
special risks. As a fundamental policy, no more than 15% of a Series'
total assets may at any time be committed or exposed to derivative
strategies.
o MARKET RISK: The risk that the market value of a security may move up
and down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. The prices of equity
securities change in response to many factors including the historical
and prospective earnings of the issuer, the value of its assets, general
economic conditions, interest rates, investor perceptions and market
liquidity.
12
<PAGE>
o MASTER/FEEDER RISK: The master/feeder structure is relatively new and
more complex. While this structure is designed to reduce costs, it may
not do so, and there may be operational or other complications. For
example, large-scale redemptions by other feeders of their shares of a
master fund could have adverse effects on a Fund such as requiring the
liquidation of a substantial portion of the master fund's holdings at a
time when it could be disadvantageous to do so. Also, other feeders of a
master fund may have a greater ownership interest in the master fund
than a Fund's interest and, therefore, could have effective voting
control over the operation of the master fund.
o OPPORTUNITY RISK: The risk of missing out on an investment opportunity
because the assets necessary to take advantage of it are tied up in less
advantageous investments.
o SMALL CAP RISK: Small cap companies may be more vulnerable than larger
companies to adverse business or economic developments. Small cap
companies may also have limited product lines, markets or financial
resources, may be dependent on relatively small or inexperienced
management groups and may operate in industries characterized by rapid
technological obsolescence. Securities of such companies may be less
liquid and more volatile than securities of larger companies and
therefore may involve greater risk than investing in larger companies.
(Small Cap Value Fund)
o VALUATION RISK: The risk that a Series has valued certain of its
securities at a higher price than it can sell them.
o VALUE INVESTING RISK: The risk that a Series' investment in companies
whose securities are believed to be undervalued, relative to their
underlying profitability, do not appreciate in value as anticipated.
(Large Cap Value, Mid Cap Value, Small Cap Value Funds)
13
<PAGE>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand each Fund's
financial performance for the past 5 years or since the Fund's inception, if
shorter. Certain information reflects financial results for a single share of a
Fund. The total returns in the table represent the rate that a shareholder would
have earned (or lost) on an investment in a Fund (assuming reinvestment of all
dividends and other distributions). This information has been audited by Ernst &
Young LLP, whose report, along with each Fund's financial statements, is
included in the Annual Report, which is available without charge upon request.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YEAR ENDED PERIOD ENDED PERIOD ENDED
JUNE 30, JUNE 30 SEPTEMBER 30,
2000+ 1999(b)+ 1998(a)+
<S> <C> <C> <C>
MID CAP VALUE FUND - INSTITUTIONAL SHARES
NET ASSET VALUE-- BEGINNING OF PERIOD .................. $ 11.13 $ 9.67 $ 10.00
------- ------ ------
INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:
Net investment income ................................ 0.05 0.02 0.05
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments 2.09 1.53 (0.38)
------- ------ ------
Total from investment operations ................... 2.14 1.55 (0.33)
------- ------ ------
DISTRIBUTIONS:
From net investment income ........................... (0.02) (0.05) --
From net realized gain on investments ................ -- (0.04) --
------- ------ ------
Total Distributions ................................ (0.02) (0.09) --
------- ------ ------
NET ASSET VALUE -- END OF PERIOD ....................... $ 13.25 $11.13 $ 9.67
======= ====== ======
TOTAL RETURN ........................................... 19.30% 16.11%(c) (3.30)%(c)
RATIOS (TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS)/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Expenses, including reimbursement/waiver ............. 1.15%(e) 1.15%(d) 1.15%(d)
Expenses, excluding reimbursement/waiver ............. 2.20%(e) 2.85%(d) 4.16%(d)
Net investment income, including reimbursement/waiver 0.44%(e) 0.22%(d) 0.84%(d)
Portfolio turnover rate ................................ 274%(e) 118% 78%
Net assets at end of period (000's omitted) ............ $18,573 $9,887 $5,338
<FN>
+ Effective November 1, 1999, The CRM Funds - Mid Cap Value Fund ("Predecessor
Fund") was merged into the WT Mutual Fund - CRM Mid Cap Value Fund. The
financial highlights for periods prior to November 1, 1999 reflect the
performance of the Predecessor Fund.
(a) For the period January 6, 1998 (commencement of operations) through
September 30, 1998.
(b) For the period October 1, 1998 through June 30, 1999.
(c) Not Annualized.
(d) Annualized
(e) Effective November 1, 1999, the ratios to average net assets include
expenses allocated from the WT Investment Trust I - Mid Cap Value Series
(the "Series") and the portfolio turnover reflects the investment activity
of the Series.
</FN>
</TABLE>
14
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YEAR ENDED PERIOD ENDED PERIOD ENDED
JUNE 30, JUNE 30 SEPTEMBER 30,
2000+ 1999(B)+ 1998(A)+
<S> <C> <C> <C>
SMALL CAP VALUE FUND - INSTITUTIONAL SHARES
NET ASSET VALUE-- BEGINNING OF PERIOD .................. $ 15.11 $ 13.72 $ 15.99
INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:
Net investment income (loss) ......................... (0.09) 0.01 0.01
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments 1.47 1.38 (2.28)
-------- ------- -------
Total from investment operations ................... 1.38 1.39 (2.27)
-------- ------- -------
DISTRIBUTIONS:
Return of capital .................................... -- --(c) --
-------- ------- -------
NET ASSET VALUE -- END OF PERIOD ....................... $ 16.49 $ 15.11 $ 13.72
======== ======= =======
TOTAL RETURN ........................................... 9.13% 10.16%(d) (14.20)%(d)
RATIOS (TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS)/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Expenses, including reimbursement/waiver ............. 1.09%(f) 1.08%(e) 1.15%(e)
Expenses, excluding reimbursement/waiver ............. 1.09%(f) 1.09%(e) 1.23%(e)
Net investment income, including reimbursement/waiver (0.56)%(f) 0.11%(e) 0.08%(e)
Portfolio turnover rate ................................ 96%(f) 64% 57%
Net assets at end of period (000's omitted) ............ $104,562 $90,051 $48,246
<FN>
+ Effective November 1, 1999, The CRM Funds - Small Cap Value Fund
("Predecessor Fund") was merged into the WT Mutual Fund - CRM Small Cap
Value Fund. The financial highlights for periods prior to November 1, 1999
reflect the performance of the Predecessor Fund.
(a) For the period January 27, 1998 (inception of Institutional Share class)
through September 30, 1998.
(b) For the period October 1, 1998 through June 30, 1999.
(c) Less than $0.01 per share.
(d) Not Annualized.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Effective November 1, 1999, the ratios to average net assets include
expenses allocated from the WT Investment Trust I - Small Cap Value Series
(the"Series") and the portfolio turnover reflects the investment activity of
the Series.
</FN>
</TABLE>
15
<PAGE>
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
The Board of Trustees for each Fund supervises the management, activities and
affairs of the Fund and has approved contracts with various financial
organizations to provide, among other services, the day-to-day management
required by a Fund and its shareholders.
INVESTMENT ADVISER
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS AN INVESTMENT ADVISER?
The investment adviser makes investment decisions for a mutual fund and
continuously reviews, supervises and administers the fund's investment
program. The Board of Trustees supervises the investment adviser and
establishes policies that the adviser must follow in its management
activities.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, LLC, 707 Westchester Avenue, White Plains, New York
10604, serves as the investment adviser to the Large Cap Value Series, the Mid
Cap Value Series and the Small Cap Value Series. Subject to the general control
of the Board of Trustees, CRM makes investment decisions for these Series. CRM
and its predecessors have managed investments in small, medium and large
capitalization companies for more than twenty-five years. As of September 30,
2000, CRM had over $3 billion of assets under management.
Under the advisory agreement, the Large Cap Value Series pays a monthly advisory
fee to CRM at the annual rate of 0.55% of the Series' first $1 billion of
average daily net assets; 0.50% of the Series' next $1 billion of average daily
net assets; and 0.45% of the Series' average daily net assets over $2 billion.
The Mid Cap Value Series and the Small Cap Value Series each pay a monthly
advisory fee to CRM at the annual rate of 0.75% of the Series' first $1 billion
of average daily net assets; 0.70% of the Series' next $1 billion of average
daily net assets; and 0.65% of the Series' average daily net assets over $2
billion.
16
<PAGE>
FUND MANAGERS
The day-to-day management of the Large Cap Value Series, the Mid Cap Value
Series and the Small Cap Value Series is shared by a team of individuals
employed by CRM. Ronald H. McGlynn is responsible for the management of each of
these Series. In addition, Kevin M. Chin and Adam L. Starr are part of the team
responsible for the management of the Large Cap Value Fund; Jay B. Abramson and
Michael A. Prober are part of the team responsible for the management of the Mid
Cap Value Fund; and Scott L. Scher and Christopher S. Fox are part of the team
responsible for the management of the Small Cap Value Fund. Each fund manager's
business experience and educational background is as follows:
RONALD H. MCGLYNN Chief Executive Officer and President of CRM. Bringing over 30
years of investment experience to the firm, Mr. McGlynn serves as Chief
Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager. Prior to co-founding CRM in 1973, Mr.
McGlynn was a Portfolio Manager at Oppenheimer & Co. He received a B.A. from
Williams College and an M.B.A. from Columbia University.
JAY B. ABRAMSON, CPA Executive Vice President of CRM. Jay joined CRM in 1985 and
is responsible for investment research and portfolio management. Mr. Abramson
received a B.S.E. and J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School
and Law School, respectively, and is a Certified Public Accountant.
MICHAEL A. PROBER Vice President of CRM. Michael joined the firm in 1993 and is
responsible for investment research. Prior to joining CRM, he worked in
corporate finance and commercial banking at Chase Manhattan Bank and as a
Research Analyst for Alpha Capital Venture Partners. Mr. Prober received a
B.B.A. from the University of Michigan and an M.M. from the Northwestern
University J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management.
SCOTT L. SCHER, CFA Vice President of CRM. Scott joined the firm in 1995 and is
responsible for investment research. Prior to joining CRM, he worked as an
Analyst/Portfolio Manager at The Prudential. Mr. Scher received a B.A. from
Harvard College, an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School and is a Chartered
Financial Analyst.
KEVIN M. CHIN Vice President at CRM. Kevin joined the firm in 1989 and is
responsible for investment research. Prior to joining CRM, Kevin was a Financial
Analyst for the Mergers and Acquisitions Department of Morgan Stanley and a Risk
Arbitrageur with The First Boston Corporation. He received a B.S. from Columbia
University School of Engineering & Applied Science.
17
<PAGE>
CHRISTOPHER S. FOX, CFA Principal and Vice President at CRM. Chris joined the
firm in 1999 and is responsible for investment research. Chris co-founded
Schaenen Fox Capital Management, LLC, a hedge fund with small cap value
investments. He previously was at Schaenen Wood & Associates, Inc. as Vice
President and Senior Manager/Analyst; Chemical Bank's Private Banking Division
as a portfolio manager and analyst; and Drexel Burnham Lambert, Inc. as a
financial analyst. Chris earned a B.A. in Economics from the State University of
New York at Albany and an MBA in Finance from New York University's Stern School
of Business.
ADAM L. STARR Vice President at CRM. Adam joined the firm in 1999 and is
responsible for investment research. Prior to joining CRM, he was a Partner and
Portfolio Manager at Weiss, Peck & Greer, LLC and an Analyst and Portfolio
Manager at Charter Oak Partners and First Manhattan Company. Adam earned a B.A.
in History from Clark University and an MBA from Columbia University.
TERRY LALLY, CFA, joined CRM in 2000 and is a Vice President at Cramer Rosenthal
McGlynn, LLC. He is responsible for investment research. Prior to joining CRM,
Terry spent 9 years working at The Prudential in US small cap and emerging
market equity analysis, corporate finance, and equity trading. Terry earned a
BBA from the University of Notre Dame, an MBA from Harvard University, and is a
Chartered Financial Analyst.
18
<PAGE>
SERVICE PROVIDERS
The chart below provides information on the Funds' primary service providers.
Shareholder
Asset Management Services
------------------------------ ------------------------------
INVESTMENT ADVISER TRANSFER AGENT
CRAMER ROSENTHALL MCGLYNN,LLC PFPC INC.
707 WEST CHESTER AVENUE 400 BELLEVUE PARKWAY
WHITE PLAINS, NY 10604 WILMINGTON, DE 19809
Manages each Fund's business Handles shareholder services,
and investment activities. including recordkeeping and
statements, payment of
distributions and processing
of buy and sell requests.
--------------------
CRM LARGE CAP VALUE
CRM MID CAP VALUE
CRM SMALL CAP VALUE
--------------------
Asset
Fund Operations Safe Keeping
------------------------------ ------------------------------
ADMINISTRATOR AN CUSTODIAN
ACCOUNTING AGENT WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
PFPC INC. RODNEY SQUARE NORTH
400 BELLEVUE PARKWAY 1100 NORTH MARKET STREET
WILMINGTON, DE 19809 WILMINGTON, DE 19890
Provides facilities, equipment Hold each Fund's assets,
and personnel to carry out settles all portfolio trades
administrative services and collects most of the
related to each Fund and valuation data required for
calculates each Fund's NAV and calculating each Fund's NAV
distributions. per share.
19
<PAGE>
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
PRICING OF SHARES
The Funds value their assets based on current market values when such values are
readily available. These prices normally are supplied by a pricing service.
Securities that do not have a readily available current market value are valued
in good faith under the direction of the Board of Trustees.
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS THE NET ASSET VALUE OR "NAV"?
NAV = Assets - Liabilities
--------------------
Outstanding Shares
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PFPC determines the NAV per share of each Fund as of the close of regular
trading on the New York Stock Exchange (currently 4:00 p.m., Eastern time), on
each Business Day (a day that the Exchange, the Transfer Agent and the
Philadelphia branch of the Federal Reserve Bank are open for business). The NAV
is calculated by adding the value of all securities and other assets in a Fund,
deducting its liabilities and dividing the balance by the number of outstanding
shares in that Fund.
Shares will not be priced on those days the Funds are closed. As of the date of
this prospectus, those days are:
New Year's Day Memorial Day Veterans' Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Independence Day Thanksgiving Day
President's Day Labor Day Christmas Day
Good Friday Columbus Day
20
<PAGE>
PURCHASE OF SHARES
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES:
o Directly by mail or by wire
o As a client of a Third Party
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fund shares are offered on a continuous basis and are sold without any sales
charges. The minimum initial investment in the Fund's Institutional class shares
is $1,000,000. The Funds, in their sole discretion, may waive the minimum
initial amount to establish certain Institutional share accounts. Additional
investments may be made in any amount. You may purchase shares as specified
below.
You may also purchase shares if you are a client of a broker or other financial
institution, a "Third Party." The policies and fees charged by the Third Party
may be different than those charged by a Fund. Banks, brokers, retirement plans
and financial advisers may charge transaction fees and may set different minimum
investments or limitations on buying or selling shares. Consult a representative
of your financial institution or retirement plan for further information.
BY MAIL: You may purchase shares by sending a check drawn on a U.S. bank payable
to CRM Funds, indicating the name of the Fund, along with a completed
application (included at the end of this prospectus). If a subsequent investment
is being made, the check should also indicate your Fund account number. When you
make purchases by check, each Fund may withhold payment on redemptions until it
is reasonably satisfied that the funds are collected (which can take up to 10
days). If you purchase shares with a check that does not clear, your purchase
will be canceled and you will be responsible for any losses or fees incurred in
that transaction. Send the check and application to:
REGULAR MAIL: OVERNIGHT MAIL:
-------------- ------------------
CRM Funds CRM Funds
c/o PFPC Inc. c/o PFPC Inc.
P.O. Box 8742 400 Bellevue Parkway, Suite 108
Wilmington, DE 19899 Wilmington, DE 19809
21
<PAGE>
BY WIRE: You may purchase shares by wiring federal funds readily available.
Please call PFPC at (800) CRM-2883 before making a purchase by wire, and if
making an initial purchase, to also obtain an account number. Once you have an
account number, you should instruct your bank to wire funds to:
PFPC Trust Company
c/o PNC Bank
Philadelphia, PA
ABA #031-0000-53
DDA #86-0172-6591
Attention: The CRM Funds
Be sure to include your account number, the Fund name and your name. If you make
an initial purchase by wire, you must promptly forward a completed application
to the Transfer Agent at the address above. If you are making a subsequent
purchase, the wire should also indicate your Fund account number.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING PURCHASES: Purchase orders received by the
Transfer Agent before the close of regular trading on the Exchange on any
Business Day will be priced at the NAV that is determined as of the close of
trading. Purchase orders received after the close of regular trading on the
Exchange will be priced as of the close of regular trading on the following
Business Day.
Any purchase order may be rejected if a Fund determines that accepting the order
would not be in the best interest of the Fund or its shareholders. The Funds
will not accept third party checks.
It is the responsibility of the Third Party to transmit orders for the purchase
of shares by its customers to the Transfer Agent and to deliver required funds
on a timely basis, in accordance with the procedures stated above.
22
<PAGE>
REDEMPTION OF SHARES
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO REDEEM (SELL) SHARES:
o By mail
o By telephone
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You may sell your shares on any Business Day as described below. Redemptions are
effected at the NAV next determined after the Transfer Agent has received your
redemption request. There is no fee when Fund shares are redeemed. It is the
responsibility of the Third Party to transmit redemption orders and credit their
customers' accounts with redemption proceeds on a timely basis. Redemption
checks are mailed on the next Business Day following receipt by the Transfer
Agent of redemption instructions, but never later than 7 days following such
receipt. Amounts redeemed by wire are normally wired on the date of receipt of
redemption instructions (if received by the Transfer Agent before 4:00 p.m.
Eastern time), or the next Business Day (if received after 4:00 p.m. Eastern
time, or on a non-Business Day), but never later than 7 days following such
receipt. If you purchased your shares through an account at a Third Party, you
should contact the Third Party for information relating to redemptions. The
Fund's name and your account number should accompany any redemption requests.
BY MAIL: If you redeem your shares by mail, you should submit written
instructions with a "signature guarantee". A signature guarantee verifies the
authenticity of your signature. You can obtain one from most banking
institutions or securities brokers, but not from a notary public. You must
indicate the Fund name, your account number and your name. The written
instructions and signature guarantee should be mailed to:
REGULAR MAIL: OVERNIGHT MAIL:
-------------- ------------------
CRM Funds CRM Funds
c/o PFPC Inc. c/o PFPC Inc.
P.O. Box 8742 400 Bellevue Parkway, Suite 108
Wilmington, DE 19899 Wilmington, DE 19809
BY TELEPHONE: If you prefer to redeem your shares by telephone you may elect to
do so. However there are certain risks. The Fund has certain safeguards and
procedures to confirm the identity of callers and to confirm that the
instructions communicated are genuine. If such procedures are followed, you will
bear the risk of any losses.
23
<PAGE>
AUTOMATIC REDEMPTIONS: You may redeem a specified amount of money from your
account once a month on a specified date. These payments are sent from your
account to a designated bank account by ACH payment. Automatic redemptions must
be for at least $250.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING REDEMPTIONS: Redemption proceeds may be wired
to your predesignated bank account in any commercial bank in the United States
if the amount is $1,000 or more. The receiving bank may charge a fee for this
service. Proceeds may also be mailed to your bank or, for amounts of $10,000 or
less, mailed to your Fund account address of record if the address has been
established for at least 60 days. In order to authorize the Transfer Agent to
mail redemption proceeds to your Fund account address of record, complete the
appropriate section of the Application for Telephone Redemptions or include your
Fund account address of record when you submit written instructions. You may
change the account that you have designated to receive amounts redeemed at any
time. Any request to change the account designated to receive redemption
proceeds should be accompanied by a guarantee of your signature, as the
shareholder, by an eligible institution. A signature and a signature guarantee
are required for each person in whose name the account is registered. Further
documentation will be required to change the designated account when a
corporation, other organization, trust, fiduciary or other institutional
investor holds the Fund shares.
If shares to be redeemed represent a recent investment made by check, each Fund
reserves the right not to make the redemption proceeds available until it has
reasonable grounds to believe that the check has been collected (which could
take up to 10 days).
SMALL ACCOUNTS: If the value of your Fund account falls below $1,000,000 for
Institutional share accounts ($2,000 for IRAs or automatic investment plans),
the Fund may ask you to increase your balance. If the account value is still
below such amounts after 60 days, the Fund may close your account and send you
the proceeds. The Fund will not close your account if it falls below these
amounts solely as a result of a reduction in your account's market value.
REDEMPTIONS IN KIND: The Funds reserve the right to make "redemptions in kind"
-- payments of redemption proceeds in fund securities rather than cash -- if the
amount redeemed is large enough to affect the Series' operations (for example,
if it represents more than 1% of a Series' assets).
24
<PAGE>
EXCHANGE OF SHARES
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS AN EXCHANGE OF SHARES?
An exchange of shares allows you to move your money from one fund to another
fund within a family of funds.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You may exchange all or a portion of your shares in a Fund for Institutional
class shares of the following funds:
Wilmington Prime Money Market Fund
Wilmington Tax-Exempt Fund
Wilmington Intermediate Bond Fund
Wilmington Municipal Bond Fund
CRM Large Cap Value Fund
CRM Mid Cap Value Fund
CRM Small Cap Value Fund
Redemption of shares through an exchange will be effected at the NAV per share
next determined after the Transfer Agent receives your request. A purchase of
shares through an exchange will be effected at the NAV per share determined at
that time or as next determined thereafter.
Exchange transactions will be subject to the minimum initial investment and
other requirements of the Fund into which the exchange is made. An exchange may
not be made if the exchange would leave a balance in a shareholder's account of
less than $1,000,000 for Institutional share accounts.
To obtain prospectuses of the other Funds, you may call (800) CRM-2883. To
obtain more information about exchanges, or to place exchange orders, contact
the Transfer Agent, or, if your shares are held in an account with a Third
Party, contact the Third Party. The Funds may terminate or modify the exchange
offer described here and will give you 60 days' notice of such termination or
modification. This exchange offer is valid only in those jurisdictions where the
sale of Prospectus shares to be acquired through such exchange may be legally
made.
25
<PAGE>
DIVIDENDS AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS NET INVESTMENT INCOME?
Net investment income consists of interest and dividends earned by a fund on
its investments less accrued expenses.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As a shareholder of a Fund, you are entitled to dividends and other
distributions arising from the net investment income and net realized gains, if
any, earned on the investments held by the Funds. Dividends are declared and
paid annually to you. Each Fund expects to distribute any net realized gains
once a year.
Distributions are payable to the shareholders of record at the time the
distributions are declared (including holders of shares being redeemed, but
excluding holders of shares being purchased). All distributions are reinvested
in additional Fund shares unless you have elected to receive the distributions
in cash.
TAXES
FEDERAL INCOME TAX: As long as a Fund meets the requirements for being a
"regulated investment company," it pays no Federal income tax on the earnings
and gains it distributes to shareholders. While each Fund may invest in
securities that earn interest exempt from Federal income tax, the Funds invest
primarily in taxable securities. Each Fund will notify you following the end of
the calendar year of the amount of dividends and other distributions paid that
year.
Dividends you receive from a Fund, whether reinvested in Fund shares or taken as
cash, are generally taxable to you as ordinary income. Distributions of a Fund's
net capital gain whether reinvested in Fund shares or taken as cash, when
designated as such, are taxable to you as long-term capital gain, regardless of
the length of time you have held your shares. You should be aware that if Fund
shares are purchased shortly before the record date for any dividend or capital
gain distribution, you will pay the full price for the shares and will receive
some portion of the price back as a taxable distribution. The Large Cap Value
Fund, the Mid Cap Value Fund and the Small Cap Value Fund each anticipate the
distribution of net investment income.
It is a taxable event for you if you sell or exchange shares of any Fund.
Depending on the purchase price and the sale price of the shares you exchange,
you may have a taxable gain or loss on the transaction. You are responsible for
any tax liability generated by your transactions.
26
<PAGE>
STATE AND LOCAL INCOME TAXES: You should consult your tax advisers concerning
state and local taxes, which may have different consequences from those of the
Federal income tax law.
This section is only a summary of some important income tax considerations that
may affect your investment in a Fund. More information regarding those
considerations appears in our Statement of Additional Information. You are urged
to consult your tax adviser regarding the effects of an investment on your tax
situation.
27
<PAGE>
DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS
The Distributor manages the Funds' distribution efforts and provides assistance
and expertise in developing marketing plans and materials, enters into dealer
agreement with broker-dealers to sell shares and provides shareholder support
services, directly or through affiliates. The Funds do not charge any sales
loads, deferred sales loads or other fees in connection with the purchase of
shares.
MASTER/FEEDER STRUCTURE
Other investors, including other mutual funds, may invest in the master funds.
The master/feeder structure enables various institutional investors, including a
Fund, to pool their assets, which may be expected to result in economies by
spreading certain fixed costs over a larger asset base. Each shareholder of a
master fund, including a Fund, will pay its proportionate share of the master
fund's expenses.
For reasons relating to costs or a change in investment goal, among others, a
Fund could switch to another master fund or decide to manage its assets itself.
No Fund is currently contemplating such a move.
SHARE CLASSES
Each Fund issues Investor and Institutional share classes, which have different
minimum investment requirements and fees. Institutional shares are offered only
to those investors who invest in the Fund through an intermediary (i.e. broker)
or through a consultant, and who invest $1,000,000 or more or where related
accounts total $1,000,000 or more when combined. Other investors investing
$10,000 or more may purchase Investor shares.
28
<PAGE>
FOR MORE INFORMATION[GRAPHICS OMITTED]
FOR INVESTORS WHO WANT MORE
INFORMATION ON THE FUNDS, THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE FREE UPON
REQUEST:
CRM FUNDS
CRM LARGE CAP
VALUE FUND
CRM MID CAP
VALUE FUND
CRM SMALL CAP
VALUE FUND
ANNUAL/SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTS
Contain performance data and information on fund holdings, operating results
and a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that
significantly affect the Funds' performance for the most recently
completed fiscal year or half-year.
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI)
Provides a complete technical and legal description of the Funds' policies
investment restrictions, risks, and business structure. This prospectus
incorporates the SAI by reference.
Copies of these documents and answers to
questions about the Funds may be obtained
without charge by contacting:
CRM Funds
c/o PFPC Inc.
400 Bellevue Parkway
Suite 108
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
(800) CRM-2883
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time
Information about the Funds (including the SAI) can be reviewed and copied at
the Public Reference Room of the Securities and Exchange Commission in
Washington, D.C. Copies of this information may be obtained, upon payment of
a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address:
[email protected], or by writing the Public Reference Room of the SEC,
Washington, DC, 20549-0102. Information on the operation of the Public
Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-(202)-942-8090.
Reports and other information about the Funds may be viewed on-screen or
downloaded from the SEC's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OPENING A NEW ACCOUNT,
MAKING CHANGES TO EXISTING ACCOUNTS, PURCHASING,
EXCHANGING OR REDEEMING SHARES, OR OTHER
INVESTOR SERVICES, PLEASE CALL
1-(800)-CRM-2883.
The investment company registration number is 811-08648.
CRM FUNDS
C/O PFPC
400 BELLEVUE PARKWAY
WILMINGTON, DE 19809
800-CRM-2883
WEB SITE:
WWW.CRMFUNDS.COM
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS
CRM FUNDS
[GRAPHICS OMITTED] NOVEMBER 1, 2000
CRM LARGE CAP
VALUE FUND
CRM MID CAP
VALUE FUND
CRM SMALL CAP
VALUE FUND
INVESTOR SHARES
THIS PROSPECTUS GIVES VITAL
INFORMATION ABOUT THESE MUTUAL FUNDS, INCLUDING INFORMATION
ON INVESTMENT POLICIES, RISKS AND FEES. FOR YOUR OWN BENEFIT AND PROTECTION,
PLEASE READ IT BEFORE YOU INVEST, AND KEEP IT ON HAND FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
Like all mutual fund shares, these securities have not been approved or
disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission nor has the Securities and
Exchange Commission determined whether this prospectus is accurate or complete.
Anyone who tells you otherwise is committing a crime. [GRAPHIC OMITTED]
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
A LOOK AT THE GOALS, FUND DESCRIPTIONS
STRATEGIES, RISKS,
EXPENSES AND FINANCIAL SUMMARY ................................. 2
HISTORY OF EACH FUND. PERFORMANCE INFORMATION ................. 4
FEES AND EXPENSES ....................... 7
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES ................... 9
PRIMARY INVESTMENT STRATEGIES ........... 9
ADDITIONAL RISK INFORMATION .............12
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS ....................14
DETAILS ABOUT THE MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
SERVICE PROVIDERS.
INVESTMENT ADVISER ......................16
SERVICE PROVIDERS .......................19
POLICIES AND INSTRUCTIONS SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
FOR OPENING, MAINTAINING AND
CLOSING AN ACCOUNT IN ANY PRICING OF SHARES .......................20
OF THE FUNDS. PURCHASE OF SHARES ......................21
REDEMPTION OF SHARES ....................22
EXCHANGE OF SHARES ......................24
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS..............25
TAXES ...................................26
DETAILS ON THE FUNDS'SHARE DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS
CLASSES AND MASTER/FEEDER
ARRANGEMENT. MASTER/FEEDER STRUCTURE ..................27
SHARE CLASSES ............................27
FOR MORE INFORMATION .............BACK COVER
FOR INFORMATION ABOUT KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS,
LOOK FOR OUR "PLAIN TALK" EXPLANATIONS.
<PAGE>
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
FUND DESCRIPTION
CRM LARGE CAP VALUE FUND
CRM MID CAP VALUE FUND
CRM SMALL CAP VALUE FUND
INVESTOR SHARES
PLAIN TALK
WHAT IS A MUTUAL FUND?
A mutual fund pools shareholders' money and, using a professional
investment manager, invests it in securities like stocks and bonds. Each Fund is
a separate mutual fund.
SUMMARY
PLAIN TALK
WHAT IS "CAP"?
Cap or the market capitalization of a company means the value of the
company's common stock in the stock market.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE o The LARGE CAP VALUE FUND, MID CAP VALUE FUND and SMALL
CAP VALUE FUND each seek to achieve long-term
capital appreciation.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT FOCUS o Equity (or related) securities
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SHARE PRICE VOLATILITY o Moderate to high
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT o Each Fund operates as a "feeder fund," which means
STRATEGY that the Fund does not buy individual securities
directly.Instead, the Funds' invest in a
corresponding mutual fund or "master fund," which in
turn purchases investment securities. Each Fund
invests all of its assets in a master fund which is a
separate series of WT Investment Trust I. The Funds
and their corresponding Series have the same
investment objective, policies and limitations.
o The LARGE CAP VALUE Fund will invest its assets in
the Large Cap Value Series, which invests at least
65% of its total assets in a diversified portfolio of
U.S. equity (or related) securities with a market
cap of $10 billion or higher at the time of purchase.
The Series invests in securities whose prices are low
relative to comparable companies. The Series' adviser
looks for companies facing dynamic changes such as
merger or acquisition, restructuring, change of
management,
2
<PAGE>
or other type of change in operation, financing or
management. The adviser seeks stocks believed to have
a greater upside potential than downside risk over an
18-24 month holding period. An important aspect of an
investment case is setting a price target. This target
typically reflects a risk/reward ratio of 50%
appreciation potential achievable over a two-year
period versus a perceived risk of no more than 10% of
capital. The achievement of the target price is the
Series' adviser's primary sell discipline. In other
words, if there has been no fundamental change in the
investment case, the stock will be sold once the
target price is met. Portfolio companies are
constantly monitored to determine whether there is any
fundamental change, for better or worse, in the
reasons for which the stock was purchased. If the
dynamics do not appear to be materializing, the stock
will be sold.
o The MID CAP VALUE FUND will invest its assets in the
Mid Cap Value Series, which invests at least 65% of
its total assets in a diversified portfolio of U.S.
equity (or related) securities with a market cap
between $1 and $10 billion at the time of purchase.
The Series invests in securities whose prices are low
relative to comparable companies. The Series' adviser
buys and sells stocks based upon the same
considerations described above for Large Cap Value
Fund.
o The SMALL CAP VALUE FUND will invest its assets in
the Small Cap Value Series, which invests
at least 65% of its total assets in a diversified
portfolio of U.S. equity (or related) securities with
a market cap of $1 billion or less at the time of
purchase. The Series invests in securities whose
prices are low relative to comparable companies. The
Series' adviser buys and sells stocks based upon the
same considerations described above for Large Cap
Value Fund.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRINCIPAL RISKS The Funds are subject to the risks summarized below
which are further described under "Additional Risk
Information."
o It is possible to lose money by investing in a Fund.
o A Fund's share price will fluctuate in response to
changes in the market value of the Fund's investments.
Market value changes result from business developments
affecting an issuer as well as general market and
economic conditions.
o A value-oriented investment approach is subject to
the risk that a security believed to be undervalued
does not appreciate in value as anticipated.
o Small cap companies may be more vulnerable than larger
companies to adverse business or economic
developments, and their securities may be less liquid
and more volatile than securities of larger companies.
o The performance of a Fund will depend on whether or
not the adviser is successful in pursuing its
investment strategy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTOR PROFILE o Investors who want the value of
their investment to grow and who are willing to accept
more volatility for the possibility of higher returns.
3
<PAGE>
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
CRM LARGE CAP VALUE FUND
The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and
volatility of an investment in the Fund. Total Return would have been lower had
certain fees and expenses not been voluntarily waived and/or reimbursed.
Of course, the Fund's past performancedoes not necessarily indicate how the
Fund will perform in the future.
PAST PERFORMANCE CHART
[BAR CHART OMITTED]
plot points as follows:
Large Cap
1999 -5.39
Year-to-Date Total Return as of September 30, 2000: 15.18%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Best Quarter Worst Quarter
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13.48% -18.24%
(June 30, 1997) (September 30, 1999)
PLAIN TALK
WHAT IS AN INDEX?
An index is a broad measure of the market performance of a specific
group of securities in a particular market or securities in a market
sector. You cannot invest directly in an index. An index does not have
an investment adviser and does not pay any commissions or expenses.
If an index had expenses, its performance would be lower.
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year(s) Large Cap Russell S&P 500 Index
Value Fund 1000 Index*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS
AS OF 12/31/99 -5.39% 7.35% --%
1 Year
Since Inception (August 25, 1998) 6.64% 20.86% --%
* The Russell 1000 Index measures the performance of the 1,000 largest companies
in the Russell 3000 Index, which represents approximately 92% of the
total market capitalization of the Russell 3000 Index. Previously, the Fund
used the S&P 500 Index as its performance benchmark. However, the Fund's
investment advisor has determined that comparing the Fund's performance to the
Russell 1000 Index may be a more appropriate indicator of the Fund's
performance in light of the Fund's portfolio investments and investment
objective.
CRM MID CAP VALUE FUND
The Investor shares of the Fund were first offered on September 20, 2000. The
performance information below reflects the performance of the Fund's
Institutional shares and have not been adjusted to reflect the shareholder
service fee. Had the shareholder service fee been included the actual return
would have been lower than reflected. The bar chart and the performance table
below illustrate the risks and volatility of an investment in the Fund.
Of course, the Fund's past performance does not necessarily indicate how the
Fund will perform in the future.
PAST PERFORMANCE CHART
[BAR CHART OMITTED]
Mid Cap
plot points as follows
1999 4.57
Year-to-Date Total Return as of September 30, 2000: 38.32%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BEST QUARTER WORST QUARTER
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18.84% -16.35%
(December 31, 1999) (September 30, 1999)
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year Mid Cap Russell Mid Russell Mid Cap
Value Fund Cap Value Index** Index
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AVERAGE ANNUAL
RETURNS AS OF
12/31/99
1 Year 4.57% --% 1.49%
Since Inception (January 6, 1998)* 5.68% --% -0.23%
* The Investor Class commenced operations on September 20, 2000 and does not
have a full calendar year of performance. Therefore, the table reflects the
performance of the Institutional Class shares.
**The Russell Mid Cap Value Index measures the performance of the 800 smallest
companies in the Russell 1000 Index, which represent approximately 35% of the
total market capitalization of the Russell 1000 index. Previously, the Fund
used the Russell Mid Cap Index as its performance benchmark. However, the
Fund's investment advisor has determined that comparing the Fund's performance
to the Russell Mid Cap Value Index may be a more appropriate indicator of the
Fund's performance in light of the Fund's portfolio investments and investment
objective.
5
<PAGE>
CRM SMALL CAP VALUE FUND
The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and
volatility of an investment in the Fund. Total Return would have been lower had
certain fees and expenses not been voluntarily waived and/or reimbursed. Of
course, the Fund's past performance does not necessarily indicate how the Fund
will perform in the future.
PAST PERFORMANCE CHART
[BAR CHART OMITTED]
plot points as follows:
Small Cap
1996 38.95
1997 21.73
1998 -12.21
1999 10.99
This bar chart shows changes in the performance of the Fund's Investor shares
from calendar year to calendar year. The bar chart does not reflect deductions
for shareholder services fees. If such fees had been reflected, returns would be
less than those shown below.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BEST QUARTER WORST QUARTER
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17.64% -22.80%
(June 30, 1999) (September 30, 1998)
INVESTOR SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year(s) Small Cap Russell 2000 Russell 2000
Value Fund Value Index Index
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS
AS OF 12/31/99
1 Year 10.99% --% -1.49%
Since Inception
(October 1, 1995) 14.35% --% -3.26%
* The Russell 2000 Value Index is a market weighted index composed of
companies within the Russell 2000 Index that have a lower-to-book ratio and
lower forecasted growth values with market capitalizations from $50 million to
$1.8 billion. The Index is unmanaged and reflects the reinvestment of
dividends. Previously, the Fund used the Russell 2000 Index as its performance
benchmark. However, the Fund's investment advisor has determined that
comparing the Fund's performance to the Russell 2000 Value Index may be a more
appropriate indicator of the Fund's performance in light of the Fund's
portfolio investments and investment objective.
6
<PAGE>
FEES AND EXPENSES
PLAIN TALK
WHAT ARE FUND EXPENSES?
Unlike an index, every mutual fund has operating expenses to pay for
professional advisory, distribution, administration and custody services.
Each Fund's expenses in the table below are shown as a percentage of its
net assets. These expenses are deducted from Fund assets.
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and
hold shares of a Fund. No sales charges or other fees are paid directly from
your investment.
INVESTOR SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES(1) (expenses that are deducted from Fund assets)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Large Cap Value Fund
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management fees 0.55%
Distribution (12b-1 fees) None
Other expenses 1.55%
Shareholder Servicing fees 0.25%
TOTAL ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENSES(2) 2.35%
Fee Waiver 0.85%
Net Expenses 1.50%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mid Cap Value Fund
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management fees 0.75%
Distribution (12b-1 fees) None
Other expenses 1.45%
Shareholder Servicing fees 0.25%
TOTAL ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENSES(2) 2.45%
Fee Waiver 0.95%
Net Expenses 1.50%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Small Cap Value Fund
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management fees 0.75%
Distribution (12b-1 fees) None
Other expenses 0.42%
Shareholder Servicing fees 0.25%
TOTAL ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENSES(2) 1.42%
Fee Waiver 0.00%
Net Expenses 1.42%
(1) The table above and the Example below each reflect the aggregate annual
operating expenses of each Fund and the corresponding Series in which the
Fund invests.
(2) The adviser has voluntarily undertaken to waive a portion of itsfees and
assume certain expenses of the above Funds to the extent that the total
annual operating expenses exceed 1.50% of net assets. This undertaking will
remain in place until the Board of Trustees approves its termination.
7
<PAGE>
EXAMPLE
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in a Fund
with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The table below shows what you
would pay if you invested $10,000 over the various time frames indicated.
The example assumes that:
o you reinvested all dividends and other distributions
o the average annual return was 5%
o the Fund's maximum (without regard to waivers or expenses) total
operating expenses are charged and remain the same over the time periods
o you redeemed all of your investment at the end of the time period.
Although your actual cost may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions,
your costs would be:
INVESTOR SHARES
----------------------------------------------------------------------
LARGE CAP MID CAP SMALL CAP
VALUE FUND VALUE FUND VALUE FUND
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1 year $ 238 $ 248 $ 145
----------------------------------------------------------------------
3 years $ 733 $ 764 $ 449
----------------------------------------------------------------------
5 years $1,255 $1,306 $ 776
----------------------------------------------------------------------
10 years $2,686 $2,786 $1,702
----------------------------------------------------------------------
THE ABOVE EXAMPLE IS FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT A REPRESENTATION OF
A FUND'S ACTUAL EXPENSES AND RETURNS, EITHER PAST OR FUTURE.
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES
The Large Cap Value Fund, Mid Cap Value Fund and SmallCap Value Fund each
seek to achieve long-term capital appreciation. These investment
objectives may not be changed without shareholder approval. There is
no guarantee that a Fund will achieve its investment objective.
PRIMARY INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
PLAIN TALK
WHAT ARE VALUE FUNDS?
Value funds invest in the common stock of companies that are considered by
the adviser to be undervalued relative to their underlying profitability, or
rather their stock price does not reflect the value of the company.
VALUE INVESTING. Through their investment in the corresponding Series, the Large
Cap Value, Mid Cap Value and Small Cap Value Funds seek to invest in stocks that
are less expensive than comparable companies, as determined by price/earnings
ratios, price/cash, flow ratios, asset value per share or other measures. Value
investing therefore may reduce risk while offering potential for capital
appreciation as a stock gains favor among other investors and its price rises.
The Series are managed using investment strategies that the adviser has used for
over twenty-five years. The Series' adviser relies on selecting individual
stocks and does not try to predict when the stock market might rise or fall. It
seeks out those stocks that are undervalued and, in some cases, neglected by
financial analysts. The adviser evaluates the degree of analyst recognition by
monitoring the number of analysts who follow the company and recommend its
purchase or sale to investors.
THE ADVISER'S PROCESS. The adviser starts by identifying early change in a
company's operations, finances or management. The adviser is attracted to
companies which will look different tomorrow -- operationally, financially,
managerially -- when compared to yesterday. This type of dynamic change often
creates confusion and misunderstanding and may lead to a drop in the company's
stock price. Examples of change include mergers, acquisitions, divestitures,
restructuring, change of management, new market/product/means of
production/distribution, regulatory change, etc. Once change is identified, the
adviser evaluates the company on several levels. It analyzes:
o Financial models based principally upon projected cash flows
o The price of the company's stock in the context of what the market is
willing to pay for stock of comparable companies and what a strategic
buyer would pay for the whole company
9
<PAGE>
o The extent of management's ownership interest in the company
o The company's market position by corroborating its observations and
assumptions by meeting with management, customers and suppliers
The adviser also evaluates the degree of recognition of the business by
investors by monitoring the number of sell side analysts who closely follow the
company and nature of the shareholder base. Before deciding to purchase a stock,
the adviser conducts an extensive amount of business due diligence to
corroborate its observations and assumptions.
The identification of change comes from a variety of sources including the
private capital network which the adviser has established among its clients,
historical investments and intermediaries. The advisor also makes extensive use
of clipping services and regional brokers and bankers to identify elements of
change. The investment professionals regularly meet with companies around the
country and sponsor more than 200 company/management meetings in its New York
office.
In order to place a valuation on the proposed investment, the adviser will
consider the company's historic valuation multiples, multiples of comparable
companies and multiples paid in private market transactions. In its overall
assessment, the adviser seeks stocks that it believes have a greater upside
potential than downside risk over an 18-24 month holding period.
An important function of the adviser is to set a price target, that is, the
price at which the stock will be sold when there has been no fundamental change
in the investment case. The adviser constantly monitors the companies held by
the Series to determine if there have been any fundamental changes in the
reasons that prompted the initial purchase of the stock. If significant changes
for the better have not materialized, the stock will be sold. The initial
investment case for stock purchase, which has been documented, is examined by
the adviser's investment professionals. A final decision on selling the stock is
made after all such factors are analyzed.
The LARGE CAP VALUE FUND invests its assets in the Large Cap Value Series,
which, under normal conditions, invests at least 65% of its total assets in the
following equity (or related) securities:
o common stocks of U.S. corporations that are judged by the adviser to be
undervalued in the marketplace relative to underlying profitability and
have a market capitalization of $10 billion or higher at the time of
purchase;
o options on, or securities convertible (such as convertible preferred stock
and convertible bonds) into, the common stock of U.S. corporations
described above;
o options on indexes of the common stock of U.S. corporations described
above;
o contracts for either the future delivery, or payment in respect of the
future market value, of certain indexes of the common stock of U.S.
corporations described above, and options upon such futures contracts; and
10
<PAGE>
o without limit in commercial paper and other money market instruments rated
in one of the two highest rating categories by a nationally recognized
statistical rating organization ("NRSRO"), in response to adverse market
conditions, as a temporary defensive position. The result of this action may
be that the Series will be unable to achieve its investment objective.
The Large Cap Value Series is a diversified fund of large cap U.S. equity (or
related) securities that are deemed by the adviser to be undervalued as compared
to the company's profitability potential.
The MID CAP VALUE FUND invests its assets in the Mid Cap Value Series, which,
under normal conditions, invests at least 65% of its total assets in the
following equity (or related) securities:
o common and preferred stocks of U.S. corporations that are judged by the
adviser to be undervalued in the marketplace relative to underlying
profitability and have a market capitalization between $1 and $10 billion at
the time of purchase;
o securities convertible (such as convertible preferred stock and convertible
bonds) into, the common stock of U.S. corporations described above;
o warrants; and
o without limit in commercial paper and other money market instruments rated
in one of the two highest rating categories by a NRSRO, in response to
adverse market conditions, as a temporary defensive position. The result of
this action may be that the Series will be unable to achieve its investment
objective.
The Mid Cap Value Series is a diversified fund of medium cap U.S. equity (or
related) securities that are deemed by the adviser to be undervalued as compared
to the company's profitability potential.
PLAIN TALK
WHAT ARE SMALL CAP FUNDS?
Small cap funds invest in the common stock of companies with smaller market
capitalizations. Small cap stocks may provide the potential for higher growth
but they also typically have greater risk and more volatility.
The SMALL CAP VALUE FUND invests its assets in the Small Cap Value Series,
which, under normal conditions, invests at least 65% of its total assets in the
following equity (or related) securities:
o common and preferred stocks of U.S. corporations that are judged by the
adviser to be undervalued in the marketplace relative to underlying
profitability and have a market capitalization of $1 billion or less at the
time of purchase;
11
<PAGE>
o securities convertible (such as convertible preferred stock and convertible
bonds) into, the common stock of U.S. corporations described above;
o warrants; and
o without limit in commercial paper and other money market instruments rated
in one of the two highest rating categories by a NRSRO, in response to
adverse market conditions, as a temporary defensive position. The result of
this action may be that the Series will be unable to achieve its investment
objective.
The Small Cap Value Series is a diversified fund of large cap U.S. equity (or
related) securities that are deemed by the adviser to be undervalued as compared
to the company's profitability potential.
ALL SERIES. The frequency of fund transactions and a Series' turnover rate will
vary from year to year depending on the market. Increased turnover rates incur
the cost of additional brokerage commissions and may cause you to receive larger
capital gain distributions. Series turnover rate is normally expected to be less
than 100% for each of the Series.
Each Series also may use other strategies and engage in other investment
practices, which are described in detail in our Statement of Additional
Information.
ADDITIONAL RISK INFORMATION
The following is a list of certain risks that may apply to your investment in
the Funds unless otherwise indicated. Further information about a Fund's
investments is available in our Statement of Additional Information:
o DERIVATIVES RISK: Some of the Series' investments may be referred to as
"derivatives" because their value depends on, or derives from, the
value of an underlying asset, reference rate or index. These investments
include options, futures contracts and similar investments that may
be used in hedging and related income strategies. The market value
of derivative instruments and securities is sometimes more volatile
than that of other investments, and each type of derivative may pose
its own special risks. As a fundamental policy, no more than 15% of a
Series' total assets may at any time be committed or exposed to
derivative strategies.
o MARKET RISK: The risk that the market value of a security may move up and
down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. The prices of equity
securities change in response to many factors including the historical
and prospective earnings of the issuer, the value of its assets,
general economic conditions, interest rates, investor perceptions and
market liquidity.
12
<PAGE>
o MASTER/FEEDER RISK: The master/feeder structure is relatively new and
more complex. While this structure is designed to reduce costs, it may
not do so, and there may be operational or other complications.
For example, large-scale redemptions by other feeders of their shares
of a master fund could have adverse effects on a Fund such as
requiring the liquidation of a substantial portion of the master
fund's holdings at a time when it could be disadvantageous to do so.
Also, other feeders of a master fund may have a greater ownership
interest in the master fund than a Fund's interest and, therefore,
could have effective voting control over the operation of the master
fund.
o OPPORTUNITY RISK: The risk of missing out on an investment opportunity
because the assets necessary to take advantage of it are tied up
in less advantageous investments.
o SMALL CAP RISK: Small cap companies may be more vulnerable than larger
companies to adverse business or economic developments. Small cap
companies may also have limited product lines, markets or
financial resources, may be dependent on relatively small or
inexperienced management groups and may operate in industries
characterized by rapid technological obsolescence. Securities of
such companies may be less liquid and more volatile than securities of
larger companies and therefore may involve greater risk than investing
in larger companies.
(Small Cap Value Fund)
o VALUATION RISK: The risk that a Series has valued certain of its
securities at a higher price than it can sell them.
o VALUE INVESTING RISK: The risk that a Series' investment in companies
whose securities are believed to be undervalued, relative to their
underlying profitability, do not appreciate in value as anticipated.
(Large Cap Value, Mid Cap Value, Small Cap Value Funds)
13
<PAGE>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand each Fund's
financial performance for the past 5 years or since the Fund's inception, if
shorter. Certain information reflects financial results for a single share of a
Fund. The total returns in the table represent the rate that a shareholder would
have earned (or lost) on an investment in a Fund (assuming reinvestment of all
dividends and other distributions). This information has been audited by Ernst &
Young LLP, whose report, along with each Fund's financial statements, is
included in the Annual Report, which is available without charge upon request.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YEAR ENDED PERIOD ENDED PERIOD ENDED
JUNE 30, JUNE 30, SEPTEMBER 30,
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000+ 1999(b)+ 1998(a)+
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
LARGE CAP VALUE FUND -- INVESTOR SHARES
Net Asset Value -- Beginning of Period .......................... $12.17 $ 10.02 $ 10.00
------ ------- -------
INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:
Net investment income ........................................ --(c) 0.06 0.01
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments ....... (0.37) 2.16 0.01
------ ------- -------
Total from investment operations ........................... (0.37) 2.22 0.02
------- ------- -------
DISTRIBUTIONS:
From net investment income ................................... --(c) (0.06) --
From net realized gain on investments ........................ (0.17) (0.01) --
------ ------- -------
Total Distributions ........................................ (0.17) (0.07) --
------ ------- -------
NET ASSET VALUE -- END OF PERIOD ................................ $11.63 $ 12.17 $ 10.02
====== ======== ========
TOTAL RETURN ................................................... (2.85)% 22.16%(D) 0.20%(D)
RATIOS (TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS)/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Expenses, including reimbursement/waiver ..................... 1.44%(f) 1.50%(e) 1.50%(e)
Expenses, excluding reimbursement/waiver .................... 2.35%(f) 1.92%(e) 3.95%(e)
Net investment income, including reimbursement/waiver ....... 0.05%(f) 0.63%(e) 1.78%(e)
Portfolio turnover rate ....................................... 136%(f) 56% 7%
Net assets at end of period (000's omitted) .................. $7,941 $30,936 $10,668
<FN>
+ Effective November 1, 1999, The CRM Funds - Large Cap Value Fund ("Predecessor
Fund") was merged into the WT Mutual Fund - CRM Large Cap Value Fund. The
financial highlights for periods prior to November 1, 1999 reflect the
performance of the Predecessor Fund.
(a)For the period August 25, 1998 (commencement of operations) through September 30, 1998.
(b)For the period October 1, 1998 through June 30, 1999.
(c)Less than $0.01 per share.
(d)Not Annualized.
(e)Annualized.
(f)Effective November 1, 1999, the ratios to average net assets
include expenses allocated from the WT Investment Trust I - Large Cap
Value Series (the "Series") and the portfolio turnover reflects the
investment activity of the Series.
</FN>
</TABLE>
14
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year Ended Period Ended Year Ended Year Ended Year Ended
June 30, June 30, September 30, September 30, September 30,
2000+ 1999(b)+ 1998+ 1997+ 1996(a)+
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SMALL CAP VALUE FUND -- INVESTOR SHARES
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
NET ASSET VALUE -- BEGINNING OF PERIOD $ 14.94 $ 13.61 $ 17.68 $ 13.71 $ 10.00
-------- -------- ---------- ---------- --------
INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:
Net investment loss ................. (0.13) (0.02) (0.06) (0.06) (0.02)
Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) on investments ............. 1.45 1.35 (3.15) 4.89 3.73
-------- -------- ---------- ---------- --------
Total from investment operations .. 1.32 1.33 (3.21) 4.83 3.71
-------- -------- ---------- ---------- --------
DISTRIBUTIONS:
From net investment income ......... -- -- -- -- --(c)
From net realized gain on investments -- -- (0.84) (0.86) --
Return of capital .................. -- --(c) (0.02) -- --
-------- -------- ---------- ---------- --------
Total Distributions .............. -- -- (0.86) (0.86) --
-------- -------- ---------- ---------- --------
NET ASSET VALUE -- END OF PERIOD ..... $ 16.26 $ 14.94 $ 13.61 $ 17.68 $ 13.71
======== ======== ========== ========== ========
TOTAL RETURN 8.84% 9.80%(d) (18.81)% 37.14% 37.15%
RATIOS (TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS)/
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Expenses, including
reimbursement/waiver ............. 1.42%(f) 1.42%(e) 1.38% 1.50% 1.49%
Expenses, excluding reimbursement/waiver 1.42%(f) 1.46%(e) 1.38% 1.50% 1.98%
Net investment loss, including
reimbursement/waiver ............. (0.88)%(f) (0.16)%(e) (0.34)% (0.56)% (0.40)%
Portfolio turnover rate 96%(f) 64% 57% 99% 111%
Net assets at end of period ........... $69,351 $94,806 $130,929 $144,001 $45,385
(000's omitted)
<FN>
+ Effective November 1, 1999, The CRM Funds - Small Cap Value Fund ("Predecessor
Fund") was merged into the WT Mutual Fund - CRM Small Cap Value Fund. The
financial highlights for periods prior to November 1, 1999 reflect the
performance of the Predecessor Fund.
(a) For the year October 1, 1995 (commencement of operations) through September 30, 1996.
(b) For the period October 1, 1998 through June 30, 1999.
(c) Less than $0.01 per share.
(d) Not Annualized.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Effective November 1, 1999, the ratios to average net assets include
expenses allocated from the WT Investment Trust I - Small Cap Value Series (the
"Series") and the portfolio turnover reflects the investment activity of the
Series.
</FN>
</TABLE>
15
<PAGE>
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
The Board of Trustees for each Fund supervises the management, activities and
affairs of the Fund and has approved contracts with various financial
organizations to provide, among other services, the day-to-day management
required by a Fund and its shareholders.
INVESTMENT ADVISER
PLAIN TALK
WHAT IS AN INVESTMENT ADVISER?
The investment adviser makes investment decisions for a mutual fund and
continuously reviews, supervises and administers the fund's investment
program. The Board of Trustees supervises the investment adviser and
establishes policies that the adviser must follow in its management
activities.
Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, LLC, 707 Westchester Avenue, White Plains, New York
10604, serves as the investment adviser to the Large Cap Value Series, the Mid
Cap Value Series and the Small Cap Value Series. Subject to the general control
of the Board of Trustees, CRM makes investment decisions for these Series. CRM
and its predecessors have managed investments in small, medium and large
capitalization companies for more than twenty-five years. As of September 30,
2000, CRM had over $3 billion of assets under management.
Under the advisory agreement, the Large Cap Value Series pays a monthly advisory
fee to CRM at the annual rate of 0.55% of the Series' first $1 billion of
average daily net assets; 0.50% of the Series' next $1 billion of average daily
net assets; and 0.45% of the Series' average daily net assets over $2 billion.
The Mid Cap Value Series and the Small Cap Value Series each pay a monthly
advisory fee to CRM at the annual rate of 0.75% of the Series' first $1 billion
of average daily net assets; 0.70% of the Series' next $1 billion of average
daily net assets; and 0.65% of the Series' average daily net assets over $2
billion.
For the twelve months ended June 30, 2000, CRM received investment advisory
fees, after waivers, of 0.00% for the Large Cap Value Series, 0.00% for the Mid
Cap Value Series and 0.75% for the Small Cap Value Series, as a percentage of
the Series' average daily net assets.
16
<PAGE>
FUND MANAGERS
The day-to-day management of the Large Cap Value Series, the Mid Cap Value
Series and the Small Cap Value Series is shared by a team of individuals
employed by CRM. Ronald H. McGlynn is responsible for the management of each of
these Series. In addition, Kevin M. Chin and Adam L. Starr are part of the team
responsible for the management of Large Cap Value Fund; Jay Abramson and Michael
A. Prober are part of the team responsible for the management of Mid Cap Value
Fund; and Scott L. Scher and Christopher S. Fox are part of the team responsible
for the management of Small Cap Value Fund. Each fund manager's business
experience and educational background is as follows:
RONALD H. MCGLYNN Co-founder, Chief Executive Officer and President of CRM.
Bringing over 30 years of investment experience to the firm, Mr. McGlynn serves
as Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager. Prior to co-founding
CRM in 1973, Mr. McGlynn was a Portfolio Manager at Oppenheimer & Co. He
received a B.A. from Williams College and an M.B.A. from Columbia University.
JAY B. ABRAMSON, CPA Executive Vice President of CRM. Jay joined CRM in 1985 and
is responsible for investment research and portfolio management. Mr. Abramson
received a B.S.E. and J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School
and Law School, respectively, and is a Certified Public Accountant.
MICHAEL A. PROBER Vice President of CRM. Michael joined the firm in 1993 and is
responsible for investment research. Prior to joining CRM, he worked in
corporate finance and commercial banking at Chase Manhattan Bank and as a
Research Analyst for Alpha Capital Venture Partners. Mr. Prober received a
B.B.A. from the University of Michigan and an M.M. from the Northwestern
University J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management.
SCOTT L. SCHER, CFA Vice President of CRM. Scott Joined the firm in 1995 and is
responsible for investment research. Prior to joining CRM, he worked as an
Analyst/Portfolio Manager at The Prudential. Mr. Scher received a B.A. from
Harvard College, an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School and is a Chartered
Financial Analyst.
KEVIN M. CHIN Vice President of CRM. Kevin joined the firm in 1989 and is
responsible for investment research. Prior to joining CRM, Kevin was a Financial
Analyst for the Mergers and Acquisitions Department of Morgan Stanley and a Risk
Arbitrageur with The First Boston Corporation. He received a B.S. from Columbia
University School of Engineering & Applied Science.
17
<PAGE>
CHRISTOPHER S. FOX, CFA Principal and Vice President at CRM. Chris joined the
firm in 1999 and is responsible for investment research. Chris co-founded
Schaenen Fox Capital Management, LLC, a hedge fund with small cap value
investments. He previously was at Schaenen Wood & Associates, Inc. as Vice
President and Senior Manager/Analyst; Chemical Bank's Private Banking Division
as a portfolio manager and analyst; and Drexel Burnham Lambert, Inc. as a
financial analyst. Chris earned a B.A. in Economics from the State University of
New York at Albany and an MBA in Finance from New York University's Stern School
of Business.
ADAM L. STARR Vice President of CRM. Adam joined CRM in 1999 and is responsible
for investment research. Prior to joining CRM, he was a Partner and Portfolio
Manager at Weiss, Peck & Greer, LLC and an Analyst and Portfolio Manager at
Charter Oak Partners and First Manhattan Company. Adam earned a B.A. in History
from Clark University and an MBA from Columbia University.
TERRY LALLY, CFA, joined CRM in 2000 and is a Vice President at Cramer Rosenthal
McGlynn, LLC. He is responsible for investment research. Prior to joining
CRM, Terry spent 9 years working at The Prudential in US small cap and emerging
market equity analysis, corporate finance, and equity trading. Terry earned a
BBA from the University of Notre Dame, an MBA from Harvard University, and is a
Chartered Financial Analyst.
18
<PAGE>
SERVICE PROVIDERS
The chart below provides information on the Funds' primary service providers.
Asset Shareholder
Management Services
INVESTMENT ADVISER TRANSFER AGENT
CRAMER ROSENTHALL MCGLYNN, LLC PFPC INC.
707 WESTCHESTER AVENUE 400 BELLEVUE PARKWAY
WHITE PLAINS, NY 10604 WILMINGTON, DE 19809
Manages each Fund's business and Handles shareholder
investment activities. recordkeeping and
statements, payment of
distributions and
processing of buy and
sell requests.
CRM LARGE CAP VALUE
CRM MID CAP VALUE
CRM SMALL CAP VALUE
Fund Asset
Operations Safe Keeping
ADMINISTRATOR AND CUSTODIAN
ACCOUNTING AGENT WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
PFPC INC. RODNEY SQUARE NORTH
400 BELLEVUE PARKWAY 1100 NORTH MARKET STREET
WILMINGTON, DE 19809 WILMINGTON, DE 19890
Provides facilities, Hold each Fund's assets,
equipment and personnel settles all portfolio
to carry out administrative trades and collects most
services related to each of the valuation data
Fund and calculates each Fund's required for calculating
NAV and distributions. each Fund's NAV per
share.
19
<PAGE>
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
PRICING OF SHARES
The Funds value their assets based on current market values when such values are
readily available. These prices normally are supplied by a pricing service.
Securities that do not have a readily available current market value are valued
in good faith under the direction of the Board of Trustees.
PLAIN TALK
WHAT IS THE NET ASSET VALUE or "NAV"?
NAV = Assets - Liabilities
--------------------
Outstanding Shares
PFPC determines the NAV per share of each Fund as of the close of regular
trading on the New York Stock Exchange (currently 4:00 p.m., Eastern time), on
each Business Day (a day that the Exchange, the Transfer Agent and the
Philadelphia branch of the Federal Reserve Bank are open for business). The NAV
is calculated by adding the value of all securities and other assets in a Fund,
deducting its liabilities and dividing the balance by the number of outstanding
shares in that Fund.
Shares will not be priced on those days the Funds are closed. As of the date of
this prospectus, those days are:
New Year's Day Memorial Day Veterans Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Independence Day Thanksgiving Day
President's Day Labor Day Christmas Day
Good Friday Columbus Day
20
<PAGE>
PURCHASE OF SHARES
PLAIN TALK
HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES:
o Directly by mail or by wire
o As a client of a Third Party
Fund shares are offered on a continuous basis and are sold without any sales
charges. The minimum initial investment in the Fund's Investor class shares is
$10,000 ($2,000 for IRAs or automatic investment plans). The Funds, in their
sole discretion, may waive the minimum initial amount to establish certain
Investor share accounts. The minimum additional investment for all accounts
is $100. You may purchase shares as specified below.
You may also purchase shares if you are a client of a broker or other financial
institution, a "Third Party." The policies and fees charged by the Third Party
may be different than those charged by a Fund. Banks, brokers, retirement plans
and financial advisers may charge transaction fees and may set different minimum
investments or limitations on buying or selling shares. Consult a representative
of your financial institution or retirement plan for further information.
BY MAIL: You may purchase shares by sending a check drawn on a U.S. bank payable
to CRM Funds, indicating the name of the Fund, along with a completed
application (included at the end of this prospectus). If a subsequent investment
is being made, the check should also indicate your Fund account number. When you
make purchases by check, each Fund may withhold payment on redemptions until it
is reasonably satisfied that the funds are collected (which can take up to 10
days). If you purchase shares with a check that does not clear, your purchase
will be canceled and you will be responsible for any losses or fees incurred in
that transaction. Send the check and application to:
REGULAR MAIL: OVERNIGHT MAIL:
------------- ---------------
CRM Funds CRM Funds
c/o PFPC Inc. c/o PFPC Inc.
P.O. Box 8742 400 Bellevue Parkway, Suite 108
Wilmington, DE 19899 Wilmington, DE 19809
21
<PAGE>
BY WIRE: You may purchase shares by wiring federal funds readily available.
Please call PFPC at (800) CRM-2883 before making a purchase by wire, and if
making an initial purchase, to also obtain an account number. Once you have an
account number, you should instruct your bank to wire funds to:
PFPC Trust Company
c/o PNC Bank
Philadelphia, PA
ABA #031-0000-5
DDA#86-0172-6591
Attention: The CRM Funds
Be sure to include your account number,
the Fund name and your name. If you make an initial purchase by wire, you must
promptly forward a completed application to the Transfer Agent at the address
above. If you are making a subsequent purchase, the wire should also indicate
your Fund account number.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING PURCHASES: Purchase orders received by the
Transfer Agent before the close of regular trading on the Exchange on any
Business Day will be priced at the NAV that is determined as of the close of
trading. Purchase orders received after the close of regular trading on the
Exchange will be priced as of the close of regular trading on the following
Business Day.
Any purchase order may be rejected if a Fund determines that accepting the order
would not be in the best interest of the Fund or its shareholders. The Funds
will not accept third party checks.
It is the responsibility of the Third Party
to transmit orders for the purchase of shares by its customers to the Transfer
Agent and to deliver required funds on a timely basis, in accordance with the
procedures stated above.
For information on other ways to purchase shares,
including through an individual retirement account (IRA), or an automatic
investment plan, please refer to the Statement of Additional Information.
REDEMPTION OF SHARES
PLAIN TALK
HOW TO REDEEM (SELL) SHARES:
o By mail
o By telephone
You may sell your shares on any Business Day as described below. Redemptions are
effected at the NAV next determined after the Transfer Agent has received your
redemption request. There is no fee when Fund shares are redeemed. It is the
responsibility of the Third Party to transmit redemption orders and credit their
customers' accounts with redemption pro-
22
<PAGE>
ceeds on a timely basis. Redemption checks are mailed on the next Business Day
following receipt by the Transfer Agent of redemption instructions, but never
later than 7 days following such receipt. Amounts redeemed by wire are normally
wired on the date of receipt of redemption instructions (if received by the
Transfer Agent before 4:00 p.m. Eastern time), or the next Business Day (if
received after 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, or on a non-Business Day), but never
later than 7 days following such receipt. If you purchased your shares through
an account at a Third Party, you should contact the Third Party for information
relating to redemptions. The Fund's name and your account number should
accompany any redemption requests.
BY MAIL: If you redeem your shares by mail, you should submit written
instructions with a "signature guarantee". A signature guarantee verifies the
authenticity of your signature. You can obtain one from most banking
institutions or securities brokers, but not from a notary public. You must
indicate the Fund name, your account number and your name. The written
instructions and signature guarantee should be mailed to:
REGULAR MAIL: OVERNIGHT MAIL:
------------- ---------------
CRM Funds CRM Funds
c/o PFPC Inc. c/o PFPC Inc.
P.O. Box 8742 400 Bellevue Parkway, Suite 108
Wilmington, DE 19899 Wilmington, DE 19809
BY TELEPHONE: If you prefer to redeem your shares by telephone you may elect to
do so. However there are certain risks. The Fund has certain safeguards and
procedures to confirm the identity of callers and to confirm that the
instructions communicated are genuine. If such procedures are followed, you will
bear the risk of any losses.
AUTOMATIC REDEMPTIONS: You may redeem a specified amount of money from your
account once a month on a specified date. These payments are sent from your
account to a designated bank account by ACH payment. Automatic redemptions must
be for at least $250.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING REDEMPTIONS: Redemption proceeds may be wired
to your predesignated bank account in any commercial bank in the United States
if the amount is $1,000 or more. The receiving bank may charge a fee for this
service. Proceeds may also be mailed to your bank or, for amounts of $10,000 or
less, mailed to your Fund account address of record if the address has been
established for at least 60 days. In order to authorize the Transfer Agent to
mail redemption proceeds to your Fund account address of record, complete the
appropriate section of the Application for Telephone Redemptions or include your
Fund account address of record when you submit written instructions. You may
change the account that you have designated to receive amounts redeemed at any
time. Any request to change the account designated to receive redemption
proceeds should be accompanied by a guarantee of your signature, as the
shareholder, by an eligible institution. A signature and a signature guarantee
are required for each person in whose name the
23
<PAGE>
account is registered. Further documentation will be required to change the
designated account when a corporation, other organization, trust, fiduciary or
other institutional investor holds the Fund shares.
If shares to be redeemed represent a recent investment made by check, each Fund
reserves the right not to make the redemption proceeds available until it has
reasonable grounds to believe that the check has been collected (which could
take up to 10 days).
SMALL ACCOUNTS: If the value of your Fund account falls below $10,000 for
Investor share accounts ($2,000 for IRAs or automatic investment plans), the
Fund may ask you to increase your balance. If the account value is still below
such amounts after 60 days, the Fund may close your account and send you the
proceeds. The Fund will not close your account if it falls below these amounts
solely as a result of a reduction in your account's market value.
REDEMPTIONS IN KIND: The Funds reserve the right to make redemptions in kind" --
payments of redemption proceeds in fund securities rather than cash -- if the
amount redeemed is large enough to affect the Series' operations (for example,
if it represents more than 1% of a Series' assets).
EXCHANGE OF SHARES
PLAIN TALK
WHAT IS AN EXCHANGE OF SHARES?
An exchange of shares allows you to move your money from one fund to
another fund within a family of funds.
You may exchange all or a portion of your shares in a Fund for Investor class
shares of the following funds:
Wilmington Prime Money Market Fund
Wilmington Tax-Exempt Fund
Wilmington Intermediate Bond Fund
Wilmington Municipal Bond Fund
CRM Large Cap Value Fund
CRM Small Cap Value Fund
24
<PAGE>
Redemption of shares through an exchange will be effected at the NAV per share
next determined after the Transfer Agent receives your request. A purchase of
shares through an exchange will be effected at the NAV per share determined at
that time or as next determined thereafter.
Exchange transactions will be subject to the minimum initial investment and
other requirements of the Fund into which the exchange is made. An exchange may
not be made if the exchange would leave a balance in a shareholder's account of
less than $10,000 for Investor share accounts.
To obtain prospectuses of the other Funds, you may call (800) CRM-2883. To
obtain more information about exchanges, or to place exchange orders, contact
the Transfer Agent, or, if your shares are held in an account with a Third
Party, contact the Third Party. The Funds may terminate or modify the exchange
offer described here and will give you 60 days' notice of such termination or
modification. This exchange offer is valid only in those jurisdictions where the
sale of Prospectus shares to be acquired through such exchange may be legally
made.
DIVIDENDS AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS
PLAIN TALK
WHAT IS NET INVESTMENT INCOME?
Net investment income consists of interest and dividends earned by a fund on
its investments less accrued expenses.
As a shareholder of a Fund, you are entitled to dividends and other
distributions arising from the net investment income and net realized gains, if
any, earned on the investments held by the Funds. Dividends are declared and
paid annually to you. Each Fund expects to distribute any net realized gains
once a year.
Distributions are payable to the shareholders of record at the time the
distributions are declared (including holders of shares being redeemed, but
excluding holders of shares being purchased). All distributions are reinvested
in additional Fund shares unless you have elected to receive the distributions
in cash.
25
<PAGE>
TAXES
FEDERAL INCOME TAX: As long as a Fund meets the requirements for being a
"regulated investment company," it pays no Federal income tax on the earnings
and gains it distributes to shareholders. While each Fund may invest in
securities that earn interest exempt from Federal income tax, the Funds invest
primarily in taxable securities. Each Fund will notify you following the end of
the calendar year of the amount of dividends and other distributions paid that
year.
Dividends you receive from a Fund, whether reinvested in Fund shares or taken as
cash, are generally taxable to you as ordinary income. Distributions of a Fund's
net capital gain whether reinvested in Fund shares or taken as cash, when
designated as such, are taxable to you as long-term capital gain, regardless of
the length of time you have held your shares. You should be aware that if Fund
shares are purchased shortly before the record date for any dividend or capital
gain distribution, you will pay the full price for the shares and will receive
some portion of the price back as a taxable distribution. The Large Cap Value
Fund, the Mid Cap Value Fund and the Small Cap Value Fund each anticipate
the distribution of net investment income.
It is a taxable event for you if you sell or exchange shares of any Fund.
Depending on the purchase price and the sale price of the shares you exchange,
you may have a taxable gain or loss on the transaction. You are responsible for
any tax liability generated by your transactions.
STATE AND LOCAL INCOME TAXES: You should consult your tax advisers concerning
state and local taxes, which may have different consequences from those of the
Federal income tax law.
This section is only a summary of some important income tax considerations that
may affect your investment in a Fund. More information regarding those
considerations appears in our Statement of Additional Information. You are urged
to consult your tax adviser regarding the effects of an investment on your tax
situation.
26
<PAGE>
[GRAPHIC OMITTED] DISTRIBUTION
ARRANGEMENTS
The Distributor manages the Funds' distribution efforts and provides assistance
and expertise in developing marketing plans and materials, enters into dealer
agreement with broker-dealers to sell shares and provides shareholder support
services, directly or through affiliates. The Funds do not charge any sales
loads, deferred sales loads or other fees in connection with the purchase of
shares.
MASTER/FEEDER STRUCTURE
Other investors, including other mutual funds, may invest in the master funds.
The master/feeder structure enables various institutional investors, including a
Fund, to pool their assets, which may be expected to result in economies by
spreading certain fixed costs over a larger asset base. Each shareholder of a
master fund, including a Fund, will pay its proportionate share of the master
fund's expenses.
For reasons relating to costs or a change in investment goal, among others, a
Fund could switch to another master fund or decide to manage its assets itself.
No Fund is currently contemplating such a move.
SHARE CLASSES
Each Fund issues Investor and Institutional share classes, which have different
minimum investment requirements and fees. Institutional shares are offered only
to those investors who invest in the Fund through an intermediary (i.e. broker)
or through a consultant, and who invest $1,000,000 or more or where related
accounts total $1,000,000 or more when combined. Other investors investing
$10,000 or more may purchase Investor shares.
27
<PAGE>
THE CRM INTERMEDIATE BOND FUND
THE CRM MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
Institutional Shares
================================================================================
PROSPECTUS DATED NOVEMBER 1, 2000
This prospectus gives vital information about these mutual funds, including
information on investment policies, risks and fees. For your own benefit and
protection, please read it before you invest, and keep it on hand for future
reference.
Please note that these Funds:
o are not bank deposits
o are not obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed by the Funds' investment
adviser, Wilmington Trust Company, or any of its affiliates
o are not federally insured
o are not obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed or otherwise supported
by the U.S. Government, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the
Federal Reserve Board or any other governmental agency
o are not guaranteed to achieve their goal(s)
Like all mutual fund shares, these securities have not been approved or
disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission nor has the Securities and
Exchange Commission determined whether this prospectus is accurate or complete.
Anyone who tells you otherwise is committing a crime.
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A look at the goals, strategies, FUND DESCRIPTION
risks, expenses and financial Summary.....................................3
history of each fund. Fees and Expenses...........................5
Investment Objectives.......................7
Primary Investment Strategies...............7
Additional Risk Information................10
Details about the service MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
providers. Investment Adviser.........................12
Service Providers..........................13
Policies and instructions for SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
opening, maintaining and Pricing of Shares..........................15
closing an account in any of Purchase of Shares.........................15
the funds. Redemption of Shares.......................17
Exchange of Shares.........................18
Dividends and Distributions................19
Taxes......................................20
Details on the funds' DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS
share classes and master/ Master/Feeder Structure....................20
feeder arrangements. Share Classes..............................21
FOR MORE INFORMATION...............back cover
For information about key terms and concepts, look for our "Plain Talk"
explanations.
<PAGE>
CRM INTERMEDIATE BOND FUND
CRM MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
Institutional Shares
FUND DESCRIPTION
PLAIN TALK
-------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS A MUTUAL FUND?
A mutual fund pools shareholders' money and, using a professional
investment manager, invests it in securities like stocks and bonds.
Each Fund is a separate mutual fund.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
Investment o The Intermediate Bond Fund seeks a high total return,
Objective consistent with high current income.
o The Municipal Bond Fund seeks a high level of income
Investment exempt from federal income tax, consistent
with the Objective preservation of capital.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Focus o Fixed income securities
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share Price
Volatility o Moderate
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Principal o Each Fund operates as a "feeder fund," which means that
Investment a Fund does not buy individual securities directly.
Strategy Instead, the Funds invest in a corresponding mutual fund
or "master fund," which in turn purchases investment
securities. Each Fund invests all of its assets in a
master fund which is a separate series of another mutual
fund. The Funds and their corresponding Series have the
same investment objectives, policies and limitations.
o The Intermediate Bond Fund invests in the Intermediate
Bond Series, which invests at least 85% of its total
assets in various types of investment grade fixed income
securities.
o The Municipal Bond Fund invests in the Municipal Bond
Series, which invests at least 80% of its net assets in
municipal securities that provide interest exempt from
federal income tax.
o The Series' adviser purchases securities based upon
their yield or their potential capital appreciation, or
both. The adviser may sell securities in anticipation of
market declines or if the securities are downgraded to
below investment grade.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Principal Risks The Funds are subject to the risks summarized below, which are
described under "Additional Risk Information."
o An investment in a Fund is not a deposit of Wilmington
Trust Company, the Funds' investment adviser, or any of
its affiliates and is not insured or guaranteed by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other
government agency.
o It is possible to lose money by investing in a Fund.
o The fixed income securities in which the Funds invest
through their corresponding Series are subject to credit
risk, prepayment risk, market risk, liquidity risk and
interest rate risk. Typically, when interest rates rise,
the market prices of fixed income securities go down.
o The performance of a Fund will depend on whether or not
the adviser is successful in pursuing an investment
strategy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investor Profile o Investors who want income from their investments without
the volatility of an equity portfolio.
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PLAIN TALK
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WHAT ARE FUND EXPENSES?
Unlike an index, every mutual fund has operating expenses to pay for
professional advisory, shareholder distribution, administration and
custody services. Each Fund's expenses in the table below are shown as a
percentage of its net assets. These expenses are deducted from Fund
assets.
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The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and
hold shares of a Fund. No sales charges or other fees are paid directly from
your investment.
Institutional Shares
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING
EXPENSES (expenses that are Intermediate Municipal
deducted from Fund assets)(1) Bond Fund Bond Fund
--------- ---------
Management fees 0.35% 0.35%
Distribution (12b-1) fees None None
Other expenses 0.36% 0.68%
Total annual operating expenses(2) 0.71% 1.03%
Waivers/reimbursements 0.16% 0.28%
Net annual operating expenses 0.55% 0.75%
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(1) The table above and the Example below each reflect the aggregate annual
operating expenses of each Fund and the corresponding Series in which the Fund
invests.
(2) For Institutional shares, Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn LLC has agreed to
reimburse expenses to the extent total operating expenses exceed 0.55% for the
Intermediate Bond Fund and 0.75% for the Municipal Bond Fund. This waiver will
remain in place until the Board of Trustees approves its termination.
EXAMPLE
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in a Fund
with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The table below shows what you
would pay if you invested $10,000 over the various time frames indicated. The
example assumes that:
o you reinvested all dividends and other distributions
o the average annual return was 5%
o the Fund's maximum (without regard to waivers or expenses) total operating
expenses are charged and remain the same over the time periods
o you redeemed all of your investment at the end of the time period.
Although your actual cost may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions,
your costs would be:
Institutional Shares 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
-------------------- ------ ------- ------- --------
Intermediate Bond Fund $ 73 $227 $ 95 $ 883
Municipal Bond Fund $105 $328 $569 $1,259
The above example is for comparison purposes only and is not a representation of
a Fund's actual expenses and returns, either past or future.
Investment Objectives
The Intermediate Bond Fund seeks a high total return, consistent with high
current income. The Municipal Bond Fund seeks a high level of income exempt from
federal income tax, consistent with the preservation of capital. These
investment objectives may not be changed without shareholder approval. There is
no guarantee that a Fund will achieve its investment objective.
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Primary Investment Strategies
PLAIN TALK
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WHAT ARE FIXED INCOME SECURITIES?
Fixed income securities are generally bonds, which is a type of
security that functions like a loan. Bonds are IOUs issued by
private companies, municipalities or government agencies. By
comparison, when you buy a stock, you are buying ownership in a
company. With a bond, your "loan" is for a specific period,
usually 2 to 30 years. You receive regular interest payments at
the rate stated when you bought the bond. Hence, the term "fixed
income" security.
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PLAIN TALK
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WHAT ARE INVESTMENT GRADE SECURITIES?
Investment grade securities are securities that have been
determined by a rating agency to have a medium to high probability
of being paid, although there is always a risk of default.
Investment grade securities are rated BBB, A, AA or AAA by
Standard & Poor's Corporation or Baa, A, Aa or Aaa by Moody's
Investors Service.
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The Intermediate Bond Fund invests its assets in the Intermediate Bond Series,
which:
o will invest at least 85% of its total assets in various types of
investment grade fixed income securities;
o may invest up to 10% of its total assets in investment grade fixed income
securities of foreign issuers; and
o will, as a matter of fundamental policy, maintain an intermediate average
duration. The average dollar-weighted duration of securities held by the
Intermediate Bond Series will normally fall within a range of 5 to 7
years.
PLAIN TALK
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WHAT IS DURATION?
Duration measures the sensitivity of fixed income securities held
by a Fund to a change in interest rates. The value of a security
with a longer duration will normally fluctuate to a greater degree
than will the value of a security with a shorter duration should
interest rates change. For example, if interest rates were to move
1%, a bond with a 3-year duration would experience approximately a
3% change in principal value. An identical bond with a 5-year
duration would experience approximately a 5% change in its
principal value.
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PLAIN TALK
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WHAT ARE MUNICIPAL SECURITIES?
Municipal securities are bonds issued by state and local
governments to raise money for their activities.
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The Municipal Bond Fund invests its assets in the Municipal Bond Series, which:
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o will, as a fundamental policy, invest substantially all (at least 80%) of
its net assets in a diversified fund of municipal securities that provide
interest that is exempt from federal income tax;
o may invest up to 20% of its net assets in other types of fixed income
securities that provide income that is subject to federal tax; and
o will, as a matter of fundamental policy, maintain an intermediate average
duration. The average dollar-weighted duration of securities held by the
Municipal Bond Series will normally fall within a range of 4 to 8 years.
The Municipal Bond Series may not invest more than 25% of its total assets in
any one industry. You should note that governmental issuers of municipal
securities are not considered part of any industry. The 25% limitation applies
to municipal securities backed by the assets and revenues of non-governmental
users, such as private operators of educational, hospital or housing facilities.
However, the investment adviser may decide that the yields available from
concentrating in obligations of a particular market sector or political
subdivision justify the risk that the performance of the Municipal Bond Series
may be adversely affected by such concentration. Under such market conditions,
the Municipal Bond Series may invest more than 25% of its assets in sectors of
the municipal securities market, such as health care or housing, or in
securities relating to one political subdivision, such as a given state or U.S.
territory. Under these conditions, the Municipal Bond Series' vulnerability to
any special risks that affects that sector or jurisdiction could have an adverse
impact on the value of an investment in the Series. There are no limitations on
the Municipal Bond Series' investment in any one of the three general categories
of municipal obligations: general obligation bonds, revenue (or special)
obligation bonds and private activity bonds.
Series Composition. The composition of each Series' holdings varies, depending
upon the investment adviser's analysis of the fixed income markets, the
municipal securities market and the expected trends in those markets. The
securities purchased by the Series may be purchased based upon their yield, the
income earned by the security, or their potential capital appreciation, the
potential increase in the security's value, or both. The investment adviser
seeks to protect the Series' principal value by reducing fluctuations in value
relative to those that may be experienced by fixed income funds with a longer
average duration. This strategy may reduce the level of income attained by the
Series. There is no guarantee that principal value can be protected during
periods of extreme interest volatility.
4
<PAGE>
PLAIN TALK
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CORPORATE BONDS VS. GOVERNMENT BONDS:
Bonds issued by corporations generally pay a higher interest rate
than government bonds. That's because corporate bonds are somewhat
riskier than government bonds and the interest payments on
government bonds are exempt from some or all taxes. For example,
if you live in Delaware and buy a bond issued by the state of
Delaware or by any other government or municipal agency in
Delaware, your interest on the bond is exempt from state and
federal income taxes. But if your bond is issued by any state
other than the one in which you reside, the interest would only be
exempt from federal income tax and you would have to pay your
state income tax. Interest payments on U.S. Treasury bonds are
exempt from state and local taxes.
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The Series invest only in securities that are rated, at the time of purchase, in
the top four categories by a rating agency such as Moody's Investors Service,
Inc. or Standard & Poor's. If the securities are not rated, then the investment
adviser must determine that they are of comparable quality.
The table below shows each Series' principal investments. These are the types of
securities that will most likely help a Series achieve its investment objective.
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Intermediate Municipal
Bond Bond
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Asset-Backed Securities /x/
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Bank Obligations /x/
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Corporate Bonds, Notes and
Commercial Paper /x/
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Mortgage-Backed Securities /x/
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Municipal Securities /x/ /x/
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Obligations Issued By Supranational
Agencies /x/
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U.S. Government Obligations /x/
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Each Series also may use other strategies and engage in other investment
practices, which are described in detail in our Statement of Additional
Information. The investments and strategies listed above and described
throughout this prospectus are those that we use under normal market conditions.
Additional Risk Information
The following is a list of certain risks that apply to your investment in a
Fund. Further information about investment risks is available in our Statement
of Additional Information:
o Credit Risk: The risk that the issuer of a security, or the counterparty
to a contract, will default or otherwise become unable to honor a
financial obligation.
o Foreign Security Risk: The risk of losses due to political, regulatory,
economic, social or other uncontrollable forces in a foreign country
(Intermediate Bond Fund only).
o Interest Rate Risk: The risk of market losses attributable to changes in
interest rates. With fixed-rate securities, a rise in interest rates
typically causes a fall in values, while a fall in rates
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typically causes a rise in values. The yield earned by a Series will vary
with changes in interest rates.
o Leverage Risk: The risk associated with securities or practices (such as
when-issued and forward commitment transactions) that multiply small
market movements into larger changes in value.
o Liquidity Risk: The risk that certain securities may be difficult or
impossible to sell at the time and the price that the seller would like.
o Market Risk: The risk that the market value of a security may move up and
down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably.
o Master/Feeder Risk: The master/feeder structure is relatively new and more
complex. While this structure is designed to reduce costs, it may not do
so, and there may be operational or other complications. For example,
large-scale redemptions by other feeders of their shares of a master fund
could have adverse effects on a Fund such as requiring the liquidation of
a substantial portion of the master fund's holdings at a time when it
could be disadvantageous to do so. Also, other feeders of a master fund
may have a greater ownership interest in the master fund than a Fund's
interest and, therefore, could have effective voting control over the
operation of the master fund.
o Opportunity Risk: The risk of missing out on an investment opportunity
because the assets necessary to take advantage of it are tied up in less
advantageous investments.
o Prepayment Risk: The risk that a debt security may be paid off and
proceeds invested earlier than anticipated. Depending on market
conditions, the new investments may or may not carry the same interest
rate.
o Valuation Risk: The risk that a Series has valued certain of its
securities at a higher price than it can sell them for.
6
<PAGE>
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS
The Board of Trustees for each Fund supervises the management, activities and
affairs of the Fund and has approved contracts with various organizations to
provide, among other services, day-to-day management required by the Fund and
its shareholders.
Investment Adviser
PLAIN TALK
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WHAT IS AN INVESTMENT ADVISER?
The investment adviser makes investment decisions for a mutual
fund and continuously reviews, supervises and administers the
fund's investment program. The Board of Trustees supervises the
investment adviser and establishes policies that the adviser must
follow in its management activities.
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Wilmington Trust Company ("WTC"), the Series' investment adviser, is located at
1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890. WTC owns a minority
interest in Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, LLC, the Funds' sponsor. WTC is a wholly
owned subsidiary of Wilmington Trust Corporation, which is a publicly held bank
holding company. Under an advisory agreement, WTC, subject to the supervision of
the Board of Trustees, directs the investments of each Series in accordance with
its investment objective, policies and limitations. In addition to serving as
investment adviser for the Series, WTC is engaged in a variety of investment
advisory activities, including the management of other mutual funds and
collective investment pools.
Under the advisory agreement, each Series pays a monthly fee to WTC at the
annual rate of 0.35% of the Series' first $1 billion of average daily net
assets; 0.30% of the Series' next $1 billion of average daily net assets; and
0.25% of the Series' average daily net assets over $2 billion. For the twelve
months ended June 30, 2000, WTC received the following fees (after fee waivers)
as a percentage of each Series' average daily net assets for investment advisory
services:
Intermediate Bond Series 0.19%
Municipal Bond Series 0.07%
Fund Managers
Eric K. Cheung, Vice President and Manager of the Fixed Income Management
Division, Clayton M. Albright, III, Vice President of the Fixed Income
Management Division and Dominick J. D'Eramo, CFA, Vice President of the Fixed
Income Management Division, all of the Asset Management Department of WTC, are
primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Short/Intermediate
Bond Series and the Intermediate Bond Series. From 1978 until 1986, Mr. Cheung
was the Portfolio Manager for fixed income assets of the Meritor Financial
Group. In 1986, Mr. Cheung joined WTC. In 1991, he became the Division Manager
for all fixed income products. Mr. Albright has been employed at WTC since 1976.
In 1987, he joined the Fixed Income Management Division and since then has
specialized in the management of intermediate and long-term fixed income
portfolios. Mr. D'Eramo began his career with WTC in 1986 as a fixed-income
trader and was promoted to portfolio manager in 1990.
7
<PAGE>
Lisa More, Vice President of Credit Research and Municipal Trading within the
Fixed Income Management Divisions of Asset Management Department of WTC, is
primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Municipal Bond
Portfolio. Mrs. More has been employed at WTC since 1988. In 1990, she joined
the Fixed Income Division specializing in the management of municipal income
portfolios.
8
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Service Providers
The chart below provides information on the Funds' primary service providers.
Asset Shareholder
Management Services
--------------------------- ---------------------------
Investment Adviser Transfer Agent
Wilmington Trust Company PFPC Inc.
1100 North Market Street 400 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19890 Wilmington, DE 19809
Handles shareholder
services, including
Manages each Fund's recordkeeping and
business and investment statements, payment of
activities. distribution and
processing of buy and
sell requests.
--------------------------- ---------------------------
-------------------------------
CRM Intermediate Bond Fund
CRM Municipal Bond Fund
-------------------------------
Fund Asset
Operations Safe Keeping
--------------------------- ---------------------------
Administrator and Custodian
Accounting Agent
Wilmington Trust Company
PFPC Inc.
1100 N. Market Street
400 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
Wilmington, DE 19809
Provides facilities,
equipment and personnel to Holds each Fund's assets,
carry out administrative settles all portfolio
services related to each trades and collects most
Fund and calculates each of the valuation data
Fund's NAV and required for calculating
distributions. each Fund's NAV per share.
--------------------------- ---------------------------
9
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SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
Pricing of Shares
The Funds value their assets based on current market value when such values are
available. Prices for fixed income securities normally are supplied by a pricing
service. Fixed income securities maturing within 60 days of the valuation date
are valued at amortized cost. Securities that do not have a readily available
current market value are valued in good faith under the direction of the Series'
Board of Trustees.
The assets held by the Intermediate Bond Series that are denominated in foreign
currencies are valued daily in U.S. dollars at the foreign currency exchange
rates that are prevailing at the time that PFPC determines the daily net asset
value per share.
PLAIN TALK
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WHAT IS THE NET ASSET VALUE or "NAV"?
NAV = Assets - Liabilities
--------------------
Outstanding Shares
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PFPC determines the NAV per share of each Fund as of the close of regular
trading on the New York Stock Exchange (currently 4:00 p.m., Eastern time), on
each Business Day (a day that the New York Stock Exchange, the Transfer Agent
and the Philadelphia branch of the Federal Reserve Bank are open for business).
The NAV is calculated by adding the value of all securities and other assets in
a Fund, deducting its liabilities and dividing the balance by the number of
outstanding shares in that Fund.
Shares will not be priced on those days the Funds are closed. As of the date of
this prospectus, those days are:
New Year's Day Memorial Day Veterans Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Independence Day Thanksgiving Day
President's Day Labor Day Christmas Day
Good Friday Columbus Day
Purchase of shares
PLAIN TALK
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HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES:
o Directly by mail or by wire
o As a client of a Third Party
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Fund shares are offered on a continuous basis and are sold without any sales
charges. The minimum initial investment in the Fund's Institutional class shares
is $1,000,000. The Funds, in their sole discretion, may waive the minimum
initial amount to establish certain Institutional share accounts. Additional
investments may be made in any amount. You may purchase shares as specified
below.
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You may also purchase shares if you are a client of an institution (such as a
bank or broker-dealer) that has entered into a servicing agreement with the
Funds' distributor ("Third Party"). You should also be aware that you may be
charged a fee by the Third Party in connection with your investment in the
Funds. If you wish to purchase Fund shares through your account at a Third
Party, you should contact that entity directly for information and instructions
on purchasing shares.
By Mail: You may purchase shares by sending a check drawn on a U.S. bank payable
to CRM Funds, indicating the name of the Fund, along with a completed
application (included at the end of this prospectus). If a subsequent investment
is being made, the check should also indicate your Fund account number. When you
make purchases by check, each Fund may withhold payment on redemptions until it
is reasonably satisfied that the funds are collected (which can take up to 10
days). If you purchase shares with a check that does not clear, your purchase
will be canceled and you will be responsible for any losses or fees incurred in
that transaction. Send the check and application to:
Regular mail: Overnight mail:
------------- ---------------
CRM Funds CRM Funds
c/o PFPC Inc. c/o PFPC Inc.
P.O. Box 8742 400 Bellevue Parkway, Suite 108
Wilmington, DE 19899 Wilmington, DE 19809
By Wire: You may purchase shares by wiring federal funds readily available.
Please call PFPC at (800) CRM-2883 for instructions and to make specific
arrangements before making a purchase by wire, and if making an initial
purchase, to also obtain an account number.
Additional Information Regarding Purchases: Purchase orders received by the
Transfer Agent before the close of regular trading on the Exchange on any
Business Day will be priced at the NAV that is determined as of the close of
trading. Purchase orders received after the close of regular trading on the
Exchange will be priced as of the close of regular trading on the following
Business Day.
Any purchase order may be rejected if a Fund determines that accepting the order
would not be in the best interest of the Fund or its shareholders.
It is the responsibility of the Third Party to transmit orders for the purchase
of shares by its customers to the Transfer Agent and to deliver required funds
on a timely basis, in accordance with the procedures stated above.
11
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For information on other ways to purchase shares, including through an
individual retirement account (IRA) or an automatic investment plan or a payroll
investment plan, please refer to the Statement of Additional Information.
Redemption of Shares
PLAIN TALK
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HOW TO REDEEM (SELL) SHARES:
o By mail
o By telephone
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You may sell your shares on any Business Day as described below. Redemptions are
effected at the NAV next determined after the Transfer Agent has received your
redemption request. There is no fee when Fund shares are redeemed. It is the
responsibility of the Third Party to transmit redemption orders and credit their
customers' accounts with redemption proceeds on a timely basis. Redemption
checks are mailed on the next Business Day following acceptance by the Transfer
Agent of redemption instructions, but never later than 7 days following such
receipt and acceptance. Amounts redeemed by wire are normally wired on the date
of receipt and acceptance of redemption instructions (if received by the
Transfer Agent before 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) or the next Business Day (if
received after 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, or on a non-Business Day), but never
later than 7 days following such receipt and acceptance. If you purchased your
shares through an account at a Third Party, you should contact the Third Party
for information relating to redemptions. The Fund's name and your account number
should accompany any redemption requests.
By Mail: If you redeem your shares by mail, you should submit written
instructions with a "signature guarantee". A signature guarantee verifies the
authenticity of your signature. You can obtain one from most banking
institutions or securities brokers, but not from a notary public. You must
indicate the Fund name, your account number and your name. The written
instructions and signature guarantee should be mailed to:
Regular mail: Overnight mail:
------------- ---------------
CRM Funds CRM Funds
c/o PFPC Inc. c/o PFPC Inc.
P.O. Box 8742 400 Bellevue Parkway, Suite 108
Wilmington, DE 19899 Wilmington, DE 19809
By Telephone: If you prefer to redeem your shares by telephone, you may elect to
do so. However there are certain risks. The Fund has certain safeguards and
procedures to confirm the identity of callers and to confirm that the
instructions communicated are genuine. If such procedures are followed, you will
bear the risk of any losses.
Additional Information Regarding Redemptions: Redemption proceeds may be wired
to your predesignated bank account in any commercial bank in the United States
if the amount is $1,000 or more. The receiving bank may charge a fee for this
service. Proceeds may also be mailed to
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your bank or, for amounts of $10,000 or less, mailed to your Fund account
address of record if the address has been established for at least 60 days. In
order to authorize the Transfer Agent to mail redemption proceeds to your Fund
account address of record, complete the appropriate section of the Application
for Telephone Redemptions or include your Fund account address of record when
you submit written instructions. You may change the account that you have
designated to receive amounts redeemed at any time. Any request to change the
account designated to receive redemption proceeds should be accompanied by a
guarantee of your signature by an eligible institution. A signature and a
signature guarantee are required for each person in whose name the account is
registered. Further documentation will be required to change the designated
account when a corporation, other organization, trust, fiduciary or other
institutional investor holds the Fund shares.
If shares to be redeemed represent a recent investment made by check, each Fund
reserves the right not to make the redemption proceeds available until it has
reasonable grounds to believe that the check has been collected (which could
take up to 10 days).
Small Accounts: If the value of your Fund account falls below $1,000,000 for
Institutional shares ($2,000 for IRAs or automatic investment plans), the Fund
may ask you to increase your balance. If the account value is still below such
amounts after 60 days, the Fund may close your account and send you the
proceeds. The Fund will not close your account if it falls below these amounts
solely as a result of a reduction in your account's market value.
Redemptions in Kind: The Funds reserve the right to make "redemptions in kind" -
payments of redemption proceeds in fund securities rather than cash - if the
amount redeemed is large enough to affect the Series' operations (for example,
if it represents more than 1% of a Series' assets).
Exchange of Shares
PLAIN TALK
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WHAT IS AN EXCHANGE OF SHARES?
An exchange of shares allows you to move your money from one fund to
another fund within a family of funds.
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You may exchange all or a portion of your shares in a Fund for Institutional
class shares of the following CRM Funds:
CRM Prime Money Market Fund
CRM Tax-Exempt Fund
CRM Intermediate Bond Fund
CRM Municipal Bond Fund
CRM Large Cap Value Fund
CRM Mid Cap Value Fund
CRM Small Cap Value Fund
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Redemption of shares through an exchange will be effected at the NAV per share
next determined after the Transfer Agent receives your request. A purchase of
shares through an exchange will be effected at the NAV per share determined at
that time or as next determined thereafter.
Exchange transactions will be subject to the minimum initial investment and
other requirements of the Fund into which the exchange is made. An exchange may
not be made if the exchange would leave a balance in a shareholder's account of
less than $1,000,000.
To obtain prospectuses of the other CRM Funds, you may call (800) CRM-2883. To
obtain more information about exchanges, or to place exchange orders, contact
the Transfer Agent, or, if your shares are held in a trust account with a Third
Party, contact the Third Party. The Funds may terminate or modify the exchange
offer described here and will give you 60 days' notice of such termination or
modification. This exchange offer is valid only in those jurisdictions where the
sale of the CRM Fund shares to be acquired through such exchange may be legally
made.
Dividends and other Distributions
PLAIN TALK
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WHAT IS NET INVESTMENT INCOME?
Net investment income consists of interest and dividends (and, in
the case of the Municipal Bond Fund, market discount on tax-exempt
securities) earned by a fund on its investments less accrued
expenses.
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As a shareholder of a Fund, you are entitled to receive dividends and other
distributions arising from the net investment income and net realized gains, if
any, earned on the investments held by the Fund. Generally, dividends are
declared daily and paid monthly. Each Fund expects to distribute any net
realized gains once a year. CRM Intermediate Bond Fund will distribute net
realized gains from foreign currency transactions, if any, after the end of the
fiscal year in which the gain was realized by them.
A distribution is payable to the shareholders of record at the time the
distribution is declared (including holders of shares being redeemed, but
excluding holders of shares being purchased). Shares become entitled to receive
distributions on the day after the shares are issued.
Distributions are automatically reinvested and are paid in the form of
additional Fund shares unless you have elected to receive the distributions in
cash.
Any net capital gain realized by a Fund will be distributed at least annually.
14
<PAGE>
Taxes
Each Fund generally intends to operate in a manner such that it will not be
liable for Federal income or excise tax. The Funds' distributions of net
investment income (which include net short-term capital gains), whether received
in cash or reinvested in additional Fund shares, may be subject to federal
income tax. Each Fund will notify you following the end of the calendar year of
the amount of dividends paid that year.
Dividend distributions by the Municipal Bond Fund of the excess of its interest
income on tax-exempt securities over certain amounts disallowed as deductions
("exempt-interest dividends") may be treated by you as interest excludable from
your gross income. The Municipal Bond Fund intends to distribute income that is
exempt from federal income tax, though it may invest in a portion of its assets
in securities that generate taxable income. Income exempt from federal income
tax may be subject to state and local income tax. Additionally, any capital
gains distributed by the Municipal Bond Fund may be taxable.
It is a taxable event for you if you sell or exchange shares of any Fund,
including the Municipal Bond Fund. Depending on the purchase price and the sale
price of the shares you exchange, you may have a taxable gain or loss on the
transaction. You are responsible for any tax liability generated by your
transactions.
STATE AND LOCAL INCOME TAXES: You should consult your tax adviser concerning
state and local taxes, which may have different consequences from those of the
Federal income laws.
This section is only a summary of some important income tax considerations that
may affect your investment in a Fund. More information regarding those
considerations appears in our Statement of Additional Information. You are urged
to consult your tax adviser regarding the effects of an investment on your tax
situation.
DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS
The Distributor manages the Funds' distribution efforts and provides assistance
and expertise in developing marketing plans and materials, enters into dealer
agreement with broker-dealers to sell shares and provides shareholder support
services, directly or through affiliates. The Funds do not charge any sales
loads, deferred sales loads or other fees in connection with the purchase of
shares.
Master/Feeder Structure
Other institutional investors, including other mutual funds, may invest in the
master funds. The master/feeder structure enables various institutional
investors, including a Fund, to pool their assets, which may be expected to
result in economies by spreading certain fixed costs over a larger asset base.
Each shareholder of a master fund, including a Fund, will pay its proportionate
share of the master fund's expenses.
For reasons relating to costs or a change in investment goal, among others, a
Fund could switch to another master fund or decide to manage its assets itself.
No Fund is currently contemplating such a move.
15
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Share Classes
Each Fund issues Investor and Institutional share classes, which classes have
different minimum investment requirements and fees. Institutional shares are
offered only to those investors who invest in a Fund through an intermediary
(i.e., broker) or through a consultant and who invest $1,000,000 or more or
where related accounts total $1,000,000 or more when combined. Other investors
investing $10,000 or more may purchase Investor shares.
16
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FOR MORE INFORMATION
FOR INVESTORS WHO WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE FUNDS, THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS
ARE AVAILABLE FREE UPON REQUEST:
Annual/Semi-Annual Reports: Contain performance data and information on fund
holdings and operating results for the Fund's most recently completed fiscal
year or half-year.
Statement of Additional Information (SAI): Provides a complete technical and
legal description of the Funds' policies, investment restrictions, risks, and
business structure. This prospectus incorporates the SAI by reference.
Copies of these documents and answers to questions about the Funds may be
obtained without charge by contacting:
CRM Funds
c/o PFPC Inc.
400 Bellevue Parkway
Suite 108
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
(800) CRM-2883
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time
Information about the Funds (including the SAI) can be reviewed and copied at
the Public Reference Room of the Securities and Exchange Commission in
Washington, D.C. Copies of this information may be obtained, upon payment of a
duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address:
[email protected], or by writing the Public Reference Room of the SEC,
Washington, DC, 20549-0102. Information on the operation of the Public Reference
Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-(202) 942-8090. Reports and other
information about the Funds may be viewed on-screen or downloaded from the SEC's
Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OPENING A NEW ACCOUNT, MAKING
CHANGES TO EXISTING ACCOUNTS, PURCHASING, EXCHANGING
OR REDEEMING SHARES, OR OTHER INVESTOR SERVICES,
PLEASE CALL 1-(800)-CRM-2883.
The investment company registration number is 811-08648.
<PAGE>
THE CRM INTERMEDIATE BOND FUND
THE CRM MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
Investor Shares
================================================================================
PROSPECTUS DATED NOVEMBER 1, 2000
This prospectus gives vital information about these mutual funds, including
information on investment policies, risks and fees. For your own benefit and
protection, please read it before you invest, and keep it on hand for future
reference.
Please note that these Funds:
o are not bank deposits
o are not obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed by the Funds' investment
adviser, Wilmington Trust Company, or any of its affiliates
o are not federally insured
o are not obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed or otherwise supported
by the U.S. Government, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the
Federal Reserve Board or any other governmental agency
o are not guaranteed to achieve their goal(s)
Like all mutual fund shares, these securities have not been approved or
disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission nor has the Securities and
Exchange Commission determined whether this prospectus is accurate or complete.
Anyone who tells you otherwise is committing a crime.
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A look at the goals, strategies, FUND DESCRIPTION
risks, expenses and financial Summary.....................................3
history of each fund. Fees and Expenses...........................5
Investment Objectives.......................7
Primary Investment Strategies...............7
Additional Risk Information................10
Details about the service MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
providers. Investment Adviser.........................12
Service Providers..........................13
Policies and instructions for SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
opening, maintaining and Pricing of Shares..........................15
closing an account in any of Purchase of Shares.........................15
the funds. Redemption of Shares.......................17
Exchange of Shares.........................18
Dividends and Distributions................19
Taxes......................................20
Details on the funds' DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS
share classes and master/ Master/Feeder Structure....................20
feeder arrangements. Share Classes..............................21
FOR MORE INFORMATION...............back cover
For information about key terms and concepts, look for our "Plain Talk"
explanations.
<PAGE>
CRM INTERMEDIATE BOND FUND
CRM MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
Investor Shares
FUND DESCRIPTION
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS A MUTUAL FUND?
A mutual fund pools shareholders' money and, using a professional
investment manager, invests it in securities like stocks and bonds. Each
Fund is a separate mutual fund.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
Investment Objective o The Intermediate Bond Fund seeks a high total
return, consistent with high current income.
o The Municipal Bond Fund seeks a high level of income
exempt from federal income tax, consistent with the
preservation of capital.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Focus o Fixed income securities
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share Price
Volatility o Moderate
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Principal o Each Fund operates as a "feeder fund," which means
Investment that a Fund does not buy individual securities
Strategy directly. Instead, the Funds invest in a
corresponding mutual fund or "master fund," which in
turn purchases investment securities. Each Fund
invests all of its assets in a master fund which is
a separate series of another mutual fund. The Funds
and their corresponding Series have the same
investment objectives, policies and limitations.
o The Intermediate Bond Fund invests in the
Intermediate Bond Series, which invests at least 85%
of its total assets in various types of investment
grade fixed income securities.
o The Municipal Bond Fund invests in the Municipal
Bond Series, which invests at least 80% of its net
assets in municipal securities that provide interest
exempt from federal income tax.
o The Series' adviser purchases securities based upon
their yield or their potential capital appreciation,
or both. The adviser may sell securities in
anticipation of market declines or if the securities
are downgraded to below investment grade.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Principal Risks The Funds are subject to the risks summarized below,
which are described under "Additional Risk Information."
o An investment in a Fund is not a deposit of
Wilmington Trust Company, the Funds' investment
adviser, or any of its affiliates and is not insured
or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation or any other government agency.
o It is possible to lose money by investing in a Fund.
o The fixed income securities in which the Funds
invest through their corresponding Series are
subject to credit risk, prepayment risk, market
risk, liquidity risk and interest rate risk.
Typically, when interest rates rise, the market
prices of fixed income securities go down.
o The performance of a Fund will depend on whether or
not the adviser is successful in pursuing an
investment strategy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investor Profile o Investors who want income from their investments
without the volatility of an equity portfolio.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1
<PAGE>
PLAIN TALK
-------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE FUND EXPENSES?
Unlike an index, every mutual fund has operating expenses to pay for
professional advisory, shareholder distribution, administration and
custody services. Each Fund's expenses in the table below are shown as a
percentage of its net assets. These expenses are deducted from Fund
assets.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and
hold shares of a Fund. No sales charges or other fees are paid directly from
your investment.
Investor Shares
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING
EXPENSES (expenses that are Intermediate Municipal
deducted from Fund assets) (1) Bond Fund Bond Fund
--------- ---------
Management fees 0.35% 0.35%
Distribution (12b-1) fees None None
Other expenses 0.36% 0.68%
Shareholder Services fee 0.25% 0.25%
Total annual operating expenses(2) 0.96% 1.28%
Waivers/reimbursements 0.16% 0.28%
Net annual operating expenses 0.80% 1.00%
-----------------------
(1) The table above and the Example below each reflect the aggregate annual
operating expenses of each Fund and the corresponding Series in which the Fund
invests.
(2) For Investor shares, Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn LLC has agreed to reimburse
expenses to the extent total operating expenses for Investor shares exceed 0.80%
for the Intermediate Bond Fund and 1.00% for the Municipal Bond Fund. This
waiver will remain in place until the Board of Trustees approves its
termination.
EXAMPLE
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in a Fund
with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The table below shows what you
would pay if you invested $10,000 over the various time frames indicated. The
example assumes that:
o you reinvested all dividends and other distributions
o the average annual return was 5%
o the Fund's maximum (without regard to waivers or expenses) total operating
expenses are charged and remain the same over the time periods
o you redeemed all of your investment at the end of the time period.
Although your actual cost may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions,
your costs would be:
Investor Shares 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
--------------- ------ ------- ------- --------
Intermediate Bond Fund $ 98 $306 $531 $1,178
Municipal Bond Fund $130 $406 $702 $1,545
The above example is for comparison purposes only and is not a representation of
a Fund's actual expenses and returns, either past or future.
Investment Objectives
The Intermediate Bond Fund seeks a high total return, consistent with high
current income. The Municipal Bond Fund seeks a high level of income exempt from
federal income tax, consistent with the preservation of capital. These
investment objectives may not be changed without shareholder approval. There is
no guarantee that a Fund will achieve its investment objective.
2
<PAGE>
Primary Investment Strategies
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE FIXED INCOME SECURITIES?
Fixed income securities are generally bonds, which is a type of security
that functions like a loan. Bonds are IOUs issued by private companies,
municipalities or government agencies. By comparison, when you buy a
stock, you are buying ownership in a company. With a bond, your "loan" is
for a specific period, usually 2 to 30 years. You receive regular interest
payments at the rate stated when you bought the bond. Hence, the term
"fixed income" security.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE INVESTMENT GRADE SECURITIES?
Investment grade securities are securities that have been determined by a
rating agency to have a medium to high probability of being paid, although
there is always a risk of default. Investment grade securities are rated
BBB, A, AA or AAA by Standard & Poor's Corporation or Baa, A, Aa or Aaa by
Moody's Investors Service.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Intermediate Bond Fund invests its assets in the Intermediate Bond Series,
which:
o will invest at least 85% of its total assets in various types of
investment grade fixed income securities;
o may invest up to 10% of its total assets in investment grade fixed income
securities of foreign issuers; and
o will, as a matter of fundamental policy, maintain an intermediate average
duration. The average dollar-weighted duration of securities held by the
Intermediate Bond Series will normally fall within a range of 5 to 7
years.
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS DURATION?
Duration measures the sensitivity of fixed income securities held by a
Fund to a change in interest rates. The value of a security with a longer
duration will normally fluctuate to a greater degree than will the value
of a security with a shorter duration should interest rates change. For
example, if interest rates were to move 1%, a bond with a 3-year duration
would experience approximately a 3% change in principal value. An
identical bond with a 5-year duration would experience approximately a 5%
change in its principal value.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE MUNICIPAL SECURITIES?
Municipal securities are bonds issued by state and local governments to
raise money for their activities.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
3
<PAGE>
The Municipal Bond Fund invests its assets in the Municipal Bond Series, which:
o will, as a fundamental policy, invest substantially all (at least 80%) of
its net assets in a diversified fund of municipal securities that provide
interest that is exempt from federal income tax;
o may invest up to 20% of its net assets in other types of fixed income
securities that provide income that is subject to federal tax; and
o will, as a matter of fundamental policy, maintain an intermediate average
duration. The average dollar-weighted duration of securities held by the
Municipal Bond Series will normally fall within a range of 4 to 8 years.
The Municipal Bond Series may not invest more than 25% of its total assets in
any one industry. You should note that governmental issuers of municipal
securities are not considered part of any industry. The 25% limitation applies
to municipal securities backed by the assets and revenues of non-governmental
users, such as private operators of educational, hospital or housing facilities.
However, the investment adviser may decide that the yields available from
concentrating in obligations of a particular market sector or political
subdivision justify the risk that the performance of the Municipal Bond Series
may be adversely affected by such concentration. Under such market conditions,
the Municipal Bond Series may invest more than 25% of its assets in sectors of
the municipal securities market, such as health care or housing, or in
securities relating to one political subdivision, such as a given state or U.S.
territory. Under these conditions, the Municipal Bond Series' vulnerability to
any special risks that affects that sector or jurisdiction could have an adverse
impact on the value of an investment in the Series. There are no limitations on
the Municipal Bond Series' investment in any one of the three general categories
of municipal obligations: general obligation bonds, revenue (or special)
obligation bonds and private activity bonds.
Series Composition. The composition of each Series' holdings varies, depending
upon the investment adviser's analysis of the fixed income markets, the
municipal securities market and the expected trends in those markets. The
securities purchased by the Series may be purchased based upon their yield, the
income earned by the security, or their potential capital appreciation, the
potential increase in the security's value, or both. The investment adviser
seeks to protect the Series' principal value by reducing fluctuations in value
relative to those that may be experienced by fixed income funds with a longer
average duration. This strategy may reduce the level of income attained by the
Series. There is no guarantee that principal value can be protected during
periods of extreme interest volatility.
4
<PAGE>
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
CORPORATE BONDS VS. GOVERNMENT BONDS:
Bonds issued by corporations generally pay a higher interest rate than
government bonds. That's because corporate bonds are somewhat riskier than
government bonds and the interest payments on government bonds are exempt
from some or all taxes. For example, if you live in Delaware and buy a
bond issued by the state of Delaware or by any other government or
municipal agency in Delaware, your interest on the bond is exempt from
state and federal income taxes. But if your bond is issued by any state
other than the one in which you reside, the interest would only be exempt
from federal income tax and you would have to pay your state income tax.
Interest payments on U.S. Treasury bonds are exempt from state and local
taxes.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Series invest only in securities that are rated, at the time of purchase, in
the top four categories by a rating agency such as Moody's Investors Service,
Inc. or Standard & Poor's. If the securities are not rated, then the investment
adviser must determine that they are of comparable quality.
The table below shows each Series' principal investments. These are the types of
securities that will most likely help a Series achieve its investment objective.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Intermediate Municipal Bond
Bond
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Asset-Backed Securities /X/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bank Obligations /X/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Corporate Bonds, Notes and
Commercial Paper /X/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mortgage-Backed Securities /X/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Municipal Securities /X/ /X/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Obligations Issued By Supranational Agencies /X/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Government Obligations /X/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Each Series also may use other strategies and engage in other investment
practices, which are described in detail in our Statement of Additional
Information. The investments and strategies listed above and described
throughout this prospectus are those that we use under normal market conditions.
Additional Risk Information
The following is a list of certain risks that apply to your investment in a
Fund. Further information about investment risks is available in our Statement
of Additional Information:
o Credit Risk: The risk that the issuer of a security, or the counterparty
to a contract, will default or otherwise become unable to honor a
financial obligation.
o Foreign Security Risk: The risk of losses due to political, regulatory,
economic, social or other uncontrollable forces in a foreign country
(Intermediate Bond Fund only).
o Interest Rate Risk: The risk of market losses attributable to changes in
interest rates. With fixed-rate securities, a rise in interest rates
typically causes a fall in values, while a fall in rates
5
<PAGE>
typically causes a rise in values. The yield earned by a Series will vary
with changes in interest rates.
o Leverage Risk: The risk associated with securities or practices (such as
when-issued and forward commitment transactions) that multiply small
market movements into larger changes in value.
o Liquidity Risk: The risk that certain securities may be difficult or
impossible to sell at the time and the price that the seller would like.
o Market Risk: The risk that the market value of a security may move up and
down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably.
o Master/Feeder Risk: The master/feeder structure is relatively new and more
complex. While this structure is designed to reduce costs, it may not do
so, and there may be operational or other complications. For example,
large-scale redemptions by other feeders of their shares of a master fund
could have adverse effects on a Fund such as requiring the liquidation of
a substantial portion of the master fund's holdings at a time when it
could be disadvantageous to do so. Also, other feeders of a master fund
may have a greater ownership interest in the master fund than a Fund's
interest and, therefore, could have effective voting control over the
operation of the master fund.
o Opportunity Risk: The risk of missing out on an investment opportunity
because the assets necessary to take advantage of it are tied up in less
advantageous investments.
o Prepayment Risk: The risk that a debt security may be paid off and
proceeds invested earlier than anticipated. Depending on market
conditions, the new investments may or may not carry the same interest
rate.
o Valuation Risk: The risk that a Series has valued certain of its
securities at a higher price than it can sell them for.
6
<PAGE>
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS
The Board of Trustees for each Fund supervises the management, activities and
affairs of the Fund and has approved contracts with various organizations to
provide, among other services, day-to-day management required by the Fund and
its shareholders.
Investment Adviser
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS AN INVESTMENT ADVISER?
The investment adviser makes investment decisions for a mutual fund and
continuously reviews, supervises and administers the fund's investment
program. The Board of Trustees supervises the investment adviser and
establishes policies that the adviser must follow in its management
activities.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wilmington Trust Company ("WTC"), the Series' investment adviser, is located at
1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890. WTC owns a minority
interest in Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, LLC, the Funds' sponsor. WTC is a wholly
owned subsidiary of Wilmington Trust Corporation, which is a publicly held bank
holding company. Under an advisory agreement, WTC, subject to the supervision of
the Board of Trustees, directs the investments of each Series in accordance with
its investment objective, policies and limitations. In addition to serving as
investment adviser for the Series, WTC is engaged in a variety of investment
advisory activities, including the management of other mutual funds and
collective investment pools.
Under the advisory agreement, each Series pays a monthly fee to WTC at the
annual rate of 0.35% of the Series' first $1 billion of average daily net
assets; 0.30% of the Series' next $1 billion of average daily net assets; and
0.25% of the Series' average daily net assets over $2 billion. For the twelve
months ended June 30, 2000, WTC received the following fees (after fee waivers)
as a percentage of each Series' average daily net assets for investment advisory
services:
Intermediate Bond Series 0.19%
Municipal Bond Series 0.07%
Fund Managers
Eric K. Cheung, Vice President and Manager of the Fixed Income Management
Division, Clayton M. Albright, III, Vice President of the Fixed Income
Management Division and Dominick J. D'Eramo, CFA, Vice President of the Fixed
Income Management Division, all of the Asset Management Department of WTC, are
primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Short/Intermediate
Bond Series and the Intermediate Bond Series. From 1978 until 1986, Mr. Cheung
was the Portfolio Manager for fixed income assets of the Meritor Financial
Group. In 1986, Mr. Cheung joined WTC. In 1991, he became the Division Manager
for all fixed income products. Mr. Albright has been employed at WTC since 1976.
In 1987, he joined the Fixed Income Management Division and since then has
specialized in the management of intermediate and long-term fixed income
portfolios. Mr. D'Eramo began his career with WTC in 1986 as a fixed-income
trader and was promoted to portfolio manager in 1990.
7
<PAGE>
Lisa More, Vice President of Credit Research and Municipal Trading within the
Fixed Income Management Divisions of Asset Management Department of WTC, is
primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Municipal Bond
Portfolio. Mrs. More has been employed at WTC since 1988. In 1990, she joined
the Fixed Income Division specializing in the management of municipal income
portfolios.
8
<PAGE>
Service Providers
The chart below provides information on the Funds' primary service providers.
Asset Shareholder
Management Services
-------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
Investment Adviser Transfer Agent
Wilmington Trust Company PFPC Inc.
1100 North Market Street 400 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19890 Wilmington, DE 19809
Handles shareholder services,
including recordkeeping and statements,
Manages each Fund's business payment of distribution and processing
and investment activities. of buy and sell requests.
-------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
--------------------------
CRM Intermediate Bond Fund
CRM Municipal Bond Fund
--------------------------
Fund Asset
Operations Safe Keeping
-------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
Administrator and Custodian
Accounting Agent Wilmington Trust Company
PFPC Inc. 1100 N Market Street
400 Bellevue Parkway Wilmington, DE 19890
Wilmington, DE 19809
Provides facilities,
equipment and personnel
to carry out Holds each Fund's assets,
administrative services settles all portfolio trades
related to each Fund and collects most of the
and calculates each valuation data required for
Fund's NAV and calculating each
distributions. Fund's NAV per share.
-------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
9
<PAGE>
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
Pricing of Shares
The Funds value their assets based on current market value when such values are
available. Prices for fixed income securities normally are supplied by a pricing
service. Fixed income securities maturing within 60 days of the valuation date
are valued at amortized cost. Securities that do not have a readily available
current market value are valued in good faith under the direction of the Series'
Board of Trustees.
The assets held by the Intermediate Bond Series that are denominated in foreign
currencies are valued daily in U.S. dollars at the foreign currency exchange
rates that are prevailing at the time that PFPC determines the daily net asset
value per share.
PLAIN TALK
-------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS THE NET ASSET VALUE or "NAV"?
NAV = Assets - Liabilities
--------------------
Outstanding Shares
-------------------------------------------------------------------
PFPC determines the NAV per share of each Fund as of the close of regular
trading on the New York Stock Exchange (currently 4:00 p.m., Eastern time), on
each Business Day (a day that the New York Stock Exchange, the Transfer Agent
and the Philadelphia branch of the Federal Reserve Bank are open for business).
The NAV is calculated by adding the value of all securities and other assets in
a Fund, deducting its liabilities and dividing the balance by the number of
outstanding shares in that Fund.
Shares will not be priced on those days the Funds are closed. As of the date of
this prospectus, those days are:
New Year's Day Memorial Day Veterans Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Independence Day Thanksgiving Day
President's Day Labor Day Christmas Day
Good Friday Columbus Day
Purchase of shares
PLAIN TALK
-------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES:
o Directly by mail or by wire
o As a client of a Third Party
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Fund shares are offered on a continuous basis and are sold without any sales
charges. The minimum initial investment in the Fund's Investor class shares is
$10,000. The Funds, in their sole discretion, may waive the minimum initial
amount to establish certain Institutional share accounts. Additional investments
may be made in any amount. You may purchase shares as specified below.
10
<PAGE>
You may also purchase shares if you are a client of an institution (such as a
bank or broker-dealer) that has entered into a servicing agreement with the
Funds' distributor ("Third Party"). You should also be aware that you may be
charged a fee by the Third Party in connection with your investment in the
Funds. If you wish to purchase Fund shares through your account at a Third
Party, you should contact that entity directly for information and instructions
on purchasing shares.
By Mail: You may purchase shares by sending a check drawn on a U.S. bank payable
to CRM Funds, indicating the name of the Fund, along with a completed
application (included at the end of this prospectus). If a subsequent investment
is being made, the check should also indicate your Fund account number. When you
make purchases by check, each Fund may withhold payment on redemptions until it
is reasonably satisfied that the funds are collected (which can take up to 10
days). If you purchase shares with a check that does not clear, your purchase
will be canceled and you will be responsible for any losses or fees incurred in
that transaction. Send the check and application to:
Regular mail: Overnight mail:
------------- ---------------
CRM Funds CRM Funds
c/o PFPC Inc. c/o PFPC Inc.
P.O. Box 8742 400 Bellevue Parkway, Suite 108
Wilmington, DE 19899 Wilmington, DE 19809
By Wire: You may purchase shares by wiring federal funds readily available.
Please call PFPC at (800) CRM-2883 for instructions and to make specific
arrangements before making a purchase by wire, and if making an initial
purchase, to also obtain an account number.
Additional Information Regarding Purchases: Purchase orders received by the
Transfer Agent before the close of regular trading on the Exchange on any
Business Day will be priced at the NAV that is determined as of the close of
trading. Purchase orders received after the close of regular trading on the
Exchange will be priced as of the close of regular trading on the following
Business Day.
Any purchase order may be rejected if a Fund determines that accepting the order
would not be in the best interest of the Fund or its shareholders.
It is the responsibility of the Third Party to transmit orders for the purchase
of shares by its customers to the Transfer Agent and to deliver required funds
on a timely basis, in accordance with the procedures stated above.
11
<PAGE>
For information on other ways to purchase shares, including through an
individual retirement account (IRA) or an automatic investment plan or a payroll
investment plan, please refer to the Statement of Additional Information.
Redemption of Shares
PLAIN TALK
-------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO REDEEM (SELL) SHARES:
o By mail
o By telephone
-------------------------------------------------------------------
You may sell your shares on any Business Day as described below. Redemptions are
effected at the NAV next determined after the Transfer Agent has received your
redemption request. There is no fee when Fund shares are redeemed. It is the
responsibility of the Third Party to transmit redemption orders and credit their
customers' accounts with redemption proceeds on a timely basis. Redemption
checks are mailed on the next Business Day following acceptance by the Transfer
Agent of redemption instructions, but never later than 7 days following such
receipt and acceptance. Amounts redeemed by wire are normally wired on the date
of receipt and acceptance of redemption instructions (if received by the
Transfer Agent before 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) or the next Business Day (if
received after 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, or on a non-Business Day), but never
later than 7 days following such receipt and acceptance. If you purchased your
shares through an account at a Third Party, you should contact the Third Party
for information relating to redemptions. The Fund's name and your account number
should accompany any redemption requests.
By Mail: If you redeem your shares by mail, you should submit written
instructions with a "signature guarantee". A signature guarantee verifies the
authenticity of your signature. You can obtain one from most banking
institutions or securities brokers, but not from a notary public. You must
indicate the Fund name, your account number and your name. The written
instructions and signature guarantee should be mailed to:
Regular mail: Overnight mail:
------------- ---------------
CRM Funds CRM Funds
c/o PFPC Inc. c/o PFPC Inc.
P.O. Box 8742 400 Bellevue Parkway, Suite 108
Wilmington, DE 19899 Wilmington, DE 19809
By Telephone: If you prefer to redeem your shares by telephone, you may elect to
do so. However there are certain risks. The Fund has certain safeguards and
procedures to confirm the identity of callers and to confirm that the
instructions communicated are genuine. If such procedures are followed, you will
bear the risk of any losses.
Additional Information Regarding Redemptions: Redemption proceeds may be wired
to your predesignated bank account in any commercial bank in the United States
if the amount is $1,000 or more. The receiving bank may charge a fee for this
service. Proceeds may also be mailed to
12
<PAGE>
your bank or, for amounts of $10,000 or less, mailed to your Fund account
address of record if the address has been established for at least 60 days. In
order to authorize the Transfer Agent to mail redemption proceeds to your Fund
account address of record, complete the appropriate section of the Application
for Telephone Redemptions or include your Fund account address of record when
you submit written instructions. You may change the account that you have
designated to receive amounts redeemed at any time. Any request to change the
account designated to receive redemption proceeds should be accompanied by a
guarantee of your signature by an eligible institution. A signature and a
signature guarantee are required for each person in whose name the account is
registered. Further documentation will be required to change the designated
account when a corporation, other organization, trust, fiduciary or other
institutional investor holds the Fund shares.
If shares to be redeemed represent a recent investment made by check, each Fund
reserves the right not to make the redemption proceeds available until it has
reasonable grounds to believe that the check has been collected (which could
take up to 10 days).
Small Accounts: If the value of your Fund account falls below $10,000 for
Investor shares ($2,000 for IRAs or automatic investment plans), the Fund may
ask you to increase your balance. If the account value is still below such
amounts after 60 days, the Fund may close your account and send you the
proceeds. The Fund will not close your account if it falls below these amounts
solely as a result of a reduction in your account's market value.
Redemptions in Kind: The Funds reserve the right to make "redemptions in kind" -
payments of redemption proceeds in fund securities rather than cash - if the
amount redeemed is large enough to affect the Series' operations (for example,
if it represents more than 1% of a Series' assets).
Exchange of Shares
PLAIN TALK
-------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS AN EXCHANGE OF SHARES?
An exchange of shares allows you to move your money from one fund to
another fund within a family of funds.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
You may exchange all or a portion of your shares in a Fund for Investor class
shares of the following CRM Funds:
CRM Prime Money Market Fund
CRM Tax-Exempt Fund
CRM Intermediate Bond Fund
CRM Municipal Bond Fund
CRM Large Cap Value Fund
CRM Mid Cap Value Fund
CRM Small Cap Value Fund
13
<PAGE>
Redemption of shares through an exchange will be effected at the NAV per share
next determined after the Transfer Agent receives your request. A purchase of
shares through an exchange will be effected at the NAV per share determined at
that time or as next determined thereafter.
Exchange transactions will be subject to the minimum initial investment and
other requirements of the Fund into which the exchange is made. An exchange may
not be made if the exchange would leave a balance in a shareholder's account of
less than $10,000.
To obtain prospectuses of the other CRM Funds, you may call (800) CRM-2883. To
obtain more information about exchanges, or to place exchange orders, contact
the Transfer Agent, or, if your shares are held in a trust account with a Third
Party, contact the Third Party. The Funds may terminate or modify the exchange
offer described here and will give you 60 days' notice of such termination or
modification. This exchange offer is valid only in those jurisdictions where the
sale of the CRM Fund shares to be acquired through such exchange may be legally
made.
Dividends and other Distributions
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS NET INVESTMENT INCOME?
Net investment income consists of interest and dividends (and, in the case
of the Municipal Bond Fund, market discount on tax-exempt securities)
earned by a fund on its investments less accrued expenses.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
As a shareholder of a Fund, you are entitled to receive dividends and other
distributions arising from the net investment income and net realized gains, if
any, earned on the investments held by the Fund. Generally, dividends are
declared daily and paid monthly. Each Fund expects to distribute any net
realized gains once a year. CRM Intermediate Bond Fund will distribute net
realized gains from foreign currency transactions, if any, after the end of the
fiscal year in which the gain was realized by them.
A distribution is payable to the shareholders of record at the time the
distribution is declared (including holders of shares being redeemed, but
excluding holders of shares being purchased). Shares become entitled to receive
distributions on the day after the shares are issued.
Distributions are automatically reinvested and are paid in the form of
additional Fund shares unless you have elected to receive the distributions in
cash.
Any net capital gain realized by a Fund will be distributed at least annually.
14
<PAGE>
Taxes
Each Fund generally intends to operate in a manner such that it will not be
liable for Federal income or excise tax. The Funds' distributions of net
investment income (which include net short-term capital gains), whether received
in cash or reinvested in additional Fund shares, may be subject to federal
income tax. Each Fund will notify you following the end of the calendar year of
the amount of dividends paid that year.
Dividend distributions by the Municipal Bond Fund of the excess of its interest
income on tax-exempt securities over certain amounts disallowed as deductions
("exempt-interest dividends") may be treated by you as interest excludable from
your gross income. The Municipal Bond Fund intends to distribute income that is
exempt from federal income tax, though it may invest in a portion of its assets
in securities that generate taxable income. Income exempt from federal income
tax may be subject to state and local income tax. Additionally, any capital
gains distributed by the Municipal Bond Fund may be taxable.
It is a taxable event for you if you sell or exchange shares of any Fund,
including the Municipal Bond Fund. Depending on the purchase price and the sale
price of the shares you exchange, you may have a taxable gain or loss on the
transaction. You are responsible for any tax liability generated by your
transactions.
STATE AND LOCAL TAXES: You should consult your tax adviser concerning state and
local taxes, which may have different consequences from those of the Federal
income law.
This section is only a summary of some important income tax considerations that
may affect your investment in a Fund. More information regarding those
considerations appears in our Statement of Additional Information. You are urged
to consult your tax adviser regarding the effects of an investment on your tax
situation.
DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS
The Distributor manages the Funds' distribution efforts and provides assistance
and expertise in developing marketing plans and materials, enters into dealer
agreement with broker-dealers to sell shares and provides shareholder support
services, directly or through affiliates. The Funds do not charge any sales
loads, deferred sales loads or other fees in connection with the purchase of
shares.
Master/Feeder Structure
Other institutional investors, including other mutual funds, may invest in the
master funds. The master/feeder structure enables various institutional
investors, including a Fund, to pool their assets, which may be expected to
result in economies by spreading certain fixed costs over a larger asset base.
Each shareholder of a master fund, including a Fund, will pay its proportionate
share of the master fund's expenses.
For reasons relating to costs or a change in investment goal, among others, a
Fund could switch to another master fund or decide to manage its assets itself.
No Fund is currently contemplating such a move.
15
<PAGE>
Share Classes
Each Fund issues Investor and Institutional share classes, which classes have
different minimum investment requirements and fees. Institutional shares are
offered only to those investors who invest in a Fund through an intermediary
(i.e., broker) or through a consultant and who invest $1,000,000 or more or
where related accounts total $1,000,000 or more when combined. Other investors
investing $10,000 or more may purchase Investor shares.
16
<PAGE>
FOR MORE INFORMATION
FOR INVESTORS WHO WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE FUNDS, THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS
ARE AVAILABLE FREE UPON REQUEST:
Annual/Semi-Annual Reports: Contain performance data and information on fund
holdings and operating results for the Fund's most recently completed fiscal
year or half-year.
Statement of Additional Information (SAI): Provides a complete technical and
legal description of the Funds' policies, investment restrictions, risks, and
business structure. This prospectus incorporates the SAI by reference.
Copies of these documents and answers to questions about the Funds may be
obtained without charge by contacting:
CRM Funds
c/o PFPC Inc.
400 Bellevue Parkway
Suite 108
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
(800) CRM-2883
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time
Information about the Funds (including the SAI) can be reviewed and copied at
the Public Reference Room of the Securities and Exchange Commission in
Washington, D.C. Copies of this information may be obtained, upon payment of a
duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address:
[email protected], or by writing the Public Reference Room of the SEC,
Washington, DC, 20549-0102. Information on the operation of the Public Reference
Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-(202) 942-8090. Reports and other
information about the Funds may be viewed on-screen or downloaded from the SEC's
Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OPENING A NEW ACCOUNT, MAKING
CHANGES TO EXISTING ACCOUNTS, PURCHASING, EXCHANGING
OR REDEEMING SHARES, OR OTHER INVESTOR SERVICES,
PLEASE CALL 1-(800)-CRM-2883.
The investment company registration number is 811-08648.
<PAGE>
CRM PRIME MONEY MARKET FUND
CRM TAX-EXEMPT FUND
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES
================================================================================
PROSPECTUS DATED NOVEMBER 1, 2000
This prospectus gives vital information about this money market mutual fund,
including information on investment policies, risks and fees. For your own
benefit and protection, please read it before you invest, and keep it on hand
for future reference.
Please note that the Funds:
o are not bank deposits
o are not obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed by the Funds' investment
adviser, Wilmington Trust Company, or any of its affiliates
o are not federally insured
o are not obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed or otherwise supported by
the U.S. Government, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal
Reserve Board or any other governmental agency
o are not guaranteed to achieve their goal(s)
o may not be able to maintain a stable $1 share price
Like all mutual fund shares, these securities have not been approved or
disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission nor has the Securities and
Exchange Commission determined whether this prospectus is accurate or complete.
Anyone who tells you otherwise is committing a crime.
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A LOOK AT THE GOALS, STRATEGIES, FUND DESCRIPTION
RISKS, EXPENSES AND FINANCIAL Summary....................................3
HISTORY OF THE FUNDS. Fees and Expenses..........................5
Investment Objective.......................6
Primary Investment Strategies..............6
Additional Risk Information................7
DETAILS ABOUT THE SERVICE MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS
PROVIDERS. Investment Adviser.........................9
Service Providers..........................9
POLICIES AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
OPENING, MAINTAINING AND Pricing of Shares.........................11
CLOSING AN ACCOUNT IN THE Purchase of Shares........................11
FUNDS. Redemption of Shares......................13
Exchange of Shares........................15
Distributions.............................15
Taxes.....................................16
DETAILS ON THE FUNDS' MASTER/ DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS
FEEDER ARRANGEMENT. Share Classes.............................16
Master/Feeder Structure...................17
FOR MORE INFORMATION..............back cover
For information about key terms and concepts, look for our "PLAIN TALK"
explanations.
<PAGE>
THE CRM PRIME MONEY MARKET FUND
THE CRM TAX-EXEMPT FUND
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES
FUND DESCRIPTION
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE MONEY MARKET FUNDS?
Money market funds invest only in high quality, short-term debt
securities, commonly known as money market instruments. Money market
funds follow strict rules about credit risk, maturity and
diversification of their investments. An investment in a money market
fund is not a bank deposit. Although a money market fund seeks to keep
a constant share price of $1.00, you may lose money by investing in a
money market fund.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
Investment Objective o The PRIME MONEY MARKET FUND seeks high current
income, while preserving capital and
liquidity.
o The TAX EXEMPT FUND seeks high current
interest income exempt from federal income
taxes while preserving principal.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Focus o Money market instruments
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share Price Volatility o The Funds will strive to maintain a stable
$1.00 share price.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Principal Investment Strategy o The Funds operate as "feeder funds" which
means that the Funds do not buy individual
securities directly. Instead, each Fund
invests in a corresponding mutual fund or
"master fund," which in turn purchases
investment securities. The Funds invest all of
their assets in master funds, which are
separate series of another mutual fund. The
Funds and corresponding Series have the same
investment objective, policies and
limitations. o The PRIME MONEY MARKET FUND
invests in the Prime Money Market Series,
which invests in money market instruments,
including bank obligations, high quality
commercial paper and U.S. Government
obligations.
o The TAX-EXEMPT FUND invests in the Tax-Exempt
Series, which invests in high quality
municipal obligations, municipal bonds and
other instruments exempt from federal income
tax.
o The Prime Money Market Fund, through its
corresponding Series, may invest more than 25%
of its total assets in the obligations of
banks and finance companies.
o In selecting securities for the Series, the
adviser seeks current income, liquidity and
safety of principal. The adviser may sell
securities if the securities are downgraded to
a lower ratings category.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Principal Risks The Funds are subject to the risks, summarized
below, which are further described under
"Additional Risk Information."
o An investment in a Fund is not a deposit of
Wilmington Trust Company, the Funds'
investment adviser or any of its affiliates
and is not insured or guaranteed by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any
other government agency. Although each Fund
seeks to preserve the value of your investment
at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose
money by investing in a Fund.
1
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
o The obligations, in which the Funds invest
through their corresponding Series, are
subject to credit risk and interest rate risk.
Typically, when interest rates rise, the
market prices of debt securities go down.
o The performance of a Fund will depend on
whether or not the adviser is successful in
pursuing an investment strategy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investor Profile o Conservative
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2
<PAGE>
FEES AND EXPENSES
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE MUTUAL FUND EXPENSES?
Unlike an index, every mutual fund has operating expenses to pay for
professional advisory, distribution, administration and custody
services. The Fund's expenses in the table below are shown as a
percentage of the Fund's net assets. These expenses are deducted from
Fund assets.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3
<PAGE>
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and
hold shares of the Fund.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING THE PRIME MONEY THE TAX-EXEMPT
EXPENSES (EXPENSES THAT ARE DEDUCTED FROM FUND ASSETS) 1 MARKET FUND FUND
----------- ----
<S> <C> <C>
Management fees 0.44% 0.47%
Distribution (12b-1) fees None None
Other expenses 0.04% 0.06%
TOTAL ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENSES 0.48% 0.53%
</TABLE>
-------------------------------------------
1 The table above and the Example below each reflect the aggregate annual
operating expenses of the Fund and the corresponding Series in which the
Fund invests.
EXAMPLE
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund
with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The table below shows what you
would pay if you invested $10,000 over the various time frames indicated. The
example assumes that:
o you reinvested all dividends;
o the average annual return was 5%;
o the Fund's maximum total operating expenses are charged and remain the same
over the time periods; and
o you redeemed all of your investment at the end of the time period.
Although your actual cost may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions,
your costs would be:
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES 1 YEAR 3 YEARS
------ -------
Prime Money Market Fund $49 $154
Tax-Exempt Fund $54 $170
THE ABOVE EXAMPLES ARE FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES ONLY AND ARE NOT A REPRESENTATION
OF THE FUNDS' ACTUAL EXPENSES AND RETURNS, EITHER PAST OR FUTURE.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
o The PRIME MONEY MARKET FUND seeks a high level of current income consistent
with the preservation of capital and liquidity.
o The TAX-EXEMPT FUND seeks as high a level of interest income exempt from
federal income tax as is consistent with preservation of principal.
The investment objectives for each Fund may not be changed without shareholder
approval. Each of the Funds is a money market fund and intends to maintain a
stable $1 share price, although this may not be possible under certain
circumstances. There can be no guarantee that any Fund will achieve its
investment objective.
4
<PAGE>
PRIMARY INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
The PRIME MONEY MARKET FUND invests its assets in the Prime Money Market
Series, which in turn invests in:
o U.S. dollar-denominated obligations of major U.S. and foreign banks and
their branches located outside of the United States, of U.S. branches of
foreign banks, of foreign branches of foreign banks, of U.S. agencies of
foreign banks and wholly-owned banking subsidiaries of foreign banks;
o high quality commercial paper and corporate obligations;
o U.S. Government obligations, which are debt securities issued or guaranteed
by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities;
o high quality municipal securities; and
o repurchase agreements that are fully collateralized by the U.S. Government
obligations.
The TAX-EXEMPT FUND invests its assets in the Tax-Exempt Series, which in turn
invests in:
o high quality municipal obligations and municipal bonds;
o floating and variable rate obligations;
o participation interests;
o high quality tax-exempt commercial paper; and
o high quality short-term municipal notes.
The Tax-Exempt Series has adopted a policy that, under normal circumstances, at
least 80% of its annual income will be exempt from federal income tax.
Additionally, at least 80% of its annual income will not be a tax preference
item for purposes of the federal alternative minimum tax.
High quality securities include those that (1) are rated in one of the two
highest short-term rating categories by two NRSRO, such as S&P, Moody's and
Fitch IBCA (or by one NRSRO if only one NRSRO has issued a rating) or; (2) if
unrated are issued by an issuer with comparable outstanding debt that is rated
or are otherwise unrated and determined by the investment adviser to be of
comparable quality.
The Series also may invest in other securities, use other strategies and engage
in other investment practices, which are described in detail in our Statement of
Additional Information.
ADDITIONAL RISK INFORMATION
The following is a list of certain risks that may apply to your investment in a
Fund. Further information about investment risks is available in our Statement
of Additional Information:
o CREDIT RISK: The risk that the issuer of a security, or the counterparty to
a contract, will default or otherwise become unable to honor a financial
obligation.
o FOREIGN SECURITY RISK: The risk of losses due to political, regulatory,
economic, social or other uncontrollable forces in a foreign country.
o INTEREST RATE RISK: The risk of market losses attributable to changes in
interest rates. With fixed-rate securities, a rise in interest rates
typically causes a fall in values, while a fall in
5
<PAGE>
rates typically causes a rise in values. The yield paid by a Fund will vary
with changes in interest rates.
o MARKET RISK: The risk that the market value of a security may move up and
down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. For example, large scale
redemptions by other feeders of their shares of a master fund could have
adverse effects on a Fund such as requiring the liquidation of a
substantial portion of the master fund's holdings at a time when it could
be disadvantageous to do so. Also, other feeders of a master fund may have
a greater ownership interest in the master fund than a Fund's interest and,
therefore, could have effective voting control over the operation of the
master fund.
o MASTER/FEEDER RISK: The Funds' master/feeder structure is relatively new
and more complex. While this structure is designed to reduce costs, it may
not do so, and the Fund might encounter operational or other complications.
For example, large-scale redemptions by other feeders of their shares of a
master fund could have adverse effects on a Portfolio such as requiring the
liquidation of a substantial portion of the master fund's holdings at a
time when it could be disadvantageous to do so. Also, other feeders of a
master fund may have a greater ownership interest in the master fund than a
Portfolio's interest, and, therefore, could have effective voting control
over the operation of the master fund.
o PREPAYMENT RISK: The risk that a debt security may be paid off and proceeds
invested earlier than anticipated. Depending on market conditions, the new
investments may or may not carry the same interest rate.
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
The Board of Trustees for each Fund supervises the management, activities and
affairs of the Fund and has approved contracts with various organizations to
provide, among other services, the day-to-day management required by the Fund
and its shareholders.
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS AN INVESTMENT ADVISER?
The investment adviser makes investment decisions for a mutual fund and
continuously reviews, supervises and administers the fund's investment
program. The Board of Trustees supervises the investment adviser and
establishes policies that the adviser must follow in its management
activities.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT ADVISER
Rodney Square Management Corporation ("RSMC"), the Series' investment adviser,
is located at 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890. RSMC is a
wholly owned subsidiary of Wilmington Trust Company ("WTC"), which is wholly
owned by Wilmington Trust Corporation. WTC owns a minority interest in Cramer
Rosenthal McGlynn, LLC, the Fund's sponsor. RSMC also provides asset management
services to collective investment funds maintained by WTC. In the past, RSMC has
provided asset management services to individuals, personal trusts,
municipalities, corporations and other organizations.
The Prime Money Market Series and the Tax-Exempt Series each pays a monthly fee
to RSMC at the annual rate of 0.47% of the Series' first $1 billion of average
daily net assets; 0.43% of the Series' next $500 million of average daily net
assets; 0.40% of the Series' next $500 million of average daily net assets; and
0.37% of the Series' average daily net assets in excess of $2 billion, as
determined at the close of business on each day throughout the month. For the
twelve months ended June 30, 2000, the Prime Money Market Series and the
Tax-Exempt Series paid RSMC 0.45 and 0.47%, respectively, of the Series'
average daily net assets for its services as investment adviser. Out of its fee,
RSMC makes payments to PFPC Inc. for the provision of administration, accounting
and transfer agency services and to PFPC Trust Company for provision of
custodial services.
SERVICE PROVIDERS
The chart below provides information on the Fund's primary service providers.
7
<PAGE>
Asset Shareholder
Management Services
-------------------------------------- ---------------------------------
INVESTMENT ADVISER TRANSFER AGENT
RODNEY SQUARE MANAGEMENT PFPC INC.
CORPORATION
1100 NORTH MARKET STREET 400 BELLEVUE PARKWAY
WILMINGTON, DE 19890 WILMINGTON, DE 19809
Handles shareholder services,
including recordkeeping and
statements, payment of
Manages each Fund's business and distribution and processing of
investment activities. buy and sell requests.
-------------------------------------- ---------------------------------
--------------------------------------
CRM PRIME MONEY MARKET
CRM TAX-EXEMPT
--------------------------------------
Fund Asset
Operations Safe Keeping
-------------------------------------- ---------------------------------
ADMINISTRATOR AND CUSTODIAN
ACCOUNTING AGENT
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
PFPC INC.
400 BELLEVUE PARKWAY RODNEY SQUARE NORTH
WILMINGTON, DE 19809 1100 NORTH MARKET STREET
WILMINGTON, DE 19890
Provides facilities, equipment and
personnel to carry out
administrative services related to Holds each Fund's assets,
each Fund and calculates each Fund's settles all portfolio trades and
NAV and distributions. collects most of the valuation
data required for calculating
each Fund's NAV per share.
-------------------------------------- ---------------------------------
8
<PAGE>
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
PRICING OF SHARES
Each Fund uses its best effort to maintain its $1 constant share price and
values its securities at cost. This involves valuing a security initially at its
cost and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to maturity of any discount
or premium, regardless of fluctuating interest rates on the market value of the
security. All cash, receivables and current payables are carried at their face
value. Other assets, if any, are valued at fair value as determined in good
faith by, or under the direction of, the Board of Trustees.
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS THE NET ASSET VALUE or "NAV"?
NAV = ASSETS - LIABILITIES
--------------------
Outstanding Shares
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PFPC determines the NAV per share of each Fund, as of 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time
for the Tax-Exempt Fund and as of 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time for the Prime Money
Market Fund, on each Business Day (a day that the New York Stock Exchange, the
Transfer Agent and the Philadelphia branch of the Federal Reserve Bank are open
for business). The NAV is calculated by adding the value of all securities and
other assets in a Fund, deducting its liabilities and dividing the balance by
the number of outstanding shares in that Fund.
Shares will not be priced on those days the Funds are closed. As of the date of
this prospectus, those days are:
New Year's Day Memorial Day Veterans Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Independence Day Thanksgiving Day
President's Day Labor Day Christmas Day
Good Friday Columbus Day
PURCHASE OF SHARES
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES:
o Directly by mail or by wire
o As a client of a Third Party
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fund shares are offered on a continuous basis and are sold without any sales
charges. The minimum initial investment in each Fund's Institutional class
shares is $1,000,000. Each Fund, in its sole discretion, may waive the minimum
initial amount to establish certain Institutional share accounts. Additional
investments in any Fund may be made in any amount. You may purchase shares by
mail or by wire, as specified below.
You may also purchase shares if you are a client of an institution (such as a
bank or broker-dealer) that has entered into a servicing agreement with the
Funds' distributor ("Third Party")
9
<PAGE>
you may also purchase shares through such Third Party. You should also be aware
that you may be charged a fee by the Third Party in connection with your
investment in a Fund. If you wish to purchase Fund shares through your account
at a Third Party, you should contact that entity directly for information and
instructions on purchasing shares.
BY MAIL: You may purchase shares by sending a check drawn on a U.S. bank payable
to CRM Funds, indicating the name of the Fund, along with a completed
application (included at the end of this prospectus). If a subsequent investment
is being made, the check should also indicate your account number. When you make
purchases by check, each Fund may withhold payment on redemptions until it is
reasonably satisfied that the funds are collected (which can take up to 10
days). If you purchase shares with a check that does not clear, your purchase
will be canceled and you will be responsible for any losses or fees incurred in
that transaction. Send the check and application to:
REGULAR MAIL: OVERNIGHT MAIL:
------------ --------------
CRM Funds CRM Funds
c/o PFPC Inc. c/o PFPC Inc.
P.O. Box 8742 400 Bellevue Parkway, Suite 108
Wilmington, DE 19899 Wilmington, DE 19809
BY WIRE: You may purchase shares by wiring federal funds readily available.
Please call PFPC at (800) CRM-2883 for instructions and to make specific
arrangements before making a purchase by wire, and if making an initial
purchase, to also obtain an account number.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING PURCHASES: Investments in a Fund are accepted
on the Business Day that federal funds are deposited for your account on or
before 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time for the Tax-Exempt Fund or on or before 2:00 p.m.
Eastern Time for the Prime Money Market Fund. Monies immediately convertible to
federal funds are deposited for your account on or before 12:00 p.m. for the
Tax-Exempt Fund or on or before 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time for the Prime Money
Market Fund, or checks deposited for your account have been converted to federal
funds (usually within two Business Days after receipt). All investments in a
Fund are credited to your account as shares of the Fund immediately upon
acceptance and become entitled to dividends declared as of the day and time of
investment.
Any purchase order may be rejected if a Fund determines that accepting the order
would not be in the best interest of the Fund or its shareholders.
It is the responsibility of the Third Party to transmit orders for the purchase
of shares by its customers to the Transfer Agent and to deliver required funds
on a timely basis, in accordance with the procedures stated above.
For information on other ways to purchase shares, including through an
individual retirement account (IRA) or an automatic investment plan, please
refer to the Statement of Additional Information.
10
<PAGE>
REDEMPTION OF SHARES
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO REDEEM (SELL) SHARES:
o By mail
o By telephone
o By check
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You may sell your shares on any Business Day by mail, telephone or check, as
described below. Redemptions are effected at the NAV next determined after the
Transfer Agent has received your redemption request. There is no fee when Fund
shares are redeemed. It is the responsibility of the Third Party to transmit
redemption orders and credit their customers' accounts with redemption proceeds
on a timely basis. Redemption checks are mailed on the next Business Day
following receipt by the Transfer Agent of redemption instructions, but never
later than 7 days following such receipt. Amounts redeemed by wire are normally
wired on the date of receipt of redemption instructions or the next Business Day
(if received after 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time for the Tax-Exempt Fund or after 2:00
p.m. Eastern Time for the Prime Money Market Fund, or on a non-Business Day),
but never later than 7 days following such receipt. If you purchased your shares
through an account at a Third Party, you should contact the Third Party for
information relating to redemptions. The Fund's name and your account number
should accompany any redemption requests.
BY MAIL: If you redeem your shares by mail, you should submit written
instructions with a "signature guarantee." A signature guarantee verifies the
authenticity of your signature. You can obtain one from most banking
institutions or securities brokers, but not from a notary public. You must
indicate the Fund name, your account number and your name. The written
instructions and signature guarantee should be mailed to:
REGULAR MAIL: OVERNIGHT MAIL:
------------ --------------
CRM Funds CRM Funds
c/o PFPC Inc. c/o PFPC Inc.
P.O. Box 8742 400 Bellevue Parkway, Suite 108
Wilmington, DE 19899 Wilmington, DE 19809
BY TELEPHONE: If you prefer to redeem your shares by telephone you may elect to
do so. However there are certain risks. The Funds have certain safeguards and
procedures to confirm the identity of callers and to confirm that the
instructions communicated are genuine. If such procedures are followed, you will
bear the risk of any losses.
BY CHECK: You may use the check writing option to redeem Fund shares by drawing
a check for $500 or more against your Fund account. When the check is presented
for payment, a sufficient number of shares will be redeemed from your account to
cover the amount of the check. This procedure enables you to continue receiving
dividends on those shares until the check is presented for payment. Because the
aggregate amount of fund shares owned is likely to change each day, you should
not attempt to redeem all shares held in your account by using the check
11
<PAGE>
writing procedure. Charges will be imposed for specially imprinted checks,
business checks, copies of canceled checks, stop payment orders, checks returned
due to "non-sufficient funds" and other returned checks. These charges will be
paid automatically by redeeming an appropriate number of Fund shares. Each Fund
and the Transfer Agency also reserve the right to terminate or alter the check
writing service at any time. The Transfer Agent also reserves the right to
impose a service charge in connection with the check writing service. If you are
interested in the check writing service, contact the Transfer Agency for further
information.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING REDEMPTION: Redemption proceeds may be wired to
your predesignated bank account in any commercial bank in the United States if
the amount is $1,000 or more. The receiving bank may charge a fee for this
service. Proceeds may also be mailed to your bank or, for amounts of $10,000,000
or less, mailed to your Fund account address of record if the address has been
established for at least 60 days. In order to authorize the Transfer Agent to
mail redemption proceeds to your Fund account address of record, complete the
appropriate section of the Application for Telephone Redemptions or include your
Fund account address of record when you submit written instructions. You may
change the account that you have designated to receive amounts redeemed at any
time. Any request to change the account designated to receive redemption
proceeds should be accompanied by a guarantee of the shareholder's signature by
an eligible institution. A signature and a signature guarantee are required for
each person in whose name the account is registered. Further documentation will
be required to change the designated account when a corporation, other
organization, trust, fiduciary or other institutional investor holds Fund
shares.
If the shares to be redeemed represent a recent investment made by a check, each
Fund reserves the right not to send the redemption proceeds until it believes
that the check has been collected (which could take up to 10 days).
SMALL ACCOUNTS: If the value of your Fund account falls below $1,000,000 for
Institutional share accounts ($2000 for IRAs or automatic investment plans), the
Funds may ask you to increase your balance. If the account value is still below
such amounts after 60 days, the Funds may close your account and send you the
proceeds. The Funds will not close your account if it falls below these amounts
solely as a result of a reduction in your account's market value.
REDEMPTIONS IN KIND: The Funds reserve the right to make "redemptions in kind" -
payments of redemption proceeds in fund securities rather than cash -- if the
amount redeemed is large enough to affect the Series' operations (for example,
if it represents more than 1% of the Series' assets).
For additional information on other ways to redeem shares, please refer to the
Statement of Additional Information.
12
<PAGE>
EXCHANGE OF SHARES
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS AN EXCHANGE OF SHARES?
An exchange of shares allows you to move your money from one fund to
another fund within a family of funds.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You may exchange all or a portion of your shares in a Fund for Institutional
class shares of the following funds:
Wilmington Intermediate Bond Fund
Wilmington Municipal Bond Fund
CRM Large Cap Value Fund
CRM Mid Cap Value Fund
CRM Small Cap Value Fund
Redemption of shares through an exchange will be effected at the NAV per share
next determined after the Transfer Agent receives your request. A purchase of
shares through an exchange will be effected at the NAV per share determined at
that time or as next determined thereafter.
Exchange transactions will be subject to the minimum initial investment and
other requirements of the Fund into which the exchange is made. An exchange may
not be made if the exchange would leave a balance in a shareholder's account of
less than.
To obtain prospectuses of the other Funds, you may call (800) CRM-2883. To
obtain more information about exchanges, or to place exchange orders, contact
the Transfer Agent, or, if your shares are held in an account with a Third
Party, contact the Third Party. The Funds may terminate or modify the exchange
offer described here and will give you 60 days' notice of such termination or
modification. This exchange offer is valid only in those jurisdictions where the
sale of the Fund shares to be acquired through such exchange may be legally
made.
DISTRIBUTIONS
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS NET INVESTMENT INCOME?
Net investment income consists of interest and dividends earned by a
fund on its investments less accrued expenses.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributions from the net investment income of each Fund are declared daily as
a dividend and paid monthly to you. Any net capital gain realized by a Fund will
be distributed annually.
All distributions are reinvested in additional shares, unless you elect to
receive distributions in cash. Shares become entitled to receive distributions
on the day after the shares are issued.
TAXES
13
<PAGE>
As long as a Fund meets the requirements for being a "regulated investment
company," it pays no Federal income tax on the earnings and gains it distributes
to shareholders. The Funds' distributions of net investment income (which
include net short-term capital gains), whether received in cash or reinvested in
additional Fund shares, are taxable to you as ordinary income. Each Fund will
notify you following the end of the calendar year of the amount of dividends
paid that year.
You will not recognize any gain or loss on the sale (redemption) or exchange of
shares of a Fund so long as that Fund maintains a stable price of $1.00 a share.
Dividend distributions by the Tax-Exempt Fund of the excess of its interest
income on tax-exempt securities over certain amounts disallowed as deductions
("exempt-interest dividends") may be treated by you as interest excludable from
your gross income. The Tax-Exempt Fund intends to distribute income that is
exempt from federal income tax, though it may invest a portion of its assets in
securities that generate taxable income. Income exempt from federal income tax
may be subject to state and local income tax. Additionally, any capital gains
distributed by the Tax-Exempt Fund may be taxable.
STATE AND LOCAL INCOME TAXES: You should consult your tax adviser concerning
state and local taxes, which may have different consequences from those of the
Federal income law.
This section is only a summary of some important income tax considerations that
may affect your investment in a Fund. More information regarding those
considerations appears in our Statement of Additional Information. You are urged
to consult your tax adviser regarding the effects of an investment on your tax
situation.
DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS
The Distributor manages the Funds' distribution efforts and provides assistance
and expertise in developing marketing plans and materials, enters into dealer
agreement with broker-dealers to sell shares and provides shareholder support
services, directly or through affiliates. The Funds do not charge any sales
loads, deferred sales loads or other fees in connection with the purchase of
shares.
SHARE CLASSES
The Funds issue Investor and Institutional Share classes. Each class of the
Funds has different minimum investment requirements and fees. Institutional
shares are offered only to those investors who invest in the Fund through an
intermediary (i.e., broker) or through a consultant AND who invest $1,000,000 or
more or where related accounts, when combined total $1,000,000 or more. Other
investors investing $10,000 or more may purchase Investor shares.
MASTER/FEEDER STRUCTURE
Other institutional investors, including other mutual funds, may invest in the
master funds. The master/feeder structure enables various institutional
investors, including a Fund, to pool their assets, which may be expected to
result in economies by spreading certain fixed costs over a larger asset base.
Each shareholder of a master fund, including a Fund, will pay its proportionate
share of the master fund's expenses.
14
<PAGE>
For reasons relating to costs or a change in investment goal, among others, a
Fund could switch to another master fund or decide to manage its assets itself.
The Funds are not currently contemplating such a move.
15
<PAGE>
FOR MORE INFORMATION
FOR INVESTORS WHO WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE FUND, THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS ARE
AVAILABLE FREE UPON REQUEST:
ANNUAL/SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTS: Contain performance data and information on the
Funds' holdings and operating results for the Funds' most recently completed
fiscal year or half-year.
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI): Provides a complete technical and
legal description of the Funds' policies, investment restrictions, risks, and
business structure. This prospectus incorporates the SAI by reference.
Copies of these documents and answers to questions about the Funds may be
obtained without charge by contacting:
CRM Funds
c/o PFPC Inc.
400 Bellevue Parkway
Suite 108
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
(800) CRM-2883
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Eastern time
Information about the Funds (including the SAI) can be reviewed and copied at
the Public Reference Room of the Securities and Exchange Commission in
Washington, D.C. Copies of this information may be obtained, upon payment of a
duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address:
[email protected], or by writing the Public Reference Room of the SEC,
Washington, DC, 20549-0102. Information on the operation of the Public Reference
Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-(202) 942-8090. Reports and other
information about the Fund may be viewed on-screen or downloaded from the SEC's
Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OPENING A NEW ACCOUNT, MAKING CHANGES TO EXISTING
ACCOUNTS, PURCHASING, EXCHANGING OR REDEEMING SHARES, OR OTHER INVESTOR
SERVICES, PLEASE CALL 1-(800)-CRM-2883.
The investment company registration number is 811-08648.
<PAGE>
CRM PRIME MONEY MARKET FUND
CRM TAX-EXEMPT FUND
================================================================================
INVESTOR SHARES
================================================================================
PROSPECTUS DATED NOVEMBER 1, 2000
This prospectus gives vital information about this money market mutual fund,
including information on investment policies, risks and fees. For your own
benefit and protection, please read it before you invest, and keep it on hand
for future reference.
Please note that the Funds:
o are not bank deposits
o are not obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed by the Funds'
investment adviser, Wilmington Trust Company, or any of its affiliates
o are not federally insured
o are not obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed or otherwise
supported by the U.S. Government, the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other governmental agency
o are not guaranteed to achieve their goal(s)
o may not be able to maintain a stable $1 share price
Like all mutual fund shares, these securities have not been approved or
disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission nor has the Securities and
Exchange Commission determined whether this prospectus is accurate or complete.
Anyone who tells you otherwise is committing a crime.
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A LOOK AT THE GOALS, STRATEGIES, FUND DESCRIPTION
RISKS, EXPENSES AND FINANCIAL Summary..........................3
HISTORY OF THE FUNDS. Fees and Expenses................5
Investment Objective.............6
Primary Investment Strategies....6
Additional Risk Information......7
DETAILS ABOUT THE SERVICE MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS
PROVIDERS. Investment Adviser...............9
Service Providers................9
POLICIES AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
OPENING, MAINTAINING AND Pricing of Shares...............11
CLOSING AN ACCOUNT IN THE Purchase of Shares..............11
FUNDS. Redemption of Shares............13
Exchange of Shares..............15
Distributions...................15
Taxes...........................16
DETAILS ON THE FUNDS' MASTER/ DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS
FEEDER ARRANGEMENT. Share Classes...................16
Master/Feeder Structure.........17
FOR MORE INFORMATION....back cover
For information about key terms and concepts, look for our "PLAIN TALK"
explanations.
<PAGE>
THE CRM PRIME MONEY MARKET FUND
THE CRM TAX-EXEMPT FUND
INVESTOR SHARES
FUND DESCRIPTION
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE MONEY MARKET FUNDS?
Money market funds invest only in high quality, short-term debt
securities, commonly known as money market instruments. Money market
funds follow strict rules about credit risk, maturity and
diversification of their investments. An investment in a money market
fund is not a bank deposit. Although a money market fund seeks to keep
a constant share price of $1.00, you may lose money by investing in a
money market fund.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
Investment Objective o The PRIME MONEY MARKET FUND seeks high
current income, while preserving
capital and liquidity.
o The TAX EXEMPT FUND seeks high current
interest income exempt from federal
income taxes while preserving
principal.
----------------------------------- --------------------------------------------
Investment Focus o Money market instruments
----------------------------------- --------------------------------------------
Share Price Volatility o The Funds will strive to maintain a
stable $1.00 share price.
----------------------------------- --------------------------------------------
Principal Investment Strategy o The Funds operate as "feeder funds"
which means that the Funds do not buy
individual securities directly.
Instead, each Fund invests in a
corresponding mutual fund or "master
fund," which in turn purchases
investment securities. The Funds
invest all of their assets in master
funds, which are separate series of
another mutual fund. The Funds and
corresponding Series have the same
investment objective, policies and
limitations.
o The PRIME MONEY MARKET FUND invests in
the Prime Money Market Series, which
invests in money market instruments,
including bank obligations, high
quality commercial paper and U.S.
Government obligations.
o The TAX-EXEMPT FUND invests in the
Tax-Exempt Series, which invests in
high quality municipal obligations,
municipal bonds and other instruments
exempt from federal income tax.
o The Prime Money Market Fund, through
its corresponding Series, may invest
more than 25% of its total assets in
the obligations of banks and finance
companies.
o In selecting securities for the Series,
the adviser seeks current income,
liquidity and safety of principal. The
adviser may sell securities if the
securities are downgraded to a lower
ratings category.
----------------------------------- --------------------------------------------
Principal Risks The Funds are subject to the risks,
summarized below, which are further
described under "Additional Risk
Information."
o An investment in a Fund is not a
deposit of Wilmington Trust Company,
the Funds' investment adviser or any of
its affiliates and is not insured or
guaranteed by the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation or any other
government agency. Although each Fund
seeks to preserve the value of your
investment at $1.00 per share, it is
possible to lose money by investing in
a Fund.
1
<PAGE>
o The obligations, in which the Funds
invest through their corresponding
Series, are subject to credit risk and
interest rate risk. Typically, when
interest rates rise, the market prices
of debt securities go down.
o The performance of a Fund will depend
on whether or not the adviser is
successful in pursuing an investment
strategy.
----------------------------------- --------------------------------------------
Investor Profile o Conservative
----------------------------------- --------------------------------------------
2
<PAGE>
FEES AND EXPENSES
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE MUTUAL FUND EXPENSES?
Unlike an index, every mutual fund has operating expenses to pay for
professional advisory, distribution, administration and custody
services. The Fund's expenses in the table below are shown as a
percentage of the Fund's net assets. These expenses are deducted from
Fund assets.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
3
<PAGE>
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and
hold shares of the Fund.
INVESTOR SHARES
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING
The Prime Money The Tax-Exempt
EXPENSES (EXPENSES THAT ARE DEDUCTED FROM FUND MARKET FUND FUND
-------------- --------------
assets) 1
Management fees 0.44% 0.47%
Distribution (12b-1) fees None None
Other expenses 0.04% 0.06%
Shareholder Services fees 0.25% 0.25%
TOTAL ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENSES 0.73% 0.78%
--------------------
1 The table above and the Example below each reflect the aggregate annual
operating expenses of the Fund and the corresponding Series in which the
Fund invests.
EXAMPLE
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund
with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The table below shows what you
would pay if you invested $10,000 over the various time frames indicated. The
example assumes that:
o you reinvested all dividends;
o the average annual return was 5%;
o the Fund's maximum total operating expenses are charged and remain the same
over the time periods; and
o you redeemed all of your investment at the end of the time period.
Although your actual cost may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions,
your costs would be:
INVESTOR SHARES
1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
------ ------- ------- --------
Prime Money Market Fund $75 $233 $406 $906
Tax-Exempt Fund $80 $249 $433 $966
THE ABOVE EXAMPLES ARE FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES ONLY AND ARE NOT A REPRESENTATION
OF THE FUNDS' ACTUAL EXPENSES AND RETURNS, EITHER PAST OR FUTURE.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
o The PRIME MONEY MARKET FUND seeks a high level of current income consistent
with the preservation of capital and liquidity.
o The TAX-EXEMPT FUND seeks as high a level of interest income exempt from
federal income tax as is consistent with preservation of principal.
The investment objectives for each Fund may not be changed without shareholder
approval. Each of the Funds is a money market fund and intends to maintain a
stable $1 share price,
4
<PAGE>
although this may not be possible under certain circumstances. There can be no
guarantee that any Fund will achieve its investment objective.
PRIMARY INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
The PRIME MONEY MARKET FUND invests its assets in the Prime Money Market Series,
which in turn invests in:
o U.S. dollar-denominated obligations of major U.S. and foreign banks and
their branches located outside of the United States, of U.S. branches of
foreign banks, of foreign branches of foreign banks, of U.S. agencies of
foreign banks and wholly-owned banking subsidiaries of foreign banks;
o high quality commercial paper and corporate obligations;
o U.S. Government obligations, which are debt securities issued or guaranteed
by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities;
o high quality municipal securities; and
o repurchase agreements that are fully collateralized by the U.S. Government
obligations.
The TAX-EXEMPT FUND invests its assets in the Tax-Exempt Series, which in turn
invests in:
o high quality municipal obligations and municipal bonds;
o floating and variable rate obligations;
o participation interests;
o high quality tax-exempt commercial paper; and
o high quality short-term municipal notes.
The Tax-Exempt Series has adopted a policy that, under normal circumstances, at
least 80% of its annual income will be exempt from federal income tax.
Additionally, at least 80% of its annual income will not be a tax preference
item for purposes of the federal alternative minimum tax.
High quality securities include those that (1) are rated in one of the two
highest short-term rating categories by two NRSRO, such as S&P, Moody's and
Fitch IBCA (or by one NRSRO if only one NRSRO has issued a rating) or; (2) if
unrated are issued by an issuer with comparable outstanding debt that is rated
or are otherwise unrated and determined by the investment adviser to be of
comparable quality.
The Series also may invest in other securities, use other strategies and engage
in other investment practices, which are described in detail in our Statement of
Additional Information.
ADDITIONAL RISK INFORMATION
The following is a list of certain risks that may apply to your investment in a
Fund. Further information about investment risks is available in our Statement
of Additional Information:
o CREDIT RISK: The risk that the issuer of a security, or the counterparty
to a contract, will default or otherwise become unable to honor a financial
obligation.
o FOREIGN SECURITY RISK: The risk of losses due to political, regulatory,
economic, social or other uncontrollable forces in a foreign country.
5
<PAGE>
o INTEREST RATE RISK: The risk of market losses attributable to changes in
interest rates. With fixed-rate securities, a rise in interest rates
typically causes a fall in values, while a fall in rates typically causes a
rise in values. The yield paid by a Fund will vary with changes in interest
rates.
o MARKET RISK: The risk that the market value of a security may move up and
down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. For example, large scale
redemptions by other feeders of their shares of a master fund could have
adverse effects on a Fund such as requiring the liquidation of a
substantial portion of the master fund's holdings at a time when it could
be disadvantageous to do so. Also, other feeders of a master fund may have
a greater ownership interest in the master fund than a Fund's interest and,
therefore, could have effective voting control over the operation of the
master fund.
o MASTER/FEEDER RISK: The Funds' master/feeder structure is relatively new
and more complex. While this structure is designed to reduce costs, it may
not do so, and the Fund might encounter operational or other complications.
For example, large-scale redemptions by other feeders of thier shares of a
master fund could have adverse effects on a Fund such as requiring the
liquidation of a substantial portion of the master fund's holdings at a
time when it could be disadvantageous to do so. Also, other feeders of a
master fund may have a greater ownership interest in the master fund than a
Fund's interest and, therefore, could have effective voting control over
the operation of the master fund
o PREPAYMENT RISK: The risk that a debt security may be paid off and proceeds
invested earlier than anticipated. Depending on market conditions, the new
investments may or may not carry the same interest rate.
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
The Board of Trustees for each Fund supervises the management, activities and
affairs of the Fund and has approved contracts with various organizations to
provide, among other services, the day-to-day management required by the Fund
and its shareholders.
6
<PAGE>
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS AN INVESTMENT ADVISER?
The investment adviser makes investment decisions for a mutual fund and
continuously reviews, supervises and administers the fund's investment
program. The Board of Trustees supervises the investment adviser and
establishes policies that the adviser must follow in its management
activities.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT ADVISER
Rodney Square Management Corporation ("RSMC"), the Series' investment adviser,
is located at 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890. RSMC is a
wholly owned subsidiary of Wilmington Trust Company ("WTC"), which is wholly
owned by Wilmington Trust Corporation. WTC owns a minority interest in Cramer
Rosenthal McGlynn, LLC, the Fund's sponsor. RSMC also provides asset management
services to collective investment funds maintained by WTC. In the past, RSMC has
provided asset management services to individuals, personal trusts,
municipalities, corporations and other organizations.
The Prime Money Market Series and the Tax-Exempt Series each pays a monthly fee
to RSMC at the annual rate of 0.47% of the Series' first $1 billion of average
daily net assets; 0.43% of the Series' next $500 million of average daily net
assets; 0.40% of the Series' next $500 million of average daily net assets; and
0.37% of the Series' average daily net assets in excess of $2 billion, as
determined at the close of business on each day throughout the month. For the
twelve months ended June 30, 2000, the Prime Money Market Series and the
Tax-Exempt Series paid RSMC 0.45% and 0.47%, respectively, of the Series'
average daily net assets for its services as investment adviser. Out of its fee,
RSMC makes payments to PFPC Inc. for the provision of administration, accounting
and transfer agency services and to PFPC Trust Company for provision of
custodial services.
SERVICE PROVIDERS
The chart below provides information on the Fund's primary service providers.
7
<PAGE>
Asset Shareholder
Management Services
------------------------------------- --------------------------------
INVESTMENT ADVISER TRANSFER AGENT
RODNEY SQUARE MANAGEMENT CORPORATION PFPC INC.
1100 NORTH MARKET STREET 400 BELLEVUE PARKWAY
WILMINGTON, DE 19809 WILMINGTON, DE 19809
Handles shareholder services,
including recordkeeping and
statements, payment of
Manages each Fund's business and distribution and processing of
investment activities. buy and sell requests.
------------------------------------- --------------------------------
-----------------------
CRM PRIME MONEY MARKET
CRM TAX-EXEMPT
-----------------------
Fund Asset
Operations Safe Keeping
------------------------------------- --------------------------------
ADMINISTRATOR AND CUSTODIAN
ACCOUNTING AGENT WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
PFPC INC. RODNEY SQUARE NORTH
400 BELLEVUE PARKWAY 1100 NORTH MARKET STREET
WILMINGTON, DE 19809 WILMINGTON, DE 19890
Provides facilities, equipment and
personnel to carry out
administrative services related to Holds each Fund's assets,
each Fund and calculates each settles all portfolio trades
Fund's NAV and distributions. and collects most of the
valuation data required for
calculating each Fund's NAV
per share.
------------------------------------- ------------------------------------
8
<PAGE>
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
PRICING OF SHARES
Each Fund uses its best effort to maintain its $1 constant share price and
values its securities at cost. This involves valuing a security initially at its
cost and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to maturity of any discount
or premium, regardless of fluctuating interest rates on the market value of the
security. All cash, receivables and current payables are carried at their face
value. Other assets, if any, are valued at fair value as determined in good
faith by, or under the direction of, the Board of Trustees.
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS THE NET ASSET VALUE or "NAV"?
NAV = ASSETS - LIABILITIES
--------------------
Outstanding Shares
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PFPC determines the NAV per share of each Fund, as of 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time
for the Tax-Exempt Fund and as of 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time for the Prime Money
Market Fund, on each Business Day (a day that the New York Stock Exchange, the
Transfer Agent and the Philadelphia branch of the Federal Reserve Bank are open
for business). The NAV is calculated by adding the value of all securities and
other assets in a Fund, deducting its liabilities and dividing the balance by
the number of outstanding shares in that Fund.
Shares will not be priced on those days the Funds are closed. As of the date of
this prospectus, those days are:
New Year's Day Memorial Day Veterans Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Independence Day Thanksgiving Day
President's Day Labor Day Christmas Day
Good Friday Columbus Day
PURCHASE OF SHARES
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES:
o Directly by mail or by wire
o As a client of a Third Party
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fund shares are offered on a continuous basis and are sold without any sales
charges. The minimum initial investment in each Fund's Investor class shares is
$10,000. Each Fund, in its sole discretion, may waive the minimum initial amount
to establish certain Institutional share accounts. Additional investments in any
Fund may be made in any amount. You may purchase shares by mail or by wire, as
specified below.
You may also purchase shares if you are a client of an institution (such as a
bank or broker-dealer) that has entered into a servicing agreement with the
Funds' distributor ("Third Party")
9
<PAGE>
you may also purchase shares through such Third Party. You should also be aware
that you may be charged a fee by the Third Party in connection with your
investment in a Fund. If you wish to purchase Fund shares through your account
at a Third Party, you should contact that entity directly for information and
instructions on purchasing shares.
BY MAIL: You may purchase shares by sending a check drawn on a U.S. bank payable
to CRM Funds, indicating the name of the Fund, along with a completed
application (included at the end of this prospectus). If a subsequent investment
is being made, the check should also indicate your account number. When you make
purchases by check, each Fund may withhold payment on redemptions until it is
reasonably satisfied that the funds are collected (which can take up to 10
days). If you purchase shares with a check that does not clear, your purchase
will be canceled and you will be responsible for any losses or fees incurred in
that transaction. Send the check and application to:
REGULAR MAIL: OVERNIGHT MAIL:
CRM Funds CRM Funds
c/o PFPC Inc. c/o PFPC Inc.
P.O. Box 8742 400 Bellevue Parkway, Suite 108
Wilmington, DE 19899 Wilmington, DE 19809
BY WIRE: You may purchase shares by wiring federal funds readily available.
Please call PFPC at (800) CRM-2883 for instructions and to make specific
arrangements before making a purchase by wire, and if making an initial
purchase, to also obtain an account number.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING PURCHASES: Investments in a Fund are accepted
on the Business Day that federal funds are deposited for your account on or
before 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time for the Tax-Exempt Fund or on or before 2:00 p.m.
Eastern Time for the Prime Money Market Fund. Monies immediately convertible to
federal funds are deposited for your account on or before 12:00 p.m. for the
Tax-Exempt Fund or on or before 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time for the Prime Money
Market Fund, or checks deposited for your account have been converted to federal
funds (usually within two Business Days after receipt). All investments in a
Fund are credited to your account as shares of the Fund immediately upon
acceptance and become entitled to dividends declared as of the day and time of
investment.
Any purchase order may be rejected if a Fund determines that accepting the order
would not be in the best interest of the Fund or its shareholders.
It is the responsibility of the Third Party to transmit orders for the purchase
of shares by its customers to the Transfer Agent and to deliver required funds
on a timely basis, in accordance with the procedures stated above.
For information on other ways to purchase shares, including through an
individual retirement account (IRA) or an automatic investment plan, please
refer to the Statement of Additional Information.
10
<PAGE>
REDEMPTION OF SHARES
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO REDEEM (SELL) SHARES:
o By mail
o By telephone
o By check
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
You may sell your shares on any Business Day by mail, telephone or check, as
described below. Redemptions are effected at the NAV next determined after the
Transfer Agent has received your redemption request. There is no fee when Fund
shares are redeemed. It is the responsibility of the Third Party to transmit
redemption orders and credit their customers' accounts with redemption proceeds
on a timely basis. Redemption checks are mailed on the next Business Day
following receipt by the Transfer Agent of redemption instructions, but never
later than 7 days following such receipt. Amounts redeemed by wire are normally
wired on the date of receipt of redemption instructions or the next Business Day
(if received after 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time for the Tax-Exempt Fund or after 2:00
p.m. Eastern Time for the Prime Money Market Fund, or on a non-Business Day),
but never later than 7 days following such receipt. If you purchased your shares
through an account at a Third Party, you should contact the Third Party for
information relating to redemptions. The Fund's name and your account number
should accompany any redemption requests.
BY MAIL: If you redeem your shares by mail, you should submit written
instructions with a "signature guarantee." A signature guarantee verifies the
authenticity of your signature. You can obtain one from most banking
institutions or securities brokers, but not from a notary public. You must
indicate the Fund name, your account number and your name. The written
instructions and signature guarantee should be mailed to:
REGULAR MAIL: OVERNIGHT MAIL:
CRM Funds CRM Funds
c/o PFPC Inc. c/o PFPC Inc.
P.O. Box 8742 400 Bellevue Parkway, Suite 108
Wilmington, DE 19899 Wilmington, DE 19809
BY TELEPHONE: If you prefer to redeem your shares by telephone you may elect to
do so. However there are certain risks. The Funds have certain safeguards and
procedures to confirm the identity of callers and to confirm that the
instructions communicated are genuine. If such procedures are followed, you will
bear the risk of any losses.
BY CHECK: You may use the check writing option to redeem Fund shares by drawing
a check for $500 or more against your Fund account. When the check is presented
for payment, a sufficient number of shares will be redeemed from your account to
cover the amount of the check. This procedure enables you to continue receiving
dividends on those shares until the check is presented for payment. Because the
aggregate amount of fund shares owned is likely to change each day, you should
not attempt to redeem all shares held in your account by using the check
11
<PAGE>
writing procedure. Charges will be imposed for specially imprinted checks,
business checks, copies of canceled checks, stop payment orders, checks returned
due to "non-sufficient funds" and other returned checks. These charges will be
paid automatically by redeeming an appropriate number of Fund shares. Each Fund
and the Transfer Agency also reserve the right to terminate or alter the check
writing service at any time. The Transfer Agent also reserves the right to
impose a service charge in connection with the check writing service. If you are
interested in the check writing service, contact the Transfer Agency for further
information.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING REDEMPTION: Redemption proceeds may be wired to
your predesignated bank account in any commercial bank in the United States if
the amount is $1,000 or more. The receiving bank may charge a fee for this
service. Proceeds may also be mailed to your bank or, for amounts of $10,000,000
or less, mailed to your Fund account address of record if the address has been
established for at least 60 days. In order to authorize the Transfer Agent to
mail redemption proceeds to your Fund account address of record, complete the
appropriate section of the Application for Telephone Redemptions or include your
Fund account address of record when you submit written instructions. You may
change the account that you have designated to receive amounts redeemed at any
time. Any request to change the account designated to receive redemption
proceeds should be accompanied by a guarantee of the shareholder's signature by
an eligible institution. A signature and a signature guarantee are required for
each person in whose name the account is registered. Further documentation will
be required to change the designated account when a corporation, other
organization, trust, fiduciary or other institutional investor holds Fund
shares.
If the shares to be redeemed represent a recent investment made by a check, each
Fund reserves the right not to send the redemption proceeds until it believes
that the check has been collected (which could take up to 10 days).
SMALL ACCOUNTS: If the value of your Fund account falls below $10,000 for
Investor share accounts ($2000 for IRAs or automatic investment plans), the
Funds may ask you to increase your balance. If the account value is still below
such amounts after 60 days, the Funds may close your account and send you the
proceeds. The Funds will not close your account if it falls below these amounts
solely as a result of a reduction in your account's market value.
REDEMPTIONS IN KIND: The Funds reserve the right to make "redemptions in kind" -
payments of redemption proceeds in fund securities rather than cash -- if the
amount redeemed is large enough to affect the Series' operations (for example,
if it represents more than 1% of the Series' assets).
For additional information on other ways to redeem shares, please refer to the
Statement of Additional Information.
12
<PAGE>
EXCHANGE OF SHARES
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS AN EXCHANGE OF SHARES?
An exchange of shares allows you to move your money from one fund to
another fund within a family of funds.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
You may exchange all or a portion of your shares in a Fund for Investor class
shares of the following funds:
Wilmington Intermediate Bond Fund
Wilmington Municipal Bond Fund
CRM Large Cap Value Fund
CRM Mid Cap Value Fund
CRM Small Cap Value Fund
Redemption of shares through an exchange will be effected at the NAV per share
next determined after the Transfer Agent receives your request. A purchase of
shares through an exchange will be effected at the NAV per share determined at
that time or as next determined thereafter.
Exchange transactions will be subject to the minimum initial investment and
other requirements of the Fund into which the exchange is made. An exchange may
not be made if the exchange would leave a balance in a shareholder's account of
less than $10,000 for Investor share accounts.
To obtain prospectuses of the other Funds, you may call (800) CRM-2883. To
obtain more information about exchanges, or to place exchange orders, contact
the Transfer Agent, or, if your shares are held in an account with a Third
Party, contact the Third Party. The Funds may terminate or modify the exchange
offer described here and will give you 60 days' notice of such termination or
modification. This exchange offer is valid only in those jurisdictions where the
sale of the Fund shares to be acquired through such exchange may be legally
made.
DISTRIBUTIONS
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS NET INVESTMENT INCOME?
Net investment income consists of interest and dividends earned by a
fund on its investments less accrued expenses.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributions from the net investment income of each Fund are declared daily as
a dividend and paid monthly to you. Any net capital gain realized by a Fund will
be distributed annually.
All distributions are reinvested in additional shares, unless you elect to
receive distributions in cash. Shares become entitled to receive distributions
on the day after the shares are issued.
13
<PAGE>
TAXES
As long as a Fund meets the requirements for being a "regulated investment
company," it pays no Federal income tax on the earnings and gains it distributes
to shareholders. The Funds' distributions of net investment income (which
include net short-term capital gains), whether received in cash or reinvested in
additional Fund shares, are taxable to you as ordinary income. Each Fund will
notify you following the end of the calendar year of the amount of dividends
paid that year.
You will not recognize any gain or loss on the sale (redemption) or exchange of
shares of a Fund so long as that Fund maintains a stable price of $1.00 a share.
Dividend distributions by the Tax-Exempt Fund of the excess of its interest
income on tax-exempt securities over certain amounts disallowed as deductions
("exempt-interest dividends") may be treated by you as interest excludable from
your gross income. The Tax-Exempt Fund intends to distribute income that is
exempt from federal income tax, though it may invest a portion of its assets in
securities that generate taxable income. Income exempt from federal income tax
may be subject to state and local income tax. Additionally, any capital gains
distributed by the Tax-Exempt Fund may be taxable.
STATE AND LOCAL INCOME TAXES: You should consult your tax adviser concerning
state and local taxes, which may have different consequences from those of the
Federal income law.
This section is only a summary of some important income tax considerations that
may affect your investment in a Fund. More information regarding those
considerations appears in our Statement of Additional Information. You are urged
to consult your tax adviser regarding the effects of an investment on your tax
situation.
DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS
The Distributor manages the Funds' distribution efforts and provides assistance
and expertise in developing marketing plans and materials, enters into dealer
agreement with broker-dealers to sell shares and provides shareholder support
services, directly or through affiliates. The Funds do not charge any sales
loads, deferred sales loads or other fees in connection with the purchase of
shares.
SHARE CLASSES
The Funds issue Investor and Institutional Share classes. Each class of the
Funds has different minimum investment requirements and fees. Institutional
shares are offered only to those investors who invest in the Fund through an
intermediary (i.e., broker) or through a consultant AND who invest $1,000,000 or
more or where related accounts, when combined total $1,000,000 or more. Other
investors investing $10,000 or more may purchase Investor shares.
MASTER/FEEDER STRUCTURE
Other institutional investors, including other mutual funds, may invest in the
master funds. The master/feeder structure enables various institutional
investors, including a Fund, to pool their assets, which may be expected to
result in economies by spreading certain fixed costs over a
14
<PAGE>
larger asset base. Each shareholder of a master fund, including a Fund, will pay
its proportionate share of the master fund's expenses.
For reasons relating to costs or a change in investment goal, among others, a
Fund could switch to another master fund or decide to manage its assets itself.
The Funds are not currently contemplating such a move.
15
<PAGE>
FOR MORE INFORMATION
FOR INVESTORS WHO WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE FUND, THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS ARE
AVAILABLE FREE UPON REQUEST:
ANNUAL/SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTS: Contain performance data and information on the
Funds' holdings and operating results for the Funds' most recently completed
fiscal year or half-year.
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI): Provides a complete technical and
legal description of the Funds' policies, investment restrictions, risks, and
business structure. This prospectus incorporates the SAI by reference.
Copies of these documents and answers to questions about the Funds may be
obtained without charge by contacting:
CRM Funds
c/o PFPC Inc.
400 Bellevue Parkway
Suite 108
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
(800) CRM-2883
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Eastern time
Information about the Funds (including the SAI) can be reviewed and copied at
the Public Reference Room of the Securities and Exchange Commission in
Washington, D.C. Copies of this information may be obtained, upon payment of a
duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address:
[email protected], or by writing the Public Reference Room of the SEC,
Washington, DC, 20549-0102. Information on the operation of the Public Reference
Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-(202) 942-8090. Reports and other
information about the Fund may be viewed on-screen or downloaded from the SEC's
Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OPENING A NEW ACCOUNT, MAKING CHANGES TO EXISTING
ACCOUNTS, PURCHASING, EXCHANGING OR REDEEMING SHARES, OR OTHER INVESTOR
SERVICES, PLEASE CALL 1-(800)-CRM-2883.
The investment company registration number is 811-08648.
<PAGE>
THE ROXBURY LARGE CAP GROWTH FUND
================================================================================
PROSPECTUS DATED NOVEMBER 1, 2000
This prospectus contains important information about the Fund, including
information on investment policies, risks and fees. For your own benefit and
protection, please read it before you invest, and keep it on hand for future
reference.
Like all mutual fund shares, these securities have not been approved or
disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission nor has the Securities and
Exchange Commission determined whether this prospectus is accurate or complete.
Anyone who tells you otherwise is committing a criminal offense.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE ADVISER'S PRIOR PERFORMANCE APPEARS ON PAGE 6.
PRESENTLY CLASS A SHARES ARE BEING OFFERED ONLY TO CERTAIN
PERSONS ELIGIBLE TO PURCHASE CLASS A SHARES AT NET ASSET VALUE.
CLASS B AND CLASS C SHARES ARE NOT CURRENTLY BEING OFFERED.
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
A LOOK AT THE GOALS, STRATEGIES, FUND DESCRIPTION
RISKS AND EXPENSES OF THE Summary...................................................3
FUND. Performance Information...................................4
Fees and Expenses.........................................4
Adviser Prior Performance.................................6
Investment Objective......................................7
Primary Investment Strategies.............................8
Additional Risk Information...............................9
Financial Highlights.....................................11
DETAILS ABOUT THE SERVICE MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
PROVIDERS. Investment Adviser.......................................12
Fund Manager.............................................12
Service Providers........................................12
POLICIES AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
OPENING, MAINTAINING AND How Share Price is Calculated............................14
CLOSING AN ACCOUNT IN THE Selecting the Correct Class of Shares....................14
FUND. Sales Charges............................................15
Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers......................17
Purchase of Shares.......................................18
Redemption of Shares.....................................19
Exchange of Shares.......................................19
Distributions............................................20
Taxes....................................................20
DETAILS ON DISTRIBUTION PLANS, DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE ARRANGEMENTS
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE FEES Rule 12b-1 Fees..........................................21
AND THE FUND'S MASTER/FEEDER Shareholder Service Fees.................................22
ARRANGEMENT. Master/Feeder Structure..................................22
FOR MORE INFORMATION.............................back cover
</TABLE>
For information about key terms and concepts, look for our "PLAIN TALK"
explanations.
-2-
<PAGE>
THE ROXBURY LARGE CAP GROWTH FUND
FUND DESCRIPTION
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS A MUTUAL FUND?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A mutual fund pools shareholders' money and, using a professional
investment manager, invests in securities like stocks and bonds.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT DOES "CAP" MEAN?
Cap or the market capitalization of a company means the value of all of
the shares of the company's common stock in the stock market.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Objective o The ROXBURY LARGE CAP GROWTH FUND seeks superior
long-term growth of capital.
-------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
Investment Focus o Equity securities (generally common stocks)
-------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
Share Price Volatility o Moderate to high
-------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
Principal Investment o The Fund invests in a diversified portfolio of
Strategy equity securities (generally common stocks) of
U.S. corporations with a market cap of $5
billion or more that have above average earnings
potential, compared to the securities market as
a whole.
o The Fund operates as a "feeder fund" which means
that the Fund does not buy individual securities
directly. Instead, it invests in a corresponding
mutual fund or "master fund," which in turn
purchases the actual stock holdings. The Fund's
master fund is the Large Cap Growth Series (the
"Series") of WT Investment Trust I ("the
Master").
o In a master/feeder arrangement, a feeder fund,
like the Fund, takes your investment dollars and
transfers them to an even larger pool, like the
Series, for greater efficiency. The Fund and the
Series have the same investment objective,
policies and limitations. When this prospectus
refers to investments of the Fund it is actually
referring to the investments of the Series.
o The adviser purchases stocks it believes exhibit
consistent, above-average earnings growth,
superior quality and attractive risk/reward
characteristics. The adviser analyzes the stocks
of over 2,000 companies to search for high
quality companies which are growing at about
double the market's average rate. The adviser's
approach focuses on stock selection and
generally sells stocks when the risk/rewards of
a stock turn negative, when company fundamentals
deteriorate, or when a stock under performs the
market or its peer group.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Principal Risks The Fund is subject to the following risks
summarized below which are further described under
"Additional Risk Information."
o There is no guarantee that the stock market or
the stocks that the Fund buys will always
increase in value. Therefore, it is possible to
lose money by investing in the Fund.
o The Fund's share price will fluctuate in
response to changes in the market value of the
Fund's investments. Market value will change as
a result of business developments affecting an
issuer as well as general market and economic
conditions.
o Growth-oriented investments may be more volatile
than the rest of the U.S. stock market as a
whole.
o The performance of the Fund will depend on how
successfully the adviser pursues its investment
strategy.
-------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
Investor Profile o Investors who want the value of their investment
investment to grow and who are willing to accept
more volatility for the possibility of higher
returns.
-------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
-3-
<PAGE>
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
The Large Cap Growth Fund commenced operations on March 14,2000, accordingly,
there is no calender year preformance information available at this time. (See
page 6 under "Adviser's Prior Performance in Large Cap Growth Seperate Accounts"
for performance history of the Advisor.)
FEES AND EXPENSES
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE FUND EXPENSES?
Every mutual fund has operating expenses to pay for professional
advisory, distribution, administration and custody services. The Fund's
expenses in the table below are shown as a percentage of its average
annual net assets. Sales charges are deducted once when you make or
redeem your investment. Expenses are deducted from Fund assets.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and
hold shares of the Fund. The Fund offers different share classes to allow you to
maximize your potential return depending on your and your financial consultant's
current expectations for your investment in the Fund.
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE SALES CHARGES?
The sales charge or load that you pay is a separate fee based on how
much you invest. This fee compensates your financial consultant for
providing you with investment assistance and on-going service as well
as handling all the paperwork associated with your investment and any
subsequent adjustments you make. For your convenience, the Fund is
offered in several classes, giving you several ways to pay this fee.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SHAREHOLDER FEES (FEES PAID DIRECTLY FROM YOUR
INVESTMENT) CLASS A CLASS B(a) CLASS C
------- ---------- -------
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on 5.50%(b) None None
purchases (as a percentage of offering price)
Maximum deferred sales charge None(c) 5.00%(d) 1.00%(e)
Maximum sales charge imposed on None None None
reinvested dividends (and other
distributions)
Redemption fee(f) None None None
-------------
(a) Class B shares convert to Class A shares automatically at the end of the
eighth year (96th month) after purchase. Investors seeking to purchase
Class B shares in amounts that exceed $250,000 should discuss with their
financial consultant whether the purchase of another class would be more
appropriate; such orders may be rejected by the Fund.
(b) Reduced for purchases of $50,000 and more.
(c) Class A shares are not subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (a
"CDSC"); except certain purchases that are not subject to an initial sales
charge may instead be subject to a CDSC of 1.00% of amounts redeemed within
the first year of purchase. Such a CDSC may be waived in connection with
redemptions to participants in certain fee-based programs.
(d) 5.00% during the first year; 4.00% during the second year; 3.00% during the
third and fourth years; 2.00% during the fifth year; and 1.00% during the
sixth year. Class B shares automatically convert into Class A shares at the
end of the eighth year after purchase and thereafter will not be subject to
a CDSC.
(e) Class C shares are subject to a 1.00% CDSC only if redeemed within the
first 18 months after purchase.
(f) If you effect a redemption via wire transfer, you may be required to pay
fees, including a $10 wire fee and other fees, that will be directly
deducted from your redemption proceeds. If you request redemption checks to
be sent by overnight mail, you may be required to pay a $10 fee that will
be directly deducted from your redemption proceeds.
-4-
<PAGE>
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES 1
(EXPENSES THAT ARE DEDUCTED FROM FUND ASSETS) CLASS A CLASS B CLASS C
------- ------- -------
Management fees 0.55% 0.55% 0.55%
Distribution (12b-1) fee 0.00% 0.75% 0.75%
Shareholder Service fee 0.25% 0.25% 0.25%
Other expenses 2 1.00% 1.00% 1.00%
Total Annual Operating Expenses 3 1.80% 2.55% 2.55%
Cost Reduction 0.50% 0.50% 0.50%
TOTAL NET EXPENSES 3 1.30% 2.05% 2.05%
----------------------
1 The table above and the example below each reflect the aggregate annual
operating expenses of the Fund and the Series.
2 "Other expenses" are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
3 The adviser has agreed to reduce its fees and/or reimburse expenses to limit
the total annual operating expenses to 1.30% for Class A Shares, 2.05% for
each of Class B shares and Class C shares. This arrangement will remain in
place until the Board of Trustees approves its termination.
EXAMPLE
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund
with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The table below shows what you
would pay if you invested $10,000 over the various time frames indicated. The
example assumes that:
o you reinvested all dividends and other distributions
o the average annual return was 5%
o the Fund's maximum total operating expenses are charged and remain the same
over the time periods
o you redeemed all of your investment at the end of the time period.
Although your actual cost may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions,
your costs would be:
1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
------ ------- ------- --------
Class A 1 $723 $1,085 $1,471 $2,550
Class B (assuming no redemptions) $258 $643 N/A N/A
Class B (assuming complete redemption
at the end of the period)2 $258 $943 N/A N/A
Class C (assuming no redemptions) $258 $643 N/A N/A
Class C (assuming complete redemption
at end of period)2 $358 $643 N/A N/A
1 Assumes deduction at time of purchase of maximum sales charge.
2 Assumes deduction at redemption of maximum deferred sales charge.
-5-
<PAGE>
THE ABOVE EXAMPLE IS FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT A REPRESENTATION OF
THE FUND'S ACTUAL EXPENSES AND RETURNS, EITHER PAST OR FUTURE.
ADVISER'S PRIOR PERFORMANCE IN LARGE CAP GROWTH SEPARATE ACCOUNTS
The table below shows relevant performance data for the adviser and its
predecessors' investment advisory accounts (the "Accounts") during the ten year
period ended September 30, 2000, using the same investment approach specified
for the Fund under "Investment Objective" and "Primary Investment Strategies."
The results for the period October 1, 1990 through July 31, 1998 are the results
of Roxbury Capital Management Inc., the predecessor to Roxbury Capital
Management, LLC.
The Accounts constitute the portfolios managed by the adviser (and its
predecessor) that have an identical or substantially similar investment
objective or investment approach as the Series and that have met certain basic
criteria as to minimum account value, discretionary status, tax-exempt status
and period of management of more than one month. The Accounts were managed for
tax-exempt clients and, therefore, may have been managed differently than for
taxable clients. The Series will be managed primarily for taxable investors. The
Accounts were not subject to the same types of expenses to which the Fund is
subject, nor to the diversification requirements, specific tax restrictions and
investment limitations imposed on the Fund by the Investment Company Act of
1940, or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. The performance of the Accounts may
have been adversely affected had they been subject to the same expenses,
restrictions and limitations. The adviser believes that any adverse effect would
not have been significant. The results presented are not intended to predict or
suggest the return to be experienced by the Fund or the return you might achieve
by investing in the Fund. You should not rely on the following performance data
as an indication of future performance of the adviser or of the Fund.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TOTAL RETURN OF ADVISER'S LARGE CAP GROWTH SEPARATE ACCOUNTS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average Annual Return for the 1 Year Ended 3 Years Ended 5 Years Ended 10 Years Ended
Periods Specified: September 30, 2000 September 30, 2000 September 30, 2000 September 30, 2000
------------------ ------------------ ------------------ -------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
The Accounts (net of
expenses)................... 35.95% 28.14% 26.30% 22.51%
S&P 500 Index................. 23.41% 22.74% 25.07% 21.44%
Russell 1000 Growth Index .... 23.41% 22.74% 25.07% 21.44%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
-6-
<PAGE>
Please read the following important notes concerning the Accounts:
1. The results for the Accounts reflect both income and capital appreciation
or depreciation (total return). Dividends are accounted for on a cash
basis; other items of income are accounted for on an accrual basis. Returns
are time-weighted and represent the dollar-weighted average of the
Accounts. Return figures are net of applicable fees and expenses (other
than separate custody fees). As of April 1, 1995, the Accounts were valued
daily.
2. The S&P 500 Index consists of 500 stocks chosen by Standard & Poor's for
market size, liquidity and industry group representation. It is a
market-value weighted unmanaged index (stock price times number of shares
outstanding), with each stock's weight in the S&P 500 Index proportionate
to its market value.
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS AN INDEX?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
An index is a broad measure of the market performance of a specific
group of securities in a particular market or securities in a market
sector. You cannot invest directly in an index. An index does not have
an adviser and does not pay any commissions or expenses. If an index
had expenses, its performance would be lower.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SPECIAL NOTE CONCERNING ADVISER INVESTMENT RETURNS: You should note that
the Fund will compute and disclose its average annual compounded rate of
return using the standard formula set forth in SEC rules, which differs in
certain respects from the method used to compute the returns for the
Accounts noted above. The SEC total return calculation method calls for
computation and disclosure of an average annual compounded rate of return
for one, five and ten year periods or shorter periods from inception. The
SEC formula provides a rate of return that equates a hypothetical initial
investment of $10,000 to an ending redeemable value. The returns shown for
the Accounts are reduced to reflect the deduction of advisory fees in
accordance with the SEC calculation formula, which requires that returns
shown for a fund be net of advisory fees as well as all other applicable
fund operating expenses. Performance was calculated on a trade date basis.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The Fund and the Series seek superior long-term growth of capital.
For purposes of this investment objective, "superior" long-term growth of
capital means long-term growth of capital from an investment in the securities
comprising the S&P 500 Index that exceeds the return of the S&P 500 Index. This
investment objective may not be changed without shareholder approval. There is
no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
-7-
<PAGE>
PRIMARY INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE GROWTH FUNDS?
Growth funds invest in the common stock of growth-oriented companies
seeking maximum growth of earnings and share price with little regard
for dividend earnings. Generally, companies with high relative rates of
growth tend to reinvest more of their profits into the company and pay
out less to shareholders in the form of dividends. As a result,
investors in growth funds tend to receive most of their return in the
form of capital appreciation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund invests its assets in the Series, which, under normal market
conditions, invests at least 65%, and typically more, of its total assets in the
following equity (or equity-related) securities:
o common stocks of U.S. corporations that are judged by the adviser to have
strong growth characteristics and, with respect to at least 65% of the
Series' total assets, have a market capitalization of $5 billion or higher
at the time of purchase;
o securities convertible into the common stock of U.S. corporations described
above;
o options on common stock or options on stock indexes.
The adviser looks for high quality, sustainable growth stocks while paying
careful attention to valuation. Research is bottom-up, emphasizing business
fundamentals, including financial statement analysis and industry and competitor
evaluations. The adviser selects stocks it believes exhibit consistent,
above-average earnings growth, superior quality and attractive risk/reward
characteristics. These dominant companies are expected to generate consistent
earnings growth in a variety of economic environments.
The adviser also seeks to provide a greater margin of safety and stability in
its investments. Superior earnings growth is expected to translate ultimately
into superior compounding of returns. Additionally, several valuation tools are
used to avoid over-paying for growth or chasing "hot" stocks. Over time, the
adviser believes these favorable characteristics will produce superior returns
with less risk than many other growth styles.
The adviser's research team analyzes a broad universe of over 2,000 companies.
Industry specialists search for high-quality companies that are growing their
earnings at roughly double the market's average. Approximately 150 stocks pass
these initial screens and are subject to thorough research. Dominant market
share, strong financials, the power to price, significant free cash flow and
shareholder-oriented management are critical attributes or factors.
Final purchase candidates are selected by the adviser's investment committee
based on attractive risk/reward characteristics and diversification guidelines.
Certain industries may be over or under-weighted by the adviser based upon
favorable growth rates or valuation parameters.
The adviser attempts to maintain portfolio continuity by purchasing growth
companies that are less sensitive to short-term economic trends than cyclical,
low quality companies. The adviser
-8-
<PAGE>
generally sells stocks when the risk/reward characteristics of a stock turn
negative, company fundamentals deteriorate, or the stock underperforms the
market or its peer group. The latter device is employed to minimize mistakes and
protect capital.
The Fund's investments will emphasize large cap growth stocks, but also may
include medium cap stocks and special situations.
LARGE CAP GROWTH STOCKS (over $5 billion in total market cap) - Up to 100%, but
not less than 65%, of the Series' total assets:
o Mature, predictable businesses
o Capital appreciation and income
o Highest liquidity
MEDIUM CAP GROWTH STOCKS (between $1 and $5 billion in total market cap) - Up to
20% of the Series' total assets:
o Superior long-term potential
o Strong niche or franchise
o Seasoned management
SPECIAL SITUATIONS GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES - Up to 20% of the Series' total assets:
o Stable return, independent of the market
o Unusually favorable risk/reward characteristics
o Typically involve corporate restructuring
In order to respond to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions,
the Fund may assume a temporary defensive position and invest without limit in
commercial paper and other money market instruments that are rated investment
grade. The result of this action may be that the Fund will be unable to achieve
its investment objective. The Fund also may use other strategies and engage in
other investment practices, which are described in detail in our Statement of
Additional Information.
ADDITIONAL RISK INFORMATION
The following is a list of certain risks that may apply to your investment in
the Fund. Further information about investment risk is available in our
Statement of Additional Information:
o MARKET RISK: The risk that the market value of a security may move up and
down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. The prices of equity securities
change in response to many factors including the historical and prospective
earnings of the issuer, the value of its assets, general economic
conditions, interest rates, investor perceptions and market liquidity.
o GROWTH-ORIENTED INVESTING RISK: The risk that an investment in a
growth-oriented
-9-
<PAGE>
portfolio may be more volatile than the rest of the U.S. market as a
whole.
o DERIVATIVES RISK: Some of the Fund's investments may be referred to as
"derivatives" because their value depends on, or derives from, the value of
an underlying asset, reference rate or index. These investments include
options, futures contracts and similar investments that may be used in
hedging and related income strategies. The market value of derivative
instruments and securities is sometimes more volatile than that of other
investments, and each type of derivative may pose its own special risks. As
a fundamental policy, no more than 15% of the Series' total assets may at
any time be committed or exposed to derivative strategies.
o MASTER/FEEDER RISK: The master /feeder structure is relatively new and
complex. While this structure is designed to reduce costs, it may not do
so, and there may be operational or other complications. For example,
large-scale redemptions by other feeders of their shares of the master fund
could have adverse effects on a fund such as requiring the liquidation of a
substantial portion of the master fund's holdings at a time when it could
be disadvantageous to do so. Also, other feeders of a master fund may have
a greater ownership interest in the master fund and, therefore, could have
effective voting control over the operation of the master fund.
o OPPORTUNITY RISK: The risk of missing out on an investment opportunity
because the assets necessary to take advantage of it are tied up in less
advantageous investments.
o VALUATION RISK: The risk that a series has valued certain of its securities
at a higher price that it can sell them.
-10-
<PAGE>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the
Class A Shares' financial performance since its inception. Certain information
reflects financial results for a Class A single share of the Fund. The
total returns in the table represent the rate that you would have earned (or
lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends
and other distributions). Financial highlights have been audited by Ernst &
Young LLP, whose report, along with the Fund's financial statements, is
included in the Annual Report, which is available without charge upon request.
For the Period
March 14, 2000(1)
through
June 30, 2000+
-----------------
ROXBURY LARGE CAP GROWTH FUND
CLASS A SHARES
NET ASSET VALUE - BEGINNING OF PERIOD...................... $10.00
INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:
Net investment income................................... 0.00
Net realized and unrealized loss on investments......... (1.20)
------
Total from investment operations........................... (1.20)
------
NET ASSET VALUE - END OF PERIOD............................ $8.80
=====
TOTAL RETURN............................................... (12.00)%(2)
RATIOS (TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS)/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Expenses:
Including expense limitations......................... 0.00%(3)
Excluding expense limitations......................... --NM
Net investment income................................... 0.62%(3)
Portfolio Turnover......................................... 13%(2)
Net assets at end of period (000 omitted).................. $190
(1) Commencement of operations.
(2) Not Annualized.
(3) Annualized
+ The expense and net investment income ratios include expenses allocated
from the WT Investment Trust I - Large Cap Growth Series (the "Series")
and the portfolio turnover reflects investment activity of the Series.
NM Not meaningful.
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
The Board of Trustees supervises the management, activities and affairs of the
Fund and has approved contracts with various financial organizations to provide,
among other services, the day-to-day management required by the Fund and its
shareholders. The Board of Trustees
-11-
<PAGE>
includes a member of the Roxbury Investment Committee.
INVESTMENT ADVISER
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS AN ADVISER?
The adviser makes investment decisions for a mutual fund and
continuously reviews, supervises and administers the fund's investment
program. The Board of Trustees supervises the adviser and establishes
policies that the adviser must follow in its management activities.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Roxbury Capital Management, LLC, 100 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 600, Santa
Monica, California 90401, serves as the investment adviser for the Fund (by
managing the Series). Under an advisory agreement, Roxbury, subject to the
supervision of the Board of Trustees, directs the investments of the Series in
accordance with its investment objective, policies and limitations. In addition
to serving as adviser to the Series, Roxbury is engaged in a variety of
investment advisory activities, including the management of separately managed
accounts. The Series pays a monthly advisory fee to Roxbury at the annual rate
of 0.55% of the Series' first $1 billion of average daily net assets; 0.50% of
the Series' next $1 billion of average daily net assets; and 0.45% of the
Series' average daily net assets over $2 billion.
PORTFOLIO MANAGER
The day-to-day management of the Series is the responsibility of Roxbury's
Investment Committee. The Investment Committee meets regularly to make
investment decisions for the Fund and relies on Roxbury's research team.
SERVICE PROVIDERS
The following chart provides information on the Fund's primary service
providers.
For the period March 14, 2000 (commencement of operations) through June 30,
2000, Roxbury waived its advisory fee. Had there been no waiver, Roxbury would
have received a fee of 0.55% of the Series' average daily net assets.
-12-
<PAGE>
Asset Shareholder
Management Services
------------------------------------ ------------------------------
ADVISER TRANSFER AGENT
ROXBURY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC PFPC INC.
100 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD 400 BELLEVUE PARKWAY
SUITE 600 WILMINGTON, DE 19809
SANTA MONICA, CA 90401 SUITE 108
Handles shareholder services,
including recordkeeping and
statements, payment of
Manages the Fund's investment distribution and processing of
activities. buy and sell requests.
------------------------------------ ------------------------------
-----------------------------
ROXBURY LARGE CAP GROWTH FUND
-----------------------------
Fund Asset
Operations Safe Keeping
------------------------------------ ------------------------------
ADMINISTRATOR AND CUSTODIAN
ACCOUNTING AGENT WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
PFPC INC. RODNEY SQUARE NORTH
400 BELLEVUE PARKWAY 1100 NORTH MARKET STREET
WILMINGTON, DE 19809 WILMINGTON, DE 19890
Provides facilities, equipment and Holds the Fund's assets,
personnel to carry out settle all portfolio trades
administrative services related to and collect most of the
the Fund and calculates the Fund's valuation data required for
NAV and distributions. calculating the Fund's NAV per
share.
------------------------------------ --------- ------------------------------
-13-
<PAGE>
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
HOW SHARE PRICE IS CALCULATED
The Fund values its assets based on current market values when such values are
readily available. These prices normally are supplied by a pricing service.
Securities that do not have a readily available current market value are valued
in good faith under the direction of the Board of Trustees.
PLAIN TALK
--------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS THE NET ASSET VALUE or "NAV"?
NAV = Assets - Liabilities
--------------------
Outstanding Shares
--------------------------------------------------
PFPC determines the NAV per share of the Fund as of the close of regular trading
on the New York Stock Exchange (currently 4:00 p.m., Eastern time), on each
Business Day (a day that the Exchange, the Transfer Agent and the Philadelphia
branch of the Federal Reserve Bank are open for business). The NAV is calculated
by adding the value of all securities and other assets in the Fund, deducting
its liabilities and dividing the balance by the number of outstanding shares in
the Fund.
Shares will not be priced on those days the Fund is closed. As of the date of
this prospectus, those days are:
New Year's Day Memorial Day Veterans Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Independence Day Thanksgiving Day
Presidents' Day Labor Day Christmas Day
Good Friday Columbus Day
SELECTING THE CORRECT CLASS OF SHARES
This prospectus offers Class A, Class B and Class C shares of the Fund. Each
class has its own cost structure, allowing you to choose the one that best meets
your requirements and current expectations. Your financial consultant can help
you decide which class is best for you. For estimated expenses of each class,
see the table under "Fees and Expenses" earlier in this prospectus.
CLASS A SHARES--INITIAL SALES CHARGE
If you purchase Class A shares, you will incur a sales charge at the time of
purchase (a "front-end load") based on the dollar amount of your purchase. The
maximum initial sales charge is
-14-
<PAGE>
5.50%, which is reduced for purchases of $50,000 and more. Sales charges also
may be reduced by using the accumulation privilege described under "Sales Charge
Reductions and Waivers" (see page 17). Class A shares are subject to an ongoing
shareholder service fee of 0.25% of the Fund's average net assets attributable
to Class A shares. Class A shares will not be subject to any contingent deferred
sales charge (CDSC or "back end load") when they are redeemed. Although some
purchases may not be subject to an initial sales charge, if the initial sales
charge is waived, such purchases may be subject to a CDSC of 1.00% if the shares
are redeemed within one year after purchase. Class A shares also will be issued
upon conversion of Class B shares, as described below under "Class B Shares."
The minimum initial investment in Class A shares is $2,000.
Part of the front-end sales charge is paid directly to the selling broker-dealer
(the "dealer reallowance"). The remainder is retained by the distributor and may
be used either to promote the sale of the Fund's shares or to compensate the
distributor for its efforts to sell the shares of the Fund.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YOUR INVESTMENT AS A PERCENTAGE OF AS A PERCENTAGE OF
OFFERING PRICE YOUR INVESTMENT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$50,000 and less 5.50% 5.82%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$50,000 up to $150,000 5.00% 5.26%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$150,000 up to $250,000 4.50% 4.71%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$250,000 up to $500,000 3.50% 3.63%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$500,000 up to $1,000,000 3.00% 3.09%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Over $1,000,000 0.00% 0.00%*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CLASS B SHARES--DEFERRED SALES CHARGE
If you purchase Class B shares, you will not incur a sales charge at the time of
purchase. However, Class B shares are subject to an ongoing Rule 12b-1
distribution fee of 0.75% of average net assets and an ongoing shareholder
service fee of 0.25% of average net assets. The Rule 12b-1 distribution fee and
the shareholder service fee accrue daily and are paid monthly. Class B shares
are subject to a CDSC if you redeem them prior to the seventh year after
purchase. At the end of the eighth year after purchase, Class B shares will
automatically convert into Class A shares of the Fund, which are subject to the
shareholder service fee of 0.25%. Automatic conversion of Class B shares into
Class A shares will occur at least once a month on the basis of the relative net
asset values of the shares of the two classes on the conversion date, without
the imposition of any sales load, fee or other charge. Conversion of Class B
shares to Class A shares will not be deemed a purchase or sale of the shares for
federal income tax purposes. Shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends
and other distributions on Class B shares also will convert automatically to
Class A shares based on the portion of purchased shares that convert. The
minimum initial investment in Class B shares is $2,000.
CLASS C SHARES--PAY AS YOU GO
If you purchase Class C shares, you do not incur a sales charge at the time of
purchase. However, Class C shares are subject to an ongoing Rule 12b-1
distribution fee of 0.75% of
-15-
<PAGE>
average net assets and an ongoing shareholder service fee of 0.25% of average
net assets. Class C shares also are subject to a 1.00% CDSC if you redeem them
within 18 months of purchase. Although Class C shares are subject to a CDSC for
only 18 months (as compared to six years for Class B), Class C shares have no
conversion feature. Accordingly, if you purchase Class C shares, those shares
will be subject to the 0.75% distribution fee and the 0.25% shareholder service
fee for as long as you own your Class C shares. The minimum initial investment
in Class C shares is $2,000.
You may be subject to a CDSC upon redemption of your Class B and Class C shares
under the following conditions:
o Class B Shares
---------------------------------------------------------------
YEARS AFTER PURCHASE CDSC ON SHARES BEING REDEEMED
---------------------------------------------------------------
1st year 5.00%
---------------------------------------------------------------
2nd year 4.00%
---------------------------------------------------------------
3rd year 3.00%
---------------------------------------------------------------
4th year 3.00%
---------------------------------------------------------------
5th year 2.00%
---------------------------------------------------------------
6th year 1.00%
---------------------------------------------------------------
7th year None
---------------------------------------------------------------
After the 7th year None
---------------------------------------------------------------
Class B shares will be automatically converted to Class A shares at the
end of the eighth year after purchase.
o Class C Shares
If you redeem Class C shares within 18 months of purchase, you will be
charged a CDSC of 1.00%. There is no CDSC imposed on Class C shares
acquired through reinvestment of dividends or capital gains.
The CDSC on redemptions of shares is computed based on the original purchase
price of the shares being redeemed, net of reinvested dividends and capital
gains distributions. CDSC calculations are based on the specific shares
involved, not the value of the account. To keep your CDSC as low as possible,
each time you place a request to sell shares, we will first sell any shares in
your account that are not subject to a CDSC. If there are not enough of these
shares to meet your request, we will sell your shares on a first-in, first-out
basis. Your financial consultant or institution may elect to waive some or all
of the payment, thereby reducing or eliminating the otherwise applicable CDSC.
OTHER CLASSES OF SHARES
The Fund may also offer other classes of shares from time to time for special
purposes. These other classes will, if offered, not be available to the general
public, although they may appear in newspaper listings. When reviewing newspaper
listings, please remember that the class or
-16-
<PAGE>
classes listed may not be the class you own and therefore the net asset value(s)
listed may be different from the net asset value of your shares.
-17-
<PAGE>
SALES CHARGE REDUCTIONS AND WAIVERS
REDUCING SALES CHARGES ON YOUR CLASS A SHARES. There are several ways you can
combine multiple purchases of Class A shares to take advantage of the
breakpoints in the sales charge schedule. These can be combined in any manner:
o Accumulation privilege--lets you add the value of shares of any Class A
shares you and your immediate family already own to the amount of your next
investment for purposes of calculating sales charges
o Letter of intent--lets you purchase Class A shares over a 13-month period
and receive the same sales charge as if all shares had been purchased at
once. See the new account application and our Statement of Additional
Information for terms and conditions.
To use these privileges, discuss your eligibility with your financial
consultant.
CDSC WAIVERS. In general, the CDSC may be waived on shares you sell for the
following reasons:
o Payments through certain systematic retirement plans and other employee
benefit plans
o Qualifying distributions from qualified retirement plans and other employee
benefit plans
o Distributions from custodial accounts under section 403(b)(7) of the
Internal Revenue Code as well as from Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)
due to death, disability or attainment of age 70_
o Participation in certain fee-based programs
To use any of these waivers, contact your financial consultant.
REINSTATEMENT PRIVILEGE. If you sell shares of the Fund, you may invest some or
all of the proceeds in the Fund within 90 days without a sales charge. If you
paid a CDSC when you sold your shares, you will be credited with the amount of
the CDSC. All accounts involved must have the same registration.
To use this privilege, contact your financial consultant.
NET ASSET VALUE PURCHASES. Class A shares may be sold at net asset value, with
only a $2,000 minimum initial investment, to:
o Clients of financial consultants who exchange their shares from an
unaffiliated investment company that has a comparable sales charge, so long
as shares are purchased within 60 days of the redemption;
-18-
<PAGE>
o Trustees or other fiduciaries purchasing shares for certain retirement
plans of organizations with 50 or more eligible employees and
employer-sponsored benefit plans in connection with purchases of Fund
shares made as a result of participant-directed exchanges between options
in such a plan;
o Investment advisers, financial planners and certain financial institutions
that place trades for their own accounts or the accounts of their clients
either individually or through a master account and who charge a
management, consulting or other fee for their services;
o "Wrap accounts" for the benefit of clients of broker-dealers, financial
institutions or financial planners having sales or service agreements with
the distributor or another broker-dealer or financial institution with
respect to sales of Fund shares;
o Current or retired trustees, officers and employees of the Fund, the
distributor, the transfer agent, the adviser and its members, certain
family members of the above persons, and trusts or plans primarily for such
persons or their family members;
o Current or retired registered representatives or full-time employees and
their spouses and minor children and plans of broker-dealers or other
institutions that have selling agreements with the distributor; and
o Such other persons as are determined by the adviser or distributor to have
acquired shares under circumstances where the Fund has not incurred any
sales expense.
PURCHASE OF SHARES
Investors may purchase shares of the Fund through financial intermediaries such
as financial consultants, securities brokers, dealers or benefit plan
administrators. Investors should contact their financial intermediary directly
for appropriate purchase instructions, as well as for information pertaining to
accounts and any servicing or transaction fees that may be charged. Some
financial intermediaries may appoint subagents.
The minimum initial investment in Class A, Class B or Class C shares is $2,000
(including IRAs) and $100 for subsequent investments. The adviser or the
distributor, at their discretion, may waive these minimums. See our Statement of
Additional Information for further details.
See "Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers" for ways to make your initial
investment go farther.
Shares are sold at a public offering price based on the net asset value for the
class of shares selected. If your purchase order is received by the Transfer
Agent before the close of regular trading on the Exchange on any Business Day,
you will pay the next public offering price that is determined as of the close
of trading. Purchase orders received after the close of regular trading on the
Exchange will be priced as of the close of regular trading on the following
Business Day.
Any purchase order may be rejected if the Fund determines that accepting the
order would not be in the best interest of the Fund or its shareholders.
-19-
<PAGE>
It is the responsibility of the financial intermediary to transmit orders for
the purchase of shares by its customers to the Transfer Agent and to deliver
required funds on a timely basis, in accordance with the procedures stated
above.
For information on other ways to purchase shares, including through an
individual retirement account (IRA), call the Transfer Agent at (800) 497-2960,
or see our Statement of Additional Information.
For information on an automatic investment plan or a payroll investment plan,
see our Statement of Additional Information.
REDEMPTION OF SHARES
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO REDEEM (SELL) SHARES:
o By mail
o By telephone
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
If you purchased your shares through a financial intermediary, you should
contact the intermediary for information relating to redemptions. The Fund's
name and your account number should accompany any redemption requests.
SMALL ACCOUNTS: If the value of your Fund accounts falls below $500, the Fund
may ask you to increase your balance. If the account balance is still below $500
after 60 days, the Fund may close your account and send you the proceeds. The
Fund will not close your account if it falls below $500 solely as a result of a
reduction in your account's market value.
For information on other ways to redeem shares, please refer to our Statement of
Additional Information.
EXCHANGE OF SHARES
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS AN EXCHANGE OF SHARES?
An exchange of shares allows you to move your money from one fund to
another fund within a family of funds.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
You may exchange all or a portion of your shares of the Fund for shares in the
same class of the following portfolios:
Roxbury Mid Cap Fund
Roxbury Science and Technology Fund
Roxbury Socially Responsible Fund
-20-
<PAGE>
Redemption of shares through an exchange will be effected at the NAV per share
next determined after the Transfer Agent receives your request. A purchase
through an exchange will be effected at the NAV per share determined at the time
or as next determined thereafter.
Exchange transactions will be subject to the minimum initial investment and
other requirements of the portfolio into which the exchange is made. An exchange
may not be made if the exchange would leave a balance in a shareholder's account
of less than $500.
If you make an exchange involving Class B or Class C shares, the amount of time
you held the original shares will be added to the holding period of the Class B
or Class shares, respectively, into which you exchanged for the purpose of
calculating contingent deferred sales charges if you later redeem the exchange
shares.
Before requesting an exchange, you should review the prospectus of the portfolio
you wish to acquire. To obtain prospectuses of the other portfolios, you may
call (800) 497-2960. To obtain more information about exchanges or to place
exchange orders, contact the Transfer Agent, or your financial professional. The
portfolios may terminate or modify the exchange offer described here and will
give you 60 days' notice of such termination or modification. This exchange
offer is valid only in those jurisdictions where the sale of portfolio shares to
be acquired through such exchange may be legally made.
DISTRIBUTIONS
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS NET INVESTMENT INCOME?
Net investment income consists of interest and dividends earned by a
fund on its investments less accrued expenses.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributions from the net investment income of the Fund, if any, are declared
and paid annually to you. Any net capital gain realized by the Fund will be
distributed annually.
Distributions are payable to shareholders of record at the time distributions
are declared (including holders of shares being redeemed, but excluding holders
of shares being purchased). All distributions are reinvested in additional Fund
shares, unless you have elected to receive distributions in cash.
TAXES
FEDERAL INCOME TAX: As long as the Fund meets the requirements for being a
"regulated investment company," it pays no Federal income tax on the earnings
and gains it distributes to shareholders. While the Fund may invest in
securities that earn interest subject to Federal income tax and securities that
earn interest exempt from that tax, under normal conditions the Fund invests
primarily in taxable securities. The Fund will notify you following the end of
the calendar year of the amount of dividends and other distributions paid that
year.
-21-
<PAGE>
Dividends you receive from the Fund, whether reinvested in Fund shares or taken
as cash, are generally taxable to you as ordinary income. The Fund's
distributions of net capital gain, whether received in cash or reinvested in
additional Fund shares, are taxable to you as long-term capital gain, regardless
of the length of time you have held your shares. You should be aware that if
Fund shares are purchased shortly before the record date for any dividend or
capital gain distribution, you will pay the full price for the shares and will
receive some portion of the price back as a taxable distribution. The Fund
anticipates the distribution of net capital gain.
It is a taxable event for you if you sell or exchange shares of the Fund.
Depending on the purchase price and the sale price of the shares you exchange,
you may have a taxable gain or loss on the transaction. You are responsible for
any tax liability generated by your transactions.
STATE AND LOCAL INCOME TAXES: You should consult your tax advisers concerning
state and local taxes, which may have different consequences from those of the
Federal income tax law.
This section is only a summary of some important income tax considerations that
may affect your investment in the Fund. More information regarding those
considerations appears in our Statement of Additional Information. You are urged
to consult your tax adviser regarding the effects of an investment on your tax
situation.
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE ARRANGEMENTS
The Distributor manages the Fund's distribution efforts and enters into dealer
agreements with financial consultants to sell fund shares.
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW CAN YOUR FINANCIAL CONSULTANT HELP YOU?
Your financial consultant is thoroughly familiar with the Fund and with
Roxbury Capital Management. He or she can answer any questions you have
now, or in the future, about how the Fund operates, which class of
shares is most appropriate for you and how the Roxbury investment style
works and has performed for other investors. Your financial consultant
is a valuable and knowledgeable resource.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
RULE 12B-1 FEES
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE 12b-1 FEES?
12b-1 fees, charged by some funds, are deducted from fund assets to pay
for marketing and advertising expenses or, more commonly, to compensate
sales professionals for selling fund shares.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-22-
<PAGE>
The Fund has adopted a distribution plan under Rule 12b-1 that allows the Fund
to pay a fee to the Distributor for facilitating the sale and distribution of
its shares. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund's assets on an ongoing
basis, over time these fees indirectly will increase the cost of your investment
and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.
Rule 12b-1 permits a fund directly or indirectly to pay expenses associated with
the distribution of its shares and the servicing of its shareholders in
accordance with a plan adopted by the Board of Trustees and approved by its
shareholders. Pursuant to the Rule, the Board has approved, and the Fund has
entered into, separate distribution plans with the Distributor, for the Class B
and Class C shares. Under the distribution plans, the Fund will pay distribution
fees to the Distributor at a maximum annual rate of 0.75% of its aggregate
average daily net assets attributable to its Class B and Class C shares.
The distribution plans provide that the Distributor may use the distribution
fees received from a class of shares to pay for the distribution and shareholder
servicing expenses of that class, including, but not limited to (i) incentive
compensation paid to the directors, officers and employees of, agents for and
consultants to, the distributor or any other broker-dealer or financial
institution that engages in the distribution of that class; and (ii)
compensation to broker-dealers, financial institutions or other persons for
providing distribution assistance with respect to that class. Distribution fees
may also be used for (i) marketing and promotional activities, including, but
not limited to, direct mail promotions and television, radio, newspaper,
magazine and other mass media advertising for that class; (ii) costs of printing
and distributing prospectuses, Statements of Additional Information and reports
of the Fund to prospective investors in that class; (iii) costs involved in
preparing, printing and distributing sales literature pertaining to the Fund and
that class; and (iv) costs involved in obtaining whatever information, analyses
and reports with respect to marketing and promotional activities that the Fund
may, from time to time, deem advisable with respect to the distribution of that
class. Distribution fees are accrued daily and paid monthly, and are charged as
expenses of, respectively, Class B and Class C shares as accrued.
The distribution fees applicable to the Class B and Class C shares are designed
to permit you to purchase Class B and Class C shares through broker-dealers
without the assessment of a front-end sales charge and at the same time to
permit the distributor to compensate broker-dealers on an ongoing basis to
provide services to shareholders of the Class B and Class C shares attributable
to those broker-dealers.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICE FEES
The Board of Trustees has adopted a shareholder service plan authorizing the
Fund to pay service providers an annual fee not exceeding 0.25% of the Fund's
average daily net assets of each class of shares, to compensate service
providers who maintain a service relationship. Service activities provided under
this plan include (a) establishing and maintaining shareholder accounts and
records, (b) answering shareholder inquiries, (c) assisting in share purchases
and redemptions,
-23-
<PAGE>
(d) providing statements and reports to shareholders, and (e) providing other
related services requested by shareholders.
MASTER /FEEDER STRUCTURE
Other institutional investors, including other mutual funds, may invest in the
Series. The master/feeder structure enables various institutional investors,
including the Fund, to pool their assets, which may be expected to result in
economies by spreading certain fixed costs over a larger asset base. Each
shareholder of a master fund, including the Series, will pay its proportionate
share of the master fund's expenses.
For reasons relating to costs or a change in investment goal, among others, the
Fund could switch to another master fund or decide to manage its assets itself.
The Fund is not currently contemplating such a move.
-24-
<PAGE>
FOR MORE INFORMATION
FOR INVESTORS WHO WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE FUND, THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS ARE
AVAILABLE FREE UPON REQUEST:
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI): Provides a complete technical and
legal description of the Fund's policies, investment restrictions, risks, and
business structure. This prospectus incorporates the SAI by reference.
Copies of these documents and answers to questions about the Fund may be
obtained without charge by contacting:
Roxbury Large Cap Growth Fund
c/o PFPC Inc.
400 Bellevue Parkway
Suite 108
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
(800) 497-2960
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time
Information about the Fund (including the SAI) can be reviewed and copied at the
Public Reference Room of the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington,
D.C. Copies of this information may be obtained, upon payment of a duplicating
fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: [email protected],
or by writing the Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, DC,
20549-6009. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be
obtained by calling the SEC at 1-202-942-8090. Reports and other information
about the Fund may be viewed on-screen or downloaded from the SEC's Internet
site at http://www.sec.gov.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OPENING A NEW ACCOUNT, MAKING
CHANGES TO EXISTING ACCOUNTS, PURCHASING, EXCHANGING
OR REDEEMING SHARES, OR OTHER INVESTOR SERVICES,
PLEASE CALL (800) 497-2960.
The investment company registration number is 811-08648.
<PAGE>
[ROXBURY LOGO]
ROXBURY MID CAP FUND
================================================================================
PROSPECTUS DATED NOVEMBER 1, 2000
This prospectus contains important information about the Fund, including
information on investment policies, risks and fees. For your own benefit and
protection, please read it before you invest, and keep it on hand for future
reference.
Like all mutual fund shares, these securities have not been approved or
disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission nor has the Securities and
Exchange Commission determined whether this prospectus is accurate or complete.
Anyone who tells you otherwise is committing a criminal offense.
PRESENTLY CLASS A SHARES OF THE FUND ARE BEING
OFFERED ONLY TO CERTAIN PERSONS
ELIGIBLE TO PURCHASE CLASS A SHARES
AT NET ASSET VALUE. SEE "SALES CHARGE
REDUCTIONS AND WAIVERS."
CLASS B AND CLASS C SHARES ARE NOT CURRENTLY BEING OFFERED.
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
A LOOK AT THE GOALS, STRATEGIES, FUND DESCRIPTION
RISKS AND EXPENSES OF THE Summary..........................................3
FUND. Fees and Expenses................................4
Adviser Prior Performance........................6
Investment Objective.............................7
Primary Investment Strategies....................8
Additional Risk Information......................9
DETAILS ABOUT THE SERVICE MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
PROVIDERS. Investment Adviser..............................10
Fund Manager....................................11
Service Providers...............................11
POLICIES AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
OPENING, MAINTAINING AND How Share Price is Calculated...................13
CLOSING AN ACCOUNT IN THE Selecting the Correct Class of Shares...........13
FUND. Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers.............15
Purchase of Shares..............................17
Redemption of Shares............................18
Exchange of Shares..............................18
Distributions...................................19
Taxes...........................................19
DETAILS ON DISTRIBUTION PLANS, DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE ARRANGEMENTS
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE FEES Rule 12b-1 Fees.................................20
AND THE FUND'S MASTER/FEEDER Shareholder Service Fees........................21
ARRANGEMENT. Master/Feeder Structure.........................21
FOR MORE INFORMATION....................back cover
</TABLE>
For information about key terms and concepts, look for our "PLAIN TALK"
explanations.
<PAGE>
ROXBURY MID CAP FUND
FUND DESCRIPTION
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS A MUTUAL FUND?
A mutual fund pools shareholders' money and, using a professional
investment manager, invests in securities like stocks and bonds.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT DOES "CAP" MEAN?
Cap or the market capitalization of a company means the stock market
value of all of the outstanding shares of the company's common stock in
the stock market.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Objective o The ROXBURY MID CAP FUND seeks superior
long-term growth of capital.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Focus o Equity securities (generally common stocks)
-------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
Share Price Volatility o Moderate to high
-------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
Principal Investment o The Fund invests in a diversified portfolio of
Strategies high growth companies with stocks that exhibit
consistent above-average growth prospects.
o The Fund invests in equity securities (generally
common stocks) of corporations with a medium
market capitalization (those with market
capitalizations similar to companies in the S&P
MidCap 400 Index).
o The Fund operates as a "feeder fund" which means
that the Fund does not buy individual securities
directly. Instead, it invests in a corresponding
mutual fund or "master fund," which in turn
purchases the actual stock holdings. The Fund's
master fund is the Mid-Cap Series (the "Series")
of WT Investment Trust I.
o In a master/feeder arrangement, a feeder fund,
like the Fund, takes your investment dollars and
transfers them to an even larger pool, like the
Series, for greater efficiency. The Fund and the
Series have the same investment objective,
policies and limitations. When this prospectus
refers to investments of the Fund it is actually
referring to the investments of the Series.
o The Adviser purchases stocks, and in the case
of foreign companies, American Depository
Receipts ("ADRs"), it believes exhibit
consistent, above-average earnings growth,
superior quality and attractive risk/reward
characteristics. The adviser analyzes the stocks
of over 2,000 companies to search for high
quality companies which are growing at
substantially greater rates than the market's
average rate. The adviser's approach focuses on
stock selection and generally sells stocks when
the risk/rewards of a stock turn negative, when
company fundamentals deteriorate, or when a
stock under performs the market or its peer
group.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Principal Risks The Fund is subject to the following risks summarized
below which are further described under "Additional
Risk Information."
o The prices of securities, in which the Fund
invests, may fluctuate due to these securities
being traded infrequently and in limited
volumes. There may also be less publicly
available information about mid cap companies as
compared to larger companies.
o There is no guarantee that the stock market or
the stocks that the Fund buys will always
increase in value. Therefore, it is possible to
lose money by investing in the Fund.
o The Fund's share price will fluctuate in
response to changes in the market value of the
Fund's investments. Market value will change as
a result of business developments affecting an
issuer as well as general market and economic
conditions.
o Growth-oriented investments may be more volatile
than the rest of the U.S. stock market as a
whole.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
o Investments in a foreign market are subject to
foreign security risk and the risk of losses
caused by changes in foreign currency exchange
rates.
o The performance of the Fund will depend on how
successfully the Adviser pursues its investment
strategy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investor Profile o Investors who want the value of their investment
to grow and who are willing to accept more
volatility for the possibility of higher
returns.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FEES AND EXPENSES
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE FUND EXPENSES?
Every mutual fund has operating expenses to pay for professional
advisory, distribution, administration and custody services. The Fund's
expenses in the table below are shown as a percentage of its average
annual net assets. Sales charges are deducted once when you make or
redeem your investment. Expenses are deducted from Fund assets.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and
hold shares of the Fund. The Fund offers different share classes to allow you to
maximize your potential return depending on your and your financial consultant's
current expectations for your investment in the Fund.
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE SALES CHARGES?
The sales charge or load that you pay is a separate fee based on how
much you invest. This fee compensates your financial consultant for
providing you with investment assistance and on-going service as well
as handling all the paperwork associated with your investment and any
subsequent adjustments you make. For your convenience, the Fund is
offered in several classes, giving you several ways to pay this fee.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SHAREHOLDER FEES (FEES PAID DIRECTLY FROM YOUR
INVESTMENT) CLASS A CLASS B(A) CLASS C
------- ---------- -------
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on 5.50%(b) None None
purchases (as a percentage of offering price)
Maximum deferred sales charge None(c) 5.00%(d) 1.00%(e)
Maximum sales charge imposed on None None None
reinvested dividends (and other
distributions)
Redemption fee(f) None None None
(a) Class B shares convert to Class A shares automatically at the end of the
eighth year (96th month) after purchase. Investors seeking to purchase
Class B shares in amounts that exceed $250,000 should discuss with their
financial consultant whether the purchase of another class would be more
appropriate; such orders may be rejected by the Fund.
(b) Reduced for purchases of $50,000 and more.
(c) Class A shares are not subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (a
"CDSC"); except certain purchases that are not subject to an initial
sales charge may instead be subject to a CDSC of 1.00% of amounts
redeemed within the first year of purchase. Such a CDSC may be waived in
connection with redemptions to participants in certain fee-based
programs.
(d) 5.00% during the first year; 4.00% during the second year; 3.00% during
the third and fourth years; 2.00%
<PAGE>
during the fifth year; and 1.00% during the sixth year. Class B shares
automatically convert into Class A shares at the end of the eighth year
after purchase and thereafter will not be subject to a CDSC.
(e) Class C shares are subject to a 1.00% CDSC only if redeemed within the
first 18 months after purchase.
(f) If you effect a redemption via wire transfer, you may be required to pay
fees, including a $10 wire fee and other fees, that will be directly
deducted from your redemption proceeds. If you request redemption checks
to be sent by overnight mail, you may be required to pay a $10 fee that
will be directly deducted from your redemption proceeds.
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES 1 (EXPENSES THAT ARE
DEDUCTED FROM FUND ASSETS) CLASS A CLASS B CLASS C
------- ------- -------
Management fees 0.75% 0.75% 0.75%
Distribution (12b-1) fee None 0.75% 0.75%
Shareholder Service fee 0.25% 0.25% 0.25%
Other expenses 2 0.55% 0.55% 0.55%
----- ----- -----
Total Annual Operating Expenses 3 1.55% 2.30% 2.30%
===== ===== =====
----------------------
1 The table above and the example below each reflect the aggregate annual
operating expenses of the Fund and the Series.
2 "Other expenses" are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
3 The adviser has agreed to reduce its fees and/or reimburse expenses to limit
the total annual operating expenses to 1.55% for Class A shares and 2.30% for
each of Class B and Class C shares. This arrangement will remain in place
until the Board of Trustees approves its termination.
EXAMPLE
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund
with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The table below shows what you
would pay if you invested $10,000 over the various time frames indicated. The
example assumes that:
o you reinvested all dividends and other distributions
o the average annual return was 5%
o the Fund's maximum total operating expenses are charged and remain the same
over the time periods
o you redeemed all of your investment at the end of the time period.
Although your actual cost may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions,
your costs would be:
1 YEAR 3 YEARS
------ -------
Class A 1 $699 $1,013
Class B (assuming no redemption) $233 $718
Class B (assuming complete redemption at
the end of the 1 year or 3 year period) 2 $733 $1,018
Class C (assuming no redemption) $233 $718
Class C (assuming complete redemption at $333 $718
the end of the 1 year or 3 year period) 2
1 Assumes deduction at time of purchase of maximum sales charge.
2 Assumes deduction at redemption of maximum deferred sales charge.
THE ABOVE EXAMPLE IS FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT A REPRESENTATION OF
THE FUND'S ACTUAL EXPENSES AND RETURNS, EITHER PAST OR FUTURE.
<PAGE>
ADVISER'S PRIOR PERFORMANCE IN MID CAP SEPARATE ACCOUNTS
The table below shows relevant performance data for the Adviser and its
predecessors' investment advisory accounts (the "Accounts") from inception to
the seven year period ended December 31, 1999, using the same investment
approach specified for the Fund described under "Investment Objective" and
"Primary Investment Strategies."
The results for the period January 31, 1993 through July 31, 1998 are the
results of Roxbury Capital Management Inc., the predecessor to Roxbury Capital
Management, LLC.
The Accounts constitute the portfolios managed by the Adviser (and its
predecessor) that have an investment strategy of investing in mid cap companies
and that have met certain basic criteria as to minimum account value,
discretionary status, tax-exempt status and period of management of more than
one month. The Accounts were managed for tax-exempt clients and, therefore, may
have been managed differently than for taxable clients. The Accounts were not
subject to the same types of expenses to which the Fund is subject, nor to the
diversification requirements, specific tax restrictions and investment
limitations imposed on the Fund by the Investment Company Act of 1940, or the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986. The performance of the Accounts may have been
adversely affected had they been subject to the same expenses, restrictions and
limitations. The Adviser believes that any adverse effect would not have been
significant. The results presented are not intended to predict or suggest the
return to be experienced by the Fund or the return you might achieve by
investing in the Fund. You should not rely on the following performance data as
an indication of future performance of the Adviser or of the Fund.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TOTAL RETURN OF ADVISER'S MID CAP SEPARATE ACCOUNTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd Quarter 2nd Quarter 1st Quarter 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years From Inception
Average Annual Return Ended Ended Ended Ended Ended Ended to
for the Periods Sept. 30, June 30, Mar. 31, Dec.31, Dec.31, Dec. 31, Dec. 31,
--------- -------- -------- ------- ------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Specified: 2000 2000 2000 1999 1999 1999 1999
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
The Accounts
(net of expenses)........ 9.47% -3.06% 21.06% 25.64% 22.80% 26.69% 21.20%
S&P Mid Cap 400 Index.... 12.15% -3.30% 12.69% 14.77% 21.82% 23.05% 17.54%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
Please read the following important notes concerning the Separate Accounts:
1. The results for the Accounts reflect both income and capital appreciation
or depreciation (total return). Dividends are accounted for on a cash
basis; other items of income are accounted for on an accrual basis. Returns
are time-weighted and represent the dollar-weighted average of the Accounts
with a minimum size of $ 500,000 since January 1, 1995. Prior to January 1,
1995 the minimum account for composite purposes was $1 million.
<PAGE>
Return figures are net of applicable fees and expenses (other than separate
custody fees). As of April 1, 1995, the Accounts were valued daily.
2. The S&P Mid Cap 400 Index consists of 400 stocks chosen by Standard &
Poor's for market size, liquidity and industry group representation. It is
a market-value weighted unmanaged index (stock price times number of shares
outstanding), with each stock's weight in the S&P Mid Cap 400 Index
proportionate to its market value.
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS AN INDEX?
An index is a broad measure of the market performance of a specific
group of securities in a particular market or securities in a market
sector. You cannot invest directly in an index. An index does not have
an adviser and does not pay any commissions or expenses. If an index
had expenses, its performance would be lower.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SPECIAL NOTE CONCERNING ADVISER INVESTMENT RETURNS: You should note that the
Fund will compute and disclose its average annual compounded rate of return
using the standard formula set forth in SEC rules, which differs in certain
respects from the method used to compute the returns for the Accounts noted
above. The SEC total return calculation method calls for computation and
disclosure of an average annual compounded rate of return for one, five and ten
year periods or shorter periods from inception. The SEC formula provides a rate
of return that equates a hypothetical initial investment of $10,000 to an ending
redeemable value. The returns shown for the Accounts are reduced to reflect the
deduction of advisory fees in accordance with the SEC calculation formula, which
requires that returns shown for a fund be net of advisory fees as well as all
other applicable fund operating expenses. Performance was calculated on a trade
date basis.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The Fund and the Series seek superior long-term growth of capital.
For purposes of this investment objective, "superior" long-term growth of
capital means long-term growth of capital from an investment in a group of
mid-cap securities that exceeds the return of the S&P Mid Cap 400 Index. This
investment objective may not be changed without shareholder approval. There is
no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
<PAGE>
PRIMARY INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE GROWTH FUNDS?
Growth funds invest in the common stock of growth-oriented companies
seeking maximum growth of earnings and share price with little regard
for dividend earnings. Generally, companies with high relative rates of
growth tend to reinvest more of their profits into the company and pay
out less to shareholders in the form of dividends. As a result,
investors in growth funds tend to receive most of their return in the
form of capital appreciation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing its assets in
the Series. The Series, under normal market conditions, may invest up to 100% of
its total assets in the following equity (or equity-related securities):
o common stocks of corporations that are judged by the adviser to have strong
growth characteristics and, with respect to at least 65% of the Series'
total assets, have a market capitalization within the capitalization range
of the S&P Mid Cap 400 Index;
o American Depository Receipts ("ADRs"), which are negotiable certificates
held in a U.S. bank representing a specific number of shares of a foreign
stock traded on a U.S. stock exchange. ADRs make it easier for Americans to
invest in foreign companies, due to the widespread availability of
dollar-denominated price information, lower transaction costs, and timely
dividend distributions. An American Depository Share or ADS is the share
issued under an American Depositary Receipt agreement which is actually
traded;
o securities convertible into the common stock of corporations described
above;
o options on common stock or options on stock indexes.
Mid-cap companies are those whose capitalization is similar to the market
capitalization of companies in the S&P Mid Cap 400 Index at the time of the
Fund's investment. The Adviser looks for quality, sustainable-growth stocks
within the mid-cap portion of the market. At the time of initial purchase, an
investment's market capitalization will fall within the S&P Mid Cap 400 Index.
Due to market price adjustments or other events after the time of purchase, it
is possible that an investment's market capitalization may drift above or below
this range. Nevertheless, companies whose capitalization no longer meets this
definition after purchase continue to be considered to have a medium market
capitalization for purposes of the 65% policy. The Series is not limited to only
mid-cap companies, and under normal market conditions, may invest up to 35% of
its assets in stocks of companies in other capitalizations.
The Adviser believes that over the long-term, companies that experience a higher
growth in earnings and cash flow per share will achieve higher investment
returns. By consistently investing in a diversified portfolio of high growth
companies and by applying valuation disciplines, the Adviser believes that
superior long-term investment returns can be achieved at an acceptable level of
risk.
<PAGE>
The Adviser uses a bottom-up approach to investing. This investment approach
searches for potential investment opportunities in individual companies by
researching a company's financial statements, underlying industry trends,
competitive dynamics and other relevant information. The Adviser uses a bottom
up approach to not only identify new investment opportunities but also to
evaluate existing investments on an ongoing basis to determine continued
suitability.
The Adviser selects stocks it believes exhibit consistent, above average growth
prospects. Through research and its understanding of business fundamentals, the
Adviser seeks to identify companies with sound economic business models,
reputable managements, strong competitive positions, and the ability to grow
their businesses in a variety of economic environments. Additionally, all
investments undergo a valuation analysis to estimate their risk/reward
characteristics.
The Adviser's research team analyzes a broad universe of over 2,000 companies to
identify potential research candidates. Companies are screened for several
metrics including but not limited to revenue and earnings growth, debt leverage,
operating margin characteristics, cash flow generation, and return on invested
capital. Companies which pass the screens are subject to more thorough research
to evaluate their investment suitability.
Final investment candidates are evaluated and approved by the Adviser's
investment committee based on individual investment merits, and within the
context of the Series' overall portfolio characteristics and diversification
guidelines. The Series may invest in up to 100 stocks. At the time of purchase
individual stock holdings may represent up to 5% of the Series' value. Due to
market price fluctuations individual stock holdings may exceed 5% of the value
of the total portfolio. The Series may over or underweight certain industries
and sectors based on the Adviser's opinion of the relative attractiveness of
companies within those industries and sectors. The Series may not invest in more
than 10% of the outstanding shares of a company.
In order to respond to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions,
the Series may assume a temporary defensive position and invest without limit in
commercial paper and other money market instruments that are rated investment
grade. The result of this action may be that the Series will be unable to
achieve its investment objective. The Series also may use other strategies and
engage in other investment practices, which are described in detail in our
Statement of Additional Information.
ADDITIONAL RISK INFORMATION
The following is a list of certain risks that may apply to your investment in
the Fund. Further information about investment risk is available in our
Statement of Additional Information:
o MID-CAP COMPANIES RISK: The Series invests in mid-cap companies, which tend
to be more vulnerable to adverse developments than larger companies.
o MARKET RISK: The risk that the market value of a security may move up and
down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. The prices of equity securities
change in response to many factors including the historical and prospective
earnings of the issuer, the value of its
<PAGE>
assets, general economic conditions, interest rates, investor perceptions
and market liquidity.
o LIQUIDITY RISK: The risk that a security may lack sufficient liquidity in
order to execute a buy or sell program without significantly moving the
security's price. At times a security's price may experience unusual price
declines due to an imbalance between sellers and buyers of that security.
Forced liquidations of the Series or other funds which hold similar
securities could result in adverse price fluctuations in securities held
and in the overall Fund's value.
o GROWTH-ORIENTED INVESTING RISK: The risk that an investment in a
growth-oriented portfolio may be more volatile than the rest of the U.S.
market as a whole.
o DERIVATIVES RISK: Some of the Series' investments may be referred to as
"derivatives" because their value depends on, or derives from, the value of
an underlying asset, reference rate or index. These investments include
options, futures contracts and similar investments that may be used in
hedging, risk management, or other portfolio management purposes consistent
with the Series' investment objective. The market value of derivative
instruments and securities is sometimes more volatile than that of other
investments, and each type of derivative may pose its own special risks. As
a fundamental policy, no more than 15% of the Series' total assets may at
any time be committed or exposed to derivative strategies.
o CURRENCY RISK: The risk related to investments denominated in foreign
currencies. Foreign securities are usually denominated in foreign currency
therefor changes in foreign currency exchange rates affect the net asset
value of the Fund.
o FOREIGN SECURITY RISK: The risk of losses due to political, regulatory,
economic, social or other uncontrollable forces in a foreign country not
normally associated with investing in the U.S. markets.
o MASTER/FEEDER RISK: The master/feeder structure is relatively new and
complex. While this structure is designed to reduce costs, it may not do
so, and there may be operational or other complications. For example,
large-scale redemptions by other feeders of their shares of the master fund
could have adverse effects on a fund such as requiring the liquidation of a
substantial portion of the master fund's holdings at a time when it could
be disadvantageous to do so. Also, other feeders of a master fund may have
a greater ownership interest in the master fund and, therefore, could have
effective voting control over the operation of the master fund.
o OPPORTUNITY RISK: The risk of missing out on an investment opportunity
because the assets necessary to take advantage of it are tied up in less
advantageous investments.
o VALUATION RISK: The risk that a Series has valued certain of its securities
at a higher price than it can sell them.
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
The Board of Trustees supervises the management, activities and affairs of the
Fund and has approved contracts with various financial organizations to provide,
among other services, the day-to-day management required by the Fund and its
shareholders. The Board of Trustees includes a member of the Roxbury Investment
Committee.
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT ADVISER
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS AN ADVISER?
The Adviser makes investment decisions for a mutual fund and
continuously reviews, supervises and administers the fund's investment
program. The Board of Trustees supervises the Adviser and establishes
policies that the Adviser must follow in its management activities.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Roxbury Capital Management, LLC, 100 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 600, Santa
Monica, California 90401, serves as the investment adviser for the Fund (by
managing the Series). Under an advisory agreement, Roxbury, subject to the
supervision of the Board of Trustees, directs the investments of the Series in
accordance with its investment objective, policies and limitations. In addition
to serving as Adviser to the Series, Roxbury is engaged in a variety of
investment advisory activities, including the management of separately managed
accounts. The Series pays a monthly advisory fee to Roxbury at the annual rate
of 0.75% of the Series' first $1 billion of average daily net assets; 0.70% of
the Series' next $1 billion of average daily net assets; and 0.65% of the
Series' average daily net assets over $2 billion.
PORTFOLIO MANAGER
The day-to-day management of the Series is the responsibility of Roxbury's
Investment Committee. The Investment Committee meets regularly to make
investment decisions for the Series and relies on Roxbury's research team.
SERVICE PROVIDERS
The following chart provides information on the Fund's primary service
providers.
<PAGE>
Asset Shareholder
Management Services
------------------------------------ --------------------------------
ADVISER TRANSFER AGENT
ROXBURY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC PFPC INC.
100 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD 400 BELLEVUE PARKWAY
SUITE 600 WILMINGTON, DE 19809
SANTA MONICA, CA 90401 SUITE 108
Handles shareholder services,
including recordkeeping and
statements, payment of
Manages the Fund's investment distribution and processing of
activities. buy and sell requests.
------------------------------------ --------------------------------
------------------------------------
ROXBURY MID CAP FUND
------------------------------------
Fund Asset
Operations Safe Keeping
------------------------------------ --------------------------------
ADMINISTRATOR AND CUSTODIAN
ACCOUNTING AGENT WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
PFPC INC. RODNEY SQUARE NORTH
400 BELLEVUE PARKWAY 1100 NORTH MARKET STREET
WILMINGTON, DE 19809 WILMINGTON, DE 19890
Provides facilities, equipment and Holds the Fund's assets,
personnel to carry out settles all portfolio trades
administrative services related to and collects most of the
the Fund and calculates the Fund's valuation data required for
NAV and distributions. calculating the Fund's NAV per
share.
------------------------------------ ------------------------------------
<PAGE>
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
HOW SHARE PRICE IS CALCULATED
The Fund values its assets based on current market values when such values are
readily available. These prices normally are supplied by a pricing service.
Securities that do not have a readily available current market value are valued
in good faith under the direction of the Board of Trustees.
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS THE NET ASSET VALUE or "NAV"?
NAV = Assets - Liabilities
--------------------
Outstanding Shares
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PFPC determines the NAV per share of the Fund as of the close of regular trading
on the New York Stock Exchange (currently 4:00 p.m., Eastern time), on each
Business Day (a day that the Exchange, the Transfer Agent and the Philadelphia
branch of the Federal Reserve Bank are open for business). The NAV is calculated
by adding the value of all securities and other assets in the Fund, deducting
its liabilities and dividing the balance by the number of outstanding shares in
the Fund.
Shares will not be priced on those days the Fund is closed. As of the date of
this prospectus, those days are:
New Year's Day Memorial Day Veterans Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Independence Day Thanksgiving Day
Presidents' Day Labor Day Christmas Day
Good Friday Columbus Day
SELECTING THE CORRECT CLASS OF SHARES
This prospectus offers Class A, Class B and Class C shares of the Fund. Each
class has its own cost structure, allowing you to choose the one that best meets
your requirements and current expectations. Your financial consultant can help
you decide which class is best for you. For estimated expenses of each class,
see the table under "Fees and Expenses" earlier in this prospectus.
CLASS A SHARES--INITIAL SALES CHARGE
If you purchase Class A shares, you will incur a sales charge at the time of
purchase (a "front-end load") based on the dollar amount of your purchase. The
maximum initial sales charge is 5.50%, which is reduced for purchases of $50,000
and more. Sales charges also may be reduced
<PAGE>
by using the accumulation privilege described under "Sales Charge Reductions and
Waivers" (see page 15). Class A shares are subject to an ongoing shareholder
service fee of 0.25% of the Fund's average net assets attributable to Class A
shares. Class A shares will not be subject to any contingent deferred sales
charge (CDSC or "back end load") when they are redeemed. Although some purchases
may not be subject to an initial sales charge, if the initial sales charge is
waived, such purchases may be subject to a CDSC of 1.00% if the shares are
redeemed within one year after purchase. Class A shares also will be issued upon
conversion of Class B shares, as described below under "Class B Shares." The
minimum initial investment in Class A shares is $2,000.
Part of the front-end sales charge is paid directly to the selling broker-dealer
(the "dealer reallowance"). The remainder is retained by the distributor and may
be used either to promote the sale of the Fund's shares or to compensate the
distributor for its efforts to sell the shares of the Fund.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YOUR INVESTMENT AS A PERCENTAGE OF AS A PERCENTAGE OF
OFFERING PRICE YOUR INVESTMENT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$50,000 and less 5.50% 5.82%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$50,000 up to $150,000 5.00% 5.26%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$150,000 up to $250,000 4.50% 4.71%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$250,000 up to $500,000 3.50% 3.63%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$500,000 up to $1,000,000 3.00% 3.09%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Over $1,000,000 0.00% 0.00%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CLASS B SHARES--DEFERRED SALES CHARGE
If you purchase Class B shares, you will not incur a sales charge at the time of
purchase. However, Class B shares are subject to an ongoing Rule 12b-1
distribution fee of 0.75% of average net assets and an ongoing shareholder
service fee of 0.25% of average net assets. The Rule 12b-1 distribution fee and
the shareholder service fee accrue daily and are paid monthly. Class B shares
are subject to a CDSC if you redeem them prior to the seventh year after
purchase. At the end of the eighth year after purchase, Class B shares will
automatically convert into Class A shares of the Fund, which are subject to the
shareholder service fee of 0.25%. Automatic conversion of Class B shares into
Class A shares will occur at least once a month on the basis of the relative net
asset values of the shares of the two classes on the conversion date, without
the imposition of any sales load, fee or other charge. Conversion of Class B
shares to Class A shares will not be deemed a purchase or sale of the shares for
federal income tax purposes. Shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends
and other distributions on Class B shares also will convert automatically to
Class A shares based on the portion of purchased shares that convert. The
minimum initial investment in Class B shares is $2,000.
CLASS C SHARES--PAY AS YOU GO
If you purchase Class C shares, you do not incur a sales charge at the time of
purchase. However, Class C shares are subject to an ongoing Rule 12b-1
distribution fee of 0.75% of average net assets and an ongoing shareholder
service fee of 0.25% of average net assets. Class C shares also are subject to a
1.00% CDSC if you redeem them within 18 months of purchase. Although Class C
shares are subject to a CDSC for only 18 months (as compared to six years for
<PAGE>
Class B), Class C shares have no conversion feature. Accordingly, if you
purchase Class C shares, those shares will be subject to the 0.75% distribution
fee and the 0.25% shareholder service fee for as long as you own your Class C
shares. The minimum initial investment in Class C shares is $2,000.
You may be subject to a CDSC upon redemption of your Class B and Class C shares
under the following conditions:
o Class B Shares
---------------------------------------------------------------
YEARS AFTER PURCHASE CDSC ON SHARES BEING REDEEMED
---------------------------------------------------------------
1st year 5.00%
---------------------------------------------------------------
2nd year 4.00%
---------------------------------------------------------------
3rd year 3.00%
---------------------------------------------------------------
4th year 3.00%
---------------------------------------------------------------
5th year 2.00%
---------------------------------------------------------------
6th year 1.00%
---------------------------------------------------------------
7th year None
---------------------------------------------------------------
After the 7th year None
---------------------------------------------------------------
Class B shares will be automatically converted to Class A shares at the
end of the eighth year (96th month) after purchase.
o Class C Shares
If you redeem Class C shares within 18 months of purchase, you will be
charged a CDSC of 1.00%. There is no CDSC imposed on Class C shares
acquired through reinvestment of dividends or capital gains.
The CDSC on redemptions of shares is computed based on the original purchase
price of the shares being redeemed, net of reinvested dividends and capital
gains distributions. CDSC calculations are based on the specific shares
involved, not the value of the account. To keep your CDSC as low as possible,
each time you place a request to sell shares, we will first sell any shares in
your account that are not subject to a CDSC. If there are not enough of these
shares to meet your request, we will sell your shares on a first-in, first-out
basis. Your financial consultant or institution may elect to waive some or all
of the payment, thereby reducing or eliminating the otherwise applicable CDSC.
OTHER CLASSES OF SHARES
The Fund may offer other classes of shares, from time to time, for special
purposes. These other classes, if offered, will not be available to the general
public, although they may appear in newspaper listings. When reviewing newspaper
listings, please remember that the class or classes listed may not be the class
you own and therefore the net asset value(s) listed may be different from the
net asset value of your shares.
<PAGE>
SALES CHARGE REDUCTIONS AND WAIVERS
REDUCING SALES CHARGES ON YOUR CLASS A SHARES. There are several ways you can
combine multiple purchases of Class A shares to take advantage of the
breakpoints in the sales charge schedule. These can be combined in any manner:
o Accumulation privilege--lets you add the value of any Class A shares you
and your immediate family already own to the amount of your next investment
for purposes of calculating sales charges
o Letter of intent--lets you purchase Class A shares over a 13-month period
and receive the same sales charge as if all shares had been purchased at
once. See the new account application and our Statement of Additional
Information for terms and conditions.
To use these privileges, discuss your eligibility with your financial
consultant.
CDSC WAIVERS. In general, the CDSC may be waived on shares you sell for the
following reasons:
o Payments through certain systematic retirement plans and other employee
benefit plans
o Qualifying distributions from qualified retirement plans and other employee
benefit plans
o Distributions from custodial accounts under section 403(b)(7) of the
Internal Revenue Code as well as from Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)
due to death, disability or attainment of age 70_
o Participation in certain fee-based programs
To use any of these waivers, contact your financial consultant.
REINSTATEMENT PRIVILEGE. If you sell shares of the Fund, you may invest some or
all of the proceeds in the Fund within 90 days without a sales charge. If you
paid a CDSC when you sold your shares, you will be credited with the amount of
the CDSC. All accounts involved must have the same registration.
To use this privilege, contact your financial consultant.
NET ASSET VALUE PURCHASES. Class A shares may be sold at net asset value, with
only a $2,000 minimum initial investment, to:
o Clients of financial consultants who exchange their shares from an
unaffiliated investment company that has a comparable sales charge, so long
as shares are purchased within 60 days of the redemption;
o Trustees or other fiduciaries purchasing shares for certain retirement
plans of organizations with 50 or more eligible employees and
employer-sponsored benefit plans in connection with
<PAGE>
purchases of Fund shares made as a result of participant-directed exchanges
between options in such a plan;
o Investment advisers, financial planners and certain financial institutions
that place trades for their own accounts or the accounts of their clients
either individually or through a master account and who charge a
management, consulting or other fee for their services;
o "Wrap accounts" for the benefit of clients of broker-dealers, financial
institutions or financial planners having sales or service agreements with
the distributor or another broker-dealer or financial institution with
respect to sales of Fund shares;
o Current or retired trustees, officers and employees of the Fund, the
distributor, the transfer agent, the adviser and its members, certain
family members of the above persons, and trusts or plans primarily for such
persons or their family members;
o Current or retired registered representatives or full-time employees and
their spouses and minor children and plans of broker-dealers or other
institutions that have selling agreements with the distributor; and
o Such other persons as are determined by the adviser or distributor to have
acquired shares under circumstances where the Fund has not incurred any
sales expense.
PURCHASE OF SHARES
Investors may purchase shares of the Fund through financial intermediaries such
as financial consultants, securities brokers, dealers or benefit plan
administrators. Investors should contact their financial intermediary directly
for appropriate purchase instructions, as well as for information pertaining to
accounts and any servicing or transaction fees that may be charged. Some
financial intermediaries may appoint subagents.
The minimum initial investment in Class A, Class B or Class C shares is $2,000
(including IRAs) and $100 for subsequent investments. The adviser or the
distributor, at their discretion, may waive these minimums. See our Statement of
Additional Information for further details.
See "Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers" for ways to make your initial
investment go farther.
Shares are sold at a public offering price based on the net asset value for the
class of shares selected. If your purchase order is received by the transfer
agent before the close of regular trading on the Exchange on any Business Day,
you will pay the next public offering price that is determined as of the close
of trading. Purchase orders received after the close of regular trading on the
Exchange will be priced as of the close of regular trading on the following
Business Day.
Any purchase order may be rejected if the Fund determines that accepting the
order would not be in the best interest of the Fund or its shareholders.
It is the responsibility of the financial intermediary to transmit orders for
the purchase of shares by its customers to the Transfer Agent and to deliver
required funds on a timely basis, in accordance with the procedures stated
above.
<PAGE>
For information on other ways to purchase shares, including through an
individual retirement account (IRA), call the Transfer Agent at (800) 497-2960,
or see our Statement of Additional Information.
For information on an automatic investment plan or a payroll investment plan,
see our Statement of Additional Information.
REDEMPTION OF SHARES
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO REDEEM (SELL) SHARES:
o By mail
o By telephone
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
If you purchased your shares through a financial intermediary, you should
contact the intermediary for information relating to redemptions. The Fund's
name and your account number should accompany any redemption requests.
SMALL ACCOUNTS: If the value of your Fund accounts falls below $500, the Fund
may ask you to increase your balance. If the account balance is still below $500
after 60 days, the Fund may close your account and send you the proceeds. The
Fund will not close your account if it falls below $500 solely as a result of a
reduction in your account's market value.
For information on other ways to redeem shares, please refer to our Statement of
Additional Information.
EXCHANGE OF SHARES
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS AN EXCHANGE OF SHARES?
An exchange of shares allows you to move your money from one fund to
another fund within a family of funds.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
You may exchange all or a portion of your shares of the Fund for shares in the
same class of the following portfolios:
Roxbury Large Cap Growth Fund
Roxbury Science and Technology Fund
Roxbury Socially Responsible Fund
Redemption of shares through an exchange will be effected at the NAV per share
next determined after the Transfer Agent receives your request. A purchase
through an exchange will be effected at the NAV per share determined at the time
or as next determined thereafter.
<PAGE>
Exchange transactions will be subject to the minimum initial investment and
other requirements of the portfolio into which the exchange is made. An exchange
may not be made if the exchange would leave a balance in a shareholder's account
of less than $500.
If you make an exchange involving Class B or Class C shares, the amount of time
you held the original shares will be added to the holding period of the Class B
or Class shares, respectively, into which you exchanged for the purpose of
calculating contingent deferred sales charges if you later redeem the exchange
shares.
Before requesting an exchange, you should review the prospectus of the portfolio
you wish to acquire. To obtain prospectuses of the other portfolios, you may
call (800) 497-2960. To obtain more information about exchanges or to place
exchange orders, contact the Transfer Agent, or your financial professional. The
portfolios may terminate or modify the exchange offer described here and will
give you 60 days' notice of such termination or modification. This exchange
offer is valid only in those jurisdictions where the sale of portfolio shares to
be acquired through such exchange may be legally made.
DISTRIBUTIONS
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS NET INVESTMENT INCOME?
Net investment income consists of interest and dividends earned by a
fund on its investments less accrued expenses.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributions from the net investment income of the Fund, if any, are declared
and paid annually to you. Any net capital gain realized by the Fund will be
distributed annually.
Distributions are payable to shareholders of record at the time distributions
are declared (including holders of shares being redeemed, but excluding holders
of shares being purchased). All distributions are reinvested in additional Fund
shares, unless you have elected to receive distributions in cash.
TAXES
FEDERAL INCOME TAX: As long as the Fund meets the requirements for being a
"regulated investment company," it pays no Federal income tax on the earnings
and gains it distributes to shareholders. While the Fund may invest in
securities that earn interest subject to Federal income tax and securities that
earn interest exempt from that tax, under normal conditions the Fund invests
primarily in taxable securities. The Fund will notify you following the end of
the calendar year of the amount of dividends and other distributions paid that
year.
Dividends you receive from the Fund, whether reinvested in Fund shares or taken
as cash, are generally taxable to you as ordinary income. The Fund's
distributions of net capital gain, whether received in cash or reinvested in
additional Fund shares, are taxable to you as long-term capital gain, regardless
of the length of time you have held your shares. You should be aware that if
Fund shares are purchased shortly before the record date for any dividend or
capital gain
<PAGE>
distribution, you will pay the full price for the shares and will receive some
portion of the price back as a taxable distribution. The Fund anticipates the
distribution of net capital gain.
It is a taxable event for you if you sell or exchange shares of the Fund.
Depending on the purchase price and the sale price of the shares you exchange,
you may have a taxable gain or loss on the transaction. You are responsible for
any tax liability generated by your transactions.
STATE AND LOCAL INCOME TAXES: You should consult your tax advisers concerning
state and local taxes, which may have different consequences from those of the
Federal income tax law.
This section is only a summary of some important income tax considerations that
may affect your investment in the Fund. More information regarding those
considerations appears in our Statement of Additional Information. You are urged
to consult your tax adviser regarding the effects of an investment on your tax
situation.
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE ARRANGEMENTS
The Distributor manages the Fund's distribution efforts and enters into dealer
agreements with financial consultants to sell fund shares.
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW CAN YOUR FINANCIAL CONSULTANT HELP YOU?
Your financial consultant is thoroughly familiar with the Fund and with
Roxbury Capital Management. He or she can answer any questions you have
now, or in the future, about how the Fund operates, which class of
shares is most appropriate for you and how the Roxbury investment style
works and has performed for other investors. Your financial consultant
is a valuable and knowledgeable resource.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
RULE 12B-1 FEES
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE 12b-1 FEES?
12b-1 fees, charged by some funds, are deducted from fund assets to pay
for marketing and advertising expenses or, more commonly, to compensate
sales professionals for selling fund shares.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund has adopted a distribution plan under Rule 12b-1 that allows the Fund
to pay a fee to the Distributor for facilitating the sale and distribution of
its shares. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund's assets on an ongoing
basis, over time these fees indirectly will increase the cost of your investment
and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.
Rule 12b-1 permits a fund directly or indirectly to pay expenses associated with
the distribution of its shares and the servicing of its shareholders in
accordance with a plan adopted by the Board of Trustees and approved by its
shareholders. Pursuant to the Rule, the Board has approved, and
<PAGE>
the Fund has entered into, separate distribution plans with the Distributor, for
the Class B and Class C shares. Under the distribution plans, the Fund will pay
distribution fees to the Distributor at a maximum annual rate of 0.75% of its
aggregate average daily net assets attributable to its Class B and Class C
shares.
The distribution plans provide that the Distributor may use the distribution
fees received from a class of shares to pay for the distribution and shareholder
servicing expenses of that class, including, but not limited to (i) incentive
compensation paid to the directors, officers and employees of, agents for and
consultants to, the distributor or any other broker-dealer or financial
institution that engages in the distribution of that class; and (ii)
compensation to broker-dealers, financial institutions or other persons for
providing distribution assistance with respect to that class. Distribution fees
may also be used for (i) marketing and promotional activities, including, but
not limited to, direct mail promotions and television, radio, newspaper,
magazine and other mass media advertising for that class; (ii) costs of printing
and distributing prospectuses, Statements of Additional Information and reports
of the Fund to prospective investors in that class; (iii) costs involved in
preparing, printing and distributing sales literature pertaining to the Fund and
that class; and (iv) costs involved in obtaining whatever information, analyses
and reports with respect to marketing and promotional activities that the Fund
may, from time to time, deem advisable with respect to the distribution of that
class. Distribution fees are accrued daily and paid monthly, and are charged as
expenses of, respectively, Class B and Class C shares as accrued.
The distribution fees applicable to the Class B and Class C shares are designed
to permit you to purchase Class B and Class C shares through broker-dealers
without the assessment of a front-end sales charge and at the same time to
permit the distributor to compensate broker-dealers on an ongoing basis to
provide services to shareholders of the Class B and Class C shares attributable
to those broker-dealers.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICE FEES
The Board of Trustees has adopted a shareholder service plan authorizing the
Fund to pay service providers an annual fee not exceeding 0.25% of the Fund's
average daily net assets of each class of shares, to compensate service
providers who maintain a service relationship. Service activities provided under
this plan include (a) establishing and maintaining shareholder accounts and
records, (b) answering shareholder inquiries, (c) assisting in share purchases
and redemptions, (d) providing statements and reports to shareholders, and (e)
providing other related services requested by shareholders.
MASTER/FEEDER STRUCTURE
Other institutional investors, including other mutual funds, may invest in the
Series. The master/feeder structure enables various institutional investors,
including the Fund, to pool their assets, which may be expected to result in
economies by spreading certain fixed costs over a larger asset base. Each
shareholder of a master fund, including the Series, will pay its proportionate
share of the master fund's expenses.
<PAGE>
For reasons relating to costs or a change in investment goal, among others, the
Fund could switch to another master fund or decide to manage its assets itself.
The Fund is not currently contemplating such a move.
<PAGE>
FOR MORE INFORMATION
FOR INVESTORS WHO WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE FUND, THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS ARE
AVAILABLE FREE UPON REQUEST:
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI): Provides a complete technical and
legal description of the Fund's policies, investment restrictions, risks, and
business structure. This prospectus incorporates the SAI by reference.
Copies of these documents and answers to questions about the Fund may be
obtained without charge by contacting:
Roxbury Mid Cap Fund
c/o PFPC Inc.
400 Bellevue Parkway
Suite 108
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
(800) 497-2960
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time
Information about the Fund (including the SAI) can be reviewed and copied at the
Public Reference Room of the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington,
D.C. Copies of this information may be obtained, upon payment of a duplicating
fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: [email protected],
or by writing the Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, DC,
20549-0102. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be
obtained by calling the SEC at 1-202-942-8090. Reports and other information
about the Fund may be viewed on-screen or downloaded from the SEC's Internet
site at http://www.sec.gov.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OPENING A NEW ACCOUNT, MAKING
CHANGES TO EXISTING ACCOUNTS, PURCHASING, EXCHANGING
OR REDEEMING SHARES, OR OTHER INVESTOR SERVICES,
PLEASE CALL (800) 497-2960.
The investment company registration number is 811-08648.
<PAGE>
[ROXBURY LOGO]
ROXBURY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FUND
================================================================================
PROSPECTUS DATED NOVEMBER 1, 2000
This prospectus contains important information about the Fund, including
information on investment policies, risks and fees. For your own benefit and
protection, please read it before you invest, and keep it on hand for future
reference.
Like all mutual fund shares, these securities have not been approved or
disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission nor has the Securities and
Exchange Commission determined whether this prospectus is accurate or complete.
Anyone who tells you otherwise is committing a criminal offense.
PRESENTLY CLASS A SHARES OF THE FUND ARE BEING OFFERED ONLY TO
CERTAIN PERSONS ELIGIBLE TO PURCHASE CLASS A SHARES AT NET ASSET
VALUE. SEE "SALES CHARGE REDUCTIONS AND WAIVERS." CLASS B AND
CLASS C SHARES ARE NOT CURRENTLY BEING OFFERED.
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
A LOOK AT THE GOALS, STRATEGIES, FUND DESCRIPTION
RISKS AND EXPENSES OF THE Summary................................................3
FUND. Fees and Expenses......................................4
Adviser Prior Performance..............................6
Investment Objective...................................7
Primary Investment Strategies..........................7
Additional Risk Information............................9
DETAILS ABOUT THE SERVICE MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
PROVIDERS. Investment Adviser....................................10
Fund Manager..........................................11
Service Providers.....................................11
POLICIES AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
OPENING, MAINTAINING AND How Share Price is Calculated.........................13
CLOSING AN ACCOUNT IN THE Selecting the Correct Class of Shares.................13
FUND. Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers...................15
Purchase of Shares....................................17
Redemption of Shares..................................18
Exchange of Shares....................................18
Distributions.........................................19
Taxes.................................................19
DETAILS ON DISTRIBUTION PLANS, DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE ARRANGEMENTS
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE FEES Rule 12b-1 Fees.......................................20
AND THE FUND'S MASTER/FEEDER Shareholder Service Fees..............................21
ARRANGEMENT. Master/Feeder Structure...............................21
FOR MORE INFORMATION..........................back cover
</TABLE>
For information about key terms and concepts, look for our "PLAIN TALK"
explanations.
<PAGE>
ROXBURY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FUND
FUND DESCRIPTION
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS A MUTUAL FUND?
A mutual fund pools shareholders' money and, using a professional
investment manager, invests in securities like stocks and bonds.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
Investment Objective o ROXBURY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FUND seeks
superior long-term growth of capital.
-------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
Investment Focus o Equity securities (generally common stocks
relating to the science and technology
industries)
-------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
Share Price Volatility o Moderate to high
-------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
Principal Investment o The Fund is a non-diversified portfolio which
Strategy may be focused on 60 common stocks from three of
the fastest growth industries in the world:
healthcare, telecommunications and technology.
o The Fund operates as a "feeder fund" which means
that the Fund does not buy individual securities
directly. Instead, it invests in a corresponding
mutual fund or "master fund," which in turn
purchases the actual stock holdings. The Fund's
master fund is the Science and Technology Series
(the "Series") of WT Investment Trust I.
o In a master/feeder arrangement, a feeder fund,
like the Fund, takes your investment dollars and
transfers them to an even larger pool, like the
Series, for greater efficiency. The Fund and the
Series have the same investment objective,
policies and limitations. When this prospectus
refers to investments of the Fund it is actually
referring to the investments of the Series.
o The Adviser purchases stocks, and in the case of
foreign companies, American Depositary Receipts
("ADRs"), it believes exhibit consistent,
above-average earnings growth, superior quality
and attractive risk/reward characteristics. The
Adviser analyzes the stocks of over 2,000
companies to search for high quality companies
which are growing at rates faster than the
market average. The Adviser generally sells
stocks when the risk/rewards of a stock turn
negative or when company fundamentals
deteriorate.
-------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
Principal Risks The Fund is subject to the following risks summarized
below, which are further described under "Additional
Risk Information."
o The Series is classified as "non-diversified."
This means that the Series may invest a greater
percentage of its assets in one particular
issuer. Consequently, a decline in value of the
securities of a single issuer would have a
greater negative impact on the Fund than if the
Fund were diversified. In addition, the Series
will focus on 60 stocks of companies in the
healthcare, telecommunications and technology
industries. As a result, the value of the
Series' shares may vary more widely, and the
Series may be subject to greater market and
credit risk than if the Series invested more
broadly.
o The Fund may invest in relatively small
companies with small market capitalizations.
Such companies are subject to abrupt market
movements due to their tendency to be thinly
traded and subject to greater business risk.
o There is no guarantee that the stock market or
the stocks that the Fund buys will always
increase in value. Therefore, it is possible to
lose money by investing in the Fund.
o The Fund's share price will fluctuate in
response to changes in the market value of the
Fund's investments. Market value will change as
a result of business developments affecting an
issuer as well as general market and economic
conditions.
o Growth-oriented investments may be more volatile
than the rest of the U.S. stock market as a
whole.
o Investments in a foreign market are subject to
foreign security risk and the risk of losses
caused by changes in foreign currency exchange
rates.
o The performance of the Fund will depend on how
successfully the adviser pursues its investment
strategy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investor Profile o Investors who want the value of their investment
to grow and who are willing to accept more
volatility for the possibility of higher
returns.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FEES AND EXPENSES
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE FUND EXPENSES?
Every mutual fund has operating expenses to pay for professional
advisory, distribution, administration and custody services. The Fund's
expenses in the table below are shown as a percentage of its average
annual net assets. Sales charges are deducted once when you make or
redeem your investment. Expenses are deducted from Fund assets.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and
hold shares of the Fund. The Fund offers different share classes to allow you to
maximize your potential return depending on your and your financial consultant's
current expectations for your investment in the Fund.
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE SALES CHARGES?
The sales charge or load that you pay is a separate fee based on how
much you invest. This fee compensates your financial consultant for
providing you with investment assistance and on-going service as well
as handling all the paperwork associated with your investment and any
subsequent adjustments you make. For your convenience, the Fund is
offered in several classes, giving you several ways to pay this fee.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHAREHOLDER FEES (FEES PAID DIRECTLY FROM YOUR
INVESTMENT) CLASS A CLASS B(a) CLASS C
------- ---------- -------
<S> <C>
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on 5.50%(b) None None
purchases (as a percentage of offering price)
Maximum deferred sales charge None(c) 5.00%(d) 1.00%(e)
Maximum sales charge imposed on None None None
reinvested dividends (and other distributions)
Redemption fee(f) None None None
</TABLE>
---------------------
(a) Class B shares convert to Class A shares automatically at the end of
the eighth year (96th month) after purchase. Investors seeking to
purchase Class B shares in amounts that exceed $250,000 should discuss
with their financial consultant whether the purchase of another class
would be more appropriate; such orders may be rejected by the Fund.
(b) Reduced for purchases of $50,000 and more.
(c) Class A shares are not subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (a
"CDSC"); except certain purchases that are not subject to an initial
sales charge may instead be subject to a CDSC of 1.00% of amounts
redeemed within the first year of purchase. Such a CDSC may be waived
in connection with redemptions to participants in certain fee-based
programs.
(d) 5.00% during the first year; 4.00% during the second year; 3.00% during
the third year and fourth year; 2.00% during the fifth year; and 1.00%
during the sixth year. Class B shares automatically convert into Class
A shares at the end of the eighth year after purchase and thereafter
will not be subject to a CDSC.
(e) Class C shares are subject to a 1.00% CDSC only if redeemed within the
first 18 months after purchase.
<PAGE>
(f) If you effect a redemption via wire transfer, you may be required to
pay fees, including a $10 wire fee and other fees, that will be
directly deducted from your redemption proceeds. If you request
redemption checks to be sent by overnight mail, you may be required to
pay a $10 fee that will be directly deducted from your redemption
proceeds.
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES 1 (EXPENSES THAT ARE
DEDUCTED FROM FUND ASSETS) CLASS A CLASS B CLASS C
------- ------- -------
Management fees 1.00% 1.00% 1.00%
Distribution (12b-1) fee None 0.75% 0.75%
Shareholder Service fee 0.25% 0.25% 0.25%
Other expenses 2 0.55% 0.55% 0.55%
----- ----- -----
Total Annual Operating Expenses 3 1.80% 2.55% 2.55%
===== ===== =====
---------------------
1 The table above and the example below each reflect the aggregate annual
operating expenses of the Fund and the Series.
2 "Other expenses" are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
3 The adviser has agreed to reduce its fees and/or reimburse expenses to limit
the total annual operating expenses to 1.80% for Class A shares and 2.55% for
each of Class B and Class C shares. This arrangement will remain in place
until the Board of Trustees approves its termination.
EXAMPLE
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund
with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The table below shows what you
would pay if you invested $10,000 over the various time frames indicated. The
example assumes that:
o you reinvested all dividends and other distributions
o the average annual return was 5%
o the Fund's maximum total operating expenses are charged and remain the same
over the time periods
o you redeemed all of your investment at the end of the time period.
Although your actual cost may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions,
your costs would be:
1 YEAR 3 YEARS
------ -------
Class A 1 $723 $1,085
Class B (assuming no redemption) $258 $794
Class B (assuming complete redemption at
the end of the 1 year or 3 year period)2 $758 $1,094
Class C (assuming no redemption) $258 $794
Class C (assuming complete redemption at $358 $794
the end of the 1 year or 3 year period)2
1 Assumes deduction at time of purchase of maximum sales charge.
2 Assumes deduction at redemption of maximum deferred sales charge.
THE ABOVE EXAMPLE IS FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT A REPRESENTATION OF
THE FUND'S ACTUAL EXPENSES AND RETURNS, EITHER PAST OR FUTURE.
<PAGE>
ADVISER'S PRIOR PERFORMANCE IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SEPARATE ACCOUNTS
The following material presents the performance of accounts managed by the
Adviser with an exclusive focus on stocks in the science and technology
industries. The Adviser recognized that science and technology companies have
shown attractive returns over time and in April 1999 began managing accounts
with stocks chosen exclusively from these industries.
The Science and Technology accounts ("Accounts") constitute the accounts managed
by the Adviser that have an identical or substantially similar investment
objective or investment approach as the Fund and that met certain basic criteria
as to minimum account value, discretionary status, and period of management of
more than one month. The Accounts reflect taxable and tax-exempt investors, as
will the Fund. The Accounts were not subject to the same types of expenses to
which the Fund is subject, nor to the diversification requirements, specific tax
restrictions and investment limitations imposed on the Fund by the Investment
Company Act of 1940, or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. The performance of
the Accounts may have been adversely affected had they been subject to the same
expenses, restrictions and limitations. The Adviser believes that any adverse
effect would not have been significant. The results presented are not intended
to predict or suggest the return to be experienced by the Fund or the return you
might achieve by investing in the Fund. You should not rely on the following
performance data as an indication of future performance of the Adviser or of the
Fund.
TOTAL RETURN OF ADVISER'S SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SEPARATE ACCOUNTS
(INCEPTION 4/13/99)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
3rd Quarter 2nd Quarter 1st Quarter 1 Year 4th Quarter 3rd Quarter
Ended Ended Ended Ended Ended Ended
Average Return for SEPT. 30, JUNE 30, MAR. 31, DEC. 31, DEC. 31, SEPT. 30,
--------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ---------
The Periods Specified 2000 2000 2000 1999 1999 1999
--------------------- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
The Accounts
(net of expenses) 8.71% -8.37% 14.54% 86.70% 70.34% 11.22%
S&P 500 Index -0.97% -2.66% 2.29% 21.03% 14.88% -6.25%
</TABLE>
Please read the following important notes concerning the Accounts:
1. The results for the Accounts reflect both income and capital appreciation
or depreciation (total return). Dividends are accounted for on a cash
basis; other items of income are accounted for on an accrual basis. Returns
are time-weighted and represent the dollar-weighted average of Accounts
with a minimum size of $500,000. Return figures are net hypothetical
management fees of 1%, the highest fee the Advisor charges to manage
Science and Technology Accounts. Accounts are valued daily.
2. The S&P 500 Index consists of 500 stocks chosen by Standard & Poor for
market size, liquidity and industry group representation. It is a
market-value weighted unmanaged index (stock price times number of shares
outstanding), with each stock's weight in the S&P 500 Index proportionate
to its market value.
<PAGE>
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS AN INDEX?
An index is a broad measure of the market performance of a specific
group of securities in a particular market or securities in a market
sector. You cannot invest directly in an index. An index does not have
an adviser and does not pay any commissions or expenses. If an index
had expenses, its performance would be lower.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SPECIAL NOTE CONCERNING ADVISER INVESTMENT RETURNS: You should note that
the Fund will compute and disclose its average annual compounded rate of
return using the standard formula set forth in SEC rules, which differs in
certain respects from the method used to compute the returns for the
Accounts noted above. The SEC total return calculation method calls for
computation and disclosure of an average annual compounded rate of return
for one, five and ten year periods or shorter periods from inception. The
SEC formula provides a rate of return that equates a hypothetical initial
investment of $10,000 to an ending redeemable value. The returns shown for
the Accounts are reduced to reflect the deduction of advisory fees in
accordance with the SEC calculation formula, which requires that returns
shown for a fund be net of advisory fees as well as all other applicable
fund operating expenses. Performance was calculated on a trade date basis.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The Fund and the Series seek superior long-term growth of capital.
For purposes of this investment objective, "superior" long-term growth of
capital means long-term growth of capital from investments in securities of
companies in the healthcare, telecommunications and technology sectors with the
objective of achieving returns in excess of the S&P 500 Index returns. This
investment objective may not be changed without shareholder approval. There is
no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
PRIMARY INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE GROWTH FUNDS?
Growth funds invest in the common stock of growth-oriented companies
seeking maximum growth of earnings and share price with little regard
for dividend earnings. Generally, companies with high relative rates of
growth tend to reinvest more of their profits into the company and pay
out less to shareholders in the form of dividends. As a result,
investors in growth funds tend to receive most of their return in the
form of capital appreciation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund is a non-diversified portfolio which seeks to achieve its investment
objective by investing its assets in the Series. The Series may invest up to
100% of its total assets in the following equity (or equity-related) securities:
o common stocks of corporations;
<PAGE>
o securities convertible into the common stock of corporations;
o American Depository Receipts ("ADRs"), which are negotiable certificates
held in a U.S. bank representing a specific number of shares of a foreign
stock traded on a U.S. stock exchange. ADRs make it easier for Americans to
invest in foreign companies, due to the widespread availability of
dollar-denominated price information, lower transaction costs, and timely
dividend distributions. An American Depository Share or ADS is the share
issued under an American Depositary Receipt agreement which is actually
traded;
o options on common stock or options on stock indexes. Options may not
represent more than 15% of the Fund's market value.
o Initial Public Offerings ("IPOs"). IPOs may not represent more than 15% of
the Fund's market value.
The Series is a unique, non-diversified portfolio which is focused on 60 stocks
from three of the fastest growth industries in the world: healthcare,
telecommunications and technology. This all capitalization portfolio
incorporates the Adviser's focus on industry leading growth companies in the
science and technology industries. The Adviser believes demographic trends and
technological developments will continue to generate strong, sustainable growth
rates and high returns on invested capital for the leading companies.
Investments are spread across the science and technology industries in varying
weights while balancing risk by investing in a mix of large and small
capitalization stocks. The Adviser believes that over the long-term, companies
that experience a higher growth in earnings and cash flow per share will achieve
higher investment returns. By applying valuation disciplines, the Adviser
believes that superior long-term investment returns can be achieved at an
acceptable level of risk.
The Adviser uses a bottom-up approach to investing. This investment approach
searches for potential investment opportunities in individual companies by
researching a company's financial statements, underlying industry trends,
competitive dynamics and other relevant information. The process also involves
extensive company visits, interviews with customers and suppliers and attending
industry symposiums. The Adviser uses a bottom-up approach to not only identify
new investment opportunities but also to evaluate existing investments on an
ongoing basis to determine continued suitability.
The Adviser selects stocks it believes exhibit sustainable growth and expanding
returns on invested capital. Through research and its understanding of business
fundamentals, the Adviser seeks to identify companies with sound economic
business models, reputable managements, strong competitive positions, and the
ability to grow their businesses in a variety of economic environments.
Additionally, all investments undergo a valuation analysis to estimate their
risk/reward characteristics.
The Adviser's research analyst team surveys a broad universe of over 2,000
companies to identify potential research candidates. Companies are screened for
several metrics including but not limited to revenue and earnings growth, debt
leverage, operating margin characteristics, cash
<PAGE>
flow generation, and return on invested capital. Companies which pass the
screens are subject to more thorough research to evaluate their investment
suitability.
Final investment candidates are evaluated and approved by the Adviser's
investment committee based on individual investment merits, and within the
context of the Series' overall portfolio characteristics and diversification
guidelines. The Series may invest in up to 100 stocks. The Series may not invest
in more than 10% of the outstanding shares of a company.
In order to respond to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions,
the Series may assume a temporary defensive position and invest without limit in
commercial paper and other money market instruments that are rated investment
grade. The result of this action may be that the Series will be unable to
achieve its investment objective. The Series also may use other strategies and
engage in other investment practices, which are described in detail in our
Statement of Additional Information.
ADDITIONAL RISK INFORMATION
The following is a list of certain risks that may apply to your investment in
the Fund. Further information about investment risk is available in our
Statement of Additional Information:
o INDUSTRY RISK: The Series will concentrate on investments in the
healthcare, telecommunications and technology industries. The Series'
investments in companies dependent on scientific and technological
developments may be more volatile because of certain risks associated with
these industries. Such risks include the short life cycles and competitive
pressures of many of the products or services of theses companies, and the
adverse impact of government regulation.
o NON-DIVERSIFICATION RISK: The susceptibility of this Series to the risks
associated with the particular industries in which it may invest most of
its assets. Such risks include unsuccessful product or services and adverse
impact by government regulation.
o SMALL/MEDIUM SIZED COMPANY RISK: The risk of abrupt or erratic market
movement of smaller companies. The Series may invest in such Companies that
have small market capitalizations.
o MARKET RISK: The risk that the market value of a security may move up and
down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. The prices of equity securities
change in response to many factors including the historical and prospective
earnings of the issuer, the value of its assets, general economic
conditions, interest rates, investor perceptions and market liquidity.
o LIQUIDITY RISK: The risk that a security may lack sufficient liquidity in
order to execute a buy or sell program without significantly moving the
security's price. At times a security's price may experience unusual price
declines due to an imbalance between sellers and buyers of that security.
Forced liquidations of this Series or other funds which hold similar
securities could result in adverse price fluctuations in securities held
and the overall Series' value.
o GROWTH-ORIENTED INVESTING RISK: The risk that an investment in a
growth-oriented portfolio may be more volatile than the rest of the U.S.
market as a whole.
o DERIVATIVES RISK: Some of the Series' investments may be referred to as
"derivatives"
<PAGE>
because their value depends on, or derives from, the value of an underlying
asset, reference rate or index. These investments include options, futures
contracts and similar investments that may be used in hedging, risk
management, or other portfolio management purposes consistent with the
Series' investment objective. The market value of derivative instruments
and securities is sometimes more volatile than that of other investments,
and each type of derivative may pose its own special risks. As a
fundamental policy, no more than 10% of the Series' total assets may at any
time be committed or exposed to derivative strategies.
o CURRENCY RISK: The risk related to investments denominated in foreign
currencies. Foreign securities are usually denominated in foreign currency
therefor changes in foreign currency exchange rates affect the net asset
value of the Fund.
o FOREIGN SECURITY RISK: The risk of losses due to political, regulatory,
economic, social or other uncontrollable forces in a foreign country not
normally associated with investing in the U.S. markets.
o MASTER/FEEDER RISK: The master/feeder structure is relatively new and
complex. While this structure is designed to reduce costs, it may not do
so, and there may be operational or other complications. For example,
large-scale redemptions by other feeders of their shares of the master fund
could have adverse effects on a fund such as requiring the liquidation of a
substantial portion of the master fund's holdings at a time when it could
be disadvantageous to do so. Also, other feeders of a master fund may have
a greater ownership interest in the master fund and, therefore, could have
effective voting control over the operation of the master fund.
o OPPORTUNITY RISK: The risk of missing out on an investment opportunity
because the assets necessary to take advantage of it are tied up in less
advantageous investments.
o IPO RISK: The risk of investing in the initial public offerings of shares
is greater than investing in mature public companies. In addition, since
the Series may participate in IPOs, an investment in an IPO may have a
magnified impact on the Fund's returns due to the Fund's small asset base.
As the Fund's assets grow, it is probable that the effect of investments in
IPOs on the Fund's total returns will decline, which may reduce the Fund's
total returns.
o VALUATION RISK: The risk that the Series has valued certain of its
securities at a higher price than it can sell them.
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
The Board of Trustees supervises the management, activities and affairs of the
Fund and has approved contracts with various financial organizations to provide,
among other services, the day-to-day management required by the Fund and its
shareholders. The Board of Trustees includes a member of the Roxbury Investment
Committee.
INVESTMENT ADVISER
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS AN ADVISER?
The adviser makes investment decisions for a mutual fund and
continuously reviews, supervises and administers the fund's investment
program. The Board of Trustees supervises the adviser and establishes
policies that the adviser must follow in its management activities.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
Roxbury Capital Management, LLC, 100 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 600, Santa
Monica, California 90401, serves as the investment adviser for the Fund (by
managing the Series). Under an advisory agreement, Roxbury, subject to the
supervision of the Board of Trustees, directs the investments of the Series in
accordance with its investment objective, policies and limitations. In addition
to serving as Adviser to the Series, Roxbury is engaged in a variety of
investment advisory activities, including the management of separately managed
accounts. The Series pays a monthly advisory fee to Roxbury at the annual rate
of 1.00% of the Series' first $1 billion of average daily net assets; 0.95% of
the Series' next $1 billion of average daily net assets; and 0.90% of the
Series' average daily net assets over $2 billion.
PORTFOLIO MANAGER
The day-to-day management of the Series is the responsibility of Roxbury's
Investment Committee. The Investment Committee meets regularly to make
investment decisions for the Series and relies on Roxbury's research team.
SERVICE PROVIDERS
The following chart provides information on the Fund's primary service
providers.
<PAGE>
Asset Shareholder
Management Services
------------------------------------ --------------------------------
ADVISER TRANSFER AGENT
ROXBURY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC PFPC INC.
100 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD 400 BELLEVUE PARKWAY
SUITE 600 WILMINGTON, DE 19809
SANTA MONICA, CA 90401 SUITE 108
Handles shareholder services,
including recordkeeping and
statements, payment of
Manages the Fund's investment distribution and processing of
activities. buy and sell requests.
------------------------------------ --------------------------------
--------------------------------
ROXBURY SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY FUND
--------------------------------
Fund Asset
Operations Safe Keeping
------------------------------------ --------------------------------
ADMINISTRATOR AND CUSTODIAN
ACCOUNTING AGENT WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
PFPC INC. RODNEY SQUARE NORTH
400 BELLEVUE PARKWAY 1100 NORTH MARKET STREET
WILMINGTON, DE 19809 WILMINGTON, DE 19890
Provides facilities, equipment and Holds the Fund's assets,
personnel to carry out settles all portfolio trades
administrative services related to and collects most of the
the Fund and calculates the Fund's valuation data required for
NAV and distributions. calculating the Fund's NAV per
share.
------------------------------------ --------------------------------
<PAGE>
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
HOW SHARE PRICE IS CALCULATED
The Fund values its assets based on current market values when such values are
readily available. These prices normally are supplied by a pricing service.
Securities that do not have a readily available current market value are valued
in good faith under the direction of the Board of Trustees.
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS THE NET ASSET VALUE or "NAV"?
NAV = Assets - Liabilities
--------------------
Outstanding Shares
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PFPC determines the NAV per share of the Fund as of the close of regular trading
on the New York Stock Exchange (currently 4:00 p.m., Eastern time), on each
Business Day (a day that the Exchange, the Transfer Agent and the Philadelphia
branch of the Federal Reserve Bank are open for business). The NAV is calculated
by adding the value of all securities and other assets in the Fund, deducting
its liabilities and dividing the balance by the number of outstanding shares in
the Fund.
Shares will not be priced on those days the Fund is closed. As of the date of
this prospectus, those days are:
New Year's Day Memorial Day Veterans Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Independence Day Thanksgiving Day
Presidents' Day Labor Day Christmas Day
Good Friday Columbus Day
SELECTING THE CORRECT CLASS OF SHARES
This prospectus offers Class A, Class B and Class C shares of the Fund. Each
class has its own cost structure, allowing you to choose the one that best meets
your requirements and current expectations. Your financial consultant can help
you decide which class is best for you. For estimated expenses of each class,
see the table under "Fees and Expenses" earlier in this prospectus.
CLASS A SHARES--INITIAL SALES CHARGE
If you purchase Class A shares, you will incur a sales charge at the time of
purchase (a "front-end load") based on the dollar amount of your purchase. The
maximum initial sales charge is 5.50%, which is reduced for purchases of $50,000
and more. Sales charges also may be reduced
<PAGE>
by using the accumulation privilege described under "Sales Charge Reductions and
Waivers" (see page 15). Class A shares are subject to an ongoing shareholder
service fee of 0.25% of the Fund's average net assets attributable to Class A
shares. Class A shares will not be subject to any contingent deferred sales
charge (CDSC or "back end load") when they are redeemed. Although some purchases
may not be subject to an initial sales charge, if the initial sales charge is
waived, such purchases may be subject to a CDSC of 1.00% if the shares are
redeemed within one year after purchase. Class A shares also will be issued upon
conversion of Class B shares, as described below under "Class B Shares." The
minimum initial investment in Class A shares is $2,000.
Part of the front-end sales charge is paid directly to the selling broker-dealer
(the "dealer reallowance"). The remainder is retained by the distributor and may
be used either to promote the sale of the Fund's shares or to compensate the
distributor for its efforts to sell the shares of the Fund.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
YOUR INVESTMENT AS A PERCENTAGE OF AS A PERCENTAGE OF
OFFERING PRICE YOUR INVESTMENT
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
$50,000 and less 5.50% 5.82%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
$50,000 up to $150,000 5.00% 5.26%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
$150,000 up to $250,000 4.50% 4.71%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
$250,000 up to $500,000 3.50% 3.63%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
$500,000 up to $1,000,000 3.00% 3.09%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Over $1,000,000 0.00% 0.00%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CLASS B SHARES--DEFERRED SALES CHARGE
If you purchase Class B shares, you will not incur a sales charge at the time of
purchase. However, Class B shares are subject to an ongoing Rule 12b-1
distribution fee of 0.75% of average net assets and an ongoing shareholder
service fee of 0.25% of average net assets. The Rule 12b-1 distribution fee and
the shareholder service fee accrue daily and are paid monthly. Class B shares
are subject to a CDSC if you redeem them prior to the seventh year after
purchase. At the end of the eighth year (96th month) after purchase, Class B
shares will automatically convert into Class A shares of the Fund, which are
subject to the shareholder service fee of 0.25%. Automatic conversion of Class B
shares into Class A shares will occur at least once a month on the basis of the
relative net asset values of the shares of the two classes on the conversion
date, without the imposition of any sales load, fee or other charge. Conversion
of Class B shares to Class A shares will not be deemed a purchase or sale of the
shares for federal income tax purposes. Shares purchased through reinvestment of
dividends and other distributions on Class B shares also will convert
automatically to Class A shares based on the portion of purchased shares that
convert. The minimum initial investment in Class B shares is $2,000.
CLASS C SHARES--PAY AS YOU GO
If you purchase Class C shares, you do not incur a sales charge at the time of
purchase. However, Class C shares are subject to an ongoing Rule 12b-1
distribution fee of 0.75% of average net assets and an ongoing shareholder
service fee of 0.25% of average net assets. Class C shares also are subject to a
1.00% CDSC if you redeem them within 18 months of purchase.
<PAGE>
Although Class C shares are subject to a CDSC for only 18 months (as compared to
six years for Class B), Class C shares have no conversion feature. Accordingly,
if you purchase Class C shares, those shares will be subject to the 0.75%
distribution fee and the 0.25% shareholder service fee for as long as you own
your Class C shares. The minimum initial investment in Class C shares is $2,000.
You may be subject to a CDSC upon redemption of your Class B and Class C shares
under the following conditions:
o Class B Shares
---------------------------------------------------------------
YEARS AFTER PURCHASE CDSC ON SHARES BEING REDEEMED
---------------------------------------------------------------
1st year 5.00%
---------------------------------------------------------------
2nd year 4.00%
---------------------------------------------------------------
3rd year 3.00%
---------------------------------------------------------------
4th year 3.00%
---------------------------------------------------------------
5th year 2.00%
---------------------------------------------------------------
6th year 1.00%
---------------------------------------------------------------
7th year None
---------------------------------------------------------------
After the 7th year None
---------------------------------------------------------------
Class B shares will be automatically converted to Class A shares at the
end of the eighth year (96th month) after purchase.
o Class C Shares
If you redeem Class C shares within 18 months of purchase, you will be
charged a CDSC of 1.00%. There is no CDSC imposed on Class C shares
acquired through reinvestment of dividends or capital gains.
The CDSC on redemptions of shares is computed based on the original purchase
price of the shares being redeemed, net of reinvested dividends and capital
gains distributions. CDSC calculations are based on the specific shares
involved, not the value of the account. To keep your CDSC as low as possible,
each time you place a request to sell shares, we will first sell any shares in
your account that are not subject to a CDSC. If there are not enough of these
shares to meet your request, we will sell your shares on a first-in, first-out
basis. Your financial consultant or institution may elect to waive some or all
of the payment, thereby reducing or eliminating the otherwise applicable CDSC.
OTHER CLASSES OF SHARES
The Fund may offer other classes of shares, from time to time, for special
purposes. These other classes, if offered, will not be available to the general
public, although they may appear in newspaper listings. When reviewing newspaper
listings, please remember that the class or classes listed may not be the class
you own and therefore the net asset value(s) listed may be different from the
net asset value of your shares.
<PAGE>
SALES CHARGE REDUCTIONS AND WAIVERS
REDUCING SALES CHARGES ON YOUR CLASS A SHARES. There are several ways you can
combine multiple purchases of Class A shares to take advantage of the
breakpoints in the sales charge schedule. These can be combined in any manner:
o Accumulation privilege--lets you add the value of any Class A shares you
and your immediate family already own to the amount of your next investment
for purposes of calculating sales charges
o Letter of intent--lets you purchase Class A shares over a 13-month period
and receive the same sales charge as if all shares had been purchased at
once. See the new account application and our Statement of Additional
Information for terms and conditions.
To use these privileges, discuss your eligibility with your financial
consultant.
CDSC WAIVERS. In general, the CDSC may be waived on shares you sell for the
following reasons:
o Payments through certain systematic retirement plans and other employee
benefit plans
o Qualifying distributions from qualified retirement plans and other employee
benefit plans
o Distributions from custodial accounts under section 403(b)(7) of the
Internal Revenue Code as well as from Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)
due to death, disability or attainment of age 70_
o Participation in certain fee-based programs
To use any of these waivers, contact your financial consultant.
REINSTATEMENT PRIVILEGE. If you sell shares of the Fund, you may invest some or
all of the proceeds in the Fund within 90 days without a sales charge. If you
paid a CDSC when you sold your shares, you will be credited with the amount of
the CDSC. All accounts involved must have the same registration.
To use this privilege, contact your financial consultant.
NET ASSET VALUE PURCHASES. Class A shares may be sold at net asset value, with
only a $2,000 minimum initial investment, to:
o Clients of financial consultants who exchange their shares from an
unaffiliated investment company that has a comparable sales charge, so long
as shares are purchased within 60 days of the redemption;
o Trustees or other fiduciaries purchasing shares for certain retirement
plans of organizations with 50 or more eligible employees and
employer-sponsored benefit plans in connection with purchases of Fund
shares made as a result of participant-directed exchanges between options
in such a plan;
<PAGE>
o Investment advisers, financial planners and certain financial institutions
that place trades for their own accounts or the accounts of their clients
either individually or through a master account and who charge a
management, consulting or other fee for their services;
o "Wrap accounts" for the benefit of clients of broker-dealers, financial
institutions or financial planners having sales or service agreements with
the distributor or another broker-dealer or financial institution with
respect to sales of Fund shares;
o Current or retired trustees, officers and employees of the Fund, the
distributor, the transfer agent, the adviser and its members, certain
family members of the above persons, and trusts or plans primarily for such
persons or their family members;
o Current or retired registered representatives or full-time employees and
their spouses and minor children and plans of broker-dealers or other
institutions that have selling agreements with the distributor; and
o Such other persons as are determined by the adviser or distributor to have
acquired shares under circumstances where the Fund has not incurred any
sales expense.
PURCHASE OF SHARES
Investors may purchase shares of the Fund through financial intermediaries such
as financial consultants, securities brokers, dealers or benefit plan
administrators. Investors should contact their financial intermediary directly
for appropriate purchase instructions, as well as for information pertaining to
accounts and any servicing or transaction fees that may be charged. Some
financial intermediaries may appoint subagents.
The minimum initial investment in Class A, Class B or Class C shares is $2,000
(including IRAs) and $100 for subsequent investments. The adviser or the
distributor, at their discretion, may waive these minimums. See our Statement of
Additional Information for further details.
See "Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers" for ways to make your initial
investment go farther.
Shares are sold at a public offering price based on the net asset value for the
class of shares selected. If your purchase order is received by the Transfer
Agent before the close of regular trading on the Exchange on any Business Day,
you will pay the next public offering price that is determined as of the close
of trading. Purchase orders received after the close of regular trading on the
Exchange will be priced as of the close of regular trading on the following
Business Day.
Any purchase order may be rejected if the Fund determines that accepting the
order would not be in the best interest of the Fund or its shareholders.
It is the responsibility of the financial intermediary to transmit orders for
the purchase of shares by its customers to the transfer agent and to deliver
required funds on a timely basis, in accordance with the procedures stated
above.
<PAGE>
For information on other ways to purchase shares, including through an
individual retirement account (IRA), call the Transfer Agent at (800) 497-2960,
or see our Statement of Additional Information.
For information on an automatic investment plan or a payroll investment plan,
see our Statement of Additional Information.
REDEMPTION OF SHARES
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO REDEEM (SELL) SHARES:
o By mail
o By telephone
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
If you purchased your shares through a financial intermediary, you should
contact the intermediary for information relating to redemptions. The Fund's
name and your account number should accompany any redemption requests.
SMALL ACCOUNTS: If the value of your Fund accounts falls below $500, the Fund
may ask you to increase your balance. If the account balance is still below $500
after 60 days, the Fund may close your account and send you the proceeds. The
Fund will not close your account if it falls below $500 solely as a result of a
reduction in your account's market value.
For information on other ways to redeem shares, please refer to our Statement of
Additional Information.
EXCHANGE OF SHARES
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS AN EXCHANGE OF SHARES?
An exchange of shares allows you to move your money from one fund to
another fund within a family of funds.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
You may exchange all or a portion of your shares of the Fund for shares in the
same class of the following portfolios:
Roxbury Large Cap Growth Fund
Roxbury Mid Cap Fund
Roxbury Socially Responsible Fund
Redemption of shares through an exchange will be effected at the NAV per share
next determined after the Transfer Agent receives your request. A purchase
through an exchange will be effected at the NAV per share determined at the time
or as next determined thereafter.
<PAGE>
Exchange transactions will be subject to the minimum initial investment and
other requirements of the portfolio into which the exchange is made. An exchange
may not be made if the exchange would leave a balance in a shareholder's account
of less than $500.
If you make an exchange involving Class B or Class C shares, the amount of time
you held the original shares will be added to the holding period of the Class B
or Class shares, respectively, into which you exchanged for the purpose of
calculating contingent deferred sales charges if you later redeem the exchange
shares.
Before requesting an exchange, you should review the prospectus of the portfolio
you wish to acquire. To obtain prospectuses of the other portfolios, you may
call (800) 497-2960. To obtain more information about exchanges or to place
exchange orders, contact the Transfer Agent, or your financial professional. The
portfolios may terminate or modify the exchange offer described here and will
give you 60 days' notice of such termination or modification. This exchange
offer is valid only in those jurisdictions where the sale of portfolio shares to
be acquired through such exchange may be legally made.
DISTRIBUTIONS
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS NET INVESTMENT INCOME?
Net investment income consists of interest and dividends earned by a
fund on its investments less accrued expenses.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributions from the net investment income of the Fund, if any, are declared
and paid annually to you. Any net capital gain realized by the Fund will be
distributed annually.
Distributions are payable to shareholders of record at the time distributions
are declared (including holders of shares being redeemed, but excluding holders
of shares being purchased). All distributions are reinvested in additional Fund
shares, unless you have elected to receive distributions in cash.
TAXES
FEDERAL INCOME TAX: As long as the Fund meets the requirements for being a
"regulated investment company," it pays no Federal income tax on the earnings
and gains it distributes to shareholders. While the Fund may invest in
securities that earn interest subject to Federal income tax and securities that
earn interest exempt from that tax, under normal conditions the Fund invests
primarily in taxable securities. The Fund will notify you following the end of
the calendar year of the amount of dividends and other distributions paid that
year.
Dividends you receive from the Fund, whether reinvested in Fund shares or taken
as cash, are generally taxable to you as ordinary income. The Fund's
distributions of net capital gain, whether received in cash or reinvested in
additional Fund shares, are taxable to you as long-term capital gain, regardless
of the length of time you have held your shares. You should be aware that if
Fund shares are purchased shortly before the record date for any dividend or
capital gain
<PAGE>
distribution, you will pay the full price for the shares and will receive some
portion of the price back as a taxable distribution. The Fund anticipates the
distribution of net capital gain.
It is a taxable event for you if you sell or exchange shares of the Fund.
Depending on the purchase price and the sale price of the shares you exchange,
you may have a taxable gain or loss on the transaction. You are responsible for
any tax liability generated by your transactions.
STATE AND LOCAL INCOME TAXES: You should consult your tax advisers concerning
state and local taxes, which may have different consequences from those of the
Federal income tax law.
This section is only a summary of some important income tax considerations that
may affect your investment in the Fund. More information regarding those
considerations appears in our Statement of Additional Information. You are urged
to consult your tax adviser regarding the effects of an investment on your tax
situation.
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE ARRANGEMENTS
The Distributor manages the Fund's distribution efforts and enters into dealer
agreements with financial consultants to sell fund shares.
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW CAN YOUR FINANCIAL CONSULTANT HELP YOU?
Your financial consultant is thoroughly familiar with the Fund and with
Roxbury Capital Management. He or she can answer any questions you have
now, or in the future, about how the Fund operates, which class of
shares is most appropriate for you and how the Roxbury investment style
works and has performed for other investors. Your financial consultant
is a valuable and knowledgeable resource.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
RULE 12B-1 FEES
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE 12b-1 FEES?
12b-1 fees, charged by some funds, are deducted from fund assets to pay
for marketing and advertising expenses or, more commonly, to compensate
sales professionals for selling fund shares.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund has adopted a distribution plan under Rule 12b-1 that allows the Fund
to pay a fee to the Distributor for facilitating the sale and distribution of
its shares. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund's assets on an ongoing
basis, over time these fees indirectly will increase the cost of your investment
and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.
Rule 12b-1 permits a fund directly or indirectly to pay expenses associated with
the distribution of its shares and the servicing of its shareholders in
accordance with a plan adopted by the Board of Trustees and approved by its
shareholders. Pursuant to the Rule, the Board has approved, and the Fund has
entered into, separate distribution plans with the Distributor, for the Class B
and Class C shares. Under the distribution plans, the Fund will pay distribution
fees to the
<PAGE>
Distributor at a maximum annual rate of 0.75% of its aggregate average daily net
assets attributable to its Class B and Class C shares.
The distribution plan provides that the Distributor may use the distribution
fees received from a class of shares to pay for the distribution and shareholder
servicing expenses of that class, including, but not limited to (i) incentive
compensation paid to the directors, officers and employees of, agents for and
consultants to, the distributor or any other broker-dealer or financial
institution that engages in the distribution of that class; and (ii)
compensation to broker-dealers, financial institutions or other persons for
providing distribution assistance with respect to that class. Distribution fees
may also be used for (i) marketing and promotional activities, including, but
not limited to, direct mail promotions and television, radio, newspaper,
magazine and other mass media advertising for that class; (ii) costs of printing
and distributing prospectuses, Statements of Additional Information and reports
of the Fund to prospective investors in that class; (iii) costs involved in
preparing, printing and distributing sales literature pertaining to the Fund and
that class; and (iv) costs involved in obtaining whatever information, analyses
and reports with respect to marketing and promotional activities that the Fund
may, from time to time, deem advisable with respect to the distribution of that
class. Distribution fees are accrued daily and paid monthly, and are charged as
expenses of, respectively, Class B and Class C shares as accrued.
The distribution fees applicable to the Class B and Class C shares are designed
to permit you to purchase Class B and Class C shares through broker-dealers
without the assessment of a front-end sales charge and at the same time to
permit the distributor to compensate broker-dealers on an ongoing basis to
provide services to shareholders of the Class B and Class C shares attributable
to those broker-dealers.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICE FEES
The Board of Trustees has adopted a shareholder service plan authorizing the
Fund to pay service providers an annual fee not exceeding 0.25% of the Fund's
average daily net assets of each class of shares, to compensate service
providers who maintain a service relationship. Service activities provided under
this plan include (a) establishing and maintaining shareholder accounts and
records, (b) answering shareholder inquiries, (c) assisting in share purchases
and redemptions, (d) providing statements and reports to shareholders, and (e)
providing other related services requested by shareholders.
MASTER/FEEDER STRUCTURE
Other institutional investors, including other mutual funds, may invest in the
Series. The master/feeder structure enables various institutional investors,
including the Fund, to pool their assets, which may be expected to result in
economies by spreading certain fixed costs over a larger asset base. Each
shareholder of a master fund, including the Series, will pay its proportionate
share of the master fund's expenses.
<PAGE>
For reasons relating to costs or a change in investment goal, among others, the
Fund could switch to another master fund or decide to manage its assets itself.
The Fund is not currently contemplating such a move.
<PAGE>
FOR MORE INFORMATION
FOR INVESTORS WHO WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE FUND, THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS ARE
AVAILABLE FREE UPON REQUEST:
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI): Provides a complete technical and
legal description of the Fund's policies, investment restrictions, risks, and
business structure. This prospectus incorporates the SAI by reference.
Copies of these documents and answers to questions about the Fund may be
obtained without charge by contacting:
Roxbury Science and Technology Fund
c/o PFPC Inc.
400 Bellevue Parkway
Suite 108
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
(800) 497-2960
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time
Information about the Fund (including the SAI) can be reviewed and copied at the
Public Reference Room of the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington,
D.C. Copies of this information may be obtained, upon payment of a duplicating
fee, by electronic request at the following E-Mail address: [email protected]
or by writing the Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, DC,
20549-0102. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be
obtained by calling the SEC at 1-202-942-8090. Reports and other information
about the Fund may be viewed on-screen or downloaded from the SEC's Internet
site at http://www.sec.gov.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OPENING A NEW ACCOUNT, MAKING
CHANGES TO EXISTING ACCOUNTS, PURCHASING, EXCHANGING
OR REDEEMING SHARES, OR OTHER INVESTOR SERVICES,
PLEASE CALL (800) 497-2960.
The investment company registration number is 811-08648.
<PAGE>
[ROXBURY LOGO]
ROXBURY SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FUND
================================================================================
PROSPECTUS DATED NOVEMBER 1, 2000
This prospectus contains important information about the Fund, including
information on investment policies, risks and fees. For your own benefit and
protection, please read it before you invest, and keep it on hand for future
reference.
Like all mutual fund shares, these securities have not been approved or
disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission nor has the Securities and
Exchange Commission determined whether this prospectus is accurate or complete.
Anyone who tells you otherwise is committing a criminal offense.
PRESENTLY CLASS A SHARES OF THE FUND ARE BEING OFFERED ONLY TO
CERTAIN PERSONS ELIGIBLE TO PURCHASE CLASS A SHARES AT NET ASSET
VALUE. SEE "SALES CHARGE REDUCTIONS AND WAIVERS."
CLASS B AND CLASS C SHARES ARE NOT CURRENTLY BEING OFFERED.
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
A LOOK AT THE GOALS, STRATEGIES, FUND DESCRIPTION
RISKS AND EXPENSES OF THE Summary................................................3
FUND. Fees and Expenses......................................4
Adviser Prior Performance..............................5
Investment Objective...................................7
Primary Investment Strategies..........................7
Additional Risk Information............................9
DETAILS ABOUT THE SERVICE MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
PROVIDERS. Investment Adviser....................................10
Fund Manager..........................................10
Service Providers.....................................11
POLICIES AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
OPENING, MAINTAINING AND How Share Price is Calculated.........................13
CLOSING AN ACCOUNT IN THE Selecting the Correct Class of Shares.................13
FUND. Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers...................15
Purchase of Shares....................................17
Redemption of Shares..................................18
Exchange of Shares....................................18
Distributions.........................................19
Taxes.................................................19
DETAILS ON DISTRIBUTION PLANS, DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE ARRANGEMENTS
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE FEES Rule 12b-1 Fees.......................................20
AND THE FUND'S MASTER/FEEDER Shareholder Service Fees..............................21
ARRANGEMENT. Master/Feeder Structure...............................21
FOR MORE INFORMATION..........................back cover
</TABLE>
For information about key terms and concepts, look for our "PLAIN TALK"
explanations.
<PAGE>
ROXBURY SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FUND
FUND DESCRIPTION
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS A MUTUAL FUND?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A mutual fund pools shareholders' money and, using a professional
investment manager, invests in securities like stocks and bonds.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
Investment Objective o ROXBURY SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FUND seeks superior
long-term growth of capital.
-------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
Investment Focus o Equity securities (generally common stocks)
-------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
Share Price Volatility o Moderate to high
-------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
Principal Investment o The Fund is a diversified portfolio that invests
Strategies in stocks which the adviser believes exhibit
consistent, above-average earnings growth,
industry leadership, attractive risk/reward
characteristics, and meet the community,
environment, employees, and diversity
("CEEDs(TRADEMARK)") social criteria.
o The Fund operates as a "feeder fund" which means
that the Fund does not buy individual securities
directly. Instead, it invests in a corresponding
mutual fund or "master fund," which in turn
purchases the actual stock holdings. The Fund's
master fund is the Socially Responsible Series
(the "Series") of WT Investment Trust I.
o In a master/feeder arrangement, a feeder fund,
like the Fund, takes your investment dollars and
transfers them to an even larger pool, like the
Series, for greater efficiency. The Fund and the
Series have the same investment objective,
policies and limitations. When this prospectus
refers to investments of the Fund it is actually
referring to the investments of the Series.
o The adviser purchases stocks, and in the case of
foreign companies, American Depository Receipts
("ADRs"), it believes exhibit consistent,
above-average earnings growth, superior quality
and attractive risk/reward characteristics. The
adviser analyzes the stocks of over 2,000
companies to search for industry leading
companies which are growing at faster rates than
the market's average rate. The Adviser generally
sells stocks when the risk/rewards of a stock
turn negative, when company fundamentals
deteriorate or when a stock violates CEEDs
(TRADEMARK) and other socially responsible
criteria.
-------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
Principal Risks The Fund is subject to the following risks summarized
below, which are further described under "Additional
Risk Information."
o There is no guarantee that the stock market or
the stocks that the Fund buys will always
increase in value. Therefore, it is possible to
lose money by investing in the Fund.
o The Fund's share price will fluctuate in
response to changes in the market value of the
Fund's investments. Market value will change as
a result of business developments affecting an
issuer as well as general market and economic
conditions.
o Growth-oriented investments may be more volatile
than the rest of the U.S. stock market as a
whole.
o Investments in a foreign market are subject to
foreign security risk and the risk of losses
caused by changes in foreign currency exchange
rates.
o The performance of the Fund will depend on how
successfully the Adviser pursues its investment
strategy. Because the Fund avoids certain
companies not considered socially responsible,
it could miss out on the performance of
companies that do not meet the Fund's socially
responsible criteria.
-------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
-------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
Investor Profile o Investors who want the value of their investment
to grow with a focus on companies pursuing
socially responsible policies and who are
willing to accept more volatility for the
possibility of higher returns.
-------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
FEES AND EXPENSES
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE FUND EXPENSES?
Every mutual fund has operating expenses to pay for professional
advisory, distribution, administration and custody services. The Fund's
expenses in the table below are shown as a percentage of its average
annual net assets. Sales charges are deducted once when you make or
redeem your investment. Expenses are deducted from Fund assets.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and
hold shares of the Fund. The Fund offers different share classes to allow you to
maximize your potential return depending on your and your financial consultant's
current expectations for your investment in the Fund.
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE SALES CHARGES?
The sales charge or load that you pay is a separate fee based on how
much you invest. This fee compensates your financial consultant for
providing you with investment assistance and on-going service as well
as handling all the paperwork associated with your investment and any
subsequent adjustments you make. For your convenience, the Fund is
offered in several classes, giving you several ways to pay this fee.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHAREHOLDER FEES (FEES PAID DIRECTLY FROM YOUR
INVESTMENT) CLASS A CLASS B(a) CLASS C
------- ---------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on 5.50%(b) None None
purchases (as a percentage of offering price)
Maximum deferred sales charge None(c) 5.00%(d) 1.00%(e)
Maximum sales charge imposed on None None None
reinvested dividends (and other
distributions)
Redemption fee(f) None None None
</TABLE>
-------------------
(a) Class B shares convert to Class A shares automatically at the end of the
eighth year (96th month) after purchase. Investors seeking to purchase
Class B shares in amounts that exceed $250,000 should discuss with their
financial consultant whether the purchase of another class would be more
appropriate; such orders may be rejected by the Fund.
(b) Reduced for purchases of $50,000 and more.
(c) Class A shares are not subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (a
"CDSC"); except certain purchases that are not subject to an initial
sales charge may instead be subject to a CDSC of 1.00% of amounts
redeemed within the first year of purchase. Such a CDSC may be waived in
connection with redemptions to participants in certain fee-based
programs.
(d) 5.00% during the first year; 4.00% during the second year; 3.00% during
the third year and fourth year; 2.00% during the fifth year; and 1.00%
during the sixth year. Class B shares automatically convert into Class A
shares at the end of the eighth year after purchase and thereafter will
not be subject to a CDSC.
(e) Class C shares are subject to a 1.00% CDSC only if redeemed within the
first 18 months after purchase.
(f) If you effect a redemption via wire transfer, you may be required to pay
fees, including a $10 wire fee and other fees, that will be directly
deducted from your redemption proceeds. If you request redemption checks
to be sent
<PAGE>
by overnight mail, you may be required to pay a $10 fee that will be
directly deducted from your redemption proceeds.
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES 1 (EXPENSES THAT ARE
DEDUCTED FROM FUND ASSETS) CLASS A CLASS B CLASS C
------- ------- -------
Management fees 0.75% 0.75% 0.75%
Distribution (12b-1) fee None 0.75% 0.75%
Shareholder Service fee 0.25% 0.25% 0.25%
Other expenses 2 0.55% 0.55% 0.55%
----- ----- -----
TOTAL ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENSES 3 1.55% 2.30% 2.30%
===== ===== =====
---------------------
1 The table above and the example below each reflect the aggregate annual
operating expenses of the Fund and the Series.
2 "Other expenses" are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
3 The adviser has agreed to reduce its fees and/or reimburse expenses to limit
the total annual operating expenses to 1.55% for Class A shares and 2.30% for
each of Class B and Class C shares. This arrangement will remain in place
until the Board of Trustees approves its termination.
EXAMPLE
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund
with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The table below shows what you
would pay if you invested $10,000 over the various time frames indicated. The
example assumes that:
o you reinvested all dividends and other distributions
o the average annual return was 5%
o the Fund's maximum total operating expenses are charged and remain the same
over the time periods
o you redeemed all of your investment at the end of the time period.
Although your actual cost may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions,
your costs would be:
1 YEAR 3 YEARS
------ -------
Class A 1 $699 $1,013
Class B (assuming no redemption) $233 $718
Class B (assuming complete redemption at the
end of the 1 year or 3 year period)2 $733 $1,018
Class C (assuming no redemption) $233 $718
Class C (assuming complete redemption at the
end of the 1 year or 3 year period)2 $333 $718
1 Assumes deduction at time of purchase of maximum sales charge.
2 Assumes deduction at redemption of maximum deferred sales charge.
THE ABOVE EXAMPLE IS FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT A REPRESENTATION OF
THE FUND'S ACTUAL EXPENSES AND RETURNS, EITHER PAST OR FUTURE.
ADVISER'S PRIOR PERFORMANCE IN SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE SEPARATE ACCOUNTS
The table below shows relevant performance data for the Adviser and its
predecessors' investment advisory accounts (the "Accounts") during the ten year
period ended December 31, 1999, using the same investment approach specified for
the Fund described under "Investment Objective" and "Primary Investment
Strategies."
<PAGE>
The results for the period October 1, 1990 through July 31, 1998 are the results
of Roxbury Capital Management Inc., the predecessor to Roxbury Capital
Management, LLC.
The Accounts constitute the portfolios managed by the Adviser (and its
predecessor) that have an identical or substantially similar investment
objective or investment approach as the Fund and that have met certain basic
criteria as to minimum account value, discretionary status, tax-exempt status
and period of management of more than one month. The Accounts were managed for
tax-exempt clients and, therefore, may have been managed differently than for
taxable clients. The Accounts were not subject to the same types of expenses to
which the Fund is subject, nor to the diversification requirements, specific tax
restrictions and investment limitations imposed on the Fund by the Investment
Company Act of 1940, or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. The performance of
the Accounts may have been adversely affected had they been subject to the same
expenses, restrictions and limitations. The Adviser believes that any adverse
effect would not have been significant. The results presented are not intended
to predict or suggest the return to be experienced by the Fund or the return you
might achieve by investing in the Fund. You should not rely on the following
performance data as an indication of future performance of the Adviser or of the
Fund.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TOTAL RETURN OF ADVISER'S SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE SEPARATE ACCOUNTS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd Quarter 2nd Quarter 1st Quarter 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years Date of
Ended Ended Ended Ended Ended Ended Inception
Average Annual Sept. 30, June 30, Mar. 31, Dec. 31, Dec. 31, Dec. 31, Oct. 1,
Return for the --------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------
Periods Specified: 2000 2000 2000 1999 1999 1999 1990
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
The Accounts (net of
expenses)............ 6.34% -14.34% 7.14% 60.33% 45.35% 35.61% 25.48%
S&P 500 Index.......... -0.97% -2.66% 2.29% 21.03% 27.56% 28.55% 21.25%
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
Please read the following important notes concerning the Accounts:
1. The results for the Accounts reflect both income and capital appreciation
or depreciation (total return). Dividends are accounted for on a cash
basis; other items of income are accounted for on an accrual basis. Returns
are time-weighted and represent the dollar-weighted average of the Accounts
with a minimum size of $1,000,000 since January 1, 1995. Return figures are
net of applicable fees and expenses (other than separate custody fees). As
of April 1, 1995, the Accounts were valued daily.
2. The S&P 500 Index consists of 500 stocks chosen by Standard & Poor's for
market size, liquidity and industry group representation. It is a
market-value weighted unmanaged index (stock price times number of shares
outstanding), with each stock's weight in the S&P 500 Index proportionate
to its market value.
<PAGE>
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS AN INDEX?
An index is a broad measure of the market performance of a specific
group of securities in a particular market or securities in a market
sector. You cannot invest directly in an index. An index does not have
an adviser and does not pay any commissions or expenses. If an index
had expenses, its performance would be lower.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SPECIAL NOTE CONCERNING ADVISER INVESTMENT RETURNS: You should note that
the Fund will compute and disclose its average annual compounded rate of
return using the standard formula set forth in SEC rules, which differs in
certain respects from the method used to compute the returns for the
Accounts noted above. The SEC total return calculation method calls for
computation and disclosure of an average annual compounded rate of return
for one, five and ten year periods or shorter periods from inception. The
SEC formula provides a rate of return that equates a hypothetical initial
investment of $10,000 to an ending redeemable value. The returns shown for
the Accounts are reduced to reflect the deduction of advisory fees in
accordance with the SEC calculation formula, which requires that returns
shown for a fund be net of advisory fees as well as all other applicable
fund operating expenses. Performance was calculated on a trade date basis.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The Fund and the Series seek superior long-term growth of capital.
For purposes of this investment objective, "superior" long-term growth of
capital means long-term growth of capital from an investment in the securities
primarily comprising the S&P 500 Index that exceeds the return of the S&P 500
Index. This investment objective may not be changed without shareholder
approval. There is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment
objective.
PRIMARY INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE GROWTH FUNDS?
Growth funds invest in the common stock of growth-oriented companies
seeking maximum growth of earnings and share price with little regard
for dividend earnings. Generally, companies with high relative rates of
growth tend to reinvest more of their profits into the company and pay
out less to shareholders in the form of dividends. As a result,
investors in growth funds tend to receive most of their return in the
form of capital appreciation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FUNDS?
Socially Responsible funds include proactive screens, exclusionary
screens, and proxy voting. Emphasis is placed on the CEEDs(TM) criteria
of community, environment, employees, and diversity. Exclusionary
screens eliminate those companies which are major participants in or
whose primary business is the production of alcoholic beverages,
tobacco, gambling, nuclear power, and military weapons.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing its assets in
the Series. The Series, under normal market conditions, may invest 100% of its
total assets in the following equity (or equity-related) securities:
o common stocks of corporations that are judged by the adviser to have strong
growth characteristics;
o securities convertible into the common stock of corporations described
above;
o American Depository Receipts ("ADRs"), which are negotiable certificates
held in a U.S. bank representing a specific number of shares of a foreign
stock traded on a U.S. stock exchange. ADRs make it easier for Americans to
invest in foreign companies, due to the widespread availability of
dollar-denominated price information, lower transaction costs, and timely
dividend distributions. An American Depository Share or ADS is the share
issued under an American Depositary Receipt agreement which is actually
traded;
o options on common stock or options on stock indexes. Options may not
represent more than 15% of the Fund's market value.
The Adviser looks for high quality, sustainable growth stocks while paying
careful attention to valuation. Research is bottom-up, emphasizing business
fundamentals, including financial statement analysis and industry and competitor
evaluations. The Adviser selects stocks it believes exhibit consistent,
above-average earnings growth, industry leadership, attractive risk/reward
characteristics and meet the CEEDs(TRADEMARK) social criteria. These companies
are expected to generate consistent earnings growth in a variety of economic
environments.
The Adviser also seeks to provide a greater margin of safety and stability in
its investments. Rapid earnings growth is expected to translate ultimately into
superior total returns. Additionally, several valuation tools are used to avoid
over-paying for growth stocks. Over time, the Adviser believes these favorable
characteristics will produce better returns with less risk than many other
growth styles.
The Adviser's research team analyzes a broad universe of over 2,000 companies.
Industry specialists search for high-quality companies that are growing their
earnings at roughly double the market's average. Approximately 150 stocks pass
these initial screens and are subject to thorough research. Dominant market
share, strong financials, the power to price, significant free cash flow and
shareholder-oriented management are critical attributes or factors.
After applying the fundamental investment analysis, the research process for the
Series also includes proactive screens, exclusionary screens, and proxy voting,
with emphasis placed on the community, environment, employees, and diversity
(CEEDs(TRADEMARK)). These screens permit
<PAGE>
identification of the companies that are not only making a positive contribution
to the community, environment, and employees, but are also creating policies for
superior long-term shareholder returns. The Series excludes companies, based on
data available to the Adviser, whose primary business is the production of
alcoholic beverages, the production of tobacco products, gaming or lottery,
weapons related contracting, or nuclear power.
Final purchase candidates are selected by the Adviser's investment committee
based on attractive risk/reward characteristics, social criteria and
diversification guidelines. Certain industries may be over or under-weighted by
the adviser based upon favorable growth rates or valuation parameters.
The Adviser generally sells stocks when the risk/reward characteristics of a
stock turn negative, company fundamentals deteriorate, the stock underperforms
the market or its peer group or the company violates the social criteria.
The Fund's investments will emphasize large cap growth stocks (generally $5
billion or more of market capitalization at the time of purchase), but also may
include small to medium cap stocks (between $1 billion and 5 billion in total
market capitalization) and special situations (expected stable return, favorable
risk/reward characteristics, typically involving corporate restructuring). The
Fund may also use derivative securities from time to time in order to manage
cash flows in and out of the Fund while remaining fully invested.
In order to respond to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions,
the Series may assume a temporary defensive position and invest without limit in
commercial paper and other money market instruments that are rated investment
grade. The result of this action may be that the Series will be unable to
achieve its investment objective. The series also may use other strategies and
engage in other investment practices, which are described in detail in our
Statement of Additional Information.
ADDITIONAL RISK INFORMATION
The following is a list of certain risks that may apply to your investment in
the Fund. Further information about investment risk is available in our
Statement of Additional Information:
o MARKET RISK: The risk that the market value of a security may move up and
down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. The prices of equity securities
change in response to many factors including the historical and prospective
earnings of the issuer, the value of its assets, general economic
conditions, interest rates, investor perceptions and market liquidity.
o INDUSTRY AND SECURITY RISK: The risk that the value of securities in a
particular industry or the value of an individual stock will decline
because of changing expectations for the performance of that industry or
for the individual company issuing the stock. Because the Series avoids
investing in companies that do not meet socially responsible criteria, its
exposure to certain industry sectors may be greater or less than similar
funds or market indexes. This could affect the Fund's performance.
o GROWTH-ORIENTED INVESTING RISK: The risk that an investment in a
growth-oriented
<PAGE>
portfolio may be more volatile than the rest of the U.S. market as a whole.
o DERIVATIVES RISK: Some of the Series' investments may be referred to as
"derivatives" because their value depends on, or derives from, the value of
an underlying asset, reference rate or index. These investments include
options, futures contracts and similar investments that may be used in
hedging, risk management or other portfolio management purposes consistent
with the Series' investment objective. The market value of derivative
instruments and securities is sometimes more volatile than that of other
investments, and each type of derivative may pose its own special risks. As
a fundamental policy, no more than 15% of the Series' total assets may at
any time be committed or exposed to derivative strategies.
o MASTER/FEEDER RISK: The master/feeder structure is relatively new and
complex. While this structure is designed to reduce costs, it may not do
so, and there may be operational or other complications. For example,
large-scale redemptions by other feeders of their shares of the master fund
could have adverse effects on a fund such as requiring the liquidation of a
substantial portion of the master fund's holdings at a time when it could
be disadvantageous to do so. Also, other feeders of a master fund may have
a greater ownership interest in the master fund and, therefore, could have
effective voting control over the operation of the master fund.
o CURRENCY RISK: The risk related to investments denominated in foreign
currencies. Foreign securities are usually denominated in foreign currency
therefor changes in foreign currency exchange rates affect the net asset
value of the Fund.
o FOREIGN SECURITY RISK: The risk of losses due to political, regulatory,
economic, social or other uncontrollable forces in a foreign country not
normally associated with investing in the U.S. markets.
o OPPORTUNITY RISK: The risk of missing out on an investment opportunity
because the assets necessary to take advantage of it are tied up in less
advantageous investments.
o VALUATION RISK: The risk that a Series has valued certain of its securities
at a higher price that it can sell them.
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
The Board of Trustees supervises the management, activities and affairs of the
Fund and has approved contracts with various financial organizations to provide,
among other services, the day-to-day management required by the Fund and its
shareholders. The Board of Trustees includes a member of the Roxbury Investment
Committee.
INVESTMENT ADVISER
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS AN ADVISER?
The Adviser makes investment decisions for a mutual fund and
continuously reviews, supervises and administers the fund's investment
program. The Board of Trustees supervises the Adviser and establishes
policies that the adviser must follow in its management activities.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Roxbury Capital Management, LLC, 100 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 600, Santa
Monica, California 90401, serves as the investment adviser for the Fund (by
managing the Series). Under an advisory agreement, Roxbury, subject to the
supervision of the Board of Trustees, directs the investments of the Series in
accordance with its investment objective, policies and limitations. In
<PAGE>
addition to serving as Adviser to the Series, Roxbury is engaged in a variety of
investment advisory activities, including the management of separately managed
accounts. The Series pays a monthly advisory fee to Roxbury at the annual rate
of 0.75% of the Series' first $1 billion of average daily net assets; 0.70% of
the Series' next $1 billion of average daily net assets; and 0.65% of the
Series' average daily net assets over $2 billion.
PORTFOLIO MANAGER
The day-to-day management of the Series is the responsibility of Roxbury's
Investment Committee. The Investment Committee meets regularly to make
investment decisions for the Series and relies on Roxbury's research team.
SERVICE PROVIDERS
The following chart provides information on the Fund's primary service
providers.
<PAGE>
Asset Shareholder
Management Services
------------------------------------ --------------------------------
ADVISER TRANSFER AGENT
ROXBURY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC PFPC INC.
100 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD 400 BELLEVUE PARKWAY
SUITE 600 WILMINGTON, DE 19809
SANTA MONICA, CA 90401 SUITE 108
Handles shareholder services,
including recordkeeping and
statements, payment of
Manages the Fund's investment distribution and processing of
activities. buy and sell requests.
------------------------------------ --------------------------------
--------------------------------
ROXBURY SOCIALLY
RESPONSIBLE FUND
--------------------------------
Fund Asset
Operations Safe Keeping
------------------------------------ --------------------------------
ADMINISTRATOR AND CUSTODIAN
ACCOUNTING AGENT WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
PFPC INC. RODNEY SQUARE NORTH
400 BELLEVUE PARKWAY 1100 NORTH MARKET STREET
WILMINGTON, DE 19809 WILMINGTON, DE 19890
Provides facilities, equipment and Holds the Fund's assets,
personnel to carry out settles all portfolio trades
administrative services related to and collects most of the
the Fund and calculates the Fund's valuation data required for
NAV and distributions. calculating the Fund's NAV per
share.
------------------------------------ --------------------------------
<PAGE>
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
HOW SHARE PRICE IS CALCULATED
The Fund values its assets based on current market values when such values are
readily available. These prices normally are supplied by a pricing service.
Securities that do not have a readily available current market value are valued
in good faith under the direction of the Board of Trustees. The Fund is subject
to the risk that it has valued certain of its stocks at a higher price than it
can sell them.
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS THE NET ASSET VALUE or "NAV"?
NAV = Assets - Liabilities
--------------------
Outstanding Shares
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PFPC determines the NAV per share of the Fund as of the close of regular trading
on the New York Stock Exchange (currently 4:00 p.m., Eastern time), on each
Business Day (a day that the Exchange, the Transfer Agent and the Philadelphia
branch of the Federal Reserve Bank are open for business). The NAV is calculated
by adding the value of all securities and other assets in the Fund, deducting
its liabilities and dividing the balance by the number of outstanding shares in
the Fund.
Shares will not be priced on those days the Fund is closed. As of the date of
this prospectus, those days are:
New Year's Day Memorial Day Veterans Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Independence Day Thanksgiving Day
Presidents' Day Labor Day Christmas Day
Good Friday Columbus Day
SELECTING THE CORRECT CLASS OF SHARES
This prospectus offers Class A, Class B and Class C shares of the Fund. Each
class has its own cost structure, allowing you to choose the one that best meets
your requirements and current expectations. Your financial consultant can help
you decide which class is best for you. For estimated expenses of each class,
see the table under "Fees and Expenses" earlier in this prospectus.
CLASS A SHARES--INITIAL SALES CHARGE
If you purchase Class A shares, you will incur a sales charge at the time of
purchase (a "front-end load") based on the dollar amount of your purchase. The
maximum initial sales charge is 5.50%, which is reduced for purchases of $50,000
and more. Sales charges also may be reduced
<PAGE>
by using the accumulation privilege described under "Sales Charge Reductions and
Waivers" (see page 15). Class A shares are subject to an ongoing shareholder
service fee of 0.25% of the Fund's average net assets attributable to Class A
shares. Class A shares will not be subject to any contingent deferred sales
charge (CDSC or "back end load") when they are redeemed. Although some purchases
may not be subject to an initial sales charge, if the initial sales charge is
waived, such purchases may be subject to a CDSC of 1.00% if the shares are
redeemed within one year after purchase. Class A shares also will be issued upon
conversion of Class B shares, as described below under "Class B Shares." The
minimum initial investment in Class A shares is $2,000.
Part of the front-end sales charge is paid directly to the selling broker-dealer
(the "dealer reallowance"). The remainder is retained by the distributor and may
be used either to promote the sale of the Fund's shares or to compensate the
distributor for its efforts to sell the shares of the Fund.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
YOUR INVESTMENT AS A PERCENTAGE OF AS A PERCENTAGE OF
OFFERING PRICE YOUR INVESTMENT
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
$50,000 and less 5.50% 5.82%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
$50,000 up to $150,000 5.00% 5.26%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
$150,000 up to $250,000 4.50% 4.71%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
$250,000 up to $500,000 3.50% 3.63%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
$500,000 up to $1,000,000 3.00% 3.09%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Over $1,000,000 0.00% 0.00%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CLASS B SHARES--DEFERRED SALES CHARGE
If you purchase Class B shares, you will not incur a sales charge at the time of
purchase. However, Class B shares are subject to an ongoing Rule 12b-1
distribution fee of 0.75% of average net assets and an ongoing shareholder
service fee of 0.25% of average net assets. The Rule 12b-1 distribution fee and
the shareholder service fee accrue daily and are paid monthly. Class B shares
are subject to a CDSC if you redeem them prior to the seventh year after
purchase. At the end of the eighth year (96th month) after purchase, Class B
shares will automatically convert into Class A shares of the Fund, which are
subject to the shareholder service fee of 0.25%. Automatic conversion of Class B
shares into Class A shares will occur at least once a month on the basis of the
relative net asset values of the shares of the two classes on the conversion
date, without the imposition of any sales load, fee or other charge. Conversion
of Class B shares to Class A shares will not be deemed a purchase or sale of the
shares for federal income tax purposes. Shares purchased through reinvestment of
dividends and other distributions on Class B shares also will convert
automatically to Class A shares based on the portion of purchased shares that
convert. The minimum initial investment in Class B shares is $2,000.
CLASS C SHARES--PAY AS YOU GO
If you purchase Class C shares, you do not incur a sales charge at the time of
purchase. However, Class C shares are subject to an ongoing Rule 12b-1
distribution fee of 0.75% of average net assets and an ongoing shareholder
service fee of 0.25% of average net assets. Class C shares also are subject to a
1.00% CDSC if you redeem them within 18 months of purchase.
<PAGE>
Although Class C shares are subject to a CDSC for only 18 months (as compared to
six years for Class B), Class C shares have no conversion feature. Accordingly,
if you purchase Class C shares, those shares will be subject to the 0.75%
distribution fee and the 0.25% shareholder service fee for as long as you own
your Class C shares. The minimum initial investment in Class C shares is $2,000.
You may be subject to a CDSC upon redemption of your Class B and Class C shares
under the following conditions:
o Class B Shares
---------------------------------------------------------------
YEARS AFTER PURCHASE CDSC ON SHARES BEING REDEEMED
---------------------------------------------------------------
1st year 5.00%
---------------------------------------------------------------
2nd year 4.00%
---------------------------------------------------------------
3rd year 3.00%
---------------------------------------------------------------
4th year 3.00%
---------------------------------------------------------------
5th year 2.00%
---------------------------------------------------------------
6th year 1.00%
---------------------------------------------------------------
7th year None
---------------------------------------------------------------
After the 7th year None
---------------------------------------------------------------
Class B shares will be automatically converted to Class A shares at the
end of the eighth year (96th month) after purchase.
o Class C Shares
If you redeem Class C shares within 18 months of purchase, you will be
charged a CDSC of 1.00%. There is no CDSC imposed on Class C shares
acquired through reinvestment of dividends or capital gains.
The CDSC on redemptions of shares is computed based on the original purchase
price of the shares being redeemed, net of reinvested dividends and capital
gains distributions. CDSC calculations are based on the specific shares
involved, not the value of the account. To keep your CDSC as low as possible,
each time you place a request to sell shares, we will first sell any shares in
your account that are not subject to a CDSC. If there are not enough of these
shares to meet your request, we will sell your shares on a first-in, first-out
basis. Your financial consultant or institution may elect to waive some or all
of the payment, thereby reducing or eliminating the otherwise applicable CDSC.
OTHER CLASSES OF SHARES
The Fund may offer other classes of shares, from time to time, for special
purposes. These other classes, if offered, will not be available to the general
public, although they may appear in newspaper listings. When reviewing newspaper
listings, please remember that the class or classes listed may not be the class
you own and therefore the net asset value(s) listed may be different from the
net asset value of your shares.
SALES CHARGE REDUCTIONS AND WAIVERS
<PAGE>
REDUCING SALES CHARGES ON YOUR CLASS A SHARES. There are several ways you can
combine multiple purchases of Class A shares to take advantage of the
breakpoints in the sales charge schedule. These can be combined in any manner:
o Accumulation privilege--lets you add the value of any Class A shares you
and your immediate family already own to the amount of your next investment
for purposes of calculating sales charges
o Letter of intent--lets you purchase Class A shares over a 13-month period
and receive the same sales charge as if all shares had been purchased at
once. See the new account application and our Statement of Additional
Information for terms and conditions.
To use these privileges, discuss your eligibility with your financial
consultant.
CDSC WAIVERS. In general, the CDSC may be waived on shares you sell for the
following reasons:
o Payments through certain systematic retirement plans and other employee
benefit plans
o Qualifying distributions from qualified retirement plans and other employee
benefit plans
o Distributions from custodial accounts under section 403(b)(7) of the
Internal Revenue Code as well as from Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)
due to death, disability or attainment of age 70_
o Participation in certain fee-based programs
To use any of these waivers, contact your financial consultant.
REINSTATEMENT PRIVILEGE. If you sell shares of the Fund, you may invest some or
all of the proceeds in the Fund within 90 days without a sales charge. If you
paid a CDSC when you sold your shares, you will be credited with the amount of
the CDSC. All accounts involved must have the same registration.
To use this privilege, contact your financial consultant.
NET ASSET VALUE PURCHASES. Class A shares may be sold at net asset value, with
only a $2,000 minimum initial investment, to:
o Clients of financial consultants who exchange their shares from an
unaffiliated investment company that has a comparable sales charge, so long
as shares are purchased within 60 days of the redemption;
o Trustees or other fiduciaries purchasing shares for certain retirement
plans of organizations with 50 or more eligible employees and
employer-sponsored benefit plans in connection with purchases of Fund
shares made as a result of participant-directed exchanges between options
in such a plan;
<PAGE>
o Investment advisers, financial planners and certain financial institutions
that place trades for their own accounts or the accounts of their clients
either individually or through a master account and who charge a
management, consulting or other fee for their services;
o "Wrap accounts" for the benefit of clients of broker-dealers, financial
institutions or financial planners having sales or service agreements with
the distributor or another broker-dealer or financial institution with
respect to sales of Fund shares;
o Current or retired trustees, officers and employees of the Fund, the
distributor, the transfer agent, the adviser and its members, certain
family members of the above persons, and trusts or plans primarily for such
persons or their family members;
o Current or retired registered representatives or full-time employees and
their spouses and minor children and plans of broker-dealers or other
institutions that have selling agreements with the distributor; and
o Such other persons as are determined by the adviser or distributor to have
acquired shares under circumstances where the Fund has not incurred any
sales expense.
PURCHASE OF SHARES
Investors may purchase shares of the Fund through financial intermediaries such
as financial consultants, securities brokers, dealers or benefit plan
administrators. Investors should contact their financial intermediary directly
for appropriate purchase instructions, as well as for information pertaining to
accounts and any servicing or transaction fees that may be charged. Some
financial intermediaries may appoint subagents.
The minimum initial investment in Class A, Class B or Class C shares is $2,000
(including IRAs) and $100 for subsequent investments. The adviser or the
distributor, at their discretion, may waive these minimums. See our Statement of
Additional Information for further details.
See "Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers" for ways to make your initial
investment go farther.
Shares are sold at a public offering price based on the net asset value for the
class of shares selected. If your purchase order is received by the Transfer
Agent before the close of regular trading on the Exchange on any Business Day,
you will pay the next public offering price that is determined as of the close
of trading. Purchase orders received after the close of regular trading on the
Exchange will be priced as of the close of regular trading on the following
Business Day.
Any purchase order may be rejected if the Fund determines that accepting the
order would not be in the best interest of the Fund or its shareholders.
It is the responsibility of the financial intermediary to transmit orders for
the purchase of shares by its customers to the Transfer Agent and to deliver
required funds on a timely basis, in accordance with the procedures stated
above.
For information on other ways to purchase shares, including through an
individual retirement account (IRA), call the Transfer Agent at (800) 497-2960,
or see our Statement of Additional
<PAGE>
Information.
For information on an automatic investment plan or a payroll investment plan,
see our Statement of Additional Information.
REDEMPTION OF SHARES
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO REDEEM (SELL) SHARES:
o By mail
o By telephone
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
If you purchased your shares through a financial intermediary, you should
contact the intermediary for information relating to redemptions. The Fund's
name and your account number should accompany any redemption requests.
SMALL ACCOUNTS: If the value of your Fund accounts falls below $500, the Fund
may ask you to increase your balance. If the account balance is still below $500
after 60 days, the Fund may close your account and send you the proceeds. The
Fund will not close your account if it falls below $500 solely as a result of a
reduction in your account's market value.
For information on other ways to redeem shares, please refer to our Statement of
Additional Information.
EXCHANGE OF SHARES
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS AN EXCHANGE OF SHARES?
An exchange of shares allows you to move your money from one fund to
another fund within a family of funds.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
You may exchange all or a portion of your shares of the Fund for shares in the
same class of the following portfolios:
Roxbury Large Cap Growth Fund
Roxbury Mid Cap Fund
Roxbury Science and Technology Fund
Redemption of shares through an exchange will be effected at the NAV per share
next determined after the Transfer Agent receives your request. A purchase
through an exchange will be effected at the NAV per share determined at the time
or as next determined thereafter.
<PAGE>
Exchange transactions will be subject to the minimum initial investment and
other requirements of the portfolio into which the exchange is made. An exchange
may not be made if the exchange would leave a balance in a shareholder's account
of less than $500.
If you make an exchange involving Class B or Class C shares, the amount of time
you held the original shares will be added to the holding period of the Class B
or Class shares, respectively, into which you exchanged for the purpose of
calculating contingent deferred sales charges if you later redeem the exchange
shares.
Before requesting an exchange, you should review the prospectus of the portfolio
you wish to acquire. To obtain prospectuses of the other portfolios, you may
call (800) 497-2960. To obtain more information about exchanges or to place
exchange orders, contact the Transfer Agent, or your financial professional. The
portfolios may terminate or modify the exchange offer described here and will
give you 60 days' notice of such termination or modification. This exchange
offer is valid only in those jurisdictions where the sale of portfolio shares to
be acquired through such exchange may be legally made.
DISTRIBUTIONS
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS NET INVESTMENT INCOME?
Net investment income consists of interest and dividends earned by a
fund on its investments less accrued expenses.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributions from the net investment income of the Fund, if any, are declared
and paid annually to you. Any net capital gain realized by the Fund will be
distributed annually.
Distributions are payable to shareholders of record at the time distributions
are declared (including holders of shares being redeemed, but excluding holders
of shares being purchased). All distributions are reinvested in additional Fund
shares, unless you have elected to receive distributions in cash.
TAXES
FEDERAL INCOME TAX: As long as the Fund meets the requirements for being a
"regulated investment company," it pays no Federal income tax on the earnings
and gains it distributes to shareholders. While the Fund may invest in
securities that earn interest subject to Federal income tax and securities that
earn interest exempt from that tax, under normal conditions the Fund invests
primarily in taxable securities. The Fund will notify you following the end of
the calendar year of the amount of dividends and other distributions paid that
year.
Dividends you receive from the Fund, whether reinvested in Fund shares or taken
as cash, are generally taxable to you as ordinary income. The Fund's
distributions of net capital gain, whether received in cash or reinvested in
additional Fund shares, are taxable to you as long-term capital gain, regardless
of the length of time you have held your shares. You should be aware that if
Fund shares are purchased shortly before the record date for any dividend or
capital gain
<PAGE>
distribution, you will pay the full price for the shares and will receive some
portion of the price back as a taxable distribution. The Fund anticipates the
distribution of net capital gain.
It is a taxable event for you if you sell or exchange shares of the Fund.
Depending on the purchase price and the sale price of the shares you exchange,
you may have a taxable gain or loss on the transaction. You are responsible for
any tax liability generated by your transactions.
STATE AND LOCAL INCOME TAXES: You should consult your tax advisers concerning
state and local taxes, which may have different consequences from those of the
Federal income tax law.
This section is only a summary of some important income tax considerations that
may affect your investment in the Fund. More information regarding those
considerations appears in our Statement of Additional Information. You are urged
to consult your tax adviser regarding the effects of an investment on your tax
situation.
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE ARRANGEMENTS
The Distributor manages the Fund's distribution efforts and enters into dealer
agreements with financial consultants to sell fund shares.
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW CAN YOUR FINANCIAL CONSULTANT HELP YOU?
Your financial consultant is thoroughly familiar with the Fund and with
Roxbury Capital Management. He or she can answer any questions you have
now, or in the future, about how the Fund operates, which class of
shares is most appropriate for you and how the Roxbury investment style
works and has performed for other investors. Your financial consultant
is a valuable and knowledgeable resource.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
RULE 12B-1 FEES
PLAIN TALK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE 12b-1 FEES?
12b-1 fees, charged by some funds, are deducted from fund assets to pay
for marketing and advertising expenses or, more commonly, to compensate
sales professionals for selling fund shares.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund has adopted a distribution plan under Rule 12b-1 that allows the Fund
to pay a fee to the Distributor for facilitating the sale and distribution of
its shares. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund's assets on an ongoing
basis, over time these fees indirectly will increase the cost of your investment
and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.
Rule 12b-1 permits a fund directly or indirectly to pay expenses associated with
the distribution of its shares and the servicing of its shareholders in
accordance with a plan adopted by the Board of Trustees and approved by its
shareholders. Pursuant to the Rule, the Board has approved, and the Fund has
entered into, separate distribution plans with the Distributor, for the Class B
and
<PAGE>
Class C shares. Under the distribution plans, the Fund will pay distribution
fees to the Distributor at a maximum annual rate of 0.75% of its aggregate
average daily net assets attributable to its Class B and Class C shares.
The distribution plans provide that the Distributor may use the distribution
fees received from a class of shares to pay for the distribution and shareholder
servicing expenses of that class, including, but not limited to (i) incentive
compensation paid to the directors, officers and employees of, agents for and
consultants to, the distributor or any other broker-dealer or financial
institution that engages in the distribution of that class; and (ii)
compensation to broker-dealers, financial institutions or other persons for
providing distribution assistance with respect to that class. Distribution fees
may also be used for (i) marketing and promotional activities, including, but
not limited to, direct mail promotions and television, radio, newspaper,
magazine and other mass media advertising for that class; (ii) costs of printing
and distributing prospectuses, Statements of Additional Information and reports
of the Fund to prospective investors in that class; (iii) costs involved in
preparing, printing and distributing sales literature pertaining to the Fund and
that class; and (iv) costs involved in obtaining whatever information, analyses
and reports with respect to marketing and promotional activities that the Fund
may, from time to time, deem advisable with respect to the distribution of that
class. Distribution fees are accrued daily and paid monthly, and are charged as
expenses of, respectively, Class B and Class C shares as accrued.
The distribution fees applicable to the Class B and Class C shares are designed
to permit you to purchase Class B and Class C shares through broker-dealers
without the assessment of a front-end sales charge and at the same time to
permit the distributor to compensate broker-dealers on an ongoing basis to
provide services to shareholders of the Class B and Class C shares attributable
to those broker-dealers.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICE FEES
The Board of Trustees has adopted a shareholder service plan authorizing the
Fund to pay service providers an annual fee not exceeding 0.25% of the Fund's
average daily net assets of each class of shares, to compensate service
providers who maintain a service relationship. Service activities provided under
this plan include (a) establishing and maintaining shareholder accounts and
records, (b) answering shareholder inquiries, (c) assisting in share purchases
and redemptions, (d) providing statements and reports to shareholders, and (e)
providing other related services requested by shareholders.
MASTER/FEEDER STRUCTURE
Other institutional investors, including other mutual funds, may invest in the
Series. The master/feeder structure enables various institutional investors,
including the Fund, to pool their assets, which may be expected to result in
economies by spreading certain fixed costs over a larger asset base. Each
shareholder of a master fund, including the Series, will pay its proportionate
share of the master fund's expenses.
<PAGE>
For reasons relating to costs or a change in investment goal, among others, the
Fund could switch to another master fund or decide to manage its assets itself.
The Fund is not currently contemplating such a move.
<PAGE>
FOR MORE INFORMATION
FOR INVESTORS WHO WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE FUND, THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS ARE
AVAILABLE FREE UPON REQUEST:
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI): Provides a complete technical and
legal description of the Fund's policies, investment restrictions, risks, and
business structure. This prospectus incorporates the SAI by reference.
Copies of these documents and answers to questions about the Fund may be
obtained without charge by contacting:
Roxbury Socially Responsible Fund
c/o PFPC Inc.
400 Bellevue Parkway
Suite 108
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
(800) 497-2960
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time
Information about the Fund (including the SAI) can be reviewed and copied at the
Public Reference Room of the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington,
D.C. Copies of this information may be obtained, upon payment of a duplicating
fee, by electronic request at the following E-Mail address: [email protected],
or by writing the Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, DC,
20549-0102. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be
obtained by calling the SEC at 1-202-942-8090. Reports and other information
about the Fund may be viewed on-screen or downloaded from the SEC's Internet
site at http://www.sec.gov.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OPENING A NEW ACCOUNT, MAKING
CHANGES TO EXISTING ACCOUNTS, PURCHASING, EXCHANGING
OR REDEEMING SHARES, OR OTHER INVESTOR SERVICES,
PLEASE CALL (800) 497-2960.
The investment company registration number is 811-08648.
<PAGE>
WT MUTUAL FUND
WILMINGTON PRIME MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO
WILMINGTON PREMIER MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO
WILMINGTON U.S. GOVERNMENT PORTFOLIO
WILMINGTON TAX-EXEMPT PORTFOLIO
WILMINGTON SHORT/INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO
WILMINGTON INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO
WILMINGTON MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO
WILMINGTON LARGE CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO
WILMINGTON LARGE CAP CORE PORTFOLIO
WILMINGTON SMALL CAP CORE PORTFOLIO
WILMINGTON INTERNATIONAL MULTI-MANAGER PORTFOLIO
WILMINGTON LARGE CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO
WILMINGTON MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO
WILMINGTON SMALL CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO
400 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
NOVEMBER 1, 2000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus and should be read
in conjunction with each Portfolio's current prospectus, dated November 1, 2000,
as amended from time to time. A copy of each current prospectus and annual
report may be obtained without charge, by writing to Provident Distributors,
Inc. ("PDI"), 3200 Horizon Drive, King of Prussia, PA 19406, and from certain
institutions such as banks or broker-dealers that have entered into servicing
agreements with PDI or by calling (800) 336-9970.
Each Portfolio and its corresponding master Series' audited financial statements
for the year ended June 30, 2000, included in the Annual Reports to
shareholders, are incorporated into this SAI by reference.
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
GENERAL INFORMATION 1
INVESTMENT POLICIES 1
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS 14
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS 18
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES 22
Rodney Square Management Corporation 22
Wilmington Trust Company 22
Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, LLC.
Roxbury Capital Management LLC
SUB-ADVISORY SERVICES 25
ADDITIONAL SERVICE PROVIDERS 26
DISTRIBUTION OF SHARES AND RULE 12B-1 PLAN 26
BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES 27
CAPITAL STOCK AND OTHER SECURITIES 28
PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES 28
DIVIDENDS 31
TAXATION OF THE PORTFOLIOS 32
CALCULATION OF PERFORMANCE INFORMATION 37
TAX-EQUIVALENT YIELD TABLE 38
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 42
APPENDIX A -- OPTIONS, FUTURES AND FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACT STRATEGIES A-1
APPENDIX B -- DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS B-1
i
<PAGE>
GENERAL INFORMATION
WT Mutual Fund (the "Fund") is a diversified, open-end management investment
company that was organized as a Delaware business trust on June 1, 1994. The
name of the Fund was changed from Kiewit Mutual Fund to WT Mutual Fund on
October 20, 1998.
The Fund has established the following Portfolios described in this Statement of
Additional Information: Wilmington Prime Money Market, Wilmington Premier Money
Market, Wilmington U.S. Government, Wilmington Tax-Exempt, Wilmington
Short/Intermediate Bond, Wilmington Intermediate Bond, Wilmington Municipal
Bond, Wilmington Large Cap Growth, Wilmington Large Cap Core, Wilmington Small
Cap Core, Wilmington International Multi-Manager, Wilmington Large Cap Value,
Wilmington Mid Cap Value and Wilmington Small Cap Value Portfolios. Each of
these Portfolios issues Institutional and Investor class shares, except for
Wilmington Premier Money Market which issues only Institutional class shares.
INVESTMENT POLICIES
The following information supplements the information concerning each
Portfolio's investment objective, policies and limitations found in the
prospectus. Unless otherwise indicated, it applies to the Portfolios through
their investment in corresponding master funds, which are series of WT
Investment Trust I (the "Series").
MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIOS
The "Money Market Portfolios" are the Prime Money Market, the Premier Money
Market, the U.S. Government and the Tax-Exempt Portfolios. Each has adopted a
fundamental policy requiring it to maintain a constant net asset value of $1.00
per share, although this may not be possible under certain circumstances. Each
Portfolio values its portfolio securities on the basis of amortized cost (see
"Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Shares") pursuant to Rule 2a-7 under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"). As conditions of that Rule, the
Board of Trustees has established procedures reasonably designed to stabilize
each Portfolio's price per share at $1.00 per share. Each Portfolio maintains a
dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity of 90 days or less; purchases only
instruments with effective maturities of 397 days or less; and invests only in
securities which are of high quality as determined by major rating services or,
in the case of instruments which are not rated, of comparable quality as
determined by the investment adviser, Rodney Square Management Corporation,
under the direction of and subject to the review of the Board of Trustees.
BANK OBLIGATIONS. The Prime Money Market and the Premier Money Market Portfolios
may invest in U.S. dollar-denominated obligations of major banks, including
certificates of deposit, time deposits and bankers' acceptances of major U.S.
and foreign banks and their branches located outside of the United States, of
U.S. branches of foreign banks, of foreign branches of foreign banks, of U.S.
agencies of foreign banks and of wholly owned banking subsidiaries of such
foreign banks located in the United States.
Obligations of foreign branches of U.S. banks and U.S. branches of wholly owned
subsidiaries of foreign banks may be general obligations of the parent bank, of
the issuing branch or subsidiary, or both, or may be limited by the terms of a
specific obligation or by governmental regulation. Because such obligations are
issued by foreign entities, they are subject to the risks of foreign investing.
A brief description of some typical types of bank obligations follows:
o BANKERS' ACCEPTANCES. The Prime Money Market, the Premier Money Market and
the Tax-Exempt Portfolios may invest in bankers' acceptances, which are
credit instruments evidencing the obligation of a bank to pay a draft that
has been drawn on it by a customer. These instruments reflect the
obligation of both the bank and the drawer to pay the face amount of the
instrument upon maturity.
o CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT. The Prime Money Market, the Premier Money Market
and the Tax-Exempt Portfolios may invest in certificates evidencing the
indebtedness of a commercial bank to repay funds deposited with it for a
definite period of time (usually from 14 days to one year) at a stated or
variable interest rate. Variable rate certificates of deposit provide that
the interest rate will fluctuate on designated dates based on changes in a
designated base rate (such as the composite rate for certificates of
deposit established by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York).
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o TIME DEPOSITS. The Prime Money Market and the Premier Money Market
Portfolios may invest in time deposits, which are bank deposits for fixed
periods of time.
CERTIFICATES OF PARTICIPATION. The Tax-Exempt Portfolio may invest in
certificates of participation, which give the investor an undivided interest in
the municipal obligation in the proportion that the investor's interest bears to
the total principal amount of the municipal obligation.
CORPORATE BONDS, NOTES AND COMMERCIAL PAPER. The Prime Money Market and the
Premier Money Market Portfolios may invest in corporate bonds, notes and
commercial paper. These obligations generally represent indebtedness of the
issuer and may be subordinated to other outstanding indebtedness of the issuer.
Commercial paper consists of short-term unsecured promissory notes issued by
corporations in order to finance their current operations. The Portfolios will
only invest in commercial paper rated, at the time of purchase, in the highest
category by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization ("NRSRO"),
such as Moody's or S&P or, if not rated, determined by the adviser to be of
comparable quality. See "Appendix B - Description of Ratings." The Portfolios
may invest in asset-backed commercial paper subject to Rule 2a-7 restrictions on
investments in asset-backed securities, which include a requirement that the
security must have received a rating from a NRSRO.
FOREIGN SECURITIES. At the present time, portfolio securities of the Prime Money
Market and the Premier Money Market Portfolios that are purchased outside the
United States are maintained in the custody of foreign branches of U.S. banks.
To the extent that the Portfolios may maintain portfolio securities in the
custody of foreign subsidiaries of U.S. banks, and foreign banks or clearing
agencies in the future, those sub-custodian arrangements are subject to
regulations under the 1940 Act that govern custodial arrangements with entities
incorporated or organized in countries outside of the United States.
ILLIQUID SECURITIES. No Money Market Portfolio may invest more than 10% of the
value of its net assets in securities that at the time of purchase have legal or
contractual restrictions on resale or are otherwise illiquid. Illiquid
securities are securities that cannot be disposed of within seven days at
approximately the value at which they are being carried on a Portfolio's books.
The Board of Trustees has the ultimate responsibility for determining whether
specific securities are liquid or illiquid. The Board has delegated the function
of making day to day determinations of liquidity to the adviser, pursuant to
guidelines approved by the Board. The adviser will monitor the liquidity of
securities held by a Portfolio and report periodically on such decisions to the
Board.
INVESTMENT COMPANY SECURITIES. The Money Market Portfolios may invest in the
securities of other money market mutual funds, within the limits prescribed by
the 1940 Act. These limitations currently provide, in part, that a Portfolio may
not purchase shares of an investment company if (a) such a purchase would cause
the Portfolio to own in the aggregate more than 3% of the total outstanding
voting stock of the investment company or (b) such a purchase would cause the
Portfolio to have more than 5% of its total assets invested in the investment
company or (c) more than 10% of the Portfolio's total assets to be invested in
the aggregate in all investment companies. As a shareholder in an investment
company, the Portfolio would bear its pro rata portion of the investment
company's expenses, including advisory fees, in addition to its own expenses.
The Portfolios' investments of their assets in the corresponding Series pursuant
to the master/feeder structure are excepted from the above limitations.
MUNICIPAL SECURITIES. The Prime Money Market, the Premier Money Market and the
Tax-Exempt Portfolios each may invest in debt obligations issued by states,
municipalities and public authorities ("Municipal Securities") to obtain funds
for various public purposes. Yields on Municipal Securities are the product of a
variety of factors, including the general conditions of the money market and of
the municipal bond and municipal note markets, the size of a particular
offering, the maturity of the obligation and the rating of the issue. Although
the interest on Municipal Securities may be exempt from federal income tax,
dividends paid by a Portfolio to its shareholders may not be tax-exempt. A brief
description of some typical types of municipal securities follows:
o GENERAL OBLIGATION SECURITIES are backed by the taxing power of the issuing
municipality and are considered the safest type of municipal bond.
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o REVENUE OR SPECIAL OBLIGATION SECURITIES are backed by the revenues of a
specific project or facility - tolls from a toll bridge, for example.
o BOND ANTICIPATION NOTES normally are issued to provide interim financing
until long-term financing can be arranged. The long-term bonds then provide
money for the repayment of the notes.
o TAX ANTICIPATION NOTES finance working capital needs of municipalities and
are issued in anticipation of various seasonal tax revenues, to be payable
for these specific future taxes.
o REVENUE ANTICIPATION NOTES are issued in expectation of receipt of other
kinds of revenue, such as federal revenues available under the Federal
Revenue Sharing Program.
o INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BONDS ("IDBs") and Private Activity Bonds ("PABs")
are specific types of revenue bonds issued on or behalf of public
authorities to finance various privately operated facilities such as solid
waste facilities and sewage plants. PABs generally are such bonds issued
after April 15, 1986. These obligations are included within the term
"municipal bonds" if the interest paid on them is exempt from federal
income tax in the opinion of the bond issuer's counsel. IDBs and PABs are
in most case revenue bonds and thus are not payable from the unrestricted
revenues of the issuer. The credit quality of the IDBs and PABs is usually
directly related to the credit standing of the user of the facilities being
financed, or some form of credit enhancement such as a letter of credit.
o TAX-EXEMPT COMMERCIAL PAPER AND SHORT-TERM MUNICIPAL NOTES provide for
short-term capital needs and usually have maturities of one year or less.
They include tax anticipation notes, revenue anticipation notes and
construction loan notes.
o CONSTRUCTION LOAN NOTES are sold to provide construction financing. After
successful completion and acceptance, many projects receive permanent
financing through the Federal Housing Administration by way of "Fannie Mae"
(the Federal National Mortgage Association) or "Ginnie Mae" (the Government
National Mortgage Association).
o PUT BONDS are municipal bonds which give the holder the right to sell the
bond back to the issuer or a third party at a specified price and exercise
date, which is typically well in advance of the bond's maturity date.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. The Money Market Portfolios may invest in repurchase
agreements. A repurchase agreement is a transaction in which a Portfolio
purchases a security from a bank or recognized securities dealer and
simultaneously commits to resell that security to a bank or dealer at an agreed
date and price reflecting a market rate of interest, unrelated to the coupon
rate or the maturity of the purchased security. While it is not possible to
eliminate all risks from these transactions (particularly the possibility of a
decline in the market value of the underlying securities, as well as delays and
costs to the Portfolio if the other party to the repurchase agreement becomes
bankrupt), it is the policy of a Portfolio to limit repurchase transactions to
primary dealers and banks whose creditworthiness has been reviewed and found
satisfactory by the adviser. Repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven
days are considered illiquid for purposes of a Portfolio's investment
limitations.
SECURITIES LENDING. The Money Market Portfolios may from time to time lend their
portfolio securities pursuant to agreements, which require that the loans be
continuously secured by collateral equal to 100% of the market value of the
loaned securities. Such collateral consists of cash, securities of the U.S.
Government or its agencies, or any combination of cash and such securities. Such
loans will not be made if, as a result, the aggregate amount of all outstanding
securities loans for a Portfolio exceed one-third of the value of the
Portfolio's total assets taken at fair market value. A Portfolio will continue
to receive interest on the securities lent while simultaneously earning interest
on the investment of the cash collateral in U.S. Government securities. However,
a Portfolio will normally pay lending fees to such broker-dealers and related
expenses from the interest earned on invested collateral. There may be risks of
delay in receiving additional collateral or risks of delay in recovery of the
securities and even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the
securities fail financially. However, loans are made only to borrowers deemed by
the adviser to be of good standing and when, in the judgment of the adviser, the
consideration
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that can be earned currently from such securities loans justifies the attendant
risk. Either party upon reasonable notice to the other party may terminate any
loan.
STANDBY COMMITMENTS. The Money Market Portfolios may invest in standby
commitments. It is expected that stand-by commitments will generally be
available without the payment of any direct or indirect consideration. However,
if necessary and advisable, the Portfolios may pay for standby commitments
either separately in cash or by paying a higher price for the obligations
acquired subject to such a commitment (thus reducing the yield to maturity
otherwise available for the same securities). Standby commitments purchased by
the Portfolios will be valued at zero in determining net asset value and will
not affect the valuation of the obligations subject to the commitments. Any
consideration paid for a standby commitment will be accounted for as unrealized
depreciation and will be amortized over the period the commitment is held by a
Portfolio.
U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS. The Money Market Portfolios may invest in debt
securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or
instrumentalities. Although all obligations of agencies and instrumentalities
are not direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury, payment of the interest and
principal on these obligations is generally backed directly or indirectly by the
U.S. Government. This support can range from securities supported by the full
faith and credit of the United States (for example, securities of the Government
National Mortgage Association), to securities that are supported solely or
primarily by the creditworthiness of the issuer, such as securities of the
Federal National Mortgage Association, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation,
Tennessee Valley Authority, Federal Farm Credit Banks and the Federal Home Loan
Banks. In the case of obligations not backed by the full faith and credit of the
United States, a Portfolio must look principally to the agency or
instrumentality issuing or guaranteeing the obligation for ultimate repayment
and may not be able to assert a claim against the United States itself in the
event the agency or instrumentality does not meet its commitments.
VARIABLE AND FLOATING RATE SECURITIES. The Money Market Portfolios may invest in
variable and floating rate securities. The terms of variable and floating rate
instruments provide for the interest rate to be adjusted according to a formula
on certain pre-determined dates. Certain of these obligations also may carry a
demand feature that gives the holder the right to demand prepayment of the
principal amount of the security prior to maturity. An irrevocable letter of
credit or guarantee by a bank usually backs the demand feature. Portfolio
investments in these securities must comply with conditions established by the
SEC under which they may be considered to have remaining maturities of 397 days
or less.
WHEN-ISSUED SECURITIES. The Money Market Portfolios may buy when-issued
securities or sell securities on a delayed-delivery basis. This means that
delivery and payment for the securities normally will take place approximately
15 to 90 days after the date of the transaction. The payment obligation and the
interest rate that will be received are each fixed at the time the buyer enters
into the commitment. During the period between purchase and settlement, the
purchaser makes no payment and no interest accrues to the purchaser. However,
when a security is sold on a delayed-delivery basis, the seller does not
participate in further gains or losses with respect to the security. If the
other party to a when-issued or delayed-delivery transaction fails to transfer
or pay for the securities, the Portfolio could miss a favorable price or yield
opportunity or could suffer a loss.
A Portfolio will make a commitment to purchase when-issued securities only with
the intention of actually acquiring the securities, but the Portfolio may
dispose of the commitment before the settlement date if it is deemed advisable
as a matter of investment strategy. A Portfolio may also sell the underlying
securities before they are delivered, which may result in gains or losses. A
separate account for each Portfolio is established at the custodian bank, into
which cash and/or liquid securities equal to the amount of when-issued purchase
commitments is deposited. If the market value of the deposited securities
declines additional cash or securities will be placed in the account on a daily
basis to cover the Portfolio's outstanding commitments.
When a Portfolio purchases a security on a when-issued basis, the security is
recorded as an asset on the commitment date and is subject to changes in market
value generally, based upon changes in the level of interest rates. Thus, upon
delivery, the market value of the security may be higher or lower than its cost,
and this may increase or decrease the Portfolio's net asset value. When payment
for a when-issued security is due, a Portfolio will meet its obligations from
then-available cash flow, the sale of the securities held in the separate
account, the sale of other securities or from the sale of the when-issued
securities themselves. The sale of securities to meet a when-issued purchase
obligation carries with it the potential for the realization of capital gains or
losses.
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THE BOND PORTFOLIOS
The "Bond Portfolios" are the Short/Intermediate Bond, the Intermediate Bond and
the Municipal Bond Portfolios. Wilmington Trust Company ("WTC"), the investment
adviser for the Bond Portfolios, employs an investment process that is
disciplined, systematic and oriented toward a quantitative assessment and
control of volatility. The Bond Portfolios' exposure to credit risk is moderated
by limiting their investments to securities that, at the time of purchase, are
rated investment grade by a nationally recognized statistical rating
organization such as Moody's, S&P, or, if unrated, are determined by the adviser
to be of comparable quality. See "Appendix B - Description of Ratings." Ratings,
however, are not guarantees of quality or of stable credit quality. Not even the
highest rating constitutes assurance that the security will not fluctuate in
value or that a Portfolio will receive the anticipated yield on the security.
WTC continuously monitors the quality of the Portfolios' holdings, and should
the rating of a security be downgraded or its quality be adversely affected, WTC
will determine whether it is in the best interest of the affected Portfolio to
retain or dispose of the security.
The effect of interest rate fluctuations in the market on the principal value of
the Bond Portfolios is moderated by limiting the average dollar-weighted
duration of their investments -- in the case of the Short/Intermediate Bond
Portfolio to a range of 2 1/2 to 4 years, in the case of the Intermediate Bond
PortfolIO to a range of 4 to 7 years, and in the case of the Municipal Bond
Portfolio to a range of 4 to 8 years. Investors may be more familiar with the
term "average effective maturity" (when, on average, the fixed income securities
held by the Portfolio will mature), which is sometimes used to express the
anticipated term of the Portfolios' investments. Generally, the stated maturity
of a fixed income security is longer than it's projected duration. Under normal
market conditions, the average effective maturity, in the case of the
Short/Intermediate Bond Portfolio, is expected to fall within a range of
approximately 3 to 5 years, in the case of the Intermediate Bond Portfolio,
within a range of approximately 7 to 12 years, and in the case of the Municipal
Bond Portfolio, within a range of approximately 5 to 10 years. In the event of
unusual market conditions, the average dollar-weighted duration of the
Portfolios may fall within a broader range. Under those circumstances, the
Short/Intermediate Bond and the Intermediate Bond Portfolios may invest in fixed
income securities with an average dollar-weighted duration of 1 to 6 years and 2
to 10 years, respectively.
WTC's goal in managing the Short/Intermediate Bond and the Intermediate Bond
Portfolios is to gain additional return by analyzing the market complexities and
individual security attributes which affect the returns of fixed income
securities. The Bond Portfolios are intended to appeal to investors who want a
thoughtful exposure to the broad fixed income securities market and the high
current returns that characterize the short-term to intermediate-term sector of
that market.
Given the average duration of the holdings of the Bond Portfolios and the
current interest rate environment, the Portfolios should experience smaller
price fluctuations than those experienced by longer-term bond and municipal bond
funds and a higher yield than fixed-price money market and tax-exempt money
market funds. Of course, the Portfolios will likely experience larger price
fluctuations than money market funds and a lower yield than longer-term bond and
municipal bond funds. Given the quality of the Portfolios' holdings, which must
be investment grade (rated within the top four categories) or comparable to
investment grade securities at the time of purchase, the Portfolios will accept
lower yields in order to avoid the credit concerns experienced by funds that
invest in lower quality fixed income securities. In addition, although the
Municipal Bond Portfolio expects to invest substantially all of its net assets
in municipal securities that provide interest income that is exempt from federal
income tax, it may invest up to 20% of its net assets in other types of fixed
income securities that provide federally taxable income.
The composition of each Portfolio's holdings varies depending upon WTC's
analysis of the fixed income markets and the municipal securities markets (for
the Municipal Bond Portfolio), including analysis of the most attractive
segments of the yield curve, the relative value of the different market sectors,
expected trends in those markets and supply versus demand pressures. Securities
purchased by the Portfolios may be purchased on the basis of their yield or
potential capital appreciation or both. By maintaining each Portfolio's
specified average duration, WTC seeks to protect the Portfolio's principal value
by reducing fluctuations in value relative to those that may be experienced by
bond funds with longer average durations. This strategy may reduce the level of
income attained by the Portfolios. Of course, there is no guarantee that
principal value can be protected during periods of extreme interest rate
volatility.
WTC may make frequent changes in the Portfolios' investments, particularly
during periods of rapidly fluctuating interest rates. These frequent changes
would involve transaction costs to the Portfolios and could result in taxable
capital gains.
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ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES. The Bond Portfolios may purchase interests in pools of
obligations, such as credit card or automobile loan receivables, purchase
contracts and financing leases. Such securities are also known as "asset-backed
securities," and the holders thereof may be entitled to receive a fixed rate of
interest, a variable rate that is periodically reset to reflect the current
market rate or an auction rate that is periodically reset at auction.
Asset-backed securities are typically supported by some form of credit
enhancement, such as cash collateral, subordinated tranches, a letter of credit,
surety bond or limited guaranty. Credit enhancements do not provide protection
against changes in the market value of the security. If the credit enhancement
is exhausted or withdrawn, security holders may experience losses or delays in
payment if required payments of principal and interest are not made with respect
to the underlying obligations. Except in very limited circumstances, there is no
recourse against the vendors or lessors that originated the underlying
obligations.
Asset-backed securities are likely to involve unscheduled prepayments of
principal that may affect yield to maturity, result in losses, and may be
reinvested at higher or lower interest rates than the original investment. The
yield to maturity of asset-backed securities that represent residual interests
in payments of principal or interest in fixed income obligations is particularly
sensitive to prepayments.
The value of asset-backed securities may change because of changes in the
market's perception of the creditworthiness of the servicing agent for the pool
of underlying obligations, the originator of those obligations or the financial
institution providing credit enhancement.
BANK OBLIGATIONS. The Bond Portfolios may invest in the same U.S.
dollar-denominated obligations of major banks as the Money Market Portfolios.
CORPORATE BONDS, NOTES AND COMMERCIAL PAPER. The Bond Portfolios may invest in
corporate bonds, notes and commercial paper. These obligations generally
represent indebtedness of the issuer and may be subordinated to other
outstanding indebtedness of the issuer. Commercial paper consists of short-term
unsecured promissory notes issued by corporations in order to finance their
current operations. The Portfolios will only invest in commercial paper rated,
at the time of purchase, in the highest category by a nationally recognized
statistical rating organization, such as Moody's or S&P or, if not rated,
determined by WTC to be of comparable quality.
FIXED INCOME SECURITIES WITH BUY-BACK FEATURES. Fixed income securities with
buy-back features enable the Bond Portfolios to recover principal upon tendering
the securities to the issuer or a third party. Letters of credit issued by
domestic or foreign banks often supports these buy-back features. In evaluating
a foreign bank's credit, WTC considers whether adequate public information about
the bank is available and whether the bank may be subject to unfavorable
political or economic developments, currency controls or other governmental
restrictions that could adversely affect the bank's ability to honor its
commitment under the letter of credit. The Municipal Bond Portfolio will not
acquire municipal securities with buy-back features if, in the opinion of
counsel, the existence of a buy-back feature would alter the tax-exempt nature
of interest payments on the underlying securities and cause those payments to be
taxable to that Portfolio and its shareholders.
Buy-back features include standby commitments, put bonds and demand features.
o STANDBY COMMITMENTS. The Bond Portfolios may acquire standby commitments
from broker-dealers, banks or other financial intermediaries to enhance the
liquidity of portfolio securities. A standby commitment entitles a
Portfolio to same day settlement at amortized cost plus accrued interest,
if any, at the time of exercise. The amount payable by the issuer of the
standby commitment during the time that the commitment is exercisable
generally approximates the market value of the securities underlying the
commitment. Standby commitments are subject to the risk that the issuer of
a commitment may not be in a position to pay for the securities at the time
that the commitment is exercised.
Ordinarily, a Portfolio will not transfer a standby commitment to a third
party, although the Portfolio may sell securities subject to a standby
commitment at any time. A Portfolio may purchase standby commitments
separate from or in conjunction with the purchase of the securities subject
to the commitments. In the latter case, the Portfolio may pay a higher
price for the securities acquired in consideration for the commitment.
o PUT BONDS. A put bond (also referred to as a tender option or third party
bond) is a bond created by coupling an intermediate or long-term fixed rate
bond with an agreement giving the holder the option of tendering the bond
to receive its par value. As consideration for providing this tender
option, the
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sponsor of the bond (usually a bank, broker-dealer or other financial
intermediary) receives periodic fees that equal the difference between the
bond's fixed coupon rate and the rate (determined by a remarketing or
similar agent) that would cause the bond, coupled with the tender option,
to trade at par. By paying the tender offer fees, a Portfolio in effect
holds a demand obligation that bears interest at the prevailing short-term
rate.
In selecting put bonds for the Bond Portfolios, WTC takes into
consideration the creditworthiness of the issuers of the underlying bonds
and the creditworthiness of the providers of the tender option features. A
sponsor may withdraw the tender option feature if the issuer of the
underlying bond defaults on interest or principal payments, the bond's
rating is downgraded or, in the case of a municipal bond, the bond loses
its tax-exempt status.
o DEMAND FEATURES. Many variable rate securities carry demand features that
permit the holder to demand repayment of the principal amount of the
underlying securities plus accrued interest, if any, upon a specified
number of days' notice to the issuer or its agent. A demand feature may be
exercisable at any time or at specified intervals. Variable rate securities
with demand features are treated as having a maturity equal to the time
remaining before the holder can next demand payment of principal. The
issuer of a demand feature instrument may have a corresponding right to
prepay the outstanding principal of the instrument plus accrued interest,
if any, upon notice comparable to that required for the holder to demand
payment.
GUARANTEED INVESTMENT CONTRACTS. A guaranteed investment contract ("GIC") is a
general obligation of an insurance company. A GIC is generally structured as a
deferred annuity under which the purchaser agrees to pay a given amount of money
to an insurer (either in a lump sum or in installments) and the insurer promises
to pay interest at a guaranteed rate (either fixed or variable) for the life of
the contract. Some GICs provide that the insurer may periodically pay
discretionary excess interest over and above the guaranteed rate. At the GIC's
maturity, the purchaser generally is given the option of receiving payment or an
annuity. Certain GICs may have features that permit redemption by the issuer at
a discount from par value.
Generally, GICs are not assignable or transferable without the permission of the
issuer. As a result, the acquisition of GICs is subject to the limitations
applicable to each Portfolio's acquisition of illiquid and restricted
securities. The holder of a GIC is dependent on the creditworthiness of the
issuer as to whether the issuer is able to meet its obligations. No Portfolio
intends to invest more than 5% of its net assets in GICs.
ILLIQUID SECURITIES. No Bond Portfolio may invest more than 15% of the value of
its net assets in securities that at the time of purchase have legal or
contractual restrictions on resale or are otherwise illiquid.
MONEY MARKET FUNDS. The Bond Portfolios may invest in the securities of money
market mutual funds, within the limits prescribed by the 1940 Act, as previously
described under "Investment Company Securities."
MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES. Mortgage-backed securities are securities
representing interests in a pool of mortgages secured by real property.
Government National Mortgage Association ("GNMA") mortgage-backed securities are
securities representing interests in pools of mortgage loans to residential home
buyers made by lenders such as mortgage bankers, commercial banks and savings
associations and are either guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration or
insured by the Veterans Administration. Timely payment of interest and principal
on each mortgage loan is backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S.
Government.
The Federal National Mortgage Association ("FNMA") and Federal Home Loan
Mortgage Corporation ("FHLMC") both issue mortgage-backed securities that are
similar to GNMA securities in that they represent interests in pools of mortgage
loans. FNMA guarantees timely payment of interest and principal on its
certificates and FHLMC guarantees timely payment of interest and ultimate
payment of principal. FHLMC also has a program under which it guarantees timely
payment of scheduled principal as well as interest. FNMA and FHLMC guarantees
are backed only by those agencies and not by the full faith and credit of the
U.S. Government.
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In the case of mortgage-backed securities that are not backed by the U.S.
Government or one of its agencies, a loss could be incurred if the collateral
backing these securities is insufficient. This may occur even though the
collateral is U.S. Government-backed.
Most mortgage-backed securities pass monthly payment of principal and interest
through to the holder after deduction of a servicing fee. However, other payment
arrangements are possible. Payments may be made to the holder on a different
schedule than that on which payments are received from the borrower, including,
but not limited to, weekly, bi-weekly and semiannually. The monthly principal
and interest payments also are not always passed through to the holder on a PRO
RATA basis. In the case of collateralized mortgage obligations ("CMOs"), the
pool is divided into two or more tranches and special rules for the disbursement
of principal and interest payments are established.
CMO residuals are derivative securities that generally represent interests in
any excess cash flow remaining after making required payments of principal and
interest to the holders of the CMOs described above. Yield to maturity on CMO
residuals is extremely sensitive to prepayments. In addition, if a series of a
CMO includes a class that bears interest at an adjustable rate, the yield to
maturity on the related CMO residual also will be extremely sensitive to the
level of the index upon which interest rate adjustments are based.
Stripped mortgage-backed securities ("SMBS") are derivative multi-class mortgage
securities and may be issued by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S.
Government or by private mortgage lenders. SMBS usually are structured with two
classes that receive different proportions of the interest and/or principal
distributions on a pool of mortgage assets. A common type of SMBS will have one
class of holders receiving all interest payments -- "interest only" or "IO" --
and another class of holders receiving the principal repayments -"principal
only" or "PO." The yield to maturity of IO and PO classes is extremely sensitive
to prepayments on the underlying mortgage assets.
MUNICIPAL SECURITIES. Municipal securities are debt obligations issued by or on
behalf of states, territories and possessions of the United States, the District
of Columbia and their sub-divisions, agencies and instrumentalities, the
interest on which is, in the opinion of bond counsel, exempt from federal income
tax. These debt obligations are issued to obtain funds for various public
purposes, such as the construction of public facilities, the payment of general
operating expenses or the refunding of outstanding debts. They may also be
issued to finance various privately owned or operated activities. The three
general categories of municipal securities are general obligation, revenue or
special obligation and private activity municipal securities. A brief
description of typical municipal securities follows:
o GENERAL OBLIGATION SECURITIES are backed by the taxing power of the issuing
municipality and are considered the safest type of municipal bond. The
proceeds from general obligation securities are used to fund a wide range
of public projects, including the construction or improvement of schools,
highways and roads, and water and sewer systems.
o REVENUE OR SPECIAL OBLIGATION SECURITIES are backed by the revenues of a
specific project or facility - tolls from a toll bridge, for example. The
proceeds from revenue or special obligation securities are used to fund a
wide variety of capital projects, including electric, gas, water and sewer
systems; highways, bridges and tunnels; port and airport facilities;
colleges and universities; and hospitals. Many municipal issuers also
establish a debt service reserve fund from which principal and interest
payments are made. Further security may be available in the form of the
state's ability, without obligation, to make up deficits in the reserve
fund.
o MUNICIPAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS may take the form of a lease, an installment
purchase or a conditional sale contract issued by state and local
governments and authorities to acquire land, equipment and facilities.
Usually, the Portfolios will purchase a participation interest in a
municipal lease obligation from a bank or other financial intermediary. The
participation interest gives the holder a pro rata, undivided interest in
the total amount of the obligation.
Municipal leases frequently have risks distinct from those associated with
general obligation or revenue bonds. The interest income from the lease
obligation may become taxable if the lease is assigned. Also, to free the
municipal issuer from constitutional or statutory debt issuance
limitations, many leases and contracts include non-appropriation clauses
providing that the municipality has no obligation to make future payments
under the lease or contract unless money is appropriated for that purpose
by the municipality on a yearly or other periodic basis. Finally, the lease
may be illiquid.
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o RESOURCE RECOVERY BONDS are affected by a number of factors, which may
affect the value and credit quality of these revenue or special
obligations. These factors include the viability of the project being
financed, environmental protection regulations and project operator tax
incentives.
o PRIVATE ACTIVITY SECURITIES are specific types of revenue bonds issued on
behalf of public authorities to finance various privately operated
facilities such as educational, hospital or housing facilities, local
facilities for water supply, gas, electricity, sewage or solid waste
disposal, and industrial or commercial facilities. The payment of principal
and interest on these obligations generally depends upon the credit of the
private owner/user of the facilities financed and, in certain instances,
the pledge of real and personal property by the private owner/user. The
interest income from certain types of private activity securities may be
considered a tax preference item for purposes of the federal alternative
minimum tax ("Tax Preference Item").
Short-term municipal securities in which the Portfolios may invest include Tax
Anticipation, Revenue Anticipation, Bond Anticipation and Construction Loan
Notes, which were previously described under "Money Market Portfolios -
Municipal Securities."
OPTIONS, FUTURES AND FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACT STRATEGIES. Although the
Municipal Bond Portfolio has no current intention of so doing, each of the Bond
Portfolios may use options and futures contracts. The Short/Intermediate Bond
and the Intermediate Bond Portfolios may use forward currency contracts. For
additional information regarding such investment strategies, see Appendix A to
this Statement of Additional Information.
PARTICIPATION INTERESTS. The Bond Portfolios may invest in participation
interests in fixed income securities. A participation interest provides the
certificate holder with a specified interest in an issue of fixed income
securities.
Some participation interests give the holders differing interests in the
underlying securities, depending upon the type or class of certificate
purchased. For example, coupon strip certificates give the holder the right to
receive a specific portion of interest payments on the underlying securities;
principal strip certificates give the holder the right to receive principal
payments and the portion of interest not payable to coupon strip certificate
holders. Holders of certificates of participation in interest payments may be
entitled to receive a fixed rate of interest, a variable rate that is
periodically reset to reflect the current market rate or an auction rate that is
periodically reset at auction. Asset-backed residuals represent interests in any
excess cash flow remaining after required payments of principal and interest
have been made.
More complex participation interests involve special risk considerations. Since
these instruments have only recently been developed, there can be no assurance
that any market will develop or be maintained for the instruments. Generally,
the fixed income securities that are deposited in trust for the holders of these
interests are the sole source of payments on the interests; holders cannot look
to the sponsor or trustee of the trust or to the issuers of the securities held
in trust or to any of their affiliates for payment.
Participation interests purchased at a discount may experience price volatility.
Certain types of interests are sensitive to fluctuations in market interest
rates and to prepayments on the underlying securities. A rapid rate of
prepayment can result in the failure to recover the holder's initial investment.
The extent to which the yield to maturity of a participation interest is
sensitive to prepayments depends, in part, upon whether the interest was
purchased at a discount or premium, and if so, the size of that discount or
premium. Generally, if a participation interest is purchased at a premium and
principal distributions occur at a rate faster than that anticipated at the time
of purchase, the holder's actual yield to maturity will be lower than that
assumed at the time of purchase. Conversely, if a participation interest is
purchased at a discount and principal distributions occur at a rate faster than
that assumed at the time of purchase, the investor's actual yield to maturity
will be higher than that assumed at the time of purchase.
Participation interests in pools of fixed income securities backed by certain
types of debt obligations involve special risk considerations. The issuers of
securities backed by automobile and truck receivables typically file financing
statements evidencing security interests in the receivables, and the servicers
of those obligations take and retain custody of the obligations. If the
servicers, in contravention of their duty to the holders of the securities
backed by the receivables, were to sell the obligations, the third party
purchasers could acquire an interest superior to the interest of the security
holders. Also, most states require that a security interest in a vehicle must be
noted on the certificate of title and the certificate of title may not be
amended to reflect the assignment of the lender's security interest. Therefore,
the recovery of the collateral in some cases may not be available to support
payments on the
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securities. Securities backed by credit card receivables are generally
unsecured, and both federal and state consumer protection laws may allow
set-offs against certain amounts owed.
The Municipal Bond Portfolio will only invest in participation interests in
municipal securities, municipal leases or in pools of securities backed by
municipal assets if, in the opinion of counsel, any interest income on the
participation interest will be exempt from federal income tax to the same extent
as the interest on the underlying securities.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. The Bond Portfolios may invest in repurchase agreements,
which were previously described under "Money Market Portfolios - Repurchase
Agreements."
SECURITIES LENDING. The Bond Portfolios may lend securities, which were
previously described under "Money Market Portfolios - Securities Lending". The
Municipal Bond Portfolio has no current intention of lending its portfolio
securities and would do so only under unusual market conditions since the
interest income that a Portfolio receives from lending its securities is
taxable.
U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS. The Bond Portfolios may invest in the same debt
securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or
instrumentalities as the Money Market Portfolios. (See "Money Market Portfolios
- U.S. Government Obligations.")
VARIABLE AND FLOATING RATE SECURITIES. The Bond Portfolios may invest in
variable and floating rate securities. The terms of variable and floating rate
instruments provide for the interest rate to be adjusted according to a formula
on certain pre-determined dates. Certain of these obligations also may carry a
demand feature that gives the holder the right to demand prepayment of the
principal amount of the security prior to maturity. An irrevocable letter of
credit or guarantee by a bank usually backs the demand feature. Portfolio
investments in these securities must comply with conditions established by the
SEC under which they may be considered to have remaining maturities of 397 days
or less.
Each of the Bond Portfolios may also purchase inverse floaters that are floating
rate instruments whose interest rates bear an inverse relationship to the
interest rate on another security or the value of an index. Changes in the
interest rate on the other security or index inversely affect the interest rate
paid on the inverse floater, with the result that the inverse floater's price is
considerably more volatile than that of a fixed rate security. For example, an
issuer may decide to issue two variable rate instruments instead of a single
long-term, fixed rate bond. The interest rate on one instrument reflects
short-term interest rates, while the interest rate on the other instrument (the
inverse floater) reflects the approximate rate the issuer would have paid on a
fixed rate bond multiplied by two minus the interest rate paid on the short-term
instrument. Depending on market availability, the two variable rate instruments
may be combined to form a fixed rate bond. The market for inverse floaters is
relatively new.
WHEN-ISSUED SECURITIES. The Bond Portfolios may buy when-issued securities or
sell securities on a delayed-delivery basis, which were previously described
under "Money Market Portfolios - When-Issued Securities."
The Municipal Bond Portfolio may purchase securities on a when-issued basis in
connection with the refinancing of an issuer's outstanding indebtedness
("refunding contracts"). These contracts require the issuer to sell and the
Portfolio to buy municipal obligations at a stated price and yield on a
settlement date that may be several months or several years in the future. The
offering proceeds are then used to refinance existing municipal obligations.
Although the Municipal Bond Portfolio may sell its rights under a refunding
contract, the secondary market for these contracts may be less liquid than the
secondary market for other types of municipal securities. The Portfolio
generally will not be obligated to pay the full purchase price if it fails to
perform under a refunding contract. Instead, refunding contracts usually provide
for payment of liquidated damages to the issuer (currently 15-20% of the
purchase price). The Portfolio may secure its obligation under a refunding
contract by depositing collateral or a letter of credit equal to the liquidated
damages provision of the refunding contract. When required by Securities and
Exchange Commission ("SEC") guidelines, the Portfolio will place liquid assets
in a segregated custodial account equal in amount to its obligations under
outstanding refunding contracts.
ZERO COUPON BONDS. The Bond Portfolios may invest in zero coupon bonds of
governmental or private issuers that generally pay no interest to their holders
prior to maturity. Since zero coupon bonds do not make regular interest
payments, they allow an issuer to avoid the need to generate cash to meet
current interest payments and may involve
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greater credit risks than bonds paying interest currently. Tax laws requiring
the distribution of accrued discount on the bonds, even though no cash
equivalent thereto has been paid, may cause a Portfolio to liquidate investments
in order to make the required distributions.
RISK FACTORS APPLICABLE TO THE MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO:
HEALTH CARE SECTOR. The health care industry is subject to regulatory action by
a number of private and governmental agencies, including federal, state and
local governmental agencies. A major source of revenues for the industry is
payments from the Medicare and Medicaid programs. As a result, the industry is
sensitive to legislative changes and reductions in governmental spending for
those programs. Numerous other factors may affect the industry, such as general
and local economic conditions; demand for services; expenses (including
malpractice insurance premiums) and competition among health care providers. In
the future, the following may adversely affect the industry: adoption of
legislation proposing a national health insurance program; medical and
technological advances which alter the demand for health services or the way in
which such services are provided; and efforts by employers, insurers and
governmental agencies to reduce the costs of health insurance and health care
services.
Health care facilities include life care facilities, nursing homes and
hospitals. The Municipal Bond Portfolio may invest in bonds to finance these
facilities which are typically secured by the revenues from the facilities and
not by state or local government tax payments. Moreover, in the case of life
care facilities, since a portion of housing, medical care and other services may
be financed by an initial deposit, there may be a risk of default in the payment
of principal or interest on a bond issue if the facility does not maintain
adequate financial reserves for debt service.
HOUSING SECTOR. The Municipal Bond Portfolio may invest in housing revenue bonds
which typically are issued by state, county and local housing authorities and
are secured only by the revenues of mortgages originated by those authorities
using the proceeds of the bond issues. Factors that may affect the financing of
multi-family housing projects include acceptable completion of construction,
proper management, occupancy and rent levels, economic conditions and changes in
regulatory requirements.
Since the demand for mortgages from the proceeds of a bond issue cannot be
precisely predicted, the proceeds may be in excess of demand, which would result
in early retirement of the bonds by the issuer. Since the cash flow from
mortgages cannot be precisely predicted, differences in the actual cash flow
from the assumed cash flow could have an adverse impact upon the issuer's
ability to make scheduled payments of principal and interest or could result in
early retirement of the bonds.
Scheduled principal and interest payments are often made from reserve or sinking
funds. These reserves are funded from the bond proceeds, assuming certain rates
of return on investment of the reserve funds. If the assumed rates of return are
not realized because of changes in interest rate levels or for other reasons,
the actual cash flow for scheduled payments of principal and interest on the
bonds may be inadequate.
ELECTRIC UTILITIES SECTOR. The electric utilities industry has experienced, and
may experience in the future: problems in financing large construction programs
in an inflationary period; cost increases and delays caused by environmental
considerations (particularly with respect to nuclear facilities); difficulties
in obtaining fuel at reasonable prices; the effects of conservation on the
demand for energy; increased competition from alternative energy sources; and
the effects of rapidly changing licensing and safety requirements.
PROPOSED LEGISLATION. From time to time, proposals have been introduced before
Congress for the purpose of restricting or eliminating the federal income tax
exemption for interest on debt obligations issued by states and their political
subdivisions. For example, federal tax law now limits the types and amounts of
tax-exempt bonds issuable for industrial development and other types of private
activities. These limitations may affect the future supply and yields of private
activity securities. Further proposals affecting the value of tax-exempt
securities may be introduced in the future. In addition, proposals have been
made, such as that involving the "flat tax," that could reduce or eliminate the
value of that exemption. If the availability of municipal securities for
investment or the value of the Municipal Bond Portfolio's holdings could be
materially affected by such changes in the law, the Trustees would reevaluate
the Portfolio's investment objective and policies or consider the Portfolio's
dissolution.
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PORTFOLIO TURNOVER. Portfolio turnover rates for the past 2 years, were:
12 MONTHS ENDED 12 MONTHS ENDED
6/30/00 6/30/99
--------------- ---------------
Short/Intermediate Bond 47.23% 34.40%
Intermediate Bond 53.23% 36.22%
Municipal Bond 50.26% 23.93%
THE EQUITY PORTFOLIOS
The "Equity Portfolios" are the Large Cap Growth, the Large Cap Core, the Small
Cap Core, the International Multi-Manager, the Large Cap Value, the Mid Cap
Value and the Small Cap Value Portfolios.
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS (ADRS) AND EUROPEAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS (EDRS). The
International Multi-Manager and Large Cap Core Portfolios each may invest in
ADRs and EDRs. ADRs and EDRs are securities, typically issued by a U.S.
financial institution or a non-U.S. financial institution in the case of an EDR
(a "depositary"). The institution has ownership interests in a security, or a
pool of securities, issued by a foreign issuer and deposited with the
depositary. ADRs and EDRs may be available through "sponsored" or "unsponsored"
facilities. A sponsored facility is established jointly by the issuer of the
security underlying the receipt and a depositary. An unsponsored facility may be
established by a depositary without participation by the issuer of the
underlying security. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear
all the costs of the unsponsored facility. The depositary of an unsponsored
facility frequently is under no obligation to distribute shareholder
communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass
through, to the holders of the receipts, voting rights with respect to the
deposited securities.
CASH MANAGEMENT. The Large Cap Growth, Small Cap Core and the International
Multi-Manager Portfolios each may invest no more than 15% of its total assets in
cash and cash equivalents including high-quality money market instruments and
money market funds in order to manage cash flow in the Portfolio. The other
Equity Portfolios are not subject to specific percentage limitations on such
investments. Certain of these instruments are described below.
o MONEY MARKET FUNDS. The Equity Portfolios may invest in the securities of
other money market mutual funds, within the limits prescribed by the 1940
Act.
The International Multi-Manager Portfolio may invest in securities of
open-end and closed-end investment companies that invest primarily in the
equity securities of issuers in countries where it is impossible or
impractical to invest directly. Such investments will be subject to the
limits described above.
o U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS. The Equity Portfolios may invest in the same
debt securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies
or instrumentalities as the Money Market Portfolios. (See "Money Market
Portfolios - U.S. Government Obligations.")
o COMMERCIAL PAPER. The Equity Portfolios may invest in commercial paper.
Commercial paper consists of short-term (up to 270 days) unsecured
promissory notes issued by corporations in order to finance their current
operations. The Portfolios may invest only in commercial paper rated A-1 or
higher by S&P or Moody's or if not rated, determined by the adviser or
sub-adviser to be of comparable quality.
o BANK OBLIGATIONS. The Equity Portfolios may invest in the same obligations
of U.S. banks as the Money Market Funds. (See "Money Market Portfolios -
Bank Obligations.")
CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES. Convertible securities have characteristics similar to
both fixed income and equity securities. Because of the conversion feature, the
market value of convertible securities tends to move together with the market
value of the underlying stock. As a result, a Portfolio's selection of
convertible securities is based, to a great extent, on the potential for capital
appreciation that may exist in the underlying stock. The value of convertible
securities is also affected by prevailing interest rates, the credit quality of
the issuers and any call provisions.
The Equity Portfolios may invest in convertible securities that are rated, at
the time of purchase, in the three highest rating categories by a nationally
recognized statistical rating organization ("NRSRO") such as Moody's or S&P, or
if unrated, are determined by the adviser or a sub-adviser, as applicable, to be
of comparable quality. In addition, the International Multi-Manager Portfolio
may invest in non-convertible debt securities issued by foreign governments,
international agencies, and private foreign issuers that, at the time of
purchase, are rated A or better by a
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NRSRO, or, if not rated, are judged by the adviser or one or more of the
sub-advisers to be of comparable quality. Ratings represent the rating agency's
opinion regarding the quality of the security and are not a guarantee of
quality. Should the rating of a security be downgraded subsequent to a
Portfolio's purchase of the security, the adviser or a sub-adviser, as
applicable, will determine whether it is in the best interest of the Portfolio
to retain the security.
DEBT SECURITIES. Debt securities represent money borrowed that obligates the
issuer (e.g., a corporation, municipality, government, government agency) to
repay the borrowed amount at maturity (when the obligation is due and payable)
and usually to pay the holder interest at specific times.
HEDGING STRATEGIES. The Equity Portfolios may engage in certain hedging
strategies that involve options, futures and, in the case of the International
Multi-Manager Portfolio, forward currency exchange contracts. These hedging
strategies are described in detail in Appendix A.
ILLIQUID SECURITIES. Each of the Large Cap Value, Mid Cap Value and Small Cap
Value Portfolios may invest no more than 10% of its net assets in securities
that at the time of purchase have legal or contractual restrictions on resale or
are otherwise illiquid. Each of the Large Cap Growth, Large Cap Core, Small Cap
Core and International Multi-Manager Portfolios may invest no more than 15% of
its net assets in securities that at the time of purchase have legal or
contractual restrictions on resale or are otherwise illiquid. If the limitations
on illiquid securities are exceeded, other than by a change in market values,
the condition will be reported by the Portfolio's investment adviser to the
Board of Trustees.
OPTIONS ON SECURITIES AND SECURITIES INDEXES. The Large Cap Growth, Large Cap
Value and Small Cap Core Portfolios each may purchase call options on securities
that WTC intends to include in the Portfolios in order to fix the cost of a
future purchase or attempt to enhance return by, for example, participating in
an anticipated increase in the value of a security. The Portfolios may purchase
put options to hedge against a decline in the market value of securities held in
the Portfolios or in an attempt to enhance return. The Portfolios may write
(sell) put and covered call options on securities in which they are authorized
to invest. The Portfolios may also purchase put and call options, and write put
and covered call options on U.S. securities indexes. Stock index options serve
to hedge against overall fluctuations in the securities markets rather than
anticipated increases or decreases in the value of a particular security. Of the
percentage of the total assets of a Portfolio that are invested in equity (or
related) securities, the Portfolio may not invest more than 10% of such assets
in covered call options on securities and/or options on securities indices.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. The Equity Portfolios may invest in repurchase
agreements, which were previously described under "Money Market Portfolios -
Repurchase Agreements."
RESTRICTED SECURITIES. Restricted securities are securities that may not be sold
to the public without registration under the Securities Act of 1933 or an
exemption from registration. Each of the Equity Portfolios is subject to a
Portfolio's investment limitations on the purchase of illiquid securities.
Restricted securities, including securities eligible for re-sale under 1933 Act
Rule 144A, that are determined to be liquid are not subject to this limitation.
This determination is to be made by the adviser or a sub-adviser pursuant to
guidelines adopted by the Board of Trustees. Under these guidelines, the adviser
or a sub-adviser will consider the frequency of trades and quotes for the
security, the number of dealers in, and potential purchasers for, the
securities, dealer undertakings to make a market in the security, and the nature
of the security and of the marketplace trades. In purchasing such restricted
securities, the adviser or a sub-adviser intends to purchase securities that are
exempt from registration under Rule 144A under the 1933 Act.
SECURITIES LENDING. The Equity Portfolios may lend securities subject to the
same conditions applicable to the Bond Portfolios, as described under "Bond
Portfolios - Securities Lending."
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PORTFOLIO TURNOVER. Portfolio turnover rates for the past 2 years, (or since
inception, if applicable) were:
12 MONTHS ENDED 12 MONTHS ENDED
6/30/00 6/30/99
--------------- ---------------
Large Cap Growth 111.49% 32.48%
Large Cap Core 11.52% 5.19%
Small Cap Core 46.80% 22.97%
Large Cap Value 136.45% 67.05%
Mid Cap Value 274.00% 118.00%
Small Cap Value 96.00% 64.00%
International Multi-Manager 78.24% 67.05%
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS
Except as otherwise provided, the Portfolios and their corresponding master
series have adopted the investment limitations set forth below. Limitations
which are designated as fundamental policies may not be changed without the
affirmative vote of the lesser of (i) 67% or more of the shares of a Portfolio
present at a shareholders meeting if holders of more than 50% of the outstanding
shares of the Portfolio are present in person or by proxy or (ii) more than 50%
of the outstanding shares of a Portfolio. If any percentage restriction on
investment or utilization of assets is adhered to at the time an investment is
made, a later change in percentage resulting from a change in the market values
of a Portfolio's assets or redemptions of shares will not be considered a
violation of the limitation.
MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIOS:
Each Portfolio will not as a matter of fundamental policy:
1. purchase the securities of any one issuer if, as a result, more than 5% of
the Portfolio's total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer,
or the Portfolio would own or hold 10% or more of the outstanding voting
securities of that issuer, provided that (1) each Portfolio may invest up to 25%
of its total assets without regard to these limitations; and (2) these
limitations do not apply to securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S.
Government, its agencies or instrumentalities;
2. purchase the securities of any issuer if, as a result, more than 25% of the
Portfolio's total assets would be invested in the securities of one or more
issuers having their principal business activities in the same industry,
provided, that each of the Prime Money Market and Premier Money Market
Portfolios may invest more than 25% of its total assets in the obligations of
banks;
3. borrow money, except (1) from a bank for temporary or emergency purposes (not
for leveraging or investment) or (2) by engaging in reverse repurchase
agreements if the Portfolio's borrowings do not exceed an amount equal to 33
1/3% of the current value of its assets taken at market value, less liabilities
other than borrowings;
4. make loans to other persons, except by (1) purchasing debt securities in
accordance with its investment objective, policies and limitations; (2) entering
into repurchase agreements; or (3) engaging in securities loan transactions
limited to 33 1/3% of the value of the Portfolio's total assets;
5. underwrite any issue of securities, except to the extent that the Portfolio
may be considered to be acting as underwriter in connection with the disposition
of any portfolio security;
6. purchase or sell real estate, provided that the Portfolio may invest in
obligations secured by real estate or interests therein or obligations issued by
companies that invest in real estate or interests therein;
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7. purchase or sell physical commodities or contracts, provided that currencies
and currency-related contracts will not be deemed physical commodities; or
8. issue senior securities, except as appropriate to evidence indebtedness that
the Portfolio is permitted to incur, provided that the Portfolio's use of
options, futures contracts and options thereon or currency-related contracts
will not be deemed to be senior securities for this purpose.
THE INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE DO NOT PROHIBIT A PORTFOLIO FROM
INVESTING ALL OR SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF ITS ASSETS IN THE SHARES OF ANOTHER
REGISTERED OPEN-END INVESTMENT COMPANY SUCH AS THE CORRESPONDING SERIES OF WT
INVESTMENT TRUST I.
With respect to the exclusion from the investment limitation described in number
2 above, the Fund has been advised that it is the SEC staff's current position,
that the exclusion may be applied only to U.S. bank obligations; the Prime Money
Market and Premier Money Market Portfolios, however, will consider both foreign
and U.S. bank obligations within this exclusion.
The following non-fundamental policies apply to each Money Market Portfolio
unless otherwise indicated, and the Board of Trustees may change them without
shareholder approval.
Each Portfolio will not:
1. make short sales of securities except short sales against the box;
2. purchase securities on margin except for the use of short-term credit
necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of portfolio securities;
3. purchase portfolio securities if its outstanding borrowings exceed 5% of the
value of its total assets, and if at any time the Portfolio's bank borrowings
exceed its fundamental borrowing limitations due to a decline in net assets,
such borrowings will be promptly (within 3 days) reduced to the extent necessary
to comply with such limitations;
4. make loans of portfolio securities unless such loans are fully collateralized
by cash, securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or
instrumentalities, or any combination of cash and securities, marked to market
daily; or
5. with respect to the U.S. Government, Prime Money Market and Premier Money
Market Portfolios only, purchase the securities of any one issuer if as a result
more than 5% of the Portfolio's total assets would be invested in the securities
of such issuer, provided that this limitation does not apply to securities
issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities.
BOND PORTFOLIOS:
Each Portfolio will not as a matter of fundamental policy:
1. purchase the securities of any one issuer if, as a result, more than 5% of
the Portfolio's total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer,
or the Portfolio would own or hold 10% or more of the outstanding voting
securities of that issuer, provided that (1) each Portfolio may invest up to 25%
of its total assets without regard to these limitations; and (2) these
limitations do not apply to securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S.
Government, its agencies or instrumentalities;
2. purchase the securities of any issuer if, as a result, more than 25% of the
Portfolio's total assets would be invested in the securities of one or more
issuers having their principal business activities in the same industry,
provided that this limitation does not apply to securities issued or guaranteed
by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities (including repurchase
agreements fully collateralized by U.S. Government obligations) or to tax-exempt
municipal securities;
15
<PAGE>
3. borrow money, provided that the Portfolio may borrow money from banks for
temporary or emergency purposes (not for leveraging or investment) or by
engaging in reverse repurchase agreements if the Portfolio's borrowings do not
exceed an amount equal to 33 1/3% of the current value of its assets taken at
market value, less liabilities other than borrowings;
4. make loans to other persons, except by (1) purchasing debt securities in
accordance with its investment objective, policies and limitations; (2) entering
into repurchase agreements; or (3) engaging in securities loan transactions
limited to 33 1/3% of the value of the Portfolio's total assets;
5. underwrite any issue of securities, except to the extent that the Portfolio
may be considered to be acting as underwriter in connection with the disposition
of any portfolio security;
6. purchase or sell real estate or real estate limited partnership interests,
provided that the Portfolio may invest in obligations secured by real estate or
interests therein or obligations issued by companies that invest in real estate
or interests therein, including real estate investment trusts;
7. purchase or sell physical commodities or commodities contracts except
financial and foreign currency futures contracts and options thereon, options on
foreign currencies and forward currency contracts; or
8. issue senior securities, except as appropriate to evidence indebtedness that
the Portfolio is permitted to incur, provided that futures, options and forward
currency transactions will not be deemed to be senior securities for purposes of
this limitation.
THE INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE DO NOT PROHIBIT A PORTFOLIO FROM
INVESTING ALL OR SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF ITS ASSETS IN THE SHARES OF ANOTHER
REGISTERED OPEN-END INVESTMENT COMPANY SUCH AS THE CORRESPONDING SERIES OF WT
INVESTMENT TRUST I.
The following non-fundamental policies apply to each Bond Portfolio and may be
changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Each Portfolio
will not:
1. pledge, mortgage or hypothecate its assets, except the Portfolio may pledge
securities having a market value at the time of the pledge not exceeding 33 1/3%
of the value of its total assets to secure borrowings, and the Portfolio may
deposit initial and variation margin in connection with transactions in futures
contracts and options on futures contracts;
2. make short sales of securities except short sales against the box;
3. purchase securities on margin except for the use of short-term credit
necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of portfolio securities,
provided that the Portfolio may make initial and variation margin deposits in
connection with permitted transactions in options or futures;
4. purchase portfolio securities if its outstanding borrowings exceed 5% of the
value of its total assets;
5. when engaging in options, futures and forward currency contract strategies, a
Portfolio will either: (1) set aside cash or liquid securities in a segregated
account with the Fund's custodian in the prescribed amount; or (2) hold
securities or other options or futures contracts whose values are expected to
offset ("cover") its obligations thereunder. Securities, currencies or other
options or futures contracts used for cover cannot be sold or closed out while
the strategy is outstanding, unless they are replaced with similar assets;
6. purchase or sell non-hedging futures contracts or related options if
aggregate initial margin and premiums required to establish such positions would
exceed 5% of the Portfolio's total assets. For purposes of this limitation,
unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any open contracts are taken into
account, and the in-the-money amount of an option that is in-the-money at the
time of purchase is excluded; or
16
<PAGE>
7. write put or call options having aggregate exercise prices greater than 25%
of the Portfolio's net assets, except with respect to options attached to or
acquired with or traded together with their underlying securities and securities
that incorporate features similar to options.
EQUITY PORTFOLIOS:
Each Portfolio will not as a matter of fundamental policy:
1. purchase the securities of any one issuer, if as a result, more than 5% of
the Portfolio's total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer,
or the Portfolio would own or hold 10% or more of the outstanding voting
securities of that issuer, provided that (1) each Portfolio may invest up to 25%
of its total assets without regard to these limitations; (2) these limitations
do not apply to securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its
agencies or instrumentalities; and (3) for the Large Cap Growth, Large Cap Core,
Small Cap Core and International Multi-Manager Portfolios, repurchase agreements
fully collateralized by U.S. Government obligations will be treated as U.S.
Government obligations;
2. purchase securities of any issuer if, as a result, more than 25% of the
Portfolio's total assets would be invested in the securities of one or more
issuers having their principal business activities in the same industry,
provided, that (1) for the Large Cap Value, Small Cap Value and Mid Cap Value
Portfolios, this limitation does not apply to investments in short-term
obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or
instrumentalities; and (2) the Large Cap Growth, Large Cap Core, Small Cap Core
and International Multi-Manager Portfolios, this limitation does not apply to
debt obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or
instrumentalities;
3. borrow money, provided that (1) each of the Large Cap Value, Small Cap Value
and Mid Cap Value Portfolios may borrow money for temporary or emergency
purposes, including the meeting of redemption requests, in amounts up to 33 1/3%
of a Portfolio's assets; and (2) each of the Large Cap Growth, Large Cap Core,
Small Cap Core and International Multi-Manager Portfolios may borrow money for
temporary or emergency purposes, and then in an aggregate amount not in excess
of 10% of a Portfolio's total assets;
4. make loans to other persons, except by (1) purchasing debt securities in
accordance with its investment objective, policies and limitations; (2) entering
into repurchase agreements; or (3) engaging in securities loan transactions;
5. underwrite any issue of securities, except to the extent that the Portfolio
may be considered to be acting as underwriter in connection with the disposition
of any portfolio security;
6. purchase or sell real estate, provided that (1) the Large Cap Value, Small
Cap Value and Mid Cap Value Portfolios additionally may not invest in any
interest in real estate except securities issued or guaranteed by corporate or
governmental entities secured by real estate or interests therein, such as
mortgage pass-throughs and collateralized mortgage obligations, or issued by
companies that invest in real estate or interests therein; (2) the Large Cap
Growth, Large Cap Core, Small Cap Core and International Multi-Manager
Portfolios each may invest in obligations secured by real estate or interests
therein or obligations issued by companies that invest in real estate or
interests therein, including real estate investment trusts;
7. purchase or sell physical commodities, provided that (1) the Large Cap Value,
Small Cap Value and Mid Cap Value Portfolios additionally are restricted from
purchasing or selling contracts, options or options on contracts to purchase or
sell physical commodities and (2) the Large Cap Growth, Large Cap Core, Small
Cap Core and International Multi-Manager Portfolios each may invest in purchase,
sell or enter into financial options and futures, forward and spot currency
contracts, swap transactions and other derivative financial instruments; or
8. issue senior securities, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act,
provided that each of the Large Cap Value, Small Cap Value and Mid Cap Value
Portfolios may borrow money subject to its investment limitation on borrowing.
17
<PAGE>
THE INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE DO NOT PROHIBIT A PORTFOLIO FROM
INVESTING ALL OR SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF ITS ASSETS IN THE SHARES OF ANOTHER
REGISTERED OPEN-END INVESTMENT COMPANY SUCH AS THE CORRESPONDING SERIES OF WT
INVESTMENT TRUST I.
The following non-fundamental policies apply to each Equity Portfolio unless
otherwise indicated, and the Board of Trustees may change them without
shareholder approval. Each Portfolio will not:
1. pledge, mortgage or hypothecate its assets except to secure indebtedness
permitted to be incurred by the Portfolio, provided that (1) this limitation
does not apply to the Large Cap Growth, Large Cap Core and Small Cap Core
Portfolios; and (2) with respect to the Large Cap Value, Small Cap Value, Mid
Cap Value and International Multi-Manager Portfolios, the deposit in escrow of
securities in connection with the writing of put and call options,
collateralized loans of securities and collateral arrangements with respect to
margin for future contracts are not deemed to be pledges or hypothecations for
this purpose;
2. make short sales of securities except short sales against the box;
3. purchase securities on margin except for the use of short-term credit
necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of portfolio securities,
provided that Large Cap Value, Small Cap Value and Mid Cap Value Portfolios may
make initial and variation margin deposits in connection with permitted
transactions in options without violating this limitation;
4. purchase portfolio securities if its outstanding borrowings exceed 5% of the
value of its total assets, provided that (1) the Large Cap Value, Small Cap
Value and Mid Cap Value Portfolios may not borrow for purposes other than
meeting redemptions in an amount exceeding 5% of the value of its total assets
at the time the borrowing is made;
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
The Board of Trustees supervises the Portfolios' activities and reviews
contractual arrangements with the Portfolios' service providers. The Trustees
and officers are listed below. All persons named as Trustees and officers also
serve in a similar capacity for WT Investment Trust I. An asterisk (*) indicates
those Trustees who are "interested persons".
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
--------------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------------
POSITION(S)
NAME, ADDRESS AND HELD WITH THE
DATE OF BIRTH FUND PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS
--------------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------------
<S> <C> <C>
ROBERT ARNOLD Trustee In 1989, Mr. Arnold founded, and currently co-manages, R.
152 W. 57th Street, 44th Floor H. Arnold & Co., Inc., an investment banking company.
New York, NY 10019 Prior to forming R. H. Arnold & Co., Inc., Mr. Arnold was
Date of Birth: 3/44 Executive Vice President and a director to Cambrian
Capital Corporation, an investment banking firm he
co-founded in 1987.
--------------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------------
ROBERT J. CHRISTIAN* Trustee, Mr. Christian has been Chief Investment Officer of
Rodney Square North President Wilmington Trust Company since February 1996 and Director
1100 N. Market Street of Rodney Square Management Corporation since 1996. He
Wilmington, DE 19890 was Chairman and Director of PNC Equity Advisors Company,
Date of Birth: 2/49 and President and Chief Investment Officer of PNC Asset
Management Group Inc. from 1994 to 1996. He was Chief
Investment Officer of PNC Bank from 1992 to 1996 and
Director of Provident Capital Management from 1993 to
1996.
</TABLE>
18
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
--------------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------------
POSITION(S)
NAME, ADDRESS AND HELD WITH THE
DATE OF BIRTH FUND PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS
--------------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------------
<S> <C> <C>
NICHOLAS A. GIORDANO Trustee Mr. Giordano served as interim President of LaSalle
LaSalle University University from July 1, 1998 to June 1999, and was a
Philadelphia, PA 19141 consultant for financial services organizations from late
Date of Birth: 3/43 1997 through 1998. He served as president and chief
executive officer of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange from
1981 through August 1997, and also served as chairman of
the board of the exchange's two subsidiaries: Stock
Clearing Corporation of Philadelphia and Philadelphia
Depository Trust Company. Before joining the Philadelphia
Stock Exchange, Mr. Giordano served as chief financial
officer at two brokerage firms (1968-1971). A certified
public accountant, he began his career at Price Waterhouse
in 1965.
--------------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------------
JOHN J. QUINDLEN Trustee Mr. Quindlen has retired as Senior Vice President -
313 Southwinds Finance of E.I. duPont de Nemours & Company, Inc.
1250 W. Southwinds Blvd. (diversified chemicals), a position held from 1984 to
Vero Beach, FL 32963 November 30, 1993. He served as Chief Financial Officer
Date of Birth: 5/32 of E.I. duPont de Nemours & Company from 1984 through
June 1993. He also serves as a Director of St. Joe Paper
Co. and as a Trustee of Kalmar Pooled Investment Trust.
--------------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------------
LOUIS KLEIN, JR. Trustee Self employed financial consultant from 1991 to the
80 Butternut Lane present. Trustee of Manville Personal Injury Settlement
Stamford, CT 06903 Trust since 1991.
Date of Birth: 5/35
--------------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------------
CLEMENT C. MOORE, II Trustee Managing Partner, Mariemont Holdings, LLC, a commercial
10 Rockefeller Plaza real estate holding and development company since 1980.
New York, NY 10004
Date of Birth: 9/44
--------------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------------
ERIC BRUCKER Trustee Dean of the College of Business, Public Policy and Health
University of Maine at the University of Maine since September 1998. Dean of
Orono, ME 04469 the School of Management at the University of Michigan
Date of Birth: 12/41 from 1992 to 1998.
--------------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------------
WILLIAM P. RICHARDS, JR.* Trustee Managing Director - Client Service and Portfolio
100 Wilshire Boulevard Communication, Roxbury Capital Management since 1998.
Suite 600 Formerly, Senior Vice President and Partner at Van
Santa Monica, CA 90401 Deventer, Hoch an investment management firm. Prior to
Date of Birth: 11/36 that, he was with the consulting firm Booz, Allen and
Hamilton.
--------------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------------
ERIC K. CHEUNG Vice President From 1978 to 1986, Mr. Cheung was the Portfolio Manager
1100 N. Market Street Rodney Square North for fixed income assets of the Meritor
Wilmington, DE 19890 Financial Group. In 1986, Mr. Cheung joined Wilmington
Date of Birth: 12/54 Trust Company and in 1991, he became the Division Manager
for all fixed income products.
--------------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------------
JOHN R. GILES Vice President From 1991 to 1996, Mr. Giles was employed by Consistent
Rodney Square North Asset Management Company; From April 1996 to the
1100 N. Market Street present, Mr. Giles has been employed by Wilmington Trust
Wilmington, DE 19890 Company and serves as Vice President.
Date of Birth: __/__
--------------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------------
FRED FILOON Vice President
520 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Date of Birth: __/__
--------------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------------
</TABLE>
19
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
--------------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------------
POSITION(S)
NAME, ADDRESS AND HELD WITH THE
DATE OF BIRTH FUND PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS
--------------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------------
<S> <C> <C>
PAT COLLETTI Vice President Mr. Colletti is Vice President and Director of Investment
400 Bellevue Parkway and Treasurer Accounting and Administration of PFPC Inc. since April
Wilmington, DE 19809 1999. Prior to joining PFPC, Mr. Colletti was Controller
Date of Birth: 11/58 for the Reserve Funds since 1986.
--------------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------------
GARY M. GARDNER Secretary Mr. Gardner has been a Senior Vice President of PFPC Inc.
400 Bellevue Parkway since January 1994. Previously, Mr. Gardner had provided
Wilmington, DE 19809 legal and regulatory advice to mutual funds and their
Date of Birth: 2/51 management for more than twenty years at Federated
Investors, Inc., SunAmerica Asset Management Corp. and
The Boston Company, Inc.
--------------------------------------- ----------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
<FN>
* Interested Trustee.
</FN>
</TABLE>
On October __, 2000, the Trustees and officers of the Fund, as a group, owned
beneficially, or may be deemed to have owned beneficially, less than 1% of the
outstanding shares of each Portfolio.
The fees and expenses of the Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the
Fund ("Independent Trustees"), as defined in the 1940 Act are paid by each
Portfolio. The following table shows the fees paid during the fiscal year ended
June 30, 2000 to the Independent Trustees for their service to the Fund and the
total compensation paid to the Trustees by the WT Fund Complex, which consists
of the Fund and WT Investment Trust I.
TRUSTEES FEES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2000
AGGREGATE COMPENSATION TOTAL COMPENSATION FROM
FROM THE FUND THE WT FUND COMPLEX
---------------------- -----------------------
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE
-------------------
Robert Arnold $10,700 $21,100
Eric Brucker $8,700 $19,600
Nicholas Giordano $11,800 $22,200
Louis Klein, Jr. $8,700 $17,100
Clement C. Moore, II $8,700 $17,100
John J. Quindlen $10,700 $23,600
CODE OF ETHICS
The Fund, WT Investment Trust I and each of the Series' investment advisers and
sub-advisers have each adopted a code of ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 of the
1940 Act. Among other provisions, such codes require investment personnel and
certain other employees to pre-clear securities transactions that are subject to
the code of ethics, to file reports or duplicate confirmations regarding
personal securities transactions and to refrain from engaging in short-term
trading of a security and transactions of a security within seven days of a
Series' portfolio transaction involving the same security. Directors/trustees,
officers and employees of the Fund, WT Investment Trust I, and each adviser and
sub-adviser are required to abide by the provisions under their respective code
of ethics. On a quarterly and annual basis, the Board of Trustees reviews
reports regarding the codes of ethics, including information on any substantial
violations of the codes.
20
<PAGE>
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
Persons or organizations beneficially owning 25% or more of the outstanding
shares of a Portfolio may be presumed to "control" the Portfolio. As a result,
those persons or organizations could have the ability to vote a majority of the
shares of the Portfolio on any matter requiring the approval of the shareholders
of that Portfolio. As of September 30, the following entities were known to own
beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares the Premier Money Market
Portfolio:
Kiewit Construction Company 17.3%
One Thousand Kiewit Plaza
Omaha, NE 68131
Kiewit Coal Properties, Inc. 17.1%
One Thousand Kiewit Plaza
Omaha, NE 68131
Wasatch Construction AJV 10.0%
One Thousand Kiewit Plaza
Omaha, NE 68131
Gulf Maritime LP 14.9%
One Thousand Kiewit Plaza
Omaha, NE 68131
As of September 30, the following entities have a 5% or larger position in
the Short/Intermediate Bond Portfolio and may be deemed to be a controlling
person of the Portfolio under the 1940 Act.
Northern Trust Company 15.9%
Trustee for Continental Kiewit Inc. Pension Plan
P.O. Box 92956
Chicago, IL 60675
Decker Coal Reclamation 9.3%
One Thousand Kiewit Plaza
Omaha, NE 68131
Wilmington Trust Company 7.1%
Trustee for University of Delaware
1100 N. Market Street
Wilmington, DE 19890
Wilmington Trust Company 15.2%
Trustee for WTC Pension Plan
1100 N. Market Street
Wilmington, DE 19890
21
<PAGE>
As of September 30, the following entities were known to own beneficially 5% or
more of the outstanding shares of the Large Cap Core Portfolio.
Northern Trust Company 31.7%
Trustee for Continental Kiewit Inc. Pension Plan
P.O. Box 92956
Chicago, IL 60675
Decker Coal Reclamation 13.1%
One Thousand Kiewit Plaza
Omaha, NE 68131
Wilmington Trust Company 30.6%
Trustee for Kiewit Construction Corp
Retirement Savings Plan
1100 N. Market Street
Wilmington, DE 19890
State Street 7.3%
Trustee for Decker Coal Co. Pension Plan
200 Newport Ave
North Quincy, MA 02117
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES
RODNEY SQUARE MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
RSMC serves as the investment adviser to the Prime Money Market, Premier Money
Market, the U.S. Government and the Tax-Exempt Series. RSMC is a Delaware
corporation organized on September 17, 1981. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of
Wilmington Trust Company ("WTC"), a state-chartered bank organized as a Delaware
corporation in 1903. WTC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wilmington Trust
Corporation, a publicly held bank holding company. RSMC may occasionally
consult, on an informal basis, with personnel of WTC's investment departments.
Several affiliates of RSMC are also engaged in the investment advisory business.
Wilmington Trust FSB and Wilmington Brokerage Services Company, both wholly
owned subsidiaries of WTC, are registered investment advisers. In addition, WBSC
is a registered broker-dealer.
WTC previously served as the investment advisor of the Premier Money Market
Series until November 1, 1999. For information regarding the fees WTC received,
and waived, for its services, please see below.
For its services as adviser, RSMC received the following fees:
12 MONTHS ENDED 12 MONTHS ENDED 12 MONTHS ENDED
6/30/00 6/30/99 6/30/98
--------------- --------------- ----------------
Premier Money Market Series $677,240(1) N/A N/A
Prime Money Market Series $9,040,719 $7,672,029 $5,078,193
U.S. Government Series $3,240,463 $3,076,718 $2,001,355
Tax-Exempt Series $2,104,423 $2,047,289 $1,246,730
(1) For the period November 1, 1999 to June 30, 2000.
For its services as adviser to the Premier Money Market Series for the period
November 1, 1999 to June 30, 2000, RSMC waived fees of $313,343.
22
<PAGE>
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
WTC, the parent of RSMC, is a state-chartered bank organized as a Delaware
corporation in 1903. WTC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wilmington Trust
Corporation, a publicly held bank holding company. WTC is engaged in a variety
of investment advisory activities, including the management of collective
investment pools, and has nearly a century of experience managing the personal
investments of high net-worth individuals. WTC presently manages over $__
billion in fixed income assets and approximately $__ billion in equity assets
for clients.
WTC serves as the adviser to the Short/Intermediate Bond Series, the
Intermediate Bond Series, the Municipal Bond Series, the Large Cap Core Series,
the Small Cap Core Series and the International Multi-Manager Series. The
Premier Money Market Series, Large Cap Growth Series, Large Cap Value Series
changed advisers on November 1, 1999.
For WTC's services as investment adviser to each Series, WTC received the
following fees:
12 MONTHS ENDED 12 MONTHS ENDED 12 MONTHS ENDED
6/30/00 6/30/99 6/30/98
--------------- --------------- ---------------
Premier Money Market Series $327,586 $518,578(2) N/A
Short/Intermediate Bond Series $515,635 $177,376(2) N/A
Large Cap Core Series $905,961 $568,176(2) N/A
Intermediate Bond Series $305,276 $322,428 N/A
Municipal Bond Series $55,020 $61,687 $86,841
Large Cap Growth Series $397,459(1) $1,150,375 N/A
International Multi-
Manager Series $517,304 $447,808 $755,902
Small Cap Core Series $502,815 N/A N/A
Large Cap Value Series $131,600(1) N/A N/A
(1) For the period July 1, 1999 to October 31, 1999.
(2) For the period October 20, 1998 to June 30, 1999.
For its services as adviser, WTC waived the following fees:
12 MONTHS ENDED 12 MONTHS ENDED 12 MONTHS ENDED
6/30/00 6/30/99 6/30/98
--------------- --------------- ---------------
Premier Money Market Series $286,696(1) $281,704(2) N/A
Short/Intermediate Bond Series $189,596 $98,480(2) N/A
Large Cap Core Series $230,030 $94,401(2) N/A
Intermediate Bond Series $143,584 $103,995 N/A
Municipal Bond Series $7,707 $36,996 $81,481
Large Cap Growth Series $56,620 $201,147 $8,138
International Multi-
Manager Series $169,523 $102,850 N/A
Small Cap Core Series $96,214 N/A N/A
Large Cap Value Series $139,897(1) N/A N/A
(1) For the period July 1, 1999 to October 31, 1999.
(2) For the period October 20, 1998 to June 30, 1999.
Prior to October 19, 1998, Kiewit Investment Management Corp. served as
investment adviser to the Premier Money Market, Short/Intermediate Bond and
Large Cap Core Series. Pursuant to investment management agreements then in
effect, the following fees were payable to the Series' previous investment
adviser, Kiewit, for:
JULY 1, 1998 TO 12 MONTHS ENDED
OCTOBER 19, 1998 JUNE 30, 1998
---------------- -------------
Premier Money Market Series $228,204 $983,634(2)
Short/Intermediate Bond Series $78,062 $579,830(2)
Large Cap Core Series $250,050 $695,586(2)
23
<PAGE>
Kiewit Investment Management Corp., waived the following amounts for:
JULY 1, 1998 TO 12 MONTHS ENDED
OCTOBER 19, 1998 JUNE 30, 1998
---------------- -------------
Premier Money Market Series $123,952 $519,887
Short/Intermediate Bond Series $43,340 $115,748
Large Cap Core Series $40,225 $126,953
For Institutional shares, WTC has agreed to reimburse expenses to the extent
total operating expenses exceed 0.20% for the Premier Money Market Portfolio,
0.55% for the Short/Intermediate Bond Portfolio; 0.55% for the Intermediate Bond
Portfolio; 0.75% for the Municipal Bond Portfolio, 0.75% for the Large Cap
Growth Portfolio; .80% for the Large Core Portfolio; 0.75% for the Large Cap
Value Portfolio; 0.80% for the Small Cap Core Portfolio; and 1.00% for the
International Multi-Manager Portfolio. This undertaking will remain in place
until the Board of Trustees approves its termination.
CRAMER ROSENTHAL MCGLYNN, LLC
CRM serves as investment adviser to the Large Cap Value, the Mid Cap Value and
the Small Cap Series. CRM and its predecessors have managed investments in small
and medium capitalization companies for over 25 years. CRM is 67% owned (and
therefore controlled) by Cramer, Rosenthal, McGlynn, Inc. and its shareholders.
CRM is registered as an investment adviser with the SEC.
For its services as adviser, CRM received the following fees:
12 MONTHS ENDED
6/30/00(1)
---------------
Large Cap Value Series $305,109
Mid Cap Value Series $91,720
Small Cap Value Series $1,277,831
(1) For the period November 1, 1999 (commencement of operations) to June 30,
2000.
For its services as adviser, CRM waived the following fees.
12 MONTHS ENDED
6/30/00
---------------
Large Cap Value Series $112,969
Mid Cap Value Series $129,279
Small Cap Value Series $0
ROXBURY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
Roxbury serves as the investment adviser to the corresponding Series of the
Large Cap Growth Portfolio.
For the period November 1, 1999 to June 30, 2000, Roxbury received $1,005,944
for its services as adviser to the WT Large Cap Growth Series.
ADVISORY SERVICES. Under the terms of advisory agreements, each adviser agrees
to: (a) direct the investments of each Series, subject to and in accordance with
the Series' investment objective, policies and limitations set forth in the
Prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information; (b) purchase and sell
for each Series, securities and other investments consistent with the Series'
objectives and policies; (c) supply office facilities, equipment and personnel
necessary for servicing the investments of the Series; (d) pay the salaries of
all personnel of the Series and the adviser performing services relating to
research, statistical and investment activities on behalf of the Series; (e)
make available and provide such information as the Series and/or its
administrator may reasonably request for use in the preparation of its
registration statement, reports and other documents required by any applicable
federal, foreign or state statutes or regulations; (f) make its officers and
employees available to the Trustees and officers of the Fund
24
<PAGE>
for consultation and discussion regarding the management of each Series and its
investment activities. Additionally, each adviser agrees to create and maintain
all necessary records in accordance with all applicable laws, rules and
regulations pertaining to the various functions performed by it and not
otherwise created and maintained by another party pursuant to contract with the
Fund. Each adviser may at any time or times, upon approval by the Board of
Trustees, enter into one or more sub-advisory agreements with a sub-advisor
pursuant to which the adviser delegates any or all of its duties as listed.
The agreements provide that each adviser shall not be liable for any error of
judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by a Series in connection
with the matters to which the agreement relates, except to the extent of a loss
resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on its part in
the performance of its obligations and duties under the agreement.
The salaries of any officers and the interested Trustees of the Funds who are
affiliated with an adviser and the salaries of all personnel of each adviser
performing services for each Fund relating to research, statistical and
investment activities are paid by the adviser.
SUB-ADVISORY SERVICES
INTERNATIONAL MULTI-MANAGER SERIES ONLY:
The sub-advisers to the Series are:
CLEMENTE CAPITAL, INC. is located at Carnegie Hall Tower, 152 West 57th Street,
New York, New York 10019. Clemente has been a registered investment adviser
since 1979. SCUDDER KEMPER INVESTMENTS, INC. is located at 345 Park Avenue, New
York, New York 10154. Scudder Kemper was founded as America's first independent
investment counselor and has served as investment adviser, administrator and
distributor of mutual funds since 1928. INVISTA CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC, a
registered investment adviser since 1984, is located at 1800 Hub Tower, 699
Walnut Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50309. Invista is an indirect, wholly owned
subsidiary of Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company.
SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENTS. For services furnished pursuant to each Sub-Advisory
Agreement, WTC pays each sub-adviser a monthly portfolio management fee at an
annual rate of 0.50% of the average daily net assets under the sub-adviser's
management. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2000, WTC paid sub-advisory fees
in the amount of $_____ to Clemente, $_____ to Investa and $_____ to Scudder
Kemper.
Each Sub-Advisory Agreement provides that the sub-adviser has discretionary
investment authority (including the selection of brokers and dealers for the
execution of the Series' portfolio transactions) with respect to the portion of
the Series' assets allocated to it by WTC, subject to the restrictions of the
1940 Act, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable state
securities laws, applicable statutes and regulations of foreign jurisdictions,
the Series' investment objective, policies and restrictions and the instructions
of the Board of Trustees and WTC.
Each Sub-Advisory Agreement provides that the sub-adviser will not be liable for
any action taken, omitted or suffered to be taken except if such acts or
omissions are the result of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or
reckless disregard of duty. Each Agreement continues in effect for two years and
then from year to year so long as continuance of each such Agreement is approved
at least annually (i) by the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees at a
meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval and (ii) by the vote
of a majority of the Trustees or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding
voting securities of the Portfolio. Each Sub-Advisory Agreement terminates
automatically in the event of its assignment and is terminable on written notice
by the Fund (without penalty, by action of the Board of Trustees or by vote of a
majority of the Portfolio's outstanding voting securities) or by WTC or the
sub-adviser. Each Agreement provides that written notice of termination must be
provided sixty days prior to the termination date, absent mutual agreement for a
shorter notice period.
25
<PAGE>
ADMINISTRATION AND ACCOUNTING SERVICES
Under separate Administration and Accounting Services Agreements, PFPC Inc., 400
Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809 performs certain administrative and
accounting services for WT Mutual Fund and WT Investment Trust I. These services
include preparing shareholder reports, providing statistical and research data,
assisting the advisers in compliance monitoring activities, and preparing and
filing federal and state tax returns on behalf of the Fund and the Trust. In
addition, PFPC prepares and files various reports with the appropriate
regulatory agencies and prepares materials required by the SEC or any state
securities commission having jurisdiction over the Fund. The accounting services
performed by PFPC include determining the net asset value per share of each
Portfolio and maintaining records relating to the securities transactions of the
Fund. The Administration and Accounting Services Agreements provides that PFPC
and its affiliates shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of
law or for any loss suffered by the Fund or its Portfolios, except to the extent
of a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on
their part in the performance of their obligations and duties under the
Administration and Accounting Services Agreements.
ADDITIONAL SERVICE PROVIDERS
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS. Ernst & Young LLP, serves as the independent auditor to
the Fund and WT Investment Trust I, providing services which include (1)
auditing the annual financial statements for the Portfolios, (2) assistance and
consultation in connection with SEC filings and (3) preparation of the annual
federal income tax returns filed on behalf of each Portfolio.
LEGAL COUNSEL. Pepper Hamilton LLP, 3000 Two Logan Square, 18th and Arch
Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19103, serves as counsel to the Fund and WT Investment
Trust I.
CUSTODIAN. Wilmington Trust Company, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, DE
19890, serves as the Custodian.
TRANSFER AGENT. PFPC Inc., 400 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19890-0001,
serves as the Transfer Agent and Dividend Paying Agent.
DISTRIBUTION OF SHARES AND RULE 12B-1 PLAN
Provident Distributors, Inc., 3200 Horizon Drive, King of Prussia, PA 19406,
serves as the underwriter of the Portfolios' shares pursuant to a Distribution
Agreement with the Fund. Pursuant to the terms of the Distribution Agreement,
PDI is granted the right to sell the shares of the Portfolios as agent for the
Fund. Shares of the Portfolios are offered continuously.
Under the terms of the Distribution Agreement, PDI agrees to use all reasonable
efforts to secure purchasers for Investor class shares of the Portfolios and to
pay expenses of printing and distributing prospectuses, statements of additional
information and reports prepared for use in connection with the sale of Investor
class shares and any other literature and advertising used in connection with
the offering, out of the compensation it receives pursuant to the Portfolios'
Plans of Distribution adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the
"12b-1 Plans"). PDI receives no underwriting commissions or Rule 12b-1 fees in
connection with the sale of the Portfolios' Institutional class shares.
The Distribution Agreement provides that PDI, in the absence of willful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or
by reason of reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under the
Agreements, will not be liable to the Portfolios or their shareholders for
losses arising in connection with the sale of Portfolio shares.
The Distribution Agreement became effective as of November 1, 1999 and continues
in effect for a period of two years. Thereafter, the agreement may continue in
effect for successive annual periods provided such continuance is approved at
least annually by a majority of the Trustees, including a majority of the
Independent Trustees. The Distribution Agreement terminates automatically in the
event of an assignment. The Agreement is also terminable without payment of any
penalty with respect to any Portfolio (i) (by vote of a majority of the Trustees
of the Portfolio who are not interested persons of the Portfolio and who have no
direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of any Rule 12b-1 Plan of
the Portfolio or any agreements related to a 12b-1 Plan, or by vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of the applicable Portfolio) on
sixty (60) days' written notice to PDI; or (ii) by PDI on sixty (60) days'
written notice to the Portfolio.
26
<PAGE>
PDI will be compensated for distribution services according to the Investor
class 12b-1 Plan which became effective on November 1, 1999 regardless of PDI's
expenses. The Investor class 12b-1 Plan provides that PDI will be paid for
distribution activities such as public relations services, telephone services,
sales presentations, media charges, preparation, printing and mailing
advertising and sales literature, data processing necessary to support a
distribution effort and printing and mailing of prospectuses to prospective
shareholders. Additionally, PDI may pay certain financial institutions such as
banks or broker-dealers who have entered into servicing agreements with PDI
("Service Organizations") and other financial institutions for distribution and
shareholder servicing activities.
The Investor class 12b-1 Plan further provides that payment shall be made for
any month only to the extent that such payment does not exceed (i) 0.25% on an
annualized basis of the Investor Class shares of each Portfolio's average net
assets; and (ii) limitations set from time to time by the Board of Trustees. The
Board of Trustees has only authorized implementation of a 12b-1 fee for annual
payments of up to 0.05% of the Investor class shares of each of the Money Market
Portfolio's average net assets to reimburse PDI for making payments to certain
Service Organizations who have sold Investor class shares of the Portfolios and
for other distribution expenses.
Under the Investor class 12b-1 Plan, if any payments made by the adviser out of
its advisory fee, not to exceed the amount of that fee, to any third parties
(including banks), including payments for shareholder servicing and transfer
agent functions, were deemed to be indirect financing by each Portfolio of the
distribution of its Investor class shares, such payments are authorized. Each
Series may execute portfolio transactions with and purchase securities issued by
depository institutions that receive payments under the 12b-1 Plan. No
preference for instruments issued by such depository institutions is shown in
the selection of investments.
BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES
The advisers and sub-advisers place all portfolio transactions on behalf of each
Series. Debt securities purchased and sold by the Series are generally traded on
the dealer market on a net basis (i.e., without commission) through dealers
acting for their own account and not as brokers, or otherwise involve
transactions directly with the issuer of the instrument. This means that a
dealer (the securities firm or bank dealing with a Series) makes a market for
securities by offering to buy at one price and sell at a slightly higher price.
The difference between the prices is known as a spread. When securities are
purchased in underwritten offerings, they include a fixed amount of compensation
to the underwriter.
The primary objective of the advisers and sub-advisers in placing orders on
behalf of the Series for the purchase and sale of securities is to obtain best
execution at the most favorable prices through responsible brokers or dealers
and, where the spread or commission rates are negotiable, at competitive rates.
In selecting a broker or dealer, each adviser considers, among other things: (i)
the price of the securities to be purchased or sold; (ii) the rate of the spread
or commission; (iii) the size and difficulty of the order; (iv) the nature and
character of the spread or commission for the securities to be purchased or
sold; (v) the reliability, integrity, financial condition, general execution and
operational capability of the broker or dealer; and (vi) the quality of any
research or statistical services provided by the broker or dealer to the Series
or to the advisers.
The advisers cannot readily determine the extent to which spreads or commission
rates or net prices charged by brokers or dealers reflect the value of their
research, analysis, advice and similar services. In such cases, each adviser
receives services it otherwise might have had to perform itself. The research,
analysis, advice and similar services provided by brokers or dealers can be
useful to the advisers in serving its other clients, as well as in serving the
Series. Conversely, information provided to the advisers by brokers or dealers
who have executed transaction orders on behalf of other clients of the adviser
may be useful in providing services to the Series. During the twelve-month
periods ended June 30, 2000, 1999 and 1998, the Series paid the following
brokerage commissions:
27
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
12 MONTHS ENDED 12 MONTHS ENDED 12 MONTHS ENDED
--------------- --------------- ---------------
6/30/00 6/30/99 6/30/98
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Premier Money Market Series N/A N/A N/A
Prime Money Market Series N/A N/A N/A
U.S. Government Series N/A N/A N/A
Tax-Exempt Series N/A N/A N/A
Short/Intermediate Bond Series N/A N/A N/A
Intermediate Bond Series N/A N/A N/A
Municipal Bond Series N/A N/A N/A
Large Cap Growth Series $334,125 $196,083 $378,000
Large Cap Core Series $43,966 $15,538 $115,000
Small Cap Core Series $110,997 $67,932 N/A
Large Cap Value Series $307,935 $234,362 N/A
Mid Cap Value Series $93,494 $52,621 $16,841
Small Cap Value Series $463,676 $424,842 $397,058
International Multi-Manager Series $285,574 $227,743 N/A
</TABLE>
Some of the advisers' other clients have investment objectives and programs
similar to that of the Series. Occasionally, recommendations made to other
clients may result in their purchasing or selling securities simultaneously with
the Series. Consequently, the demand for securities being purchased or the
supply of securities being sold may increase, and this could have an adverse
effect on the price of those securities. It is the policy of the advisers not to
favor one client over another in making recommendations or in placing orders. In
the event of a simultaneous transaction, purchases or sales are averaged as to
price, transaction costs are allocated between a Series and other clients
participating in the transaction on a pro rata basis and purchases and sales are
normally allocated between the Series and the other clients as to amount
according to a formula determined prior to the execution of such transactions.
CAPITAL STOCK AND OTHER SECURITIES
The Fund issues two separate classes of shares, Institutional and Investor
shares, for each Portfolio, except Premier Money Market Portfolio, with a par
value of $.01 per share. The shares of each Portfolio, when issued and paid for
in accordance with the prospectus, will be fully paid and non-assessable shares,
with equal voting rights and no preferences as to conversion, exchange,
dividends, redemption or any other feature.
The separate classes of shares each represent interests in the same portfolio of
investments, have the same rights and are identical in all respects, except that
the Investor class shares bear Rule 12b-1 distribution expenses, and have
exclusive voting rights with respect to the Rule 12b-1 Plan pursuant to which
the distribution fee may be paid. The net income attributable to Investor shares
and the dividends payable on Investor shares will be reduced by the amount of
the distribution fees; accordingly, the net asset value of the Investor shares
will be reduced by such amount to the extent the Portfolio has undistributed net
income.
Shares of a Portfolio entitle holders to one vote per share and fractional votes
for fractional shares held. Shares have non-cumulative voting rights, do not
have preemptive or subscription rights and are transferable. Each Portfolio and
class takes separate votes on matters affecting only that Portfolio or class.
For example, a change in the fundamental investment policies for a Portfolio
would be voted upon only by shareholders of that Portfolio.
The Portfolios do not hold annual meetings of shareholders. The Trustees are
required to call a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of voting upon the
question of removal of any Trustee when requested in writing to do so by the
shareholders of record owning not less than 10% of a Portfolio's outstanding
shares.
28
<PAGE>
PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES
PURCHASE OF SHARES. Information regarding the purchase of shares is discussed in
the "Purchase of Shares" section of the prospectus. Additional methods to
purchase shares are as follows:
INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS: You may purchase shares of the Portfolios for a
tax-deferred retirement plan such as an individual retirement account ("IRA").
To order an application for an IRA and a brochure describing a Portfolio IRA,
call the Transfer Agent at (800) 336-9970. PFPC Trust Company, as custodian for
each IRA account receives an annual fee of $10 per account, paid directly to
PFPC Trust Company by the IRA shareholder. If the fee is not paid by the due
date, the appropriate number of Portfolio shares owned by the IRA will be
redeemed automatically as payment.
AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT PLAN: You may purchase Portfolio shares through an
Automatic Investment Plan ("AIP"). Under the AIP, the Transfer Agent, at regular
intervals, will automatically debit your bank checking account in an amount of
$50 or more (after the $1,000 minimum initial investment). You may elect to
invest the specified amount monthly, bimonthly, quarterly, semiannually or
annually. The purchase of Portfolio shares will be effected at their offering
price at 12:00 p.m. Eastern time for the Tax-Exempt Portfolio, at 2:00 p.m.
Eastern Time for the Prime Money Market, Premier Money Market and U.S.
Government Portfolios, or at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock
Exchange ("Exchange") (currently 4:00 p.m., Eastern time), for the Bond and
Equity Portfolios, on or about the 20th day of the month. For an application for
the Automatic Investment Plan, check the appropriate box of the application or
call the Transfer Agent at (800) 336-9970. This service is generally not
available for WTC trust account clients, since similar services are provided
through WTC. This service also may not be available for Service Organization
clients who are provided similar services through those organizations.
PAYROLL INVESTMENT PLAN: The Payroll Investment Plan ("PIP") permits you to make
regularly scheduled purchases of Portfolio shares through payroll deductions. To
open a PIP account, you must submit a completed account application, payroll
deduction form and the minimum initial deposit to your employer's payroll
department. Then, a portion of your paychecks will automatically be transferred
to your PIP account for as long as you wish to participate in the plan. It is
the sole responsibility of your employer, not the Fund, the distributor, the
advisers or the transfer agent, to arrange for transactions under the PIP. The
Fund reserves the right to vary its minimum purchase requirements for employees
participating in a PIP.
REDEMPTION OF SHARES. Information regarding the redemption of shares is
discussed in the "Redemption of Shares" section of the prospectus. Additional
methods to redeem shares are as follows:
BY CHECK: You may utilize the check writing option to redeem shares of the Prime
Money Market, the U.S. Government and the Tax-Exempt Portfolios by drawing a
check for $500 or more against a Portfolio account. When the check is presented
for payment, a sufficient number of shares will be redeemed from your Portfolio
account to cover the amount of the check. This procedure enables you to continue
receiving dividends on those shares until the check is presented for payment.
Because the aggregate amount of Portfolio shares owned is likely to change each
day, you should not attempt to redeem all shares held in your account by using
the check writing procedure. Charges will be imposed for specially imprinted
checks, business checks, copies of canceled checks, stop payment orders, checks
returned due to "nonsufficient funds" and returned checks. These charges will be
paid by redeeming an appropriate number of Portfolio shares automatically. Each
Portfolio and the Transfer Agent reserve the right to terminate or alter the
check writing service at any time. The Transfer Agent also reserves the right to
impose a service charge in connection with the check writing service. If you are
interested in the check writing service, contact the Transfer Agency for further
information. This service is generally not available for clients of WTC through
their trust or corporate cash management accounts, since it is already provided
for these customers through WTC. The service may also not be available for
Service Organization clients who are provided a similar service by those
organizations.
BY WIRE: Redemption proceeds may be wired to your predesignated bank account in
any commercial bank in the United States if the amount is $1,000 or more. The
receiving bank may charge a fee for this service. Proceeds may also be mailed to
your bank or, for amounts of $10,000 or less, mailed to your Portfolio account
address of record if the address has been established for at least 60 days. In
order to authorize the Transfer Agent to mail redemption proceeds to your
Portfolio account address of record, complete the appropriate section of the
Application for Telephone Redemptions or include your Portfolio account address
of record when you submit written instructions. You may change the account that
you have designated to receive amounts redeemed at any time. Any request to
change the account designated to receive redemption proceeds should be
accompanied by a guarantee of the shareholder's signature by an eligible
institution. A signature and a signature guarantee are required for each person
29
<PAGE>
in whose name the account is registered. Further documentation will be required
to change the designated account when a corporation, other organization, trust,
fiduciary or other institutional investor holds the Portfolio shares.
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN: If you own shares of a Portfolio with a value of
$10,000 or more you may participate in the Systematic Withdrawal Plan ("SWP").
Under the SWP, you may automatically redeem a portion of your account monthly,
bimonthly, quarterly, semiannually or annually. The minimum withdrawal available
is $100. The redemption of Portfolio shares will be effected at the NAV
determined on or about the 25th day of the month. This service is generally not
available for WTC trust accounts or certain Service Organizations, because a
similar service is provided through those organizations.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING REDEMPTIONS: To ensure proper authorization
before redeeming shares of the Portfolios, the Transfer Agent may require
additional documents such as, but not restricted to, stock powers, trust
instruments, death certificates, appointments as fiduciary, certificates of
corporate authority and waivers of tax required in some states when settling
estates.
Clients of WTC who have purchased shares through their trust accounts at WTC and
clients of Service Organizations who have purchased shares through their
accounts with those Service Organizations should contact WTC or the Service
Organization prior to submitting a redemption request to ensure that all
necessary documents accompany the request. When shares are held in the name of a
corporation, other organization, trust, fiduciary or other institutional
investor, RSMC requires, in addition to the stock power, certified evidence of
authority to sign the necessary instruments of transfer. THESE PROCEDURES ARE
FOR THE PROTECTION OF SHAREHOLDERS AND SHOULD BE FOLLOWED TO ENSURE PROMPT
PAYMENT. Redemption requests must not be conditional as to date or price of the
redemption. Proceeds of a redemption will be sent within 7 days of acceptance of
shares tendered for redemption. Delay may result if the purchase check has not
yet cleared, but the delay will be no longer than required to verify that the
purchase check has cleared, and the Funds will act as quickly as possible to
minimize delay.
The value of shares redeemed may be more or less than the shareholder's cost,
depending on the net asset value at the time of redemption. Redemption of shares
may result in tax consequences (gain or loss) to the shareholder, and the
proceeds of a redemption may be subject to backup withholding.
A shareholder's right to redeem shares and to receive payment therefore may be
suspended when (a) the Exchange is closed, other than customary weekend and
holiday closings, (b) trading on the Exchange is restricted, (c) an emergency
exists as a result of which it is not reasonably practicable to dispose of a
Portfolio's securities or to determine the value of a Portfolio's net assets, or
(d) ordered by a governmental body having jurisdiction over a Portfolio for the
protection of the Portfolio's shareholders, provided that applicable rules and
regulations of the SEC (or any succeeding governmental authority) shall govern
as to whether a condition described in (b), (c) or (d) exists. In case of such
suspension, shareholders of the affected Portfolio may withdraw their requests
for redemption or may receive payment based on the net asset value of the
Portfolio next determined after the suspension is lifted.
Each Portfolio reserves the right, if conditions exist which make cash payments
undesirable, to honor any request for redemption by making payment in whole or
in part with readily marketable securities chosen by the Fund and valued in the
same way as they would be valued for purposes of computing the net asset value
of the applicable Portfolio. If payment is made in securities, a shareholder may
incur transaction expenses in converting these securities into cash. Each
Portfolio has elected, however, to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act,
as a result of which a Portfolio is obligated to redeem shares solely in cash if
the redemption requests are made by one shareholder account up to the lesser of
$250,000 or 1% of the net assets of the applicable Portfolio during any 90-day
period. This election is irrevocable unless the SEC permits its withdrawal.
PRICING OF SHARES. Each of the Money Market Portfolios' securities is valued on
the basis of the amortized cost valuation technique. This involves valuing a
security initially at its cost and thereafter assuming a constant amortization
to maturity of any discount or premium, regardless of fluctuating interest rates
on the market value of the security. The valuation of a Money Market Portfolio's
securities based upon their amortized cost and the accompanying maintenance of
each Portfolio's per share net asset value of $1.00 is permitted in accordance
with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. Certain conditions imposed by that Rule are
set forth under "Investment Policies." In connection with the use of the
amortized cost valuation technique, each Portfolio's Board of Trustees has
established procedures delegating to the adviser the responsibility for
maintaining a constant net asset value per
30
<PAGE>
share. Such procedures include a daily review of each Portfolio's holdings to
determine whether a Portfolio's net asset value, calculated based upon available
market quotations, deviates from $1.00 per share. Should any deviation exceed
1/2 of 1% of $1.00, the Trustees wilL promptly consider whether any corrective
action should be initiated to eliminate or reduce material dilution or other
unfair results to shareholders. Such corrective action may include selling of
portfolio securities prior to maturity to realize capital gains or losses,
shortening average portfolio maturity, withholding dividends, redeeming shares
in kind and establishing a net asset value per share based upon available market
quotations.
Should a Money Market Portfolio incur or anticipate any unusual expense or loss
or depreciation that would adversely affect its net asset value per share or
income for a particular period, the Trustees would at that time consider whether
to adhere to the current dividend policy or to revise it in light of the then
prevailing circumstances. For example, if a Portfolio's net asset value per
share were reduced, or were anticipated to be reduced, below $1.00, the Trustees
could suspend or reduce further dividend payments until the net asset value
returned to $1.00 per share. Thus, such expenses or losses or depreciation could
result in investors receiving no dividends or reduced dividends for the period
during which they held their shares or in their receiving upon redemption a
price per share lower than that which they paid.
For the Bond Portfolios and the Equity Portfolios, the net asset value per share
of each Portfolio is determined by dividing the value of the Portfolio's net
assets by the total number of Portfolio shares outstanding. This determination
is made by PFPC, as of the close of regular trading on the Exchange (currently
4:00 p.m., Eastern Time) each day the Portfolios are open for business. The
Portfolios are open for business on days when the Exchange, PFPC and the
Philadelphia branch office of the Federal Reserve are open for business.
In valuing a Portfolio's assets, a security listed on the Exchange (and not
subject to restrictions against sale by the Portfolio on the Exchange) will be
valued at its last sale price on the Exchange on the day the security is valued.
Lacking any sales on such day, the security will be valued at the mean between
the closing asked price and the closing bid price. Securities listed on other
exchanges (and not subject to restriction against sale by the Portfolio on such
exchanges) will be similarly valued, using quotations on the exchange on which
the security is traded most extensively. Unlisted securities that are quoted on
the National Association of Securities Dealers' National Market System, for
which there have been sales of such securities on such day, shall be valued at
the last sale price reported on such system on the day the security is valued.
If there are no such sales on such day, the value shall be the mean between the
closing asked price and the closing bid price. The value of such securities
quoted on the NASDAQ Stock Market System, but not listed on the National Market
System, shall be valued at the mean between the closing asked price and the
closing bid price. Unlisted securities that are not quoted on the NASDAQ Stock
Market System and for which over-the-counter market quotations are readily
available will be valued at the mean between the current bid and asked prices
for such security in the over-the-counter market. Other unlisted securities (and
listed securities subject to restriction on sale) will be valued at fair value
as determined in good faith under the direction of the Board of Trustees
although the actual calculation may be done by others. Short-term investments
with remaining maturities of less than 61 days are valued at amortized cost.
Trading in securities on European and Far Eastern securities exchanges and
over-the-counter markets is normally completed well before the close of business
on each Business Day. In addition, European or Far Eastern securities trading
generally or in a particular country or countries may not take place on all
Business Days. Furthermore, trading takes place in Japanese markets on certain
Saturdays and in various foreign markets on days which are not Business Days and
on which the International Multi-Manager Portfolio's net asset value is not
calculated and investors will be unable to buy or sell shares of the Portfolio.
Calculation of the Portfolio's net asset value does not take place
contemporaneously with the determination of the prices of the majority of the
portfolio securities used in such calculation. If events materially affecting
the value of such securities occur between the time when their price is
determined and the time when the Portfolio's net asset value is calculated, such
securities may be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by or under
the direction of the Board of Trustees.
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<PAGE>
DIVIDENDS
Dividends from the Money Market Portfolios are declared on each Business Day and
paid to shareholders ordinarily on the first Business Day of the following
month. The dividend for a Business Day immediately preceding a weekend or
holiday normally includes an amount equal to the net income for the subsequent
non-Business Days on which dividends are not declared. However, no such dividend
includes any amount of net income earned in a subsequent semiannual accounting
period. A portion of the dividends paid by the U.S. Government Portfolio may be
exempt from state taxes.
Dividends from the Bond Portfolios' net investment income are declared on each
Business Day and paid to shareholders ordinarily on the first Business Day of
the following month. The dividend for a Business Day immediately preceding a
weekend or holiday normally includes an amount equal to the net income expected
for the subsequent non-Business Days on which dividends are not declared.
However, no such dividend included any amount of net income earned in a
subsequent semiannual period. Net short-term capital gain and net capital gain
(the excess of net long-term capital gain over the short-term capital loss)
realized by each Portfolio, after deducting any available capital loss
carryovers, are declared and paid annually.
Dividends from the Equity Portfolios' net investment income and distributions of
(1) net short-term capital gain and net capital gain (the excess of net
long-term capital gain over the short-term capital loss) realized by each
Portfolio, after deducting any available capital loss carryovers, and (2) in the
case of the International Multi-Manager Portfolio, net gains realized from
foreign currency transactions are declared and paid to its shareholders
annually.
TAXATION OF THE PORTFOLIOS
GENERAL. Each Portfolio is treated as a separate corporation for federal income
tax purposes. To qualify or continue to qualify for treatment as a regulated
investment company ("RIC") under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the "Code"), each Portfolio must distribute to its shareholders for each
taxable year at least 90% of its investment company taxable income (consisting
generally of net investment income, net short-term capital gain and, in the case
of the International Multi-Manager Portfolio, net gains from certain foreign
currency transactions) and must meet several additional requirements. For each
Portfolio, these requirements include the following: (1) the Portfolio must
derive at least 90% of its gross income each taxable year 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
(including gains from options, futures and forward contracts) derived with
respect to its business of investing in securities or those currencies; (2) at
the close of each quarter of the Portfolio'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, with these
other securities limited, in respect of any one issuer, to an amount that does
not exceed 5% of the value of the Portfolio's total assets and that does not
represent more than 10% of the issuer's outstanding voting securities; and (3)
at the close of each quarter of the Portfolio's taxable year, not more than 25%
of the value of its total assets may be invested in securities (other than U.S.
Government securities or the securities of other RICs) of any one issuer.
If a Portfolio failed to qualify for treatment as a RIC in any taxable year, it
would be subject to tax on its taxable income at corporate rates and all
distributions from earnings and profits, including any distributions from net
capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term
capital loss), would be taxable to its shareholders as ordinary income. In
addition, the Portfolio could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay
substantial taxes and interest and make substantial distributions before
qualifying again for RIC treatment.
Each Portfolio will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax (the "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.
Each Portfolio will be taxed on the amount of its undistributed net capital gain
over the amount of its deduction for dividends paid, determined with reference
to capital gain dividends only. Each Portfolio is permitted to elect to include
all or a portion of such undistributed net capital gain in the income of its
shareholders on the last day of its taxable year. In such case the shareholder
is given credit for the tax that the RIC paid and is entitled to increase its
basis by the difference between the amount of includible gain and tax deemed
paid. Currently, an individual's maximum tax rate on long-term capital gains is
20%. A capital gain dividend is treated by the shareholders as a long-term
capital gain regardless of how long the Investor has owned the stock in a
Portfolio.
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<PAGE>
If a Portfolio invests in any instruments that generate taxable income, under
the circumstances described in the prospectus, distributions of the interest
earned thereon will be taxable to its shareholders as ordinary income to the
extent of its earnings and profits. If such distribution to its shareholders is
in excess of its current and accumulated earnings and profits in any taxable
year, the excess distribution will be treated by each shareholder as a return of
capital to the extent of the shareholder's tax basis and thereafter as capital
gain. If a Portfolio realizes capital gain as a result of market transactions,
any distribution of that gain will be taxable to its shareholders and treated as
a capital gain.
Dividends and other distributions declared by a Portfolio in October, November
or December of any year and payable to shareholders of record on a date in one
of those months will be deemed to have been paid by the Portfolio and received
by the shareholders on December 31 of that year if they are paid by the
Portfolio during the following January. Accordingly, such distributions will be
taxed to the shareholders for the year in which that December 31 falls.
Investors should be aware that if Portfolio shares are purchased shortly before
the record date for any dividend (other than an exempt-interest dividend) or
capital gain distribution, the shareholder will pay full price for the shares
and will receive some portion of the price back as a taxable distribution.
Any loss realized by a shareholder on the redemption of shares within six months
from the date of their purchase will be treated as a long-term, instead of a
short-term, capital loss to the extent of any capital gain distributions (or
undistributed capital gain) to that shareholder with respect to those shares.
MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIOS:
With respect to the U.S. Government Portfolio, Premier Money Market Portfolio
and Prime Money Market Portfolio, distributions from a Portfolio's investment
company taxable income, if any, are taxable to its shareholders as ordinary
income to the extent of the Portfolio's earnings and profits. Because each of
the Portfolios' net investment income is derived from interest rather than
dividends, no portion of the distributions thereof is eligible for the
dividends-received deduction allowed to corporate shareholders.
BOND PORTFOLIOS:
Each Bond Portfolio may acquire zero coupon securities issued with original
issue discount. As a holder of those securities, a Portfolio must take into
account the original issue discount that accrues on the securities during the
taxable year, even if it receives no corresponding payment on them during the
year. Because each Portfolio must distribute annually substantially all of its
investment company taxable income and net tax-exempt income, including any
original issue discount, to satisfy the distribution requirements for RICs under
the Code and (except with respect to tax-exempt income) avoid imposition of the
Excise Tax, a Portfolio may be required in a particular year to distribute as a
dividend an amount that is greater than the total amount of cash it actually
receives. Those distributions will be made from a Portfolio's cash assets or
from the proceeds of sales of portfolio securities, if necessary. A Portfolio
may realize capital gains or losses from those sales, which would increase or
decrease its investment company taxable income and/or net capital gain.
TAX-EXEMPT PORTFOLIO AND MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO: Each of these Portfolios will
be able to pay exempt-interest dividends to its shareholders only if, at the
close of each quarter of its taxable year, at least 50% of the value of its
total assets consists of obligations the interest on which is excludable from
gross income under Section 103(a) of the Code; both Portfolios intend to
continue to satisfy this requirement. Distributions that a Portfolio properly
designates as exempt-interest dividends are treated by its shareholders as
interest excludable from their gross income for federal income tax purposes but
may be tax preference items for purposes of the Alternative Minimum Tax ("AMT")
(see below). The aggregate dividends excludable from the shareholders' gross
income may not exceed a Portfolio's net tax-exempt income. The shareholders'
treatment of dividends from a Portfolio under state and local income tax laws
may differ from the treatment thereof under the Code. In order to qualify to pay
exempt-interest dividends, each Portfolio may be limited in its ability to
engage in taxable transactions such as repurchase agreements, options and
futures strategies and portfolio securities lending.
Tax-exempt interest attributable to certain "private activity bonds" ("PABs")
(including, in the case of a RIC receiving interest on those bonds, a
proportionate part of the exempt-interest dividends paid by the RIC) is a tax
preference item for AMT purposes. Furthermore, even interest on tax-exempt
securities held by a Portfolio that are
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<PAGE>
not PABs, which interest otherwise would not be a tax preference item,
nevertheless may be indirectly subject to the federal alternative minimum tax in
the hands of corporate shareholders when distributed to them by the Portfolio.
Generally, PABs are issued by or on behalf of public authorities to finance
various privately operated facilities. Entities or persons who are "substantial
users" (or persons related to "substantial users") of facilities financed by
industrial development bonds or PABs should consult their tax advisers before
purchasing a Portfolio's shares. For these purposes, the term "substantial user"
is defined generally to include a "non-exempt person" who regularly uses in
trade or business a part of a facility financed from the proceeds of such bonds.
Individuals who receive Social Security and railroad retirement benefits may be
required to include up to 85% of such benefits in taxable income if their
adjusted gross income (including income from tax-exempt sources such as the
Tax-Exempt and Municipal Bond Portfolios) plus 50% of their benefits exceeds
certain base amounts. Exempt-interest dividends from each Portfolio still are
tax-exempt to the extent described in the prospectus; they are only included in
the calculation of whether a recipient's income exceeds the established amounts.
The Municipal Bond Portfolio may invest in municipal bonds that are purchased
with "market discount." For these purposes, market discount is the amount by
which a bond's purchase price is exceeded by its stated redemption price at
maturity or, in the case of a bond that was issued with original issue discount
("OID"), the sum of its issue price plus accrued OID, except that market
discount that is less than the product of (1) 0.25% of the redemption price at
maturity times and (2) the number of complete years to maturity after the
taxpayer acquired the bond is disregarded. Market discount generally is accrued
ratably, on a daily basis, over the period from the acquisition date to the date
of maturity. Gain on the disposition of such a bond (other than a bond with a
fixed maturity date within one year from its issuance) generally is treated as
ordinary (taxable) income, rather than capital gain, to the extent of the bond's
accrued market discount at the time of disposition. In lieu of treating the
disposition gain as above, the Municipal Bond Portfolio may elect to include
market discount in its gross income currently, for each taxable year to which it
is attributable.
The Tax-Exempt and Municipal Bond Portfolios inform shareholders within 60 days
after their fiscal year-end (August 31) of the percentage of its income
distributions designated as exempt-interest dividends. The percentage is applied
uniformly to all distributions made during the year, so the percentage
designated as tax-exempt for any particular distribution may be substantially
different from the percentage of a Portfolio's income that was tax-exempt during
the period covered by the distribution.
SHORT/INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO AND THE INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO: Interest
and dividends received by the Short/Intermediate Bond Portfolio and the
Intermediate Bond Portfolio, and gains realized thereby, may be subject to
income, withholding or other taxes imposed by foreign countries and U.S.
possessions that would reduce the yield and/or total return on their securities.
Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or
eliminate these taxes, however, and many foreign countries do not impose taxes
on capital gains in respect of investments by foreign investors.
EQUITY PORTFOLIOS:
It is anticipated that all or a portion of the dividends from the net investment
income of each Equity Portfolio other than the International Multi-Manager
Portfolio will qualify for the dividends-received deduction allowed to
corporations. Corporate shareholders of these Portfolios are generally entitled
to take the dividends received deduction with respect to all or a portion of the
ordinary income dividends paid, to the extent of the Portfolio's qualifying
dividend income. The qualifying portion may not exceed the aggregate dividends
received by the Portfolio from U.S. corporations. However, dividends received by
a corporate shareholder and deducted by it pursuant to the dividends-received
deduction are subject indirectly to the federal alternative minimum tax.
Moreover, the dividends-received deduction will be reduced to the extent the
shares with respect to which the dividends are received are treated as
debt-financed and will be eliminated if those shares are deemed to have been
held for less than 46 days. Distributions of net short-term capital gain and net
capital gain are not eligible for the dividends-received deduction.
Each Equity Portfolio will inform shareholders within 60 days after their fiscal
year-end of the percentage of its dividends designated as qualifying for the
dividends received deduction.
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<PAGE>
FOREIGN SECURITIES. Dividends and interest received, and gains realized, by the
International Multi-Manager Portfolio may be subject to income, withholding or
other taxes imposed by foreign countries or U.S. possessions (collectively,
"foreign taxes") that would reduce the yield on its securities. Tax conventions
between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate foreign
taxes, however, and many foreign countries do not impose taxes on capital gains
in respect of investments by foreign investors.
If more than 50% of the value of the International Multi-Manager Portfolio's
total assets at the close of its taxable year consists of securities of foreign
corporations, the Portfolio will be eligible to, and may, file an election with
the Internal Revenue Service that will enable its shareholders, in effect, to
benefit from any foreign tax credit or deduction that is available with respect
to foreign taxes paid by the Portfolio. If the election is made, the Portfolio
will treat those taxes as dividends paid to its shareholders and each
shareholder (1) will be required to include in gross income, and treat as paid
by the shareholder, a proportionate share of those taxes, (2) will be required
to treat that share of those taxes and of any dividend paid by the Portfolio
that represents income from foreign or U.S. possessions sources as the
shareholder's own income from those sources and (3) may either deduct the taxes
deemed paid by the shareholder in computing taxable income or, alternatively,
use the foregoing information in calculating the foreign tax credit against the
shareholder's federal income tax. The Portfolio will report to its shareholders
shortly after each taxable year their respective shares of its income from
sources within, and taxes paid to, foreign countries and U.S. possessions, as
well as the amounnt of foreign taxes that are not allocable as a credit, if it
makes this election. If the Portfolio makes this election, individuals who have
no more than $300 ($600 for married persons filing jointly) of creditable
foreign taxes included on Forms 1099 and all of whose foreign source income is
"qualified passive income" may elect each year to be exempt from the extremely
complicated foreign tax credit limitation and will be able to claim a foreign
tax credit without having to file the detailed Form 1116 that otherwise is
required.
The International Multi-Manager Portfolio may invest in the stock of passive
foreign investment companies ("PFICs"). A PFIC is a foreign corporation -- other
than a "controlled foreign corporation" (I.E., a foreign corporation in which,
on any day during its taxable year, more than 50% of the total voting power of
all voting stock therein or the total value of all stock therein is owned,
directly, indirectly, or constructively, by "U.S. shareholders," defined as U.S.
persons that individually own, directly, indirectly, or constructively, at least
10% of that voting power) as to which the Portfolio is a U.S. shareholder --
that, in general, meets either of the following tests: (a) at least 75% of its
gross income is passive or (b) an average of at least 50% of its assets produce,
or are held for the production of, passive income. If the Portfolio acquires
stock in a PFIC and holds the stock beyond the end of the year of acquisition,
the Portfolio will be subject to federal income tax on a portion of any "excess
distribution" received on the stock or of any gain from disposition of the stock
(collectively, "PFIC income"), plus interest thereon, even if the Portfolio
distributes the PFIC income as a taxable dividend to its shareholders. In
general, an excess distribution is the excess (if any) of (i) the amount of
distributions received by a stockholder during the taxable year; over (ii) 125%
of the average amount received during the preceding three years (or holding
period). The balance of the PFIC income will be included in the Portfolio's
investment company taxable income and, accordingly, will not be taxable to it to
the extent that income is distributed to its shareholders.
If the International Multi-Manager Portfolio invests in a PFIC and elects to
treat the PFIC as a "qualified electing fund" ("QEF"), then in lieu of the
foregoing tax and interest obligation, the Portfolio will be required to include
in income each year its pro rata share of the QEF's annual ordinary earnings and
net capital gain, even if they are not distributed to the Portfolio by the QEF;
those amounts most likely would have to be distributed by the Fund to satisfy
the Distribution Requirement and avoid imposition of the Excise Tax. It may be
very difficult, if not impossible, to make this election because of certain
requirements thereof.
The International Multi-Manager Portfolio may elect to "mark to market" its
stock in any PFIC. "Marking-to-market," in this context, means including in
ordinary income each taxable year the excess, if any, of the fair market value
of the stock over the Portfolio's adjusted basis therein as of the end of that
year. Pursuant to the election, the Portfolio also will be allowed to deduct (as
an ordinary, not capital, loss) the excess, if any, of its adjusted basis in
PFIC stock over the fair market value thereof as of the taxable year-end, but
only to the extent of any net mark-to-market gains with respect to that stock
included in income by the Portfolio for prior taxable years. The Portfolio's
adjusted basis in each PFIC's stock subject to the election will be adjusted to
reflect the amounts of income included and deductions taken thereunder. Under
the PFIC rules, mark to market gains are treated as excess distribution (as
ordinary income).
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HEDGING TRANSACTIONS. The use of hedging strategies, such as writing (selling)
and purchasing options and futures contracts and entering into forward currency
contracts, involves complex rules that will determine for federal income tax
purposes the amount, character and timing of recognition of the gains and losses
a Portfolio realizes in connection therewith. Gains from the disposition of
foreign currencies (except certain gains that may be excluded by future
regulations) and gains from options, futures and foreign currency contracts
derived by a Portfolio with respect to its business of investing in securities
qualify as permissible income under the Income Requirement.
SECTION 1256 CONTRACTS. Futures and foreign currency forward contracts and
certain options that are subject to Section 1256 of the Code (other than such
contracts that are part of a "mixed straddle" with respect to which a Portfolio
has made an election not to have the following rules apply) ("Section 1256
Contracts") and that are held by a Portfolio at the end of its taxable year
generally will be "marked-to-market" (that is, deemed to have been sold for
their market value) for federal income tax purposes. The net gain or loss, if
any, resulting from such deemed sales, together with any gain or loss resulting
from actual sales of Section 1256 contracts, must be taken into account by the
Portfolio in computing its taxable income for such year. Sixty percent of any
net gain or loss recognized on these deemed sales, and 60% of any net realized
gain or loss from any actual sales of Section 1256 Contracts, will be treated as
long-term capital gain or loss, and the balance will be treated as short-term
capital gain or loss (which when distributed to shareholders is taxed as
ordinary income). Gains and losses from certain foreign currency transactions
will be treated as ordinary income and losses. See Section 988 below. In case of
overlap between Sections 1256 and 988, special provisions determine the
character and timing of any income, gain or loss. The International
Multi-Manager Portfolio attempts to monitor its Section 988 transactions to
minimize any adverse tax impact.
CODE SECTION 988. Section 988 of the Code may apply to forward currency
contracts and options on foreign currencies. Under Section 988 of the Code,
gains and losses of the Portfolio on the acquisition and disposition of foreign
currency (E.G. the purchase of foreign currency and subsequent use of the
currency to acquire stock) will be treated as ordinary income or loss. Moreover,
under Section 988, foreign currency gains or losses on the disposition of debt
securities denominated in a foreign currency attributable to fluctuation in the
value of the foreign currency between the date of acquisition of the debt
security and the date of disposition will be treated as ordinary income or loss.
Similarly, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates that
occur between the time the Portfolio accrues interest or other receivables or
accrues expenses or other liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the
time the Portfolio actually collects such receivables or pays such liabilities
may be treated as ordinary income or ordinary loss.
SHORT SALES. Gain or loss from a short sale of property is generally considered
as capital gain or loss to the extent the property used to close the short sale
constitutes a capital asset in the Portfolio's hands. Except in certain
situations, special rules would generally treat the gains on short sales as
short-term capital gains and would terminate the running of the holding period
of "substantially identical property" held by the Portfolio. Moreover, a loss on
a short sale will be treated as a long-term loss if, on the date of the short
sale, "substantially identical property" held by the Portfolio has a long-term
holding period.
STRADDLES. Code Section 1092 (dealing with straddles) also may affect the
taxation of options, futures and forward contracts in which a Portfolio may
invest. Section 1092 defines a "straddle" as offsetting positions with respect
to personal property; for these purposes, options, futures and forward contracts
are personal property. Under Section 1092, any loss from the disposition of a
position in a straddle generally may be deducted only to the extent the loss
exceeds the unrealized gain on the offsetting position(s) of the straddle.
Section 1092 also provides certain "wash sale" rules (see above), which apply to
transactions where a position is sold at a loss and a new offsetting position is
acquired within a prescribed period, and "short sale" rules applicable to
straddles. If a Portfolio makes certain elections, the amount, character and
timing of the recognition of gains and losses from the affected straddle
positions would be determined under rules that vary according to the elections
made. Because only a few of the regulations implementing the straddle rules have
been promulgated, the tax consequences to a Portfolio of straddle transactions
are not entirely clear.
CONSTRUCTIVE SALE. If a Portfolio has an "appreciated financial position" --
generally, an interest (including an interest through an option, futures or
forward contract or short sale) with respect to any stock, debt instrument
(other than "straight debt") or partnership interest the fair market value of
which exceeds its adjusted basis -- and enters into a "constructive sale" of the
same or substantially similar property, the Portfolio will be treated as having
made
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<PAGE>
an actual sale thereof, with the result that gain will be recognized at
that time. A constructive sale generally consists of a short sale, an offsetting
notional principal contract or futures or forward contract entered into by a
Portfolio or a related person with respect to the same or substantially similar
property. In addition, if the appreciated financial position is itself a short
sale or such a contract, acquisition of the underlying property or substantially
similar property will be deemed a constructive sale.
The foregoing tax discussion is a summary included for general informational
purposes only. Each shareholder is advised to consult its own tax adviser with
respect to the specific tax consequences to it of an investment in a Portfolio,
including the effect and applicability of state, local, foreign and other tax
laws and the possible effects of changes in federal or other tax laws.
Shortly after the end of each year, PFPC calculates the federal income tax
status of all distributions made during the year. In addition to federal income
tax, shareholders may be subject to state and local taxes on distributions from
a Portfolio. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers regarding specific
questions relating to federal, state and local taxes.
CALCULATION OF PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
The performance of a Portfolio may be quoted in terms of its yield and its total
return in advertising and other promotional materials. Performance data quoted
represents past performance and is not intended to indicate future performance.
Performance of the Portfolios will vary based on changes in market conditions
and the level of each Portfolio's expenses. These performance figures are
calculated in the following manner:
MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIOS:
A. YIELD for a money market fund is the net annualized yield for a
specified 7 calendar days calculated at simple interest rates. Yield
is calculated by determining the net change, exclusive of capital
changes, in the value of a hypothetical pre-existing account having a
balance of one share at the beginning of the period, subtracting a
hypothetical charge reflecting deductions from shareholder accounts,
and dividing the difference by the value of the account at the
beginning of the base period to obtain the base period return. The
yield is annualized by multiplying the base period return by 365/7.
The yield figure is stated to the nearest hundredth of one percent.
The yield for the 7-day period ended June 30, 2000 was:
Prime Money Market Portfolio 6.14%
Premier Money Market Portfolio 6.52%
U.S. Government Portfolio 6.05%
Tax-Exempt Portfolio 3.96%
B. EFFECTIVE YIELD is the net annualized yield for a specified 7 calendar
days assuming reinvestment of income or compounding. Effective yield
is calculated by the same method as yield except the yield figure is
compounded by adding 1, raising the sum to a power equal to 365
divided by 7, and subtracting 1 from the result, according to the
following formula:
Effective yield = [(Base Period Return + 1) 365/7] - 1.
The effective yield for the 7-day period ended June 30, 2000 was:
Prime Money Market Portfolio 6.33%
Premier Money Market Portfolio 6.72%
U.S. Government Portfolio 6.23%
Tax-Exempt Portfolio 4.04%
C. TAX-EQUIVALENT YIELD is the net annualized taxable yield needed to
produce a specified tax-exempt yield at a given tax rate based on a
specified 7-day period assuming a reinvestment of all dividends paid
during such period. Tax-equivalent yield is calculated by dividing
that portion of
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the Tax-Exempt Portfolio's yield (computed as in the yield description
above) which is tax-exempt by 1 minus a stated income tax rate and
adding the quotient to that portion, if any, of the yield of the
Tax-Exempt Portfolio that is not tax-exempt.
The Tax-Exempt Portfolio's tax-equivalent yield for the 7-day period
ended June 30, 2000 was:
28% tax bracket 5.50%
31% tax bracket 5.74%
36% tax bracket 6.19%
39.6% tax bracket 6.56%
The following table, which is based upon federal income tax rates in
effect on the date of this Statement of Additional Information,
illustrates the yields that would have to be achieved on taxable
investments to produce a range of hypothetical tax-equivalent yields:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TAX-EQUIVALENT YIELD TABLE
Federal Marginal
INCOME TAX BRACKET TAX-EQUIVALENT YIELDS BASED ON TAX-EXEMPT YIELDS OF:
-------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8%
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
28% 2.8 4.2 5.6 6.9 8.3 9.7 11.1
31% 2.9 4.3 5.8 7.2 8.7 10.1 11.6
36% 3.1 4.7 6.3 7.8 9.4 10.9 12.5
39.6% 3.3 5.0 6.6 8.3 9.9 11.6 13.2
</TABLE>
ALL PORTFOLIOS:
A. AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN is the average annual compound rate of
return for the periods of one year, five years, ten years and the life
of a Portfolio, where applicable, all ended on the last day of a
recent calendar quarter. Average annual total return quotations
reflect changes in the price of a Portfolio's shares, if any, and
assume that all dividends during the respective periods were
reinvested in Portfolio shares. Average annual total return is
calculated by finding the average annual compound rates of return of a
hypothetical investment over such periods, according to the following
formula (average annual total return is then expressed as a
percentage):
T = (ERV/P)1/n - 1
Where: P = a hypothetical initial investment of $1,000
T = average annual total return
n = number of years
ERV = ending redeemable value: ERV is the value,
at the end of the applicable period, of a
hypothetical $1,000 investment made at the
beginning of the applicable period.
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<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN FOR PERIODS ENDED JUNE 30, 2000
1 YEAR 5 YEAR 10 YEAR
------ ------ -------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Prime Money Market - Investor 5.45% 5.20% 4.92%
Premier Money Market - Institutional 5.80% 5.52% N/A
U.S. Government - Investor 5.25% 5.08% 4.78%
Tax-Exempt - Investor 3.23% 3.07% 3.66%
Short/Intermediate Bond 4.28% 5.45% N/A
Intermediate Bond - Institutional 4.72% 5.62% N/A
Municipal Bond - Institutional 3.40% 5.13% N/A
Large Cap Growth - Institutional 33.27% 25.83% 18.60%
Large Cap Core - Institutional 8.57% 20.95% N/A
Small Cap Core - Institutional 36.93% N/A N/A
International Multi-Manager
- Institutional 31.52% 13.16% 9.23%
Large Cap Value - Institutional 6.61% 13.70% N/A
Mid Cap Value (1) 19.30% N/A N/A
Small Cap Value (1) 9.13% N/A N/A
<FN>
(1) The Mid Cap Value and Small Cap Value Portfolios are the performance of the
CRM Mid Cap Value and the Small Cap Value Funds.
</FN>
</TABLE>
B. YIELD CALCULATIONS. From time to time, an Equity or Bond Portfolio may
advertise its yield. Yield for these Portfolios is calculated by
dividing the Portfolio's investment income for a 30-day period, net of
expenses, by the average number of shares entitled to receive
dividends during that period according to the following formula:
YIELD = 2[((A-B)/CD + 1)6-1]
where:
a = dividends and interest earned during the period;
b = expenses accrued for the period (net of reimbursements);
c = the average daily number of shares outstanding during the
period that were entitled to receive dividends; and
d = the maximum offering price per share on the last day of
the period.
The result is expressed as an annualized percentage (assuming semiannual
compounding) of the maximum offering price per share at the end of the period.
Except as noted below, in determining interest earned during the period
(variable "a" in the above formula), pfpc calculates the interest earned on each
debt instrument held by a Portfolio during the period by: (i) computing the
instrument's yield to maturity, based on the value of the instrument (including
actual accrued interest) as of the last business day of the period or, if the
instrument was purchased during the period, the purchase price plus accrued
interest; (ii) dividing the yield to maturity by 360; and (iii) multiplying the
resulting quotient by the value of the instrument (including actual accrued
interest). Once interest earned is calculated in this fashion for each debt
instrument held by the Portfolio, interest earned during the period is then
determined by totaling the interest earned on all debt instruments held by the
Portfolio.
For purposes of these calculations, the maturity of a debt instrument
with one or more call provisions is assumed to be the next date on which the
instrument reasonably can be expected to be called or, if none, the maturity
date. In general, interest income is reduced with respect to debt instruments
trading at a premium over their par value by subtracting a portion of the
premium from income on a daily basis, and increased with respect to debt
instruments trading at a discount by adding a portion of the discount to daily
income.
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<PAGE>
In determining dividends earned by any preferred stock or other equity
securities held by a Portfolio during the period (variable "a" in the above
formula), PFPC accrues the dividends daily at their stated dividend rates.
Capital gains and losses generally are excluded from yield calculations.
Because yield accounting methods differ from the accounting methods
used to calculate net investment income for other purposes, a Portfolio's yield
may not equal the dividend income actually paid to investors or the net
investment income reported with respect to the Portfolio in the Fund's financial
statements.
Yield information may be useful in reviewing a Portfolio's performance
and in providing a basis for comparison with other investment alternatives.
However, the Portfolios' yields fluctuate, unlike investments that pay a fixed
interest rate over a stated period of time. Investors should recognize that in
periods of declining interest rates, the Portfolios' yields will tend to be
somewhat higher than prevailing market rates, and in periods of rising interest
rates, the Portfolios' yields will tend to be somewhat lower. Also, when
interest rates are falling, the inflow of net new money to the Portfolios from
the continuous sale of their shares will likely be invested in instruments
producing lower yields than the balance of the Portfolios' holdings, thereby
reducing the current yields of the Portfolios. In periods of rising interest
rates, the opposite can be expected to occur.
COMPARISON OF PORTFOLIO PERFORMANCE. A comparison of the quoted performance
offered for various investments is valid only if performance is calculated in
the same manner. Since there are many methods of calculating performance,
investors should consider the effects of the methods used to calculate
performance when comparing performance of a Portfolio with performance quoted
with respect to other investment companies or types of investments. For example,
it is useful to note that yields reported on debt instruments are generally
prospective, contrasted with the historical yields reported by a Portfolio.
In connection with communicating its performance to current or prospective
shareholders, a Portfolio also may compare these figures to the performance of
other mutual funds tracked by mutual fund rating services or to unmanaged
indices which may assume reinvestment of dividends but generally do not reflect
deductions for administrative and management costs.
From time to time, in marketing and other literature, a Money Market Portfolio's
performance may be compared to the performance of broad groups of comparable
mutual funds or unmanaged indexes of comparable securities such as the IBC First
Tier Money Market Index for the Prime and Premier Money Market Portfolios, the
IBC U.S. Government and Agency Index for the U.S. Government Portfolio and the
IBC Stockbroker and general purpose funds for the Tax-Exempt Portfolio. Yield
and performance over time may also be compared to the performance of bank money
market deposit accounts and fixed-rate insured certificates of deposit (CDs), or
unmanaged indices of securities that are comparable to money market funds in
their terms and intent, such as Treasury bills, bankers' acceptances, negotiable
order of withdrawal accounts, and money market certificates. Most bank CDs
differ from money market funds in several ways: the interest rate is fixed for
the term of the CD, there are interest penalties for early withdrawal of the
deposit from a CD, and the deposit principal in a CD is insured by the FDIC.
From time to time, in marketing and other literature, the Bond and Equity
Portfolios' performance may be compared to the performance of broad groups of
comparable mutual funds or unmanaged indexes of comparable securities with
similar investment goals, as tracked by independent organizations such as
Investment Company Data, Inc. (an organization which provides performance
ranking information for broad classes of mutual funds), Lipper Analytical
Services, Inc. ("Lipper") (a mutual fund research firm which analyzes over 1,800
mutual funds), CDA Investment Technologies, Inc. (an organization which provides
mutual fund performance and ranking information), Morningstar, Inc. (an
organization which analyzes over 2,400 mutual funds) and other independent
organizations. When Lipper's tracking results are used, a Portfolio will be
compared to Lipper's appropriate fund category, that is, by fund objective and
portfolio holdings. Rankings may be listed among one or more of the asset-size
classes as determined by Lipper. When other organizations' tracking results are
used, a Portfolio will be compared to the appropriate fund category, that is, by
fund objective and portfolio holdings, or to the appropriate volatility
grouping, where volatility is a measure of a fund's risk.
Since the assets in all funds are always changing, a Portfolio may be ranked
within one asset-size class at one time and in another asset-size class at some
other time. In addition, the independent organization chosen to rank a Portfolio
in marketing and promotional literature may change from time to time depending
upon the basis of the independent organization's categorizations of mutual
funds, changes in a Portfolio's investment policies and
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investments, a Portfolio's asset size and other factors deemed relevant.
Advertisements and other marketing literature will indicate the time period and
Lipper asset-size class or other performance ranking company criteria, as
applicable, for the ranking in question.
Evaluations of Portfolio performance made by independent sources may also be
used in advertisements concerning a Portfolio, including reprints of or
selections from, editorials or articles about the Portfolio. Sources for
performance information and articles about a Portfolio may include the
following:
BARRON'S, a Dow Jones and Company, Inc. business and financial weekly that
periodically reviews mutual fund performance data.
CDA INVESTMENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC., an organization that provides performance and
ranking information through examining the dollar results of hypothetical mutual
fund investments and comparing these results against appropriate market indices.
CHANGING TIMES, THE KIPLINGER MAGAZINE, a monthly investment advisory
publication that periodically features the performance of a variety of
securities.
CONSUMER DIGEST, a monthly business/financial magazine that includes a "Money
Watch" section featuring financial news.
FINANCIAL WORLD, a general business/financial magazine that includes a "Market
Watch" department reporting on activities in the mutual fund industry.
FORBES, a national business publication that from time to time reports the
performance of specific investment companies in the mutual fund industry.
FORTUNE, a national business publication that periodically rates the performance
of a variety of mutual funds.
IBC'S MONEY FUND REPORT, a weekly publication of IBC/Donoghue, Inc., of Ashland,
Massachusetts, reporting on the performance of the nation's money market funds,
summarizing money market fund activity, and including certain averages as
performance benchmarks, specifically "IBC's Money Fund Average," and "IBC's
Government Money Fund Average."
IBC'S MONEY FUND DIRECTORY, an annual directory ranking money market mutual
funds.
INVESTMENT COMPANY DATA, INC., an independent organization which provides
performance ranking information for broad classes of mutual funds.
INVESTOR'S DAILY, a daily newspaper that features financial, economic, and
business news.
LIPPER ANALYTICAL SERVICES, INC.'S MUTUAL FUND PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS, a weekly
publication of industry-wide mutual fund averages by type of fund.
MONEY, a monthly magazine that from time to time features both specific funds
and the mutual fund industry as a whole.
MUTUAL FUND VALUES, a biweekly Morningstar, Inc. publication that provides
ratings of mutual funds based on fund performance risk and portfolio
characteristics.
THE NEW YORK TIMES, a nationally distributed newspaper which regularly covers
financial news.
PERSONAL INVESTING NEWS, a monthly news publication that often reports on
investment opportunities and market conditions.
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PERSONAL INVESTOR, a monthly investment advisory publication that includes a
"Mutual Funds Outlook" section reporting on mutual fund performance measures,
yields, indices and portfolio holdings.
SUCCESS, a monthly magazine targeted to the world of entrepreneurs and growing
business, often featuring mutual fund performance data.
USA TODAY, the nation's number one daily newspaper.
U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT, a national business weekly that periodically reports
mutual fund performance data.
WALL STREET JOURNAL, a Dow Jones and Company, Inc. newspaper that regularly
covers financial news.
WIESENBERGER INVESTMENT COMPANIES SERVICES, an annual compendium of information
about mutual funds and other investment companies, including comparative data on
funds' backgrounds, management policies, salient features, management results,
income and dividend records, and price ranges.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The audited financial statements and financial highlights of the Wilmington
Premier Money Market, Prime Money Market, U.S. Government, Tax-Exempt,
Short/Intermediate Bond, Large Cap Core, Small Cap Core, Large Cap Value, Mid
Cap Value, Small Cap Value and International Multi-Manager Portfolios, including
each of their corresponding Series for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2000, as
set forth in WT Mutual Fund's Annual Report to shareholders, including the notes
thereto and the reports of Ernst & Young LLP thereon, are incorporated herein by
reference.
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APPENDIX A
OPTIONS, FUTURES AND FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACT STRATEGIES
REGULATION OF THE USE OF OPTIONS, FUTURES AND FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACT
STRATEGIES. As discussed in the prospectus, in managing a Portfolio's
corresponding Series, the adviser or the sub-advisers (for International
Multi-Manager Series) may engage in certain options, futures and forward
currency contract strategies for certain bona fide hedging, risk management or
other portfolio management purposes. Certain special characteristics of and
risks associated with using these strategies are discussed below. Use of
options, futures and forward currency contracts is subject to applicable
regulations and/or interpretations of the SEC and the several options and
futures exchanges upon which these instruments may be traded. The Board of
Trustees has adopted investment guidelines (described below) reflecting these
regulations.
In addition to the products, strategies and risks described below and in the
prospectus, the adviser expects to discover additional opportunities in
connection with options, futures and forward currency contracts. These new
opportunities may become available as new techniques develop, as regulatory
authorities broaden the range of permitted transactions and as new options,
futures and forward currency contracts are developed. These opportunities may be
utilized to the extent they are consistent with each Portfolio's investment
objective and limitations and permitted by applicable regulatory authorities.
The registration statement for the Portfolios will be supplemented to the extent
that new products and strategies involve materially different risks than those
described below and in the prospectus.
COVER REQUIREMENTS. The Series will not use leverage in their options, futures,
and in the case of the International Multi-Manager Series, its forward currency
contract strategies. Accordingly, the Series will comply with guidelines
established by the SEC with respect to coverage of these strategies by either
(1) setting aside cash or liquid, unencumbered, daily marked-to-market
securities in one or more segregated accounts with the custodian in the
prescribed amount; or (2) holding securities or other options or futures
contracts whose values are expected to offset ("cover") their obligations
thereunder. Securities, currencies, or other options or futures contracts used
for cover cannot be sold or closed out while these strategies are outstanding,
unless they are replaced with similar assets. As a result, there is a
possibility that the use of cover involving a large percentage of the Series'
assets could impede portfolio management, or the Series' ability to meet
redemption requests or other current obligations.
OPTIONS STRATEGIES. With the exception of the International Multi-Manager
Series, a Series may purchase and write (sell) only those options on securities
and securities indices that are traded on U.S. exchanges. Exchange-traded
options in the U.S. are issued by a clearing organization affiliated with the
exchange, on which the option is listed, which, in effect, guarantees completion
of every exchange-traded option transaction. The International Multi-Manager
Series may purchase and write (sell) options only on securities and securities
indices that are traded on foreign exchanges.
Each Series may purchase call options on securities in which it is authorized to
invest in order to fix the cost of a future purchase. Call options also may be
used as a means of enhancing returns by, for example, participating in an
anticipated price increase of a security. In the event of a decline in the price
of the underlying security, use of this strategy would serve to limit the
potential loss to the Series to the option premium paid; conversely, if the
market price of the underlying security increases above the exercise price and
the Series either sells or exercises the option, any profit eventually realized
would be reduced by the premium paid.
Each Series may purchase put options on securities that it holds in order to
hedge against a decline in the market value of the securities held or to enhance
return. The put option enables the Series to sell the underlying security at the
predetermined exercise price; thus, the potential for loss to the Series below
the exercise price is limited to the option premium paid. If the market price of
the underlying security is higher than the exercise price of the put option, any
profit the Series realizes on the sale of the security is reduced by the premium
paid for the put option less any amount for which the put option may be sold.
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Each Series may on certain occasions wish to hedge against a decline in the
market value of securities that it holds at a time when put options on those
particular securities are not available for purchase. At those times, the Series
may purchase a put option on other carefully selected securities in which it is
authorized to invest, the values of which historically have a high degree of
positive correlation to the value of the securities actually held. If the
adviser's judgment is correct, changes in the value of the put options should
generally offset changes in the value of the securities being hedged. However,
the correlation between the two values may not be as close in these transactions
as in transactions in which a Series purchases a put option on a security that
it holds. If the value of the securities underlying the put option falls below
the value of the portfolio securities, the put option may not provide complete
protection against a decline in the value of the portfolio securities.
Each Series may write covered call options on securities in which it is
authorized to invest for hedging purposes or to increase return in the form of
premiums received from the purchasers of the options. A call option gives the
purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the writer (seller) the obligation
to sell, the underlying security at the exercise price during the option period.
The strategy may be used to provide limited protection against a decrease in the
market price of the security, in an amount equal to the premium received for
writing the call option less any transaction costs. Thus, if the market price of
the underlying security held by the Series declines, the amount of the decline
will be offset wholly or in part by the amount of the premium received by the
Series. If, however, there is an increase in the market price of the underlying
security and the option is exercised, the Series will be obligated to sell the
security at less than its market value.
Each Series may also write covered put options on securities in which it is
authorized to invest. A put option gives the purchaser of the option the right
to sell, and the writer (seller) the obligation to buy, the underlying security
at the exercise price during the option period. So long as the obligation of the
writer continues, the writer may be assigned an exercise notice by the
broker-dealer through whom such option was sold, requiring it to make payment of
the exercise price against delivery of the underlying security. The operation of
put options in other respects, including their related risks and rewards, is
substantially identical to that of call options. If the put option is not
exercised, the Series will realize income in the amount of the premium received.
This technique could be used to enhance current return during periods of market
uncertainty. The risk in such a transaction would be that the market price of
the underlying securities would decline below the exercise price less the
premiums received, in which case the Series would expect to suffer a loss.
Each Series may purchase put and call options and write covered put and call
options on indexes in much the same manner as the more traditional options
discussed above, except that index options may serve as a hedge against overall
fluctuations in the securities markets (or a market sector) rather than
anticipated increases or decreases in the value of a particular security. An
index assigns values to the securities included in the index and fluctuates with
changes in such values. Settlements of index options are effected with cash
payments and do not involve delivery of securities. Thus, upon settlement of an
index option, the purchaser will realize, and the writer will pay, an amount
based on the difference between the exercise price and the closing price of the
index. The effectiveness of hedging techniques using index options will depend
on the extent to which price movements in the index selected correlate with
price movements of the securities in which a Series invests. Perfect correlation
is not possible because the securities held or to be acquired by the Series will
not exactly match the composition of indexes on which options are purchased or
written.
Each Series may purchase and write covered straddles on securities or indexes. A
long straddle is a combination of a call and a put purchased on the same
security where the exercise price of the put is less than or equal to the
exercise price on the call. The Series would enter into a long straddle when the
adviser believes that it is likely that prices will be more volatile during the
term of the options than is implied by the option pricing. A short straddle is a
combination of a call and a put written on the same security where the exercise
price on the put is less than or equal to the exercise price of the call where
the same issue of the security is considered "cover" for both the put and the
call. The Series would enter into a short straddle when the adviser believes
that it is unlikely that prices will be as volatile during the term of the
options as is implied by the option pricing. In such case, the Series will set
aside cash and/or liquid, unencumbered securities in a segregated account with
its custodian equivalent in value to the amount, if any, by which the put is
"in-the-money," that is, that amount by which the exercise price of the put
exceeds the current market value of the underlying security. Because straddles
involve multiple trades, they result in higher transaction costs and may be more
difficult to open and close out.
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Each Series may purchase put and call warrants with values that vary depending
on the change in the value of one or more specified indexes ("index warrants").
An index warrant is usually issued by a bank or other financial institution and
gives the Series the right, at any time during the term of the warrant, to
receive upon exercise of the warrant a cash payment from the issuer of the
warrant based on the value of the underlying index at the time of exercise. In
general, if a Series holds a call warrant and the value of the underlying index
rises above the exercise price of the warrant, the Series will be entitled to
receive a cash payment from the issuer upon exercise based on the difference
between the value of the index and the exercise price of the warrant; if the
Series holds a put warrant and the value of the underlying index falls, the
Series will be entitled to receive a cash payment from the issuer upon exercise
based on the difference between the exercise price of the warrant and the value
of the index. The Series holding a call warrant would not be entitled to any
payments from the issuer at any time when the exercise price is greater than the
value of the underlying index; the Series holding a put warrant would not be
entitled to any payments when the exercise price is less than the value of the
underlying index. If the Series does not exercise an index warrant prior to its
expiration, then the Series loses the amount of the purchase price that it paid
for the warrant.
Each Series will normally use index warrants as it may use index options. The
risks of the Series' use of index warrants are generally similar to those
relating to its use of index options. Unlike most index options, however, index
warrants are issued in limited amounts and are not obligations of a regulated
clearing agency, but are backed only by the credit of the bank or other
institution which issues the warrant. Also, index warrants generally have longer
terms than index options. Index warrants are not likely to be as liquid as index
options backed by a recognized clearing agency. In addition, the terms of index
warrants may limit the Series' ability to exercise the warrants at any time or
in any quantity.
OPTIONS GUIDELINES. In view of the risks involved in using the options
strategies described above, each Series has adopted the following investment
guidelines to govern its use of such strategies; these guidelines may be
modified by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval:
(1) each Series will write only covered options, and each
such option will remain covered so long as the Series
is obligated thereby; and
(2) no Series will write options (whether on securities
or securities indexes) if aggregate exercise prices
of previous written outstanding options, together
with the value of assets used to cover all
outstanding positions, would exceed 25% of its total
net assets.
SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS AND RISKS OF OPTIONS TRADING. A Series may effectively
terminate its right or obligation under an option by entering into a closing
transaction. If a Series wishes to terminate its obligation to purchase or sell
securities under a put or a call option it has written, the Series may purchase
a put or a call option of the same series (that is, an option identical in its
terms to the option previously written). This is known as a closing purchase
transaction. Conversely, in order to terminate its right to purchase or sell
specified securities under a call or put option it has purchased, a Series may
sell an option of the same series as the option held. This is known as a closing
sale transaction. Closing transactions essentially permit a Series to realize
profits or limit losses on its options positions prior to the exercise or
expiration of the option. If a Series is unable to effect a closing purchase
transaction with respect to options it has acquired, the Series will have to
allow the options to expire without recovering all or a portion of the option
premiums paid. If a Series is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction
with respect to covered options it has written, the Series will not be able to
sell the underlying securities or dispose of assets used as cover until the
options expire or are exercised, and the Series may experience material losses
due to losses on the option transaction itself and in the covering securities.
In considering the use of options to enhance returns or for hedging purposes,
particular note should be taken of the following:
(1) The value of an option position will reflect, among other
things, the current market price of the underlying security or
index, the time remaining until expiration, the relationship
of the exercise price to the market price, the historical
price volatility of the underlying security or index, and
general market conditions. For this reason, the successful use
of options depends upon the adviser's ability to forecast the
direction of price fluctuations in the underlying securities
markets or, in the case of index options, fluctuations in the
market sector represented by the selected index.
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(2) Options normally have expiration dates of up to three years.
An American style put or call option may be exercised at any
time during the option period while a European style put or
call option may be exercised only upon expiration or during a
fixed period prior to expiration. The exercise price of the
options may be below, equal to or above the current market
value of the underlying security or index. Purchased options
that expire unexercised have no value. Unless an option
purchased by the Series is exercised or unless a closing
transaction is effected with respect to that position, the
Series will realize a loss in the amount of the premium paid
and any transaction costs.
(3) A position in an exchange-listed option may be closed out only
on an exchange that provides a secondary market for identical
options. Although the Series intends to purchase or write only
those exchange-traded options for which there appears to be a
liquid secondary market, there is no assurance that a liquid
secondary market will exist for any particular option at any
particular time. A liquid market may be absent if: (i) there
is insufficient trading interest in the option; (ii) the
exchange has imposed restrictions on trading, such as trading
halts, trading suspensions or daily price limits; (iii) normal
exchange operations have been disrupted; or (iv) the exchange
has inadequate facilities to handle current trading volume.
(4) With certain exceptions, exchange listed options generally
settle by physical delivery of the underlying security. Index
options are settled exclusively in cash for the net amount, if
any, by which the option is "in-the-money" (where the value of
the underlying instrument exceeds, in the case of a call
option, or is less than, in the case of a put option, the
exercise price of the option) at the time the option is
exercised. If the Series writes a call option on an index, the
Series will not know in advance the difference, if any,
between the closing value of the index on the exercise date
and the exercise price of the call option itself and thus will
not know the amount of cash payable upon settlement. If the
Series holds an index option and exercises it before the
closing index value for that day is available, the Series runs
the risk that the level of the underlying index may
subsequently change.
(5) A Series' activities in the options markets may result in a
higher Series turnover rate and additional brokerage costs;
however, the Series also may save on commissions by using
options as a hedge rather than buying or selling individual
securities in anticipation of, or as a result of, market
movements.
FUTURES AND RELATED OPTIONS STRATEGIES. Each Series may engage in futures
strategies for certain non-trading bona fide hedging, risk management and
portfolio management purposes.
Each Series may sell securities index futures contracts in anticipation of a
general market or market sector decline that could adversely affect the market
value of the Series' securities holdings. To the extent that a portion of a
Series' holdings correlate with a given index, the sale of futures contracts on
that index could reduce the risks associated with a market decline and thus
provide an alternative to the liquidation of securities positions. For example,
if a Series correctly anticipates a general market decline and sells index
futures to hedge against this risk, the gain in the futures position should
offset some or all of the decline in the value of the Series' holdings. A Series
may purchase index futures contracts if a significant market or market sector
advance is anticipated. Such a purchase of a futures contract would serve as a
temporary substitute for the purchase of the underlying securities, which may
then be purchased, in an orderly fashion. This strategy may minimize the effect
of all or part of an increase in the market price of securities that a Series
intends to purchase. A rise in the price of the securities should be in part or
wholly offset by gains in the futures position.
As in the case of a purchase of an index futures contract, a Series may purchase
a call option on an index futures contract to hedge against a market advance in
securities that the Series plans to acquire at a future date. The Series may
write covered put options on index futures as a partial anticipatory hedge, and
may write covered call options on index futures as a partial hedge against a
decline in the prices of securities held by the Series. This is analogous to
writing covered call options on securities.
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The Series also may purchase put options on index futures contracts. The
purchase of put options on index futures contracts is analogous to the purchase
of protective put options on individual securities where a level of protection
is sought below which no additional economic loss would be incurred by the
Series.
The International Multi-Manager Series may sell foreign currency futures
contracts to hedge against possible variations in the exchange rates of foreign
currencies in relation to the U.S. dollar. In addition, the Series may sell
foreign currency futures contracts when a sub-adviser anticipates a general
weakening of foreign currency exchange rates that could adversely affect the
market values of the Series' foreign securities holdings. In this case, the sale
of futures contracts on the underlying currency may reduce the risk to the
Series of a reduction in market value caused by foreign currency exchange rate
variations and, by so doing, provide an alternative to the liquidation of
securities positions and resulting transaction costs. When a sub-adviser
anticipates a significant foreign currency exchange rate increase while
intending to invest in a security denominated in that currency, the Series may
purchase a foreign currency futures contract to hedge against that increase
pending completion of the anticipated transaction. Such a purchase would serve
as a temporary measure to protect the Series against any rise in the foreign
exchange rate that may add additional costs to acquiring the foreign security
position. The Series may also purchase call or put options on foreign currency
futures contracts to obtain a fixed foreign exchange rate at limited risk. The
Series may purchase a call option on a foreign currency futures contract to
hedge against a rise in the foreign exchange rate while intending to invest in a
security denominated in that currency. The Series may purchase put options on
foreign currency futures contracts as a partial hedge against a decline in the
foreign exchange rates or the value of its foreign portfolio securities. The
Series may write a call option on a foreign currency futures contract as a
partial hedge against the effects of declining foreign exchange rates on the
value of foreign securities.
FUTURES AND RELATED OPTIONS GUIDELINES. In view of the risks involved in using
the futures strategies that are described above, each Series has adopted the
following investment guidelines to govern its use of such strategies. The Board
of Trustees may modify these guidelines without shareholder vote.
(1) The Series will engage only in covered futures
transactions, and each such transaction will remain
covered so long as the Series is obligated thereby.
(2) The Series will not write options on futures
contracts if aggregate exercise prices of previously
written outstanding options (whether on securities or
securities indexes), together with the value of
assets used to cover all outstanding futures
positions, would exceed 25% of its total net assets.
SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS AND RISKS OF FUTURES AND RELATED OPTIONS TRADING. No
price is paid upon entering into a futures contract. Instead, upon entering into
a futures contract, a Series is required to deposit with its custodian, in a
segregated account in the name of the futures broker through whom the
transaction is effected, an amount of cash, U.S. Government securities or other
liquid instruments generally equal to 10% or less of the contract value. This
amount is known as "initial margin." When writing a call or a put option on a
futures contract, margin also must be deposited in accordance with applicable
exchange rules. Unlike margin in securities transactions, initial margin on
futures contracts does not involve borrowing to finance the futures
transactions. Rather, initial margin on a futures contract is in the nature of a
performance bond or good-faith deposit on the contract that is returned to a
Series upon termination of the transaction, assuming all obligations have been
satisfied. Under certain circumstances, such as periods of high volatility, a
Series may be required by a futures exchange to increase the level of its
initial margin payment. Additionally, initial margin requirements may be
increased generally in the future by regulatory action. Subsequent payments,
called "variation margin," to and from the broker, are made on a daily basis as
the value of the futures or options position varies, a process known as "marking
to market." For example, when a Series purchases a contract and the value of the
contract rises, the Series receives from the broker a variation margin payment
equal to that increase in value. Conversely, if the value of the futures
position declines, a Series is required to make a variation margin payment to
the broker equal to the decline in value. Variation margin does not involve
borrowing to finance the futures transaction, but rather represents a daily
settlement of a Series' obligations to or from a clearing organization.
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Buyers and sellers of futures positions and options thereon can enter into
offsetting closing transactions, similar to closing transactions on options on
securities, by selling or purchasing an offsetting contract or option. Futures
contracts or options thereon may be closed only on an exchange or board of trade
providing a secondary market for such futures contracts or options.
Under certain circumstances, futures exchanges may establish daily limits on the
amount that the price of a futures contract or related option may vary either up
or down from the previous day's settlement price. Once the daily limit has been
reached in a particular contract, no trades may be made that day at a price
beyond that limit. The daily limit governs only price movements during a
particular trading day and therefore does not limit potential losses, because
prices could move to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with
little or no trading and thereby prevent prompt liquidation of unfavorable
positions. In such event, it may not be possible for the Series to close a
position and, in the event of adverse price movements, the Series would have to
make daily cash payments of variation margin (except in the case of purchased
options). However, if futures contracts have been used to hedge portfolio
securities, such securities will not be sold until the contracts can be
terminated. In such circumstances, an increase in the price of the securities,
if any, may partially or completely offset losses on the futures contract.
However, there is no guarantee that the price of the securities will, in fact,
correlate with the price movements in the contracts and thus provide an offset
to losses on the contracts.
In considering a Series' use of futures contracts and related options,
particular note should be taken of the following:
(1) Successful use by a Series of futures contracts and related
options will depend upon the adviser's ability to predict
movements in the direction of the securities markets, which
requires different skills and techniques than predicting
changes in the prices of individual securities. Moreover,
futures contracts relate not only to the current price level
of the underlying securities, but also to anticipated price
levels at some point in the future. There is, in addition, the
risk that the movements in the price of the futures contract
will not correlate with the movements in the prices of the
securities being hedged. For example, if the price of an index
futures contract moves less than the price of the securities
that are the subject of the hedge, the hedge will not be fully
effective, but if the price of the securities being hedged has
moved in an unfavorable direction, a Series would be in a
better position than if it had not hedged at all. If the price
of the securities being hedged has moved in a favorable
direction, the advantage may be partially offset by losses in
the futures position. In addition, if a Series has
insufficient cash, it may have to sell assets to meet daily
variation margin requirements. Any such sale of assets may or
may not be made at prices that reflect a rising market.
Consequently, a Series may need to sell assets at a time when
such sales are disadvantageous to the Series. If the price of
the futures contract moves more than the price of the
underlying securities, a Series will experience either a loss
or a gain on the futures contract that may or may not be
completely offset by movements in the price of the securities
that are the subject of the hedge.
(2) In addition to the possibility that there may be an imperfect
correlation, or no correlation at all, between price movements
in the futures position and the securities being hedged,
movements in the prices of futures contracts may not correlate
perfectly with movements in the prices of the hedged
securities due to price distortions in the futures market.
There may be several reasons unrelated to the value of the
underlying securities that cause this situation to occur.
First, as noted above, all participants in the futures market
are subject to initial and variation margin requirements. If,
to avoid meeting additional margin deposit requirements or for
other reasons, investors choose to close a significant number
of futures contracts through offsetting transactions,
distortions in the normal price relationship between the
securities and the futures markets may occur. Second, because
the margin deposit requirements in the futures market are less
onerous than margin requirements in the securities market,
there may be increased participation by speculators in the
futures market. Such speculative activity in the futures
market also may cause temporary price distortions. As a
result, a correct forecast of general market trends may not
result in successful hedging through the use of futures
contracts over the short term. In addition, activities of
large traders in both the futures and securities markets
involving arbitrage and other investment strategies may result
in temporary price distortions.
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(3) Positions in futures contracts may be closed out only on an
exchange or board of trade that provides a secondary market
for such futures contracts. Although each Series intends to
purchase and sell futures only on exchanges or boards of trade
where there appears to be an active secondary market, there is
no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an exchange or
board of trade will exist for any particular contract at any
particular time. In such event, it may not be possible to
close a futures position, and in the event of adverse price
movements, a Series would continue to be required to make
variation margin payments.
(4) Like options on securities, options on futures contracts have
limited life. The ability to establish and close out options
on futures will be subject to the development and maintenance
of liquid secondary markets on the relevant exchanges or
boards of trade. There can be no certainty that such markets
for all options on futures contracts will develop.
(5) Purchasers of options on futures contracts pay a premium in
cash at the time of purchase. This amount and the transaction
costs are all that is at risk. Sellers of options on futures
contracts, however, must post initial margin and are subject
to additional margin calls that could be substantial in the
event of adverse price movements. In addition, although the
maximum amount at risk when the Series purchases an option is
the premium paid for the option and the transaction costs,
there may be circumstances when the purchase of an option on a
futures contract would result in a loss to the Series when the
use of a futures contract would not, such as when there is no
movement in the level of the underlying index value or the
securities or currencies being hedged.
(6) As is the case with options, a Series' activities in the
futures markets may result in a higher portfolio turnover rate
and additional transaction costs in the form of added
brokerage commissions. However, a Series also may save on
commissions by using futures contracts or options thereon as a
hedge rather than buying or selling individual securities in
anticipation of, or as a result of, market movements.
HEDGING STRATEGIES. The International Multi-Manager Series' sub-advisers may use
forward currency contracts, options and futures contracts and related options to
attempt to hedge securities held by the Series. There can be no assurance that
such efforts will succeed. Hedging strategies, if successful, can reduce risk of
loss by wholly or partially offsetting the negative effect of unfavorable price
movements in the investments being hedged. However, hedging strategies can also
reduce opportunity for gain by offsetting the positive effect of favorable price
movements in the hedged investment.
The International Multi-Manager Series may enter into forward currency contracts
either with respect to specific transactions or with respect to the Series'
positions. When WTC or a sub-adviser believes that a particular currency may
decline compared to the U.S. dollar, the Series may enter into a forward
contract to sell the currency that the adviser or the sub-adviser expects to
decline in an amount approximating the value of some or all of the Series'
securities denominated in that currency. Such contracts may only involve the
sale of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar. In addition, when the Series
anticipates purchasing or selling a security, it may enter into a forward
currency contract in order to set the rate (either relative to the U.S. dollar
or another currency) at which a currency exchange transaction related to the
purchase or sale will be made.
The International Multi-Manager Series also may sell (write) and purchase put
and call options and futures contracts and related options on foreign currencies
to hedge against movements in exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar. In
addition, the Series may write and purchase put and call options on securities
and stock indexes to hedge against the risk of fluctuations in the prices of
securities held by the Series or which the adviser or a sub-adviser intends to
include in the portfolio. Stock index options serve to hedge against overall
fluctuations in the securities markets rather than anticipated increases or
decreases in the value of a particular security. The Series also may sell and
purchase stock index futures contracts and related options to protect against a
general stock market decline that could adversely affect the Series' securities
or to hedge against a general stock market or market sector advance to lessen
the cost of future securities acquisitions. The Series may use interest rate
futures contracts and related options thereon to hedge the debt portion of its
portfolio against changes in the general level of interest rates.
The International Multi-Manager Series will not enter into an options, futures
or forward currency contract transaction that exposes the Series to an
obligation to another party unless the Series either (i) owns an offsetting
("covered") position in securities, currencies, options, futures or forward
currency contracts or (ii) has cash,
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receivables and liquid securities with a value sufficient at all times to cover
its potential obligations to the extent not covered as provided in (i) above.
SPECIAL RISKS RELATED TO FOREIGN CURRENCY OPTIONS AND FUTURES CONTRACTS
Options and futures contracts on foreign currencies are affected by all of those
factors that influence foreign exchange rates and investments generally. The
value of a foreign currency option or futures contract depends upon the value of
the underlying currency relative to the U.S. dollar. As a result, the price of
the International Multi-Manager Series' position in a foreign currency option or
currency contract may vary with changes in the value of either or both
currencies and may have no relationship to the investment merits of a foreign
security. Because foreign currency transactions occurring in the interbank
market involve substantially larger amounts than those that may be involved in
the use of foreign currency options or futures transactions, investors may be
disadvantaged by having to deal in an odd lot market (generally consisting of
transactions of less than $1 million) at prices that are less favorable than for
round lots.
There is no systematic reporting of last sale information for foreign currencies
or any regulatory requirement that quotations available through dealers or other
market sources be firm or revised on a timely basis. Quotation information
available is generally representative of very large transactions in the
interbank market and thus may not reflect relatively smaller transactions (that
is, less than $1 million) where rates may be less favorable. The interbank
market in foreign currencies is a global, around-the-clock market. To the extent
that the U.S. options or futures markets are closed while the markets for the
underlying currencies remain open, significant price and rate movements may take
place in the underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the options or
futures markets until they reopen.
As with other options and futures positions, the International Multi-Manager
Series' ability to establish and close out such positions in foreign currencies
is subject to the maintenance of a liquid secondary market. Trading of some such
positions is relatively new. Although the Series will not purchase or write such
positions unless and until, in the adviser's or the sub-adviser's opinion, the
market for them has developed sufficiently to ensure that the risks in
connection with such positions are not greater than the risks in connection with
the underlying currency, there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary
market will exist for a particular option or futures contract at any specific
time. Moreover, the Series will not enter into OTC options that are illiquid if,
as a result, more than 15% of its net assets would be invested in illiquid
securities.
Settlement of a foreign currency futures contract must occur within the country
issuing the underlying currency. Thus, the Series must accept or make delivery
of the underlying foreign currency in accordance with any U.S. or foreign
restrictions or regulations regarding the maintenance of foreign banking
arrangements by U.S. residents, and it may be required to pay any fees, taxes
and charges associated with such delivery that are assessed in the issuing
country.
FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACTS. The International Multi-Manager Series may use
forward currency contracts to protect against uncertainty in the level of future
foreign currency exchange rates.
The Series may enter into forward currency contracts with respect to specific
transactions. For example, when the Series enters into a contract for the
purchase or sale of a security denominated in a foreign currency or anticipates
the receipt in a foreign currency of dividend or interest payments on a security
that it holds or anticipates purchasing, the Series may desire to "lock in" the
U.S. dollar price of the security or the U.S. dollar equivalent of such payment,
as the case may be, by entering into a forward contract for the sale, for a
fixed amount of U.S. dollars, of the amount of foreign currency involved in the
underlying transaction. The Series will thereby be able to protect itself
against a possible loss resulting from an adverse change in the relationship
between the currency exchange rates during the period between the date on which
the security is purchased or sold, or on which the payment is declared, and the
date on which such payments are made or received.
The Series also may hedge by using forward currency contracts in connection with
portfolio positions to lock in the U.S. dollar value of those positions or to
increase its exposure to foreign currencies that the adviser or the sub-advisers
believe may rise in value relative to the U.S. dollar. For example, when the
adviser or the sub-advisers believe that the currency of a particular foreign
country may suffer a substantial decline relative to the U.S. dollar, it may
enter into a forward contract to sell the amount of the former foreign currency
approximating the value of some or all of the Series' securities holdings
denominated in such foreign currency.
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The precise matching of the forward contract amounts and the value of the
securities involved will not generally be possible because the future value of
such securities in foreign currencies will change as a consequence of market
movements in the value of those securities between the date the forward contract
is entered into and the date it matures. Accordingly, it may be necessary for
the Series to purchase additional foreign currency on the spot (that is, cash)
market (and bear the expense of such purchase) if the market value of the
security is less than the amount of foreign currency the Series is obligated to
deliver and if a decision is made to sell the security and make delivery of the
foreign currency. Conversely, it may be necessary to sell on the spot market
some of the foreign currency received upon the sale of the security holding if
the market value of the security exceeds the amount of foreign currency the
Series is obligated to deliver. The projection of short-term currency market
movements is extremely difficult and the successful execution of a short-term
hedging strategy is highly uncertain. Forward contracts involve the risk that
anticipated currency movements might not be accurately predicted, causing the
Series to sustain losses on these contracts and transaction costs. Under normal
circumstances, consideration of the prospect for currency parities will be
incorporated into the longer-term investment decisions made with regard to
overall diversification strategies. However, the adviser and the sub-advisers
believe that it is important to have the flexibility to enter into such forward
contracts when it determines that the best interests of the Series will be
served.
At or before the maturity date of a forward contract requiring the Series to
sell a currency, the Series may either sell a security holding and use the sale
proceeds to make delivery of the currency or retain the security and offset its
contractual obligation to deliver the currency by purchasing a second contract
pursuant to which the Series will obtain, on the same maturity date, the same
amount of the currency that it is obligated to deliver. Similarly, the Series
may close out a forward contract requiring it to purchase a specified currency
by entering into a second contract entitling it to sell the same amount of the
same currency on the maturity date of the first contract. The Series would
realize a gain or loss as a result of entering into such an offsetting forward
currency contract under either circumstance to the extent the exchange rate or
rates between the currencies involved moved between the execution dates of the
first contract and the offsetting contract.
The cost to the Series of engaging in forward currency contracts varies with
factors such as the currencies involved, the length of the contract period and
the market conditions then prevailing. Because forward currency contracts are
usually entered into on a principal basis, no fees or commissions are involved.
The use of forward currency contracts does not eliminate fluctuations in the
prices of the underlying securities the Series owns or intends to acquire, but
it does fix a rate of exchange in advance. In addition, although forward
currency contracts limit the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the
hedged currencies, at the same time they limit any potential gain that might
result should the value of the currencies increase.
Although the Series values its assets daily in terms of U.S. dollars, it does
not intend to convert its holdings of foreign currencies into U.S. dollars on a
daily basis. The Series may convert foreign currency from time to time, and
investors should be aware of the costs of currency conversion. Although foreign
exchange dealers do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit
based on the difference between the prices at which they are buying and selling
various currencies. Thus, a dealer may offer to sell a foreign currency to the
Series at one rate, while offering a lesser rate of exchange should the Series
desire to resell that currency to the dealer.
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APPENDIX B
DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS
Moody's and S&P are private services that provide ratings of the credit quality
of debt obligations. A description of the ratings assigned by Moody's and S&P to
the securities in which the Portfolios' corresponding Series may invest is
discussed below. These ratings represent the opinions of these rating services
as to the quality of the securities that they undertake to rate. It should be
emphasized, however, that ratings are general and are not absolute standards of
quality. The advisers and sub-advisers attempt to discern variations in credit
rankings of the rating services and to anticipate changes in credit ranking.
However, subsequent to purchase by a Series, an issue of securities may cease to
be rated or its rating may be reduced below the minimum rating required for
purchase by the Series. In that event, an adviser or sub-adviser will consider
whether it is in the best interest of the Series to continue to hold the
securities.
MOODY'S RATINGS
CORPORATE AND MUNICIPAL BONDS.
Aaa: Bonds that are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They carry
the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as "gilt
edged." Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable
margin and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are likely
to change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the
fundamentally strong position of such issues.
Aa: Bonds that 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 that make the
long-term risk appear somewhat larger than the Aaa securities.
A: Bonds that 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 some time in the future.
Baa: Bonds that are rated Baa are considered as medium-grade obligations (i.e.,
they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured). Interest payments and
principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective
elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great
length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in
fact have speculative characteristics as well.
CORPORATE AND MUNICIPAL COMMERCIAL PAPER. The highest rating for corporate and
municipal commercial paper is "P-1" (Prime-1). Issuers rated P-1 (or supporting
institutions) have a superior ability for repayment of senior short-term debt
obligations. P-1 repayment ability will often be evidenced by many of the
following characteristics:
o Leading market positions in well-established industries.
o High rates of return on funds employed.
o Conservative capitalization structure with moderate reliance on debt and
ample asset protection.
o Broad margins in earnings coverage of fixed financial charges and high
internal cash generation.
o Well-established access to a range of financial markets and assured sources
of alternate liquidity.
MUNICIPAL NOTES. The highest ratings for state and municipal short-term
obligations are "MIG 1," "MIG 2" and "MIG 3" (or "VMIG 1," "VMIG 2" and "VMIG 3"
in the case of an issue having a variable-rate demand feature). Notes rated "MIG
1" or "VMIG 1" are judged to be of the best quality. There is present strong
protection by established cash flows, superior liquidity support or demonstrated
broadbased access to the market for refinancing. Notes rated "MIG 2" or "VMIG 2"
are of high quality, with margins of protection that are ample although not so
large as in the preceding group. Notes rated "MIG 3" or "VMIG 3" are of
favorable quality, with all security elements accounted for but lacking the
undeniable strength of the preceding grades. Liquidity and cash flow protection
may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well
established.
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S&P RATINGS
CORPORATE AND MUNICIPAL BONDS.
AAA: Bonds rated AAA are highest grade debt obligations. This rating indicates
an extremely strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal.
AA: Bonds rated AA have a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay
principal and differ from AAA issues only in small degree.
A: Bonds rated A have a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal,
although they are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in
circumstances and economic conditions than bonds in higher rated categories.
BBB: Bonds rated BBB are regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay interest
and repay principal. Whereas they normally exhibit adequate protection
parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more
likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for
debt in this category than in higher rated categories.
CORPORATE AND MUNICIPAL COMMERCIAL PAPER. The "A-1" rating for corporate and
municipal commercial paper indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely
payment is strong. Those issues determined to possess extremely strong safety
characteristics will be rated "A-1+."
MUNICIPAL NOTES. The "SP-1" rating reflects a very strong or strong capacity to
pay principal and interest. Those issues determined to possess overwhelming
safety characteristics will be rated "SP-1+." The "SP-2" rating reflects a
satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest.
FITCH RATINGS
DESCRIPTION OF FITCH'S HIGHEST STATE AND MUNICIPAL NOTES RATING.
AAA - Bonds considered to be investment grade and of the highest credit quality.
The obligor has an exceptionally strong ability to pay interest and repay
principal, which is unlikely to be affected by reasonably foreseeable events.
AA - Bonds considered to be investment grade and of very high credit quality.
The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is very strong,
although not quite as strong as bonds rated AAA.
F-1+ - Issues assigned this rating are regarded as having the strongest degree
of assurance for timely payment.
F-1 - Issues assigned this rating reflect an assurance of timely payment only
slightly less in degree than issues rated F-1+.
B-2
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WT MUTUAL FUND
CRM PRIME MONEY MARKET FUND
CRM TAX-EXEMPT FUND
CRM INTERMEDIATE BOND FUND
CRM MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
CRM LARGE CAP VALUE FUND
CRM MID CAP VALUE FUND
CRM SMALL CAP VALUE FUND
400 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
NOVEMBER 1, 2000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus and should be read
in conjunction with each Fund's current prospectus, dated November 1, 2000, as
amended from time to time. A copy of each current prospectus and annual report
may be obtained without charge, by writing to Provident Distributors, Inc.
("PDI"), 3200 Horizon Drive, King of Prussia, PA 19406, and from certain
institutions such as banks or broker-dealers that have entered into servicing
agreements with PDI or by calling (800) CRM-2883.
The Funds' audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2000,
included in the Annual Reports to shareholders, are incorporated into this SAI
by reference.
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
GENERAL INFORMATION 2
INVESTMENT POLICIES 2
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS 15
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS 19
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES 21
Distribution of shares 24
BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES 24
CAPITAL STOCK AND OTHER SECURITIES 25
PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES 25
DIVIDENDS 28
TAXATION OF THE FUNDS 29
CALCULATION OF PERFORMANCE INFORMATION 33
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 37
APPENDIX A -- OPTIONS, FUTURES AND FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACT STRATEGIES A-1
APPENDIX B -- DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS B-1
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GENERAL INFORMATION
WT Mutual Fund (the "Fund") is a diversified, open-end management investment
company organized as a Delaware business trust on June 1, 1994. The name of the
Fund was changed from Kiewit Mutual Fund to WT Mutual Fund on October 20, 1998.
The Fund has established the following Funds described in this Statement of
Additional Information: CRM Prime Money Market, CRM Tax-Exempt, CRM Intermediate
Bond, CRM Municipal Bond, CRM Large Cap Value, CRM Mid Cap Value and CRM Small
Cap Value Funds. Each of these Funds issues Institutional and Investor class
shares.
INVESTMENT POLICIES
The following information supplements the information concerning each Fund's
investment objective, policies and limitations found in the prospectus. Unless
otherwise indicated, it applies to the Funds through their investment in
corresponding master funds, which are series of WT Investment Trust I (the
"Series").
MONEY MARKET FUNDS
The "Money Market Funds" are the Prime Money Market Fund and the Tax-Exempt
Fund. Each has adopted a fundamental policy requiring it to maintain a constant
net asset value of $1.00 per share, although this may not be possible under
certain circumstances. Each Fund values its portfolio securities on the basis of
amortized cost (see "Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Shares") pursuant to
Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"). As
conditions of that Rule, the Board of Trustees has established procedures
reasonably designed to stabilize each Fund's price per share at $1.00 per share.
Each Fund maintains a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity of 90 days or
less; purchases only instruments with effective maturities of 397 days or less;
and invests only in securities which are of high quality as determined by major
rating services or, in the case of instruments which are not rated, of
comparable quality as determined by the investment adviser, Rodney Square
Management Corporation, under the direction of and subject to the review of the
Board of Trustees.
BANK OBLIGATIONS. The Prime Money Market Fund may invest in U.S.
dollar-denominated obligations of major banks, including certificates of
deposit, time deposits and bankers' acceptances of major U.S. and foreign banks
and their branches located outside of the United States, of U.S. branches of
foreign banks, of foreign branches of foreign banks, of U.S. agencies of foreign
banks and of wholly owned banking subsidiaries of such foreign banks located in
the United States.
Obligations of foreign branches of U.S. banks and U.S. branches of wholly owned
subsidiaries of foreign banks may be general obligations of the parent bank, of
the issuing branch or subsidiary, or both, or may be limited by the terms of a
specific obligation or by governmental regulation. Because such obligations are
issued by foreign entities, they are subject to the risks of foreign investing.
A brief description of some typical types of bank obligations follows:
o BANKERS' ACCEPTANCES. The Prime Money Market Fund may invest in bankers'
acceptances, which are credit instruments evidencing the obligation of a
bank to pay a draft that has been drawn on it by a customer. These
instruments reflect the obligation of both the bank and the drawer to pay
the face amount of the instrument upon maturity.
o CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT. The Prime Money Market Fund may invest in
certificates evidencing the indebtedness of a commercial bank to repay
funds deposited with it for a definite period of time (usually from 14 days
to one year) at a stated or variable interest rate. Variable rate
certificates of deposit provide that the interest rate will fluctuate on
designated dates based on changes in a designated base rate (such as the
composite rate for certificates of deposit established by the Federal
Reserve Bank of New York).
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o TIME DEPOSITS. The Prime Money Market Fund may invest in time deposits,
which are bank deposits for fixed periods of time.
CERTIFICATES OF PARTICIPATION. The Tax-Exempt Fund may invest in certificates of
participation, which give the investor an undivided interest in the municipal
obligation in the proportion that the investor's interest bears to the total
principal amount of the municipal obligation.
CORPORATE BONDS, NOTES AND COMMERCIAL PAPER. The Prime Money Market Fund may
invest in corporate bonds, notes and commercial paper. These obligations
generally represent indebtedness of the issuer and may be subordinated to other
outstanding indebtedness of the issuer. Commercial paper consists of short-term
promissory notes issued by corporations in order to finance their current
operations. The Fund will only invest in commercial paper rated, at the time of
purchase, in the highest category by a nationally recognized statistical rating
organization ("NRSRO"), such as Moody's or S&P or, if not rated, determined by
the adviser to be of comparable quality. See "Appendix B - Description of
Ratings." The Funds may invest in asset-backed commercial paper subject to Rule
2a-7 restrictions on investments in asset-backed securities, which include a
requirement that the security must have received a rating from a NRSRO.
FOREIGN SECURITIES. At the present time, portfolio securities of the Prime Money
Market Fund that are purchased outside the United States are maintained in the
custody of foreign branches of U.S. banks. To the extent that the Fund may
maintain portfolio securities in the custody of foreign subsidiaries of U.S.
banks, and foreign banks or clearing agencies in the future, those sub-custodian
arrangements are subject to regulations under the 1940 Act that govern custodial
arrangements with entities incorporated or organized in countries outside of the
United States.
ILLIQUID SECURITIES. No Money Market Fund may invest more than 10% of the value
of its net assets in securities that at the time of purchase have legal or
contractual restrictions on resale or are otherwise illiquid. Illiquid
securities are securities that cannot be disposed of within seven days at
approximately the value at which they are being carried on a Fund's books.
The Board of Trustees has the ultimate responsibility for determining whether
specific securities are liquid or illiquid. The Board has delegated the function
of making day to day determinations of liquidity to the adviser, pursuant to
guidelines approved by the Board. The adviser will monitor the liquidity of
securities held by a Fund and report periodically on such decisions to the
Board.
INVESTMENT COMPANY SECURITIES. The Money Market Funds may invest in the
securities of other money market mutual funds, within the limits prescribed by
the 1940 Act. These limitations currently provide, in part, that a Fund may not
purchase shares of an investment company if (a) such a purchase would cause the
Fund to own in the aggregate more than 3% of the total outstanding voting stock
of the investment company or (b) such a purchase would cause the Fund to have
more than 5% of its total assets invested in the investment company or (c) more
than 10% of the Fund's total assets to be invested in the aggregate in all
investment companies. As a shareholder in an investment company, the Fund would
bear its pro rata portion of the investment company's expenses, including
advisory fees, in addition to its own expenses. Each Fund's investments of its
assets in the corresponding Series pursuant to the master/feeder structure are
excepted from the above limitations.
MUNICIPAL SECURITIES. The Money Market Funds each may invest in debt obligations
issued by states, municipalities and public authorities ("Municipal Securities")
to obtain funds for various public purposes. Yields on Municipal Securities are
the product of a variety of factors, including the general conditions of the
money market and of the municipal bond and municipal note markets, the size of a
particular offering, the maturity of the obligation and the rating of the issue.
Although the interest on Municipal Securities may be exempt from federal income
tax, dividends paid by a Fund to its shareholders may not be tax-exempt. A brief
description of some typical types of municipal securities follows:
o GENERAL OBLIGATION SECURITIES are backed by the taxing power of the issuing
municipality and are considered the safest type of municipal bond.
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o REVENUE OR SPECIAL OBLIGATION SECURITIES are backed by the revenues of a
specific project or facility tolls from a toll bridge, for example.
o BOND ANTICIPATION NOTES normally are issued to provide interim financing
until long-term financing can be arranged. The long-term bonds then provide
money for the repayment of the notes.
o TAX ANTICIPATION NOTES finance working capital needs of municipalities and
are issued in anticipation of various seasonal tax revenues, to be payable
for these specific future taxes.
o REVENUE ANTICIPATION NOTES are issued in expectation of receipt of other
kinds of revenue, such as federal revenues available under the Federal
Revenue Sharing Program.
o INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BONDS ("IDBs") and Private Activity Bonds ("PABs")
are specific types of revenue bonds issued on or behalf of public
authorities to finance various privately operated facilities such as solid
waste facilities and sewage plants. PABs generally are such bonds issued
after April 15, 1986. These obligations are included within the term
"municipal bonds" if the interest paid on them is exempt from federal
income tax in the opinion of the bond issuer's counsel. IDBs and PABs are
in most case revenue bonds and thus are not payable from the unrestricted
revenues of the issuer. The credit quality of the IDBs and PABs is usually
directly related to the credit standing of the user of the facilities being
financed, or some form of credit enhancement such as a letter of credit.
o TAX-EXEMPT COMMERCIAL PAPER AND SHORT-TERM MUNICIPAL NOTES provide for
short-term capital needs and usually have maturities of one year or less.
They include tax anticipation notes, revenue anticipation notes and
construction loan notes.
o CONSTRUCTION LOAN NOTES are sold to provide construction financing. After
successful completion and acceptance, many projects receive permanent
financing through the Federal Housing Administration by way of "Fannie Mae"
(the Federal National Mortgage Association) or "Ginnie Mae" (the Government
National Mortgage Association).
o PUT BONDS are municipal bonds which give the holder the right to sell the
bond back to the issuer or a third party at a specified price and exercise
date, which is typically well in advance of the bond's maturity date.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. The Money Market Funds may invest in repurchase
agreements. A repurchase agreement is a transaction in which a Fund purchases a
security from a bank or recognized securities dealer and simultaneously commits
to resell that security to a bank or dealer at an agreed date and price
reflecting a market rate of interest, unrelated to the coupon rate or the
maturity of the purchased security. While it is not possible to eliminate all
risks from these transactions (particularly the possibility of a decline in the
market value of the underlying securities, as well as delays and costs to the
Fund if the other party to the repurchase agreement becomes bankrupt), it is the
policy of a Fund to limit repurchase transactions to primary dealers and banks
whose creditworthiness has been reviewed and found satisfactory by the adviser.
Repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days are considered illiquid
for purposes of a Fund's investment limitations.
SECURITIES LENDING. The Money Market Funds may from time to time lend their
portfolio securities pursuant to agreements, which require that the loans be
continuously secured by collateral equal to 100% of the market value of the
loaned securities. Such collateral consists of cash, securities of the U.S.
Government or its agencies, or any combination of cash and such securities. Such
loans will not be made if, as a result, the aggregate amount of all outstanding
securities loans for a Fund exceed one-third of the value of the Fund's total
assets taken at fair market value. A Fund will continue to receive interest on
the securities lent while simultaneously earning interest on the investment of
the cash collateral in U.S. Government securities. However, a Fund will normally
pay lending fees to such broker-dealers and related
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expenses from the interest earned on invested collateral. There may be risks of
delay in receiving additional collateral or risks of delay in recovery of the
securities and even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the
securities fail financially. However, loans are made only to borrowers deemed by
the adviser to be of good standing and when, in the judgment of the adviser, the
consideration that can be earned currently from such securities loans justifies
the attendant risk. Either party upon reasonable notice to the other party may
terminate any loan.
STANDBY COMMITMENTS. The Money Market Funds may invest in standby commitments.
It is expected that stand-by commitments will generally be available without the
payment of any direct or indirect consideration. However, if necessary and
advisable, the Funds may pay for standby commitments either separately in cash
or by paying a higher price for the obligations acquired subject to such a
commitment (thus reducing the yield to maturity otherwise available for the same
securities). Standby commitments purchased by the Funds will be valued at zero
in determining net asset value and will not affect the valuation of the
obligations subject to the commitments. Any consideration paid for a standby
commitment will be accounted for as unrealized depreciation and will be
amortized over the period the commitment is held by a Fund.
U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS. The Money Market Funds may invest in debt
securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or
instrumentalities. Although all obligations of agencies and instrumentalities
are not direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury, payment of the interest and
principal on these obligations is generally backed directly or indirectly by the
U.S. Government. This support can range from securities supported by the full
faith and credit of the United States (for example, securities of the Government
National Mortgage Association), to securities that are supported solely or
primarily by the creditworthiness of the issuer, such as securities of the
Federal National Mortgage Association, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation,
Tennessee Valley Authority, Federal Farm Credit Banks and the Federal Home Loan
Banks. In the case of obligations not backed by the full faith and credit of the
United States, a Fund must look principally to the agency or instrumentality
issuing or guaranteeing the obligation for ultimate repayment and may not be
able to assert a claim against the United States itself in the event the agency
or instrumentality does not meet its commitments.
VARIABLE AND FLOATING RATE SECURITIES. The Money Market Funds may invest in
variable and floating rate securities. The terms of variable and floating rate
instruments provide for the interest rate to be adjusted according to a formula
on certain pre-determined dates. Certain of these obligations also may carry a
demand feature that gives the holder the right to demand prepayment of the
principal amount of the security prior to maturity. An irrevocable letter of
credit or guarantee by a bank usually backs the demand feature. Fund investments
in these securities must comply with conditions established by the SEC under
which they may be considered to have remaining maturities of 397 days or less.
WHEN-ISSUED SECURITIES. The Money Market Funds may buy when-issued securities or
sell securities on a delayed-delivery basis. This means that delivery and
payment for the securities normally will take place approximately 15 to 90 days
after the date of the transaction. The payment obligation and the interest rate
that will be received are each fixed at the time the buyer enters into the
commitment. During the period between purchase and settlement, the purchaser
makes no payment and no interest accrues to the purchaser. However, when a
security is sold on a delayed-delivery basis, the seller does not participate in
further gains or losses with respect to the security. If the other party to a
when-issued or delayed-delivery transaction fails to transfer or pay for the
securities, the Fund could miss a favorable price or yield opportunity or could
suffer a loss.
A Fund will make a commitment to purchase when-issued securities only with the
intention of actually acquiring the securities, but the Fund may dispose of the
commitment before the settlement date if it is deemed advisable as a matter of
investment strategy. A Fund may also sell the underlying securities before they
are delivered, which may result in gains or losses. A separate account for each
Fund is established at the custodian bank, into which cash and/or liquid
securities equal to the amount of when-issued purchase commitments is deposited.
If the market value of the deposited securities declines additional cash or
securities will be placed in the account on a daily basis to cover the Fund's
outstanding commitments.
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When a Fund purchases a security on a when-issued basis, the security is
recorded as an asset on the commitment date and is subject to changes in market
value generally, based upon changes in the level of interest rates. Thus, upon
delivery, the market value of the security may be higher or lower than its cost,
and this may increase or decrease the Fund's net asset value. When payment for a
when-issued security is due, a Fund will meet its obligations from
then-available cash flow, the sale of the securities held in the separate
account, the sale of other securities or from the sale of the when-issued
securities themselves. The sale of securities to meet a when-issued purchase
obligation carries with it the potential for the realization of capital gains or
losses.
THE BOND FUNDS
The "Bond Funds" are the Intermediate Bond and the Municipal Bond Funds.
Wilmington Trust Company ("WTC"), the investment adviser for the Bond Funds,
employs an investment process that is disciplined, systematic and oriented
toward a quantitative assessment and control of volatility. The Bond Funds'
exposure to credit risk is moderated by limiting their investments to securities
that, at the time of purchase, are rated investment grade by a nationally
recognized statistical rating organization such as Moody's, S&P, or, if unrated,
are determined by the adviser to be of comparable quality. See "Appendix B -
Description of Ratings." Ratings, however, are not guarantees of quality or of
stable credit quality. Not even the highest rating constitutes assurance that
the security will not fluctuate in value or that a Fund will receive the
anticipated yield on the security. WTC continuously monitors the quality of the
Funds' holdings, and should the rating of a security be downgraded or its
quality be adversely affected, WTC will determine whether it is in the best
interest of the affected Fund to retain or dispose of the security.
The effect of interest rate fluctuations in the market on the principal value of
the Bond Funds is moderated by limiting the average dollar-weighted duration of
their investments -- in the case of the Intermediate Bond Fund to a range of 4
to 7 years, and in the case of the Municipal Bond Fund to a range of 4 to 8
years. Investors may be more familiar with the term "average effective maturity"
(when, on average, the fixed income securities held by the Fund will mature),
which is sometimes used to express the anticipated term of the Funds'
investments. Generally, the stated maturity of a fixed income security is longer
than it's projected duration. Under normal market conditions, the average
effective maturity, in the case of the Intermediate Bond Fund, within a range of
approximately 7 to 12 years, and in the case of the Municipal Bond Fund, within
a range of approximately 5 to 10 years. In the event of unusual market
conditions, the average dollar-weighted duration of the Funds may fall within a
broader range. Under those circumstances, the Intermediate Bond Fund may invest
in fixed income securities with an average dollar-weighted duration of 2 to 10
years.
WTC's goal in managing the Intermediate Bond Fund is to gain additional return
by analyzing the market complexities and individual security attributes which
affect the returns of fixed income securities. The Intermediate Bond Fund is
intended to appeal to investors who want a thoughtful exposure to the broad
fixed income securities market and the high current returns that characterize
the short-term to intermediate-term sector of that market.
Given the average duration of the holdings of the Bond Funds and the current
interest rate environment, the Fund should experience smaller price fluctuations
than those experienced by longer-term bond and municipal bond funds and a higher
yield than fixed-price money market and tax-exempt money market funds. Of
course, the Fund will likely experience larger price fluctuations than money
market funds and a lower yield than longer-term bond and municipal bond funds.
Given the quality of the Fund's holdings, which must be investment grade (rated
within the top four categories) or comparable to investment grade securities at
the time of purchase, the Funds will accept lower yields in order to avoid the
credit concerns experienced by funds that invest in lower quality fixed income
securities. In addition, although the Municipal Bond Fund expects to invest
substantially all of its net assets in municipal securities that provide
interest income that is exempt from federal income tax, it may invest up to 20%
of its net assets in other types of fixed income securities that provide
federally taxable income.
The composition of each Fund's holdings varies depending upon WTC's analysis of
the fixed income markets and the municipal securities markets (for the Municipal
Bond Fund), including analysis of the most attractive segments of the yield
curve, the relative value of the different market sectors, expected trends in
those markets and supply versus demand pressures. Securities purchased by the
Funds may be purchased
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on the basis of their yield or potential capital appreciation or both. By
maintaining each Fund's specified average duration, WTC seeks to protect the
Fund's principal value by reducing fluctuations in value relative to those that
may be experienced by bond funds with longer average durations. This strategy
may reduce the level of income attained by the Funds. Of course, there is no
guarantee that principal value can be protected during periods of extreme
interest rate volatility.
WTC may make frequent changes in the Funds' investments, particularly during
periods of rapidly fluctuating interest rates. These frequent changes would
involve transaction costs to the Funds and could result in taxable capital
gains.
ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES. The Bond Funds may purchase interests in pools of
obligations, such as credit card or automobile loan receivables, purchase
contracts and financing leases. Such securities are also known as "asset-backed
securities," and the holders thereof may be entitled to receive a fixed rate of
interest, a variable rate that is periodically reset to reflect the current
market rate or an auction rate that is periodically reset at auction.
Asset-backed securities are typically supported by some form of credit
enhancement, such as cash collateral, subordinated tranches, a letter of credit,
surety bond or limited guaranty. Credit enhancements do not provide protection
against changes in the market value of the security. If the credit enhancement
is exhausted or withdrawn, security holders may experience losses or delays in
payment if required payments of principal and interest are not made with respect
to the underlying obligations. Except in very limited circumstances, there is no
recourse against the vendors or lessors that originated the underlying
obligations.
Asset-backed securities are likely to involve unscheduled prepayments of
principal that may affect yield to maturity, result in losses, and may be
reinvested at higher or lower interest rates than the original investment. The
yield to maturity of asset-backed securities that represent residual interests
in payments of principal or interest in fixed income obligations is particularly
sensitive to prepayments.
The value of asset-backed securities may change because of changes in the
market's perception of the creditworthiness of the servicing agent for the pool
of underlying obligations, the originator of those obligations or the financial
institution providing credit enhancement.
BANK OBLIGATIONS. The Bond Funds may invest in the same U.S. dollar-denominated
obligations of major banks as the Money Market Fund. (See "Money Market Funds -
Bank Obligations.")
CORPORATE BONDS, NOTES AND COMMERCIAL PAPER. The Bond Funds may invest in
corporate bonds, notes and commercial paper. These obligations generally
represent indebtedness of the issuer and may be subordinated to other
outstanding indebtedness of the issuer. Commercial paper consists of short-term
unsecured promissory notes issued by corporations in order to finance their
current operations. The Funds will only invest in commercial paper rated, at the
time of purchase, in the highest category by a nationally recognized statistical
rating organization, such as Moody's or S&P or, if not rated, determined by WTC
to be of comparable quality.
FIXED INCOME SECURITIES WITH BUY-BACK FEATURES. Fixed income securities with
buy-back features enable the Bond Funds to recover principal upon tendering the
securities to the issuer or a third party. Letters of credit issued by domestic
or foreign banks often supports these buy-back features. In evaluating a foreign
bank's credit, WTC considers whether adequate public information about the bank
is available and whether the bank may be subject to unfavorable political or
economic developments, currency controls or other governmental restrictions that
could adversely affect the bank's ability to honor its commitment under the
letter of credit. The Municipal Bond Fund will not acquire municipal securities
with buy-back features if, in the opinion of counsel, the existence of a
buy-back feature would alter the tax-exempt nature of interest payments on the
underlying securities and cause those payments to be taxable to that Fund and
its shareholders.
Buy-back features include standby commitments, put bonds and demand features.
o STANDBY COMMITMENTS. The Bond Funds may acquire standby commitments from
broker-dealers, banks or other financial intermediaries to enhance the
liquidity of portfolio securities. A standby commitment entitles a Fund to
same day settlement at amortized cost plus accrued interest, if any, at the
time of exercise. The amount payable by the issuer of the standby
commitment during the time that the
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commitment is exercisable generally approximates the market value of the
securities underlying the commitment. Standby commitments are subject to
the risk that the issuer of a commitment may not be in a position to pay
for the securities at the time that the commitment is exercised.
Ordinarily, a Fund will not transfer a standby commitment to a third party,
although the Fund may sell securities subject to a standby commitment at
any time. A Fund may purchase standby commitments separate from or in
conjunction with the purchase of the securities subject to the commitments.
In the latter case, the Fund may pay a higher price for the securities
acquired in consideration for the commitment.
o PUT BONDS. A put bond (also referred to as a tender option or third party
bond) is a bond created by coupling an intermediate or long-term fixed rate
bond with an agreement giving the holder the option of tendering the bond
to receive its par value. As consideration for providing this tender
option, the sponsor of the bond (usually a bank, broker-dealer or other
financial intermediary) receives periodic fees that equal the difference
between the bond's fixed coupon rate and the rate (determined by a
remarketing or similar agent) that would cause the bond, coupled with the
tender option, to trade at par. By paying the tender offer fees, a Fund in
effect holds a demand obligation that bears interest at the prevailing
short-term rate.
In selecting put bonds for the Bond Funds, WTC takes into consideration the
creditworthiness of the issuers of the underlying bonds and the
creditworthiness of the providers of the tender option features. A sponsor
may withdraw the tender option feature if the issuer of the underlying bond
defaults on interest or principal payments, the bond's rating is downgraded
or, in the case of a municipal bond, the bond loses its tax-exempt status.
o DEMAND FEATURES. Many variable rate securities carry demand features that
permit the holder to demand repayment of the principal amount of the
underlying securities plus accrued interest, if any, upon a specified
number of days' notice to the issuer or its agent. A demand feature may be
exercisable at any time or at specified intervals. Variable rate securities
with demand features are treated as having a maturity equal to the time
remaining before the holder can next demand payment of principal. The
issuer of a demand feature instrument may have a corresponding right to
prepay the outstanding principal of the instrument plus accrued interest,
if any, upon notice comparable to that required for the holder to demand
payment.
GUARANTEED INVESTMENT CONTRACTS. A guaranteed investment contract ("GIC") is a
general obligation of an insurance company. A GIC is generally structured as a
deferred annuity under which the purchaser agrees to pay a given amount of money
to an insurer (either in a lump sum or in installments) and the insurer promises
to pay interest at a guaranteed rate (either fixed or variable) for the life of
the contract. Some GICs provide that the insurer may periodically pay
discretionary excess interest over and above the guaranteed rate. At the GIC's
maturity, the purchaser generally is given the option of receiving payment or an
annuity. Certain GICs may have features that permit redemption by the issuer at
a discount from par value.
Generally, GICs are not assignable or transferable without the permission of the
issuer. As a result, the acquisition of GICs is subject to the limitations
applicable to each Fund's acquisition of illiquid and restricted securities. The
holder of a GIC is dependent on the creditworthiness of the issuer as to whether
the issuer is able to meet its obligations. No Fund intends to invest more than
5% of its net assets in GICs.
ILLIQUID SECURITIES. No Bond Fund may invest more than 15% of the value of its
net assets in securities that at the time of purchase have legal or contractual
restrictions on resale or are otherwise illiquid.
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MONEY MARKET FUNDS. The Bond Funds may invest in the securities of money market
mutual funds, within the limits prescribed by the 1940 Act. (See "Money Market
Funds - Investment Company Securities.")
MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES. Mortgage-backed securities are securities
representing interests in a pool of mortgages secured by real property.
Government National Mortgage Association ("GNMA") mortgage-backed securities are
securities representing interests in pools of mortgage loans to residential home
buyers made by lenders such as mortgage bankers, commercial banks and savings
associations and are either guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration or
insured by the Veterans Administration. Timely payment of interest and principal
on each mortgage loan is backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S.
Government.
The Federal National Mortgage Association ("FNMA") and Federal Home Loan
Mortgage Corporation ("FHLMC") both issue mortgage-backed securities that are
similar to GNMA securities in that they represent interests in pools of mortgage
loans. FNMA guarantees timely payment of interest and principal on its
certificates and FHLMC guarantees timely payment of interest and ultimate
payment of principal. FHLMC also has a program under which it guarantees timely
payment of scheduled principal as well as interest. FNMA and FHLMC guarantees
are backed only by those agencies and not by the full faith and credit of the
U.S. Government.
In the case of mortgage-backed securities that are not backed by the U.S.
Government or one of its agencies, a loss could be incurred if the collateral
backing these securities is insufficient. This may occur even though the
collateral is U.S. Government-backed.
Most mortgage-backed securities pass monthly payment of principal and interest
through to the holder after deduction of a servicing fee. However, other payment
arrangements are possible. Payments may be made to the holder on a different
schedule than that on which payments are received from the borrower, including,
but not limited to, weekly, bi-weekly and semiannually. The monthly principal
and interest payments also are not always passed through to the holder on a PRO
RATA basis. In the case of collateralized mortgage obligations ("CMOs"), the
pool is divided into two or more tranches and special rules for the disbursement
of principal and interest payments are established.
CMO residuals are derivative securities that generally represent interests in
any excess cash flow remaining after making required payments of principal and
interest to the holders of the CMOs described above. Yield to maturity on CMO
residuals is extremely sensitive to prepayments. In addition, if a series of a
CMO includes a class that bears interest at an adjustable rate, the yield to
maturity on the related CMO residual also will be extremely sensitive to the
level of the index upon which interest rate adjustments are based.
Stripped mortgage-backed securities ("SMBS") are derivative multi-class mortgage
securities and may be issued by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S.
Government or by private mortgage lenders. SMBS usually are structured with two
classes that receive different proportions of the interest and/or principal
distributions on a pool of mortgage assets. A common type of SMBS will have one
class of holders receiving all interest payments -"interest only" or "IO" -- and
another class of holders receiving the principal repayments -- "principal only"
or "PO." The yield to maturity of IO and PO classes is extremely sensitive to
prepayments on the underlying mortgage assets.
MUNICIPAL SECURITIES. Municipal securities are debt obligations issued by or on
behalf of states, territories and possessions of the United States, the District
of Columbia and their sub-divisions, agencies and instrumentalities, the
interest on which is, in the opinion of bond counsel, exempt from federal income
tax. These debt obligations are issued to obtain funds for various public
purposes, such as the construction of public facilities, the payment of general
operating expenses or the refunding of outstanding debts. They may also be
issued to finance various privately owned or operated activities. The three
general categories of municipal securities are general obligation, revenue or
special obligation and private activity municipal securities. A brief
description of typical municipal securities follows:
o GENERAL OBLIGATION SECURITIES are backed by the taxing power of the issuing
municipality and are considered the safest type of municipal bond. The
proceeds
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from general obligation securities are used to fund a wide range of public
projects, including the construction or improvement of schools, highways
and roads, and water and sewer systems.
o REVENUE OR SPECIAL OBLIGATION SECURITIES are backed by the revenues of a
specific project or facility - tolls from a toll bridge, for example. The
proceeds from revenue or special obligation securities are used to fund a
wide variety of capital projects, including electric, gas, water and sewer
systems; highways, bridges and tunnels; port and airport facilities;
colleges and universities; and hospitals. Many municipal issuers also
establish a debt service reserve fund from which principal and interest
payments are made. Further security may be available in the form of the
state's ability, without obligation, to make up deficits in the reserve
fund.
o MUNICIPAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS may take the form of a lease, an installment
purchase or a conditional sale contract issued by state and local
governments and authorities to acquire land, equipment and facilities.
Usually, the Funds will purchase a participation interest in a municipal
lease obligation from a bank or other financial intermediary. The
participation interest gives the holder a pro rata, undivided interest in
the total amount of the obligation.
Municipal leases frequently have risks distinct from those associated with
general obligation or revenue bonds. The interest income from the lease
obligation may become taxable if the lease is assigned. Also, to free the
municipal issuer from constitutional or statutory debt issuance
limitations, many leases and contracts include non-appropriation clauses
providing that the municipality has no obligation to make future payments
under the lease or contract unless money is appropriated for that purpose
by the municipality on a yearly or other periodic basis. Finally, the lease
may be illiquid.
o RESOURCE RECOVERY BONDS are affected by a number of factors, which may
affect the value and credit quality of these revenue or special
obligations. These factors include the viability of the project being
financed, environmental protection regulations and project operator tax
incentives.
o PRIVATE ACTIVITY SECURITIES are specific types of revenue bonds issued on
behalf of public authorities to finance various privately operated
facilities such as educational, hospital or housing facilities, local
facilities for water supply, gas, electricity, sewage or solid waste
disposal, and industrial or commercial facilities. The payment of principal
and interest on these obligations generally depends upon the credit of the
private owner/user of the facilities financed and, in certain instances,
the pledge of real and personal property by the private owner/user. The
interest income from certain types of private activity securities may be
considered a tax preference item for purposes of the federal alternative
minimum tax ("Tax Preference Item").
Short-term municipal securities in which the Funds may invest include Tax
Anticipation, Revenue Anticipation, Bond Anticipation and Construction Loan
Notes. These were previously described for the Money Market Funds (See "Money
Market Funds - Municipal Securities.")
OPTIONS, FUTURES AND FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACT STRATEGIES. Although the
Municipal Bond Fund has no current intention of so doing, each of the Bond Fund
may use options and futures contracts. The Intermediate Bond Funds may use
forward currency contracts. For additional information regarding such investment
strategies, see Appendix A to this Statement of Additional Information.
PARTICIPATION INTERESTS. The Bond Funds may invest in participation interests in
fixed income securities. A participation interest provides the certificate
holder with a specified interest in an issue of fixed income securities.
Some participation interests give the holders differing interests in the
underlying securities, depending upon the type or class of certificate
purchased. For example, coupon strip certificates give the holder the right to
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receive a specific portion of interest payments on the underlying securities;
principal strip certificates give the holder the right to receive principal
payments and the portion of interest not payable to coupon strip certificate
holders. Holders of certificates of participation in interest payments may be
entitled to receive a fixed rate of interest, a variable rate that is
periodically reset to reflect the current market rate or an auction rate that is
periodically reset at auction. Asset-backed residuals represent interests in any
excess cash flow remaining after required payments of principal and interest
have been made.
More complex participation interests involve special risk considerations. Since
these instruments have only recently been developed, there can be no assurance
that any market will develop or be maintained for the instruments. Generally,
the fixed income securities that are deposited in trust for the holders of these
interests are the sole source of payments on the interests; holders cannot look
to the sponsor or trustee of the trust or to the issuers of the securities held
in trust or to any of their affiliates for payment.
Participation interests purchased at a discount may experience price volatility.
Certain types of interests are sensitive to fluctuations in market interest
rates and to prepayments on the underlying securities. A rapid rate of
prepayment can result in the failure to recover the holder's initial investment.
The extent to which the yield to maturity of a participation interest is
sensitive to prepayments depends, in part, upon whether the interest was
purchased at a discount or premium, and if so, the size of that discount or
premium. Generally, if a participation interest is purchased at a premium and
principal distributions occur at a rate faster than that anticipated at the time
of purchase, the holder's actual yield to maturity will be lower than that
assumed at the time of purchase. Conversely, if a participation interest is
purchased at a discount and principal distributions occur at a rate faster than
that assumed at the time of purchase, the investor's actual yield to maturity
will be higher than that assumed at the time of purchase.
Participation interests in pools of fixed income securities backed by certain
types of debt obligations involve special risk considerations. The issuers of
securities backed by automobile and truck receivables typically file financing
statements evidencing security interests in the receivables, and the servicers
of those obligations take and retain custody of the obligations. If the
servicers, in contravention of their duty to the holders of the securities
backed by the receivables, were to sell the obligations, the third party
purchasers could acquire an interest superior to the interest of the security
holders. Also, most states require that a security interest in a vehicle must be
noted on the certificate of title and the certificate of title may not be
amended to reflect the assignment of the lender's security interest. Therefore,
the recovery of the collateral in some cases may not be available to support
payments on the securities. Securities backed by credit card receivables are
generally unsecured, and both federal and state consumer protection laws may
allow set-offs against certain amounts owed.
The Municipal Bond Fund will only invest in participation interests in municipal
securities, municipal leases or in pools of securities backed by municipal
assets if, in the opinion of counsel, any interest income on the participation
interest will be exempt from federal income tax to the same extent as the
interest on the underlying securities.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. The Bond Funds may invest in the same repurchase
agreements, as the Money Market Funds. (See "Money Market Funds - Repurchase
Agreements.")
SECURITIES LENDING. The Bond Funds may lend securities, which were previously
described under "Money Market Funds - Securities Lending." The Municipal Bond
Fund has no current intention of lending its portfolio securities and would do
so only under unusual market conditions since the interest income that a Fund
receives from lending its securities is taxable.
U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS. The Bond Funds may invest in the same debt
securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or
instrumentalities as the Money Market Fund. (See "Money Market Funds - U.S.
Government Obligations.")
VARIABLE AND FLOATING RATE SECURITIES. The Bond Funds may invest in variable and
floating rate securities. The terms of variable and floating rate instruments
provide for the interest rate to be adjusted according to a formula on certain
pre-determined dates. Certain of these obligations also may carry a demand
feature that gives the holder the right to demand prepayment of the principal
amount of the security
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prior to maturity. An irrevocable letter of credit or guarantee by a bank
usually backs the demand feature. Fund investments in these securities must
comply with conditions established by the SEC under which they may be considered
to have remaining maturities of 397 days or less.
Each of the Bond Funds may also purchase inverse floaters that are floating rate
instruments whose interest rates bear an inverse relationship to the interest
rate on another security or the value of an index. Changes in the interest rate
on the other security or index inversely affect the interest rate paid on the
inverse floater, with the result that the inverse floater's price is
considerably more volatile than that of a fixed rate security. For example, an
issuer may decide to issue two variable rate instruments instead of a single
long-term, fixed rate bond. The interest rate on one instrument reflects
short-term interest rates, while the interest rate on the other instrument (the
inverse floater) reflects the approximate rate the issuer would have paid on a
fixed rate bond multiplied by two minus the interest rate paid on the short-term
instrument. Depending on market availability, the two variable rate instruments
may be combined to form a fixed rate bond. The market for inverse floaters is
relatively new.
WHEN-ISSUED SECURITIES. The Bond Funds may buy when-issued securities or sell
securities on a delayed-delivery basis, which were previously described under
"Money Market Funds - When-Issued Securities."
The Municipal Bond Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued basis in
connection with the refinancing of an issuer's outstanding indebtedness
("refunding contracts"). These contracts require the issuer to sell and the Fund
to buy municipal obligations at a stated price and yield on a settlement date
that may be several months or several years in the future. The offering proceeds
are then used to refinance existing municipal obligations. Although the
Municipal Bond Fund may sell its rights under a refunding contract, the
secondary market for these contracts may be less liquid than the secondary
market for other types of municipal securities. The Fund generally will not be
obligated to pay the full purchase price if it fails to perform under a
refunding contract. Instead, refunding contracts usually provide for payment of
liquidated damages to the issuer (currently 15-20% of the purchase price). The
Fund may secure its obligation under a refunding contract by depositing
collateral or a letter of credit equal to the liquidated damages provision of
the refunding contract. When required by Securities and Exchange Commission
("SEC") guidelines, the Fund will place liquid assets in a segregated custodial
account equal in amount to its obligations under outstanding refunding
contracts.
ZERO COUPON BONDS. The Bond Funds may invest in zero coupon bonds of
governmental or private issuers that generally pay no interest to their holders
prior to maturity. Since zero coupon bonds do not make regular interest
payments, they allow an issuer to avoid the need to generate cash to meet
current interest payments and may involve greater credit risks than bonds paying
interest currently. Tax laws requiring the distribution of accrued discount on
the bonds, even though no cash equivalent thereto has been paid, may cause a
Fund to liquidate investments in order to make the required distributions.
RISK FACTORS APPLICABLE TO THE MUNICIPAL BOND FUND:
HEALTH CARE SECTOR. The health care industry is subject to regulatory action by
a number of private and governmental agencies, including federal, state and
local governmental agencies. A major source of revenues for the industry is
payments from the Medicare and Medicaid programs. As a result, the industry is
sensitive to legislative changes and reductions in governmental spending for
those programs. Numerous other factors may affect the industry, such as general
and local economic conditions; demand for services; expenses (including
malpractice insurance premiums) and competition among health care providers. In
the future, the following may adversely affect the industry: adoption of
legislation proposing a national health insurance program; medical and
technological advances which alter the demand for health services or the way in
which such services are provided; and efforts by employers, insurers and
governmental agencies to reduce the costs of health insurance and health care
services.
Health care facilities include life care facilities, nursing homes and
hospitals. The Municipal Bond Fund may invest in bonds to finance these
facilities which are typically secured by the revenues from the facilities and
not by state or local government tax payments. Moreover, in the case of life
care facilities, since a portion of housing, medical care and other services may
be financed by an initial deposit, there may be a risk of default in the payment
of principal or interest on a bond issue if the facility does not maintain
adequate financial reserves for debt service.
12
<PAGE>
HOUSING SECTOR. The Municipal Bond Fund may invest in housing revenue bonds
which typically are issued by state, county and local housing authorities and
are secured only by the revenues of mortgages originated by those authorities
using the proceeds of the bond issues. Factors that may affect the financing of
multi-family housing projects include acceptable completion of construction,
proper management, occupancy and rent levels, economic conditions and changes in
regulatory requirements.
Since the demand for mortgages from the proceeds of a bond issue cannot be
precisely predicted, the proceeds may be in excess of demand, which would result
in early retirement of the bonds by the issuer. Since the cash flow from
mortgages cannot be precisely predicted, differences in the actual cash flow
from the assumed cash flow could have an adverse impact upon the issuer's
ability to make scheduled payments of principal and interest or could result in
early retirement of the bonds.
Scheduled principal and interest payments are often made from reserve or sinking
funds. These reserves are funded from the bond proceeds, assuming certain rates
of return on investment of the reserve funds. If the assumed rates of return are
not realized because of changes in interest rate levels or for other reasons,
the actual cash flow for scheduled payments of principal and interest on the
bonds may be inadequate.
ELECTRIC UTILITIES SECTOR. The electric utilities industry has experienced, and
may experience in the future: problems in financing large construction programs
in an inflationary period; cost increases and delays caused by environmental
considerations (particularly with respect to nuclear facilities); difficulties
in obtaining fuel at reasonable prices; the effects of conservation on the
demand for energy; increased competition from alternative energy sources; and
the effects of rapidly changing licensing and safety requirements.
PROPOSED LEGISLATION. From time to time, proposals have been introduced before
Congress for the purpose of restricting or eliminating the federal income tax
exemption for interest on debt obligations issued by states and their political
subdivisions. For example, federal tax law now limits the types and amounts of
tax-exempt bonds issuable for industrial development and other types of private
activities. These limitations may affect the future supply and yields of private
activity securities. Further proposals affecting the value of tax-exempt
securities may be introduced in the future. In addition, proposals have been
made, such as that involving the "flat tax," that could reduce or eliminate the
value of that exemption. If the availability of municipal securities for
investment or the value of the Municipal Bond Fund's holdings could be
materially affected by such changes in the law, the Trustees would reevaluate
the Fund's investment objective and policies or consider the Fund's dissolution.
FUND TURNOVER. Fund turnover rates for the Series and its predecessor fund for
the past 2 years, (or since the date of inception, if applicable) were:
12 MONTHS ENDED 12 MONTHS ENDED
6/30/00 6/30/99
--------------- ---------------
Intermediate Bond 53.23% 36.22%
Municipal Bond 50.26% 23.93%
THE EQUITY FUNDS
The "Equity Funds" are the Large Cap Value, the Mid Cap Value and the Small Cap
Value Funds.
CASH MANAGEMENT. The Equity Fund may invest in cash and cash equivalents,
including high-quality money market instruments and money market funds in order
to manage cash flow. Certain of these instruments are described below.
o MONEY MARKET FUNDS. The Equity Funds may invest in the securities of other
money market mutual funds, within the limits prescribed by the 1940 Act.
o U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS. The Equity Funds may invest in the same debt
securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or
instrumentalities as the Money Market Funds. (See "Money Market Funds -
U.S. Government Obligations.")
13
<PAGE>
o COMMERCIAL PAPER. The Equity Funds may invest in commercial paper.
Commercial paper consists of short-term (up to 270 days) unsecured
promissory notes issued by corporations in order to finance their current
operations. The Funds may invest only in commercial paper rated A-1 or
higher by S&P or Moody's or if not rated, determined by the adviser or
sub-adviser to be of comparable quality.
o BANK OBLIGATIONS. The Equity Funds may invest in the same obligations of
U.S. banks as the Money Market Funds. (See "Money Market Funds - Bank
Obligations.")
CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES. Convertible securities have characteristics similar to
both fixed income and equity securities. Because of the conversion feature, the
market value of convertible securities tends to move together with the market
value of the underlying stock. As a result, a Fund's selection of convertible
securities is based, to a great extent, on the potential for capital
appreciation that may exist in the underlying stock. The value of convertible
securities is also affected by prevailing interest rates, the credit quality of
the issuers and any call provisions.
The Equity Funds may invest in convertible securities that are rated, at the
time of purchase, in the three highest rating categories by a nationally
recognized statistical rating organization ("NRSRO") such as Moody's or S&P, or
if unrated, are determined by the adviser to be of comparable quality. Ratings
represent the rating agency's opinion regarding the quality of the security and
are not a guarantee of quality. Should the rating of a security be downgraded
subsequent to a Fund's purchase of the security, the adviser will determine
whether it is in the best interest of the Fund to retain the security.
DEBT SECURITIES. Debt securities represent money borrowed that obligates the
issuer (e.g., a corporation, municipality, government, government agency) to
repay the borrowed amount at maturity (when the obligation is due and payable)
and usually to pay the holder interest at specific times.
HEDGING STRATEGIES. The Equity Funds may engage in certain hedging strategies
that involve options and futures. These hedging strategies are described in
detail in Appendix A.
ILLIQUID SECURITIES. Each of the Funds may invest no more than 10% of its net
assets in securities that at the time of purchase have legal or contractual
restrictions on resale or are otherwise illiquid. If the limitations on illiquid
securities are exceeded, other than by a change in market values, the condition
will be reported by the Fund's investment adviser to the Board of Trustees.
OPTIONS ON SECURITIES AND SECURITIES INDEXES. The Large Cap Value Fund may
purchase call options on securities that the adviser intends to include in the
Fund in order to fix the cost of a future purchase or attempt to enhance return
by, for example, participating in an anticipated increase in the value of a
security. The Fund may purchase put options to hedge against a decline in the
market value of securities held in the Fund or in an attempt to enhance return.
The Fund may write (sell) put and covered call options on securities in which
they are authorized to invest. The Fund may also purchase put and call options,
and write put and covered call options on U.S. securities indexes. Stock index
options serve to hedge against overall fluctuations in the securities markets
rather than anticipated increases or decreases in the value of a particular
security. Of the 65% of the total assets of the Fund that are invested in equity
(or related) securities, the Fund may not invest more than 10% of such assets in
covered call options on securities and/or options on securities indices.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. The Equity Funds may invest in the same repurchase
agreements, as the Money Market Funds. (See "Money Market Funds - Repurchase
Agreements.")
RESTRICTED SECURITIES. Restricted securities are securities that may not be sold
to the public without registration under the Securities Act of 1933 or an
exemption from registration. Each of the Equity Funds may invest up to 10% of
its net assets in illiquid securities. Restricted securities, including
securities eligible for re-sale under 1933 Act Rule 144A, that are determined to
be liquid are not subject to this limitation. This determination is to be made
by the adviser or a sub-adviser pursuant to guidelines adopted by the Board of
Trustees. Under these guidelines, the adviser or a sub-adviser will consider the
frequency
14
<PAGE>
of trades and quotes for the security, the number of dealers in, and potential
purchasers for, the securities, dealer undertakings to make a market in the
security, and the nature of the security and of the marketplace trades. In
purchasing such restricted securities, the adviser or a sub-adviser intends to
purchase securities that are exempt from registration under Rule 144A under the
1933 Act.
SECURITIES LENDING. The Equity Funds may lend securities subject to the same
conditions applicable to the Bond Funds. (See "Bond Funds - Securities
Lending.")
FUND TURNOVER. Fund turnover rates for the past 2 years, (or since inception, if
applicable) were:
12 MONTHS ENDED 12 MONTHS ENDED
6/30/00 6/30/99
--------------- ---------------
Large Cap Value 136.00% 67.05%
Mid Cap Value 274.00% 118.00%
Small Cap Value 96.00% 64.00%
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS
Except as otherwise provided, the Funds and their corresponding master series
have adopted the investment limitations set forth below. Limitations which are
designated as fundamental policies may not be changed without the affirmative
vote of the lessor of (i) 67% or more of the shares of a Fund present at a
shareholders meeting if holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of
the Fund are present in person or by proxy or (ii) more than 50% of the
outstanding shares of a Fund. If any percentage restriction on investment or
utilization of assets is adhered to at the time an investment is made, a later
change in percentage resulting from a change in the market values of a Fund's
assets or redemptions of shares will not be considered a violation of the
limitation.
MONEY MARKET FUNDS:
Each Fund will not as a matter of fundamental policy:
1. purchase the securities of any one issuer if, as a result, more than 5% of
the Fund's total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer, or
the Fund would own or hold 10% or more of the outstanding voting securities of
that issuer, provided that (1) the Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets
without regard to these limitations; and (2) these limitations do not apply to
securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or
instrumentalities;
2. purchase the securities of any issuer if, as a result, more than 25% of the
Fund's total assets would be invested in the securities of one or more issuers
having their principal business activities in the same industry, however, the
Fund may invest more than 25% of its total assets in the obligations of banks;
3. borrow money, except (1) from a bank for temporary or emergency purposes (not
for leveraging or investment) or (2) by engaging in reverse repurchase
agreements if the Fund's borrowings do not exceed an amount equal to 33 1/3% of
the current value of its assets taken at market value, less liabilities other
than borrowings;
4. make loans to other persons, except by (1) purchasing debt securities in
accordance with its investment objective, policies and limitations; (2) entering
into repurchase agreements; or (3) engaging in securities loan transactions
limited to 33 1/3% of the value of the Fund's total assets;
5. underwrite any issue of securities, except to the extent that the Fund may be
considered to be acting as underwriter in connection with the disposition of any
portfolio security;
6. purchase or sell real estate, provided that the Fund may invest in
obligations secured by real estate or interests therein or obligations issued by
companies that invest in real estate or interests therein;
15
<PAGE>
7. purchase or sell physical commodities or contracts, provided that currencies
and currency-related contracts will not be deemed physical commodities; or
8. issue senior securities, except as appropriate to evidence indebtedness that
the Fund is permitted to incur, provided that the Fund's use of options, futures
contracts and options thereon or currency-related contracts will not be deemed
to be senior securities for this purpose.
THE INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE DO NOT PROHIBIT A FUND FROM INVESTING
ALL OR SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF ITS ASSETS IN THE SHARES OF ANOTHER REGISTERED
OPEN-END INVESTMENT COMPANY SUCH AS THE CORRESPONDING SERIES OF WT INVESTMENT
TRUST I.
With respect to the exclusion from the investment limitation described in number
2 above, the Fund has been advised that it is the SEC staff's current position,
that the exclusion may be applied only to U.S. bank obligations; the Premier
Money Market Fund, however, will consider both foreign and U.S. bank obligations
within this exclusion.
The following non-fundamental policies apply to the Fund unless otherwise
indicated, and the Board of Trustees may change them without shareholder
approval.
Each Fund will not:
1. make short sales of securities except short sales against the box;
2. purchase securities on margin except for the use of short-term credit
necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of portfolio securities;
3. purchase portfolio securities if its outstanding borrowings exceed 5% of the
value of its total assets, and if at any time the Fund's bank borrowings exceed
its fundamental borrowing limitations due to a decline in net assets, such
borrowings will be promptly (within 3 days) reduced to the extent necessary to
comply with such limitations;
4. make loans of portfolio securities unless such loans are fully collateralized
by cash, securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or
instrumentalities, or any combination of cash and securities, marked to market
daily; or
5. purchase the securities of any one issuer if as a result more than 5% of the
Fund's total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer, provided
that this limitation does not apply to securities issued or guaranteed by the
U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities.
BOND FUNDS:
Each Fund will not as a matter of fundamental policy:
1. purchase the securities of any one issuer if, as a result, more than 5% of
the Fund's total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer, or
the Fund would own or hold 10% or more of the outstanding voting securities of
that issuer, provided that (1) each Fund may invest up to 25% of its total
assets without regard to these limitations; and (2) these limitations do not
apply to securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or
instrumentalities;
2. purchase the securities of any issuer if, as a result, more than 25% of the
Fund's total assets would be invested in the securities of one or more issuers
having their principal business activities in the same industry, provided that
this limitation does not apply to securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S.
Government, its agencies or instrumentalities (including repurchase agreements
fully collateralized by U.S. Government obligations) or to tax-exempt municipal
securities;
16
<PAGE>
3. borrow money, provided that the Fund may borrow money from banks for
temporary or emergency purposes (not for leveraging or investment) or by
engaging in reverse repurchase agreements if the Fund's borrowings do not exceed
an amount equal to 33 1/3% of the current value of its assets taken at market
value, less liabilities other than borrowings;
4. make loans to other persons, except by (1) purchasing debt securities in
accordance with its investment objective, policies and limitations; (2) entering
into repurchase agreements; or (3) engaging in securities loan transactions
limited to 33 1/3% of the value of the Fund's total assets;
5. underwrite any issue of securities, except to the extent that the Fund may be
considered to be acting as underwriter in connection with the disposition of any
portfolio security;
6. purchase or sell real estate or real estate limited partnership interests,
provided that the Fund may invest in obligations secured by real estate or
interests therein or obligations issued by companies that invest in real estate
or interests therein, including real estate investment trusts;
7. purchase or sell physical commodities or commodities contracts except
financial and foreign currency futures contracts and options thereon, options on
foreign currencies and forward currency contracts; or
8. issue senior securities, except as appropriate to evidence indebtedness that
the Fund is permitted to incur, provided that futures, options and forward
currency transactions will not be deemed to be senior securities for purposes of
this limitation.
THE INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE DO NOT PROHIBIT A FUND FROM INVESTING
ALL OR SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF ITS ASSETS IN THE SHARES OF ANOTHER REGISTERED
OPEN-END INVESTMENT COMPANY SUCH AS THE CORRESPONDING SERIES OF WT INVESTMENT
TRUST I.
The following non-fundamental policies apply to each Fund and may be changed by
the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Each Fund will not:
1. pledge, mortgage or hypothecate its assets, except the Fund may pledge
securities having a market value at the time of the pledge not exceeding 33 1/3%
of the value of its total assets to secure borrowings, and the Fund may deposit
initial and variation margin in connection with transactions in futures
contracts and options on futures contracts;
2. make short sales of securities except short sales against the box;
3. purchase securities on margin except for the use of short-term credit
necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of portfolio securities,
provided that the Fund may make initial and variation margin deposits in
connection with permitted transactions in options or futures;
4. purchase portfolio securities if its outstanding borrowings exceed 5% of the
value of its total assets;
5. when engaging in options, futures and forward currency contract strategies, a
Fund will either: (1) set aside cash or liquid securities in a segregated
account with the Fund's custodian in the prescribed amount; or (2) hold
securities or other options or futures contracts whose values are expected to
offset ("cover") its obligations thereunder. Securities, currencies or other
options or futures contracts used for cover cannot be sold or closed out while
the strategy is outstanding, unless they are replaced with similar assets;
6. purchase or sell non-hedging futures contracts or related options if
aggregate initial margin and premiums required to establish such positions would
exceed 5% of the Fund's total assets. For purposes of this limitation,
unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any open contracts are taken into
account, and the in-the-money amount of an option that is in-the-money at the
time of purchase is excluded; or
17
<PAGE>
7. write put or call options having aggregate exercise prices greater than 25%
of the Fund's net assets, except with respect to options attached to or acquired
with or traded together with their underlying securities and securities that
incorporate features similar to options.
EQUITY FUNDS:
Each Fund will not as a matter of fundamental policy:
1. purchase the securities of any one issuer, if as a result, more than 5% of
the Fund's total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer, or
the Fund would own or hold 10% or more of the outstanding voting securities of
that issuer, provided that (1) each Fund may invest up to 25% of its total
assets without regard to these limitations and (2) these limitations do not
apply to securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or
instrumentalities;
2. purchase securities of any issuer if, as a result, more than 25% of the
Fund's total assets would be invested in the securities of one or more issuers
having their principal business activities in the same industry, however this
limitation does not apply to investments in short-term obligations issued or
guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities;
3. borrow money, however the Funds may borrow money for temporary or emergency
purposes, including the meeting of redemption requests, in amounts up to 33 1/3%
of a Fund's assets;
4. make loans to other persons, except by (1) purchasing debt securities in
accordance with its investment objective, policies and limitations; (2) entering
into repurchase agreements; or (3) engaging in securities loan transactions;
5. underwrite any issue of securities, except to the extent that the Fund may be
considered to be acting as underwriter in connection with the disposition of any
portfolio security;
6. purchase or sell real estate. The Funds additionally may not invest in any
interest in real estate except securities issued or guaranteed by corporate or
governmental entities secured by real estate or interests therein, such as
mortgage pass-throughs and collateralized mortgage obligations, or issued by
companies that invest in real estate or interests therein;
7. purchase or sell physical commodities. The Funds additionally are restricted
from purchasing or selling contracts, options or options on contracts to
purchase or sell physical commodities; or
8. issue senior securities, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act,
however the Funds may borrow money subject to their investment limitation on
borrowing.
THE INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE DO NOT PROHIBIT A FUND FROM INVESTING
ALL OR SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF ITS ASSETS IN THE SHARES OF ANOTHER REGISTERED
OPEN-END INVESTMENT COMPANY SUCH AS THE CORRESPONDING SERIES OF WT INVESTMENT
TRUST I.
The following non-fundamental policies apply to each Fund unless otherwise
indicated, and the Board of Trustees may change them without shareholder
approval. Each Fund will not:
1. pledge, mortgage or hypothecate its assets except to secure indebtedness
permitted to be incurred by the Fund, provided that the deposit in escrow of
securities in connection with the writing of put and call options,
collateralized loans of securities and collateral arrangements with respect to
margin for future contracts are not deemed to be pledges or hypothecations for
this purpose;
2. make short sales of securities except short sales against the box;
18
<PAGE>
3. purchase securities on margin except for the use of short-term credit
necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of portfolio securities,
however the Funds may make initial and variation margin deposits in connection
with permitted transactions in options without violating this limitation;
4. purchase portfolio securities if its outstanding borrowings exceed 5% of the
value of its total assets.
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
The Board of Trustees supervises the Funds' activities and reviews contractual
arrangements with the Funds' service providers. The Trustees and officers are
listed below. All persons named as Trustees and officers also serve in a similar
capacity for WT Investment Trust I. An asterisk (*) indicates those Trustees who
are "interested persons".
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
------------------------------------- ------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
POSITION(S)
NAME, ADDRESS AND HELD WITH
DATE OF BIRTH THE FUND PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS
------------------------------------- ------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
ROBERT ARNOLD Trustee In 1989, Mr. Arnold founded, and currently co-manages,
152 W. 57th Street, 44th Floor R. H. Arnold & Co., Inc., an investment banking
New York, NY 10019 company. Prior to forming R. H. Arnold & Co., Inc.,
Date of Birth: 3/44 Mr. Arnold was Executive Vice President and a director
to Cambrian Capital Corporation, an investment banking
firm he co-founded in 1987.
------------------------------------- ------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
ROBERT J. CHRISTIAN* Trustee, Mr. Christian has been Chief Investment Officer of
Rodney Square North President Wilmington Trust Company since February 1996 and
1100 N. Market Street Director of Rodney Square Management Corporation since
Wilmington, DE 19890 1996. He was Chairman and Director of PNC Equity
Date of Birth: 2/49 Advisors Company, and President and Chief Investment
Officer of PNC Asset Management Group Inc. from 1994 to
1996. He was Chief Investment Officer of PNC Bank from
1992 to 1996 and Director of Provident Capital
Management from 1993 to 1996.
------------------------------------- ------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
NICHOLAS A. GIORDANO Trustee Mr. Giordano served as interim President of LaSalle
LaSalle University University from July 1, 1998 to June 1999 and was a
Philadelphia, PA 19141 consultant for financial services organizations from
Date of Birth: 3/43 late 1997 through 1998. He served as president and
chief executive officer of the Philadelphia Stock
Exchange from 1981 through August 1997, and also served
as chairman of the board of the exchange's two
subsidiaries: Stock Clearing Corporation of Philadelphia
and Philadelphia Depository Trust Company. Before
joining the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Mr. Giordano
served as chief financial officer at two brokerage firms
(1968-1971). A certified public accountant, he began his
career at Price Waterhouse in 1965.
------------------------------------- ------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
JOHN J. QUINDLEN Trustee Mr. Quindlen has retired as Senior Vice President -
313 Southwinds Finance of E.I. duPont de Nemours & Company, Inc.
1250 W. Southwinds Blvd. (diversified chemicals), a position held from 1984 to
Vero Beach, FL 32963 November 30, 1993. He served as Chief Financial
Date of Birth: 5/32 Officer of E.I. duPont de Nemours & Company from 1984
through June 1993. He also serves as a Director of St.
Joe Paper Co. and as a Trustee of Kalmar Pooled
Investment Trust.
------------------------------------- ------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
19
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
------------------------------------- ------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
POSITION(S)
NAME, ADDRESS AND HELD WITH
DATE OF BIRTH THE FUND PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS
------------------------------------- ------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
LOUIS KLEIN JR. Trustee Self-employed financial consultant from 1991 to the
80 Butternut Lane present. Trustee of Manville Personal Injury
Stamford, CT 06903 Settlement Trust since 1991.
Date of Birth: 5/35
------------------------------------- ------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
CLEMENT C. MOORE, II Trustee Managing Partner, Mariemont Holdings, LLC, a commercial
10 Rockefeller Plaza real estate holding and development company since 1980.
New York, NY 10004
Date of Birth: 9/44
------------------------------------- ------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
ERIC BRUCKER Trustee Dean of the College of Business, Public Policy and
University of Maine Health at the University of Southern Maine since
Orono, ME 04469 September 1998. Dean of the School of Management at
Date of Birth: 12/41 the University of Michigan from 1992 to 1998.
------------------------------------- ------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
WILLIAM P. RICHARDS, JR.* Trustee Managing Director - Client Service and Portfolio
100 Wilshire Boulevard Communication, Roxbury Capital Management since 1998.
Suite 600 Formerly, Senior Vice President and Partner at Van
Santa Monica, CA 90401 Deventer Hoch, investment management firm. Prior to
Date of Birth: 11/36 that, he was with the consulting firm Booz, Allen and
Hamilton
------------------------------------- ------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
ERIC K. CHEUNG Vice From 1978 to 1986, Mr. Cheung was the Portfolio Manager
Rodney Square North President for fixed income assets of the Meritor Financial
1100 N. Market Street Group. In 1986, Mr. Cheung joined Wilmington Trust
Wilmington, DE 19890 Company and in 1991, he became the Division Manager for
Date of Birth: 12/54 all fixed income products.
------------------------------------- ------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
JOHN R. GILES Vice From 1991 to 1996, Mr. Giles was employed by Consistent
Rodney Square North President Asset Management Company; From April 1996 to the
1100 N. Market Street present, Mr. Giles has been employed by Wilmington
Wilmington, DE 19890 Trust Company and serves as Vice President.
Date of Birth: __/__
------------------------------------- ------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
FRED FILOON Vice
520 Madison Avenue President
New York, NY 10022
Date of Birth: __/__
------------------------------------- ------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
PAT COLLETTI Vice Mr. Colletti is Vice President and Director of
400 Bellevue Parkway President Investment Accounting and Administration of PFPC Inc.
Wilmington, DE 19809 and since April 1999. Prior to joining PFPC, Mr. Colletti
Date of Birth: 11/58 Treasurer was Controller for the Reserve Funds since 1986.
------------------------------------- ------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
GARY M. GARDNER Secretary Mr. Gardner has been a Senior Vice President of PFPC
400 Bellevue Parkway Inc. since January 1994. Previously, Mr. Gardner had
Wilmington, DE 19809 provided legal and regulatory advice to mutual funds
Date of Birth: 2/51 and their management for more than twenty years at
Federated Investors, Inc., SunAmerica Asset Management
Corp. and The Boston Company, Inc.
------------------------------------- ------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
On October 29, 2000, the Trustees and officers of the Fund, as a group, owned
beneficially, or may be deemed to have owned beneficially, less than 1% of the
outstanding shares of each Fund.
The fees and expenses of the Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the
Fund ("Independent Trustees"), as defined in the 1940 Act are paid by each Fund.
The following table shows the fees paid during the fiscal year ended June 30,
2000 to the Independent Trustees for their service to the Fund and the
20
<PAGE>
total compensation paid to the Trustees by the WT Fund Complex, which consists
of the Fund and WT Investment Trust I.
TRUSTEES FEES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2000
AGGREGATE TOTAL COMPENSATION
COMPENSATION FROM THE FROM THE WT FUND
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE FUND COMPLEX
------------------- ---- -------
Robert Arnold $10,700 $21,100
Eric Brucker $8,700 $19,600
Nicholas Giordano $11,800 $22,200
Louis Klein, Jr. $8,700 $17,100
Clement C. Moore, II $8,700 $17,100
John J. Quindlen $10,700 $23,600
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
Persons or organizations beneficially owning 25% or more of the outstanding
shares of a Fund may be presumed to "control" the Fund. As a result, those
persons or organizations could have the ability to vote a majority of the shares
of the Fund on any matter requiring the approval of the shareholders of that
Fund. As of October 29, 2000, no entities were known to own beneficially 5% or
more of the outstanding shares of any Fund.
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES
RODNEY SQUARE MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
RSMC serves as the investment adviser to the Prime Money Market Series and the
Tax-Exempt Series. RSMC is a Delaware corporation organized on September 17,
1981. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of WTC, a state-chartered bank organized
as a Delaware corporation in 1903. WTC is a wholly owned subsidiary of
Wilmington Trust Corporation, a publicly held bank holding company. RSMC may
occasionally consult, on an informal basis, with personnel of WTC's investment
departments.
Several affiliates of RSMC are also engaged in the investment advisory business.
Wilmington Trust FSB and Wilmington Brokerage Services Company, both wholly
owned subsidiaries of WTC, are registered investment advisers. In addition, WBSC
is a registered broker-dealer.
For its services as adviser, RSMC received the following fees:
12 MONTHS ENDED 12 MONTHS ENDED 12 MONTHS ENDED
6/30/00 6/30/99 6/30/98
--------------- --------------- ---------------
Prime Money Market Series $9,040,719 $7,672,029 $5,078,193
Tax-Exempt Series $2,104,423 $2,047,289 $1,246,730
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Wilmington Trust Company, the parent of RSMC, is a state-chartered bank
organized as a Delaware corporation in 1903. WTC is a wholly owned subsidiary of
Wilmington Trust Corporation, a publicly held bank holding company. WTC is
engaged in a variety of investment advisory activities, including the management
of collective investment pools, and has nearly a century of experience managing
the personal investments of high net-worth individuals. WTC presently manages
over $__ billion in fixed income assets and approximately $1__ billion in equity
assets for clients.
WTC serves as the adviser to the Intermediate Bond Series and the Municipal Bond
Series.
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For WTC's services as investment adviser to each Series, WTC received the
following fees:
12 MONTHS ENDED 12 MONTHS ENDED 12 MONTHS ENDED
6/30/00 6/30/99 6/30/98
--------------- --------------- ---------------
Intermediate Bond Series $305,276 $322,428 N/A
Municipal Bond Series $55,020 $61,687 $86,481
For its services as adviser, WTC waived the following fees:
12 MONTHS ENDED 12 MONTHS ENDED 12 MONTHS ENDED
6/30/00 6/30/99 6/30/98
--------------- --------------- ---------------
Intermediate Bond Series $143,584 $103,995 N/A
Municipal Bond Series $7,707 $36,996 $81,481
For Institutional shares, CRM has agreed to reimburse expenses to the extent
total operating expenses exceed 0.80% for the Intermediate Bond Fund and 1.00%
for the Municipal Bond Fund. This undertaking will remain in place until the
Board of Trustees approves its termination.
CRAMER ROSENTHAL MCGLYNN, LLC
CRM serves as investment adviser to the Large Cap Value, the Mid Cap Value and
the Small Cap Series. CRM and its predecessors have managed investments in
small, medium and large capitalization companies for over 25 years. CRM is 67%
owned (and therefore controlled) by Cramer, Rosenthal, McGlynn, Inc. ("CRM") and
its shareholders. CRM is registered as an investment adviser with the SEC.
For its services as adviser, CRM received the following fees:
12 MONTHS ENDED 12 MONTHS ENDED 12 MONTHS ENDED
6/30/00 6/30/99 6/30/98
--------------- --------------- ---------------
Large Cap Value Series $305,109 $128,702 $6,174
Mid Cap Value Series $91,720 $40,525 N/A
Small Cap Value Series $1,277,831 $985,563 $1,434,005
For its services as adviser, CRM waived the following fees.
12 MONTHS ENDED 12 MONTHS ENDED 12 MONTHS ENDED
6/30/00 6/30/99 6/30/98
--------------- --------------- ---------------
Large Cap Value Series $112,969 $61,969 $6,174
Mid Cap Value Series $129,279 $40,525 N/A
Small Cap Value Series $0 N/A N/A
For both Institutional and Investor shares, CRM has voluntarily undertaken to
waive a portion of its fees and assume certain expenses of the above Funds to
the extent that the total annual operating expenses exceed 1.15% and 1.50% of
net assets for the Institutional and Investor shares, respectively. This
undertaking will remain in place until the Board of Trustees approves its
termination..
ADVISORY SERVICES. Under the terms of advisory agreements, each adviser agrees
to: (a) direct the investments of each Series, subject to and in accordance with
the Series' investment objective, policies and limitations set forth in the
Prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information; (b) purchase and sell
for each Series, securities and other investments consistent with the Series'
objectives and policies; (c) supply office facilities, equipment and personnel
necessary for servicing the investments of the Series; (d) pay the salaries of
all personnel of the Series and the adviser performing services relating to
research, statistical and investment activities on behalf of the Series; (e)
make available and provide such information as the Series and/or its
administrator may reasonably request for use in the preparation of its
registration statement, reports and other documents required by any applicable
federal, foreign or state statutes or regulations; (f) make its officers and
employees available to the Trustees and officers of the Fund for
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consultation and discussion regarding the management of each Series and its
investment activities. Additionally, each adviser agrees to create and maintain
all necessary records in accordance with all applicable laws, rules and
regulations pertaining to the various functions performed by it and not
otherwise created and maintained by another party pursuant to contract with the
Fund. Each adviser may at any time or times, upon approval by the Board of
Trustees, enter into one or more sub-advisory agreements with a sub-advisor
pursuant to which the adviser delegates any or all of its duties as listed.
The agreements provide that each adviser shall not be liable for any error of
judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by a Series in connection
with the matters to which the agreement relates, except to the extent of a loss
resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on its part in
the performance of its obligations and duties under the agreement.
The salaries of any officers and the interested Trustees of the Funds who are
affiliated with an adviser and the salaries of all personnel of each adviser
performing services for each Fund relating to research, statistical and
investment activities are paid by the adviser.
The Fund, the Series and the Series' investment advisers have each adopted a
code of ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act. Among other provisions,
such codes require investment personnel and certain other employees to pre-clear
securities transactions that are subject to the code of ethics, to file reports
or duplicate confirmations regarding personal securities transactions and to
refrain from engaging in short-term trading of a security and transactions of a
security within seven days of a Series' portfolio transaction involving the same
security. Directors/trustees, officers and employees of the Fund, the Series,
and each adviser are required to abide by the provisions under their respective
code of ethics. On a quarterly and annual basis, the Board of Trustees reviews
reports regarding the codes of ethics, including information on any substantial
violations of the codes.
ADMINISTRATION AND ACCOUNTING SERVICES
Under separate Administration and Accounting Services Agreements, PFPC Inc., 400
Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809 performs certain administrative and
accounting services for WT Mutual Fund and WT Investment Trust I. These services
include preparing shareholder reports, providing statistical and research data,
assisting the advisers in compliance monitoring activities, and preparing and
filing federal and state tax returns on behalf of the Fund and the Trust. In
addition, PFPC prepares and files various reports with the appropriate
regulatory agencies and prepares materials required by the SEC or any state
securities commission having jurisdiction over the Fund. The accounting services
performed by PFPC include determining the net asset value per share of each Fund
and maintaining records relating to the securities transactions of the Fund. The
Administration and Accounting Services Agreements provides that PFPC and its
affiliates shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or
for any loss suffered by the Fund or its Funds, except to the extent of a loss
resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on their part
in the performance of their obligations and duties under the Administration and
Accounting Services Agreements.
ADDITIONAL SERVICE PROVIDERS
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS. Ernst & Young LLP serves as the independent auditor to the
Funds and the Series providing services which include (1) auditing the annual
financial statements for the Funds, (2) assistance and consultation in
connection with SEC filings and (3) preparation of the annual federal income tax
returns filed on behalf of each Fund.
LEGAL COUNSEL. Pepper Hamilton LLP, 3000 Two Logan Square, 18th and Arch
Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19103, serves as counsel to the Fund and WT Investment
Trust I.
CUSTODIAN. Wilmington Trust Company, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington DE
19890, serves as the Custodian.
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TRANSFER AGENT. PFPC Inc., 400 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19890-0001,
serves as the Transfer Agent and Dividend Paying Agent.
DISTRIBUTION OF SHARES
Provident Distributors, Inc. 3200 Horizon Drive, King of Prussia, PA 19406,
serves as the underwriter of the Funds' shares pursuant to a Distribution
Agreement with the Fund. Pursuant to the terms of the Distribution Agreement,
PDI is granted the right to sell the shares of the Funds as agent for the Fund.
Shares of the Funds are offered continuously.
Under the terms of the Distribution Agreement, PDI agrees to use all reasonable
efforts to secure purchasers for Investor class shares of the Funds. PDI
receives no underwriting commissions in connection with the sale of the Funds'
shares.
The Distribution Agreement provides that PDI, in the absence of willful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or
by reason of reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under the
Agreements, will not be liable to the Funds or their shareholders for losses
arising in connection with the sale of Fund shares.
BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES
The advisers place all portfolio transactions on behalf of each Series. Debt
securities purchased and sold by the Series are generally traded on the dealer
market on a net basis (i.e., without commission) through dealers acting for
their own account and not as brokers, or otherwise involve transactions directly
with the issuer of the instrument. This means that a dealer (the securities firm
or bank dealing with a Series) makes a market for securities by offering to buy
at one price and sell at a slightly higher price. The difference between the
prices is known as a spread. When securities are purchased in underwritten
offerings, they include a fixed amount of compensation to the underwriter.
The primary objective of the advisers in placing orders on behalf of the Series
for the purchase and sale of securities is to obtain best execution at the most
favorable prices through responsible brokers or dealers and, where the spread or
commission rates are negotiable, at competitive rates. In selecting a broker or
dealer, each adviser considers, among other things: (i) the price of the
securities to be purchased or sold; (ii) the rate of the spread or commission;
(iii) the size and difficulty of the order; (iv) the nature and character of the
spread or commission for the securities to be purchased or sold; (v) the
reliability, integrity, financial condition, general execution and operational
capability of the broker or dealer; and (vi) the quality of any research or
statistical services provided by the broker or dealer to the Series or to the
advisers.
The advisers cannot readily determine the extent to which spreads or commission
rates or net prices charged by brokers or dealers reflect the value of their
research, analysis, advice and similar services. In such cases, each adviser
receives services it otherwise might have had to perform itself. The research,
analysis, advice and similar services provided by brokers or dealers can be
useful to the advisers in serving its other clients, as well as in serving the
Series. Conversely, information provided to the advisers by brokers or dealers
who have executed transaction orders on behalf of other clients of the adviser
may be useful in providing services to the Series. During the twelve-month
periods ended June 30, 2000, 1999 and 1998, the Series paid the following
brokerage commissions:
24
<PAGE>
12 MONTHS ENDED 12 MONTHS ENDED 12 MONTHS ENDED
6/30/00 6/30/99 6/30/98
--------------- --------------- ---------------
Prime Money Market Series N/A N/A N/A
Tax-Exempt Series N/A N/A N/A
Intermediate Bond Series N/A N/A N/A
Municipal Bond Series N/A N/A N/A
Large Cap Value Series $307,935 $234,362 N/A
Mid Cap Value Series $93,494 $52,621 $16,841
Small Cap Value Series $463,676 $424,842 $397,058
Some of the advisers' other clients have investment objectives and programs
similar to that of the Series. Occasionally, recommendations made to other
clients may result in their purchasing or selling securities simultaneously with
the Series. Consequently, the demand for securities being purchased or the
supply of securities being sold may increase, and this could have an adverse
effect on the price of those securities. It is the policy of the advisers not to
favor one client over another in making recommendations or in placing orders. In
the event of a simultaneous transaction, purchases or sales are averaged as to
price, transaction costs are allocated between a Series and other clients
participating in the transaction on a pro rata basis and purchases and sales are
normally allocated between the Series and the other clients as to amount
according to a formula determined prior to the execution of such transactions.
CAPITAL STOCK AND OTHER SECURITIES
The Fund issues two separate classes of shares, Institutional and Investor
shares, for each Fund with a par value of $.01 per share. The shares of each
Fund, when issued and paid for in accordance with the prospectus, will be fully
paid and non-assessable shares, with equal voting rights and no preferences as
to conversion, exchange, dividends, redemption or any other feature.
The separate classes of shares each represent interests in the same portfolio of
investments, have the same rights and are identical in all respects, except that
the Investor class shares bear shareholder services fees. The net income
attributable to Investor shares and the dividends payable on Investor shares
will be reduced by the amount of the shareholder services fees; accordingly, the
net asset value of the Investor shares will be reduced by such amount to the
extent the Fund has undistributed net income.
Shares of a Fund entitle holders to one vote per share and fractional votes for
fractional shares held. Shares have non-cumulative voting rights, do not have
preemptive or subscription rights and are transferable. Each Fund and class
takes separate votes on matters affecting only that Fund or class. For example,
a change in the fundamental investment policies for a Fund would be voted upon
only by shareholders of that Fund.
The Funds do not hold annual meetings of shareholders. The Trustees are required
to call a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of voting upon the question of
removal of any Trustee when requested in writing to do so by the shareholders of
record owning not less than 10% of a Fund's outstanding shares.
PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES
PURCHASE OF SHARES. Information regarding the purchase of shares is discussed in
the "Purchase of Shares" section of the prospectus. Additional methods to
purchase shares are as follows:
INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS: You may purchase shares of the Funds for a
tax-deferred retirement plan such as an individual retirement account ("IRA").
To order an application for an IRA and a brochure describing a Fund IRA, call
the Transfer Agent at (800) CRM-2883. PFPC Trust Company, as custodian for each
IRA account receives an annual fee of $10 per account, paid directly to PFPC
Trust Company by the IRA shareholder. If the fee is not paid by the due date,
the appropriate number of Fund shares owned by the IRA will be redeemed
automatically as payment.
25
<PAGE>
AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT PLAN: You may purchase Fund shares through an Automatic
Investment Plan ("AIP"). Under the AIP, the Transfer Agent, at regular
intervals, will automatically debit your bank checking account in an amount of
$50 or more (after the $1,000 minimum initial investment). You may elect to
invest the specified amount monthly, bimonthly, quarterly, semiannually or
annually. The purchase of Fund shares will be effected at their offering price
at 12:00 p.m. Eastern time for the Tax-Exempt Fund, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time
for the Prime Money Market, Premier Money Market and U.S. Government Funds, or
at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange ("Exchange")
(currently 4:00 p.m., Eastern time), for the Bond and Equity Funds, on or about
the 20th day of the month. For an application for the Automatic Investment Plan,
check the appropriate box of the application or call the Transfer Agent at (800)
CRM-2883.
PAYROLL INVESTMENT PLAN: The Payroll Investment Plan ("PIP") permits you to make
regularly scheduled purchases of Fund shares through payroll deductions. To open
a PIP account, you must submit a completed account application, payroll
deduction form and the minimum initial deposit to your employer's payroll
department. Then, a portion of your paychecks will automatically be transferred
to your PIP account for as long as you wish to participate in the plan. It is
the sole responsibility of your employer, not the Fund, the distributor, the
advisers or the transfer agent, to arrange for transactions under the PIP. The
Fund reserves the right to vary its minimum purchase requirements for employees
participating in a PIP.
REDEMPTION OF SHARES. Information regarding the redemption of shares is
discussed in the "Redemption of Shares" section of the prospectus. Additional
methods to redeem shares are as follows:
BY CHECK: You may utilize the check writing option to redeem shares of the Prime
Money Market and the Tax-Exempt Funds by drawing a check for $500 or more
against a Fund account. When the check is presented for payment, a sufficient
number of shares will be redeemed from your Fund account to cover the amount of
the check. This procedure enables you to continue receiving dividends on those
shares until the check is presented for payment. Because the aggregate amount of
Fund shares owned is likely to change each day, you should not attempt to redeem
all shares held in your account by using the check writing procedure. Charges
will be imposed for specially imprinted checks, business checks, copies of
canceled checks, stop payment orders, checks returned due to "nonsufficient
funds" and returned checks. These charges will be paid by automatically
redeeming an appropriate number of Fund shares. Each Fund and the Transfer Agent
reserve the right to terminate or alter the check writing service at any time.
The Transfer Agent also reserves the right to impose a service charge in
connection with the check writing service. If you are interested in the check
writing service, contact the Transfer Agency for further information. This
service is generally not available for Service Organization clients who are
provided a similar service by those organizations.
BY WIRE: Redemption proceeds may be wired to your predesignated bank account in
any commercial bank in the United States if the amount is $1,000 or more. The
receiving bank may charge a fee for this service. Proceeds may also be mailed to
your bank or, for amounts of $10,000 or less, mailed to your Fund account
address of record if the address has been established for at least 60 days. In
order to authorize the Transfer Agent to mail redemption proceeds to your Fund
account address of record, complete the appropriate section of the Application
for Telephone Redemptions or include your Fund account address of record when
you submit written instructions. You may change the account that you have
designated to receive amounts redeemed at any time. Any request to change the
account designated to receive redemption proceeds should be accompanied by a
guarantee of the shareholder's signature by an eligible institution. A signature
and a signature guarantee are required for each person in whose name the account
is registered. Further documentation will be required to change the designated
account when a corporation, other organization, trust, fiduciary or other
institutional investor holds the Fund shares.
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN: If you own shares of a Fund with a value of $10,000
or more you may participate in the Systematic Withdrawal Plan ("SWP"). Under the
SWP, you may automatically redeem a portion of your account monthly, bimonthly,
quarterly, semiannually or annually. The minimum withdrawal available is $100.
The redemption of Fund shares will be effected at the NAV determined on or about
the 25th day of the month.
26
<PAGE>
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING REDEMPTIONS: To ensure proper authorization
before redeeming shares of the Funds, the Transfer Agent may require additional
documents such as, but not restricted to, stock powers, trust instruments, death
certificates, appointments as fiduciary, certificates of corporate authority and
waivers of tax required in some states when settling estates.
Clients of Service Organizations who have purchased shares through their
accounts with those Service Organizations should contact the Service
Organization prior to submitting a redemption request to ensure that all
necessary documents accompany the request. When shares are held in the name of a
corporation, other organization, trust, fiduciary or other institutional
investor, the Transfer Agent requires, in addition to the stock power, certified
evidence of authority to sign the necessary instruments of transfer. THESE
PROCEDURES ARE FOR THE PROTECTION OF SHAREHOLDERS AND SHOULD BE FOLLOWED TO
ENSURE PROMPT PAYMENT. Redemption requests must not be conditional as to date or
price of the redemption. Proceeds of a redemption will be sent within 7 days of
acceptance of shares tendered for redemption. Delay may result if the purchase
check has not yet cleared, but the delay will be no longer than required to
verify that the purchase check has cleared, and the Funds will act as quickly as
possible to minimize delay.
The value of shares redeemed may be more or less than the shareholder's cost,
depending on the net asset value at the time of redemption. Redemption of shares
may result in tax consequences (gain or loss) to the shareholder, and the
proceeds of a redemption may be subject to backup withholding.
A shareholder's right to redeem shares and to receive payment therefore may be
suspended when (a) the Exchange is closed, other than customary weekend and
holiday closings, (b) trading on the Exchange is restricted, (c) an emergency
exists as a result of which it is not reasonably practicable to dispose of a
Fund's securities or to determine the value of a Fund's net assets, or (d)
ordered by a governmental body having jurisdiction over a Fund for the
protection of the Fund's shareholders, provided that applicable rules and
regulations of the SEC (or any succeeding governmental authority) shall govern
as to whether a condition described in (b), (c) or (d) exists. In case of such
suspension, shareholders of the affected Fund may withdraw their requests for
redemption or may receive payment based on the net asset value of the Fund next
determined after the suspension is lifted.
Each Fund reserves the right, if conditions exist which make cash payments
undesirable, to honor any request for redemption by making payment in whole or
in part with readily marketable securities chosen by the Fund and valued in the
same way as they would be valued for purposes of computing the net asset value
of the applicable Fund. If payment is made in securities, a shareholder may
incur transaction expenses in converting these securities into cash. Each Fund
has elected, however, to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act, as a
result of which a Fund is obligated to redeem shares solely in cash if the
redemption requests are made by one shareholder account up to the lesser of
$250,000 or 1% of the net assets of the applicable Fund during any 90-day
period. This election is irrevocable unless the SEC permits its withdrawal.
PRICING OF SHARES. The Money Market Funds' securities are valued on the basis of
the amortized cost valuation technique. This involves valuing a security
initially at its cost and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to
maturity of any discount or premium, regardless of fluctuating interest rates on
the market value of the security. The valuation of the Fund's securities based
upon their amortized cost and the accompanying maintenance of the Fund's per
share net asset value of $1.00 is permitted in accordance with Rule 2a-7 under
the 1940 Act. Certain conditions imposed by that Rule are set forth under
"Investment Policies." In connection with the use of the amortized cost
valuation technique, each Fund's Board of Trustees has established procedures
delegating to the adviser the responsibility for maintaining a constant net
asset value per share. Such procedures include a daily review of the Fund's
holdings to determine whether the Fund's net asset value, calculated based upon
available market quotations, deviates from $1.00 per share. Should any deviation
exceed 1/2 of 1% of $1.00, the Trustees will promptly consider whether any
corrective action should be initiated to eliminate or reduce material dilution
or other unfair results to shareholders. Such corrective action may include
selling of portfolio securities prior to maturity to realize capital gains or
losses, shortening average portfolio maturity, withholding dividends, redeeming
shares in kind and establishing a net asset value per share based upon available
market quotations.
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<PAGE>
Should the Money Market Funds incur or anticipate any unusual expense or loss or
depreciation that would adversely affect its net asset value per share or income
for a particular period, the Trustees would at that time consider whether to
adhere to the current dividend policy or to revise it in light of the then
prevailing circumstances. For example, if the Fund's net asset value per share
were reduced, or were anticipated to be reduced, below $1.00, the Trustees could
suspend or reduce further dividend payments until the net asset value returned
to $1.00 per share. Thus, such expenses or losses or depreciation could result
in investors receiving no dividends or reduced dividends for the period during
which they held their shares or in their receiving upon redemption a price per
share lower than that which they paid.
For the Bond Funds and the Equity Funds, the net asset value per share of each
Fund is determined by dividing the value of the Fund's net assets by the total
number of Fund shares outstanding. This determination is made by PFPC, as of the
close of regular trading on the Exchange (currently 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time)
each day the Funds are open for business. The Funds are open for business on
days when the Exchange, PFPC and the Philadelphia branch office of the Federal
Reserve are open for business.
In valuing a Fund's assets, a security listed on the Exchange (and not subject
to restrictions against sale by the Fund on the Exchange) will be valued at its
last sale price on the Exchange on the day the security is valued. Lacking any
sales on such day, the security will be valued at the mean between the closing
asked price and the closing bid price. Securities listed on other exchanges (and
not subject to restriction against sale by the Fund on such exchanges) will be
similarly valued, using quotations on the exchange on which the security is
traded most extensively. Unlisted securities that are quoted on the National
Association of Securities Dealers' National Market System, for which there have
been sales of such securities on such day, shall be valued at the last sale
price reported on such system on the day the security is valued. If there are no
such sales on such day, the value shall be the mean between the closing asked
price and the closing bid price. The value of such securities quoted on the
NASDAQ Stock Market System, but not listed on the National Market System, shall
be valued at the mean between the closing asked price and the closing bid price.
Unlisted securities that are not quoted on the NASDAQ Stock Market System and
for which over-the-counter market quotations are readily available will be
valued at the mean between the current bid and asked prices for such security in
the over-the-counter market. Other unlisted securities (and listed securities
subject to restriction on sale) will be valued at fair value as determined in
good faith under the direction of the Board of Trustees although the actual
calculation may be done by others. Short-term investments with remaining
maturities of less than 61 days are valued at amortized cost.
DIVIDENDS
Dividends from the Money Market Funds are declared on each Business Day and paid
to shareholders, generally on the first Business Day of the following month. The
dividend for a Business Day immediately preceding a weekend or holiday normally
includes an amount equal to the net income for the subsequent non-Business Days
on which dividends are not declared. However, no such dividend includes any
amount of net income earned in a subsequent semiannual accounting period. A
portion of the dividends paid by the Fund may be exempt from state taxes.
Dividends from the Bond Funds' net investment income are declared on each
Business Day and paid to shareholders ordinarily on the first Business Day of
the following month. The dividend for a Business Day immediately preceding a
weekend or holiday normally includes an amount equal to the net income expected
for the subsequent non-Business Days on which dividends are not declared.
However, no such dividend included any amount of net income earned in a
subsequent semiannual period. Net short-term capital gain and net capital gain
(the excess of net long-term capital gain over the short-term capital loss)
realized by each Fund, after deducting any available capital loss carryovers,
are declared and paid annually.
Dividends from the Equity Funds' net investment income and distributions of net
short-term capital gain and net capital gain (the excess of net long-term
capital gain over the short-term capital loss), realized by each Fund, after
deducting any available capital loss carryovers are declared and paid to its
shareholders annually.
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TAXATION OF THE FUNDS
GENERAL. Each Fund is treated as a separate corporation for federal income tax
purposes. To qualify or continue to qualify for treatment as a regulated
investment company ("RIC") under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the "Code"), each Fund must distribute to its shareholders for each taxable
year at least 90% of its investment company taxable income (consisting generally
of net investment income and net short-term capital gain and must meet several
additional requirements. For each Fund, these requirements include the
following: (1) the Fund must derive at least 90% of its gross income each
taxable year 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 (including gains from options, futures and forward
contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in securities or
those currencies; (2) 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, with these other securities limited, in respect of any one issuer,
to an amount that does not exceed 5% of the value of the Fund's total assets and
that does not represent more than 10% of the issuer's outstanding voting
securities; and (3) at the close of each quarter of the Fund's taxable year, not
more than 25% of the value of its total assets may be invested in securities
(other than U.S. Government securities or the securities of other RICs) of any
one issuer.
If a Fund failed to qualify for treatment as a RIC in any taxable year, it would
be subject to tax on its taxable income at corporate rates and all distributions
from earnings and profits, including any distributions from net capital gain
(the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss),
would be taxable to its shareholders as ordinary income. In addition, the Fund
could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and
interest and make substantial distributions before qualifying again for RIC
treatment.
Each Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax (the "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.
Each Fund will be taxed on the amount of its undistributed net capital gain over
the amount of its deduction for dividends paid, determined with reference to
capital gain dividends only. Each Fund is permitted to elect to include all or a
portion of such undistributed net capital gain in the income of its shareholders
on the last day of its taxable year. In such case the shareholder is given
credit for the tax that the RIC paid and is entitled to increase its basis by
the difference between the amount of includible gain and tax deemed paid.
Currently, an individual's maximum tax rate on long-term capital gains is 20%. A
capital gain dividend is treated by the shareholders as a long-term capital gain
regardless of how long the Investor has owned the stock in a Fund.
If a Fund invests in any instruments that generate taxable income, under the
circumstances described in the prospectus, distributions of the interest earned
thereon will be taxable to its shareholders as ordinary income to the extent of
its earnings and profits. If such distribution to its shareholders is in excess
of its current and accumulated earnings and profits in any taxable year, the
excess distribution will be treated by each shareholder as a return of capital
to the extent of the shareholder's tax basis and thereafter as capital gain. If
a Fund realizes capital gain as a result of market transactions, any
distribution of that gain will be taxable to its shareholders and treated as a
capital gain.
Dividends and other distributions declared by a Fund in October, November or
December of any year and payable to shareholders of record on a date in one of
those months will be deemed to have been paid by the Fund and received by the
shareholders on December 31 of that year if they are paid by the Fund during the
following January. Accordingly, such distributions will be taxed to the
shareholders for the year in which that December 31 falls.
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<PAGE>
Investors should be aware that if Fund shares are purchased shortly before the
record date for any dividend (other than an exempt-interest dividend) or capital
gain distribution, the shareholder will pay full price for the shares and will
receive some portion of the price back as a taxable distribution.
Any loss realized by a shareholder on the redemption of shares within six months
from the date of their purchase will be treated as a long-term, instead of a
short-term, capital loss to the extent of any capital gain distributions (or
undistributed capital gain) to that shareholder with respect to those shares.
MONEY MARKET FUNDS:
Distributions from the Funds' investment company taxable income, if any, are
taxable to its shareholders as ordinary income to the extent of the Funds'
earnings and profits. Because the Funds' net investment income is derived from
interest rather than dividends, no portion of the distributions thereof is
eligible for the dividends-received deduction allowed to corporate shareholders.
BOND FUNDS:
Each Bond Fund may acquire zero coupon securities issued with original issue
discount. As a holder of those securities, a Fund must take into account the
original issue discount that accrues on the securities during the taxable year,
even if it receives no corresponding payment on them during the year. Because
each Fund must distribute annually substantially all of its investment company
taxable income and net tax-exempt income, including any original issue discount,
to satisfy the distribution requirements for RICs under the Code and (except
with respect to tax-exempt income) avoid imposition of the Excise Tax, a Fund
may be required in a particular year to distribute as a dividend an amount that
is greater than the total amount of cash it actually receives. Those
distributions will be made from a Fund's cash assets or from the proceeds of
sales of portfolio securities, if necessary. A Fund may realize capital gains or
losses from those sales, which would increase or decrease its investment company
taxable income and/or net capital gain.
TAX-EXEMPT FUND AND MUNICIPAL BOND FUND: Each of these Funds will be able to pay
exempt-interest dividends to its shareholders only if, at the close of each
quarter of its taxable year, at least 50% of the value of its total assets
consists of obligations the interest on which is excludable from gross income
under Section 103(a) of the Code; both Funds intend to continue to satisfy this
requirement. Distributions that a Fund properly designates as exempt-interest
dividends are treated by its shareholders as interest excludable from their
gross income for federal income tax purposes but may be tax preference items for
purposes of the Alternative Minimum Tax ("AMT"). The aggregate dividends
excludable from the shareholders' gross income may not exceed the Fund's net
tax-exempt income. The shareholders' treatment of dividends from a Fund under
state and local income tax laws may differ from the treatment thereof under the
Code. In order to qualify to pay exempt-interest dividends, each Fund may be
limited in its ability to engage in taxable transactions such as repurchase
agreements, options and futures strategies and portfolio securities lending.
Tax-exempt interest attributable to certain "private activity bonds" ("PABs")
(including, in the case of a RIC receiving interest on those bonds, a
proportionate part of the exempt-interest dividends paid by the RIC) is a tax
preference item for purposes of AMT. Furthermore, even interest on tax-exempt
securities held by a Fund that are not PABs, which interest otherwise would not
be a tax preference item, nevertheless may be indirectly subject to the federal
alternative minimum tax in the hands of corporate shareholders when distributed
to them by the Fund. Generally, PABs are issued by or on behalf of public
authorities to finance various privately operated facilities. Entities or
persons who are "substantial users" (or persons related to "substantial users")
of facilities financed by industrial development bonds or PABs should consult
their tax advisers before purchasing a Fund's shares. For these purposes, the
term "substantial user" is defined generally to include a "non-exempt person"
who regularly uses in trade or business a part of a facility financed from the
proceeds of such bonds.
Individuals who receive Social Security and railroad retirement benefits may be
required to include up to 85% of such benefits in taxable income if their
adjusted gross income (including income from tax-exempt sources such as the
Tax-Exempt Municipal Bond Funds) plus 50% of their benefits exceeds certain base
amounts. Exempt-interest dividends from each Fund still are tax-exempt to the
extent described in the prospectus; they are only included in the calculation of
whether a recipient's income exceeds the established amounts.
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<PAGE>
The Municipal Bond Fund may invest in municipal bonds that are purchased with
"market discount." For these purposes, market discount is the amount by which a
bond's purchase price is exceeded by its stated redemption price at maturity or,
in the case of a bond that was issued with original issue discount ("OID"), the
sum of its issue price plus accrued OID, except that market discount that is
less than the product of (1) 0.25% of the redemption price at maturity times and
(2) the number of complete years to maturity after the taxpayer acquired the
bond is disregarded. Market discount generally is accrued ratably, on a daily
basis, over the period from the acquisition date to the date of maturity. Gain
on the disposition of such a bond (other than a bond with a fixed maturity date
within one year from its issuance) generally is treated as ordinary (taxable)
income, rather than capital gain, to the extent of the bond's accrued market
discount at the time of disposition. In lieu of treating the disposition gain as
above, the Municipal Bond Fund may elect to include market discount in its gross
income currently, for each taxable year to which it is attributable.
The Tax-Exempt Municipal Bond Funds informs shareholders within 60 days after
its fiscal year-end (August 31) of the percentage of its income distributions
designated as exempt-interest dividends. The percentage is applied uniformly to
all distributions made during the year, so the percentage designated as
tax-exempt for any particular distribution may be substantially different from
the percentage of the Fund's income that was tax-exempt during the period
covered by the distribution.
INTERMEDIATE BOND FUND: Interest and dividends received by the Intermediate Bond
Fund, and gains realized thereby, may be subject to income, withholding or other
taxes imposed by foreign countries and U.S. possessions that would reduce the
yield and/or total return on their securities. Tax conventions between certain
countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate these taxes, however,
and many foreign countries do not impose taxes on capital gains in respect of
investments by foreign investors.
EQUITY FUNDS:
It is anticipated that all or a portion of the dividends from the net investment
income of each Equity Fund will qualify for the dividends-received deduction
allowed to corporations. Corporate shareholders of these Funds are generally
entitled to take the dividends received deduction with respect to all or a
portion of the ordinary income dividends paid, to the extent of the Fund's
qualifying dividend income. The qualifying portion may not exceed the aggregate
dividends received by the Fund from U.S. corporations. However, dividends
received by a corporate shareholder and deducted by it pursuant to the
dividends-received deduction are subject indirectly to the federal alternative
minimum tax. Moreover, the dividends-received deduction will be reduced to the
extent the shares with respect to which the dividends are received are treated
as debt-financed and will be eliminated if those shares are deemed to have been
held for less than 46 days. Distributions of net short-term capital gain and net
capital gain are not eligible for the dividends-received deduction.
Each Equity Fund will inform shareholders within 60 days after their fiscal
year-end of the percentage of its dividends designated as qualifying for the
dividends received deduction.
HEDGING TRANSACTIONS. The use of hedging strategies, such as writing (selling)
and purchasing options and futures contracts and entering into forward currency
contracts, involves complex rules that will determine for federal income tax
purposes the amount, character and timing of recognition of the gains and losses
a Fund realizes in connection therewith. Gains from the disposition of foreign
currencies (except certain gains that may be excluded by future regulations) and
gains from options, futures and foreign currency contracts derived by a Fund
with respect to its business of investing in securities qualify as permissible
income under the Income Requirement.
31
<PAGE>
SHORT SALES. Gain or loss from a short sale of property is generally considered
as capital gain or loss to the extent the property used to close the short sale
constitutes a capital asset in the Fund's hands. Except in certain situations,
special rules would generally treat the gains on short sales as short-term
capital gains and would terminate the running of the holding period of
"substantially identical property" held by the Fund. Moreover, a loss on a short
sale will be treated as a long-term loss if, on the date of the short sale,
"substantially identical property" held by the Fund has a long-term holding
period.
STRADDLES. Code Section 1092 (dealing with straddles) also may affect the
taxation of options and futures contracts in which a Fund may invest. Section
1092 defines a "straddle" as offsetting positions with respect to personal
property; for these purposes, options and futures contracts are personal
property. Under section 1092, any loss from the disposition of a position in a
straddle generally may be deducted only to the extent the loss exceeds the
unrealized gain on the offsetting position(s) of the straddle. Section 1092 also
provides certain "wash sale" rules, which apply to transactions where a position
is sold at a loss and a new offsetting position is acquired within a prescribed
period, and "short sale" rules applicable to straddles. If a Fund makes certain
elections, the amount, character and timing of the recognition of gains and
losses from the affected straddle positions would be determined under rules that
vary according to the elections made. Because only a few of the regulations
implementing the straddle rules have been promulgated, the tax consequences to a
Fund of straddle transactions are not entirely clear.
CONSTRUCTIVE SALE. If a Fund has an "appreciated financial position" --
generally, an interest (including an interest through an option, futures or
forward contract or short sale) with respect to any stock, debt instrument
(other than "straight debt") or partnership interest the fair market value of
which exceeds its adjusted basis -and enters into a "constructive sale" of the
same or substantially similar property, the Fund will be treated as having made
an actual sale thereof, with the result that gain will be recognized at that
time. A constructive sale generally consists of a short sale, an offsetting
notional principal contract or futures or forward contract entered into by a
Fund or a related person with respect to the same or substantially similar
property. In addition, if the appreciated financial position is itself a short
sale or such a contract, acquisition of the underlying property or substantially
similar property will be deemed a constructive sale.
The foregoing tax discussion is a summary included for general informational
purposes only. Each shareholder is advised to consult its own tax adviser with
respect to the specific tax consequences to it of an investment in a Fund,
including the effect and applicability of state, local, foreign and other tax
laws and the possible effects of changes in federal or other tax laws.
Shortly after the end of each year, PFPC calculates the federal income tax
status of all distributions made during the year. In addition to federal income
tax, shareholders may be subject to state and local taxes on
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<PAGE>
distributions from a Fund. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers
regarding specific questions relating to federal, state and local taxes.
CALCULATION OF PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
The performance of a Fund may be quoted in terms of its yield and its total
return in advertising and other promotional materials. Performance data quoted
represents past performance and is not intended to indicate future performance.
Performance of the Funds will vary based on changes in market conditions and the
level of each Fund's expenses. These performance figures are calculated in the
following manner:
MONEY MARKET FUNDS:
A. YIELD for a money market fund is the net annualized yield for a
specified 7 calendar days calculated at simple interest rates. Yield
is calculated by determining the net change, exclusive of capital
changes, in the value of a hypothetical pre-existing account having a
balance of one share at the beginning of the period, subtracting a
hypothetical charge reflecting deductions from shareholder accounts,
and dividing the difference by the value of the account at the
beginning of the base period to obtain the base period return. The
yield is annualized by multiplying the base period return by 365/7.
The yield figure is stated to the nearest hundredth of one percent.
The yield for the 7-day period ended June 30, 2000 was:
Prime Money Market Fund 6.14%
Tax-Exempt Fund 3.96%
B. EFFECTIVE YIELD is the net annualized yield for a specified 7 calendar
days assuming reinvestment of income or compounding. Effective yield
is calculated by the same method as yield except the yield figure is
compounded by adding 1, raising the sum to a power equal to 365
divided by 7, and subtracting 1 from the result, according to the
following formula:
Effective yield = [(Base Period Return + 1) 365/7] - 1.
The effective yield for the 7-day period ended June 30, 2000 was:
Prime Money Market Fund 6.33%
Tax-Exempt Fund 4.04%
ALL FUNDS:
A. AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN is the average annual compound rate of
return for the periods of one year, five years, ten years and the life
of a Fund, where applicable, all ended on the last day of a recent
calendar quarter. Average annual total return quotations reflect
changes in the price of a Fund's shares, if any, and assume that all
dividends during the respective periods were reinvested in Fund
shares. Average annual total return is calculated by finding the
average annual compound rates of return of a hypothetical investment
over such periods, according to the following formula (average annual
total return is then expressed as a percentage):
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T = (ERV/P)1/n - 1
Where: P = a hypothetical initial investment of $1,000
T = average annual total return
n = number of years
ERV = ending redeemable value: ERV is the value,
at the end of the applicable period, of a
hypothetical $1,000 investment made at the
beginning of the applicable period.
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN FOR PERIODS ENDED JUNE 30, 2000
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1 YEAR 5 YEAR 10 YEAR
------ ------ -------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Prime Money Market (1) 5.45% 5.20% 4.92%
Tax-Exempt Money Market (1) 3.23% 3.07% 3.11%
Intermediate Bond (1) 4.72% 5.62% N/A
Municipal Bond (1) 3.40% 5.13% N/A
Large Cap Value - Investor Shares (2.85%) N/A N/A
Mid Cap Value - Institutional Shares 19.30% N/A N/A
Small Cap Value - Investor Shares 8.84% N/A N/A
<FN>
(1) Reflects the preformance of the respective Wilmington Prime Money Market,
Tax-Exempt, Intermediate Bond and Municipal Bond Portfolios, the
predecessors pf the Funds' master series.
</FN>
</TABLE>
B. YIELD CALCULATIONS. From time to time, an Equity or Bond Fund may
advertise its yield. Yield for these Funds is calculated by dividing
the Fund's investment income for a 30-day period, net of expenses, by
the average number of shares entitled to receive dividends during that
period according to the following formula:
YIELD = 2[((A-B)/CD + 1)6-1]
where:
a = dividends and interest earned during the period;
b = expenses accrued for the period (net of reimbursements);
c = the average daily number of shares outstanding during the period
that were entitled to receive dividends; and
d = the maximum offering price per share on the last day of the
period.
The result is expressed as an annualized percentage (assuming semiannual
compounding) of the maximum offering price per share at the end of the period.
Except as noted below, in determining interest earned during the period
(variable "a" in the above formula), pfpc calculates the interest earned on each
debt instrument held by a Fund during the period by: (i) computing the
instrument's yield to maturity, based on the value of the instrument (including
actual accrued interest) as of the last business day of the period or, if the
instrument was purchased during the period, the purchase price plus accrued
interest; (ii) dividing the yield to maturity by 360; and (iii) multiplying the
resulting quotient by the value of the instrument (including actual accrued
interest). Once interest earned is calculated in this fashion for each debt
instrument held by the Fund, interest earned during the period is then
determined by totaling the interest earned on all debt instruments held by the
Fund.
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<PAGE>
For purposes of these calculations, the maturity of a debt instrument
with one or more call provisions is assumed to be the next date on which the
instrument reasonably can be expected to be called or, if none, the maturity
date. In general, interest income is reduced with respect to debt instruments
trading at a premium over their par value by subtracting a portion of the
premium from income on a daily basis, and increased with respect to debt
instruments trading at a discount by adding a portion of the discount to daily
income.
In determining dividends earned by any preferred stock or other equity
securities held by a Fund during the period (variable "a" in the above formula),
PFPC accrues the dividends daily at their stated dividend rates. Capital gains
and losses generally are excluded from yield calculations.
Because yield accounting methods differ from the accounting methods
used to calculate net investment income for other purposes, a Fund's yield may
not equal the dividend income actually paid to investors or the net investment
income reported with respect to the Fund in the Fund's financial statements.
Yield information may be useful in reviewing a Fund's performance and
in providing a basis for comparison with other investment alternatives. However,
the Funds' yields fluctuate, unlike investments that pay a fixed interest rate
over a stated period of time. Investors should recognize that in periods of
declining interest rates, the Funds' yields will tend to be somewhat higher than
prevailing market rates, and in periods of rising interest rates, the Funds'
yields will tend to be somewhat lower. Also, when interest rates are falling,
the inflow of net new money to the Funds from the continuous sale of their
shares will likely be invested in instruments producing lower yields than the
balance of the Funds' holdings, thereby reducing the current yields of the
Funds. In periods of rising interest rates, the opposite can be expected to
occur.
COMPARISON OF FUND PERFORMANCE. A comparison of the quoted performance offered
for various investments is valid only if performance is calculated in the same
manner. Since there are many methods of calculating performance, investors
should consider the effects of the methods used to calculate performance when
comparing performance of a Fund with performance quoted with respect to other
investment companies or types of investments. For example, it is useful to note
that yields reported on debt instruments are generally prospective, contrasted
with the historical yields reported by a Fund.
In connection with communicating its performance to current or prospective
shareholders, a Fund also may compare these figures to the performance of other
mutual funds tracked by mutual fund rating services or to unmanaged indices
which may assume reinvestment of dividends but generally do not reflect
deductions for administrative and management costs.
From time to time, in marketing and other literature, a Money Market Fund's
performance may be compared to the performance of broad groups of comparable
mutual funds or unmanaged indexes of comparable securities such as the IBC First
Tier Money Market Index for the Premier Money Market Funds. Yield and
performance over time may also be compared to the performance of bank money
market deposit accounts and fixed-rate insured certificates of deposit (CDs), or
unmanaged indices of securities that are comparable to money market funds in
their terms and intent, such as Treasury bills, bankers' acceptances, negotiable
order of withdrawal accounts, and money market certificates. Most bank CDs
differ from money market funds in several ways: the interest rate is fixed for
the term of the CD, there are interest penalties for early withdrawal of the
deposit from a CD, and the deposit principal in a CD is insured by the FDIC.
From time to time, in marketing and other literature, the Bond and Equity Funds'
performance may be compared to the performance of broad groups of comparable
mutual funds or unmanaged indexes of comparable securities with similar
investment goals, as tracked by independent organizations such as Investment
Company Data, Inc. (an organization which provides performance ranking
information for broad classes of mutual funds), Lipper Analytical Services, Inc.
("Lipper") (a mutual fund research firm which analyzes over 1,800 mutual funds),
CDA Investment Technologies, Inc. (an organization which provides mutual fund
performance and ranking information), Morningstar, Inc. (an organization which
analyzes over 2,400 mutual funds) and other independent organizations. When
Lipper's tracking results are used, a Fund will be compared to Lipper's
appropriate fund category, that is, by fund objective and portfolio holdings.
Rankings may be listed among one or more of the asset-size classes as determined
by
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<PAGE>
Lipper. When other organizations' tracking results are used, a Fund will be
compared to the appropriate fund category, that is, by fund objective and
portfolio holdings, or to the appropriate volatility grouping, where volatility
is a measure of a fund's risk.
Since the assets in all funds are always changing, a Fund may be ranked within
one asset-size class at one time and in another asset-size class at some other
time. In addition, the independent organization chosen to rank a Fund in
marketing and promotional literature may change from time to time depending upon
the basis of the independent organization's categorizations of mutual funds,
changes in a Fund's investment policies and investments, a Fund's asset size and
other factors deemed relevant. Advertisements and other marketing literature
will indicate the time period and Lipper asset-size class or other performance
ranking company criteria, as applicable, for the ranking in question.
Evaluations of Fund performance made by independent sources may also be used in
advertisements concerning a Fund, including reprints of or selections from,
editorials or articles about the Fund. Sources for performance information and
articles about a Fund may include the following:
BARRON'S, a Dow Jones and Company, Inc. business and financial weekly that
periodically reviews mutual fund performance data.
CDA INVESTMENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC., an organization that provides performance and
ranking information through examining the dollar results of hypothetical mutual
fund investments and comparing these results against appropriate market indices.
CHANGING TIMES, THE KIPLINGER MAGAZINE, a monthly investment advisory
publication that periodically features the performance of a variety of
securities.
CONSUMER DIGEST, a monthly business/financial magazine that includes a "Money
Watch" section featuring financial news.
FINANCIAL WORLD, a general business/financial magazine that includes a "Market
Watch" department reporting on activities in the mutual fund industry.
FORBES, a national business publication that from time to time reports the
performance of specific investment companies in the mutual fund industry.
FORTUNE, a national business publication that periodically rates the performance
of a variety of mutual funds.
IBC'S MONEY FUND REPORT, a weekly publication of IBC/Donoghue, Inc., of Ashland,
Massachusetts, reporting on the performance of the nation's money market funds,
summarizing money market fund activity, and including certain averages as
performance benchmarks, specifically "IBC's Money Fund Average," and "IBC's
Government Money Fund Average."
IBC'S MONEY FUND DIRECTORY, an annual directory ranking money market mutual
funds.
INVESTMENT COMPANY DATA, INC., an independent organization which provides
performance ranking information for broad classes of mutual funds.
INVESTOR'S DAILY, a daily newspaper that features financial, economic, and
business news.
LIPPER ANALYTICAL SERVICES, INC.'S MUTUAL FUND PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS, a weekly
publication of industry-wide mutual fund averages by type of fund.
MONEY, a monthly magazine that from time to time features both specific funds
and the mutual fund industry as a whole.
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<PAGE>
MUTUAL FUND VALUES, a biweekly Morningstar, Inc. publication that provides
ratings of mutual funds based on fund performance risk and portfolio
characteristics.
THE NEW YORK TIMES, a nationally distributed newspaper which regularly covers
financial news.
PERSONAL INVESTING NEWS, a monthly news publication that often reports on
investment opportunities and market conditions.
PERSONAL INVESTOR, a monthly investment advisory publication that includes a
"Mutual Funds Outlook" section reporting on mutual fund performance measures,
yields, indices and portfolio holdings.
SUCCESS, a monthly magazine targeted to the world of entrepreneurs and growing
business, often featuring mutual fund performance data.
USA TODAY, the nation's number one daily newspaper.
U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT, a national business weekly that periodically reports
mutual fund performance data.
WALL STREET JOURNAL, a Dow Jones and Company, Inc. newspaper that regularly
covers financial news.
WIESENBERGER INVESTMENT COMPANIES SERVICES, an annual compendium of information
about mutual funds and other investment companies, including comparative data on
funds' backgrounds, management policies, salient features, management results,
income and dividend records, and price ranges.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The audited financial statements and financial highlights of the CRM Small Cap
Value, Mid Cap Value and Large Cap Value Funds for the fiscal year ended June
30, 2000, as set forth in CRM Funds annual reports to shareholders, including
the notes thereto and the reports of Ernst & Young LLP thereon, are incorporated
herein by reference.
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<PAGE>
APPENDIX A
OPTIONS, FUTURES AND FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACT STRATEGIES
REGULATION OF THE USE OF OPTIONS, FUTURES AND FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACT
STRATEGIES. As discussed in the prospectus, in managing a Fund's corresponding
Series, the adviser may engage in certain options, futures and forward currency
contract strategies for certain bona fide hedging, risk management or other
portfolio management purposes. Certain special characteristics of and risks
associated with using these strategies are discussed below. Use of options,
futures and forward currency contracts is subject to applicable regulations
and/or interpretations of the SEC and the several options and futures exchanges
upon which these instruments may be traded. The Board of Trustees has adopted
investment guidelines (described below) reflecting these regulations.
In addition to the products, strategies and risks described below and in the
prospectus, the adviser expects to discover additional opportunities in
connection with options, futures and forward currency contracts. These new
opportunities may become available as new techniques develop, as regulatory
authorities broaden the range of permitted transactions and as new options,
futures and forward currency contracts are developed. These opportunities may be
utilized to the extent they are consistent with each Fund's investment objective
and limitations and permitted by applicable regulatory authorities. The
registration statement for the Funds will be supplemented to the extent that new
products and strategies involve materially different risks than those described
below and in the prospectus.
COVER REQUIREMENTS. The Series will not use leverage in their options and
futures. Accordingly, the Series will comply with guidelines established by the
SEC with respect to coverage of these strategies by either (1) setting aside
cash or liquid, unencumbered, daily marked-to-market securities in one or more
segregated accounts with the custodian in the prescribed amount; or (2) holding
securities or other options or futures contracts whose values are expected to
offset ("cover") their obligations thereunder. Securities, currencies, or other
options or futures contracts used for cover cannot be sold or closed out while
these strategies are outstanding, unless they are replaced with similar assets.
As a result, there is a possibility that the use of cover involving a large
percentage of the Series' assets could impede portfolio management, or the
Series' ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.
OPTIONS STRATEGIES. A Series may purchase and write (sell) only those options on
securities and securities indices that are traded on U.S. exchanges.
Exchange-traded options in the U.S. are issued by a clearing organization
affiliated with the exchange, on which the option is listed, which, in effect,
guarantees completion of every exchange-traded option transaction.
Each Series may purchase call options on securities in which it is authorized to
invest in order to fix the cost of a future purchase. Call options also may be
used as a means of enhancing returns by, for example, participating in an
anticipated price increase of a security. In the event of a decline in the price
of the underlying security, use of this strategy would serve to limit the
potential loss to the Series to the option premium paid; conversely, if the
market price of the underlying security increases above the exercise price and
the Series either sells or exercises the option, any profit eventually realized
would be reduced by the premium paid.
Each Series may purchase put options on securities that it holds in order to
hedge against a decline in the market value of the securities held or to enhance
return. The put option enables the Series to sell the underlying security at the
predetermined exercise price; thus, the potential for loss to the Series below
the exercise price is limited to the option premium paid. If the market price of
the underlying security is higher than the exercise price of the put option, any
profit the Series realizes on the sale of the security is reduced by the premium
paid for the put option less any amount for which the put option may be sold.
Each Series may on certain occasions wish to hedge against a decline in the
market value of securities that it holds at a time when put options on those
particular securities are not available for purchase. At those times, the Series
may purchase a put option on other carefully selected securities in which it is
authorized to invest, the values of which historically have a high degree of
positive correlation to the value of the securities actually held. If the
adviser's judgment is correct, changes in the value of the put options should
generally offset changes in the
A-1
<PAGE>
value of the securities being hedged. However, the correlation between the two
values may not be as close in these transactions as in transactions in which a
Series purchases a put option on a security that it holds. If the value of the
securities underlying the put option falls below the value of the portfolio
securities, the put option may not provide complete protection against a decline
in the value of the portfolio securities.
Each Series may write covered call options on securities in which it is
authorized to invest for hedging purposes or to increase return in the form of
premiums received from the purchasers of the options. A call option gives the
purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the writer (seller) the obligation
to sell, the underlying security at the exercise price during the option period.
The strategy may be used to provide limited protection against a decrease in the
market price of the security, in an amount equal to the premium received for
writing the call option less any transaction costs. Thus, if the market price of
the underlying security held by the Series declines, the amount of the decline
will be offset wholly or in part by the amount of the premium received by the
Series. If, however, there is an increase in the market price of the underlying
security and the option is exercised, the Series will be obligated to sell the
security at less than its market value.
Each Series may also write covered put options on securities in which it is
authorized to invest. A put option gives the purchaser of the option the right
to sell, and the writer (seller) the obligation to buy, the underlying security
at the exercise price during the option period. So long as the obligation of the
writer continues, the writer may be assigned an exercise notice by the
broker-dealer through whom such option was sold, requiring it to make payment of
the exercise price against delivery of the underlying security. The operation of
put options in other respects, including their related risks and rewards, is
substantially identical to that of call options. If the put option is not
exercised, the Series will realize income in the amount of the premium received.
This technique could be used to enhance current return during periods of market
uncertainty. The risk in such a transaction would be that the market price of
the underlying securities would decline below the exercise price less the
premiums received, in which case the Series would expect to suffer a loss.
Each Series may purchase put and call options and write covered put and call
options on indexes in much the same manner as the more traditional options
discussed above, except that index options may serve as a hedge against overall
fluctuations in the securities markets (or a market sector) rather than
anticipated increases or decreases in the value of a particular security. An
index assigns values to the securities included in the index and fluctuates with
changes in such values. Settlements of index options are effected with cash
payments and do not involve delivery of securities. Thus, upon settlement of an
index option, the purchaser will realize, and the writer will pay, an amount
based on the difference between the exercise price and the closing price of the
index. The effectiveness of hedging techniques using index options will depend
on the extent to which price movements in the index selected correlate with
price movements of the securities in which a Series invests. Perfect correlation
is not possible because the securities held or to be acquired by the Series will
not exactly match the composition of indexes on which options are purchased or
written.
Each Series may purchase and write covered straddles on securities or indexes. A
long straddle is a combination of a call and a put purchased on the same
security where the exercise price of the put is less than or equal to the
exercise price on the call. The Series would enter into a long straddle when the
adviser believes that it is likely that prices will be more volatile during the
term of the options than is implied by the option pricing. A short straddle is a
combination of a call and a put written on the same security where the exercise
price on the put is less than or equal to the exercise price of the call where
the same issue of the security is considered "cover" for both the put and the
call. The Series would enter into a short straddle when the adviser believes
that it is unlikely that prices will be as volatile during the term of the
options as is implied by the option pricing. In such case, the Series will set
aside cash and/or liquid, unencumbered securities in a segregated account with
its custodian equivalent in value to the amount, if any, by which the put is
"in-the-money," that is, that amount by which the exercise price of the put
exceeds the current market value of the underlying security. Because straddles
involve multiple trades, they result in higher transaction costs and may be more
difficult to open and close out.
Each Series may purchase put and call warrants with values that vary depending
on the change in the value of one or more specified indexes ("index warrants").
An index warrant is usually issued by a bank or other financial institution and
gives the Series the right, at any time during the term of the warrant, to
receive upon exercise of the warrant a cash payment from the issuer of the
warrant based on the value of the underlying index at the time of exercise. In
general, if a Series holds a call warrant and the value of the underlying index
rises above the
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exercise price of the warrant, the Series will be entitled to receive a cash
payment from the issuer upon exercise based on the difference between the value
of the index and the exercise price of the warrant; if the Series holds a put
warrant and the value of the underlying index falls, the Series will be entitled
to receive a cash payment from the issuer upon exercise based on the difference
between the exercise price of the warrant and the value of the index. The Series
holding a call warrant would not be entitled to any payments from the issuer at
any time when the exercise price is greater than the value of the underlying
index; the Series holding a put warrant would not be entitled to any payments
when the exercise price is less than the value of the underlying index. If the
Series does not exercise an index warrant prior to its expiration, then the
Series loses the amount of the purchase price that it paid for the warrant.
Each Series will normally use index warrants as it may use index options. The
risks of the Series' use of index warrants are generally similar to those
relating to its use of index options. Unlike most index options, however, index
warrants are issued in limited amounts and are not obligations of a regulated
clearing agency, but are backed only by the credit of the bank or other
institution which issues the warrant. Also, index warrants generally have longer
terms than index options. Index warrants are not likely to be as liquid as index
options backed by a recognized clearing agency. In addition, the terms of index
warrants may limit the Series' ability to exercise the warrants at any time or
in any quantity.
OPTIONS GUIDELINES. In view of the risks involved in using the options
strategies described above, each Series has adopted the following investment
guidelines to govern its use of such strategies; these guidelines may be
modified by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval:
(1) each Series will write only covered options, and each such option will
remain covered so long as the Series is obligated thereby; and
(2) no Series will write options (whether on securities or securities
indexes) if aggregate exercise prices of previous written outstanding
options, together with the value of assets used to cover all
outstanding positions, would exceed 25% of its total net assets.
SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS AND RISKS OF OPTIONS TRADING. A Series may effectively
terminate its right or obligation under an option by entering into a closing
transaction. If a Series wishes to terminate its obligation to purchase or sell
securities under a put or a call option it has written, the Series may purchase
a put or a call option of the same series (that is, an option identical in its
terms to the option previously written). This is known as a closing purchase
transaction. Conversely, in order to terminate its right to purchase or sell
specified securities under a call or put option it has purchased, a Series may
sell an option of the same series as the option held. This is known as a closing
sale transaction. Closing transactions essentially permit a Series to realize
profits or limit losses on its options positions prior to the exercise or
expiration of the option. If a Series is unable to effect a closing purchase
transaction with respect to options it has acquired, the Series will have to
allow the options to expire without recovering all or a portion of the option
premiums paid. If a Series is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction
with respect to covered options it has written, the Series will not be able to
sell the underlying securities or dispose of assets used as cover until the
options expire or are exercised, and the Series may experience material losses
due to losses on the option transaction itself and in the covering securities.
In considering the use of options to enhance returns or for hedging purposes,
particular note should be taken of the following:
(1) The value of an option position will reflect, among other things, the
current market price of the underlying security or index, the time
remaining until expiration, the relationship of the exercise price to
the market price, the historical price volatility of the underlying
security or index, and general market conditions. For this reason, the
successful use of options depends upon the adviser's ability to
forecast the direction of price fluctuations in the underlying
securities markets or, in the case of index options, fluctuations in
the market sector represented by the selected index.
(2) Options normally have expiration dates of up to three years. An
American style put or call option may be exercised at any time during
the option period while a European style put or call
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option may be exercised only upon expiration or during a fixed period
prior to expiration. The exercise price of the options may be below,
equal to or above the current market value of the underlying security
or index. Purchased options that expire unexercised have no value.
Unless an option purchased by the Series is exercised or unless a
closing transaction is effected with respect to that position, the
Series will realize a loss in the amount of the premium paid and any
transaction costs.
(3) A position in an exchange-listed option may be closed out only on an
exchange that provides a secondary market for identical options.
Although the Series intends to purchase or write only those
exchange-traded options for which there appears to be a liquid
secondary market, there is no assurance that a liquid secondary market
will exist for any particular option at any particular time. A liquid
market may be absent if: (i) there is insufficient trading interest in
the option; (ii) the exchange has imposed restrictions on trading,
such as trading halts, trading suspensions or daily price limits;
(iii) normal exchange operations have been disrupted; or (iv) the
exchange has inadequate facilities to handle current trading volume.
(4) With certain exceptions, exchange listed options generally settle by
physical delivery of the underlying security. Index options are
settled exclusively in cash for the net amount, if any, by which the
option is "in-the-money" (where the value of the underlying instrument
exceeds, in the case of a call option, or is less than, in the case of
a put option, the exercise price of the option) at the time the option
is exercised. If the Series writes a call option on an index, the
Series will not know in advance the difference, if any, between the
closing value of the index on the exercise date and the exercise price
of the call option itself and thus will not know the amount of cash
payable upon settlement. If the Series holds an index option and
exercises it before the closing index value for that day is available,
the Series runs the risk that the level of the underlying index may
subsequently change.
(5) A Series' activities in the options markets may result in a higher
Series turnover rate and additional brokerage costs; however, the
Series also may save on commissions by using options as a hedge rather
than buying or selling individual securities in anticipation of, or as
a result of, market movements.
FUTURES AND RELATED OPTIONS STRATEGIES. Each Series may engage in futures
strategies for certain non-trading bona fide hedging, risk management and
portfolio management purposes.
Each Series may sell securities index futures contracts in anticipation of a
general market or market sector decline that could adversely affect the market
value of the Series' securities holdings. To the extent that a portion of a
Series' holdings correlate with a given index, the sale of futures contracts on
that index could reduce the risks associated with a market decline and thus
provide an alternative to the liquidation of securities positions. For example,
if a Series correctly anticipates a general market decline and sells index
futures to hedge against this risk, the gain in the futures position should
offset some or all of the decline in the value of the Series' holdings. A Series
may purchase index futures contracts if a significant market or market sector
advance is anticipated. Such a purchase of a futures contract would serve as a
temporary substitute for the purchase of the underlying securities, which may
then be purchased, in an orderly fashion. This strategy may minimize the effect
of all or part of an increase in the market price of securities that a Series
intends to purchase. A rise in the price of the securities should be in part or
wholly offset by gains in the futures position.
As in the case of a purchase of an index futures contract, a Series may purchase
a call option on an index futures contract to hedge against a market advance in
securities that the Series plans to acquire at a future date. The Series may
write covered put options on index futures as a partial anticipatory hedge, and
may write covered call options on index futures as a partial hedge against a
decline in the prices of securities held by the Series. This is analogous to
writing covered call options on securities. The Series also may purchase put
options on index futures contracts. The purchase of put options on index futures
contracts is analogous to the purchase of protective put options on individual
securities where a level of protection is sought below which no additional
economic loss would be incurred by the Series.
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FUTURES AND RELATED OPTIONS GUIDELINES. In view of the risks involved in using
the futures strategies that are described above, each Series has adopted the
following investment guidelines to govern its use of such strategies. The Board
of Trustees may modify these guidelines without shareholder vote.
(1) The Series will engage only in covered futures transactions, and each
such transaction will remain covered so long as the Series is
obligated thereby.
(2) The Series will not write options on futures contracts if aggregate
exercise prices of previously written outstanding options (whether on
securities or securities indexes), together with the value of assets
used to cover all outstanding futures positions, would exceed 25% of
its total net assets.
SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS AND RISKS OF FUTURES AND RELATED OPTIONS TRADING. No
price is paid upon entering into a futures contract. Instead, upon entering into
a futures contract, a Series is required to deposit with its custodian, in a
segregated account in the name of the futures broker through whom the
transaction is effected, an amount of cash, U.S. Government securities or other
liquid instruments generally equal to 10% or less of the contract value. This
amount is known as "initial margin." When writing a call or a put option on a
futures contract, margin also must be deposited in accordance with applicable
exchange rules. Unlike margin in securities transactions, initial margin on
futures contracts does not involve borrowing to finance the futures
transactions. Rather, initial margin on a futures contract is in the nature of a
performance bond or good-faith deposit on the contract that is returned to a
Series upon termination of the transaction, assuming all obligations have been
satisfied. Under certain circumstances, such as periods of high volatility, a
Series may be required by a futures exchange to increase the level of its
initial margin payment. Additionally, initial margin requirements may be
increased generally in the future by regulatory action. Subsequent payments,
called "variation margin," to and from the broker, are made on a daily basis as
the value of the futures or options position varies, a process known as "marking
to market." For example, when a Series purchases a contract and the value of the
contract rises, the Series receives from the broker a variation margin payment
equal to that increase in value. Conversely, if the value of the futures
position declines, a Series is required to make a variation margin payment to
the broker equal to the decline in value. Variation margin does not involve
borrowing to finance the futures transaction, but rather represents a daily
settlement of a Series' obligations to or from a clearing organization.
Buyers and sellers of futures positions and options thereon can enter into
offsetting closing transactions, similar to closing transactions on options on
securities, by selling or purchasing an offsetting contract or option. Futures
contracts or options thereon may be closed only on an exchange or board of trade
providing a secondary market for such futures contracts or options.
Under certain circumstances, futures exchanges may establish daily limits on the
amount that the price of a futures contract or related option may vary either up
or down from the previous day's settlement price. Once the daily limit has been
reached in a particular contract, no trades may be made that day at a price
beyond that limit. The daily limit governs only price movements during a
particular trading day and therefore does not limit potential losses, because
prices could move to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with
little or no trading and thereby prevent prompt liquidation of unfavorable
positions. In such event, it may not be possible for the Series to close a
position and, in the event of adverse price movements, the Series would have to
make daily cash payments of variation margin (except in the case of purchased
options). However, if futures contracts have been used to hedge portfolio
securities, such securities will not be sold until the contracts can be
terminated. In such circumstances, an increase in the price of the securities,
if any, may partially or completely offset losses on the futures contract.
However, there is no guarantee that the price of the securities will, in fact,
correlate with the price movements in the contracts and thus provide an offset
to losses on the contracts.
In considering a Series' use of futures contracts and related options,
particular note should be taken of the following:
(1) Successful use by a Series of futures contracts and related options
will depend upon the adviser's ability to predict movements in the
direction of the securities markets, which requires different skills
and techniques than predicting changes in the prices of individual
securities. Moreover, futures contracts relate not only to the current
price level of the underlying
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securities, but also to anticipated price levels at some point in the
future. There is, in addition, the risk that the movements in the
price of the futures contract will not correlate with the movements in
the prices of the securities being hedged. For example, if the price
of an index futures contract moves less than the price of the
securities that are the subject of the hedge, the hedge will not be
fully effective, but if the price of the securities being hedged has
moved in an unfavorable direction, a Series would be in a better
position than if it had not hedged at all. If the price of the
securities being hedged has moved in a favorable direction, the
advantage may be partially offset by losses in the futures position.
In addition, if a Series has insufficient cash, it may have to sell
assets to meet daily variation margin requirements. Any such sale of
assets may or may not be made at prices that reflect a rising market.
Consequently, a Series may need to sell assets at a time when such
sales are disadvantageous to the Series. If the price of the futures
contract moves more than the price of the underlying securities, a
Series will experience either a loss or a gain on the futures contract
that may or may not be completely offset by movements in the price of
the securities that are the subject of the hedge.
(2) In addition to the possibility that there may be an imperfect
correlation, or no correlation at all, between price movements in the
futures position and the securities being hedged, movements in the
prices of futures contracts may not correlate perfectly with movements
in the prices of the hedged securities due to price distortions in the
futures market. There may be several reasons unrelated to the value of
the underlying securities that cause this situation to occur. First,
as noted above, all participants in the futures market are subject to
initial and variation margin requirements. If, to avoid meeting
additional margin deposit requirements or for other reasons, investors
choose to close a significant number of futures contracts through
offsetting transactions, distortions in the normal price relationship
between the securities and the futures markets may occur. Second,
because the margin deposit requirements in the futures market are less
onerous than margin requirements in the securities market, there may
be increased participation by speculators in the futures market. Such
speculative activity in the futures market also may cause temporary
price distortions. As a result, a correct forecast of general market
trends may not result in successful hedging through the use of futures
contracts over the short term. In addition, activities of large
traders in both the futures and securities markets involving arbitrage
and other investment strategies may result in temporary price
distortions.
(3) Positions in futures contracts may be closed out only on an exchange
or board of trade that provides a secondary market for such futures
contracts. Although each Series intends to purchase and sell futures
only on exchanges or boards of trade where there appears to be an
active secondary market, there is no assurance that a liquid secondary
market on an exchange or board of trade will exist for any particular
contract at any particular time. In such event, it may not be possible
to close a futures position, and in the event of adverse price
movements, a Series would continue to be required to make variation
margin payments.
(4) Like options on securities, options on futures contracts have limited
life. The ability to establish and close out options on futures will
be subject to the development and maintenance of liquid secondary
markets on the relevant exchanges or boards of trade. There can be no
certainty that such markets for all options on futures contracts will
develop.
(5) Purchasers of options on futures contracts pay a premium in cash at
the time of purchase. This amount and the transaction costs are all
that is at risk. Sellers of options on futures contracts, however,
must post initial margin and are subject to additional margin calls
that could be substantial in the event of adverse price movements. In
addition, although the maximum amount at risk when the Series
purchases an option is the premium paid for the option and the
transaction costs, there may be circumstances when the purchase of an
option on a futures contract would result in a loss to the Series when
the use of a futures contract would not, such as when there is no
movement in the level of the underlying index value or the securities
or currencies being hedged.
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(6) As is the case with options, a Series' activities in the futures
markets may result in a higher portfolio turnover rate and additional
transaction costs in the form of added brokerage commissions. However,
a Series also may save on commissions by using futures contracts or
options thereon as a hedge rather than buying or selling individual
securities in anticipation of, or as a result of, market movements.
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APPENDIX B
DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS
Moody's and S&P are private services that provide ratings of the credit quality
of debt obligations. A description of the ratings assigned by Moody's and S&P to
the securities in which the Funds' corresponding Series may invest is discussed
below. These ratings represent the opinions of these rating services as to the
quality of the securities that they undertake to rate. It should be emphasized,
however, that ratings are general and are not absolute standards of quality. The
advisers and sub-advisers attempt to discern variations in credit rankings of
the rating services and to anticipate changes in credit ranking. However,
subsequent to purchase by a Series, an issue of securities may cease to be rated
or its rating may be reduced below the minimum rating required for purchase by
the Series. In that event, an adviser or sub-adviser will consider whether it is
in the best interest of the Series to continue to hold the securities.
MOODY'S RATINGS
CORPORATE AND MUNICIPAL BONDS.
Aaa: Bonds that are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They carry
the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as "gilt
edged." Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable
margin and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are likely
to change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the
fundamentally strong position of such issues.
Aa: Bonds that 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 that make the
long-term risk appear somewhat larger than the Aaa securities.
A: Bonds that 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 some time in the future.
Baa: Bonds that are rated Baa are considered as medium-grade obligations (i.e.,
they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured). Interest payments and
principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective
elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great
length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in
fact have speculative characteristics as well.
CORPORATE AND MUNICIPAL COMMERCIAL PAPER. The highest rating for corporate and
municipal commercial paper is "P-1" (Prime-1). Issuers rated P-1 (or supporting
institutions) have a superior ability for repayment of senior short-term debt
obligations. P-1 repayment ability will often be evidenced by many of the
following characteristics:
o Leading market positions in well-established industries.
o High rates of return on funds employed.
o Conservative capitalization structure with moderate reliance on debt and
ample asset protection.
o Broad margins in earnings coverage of fixed financial charges and high
internal cash generation.
o Well-established access to a range of financial markets and assured sources
of alternate liquidity.
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MUNICIPAL NOTES. The highest ratings for state and municipal short-term
obligations are "MIG 1," "MIG 2" and "MIG 3" (or "VMIG 1," "VMIG 2" and "VMIG 3"
in the case of an issue having a variable-rate demand feature). Notes rated "MIG
1" or "VMIG 1" are judged to be of the best quality. There is present strong
protection by established cash flows, superior liquidity support or demonstrated
broadbased access to the market for refinancing. Notes rated "MIG 2" or "VMIG 2"
are of high quality, with margins of protection that are ample although not so
large as in the preceding group. Notes rated "MIG 3" or "VMIG 3" are of
favorable quality, with all security elements accounted for but lacking the
undeniable strength of the preceding grades. Liquidity and cash flow protection
may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well
established.
S&P RATINGS
CORPORATE AND MUNICIPAL BONDS.
AAA: Bonds rated AAA are highest grade debt obligations. This rating indicates
an extremely strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal.
AA: Bonds rated AA have a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay
principal and differ from AAA issues only in small degree.
A: Bonds rated A have a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal,
although they are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in
circumstances and economic conditions than bonds in higher rated categories.
BBB: Bonds rated BBB are regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay interest
and repay principal. Whereas they normally exhibit adequate protection
parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more
likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for
debt in this category than in higher rated categories.
CORPORATE AND MUNICIPAL COMMERCIAL PAPER. The "A-1" rating for corporate and
municipal commercial paper indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely
payment is strong. Those issues determined to possess extremely strong safety
characteristics will be rated "A-1+."
MUNICIPAL NOTES. The "SP-1" rating reflects a very strong or strong capacity to
pay principal and interest. Those issues determined to possess overwhelming
safety characteristics will be rated "SP-1+." The "SP-2" rating reflects a
satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest.
FITCH RATINGS
DESCRIPTION OF FITCH'S HIGHEST STATE AND MUNICIPAL NOTES RATING.
AAA - Bonds considered to be investment grade and of the highest credit quality.
The obligor has an exceptionally strong ability to pay interest and repay
principal, which is unlikely to be affected by reasonably foreseeable events.
AA - Bonds considered to be investment grade and of very high credit quality.
The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is very strong,
although not quite as strong as bonds rated AAA.
F-1+ - Issues assigned this rating are regarded as having the strongest degree
of assurance for timely payment.
F-1 - Issues assigned this rating reflect an assurance of timely payment only
slightly less in degree than issues rated F-1+.
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THE ROXBURY LARGE CAP GROWTH FUND
THE ROXBURY MID CAP FUND
THE ROXBURY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FUND
THE ROXBURY SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FUND
400 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, Delaware 19809
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
NOVEMBER 1, 2000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus and should be read
in conjunction with each Fund's current prospectus, dated November 1, 2000, as
amended from time to time. A copy of the current prospectuses may be obtained
without charge, by writing to Provident Distributors, Inc. ("PDI"), 3200 Horizon
Drive, King of Prussia, PA 19406, and from certain financial professionals such
as broker-dealers that have entered into servicing agreements with PDI or by
calling (800) 497-2960.
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
GENERAL INFORMATION 3
INVESTMENT POLICIES 3
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS 5
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS 6
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES 8
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES 8
DISTRIBUTION OF SHARES AND RULE 12B-1 PLAN 10
BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES 12
CAPITAL STOCK AND OTHER SECURITIES 12
PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES 13
DIVIDENDS 15
TAXATION OF THE FUND 16
CALCULATION OF PERFORMANCE INFORMATION 17
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 21
APPENDIX A -- OPTIONS, FUTURES AND FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACT STRATEGIES A-1
APPENDIX B -- DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS B-1
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GENERAL INFORMATION
This Statement of Additional Information relates to the Class A, Class B and
Class C shares of The Roxbury Large Cap Growth Fund ("Large Cap Growth Fund"),
the Roxbury Mid Cap Fund ("Mid Cap Fund"), the Roxbury Science and Technology
Fund ("Science & Technology Fund") and the Roxbury Socially Responsible Fund
("Socially Responsible Fund") (each, a "Fund" and collectively, the "Funds").
All references to the Funds shall include references to the Series (as defined
herein) in which each Fund invests. With the exception of the Science and
Technology Fund, each Fund is a diversified series of WT Mutual Fund (the
"Trust") , a registered open-end management investment company organized as a
Delaware business trust. The Trust was organized on June 1, 1994. The name of
the Trust was changed from Kiewit Mutual Fund to WT Mutual Fund on October 20,
1998.
INVESTMENT POLICIES
Each Fund seeks to meet its investment objective by investing all of its
investable assets in a corresponding series of WT Investment Trust I (the
"Master") that has the same investment objective, policies and limitations as
the investing Fund. Large Cap Growth Fund, Mid Cap Fund, Science and Technology
Fund, and Socially Responsible Fund invest all of its investable assets in Large
Cap Growth Series, Mid Cap Series, Science and Technology Series and Socially
Responsible Series (each, a "Series"), respectively.
The following information supplements the information concerning each Fund's
investment objective, policies and limitations found in the prospectus. Unless
otherwise indicated, it applies to each Fund through its investment in its
corresponding Series. Although each Fund invests principally in common stocks,
each may make other kinds of investments from time to time.
CASH MANAGEMENT. Each Fund may invest in cash and cash equivalents including
high-quality money market instruments and money market funds in order to manage
cash flow in each Fund. Certain of these instruments are described below.
o MONEY MARKET FUNDS. Each Fund may invest in the securities of other money
market mutual funds, within the limits prescribed by the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended ("1940 Act"). These limitations currently provide,
in part, that a Fund may not purchase shares of an investment company if
(a) such a purchase would cause the Fund to own in the aggregate more than
3% of the total outstanding voting stock of the investment company or (b)
such a purchase would cause the Fund to have more than 5% of its total
assets invested in the investment company or (c) more than 10% of the
Fund's total assets to be invested in the aggregate in all investment
companies.
o U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS. Each Fund may invest in debt securities issued
or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities.
Although all obligations of agencies and instrumentalities are not direct
obligations of the U.S. Treasury, payment of the interest and principal on
these obligations is generally backed directly or indirectly by the U.S.
government.
o COMMERCIAL PAPER. Each Fund may invest in commercial paper. Commercial
paper consists of short-term (up to 270 days) unsecured promissory notes
issued by corporations in order to finance their current operations. Each
Fund may invest only in commercial paper rated A-1 or higher by S&P or
Moody's or if not rated, determined by the adviser to be of comparable
quality. See "Appendix B - Description of Ratings."
o BANK OBLIGATIONS. Each Fund may invest in U.S. dollar-denominated
obligations of major banks, including certificates of deposits, time
deposits and bankers' acceptances of major U.S. and foreign banks and their
branches located outside of the United States, of U.S. branches of foreign
banks, of foreign branches of foreign banks, of U.S. agencies of foreign
banks and of wholly-owned banking subsidiaries of such foreign banks
located in the U. S. Obligations of foreign branches of U.S. banks and U.S.
branches of wholly owned subsidiaries of foreign banks may be general
obligations of the parent bank, or the issuing branch or subsidiary, or
both, or may be limited by the terms of a specific obligation or by
governmental regulation.
3
<PAGE>
Because such obligations are issued by foreign entities, they are subject
to the risks of foreign investing.
CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES. Convertible securities have characteristics similar to
both fixed income and equity securities. Because of the conversion feature, the
market value of convertible securities tends to move together with the market
value of the underlying stock. As a result, each Fund's selection of convertible
securities is based, to a great extent, on the potential for capital
appreciation that may exist in the underlying stock. The value of convertible
securities is also affected by prevailing interest rates, the credit quality of
the issuers and any call provisions.
Each Fund may invest in convertible securities that are rated, at the time of
purchase, in the three highest rating categories by a nationally recognized
statistical rating organization such as S&P or Moody's , or if unrated, are
determined by the adviser to be of comparable quality. See Appendix B
"Description of Ratings." Should the rating of a security be downgraded
subsequent to each Fund's purchase of the security, the adviser, as applicable,
will determine whether it is in the best interest of each Fund to retain the
security.
DEBT SECURITIES. Debt securities represent money borrowed that obligates the
issuer (e.g., a corporation, municipality, government, government agency) to
repay the borrowed amount at maturity (when the obligation is due and payable)
and usually to pay the holder interest at specific times.
HEDGING STRATEGIES. Each Fund may engage in certain hedging strategies that
involve options and futures. These hedging strategies are described in detail in
Appendix A.
ILLIQUID SECURITIES. Each Fund may invest no more than 15% of its net assets in
securities that at the time of purchase have legal or contractual restrictions
on resale or are otherwise illiquid. If the limitations on illiquid securities
are exceeded, other than by a change in market values, the condition will be
reported by the adviser to the Board of Trustees.
OPTIONS ON SECURITIES AND SECURITIES INDEXES. Each Fund may purchase call
options on securities that the adviser intends to include in such Fund in order
to fix the cost of a future purchase or attempt to enhance return by, for
example, participating in an anticipated increase in the value of a security.
Each Fund may purchase put options to hedge against a decline in the market
value of securities held in such Fund or in an attempt to enhance return. Each
Fund may write (sell) put and covered call options on securities in which they
are authorized to invest. Each Fund may also purchase put and call options, and
write put and covered call options on U.S. securities indexes. Stock index
options serve to hedge against overall fluctuations in the securities markets
rather than anticipated increases or decreases in the value of a particular
security. Of the percentage of the total assets of each Fund that are invested
in equity (or related) securities, each Fund may not invest more than 10% of
such assets in covered call options on securities and/or options on securities
indices.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. Each Fund may invest in repurchase agreements. A
repurchase agreement is a transaction in which a Fund purchases a security from
a bank or recognized securities dealer and simultaneously commits to resell that
security to a bank or dealer at an agreed date and price reflecting a market
rate of interest, unrelated to the coupon rate or the maturity of the purchased
security. While it is not possible to eliminate all risks from these
transactions (particularly the possibility of a decline in the market value of
the underlying securities, as well as delays and costs to each Fund if the other
party to the repurchase agreement becomes bankrupt), it is the policy of each
Fund to limit repurchase transactions to primary dealers and banks whose
creditworthiness has been reviewed and found satisfactory by the adviser.
Repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days are considered illiquid
for purposes of each Fund's investment limitations.
RESTRICTED SECURITIES. Restricted securities are securities that may not be sold
to the public without registration under the Securities Act of 1933 ("1933 Act")
or an exemption from registration. Restricted securities, including securities
eligible for re-sale under 1933 Act Rule 144A, that are determined to be liquid
are not subject to this limitation. This determination is to be made by the
adviser pursuant to guidelines adopted by the Board of Trustees. Under these
guidelines, the adviser will consider the frequency of trades and quotes for the
security, the number of dealers in, and potential purchasers for, the
securities, dealer undertakings to make a market in the security, and the nature
of the security and of the marketplace trades. In purchasing such restricted
securities, the adviser intends to purchase securities that are exempt from
registration under Rule 144A under the 1933 Act.
4
<PAGE>
SECURITIES LENDING. Each Fund may lend securities pursuant to agreements, which
require that the loans be continuously secured by collateral equal to 100% of
the market value of the loaned securities. Such collateral consists of cash,
securities of the U.S. Government or its agencies, or any combination of cash
and such securities. Such loans will not be made if, as a result, the aggregate
amount of all outstanding securities loans for each Fund exceeds one-third of
the value of such Fund's total assets taken at fair market value. Each Fund will
continue to receive interest on the securities lent while simultaneously earning
interest on the investment of the cash collateral in U.S. Government securities.
However, a Fund will normally pay lending fees to such broker-dealers and
related expenses from the interest earned on invested collateral. There may be
risks of delay in receiving additional collateral or risks of delay in recovery
of the securities and even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower
of the securities fail financially. However, loans are made only to borrowers
deemed by the adviser to be of good standing and when, in the judgment of the
adviser, the consideration that can be earned currently from such securities
loans justifies the attendant risk. Either party upon reasonable notice to the
other party may terminate any loan.
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS
Except as otherwise provided, each Fund and its corresponding Series has adopted
the investment limitations set forth below. Limitations which are designated as
fundamental policies may not be changed without the affirmative vote of the
lessor of (i) 67% or more of the shares of a Fund present at a shareholders
meeting if holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are
present in person or by proxy or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of
a Fund. If any percentage restriction on investment or utilization of assets is
adhered to at the time an investment is made, a later change in percentage
resulting from a change in the market values of a Fund's assets or redemptions
of shares will not be considered a violation of the limitation.
Each Fund will not as a matter of fundamental policy:
1. purchase the securities of any one issuer, if as a result, more than 5% of
a Fund's total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer,
or the Fund would own or hold 10% or more of the outstanding voting
securities of that issuer, provided that (1) each Fund may invest up to 25%
of its total assets without regard to these limitations; (2) these
limitations do not apply to securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S.
Government, its agencies or instrumentalities; and (3) repurchase
agreements fully collateralized by U.S. Government obligations will be
treated as U.S. Government obligations; (This restriction does not apply to
the Science and Technology Fund.)
2. purchase securities of any issuer if, as a result, more than 25% of each
Fund's total assets would be invested in the securities of one or more
issuers having their principal business activities in the same industry,
provided, that this limitation does not apply to debt obligations issued or
guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities; (This
restriction does not apply to the Science and Technology Fund. )
3. borrow money, provided that each Fund may borrow money for temporary or
emergency purposes, and then in an aggregate amount not in excess of 10% of
a Fund's total assets;
4. make loans to other persons, except by (1) purchasing debt securities in
accordance with its investment objective, policies and limitations; (2)
entering into repurchase agreements; or (3) engaging in securities loan
transactions;
5. underwrite any issue of securities, except to the extent that a Fund may be
considered to be acting as underwriter in connection with the disposition
of any portfolio security;
6. purchase or sell real estate, provided that each Fund may invest in
obligations secured by real estate or interests therein or obligations
issued by companies that invest in real estate or interests therein,
including real estate investment trusts;
5
<PAGE>
7. purchase or sell physical commodities, provided that each Fund may invest
in, purchase, sell or enter into financial options and futures, forward and
spot currency contracts, swap transactions and other derivative financial
instruments; or
8. issue senior securities, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act.
THE INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE DO NOT PROHIBIT A FUND FROM INVESTING
ALL OR SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF ITS ASSETS IN THE SHARES OF ANOTHER REGISTERED
OPEN-END INVESTMENT COMPANY SIMILAR TO ITS CORRESPONDING SERIES.
The following non-fundamental policies apply to each Fund and may be changed by
the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Each Fund will not:
1. make short sales of securities except short sales against the box;
2. purchase securities on margin except for the use of short-term credit
necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of portfolio securities;
3. purchase portfolio securities if its outstanding borrowings exceed 5% of
the value of its total assets.
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
The Board of Trustees supervises each Fund's activities and reviews contractual
arrangements with the Funds' service providers. The Trustees and officers are
listed below. All persons named as Trustees and officers also serve in a similar
capacity for the Master. An asterisk (*) indicates those Trustees who are
"interested persons" of the Trust.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
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POSITION(S)
NAME, ADDRESS AND HELD WITH
DATE OF BIRTH THE TRUST PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
ROBERT ARNOLD Trustee Mr. Arnold founded, and currently co-manages, R. H. Arnold &
152 W. 57th Street, 44th Floor Co., Inc., an investment banking company. Prior to forming R.
New York, NY 10019 H. Arnold & Co., Inc. in 1989, Mr. Arnold was Executive Vice
Date of Birth: 3/44 President and a directo r to Cambrian Capital Corporation, an
investment banking firm he co-founded in 1987.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ROBERT J. CHRISTIAN* Trustee, Mr. Christian has been Chief Investment Officer of Wilmington
Rodney Square North President Trust Company since February 1996 and a Director of Rodney
1100 N. Market Street Square Management Corporation since 1996. He was Chairman and
Wilmington, DE 19890 Director of PNC Equity Advisors Company, and President and
Date of Birth: 2/49 Chief Investment Officer of PNC Asset Management Group Inc.
from 1994 to 1996. He was Chief Investment Officer of PNC Bank
from 1992 to 1996 and a Director of Provident Capital Management
from 1993 to 1996.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NICHOLAS A. GIORDANO Trustee Mr. Giordano served as interim President of LaSalle University
1755 Governor's Way from July 1998 through June 1999 and was a consultant for
Blue Bell, PA 19422 financial services organizations from late 1997 through 1998. He
Date of Birth: 3/43 served as president and chief executive officer of the
Philadelphia Stock Exchange from 1981 through August 1997, and
also served as chairman of the board of the exchange's two
subsidiaries: Stock Clearing Corporation of Philadelphia and
Philadelphia Depository Trust Company. Before joining the
Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Mr. Giordano served as chief
financial officer at two brokerage firms from 1968 to 1971. A
certified public accountant, he began his career at Price
Waterhouse in 1965.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
6
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
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POSITION(S)
NAME, ADDRESS AND HELD WITH
DATE OF BIRTH THE TRUST PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
JOHN J. QUINDLEN Trustee Mr. Quindlen retired as Senior Vice President - Finance of
313 Southwinds E.I. duPont de Nemours & Company, Inc. (diversified chemicals),
1250 W. Southwinds Blvd. position held from 1984 to 1993. He served as Chief Financial
Vero Beach, FL 32963 Officer of E.I. duPont de Nemours & Company from 1984 through
Date of Birth: 5/32 June 1993. He also serves as a Director of St. Joe Paper Co.,
and as a Trustee of Kalmar Pooled Investment Trust.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOUIS KLEIN JR. Trustee Mr. Klein has been a self-employed financial consultant since
80 Butternut Lane 1991. He has served as Trustee of Manville Personal Injury
Stamford, CT 06903 Settlement Trust since 1991.
Date of Birth: 5/35
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CLEMENT C. MOORE, II Trustee Mr. Moore has been the Managing Partner, Mariemont Holdings,
5804 Quaker Neck Road LLC, a commercial real estate holding and development company
Chestertown, MD 21620 since 1980.
Date of Birth: 9/44
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ERIC BRUCKER Trustee Mr. Brucker has been the Dean of the College of Business, Public
University of Maine Policy and Health at the University of Maine since September
Orono, ME 04473 1998. Prior to 1998, he was Dean of the School of Management at
Date of Birth: 12/41 the University of Michigan.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WILLIAM P. RICHARDS, JR.* Trustee Mr. Richards is a Managing Director and Senior Portfolio
100 Wilshire Boulevard Manager with Roxbury Capital Management LLC. He has been with
Suite 600 the firm since 1998 and works with foundation and endowment
Santa Monica, CA 90401 accounts and leads the firm's mutual fund group. Previously, he
Date of Birth: 11/36 was a principal at Roger Engemann & Associates, and Van Deventer
& Hoc, an investment management firm. Prior to that, he was with
the consulting firm Booz, Allen and Hamilton.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ERIC K. CHEUNG Vice Mr. Cheung has been a Vice President at Wilmington Trust Company
Rodney Square North President since 1986. From 1978 to 1986, he was the Fund Manager for fixed
1100 N. Market Street income assets of the Meritor Financial Group. Since 1991, Mr.
Wilmington, DE 19890 Cheung has been the Division Manager, Fixed Income Products at
Date of Birth: 12/54 Wilmington Trust Company.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JOSEPH M. FAHEY, JR. Vice Mr. Fahey has been a Vice President with Rodney Square
Rodney Square North President Management Corporation ("RSMC") since 1992. He has been a
1100 North Market Street Director and Secretary of RSMC since 1986 and was an Assistant
Wilmington, DE 19809 Vice President from 1988 to 1992.
Date of Birth: 1/57
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FRED FILOON Vice
520 Madison Avenue President
New York, NY 10022
Date of Birth: __/__
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JOHN R. GILES Vice From 1991 to 1996, Mr. Giles was employed by Consistent Asset
Rodney Square North President Management Company; From April 1996 to the present, Mr.Giles has
1100 N. Market Street been employed by Wilmington Tru st Company and serves as Vice
Wilmington, DE 19890 President.
Date of Birth: __/__
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PAT COLLETTI Vice Mr. Colletti has been Vice President and Director of Investment
400 Bellevue Parkway President Accounting and Administration of PFPC Inc. since April 1999.
Wilmington, DE 19809 and From 1986 to April 1999, he was Controller for the Reserve
Date of Birth: 11/58 Treasurer the Reserve Funds.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
7
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
POSITION(S)
NAME, ADDRESS AND HELD WITH
DATE OF BIRTH THE TRUST PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
GARY M. GARDNER Secretary Mr. Gardner has been a Senior Vice President of PFPC Inc.
400 Bellevue Parkway since January 1994. Mr. Gardner provided legal and regulatory
Wilmington, DE 19809 advice to mutual funds and their management for more than
Date of Birth: 2/51 twenty years at Federated Investors, Inc., SunAmerica Asset
Management Corp. and The Boston Company, Inc.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
The fees and expenses of the Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the
Trust ("Independent Trustees"), as defined in the 1940 Act are paid by the
Trust. The following table shows the fees paid during the fiscal year ended June
30, 2000 to the Independent Trustees for their service to the Trust and the
total compensation paid to the Trustees by the WT Fund Complex, which consists
of the Trust and the Master.
On October ___, 2000, the Trustees and the officers of the Trust, as a group,
owned beneficially, or may be DEEMED to have owned beneficially, less than 1% of
the outstanding shares of the Large Cap Growth Fund.
TRUSTEES' FEES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2000
COMPENSATION TOTAL COMPENSATION
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE FROM THE TRUST FROM THE WT FUND COMPLEX
------------------- -------------- ------------------------
Robert Arnold $10,700 $21,000
Eric Brucker $8,700 $19,600
Nicholas Giordano $11,800 $22,200
Louis Klein, Jr. $8,700 $17,100
Clement C. Moore, II $8,700 $17,100
John Quindlen $10,700 $23,600
The Trust has an Audit Committee which has the responsibility, among other
things, to (1) recommend the selection of the Trust's independent auditors; (2)
review and approve the scope of the independent auditors' audit activity; (3)
review the financial statements which are the subject of the independent
auditors' certifications; and (4) review with such independent auditors the
adequacy of the Trust's basic accounting system and the effectiveness of the
Trust's internal accounting controls.
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
As of October __, 2000, the following shareholders were known to own
beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the Large Cap Growth Fund:
[INSERT 5% S/HS]
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES
ADVISORY SERVICES
Roxbury Capital Management, LLC ("Roxbury" or the "adviser") serves as the
investment adviser to each Series. An employee of Roxbury, Mr. Richards, serves
as Trustee for the Trust. The Large Cap Growth Series pays a monthly advisory
fee to Roxbury at the annual rate of 0.55% of that Series' first $1 billion of
average daily net assets; 0.50% of the Series' next $1 billion of average daily
net assets; and 0.45% of the Series' average daily net assets over $2 billion.
The Mid Cap Series and the Socially Responsible Series each pay a monthly
advisory fee to Roxbury at the annual rate of 0.75% of the Series' first $1
billion of average daily net assets; 0.70% of the Series' next billion of
average daily net assets; and 0.65% of the Series' average daily net assets over
$2 billion. The Science and Technology Series pays a monthly advisory fee to
Roxbury at the annual rate of 1.00% of the Series'
8
<PAGE>
first $1 billion in assets; 0.95% of the Series' next $1 billion of average
daily net assets; and 0.90% for the Series' average daily net assets over $2
billion.
Roxbury has agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee or reimburse expenses
to the extent total operating expenses, as a percentage of average net assets,
exceed 1.30% for the Class A shares of Large Cap Growth Fund and 2.05% for Class
B and Class C shares of the Large Cap Growth Fund. With respect to the Mid Cap
Fund and Socially Responsible Fund, Roxbury has agreed to waive a portion of its
advisory fee or reimburse expenses to the extent total operating expenses, as a
percentage of average net assets, exceed 1.55% for each Fund's Class A shares
and 2.30% for each Fund's Class B shares and Class C shares. Roxbury has also
agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee or reimburse expenses to the
extent total operating expenses, as a percentage of average net assets, exceed
1.80% for the Class A shares of the Science and Technology Fund and 2.55% for
the Class B shares and Class C shares of the Science and Technology Fund. These
undertakings will remain in place until the Board of Trustees approves their
terminations.
Under the terms of the advisory agreement, Roxbury agrees to: (a) direct the
investments of each Series, subject to and in accordance with each Series'
investment objective, policies and limitations set forth in its prospectus and
this Statement of Additional Information; (b) purchase and sell for each Series,
securities and other investments consistent with each Series' investment
objectives and policies; (c) supply office facilities, equipment and personnel
necessary for servicing the investments of each Series; (d) pay the salaries of
all personnel of each Series and the adviser performing services relating to
research, statistical and investment activities on behalf of each Series; (e)
make available and provide such information as each Series and/or its
administrator may reasonably request for use in the preparation of its
registration statement, reports and other documents required by any applicable
federal, foreign or state statutes or regulations; (f) make its officers and
employees available to the Trustees and officers of the Trust for consultation
and discussion regarding the management of each Series and its investment
activities. Additionally, Roxbury agrees to create and maintain all necessary
records in accordance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations pertaining
to the various functions performed by it and not otherwise created and
maintained by another party pursuant to contract with the Trust. The adviser may
at any time or times, upon approval by the Board of Trustees, enter into one or
more sub-advisory agreements with a sub-adviser pursuant to which the adviser
delegates any or all of its duties as listed.
For the period March 14, 2000 (commencement of operations) through June 30,
2000, Roxbury waived its entire advisory fee of $______.
The agreement provides that the adviser shall not be liable for any error of
judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by any of the Series in
connection with the matters to which the agreement relates, except to the extent
of a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on
its part in the performance of its obligations and duties under the agreement.
The salaries of any officers and Trustees of the Trust who are affiliated with
the adviser and the salaries of all personnel of the adviser performing services
for each Fund relating to research, statistical and investment activities are
paid by the adviser.
CODE OF ETHICS
The Board of Trustees of the Fund and the Master and each of the Master's
investment advisers have each adopted a code of ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 of
1940 Act. Among other provisions, such codes require investment personnel and
certain other employees to pre-clear securities transactions that are subject to
the code of ethics, to file reports or duplicate confirmations regarding
personal securities transactions and to refrain from engaging in short-term
trading of a security and transactions of a security within seven days of a
Series' portfolio transaction involving the same security. Directors/trustees,
officers and employees of the Fund, Master, and each adviser are required to
abide by the provisions under their respective code of ethics. On a quarterly
and annual basis, the Board of Trustees reviews reports regarding the codes of
ethics, including information on any substantial violations of the codes.
9
<PAGE>
ADMINISTRATION AND ACCOUNTING SERVICES
Under separate Administration and Accounting Services Agreements, PFPC Inc., 400
Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809 performs certain administrative and
accounting services for the Trust and the Master. These services include
preparing shareholder reports, providing statistical and research data,
assisting the adviser in compliance monitoring activities, and preparing and
filing federal and state tax returns on behalf of the Trust and the Master. In
addition, PFPC prepares and files various reports with the appropriate
regulatory agencies and prepares materials required by the SEC or any state
securities commission having jurisdiction over the Trust. The accounting
services performed by PFPC include determining the net asset value per share of
each Fund and Series and maintaining records relating to the securities
transactions of each Fund and Series. The Administration and Accounting Services
Agreements provide that PFPC and its affiliates shall not be liable for any
error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust or the
Master, except to the extent of a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad
faith or gross negligence on their part in the performance of their obligations
and duties under the Administration and Accounting Services Agreements.
ADDITIONAL SERVICE PROVIDERS
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS. Ernst & Young LLP, serves as the independent auditor to
the Trust and the Master, providing services which include (1) auditing the
annual financial statements for each Fund and its corresponding Series, (2)
assistance and consultation in connection with SEC filings and (3) preparation
of the annual federal income tax returns filed on behalf of the Trust.
LEGAL COUNSEL. Pepper Hamilton LLP, 3000 Two Logan Square, 18th and Arch
Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19103, serves as counsel to the Trust and the Master.
CUSTODIAN. Wilmington Trust Company, 1100 N. Market Street, Wilmington, DE
19890, serves as the custodian.
TRANSFER AGENT. PFPC Inc. ("PFPC"), 400 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE
19809-0001, serves as the Transfer Agent and Dividend Paying Agent.
DISTRIBUTION OF SHARES AND RULE 12B-1 PLAN
Pursuant to an Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement for the Class B
shares of the Trust and a Distribution Agreement for all other shares of the
Trust (each, a "Distribution Agreement"), Provident Distributors, Inc. ("PDI"),
3200 Horizon Drive, King of Prussia, PA 19406, serves as the underwriter of the
Trust's shares. The terms of each Distribution Agreement grant PDI the right to
sell the shares of the Trust as agent for the Trust. Shares of the Trust are
offered continuously.
Under the terms of each Distribution Agreement, PDI agrees to use all reasonable
efforts to secure purchasers for Class B and Class C shares of the Funds and to
pay expenses of printing and distributing prospectuses, statements of additional
information and reports prepared for use in connection with the sale of the
Funds' Class B and Class C shares and any other literature and advertising used
in connection with the offering, out of the compensation it receives pursuant to
the Funds' Amended and Restated Distribution Plan for its Class B Shares ("Class
B Plan") and Amended and Restated Distribution Plan for its Class C Shares
("Class C Plan"), each of which have been adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under
the 1940 Act (collectively, the "Rule 12b-1 Plans"). PDI receives no
underwriting commissions or Rule 12b-1 fees in connection with the sale of the
Class A shares of the Funds.
Each Distribution Agreement provides that PDI, in the absence of willful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or
by reason of reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under each
agreement, will not be liable to any of the Funds or its shareholders for losses
arising in connection with the sale of shares of the Funds.
The Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement for the Funds' Class B shares
became effective as of October 17, 2000 and continues in effect for a period of
two years. Thereafter, the agreement may continue in effect for successive
annual periods provided such continuance is approved at least annually by a
majority of the Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Trustees. The
Distribution Agreement for the remaining shares of the Trust
10
<PAGE>
became effective as of November 1, 1999 and was amended on October 17, 2000. It
continues in effect for a period of two years. Thereafter, it may continue in
effect for successive annual periods provided such continuance is approved at
least annually by a majority of the Trustees, including a majority of the
Independent Trustees.
Each Distribution Agreement terminates automatically in the event of an
assignment, and is terminable without payment of any penalty with respect to a
Fund (i) (by vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not
interested persons of the Trust and who have no direct or indirect financial
interest in the operation of any Rule 12b-1 Plan of the Funds or any agreements
related to such plan, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the applicable Fund) on sixty (60) days' written notice to PDI; or
(ii) by PDI on sixty (60) days' written notice to the Trust.
PDI will be compensated for distribution services according to the Class B Plan
and the Class C Plan, regardless of PDI's expenses. The Class B Plan and Class C
Plan provide that PDI will be paid for distribution activities such as public
relations services, telephone services, sales presentations, media charges,
preparation, printing and mailing advertising and sales literature, data
processing necessary to support a distribution effort and printing and mailing
of prospectuses to prospective shareholders. Additionally, PDI may pay certain
financial institutions such as banks or broker-dealers who have entered into
servicing agreements with PDI and other financial institutions for distribution
and shareholder servicing activities.
The Class B Plan further provides that monthly payments shall be made in the
amount of 0.75% per annum of the Class B shares' average net assets as
compensation for PDI's role in the distribution of a Fund's Class B shares. The
Class C Plan provides that monthly payments shall be made in the amount of 0.75%
per annum of the average daily net assets to a Fund's Class C shares (or such
lesser amount as may be established by a majority of the Board of Trustees,
including a majority of the non-interested Trustees) as compensation for PDI's
role in the distribution of a Fund's Class C shares.
Under the Class B Plan and Class C Plan, if any payments made by the adviser out
of its advisory fee, not to exceed the amount of that fee, to any third parties
(including banks), including payments for shareholder servicing and transfer
agent functions, were deemed to be indirect financing by a Fund of the
distribution of its shares, such payments are authorized. A Series may execute
portfolio transactions with and purchase securities issued by depository
institutions that receive payments under the Class B Plan or Class C Plan. No
preference for instruments issued by such depository institutions is shown in
the selection of investments.
When purchasing Class A shares, a sales charge will be incurred at the time of
purchase (a "front-end load") based on the dollar amount of the purchase. The
maximum initial sales charge is 5.50%, which is reduced for purchases of $50,000
and more. Sales charges also may be reduced by using the accumulation privilege
described under "Sales Charge Reductions and Waiver". Although purchases of
$1,000,000 or more may not be subject to an initial sales charge, if the initial
sales charge is waived, such purchases may be subject to a CDSC of 1.00% if the
shares are redeemed within one year after purchase.
Part of the front-end sales charge is paid directly to the selling broker-dealer
(the "dealer reallowance"). The remainder is retained by the distributor and may
be used either to promote the sale of each of the Fund's shares or to compensate
PDI for its efforts to sell the shares of each Fund.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
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DEALER REALLOWANCE
YOUR INVESTMENT AS A PERCENTAGE OF AS A PERCENTAGE OF YOUR AS A PERCENTAGE OF
OFFERING PRICE INVESTMENT OFFERING PRICE
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
$50,000 and less 5.50% 5.82% 4.00%
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$50,000 up to $150,000 5.00% 5.26% 3.50%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$150,000 up to $250,000 4.50% 4.71% 3.00%
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$250,000 up to $500,000 3.50% 3.63% 2.25%
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$500,000 up to $1,000,000 3.00% 3.09% 1.74%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Over $1,000,000 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
11
<PAGE>
BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES
The adviser places all portfolio transactions on behalf of a Series. Any debt
securities purchased and sold by a Series are generally traded on the dealer
market on a net basis (i.e., without commission) through dealers acting for
their own account and not as brokers, or otherwise involve transactions directly
with the issuer of the instrument. This means that a dealer (the securities firm
or bank dealing with a Series) makes a market for securities by offering to buy
at one price and sell at a slightly higher price. The difference between the
prices is known as a spread. When securities are purchased in underwritten
offerings, they include a fixed amount of compensation to the underwriter.
The primary objective of the adviser in placing orders on behalf of a Series for
the purchase and sale of securities is to obtain best execution at the most
favorable prices through responsible brokers or dealers and, where the spread or
commission rates are negotiable, at competitive rates. In selecting a broker or
dealer, the adviser considers, among other things: (i) the price of the
securities to be purchased or sold; (ii) the rate of the spread or commission;
(iii) the size and difficulty of the order; (iv) the nature and character of the
spread or commission for the securities to be purchased or sold; (v) the
reliability, integrity, financial condition, general execution and operational
capability of the broker or dealer; and (vi) the quality of any research or
statistical services provided by the broker or dealer to a Series or to the
adviser.
The adviser cannot readily determine the extent to which spreads or commission
rates or net prices charged by brokers or dealers reflect the value of their
research, analysis, advice and similar services. In such cases, the adviser
receives services it otherwise might have had to perform itself. The research,
analysis, advice and similar services provided by brokers or dealers can be
useful to the adviser in serving its other clients, as well as in serving a
Series. Conversely, information provided to the adviser by brokers or dealers
who have executed transaction orders on behalf of other clients of the adviser
may be useful in providing services to a Series.
Some of the adviser's other clients may have investment objectives and programs
similar to that of one or more of the Series. Occasionally, recommendations made
to other clients may result in their purchasing or selling securities
simultaneously with a particular Series. Consequently, the demand for securities
being purchased or the supply of securities being sold may increase, and this
could have an adverse effect on the price of those securities. It is the policy
of the adviser not to favor one client over another in making recommendations or
in placing orders. In the event of a simultaneous transaction, purchases or
sales are averaged as to price, transaction costs are allocated among a Series
and other clients participating in the transaction on a pro rata basis and
purchases and sales are normally allocated among a series and the other clients
as to amount according to a formula determined prior to the execution of such
transactions.
CAPITAL STOCK AND OTHER SECURITIES
With respect to the Funds, the Trust issues three separate classes of shares,
Class A, Class B and Class C. The shares of each Fund, when issued and paid for
in accordance with the prospectus, will be fully paid and non-assessable shares,
with equal voting rights and no preferences as to conversion, exchange,
dividends, redemption or any other feature.
The separate classes of shares each represent interests in the same portfolio of
investments, have the same rights and are identical in all respects, except that
Class B and Class C shares bear Rule 12b-1 distribution expenses of 0.75% of the
average net assets of the respective Class B and Class C shares and have
exclusive voting rights with respect to the Rule 12b-1 Plan pursuant to which
the Rule 12b-1 fee may be paid. Each Class bears a shareholder service fee of
0.25% of the average net assets of the Class. The net income attributable to a
class of shares and the dividends payable on such shares will be reduced by the
amount of any shareholder service or Rule 12b-1 fees; accordingly, the net asset
value of Class A, Class B and Class C shares will be reduced by such amount to
the extent a Fund has undistributed net income.
Shares of a Fund entitle holders to one vote per share and fractional votes for
fractional shares held. Shares have non-cumulative voting rights, do not have
preemptive or subscription rights and are transferable. Each Fund and class
takes separate votes on matters affecting only that Fund or class. For example,
a change in the fundamental investment policies for a Fund would be voted upon
only by shareholders of that Fund.
12
<PAGE>
The Funds do not hold annual meetings of shareholders. The Trustees are required
to call a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of voting upon the question of
removal of any Trustee when requested in writing to do so by the shareholders of
record owning not less than 10% of a Fund's outstanding shares.
PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES
PURCHASE OF SHARES.
BY MAIL: You or your financial intermediary may purchase shares by sending a
check drawn on a U.S. bank payable to either Roxbury Large Cap Growth Fund,
Roxbury Mid Cap Fund, Roxbury Science and Technology Fund or Roxbury Socially
Responsible Fund, along with a completed application (included at the end of the
prospectus). If a subsequent investment is being made, the check should also
indicate your Fund account number. When you make purchases by check, the Fund
may withhold payment on redemptions until it is reasonably satisfied that the
funds are collected (which can take up to 10 days). If you purchase shares with
a check that does not clear, your purchase will be canceled and you will be
responsible for any losses or fees incurred in that transaction. Send the check
and application to:
BY REGULAR MAIL BY OVERNIGHT MAIL
--------------- -----------------
Roxbury Funds Roxbury Funds
c/o PFPC Inc. c/o PFPC Inc.
P.O. Box 8784 400 Bellevue Parkway - Suite 108
Wilmington, DE 19899 Wilmington, DE 19809
BY WIRE: You may purchase shares by wiring federal funds readily available.
Please call PFPC at (800) 497-2960 for instructions and to make specific
arrangements before making a purchase by wire, and if making an initial
purchase, to also obtain an account number.
INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS: You may purchase shares of a Fund for a
tax-deferred retirement plan such as an individual retirement account ("IRA").
To order an application for an IRA and a brochure describing a Fund IRA, call
the Transfer Agent at (800) 497-2960. PFPC Trust Company, as custodian for each
IRA account receives an annual fee of $10 per account, paid directly to PFPC
Trust Company by the IRA shareholder. If the fee is not paid by the due date,
the appropriate number of Fund shares owned by the IRA will be redeemed
automatically as payment.
AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT PLAN: You may purchase Fund shares through an Automatic
Investment Plan ("AIP"). Under the AIP, the Transfer Agent, at regular
intervals, will automatically debit your bank checking account in an amount of
$50 or more (after the $2,000 minimum initial investment). You may elect to
invest the specified amount monthly, bimonthly, quarterly, semiannually or
annually. The purchase of Fund shares will be effected at their offering price
at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange ("Exchange")
(currently 4:00 p.m., Eastern time), on or about the 20th day of the month. To
obtain an application for the AIP, check the appropriate box of the application
or call the Transfer Agent at (800) 497-2960.
PAYROLL INVESTMENT PLAN: The Payroll Investment Plan ("PIP") permits you to make
regularly scheduled purchases of Fund shares through payroll deductions. To open
a PIP account, you must submit a completed account application, payroll
deduction form and the minimum initial deposit to your employer's payroll
department. Then, a portion of your paycheck will automatically be transferred
to your PIP account for as long as you wish to participate in the plan. It is
the sole responsibility of your employer, not the Fund, the distributor, the
adviser or the transfer agent, to arrange for transactions under the PIP. The
Fund reserves the right to vary its minimum purchase requirements for employees
participating in a PIP.
REDEMPTION OF SHARES.
You or your financial intermediary may sell your shares on any Business Day as
described below. Redemptions are effected at the NAV next determined after the
Transfer Agent has received your redemption request. It is the responsibility of
your financial intermediary to transmit redemption orders and credit your
account with redemption proceeds on a timely basis. Redemption checks are mailed
on the next Business Day following receipt by the
13
<PAGE>
Transfer Agent of redemption instructions, but never later than 7 days following
such receipt. Amounts redeemed by wire are normally wired on the date of receipt
of redemption instructions (if received by the Transfer Agent before 4:00 p.m.
Eastern time), or the next Business Day (if received after 4:00 p.m. Eastern
time, or on a non-Business Day), but never later than 7 days following such
receipt.
BY MAIL: If you redeem your shares by mail, you should submit written
instructions with a "signature guarantee." A signature guarantee verifies the
authenticity of your signature. When the fund requires a signature guarantee, a
medallion signature guarantee must be provided. A medallion signature guarantee
may be obtained from a domestic bank or trust company, broker, dealer, clearing
agency, savings association, or other financial institution, which is
participating in a medallion program recognized by the Securities Transfer
Association. The three recognized medallion programs are Securities Transfer
Agents Medallion Program (STAMP), Stock Exchanges Medallion Program (SEMP) and
New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Medallion Signature Program (NYSE MSP). Signature
guarantees from financial institutions, which are not participating in one of
these programs will not be accepted. You can obtain one from most banking
institutions or securities brokers, but not from a Notary Public. You must
indicate the Fund name, your account number and your name. The written
instructions and signature guarantee should be mailed to:
BY REGULAR MAIL BY OVERNIGHT MAIL
--------------- -----------------
Roxbury Funds Roxbury Funds
c/o PFPC Inc. c/o PFPC Inc.
P.O. Box 8784 400 Bellevue Parkway - Suite 108
Wilmington, DE 19809 Wilmington, DE 19809
BY TELEPHONE: If you prefer to redeem your shares by telephone you may elect to
do so. However, there are certain risks. Each Fund has certain safeguards and
procedures to confirm the identity of callers and to confirm that the
instructions communicated are genuine. If such procedures are followed, you will
bear the risk of any losses.
BY WIRE: Redemption proceeds may be wired to your predesignated bank account in
any commercial bank in the United States if the amount is $1,000 or more. The
receiving bank may charge a fee for this service. Proceeds may also be mailed to
your bank or, for amounts of $10,000 or less, mailed to your Fund account
address of record if the address has been established for at least 60 days. In
order to authorize the Transfer Agent to mail redemption proceeds to your Fund
account address of record, complete the appropriate section of the Application
for Telephone Redemptions or include your Fund account address of record when
you submit written instructions. You may change the account that you have
designated to receive amounts redeemed at any time. Any request to change the
account designated to receive redemption proceeds should be accompanied by a
guarantee of the shareholder's signature by an eligible institution. A signature
and a signature guarantee are required for each person in whose name the account
is registered. Further documentation will be required to change the designated
account when a corporation, other organization, trust, fiduciary or other
institutional investor holds the Fund shares.
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN: If you own Fund shares with a value of $10,000 or
more you may participate in the Systematic Withdrawal Plan ("SWP"). Under the
SWP, you may automatically redeem a portion of your account monthly, bimonthly,
quarterly, semiannually or annually. The minimum withdrawal available is $100.
All the redemptions of Fund shares, including bi-monthly redemptions of Fund
shares, will be effected at the NAV determined on or about the 25th day of the
month.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING REDEMPTIONS: If shares to be redeemed represent
a recent investment made by check, the Fund reserves the right not to make the
redemption proceeds available until it has reasonable grounds to believe that
the check has been collected (which could take up to 10 days).
To ensure proper authorization before redeeming Fund shares, the Transfer Agent
may require additional documents such as, but not restricted to, stock powers,
trust instruments, death certificates, appointments as fiduciary, certificates
of corporate authority and waivers of tax required in some states when settling
estates.
When shares are held in the name of a corporation, other organization, trust,
fiduciary or other institutional investor, the Transfer Agent requires, in
addition to the stock power, certified evidence of authority to sign the
necessary
14
<PAGE>
instruments of transfer. These procedures are for the protection of shareholders
and should be followed to ensure prompt payment. Redemption requests must not be
conditional as to date or price of the redemption. Proceeds of a redemption will
be sent within 7 days of acceptance of shares tendered for redemption. Delay may
result if the purchase check has not yet cleared, but the delay will be no
longer than required to verify that the purchase check has cleared, and the
Funds will act as quickly as possible to minimize delay.
The value of shares redeemed may be more or less than your cost, depending on
the net asset value at the time of redemption. Redemption of shares may result
in tax consequences (gain or loss) to you, and the proceeds of a redemption may
be subject to backup withholding.
Your right to redeem shares and to receive payment therefore may be suspended
when (a) the Exchange is closed, other than customary weekend and holiday
closings, (b) trading on the Exchange is restricted, (c) an emergency exists as
a result of which it is not reasonably practicable to dispose of the Fund's
securities or to determine the value of the Fund's net assets, or (d) ordered by
a governmental body having jurisdiction over the Fund for the protection of the
Fund's shareholders, provided that applicable rules and regulations of the SEC
(or any succeeding governmental authority) shall govern as to whether a
condition described in (b), (c) or (d) exists. In case of such suspension,
shareholders of the Fund may withdraw their requests for redemption or may
receive payment based on the net asset value of the Fund next determined after
the suspension is lifted.
Each Fund reserves the right, if conditions exist which make cash payments
undesirable, to honor any request for redemption by making payment in whole or
in part with readily marketable securities chosen by each Fund and valued in the
same way as they would be valued for purposes of computing the net asset value
of each Fund. If payment is made in securities, you may incur transaction
expenses in converting these securities into cash. Each Fund has elected,
however, to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act, as a result of which
each Fund is obligated to redeem shares solely in cash if the redemption
requests are made by one shareholder account up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1%
of the net assets of that particular Fund during any 90-day period. This
election is irrevocable unless the SEC permits its withdrawal.
The net asset value per share of each Fund is determined by dividing the value
of each Fund's net assets by the total number of that Fund's shares outstanding.
This determination is made by PFPC, as of the close of regular trading on the
Exchange (currently 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) each day a Fund is open for
business. A Fund is considered to be open for business on days when the
Exchange, PFPC and the Philadelphia branch office of the Federal Reserve are
open for business.
In valuing a Fund's assets, a security listed on the Exchange (and not subject
to restrictions against sale by the Funds on the Exchange) will be valued at its
last sale price on the Exchange on the day the security is valued. Lacking any
sales on such day, the security will be valued at the mean between the closing
asked price and the closing bid price. Securities listed on other exchanges (and
not subject to restriction against sale by the Funds on such exchanges) will be
similarly valued, using quotations on the exchange on which the security is
traded most extensively. Unlisted securities that are quoted on the National
Association of Securities Dealers' National Market System, for which there have
been sales of such securities on such day, shall be valued at the last sale
price reported on such system on the day the security is valued. If there are no
such sales on such day, the value shall be the mean between the closing asked
price and the closing bid price. The value of such securities quoted on the
NASDAQ Stock Market System, but not listed on the National Market System, shall
be valued at the mean between the closing asked price and the closing bid price.
Unlisted securities that are not quoted on the NASDAQ Stock Market System and
for which over-the-counter market quotations are readily available will be
valued at the mean between the current bid and asked prices for such security in
the over-the-counter market. Other unlisted securities (and listed securities
subject to restriction on sale) will be valued at fair value as determined in
good faith under the direction of the Board of Trustees although the actual
calculation may be done by others. Short-term investments with remaining
maturities of less than 61 days are valued at amortized cost.
DIVIDENDS
Dividends from each Fund's net investment income and distributions of net
short-term capital gain and net capital gain (the excess of net long-term
capital gain over the short-term capital loss) realized by each Fund, after
deducting any available capital loss carryovers are declared and paid to its
shareholders annually.
15
<PAGE>
TAXATION OF THE FUND
GENERAL. Each Fund is treated as a separate corporation for federal income tax
purposes. To qualify or continue to qualify for treatment as a regulated
investment company ("RIC") under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the "Code"), each Fund must distribute to its shareholders for each taxable
year at least 90% of its investment company taxable income (consisting generally
of net investment income and net short-term capital gain and must meet several
additional requirements. For each Fund, these requirements include the
following: (1) the Fund must derive at least 90% of its gross income each
taxable year 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 (including gains from options, futures and forward
contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in securities or
those currencies; (2) 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, with these other securities limited, in respect of any one issuer,
to an amount that does not exceed 5% of the value of the Fund's total assets and
that does not represent more than 10% of the issuer's outstanding voting
securities; and (3) at the close of each quarter of the Fund's taxable year, not
more than 25% of the value of its total assets may be invested in securities
(other than U.S. Government securities or the securities of other RICs) of any
one issuer.
If a Fund failed to qualify for treatment as a RIC in any taxable year, it would
be subject to tax on its taxable income at corporate rates and all distributions
from earnings and profits, including any distributions from net capital gain
(the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss),
would be taxable to its shareholders as ordinary income. In addition, a Fund
could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and
interest and make substantial distributions before qualifying again for RIC
treatment.
Each Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax (the "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.
Each Fund will be taxed on the amount of its undistributed net capital gain over
the amount of its deduction for dividends paid, determined with reference to
capital gain dividends only. Each Fund is permitted to elect to include all or a
portion of such undistributed net capital gain in the income of its shareholders
on the last day of its taxable year. In such case the shareholder is given
credit for the tax that the RIC paid and is entitled to increase its basis by
the difference between the amount of includible gain and tax deemed paid.
Currently, an individual's maximum tax rate on long-term capital gains is 20%. A
capital gain dividend is treated by the shareholders as a long-term capital gain
regardless of how long the Investor has owned the stock in a Fund.
If a Fund invests in any instruments that generate taxable income, under the
circumstances described in the prospectus, distributions of the interest earned
thereon will be taxable to its shareholders as ordinary income to the extent of
its earnings and profits. If such distribution to its shareholders is in excess
of its current and accumulated earnings and profits in any taxable year, the
excess distribution will be treated by each shareholder as a return of capital
to the extent of the shareholder's tax basis and thereafter as capital gain. If
a Fund realizes capital gain as a result of market transactions, any
distribution of that gain will be taxable to its shareholders and treated as a
capital gain.
Dividends and other distributions declared by each Fund in October, November or
December of any year and payable to shareholders of record on a date in one of
those months will be deemed to have been paid by the Fund and received by you on
December 31 of that year if they are paid by a Fund during the following
January. Accordingly, such distributions will be taxed to you for the year in
which that December 31 falls.
You should be aware that if Fund shares are purchased shortly before the record
date for any dividend (other than an exempt-interest dividend) or capital gain
distribution, you will pay full price for the shares and will receive some
portion of the price back as a taxable distribution.
It is anticipated that all or a portion of the dividends from the net investment
income of a Fund will qualify for the dividends-received deduction allowed to
corporations. Corporate shareholders of these Funds are generally entitled
16
<PAGE>
to take the dividends received deduction with respect to all or a portion of the
ordinary income dividends paid, to the extent of the Fund's qualifying dividend
income. The qualifying portion may not exceed the aggregate dividends received
by a Fund from U.S. corporations. However, dividends received by a corporate
shareholder and deducted by it pursuant to the dividends-received deduction are
subject indirectly to the federal alternative minimum tax. Moreover, the
dividends-received deduction will be reduced to the extent the shares with
respect to which the dividends are received are treated as debt-financed and
will be eliminated if those shares are deemed to have been held for less than 46
days. Distributions of net short-term capital gain and net capital gain are not
eligible for the dividends-received deduction.
Each Fund will inform shareholders within 60 days after their fiscal year-end of
the percentage of its dividends designated as qualifying for the dividends
received deduction.
Any loss realized by you on the redemption of shares within six months from the
date of their purchase will be treated as a long-term, instead of a short-term,
capital loss to the extent of any capital gain distributions to that shareholder
with respect to those shares.
HEDGING TRANSACTIONS. The use of hedging strategies, such as writing (selling)
and purchasing options and futures contracts and entering into forward currency
contracts, involves complex rules that will determine for federal income tax
purposes the amount, character and timing of recognition of the gains and losses
each Fund realizes in connection therewith. Gains from the disposition of
foreign currencies (except certain gains that may be excluded by future
regulations) and gains from options, futures and foreign currency contracts
derived by a Fund with respect to its business of investing in securities
qualify as permissible income under the Income Requirement.
SHORT SALES. Gain or loss from a short sale of property is generally considered
as capital gain or loss to the extent the property used to close the short sale
constitutes a capital asset in the Fund's hands. Except in certain situations,
special rules would generally treat the gains on short sales as short-term
capital gains and would terminate the running of the holding period of
"substantially identical property" held by the Fund. Moreover, a loss on a short
sale will be treated as a long-term loss if, on the date of the short sale,
"substantially identical property" held by the Fund has a long-term holding
period.
STRADDLES. Code Section 1092 (dealing with straddles) also may affect the
taxation of options, futures and forward contracts in which each Fund may
invest. Section 1092 defines a "straddle" as offsetting positions with respect
to
17
<PAGE>
personal property; for these purposes, options, futures and forward contracts
are personal property. Under Section 1092, any loss from the disposition of a
position in a straddle generally may be deducted only to the extent the loss
exceeds the unrealized gain on the offsetting position(s) of the straddle.
Section 1092 also provides certain "wash sale" rules, which apply to
transactions where a position is sold at a loss and a new offsetting position is
acquired within a prescribed period, and "short sale" rules applicable to
straddles (see above). If a Fund makes certain elections, the amount, character
and timing of the recognition of gains and losses from the affected straddle
positions would be determined under rules that vary according to the elections
made. Because only a few of the regulations implementing the straddle rules have
been promulgated, the tax consequences to a Fund of straddle transactions are
not entirely clear.
CONSTRUCTIVE SALE. If a Fund has an "appreciated financial position" --
generally, an interest (including an interest through an option, futures or
forward contract or short sale) with respect to any stock, debt instrument
(other than "straight debt") or partnership interest the fair market value of
which exceeds its adjusted basis -- and enters into a "constructive sale" of the
same or substantially similar property, a Fund will be treated as having made an
actual sale thereof, with the result that gain will be recognized at that time.
A constructive sale generally consists of a short sale, an offsetting notional
principal contract or futures or forward contract entered into by a Fund or a
related person with respect to the same or substantially similar property. In
addition, if the appreciated financial position is itself a short sale or such a
contract, acquisition of the underlying property or substantially similar
property will be deemed a constructive sale.
The foregoing tax discussion is a summary included for general informational
purposes only. Each shareholder is advised to consult its own tax adviser with
respect to the specific tax consequences to it of an investment in a Fund,
including the effect and applicability of state, local, foreign and other tax
laws and the possible effects of changes in federal or other tax laws.
Shortly after the end of each year, PFPC calculates the federal income tax
status of all distributions made during the year. In addition to federal income
tax, shareholders may be subject to state and local taxes on distributions from
a Fund. You should consult your tax adviser regarding specific questions
relating to federal, state and local taxes.
CALCULATION OF PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
The performance of each Fund may be quoted in terms of its yield and its total
return in advertising and other promotional materials. Performance data quoted
represents past performance and is not intended to indicate future performance.
Performance of each Fund will vary based on changes in market conditions and the
level of each Fund's expenses. These performance figures are calculated in the
following manner:
A. AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN is the average annual compound rate of return for
the periods of one year, five years, ten years and the life of a Fund, where
applicable, all ended on the last day of a recent calendar quarter. Average
annual total return quotations reflect changes in the price of a Fund's shares,
if any, and assume that all dividends during the respective periods were
reinvested in Fund shares. Average annual total return is calculated by finding
the average annual compound rates of return of a hypothetical investment over
such periods, according to the following formula (average annual total return is
then expressed as a percentage):
T = (ERV/P)1/n - 1
Where: P = a hypothetical initial investment of $1,000
T = average annual total return
n = number of years
ERV = ending redeemable value: ERV is
the value, at the end of the
applicable period, of a hypothetical
$1,000 investment made at the
beginning of the applicable period.
18
<PAGE>
B. YIELD CALCULATIONS. From time to time, a Fund may advertise its
yield. Yield for a Fund is calculated by dividing a Fund's investment income for
a 30-day period, net of expenses, by the average number of shares entitled to
receive dividends during that period according to the following formula:
YIELD = 2[((a-b)/cd + 1)6-1]
where:
a = dividends and interest earned during the period;
b = expenses accrued for the period (net of reimbursements);
c = the average daily number of shares outstanding during the
period that were entitled to receive dividends; and
d = the maximum offering price per share on the last day of the period.
The result is expressed as an annualized percentage (assuming semiannual
compounding) of the maximum offering price per share at the end of the period.
Except as noted below, in determining interest earned during the period
(variable "a" in the above formula), pfpc calculates the interest earned on each
debt instrument held by a Fund during the period by: (i) computing the
instrument's yield to maturity, based on the value of the instrument (including
actual accrued interest) as of the last business day of the period or, if the
instrument was purchased during the period, the purchase price plus accrued
interest; (ii) dividing the yield to maturity by 360; and (iii) multiplying the
resulting quotient by the value of the instrument (including actual accrued
interest). Once interest earned is calculated in this fashion for each debt
instrument held by a Fund, interest earned during the period is then determined
by totaling the interest earned on all debt instruments held by the Fund.
For purposes of these calculations, the maturity of a debt instrument with one
or more call provisions is assumed to be the next date on which the instrument
reasonably can be expected to be called or, if none, the maturity date. In
general, interest income is reduced with respect to debt instruments trading at
a premium over their par value by subtracting a portion of the premium from
income on a daily basis, and increased with respect to debt instruments trading
at a discount by adding a portion of the discount to daily income.
In determining dividends earned by any preferred stock or other equity
securities held by each Fund during the period (variable "a" in the above
formula), PFPC accrues the dividends daily at their stated dividend rates.
Capital gains and losses generally are excluded from yield calculations.
Because yield accounting methods differ from the accounting methods used to
calculate net investment income for other purposes, a Fund's yield may not equal
the dividend income actually paid to investors or the net investment income
reported with respect to a Fund in the Fund's financial statements.
Yield information may be useful in reviewing a Fund's performance and in
providing a basis for comparison with other investment alternatives. However, a
Fund's yields fluctuate, unlike investments that pay a fixed interest rate over
a stated period of time. Investors should recognize that in periods of declining
interest rates, a Fund's yields will tend to be somewhat higher than prevailing
market rates, and in periods of rising interest rates, a Fund's yields will tend
to be somewhat lower. Also, when interest rates are falling, the inflow of net
new money to a Fund from the continuous sale of its shares will likely be
invested in instruments producing lower yields than the balance of a Funds'
holdings, thereby reducing the current yields of a Fund. In periods of rising
interest rates, the opposite can be expected to occur.
COMPARISON OF FUND PERFORMANCE. A comparison of the quoted performance offered
for various investments is valid only if performance is calculated in the same
manner. Since there are many methods of calculating performance, investors
should consider the effects of the methods used to calculate performance when
comparing performance of each Fund with performance quoted with respect to other
investment companies or types of investments. For example, it is useful to note
that yields reported on debt instruments are generally prospective, contrasted
with the historical yields reported by a Fund.
In connection with communicating its performance to current or prospective
shareholders, a Fund also may compare these figures to the performance of other
mutual funds tracked by mutual fund rating services or to unmanaged indices
which may assume reinvestment of dividends but generally do not reflect
deductions for administrative and management costs.
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From time to time, in marketing and other literature, a Fund's performance may
be compared to the performance of broad groups of comparable mutual funds or
unmanaged indexes of comparable securities with similar investment goals, as
tracked by independent organizations such as Investment Company Data, Inc. (an
organization which provides performance ranking information for broad classes of
mutual funds), Lipper Analytical Services, Inc. ("Lipper") (a mutual fund
research firm which analyzes over 1,800 mutual funds), CDA Investment
Technologies, Inc. (an organization which provides mutual fund performance and
ranking information), Morningstar, Inc. (an organization which analyzes over
2,400 mutual funds) and other independent organizations. When Lipper's tracking
results are used, each Fund will be compared to Lipper's appropriate fund
category, that is, by fund objective and portfolio holdings. Rankings may be
listed among one or more of the asset-size classes as determined by Lipper. When
other organizations' tracking results are used, a Fund will be compared to the
appropriate fund category, that is, by fund objective and portfolio holdings, or
to the appropriate volatility grouping, where volatility is a measure of a
fund's risk.
Since the assets in all funds are always changing, a Fund may be ranked within
one asset-size class at one time and in another asset-size class at some other
time. In addition, the independent organization chosen to rank a Fund in
marketing and promotional literature may change from time to time depending upon
the basis of the independent organization's categorizations of mutual funds,
changes in a Fund's investment policies and investments, a Fund's asset size and
other factors deemed relevant. Advertisements and other marketing literature
will indicate the time period and Lipper asset-size class or other performance
ranking company criteria, as applicable, for the ranking in question.
Evaluations of Fund performance made by independent sources may also be used in
advertisements concerning a Fund, including reprints of or selections from,
editorials or articles about a Fund. Sources for performance information and
articles about a Fund may include the following:
BARRON'S, a Dow Jones and Company, Inc. business and financial weekly that
periodically reviews mutual fund performance data.
CDA INVESTMENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC., an organization that provides performance and
ranking information through examining the dollar results of hypothetical mutual
fund investments and comparing these results against appropriate market indices.
CHANGING TIMES, THE KIPLINGER MAGAZINE, a monthly investment advisory
publication that periodically features the performance of a variety of
securities.
CONSUMER DIGEST, a monthly business/financial magazine that includes a "Money
Watch" section featuring financial news.
FINANCIAL WORLD, a general business/financial magazine that includes a "Market
Watch" department reporting on activities in the mutual fund industry.
FORBES, a national business publication that from time to time reports the
performance of specific investment companies in the mutual fund industry.
FORTUNE, a national business publication that periodically rates the performance
of a variety of mutual funds.
IBC'S MONEY FUND REPORT, a weekly publication of IBC/Donoghue, Inc., of Ashland,
Massachusetts, reporting on the performance of the nation's money market funds,
summarizing money market fund activity, and including certain averages as
performance benchmarks, specifically "IBC's Money Fund Average," and "IBC's
Government Money Fund Average."
IBC'S MONEY FUND DIRECTORY, an annual directory ranking money market mutual
funds.
INVESTMENT COMPANY DATA, INC., an independent organization which provides
performance ranking information for broad classes of mutual funds.
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INVESTOR'S DAILY, a daily newspaper that features financial, economic, and
business news.
LIPPER ANALYTICAL SERVICES, INC.'S MUTUAL FUND PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS, a weekly
publication of industry-wide mutual fund averages by type of fund.
MONEY, a monthly magazine that from time to time features both specific funds
and the mutual fund industry as a whole.
MUTUAL FUND VALUES, a biweekly Morningstar, Inc. publication that provides
ratings of mutual funds based on fund performance risk and portfolio
characteristics.
THE NEW YORK TIMES, a nationally distributed newspaper which regularly covers
financial news.
PERSONAL INVESTING NEWS, a monthly news publication that often reports on
investment opportunities and market conditions.
PERSONAL INVESTOR, a monthly investment advisory publication that includes a
"Mutual Funds Outlook" section reporting on mutual fund performance measures,
yields, indices and portfolio holdings.
SUCCESS, a monthly magazine targeted to the world of entrepreneurs and growing
business, often featuring mutual fund performance data.
USA TODAY, the nation's number one daily newspaper.
U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT, a national business weekly that periodically reports
mutual fund performance data.
WALL STREET JOURNAL, a Dow Jones and Company, Inc. newspaper that regularly
covers financial news.
WIESENBERGER INVESTMENT COMPANIES SERVICES, an annual compendium of information
about mutual funds and other investment companies, including comparative data on
funds' backgrounds, management policies, salient features, management results,
income and dividend records, and price ranges.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The audited financial statements and financial highlights of Roxbury Large Cap
Growth Fund and its corresponding Series for the fiscal period from March 14,
2000, commencement of operations, through June 30, 2000, as set forth in it's
Annual Report to shareholders, including the notes thereto and the report of
Ernst & Young LLP thereon, are incorporated herein by reference. Financial
statements for the Mid Cap, Science and Technology and Socially Responsible
Funds are not available since they were not in operation during the fiscal
reporting period.
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APPENDIX A
OPTIONS, FUTURES AND FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACT STRATEGIES
REGULATION OF THE USE OF OPTIONS, FUTURES AND FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACT
STRATEGIES. As discussed in the prospectus, in managing the Series, the adviser
may engage in certain options, futures and forward currency contract strategies
for certain bona fide hedging, risk management or other portfolio management
purposes. Certain special characteristics of and risks associated with using
these strategies are discussed below. Use of options, futures and forward
currency contracts is subject to applicable regulations and/or interpretations
of the SEC and the several options and futures exchanges upon which these
instruments may be traded. The Board of Trustees has adopted investment
guidelines (described below) reflecting these regulations.
In addition to the products, strategies and risks described below and in the
prospectus, the adviser expects to discover additional opportunities in
connection with options, futures and forward currency contracts. These new
opportunities may become available as new techniques develop, as regulatory
authorities broaden the range of permitted transactions and as new options,
futures and forward currency contracts are developed. These opportunities may be
utilized to the extent they are consistent with each Fund's investment objective
and limitations and permitted by applicable regulatory authorities. The
registration statement for the Funds will be supplemented to the extent that new
products and strategies involve materially different risks than those described
below and in the prospectus.
COVER REQUIREMENTS. The Series will not use leverage in their options and
futures. Accordingly, each Series will comply with guidelines established by the
SEC with respect to coverage of these strategies by either (1) setting aside
cash or liquid, unencumbered, daily marked-to-market securities in one or more
segregated accounts with the custodian in the prescribed amount; or (2) holding
securities or other options or futures contracts whose values are expected to
offset ("cover") their obligations thereunder. Securities, currencies, or other
options or futures contracts used for cover cannot be sold or closed out while
these strategies are outstanding, unless they are replaced with similar assets.
As a result, there is a possibility that the use of cover involving a large
percentage of a Series' assets could impede portfolio management, or the Series'
ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.
OPTIONS STRATEGIES. Each Series may purchase and write (sell) only those options
on securities and securities indices that are traded on U.S. exchanges.
Exchange-traded options in the U.S. are issued by a clearing organization
affiliated with the exchange, on which the option is listed, which, in effect,
guarantees completion of every exchange-traded option transaction.
Each Series may purchase call options on securities in which it is authorized to
invest in order to fix the cost of a future purchase. Call options also may be
used as a means of enhancing returns by, for example, participating in an
anticipated price increase of a security. In the event of a decline in the price
of the underlying security, use of this strategy would serve to limit the
potential loss to a Series to the option premium paid; conversely, if the market
price of the underlying security increases above the exercise price and the
Series either sells or exercises the option, any profit eventually realized
would be reduced by the premium paid.
Each Series may purchase put options on securities that it holds in order to
hedge against a decline in the market value of the securities held or to enhance
return. The put option enables a Series to sell the underlying security at the
predetermined exercise price; thus, the potential for loss to a Series below the
exercise price is limited to the option premium paid. If the market price of the
underlying security is higher than the exercise price of the put option, any
profit the Series realizes on the sale of the security is reduced by the premium
paid for the put option less any amount for which the put option may be sold.
Each Series may on certain occasions wish to hedge against a decline in the
market value of securities that it holds at a time when put options on those
particular securities are not available for purchase. At those times, a Series
may purchase a put option on other carefully selected securities in which it is
authorized to invest, the values of which historically have a high degree of
positive correlation to the value of the securities actually held. If the
adviser's judgment is correct, changes in the value of the put options should
generally offset changes in the value of the securities being hedged. However,
the correlation between the two values may not be as close in these transactions
as in transactions in which a Series purchases a put option on a security that
it holds. If the
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value of the securities underlying the put option falls below the value of the
portfolio securities, the put option may not provide complete protection against
a decline in the value of the portfolio securities.
Each Series may write covered call options on securities in which it is
authorized to invest for hedging purposes or to increase return in the form of
premiums received from the purchasers of the options. A call option gives the
purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the writer (seller) the obligation
to sell, the underlying security at the exercise price during the option period.
The strategy may be used to provide limited protection against a decrease in the
market price of the security, in an amount equal to the premium received for
writing the call option less any transaction costs. Thus, if the market price of
the underlying security held by the Series declines, the amount of the decline
will be offset wholly or in part by the amount of the premium received by the
Series. If, however, there is an increase in the market price of the underlying
security and the option is exercised, the corresponding Series will be obligated
to sell the security at less than its market value.
Each Series may also write covered put options on securities in which it is
authorized to invest. A put option gives the purchaser of the option the right
to sell, and the writer (seller) the obligation to buy, the underlying security
at the exercise price during the option period. So long as the obligation of the
writer continues, the writer may be assigned an exercise notice by the
broker-dealer through whom such option was sold, requiring it to make payment of
the exercise price against delivery of the underlying security. The operation of
put options in other respects, including their related risks and rewards, is
substantially identical to that of call options. If the put option is not
exercised, the Series will realize income in the amount of the premium received.
This technique could be used to enhance current return during periods of market
uncertainty. The risk in such a transaction would be that the market price of
the underlying securities would decline below the exercise price less the
premiums received, in which case the Series would expect to suffer a loss.
Each Series may purchase put and call options and write covered put and call
options on indexes in much the same manner as the more traditional options
discussed above, except that index options may serve as a hedge against overall
fluctuations in the securities markets (or a market sector) rather than
anticipated increases or decreases in the value of a particular security. An
index assigns values to the securities included in the index and fluctuates with
changes in such values. Settlements of index options are effected with cash
payments and do not involve delivery of securities. Thus, upon settlement of an
index option, the purchaser will realize, and the writer will pay, an amount
based on the difference between the exercise price and the closing price of the
index. The effectiveness of hedging techniques using index options will depend
on the extent to which price movements in the index selected correlate with
price movements of the securities in which the Series invests. Perfect
correlation is not possible because the securities held or to be acquired by the
Series will not exactly match the composition of indexes on which options are
purchased or written.
Each Series may purchase and write covered straddles on securities or indexes. A
long straddle is a combination of a call and a put purchased on the same
security where the exercise price of the put is less than or equal to the
exercise price on the call. The Series would enter into a long straddle when the
adviser believes that it is likely that prices will be more volatile during the
term of the options than is implied by the option pricing. A short straddle is a
combination of a call and a put written on the same security where the exercise
price on the put is less than or equal to the exercise price of the call where
the same issue of the security is considered "cover" for both the put and the
call. The Series would enter into a short straddle when the adviser believes
that it is unlikely that prices will be as volatile during the term of the
options as is implied by the option pricing. In such case, the Series will set
aside cash and/or liquid, unencumbered securities in a segregated account with
its custodian equivalent in value to the amount, if any, by which the put is
"in-the-money," that is, that amount by which the exercise price of the put
exceeds the current market value of the underlying security. Because straddles
involve multiple trades, they result in higher transaction costs and may be more
difficult to open and close out.
Each Series may purchase put and call warrants with values that vary depending
on the change in the value of one or more specified indexes ("index warrants").
An index warrant is usually issued by a bank or other financial institution and
gives a Series the right, at any time during the term of the warrant, to receive
upon exercise of the warrant a cash payment from the issuer of the warrant based
on the value of the underlying index at the time of exercise. In general, if a
Series holds a call warrant and the value of the underlying index rises above
the exercise price of the warrant, a Series will be entitled to receive a cash
payment from the issuer upon exercise based on the difference between the value
of the index and the exercise price of the warrant; if a Series holds a put
warrant
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and the value of the underlying index falls, a Series will be entitled to
receive a cash payment from the issuer upon exercise based on the difference
between the exercise price of the warrant and the value of the index. A Series
holding a call warrant would not be entitled to any payments from the issuer at
any time when the exercise price is greater than the value of the underlying
index; a Series holding a put warrant would not be entitled to any payments when
the exercise price is less than the value of the underlying index. If a Series
does not exercise an index warrant prior to its expiration, then that Series
loses the amount of the purchase price that it paid for the warrant.
A Series will normally use index warrants as it may use index options. The risks
of a Series' use of index warrants are generally similar to those relating to
its use of index options. Unlike most index options, however, index warrants are
issued in limited amounts and are not obligations of a regulated clearing
agency, but are backed only by the credit of the bank or other institution which
issues the warrant. Also, index warrants generally have longer terms than index
options. Index warrants are not likely to be as liquid as index options backed
by a recognized clearing agency. In addition, the terms of index warrants may
limit a Series' ability to exercise the warrants at any time or in any quantity.
OPTIONS GUIDELINES. In view of the risks involved in using the options
strategies described above, each Series has adopted the following investment
guidelines to govern its use of such strategies; these guidelines may be
modified by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval:
(1) each Series will write only covered options, and each
such option will remain covered so long as each
Series is obligated thereby; and
(2) each Series will not write options (whether on
securities or securities indexes) if aggregate
exercise prices of previous written outstanding
options, together with the value of assets used to
cover all outstanding positions, would exceed 25% of
the corresponding Series' total net assets.
SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS AND RISKS OF OPTIONS TRADING. Each Series may
effectively terminate its right or obligation under an option by entering into a
closing transaction. If a Series wishes to terminate its obligation to purchase
or sell securities under a put or a call option it has written, such Series may
purchase a put or a call option of the same series (that is, an option identical
in its terms to the option previously written). This is known as a closing
purchase transaction. Conversely, in order to terminate its right to purchase or
sell specified securities under a call or put option it has purchased, a Series
may sell an option of the same series as the option held. This is known as a
closing sale transaction. Closing transactions essentially permit a Series to
realize profits or limit losses on its options positions prior to the exercise
or expiration of the option. If a Series is unable to effect a closing purchase
transaction with respect to options it has acquired, that Series will have to
allow the options to expire without recovering all or a portion of the option
premiums paid. If a Series is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction
with respect to covered options it has written, the Series will not be able to
sell the underlying securities or dispose of assets used as cover until the
options expire or are exercised, and the Series may experience material losses
due to losses on the option transaction itself and in the covering securities.
In considering the use of options to enhance returns or for hedging purposes,
particular note should be taken of the following:
(1) The value of an option position will reflect, among other
things, the current market price of the underlying security or
index, the time remaining until expiration, the relationship
of the exercise price to the market price, the historical
price volatility of the underlying security or index, and
general market conditions. For this reason, the successful use
of options depends upon the adviser's ability to forecast the
direction of price fluctuations in the underlying securities
markets or, in the case of index options, fluctuations in the
market sector represented by the selected index.
(2) Options normally have expiration dates of up to three years.
An American style put or call option may be exercised at any
time during the option period while a European style put or
call
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option may be exercised only upon expiration or during a fixed
period prior to expiration. The exercise price of the options
may be below, equal to or above the current market value of
the underlying security or index. Purchased options that
expire unexercised have no value. Unless an option purchased
by a Series is exercised or unless a closing transaction is
effected with respect to that position, the corresponding
Series will realize a loss in the amount of the premium paid
and any transaction costs.
(3) A position in an exchange-listed option may be closed out only
on an exchange that provides a secondary market for identical
options. Although a Series intends to purchase or write only
those exchange-traded options for which there appears to be a
liquid secondary market, there is no assurance that a liquid
secondary market will exist for any particular option at any
particular time. A liquid market may be absent if: (i) there
is insufficient trading interest in the option; (ii) the
exchange has imposed restrictions on trading, such as trading
halts, trading suspensions or daily price limits; (iii) normal
exchange operations have been disrupted; or (iv) the exchange
has inadequate facilities to handle current trading volume.
(4) With certain exceptions, exchange listed options generally
settle by physical delivery of the underlying security. Index
options are settled exclusively in cash for the net amount, if
any, by which the option is "in-the-money" (where the value of
the underlying instrument exceeds, in the case of a call
option, or is less than, in the case of a put option, the
exercise price of the option) at the time the option is
exercised. If a Series writes a call option on an index, that
Series will not know in advance the difference, if any,
between the closing value of the index on the exercise date
and the exercise price of the call option itself and thus will
not know the amount of cash payable upon settlement. If a
Series holds an index option and exercises it before the
closing index value for that day is available, that Series
runs the risk that the level of the underlying index may
subsequently change.
(5) A Series' activities in the options markets may result in a
higher Series turnover rate and additional brokerage costs;
however, a Series also may save on commissions by using
options as a hedge rather than buying or selling individual
securities in anticipation of, or as a result of, market
movements.
FUTURES AND RELATED OPTIONS STRATEGIES. Each Series may engage in futures
strategies for certain non-trading bona fide hedging, risk management and
portfolio management purposes.
A Series may sell securities index futures contracts in anticipation of a
general market or market sector decline that could adversely affect the market
value of the Series' securities holdings. To the extent that a portion of a
Series' holdings correlate with a given index, the sale of futures contracts on
that index could reduce the risks associated with a market decline and thus
provide an alternative to the liquidation of securities positions. For example,
if a Series correctly anticipates a general market decline and sells index
futures to hedge against this risk, the gain in the futures position should
offset some or all of the decline in the value of that Series' holdings. A
Series may purchase index futures contracts if a significant market or market
sector advance is anticipated. Such a purchase of a futures contract would serve
as a temporary substitute for the purchase of the underlying securities, which
may then be purchased, in an orderly fashion. This strategy may minimize the
effect of all or part of an increase in the market price of securities that a
Series intends to purchase. A rise in the price of the securities should be in
part or wholly offset by gains in the futures position.
As in the case of a purchase of an index futures contract, a Series may purchase
a call option on an index futures contract to hedge against a market advance in
securities that the corresponding Series plans to acquire at a future date. The
Series may write covered put options on index futures as a partial anticipatory
hedge, and may write covered call options on index futures as a partial hedge
against a decline in the prices of securities held by that Series. This is
analogous to writing covered call options on securities. The Series also may
purchase put options on index futures contracts. The purchase of put options on
index futures contracts is analogous to the purchase of protective put options
on individual securities where a level of protection is sought below which no
additional economic loss would be incurred by the Series.
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FUTURES AND RELATED OPTIONS GUIDELINES. In view of the risks involved in using
the futures strategies that are described above, each Series has adopted the
following investment guidelines to govern its use of such strategies. The Board
of Trustees may modify these guidelines without shareholder vote.
(1) Each Series will engage only in covered futures transactions,
and each such transaction will remain covered so long as each
Series is obligated thereby.
(2) Each Series will not write options on futures contracts if
aggregate exercise prices of previously written outstanding
options (whether on securities or securities indexes),
together with the value of assets used to cover all
outstanding futures positions, would exceed 25% of its total
net assets.
SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS AND RISKS OF FUTURES AND RELATED OPTIONS TRADING. No
price is paid upon entering into a futures contract. Instead, upon entering into
a futures contract, each Series is required to deposit with its custodian, in a
segregated account in the name of the futures broker through whom the
transaction is effected, an amount of cash, U.S. Government securities or other
liquid instruments generally equal to 10% or less of the contract value. This
amount is known as "initial margin." When writing a call or a put option on a
futures contract, margin also must be deposited in accordance with applicable
exchange rules. Unlike margin in securities transactions, initial margin on
futures contracts does not involve borrowing to finance the futures
transactions. Rather, initial margin on a futures contract is in the nature of a
performance bond or good-faith deposit on the contract that is returned to the
Series upon termination of the transaction, assuming all obligations have been
satisfied. Under certain circumstances, such as periods of high volatility, a
Series may be required by a futures exchange to increase the level of its
initial margin payment. Additionally, initial margin requirements may be
increased generally in the future by regulatory action. Subsequent payments,
called "variation margin," to and from the broker, are made on a daily basis as
the value of the futures or options position varies, a process known as "marking
to market." For example, when a Series purchases a contract and the value of the
contract rises, the Series receives from the broker a variation margin payment
equal to that increase in value. Conversely, if the value of the futures
position declines, the Series is required to make a variation margin payment to
the broker equal to the decline in value. Variation margin does not involve
borrowing to finance the futures transaction, but rather represents a daily
settlement of the Series' obligations to or from a clearing organization.
Buyers and sellers of futures positions and options thereon can enter into
offsetting closing transactions, similar to closing transactions on options on
securities, by selling or purchasing an offsetting contract or option. Futures
contracts or options thereon may be closed only on an exchange or board of trade
providing a secondary market for such futures contracts or options.
Under certain circumstances, futures exchanges may establish daily limits on the
amount that the price of a futures contract or related option may vary either up
or down from the previous day's settlement price. Once the daily limit has been
reached in a particular contract, no trades may be made that day at a price
beyond that limit. The daily limit governs only price movements during a
particular trading day and therefore does not limit potential losses, because
prices could move to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with
little or no trading and thereby prevent prompt liquidation of unfavorable
positions. In such event, it may not be possible for a Series to close a
position and, in the event of adverse price movements, the Series would have to
make daily cash payments of variation margin (except in the case of purchased
options). However, if futures contracts have been used to hedge portfolio
securities, such securities will not be sold until the contracts can be
terminated. In such circumstances, an increase in the price of the securities,
if any, may partially or completely offset losses on the futures contract.
However, there is no guarantee that the price of the securities will, in fact,
correlate with the price movements in the contracts and thus provide an offset
to losses on the contracts.
In considering a Series' use of futures contracts and related options,
particular note should be taken of the following:
(1) Successful use by a Series of futures contracts and related
options will depend upon the adviser's ability to predict
movements in the direction of the securities markets, which
requires different skills and techniques than predicting
changes in the prices of individual securities. Moreover,
futures contracts relate not only to the current price level
of the underlying
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securities, but also to anticipated price levels at some point
in the future. There is, in addition, the risk that the
movements in the price of the futures contract will not
correlate with the movements in the prices of the securities
being hedged. For example, if the price of an index futures
contract moves less than the price of the securities that are
the subject of the hedge, the hedge will not be fully
effective, but if the price of the securities being hedged has
moved in an unfavorable direction, a Series would be in a
better position than if it had not hedged at all. If the price
of the securities being hedged has moved in a favorable
direction, the advantage may be partially offset by losses in
the futures position. In addition, if a Series has
insufficient cash, it may have to sell assets to meet daily
variation margin requirements. Any such sale of assets may or
may not be made at prices that reflect a rising market.
Consequently, a Series may need to sell assets at a time when
such sales are disadvantageous to that Series. If the price of
the futures contract moves more than the price of the
underlying securities, a Series will experience either a loss
or a gain on the futures contract that may or may not be
completely offset by movements in the price of the securities
that are the subject of the hedge.
(2) In addition to the possibility that there may be an imperfect
correlation, or no correlation at all, between price movements
in the futures position and the securities being hedged,
movements in the prices of futures contracts may not correlate
perfectly with movements in the prices of the hedged
securities due to price distortions in the futures market.
There may be several reasons unrelated to the value of the
underlying securities that cause this situation to occur.
First, as noted above, all participants in the futures market
are subject to initial and variation margin requirements. If,
to avoid meeting additional margin deposit requirements or for
other reasons, investors choose to close a significant number
of futures contracts through offsetting transactions,
distortions in the normal price relationship between the
securities and the futures markets may occur. Second, because
the margin deposit requirements in the futures market are less
onerous than margin requirements in the securities market,
there may be increased participation by speculators in the
futures market. Such speculative activity in the futures
market also may cause temporary price distortions. As a
result, a correct forecast of general market trends may not
result in successful hedging through the use of futures
contracts over the short term. In addition, activities of
large traders in both the futures and securities markets
involving arbitrage and other investment strategies may result
in temporary price distortions.
(3) Positions in futures contracts may be closed out only on an
exchange or board of trade that provides a secondary market
for such futures contracts. Although the Series intend to
purchase and sell futures only on exchanges or boards of trade
where there appears to be an active secondary market, there is
no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an exchange or
board of trade will exist for any particular contract at any
particular time. In such event, it may not be possible to
close a futures position, and in the event of adverse price
movements, the Series would continue to be required to make
variation margin payments.
(4) Like options on securities, options on futures contracts have
limited life. The ability to establish and close out options
on futures will be subject to the development and maintenance
of liquid secondary markets on the relevant exchanges or
boards of trade. There can be no certainty that such markets
for all options on futures contracts will develop.
(5) Purchasers of options on futures contracts pay a premium in
cash at the time of purchase. This amount and the transaction
costs are all that is at risk. Sellers of options on futures
contracts, however, must post initial margin and are subject
to additional margin calls that could be substantial in the
event of adverse price movements. In addition, although the
maximum amount at risk when a Series purchases an option is
the premium paid for the option and the transaction costs,
there may be circumstances when the purchase of an option on a
futures contract would result in a loss to a Series when the
use of a futures contract would not, such as when there is no
movement in the level of the underlying index value or the
securities or currencies being hedged.
A-6
<PAGE>
(6) As is the case with options, a Series' activities in the
futures markets may result in a higher portfolio turnover rate
and additional transaction costs in the form of added
brokerage commissions. However, a Series also may save on
commissions by using futures contracts or options thereon as a
hedge rather than buying or selling individual securities in
anticipation of, or as a result of, market movements.
A-7
<PAGE>
APPENDIX B
DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS
Moody's and S&P are private services that provide ratings of the credit quality
of debt obligations. A description of the ratings assigned by Moody's and S&P to
the securities in which each Series may invest is discussed below. These ratings
represent the opinions of these rating services as to the quality of the
securities that they undertake to rate. It should be emphasized, however, that
ratings are general and are not absolute standards of quality. The adviser
attempts to discern variations in credit rankings of the rating services and to
anticipate changes in credit ranking. However, subsequent to purchase by a
Series, an issue of securities may cease to be rated or its rating may be
reduced below the minimum rating required for purchase by a Series. In that
event, the adviser will consider whether it is in the best interest of that
Series to continue to hold the securities.
MOODY'S RATINGS
CORPORATE AND MUNICIPAL BONDS.
Aaa: Bonds that are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They carry
the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as "gilt
edged." Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable
margin and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are likely
to change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the
fundamentally strong position of such issues.
Aa: Bonds that 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 that make the
long-term risk appear somewhat larger than the Aaa securities.
A: Bonds that 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 some time in the future.
Baa: Bonds that are rated Baa are considered as medium-grade obligations (i.e.,
they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured). Interest payments and
principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective
elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great
length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in
fact have speculative characteristics as well.
CORPORATE AND MUNICIPAL COMMERCIAL PAPER. The highest rating for corporate and
municipal commercial paper is "P-1" (Prime-1). Issuers rated P-1 (or supporting
institutions) have a superior ability for repayment of senior short-term debt
obligations. P-1 repayment ability will often be evidenced by many of the
following characteristics:
o Leading market positions in well-established industries.
o High rates of return on funds employed.
o Conservative capitalization structure with moderate reliance on debt and
ample asset protection.
o Broad margins in earnings coverage of fixed financial charges and high
internal cash generation.
o Well-established access to a range of financial markets and assured sources
of alternate liquidity.
MUNICIPAL NOTES. The highest ratings for state and municipal short-term
obligations are "MIG 1," "MIG 2" and "MIG 3" (or "VMIG 1," "VMIG 2" and "VMIG 3"
in the case of an issue having a variable-rate demand feature). Notes rated "MIG
1" or "VMIG 1" are judged to be of the best quality. There is present strong
protection by established cash flows, superior liquidity support or demonstrated
broad based access to the market for refinancing. Notes rated "MIG 2" or "VMIG
2" are of high quality, with margins of protection that are ample although not
so large as in the preceding group. Notes rated "MIG 3" or "VMIG 3" are of
favorable quality, with all security elements accounted for but lacking the
undeniable strength of the preceding grades. Liquidity and cash flow protection
may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well
established.
B-1
<PAGE>
S&P RATINGS
CORPORATE AND MUNICIPAL BONDS.
AAA: Bonds rated AAA are highest grade debt obligations. This rating indicates
an extremely strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal.
AA: Bonds rated AA have a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay
principal and differ from AAA issues only in small degree.
A: Bonds rated A have a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal,
although they are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in
circumstances and economic conditions than bonds in higher rated categories.
BBB: Bonds rated BBB are regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay interest
and repay principal. Whereas they normally exhibit adequate protection
parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more
likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for
debt in this category than in higher rated categories.
CORPORATE AND MUNICIPAL COMMERCIAL PAPER. The "A-1" rating for corporate and
municipal commercial paper indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely
payment is strong. Those issues determined to possess extremely strong safety
characteristics will be rated "A-1+."
MUNICIPAL NOTES. The "SP-1" rating reflects a very strong or strong capacity to
pay principal and interest. Those issues determined to possess overwhelming
safety characteristics will be rated "SP-1+." The "SP-2" rating reflects a
satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest.
FITCH RATINGS
DESCRIPTION OF FITCH'S HIGHEST STATE AND MUNICIPAL NOTES RATING.
AAA - Bonds considered to be investment grade and of the highest credit quality.
The obligor has an exceptionally strong ability to pay interest and repay
principal, which is unlikely to be affected by reasonably foreseeable events.
AA - Bonds considered to be investment grade and of very high credit quality.
The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is very strong,
although not quite as strong as bonds rated AAA.
F-1+ - Issues assigned this rating are regarded as having the strongest degree
of assurance for timely payment.
F-1 - Issues assigned this rating reflect an assurance of timely payment only
slightly less in degree than issues rated F-1+.
<PAGE>
PART C - OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 23. EXHIBITS.
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT
(a) (i) Agreement and Declaration of Trust. 1
(ii) Certificate of Trust. 1
(iii) Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Trust
dated October 7, 1994. 2
(iv) Certificate of Trust dated October 20, 1998. 4
(b) By-Laws.1
(c) None.
(d) (i) Advisory Agreement between WT Investment Trust I,
on behalf of the Large Cap Core Series, Small Cap
Core Series, Short/Intermediate Series,
Intermediate Bond Series, Municipal Bond Series
and International Multi-Manager Series, and
Wilmington Trust Company is filed herewith.
Amended Schedule A to Advisory Agreement. Advisory
Agreement between WT Investment Trust I, on behalf
of the Prime
(ii) Money Market Series, Premier Money Market Series,
U.S. Government Series and the Tax Exempt Series,
and Rodney Square Management Corporation is filed
herewith. Advisory Agreement between WT Investment
Trust I, on behalf of the Large
(iii) Cap Value Series, Small Cap Value Series and Mid
Cap Series and Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn LLC is
filed herewith Advisory Agreement between WT
Investment Trust I, on behalf of the Large
(iv) Cap Growth Series, Mid Cap Series, the Socially
Responsible Series and the Science and Technology
Series, and Roxbury Capital Management LLC is
filed herewith. Sub-Advisory Agreement among WT
Investment Trust I, on behalf of the
(v) International Multi-Manager Series, Wilmington
Trust Company and Clemente Capital, Inc. is filed
herewith Sub-Advisory Agreement among WT
Investment Trust I, on behalf of the
(vi) International Multi-Manager Series, Wilmington
Trust Company and Scudder, Kemper Investments,
Inc. is filed herewith Sub-Advisory Agreement
among WT Investment Trust I, on behalf of the
(vii) International Multi-Manager Series, Wilmington
Trust Company and Invista Capital Management, LLC
is filed herewith
(e) (i) Distribution Agreement with Provident
Distributors, Inc. dated November 1, 1999.4
(ii) Amendment to Distribution Agreement is filed
herewith.
(iii) Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement with
Provident Distributors, Inc., dated October ___,
2000, for the Class B shares of the Roxbury
Portfolios is filed herewith.
(iv) Form of Broker-Dealer Agreement is filed herewith.
(f) None.
<PAGE>
(g) (i) Custody Agreement with Wilmington Trust Company is
filed herewith.
(ii) Custody Agreement between WT Investment Trust I on
behalf of theInternational Multi-Manager Series
and Bankers Trust Company is filed herewith
(h) (i) Transfer Agency Agreement with PFPC Inc.
isfiled herewith.
(ii) Administration and Accounting Services Agreement
with PFPC Inc. is filedherewith.
(i) None.
(j) Consent of Ernst & Young LLP is filed herewith.
(k) Not applicable.
(l) None.
(m) (i) Form of Plan of Distribution Pursuant to Rule
12b-1 for the Wilmington Portfolios is filed
herewith.
(ii) Amended and Restated Distribution for the Class B
Shares of the Roxbury Portfolios is filed
herewith.
(iii) Amended and Restated Distribution for the Class C
Shares of the Roxbury Portfolios is filed
herewith.
(n) (i) WT Mutual Fund Multiple Class Plan Pursuant to
Rule 18f-3 for the Wilmington Portfolios is filed
herewith.
(ii) WT Mutual Fund Multiple Class Plan Pursuant to
Rule 18f-3 for the CRM Funds is filed herewith.
(iii) WT Mutual Fund Amended and Restated Multiple Class
Plan Pursuant to Rule 18f-3 for the Roxbury
Portfolios is filed herewith.
(p) (i) Code of Ethics of WT Investment Trust I, WT Mutual
Fund, Rodney Square Management Corporation and
Wilmington Trust Company is filed herewith.
(ii) Code of Ethics of Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, LLC is
filed herewith.
(iii) Code of Ethics of Roxbury Capital Management, LLC
is filed herewith.
(iv) Code of Ethics of Clemente Capital, Inc. is filed
herewith.
(v) Code of Ethics of Invista Capital Management, LLC
to be filed by amendment.
(vi) Code of Ethics of Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc.
to be filed by amendment.
1 Previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form N-1A
on July 25, 1994 and incorporated herein by reference.
2 Previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission with
Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form N-1A of November 29, 1994 and is
incorporated herein by reference.
<PAGE>
3 Previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission with
Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 on Form N1-A on August 12, 1999 and
incorporated herein by reference.
4 Previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission with
Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 on Form N-1A on November 1, 1999 and
incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 24. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH THE FUND.
None.
ITEM 25. INDEMNIFICATION.
Reference is made to Article VII of the Registrant's Agreement and Declaration
of Trust (Exhibit 23(a)(i)) and to Article X of the Registrant's By-Laws
(Exhibit 23(b)), which are incorporated herein by reference. Pursuant to Rule
484 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant furnishes the
following undertaking:
"Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling
persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a trustee, officer or controlling
person of the 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, the 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 26. BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF INVESTMENT ADVISERS.
(i) Wilmington Trust Company ("WTC"), a Delaware corporation, serves as
investment adviser to the Large Cap Core, Small Cap Core,
Short/Intermediate, Intermediate Bond, Municipal Bond, and
International Multi Manager Series of the Fund. It currently manages
large institutional accounts and collective investment funds.
The directors and principal executive officers of WTC have held the following
positions of a substantial nature in the past two years:
Business or Other Connections of Principal Executive
Name Officers and Directors of WTC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CarolynS.Burger Principal, CB Associates, Inc.; Director, PJM
Interconnection, L.L.C.
Ted T. Cecala Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Wilmington
Trust Corporation and Wilmington Trust Company;
Member of Board of Managers of Cramer, Rosenthal
McGlynn, LLC and Roxbury Capital Management, LLC.
<PAGE>
Richard R. Collins Retired President and Chief Operating Officer,
American Life Insurance Company; Chairman of
Collins, Inc. (consulting firm).
Charles S. Crompton, Esq. Attorney of counsel, Partner, Potter Anderson &
Corroon (law firm)
H. Stewart Dunn, Jr., Esq. Attorney, Partner, Ivins, Phillips & Barker (law
firm)
Edward B. du Pont Private investor; Director, E. I. du Pont de Nemours
and Company, Incorporated
R. Keith Elliott Former Director, Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer, Hercules Incorporated; Director,
PECO Energy and Computer Task Group
Robert V. A. Harra, Jr. President, Chief Operating Officer and Treasurer,
Wilmington Trust Corporation and Wilmington Trust
Company
Rex L. Mears President of Ray L. Mears & Sons, Inc. (farming
corporation)
Walter D. Mertz Retired Senior Vice President, Wilmington Trust
Corporation and Wilmington Trust Company; Associate
Director (Honorary)
Hugh E. Miller Formerly Vice Chairman, ICI Americas, Inc.; was with
parent Imperial Chemicals Industries PLC for 20
years until 1990 including management positions in
the United States and Europe; Chairman and Director,
MGI Pharma, Inc.
Stacey J. Mobley Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Chief
Administrative Officer, E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and
Company, Incorporated
LeonardW.Quill Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
Wilmington Trust Corporation and Wilmington Trust
Company
David P. Roselle President, University of Delaware
H. Rodney Sharp, III Retired from several management positions with E. I.
Du Pont de Nemours and Company; Director, E. I. Du
Pont de Nemours and Company
ThomasP.Sweeney,Esq. Attorney, Member, Richards, Layton & Finger (law
firm)
Robert W. Tunnell, Jr. Managing Partner of Tunnell Companies, L.P., owner
and developer of real estate
<PAGE>
(ii) Rodney Square Management Corporation ("RSMC"), a Delaware corporation,
serves as investment adviser to the Prime Money Market, U.S.
Government, Tax Exempt and Premier Money Market Series of the Fund.
RSMC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wilmington Trust Company, also a
Delaware corporation, which in turn is wholly owned by Wilmington
Trust Corporation. Information as to the officers and directors of
RSMC is included in its Form ADV filed on March 11, 1987 with the
Securities and Exchange Commission File No. 801-22071 and is
incorporated by reference herein.
(iii) Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, LLC ("CRM") serves as investment adviser to
the Large Cap Value, Small Cap Value and Mid Cap Value Series of the
Fund. Information as to the officers and directors of CRM is included
in its Form ADV filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and
most recently supplemented on March 26, 1999. The Form ADV, File No.
801-55244, is incorporated by reference herein.
(iv) Roxbury Capital Management, LLC ("Roxbury") serves as investment
advisor to the Large Cap Growth Series, Mid Cap Series, Socially
Responsible Series and Science and Technology Series of the Fund.
Information as to the officers and directors of Roxbury is included in
its Form ADV filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and
most recently supplemented on April 12, 1999. The Form ADV, File No.
801-55521, is incorporated by reference.
ITEM 27. PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER
(a) Provident Distributors, Inc. (the "Distributor") acts as principal
underwriter for the following investment companies as of 09/26/00:
International Dollar Reserve Fund I, Ltd.
Provident Institutional Funds Trust
Columbia Common Stock Fund, Inc.
Columbia Growth Fund, Inc.
Columbia International Stock Fund, Inc.
Columbia Special Fund, Inc.
Columbia Small Cap Fund, Inc.
Columbia Real Estate Equity Fund, Inc.
Columbia Balanced Fund, Inc.
Columbia Daily Income Company
Columbia U.S. Government Securities Fund, Inc.
Columbia Fixed Income Securities Fund, Inc.
Columbia Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
Columbia High Yield Fund, Inc.
Columbia National Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.
GAMNA Series Funds, Inc.
WT Investment Trust
Kalmar Pooled Investment Trust
The RBB Fund, Inc.
Robertson Stephens Investment Trust
Harris Insight Funds Trust
Alleghany Funds
Deutsche Asset Management VIT Funds
First Choice Funds Trust
Forward Funds, Inc.
IBJ Funds Trust
Light Index Funds, Inc.
LKCM Funds
Matthews International Funds
McM Funds
Metropolitan West Funds
New Covenant Funds, Inc.
Pictet Funds
Stratton Growth Fund, Inc.
Stratton Monthly Dividend REIT Shares, Inc.
The Stratton Funds, Inc.
The Galaxy Fund
The Galaxy VIP Fund
Galaxy Fund II
Trainer, Wortham First Mutual Funds
Undiscovered Managers Funds
Wilshire Target Funds, Inc.
Weiss, Peck & Greer Funds Trust
Weiss, Peck & Greer International Fund
WPG Growth and Income Fund
WPG Growth Fund
WPG Tudor Fund
RWB/WPG U.S. Large Stock Fund
Tomorrow Funds Retirement Trust
The BlackRock Funds, Inc. (Distributed by BlackRock
Distributors, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Provident
Distributors, Inc.)
Northern Funds Trust and Northern Institutional Funds Trust
(Distributed by Northern Funds Distributors, LLC., a wholly
owned subsidiary of Provident Distributors, Inc.)
The Offit Investment Fund, Inc. (Distributed by Offit Funds
Distributor, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Provident
Distributors, Inc.)
The Offit Variable Insurance Fund, Inc. (Distributed by Offit
Funds Distributor, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of
Provident Distributors, Inc.)
ABN AMRO Funds (Distributed by ABN AMRO Distribution Services
(USA), Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Provident
Distributors, Inc.)
Provident Distributors, Inc. is registered with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as a broker-dealer and is a member of the National
Association of Securities Dealers. Provident Distributors, Inc. is located at
3200 Horizon Drive, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406.
(b) The following is a list of the executive officers, directors, and
partners of Provident Distributors, Inc. None of the executive
officers or directors of Provident Distributors, Inc. are officers or
trustees of the Registrant
President and Treasurer Philip H. Rinnander
Secretary and Sole Director Jane Haegele
Vice President Jason A. Greim
Vice President Barbara A. Rice
Vice President Jennifer K. Rinnander
Vice President and Compliance Officer Lisa M. Buono
ITEM 28. LOCATIONS OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS
All accounts and records are maintained by the Registrant, or on its behalf by
the Funds' administrator, transfer agent, dividend paying agent and accounting
services agent, PFPC, Inc., 400 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809.
ITEM 29. MANAGEMENT SERVICES.
There are no management-related service contracts not discussed in Part A or
Part B.
ITEM 30. UNDERTAKINGS.
None.
<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 of the
requirements for effectiveness of this registration statement under Rule 485(b)
under the Securities Act and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No.
12 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
duly authorized, in the city of Wilmington, state of Delaware on the 31 day of
October, 2000.
WT MUTUAL FUND
BY: /S/ ROBERT J. CHRISTIAN
------------------------------
Robert J. Christian, President
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective
Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following
persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
/s/ Robert H. Arnold * Trustee October 31, 2000
------------------------------------
Robert H. Arnold
/s/ Eric Brucker * Trustee October 31, 2000
------------------------------------
Eric Brucker
/s/ Robert J. Christian Trustee, President October 31, 2000
------------------------------------
Robert J. Christian
/s/ Pat Colletti Vice President, October 31, 2000
------------------------------------ Treasurer
Pat Colletti
/s/ Nicholas A. Giordano * Trustee October 31, 2000
------------------------------------
Nicholas A. Giordano
/s/ Louis Klein, Jr. * Trustee October 31, 2000
------------------------------------
Louis Klein, Jr.
/s/ Clement C. Moore, II * Trustee October 31, 2000
------------------------------------
Clement C. Moore, II
/s/ John J. Quindlen * Trustee October 31, 2000
------------------------------------
John J. Quindlen
/s/ William P. Richards * Trustee October 31, 2000
------------------------------------
William P. Richards
* By /S/ ROBERT J. CHRISTIAN
-----------------------
Robert J. Christian
Attorney-in-Fact
<PAGE>