VANGUARD HORIZON FUND INC
485BPOS, 1997-02-14
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<PAGE>   1
 
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
                                   FORM N-1A
                  REGISTRATION STATEMENT (NO. 033-56443) UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
   
                          PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO.
    
   
                         POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 2
    
                                      AND
 
              REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY
                                  ACT OF 1940
   
                                AMENDMENT NO. 11
    
                          VANGUARD HORIZON FUND, INC.
               (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN CHARTER)
 
                     P.O. BOX 2600, VALLEY FORGE, PA 19482
                    (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE)
 
                  REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER (610) 669-1000
 
                         RAYMOND J. KLAPINSKY, ESQUIRE
                                  P.O. BOX 876
                             VALLEY FORGE, PA 19482
 
               IT IS PROPOSED THAT THIS FILING BECOME EFFECTIVE:
   
          on February 21, 1997; pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485.
    
 
                 APPROXIMATE DATE OF PROPOSED PUBLIC OFFERING:
  As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
 
   
     THE REGISTRANT HAS REGISTERED AN INDEFINITE NUMBER OF SECURITIES UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 PURSUANT TO RULE 24F-2 OF THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF
1940. REGISTRANT FILED ITS RULE 24f-2 NOTICE FOR ITS FISCAL YEAR ENDED OCTOBER
31, 1996, WITH THE COMMISSION ON DECEMBER 30, 1996.
    
 
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<PAGE>   2
 
                          VANGUARD HORIZON FUND, INC.
 
                             CROSS REFERENCE SHEET
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
    FORM N-1A
    ITEM NUMBER                                                        LOCATION IN PROSPECTUS
<C>           <S>                                              <C>
    Item 1.   Cover Page....................................   Cover Page
    Item 2.   Synopsis......................................   Highlights
    Item 3.   Condensed Financial Information...............   N/A
    Item 4.   General Description of Registrant.............   Investment Objectives; Investment
                                                               Limitations; Investment Policies;
                                                               General Information
    Item 5.   Management of the Fund........................   Directors and Officers; Management of
                                                               the Fund; The Vanguard Group
    Item 6.   Capital Stock and Other Securities............   Opening an Account and Purchasing
                                                               Shares; Selling Your Shares; The
                                                               Share Price of Each Portfolio;
                                                               Dividends, Capital Gains, and Taxes;
                                                               General Information
    Item 7.   Purchase of Securities Being Offered..........   Cover Page; Opening an Account and
                                                               Purchasing Shares
    Item 8.   Redemption or Repurchase......................   Selling Your Shares
    Item 9.   Pending Legal Proceedings.....................   Not Applicable
 
<CAPTION>
   FORM N-1A                                                           LOCATION IN STATEMENT
   ITEM NUMBER                                                      OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
<C>           <S>                                              <C>
   Item 10.   Cover Page....................................   Cover Page
   Item 11.   Table of Contents.............................   Cover Page
   Item 12.   General Information and History...............   Investment Objectives and Policies
   Item 13.   Investment Objective and Policies.............   Investment Objectives and Policies;
                                                               Investment Limitations
   Item 14.   Management of the Fund........................   Management of the Fund
   Item 15.   Control Persons and Principal Holders of
              Securities....................................   Management of the Fund
   Item 16.   Investment Advisory and Other Services........   Management of the Fund
   Item 17.   Brokerage Allocation..........................   Not Applicable
   Item 18.   Capital Stock and Other Securities............   Financial Statement
   Item 19.   Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Securities
              Being Offered.................................   Purchase of Shares; Redemption of
                                                               Shares
   Item 20.   Tax Status....................................   Appendix
   Item 21.   Underwriters..................................   Not Applicable
   Item 22.   Calculations of Yield Quotations of Money
              Market Fund...................................   Not Applicable
   Item 23.   Financial Statements..........................   Financial Statement
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   3
 
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                          [VANGUARD HORIZON FUND LOGO]
                          P  R  O  S  P  E  C  T  U  S
   
                               FEBRUARY 21, 1997
    
 
                             [VANGUARD GROUP LOGO]
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<PAGE>   4
 
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LOGO
                                                  A Member of the Vanguard Group
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PROSPECTUS -- FEBRUARY 21, 1997
    
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NEW ACCOUNT INFORMATION: INVESTOR INFORMATION DEPARTMENT -- 1-800-662-7447
(SHIP)
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SHAREHOLDER ACCOUNT SERVICES: CLIENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT -- 1-800-662-2739
(CREW)
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INVESTMENT
OBJECTIVES AND
POLICIES          Vanguard Horizon Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") is an open-end
                  diversified investment company. The Fund offers four distinct
                  Portfolios each of which seeks to provide maximum long-term
                  total return. Each Portfolio will pursue this objective using
                  very different strategies and investment policies; thus, the
                  Portfolios will expose shareholders to an array of different
                  risks.
 
                  The AGGRESSIVE GROWTH PORTFOLIO invests in U.S. equity
                  securities, emphasizing medium- and small-capitalization
                  companies. The CAPITAL OPPORTUNITY PORTFOLIO invests primarily
                  in U.S. equity securities, emphasizing those companies with
                  rapid earnings growth prospects. The GLOBAL ASSET ALLOCATION
                  PORTFOLIO invests in a varying mix of U.S. and foreign stocks,
                  bonds and cash reserves. The GLOBAL EQUITY PORTFOLIO invests
                  in U.S. and foreign equity securities that, in the adviser's
                  view, offer attractive total return prospects.
 
                  There is no assurance that the Portfolios will achieve their
                  stated objectives. Shares of the Fund are neither insured nor
                  guaranteed by any agency of the U.S. Government, including the
                  FDIC.
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OPENING AN
ACCOUNT           To open a regular (non-retirement) account, please complete
                  and return the Account Registration Form. If you need
                  assistance in completing the form, please call the Investor
                  Information Department at 1-800-662-7447. To open an
                  Individual Retirement Account (IRA), please use a Vanguard IRA
                  Adoption Agreement. To obtain a copy of this agreement, call
                  the Investor Information Department, Monday through Friday,
                  from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday, from 9:00 a.m. to
                  4:00 p.m. (Eastern time). The minimum initial investment is
                  $3,000 ($1,000 for Individual Retirement Accounts and Uniform
                  Gifts/Transfers to Minors Act accounts.) The Fund is offered
                  on a no-load basis (i.e., there are no sales commissions or
                  12b-1 fees). However, the Fund incurs expenses for investment
                  advisory, management, administrative and distribution
                  services.
 
IMPORTANT NOTE:
1% REDEMPTION FEE
                  If shares of the Portfolios are redeemed or exchanged prior to
                  being held for five years, they will be subject to a 1%
                  redemption fee which is paid directly to the Portfolios. See
                  "Fund Expenses."
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ABOUT THIS
PROSPECTUS        This prospectus is designed to set forth concisely the
                  information you should know about the Fund before you invest.
                  It should be retained for future reference. A "Statement of
                  Additional Information" containing additional information
                  about the Fund has been filed with the U.S. Securities and
                  Exchange Commission. This statement is dated February 21, 1997
                  and has been incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. A
                  copy may be obtained without charge by writing to the Fund or
                  by calling the Investor Information Department.
    
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                      <C>                                      <C>
Page                                     Page                                     Page
Highlights ......................  2     Who Should Invest ............. 19       SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
Fund Expenses ...................  6     Supplemental Investment                  Opening an Account and
Financial Highlights ............  7     Policies ....................... 21      Purchasing Shares ............ 35
Yield and Total Return ..........  9     Investment Limitations ......... 24      When Your Account Will Be
        FUND INFORMATION                 Management of The Fund  ........ 24      Credited  .................... 38
Portfolio Summaries: Investment          Investment Advisers ............ 25      Selling Your Shares  ......... 39
Objective, Risks & Policies              Dividends, Capital Gains                 Exchanging Your Shares  ...... 41
- - Aggressive Growth                      and Taxes  ..................... 31      Important Information About
  Portfolio .................... 10      The Share Price of Each                  Telephone Transactions ....... 42
- - Capital Opportunity                    Portfolio ...................... 32      Transferring
Portfolio ...................... 12      General Information ............ 33      Registration ................. 43
- - Global Asset Allocation                                                         Other Vanguard Services  ..... 43
Portfolio ...................... 15
- - Global Equity
Portfolio ...................... 18
</TABLE>
 
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THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR
ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL
OFFENSE.
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<PAGE>   5
 
                                   HIGHLIGHTS
 
OVERVIEW AND
OBJECTIVES              Vanguard Horizon Fund is an open-end diversified
                        investment company designed for investors with
                        long-range investment goals. The Fund offers a choice of
                        four distinct actively-managed Portfolios, each seeking
                        maximum long-term total return. The Portfolios' advisers
                        have been granted substantial investment flexibility and
                        each will take a different investment approach to
                        pursuing maximum long-term total return, although there
                        is no assurance that such returns can be achieved.
                        Investors in any of the Portfolios can expect returns to
                        be less predictable than returns from Funds that
                        parallel a particular index or follow a strict set of
                        investment guidelines. Therefore, an investment in the
                        Fund is appropriate only for those investors who have
                        the perspective, patience, and financial resources
                        necessary to assume above-average risk and volatility in
                        exchange for the potential of achieving above-average
                        long-term returns.
 
                        The Fund may be appropriate for investors who already
                        have a well-balanced core portfolio -- one including
                        stocks, bonds, and money market instruments -- and want
                        to add an extra dimension of aggressive investing.
                        Shares of the Fund are offered on a no-load basis,
                        although the Fund incurs certain distribution expenses
                        and assesses a 1% redemption fee if shares being
                        redeemed or exchanged have been held for less than five
                        years.
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THE FOUR
PORTFOLIOS              The AGGRESSIVE GROWTH PORTFOLIO invests in U.S. equity
                        securities, emphasizing medium- and small-capitalization
                        companies.
 
                        The CAPITAL OPPORTUNITY PORTFOLIO invests primarily in
                        U.S. equity securities, emphasizing those companies with
                        rapid earnings growth prospects.
 
                        The GLOBAL ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO invests in a
                        varying mix of both U.S. and foreign stocks, bonds, and
                        cash reserves.
 
                        The GLOBAL EQUITY PORTFOLIO invests in U.S. and foreign
                        equity securities that, in the adviser's view, offer
                        attractive total return prospects.
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INVESTMENT
POLICIES
                        While each of the Portfolios seek the same investment
                        objective -- maximum long-term total return -- each
                        Portfolio pursues the objective using different
                        investment strategies. The grid on page 3 shows, at-a-
                        glance, some of the financial instruments, investment
                        techniques and
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   6
 
                        analytic methods employed by each Portfolio in pursuit
                        of maximum long-term total return.
 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                               GLOBAL
                                                                  AGGRESSIVE     CAPITAL       ASSET       GLOBAL
                                       K -- PRIMARY EMPHASIS        GROWTH     OPPORTUNITY   ALLOCATION    EQUITY
                                      L -- SECONDARY EMPHASIS     PORTFOLIO     PORTFOLIO    PORTFOLIO    PORTFOLIO
                                  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              <S>                                <C>          <C>           <C>          <C>
                               FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Invests in U.S. stocks               K             K            K            K
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Emphasizes smaller
                                   company stocks                     K             K
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Invests in foreign stocks                          L            K            K
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Invests in foreign bonds                                        K
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Invests in foreign
                                   cash reserves                                                 L
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Invests in futures contracts         L             L            K            L
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Invests in forward
                                   currency contracts                                            L            L
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Invests in put options                             L
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Holds a small number
                                   of stocks                                        L
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Sells stocks short                                 L
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               ANALYTIC METHODS
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Uses quantitative
                                   computer models                    K                          K
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Uses fundamental analysis                          K                         K
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
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RISK
CHARACTERISTICS         Each of the Portfolios will expose investors to
                        substantial risk in pursuit of maximum long-term total
                        return. The following table depicts the principal risks
                        inherent in the Portfolios of the Fund:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  SECURITIES       FOREIGN       MANAGER
                               PORTFOLIO         MARKET RISK     MARKET RISK       RISK
                              ----------         ------------    ------------    --------
                                                 
                                                 
                        <S>                      <C>             <C>             <C>
                        Aggressive Growth......      High            Low           High
                        Capital Opportunity....      High            Low           High
                        Global Asset
                          Allocation...........      High            High          High
                        Global Equity..........      High            High          High
</TABLE>
 
                        SECURITIES MARKET RISK: Common stock prices have
                        historically fluctuated substantially over short-term
                        periods. Bond prices also fluctuate in response to
                        interest rate changes with prices declining as interest
                        rates increase.
 
                        FOREIGN MARKET RISK: Investments in foreign securities
                        may have greater risks than similar U.S. investments.
                        These risks involve many facets of foreign investing,
                        including: less liquid and/or efficient markets, less
                        regulation, and uncertain political events. In addition,
                        the value of foreign investments is affected by
                        fluctuations in foreign currency values.
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   7
 
                        MANAGER RISK: The manager, or adviser, of each Portfolio
                        is responsible for implementation of the Portfolio's
                        investment policies. Manager risk encompasses the
                        potential for the Portfolio to fail to achieve its
                        objective due to investment decisions made by the
                        investment adviser. Portfolios whose advisers have the
                        greatest flexibility therefore have the most manager
                        risk. Investors should be aware that each adviser may
                        fail to achieve the Portfolio's objective and the
                        investment results may fall short of comparable
                        benchmarks.
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SPECIAL
CONSIDERATIONS          (1) Each Portfolio of the Fund may invest a portion of
                            its assets in futures contracts, options,
                            convertible securities and swap agreements.
                            Investors in the GLOBAL ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
                            should be aware that the Portfolio may invest up to
                            50% of its net assets in futures contracts instead
                            of directly holding securities. The advisers will
                            not use futures to leverage the Portfolios'
                            holdings, but only as a more efficient means to
                            implement their investment decisions.        PAGE 21
                        (2) Each Portfolio may invest in short-term fixed income
                            securities.
                                                                         PAGE 21
                        (3) Each Portfolio may lend its securities.      PAGE 22
                        (4) Each Portfolio may borrow money.             PAGE 24
                        (5) The CAPITAL OPPORTUNITY PORTFOLIO may utilize the
                            hedging and defensive techniques of selling stocks
                            short, purchasing put options, and increasing cash
                            reserves. As a guideline, the value of investments
                            from these three strategies in combination will not
                            exceed 25% of the Portfolio's net assets.    PAGE 12
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THE VANGUARD
GROUP
                        The Fund is a member of The Vanguard Group of Investment
                        Companies, a group of over 30 investment companies with
                        over 90 distinct investment portfolios and total assets
                        in excess of $240 billion. The Vanguard Group, Inc.
                        ("Vanguard"), a subsidiary jointly owned by The Vanguard
                        Funds, provides all corporate, management,
                        administrative, distribution and shareholder accounting
                        services on an at-cost basis to the Funds in the
                        Group.                                           PAGE 24
    
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INVESTMENT
ADVISERS
                        The Portfolios of the Fund receive investment advisory
                        services as follows:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                    PORTFOLIO
                                    ---------                               ADVISER
                                                                           --------
                        <S>                                       <C>
                        Aggressive Growth Portfolio               Vanguard's Core Management
                                                                  Group
                        Capital Opportunity Portfolio             Husic Capital Management
                        Global Asset Allocation Portfolio         Strategic Investment
                                                                  Management
                        Global Equity Portfolio                   Marathon-Asset Management
                                                                  Limited
</TABLE>
    
 
                        The advisers discharge their responsibilities subject to
                        the control of the Officers and Directors of the
                        Fund.                                            PAGE 25
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                                        4
<PAGE>   8
 
DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL
GAINS AND TAXES         Income is expected to be modest in the CAPITAL
                        OPPORTUNITY and GLOBAL EQUITY PORTFOLIOS; however, it
                        may be more significant, from time to time, for the
                        AGGRESSIVE GROWTH and the GLOBAL ASSET ALLOCATION
                        PORTFOLIOS.
 
                        The Portfolios will distribute net investment income, if
                        any, in the form of dividends annually. Net realized
                        capital gains distributions, if any, will also be made
                        annually. A sale of shares of a Portfolio is a taxable
                        event and may result in a capital gain or loss. Dividend
                        distributions, capital gains distributions, and capital
                        gains or losses from redemptions and exchanges may be
                        subject to federal, state and local taxes.       PAGE 31
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PURCHASING
SHARES
                        You may purchase shares by mail, wire or exchange from
                        another Vanguard Fund. The minimum initial investment is
                        $3,000 ($1,000 for Individual Retirement Accounts and
                        Uniform Gifts/Transfers to Minors Act accounts); the
                        minimum for subsequent investments is $100. There are no
                        sales commissions or 12b-1 fees, although certain
                        redemptions of Fund shares are subject to a 1%
                        redemption fee as described below.               PAGE 35
    
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SELLING SHARES          You may redeem shares of each Portfolio in writing or by
                        telephone. Shares of the Portfolios that are redeemed or
                        exchanged prior to being held for five years will be
                        subject to a 1% redemption fee paid directly to the
                        Portfolios. The price of each Portfolio is expected to
                        fluctuate, and may at redemption be more or less than at
                        the time of initial purchase, resulting in a gain or
                        loss.                                            PAGE 39
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EXCHANGING
SHARES
                        You may exchange a Portfolio's shares for those of
                        another Portfolio of the Fund or other Vanguard Funds.
                        An exchange from one of the Portfolios is considered a
                        redemption and will be subject to a 1% redemption fee if
                        the shares were held for less than 5 years. The
                        redemption fee is paid directly to the
                        Portfolios.                                      PAGE 41
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SERVICES TO
SHAREHOLDERS            The Fund offers special services: Fund Express, for
                        electronic transfers between the Fund and your bank
                        account; Tele-Account, for 24-hour telephone access to
                        your Fund account balances and certain transactions;
                        Direct Deposit, for automatic deposit of payroll checks;
                        Average Cost Statement, for determination of the average
                        cost of shares redeemed for tax purposes; Dividend
                        Express, for automatic transfer of dividends and/or
                        capital gains to a bank account.                 PAGE 43
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                                        5
<PAGE>   9
 
   
FUND
EXPENSES                The following table illustrates ALL of the expenses and
                        fees you would incur as a shareholder of the Fund. The
                        expenses and fees set forth in the table are for the
                        1996 fiscal year.
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>                                                                          GLOBAL
                                SHAREHOLDER         AGGRESSIVE      CAPITAL        ASSET        GLOBAL
                                TRANSACTION           GROWTH      OPPORTUNITY    ALLOCATION     EQUITY
                                 EXPENSES           PORTFOLIO      PORTFOLIO     PORTFOLIO     PORTFOLIO
                           ---------------------    ----------    -----------    ----------    --------
                           <S>                      <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>
                           Sales Load Imposed
                             on Purchases...........    None          None          None          None
                           Sales Load Imposed on
                             Reinvested Dividends...    None          None          None          None
                           Redemption (and Exchange
                             Redemption) Fees*:
                             shares held less than
                               5 years..............       1%            1%            1%            1%
                             shares held 5 years
                               or more..............    None          None          None          None
                           Exchange Fees**..........    None          None          None          None
</TABLE>
    
 
                         * The fees withheld from redemption proceeds are paid
                           to the Portfolios.
                        ** Exchanges will be treated as redemptions for purposes
                           of imposing the redemption fees.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                              ANNUAL PORTFOLIO                                     GLOBAL     
                             OPERATING EXPENSES     AGGRESSIVE      CAPITAL        ASSET        GLOBAL
                             (AS A PERCENTAGE OF      GROWTH      OPPORTUNITY    ALLOCATION     EQUITY
                                 NET ASSETS)        PORTFOLIO      PORTFOLIO     PORTFOLIO     PORTFOLIO
                          ------------------------  ----------    -----------    ----------    ---------
                           <S>                      <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>
                           Management &
                             Administrative
                             Expenses...............     .23%          .04%          .36%          .30%
                           Investment Advisory
                             Fees...................     .08           .40           .33           .39
                           12b-1 Fees...............    None          None          None          None
                           Other Expenses
                             Distribution Costs.....     .02%          .02%          .02%          .02%
                             Miscellaneous
                               Expenses.............     .05           .04           .08           .14
                                                      -------        -------       -------        ------
                           Total Other Expenses.....     .07           .06           .10           .16
                               TOTAL OPERATING
                                 EXPENSES...........     .38%          .50%          .79%          .85%
                                                      -------        -------       -------        ------
                                                      -------        -------       -------        ------
</TABLE>
    
 
                        The purpose of this table is to assist you in
                        understanding the various costs and expenses that you
                        would bear directly or indirectly as an investor in the
                        Fund.
 
1% REDEMPTION FEE       The Portfolios of the Fund are intended for long-term
                        investors who can withstand substantial price
                        fluctuations. For this reason, the Portfolios will
                        assess a 1% redemption fee on shares that are redeemed,
                        or redeemed by exchange, before they have been held for
                        five years. For purposes of calculating the five-year
                        holding period the Portfolio will use the "first-in,
                        first-out" (FIFO) method. That is, the date of the
                        redemption or exchange will be compared to the earliest
                        purchase date. If this holding period is less than five
                        years, the fee will be assessed. The fee will be
                        prorated if a portion of the shares being redeemed or
                        exchanged has been held for five years or more. This fee
                        will not apply to shares
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   10
 
                        purchased through dividend or capital gain reinvestment.
                        In the event of an early redemption due to a
                        shareholder's death, all redemption fees will be waived.
                        A certified copy of the death certificate must be
                        provided to substantiate the death.
 
                        The fee is paid directly to the Portfolios to offset the
                        cost of short-term trading and other transaction costs.
                        As such, the fee is considered a benefit to long-term
                        investors. It is not a contingent deferred sales charge.
 
                        The following example illustrates the expenses that you
                        would incur on a $1,000 investment over various periods,
                        assuming (1) a 5% annual rate of return and (2)
                        redemption at the end of each period. A 1% redemption
                        fee is included in the expenses because the time periods
                        illustrated are less than five years.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               3 YEARS
                                                      1 YEAR   -------   5 YEARS   10 YEARS
                                                      ------             -------   --------
                        <S>                           <C>      <C>       <C>       <C>
                        Aggressive Growth
                          Portfolio.................   $ 14      $24       $21       $ 48
                        Capital Opportunity
                          Portfolio.................   $ 16      $27       $28       $ 63
                        Global Asset Allocation
                          Portfolio.................   $ 18      $37       $44       $ 98
                        Global Equity Portfolio.....   $ 19      $38       $47       $105
</TABLE>
    
 
                        THIS EXAMPLE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A REPRESENTATION
                        OF PAST OR FUTURE EXPENSES OR PERFORMANCE. ACTUAL
                        EXPENSES MAY BE HIGHER OR LOWER THAN THOSE SHOWN.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
FINANCIAL
HIGHLIGHTS              The following financial highlights for a share
                        outstanding for the period November 1, 1995 to October
                        31, 1996 for the Fund have been audited by Price
                        Waterhouse LLP, independent accountants, whose report
                        thereon was unqualified. This report should be read in
                        conjunction with the Fund's financial statements and
                        notes thereto which, together with the remaining
                        portions of the Fund's 1996 Annual Report to
                        Shareholders, are incorporated by reference in the
                        Statement of Additional Information and in the
                        Prospectus, and which appear, along with the report of
                        Price Waterhouse LLP, in the Fund's 1996 Annual Report
                        to Shareholders. For a more complete discussion of the
                        Fund's performance, please see the Fund's 1996 Annual
                        Report, which may be obtained without charge by writing
                        to the Fund or by calling our Investor Information
                        Department at 1-800-662-7447.
    
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   11
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         ------------------------------          ------------------------------
                                                 AGGRESSIVE GROWTH                      CAPITAL OPPORTUNITY
                                                     PORTFOLIO                               PORTFOLIO
                                         ------------------------------          ------------------------------
                                         YEAR ENDED                              YEAR ENDED
                                         OCTOBER 31,     JUNE 30, 1995+          OCTOBER 31,     JUNE 30, 1995+
                                            1996       TO OCTOBER 31, 1995          1996       TO OCTOBER 31, 1995
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                      <C>           <C>                       <C>           <C>
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF
  PERIOD.............................      $ 10.23           $ 10.00               $  9.71           $ 10.00
                                          --------      ------------              --------      ------------
INVESTMENT OPERATIONS
  Net Investment Income..............          .18               .04                   .01               .02
  Net Realized and Unrealized Gain
    (Loss) on Investments............         2.20               .19                  1.12              (.31)
                                          --------      ------------              --------      ------------
      TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT
        OPERATIONS...................         2.38               .23                  1.13              (.29)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISTRIBUTIONS
  Dividends from Net Investment
    Income...........................         (.08)               --                  (.03)               --
  Distributions from Realized Capital
    Gains............................           --                --                    --                --
                                          --------      ------------              --------      ------------
      TOTAL DISTRIBUTIONS............         (.08)               --                  (.03)               --
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD.......      $ 12.53           $ 10.23               $ 10.81           $  9.71
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL RETURN(1)......................        23.40%             1.69%                11.67%            (3.19)%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Net Assets, End of Period
  (Millions).........................         $133               $62                  $115               $72
Ratio of Expenses to Average Net
  Assets.............................         0.38%             0.06%*                0.50%             0.47%*
Ratio of Net Investment Income to
  Average Net Assets.................         1.78%             2.22%*                0.11%             1.29%*
Portfolio Turnover Rate..............          106%                0%                  128%               30%
Average Commission Rate Paid.........      $ .0267               N/A               $ .0541               N/A
</TABLE>
    
 
*   Annualized.
+   Subscription period for each Portfolio was June 30, 1995, to August 13, 
    1995, during which time all assets were held in money market instruments. 
    Performance measurement begins August 14, 1995.
   
(1) Total returns do not reflect the 1% fee that is assessed on redemptions of
    shares that are held in the Portfolio for less than
    five years.
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          ------------------------------          ------------------------------
                                                    GLOBAL EQUITY                           GLOBAL ASSET
                                                      PORTFOLIO                         ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
                                          ------------------------------          ------------------------------
                                          YEAR ENDED                              YEAR ENDED
                                          OCTOBER 31,     JUNE 30, 1995+          OCTOBER 31,     JUNE 30, 1995+
                                             1996       TO OCTOBER 31, 1995          1996       TO OCTOBER 31, 1995
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                       <C>           <C>                       <C>           <C>
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF
  PERIOD..............................      $ 10.08           $ 10.00               $ 10.27           $ 10.00
                                           --------      ------------              --------      ------------
INVESTMENT OPERATIONS
  Net Investment Income...............          .13               .04                   .50               .11
  Net Realized and Unrealized Gain
    (Loss) on Investments.............         1.58               .04                   .75               .16
                                           --------      ------------              --------      ------------
      TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT
        OPERATIONS....................         1.71               .08                  1.25               .27
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISTRIBUTIONS
  Dividends from Net Investment
    Income............................         (.07)               --                  (.20)               --
  Distributions from Realized Capital
    Gains.............................           --                --                  (.03)               --
                                           --------      ------------              --------      ------------
      TOTAL DISTRIBUTIONS.............         (.07)               --                  (.23)               --
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD........      $ 11.72           $ 10.08               $ 11.29           $ 10.27
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL RETURN(1).......................        17.05%             0.50%                12.34%             2.39%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Net Assets, End of Period
  (Millions)..........................          $99               $36                   $76               $45
Ratio of Expenses to Average Net
  Assets..............................         0.85%             0.57%*                0.79%             0.52%*
Ratio of Net Investment Income to
  Average Net Assets..................         1.53%             2.04%*                5.18%             5.42%*
Portfolio Turnover Rate...............           29%                2%                  191%               17%
Average Commission Rate Paid..........      $ .0078               N/A                   N/A               N/A
</TABLE>
    
 
*  Annualized.
+Subscription period for each Portfolio was June 30, 1995, to August 13, 1995,
 during which time all assets were held in money market instruments. Performance
 measurement begins August 14, 1995.
(1)Total returns do not reflect the 1% fee that is assessed on redemptions of
shares that are held in the Portfolio for less than
  five years.
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   12
 
YIELD AND
TOTAL RETURN            From time to time the Portfolios may advertise their
                        yield and total return. Both yield and total return
                        figures are based on historical earnings and are not
                        intended to indicate future performance. The "total
                        return" of the Portfolios refers to the average annual
                        compounded rates of return over one-, five-, and
                        ten-year periods or for the life of the Portfolios (as
                        stated) that would equate an initial amount invested at
                        the beginning of a stated period to the ending
                        redeemable value of the investment, assuming the
                        reinvestment of all dividend and capital gains
                        distributions.
 
                        In accordance with industry guidelines set forth by the
                        U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the "30-day
                        yield" of a Portfolio is calculated by dividing net
                        investment income per share earned during the 30-day
                        period by the net asset value per share on the last day
                        of the period. Net investment income includes interest
                        and dividend income earned on the Portfolio's
                        securities; it is net of all expenses and all recurring
                        and nonrecurring charges that have been applied to all
                        shareholder accounts. The yield calculation assumes that
                        net investment income earned over 30 days is compounded
                        monthly for six months and then annualized. Methods used
                        to calculate advertised yields are standardized for all
                        stock and bond mutual funds. However, these methods
                        differ from the accounting methods used by the
                        Portfolios to maintain their books and records, and so
                        the advertised 30-day yield may not fully reflect the
                        income paid to an investor's account.
 
                        Also, the Portfolios may compare their performance to
                        that of various stock market indices, including, but not
                        limited to, the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock
                        Price Index.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
OVERVIEW OF
PORTFOLIOS              The Fund is an open-end diversified investment company
                        offering four distinct Portfolios. The Portfolios invest
                        in securities that are deemed by their advisers to have
                        attractive total return potential. The Aggressive
                        Growth, Capital Opportunity, and Global Equity
                        Portfolios invest primarily in common stocks while the
                        Global Asset Allocation Portfolio invests in common
                        stocks, bonds, and cash reserves. The Portfolios of the
                        Fund are managed without regard to tax ramifications.
 
                        Each Portfolio of the Fund is authorized to invest in
                        stock index futures, options, and swap agreements to a
                        limited extent. Each Portfolio is permitted to hold
                        equity securities other than common stock, such as
                        debentures or preferred stock that is convertible to
                        common stock. See "SUPPLEMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICIES" for
                        a description of these and other investment practices of
                        the Fund.
 
                        The investment objectives and policies of the Fund are
                        not fundamental and so may be changed by the Board of
                        Directors without shareholder approval. However,
                        shareholders would be notified prior to a material
                        change in either.
 
                        Pages 10 to 20 of this prospectus contain a description
                        of each Portfolio's investment objective, policies and
                        risks.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   13
 
                        AGGRESSIVE GROWTH PORTFOLIO
 
INVESTMENT
OBJECTIVE
                        The Aggressive Growth Portfolio seeks to provide maximum
                        long-term total return and is therefore intended for
                        investors who have a long-term investment horizon. To
                        that end, the Portfolio will assume above-average risk
                        in seeking potentially above-average returns, although
                        there is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve
                        such returns. Income provided by the Portfolio may
                        fluctuate significantly.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
INVESTMENT
POLICIES
                        The Aggressive Growth Portfolio invests in U.S. equity
                        securities and emphasizes mid- and small-capitalization
                        companies*. At least 65% of the Portfolio's assets will
                        be invested in such companies under normal
                        circumstances. The Portfolio's exposure to foreign
                        securities is expected to be minimal. The Portfolio will
                        generally be diversified across a wide range of
                        industries; however, the investment adviser may either
                        over weight or under weight certain industries.
    
 
                        The Portfolio's adviser, Vanguard's Core Management
                        Group, utilizes a proprietary quantitative valuation
                        methodology to identify, from a large universe of
                        companies, those common stocks with the best total
                        return potential. Stocks are generally categorized based
                        on two dimensions: (i) market capitalization (i.e.,
                        small, medium and large) and (ii) growth versus value.
                        The portion of the Portfolio's assets invested in any
                        one of these categories will vary over time depending
                        upon Core Management's expectation for each segment's
                        total return potential. The Portfolio, however, is more
                        likely to be invested in small- and
                        medium-capitalization stocks than large-capitalization
                        stocks. Among the characteristics used in stock
                        selection are (i) market liquidity; (ii) valuation
                        measures; and (iii) financial strength relative to other
                        stocks.
 
                        The Portfolio is expected to remain fully invested in
                        equity securities. However, the proportion of cash
                        reserves held by the Portfolio may increase if the
                        adviser feels a conservative investment approach is
                        warranted.
 
                        * Small capitalization stocks are generally those of
                          companies with market capitalizations of $500
                          million-$2 billion. Mid-capitalization stocks are
                          issued by companies with market capitalizations of $2
                          billion to $14 billion.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
INVESTMENT
RISKS
SECURITIES MARKET
RISK
                        The Portfolio exposes investors to the market risks
                        associated with U.S. equity investments. The Standard &
                        Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index ("S&P 500
                        Index"), which can be used as a proxy for the U.S. stock
                        market, has provided annual total returns (capital
                        appreciation plus dividend income) averaging +12.7% for
                        the period from 1926 to 1996. While this average return
                        can be used as a guide for setting reasonable
                        expectations for future stock market returns, it may not
                        be useful for forecasting future returns in any
                        particular period, as stock market returns are quite
                        volatile from year to year. The return in individual
                        years has varied from a low of -43.3% to a high of
                        +53.9%, reflecting the short-term volatility of stock
                        prices.
    
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   14
 
                        Furthermore, the Portfolio emphasizes medium- and
                        small-capitalization stocks which have historically been
                        more volatile in price than the S&P 500 Index. Among the
                        likely reasons for the greater price volatility of small
                        company stocks are less than certain growth prospects of
                        smaller firms, a lower degree of liquidity in the
                        markets for such stocks, and the small to negligible
                        dividends generally paid by small companies. Besides
                        exhibiting greater volatility, small- and
                        mid-capitalization stocks have at times fluctuated
                        independently of the broad stock market. Investors
                        should therefore expect that small- and
                        mid-capitalization stocks (and hence the Aggressive
                        Growth Portfolio) may be more volatile than the S&P 500
                        Index.
 
MANAGER RISK            The Portfolio exposes investors to substantial manager
                        risk which encompasses the potential for the Portfolio
                        to fail to achieve its objective due to activities of
                        the investment adviser. Vanguard's Core Management
                        Group, the Portfolio's investment adviser, selects
                        stocks based primarily on quantitative models. There is
                        no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its stated
                        objective.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   15
 
                        CAPITAL OPPORTUNITY PORTFOLIO
 
INVESTMENT
OBJECTIVE
                        The Capital Opportunity Portfolio seeks to provide
                        maximum long-term total return and is therefore intended
                        for investors who have a long-term investment horizon.
                        To that end, the Portfolio will assume above-average
                        risk in seeking potentially above-average returns,
                        although there is no assurance that the Portfolio will
                        achieve such returns. Income generated by the Portfolio
                        is expected to be minimal.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
INVESTMENT
POLICIES
                        The Capital Opportunity Portfolio invests primarily in
                        medium- and small-capitalization U.S. equity securities
                        emphasizing companies with rapid earnings growth
                        prospects. The Portfolio may hold up to 15% of its
                        assets in foreign securities. The Portfolio is expected
                        to be concentrated in as few as 25 to 50 stocks.
 
                        The Portfolio's adviser, Husic Capital Management,
                        applies a "classic" fundamental investment strategy
                        using security analysis to identify the stocks deemed
                        most attractive. When selecting stocks, the investment
                        adviser will: (i) focus on early recognition of change
                        that leads to high expected earnings growth; (ii)
                        concentrate in those sectors and industries deemed to
                        offer the possibility of high returns; and (iii)
                        maintain a flexible attitude towards identifying growth
                        opportunities. Opportunistically, the adviser may also
                        select convertible and high yield securities for the
                        Portfolio. In each of these categories, exposure will be
                        limited to 10% of the Portfolio's net assets.
 
                        In an attempt to reduce downside risk, Husic Management
                        Company may utilize the following hedging and defensive
                        techniques:
 
                        - sell short stocks considered to have fundamental
                          problems; limited to 10% of the Portfolio's net
                          assets.
                        - purchase put options; limited to 10% of the
                          Portfolio's net assets.
                        - increase cash reserves up to 15% of the Portfolio's
                          net assets for temporary defensive purposes.
 
                        As a guideline, the value of investments from these
                        three strategies in combination will not exceed 25% of
                        the Portfolio's net assets.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
INVESTMENT
RISKS
SECURITIES MARKET
RISKS
                        The Portfolio exposes investors to the market risks
                        associated with U.S. equity investments. The Standard &
                        Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index ("S&P 500 Index")
                        which can be used as a proxy for the U.S. stock market,
                        has provided annual total returns (capital appreciation
                        plus dividend income) averaging +12.7% for the period
                        from 1926 to 1996. While this average return can be used
                        as a guide for setting reasonable expectations for
                        future stock market returns, it may not be useful for
                        forecasting future returns in any particular period, as
                        stock market returns are quite volatile from year to
                        year. The return in individual years has varied from a
                        low of -43.3% to a high of +53.9%, reflecting the
                        short-term volatility of stock prices.
    
 
                                       12
<PAGE>   16
 
   
                        Furthermore, the Portfolio emphasizes medium- and
                        small-capitalization stocks which have historically been
                        more volatile in price than the S&P 500 Index. Among the
                        likely reasons for the greater price volatility of small
                        company stocks are less certain growth prospects of
                        smaller firms, a lower degree of liquidity in the
                        markets for such stocks, and the small to negligible
                        dividends generally paid by small companies. Besides
                        exhibiting greater volatility, small- and
                        mid-capitalization stocks have at times fluctuated
                        independently of the broad stock market. Investors
                        should therefore expect that small- and
                        mid-capitalization stocks (and hence the Capital
                        Opportunity Portfolio) may be more volatile than the S&P
                        500 Index.
    
 
                        The Portfolio exposes investors to industry specific
                        risk -- i.e., the possibility that a particular group of
                        related stocks will decline in price due to industry
                        specific developments. The Portfolio will focus its
                        holdings in those industries and securities that, in the
                        adviser's opinion, offer the best prospects of high
                        returns. The Portfolio is expected to hold from 25 to 50
                        securities and may invest a large portion of the
                        Portfolio's holdings in a specific industry.
 
                        The Portfolio will also expose investors to the risks
                        associated with the short selling of stocks. Short
                        selling involves selling shares of stock which the
                        Portfolio does not own, with the expectation that the
                        stock's price will fall. The principal purpose of making
                        a short sale is to enable the Portfolio to benefit from
                        an expected decline in a stock's price. The risk of loss
                        associated with a short sale is greater than that
                        associated with a regular purchase. In a regular
                        purchase, possible loss is limited to the amount for
                        which the security was purchased. In a short sale, the
                        potential loss is unlimited. Assets committed to short
                        sales of stocks will not exceed 10% of the Portfolio's
                        net assets. With respect to short sales, the Portfolio
                        will segregate cash or U.S. Government securities in an
                        amount equal to the difference between the market value
                        of any securities sold short and any amount required to
                        be deposited with the broker in connection with such
                        short sales.
 
                        The Portfolio will also expose investors, on a limited
                        basis, to the risks of convertible securities and low
                        quality bonds. Investments in such issues will be made
                        when the adviser believes that the potential gains
                        significantly outweigh the risks. Exposure to each of
                        these categories: (convertible securities and
                        low-quality bonds) will not exceed 10% of the
                        Portfolio's net assets.
 
                        The Portfolio exposes investors to the risks associated
                        with investments in put options. The risk of loss
                        associated with a put option is limited to the price
                        paid for the option. Assets committed to put options
                        will not exceed 15% of the Portfolio's net assets. The
                        Portfolio's adviser is permitted to invest in put
                        options in order to "hedge" or protect a relatively
                        small portion of net assets from losses during a market
                        or sector decline.
 
                                       13
<PAGE>   17
 
FOREIGN
SECURITIES RISK
                        The Portfolio may invest up to 15% of its net assets in
                        foreign equity securities and therefore exposes
                        investors to foreign securities risk. For U.S.
                        investors, the returns of foreign securities are
                        influenced by not only the returns on foreign securities
                        themselves, but also by currency risk -- i.e., changes
                        in the value of currencies in which the securities are
                        denominated. In a period when the U.S. dollar rises in
                        value against foreign currencies, the returns on foreign
                        stocks for a U.S. investor will be diminished. By
                        contrast, the returns of foreign securities will be
                        enhanced in a period when the U.S. dollar declines.
                        (Please see "SUPPLEMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICIES" for
                        additional risks associated with investments in foreign
                        securities.)
 
MANAGER RISK            The Portfolio exposes investors to substantial manager
                        risk which encompasses the potential for the Portfolio
                        to fail to achieve its objective due to activities of
                        the investment adviser. Husic Capital Management, the
                        Portfolio's investment adviser, manages the Portfolio
                        with broad flexibility, in an effort to provide maximum
                        long-term total return. The investment adviser selects
                        stocks based on economic, financial, and market analysis
                        as well as investment judgment. There is no assurance
                        that the Portfolio will achieve its stated objective.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       14
<PAGE>   18
 
                        GLOBAL ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
 
INVESTMENT
OBJECTIVE
                        The Global Asset Allocation Portfolio seeks to provide
                        maximum long-term total return and is therefore intended
                        for investors who have a long-term investment horizon.
                        To that end, the Portfolio will assume above-average
                        risk in seeking potentially above-average returns,
                        although there is no assurance that the Portfolio will
                        achieve such returns. Income provided by the Portfolio
                        is expected to fluctuate significantly.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
INVESTMENT
POLICIES
                        The Global Asset Allocation Portfolio invests in a
                        varying mix of stocks, bonds, and cash reserves selected
                        primarily from the following nine major markets: U.S.,
                        Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain,
                        Canada, Australia, and Hong Kong. The adviser may expand
                        the Portfolio's investment universe outside these major
                        markets at any time, and may include investments in
                        emerging markets. Under normal circumstances, at least
                        65% of the Portfolio's assets will be invested in
                        securities representing at least three different
                        countries. In order to execute its strategy in an
                        efficient manner, the Portfolio's adviser expects to
                        invest the portion of the Portfolio's assets that it has
                        determined should be allocated to stocks, primarily in
                        equity index futures contracts. The Portfolio will use
                        futures contracts (which are commonly referred to as
                        "derivatives") to provide an efficient means of
                        achieving exposure to the stock and fixed income markets
                        of a particular country. Stock index futures contracts
                        provide exposure to a whole index of stocks without
                        buying each security individually. The use of futures
                        contracts provides a cost efficient means of achieving
                        exposure to the stock or fixed income market of a
                        particular country. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL THE
                        MARKET EXPOSURE OF FUTURES CONTRACTS EXCEED 50% OF THE
                        PORTFOLIO'S NET ASSETS. (Please see "SUPPLEMENTAL
                        INVESTMENT POLICIES" for details of futures
                        transactions.) The adviser will not use futures to
                        leverage the Portfolio's holdings. (Please see
                        "SUPPLEMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICIES" for risks associated
                        with investments in futures contracts.)
 
                        The Portfolio's adviser, Strategic Investment
                        Management, will use a variety of quantitative
                        investment models to identify the country and asset
                        classes deemed to be attractive. The adviser seeks asset
                        classes and countries with the highest expected relative
                        return premium, adjusted for risk (e.g., stocks in Japan
                        versus bonds in France). Valuation and liquidity
                        measures are the primary drivers of the model used to
                        determine the relative expected return premium for each
                        country and asset class. In evaluating equity exposure,
                        the adviser attempts to assess the relative value of
                        each country's market in aggregate rather than looking
                        at the stocks of individual companies. The adviser may
                        concentrate the Portfolio's investments in only a few
                        selected countries and/or asset classes; however, no
                        more than 50% of the Portfolio's net assets will be
                        invested in an asset class from a single country (e.g.,
                        French bonds). There is no limitation on the Portfolio's
                        U.S. assets.
 
                                       15
<PAGE>   19
 
                        In attempting to achieve its objective, the Portfolio
                        will be managed to provide investment results superior
                        to a theoretical benchmark, the "Global Balanced Index",
                        with the following parameters:
 
                             60%     global stock investments
                             30%     global bond investments
                             10%     U.S. cash reserve investments
 
                        The 60% global stock component is an adjusted
                        capitalization-weighted average of the established local
                        stock market index in each country. The 30% global bond
                        component is a capitalization-weighted average of the
                        country indices of the Salomon Brothers World Government
                        Bond Index; all such bonds are expected to be of
                        investment grade quality. The U.S. cash reserve
                        component is the bond equivalent yield of the Federal
                        Reserve's published average offering rate on 30-day
                        commercial paper. The index is adjusted to reduce the
                        exposure of foreign currency fluctuations by hedging
                        back into U.S. dollars one half of the foreign currency
                        exposure resulting from equity holdings and all of the
                        foreign currency exposure resulting from the bond
                        holdings. The countries included in this index will be
                        the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany,
                        Spain, Japan, Australia and Hong Kong (there will be no
                        bond investments in Hong Kong). The Global Balanced
                        Index will be reviewed semi-annually and with approval
                        of the Fund's Officers may be changed to reflect
                        additions or deletions of countries from the adviser's
                        mandate going forward.
 
                        The adviser will predominately utilize an indexed
                        approach to common stock investing but, from time to
                        time, may execute modest "tilts" among common stock
                        holdings (e.g., lower than average market capitalization
                        or valuation levels) or hold an overweighted position in
                        a security intended to serve as a proxy for an entire
                        market (e.g., a closed-end country fund).
 
                        Investments will also include direct investments in
                        short-term or long-term government bonds, and U.S. and
                        foreign cash reserves. Bonds in the Portfolio are
                        expected to range in maturity from one to 30 years. The
                        Portfolio may also enter into forward currency exchange
                        contracts in order to protect its securities from
                        fluctuations in exchange rates. (Please see
                        "SUPPLEMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICIES" for a description of
                        such contracts.)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
INVESTMENT
RISKS
SECURITIES MARKET
RISK
                        Market risk for the Portfolio will depend both on the
                        adviser's allocation to stocks, bonds, and money market
                        instruments and the percentage of assets invested in
                        each of the markets available to the adviser.
                        Investments in foreign markets can be as volatile, if
                        not more volatile, than investments in U.S. securities
                        markets. However, a Portfolio that combines both U.S.
                        and foreign securities may benefit from diversification
                        and may have less volatility than a portfolio made up
                        solely of foreign securities.
    
 
                                       16
<PAGE>   20
 
                        To illustrate the volatility of world securities markets
                        for the U.S. investor, a hypothetical index consisting
                        60% of the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI)
                        World Index, 30% of the Salomon Brothers World Bond
                        Index, and 10% of cash reserves can be used as a proxy
                        for the Global Balanced Index, the Portfolio's benchmark
                        index.
 
   
                        This hypothetical index has provided annual total
                        returns (capital appreciation plus dividend income)
                        averaging 12.1% for the period 1978 to 1996. The return
                        in individual years has varied from a low of -9.5% to a
                        high of 26.9%, which reflects the short-term volatility
                        of securities prices. The historical total return data
                        is provided here only as a guide to potential market
                        risk, and may not be useful for forecasting future
                        returns in any particular period.
    
 
                        The hypothetical index used as a proxy for the
                        Portfolio's benchmark index primarily contains return
                        figures for developed countries; however, the Global
                        Asset Allocation Portfolio may invest up to 25% of its
                        holdings in emerging market securities or currencies.
                        Emerging market countries have periodically provided
                        greater returns than developed markets, but with
                        substantially greater volatility. The Portfolio is
                        likely to differ in terms of portfolio composition from
                        the hypothetical index, and so the performance of the
                        Global Asset Allocation Portfolio should not be expected
                        to mirror the return provided by this index.
 
FOREIGN MARKET RISK     For U.S. investors, the returns of foreign securities
                        are influenced by not only the returns on foreign
                        securities themselves, but also by currency
                        risk -- i.e., changes in the value of currencies in
                        which the securities are denominated. In a period when
                        the U.S. dollar generally rises against foreign
                        currencies, the returns on foreign stocks for a U.S.
                        investor will be diminished. By contrast, in a period
                        when the U.S. dollar generally declines, the returns of
                        foreign securities will be enhanced.
 
                        (Please see "SUPPLEMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICIES" for
                        additional risks associated with investments in foreign
                        securities.)
 
MANAGER RISK
                        The Portfolio exposes investors to substantial manager
                        risk which encompasses the potential for the Portfolio
                        to fail to achieve its objective due to activities of
                        the investment adviser. Strategic Investment Management,
                        the Portfolio's investment adviser, selects stocks based
                        primarily on quantitative models in an effort to provide
                        long-term returns that exceed those of comparable
                        unmanaged indexes. There is no assurance that the
                        Portfolio will achieve its stated objective.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       17
<PAGE>   21
 
                        GLOBAL EQUITY PORTFOLIO
 
INVESTMENT
OBJECTIVE
                        The Global Equity Portfolio seeks to provide maximum
                        long-term total return and is therefore intended for
                        investors who have a long-term investment horizon. To
                        that end, the Portfolio will assume above-average risk
                        in seeking potentially above-average returns, although
                        there is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve
                        such returns. Income provided by the Portfolio is
                        expected to be minimal.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
INVESTMENT
POLICIES
                        The Global Equity Portfolio invests in U.S. and foreign
                        equity securities that the adviser deems attractive. The
                        Portfolio seeks to diversify its assets among stocks
                        traded in the major stock markets, as well as emerging
                        stock markets. The Portfolio seeks to diversify among
                        foreign markets including Japan, the United Kingdom,
                        Germany, France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Sweden,
                        Australia, and Hong Kong. The Portfolio may also invest
                        in emerging markets such as Brazil, Indonesia, Korea,
                        Mexico, the Philippines, Thailand and South Africa.
                        Emerging markets may be more volatile and less liquid
                        than more established foreign markets. Under normal
                        market conditions, the Portfolio will invest at least
                        65% of its assets in at least three different countries.
                        The Portfolio will generally limit emerging market
                        holdings to 20%.
 
   
                        The Portfolio's adviser, Marathon Asset Management
                        Limited ("Marathon-London"), builds portfolios based
                        primarily upon industry and company analysis rather than
                        "top down" country allocation decisions. With this
                        approach, the Portfolio's regional weightings are
                        expected to range from 50% to 150% of the allocations
                        exhibited by an unmanaged index such as the Morgan
                        Stanley Capital International (MSCI) All Country Index.
                        The relative weightings of individual sectors and stocks
                        may be expected to differ markedly from index
                        weightings. This approach can be characterized as
                        traditional "active" investment management, rather than
                        a passive indexing approach.
    
 
                        A key element of Marathon-London's analysis is a focus
                        on competition and industry prospects. This approach
                        permits the adviser to identify opportunities across a
                        wide range of industries. As such, the Portfolio will
                        tend to own a mix of both "value" and "growth" stocks.
 
                        Besides investing in equity securities, the Portfolio
                        may also enter into forward foreign currency exchange
                        contracts in order to protect its securities from
                        fluctuations in exchange rates. (See "SUPPLEMENTAL
                        INVESTMENT POLICIES" for a description of such
                        contracts.)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
INVESTMENT RISKS
SECURITIES MARKET
RISK
                        The Portfolio exposes investors to the market risks
                        associated with world stock markets. International stock
                        and bond markets have periodically offered above-average
                        returns relative to U.S. investments. However,
                        commensurate with that opportunity for greater return
                        lies greater risk. Risk factors unique to international
                        investing are the volatility of a country's financial
                        markets, a country's political and economic climate, and
                        fluctuations in the value of its currency.
 
                                       18
<PAGE>   22
 
                        Investments in foreign stock markets can be as volatile,
                        if not more volatile, than investments in U.S. markets.
                        However, a Portfolio that combines both U.S. and foreign
                        stocks may benefit from diversification and may have
                        less volatility than a pure foreign stock portfolio.
 
   
                        The average annual returns of the Morgan Stanley Capital
                        International (MSCI) World Index can be used as an
                        indicator of the world market risk of the Global Equity
                        Portfolio. The world stock index returns have provided
                        annual total returns (capital appreciation plus dividend
                        income) averaging 11.8% for the period 1970-1996. The
                        return in individual years has varied from a low of
                        -24.5% to a high of 42.8%, which reflects the short-term
                        volatility of stock prices. The historical total return
                        data is provided here only as a guide to potential
                        market risk, and may not be useful for forecasting
                        future returns in any particular period.
    
 
                        The MSCI World Index primarily contains return figures
                        for developed countries; whereas, the Portfolio may
                        invest 20% of its holdings in emerging market
                        securities. Emerging market countries have periodically
                        provided greater returns than developed markets, but
                        with substantially greater volatility. The Portfolio is
                        likely to differ in terms of portfolio composition from
                        the MSCI World Index, and so the performance of the
                        Global Equity Portfolio should not be expected to mirror
                        the return provided by the Index.
 
FOREIGN MARKET RISK     The Portfolio also exposes investors to foreign market
                        risk. For U.S. investors, the returns on foreign
                        securities are influenced by not only the returns on
                        foreign securities themselves, but also by currency
                        risk -- i.e., changes in the value of currencies in
                        which the securities are denominated. In a period when
                        the U.S. dollar generally rises against foreign
                        currencies, the returns on foreign stocks for a U.S.
                        investor will be diminished. By contrast, in a period
                        when the U.S. dollar generally declines, the returns of
                        foreign securities will be enhanced.
 
                        Please see "SUPPLEMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICIES" for
                        additional risks associated with investments in foreign
                        securities.
 
MANAGER RISK
                        The Portfolio exposes investors to substantial manager
                        risk which encompasses the potential for the Portfolio
                        to fail to achieve its objective due to activities of
                        the investment adviser, Marathon-London. The Portfolio's
                        investment adviser selects stocks based on investment
                        judgment and analysis of corporate strategies,
                        competition, and capital flows. There is no assurance
                        that the Portfolio will achieve its stated objective.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
WHO SHOULD INVEST
LONG-TERM
INVESTORS SEEKING
MAXIMUM TOTAL RETURN    The Portfolios are designed for investors who have a
                        long-term (five years or longer) investment horizon,
                        seek long-term total return and have the perspective,
                        patience, and financial resources to assume
                        above-average risk and volatility for the potential of
                        achieving above-average return. Investors in the
                        Portfolios should be able to tolerate sudden, sometimes
 
                                       19
<PAGE>   23
 
                        substantial fluctuations in the value of their
                        investments. Each Portfolio's share price is expected to
                        be volatile.
 
                        The AGGRESSIVE GROWTH PORTFOLIO is appropriate for
                        investors who seek to invest in a quantitatively managed
                        portfolio of diversified U.S. equity securities.
 
                        The CAPITAL OPPORTUNITY PORTFOLIO is appropriate for
                        investors who seek to invest in an actively managed
                        portfolio of U.S. equity securities and are willing to
                        accept the risks associated with short selling stocks
                        and investing in put options.
 
                        The GLOBAL ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO is appropriate for
                        investors who seek to invest in an actively managed
                        portfolio of U.S. and foreign stocks, bonds and cash
                        reserves and are willing to accept the risks associated
                        with a high level (up to 50% of the Portfolio's net
                        assets) of investments in futures contracts.
 
                        The GLOBAL EQUITY PORTFOLIO is appropriate for investors
                        who seek to invest in an actively managed Portfolio of
                        U.S. and foreign equity securities.
 
                        Because of the risks associated with common stock
                        investments, all four Portfolios are intended to be
                        long-term investment vehicles and are not designed to
                        provide investors with a means of speculating on
                        short-term market movements. Investors who engage in
                        excessive account activity generate additional costs
                        which are borne by all of the Fund's shareholders. In
                        order to minimize such costs, the Fund has adopted the
                        following policies. The Fund reserves the right to
                        reject any purchase request (including exchange
                        purchases from other Vanguard portfolios) that is
                        reasonably deemed to be disruptive to efficient
                        portfolio management, either because of the timing of
                        the investment or previous excessive trading by the
                        investor. Additionally, the Fund has adopted exchange
                        privilege limitations as described in the section
                        entitled "Exchange Privilege Limitations." Finally, the
                        Fund reserves the right to suspend the offering of its
                        shares.
 
                        The Fund is not intended as a complete investment
                        program. Most investors should maintain diversified
                        holdings of securities with different risk
                        characteristics -- including common stocks, bonds and
                        money market instruments. Investors may also wish to
                        complement an investment in the Fund with other types of
                        investments.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       20
<PAGE>   24
 
   
SUPPLEMENTAL
INVESTMENT
POLICIES
EACH PORTFOLIO MAY
INVEST IN SHORT-TERM
FIXED-INCOME
SECURITIES
                        The Portfolios of the Fund may invest temporarily in
                        certain short-term fixed-income securities for defensive
                        purposes. Such securities may be used to invest
                        uncommitted cash balances or to maintain liquidity to
                        meet shareholder redemptions. Although not expected to
                        do so, each Portfolio may invest up to 100% of its
                        assets in such securities. These securities include:
                        obligations of the United States Government and its
                        agencies or instrumentalities; commercial paper, bank
                        certificates of deposit, and bankers' acceptances; and
                        repurchase agreements collateralized by these
                        securities. Additionally, the Capital Opportunity
                        Portfolio may invest up to 15% of its net assets in cash
                        reserves, for temporary defensive purposes, after major
                        upward movements in the prices of the Portfolio's stocks
                        when the investment adviser is not satisfied with
                        investment alternatives.
    
 
   
EACH PORTFOLIO MAY
INVEST IN DERIVATIVE
SECURITIES SUCH AS:
FUTURES CONTRACTS,
OPTIONS, WARRANTS, AND
CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES  Each Portfolio of the Fund may utilize stock futures
                        contracts, options, including puts and calls, warrants,
                        convertible securities and swap agreements to a limited
                        extent. Each Portfolio may use over-the-counter options
                        when exchange traded options do not exist. Specifically,
                        the Capital Opportunity, Aggressive Growth and Global
                        Equity Portfolios may enter into futures contracts and
                        options provided that not more than 5% of their assets
                        are required as a margin deposit for futures contracts
                        or options, and provided that not more than 20% of each
                        Portfolio's assets are invested in futures and options
                        at any time. Investors in the Global Asset Allocation
                        Portfolio should be aware the Portfolio's adviser may
                        invest up to 50% of the Portfolio's net assets in
                        futures contracts provided that not more than 15% of its
                        net assets are required for margin requirements. The
                        Global Asset Allocation Portfolio may purchase options
                        provided that not more than 5% of its assets are
                        required as a margin deposit, and provided that not more
                        than 20% of its net assets are invested in options at
                        any time. In combination, futures and options will not
                        exceed 50% of the Portfolio's net assets with not more
                        than 15% of the Portfolio's net assets required for
                        margin requirements at any time.
    
 
   
FUTURES CONTRACTS,
OPTIONS, WARRANTS,
CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES
AND SWAP AGREEMENTS
POSE CERTAIN RISKS      By investing in such instruments, the Portfolios'
                        advisers will expose investors to those risks inherent
                        in these commonly used strategies. Futures and options
                        are derivative instruments in that their value is
                        derived from the value of another security. For example,
                        due to both the low margin deposits required and the
                        extremely high degree of leverage involved in futures
                        pricing, a relatively small price movement in a futures
                        contract may result in an immediate and substantial loss
                        or gain. However, the Portfolios will not use futures
                        contracts, options, warrants, convertible securities and
                        swap agreements for speculative purposes or to leverage
                        their net assets. Accordingly, the primary risks
                        associated with the use of futures contracts, options,
                        including puts and calls, warrants, convertible
                        securities and swap agreements by a Portfolio are: (i)
                        imperfect correlation between the change in market value
                        of the stocks held by the Portfolio and the prices of
                        futures contracts, options, warrants, convertible
                        securities and swap agreements; (ii) the risk that
    
 
                                       21
<PAGE>   25
 
                        the investment adviser will incorrectly predict stock
                        market and interest rate trends; and (iii) possible lack
                        of a liquid secondary market for a futures contract and
                        the resulting inability to close a futures position
                        prior to its maturity date. The risk of imperfect
                        correlation will be minimized by investing only in those
                        contracts whose behavior is expected to resemble that of
                        the Portfolio's underlying securities. The risk that the
                        Portfolio will be unable to close out a futures position
                        will be minimized by entering into such transactions on
                        an exchange with an active and liquid secondary market.
                        However, options, warrants, convertible securities and
                        swap agreements purchased or sold over-the-counter may
                        be less liquid than exchange traded securities. Please
                        refer to the "Statement of Additional Information" for
                        additional information about futures and options.
 
                        Additionally, each Portfolio's investments in warrants
                        will not exceed 15% of its assets. Futures contracts,
                        options, warrants, convertible securities and swap
                        agreements may be used for several reasons: to simulate
                        full investment while retaining a cash balance for fund
                        management purposes, to facilitate the portfolio
                        management process, or to reduce transaction costs. The
                        Portfolios may not use futures and options to leverage
                        their net assets.
 
   
EACH PORTFOLIO MAY
ENTER INTO SWAP
AGREEMENTS
                        Swap agreements are contracts between parties in which
                        one party agrees to make payments to the other party
                        based on the change in market value of a specified index
                        or asset. In return, the other party agrees to make
                        payments to the first party based on the return of a
                        different specified index or asset. Although swap
                        agreements entail the risk that a party will default on
                        its payment obligations, the Portfolios will minimize
                        this risk by entering into agreements that mark to
                        market no less frequently than quarterly. Swap
                        agreements also bear the risk that the Portfolios will
                        not be able to meet their obligations to the
                        counterparty. This risk will be mitigated by having the
                        Portfolios invest in the specific asset for which they
                        are obligated to pay a return. Swap agreements are
                        considered illiquid, and investments in swap agreements
                        are therefore subject to the 15% limitation on illiquid
                        securities described in the Statement of Additional
                        Information.
    
 
ALL PORTFOLIOS MAY
LEND THEIR SECURITIES
                        All Portfolios of the Fund may lend securities to
                        qualified institutional investors for either short-term
                        or long-term periods for the purpose of realizing
                        additional income. Loans of securities by a Portfolio
                        will be collateralized by cash, letters of credit, or
                        securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government
                        or its agencies. The collateral will equal at least 100%
                        of the current market value of the loaned securities,
                        and such loans may not exceed 33 1/3% of the value of
                        the Portfolio's net assets. The Portfolios may also
                        invest in repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase
                        agreements to a limited extent. Please refer to the
                        "Statement of Additional Information" for further
                        details.
 
                                       22
<PAGE>   26
 
   
ALL PORTFOLIOS MAY
OWN RESTRICTED
SECURITIES
                        All Portfolios of the Fund may own restricted securities
                        to a limited extent. Restricted securities are
                        securities which are subject to restrictions upon sale
                        under the Securities Act of 1933. Each Portfolio may
                        invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid
                        securities, which include certain restricted securities.
                        The Fund's Board of Directors may from time to time
                        determine certain restricted securities known as Rule
                        144A securities to be liquid. Such securities will not
                        be subject to the 15% limitation described above.
    
 
THREE OF THE FUND'S
PORTFOLIOS EXPOSE
INVESTORS TO FOREIGN
MARKET RISK             The Capital Opportunity, Global Asset Allocation, and
                        Global Equity Portfolios expose investors to foreign
                        market risk. Some risks and considerations of
                        international investing include the following:
                        differences in accounting, auditing and financial
                        reporting standards; generally higher commission rates
                        on foreign portfolio transactions; smaller trading
                        volumes and generally lower liquidity of foreign stock
                        markets, which may result in greater price volatility;
                        foreign withholding taxes payable on the Portfolio's
                        foreign securities, which may reduce dividend income
                        payable to shareholders; the possibility of
                        expropriation or confiscatory taxation; adverse changes
                        in investment or exchange control regulations;
                        difficulty in obtaining a judgment from a foreign court;
                        political instability which could affect U.S. investment
                        in foreign countries; and potential restrictions on the
                        flow of international capital.
 
THE GLOBAL EQUITY AND
GLOBAL ASSET
ALLOCATION PORTFOLIOS
MAY ENTER INTO
FORWARD CURRENCY
CONTRACTS               The Global Equity and Global Asset Allocation Portfolios
                        may enter into forward foreign currency exchange
                        contracts. Such contracts are used to protect the
                        Portfolio's securities against uncertainty in the level
                        of future foreign exchange rates. Under normal
                        circumstances, the Global Equity Portfolio will not
                        commit more than 20% of its assets to such contracts.
                        The Global Asset Allocation Portfolio will normally
                        invest approximately 30% of its assets in forward
                        foreign currency exchange contracts. The Portfolio will
                        utilize such contracts in conjunction with equity
                        futures in order to achieve index-like exposure. The
                        Portfolio may also utilize such contracts to hedge
                        positions in foreign bonds or cash reserves without
                        limitation.
 
                        A forward foreign currency exchange contract is an
                        obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a
                        future date, which may be any fixed number of days from
                        the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at
                        a price set at the time of the contract. The contracts
                        may be bought or sold to protect the Portfolios, to a
                        limited extent, against adverse changes in exchange
                        rates between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar.
                        Such contracts, which protect the value of a Portfolio's
                        investment securities against a decline in the value of
                        a currency, do not eliminate fluctuations in the
                        underlying prices of the securities. They simply
                        establish an exchange rate at a future date. Also,
                        although such contracts tend to minimize the risk of
                        loss due to a decline in the value of a hedged currency,
                        at the same time they tend to limit any potential gain
                        that might be realized should the value of such currency
                        increase.
 
                                       23
<PAGE>   27
 
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER      Although all Portfolios of the Fund seek to invest for
                        the long term, they retain the right to sell securities
                        irrespective of how long they have been held. The annual
                        portfolio turnover expected for each Portfolio is
                        provided in the table below.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       ESTIMATED ANNUAL
                                 PORTFOLIO                                 TURNOVER
                                 ---------                            -----------------
                        <S>                                            <C>
                        Aggressive Growth Portfolio                        100-150%
                        Capital Opportunity Portfolio                       75-125%
                        Global Asset Allocation                            100-200%
                        Global Equity Portfolio                             10-50%
</TABLE>
 
                        A turnover rate of 100% would occur, for example, if all
                        the securities of a Portfolio were replaced within one
                        year. Higher portfolio turnover rates generally result
                        in increased brokerage commissions and the realization
                        of higher capital gains, which may make these Portfolios
                        more attractive for the tax-deferred portion of an
                        investment portfolio. Each Portfolio is managed without
                        regard to tax ramifications.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
INVESTMENT
LIMITATIONS
THE FUND HAS ADOPTED
CERTAIN FUNDAMENTAL
LIMITATIONS
                        Each Portfolio has adopted certain limitations designed
                        to reduce its exposure to specific situations. Some of
                        these limitations are that a Portfolio will not:
 
   
                        (a) with respect to 75% of the value of its total
                            assets, purchase the securities of any issuer
                            (except obligations of the United States government
                            and its instrumentalities) if as a result the
                            Portfolio would hold more than 10% of the
                            outstanding voting securities of the issuer, or more
                            than 5% of the value of the Portfolio's total assets
                            would be invested in the securities of such issuer;
    
   
                        (b) invest more than 25% of its assets in any one
                            industry; and
    
   
                        (c) borrow money except from banks for temporary or
                            emergency purposes, and in no event in excess of 15%
                            of the market value of its total assets.
    
 
                        These investment limitations are considered at the time
                        investment securities are purchased. The limitations
                        described here and in the Statement of Additional
                        Information are fundamental, and may only be changed
                        with the approval of a majority of a Portfolio's
                        shareholders.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
MANAGEMENT
OF THE FUND
VANGUARD
ADMINISTERS
AND DISTRIBUTES
THE FUND                The Fund is a member of The Vanguard Group of Investment
                        Companies, a family of more than 30 investment companies
                        with more than 90 distinct portfolios and total assets
                        in excess of $240 billion. Through their jointly-owned
                        subsidiary, The Vanguard Group, Inc. ("Vanguard"), the
                        Fund and the other funds in the Group obtain at cost
                        virtually all of their corporate management,
                        administrative and distribution services. Vanguard also
                        provides investment advisory services on an at-cost
                        basis to certain funds. As a result of Vanguard's unique
                        corporate structure, the Vanguard funds have costs
                        substantially lower than those of most competing mutual
                        funds. In 1996, the average expense ratio (annual costs
                        including advisory fees divided by total net assets) for
                        the Vanguard funds
    
 
                                       24
<PAGE>   28
 
   
                        amounted to approximately 0.29% compared to an average
                        of 1.22% for the mutual fund industry (data provided by
                        Lipper Analytical Services).
    
 
                        The Officers of the Fund manage its day-to-day
                        operations and are responsible to the Fund's Board of
                        Directors. The Directors set broad policies for the Fund
                        and choose its Officers. A list of the Directors and
                        Officers of the Fund and a statement of their present
                        positions and principal occupations during the past five
                        years can be found in the Statement of Additional
                        Information.
 
                        Vanguard employs a supporting staff of management and
                        administrative personnel needed to provide the requisite
                        services to the funds and provides the funds with
                        necessary office space, furnishings and equipment.
 
                        Each Fund pays its share of Vanguard's total expenses,
                        which are allocated among the funds under methods
                        approved by the Board of Directors (Trustees) of each
                        fund. In addition, each fund bears its own direct
                        expenses, such as legal, auditing and custodial fees.
 
   
                        Vanguard provides distribution and marketing services to
                        the funds. The funds are available on a no-load basis,
                        (i.e., there are no sales commissions or 12b-1 fees).
                        However, each Fund bears its allocated share of the
                        Group's distribution costs.
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
INVESTMENT
ADVISERS
VANGUARD SERVES
AS ADVISER TO THE
AGGRESSIVE GROWTH
PORTFOLIO               The AGGRESSIVE GROWTH PORTFOLIO receives investment
                        advisory services from VANGUARD'S CORE MANAGEMENT GROUP.
                        The Core Management Group also provides investment
                        advisory services to several other Vanguard Funds,
                        including Vanguard Index Trust, Vanguard International
                        Equity Index Fund, Vanguard Institutional Index Fund,
                        Vanguard Balanced Index Fund, Vanguard Treasury Fund,
                        the Equity Index Portfolio of the Vanguard Variable
                        Insurance Fund, the Growth and Income and Capital
                        Appreciation Portfolios and the equity portion of the
                        Balanced Portfolio of Vanguard Tax-Managed Fund, the
                        Vanguard REIT Portfolio, the Total International
                        Portfolio of Vanguard STAR Fund and a portion of
                        Vanguard/Windsor II and Vanguard/Morgan Growth Fund, as
                        well as to several indexed separate accounts. Total
                        assets under management by the Core Management Group
                        were $51 billion as of October 31, 1996. The Core
                        Management Group is supervised by the Officers of the
                        Fund. George U. Sauter, Principal of the Core Management
                        Group and the portfolio manager of each of the Funds
                        managed by the Core Management Group, has served in this
                        capacity for each of the Vanguard Funds advised by the
                        Group since 1987, and utilizes a team approach to manage
                        the Portfolio's assets.
    
 
                        Vanguard's Core Management Group will provide advisory
                        services on an at-cost basis. In placing portfolio
                        transactions, Vanguard's Core Management Group uses its
                        best judgment to choose the broker most capable of
                        providing the brokerage services necessary to obtain the
                        best available price and most favorable execution at the
                        lowest commission rate. The full range and quality of
                        brokerage services available are considered in making
                        these determinations. In selecting broker-dealers
 
                                       25
<PAGE>   29
 
                        to execute securities transactions for the Portfolio,
                        consideration will be given to such factors as: the
                        price of the security; the rate of the commission; the
                        size and difficulty of the order; the reliability,
                        integrity, financial condition, general execution, and
                        operational capabilities of competing brokers-dealers;
                        and the brokerage and research services provided to the
                        Portfolio. In those instances where it is reasonably
                        determined that more than one broker can offer the
                        services needed to obtain the best available price and
                        most favorable execution, consideration may be given to
                        those brokers which supply statistical information and
                        provide other services in addition to execution services
                        to the Portfolio.
 
   
HUSIC CAPITAL
MANAGEMENT SERVES
AS ADVISER TO THE
CAPITAL OPPORTUNITY
PORTFOLIO
                        The CAPITAL OPPORTUNITY PORTFOLIO is managed by HUSIC
                        CAPITAL MANAGEMENT ("Husic"), 555 California Street,
                        Suite 2900, San Francisco, California 94104. Husic
                        provides asset management services to companies,
                        institutions, and individuals as well as approximately
                        13% of the Vanguard Morgan Growth Fund. As of October
                        31, 1996, Husic had over $4.1 billion in assets under
                        management.
    
 
                        Frank J. Husic, Managing Partner of Husic Capital
                        Management, serves as portfolio manager for the Capital
                        Opportunity Portfolio. Mr. Husic has been the managing
                        partner of Husic since its founding in June 1986.
                        Previously, he was Senior Vice President and Director of
                        Alliance Capital Management as well as President and
                        Portfolio Manager of the Alliance Technology and
                        Alliance International Technology Funds.
 
   
                        For the services provided by Husic under the investment
                        advisory agreement, the Portfolio will pay Husic a basic
                        fee at the end of each fiscal quarter, calculated by
                        applying a quarterly rate based on the following annual
                        percentage rates, to the average month-end net assets of
                        the Capital Opportunity Portfolio for the quarter:
    
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                  
                                      NET ASSETS         ANNUAL BASIC FEE RATE
                                  -------------------    ---------------------
                                  <S>                    <C>
                                  First $100 million         .40%
                                  Next $200 million          .35%
                                  Next $300 million          .25%
                                  Next $400 million          .20%
                                  Over $1 billion            .15%
</TABLE>
 
   
                        Effective with the quarter ending October 31, 1996, the
                        basic advisory fee may be increased or decreased by
                        applying an adjustment formula based on the investment
                        performance of the Capital Opportunity Portfolio
                        relative to the Capital Opportunity Fund Stock Index, an
                        index of the equity holdings of the 25 largest
                        aggressive growth stock mutual funds.
    
 
                                       26
<PAGE>   30
 
                        The following table sets forth the incentive/penalty
                        adjustment to the basic advisory fee payable by the
                        Portfolio to Husic.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                       
                               CUMULATIVE 36-MONTH
                        PERFORMANCE DIFFERENTIAL VS. THE
                            CAPITAL OPPORTUNITY INDEX        PERFORMANCE FEE ADJUSTMENT*
                        ---------------------------------    ---------------------------
                        <S>                                  <C>
                        Less than -12%                            -0.75 X Basic Fee
                        Between -12% to -6%                       -0.50 X Basic Fee
                        Between -6% to +6%                            0 X Basic Fee
                        Between +6% to +12%                       +0.50 X Basic Fee
                        More than +12%                            +0.75 X Basic Fee

                        * For purposes of this calculation, the Basic Fee is calculated
                          by applying the quarterly rate based on the Annual Basic Fee
                          Rate using average assets over the same time period for which
                          the performance is measured.
</TABLE>
    
 
                        Under the rules of the Securities and Exchange
                        Commission, the incentive/penalty fee structure will not
                        be fully operable until the quarter ending October 31,
                        1998, and, until that date, will be calculated according
                        to certain transition rules. See the Statement of
                        Additional Information for a detailed description of the
                        incentive/penalty fee schedule for Husic and the
                        applicable transition rules.
 
   
STRATEGIC INVESTMENT
MANAGEMENT
SERVES AS ADVISER TO
THE GLOBAL ASSET
ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
                        The GLOBAL ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO is managed by
                        STRATEGIC INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT ("SIM"), 1001 19th
                        Street North, 16th Floor, Arlington, Virginia 22209. SIM
                        provides asset management services to companies,
                        institutions, trusts and individuals. As of October 31,
                        1996, SIM (and its affiliated companies) had over $16.3
                        billion in assets under management.
    
 
   
                        Michael A. Duffy, Managing Director of SIM, serves as
                        portfolio manager for the Global Asset Allocation
                        Portfolio. Mr. Duffy has been a Managing Director of SIM
                        since 1987. Previously, he was a Senior Pension
                        Investment Officer for the World Bank as well as an
                        Economist for the Board of Governors of the Federal
                        Reserve System.
    
 
   
                        For the services provided by SIM under the investment
                        advisory agreement the Portfolio will pay Strategic
                        Investment Management a basic fee at the end of each
                        fiscal quarter, calculated by applying a quarterly rate
                        based on the following annual percentage rates, to the
                        average month-end net assets of the Global Asset
                        Allocation Portfolio for the quarter:
    
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                      NET ASSETS              ANNUAL RATE
                                ----------------------      --------------
                                                             
                                <S>                       <C>
                                First $250 million            .40%
                                Next $250 million             .35%
                                Next $500 million             .25%
                                Over $1 billion               .20%
</TABLE>
 
                                       27
<PAGE>   31
 
                        Effective with the quarter ending October 31, 1996, the
                        basic advisory fee may be increased or decreased by
                        applying an adjustment formula based on the investment
                        performance of the Global Asset Allocation Portfolio
                        relative to the theoretical Global Balanced Index which
                        is calculated as follows:
 
<TABLE>
                                <S>     <C>
                                60%     global stock investments
                                30%     global bond investments
                                10%     U.S. cash reserve investments
</TABLE>
 
                        The 60% global stock component is an adjusted
                        capitalization-weighted average of the established local
                        stock market index in each country. The 30% global bond
                        component is a capitalization-weighted average of the
                        country indices of the Salomon Brothers World Government
                        Bond Index. The U.S. cash reserve component is the bond
                        equivalent yield of the Federal Reserve's published
                        average offering rate on 30-day commercial paper. The
                        index is adjusted to reduce the exposure of foreign
                        currency fluctuations by hedging back into U.S. dollars
                        one half of the foreign currency exposure resulting from
                        equity holdings and all of the foreign currency exposure
                        resulting from the bond holdings. The countries included
                        in this index will be the U.S., Canada, the United
                        Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Japan, Australia and
                        Hong Kong (there will be no bond investments in Hong
                        Kong). The Global Balanced Index will be reviewed
                        semiannually and with approval of the Fund's Officers
                        may be changed to reflect additions or deletions of
                        countries from the advisor's mandate going forward.
 
                        The following table sets forth the incentive/penalty
                        adjustment to the basic advisory fee payable by the
                        Portfolio to Strategic Investment Management.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 CUMULATIVE 36-MONTH                      PERFORMANCE
                             PERFORMANCE VS. THE GLOBAL                       FEE
                                   BALANCED INDEX                         ADJUSTMENT*
                        -------------------------------------     ----------------------------
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
                        <S>                                      <C>
                        Less than -0.75%                               -0.75 X Base Fee
                        -0.75% to +2.25%                               -0.50 X Base Fee
                        Between +2.25% and +5.25%                      -0.25 X Base Fee
                        Between +5.25% and +8.25%                        0 X Base Fee
                        Between +8.25% and +11.25%                     0.25 X Base Fee
                        Between +11.25% and +14.25%                    0.50 X Base Fee
                        More than +14.25%                              0.75 X Base Fee

                        * For purposes of this calculation, the Base Fee represents the
                          annual rate used in calculating the base advisory fee over the
                          performance period multiplied by the average assets for the
                          performance period measured to calculate the incentive/penalty
                          adjustment.
</TABLE>
    
 
                        Under the rules of the Securities and Exchange
                        Commission, the incentive/penalty fee structure will not
                        be fully operable until the quarter ending October 31,
                        1998, and, until that date, will be calculated according
                        to certain transition rules. See the Statement of
                        Additional
 
                                       28
<PAGE>   32
 
                        Information for a detailed description of the
                        incentive/penalty fee schedule for SIM and the
                        applicable transition rules.
 
   
MARATHON-LONDON         The GLOBAL EQUITY PORTFOLIO is managed by Marathon Asset
SERVES AS ADVISER       Management Limited ("Marathon-London"), Orion House, 5
TO THE GLOBAL           Upper Street, Martin's Lane, London. Marathon-London was
EQUITY PORTFOLIO        founded in 1986 and provides asset management services
                        to companies, institutions, and individuals. As of
                        October 31, 1996, Marathon-London had more than $5.8
                        billion in assets under management.
    
 
                        The investment philosophy of Marathon-London is that the
                        best investment returns for equity portfolios are
                        primarily the result of careful, well-researched
                        industry and company evaluation rather than "top down"
                        country allocation decisions. Marathon-London's
                        portfolios therefore tend to exhibit regional weightings
                        within a range of 50% to 150% of the allocation
                        exhibited in broad market benchmarks, such as the
                        unmanaged All Country Index. Sector and stock weightings
                        may be expected to differ markedly from index
                        weightings. The firm uses a team approach with each of
                        the firm's three partners having the primary
                        responsibility for a specific region, e.g. Europe.
 
                        Jeremy J. Hosking, Director of Marathon-London, serves
                        as portfolio manager for the Global Equity Portfolio.
                        Mr. Hosking has been a Director of Marathon-London since
                        its founding in 1986. Previously, he was Director of
                        G.T. Capital Management, Inc., San Francisco with
                        responsibility for U.S. portfolio management and
                        international ERISA asset allocation. From 1981 to 1984
                        Mr. Hosking managed the GT ASEAN Fund and from 1979 to
                        1984 he co-managed the GT Far East General Fund.
 
                        The Global Equity Portfolio pays Marathon-London a basic
                        fee at the end of each fiscal quarter, calculated by
                        applying a quarterly rate, based on the following annual
                        percentage rates, to the average month-end assets of the
                        Portfolio for the quarter:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                
                                NET ASSETS                ANNUAL BASIC FEE RATE
                                ---------------------     ---------------------
                                <S>                       <C>
                                First $100 million                 0.45%
                                Next $150 million                  0.40%
                                Next $250 million                  0.25%
</TABLE>
 
                        Effective with the quarter ending October 31, 1996, the
                        basic advisory fee may be increased or decreased by
                        applying an adjustment formula based on the investment
                        performance of the Portfolio relative to the Morgan
                        Stanley Capital International (MSCI) All Country Index
                        as adjusted. The following table sets forth the
                        incentive/penalty adjustment to the basic advisory fee
                        payable by the Portfolio to Marathon-London
 
                                       29
<PAGE>   33
 
                        under the investment advisory agreement. The adjustments
                        to the fee change proportionately with performance
                        relative to the Index.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                         CUMULATIVE 36-MONTH NET
                               PERFORMANCE
                        DIFFERENTIAL VS. THE MSCI
                            ALL COUNTRY INDEX         PERFORMANCE FEE ADJUSTMENT*
                        --------------------------    ---------------------------
                        <S>                           <C>
                        Less than 3%                     -0.50 X Basic Fee
                        Between 3% and 6%                -0.25 X Basic Fee
                        Between 6% and 9%                  0 X Basic Fee
                        Between 9% and 12%               0.25 X Basic Fee
                        More than 12%                    0.50 X Basic Fee

                        * For purposes of this calculation, the Basic Fee is
                          calculated by applying the quarterly rate based on the
                          Annual Basic Fee Rate using average assets over the
                          same time period for which the performance is measured.
</TABLE>
    
 
                        Under rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission,
                        the incentive/ penalty fee adjustment will not be fully
                        operable until the quarter ending October 31, 1998, and
                        until that date, will be calculated according to certain
                        transition rules. A detailed description of the
                        incentive/penalty fee adjustment schedule for
                        Marathon-London and the applicable transition rules is
                        contained in the Statement of Additional Information.
 
                        The Fund has authorized Husic Capital Management,
                        Strategic Investment Management, and Marathon-London to
                        pay higher commissions in recognition of brokerage
                        services felt necessary for the achievement of better
                        execution, provided the investment adviser believes this
                        to be in the best interest of the Portfolio for which it
                        is responsible. Although the Portfolios do not market
                        their shares through intermediary brokers or dealers,
                        the Portfolios may place orders with qualified
                        broker-dealers who recommend the Portfolio to clients,
                        if the Officers of the Fund believe that the quality of
                        the transaction and the commission are comparable to
                        what they would be with other qualified brokerage firms.
 
                        The Fund's Board of Directors may, without the approval
                        of shareholders, provide for: (a) the employment of a
                        new investment adviser pursuant to the terms of a new
                        advisory agreement either as a replacement for an
                        existing adviser or as an additional adviser; (b) a
                        change in the terms of an advisory agreement; and (c)
                        the continued employment of an existing adviser on the
                        same advisory contract terms where a contract has been
                        assigned because of a change in control of the adviser.
                        Any such change will only be made upon not less than 30
                        days' prior written notice to shareholders of the Fund
                        which shall include substantially the information
                        concerning the adviser that would have normally been
                        included in a proxy statement. In the event that such
                        notice is given, the 1% redemption fee will be waived
                        for a period of 90 days.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       30
<PAGE>   34
 
DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL
GAINS AND TAXES         The Portfolios of the Fund are expected to pay dividends
                        annually from ordinary income. Net capital gains
                        distributions, if any, will also be made annually. In
                        addition, to satisfy certain distribution requirements
                        of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, the Fund may declare
                        special year-end dividend and capital gains
                        distributions during the month of December. Such
                        distributions, if received by shareholders by January
                        31, are deemed to have been paid by the Fund and
                        received by shareholders on December 31 of the prior
                        year.
 
                        Dividends and capital gains distributions may be
                        automatically reinvested or received in cash. See
                        "Choosing a Distribution Option" for a description of
                        these options.
 
                        The Fund intends to continue to qualify for taxation as
                        a "regulated investment company" under the Internal
                        Revenue Code so that it will not be subject to federal
                        income tax to the extent its income is distributed to
                        shareholders. Dividends paid by the Fund from net
                        investment income, whether received in cash or
                        reinvested in additional shares, will be taxable to
                        shareholders as ordinary income.
 
                        For corporate investors, dividends from net investment
                        income will generally qualify in part for the
                        intercorporate dividends-received deduction. However,
                        the portion of the dividends so qualified depends on the
                        aggregate taxable qualifying dividend income received by
                        the Fund from domestic (U.S.) sources.
 
                        Distributions paid by the Fund from long-term capital
                        gains, whether received in cash or reinvested in
                        additional shares, are taxable as long-term capital
                        gains, regardless of the length of time you have owned
                        shares in the Fund. Capital gains distributions are made
                        when the Fund realizes net capital gains on sales of
                        portfolio securities during the year. The Fund does not
                        seek to realize any particular amount of capital gains
                        during a year; rather, realized gains are a by-product
                        of portfolio management activities. Consequently,
                        capital gains distributions may be expected to vary
                        considerably from year to year; there will be no capital
                        gains distributions in years when the Fund realizes net
                        capital losses.
 
                        Note that if you elect to receive capital gains
                        distributions in cash, instead of reinvesting them in
                        additional shares, you are in effect reducing the
                        capital at work for you in the Fund. Also, keep in mind
                        that if you purchase shares in the Fund shortly before
                        the record date for a dividend or capital gains
                        distribution, a portion of your investment will be
                        returned to you as a taxable distribution, regardless of
                        whether you are reinvesting your distributions or
                        receiving them in cash.
 
   
                        The Fund will notify you annually as to the tax status
                        of its dividend and capital gains distributions.
    
 
                                       31

<PAGE>   35
 
THE GLOBAL ASSET
ALLOCATION AND
GLOBAL EQUITY
PORTFOLIOS MAY
"PASS THROUGH"
FOREIGN TAXES           The Global Asset Allocation and Global Equity Portfolios
                        may elect to "pass through" to the Portfolios'
                        shareholders the amount of foreign income taxes paid by
                        the Portfolio(s). The Portfolio(s) will make such an
                        election only if it deems it to be in the best interests
                        of its shareholders.
 
                        If this election is made, shareholders of the
                        Portfolio(s) will be required to include in their gross
                        income their pro rata share of foreign taxes paid by the
                        Portfolio. However, shareholders will be able to treat
                        their pro rata share of foreign taxes as either an
                        itemized deduction or a foreign tax credit against U.S.
                        income taxes (but not both) on their tax return.
 
A CAPITAL GAIN OR
LOSS MAY BE REALIZED
UPON EXCHANGE OR
REDEMPTION              A sale of shares of the Fund is a taxable event and may
                        result in a capital gain or loss. A capital gain or loss
                        may be realized from an ordinary redemption of shares or
                        an exchange of shares between two mutual funds (or two
                        portfolios of a mutual fund).
 
                        Dividend distributions, capital gains distributions, and
                        capital gains or losses from redemptions and exchanges
                        may be subject to state and local taxes.
 
                        The Fund is required to withhold 31% of taxable
                        dividends, capital gains distributions, and redemptions
                        paid to shareholders who have not complied with IRS
                        taxpayer identification regulations. You may avoid this
                        withholding requirement by certifying on your Account
                        Registration Form your proper Social Security or
                        Employer Identification number and by certifying that
                        you are not subject to backup withholding.
 
                        The Fund has obtained a Certificate of Authority to do
                        business as a foreign corporation in Pennsylvania and
                        does business and maintains an office in that state. In
                        the opinion of counsel, the shares of the Fund are
                        exempt from Pennsylvania personal property taxes.
 
                        The tax discussion set forth on the previous page is
                        included for general information only. Prospective
                        investors should consult their own tax advisers
                        concerning the tax consequences of an investment in the
                        Fund. The Fund is managed without regard to tax
                        ramifications.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
THE SHARE PRICE
OF EACH PORTFOLIO       Each Portfolio's share price or "net asset value" per
                        share is determined by dividing the total assets of the
                        Portfolio, less all liabilities, by the total number of
                        shares outstanding. The net asset value is calculated at
                        the close of regular trading (generally 4:00 p.m.
                        Eastern time) each day the New York Stock Exchange is
                        open for trading.
 
   
                        Portfolio securities that are listed on an exchange are
                        valued at the latest quoted sales price as of 4:00 p.m.
                        Eastern time on the valuation date. Securities not
                        traded on the valuation date are valued at the mean of
                        the latest quoted bid and ask price. Securities not
                        listed on an exchange are valued at the latest quoted
                        bid price. Short-term instruments (with remaining
                        maturities of 60 days or less) may be valued at cost,
                        plus or minus any amortized discount or premium, which
                        approximates market. All prices of listed securities are
                        taken from the exchange where the security is primarily
                        traded. Securities may be valued on the basis of
    
 
                                       32
<PAGE>   36
 
                        prices provided by a pricing service when such prices
                        are believed to reflect the fair market value of such
                        securities. The prices provided by a pricing service may
                        be determined without regard to bid or last sale prices
                        of each security but take into account institutional
                        size transactions in similar groups of securities as
                        well as any developments related to specific securities.
                        Other assets and securities for which market quotations
                        are not readily available or which are restricted as to
                        sale are valued by such methods as the Board of
                        Directors deems in good faith to reflect fair value.
 
   
                        All foreign securities are valued according to the
                        broadest and most representative market. Securities
                        listed on a foreign exchange, as well as American
                        Depository Receipts ("ADRs"), which are traded on U.S.
                        exchanges, are valued at the latest quoted sales price
                        available before the time when assets are valued.
                        Securities regularly traded in the over-the-counter
                        market for which market quotations are readily available
                        will be valued at the latest quoted bid price.
    
 
                        To help determine their respective daily share prices,
                        each of the Portfolios calculates the value of its
                        foreign securities in U.S. dollars. The Portfolios use
                        the daily exchange rate employed by Morgan Stanley
                        Capital International (MSCI) in the calculation of its
                        own indexes. MSCI determines this exchange rate either
                        before or after the close of a foreign securities
                        market. If MSCI's exchange rate is not available, the
                        Portfolios use a rate according to policies set by the
                        Fund's Board of Directors.
 
   
                        The Fund's price per share can be found daily in the
                        mutual fund section of most major newspapers under the
                        heading of Vanguard Group.
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
GENERAL
INFORMATION             Vanguard Horizon Fund, Inc. is a Maryland Corporation.
 
                        The authorized capital stock of the Fund consists of
                        1,000,000,000 shares at the par value of $.001 each. The
                        Board of Directors has the power to designate one or
                        more classes ("Portfolios") of shares of common stock
                        and to classify or reclassify any unissued shares with
                        respect to such Portfolios. Currently the Fund is
                        offering four classes of shares.
 
                        Annual meetings of shareholders will not be held except
                        as required by the Investment Company Act of 1940 and
                        other applicable law. An annual meeting will be held to
                        vote on the removal of a Director or Directors of the
                        Fund if requested in writing by the holders of not less
                        than 10% of the Fund.
 
                        The shares of the Funds are fully paid and
                        nonassessable; have no preferences as to conversion,
                        exchange, dividends, retirement or other features; and
                        have no preemptive rights. Such shares have
                        noncumulative voting rights, meaning that the holders of
                        more than 50% of the shares voting for the election of
                        Directors can elect 100% of the Directors if they so
                        choose.
 
                                       33
<PAGE>   37
 
                        All securities and cash are held for the Aggressive
                        Growth and Capital Opportunity Portfolios by State
                        Street Bank. For the Global Asset Allocation and Global
                        Equity Portfolios all securities and cash are held by
                        Morgan Stanley Trust Company. CoreStates Bank, N.A.,
                        holds daily cash balances that are used by the Funds'
                        Portfolios to invest in repurchase agreements or
                        securities acquired in these transactions. The Vanguard
                        Group, Inc., Valley Forge, PA, serves as the Fund's
                        Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent. Price Waterhouse
                        LLP serves as independent accountants for the Fund and
                        audits its financial statements annually. The Fund is
                        not involved in any litigation.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       34
<PAGE>   38
 
                               SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
 
OPENING AN
ACCOUNT AND
PURCHASING
SHARES                  You may open a regular (non-retirement) account, either
                        by mail or wire. Simply complete and return an Account
                        Registration Form and any required legal documentation,
                        indicating the amount you wish to invest. Your purchase
                        must be equal to or greater than the $3,000 minimum
                        initial investment requirement ($1,000 for Uniform
                        Gifts/Transfers to Minors Act accounts). You must open a
                        new Individual Retirement Account by mail (IRAs may not
                        be opened by wire) using a Vanguard IRA Adoption
                        Agreement. Your purchase must be equal to or greater
                        than the $1,000 minimum initial investment requirement,
                        but no more than $2,000 if you are making a regular IRA
                        contribution. Rollover contributions are generally
                        limited to the amount withdrawn within the past 60 days
                        from an IRA or other qualified Retirement Plan. If you
                        need assistance with the forms or have any questions
                        about this Fund, please call our Investor Information
                        Department at 1-800-662-7447. NOTE: For other types of
                        account registrations (e.g., corporations, associations,
                        other organizations, trusts or powers of attorney),
                        please call us to determine which additional forms you
                        may need.
 
                        The Portfolios' shares are purchased at the
                        next-determined net asset value after your investment
                        has been received. The Fund is offered on a no-load
                        basis (i.e., there are no sales commissions or 12b-1
                        fees).
 
   
PURCHASE
RESTRICTIONS            1) Because of the risks associated with common stock
                           investments, the Fund is intended to be a long-term
                           investment vehicle and is not designed to provide
                           investors with a means of speculating on short-term
                           stock market movements. Consequently, the Fund
                           reserves the right to reject any specific purchase
                           (and exchange purchase) request. The Fund also
                           reserves the right to suspend the offering of shares
                           for a period of time.
    
 
                        2) Vanguard will not accept third-party checks to
                           purchase shares of the Fund. Please be sure your
                           purchase check is made payable to The Vanguard Group.
 
IMPORTANT NOTE:
1% REDEMPTION FEE       Potential investors should note that a 1% redemption fee
                        is charged for the Portfolios. This fee, which is paid
                        directly to the Portfolios, applies to redemptions from
                        and exchanges from the Portfolios of shares held for
                        less than 5 years. In the event of an early redemption
                        due to a shareholder's death, all redemption fees will
                        be waived. In order to substantiate the death, a
                        certified copy of the death certificate must be
                        provided. Please see "Fund Expenses" for more
                        information.
 
ADDITIONAL
INVESTMENTS             Subsequent investments to regular accounts may be made
                        by mail ($100 minimum), wire ($1,000 minimum), exchange
                        from another Vanguard Fund account, or Vanguard Fund
                        Express. Subsequent investments to Individual Retirement
                        Accounts may be made by mail ($100 minimum) or exchange
                        from another Vanguard Fund Account. In some instances,
                        contributions may be made by wire or Vanguard Fund
                        Express. Please call us for more information on these
                        topics.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       35
<PAGE>   39
 
<TABLE>
<S>                       <C>                               <C>
                                                            ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS
                          NEW ACCOUNT                       TO EXISTING ACCOUNTS
PURCHASING BY MAIL        Please include the amount of      ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS SHOULD
                          your initial investment on        INCLUDE THE INVEST-BY-MAIL
Complete and sign the     the registration form, make       REMITTANCE FORM ATTACHED TO
enclosed Account          your check payable to The         YOUR FUND CONFIRMATION
Registration Form         Vanguard Group -- (Portfolio      STATEMENTS. PLEASE MAKE YOUR
                          Number) (see below for the        CHECK PAYABLE TO The Vanguard
                          appropriate Portfolio             Group -- (Portfolio Number)
                          number), and mail to:             (see below for the
                                                            appropriate Portfolio num-
                          VANGUARD FINANCIAL CENTER         ber), write your account
                          P.O. BOX 2600                     number on your check and,
                          VALLEY FORGE, PA 19482            using the return envelope
                                                            provided, mail to the address
                                                            indicated on the
                                                            Invest-by-Mail Form.
For express or            VANGUARD FINANCIAL CENTER         All written requests should
registered mail,          455 DEVON PARK DRIVE              be mailed to one of the
send to:                  WAYNE, PA 19087                   addresses indicated for new
                                                            accounts. Do not send
                                                            registered or express mail to
                                                            the post office box address.
</TABLE>
 
                                     VANGUARD HORIZON FUND PORTFOLIO NUMBERS
                                     Aggressive Growth Portfolio -- 114
                                     Capital Opportunity Portfolio -- 111
                                     Global Asset Allocation Portfolio -- 115
                                     Global Equity Portfolio -- 129
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PURCHASING BY WIRE                   CORESTATES BANK, N.A.
Money should be                      AB 031000011
wired to:                            CORESTATES NO. 01019897
                                     
BEFORE WIRING                        ATTN. VANGUARD
Please contact                       VANGUARD HORIZON FUND
Client Services                      ACCOUNT NUMBER
(1-800-662-2739)                     ACCOUNT REGISTRATION

                        To assure proper receipt, please be sure your bank
                        includes the name(s) of the Portfolio(s) selected, the
                        account number Vanguard has assigned to you and the
                        eight digit CoreStates number. If you are opening a new
                        account, please complete the Account Registration Form
                        and mail it to the "New Account" address above after
                        completing your wire arrangement. NOTE: Federal Funds
                        wire purchase orders will be accepted only when the Fund
                        and Custodian Bank are open for business.
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
PURCHASING BY
EXCHANGE (from a
Vanguard Account)
                        You may open a new account or purchase additional shares
                        by making an exchange from an existing Vanguard account.
                        However, the Fund reserves the right to refuse any
                        exchange purchase request. Call our
 
                                       36
<PAGE>   40
 
                        Client Services Department (1-800-662-2739) for
                        assistance. The new account will have the same
                        registration as the existing account.
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
PURCHASING BY
FUND EXPRESS
Special Purchase and
Automatic Investment    The Fund Express Special Purchase option lets you move
                        money from your bank account to your Vanguard account on
                        an "as needed" basis. Or if you choose the Automatic
                        Investment option, money will be moved automatically
                        from your bank account to your Vanguard account on the
                        schedule (monthly, bimonthly [every other month],
                        quarterly, semiannually, or annually) you select. To
                        establish these Fund Express options, please provide the
                        appropriate information on the Account Registration
                        Form. We will send you a confirmation of your Fund
                        Express service; please wait two weeks before using the
                        service.
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
CHOOSING A
DISTRIBUTION
OPTION
                        You must select one of three distribution options:
 
                        1. AUTOMATIC REINVESTMENT OPTION -- Both dividends and
                           capital gains distributions will be reinvested in
                           additional Portfolio shares. This option will be
                           selected for you automatically unless you specify one
                           of the other options.
 
                        2. CASH DIVIDEND OPTION -- Your dividends will be paid
                           in cash and your capital gains will be reinvested in
                           additional Portfolio shares.
 
   
                        3. ALL CASH OPTION -- Both dividends and capital gains
                           distributions will be paid in cash.
    
 
                        You may change your option by calling our Client
                        Services Department (1-800-662-2739).
 
                        In addition, an option to invest your cash dividends
                        and/or capital gains distributions in another Vanguard
                        Fund account is available. Please call our Client
                        Services Department (1-800-662-2739) for information.
                        You may also elect Vanguard Dividend Express which
                        allows you to transfer your cash dividends and/or
                        capital gains distributions automatically to your bank
                        account. Please see "Other Vanguard Services" for more
                        information.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
TAX CAUTION
INVESTORS SHOULD ASK
ABOUT THE TIMING OF
CAPITAL GAINS AND
DIVIDEND DISTRIBUTIONS
BEFORE INVESTING
                        Under Federal tax laws, the Fund is required to
                        distribute net capital gains and dividend income to
                        Portfolio shareholders. These distributions are made to
                        all shareholders who own Portfolio shares as of the
                        distribution's record date, regardless of how long the
                        shares have been owned. Purchasing shares just prior to
                        the record date could have a significant impact on your
                        tax liability for the year. For example, if you purchase
                        shares immediately prior to the record date of a sizable
                        capital gain or income dividend distribution, you will
                        be assessed taxes on the amount of the capital gain
                        and/or dividend distribution later paid even though you
                        owned the Portfolio shares for just a short period of
                        time. (Taxes are due on the distributions even if the
                        dividend or gain is reinvested in additional Portfolio
                        shares.) While the total value of your investment will
                        be the same after the distribution -- the amount of the
                        distribution will offset the drop in the net asset value
                        of the shares --
 
                                       37
<PAGE>   41
 
                        you should be aware of the tax implications that the
                        timing of your purchase may have.
 
                        Prospective investors should, therefore, inquire about
                        potential distributions before investing. The Fund's
                        annual capital gains distribution, as well as any
                        dividend distribution, is paid in December. For
                        additional information on distributions and taxes, see
                        the section entitled "Dividends, Capital Gains and
                        Taxes."
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
IMPORTANT
ACCOUNT
INFORMATION
OPTIONAL SERVICES
                        The easiest way to establish optional Vanguard services
                        on your account is to select the options you desire when
                        you complete your Account Registration Form. If you wish
                        to establish additional shareholder options for your
                        account at a later date, you may need to provide
                        Vanguard with additional information and a signature
                        guarantee. Please call our Client Services Department
                        (1-800-662-2739) for further assistance.
 
SIGNATURE
GUARANTEES
                        For our mutual protection, we may require a signature
                        guarantee on certain written transaction requests. A
                        signature guarantee verifies the authenticity of your
                        signature and may be obtained from banks, brokers and
                        any other guarantor that Vanguard deems acceptable. A
                        SIGNATURE GUARANTEE CANNOT BE PROVIDED BY A NOTARY
                        PUBLIC.
 
CERTIFICATES
                        Share certificates will not be available for the Fund.
 
BROKER/DEALER
PURCHASES
                        If you purchase shares in Vanguard Funds through a
                        registered broker-dealer or investment adviser, the
                        broker-dealer or adviser may charge a service fee.
 
CANCELING TRADES
                        The Fund will not cancel any trade (e.g., purchase,
                        redemption or exchange) believed to be authentic,
                        received in writing or by telephone, once the trade
                        request has been received.
 
   
ELECTRONIC
PROSPECTUS
DELIVERY
                        You may receive a prospectus for the Fund or any of the
                        Vanguard Funds in an electronic format. Please call
                        1-800-231-7870 for additional information or see "Other
                        Vanguard Services -- Computer Access." You may also
                        receive a paper copy of the prospectus, by calling
                        1-800-662-7447.
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
WHEN YOUR
ACCOUNT WILL
BE CREDITED             Your Trade Date is the date on which your account is
                        credited. If your purchase is made by check, Federal
                        Funds wire, or exchange, and is received by the regular
                        close of the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4:00
                        p.m. Eastern time), your trade date is the day of
                        receipt. If your purchase is received after the close of
                        the Exchange, your trade date is the next business day.
                        Your shares are purchased at the net asset value
                        determined on your trade date.
 
                        In order to prevent lengthy processing delays caused by
                        the clearing of foreign checks, Vanguard will only
                        accept a foreign check which has been drawn in U.S.
                        dollars and has been issued by a foreign bank with a
                        U.S. correspondent bank. The name of the U.S.
                        correspondent bank must be printed on the face of the
                        foreign check.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       38
<PAGE>   42
 
SELLING YOUR
SHARES
                        You may withdraw any portion of the funds in your
                        account by redeeming shares at any time (see "Important
                        Redemption Information"). You generally may initiate a
                        request by writing or by telephoning. Your redemption
                        proceeds are normally mailed within two business days
                        after the receipt of the request in Good Order.
 
                        IMPORTANT NOTE: For investors in the Fund, a redemption
                        fee equaling 1% of the value of the shares redeemed will
                        be deducted from the redemption proceeds if shares held
                        for less than 5 years are redeemed. This fee is paid
                        directly to the Portfolio.
 
SELLING BY MAIL
                        Requests should be mailed to VANGUARD FINANCIAL CENTER,
                        VANGUARD HORIZON FUND, P.O. BOX 1120, VALLEY FORGE, PA
                        19482. (For express or registered mail, send your
                        request to Vanguard Financial Center, Vanguard Horizon
                        Fund, 455 Devon Park Drive, Wayne, PA 19087.)
 
                        The redemption price of shares will be the Fund's net
                        asset value next determined after Vanguard has received
                        all required documents in Good Order.
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
DEFINITION OF
GOOD ORDER
                        GOOD ORDER means that the request includes the
                        following:
 
                        1. The account number and Portfolio name.
                        2. The amount of the transaction (specified in dollars
                        or shares).
                        3. Signatures of all owners EXACTLY as they are
                           registered on the account.
                        4. Any required signature guarantees.
                        5. Other supporting legal documentation that might be
                           required in the case of estates, corporations,
                           trusts, and certain other accounts.
 
                        IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS DEFINITION AS IT
                        PERTAINS TO YOUR REQUEST, PLEASE CALL OUR CLIENT
                        SERVICES DEPARTMENT AT 1-800-662-2739.
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
SELLING BY
TELEPHONE
                        To sell shares by telephone, you or your pre-authorized
                        representative may call our Client Services Department
                        at 1-800-662-2739. The proceeds will be sent to you by
                        mail. PLEASE NOTE: As a protection against fraud, your
                        telephone mail redemption privilege will be suspended
                        for 15 calendar days following any expedited address
                        change to your account. An expedited address change is
                        one that is made by telephone, by Vanguard Online, or,
                        in writing, without the signatures of all account
                        owners. Please see "Important Information About
                        Telephone Transactions."
    
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
SELLING BY FUND
EXPRESS
Automatic Withdrawal
& Special Redemption    If you select the Fund Express Automatic Withdrawal
                        option, money will be automatically moved from your
                        Vanguard Fund account to your bank account according to
                        the schedule you have selected. The Special Redemption
                        option lets you move money from your Vanguard account to
                        your bank account on an "as needed" basis. To establish
                        these Fund Express options, please provide the
                        appropriate information on the Account Registration
                        Form. We will send you a confirmation of your Fund
                        Express service; please wait two weeks before using the
                        service.
    
 
                                       39
<PAGE>   43
 
   
                        The redemption fee described on pages 35 and 39 applies
                        to redemption by Fund Express.
    
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
SELLING BY EXCHANGE     You may sell shares of the Fund by making an exchange
                        into another Vanguard Fund account.
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
IMPORTANT
REDEMPTION
INFORMATION
                        Shares purchased by check or Fund Express may be
                        redeemed at any time. However, your redemption proceeds
                        will be held at Vanguard until payment for the purchase
                        is collected, which may take up to ten calendar days.
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
DELIVERY OF
REDEMPTION
PROCEEDS
                        Redemption requests received by telephone prior to the
                        regular close of the New York Stock Exchange (generally
                        4:00 p.m. Eastern time), are processed on the day of
                        receipt and the redemption proceeds are normally sent on
                        the following business day.
 
                        Redemption requests received by telephone after the
                        close of the Exchange are processed on the business day
                        following receipt and the proceeds are normally sent on
                        the second business day following receipt.
 
   
                        All unpaid dividend and capital gains distributions
                        credited to your account up to the date of redemption
                        will be included in the redemption check. Redemption
                        proceeds must be sent to you within seven days of
                        receipt of your request in Good Order, except as
                        described above in "Important Redemption Information."
    
 
                        If you experience difficulty in making a telephone
                        redemption during periods of drastic economic or market
                        changes, your redemption request may be made by regular
                        or express mail. It will be implemented at the net asset
                        value next determined after your request has been
                        received by Vanguard in Good Order. The Fund reserves
                        the right to revise or terminate the telephone
                        redemption privilege at any time.
 
                        The Fund may suspend the redemption right to postpone
                        payments at times when the New York Stock Exchange is
                        closed, or under any emergency circumstances as
                        determined by the United States Securities and Exchange
                        Commission.
 
                        If the Board of Directors determines that it would be
                        detrimental to the best interests of the Fund's
                        remaining shareholders to make payment in cash, the Fund
                        may pay redemption proceeds in whole or in part by a
                        distribution in kind of readily marketable securities.
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
VANGUARD'S AVERAGE
COST STATEMENT
                        If you make a redemption from a qualifying account,
                        Vanguard will send you an Average Cost Statement which
                        provides you with the cost and tax basis of the shares
                        you redeemed. Please see "Statements and Reports" for
                        additional information.
    
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
LOW BALANCE FEE AND
MINIMUM ACCOUNT
BALANCE REQUIREMENT     Due to the relatively high cost of maintaining smaller
                        accounts, the Fund will automatically deduct a $10
                        annual fee from non-retirement accounts with balances
                        falling below $2,500 ($500 for Uniform
    
 
                                       40
<PAGE>   44
 
   
                        Gifts/Transfers to Minors Act accounts). This fee
                        deduction will occur mid-year. The fee generally will be
                        waived for investors whose aggregate Vanguard assets
                        exceed $50,000.
    
 
                        In addition, the Fund reserves the right to liquidate
                        any non-retirement account that is below the minimum
                        initial investment amount of $3,000. If at any time your
                        total investment does not have a value of at least
                        $3,000, you may be notified that your account is below
                        the Fund's minimum account balance requirement. You
                        would then be allowed 60 days to make an additional
                        investment before the account is liquidated. Proceeds
                        would be promptly paid to the registered shareholder.
 
                        Vanguard will not liquidate your account if it has
                        fallen below $3,000 solely as a result of declining
                        markets (i.e., a decline in a Portfolio's net asset
                        value).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
EXCHANGING
YOUR SHARES             Should your investment goals change, you may exchange
                        your shares of Vanguard Horizon Fund for those of other
                        available Vanguard Funds.
 
                        IMPORTANT NOTE: For investors in the Fund, a redemption
                        fee amounting to 1% of the value of the shares exchanged
                        will be deducted from the exchange proceeds if shares
                        held for less than 5 years are exchanged. This fee is
                        paid directly to the Portfolio.
 
   
EXCHANGE BY
TELEPHONE
Call Client Services
(1-800-662-2739)
                        When exchanging shares by telephone, please have ready
                        the Fund name, account number, Social Security number or
                        Employer Identification number listed on the account and
                        exact name and address in which the account is
                        registered. Only the registered shareholder may complete
                        such an exchange. Requests for telephone exchanges
                        received prior to the close of trading on the New York
                        Stock Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) are
                        processed at the close of business that same day.
                        Requests received after the close of the Exchange are
                        processed the next business day. TELEPHONE EXCHANGES ARE
                        NOT ACCEPTED INTO OR FROM NON-RETIREMENT INVESTMENTS IN
                        VANGUARD BALANCED INDEX FUND, VANGUARD INDEX TRUST,
                        VANGUARD INTERNATIONAL EQUITY INDEX FUND, VANGUARD REIT
                        INDEX PORTFOLIO AND VANGUARD QUANTITATIVE PORTFOLIOS. If
                        you experience difficulty in making a telephone
                        exchange, your exchange request may be made by regular
                        or express mail, and it will be implemented at the
                        closing net asset value on the date received by Vanguard
                        provided the request is received in Good Order.
    
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
EXCHANGING BY MAIL      Please be sure to include on your exchange request the
                        name and account number of your current Fund, and the
                        name of the Fund you wish to exchange into, the amount
                        you wish to exchange, and the signatures of all
                        registered account holders. Send your request to
                        VANGUARD FINANCIAL CENTER, VANGUARD HORIZON FUND, P.O.
                        BOX 1120, VALLEY FORGE, PA 19482. (For express or
                        registered mail, send your requests to Vanguard
                        Financial Center, Vanguard Horizon Fund, 455 Devon Park
                        Drive, Wayne, PA 19087.)
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       41
<PAGE>   45
 
IMPORTANT EXCHANGE
INFORMATION
                        Before you make an exchange, you should consider the
                        following:
 
                        - Please read the Fund's prospectus before making an
                          exchange. For a copy of the prospectus and for answers
                          to any questions you may have, call our Investor
                          Information Department (1-800-662-7447).
                        - An exchange is treated as a redemption from one fund
                          and a purchase into another. Therefore, you could
                          realize a taxable gain or loss on the transaction.
   
                        - Exchanges are accepted only if the registrations and
                          the taxpayer identification numbers of the two
                          accounts are identical.
    
   
                        - New accounts are not currently accepted in
                          Vanguard/Windsor Fund.
    
                        - The shares to be exchanged must be on deposit and not
                          held in certificate form.
                        - The redemption fee described on pages 35 and 41
                          applies to exchange redemptions.
 
                        Every effort will be made to maintain the exchange
                        privilege. However, the Fund reserves the right to
                        revise or terminate its provisions, limit the amount of
                        or reject any exchange, as deemed necessary, at any
                        time.
 
                        The exchange privilege is only available in states in
                        which the shares of the Fund are registered for sale.
                        The Fund's shares are currently registered for sale in
                        all 50 states and the Fund intends to maintain such
                        registration.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
EXCHANGE
PRIVILEGE
LIMITATIONS             The Fund's exchange privilege is not intended to afford
                        shareholders a way to speculate on short-term movements
                        in the market. Accordingly, in order to prevent
                        excessive use of the exchange privilege that may
                        potentially disrupt the management of the Fund and
                        increase transaction costs, the Fund has established a
                        policy of limiting excessive exchange activity.
 
                        Exchange activity generally will not be deemed excessive
                        if limited to TWO SUBSTANTIVE EXCHANGE REDEMPTIONS (AT
                        LEAST 30 DAYS APART) from the Fund during any twelve
                        month period. Notwithstanding these limitations, the
                        Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase request
                        (including purchases from other Vanguard portfolios)
                        that is reasonably deemed to be disruptive to efficient
                        portfolio management.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
IMPORTANT
INFORMATION
ABOUT TELEPHONE
TRANSACTIONS            The ability to initiate redemptions (except wire
                        redemptions) and exchanges by telephone is automatically
                        established on your account unless you request in
                        writing that telephone transactions on your account not
                        be permitted.
 
                        To protect your account from losses resulting from
                        unauthorized or fraudulent telephone instructions,
                        Vanguard adheres to the following security procedures:
 
                        1. SECURITY CHECK. To request a transaction by
                           telephone, the caller must know (i) the name of the
                           Portfolio; (ii) the 10-digit account number; (iii)
                           the exact name and address used in the registration;
                           and
 
                                       42
<PAGE>   46
 
   
                           (iv) the Social Security or employer identification
                           number listed on the account.
    
 
                        2. PAYMENT POLICY. The proceeds of any telephone
                           redemption made by mail will be payable to the
                           registered shareowner and mailed to the address of
                           record, only.
 
   
                        Neither the Fund nor Vanguard will be responsible for
                        the authenticity of transaction instructions received by
                        telephone, provided that reasonable security procedures
                        have been followed. Vanguard believes that the security
                        procedures described above are reasonable, and that if
                        such procedures are followed, you will bear the risk of
                        any losses resulting from unauthorized or fraudulent
                        telephone transactions on your account.
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
TRANSFERRING
REGISTRATION            You may transfer the registration of any of your Fund
                        shares to another person by completing a transfer form
                        and sending it to: VANGUARD FINANCIAL CENTER, P.O. BOX
                        1110, VALLEY FORGE, PA 19482. The request must be in
                        Good Order. BEFORE MAILING YOUR REQUEST, PLEASE CALL OUR
                        CLIENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT (1-800-662-2739) FOR FURTHER
                        INSTRUCTIONS.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
STATEMENTS AND
REPORTS
                        Vanguard will send you a confirmation statement each
                        time you initiate a transaction in your account (except
                        for checkwriting redemptions from Vanguard money market
                        accounts). You will also receive a comprehensive account
                        statement at the end of each calendar quarter. The
                        fourth-quarter statement will be a year-end statement,
                        listing all transaction activity for the entire calendar
                        year.
 
   
                        Vanguard's Average Cost Statement provides you with the
                        average cost of shares redeemed from your account during
                        the calendar year, using the average cost single
                        category method. This service is available for most
                        taxable accounts opened since January 1, 1986. In
                        general, investors who redeemed shares from a qualifying
                        Vanguard account may expect to receive their Average
                        Cost Statement along with their Portfolio Summary
                        Statement. Please call our Client Services Department
                        (1-800-662-2739) for information.
    
 
                        Financial reports on the Fund will be mailed to you
                        semi-annually, according to the Fund's fiscal year-end.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
OTHER VANGUARD
SERVICES
                        For more information about any of these services, please
                        call our Investor Information Department at
                        (1-800-662-7447).
 
VANGUARD DIRECT
DEPOSIT SERVICE
                        With Vanguard's Direct Deposit Service, most U.S.
                        Government checks (including Social Security and
                        military pension checks) and private payroll checks may
                        be automatically deposited into your Vanguard Fund
                        account. Separate brochures and forms are available for
                        direct deposit of U.S. Government and private payroll
                        checks.
 
VANGUARD AUTOMATIC
EXCHANGE SERVICE        Vanguard's Automatic Exchange Service allows you to move
                        money automatically among your Vanguard Fund accounts.
                        For instance, the service can be used to "dollar cost
                        average" from a money market
 
                                       43
<PAGE>   47
 
                        portfolio into a stock or bond fund or to contribute to
                        an IRA or other retirement plan. Please contact our
                        Client Services Department at 1-800-662-2739 for
                        additional information.
 
VANGUARD FUND
EXPRESS
                        Vanguard's Fund Express allows you to transfer money
                        between your Fund account and your account at a bank,
                        savings and loan association, or a credit union that is
                        a member of the Automated Clearing House (ACH) system.
                        You may elect this service on the Account Registration
                        Form or call our Investor Information Department
                        (1-800-662-7447) for a Fund Express application.
 
                        Special rules govern how your Fund Express purchases or
                        redemptions are credited to your account. In addition,
                        some services of Fund Express cannot be used with
                        specific Vanguard Funds. For more information please
                        refer to the Vanguard Fund Express brochure.
 
VANGUARD DIVIDEND
EXPRESS
                        Vanguard's Dividend Express allows you to transfer your
                        dividend and/or capital gains distribution automatically
                        from your Fund account, one business day after the
                        Fund's payable date, to your account at a bank, savings
                        and loan association, or a credit union that is a member
                        of the Automatic Clearing House (ACH) system. You may
                        elect this service on the Account Registration Form or
                        call our Investor Information Department
                        (1-800-662-7447) for a Vanguard Dividend Express
                        application.
 
   
VANGUARD
TELE-ACCOUNT
                        Vanguard's Tele-Account is a convenient, automated
                        service that provides share price, price change and
                        yield quotations on Vanguard Funds through any Touch
                        Tone(TM) telephone. This service also lets you obtain
                        information on your account balance, last transaction,
                        and your most recent dividend or capital gains payment.
                        In addition, you may perform investment exchanges of
                        Vanguard Fund shares and redemptions by check using
                        Tele-Account. To contact Vanguard's Tele-Account
                        service, dial 1-800-ON-BOARD (1-800-662-6273). A
                        brochure offering detailed operating instructions is
                        available from the Investor Information Department
                        (1-800-662-7447).
    
 
   
COMPUTER ACCESS
    
 
   
VANGUARD ONLINE
KEYWORD: VANGUARD       Vanguard Online allows you to obtain information via
                        your personal computer on Fund share price, yield, and
                        total return. Vanguard Online is offered through America
                        Online (AOL). To establish an AOL account, call
                        1-800-238-6336.
    
 
   
VANGUARD ON THE
WORLD WIDE WEB
HTTP://WWW.VANGUARD.COM
                        Vanguard sponsors an education-oriented website offering
                        news and information about Vanguard Funds and services,
                        as well as interactive, easy-to-use investment planning
                        tools.
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       44
<PAGE>   48
                     [THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]
<PAGE>   49
 
                     [THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]
 
<PAGE>   50
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>              <C>                                    <C>
                 [VANGUARD HORIZON FUND LOGO]
                 ----------------------------
                 THE VANGUARD GROUP
                 Vanguard Financial Center
                 P.O. Box 2600
                 Valley Forge, PA 19482
                 INVESTOR INFORMATION
                 DEPARTMENT:
                 1-800-662-7447 (SHIP)
                 CLIENT SERVICES
                 DEPARTMENT:
                 1-800-662-2739 (CREW)
                 TELE-ACCOUNT FOR
                 24-HOUR ACCESS:
                 1-800-662-6273 (ON-BOARD)
                 TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICE
                 FOR THE HEARING-IMPAIRED:
                 1-800-662-2738
                 TRANSFER AGENT:
                 The Vanguard Group, Inc.
                 Vanguard Financial Center
                 Valley Forge, PA 19482
      P069
</TABLE>
    
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   51
 
                                     PART B
 
                          VANGUARD HORIZON FUND, INC.
 
                      STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
   
                               FEBRUARY 21, 1997
    
 
   
     This Statement is not a prospectus but should be read in conjunction with
the Fund's current Prospectus, dated February 21, 1997. To obtain the Prospectus
please call the Investor Information Department:
    
 
                                 1-800-662-7447
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                            PAGE
                                                                                            ----
<S>                                                                                         <C>
Investment Objectives and Policies........................................................     1
Investment Policies.......................................................................     2
Investment Limitations....................................................................     5
Management of the Fund....................................................................     7
Investment Advisory Services..............................................................    10
Securities Transactions...................................................................    14
Purchase of Shares........................................................................    15
Redemption of Shares......................................................................    15
Comparative Indexes.......................................................................    15
Financial Statements......................................................................    17
</TABLE>
 
                       INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES
 
     The following policies supplement the Fund's investment objectives and
policies set forth in the Prospectus.
 
   
     FOREIGN INVESTMENTS  As indicated in the Prospectus, the Global Equity,
Global Asset Allocation and Capital Opportunity Portfolios will include foreign
securities. The Aggressive Growth Portfolio's investment in foreign securities
will be minimal. Investors should recognize that investing in foreign companies
involves certain special considerations which are not typically associated with
investing in U.S. companies. Since the stocks of foreign companies are
frequently denominated in foreign currencies, and since the Portfolios may
temporarily hold uninvested reserves in bank deposits in foreign currencies, the
Portfolios will be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency
rates and in exchange control regulations, and may incur costs in connection
with conversions between various currencies. The investment policies of each
Portfolio permit each Portfolio to enter into forward foreign currency exchange
contracts in order to hedge its Portfolio's holdings and commitments against
changes in the level of future currency rates. Such contracts involve an
obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date at a price
set at the time of the contract. The Global Equity Portfolio will not commit
more than 20% of its assets to such contracts. However, although the Portfolio
does not intend to do so, under unusual circumstances it is possible that 100%
of the assets of the Global Asset Allocation Portfolio would be committed to
forward foreign currency exchange contracts.
    
 
     As foreign companies are not generally subject to uniform accounting,
auditing and financial reporting standards and practices comparable to those
applicable to domestic companies, there may be less publicly available
information about certain foreign companies than about domestic companies.
Securities of some foreign companies are generally less liquid and more volatile
than securities of comparable domestic companies. There is generally less
government supervision and regulation of stock exchanges, brokers and listed
companies than in the U.S. In addition, with respect to certain foreign
countries, there is the possibility of expropriation or confiscatory taxation,
political or social instability, or diplomatic developments which could affect
U.S investments in those countries.
 
                                        1
<PAGE>   52
 
   
     Although the Portfolios will endeavor to achieve the most favorable
execution costs in their portfolio transactions in foreign securities, fixed
commissions on many foreign stock exchanges are generally higher than negotiated
commissions on U.S. exchanges. In addition, it is expected that the expenses for
custodial arrangements of the Portfolios' foreign securities will be somewhat
greater than the expenses for the custodial arrangements for handling U.S.
securities of equal value.
    
 
     Certain foreign governments levy withholding taxes against dividend and
interest income. Although in some countries a portion of these taxes is
recoverable, the non-recovered portion of foreign withholding taxes will reduce
the income the Portfolio receives from its foreign investments. However, these
foreign withholding taxes are not expected to have a significant impact on the
Portfolios, since each Portfolio's investment objective is to seek long-term
capital appreciation and any income should be considered incidental.
 
     PORTFOLIO TURNOVER  While the rate of portfolio turnover is not a limiting
factor when management deems changes appropriate, it is anticipated that each
Portfolio's annual portfolio turnover rate will not normally exceed 200%. A
portfolio turnover rate of 100% would occur if all of the Portfolio's
securities, exclusive of U.S. Government securities and other securities whose
maturities at the time of acquisition are one year or less, are replaced in the
period of one year. Turnover rates may vary greatly from year to year as well as
within a particular year and may also be affected by cash requirements for
redemptions of each Portfolio's shares and by requirements which enable the Fund
to receive certain favorable tax treatments. The portfolio turnover rates will,
of course, depend in large part on the level of purchases and redemptions of
shares of each Portfolio. Higher portfolio turnover can result in corresponding
increases in brokerage costs to the Portfolios of the Fund and their
shareholders.
 
                              INVESTMENT POLICIES
 
     FUTURES CONTRACTS  Each Portfolio may enter into futures contracts,
options, and options on futures contracts for several reasons: to maintain cash
reserves while remaining fully invested, to facilitate trading, to reduce
transaction costs, or to seek higher investment returns when a futures contract
is priced more attractively than the underlying equity security or index.
Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by
another party of a specified amount of a specific security at a specified future
time and at a specified price. Futures contracts which are standardized as to
maturity date and underlying financial instrument are traded on national futures
exchanges. Futures exchanges and trading are regulated under the Commodity
Exchange Act by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC"), a U.S.
Government Agency.
 
     Although futures contracts by their terms call for actual delivery or
acceptance of the underlying securities, in most cases the contracts are closed
out before the settlement date without the making or taking of delivery. Closing
out an open futures position is done by taking an opposite position ("buying" a
contract which has previously been "sold," or "selling" a contract previously
purchased) in an identical contract to terminate the position. Brokerage
commissions are incurred when a futures contract is bought or sold.
 
     Futures traders are required to make a good faith margin deposit in cash or
government securities with a broker or custodian to initiate and maintain open
positions in futures contracts. The Fund's margin deposits will be placed in a
segregated account maintained by the Fund's custodian bank. A margin deposit is
intended to assure completion of the contract (delivery or acceptance of the
underlying security) if it is not terminated prior to the specified delivery
date. Minimal initial margin requirements are established by the futures
exchange and may be changed. Brokers may establish deposit requirements which
are higher than the exchange minimums. Futures contracts are customarily
purchased and sold on margin which may range upward from less than 5% of the
value of the contract being traded.
 
     After a futures contract position is opened, the value of the contract is
marked to market daily. If the futures contract price changes to the extent that
the margin on deposit does not satisfy margin requirements, payment of
additional "variation" margin will be required. Conversely, change in the
contract value may reduce the required margin, resulting in a repayment of
excess margin to the contract holder. Variation margin payments are made to and
from the futures broker for as long as the contract remains open. The Fund
expects to earn interest income on its margin deposits.
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   53
 
     Traders in futures contracts may be broadly classified as either "hedgers"
or "speculators." Hedgers use the futures markets primarily to offset
unfavorable changes in the value of securities otherwise held for investment
purposes or expected to be acquired by them. Speculators are less inclined to
own the securities underlying the futures contracts which they trade, and use
futures contracts with the expectation of realizing profits from fluctuations in
the prices of underlying securities.
 
     Although techniques other than the sale and purchase of futures contracts
could be used to control a Portfolio's exposure to market fluctuations, the use
of futures contracts may be a more effective means of hedging this exposure.
While a Portfolio will incur commission expenses in both opening and closing out
futures positions, these costs are lower than transaction costs incurred in the
purchase and sale of the underlying securities.
 
     RESTRICTIONS ON THE USE OF FUTURES CONTRACTS  A Portfolio will not enter
into futures contract transactions to the extent that, immediately thereafter,
the sum of its initial margin deposits on open contracts exceeds 5% (15% with
respect to the Global Asset Allocation Portfolio) of the market value of its
total assets. In addition, a Portfolio will not enter into futures contracts to
the extent that its outstanding obligations to purchase securities under these
contracts would exceed 20% of its total assets (50% with respect to the Global
Asset Allocation Portfolio).
 
     RISK FACTORS IN FUTURES TRANSACTIONS  Positions in futures contracts may be
closed out only on an Exchange which provides a secondary market for such
futures. However, there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will
exist for any particular futures contract at any specific time. Thus, it may not
be possible to close a futures position. In the event of adverse price
movements, a Portfolio would continue to be required to make daily cash payments
to maintain its required margin. In such situations, if the Portfolio has
insufficient cash, it may have to sell portfolio securities to meet daily margin
requirements at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. In addition, a
Portfolio may be required to make delivery of the instruments underlying futures
contracts it holds. The inability to close options and futures positions also
could have an adverse impact on the ability to effectively hedge.
 
     The risk of loss in trading futures contracts in some strategies can be
substantial, due both to the low margin deposits required, and the extremely
high degree of leverage involved in futures pricing. As a result, a relatively
small price movement in a futures contract may result in immediate and
substantial loss (as well as gain) to the investor. For example, if at the time
of purchase, 10% of the value of the futures contract is deposited as margin, a
subsequent 10% decrease in the value of the futures contract would result in a
total loss of the margin deposit, before any deduction for the transaction
costs, if the account were then closed out. A 15% decrease would result in a
loss equal to 150% of the original margin deposit if the contract were closed
out. Thus, a purchase or sale of a futures contract may result in losses in
excess of the amount invested in the contract. However, because the futures
strategies of the Fund are engaged in only for hedging purposes, the Adviser
does not believe that the Portfolios are subject to the risks of loss frequently
associated with futures transactions. A Portfolio would presumably have
sustained comparable losses if, instead of the futures contract, it had invested
in the underlying financial instrument and sold it after the decline. Futures
and options are derivative instruments, in that their value is derived from the
value of another security. Equity futures contracts and index put options may be
used by the Portfolio advisers of the Global Asset Allocation Portfolio and the
Capital Opportunity Portfolio, respectively. By doing so, the Portfolio's
advisers will expose investors to risks inherent in these commonly used
strategies.
 
     Utilization of futures transactions by a Portfolio does involve the risk of
imperfect or no correlation where the securities underlying futures contracts
have different maturities than the portfolio securities being hedged. It is also
possible that a Portfolio could both lose money on futures contracts and also
experience a decline in value of its portfolio securities. There is also the
risk of loss by a Portfolio of margin deposits in the event of bankruptcy of a
broker with whom the Portfolio has an open position in a futures contract or
related option. Additionally, investments in futures contracts and options
involve the risk that the investment advisers will incorrectly predict stock
market and interest rate trends.
 
     Most futures exchanges limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in futures
contract prices during a single trading day. The daily limit establishes the
maximum amount that the price of a futures contract may vary
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   54
 
either up or down from the previous day's settlement price at the end of a
trading session. Once the daily limit has been reached in a particular type of
contract, no trades may be made on that day at a price beyond that limit. The
daily limit governs only price movement during a particular trading day and
therefore does not limit potential losses, because the limit may prevent the
liquidation of unfavorable positions. Futures contract prices have occasionally
moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no
trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of future positions and
subjecting some futures traders to substantial losses.
 
     FEDERAL TAX TREATMENT OF FUTURES CONTRACTS  Except for transactions the
Fund has identified as hedging transactions, each Portfolio is required for
Federal income tax purposes to recognize as income for each taxable year its net
unrealized gains and losses on certain futures contracts as of the end of the
year as well as those actually realized during the year. In most cases, any gain
or loss recognized with respect to a futures contract is considered to be 60%
long-term capital gain or loss and 40% short-term capital gain or loss, without
regard to the holding period of the contract. Furthermore, sales of futures
contracts which are intended to hedge against a change in the value of
securities held by a Portfolio may affect the holding period of such securities
and, consequently, the nature of the gain or loss on such securities upon
disposition.
 
     In order for a Portfolio to continue to qualify for Federal income tax
treatment as a regulated investment company, at least 90% of its gross income
for a taxable year must be derived from qualifying income; i.e., dividends,
interest, income derived from loans of securities, gains from the sale of
securities or foreign currencies or other income derived with respect to the
Fund's business of investing in securities. In addition, gains realized on the
sale or other disposition of securities held for less than three months must be
limited to less than 30% of the Portfolio's annual gross income. It is
anticipated that any net gain realized from the closing out of futures contracts
will be considered gain from the sale of securities and therefore be qualifying
income for purposes of the 90% requirement. In order to avoid realizing
excessive gains on securities held less than three months, the Portfolio may be
required to defer the closing out of futures contracts beyond the time when it
would otherwise be advantageous to do so. It is anticipated that unrealized
gains on futures contracts, which have been open for less than three months as
of the end of the Portfolio's fiscal year and which are recognized for tax
purposes, will not be considered gains on sales of securities held less than
three months for the purpose of the 30% test.
 
     A Portfolio will distribute to shareholders annually any net capital gains
which have been recognized for Federal income tax purposes (including unrealized
gains at the end of the Fund's fiscal year) on futures transactions. Such
distributions will be combined with distributions of capital gains realized on
the Portfolio's other investments and shareholders will be advised on the nature
of the transactions.
 
   
     REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS  Each Portfolio may invest in repurchase agreements
with commercial banks, brokers or dealers either for defensive purposes due to
market conditions or to generate income from its excess cash balances. A
repurchase agreement is an agreement under which the Fund acquires a money
market instrument (generally a security issued by the U.S Government or an
agency thereof, a banker's acceptance or a certificate of deposit) from a
commercial bank, broker or dealer, subject to resale to the seller at an agreed
upon price and date (normally, the next business day). A repurchase agreement
may be considered a loan collateralized by securities. The resale price reflects
an agreed upon interest rate effective for the period the instrument is held by
the Portfolio and is unrelated to the interest rate on the underlying
instrument. In these transactions, the securities acquired by the Portfolio
(including accrued interest earned thereon) must have a total value in excess of
the value of the repurchase agreement and are held by a custodian Bank until
repurchased. In addition, the Fund's Board of Directors will monitor each
Portfolio's repurchase agreement transactions generally and will establish
guidelines and standards for review by the investment adviser of the
creditworthiness of any bank, broker or dealer party to a repurchase agreement
with any Portfolio of the Fund. No more than an aggregate of 15% of a
Portfolio's assets, at the time of investment, will be invested in repurchase
agreements having maturities longer than seven days and securities subject to
legal or contractual restrictions on resale or for which there are no readily
available market quotations. From time to time, the Fund's Board of Directors
may determine that certain restricted securities known as Rule 144A securities
are liquid and not subject to the 15% limitation described above.
    
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   55
 
     The use of repurchase agreements involves certain risks. For example, if
the other party to the agreement defaults on its obligation to repurchase the
underlying security at a time when the value of the security has declined, the
Portfolio may incur a loss upon disposition of the security. If the other party
to the agreement becomes insolvent and subject to liquidation or reorganization
under the Bankruptcy Code or other laws, a court may determine that the
underlying security is collateral for a loan by the Portfolio not within the
control of the Portfolio and therefore the realization by the Portfolio on such
collateral may be automatically stayed. Finally, it is possible that the
Portfolio may not be able to substantiate its interest in the underlying
security and may be deemed an unsecured creditor of the other party to the
agreement. While the Fund's management acknowledges these risks, it is expected
that they can be controlled through careful monitoring procedures.
 
   
     LENDING OF SECURITIES  Each Portfolio may lend its securities on a
short-term or long-term basis to qualified institutional investors who need to
borrow securities in order to complete certain transactions, such as covering
short sales, avoiding failures to deliver securities or completing arbitrage
operations. By lending its securities, the Portfolio will be attempting to
increase its net investment income through the receipt of interest on the loan.
Any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that might occur
during the term of the loan would be for the account of the Portfolio. Each
Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to qualified brokers, dealers, banks
or other financial institutions, so long as the terms, the structure and the
aggregate amount of such loans are not inconsistent with the Investment Company
Act of 1940, or the Rules and Regulations or interpretations of the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") thereunder, which currently require
that (a) the borrower pledge and maintain with the Fund collateral consisting of
cash, an irrevocable letter of credit or securities issued or guaranteed by the
United States Government having a value at all times not less than 100% of the
value of the securities loaned, (b) the borrower add to such collateral whenever
the price of the securities loaned rises (i.e., the borrower "marks to the
market" on a daily basis), (c) the loan be made subject to termination by the
Portfolio at any time and (d) the Portfolio receives reasonable interest on the
loan which may include the Portfolio's investing any cash collateral in interest
bearing short-term investments, any distribution on the loaned securities and
any increase in their market value. A Portfolio will not lend its portfolio
securities, if as a result, the aggregate value of such loans exceeds 33 1/3% of
the value of the Portfolio's net assets. Loan arrangements made by a Portfolio
will comply with all other applicable regulatory requirements, including the
rules of the New York Stock Exchange, which rules presently require the
borrower, after notice, to redeliver the securities within the normal settlement
time of three business days. All relevant facts and circumstances, including the
credit-worthiness of the broker, dealer or institution, will be considered in
making decisions with respect to the lending of securities, subject to review by
the Fund's Board of Directors.
    
 
   
                             INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS
    
 
     The following policies supplement the Fund's investment limitations set
forth in the Prospectus. It is a fundamental policy of each Portfolio not to
engage in any of the following activities or business practices. These
restrictions may not be changed with respect to a particular Portfolio without
the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares (as defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940) of that Portfolio. A Portfolio may not:
 
   
      1) Issue senior securities, except that the Capital Opportunity Portfolio
may engage in short sales as described in the prospectus;
    
 
      2) Borrow money, except from banks (or through reverse repurchase
         agreements), for temporary or emergency (not leveraging) purposes,
         including the meeting of redemption requests which might otherwise
         require the untimely disposition of securities, in an amount not in
         excess of 15% of the value of the net assets of the Portfolio
         (including the amount borrowed and the value of any outstanding reverse
         repurchase agreements) at the time the borrowing is made. Whenever
         borrowings exceed 5% of the value of the net assets of the Portfolio,
         the Portfolio will not make any additional investments;
 
      3) With respect to 75% of the value of its total assets, purchase the
         securities of any issuer (except obligations of the United States
         government and its instrumentalities) if as a result the Portfolio
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   56
 
         would hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the
         issuer, or more than 5% of the value of the Portfolio's total assets
         would be invested in the securities of such issuer;
 
      4) Engage in the business of underwriting securities issued by others,
         except to the extent that the Portfolio may technically be deemed to be
         an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in
         disposing of portfolio securities;
 
      5) Purchase or otherwise acquire any security if, as a result, more than
         15% of its net assets would be invested in securities that are illiquid
         (including the Fund's investment in The Vanguard Group, Inc., as
         described on page 7);
 
   
      6) Make loans except (i) by purchasing bonds, debentures or similar
         obligations (including repurchase agreements, subject to the limitation
         described in (5) above) which are either publicly distributed or
         customarily purchased by institutional investors, and (ii) by lending
         its securities to banks, brokers, dealers and other financial
         institutions so long as such loans are not inconsistent with the
         Investment Company Act or the Rules and Regulations or interpretations
         of the Commission thereunder and the aggregate value of all securities
         loaned does not exceed 33 1/3% of the market value of the Portfolio's
         net assets;
    
 
      7) Pledge, mortgage, or hypothecate its assets, except to secure
         borrowings permitted by limitation (2) above;
 
      8) Buy any securities or other property on margin (except for such
         short-term credits as are necessary for the clearance of transactions),
         or, with the exception of the Capital Opportunity Portfolio, engage in
         short sales (unless by virtue of its ownership of other securities it
         has a right to obtain at no added cost securities equivalent in kind
         and amount to the securities sold) except as set forth below in (12);
 
   
      9) Purchase or sell puts or calls, or combinations thereof except as
         provided for in the prospectus; provided however, that a Portfolio may
         enter into futures contracts, options transactions or forward foreign
         currency exchange transactions as set forth below in (12);
    
 
     10) Purchase or sell real estate or real estate limited partnerships
         (although it may purchase securities secured by real estate interests
         or interests therein, or issued by companies or investment trusts which
         invest in real estate or interests therein);
 
     11) The Fund will not invest in securities of other investment companies,
         except as may be acquired as a part of a merger, consolidation or
         acquisition of assets approved by the Fund's shareholders or otherwise
         to the extent permitted by Section 12 of the Investment Company Act of
         1940. The Fund will invest only in investment companies which have
         investment objectives and investment policies consistent with those of
         the Fund;
 
   
     12) Purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts; provided, however,
         that a Portfolio may enter into forward foreign currency exchange
         transactions and that each Portfolio may invest in futures contracts
         and options to the extent that not more than 5% (15% with respect to
         the Global Asset Allocation Portfolio) of the Portfolio's assets are
         required as deposit to secure obligations under futures contracts.
         Within these limitations, each Portfolio may purchase put options as
         provided for in the prospectus. Additionally, each Portfolio will
         invest no more than 20% of its assets in swap agreements;
    
 
     13) Invest in companies for the purpose of exercising control of
         management; and
 
     14) Invest more than 25% of its assets in any single industry.
 
     Notwithstanding these limitations, the Fund may own all or any portion of
the securities of, make loans to, or contribute to the costs or other financial
requirements of, any company which will be wholly owned by the Fund and one or
more other investment companies and is primarily engaged in the business of
providing at cost services, such as management, administrative, distribution or
other related services to the Fund and other investment companies. (See
"Management of the Fund").
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   57
 
   
     In order to permit the sale of shares of the Fund in certain states, the
Fund may make commitments more restrictive than the fundamental or
non-fundamental operating restrictions described above. Should the Fund
determine that any such commitment is no longer in the best interests of the
Fund and its shareholders it will revoke the commitment by terminating sales of
its shares in the state(s) involved.
    
 
   
     The above-mentioned investment limitations are considered at the time
investment securities are purchased.
    
 
   
                             MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
    
 
   
     THE VANGUARD GROUP  The Fund is a member of The Vanguard Group of
Investment Companies which consists of more than 30 investment companies.
Through their jointly-owned subsidiary, The Vanguard Group, Inc. ("Vanguard"),
the Vanguard Funds obtain at cost virtually all of their corporate management,
administrative and distribution services. Vanguard also provides investment
advisory services on an at-cost basis to certain of the Vanguard Funds.
    
 
   
     Vanguard employs a supporting staff of management personnel needed to
provide the requisite services to the Funds and also furnishes the Funds with
necessary office space, furnishings and equipment. Each Fund pays its share of
Vanguard's net expenses which are allocated among the Funds under procedures
approved by the Directors (Trustees) of each Fund. In addition, each Fund bears
its own direct expenses such as legal, auditing and custodian fees.
    
 
   
     The Officers of the Fund and the Vanguard Funds are also Officers and
employees of Vanguard. No Officer or employee is permitted to own any securities
of any external adviser for the Vanguard Funds.
    
 
   
     The Vanguard Group adheres to a Code of Ethics established pursuant to Rule
17j-l under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Code is designed to prevent
unlawful practices in connection with the purchase or sale of securities by
persons associated with Vanguard. Under Vanguard's Code of Ethics certain
officers and employees of Vanguard who are considered access persons are
permitted to engage in personal securities transactions. However, such
transactions are subject to procedures, restrictions and guidelines
substantially similar to those recommended by the mutual fund industry and
approved by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
    
 
   
     The Vanguard Group was established and operates under a Funds' Service
Agreement which was approved by the shareholders of each of the Funds. The
amounts which each of the Funds have invested are adjusted from time to time in
order to maintain the proportionate relationship between each Fund's relative
net assets and its contribution to Vanguard's capital. The Fund's Service
Agreement provides as follows: (a) each Vanguard Fund may invest up to .40% of
its current assets in Vanguard, and (b) there are no restrictions on the maximum
aggregate cash investment that the Vanguard Funds may make in Vanguard. At
October 31, 1996, the Fund had contributed capital of $39,000 to Vanguard,
representing 0.20% of Vanguard's capitalization.
    
 
   
     The Officers of the Fund manage its day-to-day operations and are
responsible to the Fund's Board of Directors. The Directors set broad policies
for each Fund and choose its Officers. The following is a list of the Directors
and Officers of the Funds and a statement of their present positions and
principal occupations during the past five years. The mailing address of the
Directors and Officers of the Fund is Post Office Box 876, Valley Forge, PA
19482.
    
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   58
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                                <C>
JOHN C. BOGLE, Chairman and Director*              JOHN C. SAWHILL, Director
  Chairman and Director of The Vanguard Group,     President and Chief Executive Officer, The
  Inc. and of each of the investment companies     Nature Conservancy; formerly, Director and
  in The Vanguard Group; Director of The Mead        Senior Partner, McKinsey & Co., and
  Corporation, General Accident Insurance and        President, New York University; Director of
  Chris-Craft Industries, Inc.                       Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Procter &
JOHN J. BRENNAN, President, Chief                    Gamble Company and NACCO Industries.
Executive Officer and Director*                    JAMES O. WELCH, JR., Director
  President, Chief Executive Officer and           Retired Chairman of Nabisco Brands, Inc.,
  Director of The Vanguard Group, Inc. and of      retired Vice Chairman and Director of RJR
  each of the investment companies in The            Nabisco; Director of TECO Energy, Inc.; and
  Vanguard Group.                                    Director of Kmart Corporation.
ROBERT E. CAWTHORN, Director                       J. LAWRENCE WILSON, Director
  Chairman Emeritus and Director of                Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Rohm &
  Rhone-Poulenc Rorer, Inc.; Director of Sun       Haas Company; Director of Cummins Energy
  Company, Inc.; Director of Westinghouse            Company, and Trustee of Vanderbilt
  Electric Corporation.                              University.
BARBARA BARNES HAUPTFUHRER, Director               RAYMOND J. KLAPINSKY, Secretary*
  Director of The Great Atlantic and Pacific       Senior Vice President and Secretary of The
  Tea Company, ALCO Standard Corp., Raytheon       Vanguard Group, Inc.; Secretary of each of the
  Company, Knight-Ridder, Inc., Massachusetts        investment companies in The Vanguard Group.
  Mutual Life Insurance Co. and Trustee
  Emerita of Wellesley College.                    RICHARD F. HYLAND, Treasurer*
                                                   Treasurer of The Vanguard Group, Inc. and of
BRUCE K. MACLAURY, Director                        each of the investment companies in The
  President Emeritus of The Brookings                Vanguard Group.
  Institution; Director of American Express
  Bank, Ltd., The St. Paul Companies, Inc. and     KAREN E. WEST, Controller*
  National Steel Corporation.                      Principal of The Vanguard Group, Inc.;
                                                   Controller of each of the investment companies
BURTON G. MALKIEL, Director                          in The Vanguard Group.
  Chemical Bank Chairman's Professor of            ---------------
  Economics, Princeton University; Director of     * Officers of the Fund are "interested
  Prudential Insurance Co. of America, Amdahl      persons" as defined in the Investment Company
  Corporation, Baker Fentress & Co., The             Act of 1940.
  Jeffrey Co. and Southern New England
  Communications Company.
ALFRED M. RANKIN, JR., Director
  Chairman, President, and Chief Executive
  Officer of NACCO Industries, Inc.; Director
  of The BFGoodrich Company, and The Standard
  Products Company.
</TABLE>
    
 
   
     MANAGEMENT  Corporate management and administrative services include: (1)
executive staff; (2) accounting and financial; (3) legal and regulatory; (4)
shareholder account maintenance; (5) monitoring and control of custodian
relationships; (6) shareholder reporting; and (7) review and evaluation of
advisory and other services provided to the Vanguard Funds by third parties.
During the period ended October 31, 1996, the Fund's share of Vanguard's actual
net costs of operation relating to management and administrative services
(including transfer agency) totaled approximately $683,000.
    
 
   
     DISTRIBUTION  Vanguard also provides all distribution and marketing
services for the Vanguard Funds. The principal distribution expenses are for
advertising, promotional materials and marketing personnel. Distribution
services may also include organizing and offering to the public, from time to
time, one or more new investment companies which will become members of the
Group. The Directors and Officers of Vanguard determine the amount to be spent
annually on distribution activities, the manner and amount to be spent on each
Fund, and whether to organize new investment companies. During the period ended
October 31, 1996, the Fund paid approximately $64,000 of the Group's
distribution and marketing expenses, which represented an effective annual rate
of .02 of 1% of the Fund's average net assets.
    
 
   
     One half of the distribution expenses of a marketing and promotional nature
are allocated among the Vanguard Funds based upon their relative net assets. The
remaining one half of these expenses is allocated among the Vanguard Funds based
upon each Fund's sales for the preceding 24 months relative to the total sales
of the Funds as a Group. Provided, however, that no Fund's aggregate quarterly
rate of contribution for distribution expenses of a marketing and promotional
nature shall exceed 125% of the average distribution expense rate for the Group,
and that no Fund shall incur annual distribution expenses in excess of .02 of 1%
of its average month-end net assets.
    
 
   
     INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICES  An experienced investment management staff
employed directly by Vanguard also provides investment advisory services to the
Fund, Vanguard Money Market Reserves, Vanguard
    
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   59
 
   
Municipal Bond Fund, several Portfolios of Vanguard Fixed Income Securities
Fund, Vanguard REIT Portfolio, Vanguard Treasury Fund, The Total International
Portfolio of Vanguard STAR Fund, Vanguard California Tax-Free Fund, Vanguard
Florida Insured Tax-Free Fund, Vanguard New Jersey Tax-Free Fund, Vanguard New
York Insured Tax-Free Fund, Vanguard Ohio Tax-Free Fund, Vanguard Pennsylvania
Tax-Free Fund, Vanguard Admiral Funds, Vanguard Bond Index Fund, Vanguard
Balanced Index Fund, Vanguard Index Trust, Vanguard International Equity Index
Fund, Vanguard Tax-Managed Fund, Vanguard Institutional Index Fund, several
Portfolios of Vanguard Variable Insurance Fund, a portion of Vanguard/Windsor
II, a portion of Vanguard/Morgan Growth Fund as well as several indexed separate
accounts. The compensation and other expenses of this staff are paid by the
Portfolios and Funds utilizing these services.
    
 
   
     REMUNERATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS  The Fund will pay each Director who
is not also an Officer, an annual fee plus travel and other expenses incurred in
attending Board meetings. Directors who are also Officers receive no
remuneration for their services as Directors. The Fund's Officers and employees
are paid by Vanguard which, in turn, is reimbursed by the Fund, and each other
Fund in the Group, for its proportionate share of Officers' and employees'
salaries and retirement benefits. The Fund's proportionate share of remuneration
paid by Vanguard (and reimbursed by the Fund) during the 1996 fiscal year to all
Officers of the Fund, as a group, was approximately $          .
    
 
   
     Under its retirement plan, Vanguard contributes annually an amount equal to
10% of each Officer's annual compensation plus 5.7% of that part of an eligible
Officer's compensation during the year, if any, that exceeds the Social Security
Taxable Wage Base then in effect. Under its Thrift Plan, all employees of
Vanguard are permitted to make pre-tax basic contributions in a maximum amount
equal to 4% of total compensation. Vanguard matches the basic contributions on a
100% basis. A Retirement Plan for Directors has been implemented to provide a
fee to retired Directors equal to $1,000 per year of service on the Board, up to
15 years of service. This fee will remain in place subsequent to the Director's
retirement for a period of 10 years or until a retired Director's death. The
Fund's proportionate share of retirement contributions made by Vanguard under
its retirement and thrift plans on behalf of all Officers of the Fund, as a
group, during the 1996 fiscal year was approximately $3,000.
    
 
   
     The following table provides detailed information with respect to the
amounts paid or accrued for the Directors for the fiscal year ended October 31,
1996.
    
 
                             VANGUARD HORIZON FUND
                               COMPENSATION TABLE
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                       TOTAL
                                                       PENSION OR                                  COMPENSATION
                                   AGGREGATE       RETIREMENT BENEFITS        ESTIMATED              FROM ALL
                                  COMPENSATION     ACCRUED AS PART OF      ANNUAL BENEFITS        VANGUARD FUNDS
      NAMES OF DIRECTORS           FROM FUND          FUND EXPENSES        UPON RETIREMENT     PAID TO DIRECTORS(2)
- ------------------------------    ------------     -------------------     ---------------     ---------------------
<S>                               <C>              <C>                     <C>                 <C>
John C. Bogle(1)..............          --                  --                      --                     --
John J. Brennan(1)............          --                  --                      --                     --
Barbara Barnes Hauptfuhrer....        $140                 $22                 $15,000                $65,000
Robert E. Cawthorn............        $140                 $18                 $13,000                $65,000
Bruce K. MacLaury.............        $152                 $21                 $12,000                $60,000
Burton G. Malkiel.............        $140                 $15                 $15,000                $65,000
Alfred M. Rankin, Jr..........        $140                 $11                 $15,000                $65,000
John C. Sawhill...............        $140                 $14                 $15,000                $65,000
James O. Welch, Jr............        $140                 $17                 $15,000                $65,000
J. Lawrence Wilson............        $140                 $12                 $15,000                $65,000
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------------
   
(1) As "Interested Directors," Messrs. Bogle and Brennan receive no compensation
    for their service as Directors.
    
   
(2) The amounts reported in this column reflect the total compensation paid to
    each Director for his or her service as Director or Trustee of 34 Vanguard
    Funds (33 in the case of Mr. Malkiel; 27 in the case of Mr. MacLaury).
    
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   60
 
   
                          INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICES
    
 
   
     INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT WITH MARATHON ASSET MANAGEMENT.  The Global
Equity Portfolio is managed by Marathon Asset Management ("Marathon-London"),
Orion House, 5 Upper Street, Martin's Lane, London under the terms of an
agreement dated January 12, 1996.
    
 
   
     The investment philosophy of Marathon-London is that the best investment
returns for equity portfolios are primarily the result of careful, thoughtful
industry and company evaluation rather than "top down" country allocation
decisions. Marathon-London's portfolios therefore tend to exhibit country
weightings quite similar to broad market benchmarks, such as the unmanaged All
Country Index. Sector and stock weightings will, however, differ markedly from
such standards. The firm uses a team approach with each of the firm's three
partners having the primary responsibility for a specific region, e.g. Europe.
Jeremy J. Hosking, Director, has been designated as portfolio manager for the
assets of the Global Equity Portfolio. He has 17 years of investment experience.
    
 
     The Global Equity Portfolio pays Marathon-London a basic fee at the end of
each fiscal quarter, calculated by applying a quarterly rate, based on the
following annual percentage rates, to the average month-end assets of the
Portfolio for the quarter:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      ANNUAL
                                       NET ASSETS                                      RATE
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ------
    <S>                                                                               <C>
    First $100 million..............................................................   0.45%
    Next $150 million...............................................................   0.40%
    Next $250 million...............................................................   0.25%
</TABLE>
 
   
     During the fiscal year ended October 31, 1996, the Fund paid Marathon Asset
Management an advisory fee of $265,000.
    
 
     The basic advisory fee may be increased or decreased by applying an
adjustment formula based on the investment performance of the Portfolio relative
to the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) All Country Index. The
following table sets forth the incentive/penalty adjustment to the basic
advisory fee payable by the Portfolio to Marathon-London under the investment
advisory agreement. The adjustments to the fee change proportionately with
performance relative to the Index.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                     CUMULATIVE 36-MONTH NET PERFORMANCE                     PERFORMANCE FEE
                        VS. THE MSCI ALL COUNTRY INDEX                         ADJUSTMENT*
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------  -----------------
    <S>                                                                     <C>
    Less than 3%..........................................................  -0.50 X Basic Fee
    Between 3% and 6%.....................................................  -0.25 X Basic Fee
    Between 6% and 9%.....................................................      0 X Basic Fee
    Between 9% and 12%....................................................  +0.25 X Basic Fee
    More than 12%.........................................................  +0.50 X Basic Fee
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------------
   
* For purposes of this calculation, the Basic Fee is calculated by applying the
  quarterly rate based on the Annual Basic Fee Rate using average assets over
  the same time period for which the performance is measured.
    
 
   
     Under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the
incentive/penalty fee for Marathon-London will not be fully operable until the
quarter ending October 31, 1998. Prior to that date the incentive/penalty fee
will be calculated according to the following transition rules:
    
 
   
     (a) August 1, 1996 through October 31, 1998.  Beginning with the quarter
         ending October 31, 1996, and until the quarter ending October 31, 1998,
         the incentive/penalty fee will be based on a comparison of the
         investment performance of the Global Equity Portfolio and the MSCI All
         Country Index over the number of months that have elapsed between
         November 1, 1995 and the end of the quarter for which the fee is being
         computed. The number of percentage points by which the investment
         performance of the Portfolio must exceed the investment record of the
         MSCI-All Country Index shall increase proportionately from four, three,
         two and one, respectively, for the twelve months ending October 31,
         1996, to twelve, nine, six, and three, for the thirty-six months ending
         October 31, 1998.
    
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   61
 
   
     (b) On and After November 1, 1998.  For the quarter ending January 31, 1999
         and thereafter, the period used to calculate the incentive/penalty fee
         shall be the 36 months preceding the end of the quarter for which the
         fee is being computed and the number of percentage points used shall be
         12, 9, 6 and 3.
    
 
     For the purpose of determining the incentive/penalty fee, the net assets of
the Global Equity Portfolio will be averaged over the same period as the
investment performance of the portfolio as well as the investment record of the
MSCI All Country Index as adjusted.
 
   
     RELATED INFORMATION CONCERNING MARATHON.  Marathon-London, Orion House, 5
Upper Street, Martin's Lane, London, England, is an independent, owner-managed
investment management firm founded in 1986 which provides investment advisory
services to individuals, employee benefit plans, investment companies and other
institutions. As of October 31, 1996, Marathon provided investment advisory
services to clients having assets with an approximate value of $5.8 billion.
    
 
     The agreement will continue until June 29, 1997 and will be renewable
thereafter, for successive one-year periods, only if each renewal is
specifically approved by a vote of the Fund's Board of Directors, including the
affirmative votes of a majority of the Directors who are not parties to the
agreement or "interested persons" (as defined in the Investment Company Act of
1940) of any such party cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
considering such approval. In addition, the question of continuance of the
agreement may be presented to the shareholders of the Fund; in such event
continuance shall be effected only if approved by the affirmative vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. If the holders of any
Portfolio fail to approve the agreement, Marathon-London may continue to serve
as investment adviser to each Portfolio which approved the agreement, and to any
Portfolio which did not approve the agreement until new arrangements have been
made. The agreement is automatically terminated if assigned, and may be
terminated by any Portfolio without penalty, at any time, (1) either by vote of
the Board of Directors or by vote of the outstanding voting securities of the
Portfolio on sixty (60) days' written notice to Marathon-London, or (2) by
Marathon-London upon ninety (90) days' written notice to the Fund.
 
     INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT WITH HUSIC CAPITAL MANAGEMENT.  Husic Capital
Management ("Husic") serves as investment adviser to the Capital Opportunity
Portfolio under an Investment Advisory Agreement dated January 12, 1996. For the
services provided by Husic under the agreement, the Portfolio will pay Husic an
investment advisory fee at the end of each fiscal quarter, by applying a
quarterly rate based on the following annual percentage rates, to the average
month-end assets of the Portfolio for the quarter:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                 ANNUAL BASIC
                                    NET ASSETS                                     FEE RATE
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------  --------------
    <S>                                                                         <C>
    First $100 million........................................................       0.40%
    Next $200 million.........................................................       0.35%
    Next $300 million.........................................................       0.25%
    Next $400 million.........................................................       0.20%
    Over $1 billion...........................................................       0.15%
</TABLE>
 
   
     During the Fiscal year ended October 31, 1996, the Fund paid Husic an
advisory fee of $395,000.
    
 
     Effective with the quarter ending October 31, 1996, the basic advisory fee
may be increased or decreased by applying an adjustment formula based on the
investment performance of the Capital Opportunity Portfolio
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   62
 
relative to the Capital Opportunity Fund Stock Index. The following table sets
forth the incentive/penalty adjustment to the basic advisory fee payable by the
Portfolio to Husic.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                       CUMULATIVE 36-MONTH PERFORMANCE                       PERFORMANCE FEE
                      VS. THE CAPITAL OPPORTUNITY INDEX                        ADJUSTMENT*
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------  ------------------
    <S>                                                                     <C>
    Less than -12%........................................................   -0.75 X Basic Fee
    -12% to -6%...........................................................   -0.50 X Basic Fee
    -6% to +6%............................................................       0 X Basic Fee
    Between +6% to +12%...................................................   +0.50 X Basic Fee
    More than +12%........................................................   +0.75 X Basic Fee
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------------
   
* For purposes of this calculation, the Basic Fee is calculated by applying the
  quarterly rate based on the Annual Basic Fee Rate using average assets over
  the same time period for which the performance is measured.
    
 
   
     Under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the
incentive/penalty fee structure will not be fully operable until the quarter
ending October 31, 1998, and, until that date, will be calculated according to
the following transition rules.
    
 
   
     (a) August 1, 1996 through October 31, 1998.  Beginning with the quarter
         ending October 31, 1996, and until the quarter ending October 31, 1998,
         the incentive/penalty fee will be based on a comparison of the
         investment performance of the Capital Opportunity Portfolio and the
         MSCI All Country Index over the number of months that have elapsed
         between November 1, 1995 and the end of the quarter for which the fee
         is being computed. The number of percentage points by which the
         investment performance of the Portfolio must exceed the investment
         record of the Capital Opportunity Index shall increase proportionately
         from four and two, respectively, for the twelve months ending October
         31, 1996, to twelve and six, for the thirty-six months ending October
         31, 1998.
    
 
   
     (b) On and After October 31, 1998.  For the quarter ending January 31,
         1999, and thereafter, the period used to calculate the
         incentive/penalty fee shall be the 36 months preceding the end of the
         quarter for which the fee is being computed and the number of
         percentage points used shall be 12 and 6.
    
 
   
     RELATED INFORMATION CONCERNING HUSIC.  Husic Capital Management, 555
California Street, Suite 2900, San Francisco, California 94104, a California
limited partnership founded in 1986, provides investment advisory services to
investment companies, other institutions, and individuals. Frank J. Husic,
managing partner, is a controlling person of Husic. Husic's general partner is
Frank J. Husic & Co., a California corporation that is wholly owned by Frank J.
Husic. As of October 31, 1996, Husic provided investment advisory services to
clients having assets with an approximate value of $4.1 billion. The agreement
will continue until May 24, 1997 under the same terms and conditions as
described on page 11 with respect to Marathon-London.
    
 
     INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT WITH STRATEGIC INVESTMENT
MANAGEMENT.  Strategic Investment Management ("SIM") serves as investment
adviser to the Global Asset Allocation Portfolio under an Investment Advisory
Agreement dated August 14, 1995. For the services provided by SIM under the
agreement, the Portfolio will pay SIM an advisory fee at the end of each fiscal
quarter, by applying a quarterly rate based on the following annual percentage
rates, to the average month-end assets of the Portfolio for the quarter:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     NET ASSETS                                   ANNUAL RATE
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------  ------------
    <S>                                                                           <C>
    First $250 million..........................................................      0.40%
    Next $250 million...........................................................      0.35%
    Next $500 million...........................................................      0.25%
    Over $1 billion.............................................................      0.20%
</TABLE>
 
   
     During the fiscal year ended October 31, 1996, the Fund paid SIM an
advisory fee of $210,000.
    
 
                                       12
<PAGE>   63
 
   
     Effective with the quarter ending October 31, 1996, the quarterly payment
to SIM may be increased or decreased by applying an adjustment formula based on
the investment performance of the Global Asset Allocation Portfolio relative to
the theoretical Global Balanced Index which is calculated as follows:
    
 
    60%   global stock investments
    30%   global bond investments
    10%   U.S. cash reserve investments
 
   
     The monthly return of the Global Balanced Index will be calculated as 60%
of the Global Stock Index monthly return plus 30% of the Global Bond Index
monthly return, plus 10% of the U.S. Cash Index monthly return. The Global Stock
Index return is an adjusted capitalization weighted average of the established
local stock market index returns in each country adjusted to include the impact
of hedging one half of the non-U.S. currency exposure. The Global Bond Index
return is a capitalization weighted average (using Salomon Brothers published
weights) of the currency-hedged country government bond index returns. The U.S.
Index return is the bond equivalent yield of the Federal Reserve's published
average offering rate on 30-day commercial paper. The countries included in this
index will be the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain,
Japan, Australia and Hong Kong (there will be no bond investments in Hong Kong).
The Global Balanced Index will be reviewed semi-annually and with approval of
the Fund's Officers may be changed to reflect additions or deletions of
countries from the advisor's mandate going forward.
    
 
     The following table sets forth the incentive/penalty adjustment to the
basic advisory fee payable by the Portfolio to Strategic Investment Management.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                       CUMULATIVE 36-MONTH PERFORMANCE                         PERFORMANCE FEE
                        VS. THE GLOBAL BALANCED INDEX                            ADJUSTMENT
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------  -----------------------
    <S>                                                                    <C>
    Less than -0.75%.....................................................    -0.75 X Base Fee
    Between -0.75% to +2.25%.............................................    -0.50 X Base Fee
    Between +2.25% and +5.25%............................................    -0.25 X Base Fee
    Between +5.25% and +8.25%............................................      0 X Base Fee
    Between +8.25% and +11.25%...........................................     0.25 X Base Fee
    Between +11.25% and +14.25%..........................................     0.50 X Base Fee
    Over +14.25%.........................................................     0.75 X Base Fee
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------------
* For purposes of this calculation, the Base Fee represents the annual rate used
  in calculating the base advisory fee over the performance period multiplied by
  the average assets for the performance period measured to calculate the
  incentive/penalty adjustment.
 
   
     Under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the
incentive/penalty fee structure will not be fully operable until the quarter
ending October 31, 1998, and, until that date, will be calculated according to
the following transition rules.
    
 
   
     (a) September 1, 1996 through October 31, 1998.  Beginning with the quarter
         ending October 31, 1996, and until the quarter ending October 31, 1998,
         the performance adjustment will be based on a comparison of the
         investment performance of the Global Asset Allocation Portfolio and the
         Global Balanced Index over the shorter of (i) the number of months that
         have elapsed between September 1, 1995 and the end of the quarter for
         which the fee is computed or (ii) the 36 months preceding the end of
         the quarter for which the fee is computed, and will be applied to the
         average monthly assets over the same period.
    
 
   
     (b) After November 1, 1998.  For the quarter ending January 31, 1999, and
         thereafter, the period used to calculate the incentive/penalty fee
         shall be the 36 months preceding the end of the quarter for which the
         fee is being computed.
    
 
   
     RELATED INFORMATION CONCERNING SIM.  SIM, 1001 19th Street North, 16th
Floor, Arlington, VA 22209, provides asset management services to companies,
institutions, trusts and individuals. SIM (and its affiliated companies)
provides asset management services for over $16.3 billion in assets. Michael A.
Duffy, Managing Director of SIM, serves as portfolio manager for the Global
Asset Allocation Portfolio.
    
 
     The agreement with SIM continues until August 13, 1997 under the same terms
and conditions as described on page 10 with respect to Marathon-London.
 
                                       13
<PAGE>   64
 
                            SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS
 
   
     The investment advisory agreements with Marathon-London, Husic, and SIM
authorize each investment adviser (with the approval of the Fund's Board of
Directors) to select the brokers or dealers that will execute the purchases and
sales of securities for the Portfolio of the Fund that it manages and directs
each investment adviser to use its best efforts to obtain the best available
price and most favorable execution with respect to all transactions for such
Portfolios. Each investment adviser has undertaken to execute each investment
transaction at a price and commission which provides the most favorable total
cost or proceeds reasonably obtainable under the circumstances.
    
 
     In placing portfolio transactions, each of the Fund's investment advisers
will use its best judgment to choose the broker most capable of providing the
brokerage services necessary to obtain best available price and most favorable
execution. The full range and quality of brokerage services available will be
considered in making these determinations. In those instances where it is
reasonably determined that more than one broker can offer the brokerage services
needed to obtain the best available price and most favorable execution,
consideration may be given to those brokers which supply investment research and
statistical information, and provide other services in addition to execution
services to the Fund and/or the investment adviser. Each investment adviser
considers the investment services it receives useful in the performance of its
obligations under the agreement but is unable to determine the amount by which
such services may reduce its expenses.
 
     The investment advisory agreement also incorporates the concepts of Section
28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 by providing that, subject to the
approval of the Fund's Board of Directors, each investment adviser may cause the
Fund to pay a broker-dealer which furnishes brokerage and research services a
higher commission than that which might be charged by another broker-dealer for
effecting the same transaction; provided that such commission is deemed
reasonable in terms of either that particular transaction or the overall
responsibilities of the investment adviser to the Fund and the other Funds in
the Group.
 
     Currently, it is the Fund's policy that each investment adviser may at
times pay higher commissions in recognition of brokerage services felt necessary
for the achievement of better execution of certain securities transactions that
otherwise might not be available. An investment adviser will only pay such
higher commissions if it believes this to be in the best interest of the Fund.
Some brokers or dealers who may receive such higher commissions in recognition
of brokerage services related to execution of securities transactions are also
providers of research information to the investment adviser and/or the Fund.
However, the investment adviser has informed the Fund that it will not pay
higher commission rates specifically for the purpose of obtaining research
services.
 
     Since the Fund does not market its shares through intermediary brokers or
dealers, it is not the Fund's practice to allocate brokerage or principal
business on the basis of sales of its shares which may be made through such
firms. However, the Fund may place portfolio orders with qualified
broker-dealers who recommend the sale of shares of the Fund and may, when a
number of brokers and dealers can provide comparable best price and execution on
a particular transaction, consider the sale of Fund shares by a broker or dealer
in selecting among qualified broker-dealers.
 
   
     During the period ending October 31, 1996, the Fund paid $568,780 in
brokerage commissions.
    
 
     Some securities considered for investment by one Portfolio may also be
appropriate for the other Portfolios and the other Funds and/or clients served
by the investment advisers. If purchase or sale of securities consistent with
the investment policies of a Portfolio, the other Portfolios and/or one or more
of these other Funds or clients are considered at or about the same time,
transactions in such securities will be allocated among the Portfolios and the
several Funds and clients in a manner deemed equitable by the respective
investment adviser. Although there will be no specified formula for allocating
such transactions, the allocation methods used, and the results of such
allocations, will be subject to periodic review by the Fund's Board of
Directors.
 
                                       14
<PAGE>   65
 
                               PURCHASE OF SHARES
 
     The Fund reserves the right in its sole discretion (i) to suspend the
offering of its shares, (ii) to reject purchase orders when in the judgment of
management such rejection is in the best interest of the Fund or any Portfolio,
and (iii) to reduce or waive the minimum investment for or any other
restrictions on initial and subsequent investments as well as redemption fees
for certain fiduciary accounts such as employee benefit plans or under
circumstances where certain economies can be achieved in sales of the Fund's
shares.
 
                              REDEMPTION OF SHARES
 
     The Fund may suspend redemption privileges or postpone the date of payment
(i) during any period that the New York Stock Exchange is closed, or trading on
the Exchange is restricted as determined by the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission"), (ii) during any period when an emergency exists
as defined by the rules of the Commission as a result of which it is not
reasonably practicable for the Fund to dispose of securities owned by it, or
fairly to determine the value of its assets, and (iii) for such other periods as
the Commission may permit.
 
   
     The Fund has made an election with the Commission to pay in cash all
redemptions requested by any shareholder of record limited in amount during any
90-day period to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net assets of the Fund at
the beginning of such period. Such commitment is irrevocable without the prior
approval of the Commission. Redemptions in excess of the above limits may be
paid, in whole or in part, in investment securities or in cash, as the Directors
may deem advisable; however, payment will be made wholly in cash unless the
Directors believe that economic or market conditions exist which would make a
practice detrimental to the best interests of the Fund. If redemptions are paid
in investment securities, such securities will be valued as set forth in the
Prospectus under "The Share Price of Each Portfolio" and a redeeming shareholder
would normally incur brokerage expenses if he converted these securities to
cash.
    
 
                              COMPARATIVE INDEXES
 
     Vanguard may use reprinted material discussing The Vanguard Group, Inc. or
any of the member funds of The Vanguard Group of Investment Companies.
 
     Each of the investment company members of The Vanguard Group, including
Vanguard Horizon Fund, Inc., may, from time to time, use one or more of the
following unmanaged indices for comparative performance purposes.
 
STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 COMPOSITE STOCK PRICE INDEX -- is a well diversified
list of 500 companies representing the U.S. Stock Market.
 
   
WILSHIRE 5000 EQUITY INDEXES -- consists of approximately 7,000 common equity
securities, covering all stocks in the U.S. for which daily pricing is
available.
    
 
WILSHIRE 4500 EQUITY INDEX -- consists of all stocks in the Wilshire 5000 except
for the 500 stocks in the Standard and Poor's 500 Index.
 
MORGAN STANLEY CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL EAFE INDEX -- is an arithmetic, market
value-weighted average of the performance of over 900 securities listed on the
stock exchanges of countries in Europe, Australia and the
Far East.
 
MORGAN STANLEY CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL ALL COUNTRY INDEX -- is an arithmetic,
market value-weighted average of the performance of over 2,427 securities listed
on the stock exchanges of countries included in the EAFE Index, United States,
Canada, and Emerging Markets.
 
CAPITAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND STOCK INDEX -- the Index is composed of the various
common stocks that are held in the largest aggressive growth stock mutual funds,
using year-end net assets, monitored by Morningstar, Inc.
 
                                       15
<PAGE>   66
 
GLOBAL BALANCED INDEX -- a fixed weighted index of global stocks, bonds and U.S.
cash reserves, the component parts of which are derived from the adjusted
capitalization weighted averages of individual currency adjusted local country
indices.
 
   
MORGAN STANLEY CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL WORLD INDEX -- an arithmetic, market value
weighted average of the performance of over 1,460 securities listed on the stock
exchanges of 23 countries.
    
 
   
SALOMON BROTHERS WORLD GOVERNMENT BOND INDEX -- a market capitalization weighted
index consisting of government bond markets of 14 countries.
    
 
   
GOLDMAN SACHS 100 CONVERTIBLE BOND INDEX -- currently includes 67 bonds and 33
preferreds. The original list of names was generated by screening for
convertible issues of $100 million or greater in market capitalization. The
index is priced monthly.
    
 
SALOMON BROTHERS GNMA INDEX -- includes pools of mortgages originated by private
lenders and guaranteed by the mortgage pools of the Government National Mortgage
Association.
 
   
SALOMON BROTHERS HIGH-GRADE CORPORATE BOND INDEX -- consists of publicly issued,
non-convertible corporate bonds rated Aa or Aaa. It is a value weighted, total
return index, including approximately 800 issues with maturities of 12 years or
greater.
    
 
LEHMAN LONG-TERM TREASURY BOND -- is composed of all bonds covered by the
Shearson Lehman Hutton Treasury Bond Index with maturities of 10 years or
greater.
 
   
MERRILL LYNCH CORPORATE & GOVERNMENT BOND -- consists of over 4,500 U.S.
Treasury, agency and investment grade corporate bonds.
    
 
LEHMAN CORPORATE (BAA) BOND INDEX -- all publicly offered fixed-rate,
nonconvertible domestic corporate bonds rated Baa by Moody's, with a maturity
longer than 1 year and with more than $25 million outstanding. This index
includes over 1,000 issues.
 
LEHMAN BROTHERS LONG-TERM CORPORATE BOND INDEX -- is a subset of the Lehman
Corporate Bond Index covering all corporate, publicly issued, fixed-rate,
nonconvertible U.S. debt issues rated at least Baa, with at least $50 million
principal outstanding and maturity greater than 10 years.
 
   
BOND BUYER MUNICIPAL (20 YEAR) BOND INDEX -- is a yield index on current coupon
high-grade general obligation municipal bonds.
    
 
STANDARD & POOR'S PREFERRED INDEX -- is a yield index based upon the average
yield for four high-grade, non-callable preferred stock issues.
 
   
NASDAQ INDUSTRIAL INDEX -- is composed of more than 3,000 industrial issues. It
is a value weighted index calculated on price change only and does not include
income.
    
 
COMPOSITE INDEX -- 70% Standard & Poor's 500 Index and 30% NASDAQ Industrial
Index.
 
COMPOSITE INDEX -- 35% Standard & Poor's 500 Index and 65% Lehman Long-Term
Corporate Bond Index.
 
COMPOSITE INDEX -- 65% Standard & Poor's 500 Index and 35% Salomon Brothers High
Grade Bond Index.
 
RUSSELL 2000 SMALL COMPANY STOCK INDEX -- consists of the smallest 2,000 stocks
within the Russell 3000; a widely-used benchmark for small capitalization common
stocks.
 
LEHMAN BROTHERS AGGREGATE BOND INDEX -- is a market weighted index that contains
individually priced U.S. Treasury, agency, corporate, and mortgage pass-through
securities corporate rated BBB- or better. The Index has a market value of over
$4 trillion.
 
LEHMAN BROTHERS MUTUAL FUND SHORT (1-5) GOVERNMENT/CORPORATE INDEX -- is a
market weighted index that contains individually priced U.S. Treasury, agency,
and corporate investment grade bonds rated BBB- or better with maturities
between 1 and 5 years. The index has a market value of over $1.3 trillion.
 
                                       16
<PAGE>   67
 
LEHMAN BROTHERS MUTUAL FUND INTERMEDIATE (5-10) GOVERNMENT/CORPORATE INDEX -- is
a market weighted index that contains individually priced U.S. Treasury, agency,
and corporate securities rated BBB- or better with maturities between 5 and 10
years. The index has a market value of over $600 billion.
 
LEHMAN BROTHERS MUTUAL FUND LONG (10+) GOVERNMENT/CORPORATE INDEX -- is a market
weighted index that contains individually priced U.S. Treasury, agency, and
corporate securities rated BBB- or better with maturities greater than 10 years.
The index has a market value of over $900 billion.
 
LIPPER BALANCED FUND AVERAGE -- an industry benchmark of average balanced funds
with similar investment objectives and policies, as measured by Lipper
Analytical Services, Inc.
 
LIPPER NON-GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET FUND AVERAGE -- an industry benchmark of
average non-government money market funds with similar investment objectives and
policies, as measured by Lipper Analytical Services, Inc.
 
LIPPER GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET FUND AVERAGE -- an industry benchmark of average
government money market funds with similar investment objectives and policies,
as measured by Lipper Analytical Services, Inc.
 
LIPPER SMALL COMPANY GROWTH FUND AVERAGE -- the average performance of small
company growth funds as defined by Lipper Analytical Services, Inc. Lipper
defines a small company growth fund as a fund that by prospectus or portfolio
practice, limits its investments to companies on the basis of the size of the
company. From time to time, Vanguard may advertise using the average performance
and/or the average expense ratio of the small company growth funds. (This fund
category was first established in 1982. For years prior to 1982, the results of
the Lipper Small Company Growth category were estimated using the returns of the
Funds that constituted the Group at its inception.)
 
LIPPER GENERAL EQUITY FUND AVERAGE -- an industry benchmark of average general
equity funds with similar investment objectives and policies, as measured by
Lipper Analytical Services, Inc.
 
LIPPER FIXED INCOME FUND AVERAGE -- an industry benchmark of average fixed
income funds with similar investment objectives and policies, as measured by
Lipper Analytical Services, Inc.
 
   
RUSSELL 3000 INDEX -- consists of approximately the 3,000 largest stocks of U.S.
domiciled companies commonly traded on the New York and American Stock Exchanges
or the NASDAQ over-the-counter market, accounting for over 90% of the market
value of publicly traded stocks in the U.S.
    
 
RUSSELL 2000(R) VALUE INDEX -- composed of the 2,000 smallest securities in the
Russell 3000 Index, representing approximately 7% of the Russell 3000 total
market capitalization.
 
RUSSELL MIDCAP(TM) INDEX -- composed of all medium and medium/small companies in
the Russell 1000 Index.
 
     Advertisements which refer to the use of the fund as a potential investment
for Individual Retirement Accounts may quote a total return based upon
compounding of dividends on which it is presumed no Federal income tax applies.
 
     In assessing such comparisons of yields, an investor should keep in mind
that the composition of the investments in the reported averages is not
identical to the Fund's Portfolio and that the items included in the
calculations of such averages may not be identical to the formula used by the
Fund to calculate its yield. In addition there can be no assurance that the Fund
will continue its performance as compared to such other averages.
 
                              FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
   
     The Fund's Financial Statements for the year ended October 31, 1996,
including the financial highlights for the period June 30, 1995 to October 31,
1995, appearing in the Horizon Fund's 1996 Annual Report to Shareholders, and
the report thereon by Price Waterhouse LLP, independent accountants, also
appearing therein, are incorporated by reference in this Statement of Additional
Information. For a more complete discussion of the Fund's performance, please
see the Fund's 1996 Annual Report to Shareholders, which may be obtained without
charge.
    
 
                                       17
<PAGE>   68
 
                                     PART C
                          VANGUARD HORIZON FUND, INC.
                               OTHER INFORMATION
 
ITEM 24. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
     (A) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
   
         The Fund's audited financial statements for the year ended October 31,
         1996, including Price Waterhouse LLP's report thereon, appearing in the
         Fund's 1996 Annual Report to Shareholders are incorporated by reference
         in the Statement of Additional Information.
    
   
      1. Statement of Net Assets as of October 31, 1996.
    
   
      2. Statement of Operations for the year ended October 31, 1996.
    
   
      3. Statement of Changes in Net Assets for the year ended October 31, 1996
         and the period ended June 30, 1995.
    
   
      4. Financial Highlights for the year ended October 31, 1996 and the period
ended June 30, 1995.
    
      5. Notes to Financial Statements.
      6. Report of Independent Accountants.
 
     (B) EXHIBITS
      1. Articles of Incorporation*
      2. By-Laws of Registrant*
      3. Not Applicable
      4. Not Applicable
      5. Investment Advisory Agreement*
      6. Not Applicable
      7. Reference is made to the section entitled "Management of the Fund" in
         the Registrant's Statement of Additional Information
   
      8. Custodian Contracts*
    
      9. Form of Vanguard Service Agreement*
     10. Opinion of Counsel*
     11. Consent of Independent Accountants**
     12. Financial Statements*
     13. Not Applicable
     14. Not Applicable
     15. Not Applicable
     16. Not Applicable
- ---------------
 * Previously filed.
** Filed herewith.
 
ITEM 25. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH REGISTRANT
 
   
     Registrant is not controlled by or under common control with any person.
The Officers of the Registrant, the investment companies in The Vanguard Group
of Investment Companies and The Vanguard Group, Inc. are identical. Reference is
made to the caption "Management of the Fund" in the Prospectus constituting Part
A and in the Statement of Additional Information constituting Part B of this
Registration Statement.
    
 
ITEM 26. NUMBER OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
 
   
     37,879
    
 
ITEM 27. INDEMNIFICATION
 
     Reference is made to Article IX of Registrant's Articles of Incorporation.
<PAGE>   69
 
   
     Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to trustees, directors, 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 director, 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 28. BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF INVESTMENT ADVISER
 
     Reference is made to the caption "Investment Advisers" in the prospectus
constituting Part "A" of this Registration Statement and "Investment Advisory
Services" in Part "B" of this Registration Statement.
 
ITEM 29. PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITERS
 
     (a) None
 
     (b) Not Applicable
 
ITEM 30. LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS
 
   
     The books, accounts and other documents required by Section 31(a) under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules promulgated thereunder will be
maintained in the physical possession of Registrant; Registrant's Transfer
Agent, The Vanguard Group, Inc. c/o The Vanguard Financial Center, Valley Forge,
Pennsylvania 19482; and the Registrant's Custodians.
    
 
ITEM 31. MANAGEMENT SERVICES
 
   
     Other than the Amended and Restated Funds' Service Agreement with The
Vanguard Group, Inc. which is filed herewith as Exhibit 9 and described in Part
B hereof under "Management of the Fund," the Registrant is not a party to any
management-related service contract.
    
 
ITEM 32. UNDERTAKINGS
 
   
     Registrant undertakes to comply with the provisions of Section 16(c) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940 in regard to shareholders' rights to call a
meeting of shareholders for the purpose of voting on the removal of Directors
and to assist in shareholder communications in such matters, to the extent
required by law.
    
 
   
     Registrant hereby undertakes to provide an Annual Report to Shareholders or
    
prospective investors, free of charge, upon request.
<PAGE>   70
 
                                   SIGNATURES
 
   
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all the
requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement pursuant to Rule
485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the Town of Valley Forge and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on
the 14th day of February 1997.
    
 
    VANGUARD HORIZON FUND, INC.
 
   
BY: (Raymond J. Klapinsky)
    
   
    John J. Brennan*, President and Chief Executive Officer
    
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the date indicated:
 
BY: (Raymond J. Klapinsky)
    John C. Bogle*, Chairman of the Board and Director
   
    February 14, 1997
    
 
BY: (Raymond J. Klapinsky)
    John J. Brennan*, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
   
    February 14, 1997
    
 
BY: (Raymond J. Klapinsky)
    Robert C. Cawthorn*, Director
   
    February 14, 1997
    
 
BY: (Raymond J. Klapinsky)
    Barbara B. Hauptfuhrer*, Director
   
    February 14, 1997
    
 
BY: (Raymond J. Klapinsky)
    Burton G. Malkiel*, Director
   
    February 14, 1997
    
 
BY: (Raymond J. Klapinsky)
    Bruce K. MacLaury, Jr.*, Director
   
    February 14, 1997
    
 
BY: (Raymond J. Klapinsky)
    Alfred M. Rankin, Jr.*, Director
   
    February 14, 1997
    
 
BY: (Raymond J. Klapinsky)
    John C. Sawhill*, Director
   
    February 14, 1997
    
 
BY: (Raymond J. Klapinsky)
    James O. Welch, Jr.*, Director
   
    February 14, 1997
    
 
BY: (Raymond J. Klapinsky)
    J. Lawrence Wilson*, Director
   
    February 14, 1997
    
 
BY: (Raymond J. Klapinsky)
    Richard F. Hyland*, Treasurer and Principal
    Financial Officer and Accounting Officer
   
    February 14, 1997
    
 
*By Power of Attorney. See File Number 2-14336, January 23, 1990. Incorporated
by Reference.
<PAGE>   71
 
                          VANGUARD HORIZON FUND, INC.
                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                    <C>
Consent of Independent Accountants...................................................  Ex-99.B11
Schedule for Computation of Performance Quotations...................................  Ex-99.B16
Financial Data Schedule..............................................................  EX-27
</TABLE>
    

<PAGE>   1
 
                                                                       EX-99.B11
 
                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
   
     We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus and
Statement of Additional Information constituting parts of this Post-Effective
Amendment No. 2 to the registration statement on Form N-1A (the "Registration
Statement") of our report dated December 2, 1996 relating to the financial
statements and financial highlights appearing in the 1996 Annual Report to
Shareholders of Vanguard Horizon Fund, Inc., which are also incorporated by
reference into the Registration Statement. We also consent to the references to
us under the headings "Financial Highlights" and "General Information" in the
Prospectus and under the heading "Financial Statements" in the Statement of
Additional Information.
    
 
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
 
Thirty South Seventeenth Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
   
February 13, 1997
    

<PAGE>   1
 
                                                                       EX-99.B16
 
               SCHEDULE FOR COMPUTATION OF PERFORMANCE QUOTATIONS
                          AGGRESSIVE GROWTH PORTFOLIO
 
   
1. Average Annual Total Return (As of October 31, 1996)
        P (1 + T)(n) = ERV
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>             <C>      <C>
Where:             P =   a hypothetical initial payment of $1,000
                   T =   average annual total return
                   N =   number of years
                 ERV =   ending redeemable value at the end of the period
EXAMPLE:
                         One Year
                   P =   $1,000
                   T =   +23.40%
                   N =   1
                 ERV =   $1,233.98
Since Inception
                   P =   $1,000
                   T =   20.56%
                   N =   *
                 ERV =   $1,254.83
</TABLE>
    
 
*Since Inception on August 14, 1995
 
   
2. YIELD (30 Days Ended October 31, 1996)
    
 
   
<TABLE>
       <S>           <C>    <C>
                     a - b
       Yield = 2[(   -----  + 1)(6) - 1]
                     c X d

Where:             a =   dividends and interest paid during the period
                   b =   expense dollars during the period (net of reimbursements)
                   c =   the average daily number of shares outstanding during the period
                   d =   the maximum offering price per share on the last day of the period
Example:           a =   $226,975.90
                   b =   $40,746.08
                   c =   10,505,145.6511
                   d =   $12.48
                Yield =  1.710628
</TABLE>
    
<PAGE>   2
 
                                                                       EX-99.B16
 
               SCHEDULE FOR COMPUTATION OF PERFORMANCE QUOTATIONS
   
                         CAPITAL OPPORTUNITY PORTFOLIO
    
 
   
1. Average Annual Total Return (As of October 31, 1996)
        P (1 + T)(n) = ERV
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>             <C>      <C>
Where:             P =   a hypothetical initial payment of $1,000
                   T =   average annual total return
                   N =   number of years
                 ERV =   ending redeemable value at the end of the period
EXAMPLE:
                         One Year
                   P =   $1,000
                   T =   +11.67%
                   N =   1
                 ERV =   $1,116.75
Since Inception
                   P =   $1,000
                   T =   6.63%
                   N =   *
                 ERV =   $1,081.12
</TABLE>
    
 
   
*Since Inception on August 14, 1995
    
 
   
2. YIELD (30 Days Ended October 31, 1996)
    
 
   
<TABLE>
      <S>          <C>    <C>
                  
                   a - b
      Yield = 2[(  -----  + 1)(6) - 1]
                   c X d
Where:             a =   dividends and interest paid during the period
                   b =   expense dollars during the period (net of reimbursements)
                   c =   the average daily number of shares outstanding during the period
                   d =   the maximum offering price per share on the last day of the period
Example:           a =   $27,964.13
                   b =   $37,275.86
                   c =   10,555,954.1136
                   d =   $10.61
                Yield =  0
</TABLE>
    
<PAGE>   3
 
                                                                       EX-99.B16
 
               SCHEDULE FOR COMPUTATION OF PERFORMANCE QUOTATIONS
                       GLOBAL ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
 
   
1. Average Annual Total Return (As of October 31, 1996)
        P (1 + T)(n) = ERV
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>             <C>      <C>
Where:             P =   a hypothetical initial payment of $1,000
                   T =   average annual total return
                   N =   number of years
                 ERV =   ending redeemable value at the end of the period
EXAMPLE:
                         One Year
                   P =   $1,000
                   T =   +12.34%
                   N =   1
                 ERV =   $1,123.44
Since Inception
                   P =   $1,000
                   T =   12.23%
                   N =   *
                 ERV =   $1,150.33
</TABLE>
    
 
   
*Since Inception on August 14, 1995
    
<PAGE>   4
 
                                                                       EX-99.B16
 
               SCHEDULE FOR COMPUTATION OF PERFORMANCE QUOTATIONS
                            GLOBAL EQUITY PORTFOLIO
 
   
1. Average Annual Total Return (As of October 31, 1996)
        P (1 + T)(n) = ERV
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>             <C>      <C>
Where:             P =   a hypothetical initial payment of $1,000
                   T =   average annual total return
                   N =   number of years
                 ERV =   ending redeemable value at the end of the period
EXAMPLE:
                         One Year
                   P =   $1,000
                   T =   +17.05%
                   N =   1
                 ERV =   $1,170.48
Since Inception
                   P =   $1,000
                   T =   14.31%
                   N =   *
                 ERV =   $1,170.48
</TABLE>
    
 
   
*Since Inception on August 14, 1995
    

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000932471
<NAME> VANGUARD HORIZON FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 01
   <NAME> AGGRESSIVE GROWTH PORTFOLIO
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> US 
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             NOV-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                          120,725
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                         130,348
<RECEIVABLES>                                   15,957
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                      86
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 146,391
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                        11,624
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                        1,347
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                             12,971
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                       114,460
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                           10,644
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                            6,087
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                        1,492
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                          7,800
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                         9,668
<NET-ASSETS>                                   133,420
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                2,117
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                   34
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                     378
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                          1,773
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                         7,809
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                        9,748
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                           19,330
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                          541
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                          5,280
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                        772
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                 49
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                          71,153
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                            260
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                          (9)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                               78
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                    378
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                            99,500
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            10.23
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.18
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           2.20
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                              0.08
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              12.53
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.38
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000932471
<NAME> VANGUARD HORIZON FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 02
   <NAME> CAPITAL OPPORTUNITY PORTFOLIO
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY>  US 
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             NOV-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                           91,609
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                         116,129
<RECEIVABLES>                                    5,850
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                      11
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 121,990
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                         2,651
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                        4,542
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                              7,193
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                       106,236
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                           10,618
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                            7,449
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                           34
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                       (15,993)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                        24,520
<NET-ASSETS>                                   114,797
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                  320
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                  273
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                     487
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            106
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                      (10,558)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                       21,626
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                           11,174
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                          245
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                          5,411
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                      2,266
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                 24
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                          42,496
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                            173
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                      (5,435)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                              395
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                    487
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                            97,130
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                             9.71
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.01
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           1.12
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                              0.03
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              10.81
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.50
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000932471
<NAME> VANGUARD HORIZON FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 03
   <NAME> GLOBAL ASSET ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY>  US
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             NOV-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                           72,882
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                          74,138
<RECEIVABLES>                                   15,207
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                       7
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  89,352
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                           216
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                       13,483
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                             13,699
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                        68,873
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                            6,702
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                            4,353
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                        2,768
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                          2,135
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                         1,877
<NET-ASSETS>                                    75,653
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                   47
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                3,683
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                     493
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                          3,237
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                         2,203
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                        1,503
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                            6,943
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                          936
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                           140
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                          2,829
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                        553
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                 73
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                          30,938
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                            486
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                           53
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                              210
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                    493
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                            62,489
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            10.27
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.50
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           0.75
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                              0.20
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                         0.03
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              11.29
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.79
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000932471
<NAME> VANGUARD HORIZON FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 04
   <NAME> GLOBAL EQUITY PORTFOLIO
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY>  US
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             NOV-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                           94,159
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                          99,572
<RECEIVABLES>                                      617
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                       9
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 100,198
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                           385
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                          390
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                775
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                        91,495
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                            8,484
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                            3,570
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                          851
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                          1,609
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                         5,468
<NET-ASSETS>                                    99,423
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                1,214
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                  318
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                     549
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            983
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                         1,588
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                        5,699
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                            8,270
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                          273
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                          5,268
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                        379
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                 25
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                          63,453
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                            142
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                           20
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                              265
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                    549
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                            64,389
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            10.08
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.13
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           1.58
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                              0.07
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              11.72
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.85
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>


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