LEGG MASON FOCUS TRUST INC
497, 2000-05-03
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                                   LEGG MASON
                                FOCUS TRUST, INC.

                            PROSPECTUS April 28, 2000



                                      Logo



                            THE ART OF INVESTING(SM)



        As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission
  has not passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus, nor has it
       approved or disapproved these securities. It is a criminal offense
                              to state otherwise.

<PAGE>

TABLE OF CONTENTS


About the fund:
- --------------

     1    Investment objective
     3    Principal risks
     5    Performance
     6    Fees and expenses of the fund
     7    Management



About your investment:
- ---------------------

     9    How to invest
    11    How to sell your shares
    13    Account policies
    15    Services for investors
    17    Distributions and taxes
    19    Financial highlights


<PAGE>

LEGG MASON FOCUS TRUST, INC.

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

INVESTMENT  OBJECTIVE:  Maximum  long-term  capital  appreciation  with  minimum
long-term risk to principal.

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES:

The fund invests  primarily in common  stocks,  preferred  stocks and securities
convertible or  exchangeable  for common stocks,  such as convertible  bonds and
debentures.  A convertible  security entitles the holder to receive the interest
paid or  accrued  on debt or the  dividend  paid on  preferred  stock  until the
convertible  security  matures or is redeemed,  converted or  exchanged.  Before
conversion, such securities ordinarily provide a stream of income with generally
higher yields than common stocks of the same or similar issuers,  but lower than
the yield on  non-convertible  debt.  The price of a convertible  security often
reflects  variations in the price of the  underlying  common stock in a way that
non-convertible  debt does not. Any income  realized  will be  incidental to the
fund's objective.

The  fund's  policy  is to remain  substantially  invested  in common  stocks or
securities convertible into common stock.

The  securities in which the fund invests will generally be listed on a national
stock  exchange  or  traded  on  the   over-the-counter   market.  Under  normal
circumstances,  the adviser  expects to concentrate its investments in a limited
number of companies.

The  selection  of common  stocks will be made  through an  investment  strategy
referred  to  as  "focus  investing,"  whereby  companies  (or  businesses)  are
identified  and selected as eligible  investments  by examining all  fundamental
quantitative  and  qualitative  aspects of the company,  its  management and its
financial  position  as  compared  to its  stock  price.  This is a  bottom  up,
fundamental method of analysis as opposed to technical analysis,  which is based
on the study of trading  volumes and  prices.  Focus  investing  is based on the
principle  that a  shareholder's  return  from  owning  a  stock  is  ultimately
determined by the fundamental economics of the underlying business.  The adviser
believes that a focus investor should focus on the long-term  economic  progress
of the investment and disregard short-term nuances. The fund will only invest in
those companies that, in the adviser's  opinion,  are undervalued at the time of
purchase.

The portfolio  manager sells securities when they have realized what the manager
believes is their  potential value or when the portfolio  manager  believes that
they are not likely to achieve that value in a reasonable period of time.

For temporary defensive purposes,  the fund may temporarily invest up to 100% of
its assets in  short-term  U.S.  Government  securities,  bank  certificates  of
deposit,  prime commercial paper and other high quality  short-term fixed income
securities  and  repurchase  agreements  with  respect to those  securities.  In
addition,  the fund may hold cash  reserves,  when  necessary,  for  anticipated
securities purchases, shareholder redemptions or temporarily during periods when
the adviser believes  prevailing market conditions call for a defensive posture.
If the  fund  invests  substantially  in such  instruments,  the fund may not be
pursuing its principle  investment  strategies  and the fund may not achieve its
investment objective.

<PAGE>

PRINCIPAL RISKS

IN GENERAL:

There is no  assurance  that  the  fund  will  meet  its  investment  objective;
investors  could lose money by investing in the fund.  As with all mutual funds,
an investment  in this fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal  Deposit
Insurance Company or any other government agency.

NON-DIVERSIFICATION RISK:

The fund is non-diversified. The percentage of its assets invested in any single
issuer is not limited by the  Investment  Company  Act of 1940.  When the fund's
assets are invested in the securities of a limited number of issuers or it holds
a large portion of its assets in a few issuers,  the value of its shares will be
more susceptible to any single economic, political or regulatory event affecting
those issuers or their securities than shares of a diversified fund.

MARKET RISK:

Stock prices generally  fluctuate more than those of other  securities,  such as
debt  securities.  Market risk,  the risk that prices of securities  may go down
because of the interplay of market forces, may affect a single issuer,  industry
or  section of the  economy  or may  affect the market as a whole.  The fund may
experience a substantial or complete loss on an individual stock.

STYLE RISK:

The fund invests in stocks believed to be attractively  priced relative to their
intrinsic value. Such an approach involves the risk that those stocks may remain
undervalued.  Value  stocks as a group may be out of favor for a long  period of
time,  while the market  concentrates on "growth"  stocks.  There is also a risk
that other  investors  will not see the potential  value of the issuer,  and the
security will not realize that potential.

CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES:

A convertible  security is a bond,  debenture,  note,  preferred  stock or other
security  that may be  converted  into or exchanged  for a prescribed  amount of
common stock of the same or a different  issuer  within a  particular  period of
time at a specified price or formula.

The value of a convertible security is a function of (1) its yield in comparison
with the yields of other  securities of comparable  maturity and quality that do
not have a conversion privilege and (2) its worth, at market value, if converted
into the underlying common stock. Convertible securities are typically issued by
smaller capitalized companies whose stock prices may be volatile. The price of a
convertible  security  often  reflects  such  variations  in  the  price  of the
underlying common stock in a way that non-convertible debt does not.

<PAGE>

PERFORMANCE

         The  information  below  provides  an  indication  of the  risks of
         investing in the fund by showing  changes in its  performance  from
         year to year.  Annual returns assume  reinvestment of dividends and
         distributions.   Historical   performance  of  the  fund  does  not
         necessarily indicate what will happen in the future.

          YEAR BY YEAR TOTAL RETURN AS OF DECEMBER 31 OF EACH YEAR (%):

                        1996           17.14
                                       -----
                        1997           29.10
                                       -----
                        1998           41.17
                                       -----
                        1999           18.59
                                       -----

                      DURING THE PAST FOUR CALENDAR YEARS:

                                 Quarter Ended          Total Return
                                 -------------          ------------

         Best quarter:           December 31, 1998            36.94%
         Worst quarter:          September 30, 1998          -15.91%


         In the following table, average annual returns as of December 31, 1999,
         are compared with the Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500).

                                 1 Year          Life of Fund
                                 ------          ------------

         Focus Trust             18.59%              24.90%(a)
         S&P 500                 21.04%              27.41%(b)


         These figures include changes in principal value,  reinvested dividends
         and capital gain distributions, if any.

         (a) April 17, 1995 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 1999.
         (b) For the period April 30, 1995 to December 31, 1999.

<PAGE>

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE FUND

         The table below describes the fees and expenses you will incur directly
         or  indirectly  as an  investor  in the fund.  The fund pays  operating
         expenses  directly  out of its assets so they  lower the  fund's  share
         price and dividends.  Other expenses include transfer agency,  custody,
         professional  and  registration  fees.  The fund has no  initial  sales
         charge but is subject to a 12b-1 fee.

                         Annual Fund Operating Expenses
                (expenses that are deducted from fund assets)(a)
                ------------------------------------------------

         Management fees                                0.70%
         Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) fees       1.00%
         Other expenses                                 0.23%
         --------------                                -----

         Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses           1.93%

         (a)  Legg  Mason  Fund  Adviser,   Inc.,  as  investment  adviser,  has
         voluntarily agreed to waive fees so that expenses  (exclusive of taxes,
         interest, brokerage and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed an annual
         rate of 1.90% of the fund's  average  daily net assets  until April 30,
         2001.  This  voluntary  waiver may be terminated at any time.  With the
         waiver,  management  fees,  12b-1 fees and total annual fund  operating
         expenses  for the fund were .67%,  1.00% and 1.90% for the fiscal  year
         ended December 31, 1999.

         Example:

         This  example  helps you compare the cost of investing in the fund with
         the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Although your actual costs
         may be higher or lower,  you  would  pay the  following  expenses  on a
         $10,000 investment in the fund, assuming (1) a 5% return each year, (2)
         the  fund's  operating  expenses  remain the same as shown in the table
         above,  and (3) you  redeem  all of your  shares at the end of the time
         periods shown. Actual returns may be higher or lower than 5% per year.

         ------------------------------------------------------
               1 YEAR     3 YEARS    5 YEARS      10 YEARS
         ------------------------------------------------------
                 $196       $606       $1042        $2254
         ------------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>

MANAGEMENT

MANAGEMENT AND ADVISER:

Legg Mason Fund Adviser, Inc. ("LMFA"),  100 Light Street,  Baltimore,  Maryland
21202,  is the fund's  investment  adviser.  LMFA is responsible  for the actual
investment  management of the fund,  including making  investment  decisions and
placing orders to buy, sell or hold a particular security.  It also provides the
fund with  investment  management and  administrative  services and oversees the
fund's  relationships  with outside  service  providers,  such as the custodian,
transfer  agent,  accountants,  and lawyers.  LMFA acts as manager or adviser to
investment  companies  with  aggregate  assets  of  about  $18.2  billion  as of
December 31, 1999.


For its services  during the fiscal year ended  December 31, 1999, the fund paid
the Adviser a fee equal to .67% of its average daily net assets.

PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT:

Robert G.  Hagstrom,  Jr.  serves as  portfolio  manager and has been  primarily
responsible for overseeing all investments  made by the fund since its inception
on April 17,  1995.  From 1997 to June 30, 1998,  he was the General  Partner of
Focus Capital  Advisory,  L.P., the assets of which were purchased by LMFA. From
1992  through  1997,  he was a Principal  with Lloyd,  Leith & Sawin,  Inc.,  an
investment  adviser,  where he served as Vice  President  from 1991 to 1992. Mr.
Hagstrom is a Chartered Financial Analyst and author of three books, titled: THE
WARREN BUFFET WAY: INVESTMENT  STRATEGIES OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST INVESTOR (John
Wiley & Sons, November,  1994) THE WARREN BUFFET PORTFOLIO:  MASTERING THE POWER
OF THE FOCUS  INVESTMENT  STRATEGY  (John Wiley & Son,  February,  1999) and THE
NASCAR WAY:  THE  BUSINESS  THAT  DRIVES THE SPORT (John Wiley & Sons,  January,
1998).

DISTRIBUTOR OF THE FUND'S SHARES:

Legg  Mason  Wood  Walker,   Incorporated  ("Legg  Mason"),  100  Light  Street,
Baltimore, Maryland 21202, distributes the fund's shares. The fund has adopted a
plan under Rule 12b-1 that allows it to pay  distribution  fees and  shareholder
service  fees  for  the  sale  of  its  shares  and  for  services  provided  to
shareholders. Under the plan, the fund may pay Legg Mason an annual distribution
fee equal to 0.75% of the fund's  average daily net assets and an annual service
fee equal to 0.25% of its average daily net assets.


Because these fees are paid out of the fund's assets on an ongoing  basis,  over
time these fees will increase the cost of your  investment and may cost you more
than paying other types of sales charges.


Legg Mason may enter into  agreements  with other  brokers to sell shares of the
fund.  Legg Mason pays these brokers up to 90% of the  distribution  and service
fee that it receives from the fund for those sales.

LMFA and Legg  Mason are  wholly  owned  subsidiaries  of Legg  Mason,  Inc.,  a
financial services holding company.


<PAGE>

[icon] H O W  T O  I N V E S T

To open a regular account or a retirement account contact a Legg Mason Financial
Advisor,  Legg Mason Funds Investor Services ("FIS"), or another entity that has
entered  into an  agreement  with the fund's  distributor  to sell shares of the
fund. The minimum initial investment is $1,000 and the minimum for each purchase
of additional shares is $100.

Retirement accounts include traditional IRAs, spousal IRAs, Education IRAs, Roth
IRAs,  simplified  employee  pension plans,  savings  incentive  match plans for
employees and other qualified  retirement  plans.  The investment  amount for an
education  IRA is $500.  Contact your  financial  adviser,  FIS, or other entity
offering the funds to discuss which one might be appropriate for you.

Certain investment  methods (for example,  through certain retirement plans) may
be subject to lower minimum initial and additional investments. Arrangements may
also  be made  with  some  employers  and  financial  institutions  for  regular
automatic monthly investments of $50 or more in shares of the fund. Contact your
financial adviser or FIS with any questions regarding your investment options.

ONCE YOUR ACCOUNT IS OPEN, YOU MAY USE THE FOLLOWING  METHODS TO PURCHASE SHARES
OF THE FUND:

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IN PERSON               Give  your  financial  adviser  a check for $100 or more
                        payable to the fund.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MAIL                    Mail your check,  payable to the fund,  for $100 or more
                        to  your  financial  adviser  or  to  Legg  Mason  Funds
                        Investor  Services  at P.O.  Box  17023,  Baltimore,  MD
                        21297-0356.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TELEPHONE OR WIRE       Call your financial  adviser or FIS at 1-800-822-5544 to
                        transfer  available  cash  balances  in  your  brokerage
                        account or to  transfer  money from your bank  directly.
                        Wire  transfers  may be subject  to a service  charge by
                        your bank.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INTERNET OR             FIS clients may purchase shares of the fund through Legg
TELEFUND                Mason's  Internet site at  http://www.leggmasonfunds.com
                        or  through  a  telephone  account   management  service
                        "TeleFund" at 1-877-6-LMFUNDS.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FUTURE FIRST            Contact a Legg Mason Financial Advisor to enroll in Legg
SYSTEMATIC              Mason's Future First  Systematic  Investment Plan. Under
INVESTMENT PLAN         this  plan,  you  may  arrange  for  automatic   monthly
                        investments in a fund of $50 or more. The transfer agent
                        will transfer funds monthly from your Legg Mason account
                        or from your checking/savings account to purchase shares
                        of the desired fund.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AUTOMATIC               Arrangements   may  be  made  with  some  employers  and
INVESTMENTS             financial  institutions  for regular  automatic  monthly
                        investments  of $50 or more in shares  of the fund.  You
                        may also reinvest dividends from certain unit investment
                        trusts in shares of the fund.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Investments  made  through  entities  other  than Legg  Mason may be  subject to
transaction fees or other purchase conditions established by those entities. You
should consult their program literature for further information.

<PAGE>

Purchase  orders  received by your financial  adviser,  FIS or other  authorized
entity before the close of the New York Stock  Exchange  ("Exchange")  (normally
4:00 p.m.,  Eastern  time) will be processed at the fund's net asset value as of
the close of the Exchange on that day.  Orders  received  after the close of the
Exchange  will be processed at the fund's net asset value as of the close of the
Exchange on the next day the Exchange is open. Payment must be made within three
business days.

<PAGE>

[icon]  H O W  T O  S E L L  Y O U R  S H A R E S

YOU MAY USE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING METHODS TO SELL SHARES OF THE FUND:

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TELEPHONE          Call  your  financial  adviser  or FIS at  1-800-822-5544  or
                   entity offering the fund and request redemption.  Please have
                   the following  information  ready when you call:  the name of
                   the fund,  the  number of shares  (or  dollar  amount)  to be
                   redeemed and your shareholder account number.

                   Proceeds  will be  credited  to your  brokerage  account or a
                   check will be sent to you, at your direction, at no charge to
                   you.  Wire  requests will be subject to a fee of $12. Be sure
                   that your financial adviser has your bank account information
                   on file.


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INTERNET OR        FIS clients may request a redemption  of fund shares  through
TELEFUND           Legg Mason's  Internet site at  http://www.leggmasonfunds.com
                   or through TeleFund at 1-877-6-LMFUNDS.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MAIL               Send a  letter  to the  fund  requesting  redemption  of your
                   shares.  The letter  should be signed by all of the owners of
                   the  account   and  their   signatures   guaranteed   without
                   qualification. You may obtain a signature guarantee from most
                   banks or securities dealers.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


The fund will  follow  reasonable  procedures  to  ensure  the  validity  of any
telephone  or  Internet  redemption  request,  such  as  requesting  identifying
information from users or employing  identification  numbers. Unless you specify
that you do not wish to have telephone  redemption  privileges,  you may be held
responsible for any fraudulent telephone order.



Fund  shares  will be sold at the next net asset  value  calculated  after  your
redemption  request  is  received  by your  financial  adviser,  FIS,  or  other
authorized entity.


Redemption  orders will be processed  promptly.  You will generally  receive the
proceeds  within a week.  Payment of the proceeds of  redemptions of shares that
were  recently   purchased  by  check  or  acquired   through   reinvestment  of
distributions  on such shares may be delayed for up to 10 days from the purchase
date in order to allow for the check to clear.

Additional   documentation  may  be  required  from   corporations,   executors,
partnerships, administrators, trustees or custodians.

Redemptions  made  through  entities  other  than Legg  Mason may be  subject to
transaction fees or other conditions  established by those entities.  You should
consult their program literature for further information.

The fund has reserved the right under certain conditions to redeem its shares in
kind by distributing portfolio securities in payment for redemptions.

<PAGE>

ACCOUNT POLICIES

CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE:

Net asset value per share is determined  daily, as of the close of the Exchange,
on every day the  Exchange  is open.  The  Exchange  is  normally  closed on all
national  holidays and Good Friday.  To  calculate  the fund's share price,  the
fund's  assets are valued  and  totaled,  liabilities  are  subtracted,  and the
resulting net assets are divided by the number of shares outstanding. The fund's
securities  are  valued on the  basis of  market  quotations  or,  lacking  such
quotations,  at fair value as determined under policies approved by the Board of
Directors.

Where a security is traded on more than one market, the securities are generally
valued on the market  considered by the adviser to be the primary market.  Fixed
income  securities  generally are valued using market  quotations or independent
pricing  services  that use prices  provided by market  makers or  estimates  of
market  values.  Securities  with  remaining  maturities  of 60 days or less are
valued at amortized cost.

To the extent that the fund has portfolio  securities that are primarily  listed
on foreign exchanges that trade on days when the fund does not price its shares,
the net asset value of the fund may change on days when shareholders will not be
able to purchase or redeem the fund's shares.

OTHER:

Fund shares may not be held in, or transferred to, an account with any firm that
does not have an agreement with Legg Mason.

If your account falls below $500, the fund may ask you to increase your balance.
If,  after 60 days,  your  account is still below $500,  the fund may close your
account and send you the proceeds.  The fund will not redeem  accounts that fall
below $500 solely as a result of a reduction in net asset value per share.

The fund reserves the right to:

- -        reject  any order for shares or suspend  the  offering  of shares for a
         period of time,

- -        change its minimum investment amounts, and

- -        delay  sending  out  redemption  proceeds  for up to seven  days.  This
         generally  applies only in cases of very large redemptions or excessive
         trading  or  during  unusual  market  conditions.  The fund  may  delay
         redemptions  beyond  seven  days,  or  suspend  redemptions,   only  as
         permitted by the SEC.

<PAGE>

SERVICES FOR INVESTORS

For further information regarding any of the services below, please contact your
financial adviser or other entity offering the fund for sale.

CONFIRMATIONS AND ACCOUNT STATEMENTS:

You will receive from Legg Mason a confirmation after each transaction (except a
reinvestment  of dividends  or capital gain  distributions  and  purchases  made
through  the  Future  First  Systematic  Investment  Plan or  through  automatic
investments).  Legg Mason or the entity  through  which you invest will send you
account  statements  monthly  unless  there has been no activity in the account.
Legg Mason will send you statements  quarterly if you  participate in the Future
First  Systematic  Investment Plan or if you purchase  shares through  automatic
investments.

SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN:

If you are  purchasing or already own shares with a net asset value of $5,000 or
more, you may elect to make  systematic  withdrawals  from the fund. The minimum
amount for each  withdrawal  is $50. You should not purchase  shares of the fund
when you are a participant in the Plan.

EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE:

Fund shares may be  exchanged  for shares of any of the other Legg Mason  funds,
provided  these funds are eligible for sale in your state of residence.  You can
request  an  exchange  in  writing  or by  phone.  Be sure to read  the  current
prospectus for any fund into which you are exchanging.

There is currently no fee for exchanges;  however, you may be subject to a sales
charge when exchanging into a fund that has one. In addition, an exchange of the
fund's  shares  will be  treated  as a sale of the  shares  and any  gain on the
transaction may be subject to tax.

The fund reserves the right to:

- -        terminate or limit the exchange  privilege of any shareholder who makes
         more than four exchanges from the fund in one calendar year.

- -        terminate  or modify  the  exchange  privilege  after 60 days'  written
         notice to shareholders.

<PAGE>


[icon] D I S T R I B U T I O N S  A N D  T A X E S


The  fund  declares  and  pays  any  dividends  on an  annual  basis.  The  fund
distributes  substantially all net capital gain (the excess of any net long-term
capital gain over net short-term capital loss) after the end of the taxable year
in which the gain is realized.  A second distribution of net capital gain may be
necessary in some years to avoid imposition of a federal excise tax.

Your  dividends  and other  distributions  will be  automatically  reinvested in
additional  shares of the fund,  unless  you elect to receive  dividends  and/or
other  distributions in cash. To change your election,  you must notify the fund
at least 10 days before the next  dividend  and/or other  distribution  is to be
paid.

If the postal or other delivery  service is unable to deliver your  distribution
check,  your distribution  option will  automatically be converted to having all
dividends and other  distributions  reinvested in fund shares.  No interest will
accrue on amounts represented by uncashed distribution or redemption checks.

Fund dividends and other distributions are taxable to most investors (other than
retirement  plans and other  tax-exempt  investors)  whether received in cash or
reinvested in additional shares of the fund.  Dividends from investment  company
taxable income (which includes net investment income and net short-term  capital
gains) are taxable as ordinary  income.  Distributions of the fund's net capital
gain are taxable as long-term capital gain, regardless of how long you have held
your fund shares.

The sale or  exchange  of fund  shares  may  result in a  taxable  gain or loss,
depending on whether the proceeds are more or less than the cost of your shares.

A tax statement is sent to you at the end of each year  detailing the tax status
of your distributions.

The fund will  withhold 31% of all  dividends,  capital gain  distributions  and
redemption  proceeds  payable to  individuals  and certain  other  non-corporate
shareholders  who do not provide the fund with a valid  taxpayer  identification
number.  The fund will also  withhold  31% of all  dividends  and  capital  gain
distributions  payable  to  shareholders  who are  otherwise  subject  to backup
withholding.

Because each  investor's  tax  situation is different,  please  consult your tax
adviser about federal, state and local tax considerations.

<PAGE>

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The financial  highlights  table is intended to help you  understand  the fund's
financial performance since its inception. Total return represents the rate that
an investor  would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the fund,  assuming
reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions. This information has been
audited by the fund's independent accountants, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, whose
report, along with the fund's financial statements, is incorporated by reference
into the Statement of Additional Information (see back cover) and is included in
the  annual  report.  The annual  report is  available  upon  request by calling
toll-free 1-800-822-5544.

                              Investment Operations
                              ---------------------

              Net Asset         Net        Net Realized
 Years          Value,       Investment   and Unrealized   Total From
 Ended        Beginning        Income      Gain(Loss)on    Investment
Dec. 31,       of Year         (Loss)      Investments     Operations
- --------      ---------      ----------   --------------   ----------

  1999          22.00         $(.15)A          4.24           4.09
  1998          16.32          (.06)A          6.68           6.62
  1997          13.01          (.11)A          3.89           3.78
  1996          11.17          (.05)A          1.96           1.91
  1995B         10.00           .06A           1.17           1.23


                                 Distributions
                                 -------------

                              From
                 From          Net                         Net Asset
 Years            Net        Realized                        Value,
 Ended        Investment     Gain on          Total         End of
 Dec 31,        Income     Investments    Distributions       Year
- -------       ----------   -----------    -------------    ---------

  1999          $---           $---            $---           26.09
  1998           ---          -0.94            -0.94          22
  1997           ---          -0.47            -0.47          16.32
  1996           ---          -0.07            -0.07          13.01
  1995B         -0.06          ---             -0.06          11.17


                            Ratios/Supplemental Data
                            ------------------------

                                         Net
                                      Investment               Net Assets,
 Years                 Expenses     Income(Loss) Portfolio      End of
 Ended      Total     to Average     to Average   Turnover        Year
Dec. 31,   Return     Net Assets     Net Assets     Rate     (in thousands)
- --------   ------     ----------    ------------ ---------   -------------

  1999     18.59%       1.90%A        (.91)%A        14%      $275,624
  1998     41.47%       1.93%A        (.89)%A        21%        47,089
  1997     29.10%       2.00%A        (.74)%A        14%         8,093
  1996     17.14%       2.00%A        (.40)%A         8%         7,327
  1995B    12.29%C      1.92%A,D       1.19%A,D      ---         5,061


A    Net of fees waived pursuant to a voluntary  expense  limitation of 1.75% of
     average daily net assets through  September 1, 1995, 2.00% through June 30,
     1998,  and 1.90% through  April 30, 2001.  If no fees had been waived,  the
     annualized  ratio of  expenses  to average  net assets for the years  ended
     December 31, 1999,  1998,  1997 and 1996, and for the period April 17, 1995
     to December 31,  1995,  would have been 1.93%,  2.71%,  4.04%,  4.96%,  and
     7.89%, respectively.
B    For the period April 17, 1995  (commencement of operations) to December 31,
     1995.
C    Not annualized.
D    Annualized.

<PAGE>

Legg Mason Focus Trust, Inc.

The following  additional  information  about the fund is available upon request
and without charge:

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI) - The SAI is filed with the Securities
and  Exchange  Commission  (SEC)  and is  incorporated  by  reference  into  (is
considered part of) this prospectus.  The SAI provides  additional details about
the fund and its policies.

ANNUAL  AND  SEMI-ANNUAL  REPORTS -  Additional  information  about  the  fund's
investments  is  available  in the  fund's  annual  and  semi-annual  reports to
shareholders.  In the fund's  annual  report,  you will find a discussion of the
market  conditions and investment  strategies  that  significantly  affected the
fund's performance during its last fiscal year.

To request the SAI or any reports to shareholders, or to obtain more
information:

o        call toll-free 1-800-822-5544
o        visit us on the Internet via http://www.leggmasonfunds.com
o        write to us at:     Legg Mason Wood Walker, Incorporated
                             100 Light Street, P.O. Box 1476
                             Baltimore, Maryland 21203-1476

Information about the fund, including the SAI, can be reviewed and copied at the
SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington,  D.C. Information on the operation of
the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at  1-202-942-8090.
Reports and other information about the fund are available on the EDGAR database
on the SEC's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. Investors may also obtain this
information,  after  paying a  duplicating  fee,  by  electronic  request at the
following  e-mail  address:  [email protected]  or by writing the SEC's  Public
Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102.

LMF-091                                               SEC file number: 811-8966




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