Oppenheimer Enterprise Fund
Prospectus dated November __, 1995
Oppenheimer Enterprise Fund (the "Fund") is a mutual fund with the
investment objective of capital appreciation. Current income is not an
objective. The Fund seeks its investment objective by investing primarily
in equity securities of small U.S. and foreign companies that are believed
to have favorable growth prospects. Under normal market conditions, the
Fund will invest at least 65% of its total assets in equity securities of
growth companies with a market capitalization of up to $500 million,
although the Fund intends to emphasize investments within this 65% range
in equity securities of companies with a market capitalization of up to
$200 million. In an uncertain investment environment, temporary defensive
investment methods may be stressed. The Fund may also use certain hedging
instruments to seek to reduce the risks of market fluctuations that affect
the value of the securities the Fund holds, or to enhance total return.
The Fund may borrow money from banks to buy securities, which is a
speculative investment method known as "leverage". Please refer to
"Investment Objective and Policies" for more information about the types
of securities the Fund invests in and the risks of investing in the Fund.
This Prospectus explains concisely what you should know before
investing in the Fund. Please read this Prospectus carefully and keep it
for future reference. You can find more detailed information about the
Fund in the November __, 1995 Statement of Additional Information. For
a free copy, call Oppenheimer Shareholder Services, the Fund's Transfer
Agent, at 1-800-525-7048, or write to the Transfer Agent at the address
on the back cover. The Statement of Additional Information has been filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is incorporated into this
Prospectus by reference (which means that it is legally part of this
Prospectus).
(logo) OppenheimerFunds
Shares of the Fund are not deposits or obligations of any bank, are not
guaranteed by any bank, are not insured by the F.D.I.C. or any other
agency, and involve investment risks, including the possible loss of the
principal amount invested.
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 SECURITIES COMMISSION
PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY
REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
<PAGE>
Contents
ABOUT THE FUND
Expenses
A Brief Overview of the Fund
Investment Objective and Policies
How the Fund is Managed
Performance of the Fund
ABOUT YOUR ACCOUNT
How to Buy Shares
Class A Shares
Class B Shares
Class C Shares
Special Investor Services
AccountLink
Automatic Withdrawal and Exchange Plans
Reinvestment Privilege
Retirement Plans
How to Sell Shares
By Mail
By Telephone
How to Exchange Shares
Shareholder Account Rules and Policies
Dividends, Capital Gains and Taxes
<PAGE>
ABOUT THE FUND
Expenses
The Fund pays a variety of expenses directly for management of its
assets, administration, distribution of its shares and other services, and
those expenses are subtracted from the Fund's assets to calculate the
Fund's net asset value per share. All shareholders therefore pay those
expenses indirectly. Shareholders pay other expenses directly, such as
sales charges and account transaction charges. The following tables are
provided to help you understand your direct expenses of investing in the
Fund and your share of the Fund's business operating expenses that you
will bear indirectly.
- Shareholder Transaction Expenses are charges you pay when you buy
or sell shares of the Fund. Please refer to "About Your Account," from
pages __ through __, for an explanation of how and when these charges
apply.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class A Class B Class C
Shares Shares Shares
-------- -------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Maximum Sales Charge on 5.75% None None
Purchases(as a % of
offering price)
Sales Charge on
Reinvested Dividends None None None
Deferred Sales Charge
(as a % of the lower
of the original
purchase price
or redemption proceeds) None(1) 5% in the 1% if shares
first year, are redeemed
declining to within 12
sixth year months of
and purchase(2)
eliminated
thereafter(2)
Exchange Fee None None None
Redemption Fee None(3) None(3) None(3)
</TABLE>
(1) If you invest $1 million or more ($500,000 or more for purchases by
OppenheimerFunds prototype 401(k) plans) in Class A shares, you may
have to pay a sales charge of up to 1% if you sell your shares within
18 calendar months from the end of the calendar month during which
you purchased those shares. See "How to Buy Shares - Class A
Shares," below.
(2) See "How to Buy Shares - Class B Shares" and "How to Buy Shares -
Class C Shares" below.
(3) There is a $10 transaction fee for redemptions paid by Federal funds
wire, but not for redemptions paid by ACH transfer through
AccountLink. See "How to Sell Shares."
- Annual Fund Operating Expenses are paid out of the Fund's assets
and represent the Fund's expenses in operating its business. For example,
the Fund pays management fees to its investment advisor, Oppenheimer
Management Corporation (referred to in this Prospectus as the "Manager").
The rates of the Manager's fees are set forth in "How the Fund is
Managed," below. The Fund has other regular expenses for services, such
as transfer agent fees, custodial fees paid to the bank that holds its
portfolio securities, audit fees and legal expenses.
The 12b-1 Service Plan Fees for Class A shares are service fees (maximum
of 0.25% of average annual net assets of the class); for Class B and Class
C shares the 12b-1 Distribution and Service Plan Fees are a service fee
(0.25% of average annual net assets of the class) and an annual asset-
based sales charge of 0.75%. These plans are described in greater detail
in "How to Buy Shares." "Other Expenses" in the table below are estimates
based on amounts that would have been payable if the Fund's shares had
been outstanding for a full fiscal year.
The actual expenses for each class of shares in the Fund's first and
future years may be more or less than the numbers in the chart, depending
on a number of factors, including the actual value of the Fund's assets
represented by each class of shares.
Class A Shares Class B Shares Class C Shares
-------------- -------------- -------------
Management Fees 0.75% 0.75% 0.75%
12b-1 Distribution and/
or Service Plan Fees 0.25% 1.00% 1.00%
Other Expenses 0.48% 0.50% 0.50%
Total Fund Operating
Expenses 1.48% 2.25% 2.25%
- Examples. To try to show the effect of these expenses on an
investment over time, we have created the hypothetical examples shown
below. Assume that you make a $1,000 investment in each class of shares
of the Fund, and the Fund's annual return is 5%, and that its operating
expenses for each class are the ones shown in the Annual Fund Operating
Expenses table above. If you were to redeem your shares at the end of
each period shown below, your investment would incur the following
expenses by the end of 1 and 3 years:
1 year 3 years
------ -------
Class A Shares $72 $102
Class B Shares $73 $100
Class C Shares $33 $70
If you did not redeem your investment, it would incur the following
expenses:
Class A Shares $72 $102
Class B Shares $23 $ 70
Class C Shares $23 $ 70
Because of the asset-based sales charge and the contingent deferred
sales charge on Class B and Class C shares, long-term Class B and Class
C shareholders could pay the economic equivalent of an amount greater than
the maximum front-end sales charge permitted under applicable regulatory
requirements. For Class B shareholders, the automatic conversion of Class
B shares to Class A shares is designed to minimize the likelihood that
this will occur. Please refer to "How to Buy Shares" for more
information.
These examples show the effect of expenses on an investment, but are
not meant to state or predict actual or expected costs or investment
returns of the Fund, all of which will vary.
<PAGE>
A Brief Overview of the Fund
Some of the important facts about the Fund are summarized below, with
references to the section of this Prospectus where more complete
information can be found. You should carefully read the entire Prospectus
before making a decision about investing in the Fund. Keep the Prospectus
for reference after you invest, particularly for information about your
account, such as how to sell or exchange shares.
- What is the Fund's Investment Objective? The Fund's investment
objective is capital appreciation; current income is not an objective.
- What Does the Fund Invest In? The Fund seeks its investment
objective by investing primarily in equity securities (such as common and
preferred stock, convertible securiites and other securities having equity
features) of small U.S. and foreign companies that are believed to have
favorable growth prospects. Under normal market conditions, the Fund will
invest at least 65% of its total assets in equity securities of growth
companies with a market capitalization of up to $500 million at the time
of purchase, although the Fund intends to emphasize investments within
this 65% range in equity securities of companies with a market
capitalization of up to $200 million. These investments are more fully
explained in "Investment Objective and Policies," starting on page __.
- Who Manages the Fund? The Fund is managed by the Manager,
Oppenheimer Management Corporation. The Manager (including a subsidiary)
manages investment company portfolios currently having over $38 billion
in assets. The Manager is paid an advisory fee by the Fund, based on its
assets. The Fund's portfolio manager, who is primarily responsible for
the selection of the Fund's securities, is Jay W. Tracey, III. The
Manager is paid an advisory fee by the Fund, based on its assets. The
Fund's Board of Trustees, elected by shareholders, oversees the investment
adviser and the portfolio manager. Please refer to "How the Fund is
Managed," starting on page __ for more information about the Manager and
its fees.
- How Risky Is the Fund? All investments carry risks to some
degree. The Fund is designed for investors who are willing to accept
greater risks of loss in the hopes of greater gains, and is not intended
for those who desire assured income and preservation of capital. The Fund
emphasizes investments in small growth companies, which investments, due
to potentially limited liquidity and price volatility, may involve greater
risks than more traditional equity investments. The Fund's investments
in stocks are subject to changes in their value from a number of factors,
such as general stock market movements or the changes in value of
particular stocks because of an event affecting the issuer. These changes
affect the value of the Fund's investments and its price per share. The
Fund's investments in foreign securiites are subject to additional risks
not associated with domestic investments, such as the risk of adverse
currency fluctuation and risks associated with investment in
underdeveloped countries and markets. Hedging instruments and derivative
investments involve certain risks, as discussed under "Hedging" and
"Derivative Investments," below. The Fund may borrow money from banks to
buy securities, a practice known as leverage that is subject to certain
risks discussed below under "Special Risks - Borrowing for Leverage."
The Fund may be viewed as an aggressive growth fund, and is generally
expected to be more volatile than the other stock funds, the income and
growth funds and the more conservative income funds in the Oppenheimer
funds spectrum. While the Manager tries to reduce risks by diversifying
investments, by carefully researching securities before they are purchased
for the portfolio, and in some cases by using hedging techniques, there
is no guarantee of success in achieving the Fund's objective and your
shares may be worth more or less than their original cost when you redeem
them. Please refer to "Investment Objective and Policies" starting on
page __ for a more complete discussion.
- How Can I Buy Shares? You can buy shares through your dealer or
financial institution, or you can purchase shares directly through the
Fund's Distributor by completing an Application or by using an Automatic
Investment Plan under AccountLink. Please refer to "How To Buy Shares"
on page __ for more details.
- Will I Pay a Sales Charge to Buy Shares? The Fund offers three
classes of shares. All classes have the same investment portfolio but
different expenses. Class A shares are offered with a front-end sales
charge, starting at 5.75%, and reduced for larger purchases. Class B and
Class C shares are offered without a front-end sales charge, but may be
subject to a contingent deferred sales charge if redeemed within 6 years
or 12 months, respectively, of buying them. There is also an annual
asset-based sales charge on Class B and Class C shares. Please review
"How To Buy Shares" starting on page for more details, including a
discussion about which class may be appropriate for you.
- How Can I Sell My Shares? Shares can be redeemed by mail or by
telephone call to the Transfer Agent on any business day, or through your
dealer. Please refer to "How To Sell Shares" on page __. The Fund also
offers exchange privileges to other Oppenheimer funds, described in "How
to Exchange Shares" on page _____.
<PAGE>
Investment Objective and Policies
Objective. The Fund invests its assets to seek capital appreciation for
its shareholders; current income is not an objective.
Investment Policies and Strategies. The Fund seeks its investment
objective by investing primarily in equity securities, such as common and
preferred stock and other securities having equity features such as
convertible securities, warrants and rights (subject to certain
restrictions), of small U.S. and foreign companies, described below, that
are believed to have favorable growth prospects.
Under normal market conditions, as a matter of non-fundamental
policy, the Fund will invest at least 65% of its total assets in equity
securities of growth companies with a market capitalization of up to $500
million at the time of purchase ("small-cap" companies), although it is
the Fund's intention to emphasize investments within this 65% range in
equity securities of small-cap growth companies with a market
capitalization of up to $200 million. Market capitalization is generally
defined as the value of a company as determined by the total current
market value of its issued and outstanding common stock. The balance of
the Fund's total assets may be invested in other securities, such as
equity securities of companies with a market capitalization of $500
million or more and other securities described below.
In investing the Fund's assets, the Manager evaluates the merits of
securities primarily through the exercise of its own investment analysis,
including its evaluation of general and industry economic and market
trends, the history of the issuer's operations, prospects for the industry
of which the issuer is part, the issuer's financial condition and the
issuer's pending product development and developments by competitors, as
well as fundamental securities valuation factors and securities price
trends. The Fund may try to hedge against losses in the value of its
portfolio securities by using hedging strategies described below. The
Fund's portfolio manager may employ special investment techniques in
selecting securities for the Fund, which are also described below.
Additional information may be found about them under the same headings in
the Statement of Additional Information.
Small-cap growth companies may offer greater opportunities for
capital appreciation than large, more established companies. However,
investors should be aware that the very nature of investing in small
companies involves greater risk than is customarily associated with
investing in established companies. The Fund is designed for investors
who are willing to accept greater risks of loss in the hopes of greater
gains, and is not intended for those who desire assured income and
conservation of capital. Certain risks of investing in small-cap growth
companies are described below.
- Can the Fund's Investment Objective and Policies Change? The Fund
has an investment objective, described above, as well as investment
policies it follows to try to achieve its objective. Additionally, the
Fund uses certain investment techniques and strategies in carrying out
those investment policies. The Fund's investment policies and techniques
are not "fundamental" unless this Prospectus or the Statement of
Additional Information says that a particular policy is "fundamental."
The Fund's investment objective is a fundamental policy.
Fundamental policies are those that cannot be changed without the
approval of a "majority" of the Fund's outstanding voting shares. The
term "majority" is defined in the Investment Company Act to be a
particular percentage of outstanding voting shares (and this term is
explained in the Statement of Additional Information). The Fund's Board
of Trustees may change non-fundamental policies without shareholder
approval, although significant changes will be described in amendments to
this Prospectus.
- What are "Small-Cap" Growth Companies? In selecting investments
for the Fund, the Manager will emphasize small companies (with a market
capitalization as described above) that it believes will have the
potential to achieve long-term earnings growth rates substantially in
excess of the growth of earnings of other companies. Typically, these are
companies whose goods or services have relatively favorable long-term
prospects for increasing demand, or companies that develop new products,
services or markets and normally retain a relatively large part of their
earnings for research, development and investment in capital assets. Also
included are companies in the natural resources fields or those developing
industrial applications for new scientific knowledge having a potential
for technological innovations, such as nuclear energy, oceanography,
business services and new consumer products. The Fund may also invest
from time to time in cyclical industries, such as insurance and forest
products, when the Manager believes that they present opportunities for
capital growth. Growth type issuers in which the Fund may invest include
emerging growth companies, which are companies that often provide new
products or services that enable them to capture a dominant or important
market position, or have a special area of expertise, or take advantage
of changes in demographic factors in a more profitable way than other
companies. The rate of growth of such companies at times may be dramatic.
- Investment Risks. Investment in small-cap growth companies may
involve greater risks than is customarily associated with investment in
more established companies. Small-cap growth companies may have limited
product lines, markets or financial resources and less depth in management
as compared to more established companies. The securities of small-cap
growth companies could have limited liquidity (which means that the Fund
might have difficulty selling the securities at an acceptable price when
it wants to) and the prices of these securities may be subject to greater
price volatility. Realizing the full potential of small-cap growth
companies frequently takes time. As a result, the Fund should be
considered a long-term investment vehicle.
The Fund invests a substantial portion of its assets in stocks;
accordingly, the value of the Fund's portfolio will be affected by changes
in the stock markets. At times, the stock market can be volatile, and
stock prices can change substantially. This market risk will affect the
Fund's net asset value per share, which will fluctuate as the values of
the Fund's portfolio securities change. Not all stock prices change
uniformly or at the same time, and other factors can affect a particular
stock's prices (for example, poor earnings reports by an issuer, loss of
major customers, major litigation against an issuer, or changes in
government regulations affecting an industry). Not all of these factors
can be predicted.
Because of the types of companies the Fund invests in and the
investment techniques the Fund uses, some of which may be speculative, the
Fund is designed for investors who are investing for the long-term and who
are willing to accept greater risks of loss of their capital in the hope
of achieving greater capital appreciation. Investing for capital
appreciation entails the risk of loss of all or part of your principal.
Since changes in securities market prices can occur at any time, there is
no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective, and when
you redeem your shares, they may be worth more or less than what you paid
for them.
- Foreign Securities. The Fund may purchase securities issued or
guaranteed by foreign companies or foreign governments that are listed on
a domestic or foreign securities exchange or are represented by American
Depository Receipts listed on a domestic securities exchange, or traded
in the U.S. over-the-counter market. The Fund has no restrictions on the
amount of its assets that may be invested in foreign securities, and may
purchase securities issued by issuers in any country, developed or
underdeveloped. The Fund will hold foreign currency only in connection
with the purchase or sale of foreign securities. The Fund will consider
the political and economic conditions in a country, the prospect for
changes in the value of its currency and the liquidity of an investment
in that country's securities markets in selecting investments in foreign
securities.
Foreign securities have special risks. There are special risks in
investing in foreign securities. Because the Fund may buy securities
denominated in foreign currencies or traded primarily in foreign markets,
a change in the value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will
result in a change in the U.S. dollar value of securiites denominated in
that foreign currency. Foreign issuers are not subject to the same
accounting and disclosure requirements that U.S. companies are subject to.
The value of foreign investments may be affected by other factors,
including exchange control regulations, expropriation or nationalization
of a company's assets, foreign taxes, delays in settlement of
transactions, changes in governmental economic or monetary policy in the
U.S. or abroad, or other political and economic factors. In addition, it
is generally more difficult to obtain court judgments outside the U.S. if
the Fund were to sue a foreign issuer or broker. Additional costs may be
incurred because foreign brokerage commissions may be higher than U.S.
rates, and there are additional custodial costs associated with holding
securities abroad. Securities of some foreign companies, particularly
those in underdeveloped countries, are less liquid and more volatile than
securities of comparable domestic companies. Investment in the securities
of issuers in underdeveloped countries may involve exposure to economic
structures that are less diverse and mature, and to political systems that
can be expected to have less stability than, developed countries. See
"Foreign Securities" in the Statement of Additional Information for more
information about the possible rewards and risks of investing in foreign
securities.
- Investing in Small, Unseasoned Companies. The Fund may invest in
securities of small, unseasoned companies. These are companies that have
been in operation less than three years, even including the operations of
any of their predecessors. The securities of such companies may have
limited liquidity and the prices of such securities may be volatile.
The Fund currently intends to invest no more than 10% of its total assets
in securities of small, unseasoned issuers.
- Temporary Defensive Investments. When stock market prices are
falling or in other unusual economic or business circumstances, the Fund
may invest all or a portion of its assets in defensive securities.
Securities selected for defensive purposes may include investment grade
debt securities (securities rated at least "Baa" by Moody's Investors
Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or at least "BBB" by Standard & Poor's
Corporation ("Standard & Poor's") or, if unrated, judged by the Manager
to be of comparable quality to securities rated within such grades), and
preferred stocks, cash or cash equivalents, such as U.S. Treasury Bills
and other short-term obligations of the U.S. Government, its agencies or
instrumentalities, or commercial paper rated "A-1" or better by Standard
& Poor's or "P-1" or better by Moody's.
- Portfolio Turnover. A change in the securities held by the Fund
is known as "portfolio turnover." The Fund generally will not engage in
short-term trading to try to achieve its investment objective. As a
result, the Fund's portfolio turnover is not expected to be more than 100%
each year. Portfolio turnover affects brokerage costs as well as a fund's
ability to qualify as a "regulated investment company" under the Internal
Revenue Code for tax deductions for any dividends and capital gains
distributions the Fund pays to shareholders.
Other Investment Techniques and Strategies. The Fund may also use the
investment techniques and strategies described below. These techniques
involve certain risks. The Statement of Additional Information contains
more information about these practices, including limitations on their
use, that are designed to reduce some of the risks.
- Special Risks - Borrowing for Leverage. The Fund may borrow money
in an amount up to one-third of its total assets from banks to buy
securities. The Fund will borrow only if it can do so without putting up
assets as security for a loan. This is a speculative investment method
known as "leverage." Leveraging may subject the Fund to greater risks and
costs than funds that do not borrow. These risks may include the
possibility that the Fund's net asset value per share will fluctuate more
than the net asset value of funds that don't borrow, since the Fund pays
interest on borrowings and interest expense affects the Fund's share
price. Borrowing for leverage is subject to regulatory limits described
in more detail in "Borrowing for Leverage" in the Statement of Additional
Information.
- Warrants and Rights. Warrants basically are options to purchase
stock at set prices that are valid for a limited period of time. Rights
are similar to warrants but normally have a short duration and are
distributed directly by the issuer to its shareholders. The Fund may
invest up to 5% of its net assets in warrants. That 5% excludes warrants
the Fund has acquired in units or that are attached to other securities.
No more than 2% of the Fund's assets may be invested in warrants that are
not listed on the New York or American Stock Exchanges.
- Special Situations. The Fund may invest in securities of
companies that are in "special situations" that the Manager believes may
present opportunities for capital growth. A "special situation" may be
an event such as a proposed merger, reorganization, or other unusual
development that is expected to occur and which may result in an increase
in the value of a company's securities, regardless of general business
conditions or the movement of the market as a whole. There is a risk that
the price of the security may decline if the anticipated development fails
to occur.
- Derivative Investments. The Fund can invest in a number of
different kinds of "derivative investments." They are used in some cases
for hedging purposes and in other cases to enhance total return. In
general, a "derivative investment" is a specially designed investment.
Its performance is linked to the performance of another investment or
security, such as an option, future, index, currency or commodity. In the
broadest sense, exchange-traded options and futures contracts (discussed
in "Hedging," below) may be considered "derivative investments." The Fund
may not purchase or sell physical commodities; however, the Fund may
purchase and sell foreign currency in hedging transactions. This shall
not prevent the Fund from buying or selling options and futures contracts
or from investing in securities or other instruments backed by physical
commodities.
The Fund may invest in "index-linked" or "commodity-linked" notes.
These derivative investments are debt securities of companies that call
for interest payments and/or payment on the maturity of the note in
different terms than the typical note where the borrower agrees to pay a
fixed sum on the maturity of the note. Principal and/or interest payments
on an index-linked note depend on the performance of one or more market
indices, such as the S&P 500 Index or a weighted index of commodity
futures, such as crude oil, gasoline and natural gas. Please refer to
"Derivative Investments" in the Statement of Additional Information for
a description of other derivative investments.
There are special risks in investing in derivative investments. The
company issuing the instrument may fail to pay the amount due on the
maturity of the instrument. Also, the underlying investment or security
on which the derivative is based might not perform the way the Manager
expected it to perform. The performance of derivative investments may
also be influenced by interest rate and stock market changes in the U.S.
and abroad. All of this can mean that the Fund will realize less
principal or income from the investment than expected. Certain derivative
investments held by the Fund may trade in the over-the-counter market and
may be illiquid. Please see "Illiquid and Restricted Securities", below.
- Hedging. As described below, the Fund may purchase and sell
certain kinds of futures contracts, put and call options, forward
contracts, and options on futures and broadly-based stock indices, or
enter into interest rate swap agreements. These are all referred to as
"hedging instruments." The Fund does not use hedging instruments for
speculative purposes, and has limits on the use of them, described below.
The hedging instruments the Fund may use are described below and in
greater detail in "Other Investment Techniques and Strategies" in the
Statement of Additional Information.
The Fund may buy and sell options, futures and forward contracts for
a number of purposes. It may do so to try to manage its exposure to the
possibility that the prices of its portfolio securities may decline, or
to establish a position in the securities market as a temporary substitute
for purchasing individual securities. Some of these strategies, such as
selling futures, buying puts and writing covered calls, hedge the Fund's
portfolio against price fluctuations.
Other hedging strategies, such as buying futures and call options,
tend to increase the Fund's exposure to the securities market. Forward
contracts are used to try to manage foreign currency risks on the Fund's
foreign investments. Writing covered call options may also provide income
to the Fund for liquidity purposes or defensive reasons.
Futures. The Fund may buy and sell futures contracts that relate to
(1) broadly-based stock indices (referred to as Stock Index Futures), and
(2) other securities indices (these are referred to as Financial Futures).
These types of Futures are described in "Hedging With Options and Futures
Contracts" in the Statement of Additional Information.
Put and Call Options. The Fund may buy and sell certain kinds of put
options (puts) and call options (calls).
The Fund may buy calls only on securities, broadly-based stock
indices and Stock Index Futures, or to terminate its obligation on a call
the Fund previously wrote. The Fund may write (that is, sell) covered
call options. When the Fund writes a call, it receives cash (called a
premium). The call gives the buyer the ability to buy the investment on
which the call was written from the Fund at the call price during the
period in which the call may be exercised. If the value of the investment
does not rise above the call price, it is likely that the call will lapse
without being exercised, while the Fund keeps the cash premium (and the
investment).
The Fund may purchase put options. Buying a put on an investment
gives the Fund the right to sell the investment at a set price to a seller
of a put on that investment. The Fund can buy only those puts that relate
to (1) securities that the Fund owns, (2) Stock Index Futures, or (3)
broadly-based stock indices. The Fund can buy a put on a Stock Index
Future whether or not the Fund owns the particular Future in its
portfolio. The Fund may not sell a put other than a put that it
previously purchased.
The Fund may buy and sell puts and calls only if certain conditions
are met: (1) after the Fund writes a call, not more than 25% of the Fund's
total assets may be subject to calls; (2) calls the Fund buys or sells
must be listed on a securities or commodities exchange, or quoted on the
Automated Quotation System of the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. (NASDAQ); (3) each call the Fund writes must be "covered"
while it is outstanding: that means the Fund must own the investment on
which the call was written or it must own other securities that are
acceptable for the escrow arrangements required for calls; (4) the Fund
may write calls on Futures contracts it owns, but these calls must be
covered by securities or other liquid assets the Fund owns and segregates
to enable it to satisfy its obligations if the call is exercised; and (5)
a call or put option may not be purchased if the value of all of the
Fund's put and call options would exceed 5% of the Fund's total assets.
Forward Contracts. Forward contracts are foreign currency exchange
contracts. They are used to buy or sell foreign currency for future
delivery at a fixed price. The Fund uses them to try to "lock in" the
U.S. dollar price of a security denominated in a foreign currency that the
Fund has bought or sold, or to protect against possible losses from
changes in the relative values of the U.S. dollar and foreign currency.
Interest Rate Swaps. In an interest rate swap, the Fund and another
party exchange their right to receive interest or their obligation to pay
interest on a security. For example, they may swap a right to receive
floating rate payments for fixed rate payments. The Fund enters into
swaps only on securities it owns. The Fund may not enter into swaps with
respect to more than 25% of its total assets. Also, the Fund will
segregate liquid assets (such as cash or U.S. government securities) to
cover any amounts it could owe under swaps that exceed the amounts it is
entitled to receive, and it will adjust that amount daily, as needed.
Hedging instruments can be volatile investments and may involve
special risks. The use of hedging instruments requires special skills and
knowledge of investment techniques that are different from what is
required for normal portfolio management. If the Manager uses a hedging
instrument at the wrong time or judges market conditions incorrectly,
hedging strategies may reduce the Fund's return. The Fund could also
experience losses if the prices of its futures and options positions were
not correlated with its other investments or if it could not close out a
position because of an illiquid market for the future or option.
Options trading involves the payment of premiums and has special tax
effects on the Fund. There are also special risks in particular hedging
strategies. For example, the use of forward contracts may reduce the gain
that would otherwise result from a change in the relationship between the
U.S. dollar and a foreign currency. Interest rate swaps are subject to
credit risks (if the other party fails to meet its obligations) and are
also subject to interest rate risks. The Fund could be obligated to pay
more under its swap agreements than it receives under them, as a result
of interest rate changes. These risks are described in greater detail in
the Statement of Additional Information.
- Illiquid and Restricted Securities. Under the policies and
procedures established by the Fund's Board of Trustees, the Manager
determines the liquidity of certain of the Fund's investments. Investments
may be illiquid because of the absence of a trading market, making it
difficult to value them or dispose of them promptly at an acceptable
price. A restricted security is one that has a contractual restriction
on its resale or that cannot be sold publicly until it is registered under
the Securities Act of 1933. The Fund will not invest more than 10% of its
net assets in illiquid or restricted securities (that limit may increase
to 15% if certain state laws are changed or the Fund's shares are no
longer sold in those states). The Fund's percentage limitation on these
investments does not apply to certain restricted securities that are
eligible for resale to qualified institutional purchasers.
- Loans of Portfolio Securities. To raise cash for liquidity
purposes, the Fund may lend its portfolio securities to brokers, dealers
and other financial institutions. These loans are limited to not more
than 25% of the Fund's net assets and are subject to other conditions
described in the Statement of Additional Information. The Fund presently
does not intend to lend its portfolio securities, but if it does, the
value of securities loaned is not expected to exceed 5% of the value of
its total assets.
- Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may enter into repurchase
agreements to generate income for liquidity purposes to meet anticipated
redemptions, or pending the investment of proceeds from sales of Fund
shares or settlement of purchases of portfolio investments. There is no
limit on the amount of the Fund's net assets that may be subject to
repurchase agreements of seven days or less. Repurchase agreements must
be fully collateralized. However, if the vendor of the securities fails
to pay the resale price on the delivery date, the Fund may incur costs in
disposing of the collateral, and losses if there is any delay in its
ability to do so. The Fund will not enter into a repurchase transaction
that causes more than 10% of its net assets to be subject to repurchase
agreements having a maturity of more than seven days.
- Short Sales "Against-the-Box". The Fund may not sell securities
short except in collateralized transactions referred to as short sales
"against-the-box," where the Fund owns an equivalent amount of the
security sold short. No more than 15% of the Fund's net assets will be
held as collateral for such short sales at any one time.
- Other Investment Risks. Because of the types of securities the
Fund invests in and the investment techniques the Fund uses, some of which
may be speculative, the Fund is designed for investors who are investing
for the long-term and who are willing to accept greater risks of loss of
their capital in the hope of achieving capital appreciation. It is not
intended for investors seeking assured income and preservation of capital.
Investing for capital appreciation entails the risk of loss of all or part
of your principal. Because there is no assurance that the Fund will
achieve its investment objective, when you redeem your shares, they may
be worth more or less than what you paid for them.
Other Investment Restrictions
The Fund has certain investment restrictions that are fundamental
policies. Under these restrictions, the Fund cannot do any of the
following:
- invest in securities of a single issuer (except the U.S. Government
or its agencies or instrumentalities) if immediately thereafter (a)
more than 5% of the Fund's total assets would be invested in
securities of that issuer, or (b) the Fund would then own more than
10% of that issuer's voting securities
- make short sales of securities except "short sales against-the-box"
- invest 25% or more of its total assets in securities of companies
in any one industry (for purposes of this restriction, obligations
of the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities are not
considered to be part of any single industry)
All of the percentage restrictions described above and elsewhere in
this Prospectus (other than the percentage limits that apply to illiquid
and restricted securities and to borrowing by the Fund), apply only at the
time the Fund purchases a security. The Fund need not dispose of a
security merely because the size of the Fund's assets has changed or the
security has increased in value relative to the size of the Fund. There
are other fundamental policies discussed in the Statement of Additional
Information.
How the Fund is Managed
Organization and History. The Fund was organized in March 1995 as a
Massachusetts business trust. The Fund is an open-end, diversified
management investment company, with an unlimited number of authorized
shares of beneficial interest.
The Fund is governed by a Board of Trustees, which is responsible for
protecting the interests of shareholders under Massachusetts law. The
Trustees meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Fund's
activities, review its performance, and review the actions of the Manager.
"Trustees and Officers of the Fund" in the Statement of Additional
Information names the Trustees and provides more information about them
and the officers of the Fund. Although the Fund is not required by law
to hold annual meetings, it may hold shareholder meetings from time to
time on important matters, and shareholders have the right to call a
meeting to remove a Trustee or to take other action described in the
Fund's Declaration of Trust.
The Board of Trustees has the power, without shareholder approval,
to divide unissued shares of the Fund into two or more classes. The Board
has done so, and the Fund currently has three classes of shares, Class
A, Class B and Class C. All three classes invest in the same investment
portfolio. Each class has its own dividends and distributions and pays
certain expenses, which may be different for the different classes. Each
class may have a different net asset value. Each share has one vote at
shareholder meetings, with fractional shares voting proportionally. Only
shares of a particular class vote as a class on matters that affect that
class alone. Shares are freely transferrable.
The Manager and Its Affiliates. The Fund is managed by the Manager,
Oppenheimer Management Corporation, which is responsible for selecting the
Fund's investments and handles its day-to-day business. The Manager
carries out its duties, subject to the policies established by the Board
of Trustees, under an Investment Advisory Agreement which states the
Manager's responsibilities. The Agreement sets forth the fees paid by the
Fund to the Manager, and describes the expenses that the Fund is
responsible to pay to conduct its business.
The Manager has operated as an investment adviser since 1959. The
Manager (including a subsidiary) currently manages investment companies,
including other Oppenheimer funds, with assets of more than $38 billion
as of September 30, 1995, and with more than 2.8 million shareholder
accounts. The Manager is owned by Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp., a
holding company that is owned in part by senior officers of the Manager
and controlled by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company.
- Portfolio Manager. The portfolio manager of the Fund is Jay W.
Tracey, III, a Vice President of the Manager. He is the person
principally responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund's
portfolio. Mr. Tracey has also served as an officer and portfolio manager
for other Oppenheimer funds since October 1991 except during the period
from February 1994 to September 1994, during which time Mr. Tracey was a
managing director of Buckingham Capital Management. Prior to initially
joining the Manager in October 1991, he was a Senior Vice President of
Founders Asset Management, Inc. (a mutual fund adviser), prior to which
he was a securities analyst and portfolio manager for Berger Associates,
Inc. (investment adviser).
- Fees and Expenses. Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, the
Fund pays the Manager the following annual fees, which may be higher than
the rates paid by some other mutual funds, and which decline on additional
assets as the Fund grows: 0.75% of the first $200 million of aggregate
net assets, 0.72% of the next $200 million, 0.69% of the next $200
million, 0.66% of the next $200 million, and 0.60% of net assets in excess
of $800 million.
The Fund pays expenses related to its daily operations, such as
custodian fees, Trustees' fees, transfer agency fees, legal and auditing
costs. Those expenses are paid out of the Fund's assets and are not paid
directly by shareholders. However, those expenses reduce the net asset
value of shares, and therefore are indirectly borne by shareholders
through their investment. More information about the Investment Advisory
Agreement and the other expenses paid by the Fund is contained in the
Statement of Additional Information.
There is also information about the Fund's brokerage policies and
practices in "Brokerage Policies of the Fund" in the Statement of
Additional Information. That section discusses how brokers and dealers are
selected for the Fund's portfolio transactions. When deciding which
brokers to use, the Manager is permitted by the Investment Advisory
Agreement to consider whether brokers have sold shares of the Fund or any
other funds for which the Manager serves as investment adviser.
- The Distributor. The Fund's shares are sold through dealers and
brokers that have a sales agreement with Oppenheimer Funds Distributor,
Inc., a subsidiary of the Manager that acts as the Fund's Distributor.
The Distributor also distributes the shares of the Oppenheimer funds and
is sub-distributor for funds managed by a subsidiary of the Manager.
- The Transfer Agent. The Fund's transfer agent is Oppenheimer
Shareholder Services, a division of the Manager, which acts as the
shareholder servicing agent for the Fund on an "at-cost" basis. It also
acts on the shareholder servicing agent for the other Oppenheimer funds.
Shareholders should direct inquiries about their accounts to the Transfer
Agent at the address and toll-free number shown below in this Prospectus
and on the back cover.
Performance of the Fund
Explanation of Performance Terminology. The Fund uses the terms "total
return" and "average annual total return" to illustrate its performance.
The performance of each class of shares is shown separately, because the
performance of each class will usually be different as a result of the
different kinds of expenses each class bears. Such performance
information may be useful to help you see how well your investment has
done and to compare it to other funds or market indices.
It is important to understand that the Fund's total returns represent
past performance and should not be considered to be predictions of future
returns or performance. Such performance data is described below, but
more detailed information about how total returns are calculated is
contained in the Statement of Additional Information, which also contains
information about other ways to measure and compare the Fund's
performance. The Fund's investment performance will vary over time,
depending on market conditions, the composition of the portfolio, expenses
and which class of shares you purchase.
- Total Returns. There are different types of total returns used to
measure the Fund's performance. Total return is the change in value of
a hypothetical investment in the Fund over a given period, assuming that
all dividends and capital gains distributions are reinvested in additional
shares. The cumulative total return measures the change in value over the
entire period (for example, ten years). An average annual total return
shows the average rate of return for each year in a period that would
produce the cumulative total return over the entire period. However,
average annual total returns do not show the Fund's actual year-by-year
performance.
When total returns are quoted for Class A shares, normally they
include the payment of the current maximum initial sales charge. Total
returns may also be quoted "at net asset value," without including the
sales charge, and those returns would be reduced if sales charges were
deducted. When total returns are shown for Class B shares, they include
the effect of the contingent deferred sales charge that applies to the
period for which total return is shown. When total returns are shown for
a one-year period or less for Class C shares, they include the effect of
the contingent deferred sales charge. Total returns for Class B and Class
C shares may be shown based on the change in net asset value, without
including the contingent deferred sales charge.
ABOUT YOUR ACCOUNT
How to Buy Shares
Classes of Shares. The Fund offers investors three different classes of
shares. The different classes of shares represent investments in the same
portfolio of securities but are subject to different expenses and will
likely have different share prices.
- Class A Shares. If you buy Class A shares, you may pay an initial
sales charge on investments up to $1 million (up to $500,000 for purchases
by OppenheimerFunds prototype 401(k) plans). If you purchase Class A
shares as part of an investment of at least $1 million ($500,000 for
OppenheimerFunds prototype 401(k) plans) in shares of one or more
Oppenheimer funds, you will not pay an initial sales charge, but if you
sell any of those shares within 18 months of buying them, you may pay a
contingent deferred sales charge. The amount of that sales charge will
vary depending on the amount you invested. Sales charges are described in
"Buying Class A Shares" below.
- Class B Shares. If you buy Class B shares, you pay no sales
charge at the time of purchase, but if you sell your shares within six
years of buying them, you will normally pay a contingent deferred sales
charge. That sales charge varies depending on how long you own your
shares. Sales charges are described in "Buying Class B Shares" below.
- Class C Shares. If you buy Class C shares, you pay no sales
charge at the time of purchase, but if you sell your shares within 12
months of buying them, you will normally pay a contingent deferred sales
charge of 1%. Sales charges are described in "Class C Shares" below.
- Which Class of Shares Should You Choose? Once you decide that the
Fund is an appropriate investment for you, the decision as to which class
of shares is better suited to your needs depends on a number of factors
which you should discuss with your financial advisor. The Fund's
operating costs that apply to a class of shares and the effect of the
different types of sales charges on your investment will vary your
investment results over time. The most important factors are how much you
plan to invest and how long you plan to hold your investment. If your
goals and objectives change over time and you plan to purchase additional
shares, you should re-evaluate those factors to see if you should consider
another class of shares.
In the following discussion, to help provide you and your financial
advisor with a framework in which to choose a class, we have made some
assumptions using a hypothetical investment in the Fund. We used the
sales charge rates that apply to each class, considering the effect of the
annual asset-based sales charge on Class B and Class C expenses (which,
like all expenses, will affect your investment return). For the sake of
comparison, we have assumed that there is a 10% rate of appreciation in
the investment each year. Of course, the actual performance of your
investment cannot be predicted and will vary, based on the Fund's actual
investment returns and the operating expenses borne by each class of
shares, and which class you invest in. The factors discussed below are
not intended to be investment advice or recommendations, because each
investor's financial considerations are different. The discussion below
of the factors to consider in purchasing a particular class of shares
assumes that you will purchase only one class of shares and not a
combination of shares of different classes.
- How Long Do You Expect to Hold Your Investment? While future
financial needs cannot be predicted with certainty, knowing how long you
expect to hold your investment will assist you in selecting the
appropriate class of shares. Because of the effect of class-based
expenses, your choice will also depend on how much you plan to invest. For
example, the reduced sales charges available for larger purchases of Class
A shares may, over time, offset the effect of paying an initial sales
charge on your investment (which reduces the amount of your investment
dollars used to buy shares for your account), compared to the effect over
time of higher class-based expenses on Class B or Class C shares for which
no initial sales charge is paid.
Investing for the Short Term. If you have a short-term investment
horizon (that is, you plan to hold your shares for not more than six
years), you should probably consider purchasing Class A or Class C shares
rather than Class B shares, because of the effect of the Class B
contingent deferred sales charge if you redeem in less than 7 years, as
well as the effect of the Class B asset-based sales charge on the
investment return for that class in the short-term. Class C shares might
be the appropriate choice (especially for investments of less than
$100,000), because there is no initial sales charge on Class C shares, and
the contingent deferred sales charge does not apply to amounts you sell
after holding them one year.
However, if you plan to invest more than $100,000 for the shorter
term, then the more you invest and the more your investment horizon
increases toward six years, Class C shares might not be as advantageous
as Class A shares. That is because the annual asset-based sales charge on
Class C shares will have a greater impact on your account over the longer
term than the reduced front-end sales charge available for larger
purchases of Class A shares. For example, Class A might be more
advantageous than Class C (as well as Class B) for investments of more
than $100,000 expected to be held for 5 or 6 years (or more). For
investments over $250,000 expected to be held 4 to 6 years (or more),
Class A shares may become more advantageous than Class C (and B). If
investing $500,000 or more, Class A may be more advantageous as your
investment horizon approaches 3 years or more.
And for most investors who invest $1 million or more, in most cases
Class A shares will be the most advantageous choice, no matter how long
you intend to hold your shares. For that reason, the Distributor normally
will not accept purchase orders of $500,000 or $1 million or more of Class
B or C shares, respectively, from a single investor.
Investing for the Longer Term. If you are investing for the longer
term, for example, for retirement, and do not expect to need access to
your money for seven years or more, Class B shares may be an appropriate
consideration, if you plan to invest less than $100,000. If you plan to
invest more than $100,000 over the long term, Class A shares will likely
be more advantageous than Class B shares or C shares, as discussed above,
because of the effect of the expected lower expenses for Class A shares
and the reduced initial sales charges available for larger investments in
Class A shares under the Fund's Right of Accumulation.
Of course, these examples are based on approximations of the effect
of current sales charges and expenses on a hypothetical investment over
time, using the assumptions stated above. Therefore, these examples
should not be relied on as rigid guidelines.
- Are There Differences in Account Features That Matter to You?
Because some account features may not be available to Class B or Class C
shareholders, or other features (such as Automatic Withdrawal Plans) might
not be advisable (because of the effect of the contingent deferred sales
charge) for Class B or Class C shareholders, you should carefully review
how you plan to use your investment account before deciding which class
of shares to buy. Additionally, dividends payable to Class B and Class C
shareholders will be reduced by the additional expenses borne by those
classes that are not borne by Class A, such as the Class B and Class C
asset-based sales charges described below and in the Statement of
Additional Information.
- How Does It Affect Payments to My Broker? A salesperson, such as
a broker, or any other person who is entitled to receive compensation for
selling Fund shares may receive different compensation for selling one
class rather than another class. It is important that investors
understand that the purpose of the Class B and Class C contingent deferred
sales charges and asset-based sales charges is the same as the purpose of
the front-end sales charge on sales of Class A shares: to compensate the
Distributor for commissions it pays to dealers and financial institutions
for selling shares.
How Much Must You Invest? You can open a Fund account with a minimum
initial investment of $1,000 and make additional investments at any time
with as little as $25. There are reduced minimum investments under special
investment plans:
With Asset Builder Plans, Automatic Exchange Plans, 403(b)(7)
custodial plans and military allotment plans, you can make initial and
subsequent investments of as little as $25; and subsequent purchases of
at least $25 can be made by telephone through AccountLink.
Under pension and profit-sharing plans and Individual Retirement
Accounts (IRAs), you can make an initial investment of as little as $250
(if your IRA is established under an Asset Builder Plan, the $25 minimum
applies), and subsequent investments may be as little as $25.
There is no minimum investment requirement if you are buying
shares by reinvesting dividends from the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds
(a list of them appears in the Statement of Additional Information, or you
can ask your dealer or call the Transfer Agent), or by reinvesting
distributions from unit investment trusts that have made arrangements with
the Distributor.
- How Are Shares Purchased? You can buy shares several ways:
through any dealer, broker or financial institution that has a sales
agreement with the Distributor, or directly through the Distributor, or
automatically through an Asset Builder Plan under the OppenheimerFunds
AccountLink service. When you buy shares, be sure to specify Class A,
Class B or Class C shares. If you do not choose, your investment will be
made in Class A shares.
- Buying Shares Through Your Dealer. Your dealer will place your
order with the Distributor on your behalf.
- Buying Shares Through the Distributor. Complete an
OppenheimerFunds New Account Application and return it with a check
payable to "Oppenheimer Funds Distributor, Inc." Mail it to P.O. Box 5270,
Denver, Colorado 80217. If you don't list a dealer on the application,
the Distributor will act as your agent in buying the shares. However, we
recommend that you discuss your investment first with a financial advisor,
to be sure it is appropriate for you.
- Buying Shares Through OppenheimerFunds AccountLink. You can use
AccountLink to link your Fund account with an account at a U.S. bank or
other financial institution that is an Automated Clearing House (ACH)
member. You can then transmit funds electronically to purchase shares,
to send redemption proceeds, and to transmit dividends and distributions.
Shares are purchased for your account on AccountLink on the regular
business day the Distributor is instructed by you to initiate the ACH
transfer to buy shares. You can provide those instructions automatically,
under an Asset Builder Plan, described below, or by telephone instructions
using OppenheimerFunds PhoneLink, also described below. You should request
AccountLink privileges on the application or dealer settlement
instructions used to establish your account. Please refer to "AccountLink"
below for more details.
- Asset Builder Plans. You may purchase shares of the Fund (and up
to four other Oppenheimer funds) automatically each month from your
account at a bank or other financial institution under an Asset Builder
Plan with AccountLink. Details are on the Application and in the
Statement of Additional Information.
- At What Price Are Shares Sold? Shares are sold at the public
offering price based on the net asset value (and any initial sales charge
that applies) that is next determined after the Distributor receives the
purchase order in Denver, Colorado. In most cases, to enable you to
receive that day's offering price, the Distributor must receive your order
by the time of day the New York Stock Exchange closes, which is normally
4:00 P.M., New York time, but may be earlier on some days (all references
to time in this Prospectus mean "New York time"). The net asset value of
each class of shares is determined as of that time on each day The New
York Stock Exchange is open (which is a "regular business day").
If you buy shares through a dealer, the dealer must receive your
order by the close of the New York Stock Exchange on a regular business
day, and transmit it to the Distributor so that it is received before the
Distributor's close of business that day, which is normally 5:00 P.M. The
Distributor may reject any purchase order for the Fund's shares, in its
sole discretion.
Buying Class A Shares. Class A shares are sold at their offering price,
which is normally net asset value plus an initial sales charge. However,
in some cases, described below, purchases are not subject to an initial
sales charge, and the offering price will be the net asset value. In some
cases, reduced sales charges may be available, as described below. Out
of the amount you invest, the Fund receives the net asset value to invest
for your account. The sales charge varies depending on the amount of your
investment. A portion of the sales charge may be retained by the
Distributor and allocated to your dealer as commission. The current sales
charge rates and commissions paid to dealers and brokers are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Front-End Front-End Commission
Sales Charge Sales Charge as Percentage
as Percentage of as Percentage of of Offering
Amount of Purchase Offering Price Amount Invested Price
- ------------------ ---------------- ---------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Less than $25,000 5.75% 6.10% 4.75%
$25,000 or more but
less than $50,000 5.50% 5.82% 4.75%
$50,000 or more but
less than $100,000 4.75% 4.99% 4.00%
$100,000 or more but
less than $250,000 3.75% 3.90% 3.00%
$250,000 or more but
less than $500,000 2.50% 2.56% 2.00%
$500,000 or more but
less than $1 million 2.00% 2.04% 1.60%
____________________
The Distributor reserves the right to reallow 90% or more of the
commission to dealers. If that occurs, the dealer may be considered an
"underwriter" under Federal securities laws.
</TABLE>
- Class A Contingent Deferred Sales Charge. There is no initial
sales charge on purchases of Class A shares of any one or more of the
Oppenheimer funds in the following cases:
- purchases aggregating $1 million or more, or
- purchases by an OppenheimerFunds prototype 401(k) plan that: (1)
buys shares costing $500,000 or more or (2) has, at the time of purchase,
100 or more eligible participants, or (3) certifies that it projects to
have annual plan purchases of $200,000 or more.
Shares of any of the Oppenheimer funds that offers only one class of
shares that has no designation are considered "Class A shares" for this
purpose. The Distributor pays dealers of record commissions on those
purchases in an amount equal to the sum of 1.0% of the first $2.5 million,
plus 0.50% of the next $2.5 million, plus 0.25% of purchases over $5
million. That commission will be paid only on the amount of those
purchases in excess of $1 million ($500,000 for purchases by
OppenheimerFunds 401(k) prototype plans) that were not previously subject
to a front-end sales charge and dealer commission.
If you redeem any of those shares within 18 months of the end of the
calendar month of their purchase, a contingent deferred sales charge
(called the "Class A contingent deferred sales charge") will be deducted
from the redemption proceeds. That sales charge will be equal to 1.0% of
either (1) the aggregate net asset value of the redeemed shares (not
including shares purchased by reinvestment of dividends or capital gain
distributions) or (2) the original cost of the shares, whichever is less.
However, the Class A contingent deferred sales charge will not exceed the
aggregate amount of the commissions the Distributor paid to your dealer
on all Class A shares of all Oppenheimer funds you purchased subject to
the Class A contingent deferred sales charge.
In determining whether a contingent deferred sales charge is payable,
the Fund will first redeem shares that are not subject to the sales
charge, including shares purchased by reinvestment of dividends and
capital gains, and then will redeem other shares in the order that you
purchased them. The Class A contingent deferred sales charge is waived
in certain cases described in "Waivers of Class A Sales Charges" below.
No Class A contingent deferred sales charge is charged on exchanges
of shares under the Fund's exchange privilege (described below). However,
if the shares acquired by exchange are redeemed within 18 months of the
end of the calendar month of the purchase of the exchanged shares, the
sales charge will apply.
- Special Arrangements With Dealers. The Distributor may advance
up to 13 months' commissions to dealers that have established special
arrangements with the Distributor for Asset Builder Plans for their
clients. Dealers whose sales of Class A shares of Oppenheimer funds
(other than money market funds) under OppenheimerFunds-sponsored 403(b)(7)
custodial plans exceed $5 million per year (calculated per quarter), will
receive monthly one-half of the Distributor's retained commissions on
those sales, and if those sales exceed $10 million per year, those dealers
will receive the Distributor's entire retained commission on those sales.
Reduced Sales Charges for Class A Share Purchases. You may be eligible
to buy Class A shares at reduced sales charge rates in one or more of the
following ways:
- Right of Accumulation. To qualify for the lower sales charge
rates that apply to larger purchases of Class A shares, you and your
spouse can add together Class A and Class B shares you purchase for your
individual accounts, or jointly, or for trust or custodial accounts on
behalf of your children who are minors. A fiduciary can count all shares
purchased for a trust, estate or other fiduciary account (including one
or more employee benefit plans of the same employer) that has multiple
accounts.
Additionally, you can add together current purchases of Class A and
Class B shares of the Fund and other Oppenheimer funds to reduce the sales
charge rate that applies to current purchases of Class A shares. You can
also count Class A and Class B shares of Oppenheimer funds you previously
purchased subject to an initial or contingent deferred sales charge to
reduce the sales charge rate for current purchases of Class A shares,
provided that you still hold that investment in one of the Oppenheimer
funds. The value of those shares will be based on the greater of the
amount you paid for the shares or their current value (at offering price).
The Oppenheimer funds are listed in "Reduced Sales Charges" in the
Statement of Additional Information, or a list can be obtained from the
Distributor. The reduced sales charge will apply only to current purchases
and must be requested when you buy your shares.
- Letter of Intent. Under a Letter of Intent, if you purchase Class
A shares or Class A shares and Class B shares of the Fund and other
Oppenheimer funds during a 13-month period, you can reduce the sales
charge rate that applies to your purchases of Class A shares. The total
amount of your intended purchases of both Class A and Class B shares will
determine the reduced sales charge rate for the Class A shares purchased
during that period. This can include purchases made up to 90 days before
the date of the Letter. More information is contained in the Application
and in "Reduced Sales Charges" in the Statement of Additional Information.
- Waivers of Class A Sales Charges. The Class A sales charges are
not imposed in the circumstances described below. There is an explanation
of this policy in "Reduced Sales Charges" in the Statement of Additional
Information.
Waivers of Initial and Contingent Deferred Sales Charges for Certain
Purchasers. Class A shares purchased by the following investors are not
subject to any Class A sales charges:
- the Manager or its affiliates;
- present or former officers, directors, trustees and employees (and
their "immediate families" as defined in "Reduced Sales Charges" in the
Statement of Additional Information) of the Fund, the Manager and its
affiliates, and retirement plans established by them for their employees;
- registered management investment companies, or separate accounts
of insurance companies having an agreement with the Manager or the
Distributor for that purpose;
- dealers or brokers that have a sales agreement with the
Distributor, if they purchase shares for their own accounts or for
retirement plans for their employees;
- employees and registered representatives (and their spouses) of
dealers or brokers described above or financial institutions that have
entered into sales arrangements with such dealers or brokers (and are
identified to the Distributor) or with the Distributor; the purchaser must
certify to the Distributor at the time of purchase that the purchase is
for the purchaser's own account (or for the benefit of such employee's
spouse or minor children);
- dealers, brokers or registered investment advisers that have
entered into an agreement with the Distributor providing specifically for
the use of shares of the Fund in particular investment products made
available to their clients (those clients may be charged a transaction fee
by their dealer, broker or adviser for the purchase or sale of Fund
shares); or
- dealers, brokers or registered investment advisers that have
entered into an agreement with the Distributor to sell shares to defined
contribution employee retirement plans for which the dealer, broker or
investment adviser provides administration services.
Waivers of Initial and Contingent Deferred Sales Charges in Certain
Transactions. Class A shares issued or purchased in the following
transactions are not subject to Class A sales charges:
- shares issued in plans of reorganization, such as mergers, asset
acquisitions and exchange offers, to which the Fund is a party;
- shares purchased by the reinvestment of loan repayments by a
participant in a retirement plan for which the Manager or its affiliates
acts as sponsor;
- shares purchased by the reinvestment of dividends or other
distributions reinvested from the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds (other
than Oppenheimer Cash Reserves) or unit investment trusts for which
reinvestment arrangements have been made with the Distributor; or
- shares purchased and paid for with the proceeds of shares redeemed
in the past 12 months from a mutual fund (other than a fund managed by the
Manager or any of its subsidiaries) on which an initial sales charge or
contingent sales charge was paid (this waiver also applies to shares
purchased by exchange of shares of Oppenheimer Money Market Fund, Inc.
that were purchased and paid for in this manner); this waiver must be
requested when the purchase order is placed for your shares of the Fund,
and the Distributor may require evidence of your qualification for this
waiver.
Waivers of the Class A Contingent Deferred Sales Charge for Certain
Redemptions . The Class A contingent deferred sales charge does not apply
to purchases of Class A shares at net asset value without sales charge as
described in the two sections above. It is also waived if shares that
would otherwise be subject to the contingent deferred sales charge are
redeemed in the following cases:
- for retirement distributions or loans to participants or
beneficiaries from qualified retirement plans, deferred compensation plans
or other employee benefit plans, including OppenheimerFunds prototype
401(k) plans (these are all referred to as "Retirement Plans");
- to return excess contributions made to Retirement Plans;
- to make Automatic Withdrawal Plan payments that are limited
annually to no more than 12% of the original account value;
- involuntary redemptions of shares by operation of law or
involuntary redemptions of small accounts (see "Shareholder Account Rules
and Policies," below); or
- if, at the time a purchase order is placed for Class A shares that
would otherwise be subject to the Class A contingent deferred sales
charge, the dealer agrees in writing to accept the dealer's portion of the
commission payable on the sale in installments of 1/18th of the commission
per month (and no further commission will be payable if the shares are
redeemed within 18 months of purchase); or
- for distributions from OppenheimerFunds prototype 401(k) plans for
any of the following cases or purposes: (1) following death or disability
(as defined in the Internal Revenue Code) of the participant or
beneficiary (the death or disability must occur after the participant's
account was established); (2) hardship withdrawals, as defined in the
plan; (3) under a Qualified Domestic Relations Order, as defined in the
Internal Revenue Code; (4) to meet the minimum distribution requirements
of the Internal Revenue Code; (5) to establish "substantially equal
periodic payments" as described in Section 72(t) of the Internal Revenue
Code, or (6) separation from service.
- Service Plan for Class A Shares. The Fund has adopted a Service
Plan for Class A shares to reimburse the Distributor for a portion of its
costs incurred in connection with the personal service and maintenance of
accounts that hold Class A shares. Reimbursement is made quarterly at an
annual rate that may not exceed 0.25% of the average annual net assets of
Class A shares of the Fund. The Distributor uses all of those fees to
compensate dealers, brokers, banks and other financial institutions
quarterly for providing personal service and maintenance of accounts of
their customers that hold Class A shares and to reimburse itself (if the
Fund's Board of Trustees authorizes such reimbursements) for its other
expenditures under the Plan.
Services to be provided include, among others, answering customer
inquiries about the Fund, assisting in establishing and maintaining
accounts in the Fund, making the Fund's investment plans available and
providing other services at the request of the Fund or the Distributor.
Payments are made by the Distributor quarterly at an annual rate not to
exceed 0.25% of the average annual net assets of Class A shares held in
accounts of the dealer or its customers. The payments under the Plan
increase the annual expenses of Class A shares. For more details, please
refer to "Distribution and Service Plans" in the Statement of Additional
Information.
Buying Class B Shares. Class B shares are sold at net asset value per
share without an initial sales charge. However, if Class B shares are
redeemed within 6 years of their purchase, a contingent deferred sales
charge will be deducted from the redemption proceeds. That sales charge
will not apply to shares purchased by the reinvestment of dividends or
capital gains distributions. The charge will be assessed on the lesser of
the net asset value of the shares at the time of redemption or the
original purchase price. The contingent deferred sales charge is not
imposed on the amount of your account value represented by the increase
in net asset value over the initial purchase price (including increases
due to the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions). The
Class B contingent deferred sales charge is paid to the Distributor to
reimburse its expenses of providing distribution-related services to the
Fund in connection with the sale of Class B shares.
To determine whether the contingent deferred sales charge applies to
a redemption, the Fund redeems shares in the following order: (1) shares
acquired by reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions, (2)
shares held for over 6 years, and (3) shares held the longest during the
6-year period.
The amount of the contingent deferred sales charge will depend on the
number of years since you invested and the dollar amount being redeemed,
according to the following schedule:
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge
Years Since Beginning of Month In on Redemptions in that Year
Which Purchase Order Was Accepted (As % of Amount Subject to Charge)
- --------------------------------- ----------------------------------
0 - 1 5.0%
1 - 2 4.0%
2 - 3 3.0%
3 - 4 3.0%
4 - 5 2.0%
5 - 6 1.0%
6 and following None
In the table, a "year" is a 12-month period. All purchases are
considered to have been made on the first regular business day of the
month in which the purchase was made.
- Waivers of Class B and Class C Sales Charges. The Class B and
Class C contingent deferred sales charges will not be applied to shares
purchased in certain types of transactions nor will it apply to Class B
or Class C shares redeemed in certain circumstances as described below.
The reasons for this policy are described in "Reduced Sales Charges" in
the Statement of Additional Information.
Waivers for Redemptions of Shares in Certain Cases. The Class B and
Class C contingent deferred sales charges will be waived for redemptions
of shares in the following cases:
- distributions to participants or beneficiaries from Retirement
Plans, if the distributions are made (a) under an Automatic Withdrawal
Plan after the participant reaches age 59-1/2, as long as the payments are
no more than 10% of the account value annually (measured from the date the
Transfer Agent receives the request), or (b) following the death or
disability (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code) of the participant
or beneficiary (the death or disability must have occurred after the
account was established);
- redemptions from accounts other than Retirement Plans following the
death or disability of the last surviving shareholder (the death or
disability must have occurred after the account was established, and for
disability you must provide evidence of a determination of disability by
the Social Security Administration);
- returns of excess contributions to Retirement Plans;
- distributions from IRAs (including SEP-IRAs and SAR/SEP accounts)
before the participant is age 59-1/2, and distributions from 403(b)(7)
custodial plans or pension or profit sharing plans before the participant
is age 59-1/2 but only after the participant has separated from service,
if the distributions are made in substantially equal periodic payments
over the life (or life expectancy) of the participant or the joint lives
(or joint life and last survivor expectancy) of the participant and the
participant's designated beneficiary (and the distributions must comply
with other requirements for such distributions under the Internal Revenue
Code and may not exceed 10% of the account value annually, measured from
the date the Transfer Agent receives the request);
- shares redeemed involuntarily, as described in "Shareholder Account
Rules and Policies," below; or
- distributions from OppenheimerFunds prototype 401(k) plans (1) for
hardship withdrawals; (2) under a Qualified Domestic Relations Order, as
defined in the Internal Revenue Code; (3) to meet minimum distribution
requirements as defined in the Internal Revenue Code; (4) to make
"substantially equal periodic payments" as described in Section 72(t) of
the Internal Revenue Code; or (5) for separation from service.
Waivers for Shares Sold or Issued in Certain Transactions. The
contingent deferred sales charge is also waived on Class B and Class C
shares sold or issued in the following cases:
- shares sold to the Manager or its affiliates;
- shares sold to registered management investment companies or
separate accounts of insurance companies having an agreement with the
Manager or the Distributor for that purpose; or
- shares issued in plans of reorganization to which the Fund is a
party.
- Automatic Conversion of Class B Shares. 72 months after you
purchase Class B shares, those shares will automatically convert to Class
A shares. This conversion feature relieves Class B shareholders of the
asset-based sales charge that applies to Class B shares under the Class
B Distribution and Service Plan, described below. The conversion is based
on the relative net asset value of the two classes, and no sales load or
other charge is imposed. When Class B shares convert, any other Class B
shares that were acquired by the reinvestment of dividends and
distributions on the converted shares will also convert to Class A shares.
The conversion feature is subject to the continued availability of a tax
ruling described in "Alternative Sales Arrangements - Class A, Class B and
Class C Shares" in the Statement of Additional Information.
- Distribution and Service Plan for Class B Shares. The Fund has
adopted a Distribution and Service Plan for Class B shares to compensate
the Distributor for its services and costs in distributing Class B shares
and servicing accounts. Under the Plan, the Fund pays the Distributor an
annual "asset-based sales charge" of 0.75% per year on Class B shares that
are outstanding for 6 years or less. The Distributor also receives a
service fee of 0.25% per year. Both fees are computed on the average
annual net assets of Class B shares, determined as of the close of each
regular business day. The asset-based sales charge allows investors to buy
Class B shares without a front-end sales charge while allowing the
Distributor to compensate dealers that sell Class B shares.
The Distributor uses the service fee to compensate dealers for
providing personal services for accounts that hold Class B shares. Those
services are similar to those provided under the Class A Service Plan,
described above. The asset-based sales charge and service fee increase
Class B expenses by 1.00% of average net assets per year.
The Distributor pays the 0.25% service fee to dealers in advance for
the first year after Class B shares have been sold by the dealer. After
the shares have been held for a year, the Distributor pays the fee on a
quarterly basis. The Distributor pays sales commissions of 3.75% of the
purchase price to dealers from its own resources at the time of sale. The
Distributor retains the asset-based sales charge to recoup the sales
commissions it pays, the advances of service fee payments it makes, and
its financing costs.
The Fund pays the asset-based sales charge to the Distributor for its
services rendered in connection with the distribution of Class B shares.
Those payments, retained by the Distributor, are at a fixed rate which is
not related to the Distributor's expenses. The services rendered by the
Distributor include paying and financing the payment of sales commissions,
service fees, and other costs of distributing and selling Class B shares.
If the Plan is terminated by the Fund, the Board of Trustees may allow the
Fund to continue payments of the asset-based sales charge to the
Distributor for distributing Class B shares before the Plan was
terminated.
Buying Class C Shares. Class C shares are sold at net asset value per
share without an initial sales charge. However, if Class C shares are
redeemed within 12 months of their purchase, a contingent deferred sales
charge of 1.0% will be deducted from the redemption proceeds. That sales
charge will not apply to shares purchased by the reinvestment of dividends
or capital gains distributions. The charge will be assessed on the lesser
of the net asset value of the shares at the time of redemption or the
original purchase price. The contingent deferred sales charge is not
imposed on the amount of your account value represented by the increase
in net asset value over the initial purchase price (including increases
due to the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions). The
Class C contingent deferred sales charge is paid to the Distributor to
reimburse its expenses of providing distribution-related services to the
Fund in connection with the sale of Class C shares.
To determine whether the contingent deferred sales charge applies to
a redemption, the Fund redeems shares in the following order: (1) shares
acquired by reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions, (2)
shares held for over 12 months, and (3) shares held the longest during the
12-month period.
- Waivers of Class C Sales Charges. The Class C contingent deferred
sales charge will be waived if the shareholder requests it for any of the
redemptions or circumstances described above under "Waivers of Class B and
Class C Sales Charges."
- Distribution and Service Plan for Class C Shares. The Fund has
adopted a Distribution and Service Plan for Class C shares to compensate
the Distributor for distributing Class C shares and servicing accounts.
Under the Plan, the Fund pays the Distributor an annual "asset-based sales
charge" of 0.75% per year on Class C shares. The Distributor also
receives a service fee of 0.25% per year. Both fees are computed on the
average annual net assets of Class C shares, determined as of the close
of each regular business day. The asset-based sales charge allows
investors to buy Class C shares without a front-end sales charge while
allowing the Distributor to compensate dealers that sell Class C shares.
The Distributor uses the service fee to compensate dealers for
providing personal services for accounts that hold Class C shares. Those
services are similar to the services provided under the Class A Service
Plan, described above. The asset-based sales charge and service fees
increase Class C expenses by up to 1.00% of average net assets per year.
The Distributor pays the 0.25% service fee to dealers in advance for
the first year, after Class C shares have been sold by the dealer. After
the shares have been held for a year, the Distributor pays the fee on a
quarterly basis. The Distributor pays sales commissions of 0.75% of the
purchase price to dealers from its own resources at the time of sale. The
total up-front commission paid by the Distributor to the dealer at the
time of sale of Class C shares is 1.00% of the purchase price. The
Distributor plans to pay the asset-based sales charge as an ongoing
commission to the dealer on Class C shares that have been outstanding for
a year or more.
The Fund pays the asset-based sales charge to the Distributor for its
services rendered in connection with the distribution of Class C shares.
Those payments are at a fixed rate which is not related to the
Distributor's expense. The services rendered by the Distributor include
paying and financing the payment of sales commissions, service fees, and
other costs of distributing and selling Class C shares, including
compensating personnel of the Distributor who support distribution of
Class C shares. If the Plan is terminated by the Fund, the Board of
Trustees may allow the Fund to continue payments of the asset-based sales
charge to the Distributor for distributing Class C shares before the Plan
was terminated.
Special Investor Services
AccountLink. OppenheimerFunds AccountLink links your Fund account to your
account at your bank or other financial institution to enable you to send
money electronically between those accounts to perform a number of types
of account transactions. These include purchases of shares by telephone
(either through a service representative or by PhoneLink, described
below), automatic investments under Asset Builder Plans, and sending
dividends and distributions or Automatic Withdrawal Plan payments directly
to your bank account. Please refer to the Application for details or call
the Transfer Agent for more information.
AccountLink privileges must be requested on the Application you use
to buy shares, or on your dealer's settlement instructions if you buy your
shares through your dealer. After your account is established, you can
request AccountLink privileges on signature-guaranteed instructions to the
Transfer Agent. AccountLink privileges will apply to each shareholder
listed in the registration on your account as well as to your dealer
representative of record unless and until the Transfer Agent receives
written instructions terminating or changing those privileges. After you
establish AccountLink for your account, any change of bank account
information must be made by signature-guaranteed instructions to the
Transfer Agent signed by all shareholders who own the account.
- Using AccountLink to Buy Shares. Purchases may be made by
telephone only after your account has been established. To purchase shares
in amounts up to $250,000 through a telephone representative, call the
Distributor at 1-800-852-8457. The purchase payment will be debited from
your bank account.
- PhoneLink. PhoneLink is the OppenheimerFunds automated telephone
system that enables shareholders to perform a number of account
transactions automatically using a touch-tone phone. PhoneLink may be used
on already-established Fund accounts after you obtain a Personal
Identification Number (PIN), by calling the special PhoneLink number: 1-
800-533-3310.
- Purchasing Shares. You may purchase shares in amounts up to
$100,000 by phone, by calling 1-800-533-3310. You must have established
AccountLink privileges to link your bank account with the Fund, to pay for
these purchases.
r - Exchanging Shares. With the OppenheimerFunds exchange privilege,
described below, you can exchange shares automatically by phone from your
Fund account to another Oppenheimer funds account you have already
established by calling the special PhoneLink number. Please refer to "How
to Exchange Shares," below, for details.
- Selling Shares. You can redeem shares by telephone
automatically by calling the PhoneLink number and the Fund will send the
proceeds directly to your AccountLink bank account. Please refer to "How
to Sell Shares," below, for details.
Automatic Withdrawal and Exchange Plans. The Fund has several plans that
enable you to sell shares automatically or exchange them to another
Oppenheimer funds account on a regular basis:
- Automatic Withdrawal Plans. If your Fund account is worth $5,000
or more, you can establish an Automatic Withdrawal Plan to receive
payments of at least $50 on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual
basis. The checks may be sent to you or sent automatically to your bank
account on AccountLink. You may even set up certain types of withdrawals
of up to $1,500 per month by telephone. You should consult the
Application and Statement of Additional Information for more details.
- Automatic Exchange Plans. You can authorize the Transfer Agent
automatically to exchange an amount you establish in advance for shares
of up to five other Oppenheimer funds on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual
or annual basis under an Automatic Exchange Plan. The minimum purchase
for each Oppenheimer funds account is $25. These exchanges are subject
to the exchange terms described below.
Reinvestment Privilege. If you redeem some or all of your Class A or
Class B shares of the Fund, you have up to 6 months to reinvest all or
part of the redemption proceeds in Class A shares of the Fund or Class A
shares of other Oppenheimer funds without paying a sales charge. This
privilege applies to Class A shares that you purchased with an initial
sales charge and to Class A or B shares on which you paid a contingent
deferred sales charge when you redeemed them. This privilege does not
apply to Class C shares. You must be sure to ask the Distributor for this
privilege when you send your payment. Please consult the Statement of
Additional Information for more details.
Retirement Plans. Fund shares are available as an investment for your
retirement plans. If you participate in a plan sponsored by your employer,
the plan trustee or administrator must make the purchase of shares for
your retirement plan account. The Distributor offers a number of different
retirement plans that can be used by individuals and employers:
- Individual Retirement Accounts including rollover IRAs, for
individuals and their spouses
- 403(b)(7) Custodial Plans for employees of eligible tax-exempt
organizations, such as schools, hospitals and charitable organizations
- SEP-IRAs (Simplified Employee Pension Plans) for small business
owners or people with income from self-employment, including SAR/SEP-IRAs
- Pension and Profit-Sharing Plans for self-employed persons and
other employers
- 401(k) prototype retirement plans for businesses
Please call the Distributor for the OppenheimerFunds plan documents,
which contain important information and applications.
How to Sell Shares
You can arrange to take money out of your account on any regular
business day by selling (redeeming) some or all of your shares. Your
shares will be sold at the net asset value next calculated after your
order is received and accepted by the Transfer Agent. The Fund offers you
a number of ways to sell your shares: in writing or by telephone. You can
also set up Automatic Withdrawal Plans to redeem shares on a regular
basis, as described above. If you have questions about any of these
procedures, and especially if you are redeeming shares in a special
situation, such as due to the death of the owner, or from a retirement
plan, please call the Transfer Agent first, at 1-800-525-7048, for
assistance.
- Retirement Accounts. To sell shares in an OppenheimerFunds
retirement account in your name, call the Transfer Agent for a
distribution request form. There are special income tax withholding
requirements for distributions from retirement plans and you must submit
a withholding form with your request to avoid delay. If your retirement
plan account is held for you by your employer, you must arrange for the
distribution request to be sent by the plan administrator or trustee.
There are additional details in the Statement of Additional Information.
- Certain Requests Require a Signature Guarantee. To protect you
and the Fund from fraud, certain redemption requests must be in writing
and must include a signature guarantee in the following situations (there
may be other situations also requiring a signature guarantee):
- You wish to redeem more than $50,000 worth of shares and receive
a check
- The redemption check is not payable to all shareholders listed
on the account statement
- The redemption check is not sent to the address of record on
your statement
- Shares are being transferred to a Fund account with a different
owner or name
- Shares are redeemed by someone other than the owners (such as
an Executor)
- Where Can I Have My Signature Guaranteed? The Transfer Agent will
accept a guarantee of your signature by a number of financial
institutions, including: a U.S. bank, trust company, credit union or
savings association, or by a foreign bank that has a U.S. correspondent
bank, or by a U.S. registered dealer or broker in securities, municipal
securities or government securities, or by a U.S. national securities
exchange, a registered securities association or a clearing agency. If you
are signing on behalf of a corporation, partnership or other business, or
as a fiduciary, you must also include your title in the signature.
Selling Shares by Mail. Write a "letter of instructions" that includes:
- Your name
- The Fund's name
- Your Fund account number (from your account statement)
- The dollar amount or number of shares to be redeemed
- Any special payment instructions
- Any share certificates for the shares you are selling, and
- Any special requirements or documents requested by the Transfer
Agent to assure proper authorization of the person asking to sell shares.
Use the following address for requests by mail:
Oppenheimer Shareholder Services
P.O. Box 5270, Denver, Colorado 80217
Send courier or Express Mail requests to:
Oppenheimer Shareholder Services
10200 E. Girard Avenue, Building D
Denver, Colorado 80231
Selling Shares by Telephone. You and your dealer representative of record
may also sell your shares by telephone. To receive the redemption price
on a regular business day, your call must be received by the Transfer
Agent by the close of the New York Stock Exchange that day, which is
normally 4:00 P.M., but may be earlier on some days. Shares held in an
OppenheimerFunds retirement plan or under a share certificate may not be
redeemed by telephone.
- To redeem shares through a service representative, call 1-800-
852-8457
- To redeem shares automatically on PhoneLink, call 1-800-533-3310
Whichever method you use, you may have a check sent to the address
on the account statement, or, if you have linked your Fund account to your
bank account on AccountLink, you may have the proceeds wired to that bank
account.
- Telephone Redemptions Paid by Check. Up to $50,000 may be redeemed
by telephone, in any 7-day period. The check must be payable to all
owners of record of the shares and must be sent to the address on the
account statement. This service is not available within 30 days of
changing the address on an account.
- Telephone Redemptions Through AccountLink. There are no dollar
limits on telephone redemption proceeds sent to a bank account designated
when you establish AccountLink. Normally the ACH wire to your bank is
initiated on the business day after the redemption. You do not receive
dividends on the proceeds of the shares you redeemed while they are
waiting to be wired.
Selling Shares Through Your Dealer. The Distributor has made arrangements
to repurchase Fund shares from dealers and brokers on behalf of their
customers. Brokers or dealers may charge for that service. Please refer
to "Special Arrangements for Repurchase of Shares from Dealers and
Brokers" in the Statement of Additional Information for more details.
How to Exchange Shares
Shares of the Fund may be exchanged for shares of certain Oppenheimer
funds at net asset value per share at the time of exchange, without sales
charge. To exchange shares, you must meet several conditions:
- Shares of the fund selected for exchange must be available for
sale in your state of residence
- The prospectuses of this Fund and the fund whose shares you want
to buy must offer the exchange privilege
- You must hold the shares you buy when you establish your account
for at least 7 days before you can exchange them; after the account is
open 7 days, you can exchange shares every regular business day
- You must meet the minimum purchase requirements for the fund you
purchase by exchange
- Before exchanging into a fund, you should obtain and read its
prospectus
Shares of a particular class may be exchanged only for shares of the
same class in the other Oppenheimer funds. For example, you can exchange
Class A shares of this Fund only for Class A shares of another fund. At
present, Oppenheimer Money Market Fund, Inc. offers only one class of
shares, which are considered to be Class A shares for this purpose. In
some cases, sales charges may be imposed on exchange transactions. Please
refer to "How to Exchange Shares" in the Statement of Additional
Information for more details.
Exchanges may be requested in writing or by telephone:
- Written Exchange Requests. Submit an OppenheimerFunds Exchange
Request form, signed by all owners of the account. Send it to the
Transfer Agent at one of the addresses listed in "How to Sell Shares."
- Telephone Exchange Requests. Telephone exchange requests may be
made either by calling a service representative at 1-800-852-8457 or by
using PhoneLink for automated exchanges, by calling 1-800-533-3310.
Telephone exchanges may be made only between accounts that are registered
with the same name(s) and address. Shares held under certificates may not
be exchanged by telephone.
You can find a list of Oppenheimer funds currently available for
exchanges in the Statement of Additional Information or by calling a
service representative at 1-800-525-7048. Exchanges of shares involve a
redemption of the shares of the fund you own and a purchase of shares of
the other fund.
There are certain exchange policies you should be aware of:
- Shares are normally redeemed from one fund and purchased from
the other fund in the exchange transaction on the same regular business
day on which the Transfer Agent receives an exchange request that is in
proper form by the close of the New York Stock Exchange that day, which
is normally 4:00 P.M. but may be earlier on some days. However, either
fund may delay the purchase of shares of the fund you are exchanging into
if it determines it would be disadvantaged by a same-day transfer of the
proceeds to buy shares. For example, the receipt of multiple exchange
requests from a dealer in a "market-timing" strategy might require the
disposition of portfolio securities at a time or price disadvantageous to
the Fund.
- Because excessive trading can hurt fund performance and harm
shareholders, the Fund reserves the right to refuse any exchange request
that will disadvantage it, or to refuse multiple exchange requests
submitted by a shareholder or dealer.
- The Fund may amend, suspend or terminate the exchange privilege
at any time. Although the Fund will attempt to provide you notice
whenever it is reasonably able to do so, it may impose these changes at
any time.
- If the Transfer Agent cannot exchange all the shares you request
because of a restriction cited above, only the shares eligible for
exchange will be exchanged.
The Distributor has entered into agreements with certain dealers and
investment advisers permitting them to exchange their clients' shares by
telephone. These privileges are limited under those agreements and the
Distributor has the right to reject or suspend those privileges. As a
result, those exchanges may be subject to notice requirements, delays and
other limitations that do not apply to shareholders who exchange their
shares directly by calling or writing to the Transfer Agent.
Shareholder Account Rules and Policies
- Net Asset Value Per Share is determined for each class of shares
as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange, which is normally 4:00
P.M. but may be earlier on some days, on each day the Exchange is open by
dividing the value of the Fund's net assets attributable to a class by the
number of shares of that class that are outstanding. The Fund's Board of
Trustees has established procedures to value the Fund's securities to
determine net asset value. In general, securities values are based on
market value. There are special procedures for valuing illiquid and
restricted securities and obligations for which market values cannot be
readily obtained. These procedures are described more completely in the
Statement of Additional Information.
- The offering of shares may be suspended during any period in which
the determination of net asset value is suspended, and the offering may
be suspended by the Board of Trustees at any time the Board believes it
is in the Fund's best interest to do so.
- Telephone Transaction Privileges for purchases, redemptions or
exchanges may be modified, suspended or terminated by the Fund at any
time. If an account has more than one owner, the Fund and the Transfer
Agent may rely on the instructions of any one owner. Telephone exchange
and redemption privileges automatically apply to each owner of the account
and the dealer representative of record for the account unless refused on
the new account Application or, if not refused, will apply until the
Transfer Agent receives cancellation instructions from an owner of the
account.
- The Transfer Agent will record any telephone calls to verify data
concerning transactions and has adopted other procedures to confirm that
telephone instructions are genuine, by requiring callers to provide tax
identification numbers and other account data or by using PINs, and by
confirming such transactions in writing. If the Transfer Agent does not
use reasonable procedures it may be liable for losses due to unauthorized
transactions, but otherwise neither it nor the Fund will be liable for
losses or expenses arising out of telephone instructions reasonably
believed to be genuine. If you are unable to reach the Transfer Agent
during periods of unusual market activity, you may not be able to complete
a telephone transaction and should consider placing your order by mail.
- Redemption or transfer requests will not be honored until the
Transfer Agent receives all required documents in proper form. From time
to time, the Transfer Agent in its discretion may waive certain of the
requirements for redemptions stated in this Prospectus.
- Dealers that can perform account transactions for their clients
by participating in NETWORKING through the National Securities Clearing
Corporation are responsible for obtaining their clients' permission to
perform those transactions and are responsible to their clients who are
shareholders of the Fund if the dealer performs any transaction
erroneously or improperly.
- The redemption price for shares will vary from day to day because
the value of the securities in the Fund's portfolio fluctuates, and the
redemption price, which is the net asset value per share, will normally
be different for Class A, Class B and Class C shares. Therefore, the
redemption value of your shares may be more or less than their original
cost.
- Payment for redeemed shares is made ordinarily in cash and
forwarded by check or through AccountLink (as elected by the shareholder
under the redemption procedures described above) within 7 days after the
Transfer Agent receives redemption instructions in proper form, except
under unusual circumstances determined by the Securities and Exchange
Commission delaying or suspending such payments. For accounts registered
in the name of a broker-dealer, payment will be forwarded within 3
business days. The Transfer Agent may delay forwarding a check or
processing a payment via AccountLink for recently purchased shares, but
only until the purchase payment has cleared. That delay may be as much
as 10 days from the date the shares were purchased. That delay may be
avoided if you purchase shares by certified check or arrange with your
bank to provide telephone or written assurance to the Transfer Agent that
your purchase payment has cleared.
- Involuntary redemptions of small accounts may be made by the Fund
if the account value has fallen below $500 for reasons other than the fact
that the market value of shares has dropped, and in some cases involuntary
redemptions may be made to repay the Distributor for losses from the
cancellation of share purchase orders.
- Under unusual circumstances, shares of the Fund may be redeemed
"in kind," which means that the redemption proceeds will be paid with
securities from the Fund's portfolio. Please refer to "How to Sell
Shares" in the Statement of Additional Information for more details.
- "Backup Withholding" of Federal income tax may be applied at the
rate of 31% from dividends, distributions and redemption proceeds
(including exchanges) if you fail to furnish the Fund a certified Social
Security or Employer Identification Number when you sign your application,
or if you violate Internal Revenue Service regulations on tax reporting
of income.
- The Fund does not charge a redemption fee, but if your dealer or
broker handles your redemption, they may charge a fee. That fee can be
avoided by redeeming your Fund shares directly through the Transfer Agent.
Under the circumstances described in "How To Buy Shares," you may be
subject to a contingent deferred sales charges when redeeming certain
Class A, Class B and Class C shares.
- To avoid sending duplicate copies of materials to households, the
Fund will mail only one copy of each annual and semi-annual report to
shareholders having the same last name and address on the Fund's records.
However, each shareholder may call the Transfer Agent at 1-800-525-7048
to ask that copies of those materials be sent personally to that
shareholder.
Dividends, Capital Gains and Taxes
Dividends. The Fund intends to declare dividends separately for Class A,
Class B and Class C shares from net investment income, if any, on an
annual basis and normally pays those dividends to shareholders in
December, but the Board of Trustees can change that date. The Board may
also cause the Fund to declare dividends after the close of the Fund's
fiscal year (which ends September 30th). Because the Fund does not have
an objective of seeking current income, the amounts of dividends it pays,
if any, will likely be small. Dividends paid on Class A shares will
generally be higher than for Class B and Class C shares because expenses
allocable to Class B and Class C shares will generally be higher.
Capital Gains. The Fund may make distributions annually in December out
of any net short-term or long-term capital gains, and the Fund may make
supplemental distributions of dividends and capital gains following the
end of its fiscal year. Long-term capital gains will be separately
identified in the tax information the Fund sends you after the end of the
year. Short-term capital gains are treated as dividends for tax purposes.
There can be no assurance that the Fund will pay any capital gains
distributions in a particular year.
Distribution Options. When you open your account, specify on your
application how you want to receive your distributions. For
OppenheimerFunds retirement accounts, all distributions are reinvested.
For other accounts, you have four options:
- Reinvest All Distributions in the Fund. You can elect to
reinvest all dividends and long-term capital gains distributions in
additional shares of the Fund.
- Reinvest Long-Term Capital Gains Only. You can elect to reinvest
long-term capital gains in the Fund while receiving dividends by check or
sent to your bank account on AccountLink.
- Receive All Distributions in Cash. You can elect to receive a
check for all dividends and long-term capital gains distributions or have
them sent to your bank on AccountLink.
- Reinvest Your Distributions in Another Oppenheimer funds
Account. You can reinvest all distributions in another Oppenheimer funds
account you have established.
Taxes. If your account is not a tax-deferred retirement account, you
should be aware of the following tax implications of investing in the
Fund. Long-term capital gains are taxable as long-term capital gains when
distributed to shareholders. It does not matter how long you held your
shares. Dividends paid from short-term capital gains and net investment
income are taxable as ordinary income. Distributions are subject to
federal income tax and may be subject to state or local taxes. Your
distributions are taxable when paid, whether you reinvest them in
additional shares or take them in cash. Every year the Fund will send you
and the IRS a statement showing the amount of each taxable distribution
you received in the previous year.
- "Buying a Dividend": When a fund declares a dividend, its share
price is reduced by the amount of the distribution. If you buy shares on
or just before the date on which the dividend is declared, or just before
the Fund declares a capital gains distribution, you will pay the full
price for the shares and then receive a portion of the price back as a
taxable dividend or capital gain.
- Taxes on Transactions: Share redemptions, including redemptions
for exchanges, are subject to capital gains tax. A capital gain or loss
is the difference between the price you paid for the shares and the price
you received when you sold them.
- Returns of Capital: In certain cases distributions made by the
Fund may be considered a non-taxable return of capital to shareholders.
If that occurs, it will be identified in notices to shareholders. A non-
taxable return of capital may reduce your tax basis in your Fund shares.
This information is only a summary of certain federal tax information
about your investment. More information is contained in the Statement of
Additional Information, and in addition you should consult with your tax
adviser about the effect of an investment in the Fund on your particular
tax situation.
<PAGE>
Oppenheimer Enterprise Fund
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048-0203
1-800-525-7048
Investment Adviser
Oppenheimer Management Corporation
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048-0203
Distributor
Oppenheimer Funds Distributor, Inc.
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048-0203
Transfer Agent
Oppenheimer Shareholder Services
P.O. Box 5270
Denver, Colorado 80217
1-800-525-7048
Custodian of Portfolio Securities
The Bank of New York
One Wall Street
New York, New York 10015
Independent Auditors
KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
707 Seventeenth Street
Denver, Colorado 80202
Legal Counsel
Gordon Altman Butowsky
Weitzen Shalov & Wein
114 W. 47th Street
New York, NY 10036
No dealer, broker, salesperson or any other person has been authorized to
give any information or to make any representations other than those
contained in this Prospectus or the Additional Statement, and if given or
made, such information and representation must not be relied upon as
having been authorized by the Fund, Oppenheimer Management Corporation,
Oppenheimer Funds Distributor, Inc., or any affiliate thereof. This
Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an
offer to buy any of the securities offered hereby in any state to any
person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer in such state.
PR885.001.0795 Printed on recycled paper Oppenheimer funds
<PAGE>
Oppenheimer Enterprise Fund
Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048-0203
1-800-525-7048
Statement of Additional Information dated November 7, 1995
This Statement of Additional Information of Oppenheimer Enterprise
Fund is not a Prospectus. This document contains additional information
about the Fund and supplements information in the Prospectus dated
November 7, 1995. It should be read together with the Prospectus, which
may be obtained by writing to the Fund's Transfer Agent, Oppenheimer
Shareholder Services, at P.O. Box 5270, Denver, Colorado 80217 or by
calling the Transfer Agent at the toll-free number shown above.
Contents
Page
About the Fund
Investment Objective and Policies 2
Investment Policies and Strategies 2
Other Investment Techniques and Strategies 4
Other Investment Restrictions 12
How the Fund is Managed 14
Organization and History 14
Trustees and Officers of the Fund 14
The Manager and Its Affiliates 19
Brokerage Policies of the Fund 20
Performance of the Fund 21
Distribution and Service Plans 24
About Your Account
How To Buy Shares 25
How To Sell Shares 31
How To Exchange Shares 35
Dividends, Capital Gains and Taxes 36
Additional Information About the Fund 37
Financial Information About the Fund
Independent Auditors' Report 39
Statement of Assets & Liabilities 40
Appendix: Industry Classifications A-1
ABOUT THE FUND
Investment Objective and Policies
Investment Policies and Strategies. The investment objective and policies
of the Fund are described in the Prospectus. Set forth below is
supplemental information about those policies and the types of securities
in which the Fund may invest, as well as the strategies the Fund may use
to try to achieve its objective. Capitalized terms used in this Statement
of Additional Information have the same meanings as those terms have in
the Prospectus.
Securities of "Growth-Type" Issuers. Many "growth-type" issuers,
including emerging growth companies, may be small and unseasoned. Their
securities, which the Fund may purchase when they are offered to the
public for the first time, may have a limited trading market, which may
adversely affect the Fund's ability to sell them when it wants to do so
and can result in their shares being priced lower than otherwise might be
the case. While the Manager will undertake to select promising emerging
companies carefully for the Fund's investments, there is no guarantee that
such investments will achieve their potential. Investment in these issuers
is subject to restrictions contained in the Prospectus and this Statement
of Additional Information.
Borrowing For Leverage. From time to time the Fund may increase
its ownership of securities by borrowing from banks on an unsecured basis
and investing the borrowed funds, subject to the restrictions in the
Prospectus. Any such borrowing will be made only from banks and, pursuant
to the requirements of the Investment Company Act, will be made only to
the extent that the value of the Fund's assets, less its liabilities other
than borrowings, is equal to at least 300% of all borrowings, including
the proposed borrowing. If the value of the Fund's assets, when computed
in that manner, should fail to meet the 300% asset coverage requirement,
the Fund is required within three days to reduce its bank debt to the
extent necessary to meet that requirement. To do so, the Fund may have
to sell a portion of its investments at a time when it would not otherwise
want to sell the securities. Interest on money the Fund borrows is an
expense the Fund would not otherwise incur, so that during periods of
substantial borrowings, its expenses may increase more than expenses of
Funds that do not borrow. This speculative factor is known as "leverage."
Foreign Securities. "Foreign securities" include equity and debt
securities of companies organized under the laws of countries other than
the United States and debt securities of foreign governments, that are
traded on foreign securities exchanges or in the foreign over-the-counter
markets. Securities of foreign issuers that are represented by American
Depository Receipts or that are listed on a U.S. securities exchange or
traded in the U.S. over-the-counter markets are not considered "foreign
securities" for the purpose of the Fund's investment allocations, because
they are not subject to many of the special considerations and risks,
discussed below, that apply to foreign securities traded and held abroad.
Investing in foreign securities offers the Fund potential benefits
not available from investing solely in securities of domestic issuers,
such as the opportunity to invest in foreign issuers that appear to offer
growth potential, or in foreign countries with economic policies or
business cycles different from those of the U.S., or to reduce
fluctuations in portfolio value by taking advantage of foreign stock
markets that do not move in a manner parallel to U.S. markets. If the
Fund's portfolio securities are held abroad, the countries in which such
securities may be held and the sub-custodians holding them must be
approved by the Fund's Board of Trustees where required under applicable
rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. In buying foreign
securities, the Fund may convert U.S. dollars into foreign currency, but
only to effect securities transactions on foreign securities exchanges and
not to hold such currency as an investment.
Risks of Foreign Investing. Investing in foreign securities
involves special additional risks and considerations not typically
associated with investing in securities of issuers traded in the U.S.
These include: reduction of income by foreign taxes; fluctuation in value
of foreign portfolio investments due to changes in currency rates and
control regulations (e.g., currency blockage); transaction charges for
currency exchange; lack of public information about foreign issuers; lack
of uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards
comparable to those applicable to domestic issuers; less volume on foreign
exchanges than on U.S. exchanges; greater volatility and less liquidity
in foreign markets than in the U.S.; less regulation of foreign issuers,
stock exchanges and brokers than in the U.S.; greater difficulties in
commencing lawsuits against foreign issuers; higher brokerage commission
rates than in the U.S.; increased risks of delays in settlement of
portfolio transactions or loss of certificates for portfolio securities;
possibilities in some countries of expropriation or nationalization of
assets, confiscatory taxation, political, financial or social instability
or adverse diplomatic developments; and unfavorable differences between
the U.S. economy and foreign economies. In the past, U.S. Government
policies have discouraged certain investments abroad by U.S. investors,
through taxation or other restrictions, and it is possible that such
restrictions could be re-imposed.
Restricted and Illiquid Securities. To enable the Fund to sell
restricted securities not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, the
Fund may have to cause those securities to be registered. The expenses
of registration of restricted securities may be negotiated by the Fund
with the issuer at the time such securities are purchased by the Fund if
such registration is required before such securities may be sold publicly.
When registration must be arranged because the Fund wishes to sell the
security, a considerable period may elapse between the time the decision
is made to sell the securities and the time the Fund would be permitted
to sell them. The Fund would bear the risks of any downward price
fluctuation during that period. The Fund may also acquire, through private
placements, securities having contractual restrictions on their resale,
which might limit the Fund's ability to dispose of such securities and
might lower the amount realizable upon the sale of such securities.
The Fund has percentage limitations that apply to purchases of
restricted securities, as stated in the Prospectus. Those percentage
restrictions do not limit purchases of restricted securities that are
eligible for sale to qualified institutional purchasers pursuant to Rule
144A under the Securities Act of 1933, provided that those securities have
been determined to be liquid by the Board of Trustees of the Fund or by
the Manager under Board-approved guidelines. Those guidelines take into
account the trading activity for such securities and the availability of
reliable pricing information, among other factors. If there is a lack of
trading interest in a particular Rule 144A security, the Fund's holding
of that security may be deemed to be illiquid.
Repurchase Agreements. In a repurchase transaction, the Fund
acquires a security from, and simultaneously resells it to, an approved
vendor. An "approved vendor" is a U.S. commercial bank or the U.S. branch
of a foreign bank, or a broker-dealer which has been designated a primary
dealer in government securities and which must meet the credit
requirements set by the Fund's Board of Trustees from time to time. The
repurchase price exceeds the purchase price by an amount that reflects an
agreed-upon interest rate effective for the period during which the
repurchase agreement is in effect. The majority of these transactions run
from day to day, and delivery pursuant to the resale typically will occur
within one to five days of the purchase. Repurchase agreements are
considered "loans" under the Investment Company Act, collateralized by the
underlying security. The Fund's repurchase agreements require that at all
times while the repurchase agreement is in effect, the value of the
collateral must equal or exceed the repurchase price to fully
collateralize the repayment obligation. Additionally, the Manager will
impose creditworthiness requirements to confirm that the vendor is
financially sound and will continuously monitor the collateral's value.
Loans of Portfolio Securities. The Fund may lend its portfolio
securities subject to the restrictions stated in the Prospectus, if the
loan is collateralized under applicable regulatory guidelines. Under
applicable regulatory requirements (which are subject to change), the loan
collateral must, on each business day, at least equal the market value of
the loaned securities and must consist of cash, bank letters of credit,
U.S. Government securities, or other cash equivalents in which the Fund
is permitted to invest. To be acceptable as collateral, letters of credit
must obligate a bank to pay amounts demanded by the Fund if the demand
meets the terms of the letter. Such terms and the issuing bank must be
satisfactory to the Fund. In a portfolio securities lending transaction,
the Fund receives from the borrower an amount equal to the interest paid
or the dividends declared on the loaned securities during the term of the
loan as well as the interest on the collateral securities, less any
finders' or administrative fees the Fund pays in arranging the loan. In
connection with such lending, the Fund might experience risks of delay in
receiving additional collateral, or risks of delay in recovery of the
loaned securities, or loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower
fail financially. The Fund may share the interest it receives on the
collateral securities with the borrower as long as it realizes at least
the minimum amount of interest required by the lending guidelines
established by its Board of Trustees. The Fund will not lend its
portfolio securities to any officer, trustee, employee or affiliate of the
Fund or its Manager. The terms of the Fund's loans must meet applicable
tests under the Internal Revenue Code and must permit the Fund to
reacquire loaned securities on five business days' notice or in time to
vote on any important matter.
Derivative Investments. The Fund may invest in different types of
derivative investments. "Index-linked" or "commodity-linked" notes are
debt securities of companies that call for interest payments and/or
payment on the maturity of the note in different terms than the typical
note where the borrower agrees to make fixed interest payments and/or to
pay a fixed sum on the maturity of the note. Principal and/or interest
payments on an index-linked note depend on the performance of one or more
market indices, such as the S & P 500 Index or a weighted index of
commodity futures, such as crude oil, gasoline and natural gas. The Fund
may invest in "debt exchangeable for common stock" of an issuer or
"equity-linked" debt securities of an issuer. At maturity, the principal
amount of the debt security is exchanged for common stock of the issuer
or is payable in an amount based on the issuer's common stock price at the
time of maturity. In either case there is a risk that the amount payable
at maturity will be less than the expected principal amount of the debt.
The Fund may also invest in currency-indexed securities. Typically,
these are short-term or intermediate-term debt securities having a value
at maturity, and/or an interest rate, determined by reference to one or
more foreign currencies. The currency-indexed securities purchased by the
Fund may make payments based on a formula. The payment of principal or
periodic interest may be calculated as a multiple of the movement of one
currency against another currency, or against an index. These investments
may entail increased risk to principal and increased price volatility.
Other Investment Techniques and Strategies
Hedging. The Fund may use hedging instruments for the purposes
described in the Prospectus. When hedging to attempt to protect against
declines in the market value of the Fund's portfolio, or to permit the
Fund to retain unrealized gains in the value of portfolio securities which
have appreciated, or to facilitate selling securities for investment
reasons, the Fund may: (i) sell Futures, (ii) buy puts or such Futures or
securities, or (iii) write covered calls on securities or on Futures.
When hedging to establish a position in the equity securities markets as
a temporary substitute for the purchase of individual equity securities
the Fund may: (i) buy Futures, or (ii) buy calls on such Futures or
securities held by it. Normally, the Fund would then purchase the equity
securities and terminate the hedging position.
The Fund's strategy of hedging with Futures and options on Futures
will be incidental to the Fund's investment activities in the underlying
cash market. In the future, the Fund may employ hedging instruments and
strategies that are not presently contemplated but which may be developed,
to the extent such investment methods are consistent with the Fund's
investment objective, and are legally permissible and disclosed in the
Prospectus. Additional information about the hedging instruments the Fund
may use is provided below.
Writing Covered Calls. As described in the Prospectus, the Fund
may write covered calls. When the Fund writes a call on an investment, it
receives a premium and agrees to sell the callable investment to a
purchaser of a corresponding call during the call period (usually not more
than 9 months) at a fixed exercise price (which may differ from the market
price of the underlying investment) regardless of market price changes
during the call period. To terminate its obligation on a call it has
written, the Fund may purchase a corresponding call in a "closing
purchase transaction." A profit or loss will be realized, depending upon
whether the net of the amount of option transaction costs and the premium
received on the call the Fund has written is more or less than the price
of the call the Fund subsequently purchased. A profit may also be
realized if the call lapses unexercised, because the Fund retains the
underlying investment and the premium received. Those profits are
considered short-term capital gains for Federal income tax purposes, as
are premiums on lapsed calls, and when distributed by the Fund are taxable
as ordinary income. If the Fund could not effect a closing purchase
transaction due to the lack of a market, it would have to hold the
callable investment until the call lapsed or was exercised.
The Fund may also write calls on Futures without owning a futures
contract or deliverable securities, provided that at the time the call is
written, the Fund covers the call by segregating in escrow an equivalent
dollar value of deliverable securities or liquid assets. The Fund will
segregate additional liquid assets if the value of the escrowed assets
drops below 100% of the current value of the Future. In no circumstances
would an exercise notice as to a Future put the Fund in a short futures
position.
The Fund's Custodian, or a securities depository acting for the
Custodian, will act as the Fund's escrow agent, through the facilities of
the Options Clearing Corporation ("OCC"), as to the investments on which
the Fund has written options that are traded on exchanges, or as to other
acceptable escrow securities, so that no margin will be required from the
Fund for such option transactions. OCC will release the securities
covering a call on the expiration of the call or when the Fund enters into
a closing purchase transaction. Call writing affects the Fund's turnover
rate and the brokerage commissions it pays. Commissions, normally higher
than on general securities transactions, are payable on writing or
purchasing a call.
Stock Index Futures and Financial Futures. The Fund may buy and
sell futures contracts relating to a securities index ("Financial
Futures"), including "Stock Index Futures," a type of Financial Future for
which the index used as the basis for trading is a broadly-based stock
index (including stocks that are not limited to issuers in a particular
industry or group of industries). A stock index assigns relative values
to the common stocks included in the index and fluctuates with the changes
in the market value of those stocks. Stock indices cannot be purchased
or sold directly. Financial futures are contracts based on the future
value of the basket of securities that comprise the underlying index. The
contracts obligate the seller to deliver, and the purchaser to take, cash
to settle the futures transaction or to enter into an offsetting contract.
No physical delivery of the securities underlying the index is made on
settling the futures obligation. No monetary amount is paid or received
by the Fund on the purchase or sale of a Financial Future or Stock Index
Future.
Upon entering into a Futures transaction, the Fund will be required
to deposit an initial margin payment, in cash or U.S. Treasury bills, with
the futures commission merchant (the "futures broker"). Initial margin
payments will be deposited with the Fund's Custodian in an account
registered in the futures broker's name; however, the futures broker can
gain access to that account only under certain specified conditions. As
the Future is marked to market (that is, its value on the Fund's books is
changed) to reflect changes in its market value, subsequent margin
payments, called variation margin, will be paid to or by the futures
broker on a daily basis.
At any time prior to the expiration of the Future, the Fund may elect
to close out its position by taking an opposite position, at which time
a final determination of variation margin is made and additional cash is
required to be paid by or released to the Fund. Any gain or loss is then
realized by the Fund on the Future for tax purposes. Although Financial
Futures and Stock Index Futures by their terms call for settlement by the
delivery of cash, in most cases the settlement obligation is fulfilled
without such delivery by entering into an offsetting transaction. All
Futures transactions are effected through a clearing house associated with
the exchange on which the contracts are traded.
Purchasing Puts and Calls. The Fund may purchase calls to protect
against the possibility that the Fund's portfolio will not participate in
an anticipated rise in the securities market. When the Fund purchases a
call, it pays a premium (other than in a closing purchase transaction)
and, except as to calls on stock indices, has the right to buy the
underlying investment from a seller of a corresponding call on the same
investment during the call period at a fixed exercise price. In
purchasing a call, the Fund benefits only if the call is sold at a profit
or if, during the call period, the market price of the underlying
investment is above the sum of the call price, transaction costs, and the
premium paid, and the call is exercised. If the call is not exercised or
sold (whether or not at a profit), it will become worthless at its
expiration date and the Fund will lose its premium payment and the right
to purchase the underlying investment. When the Fund purchases a call on
a stock index, it pays a premium, but settlement is in cash rather than
by delivery of the underlying investment to the Fund.
When the Fund purchases a put, it pays a premium and, except as to
puts on stock indices, has the right to sell the underlying investment to
a seller of a corresponding put on the same investment during the put
period at a fixed exercise price. Buying a put on an investment the Fund
owns (a "protective put") enables the Fund to attempt to protect itself
during the put period against a decline in the value of the underlying
investment below the exercise price by selling the underlying investment
at the exercise price to a seller of a corresponding put. If the market
price of the underlying investment is equal to or above the exercise price
and as a result the put is not exercised or resold, the put will become
worthless at its expiration and the Fund will lose the premium payment and
the right to sell the underlying investment. However, the put may be sold
prior to expiration (whether or not at a profit).
Puts and calls on broadly-based stock indices or Stock Index Futures
are similar to puts and calls on securities or futures contracts except
that all settlements are in cash and gain or loss depends on changes in
the index in question (and thus on price movements in the stock market
generally) rather than on price movements of individual securities or
futures contracts. When the Fund buys a call on a stock index or Stock
Index Future, it pays a premium. If the Fund exercises the call during
the call period, a seller of a corresponding call on the same investment
will pay the Fund an amount of cash to settle the call if the closing
level of the stock index or Future upon which the call is based is greater
than the exercise price of the call. That cash payment is equal to the
difference between the closing price of the call and the exercise price
of the call times a specified multiple (the "multiplier") which determines
the total dollar value for each point of difference. When the Fund buys
a put on a stock index or Stock Index Future, it pays a premium and has
the right during the put period to require a seller of a corresponding
put, upon the Fund's exercise of its put, to deliver cash to the Fund to
settle the put if the closing level of the stock index or Stock Index
Future upon which the put is based is less than the exercise price of the
put. That cash payment is determined by the multiplier, in the same
manner as described above as to calls.
When the Fund purchases a put on a stock index, or on a Stock Index
Future not owned by it, the put protects the Fund to the extent that the
index moves in a similar pattern to the securities the Fund holds. The
Fund can either resell the put or, in the case of a put on a Stock Index
Future, buy the underlying investment and sell it at the exercise price.
The resale price of the put will vary inversely with the price of the
underlying investment. If the market price of the underlying investment
is above the exercise price, and as a result the put is not exercised, the
put will become worthless on the expiration date. In the event of a
decline in price of the underlying investment, the Fund could exercise or
sell the put at a profit to attempt to offset some or all of its loss on
its portfolio securities.
The Fund's option activities may affect its portfolio turnover rate
and brokerage commissions. The exercise of calls written by the Fund may
cause the Fund to sell related portfolio securities, thus increasing its
turnover rate. The exercise by the Fund of puts on securities will cause
the sale of underlying investments, increasing portfolio turnover.
Although the decision whether to exercise a put it holds is within the
Fund's control, holding a put might cause the Fund to sell the related
investments for reasons that would not exist in the absence of the put.
The Fund will pay a brokerage commission each time it buys or sells a
call, put or an underlying investment in connection with the exercise of
a put or call. Those commissions may be higher than the commissions for
direct purchases or sales of the underlying investments.
Premiums paid for options are small in relation to the market value
of the underlying investments and, consequently, put and call options
offer large amounts of leverage. The leverage offered by trading in
options could result in the Fund's net asset value being more sensitive
to changes in the value of the underlying investments.
Forward Contracts. The Fund may enter into foreign currency
exchange contracts ("Forward Contracts"), which obligate the seller to
deliver and the purchaser to take a specific amount of foreign currency
at a specific future date for a fixed price. A Forward Contract involves
bilateral obligations of one party to purchase, and another party to 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 the contract is entered into. These contracts are traded
in the interbank market conducted directly between currency traders
(usually large commercial banks) and their customers. The Fund may enter
into a Forward Contract in order to "lock in" the U.S. dollar price of a
security denominated in a foreign currency which it has purchased or sold
but which has not yet settled, or to protect against a possible loss
resulting from an adverse change in the relationship between the U.S.
dollar and a foreign currency.
There is a risk that use of Forward Contracts may reduce the gain
that would otherwise result from a change in the relationship between the
U.S. dollar and a foreign currency. To attempt to limit its exposure to
loss under Forward Contracts in a particular foreign currency, the Fund
limits its use of these contracts to the amount of its net assets
denominated in that currency or denominated in a closely-correlated
foreign currency. Forward Contracts include standardized foreign currency
futures contracts which are traded on exchanges and are subject to
procedures and regulations applicable to other Futures. The Fund may also
enter into a forward contract to sell a foreign currency denominated in
a currency other than that in which the underlying security is
denominated. This is done in the expectation that there is a greater
correlation between the foreign currency of the forward contract and the
foreign currency of the underlying investment than between the U.S. dollar
and the foreign currency of the underlying investment. This technique is
referred to as "cross hedging." The success of cross hedging is dependent
on many factors, including the ability of the Manager to correctly
identify and monitor the correlation between foreign currencies and the
U.S. dollar. To the extent that the correlation is not identical, the
Fund may experience losses or gains on both the underlying security and
the cross currency hedge.
The Fund may use Forward Contracts to protect against uncertainty in
the level of future exchange rates. The use of Forward Contracts does not
eliminate fluctuations in the prices of the underlying securities the Fund
owns or intends to acquire, but it does fix a rate of exchange in advance.
In addition, although Forward Contracts limit the risk of loss due to a
decline in the value of the hedged currencies, at the same time they limit
any potential gain that might result should the value of the currencies
increase.
There is no limitation as to the percentage of the Fund's assets that
may be committed to foreign currency exchange contracts. The Fund does
not enter into such Forward Contracts or maintain a net exposure in such
contracts to the extent that the Fund would be obligated to deliver an
amount of foreign currency in excess of the value of the Fund's assets
denominated in that currency, or enter into a "cross hedge," unless it is
denominated in a currency or currencies that the Manager believes will
have price movements that tend to correlate closely with the currency in
which the investment being hedged is denominated. See "Tax Aspects of
Covered Calls and Hedging Instruments" below for a discussion of the tax
treatment of foreign currency exchange contracts.
The Fund may enter into Forward Contracts with respect to specific
transactions. For example, when the Fund enters into a contract for the
purchase or sale of a security denominated in a foreign currency, or when
the Fund anticipates receipt of dividend payments in a foreign currency,
the Fund may desire to "lock-in" the U.S. dollar price of the security or
the U.S. dollar equivalent of such payment by entering into a Forward
Contract, for a fixed amount of U.S. dollars per unit of foreign currency,
for the purchase or sale of the amount of foreign currency involved in the
underlying transaction ("transaction hedge"). The Fund will thereby be
able to protect itself against a possible loss resulting from an adverse
change in the relationship between the currency exchange rates during the
period between the date on which the security is purchased or sold, or on
which the payment is declared, and the date on which such payments are
made or received.
The Fund may also use Forward Contracts to lock in the U.S. dollar
value of portfolio positions ("position hedge"). In a position hedge, for
example, when the Fund believes that foreign currency may suffer a
substantial decline against the U.S. dollar, it may enter into a forward
sale contract to sell an amount of that foreign currency approximating the
value of some or all of the Fund's portfolio securities denominated in
such foreign currency, or when the Fund believes that the U.S. dollar may
suffer a substantial decline against a foreign currency, it may enter into
a forward purchase contract to buy that foreign currency for a fixed
dollar amount. In this situation the Fund may, in the alternative, enter
into a forward contract to sell a different foreign currency for a fixed
U.S. dollar amount where the Fund believes that the U.S. dollar value of
the currency to be sold pursuant to the forward contract will fall
whenever there is a decline in the U.S. dollar value of the currency in
which portfolio securities of the Fund are denominated ("cross hedge").
The Fund's Custodian will place cash or U.S. Government securities
or other liquid high-quality debt securities in a separate account of the
Fund having a value equal to the aggregate amount of the Fund's
commitments under Forward Contracts to cover its short positions. If the
value of the securities placed in the separate account declines,
additional cash or securities will be placed in the account on a daily
basis so that the value of the account will equal the amount of the Fund's
commitments with respect to such contracts. Unanticipated changes in
currency prices may result in poorer overall performance for the Fund than
if it had not entered into such contracts.
The precise matching of the Forward Contract amounts and the value
of the securities involved will not generally be possible because the
future value of such securities in foreign currencies will change as a
consequence of market movements in the value of these securities between
the date the Forward Contract is entered into and the date it is sold.
Accordingly, it may be necessary for the Fund to purchase additional
foreign currency on the spot (i.e., cash) market (and bear the expense of
such purchase), if the market value of the security is less than the
amount of foreign currency the Fund is obligated to deliver and if a
decision is made to sell the security and make delivery of the foreign
currency. Conversely, it may be necessary to sell on the spot market some
of the foreign currency received upon the sale of the portfolio security
if its market value exceeds the amount of foreign currency the Fund is
obligated to deliver. The projection of short-term currency market
movements is extremely difficult, and the successful execution of a short-
term hedging strategy is highly uncertain. Forward Contracts involve the
risk that anticipated currency movements will not be accurately predicted,
causing the Fund to sustain losses on these contracts and transactions
costs.
At or before the maturity of a Forward Contract requiring the Fund
to sell a currency, the Fund may either sell a portfolio security and use
the sale proceeds to make delivery of the currency or retain the security
and offset its contractual obligation to deliver the currency by
purchasing a second contract pursuant to which the Fund will obtain, on
the same maturity date, the same amount of the currency that it is
obligated to deliver. Similarly, the Fund may close out a Forward
Contract requiring it to purchase a specified currency by entering into
a second contract entitling it to sell the same amount of the same
currency on the maturity date of the first contract. The Fund would
realize a gain or loss as a result of entering into such an offsetting
Forward Contract under either circumstance to the extent the exchange rate
or rates between the currencies involved moved between the execution dates
of the first contract and offsetting contract.
The cost to the Fund of engaging in Forward Contracts varies with
factors such as the currencies involved, the length of the contract period
and the market conditions then prevailing. Because Forward Contracts are
usually entered into on a principal basis, no fees or commissions are
involved. Because such contracts are not traded on an exchange, the Fund
must evaluate the credit and performance risk of each particular
counterparty under a Forward Contract.
Although the Fund values its assets daily in terms of U.S. dollars,
it does not intend to convert its holdings of foreign currencies into U.S.
dollars on a daily basis. The Fund may convert foreign currency from time
to time, and investors should be aware of the costs of currency
conversion. Foreign exchange dealers do not charge a fee for conversion,
but they do seek to realize a profit based on the difference between the
prices at which they buy and sell various currencies. Thus, a dealer may
offer to sell a foreign currency to the Fund at one rate, while offering
a lesser rate of exchange should the Fund desire to resell that currency
to the dealer.
Interest Rate Swap Transactions. Swap agreements entail both
interest rate risk and credit risk. There is a risk that, based on
movements of interest rates in the future, the payments made by the Fund
under a swap agreement will have been greater than those received by it.
Credit risk arises from the possibility that the counterparty will
default. If the counterparty to an interest rate swap defaults, the
Fund's loss will consist of the net amount of contractual interest
payments that the Fund has not yet received. The Manager will monitor the
creditworthiness of counterparties to the Fund's interest rate swap
transactions on an ongoing basis. The Fund will enter into swap
transactions with appropriate counterparties pursuant to master netting
agreements.
A master netting agreement provides that all swaps done between the
Fund and that counterparty under the master agreement shall be regarded
as parts of an integral agreement. If on any date amounts are payable in
the same currency in respect of one or more swap transactions, the net
amount payable on that date in that currency shall be paid. In addition,
the master netting agreement may provide that if one party defaults
generally or on one swap, the counterparty may terminate the swaps with
that party. Under such agreements, if there is a default resulting in a
loss to one part, the measure of that part's damages is calculated by
reference to the average cost of a replacement swap with respect to each
swap (i.e., the mark-to-market value at the time of the termination of
each swap). The gains and losses on all swaps are then netted, and the
result is the counterparty's gain or loss on termination. The termination
of all swaps and the netting of gains and losses on termination is
generally referred to as "aggregation." The Fund will not invest more
than 25% of its assets in interest rate swap transactions.
Regulatory Aspects of Hedging Instruments. The Fund is required to
operate within certain guidelines and restrictions with respect to its use
of Futures and options on Futures established by the Commodity Futures
Trading Commission ("CFTC"). In particular the Fund is exempted from
registration with the CFTC as a "commodity pool operator" if the Fund
complies with the requirements of Rule 4.5 adopted by the CFTC. The Rule
does not limit the percentage of the Fund's assets that may be used for
Futures margin and related options premiums for a bona fide hedging
position. However, under the Rule the Fund must limit its aggregate
initial futures margin and related option premiums to no more than 5% of
the Fund's net assets for hedging strategies that are not considered bona
fide hedging strategies under the Rule.
Transactions in options by the Fund are subject to limitations
established by option exchanges governing the maximum number of options
that may be written or held by a single investor or group of investors
acting in concert, regardless of whether the options were written or
purchased on the same or different exchanges or are held in one or more
accounts or through one or more different exchanges or through one or more
brokers. Thus the number of options which the Fund may write or hold may
be affected by options written or held by other entities, including other
investment companies having the same adviser as the Fund (or an adviser
that is an affiliate of the Fund's adviser). The exchanges also impose
position limits on Futures transactions. An exchange may order the
liquidation of positions found to be in violation of those limits and may
impose certain other sanctions.
Due to requirements under the Investment Company Act, when the Fund
purchases a Future, the Fund will maintain, in a segregated account or
accounts with its Custodian, cash or readily-marketable, short-term
(maturing in one year or less) debt instruments in an amount equal to the
market value of the securities underlying such Future, less the margin
deposit applicable to it.
Tax Aspects of Covered Calls and Hedging Instruments. The Fund
intends to qualify as a "regulated investment company" under the Internal
Revenue Code (although it reserves the right not to qualify). That
qualification enables the Fund to "pass through" its income and realized
capital gains to shareholders without having to pay tax on them. This
avoids a "double tax" on that income and capital gains, since shareholders
normally will be taxed on the dividends and capital gains they receive
from the Fund (unless the Fund's shares are held in a retirement account
or the shareholder is otherwise exempt from tax). One of the tests for
the Fund's qualification as a regulated investment company is that less
than 30% of its gross income must be derived from gains realized on the
sale of securities held for less than three months. To comply with this
30% cap, the Fund will limit the extent to which it engages in the
following activities, but will not be precluded from them: (i) selling
investments, including Stock Index Futures, held for less than three
months, whether or not they were purchased on the exercise of a call held
by the Fund; (ii) purchasing options which expire in less than three
months; (iii) effecting closing transactions with respect to calls or puts
written or purchased less than three months previously; (iv) exercising
puts or calls held by the Fund for less than three months; or (v) writing
calls on investments held less than three months.
Certain foreign currency exchange contracts (Forward Contracts) in
which the Fund may invest are treated as "section 1256 contracts." Gains
or losses relating to section 1256 contracts generally are characterized
under the Internal Revenue Code as 60% long-term and 40% short-term
capital gains or losses. However, foreign currency gains or losses
arising from certain section 1256 contracts (including Forward Contracts)
generally are treated as ordinary income or loss. In addition, section
1256 contracts held by the Fund at the end of each taxable year are
"marked-to-market" with the result that unrealized gains or losses are
treated as though they were realized. These contracts also may be marked-
to-market for purposes of the excise tax applicable to investment company
distributions and for other purposes under rules prescribed pursuant to
the Internal Revenue Code. An election can be made by the Fund to exempt
these transactions from this marked-to-market treatment.
Certain Forward Contracts entered into by the Fund may result in
"straddles" for Federal income tax purposes. The straddle rules may
affect the character of gains (or losses) realized by the Fund on straddle
positions. Generally, a loss sustained on the disposition of a
position(s) making up a straddle is allowed only to the extent such loss
exceeds any unrecognized gain in the offsetting positions making up the
straddle. Disallowed loss is generally allowed at the point where there
is no unrecognized gain in the offsetting positions making up the
straddle, or the offsetting position is disposed of.
Under the Internal Revenue Code, gains or losses attributable to
fluctuations in exchange rates which occur between the time the Fund
accrues interest or other receivables or accrues expenses or other
liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time the Fund
actually collects such receivables or pays such liabilities generally are
treated as ordinary income or ordinary loss. Similarly, on disposition
of debt securities denominated in a foreign currency and on disposition
of foreign currency Forward Contracts, gains or losses attributable to
fluctuations in the value of a foreign currency between the date of
acquisition of the security or contract and the date of disposition also
are treated as an ordinary gain or loss. Currency gains and losses are
offset against market gains and losses before determining a net "section
988" gain or loss under the Internal Revenue Code, which may increase or
decrease the amount of the Fund's investment company income available for
distribution to its shareholders.
Risks of Hedging With Options and Futures. An option position may
be closed out only on a market that provides secondary trading for options
of the same series, and there is no assurance that a liquid secondary
market will exist for any particular option. In addition to the risks
associated with hedging that are discussed in the Prospectus and above,
there is a risk in using short hedging by (i) selling Stock Index Futures
or (ii) purchasing puts on stock indices or Stock Index Futures to attempt
to protect against declines in the value of the Fund's equity securities.
The risk is that the prices of Stock Index Futures will correlate
imperfectly with the behavior of the cash (i.e., market value) prices of
the Fund's equity securities. The ordinary spreads between prices in the
cash and futures markets are subject to distortions, due to differences
in the natures of those markets. First, all participants in the futures
markets are subject to margin deposit and maintenance requirements.
Rather than meeting additional margin deposit requirements, investors may
close out futures contracts through offsetting transactions which could
distort the normal relationship between the cash and futures markets.
Second, the liquidity of the futures markets depends on participants
entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking
delivery. To the extent participants decide to make or take delivery,
liquidity in the futures markets could be reduced, thus producing
distortion. Third, from the point of view of speculators, the deposit
requirements in the futures markets are less onerous than margin
requirements in the securities markets. Therefore, increased
participation by speculators in the futures markets may cause temporary
price distortions.
The risk of imperfect correlation increases as the composition of the
Fund's portfolio diverges from the securities included in the applicable
index. To compensate for the imperfect correlation of movements in the
price of the equity securities being hedged and movements in the price of
the hedging instruments, the Fund may use hedging instruments in a greater
dollar amount than the dollar amount of equity securities being hedged if
the historical volatility of the prices of the equity securities being
hedged is more than the historical volatility of the applicable index.
It is also possible that if the Fund has used hedging instruments in a
short hedge, the market may advance and the value of equity securities
held in the Fund's portfolio may decline. If that occurred, the Fund would
lose money on the hedging instruments and also experience a decline in
value in its portfolio securities. However, while this could occur for
a very brief period or to a very small degree, over time the value of a
diversified portfolio of equity securities will tend to move in the same
direction as the indices upon which the hedging instruments are based.
If the Fund uses hedging instruments to establish a position in the
equities markets as a temporary substitute for the purchase of individual
equity securities (long hedging) by buying Stock Index Futures and/or
calls on such Futures, on securities or on stock indices, it is possible
that the market may decline. If the Fund then concludes not to invest in
equity securities at that time because of concerns as to a possible
further market decline or for other reasons, the Fund will realize a loss
on the hedging instruments that is not offset by a reduction in the price
of the equity securities purchased.
Other Investment Restrictions
The Fund's most significant investment restrictions are described in
the Prospectus. The following are also fundamental policies, and together
with the Fund's fundamental policies described in the Prospectus, cannot
be changed without the approval of a "majority" of the Fund's outstanding
voting securities. Such a "majority" vote is defined in the Investment
Company Act as the vote of the holders of the lesser of (1) 67% or more
of the shares present or represented by proxy at a shareholders meeting,
if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares are present or
represented by proxy; or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding shares.
Under these additional restrictions, the Fund cannot:
(a) underwrite securities of other companies, except insofar as the Fund
might be deemed to be an underwriter in the resale of any securities
held in its portfolio;
(b) purchase securities on margin; however, the Fund may make margin
deposits in connection with any of the hedging instruments
permitted by any of its other fundamental policies;
(c) lend money except in connection with the acquisition of that
portion of publicly-distributed debt securities which the Fund's
investment policies and restrictions permit it to purchase (see
"Investment Objective and Policies"); the Fund may also make
loans of portfolio securities and enter into repurchase
agreements (see "Loans of Portfolio Securities" and "Repurchase
Agreements" in the Prospectus);
(d) mortgage, hypothecate or pledge any of its assets; however, this
does not prohibit the escrow arrangements contemplated by the
put and call activities of the Fund or other collateral or
margin arrangements in connection with any of the hedging
instruments permitted by any of its other policies;
(e) invest in or hold securities of any issuer if officers and
Trustees or Directors of the Fund or the Manager individually
owning more than 0.5% of the securities of such issuer together
own more than 5% of the securities of such issuer;
(f) invest in other open-end investment companies, or invest more
than 5% of the value of its net assets in closed-end investment
companies, including small business investment companies, nor
make any such investments at commission rates in excess of
normal brokerage commissions;
(g) invest in companies for the purpose of acquiring control or
management thereof;
(h) invest in interests in oil, gas or other mineral exploration or
development programs; or
(i) invest in real estate or in interests in real estate, but may
purchase readily marketable securities of companies holding real
estate or interests therein.
For purposes of the Fund's policy not to concentrate its assets
described in the Prospectus, the Fund has adopted the industry
classifications set forth in the Appendix to this Statement of Additional
Information. This is not a fundamental policy.
The Fund also may, as a matter of fundamental policy and
notwithstanding any other fundamental investment policy or limitation,
invest all of its assets in the securities of a single open-end management
investment company for which the Manager or a subsidiary or successor is
adviser or sub-adviser, with substantially the same fundamental investment
objective(s), policies and limitations as the Fund. This would permit the
Fund to adopt a "master-feeder" structure in which the Fund and other
"feeder" funds would invest all of their assets in a single pooled "master
fund" in an effort to take advantage of potential efficiencies. The Fund
has no present intention of adopting a "master-feeder" structure, and
would be required to update its Prospectus and this Statement of
Additional Information prior to its doing so.
In connection with the registration of its shares in certain states,
the Fund has made the following undertakings. These undertakings, which
are non-fundamental policies of the Fund, shall terminate if the Fund
ceases to qualify its shares for sale in that state or if the state's
applicable rules or regulations are amended. The Fund has undertaken
that: (i) it will not invest in securities of other investment companies,
except by purchase in the open market where no commission or profit to a
sponsor or dealer results from the purchase other than the customary
broker's commission or except when the purchase is part of a plan of
merger, consolidation, reorganization or acquisition; (ii) it will not
invest in oil, gas or other mineral leases; (iii) it will not purchase or
sell property, including real estate limited partnership interests; (iv)
in the event the Fund adopts a "master-feeder" structure as set forth
above, upon such conversion it will comply with the Guidelines for
Registration of Master Fund/Feeder Funds as adopted by the NASAA
membership; and (v) it will not invest more than 15% of its total assets
in the securities of issuers (a) which, together with any predecessors,
have a record of less than three years continuous operation and (b) which
are restricted as to disposition (including Rule 144A securities).
With respect to investment restriction "(f)" above, to the extent the
Fund does make investments in other investment companies, the Fund's
shareholders may be subject indirectly to that company's management fees
and costs, in addition to the management fees and costs directly borne by
the Fund.
How the Fund Is Managed
Organization and History. As a Massachusetts business trust, the Fund is
not required to hold, and does not plan to hold, regular annual meetings
of shareholders. The Fund will hold meetings when required to do so by the
Investment Company Act or other applicable law, or when a shareholder
meeting is called by the Trustees or upon proper request of the
shareholders. Shareholders have the right, upon the declaration in
writing or vote of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the Fund, to
remove a Trustee. The Trustees will call a meeting of shareholders to
vote on the removal of a Trustee upon the written request of the record
holders of 10% of its outstanding shares. In addition, if the Trustees
receive a request from at least 10 shareholders (who have been
shareholders for at least six months) holding shares of the Fund valued
at $25,000 or more or holding at least 1% of the Fund's outstanding
shares, whichever is less, stating that they wish to communicate with
other shareholders to request a meeting to remove a Trustee, the Trustees
will then either make the Fund's shareholder list available to the
applicants or mail their communication to all other shareholders at the
applicants' expense, or the Trustees may take such other action as set
forth under Section 16(c) of the Investment Company Act.
The Fund's Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of
shareholder or Trustee liability for the Fund's obligations, and provides
for indemnification and reimbursement of expenses out of its property for
any shareholder held personally liable for its obligations. The
Declaration of Trust also provides that the Fund shall, upon request,
assume the defense of any claim made against any shareholder for any act
or obligation of the Fund and satisfy any judgment thereon. Thus, while
Massachusetts law permits a shareholder of a business trust (such as the
Fund) to be held personally liable as a "partner" under certain
circumstances, the risk of a Fund shareholder incurring financial loss on
account of shareholder liability is limited to the relatively remote
circumstances in which the Fund would be unable to meet its obligations
described above. Any person doing business with the Trust, and any
shareholder of the Trust, agrees under the Trust's Declaration of Trust
to look solely to the assets of the Trust for satisfaction of any claim
or demand which may arise out of any dealings with the Trust, and the
Trustees shall have no personal liability to any such person, to the
extent permitted by law.
Trustees and Officers of the Fund. The Fund's Trustees and officers and
their principal occupations and business affiliations during the past five
years are set forth below. The address for each Trustee and officer is
Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048-0203, unless another
address is listed below. All of the Trustees are also trustees of
Oppenheimer Fund, Oppenheimer Growth Fund, Oppenheimer Tax-Free Bond Fund,
Oppenheimer Money Market Fund, Inc., Oppenheimer Target Fund, Oppenheimer
U.S. Government Trust, Oppenheimer New York Tax-Exempt Fund, Oppenheimer
California Tax-Exempt Fund, Oppenheimer Multi-State Tax-Exempt Trust,
Oppenheimer Asset Allocation Fund, Oppenheimer Gold & Special Minerals
Fund, Oppenheimer Global Fund, Oppenheimer Global Growth & Income Fund,
Oppenheimer Global Emerging Growth Fund, Oppenheimer Multi-Sector Income
Trust and Oppenheimer Multi-Government Trust (collectively, the "New York-
based Oppenheimer funds"). As of October 25, 1995, no Trustees or
officers of the Fund owned of record or beneficially any shares of the
Fund.
Leon Levy, Chairman of the Board of Trustees; Age: 69
31 West 52nd Street, New York, New York 10019
General Partner of Odyssey Partners, L.P. (investment partnership) and
Chairman of Avatar Holdings, Inc. (real estate development).
Leo Cherne, Trustee; Age: 82
122 East 42nd Street, New York, New York 10168
Chairman Emeritus of the International Rescue Committee (philanthropic
organization); formerly Executive Director of The Research Institute of
America.
Robert G. Galli, Trustee*; Age: 62
Vice Chairman of the Manager and Vice President and Counsel of Oppenheimer
Acquisition Corp., the Manager's parent holding company; formerly he held
the following positions: a director of the Manager and Oppenheimer Funds
Distributor, Inc. (the "Distributor"), Vice President and a director of
HarbourView Asset Management Corporation ("HarbourView") and Centennial
Asset Management Corporation ("Centennial"), investment advisory
subsidiaries of the Manager, a director of Shareholder Financial Services,
Inc. ("SFSI") and Shareholder Services, Inc. ("SSI"), transfer agent
subsidiaries of the Manager, an officer of other Oppenheimer funds and
Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the Manager and the
Distributor.
Benjamin Lipstein, Trustee; Age: 72
591 Breezy Hill Road, Hillsdale, New York 12529
Professor Emeritus of Marketing, Stern Graduate School of Business
Administration, New York University; a director of Sussex Publishers, Inc.
(Publishers of Psychology Today and Mother Earth News) and Spy Magazine,
L.P.
Bridget A. Macaskill, Trustee*; Age: 47
President, CEO and a Director of the Manager; Chairman and a Director of
SSI, Vice President and a Director of OAC, a Director of HarbourView and
Oppenheimer Partnership Holdings, Inc., a holding company subsidiary of
the Manager; formerly Executive Vice President of the Manager.
Elizabeth B. Moynihan, Trustee; Age: 65
801 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20004
Author and architectural historian; a trustee of the Freer Gallery of Art
(Smithsonian Institution), the Institute of Fine Arts (New York
University), National Building Museum; a member of the Trustees Council,
Preservation League of New York State and the Indo-U.S. Sub-Commission on
Education and Culture.
Kenneth A. Randall, Trustee; Age: 68
6 Whittaker's Mill, Williamsburg, Virginia 23185
Director of Dominion Resources, Inc. (electric utility holding company),
Dominion Energy, Inc. (electric power and oil & gas producer), Enron-
Dominion Cogen Corp. (cogeneration company) Kemper Corporation (insurance
and financial services company) and Fidelity Life Association (mutual life
insurance company), formerly Chairman of the Board of ICL, Inc.
(information systems), and President and Chief Executive Officer of The
Conference Board, Inc. (international economic and business research).
Edward V. Regan, Trustee; Age: 65
40 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10016
President of Jerome Levy Economics Institute; a member of the U.S.
Competitiveness Policy Council; a director of GranCare, Inc. (healthcare
provider); formerly New York State Comptroller and a trustee, New York
State and Local Retirement Fund.
Russell S. Reynolds, Jr., Trustee; Age: 63
200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166
Founder Chairman of Russell Reynolds Associates, Inc. (executive
recruiting); Chairman of Directors Publication, Inc. (consulting and
publishing); a trustee of Mystic Seaport Museum, International House,
Greenwich Hospital and the Greenwich Historical Society.
Sidney M. Robbins, Trustee; Age: 83
50 Overlook Road, Ossining, New York 10562
Chase Manhattan Professor Emeritus of Financial Institutions, Graduate
School of Business, Columbia University; Visiting Professor of Finance,
University of Hawaii; a director of The Korea Fund, Inc. (a closed-end
investment company); a member of the Board of Advisors, Olympus Private
Placement Fund, L.P.; Professor Emeritus of Finance, Adelphi University.
Donald W. Spiro, President and Trustee*; Age: 69
Chairman Emeritus and a director of the Manager; formerly Chairman of the
Manager and the Distributor.
Pauline Trigere, Trustee; Age: 82
498 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10018
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Trigere, Inc. (design and sale of
women's fashions).
Clayton K. Yeutter, Trustee; Age: 64
1325 Merrie Ridge Road, McLean, Virginia 22101
Of Counsel to Hogan & Hartson (a law firm); a director of B.A.T.
Industries, Ltd. (tobacco and financial services), Caterpillar, Inc.
(machinery), ConAgra, Inc. (food and agricultural products), Farmers
Insurance Company (insurance), FMC Corp. (chemicals and machinery),
Lindsay Manufacturing Co. (irrigation equipment), Texas Instruments, Inc.
(electronics) and The Vigoro Corporation (fertilizer manufacturer);
formerly (in descending chronological order) Counsellor to the President
(Bush) for Domestic Policy, Chairman of the Republican National Committee,
Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and U.S. Trade
Representative.
Jay W. Tracey, III, Vice President and Portfolio Manager; Age: 41
Vice President of the Manager; portfolio manager of other Oppenheimer
funds since September 1994 and from October, 1991 to February 1994. In
his most recent previous position, he was a Managing Director of
Buckingham Capital Management. Before joining the Manager, he was Senior
Vice President of Founders Asset Management, Inc. (a mutual fund adviser),
prior to which he was a securities analyst and portfolio manager for
Berger Associates, Inc. (investment adviser).
____________________________________
*A Trustee who is an "interested person" of the Fund as defined in the
Investment Company Act.
Andrew J. Donohue, Secretary; Age: 45
Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the Manager and the
Distributor; an officer of other Oppenheimer funds; formerly Senior Vice
President and Associate General Counsel of the Manager and the
Distributor, Partner in Kraft & McManimon (a law firm), an officer of
First Investors Corporation (a broker-dealer) and First Investors
Management Company, Inc. (broker-dealer and investment adviser); and
director and an officer of First Investors Family of Funds and First
Investors Life Insurance Company.
George C. Bowen, Treasurer; Age: 58
3410 South Galena Street, Denver, Colorado 80231
Senior Vice President and Treasurer of the Manager; Vice President and
Treasurer of the Distributor and HarbourView; Senior Vice President,
Treasurer and Assistant Secretary and a director of Centennial; Vice
President, Treasurer and Secretary of SSI and SFSI; an officer of other
Oppenheimer funds.
Robert G. Zack, Assistant Secretary; Age: 47
Senior Vice President and Associate General Counsel of the Manager;
Assistant Secretary of SSI and SFSI; an officer of other Oppenheimer
funds.
Robert J. Bishop, Assistant Treasurer; Age: 36
3410 South Galena Street, Denver, Colorado 80231
Assistant Vice President of the Manager/Mutual Fund Accounting; an officer
of other Oppenheimer funds; previously a Fund Controller of the Manager,
prior to which he was an
Accountant for Yale & Seffinger, P.C., an accounting firm, and previously
an Accountant and Commissions Supervisor for Stuart James Company Inc.,
a broker-dealer.
Scott Farrar, Assistant Treasurer; Age: 30
3410 South Galena Street, Denver, Colorado 80231
Assistant Vice President of the Manager/Mutual Fund Accounting; an officer
of other Oppenheimer funds; previously a Fund Controller for the Manager,
prior to which he was an International Mutual Fund Supervisor for Brown
Brothers Harriman & Co. (a bank) and previously a Senior Fund Accountant
for State Street Bank & Trust Company.
Remuneration of Trustees. The officers of the Fund are
affiliated with the Manager; they and the Trustees of the Fund who are
affiliated with the Manager (Ms. Macaskill and Messrs. Galli and Spiro;
Mr. Spiro is also an officer) receive no salary or fee from the Fund. The
Trustees of the Fund (including Mr. Delaney, a former Trustee, but
excluding Ms. Macaskill and Messrs. Galli and Spiro) received the total
amounts shown below from all 17 of the New York-based Oppenheimerfunds
(excluding the Fund) listed in the first paragraph of this section (and
from Oppenheimer Global Environment Fund, Oppenheimer Mortgage Income Fund
and Oppenheimer Time Fund, which ceased operation following the
acquisition of their assets by certain other Oppenheimer funds), for
services in the positions shown:
Total Compensation
From All
Name and New York-based
Position Oppenheimer funds1
Leon Levy, Chairman and Trustee $141,000.00
Leo Cherne, Audit Committee $ 68,000.00
Member and Trustee
Benjamin Lipstein, $ 86,200.00
Study Committee
Member and Trustee
Elizabeth B. Moynihan, $ 60,625.00
Study Committee
Member2 and Trustee
Kenneth A. Randall, $ 78,400.00
Audit Committee Member
and Trustee
Edward V. Regan, $ 56,275.00
Audit Committee
Member2 and Trustee
Russell S. Reynolds, Jr.,Trustee $ 52,100.00
Sidney M. Robbins, Study $122,100.00
Committee Chairman, Audit
Committee Vice-Chairman
and Trustee
Pauline Trigere, Trustee $ 52,100.00
Clayton K. Yeutter, Trustee $ 52,100.00
______________________
1 For the 1994 calendar year.
2 Committee position held during a portion of the period shown.
The Fund has adopted a retirement plan that provides for payment to a
retired Trustee of up to 80% of the average compensation paid during that
Trustee's five years of service in which the highest compensation was
received. A Trustee must serve in that capacity for any of the New York-
based Oppenheimer funds for at least 15 years to be eligible for the
maximum payment. Because each Trustee's retirement benefits will depend
on the amount of the Trustee's future compensation and length of service,
the amount of these benefits cannot be determined as of this time nor can
we estimate the number of years of credited service that will be used to
determine those benefits.
Major Shareholders. As of October 25, 1995, the Manager was the sole
initial shareholder of the Fund's Class A, Class B and Class C shares.
The Manager and Its Affiliates. The Manager is wholly-owned by
Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp. ("OAC"), a holding company controlled by
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. OAC is also owned in part
by certain of the Manager's directors and officers, some of whom also
serve as officers of the Fund, and two of whom (Messrs. Spiro and Galli)
serve as Trustees of the Fund.
The Manager and the Fund have a Code of Ethics. It is designed to
detect and prevent improper personal trading by certain employees,
including portfolio managers, which would compete with or take advantage
of the Fund's portfolio transactions. Compliance with the Code of Ethics
is carefully monitored and strictly enforced by the Manager.
The Investment Advisory Agreement. A management fee is payable
monthly to the Manager under the terms of the investment advisory
agreement between the Manager and the Fund, and is computed on the
aggregate net assets of the Fund as of the close of each business day.
The investment advisory agreement requires the Manager, at its expense,
to provide the Fund with adequate office space, facilities and equipment,
and to provide and supervise the activities of all administrative and
clerical personnel required to provide effective corporate administration
for the Fund, including the compilation and maintenance of records with
respect to its operations, the preparation and filing of specified
reports, and composition of proxy materials and registration statements
for continuous public sale of shares of the Fund.
Expenses not expressly assumed by the Manager under the advisory
agreement or by the Distributor under the General Distributor's Agreement
are paid by the Fund. The advisory agreement lists examples of expenses
paid by the Fund, the major categories of which relate to interest, taxes,
brokerage commissions, fees to certain Trustees, legal and audit expenses,
custodian and transfer agent expenses, share issuance costs, certain
printing and registration costs and non-recurring expenses, including
litigation costs.
The advisory agreement contains no expense limitation. However,
independently of the Agreement, the Manager has undertaken that the total
expenses of the Fund in any fiscal year, exclusive of taxes, interest,
brokerage commissions, distribution assistance payments and any
extraordinary non-recurring expenses, including litigation shall not
exceed the most stringent state regulatory limitation on fund expenses
applicable to the Fund. At present, the most stringent limitation is
imposed by California and limits expenses (with specified exclusions) to
2.5% of the first $30 million of average annual net assets, 2.0% of the
next $70 million of average net assets and 1.5% of average net assets in
excess of $100 million. The payment of the management fee will be reduced
so that at no time will there be accrued but unpaid liability under the
above expense limitation. Any assumption of the Fund's expenses under
this limitation would lower the Fund's overall expense ratio and increase
its total return during any period during which expenses are limited. The
Manager reserves the right to amend or terminate this expense undertaking
at any time.
The Agreement provides that in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad
faith, gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or reckless
disregard for its obligations and duties thereunder, the Manager is not
liable for any loss sustained by reason of good faith errors or omissions
in connection with any matters to which the Agreement relates. The
Agreement permits the Manager to act as investment adviser for any other
person, firm or corporation and to use the name "Oppenheimer" in
connection with other investment companies for which it may act as
investment adviser or general distributor. If the Manager shall no longer
act as investment adviser to the Fund, the right of the Fund to use the
name "Oppenheimer" as part of its name may be withdrawn.
The Distributor. Under its General Distributor's Agreement with the
Fund, the Distributor acts as the Fund's principal underwriter in the
continuous public offering of the Fund's Class A, Class B and Class C
shares but is not obligated to sell a specific number of shares. Expenses
normally attributable to sales, (excluding payments under the Distribution
and Service Plans but including advertising and the cost of printing and
mailing prospectuses, other than those furnished to existing
shareholders), are borne by the Distributor. For additional information
about distribution of the Fund's shares and the expenses connected with
such activities, please refer to "Distribution and Service Plans," below.
The Transfer Agent. Oppenheimer Shareholder Services, the Fund's
Transfer Agent, is responsible for maintaining the Fund's shareholder
registry and shareholder accounting records, and for shareholder servicing
and administrative functions.
Brokerage Policies of the Fund
Brokerage Provisions of the Investment Advisory Agreement. One of the
duties of the Manager under the advisory agreement is to arrange the
portfolio transactions for the Fund. The advisory agreement contains
provisions relating to the employment of broker-dealers ("brokers") to
effect the Fund's portfolio transactions. In doing so, the Manager is
authorized by the advisory agreement to employ such broker-dealers,
including "affiliated" brokers, as that term is defined in the Investment
Company Act, as may, in its best judgment based on all relevant factors,
implement the policy of the Fund to obtain, at reasonable expense, the
"best execution" (prompt and reliable execution at the most favorable
price obtainable) of such transactions. The Manager need not seek
competitive commission bidding but is expected to be aware of the current
rates of eligible brokers and to minimize the commissions paid to the
extent consistent with the interest and policies of the Fund as
established by its Board of Trustees. Purchases of securities from
underwriters include a commission or concession paid by the issuer to the
underwriter, and purchases from dealers include a spread between the bid
and asked price.
Under the advisory agreement, the Manager is authorized to select
brokers that provide brokerage and/or research services for the Fund
and/or the other accounts over which the Manager or its affiliates have
investment discretion. The commissions paid to such brokers may be higher
than another qualified broker would have charged if a good faith
determination is made by the Manager that the commission is fair and
reasonable in relation to the services provided. Subject to the foregoing
considerations, the Manager may also consider sales of shares of the Fund
and other investment companies managed by the Manager or its affiliates
as a factor in the selection of brokers for the Fund's portfolio
transactions.
Description of Brokerage Practices Followed by the Manager. Subject to
the provisions of the advisory agreement, and the procedures and rules
described above, allocations of brokerage are generally made by the
Manager's portfolio traders based upon recommendations from the Manager's
portfolio managers. In certain instances, portfolio managers may directly
place trades and allocate brokerage, also subject to the provisions of the
investment advisory agreement and the procedures and rules described
above. In either case, brokerage is allocated under the supervision of
the Manager's executive officers. Transactions in securities other than
those for which an exchange is the primary market are generally done with
principals or market makers. Brokerage commissions are paid primarily for
effecting transactions in listed securities or for certain fixed-income
agency transactions in the secondary market and are otherwise paid only
if it appears likely that a better price or execution can be obtained.
When the Fund engages in an option transaction, ordinarily the same broker
will be used for the purchase or sale of the option and any transaction
in the securities to which the option relates. When possible, concurrent
orders to purchase or sell the same security by more than one of the
accounts managed by the Manager or its affiliates are combined. The
transactions effected pursuant to such combined orders are averaged as to
price and allocated in accordance with the purchase or sale orders
actually placed for each account. Option commissions may be relatively
higher than those which would apply to direct purchases and sales of
portfolio securities.
The research services provided by a particular broker may be useful
only to one or more of the advisory accounts of the Manager and its
affiliates, and investment research received for the commissions of those
other accounts may be useful both to the Fund and one or more of such
other accounts. Such research, which may be supplied by a third party at
the instance of a broker, includes information and analyses on particular
companies and industries as well as market or economic trends and
portfolio strategy, receipt of market quotations for portfolio
evaluations, information systems, computer hardware and similar products
and services. If a research service also assists the Manager in a non-
research capacity (such as bookkeeping or other administrative functions),
then only the percentage or component that provides assistance to the
Manager in the investment decision-making process may be paid in
commission dollars. The Board of Trustees has permitted the Manager to
use concessions on fixed price offerings to obtain research, in the same
manner as is permitted for agency transactions. The Board has also
permitted the Manager to use stated commissions on secondary fixed-income
agency trades to obtain research where the broker has represented to the
Manager that: (1) the trade is not from or for the broker's own
inventory; (ii) the trade was executed by the broker on an agency basis
at the stated commission; and (iii) the trade is not a riskless principal
transaction.
The research services provided by brokers broaden the scope and
supplement the research activities of the Manager, by making available
additional views for consideration and comparisons, and by enabling the
Manager to obtain market information for the valuation of securities held
in the Fund's portfolio or being considered for purchase. The Board of
Trustees, including the "independent" Trustees of the Fund (those Trustees
of the Fund who are not "interested persons" as defined in the Investment
Company Act, and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the
operation of the advisory agreement or the Distribution and Service Plans
described below) annually reviews information furnished by the Manager as
to the commissions paid to brokers furnishing such services so that the
Board may ascertain whether the amount of such commissions was reasonably
related to the value or benefit of such services.
Performance of the Fund
Total Return Information. As described in the Prospectus, from time to
time the "average annual total return," "cumulative total return,"
"average annual total return at net asset value" and "total return at net
asset value" of an investment in a class of shares of the Fund may be
advertised. An explanation of how these total returns are calculated for
each class and the components of those calculations is set forth below.
The Fund's advertisements of its performance data must, under
applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, include the
average annual total returns for each class of shares of the Fund for the
1, 5, and 10-year periods (or the life of the class, if less) ending as
of the most recently-ended calendar quarter prior to the publication of
the advertisement. This enables an investor to compare the Fund's
performance to the performance of other funds for the same periods.
However, a number of factors should be considered before using such
information as a basis for comparison with other investments. An
investment in the Fund is not insured; its returns and share prices are
not guaranteed and normally will fluctuate on a daily basis. When
redeemed, an investor's shares may be worth more or less than their
original cost. Returns for any given past period are not a prediction or
representation by the Fund of future returns. The total returns of each
class of shares of the Fund are affected by portfolio quality, the type
of investments the Fund holds and its operating expenses allocated to the
particular class.
Average Annual Total Returns. The "average annual total return" of
each class is an average annual compounded rate of return for each year
in a specified number of years. It is the rate of return based on the
change in value of a hypothetical initial investment of $1,000 ("P" in the
formula below) held for a number of years ("n") to achieve an Ending
Redeemable Value ("ERV") of that investment, according to the following
formula:
( ERV ) 1/n
(-----) -1 = Average Annual Total Return
( P )
Cumulative Total Returns. The cumulative "total return" calculation
measures the change in value of a hypothetical investment of $1,000 over
an entire period of years. Its calculation uses some of the same factors
as average annual total return, but it does not average the rate of return
on an annual basis. Cumulative total return is determined as follows:
ERV - P
- ------- = Total Return
P
In calculating total returns for Class A shares, the current maximum
sales charge of 5.75% (as a percentage of the offering price) is deducted
from the initial investment ("P") (unless the return is shown at net asset
value, as described below). For Class B shares, the payment of the
applicable contingent deferred sales charge (5.0% for the first year, 4.0%
for the second year, 3.0% for the third and fourth years, 2.0% in the
fifth year, 1.0% in the sixth year, and none thereafter) is applied to the
investment result for the period shown (unless the total return is shown
at net asset value, as described below). For Class C shares, payment of
the 1.0% contingent deferred sales charge is applied to the investment
result for the one-year period (or less). Total returns also assume that
all dividends and capital gains distributions during the period are
reinvested to buy additional shares at net asset value per share, and that
the investment is redeemed at the end of the period.
Total Returns at Net Asset Value. From time to time the Fund may also
quote an "average annual total return at net asset value" or a "cumulative
total return at net asset value" for Class A, Class B or Class C shares.
Each is based on the difference in net asset value per share at the
beginning and the end of the period for a hypothetical investment in that
class of shares (without considering front-end or contingent deferred
sales charges) and takes into consideration the reinvestment of dividends
and capital gains distributions.
Total return information may be useful to investors in reviewing the
performance of the Fund's Class A, Class B or Class C shares. However,
when comparing total return of an investment in shares of the Fund with
that of other alternatives, investors should understand that as the Fund
is an aggressive equity fund seeking capital appreciation, its shares are
subject to greater market risks and volatility than shares of funds having
other investment objectives and that the Fund is designed for investors
who are willing to accept greater risk of loss in the hopes of realizing
greater gains.
Other Performance Comparisons. From time to time the Fund may publish the
ranking of its Class A, Class B or Class C shares by Lipper Analytical
Services, Inc. ("Lipper"), a widely-recognized independent mutual fund
monitoring service. Lipper monitors the performance of regulated
investment companies, including the Fund, and ranks their performance for
various periods based on categories relating to investment objectives.
The performance of the Fund's classes is ranked against (i) all other
funds, (ii) all other small company growth funds and (iii) all other
growth funds in a specific size category. The Lipper performance rankings
are based on total returns that include the reinvestment of capital gain
distributions and income dividends but do not take sales charges or taxes
into consideration.
From time to time the Fund may publish the ranking of the performance
of its Class A, Class B shares or Class C shares by Morningstar, Inc., an
independent mutual fund monitoring service that ranks mutual funds,
including the Fund, monthly in broad investment categories (equity,
taxable bond, municipal bond and hybrid) based on risk-adjusted investment
return. Investment return measures a fund's three, five and ten-year
average annual total returns (when available) in excess of 90-day U.S.
Treasury bill returns after considering sales charges and expenses. Risk
measures fund performance below 90-day U.S. Treasury bill monthly returns.
Risk and investment return are combined to produce star rankings
reflecting performance relative to the average fund in a fund's category.
Five stars is the "highest" ranking (top 10%), four stars is "above
average" (next 22.5%), three stars is "average" (next 35%), two stars is
"below average" (next 22.5%) and one star is "lowest" (bottom 10%).
Morningstar ranks the Class A, B and C shares of the Fund in relation to
other small company funds. Rankings are subject to change.
The total return on an investment in the Fund's Class A, Class B or
Class C shares may be compared with the performance for the same period
of the Russell 2000 Index, a widely recognized index of "small-
capitalization" stocks. The index consists of unmanaged groups of common
stocks and the performance of the index includes a factor for the
reinvestment of income dividends, but does not reflect reinvestment of
capital gains, expenses or taxes. The performance of the Fund's Class A,
Class B or Class C shares may also be compared in publications to (i) the
performance of various market indices or to other investments for which
reliable performance data is available, and (ii) to averages, performance
rankings or other benchmarks prepared by recognized mutual fund
statistical services.
From time to time, the Fund's Manager may publish rankings or ratings
of the Manager (or Transfer Agent) or the investor services provided by
them to shareholders of the Oppenheimer funds, other than performance
rankings of the Oppenheimer funds themselves. Those ratings or rankings
of shareholder/investor services by third parties may compare the
Oppenheimer funds' services to those of other mutual fund families
selected by the rating or ranking services and may be based upon the
opinions of the rating or ranking service itself, based on its research
or judgment, or based upon surveys of investors, brokers, shareholders or
others.
Distribution and Service Plans
The Fund has adopted a Service Plan for Class A shares and Distribution
and Service Plans for Class B and Class C shares of the Fund under Rule
12b-1 of the Investment Company Act pursuant to which the Fund makes
payments to the Distributor in connection with the distribution and/or
servicing of the shares of that class, as described in the Prospectus.
Each Plan has been approved by a vote of (i) the Board of Trustees of the
Fund, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, cast in person at
a meeting called for the purpose of voting on that Plan, and (ii) the
holders of a "majority" (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of the
shares of each class, such votes having been cast by the Manager as the
then sole initial shareholder.
In addition, under the Plans the Manager and the Distributor, in their
sole discretion, from time to time may use their own resources (which, in
the case of the Manager, may include profits from the advisory fee it
receives from the Fund) to make payments to brokers, dealers or other
financial institutions (each is referred to as a "Recipient" under the
Plans) for distribution and administrative services they perform. The
Distributor and the Manager may, in their sole discretion, increase or
decrease the amount of payments they make from their own resources to
Recipients.
Unless terminated as described below, each Plan continues in effect
from year to year but only as long as its continuance is specifically
approved at least annually by the Fund's Board of Trustees and its
Independent Trustees by a vote cast in person at a meeting called for the
purpose of voting on such continuance. Any Plan may be terminated at any
time by the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by the vote
of the holders of a "majority" (as defined in the Investment Company Act)
of the outstanding shares of that class. Neither Plan may be amended to
increase materially the amount of payments to be made unless such
amendment is approved by shareholders of the class affected by the
amendment. In addition, because Class B shares of the Fund automatically
convert into Class A shares after six years, the Fund is required to
obtain the approval of Class B as well as Class A shareholders for a
proposed amendment to the Class A Plan that would materially increase the
amount to be paid by Class A shareholders under the Class A Plan. Such
approval must be by a "majority" of the Class A and Class B shares (as
defined in the Investment Company Act), voting separately by class. All
material amendments must be approved by the Independent Trustees.
While the Plans are in effect, the Treasurer of the Fund shall provide
separate written reports to the Fund's Board of Trustees at least
quarterly on the amount of all payments made pursuant to each Plan, the
purpose for which each payment was made and the services rendered in
connection with the distribution of shares. Those reports, including the
allocations on which they are based, will be subject to the review and
approval of the Independent Trustees in the exercise of their fiduciary
duty. Each Plan further provides that while it is in effect, the
selection and nomination of those Trustees of the Fund who are not
"interested persons" of the Fund is committed to the discretion of the
Independent Trustees. This does not prevent the involvement of others in
such selection and nomination if the final decision on selection or
nomination is approved by a majority of the Independent Trustees.
Under the Plans, no payment will be made to any Recipient in any
quarter if the aggregate net asset value of all Fund shares held by the
Recipient for itself and its customers, did not exceed a minimum amount,
if any, that may be determined from time to time by a majority of the
Fund's Independent Trustees. Initially, the Board of Trustees has set the
fees at the maximum rate and set no minimum amount.
Any unreimbursed expenses incurred by the Distributor with respect to
Class A shares for any fiscal year may not be recovered in subsequent
fiscal years. Payments received by the Distributor under the Plan for
Class A shares will not be used to pay any interest expense, carrying
charge, or other financial costs, or allocation of overhead by the
Distributor.
The Class B and Class C Plans allow the service fee payment to be paid
by the Distributor to Recipients in advance for the first year such shares
are outstanding, and thereafter on a quarterly basis, as described in the
Prospectus. The advance payment is based on the net asset value of Class
B and Class C shares sold. An exchange of shares does not entitle the
Recipient to an advance service fee payment. In the event Class B or
Class C shares are redeemed during the first year such shares are
outstanding, the Recipient will be obligated to repay a pro rata portion
of such advance payment to the Distributor.
Although the Class B and the Class C Plans permit the Distributor to
retain both the asset-based sales charges and the service fees on such
shares, or to pay Recipients the service fee on a quarterly basis, without
payment in advance, the Distributor presently intends to pay the service
fee to Recipients in the manner described above. A minimum holding period
may be established from time to time under the Class B Plan and the Class
C Plan by the Board. Initially, the Board has set no minimum holding
period. All payments under the Class B and Class C Plans are subject to
the limitations imposed by the Rules of Fair Practice of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. on payments of asset-based sales
charges and service fees.
The Class B and Class C Plans provide for the Distributor to be
compensated at a flat rate, whether the Distributor's distribution
expenses are more or less than the amounts paid by the Fund during that
period. Such payments are made in recognition that the Distributor (i)
pays sales commissions to authorized brokers and dealers at the time of
sale and pays service fees as described in the Prospectus, (ii) may
finance such commissions and/or the advance of the service fee payment to
Recipients under those Plans, or may provide such financing from its own
resources, or from an affiliate, (iii) employs personnel to support
distribution of shares, and (iv) may bear the costs of sales literature,
advertising and prospectuses (other than those furnished to current
shareholders), state "blue sky" registration fees and certain other
distribution expenses.
ABOUT YOUR ACCOUNT
How To Buy Shares
Alternative Sales Arrangements - Class A, Class B and Class C Shares. The
availability of three classes of shares permits an investor to choose the
method of purchasing shares that is more beneficial to the investor
depending on the amount of the purchase, the length of time the investor
expects to hold shares and other relevant circumstances. Investors should
understand that the purpose and function of the deferred sales charge and
asset-based sales charge with respect to Class B and Class C shares are
the same as those of the initial sales charge with respect to Class A
shares. Any salesperson or other person entitled to receive compensation
for selling Fund shares may receive different compensation with respect
to one class of shares than another. The Distributor normally will not
accept any order for $500,000 or more of Class B shares or $1 million or
more of Class C shares on behalf of a single investor (not including
dealer "street name" or omnibus accounts) because generally it will be
more advantageous for that investor to purchase Class A shares of the Fund
instead.
The three classes of shares each represent an interest in the same
portfolio investments of the Fund. However, each class has different
shareholder privileges and features. The net income attributable to Class
B and Class C shares and the dividends payable on such shares will be
reduced by incremental expenses borne solely by those classes, including
the asset-based sales charge to which both classes of shares are subject.
The conversion of Class B shares to Class A shares after six years
is subject to the continuing availability of a private letter ruling from
the Internal Revenue Service, or an opinion of counsel or a tax adviser,
to the effect that the conversion of B shares does not constitute a
taxable event for the holder under Federal income tax law. If such a
revenue ruling or opinion is no longer available, the automatic conversion
feature may be suspended, in which event no further conversions of Class
B shares would occur while such suspension remained in effect. Although
Class B shares could then be exchanged for Class A shares on the basis of
relative net asset value of the two classes, without the imposition of a
sales charge or fee, such exchange could constitute a taxable event for
the holder, and absent such exchange, Class B shares might continue to be
subject to the asset-based sales charge for longer than six years.
The methodology for calculating the net asset value, dividends and
distributions of the Fund's Class A, Class B and Class C shares recognizes
two types of expenses. General expenses that do not pertain specifically
to either class are allocated pro rata to the shares of each class, based
on the percentage of the net assets of such class to the Fund's total
assets, and then equally to each outstanding share within a given class.
Such general expenses include (i) management fees, (ii) legal, bookkeeping
and audit fees, (iii) printing and mailing costs of shareholder reports,
Prospectuses, Statements of Additional Information and other materials for
current shareholders, (iv) fees to Independent Trustees, (v) custodian
expenses, (vi) share issuance costs, (vii) organization and start-up
costs, (viii) interest, taxes and brokerage commissions, and (ix) non-
recurring expenses, such as litigation costs. Other expenses that are
directly attributable to a class are allocated equally to each outstanding
share within that class. Such expenses include (i) Distribution and/or
Service Plan fees, (ii) incremental transfer and shareholder servicing
agent fees and expenses, (iii) registration fees and (iv) shareholder
meeting expenses, to the extent that such expenses pertain to a specific
class rather than to the Fund as a whole.
Determination of Net Asset Values Per Share. The net asset values per
share of Class A, Class B and Class C shares of the Fund are determined
as of the close of business of The New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE")
on each day that the NYSE is open by dividing the Fund's net assets
attributable to a class by the number of shares of that class that are
outstanding. The NYSE normally closes at 4:00 P.M. New York time, but may
close earlier on some days (for example, in case of weather emergencies
or on days falling before a holiday). The NYSE's most recent annual
announcement (which is subject to change) states that it will close on New
Year's Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day,
Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. It may also close on other
days. The Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets in foreign
securities primarily listed on foreign exchanges which may trade on
Saturdays or customary U.S. business holidays on which the NYSE is closed.
Because the Fund's net asset value will not be calculated on those days,
the Fund's net asset values per share of Class A, Class B and Class C
shares may be significantly affected at times when shareholders cannot
purchase or redeem shares.
The Fund's Board of Trustees has established procedures for the
valuation of the Fund's securities, generally as follows: (i) equity
securities traded on a U.S. securities exchange or on NASDAQ for which
last sale information is regularly reported are valued at the last
reported sale price on their primary exchange or NASDAQ that day (or, in
the absence of sales that day, at values based on the last sales prices
of the preceding trading day, or closing bid and asked prices); (ii)
securities actively traded on a foreign securities exchange are valued at
the last sales price available to the pricing service approved by the
Fund's Board of Trustees or to the Manager as reported by the principal
exchange on which the security is traded; (iii) unlisted foreign
securities or listed foreign securities not actively traded are valued as
in (i) above, if available, or at the mean between "bid" and "asked"
prices obtained from active market makers in the security on the basis of
reasonable inquiry; (iv) long-term debt securities having a remaining
maturity in excess of 60 days are valued at the mean between the "bid" and
"asked" prices determined by a portfolio pricing service approved by the
Fund's Board of Trustees or obtained from active market makers in the
security on the basis of reasonable inquiry; (v) debt instruments having
a maturity of more than one year when issued, and non-money market type
instruments having a maturity of one year or less when issued, which have
a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at the mean between the
"bid" and "asked" prices determined by a pricing service approved by the
Fund's Board of Trustees or obtained from active market makers in the
security on the basis of reasonable inquiry; (vi) money market-type debt
securities having a maturity of less than one year when issued that having
a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at cost, adjusted for
amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts; and (vii) securities
(including restricted securities) not having readily-available market
quotations are valued at fair value under the Board's procedures.
Trading in securities on European and Asian exchanges and over-the-
counter markets is normally completed before the close of the NYSE.
Events affecting the values of foreign securities traded in stock markets
that occur between the time their prices are determined and the close of
the NYSE will not be reflected in the Fund's calculation of net asset
value unless the Board of Trustees or the Manager, under procedures
established by the Board of Trustees, determines that the particular event
would materially affect the Fund's net asset value, in which case an
adjustment would be made. Foreign currency, including forward contracts,
will be valued at the closing price in the London foreign exchange market
that day as provided by a reliable bank, dealer or pricing service. The
values of securities denominated in foreign currency will be converted to
U.S. dollars at the closing price in the London foreign exchange market
that day as provided by a reliable bank, dealer or pricing service.
Puts, calls and Futures are valued at the last sales price on the
principal exchange on which they are traded, or on NASDAQ, as applicable,
or, if there are no sales that day, in accordance with (i), above.
Forward currency contracts are valued at the closing price on the London
foreign exchange market. When the Fund writes an option, an amount equal
to the premium received by the Fund is included in the Fund's Statement
of Assets and Liabilities as an asset, and an equivalent deferred credit
is included in the liability section. The deferred credit is "marked-to-
market" to reflect the current market value of the option. In determining
the Fund's gain on investments, if a call written by the Fund is
exercised, the proceeds are increased by the premium received. If a call
or put written by the Fund expires, the Fund has a gain in the amount of
the premium; if the Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction, it
will have a gain or loss depending on whether the premium was more or less
than the cost of the closing transaction. If the Fund exercises a put it
holds, the amount the Fund receives on its sale of the underlying
investment is reduced by the amount of premium paid by the Fund.
AccountLink. When shares are purchased through AccountLink, each purchase
must be at least $25.00. Shares will be purchased on the regular business
day the Distributor is instructed to initiate the Automated Clearing House
("ACH") transfer to buy the shares. Dividends will begin to accrue on
shares purchased by the proceeds of ACH transfers on the business day the
Fund receives Federal Funds for the purchase through the ACH system before
the close of The New York Stock Exchange. The Exchange normally closes
at 4:00 P.M., but may close earlier on certain days. If Federal Funds are
received on a business day after the close of the Exchange, the shares
will be purchased and dividends will begin to accrue on the next regular
business day. The proceeds of ACH transfers are normally received by the
Fund 3 days after the transfers are initiated. The Distributor and the
Fund are not responsible for any delays in purchasing shares resulting
from delays in ACH transmissions.
Reduced Sales Charges. As discussed in the Prospectus, a reduced sales
charge rate may be obtained for Class A shares under Right of Accumulation
and Letter of Intent because of the economies of sales efforts and
reduction in expenses realized by the Distributor, dealers and brokers
making such sales. No sales charge is imposed in certain other
circumstances described in the Prospectus because the Distributor incurs
little or no selling expenses. The term "immediate family" refers to
one's spouse, children, grandchildren, grandparents, parents, parents-in-
law, brothers and sisters, sons- and daughters-in-law, a sibling's spouse
and a spouse's siblings.
The Oppenheimer Funds. The Oppenheimer funds are those mutual funds
for which the Distributor acts as the distributor or the sub-distributor
and include the following:
Oppenheimer Tax-Free Bond Fund
Oppenheimer New York Tax-Exempt Fund
Oppenheimer California Tax-Exempt Fund
Oppenheimer Intermediate Tax-Exempt Fund
Oppenheimer Insured Tax-Exempt Fund
Oppenheimer Main Street California Tax-Exempt Fund
Oppenheimer Florida Tax-Exempt Fund
Oppenheimer Pennsylvania Tax-Exempt Fund
Oppenheimer New Jersey Tax-Exempt Fund
Oppenheimer Fund
Oppenheimer Discovery Fund
Oppenheimer Target Fund
Oppenheimer Growth Fund
Oppenheimer Equity Income Fund
Oppenheimer Value Stock Fund
Oppenheimer Asset Allocation Fund
Oppenheimer Total Return Fund, Inc.
Oppenheimer Main Street Income & Growth Fund
Oppenheimer High Yield Fund
Oppenheimer Champion Income Fund
Oppenheimer Bond Fund
Oppenheimer U.S. Government Trust
Oppenheimer Limited-Term Government Fund
Oppenheimer Global Fund
Oppenheimer Global Emerging Growth Fund
Oppenheimer Global Growth & Income Fund
Oppenheimer Gold & Special Minerals Fund
Oppenheimer Strategic Income Fund
Oppenheimer Strategic Income & Growth Fund
Oppenheimer International Bond Fund
Oppenheimer Enterprise Fund
and the following "Money Market Funds":
Oppenheimer Money Market Fund,
Inc.
Oppenheimer Cash Reserves
Centennial Money Market Trust
Centennial Tax Exempt Trust
Centennial Government Trust
Centennial New York Tax Exempt
Trust
Centennial California Tax
Exempt Trust
Centennial America Fund, L.P.
Daily Cash Accumulation Fund,
Inc.
<PAGE>
There is an initial sales charge on the purchase of Class A shares
of each of the Oppenheimer funds except Money Market Funds (under certain
circumstances described herein, redemption proceeds of Money Market Fund
shares may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge).
Letter of Intent. A Letter of Intent (referred to as a
"Letter") is the investor's statement in writing to the Distributor of the
intention to purchase Class A shares or Class A and Class B shares of the
Fund (and other Oppenheimer funds) during a 13-month period (the "Letter
of Intent period"), which may, at the investor's request, include
purchases made up to 90 days prior to the date of the Letter. The Letter
states the investor's intention to make the aggregate amount of purchases
of shares which, when added to the investor's holdings of shares of those
funds, will equal or exceed the amount specified in the Letter. Purchases
made by reinvestment of dividends or distributions of capital gains and
purchases made at net asset value without sales charge do not count toward
satisfying the amount of the Letter. A Letter enables an investor to
count the Class A and Class B shares purchased under the Letter to obtain
the reduced sales charge rate on purchases of Class A share of the Fund
(and other Oppenheimer funds) that applies under the Right of Accumulation
to current purchases of Class A shares. Each purchase of Class A shares
under the Letter will be made at the public offering price (including the
sales charge) that applies to a single lump-sum purchase of shares in the
amount intended to be purchased under the Letter.
In submitting a Letter, the investor makes no commitment to purchase
shares, but if the investor's purchases of shares within the Letter of
Intent period, when added to the value (at offering price) of the
investor's holdings of shares on the last day of that period, do not equal
or exceed the intended purchase amount, the investor agrees to pay the
additional amount of sales charge applicable to such purchases, as set
forth in "Terms of Escrow," below (as those terms may be amended from time
to time). The investor agrees that shares equal in value to 5% of the
intended purchase amount will be held in escrow by the Transfer Agent
subject to the Terms of Escrow. Also, the investor agrees to be bound by
the terms of the Prospectus, this Statement of Additional Information and
the Application used for such Letter of Intent, and if such terms are
amended, as they may be from time to time by the Fund, that those
amendments will apply automatically to existing Letters of Intent.
For purchases of shares of the Fund and other Oppenheimer funds by
OppenheimerFunds prototype 401(k) plans under a Letter of Intent, the
Transfer Agent will not hold shares in escrow. If the intended purchase
amount under the Letter entered into by an OppenheimerFunds prototype
401(k) plan is not purchased by the plan by the end of the Letter of
Intent period, there will be no adjustment of commissions paid to the
broker-dealer or financial institution of record for accounts held in the
name of that plan.
If the total eligible purchases made during the Letter of Intent
period do not equal or exceed the intended purchase amount, the
commissions previously paid to the dealer of record for the account and
the amount of sales charge retained by the Distributor will be adjusted
to the rates applicable to actual purchases. If total eligible purchases
during the Letter of Intent period exceed the intended purchase amount and
exceed the amount needed to qualify for the next sales charge rate
reduction set forth in the applicable prospectus, the sales charges paid
will be adjusted to the lower rate, but only if and when the dealer
returns to the Distributor the excess of the amount of commissions allowed
or paid to the dealer over the amount of commissions that apply to the
actual amount of purchases. The excess commissions returned to the
Distributor will be used to purchase additional shares for the investor's
account at the net asset value per share in effect on the date of such
purchase, promptly after the Distributor's receipt thereof.
In determining the total amount of purchases made under a Letter,
shares redeemed by the investor prior to the termination of the Letter of
Intent period will be deducted. It is the responsibility of the dealer
of record and/or the investor to advise the Distributor about the Letter
in placing any purchase orders for the investor during the Letter of
Intent period. All of such purchases must be made through the
Distributor.
Terms of Escrow That Apply to Letters of Intent.
1. Out of the initial purchase (or subsequent purchases if
necessary) made pursuant to a Letter, shares of the Fund equal in value
to 5% of the intended purchase amount specified in the Letter shall be
held in escrow by the Transfer Agent. For example, if the intended
purchase amount is $50,000, the escrow shall be shares valued in the
amount of $2,500 (computed at the public offering price adjusted for a
$50,000 purchase). Any dividends and capital gains distributions on the
escrowed shares will be credited to the investor's account.
2. If the intended purchase amount specified under the Letter is
completed within the thirteen-month Letter of Intent period, the escrowed
shares will be promptly released to the investor.
3. If, at the end of the thirteen-month Letter of Intent period the
total purchases pursuant to the Letter are less than the intended purchase
amount specified in the Letter, the investor must remit to the Distributor
an amount equal to the difference between the dollar amount of sales
charges actually paid and the amount of sales charges which would have
been paid if the total amount purchased had been made at a single time.
Such sales charge adjustment will apply to any shares redeemed prior to
the completion of the Letter. If such difference in sales charges is not
paid within twenty days after a request from the Distributor or the
dealer, the Distributor will, within sixty days of the expiration of the
Letter, redeem the number of escrowed shares necessary to realize such
difference in sales charges. Full and fractional shares remaining after
such redemption will be released from escrow. If a request is received
to redeem escrowed shares prior to the payment of such additional sales
charge, the sales charge will be withheld from the redemption proceeds.
4. By signing the Letter, the investor irrevocably constitutes and
appoints the Transfer Agent as attorney-in-fact to surrender for
redemption any or all escrowed shares.
5. The shares eligible for purchase under the Letter (or the
holding of which may be counted toward completion of a Letter) include (a)
Class A shares sold with a front-end sales charge or subject to a Class
A contingent deferred sales charge, (b) Class B shares acquired subject
to a contingent deferred sales charge, and (c) Class A or B shares
acquired in exchange for either (i) Class A shares of one of the other
Oppenheimer funds that were acquired subject to a Class A initial or
contingent deferred sales charge or (ii) Class B shares of one of the
other Oppenheimer funds that were acquired subject to a contingent
deferred sales charge.
6. Shares held in escrow hereunder will automatically be exchanged
for shares of another fund to which an exchange is requested, as described
in the section of the Prospectus entitled "Exchange Privilege," and the
escrow will be transferred to that other fund.
Asset Builder Plans. To establish an Asset Builder Plan from a bank
account, a check (minimum $25) for the initial purchase must accompany the
application. Shares purchased by Asset Builder Plan payments from bank
accounts are subject to the redemption restrictions for recent purchases
described in "How To Sell Shares," in the Prospectus. Asset Builder Plans
also enable shareholders of Oppenheimer Cash Reserves to use those
accounts for monthly automatic purchases of shares of up to four other
Oppenheimer funds.
There is a front-end sales charge on the purchase of certain
Oppenheimer funds, or a contingent deferred sales charge may apply to
shares purchased by Asset Builder payments. An application should be
obtained from the Distributor, completed and returned, and a prospectus
of the selected fund(s) should be obtained from the Distributor or your
financial advisor before initiating Asset Builder payments. The amount
of the Asset Builder investment may be changed or the automatic
investments may be terminated at any time by writing to the Transfer
Agent. A reasonable period (approximately 15 days) is required after the
Transfer Agent's receipt of such instructions to
implement them. The Fund reserves the right to amend, suspend, or
discontinue offering such plans at any time without prior notice.
Cancellation of Purchase Orders. Cancellation of purchase orders for the
Fund's shares (for example, when a purchase check is returned to the Fund
unpaid) causes a loss to be incurred when the net asset value of the
Fund's shares on the cancellation date is less than on the purchase date.
That loss is equal to the amount of the decline in the net asset value per
share multiplied by the number of shares in the purchase order. The
investor is responsible for that loss. If the investor fails to
compensate the Fund for the loss, the Distributor will do so. The Fund
may reimburse the Distributor for that amount by redeeming shares from any
account registered in that investor's name, or the Fund or the Distributor
may seek other redress.
How to Sell Shares
Information on how to sell shares of the Fund is stated in the
Prospectus. The information below supplements the terms and conditions for
redemptions set forth in the Prospectus.
Involuntary Redemptions. The Fund's Board of Trustees has the
right to cause the involuntary redemption of the shares held in any
account if the aggregate net asset value of those shares is less than $500
or such lesser amount as the Board may fix. The Board of Trustees will
not cause the involuntary redemption of shares in an account if the
aggregate net asset value of the shares has fallen below the stated
minimum solely as a result of market fluctuations. Should the Board elect
to exercise this right, it may also fix, in accordance with the Investment
Company Act, the requirements for any notice to be given to the
shareholders in question (not less than 30 days), or the Board may set
requirements for granting permission to the Shareholder to increase the
investment, and set other terms and conditions so that the shares would
not be involuntarily redeemed.
Payments "In Kind". The Prospectus states that payment for shares
tendered for redemption is ordinarily made in cash. However, the Board
of Trustees of the Fund may determine that it would be detrimental to the
best interests of the remaining shareholders of the Fund to make payment
of a redemption order wholly or partly in cash. In that case the Fund may
pay the redemption proceeds in whole or in part by a distribution "in
kind" of securities from the portfolio of the Fund, in lieu of cash, in
conformity with applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange
Commission. The Fund has elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the
Investment Company Act, pursuant to which the Fund is obligated to redeem
shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net assets
of the Fund during any 90-day period for any one shareholder. If shares
are redeemed in kind, the redeeming shareholder might incur brokerage or
other costs in selling the securities for cash. The method of valuing
securities used to make redemptions in kind will be the same as the method
the Fund uses to value its portfolio securities described above under
"Determination of Net Asset Values Per Share" and that valuation will be
made as of the time the redemption price is determined.
Reinvestment Privilege. Within six months of a redemption, a shareholder
may reinvest all or part of the redemption proceeds of (i) Class A shares
purchased subject to an initial sales charge, or (ii) Class B shares on
which the shareholder paid a contingent deferred sales charge when
redeemed. This privilege does not apply to Class C shares. The
reinvestment may be made without sales charge only in Class A shares of
the Fund or any of the other Oppenheimer funds into which shares of the
Fund are exchangeable as described below, at the net asset value next
computed after the Transfer Agent receives the reinvestment order. The
shareholder must ask the Distributor for that privilege at the time of
reinvestment. Any capital gain that was realized when the shares were
redeemed is taxable, and reinvestment will not alter any capital gains tax
payable on that gain. If there has been a capital loss on the redemption,
some or all of the loss may not be tax deductible, depending on the timing
and amount of the reinvestment. Under the Internal Revenue Code, if the
redemption proceeds of Fund shares on which a sales charge was paid are
reinvested in shares of the Fund or another of the Oppenheimer funds
within 90 days of payment of the sales charge, the shareholder's basis in
the shares of the Fund that were redeemed may not include the amount of
the sales charge paid. That would reduce the loss or increase the gain
recognized from the redemption. However, in that case the sales charge
would be added to the basis of the shares acquired by the reinvestment of
the redemption proceeds. The Fund may amend, suspend or cease offering
this reinvestment privilege at any time as to shares redeemed after the
date of such amendment, suspension or cessation.
Transfer of Shares. Shares are not subject to the payment of a contingent
deferred sales charge at the time of transfer to the name of another
person or entity (whether the transfer occurs by absolute assignment, gift
or bequest, not involving, directly or indirectly, a public sale). The
transferred shares will remain subject to the contingent deferred sales
charge, calculated as if the transferee shareholder had acquired the
transferred shares in the same manner and at the same time as the
transferring shareholder. If less than all shares held in an account are
transferred, and some but not all shares in the account would be subject
to a contingent deferred sales charge if redeemed at the time of transfer,
the priorities described in the Prospectus under "How to Buy Shares" for
the imposition of the Class B or the Class C contingent deferred sales
charge will be followed in determining the order in which shares are
transferred.
Distributions From Retirement Plans. Requests for distributions from
OppenheimerFunds-sponsored IRAs, 403(b)(7) custodial plans, 401(k) plans,
or pension or profit-sharing plans should be addressed to "Trustee,
OppenheimerFunds Retirement Plans," c/o the Transfer Agent at its address
listed in "How To Sell Shares" in the Prospectus or on the back cover of
this Statement of Additional Information. The request must: (i) state the
reason for the distribution; (ii) state the owner's awareness of tax
penalties if the distribution is premature; and (iii) conform to the
requirements of the plan and the Fund's other redemption requirements.
Participants (other than self-employed persons maintaining a plan account
in their own name) in OppenheimerFunds-sponsored pension, profit-sharing
plans or 401(k) plans may not directly redeem or exchange shares held for
their accounts under those plans. The employer or plan administrator must
sign the request. Distributions from pension and profit sharing plans are
subject to special requirements under the Internal Revenue Code and
certain documents (available from the Transfer Agent) must be completed
before the distribution may be made. Distributions from retirement plans
are subject to withholding requirements under the Internal Revenue Code,
and IRS Form W-4P (available from the Transfer Agent) must be submitted
to the Transfer Agent with the distribution request, or the distribution
may be delayed. Unless the shareholder has provided the Transfer Agent
with a certified tax identification number, the Internal Revenue Code
requires that tax be withheld from any distribution even if the
shareholder elects not to have tax withheld. The Fund, the Manager, the
Distributor, the Trustee and the Transfer Agent assume no responsibility
to determine whether a distribution satisfies the conditions of applicable
tax laws and will not be responsible for any tax penalties assessed in
connection with a distribution.
Special Arrangements for Repurchase of Shares from Dealers and Brokers.
The Distributor is the Fund's agent to repurchase its shares from
authorized dealers or brokers. The repurchase price per share will be the
net asset value next computed after the Distributor receives the order
placed by the dealer or broker, except that if the Distributor receives
a repurchase order from a dealer or broker after the close of The New York
Stock Exchange on a regular business day, it will be processed at that
day's net asset value if the order was received by the dealer or broker
from its customers prior to the time the Exchange closed (normally that
is 4:00 P.M., but may be earlier on some days) and the order was
transmitted to and received by the Distributor prior to its close of
business that day (normally 5:00 P.M.). Ordinarily, for accounts redeemed
by a broker-dealer under this procedure, payment will be made within three
business days after the shares have been redeemed upon the Distributor's
receipt of the required redemption documents in proper form, with the
signature(s) of the registered owners guaranteed on the redemption
document as described in the Prospectus.
Automatic Withdrawal and Exchange Plans. Investors owning shares of the
Fund valued at $5,000 or more can authorize the Transfer Agent to redeem
shares (minimum $50) automatically on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual
or annual basis under an Automatic Withdrawal Plan. Shares will be
redeemed three business days prior to the date requested by the
shareholder for receipt of the payment. Automatic withdrawals of up to
$1,500 per month may be requested by telephone if payments are to be made
by check payable to all shareholders of record and sent to the address of
record for the account (and if the address has not been changed within the
prior 30 days). Required minimum distributions from OppenheimerFunds-
sponsored retirement plans may not be arranged on this basis. Payments
are normally made by check, but shareholders having AccountLink privileges
(see "How To Buy Shares") may arrange to have Automatic Withdrawal Plan
payments transferred to the bank account designated on the
OppenheimerFunds New Account Application or signature-guaranteed
instructions. The Fund cannot guarantee receipt of a payment on the date
requested and reserves the right to amend, suspend or discontinue offering
such plans at any time without prior notice. Because of the sales charge
assessed on Class A share purchases, shareholders should not make regular
additional Class A share purchases while participating in an Automatic
Withdrawal Plan. Class B and Class C shareholders should not establish
withdrawal plans because of the imposition of the contingent deferred
sales charge on such withdrawals (except where the Class B or the Class
C contingent deferred sales charge is waived as described in the
Prospectus under "Waivers of Class B and Class C Sales Charges").
By requesting an Automatic Withdrawal or Exchange Plan, the
shareholder agrees to the terms and conditions applicable to such plans,
as stated below and in the provisions of the OppenheimerFunds Application
relating to such Plans, as well as the Prospectus. These provisions may
be amended from time to time by the Fund and/or the Distributor. When
adopted, such amendments will automatically apply to existing Plans.
Automatic Exchange Plans. Shareholders can authorize the Transfer
Agent (on the OppenheimerFunds Application or signature-guaranteed
instructions) to exchange a pre-determined amount of shares of the Fund
for shares (of the same class) of other Oppenheimer funds automatically
on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual basis under an Automatic
Exchange Plan. The minimum amount that may be exchanged to each other
fund account is $25. Exchanges made under these plans are subject to the
restrictions that apply to exchanges as set forth in "How to Exchange
Shares" in the Prospectus and below in this Statement of Additional
Information.
Automatic Withdrawal Plans. Fund shares will be redeemed as
necessary to meet withdrawal payments. Shares acquired without a sales
charge will be redeemed first and shares acquired with reinvested
dividends and capital gains distributions will be redeemed next, followed
by shares acquired with a sales charge, to the extent necessary to make
withdrawal payments. Depending upon the amount withdrawn, the investor's
principal may be depleted. Payments made under withdrawal plans should
not be considered as a yield or income on your investment.
The Transfer Agent will administer the investor's Automatic
Withdrawal Plan (the "Plan") as agent for the investor (the "Planholder")
who executed the Plan authorization and application submitted to the
Transfer Agent. Neither the Fund nor the Transfer Agent shall incur any
liability to the Planholder for any action taken or omitted by the
Transfer Agent in good faith to administer the Plan. Certificates will
not be issued for shares of the Fund purchased for and held under the
Plan, but the Transfer Agent will credit all such shares to the account
of the Planholder on the records of the Fund. Any share certificates held
by a Planholder may be surrendered unendorsed to the Transfer Agent with
the Plan application so that the shares represented by the certificate may
be held under the Plan.
For accounts subject to Automatic Withdrawal Plans, distributions of
capital gains must be reinvested in shares of the Fund, which will be done
at net asset value without a sales charge. Dividends on shares held in
the account may be paid in cash or reinvested.
Redemptions of shares needed to make withdrawal payments will be made
at the net asset value per share determined on the redemption date.
Checks or AccountLink payments of the proceeds of Plan withdrawals will
normally be transmitted three business days prior to the date selected for
receipt of the payment (receipt of payment on the date selected cannot be
guaranteed), according to the choice specified in writing by the
Planholder.
The amount and the interval of disbursement payments and the address
to which checks are to be mailed or AccountLink payments are to be sent
may be changed at any time by the Planholder by writing to the Transfer
Agent. The Planholder should allow at least two weeks' time in mailing
such notification for the requested change to be put in effect. The
Planholder may, at any time, instruct the Transfer Agent by written notice
(in proper form in accordance with the requirements of the then-current
Prospectus of the Fund) to redeem all, or any part of, the shares held
under the Plan. In that case, the Transfer Agent will redeem the number
of shares requested at the net asset value per share in effect in
accordance with the Fund's usual redemption procedures and will mail a
check for the proceeds to the Planholder.
The Plan may be terminated at any time by the Planholder by writing
to the Transfer Agent. A Plan may also be terminated at any time by the
Transfer Agent upon receiving directions to that effect from the Fund.
The Transfer Agent will also terminate a Plan upon receipt of evidence
satisfactory to it of the death or legal incapacity of the Planholder.
Upon termination of a Plan by the Transfer Agent or the Fund, shares that
have not been redeemed from the account will be held in uncertificated
form in the name of the Planholder, and the account will continue as a
dividend-reinvestment, uncertificated account unless and until proper
instructions are received from the Planholder or his or her executor or
guardian, or other authorized person.
To use Class A shares held under the Plan as collateral for a debt,
the Planholder may request issuance of a portion of the Class A shares in
certificated form. Shares certificates are not issued for Class B or
Class C shares. Upon written request from the Planholder, the Transfer
Agent will determine the number of Class A shares for which a certificate
may be issued without causing the withdrawal checks to stop because of
exhaustion of uncertificated shares needed to continue payments. However,
should such uncertificated shares become exhausted, Plan withdrawals will
terminate.
If the Transfer Agent ceases to act as transfer agent for the Fund,
the Planholder will be deemed to have appointed any successor transfer
agent to act as agent in administering the Plan.
How To Exchange Shares
As stated in the Prospectus, shares of a particular class of
Oppenheimer Funds having more than one class of shares may be exchanged
only for shares of the same class of other Oppenheimer funds. Shares of
the Oppenheimer funds that have a single class without a class designation
are deemed "Class A" shares for this purpose. All of the Oppenheimer
funds offer Class A, B and C shares except Oppenheimer Money Market Fund,
Inc., Centennial Money Market Trust, Centennial Tax Exempt Trust,
Centennial Government Trust, Centennial New York Tax Exempt Trust,
Centennial California Tax Exempt Trust, Centennial America Fund, L.P., and
Daily Cash Accumulation Fund, Inc., which only offer Class A shares and
Oppenheimer Main Street California Tax-Exempt Fund which only offers Class
A and Class B shares (Class B and Class C shares of Oppenheimer cash
Reserves are generally available only by exchange from the same class of
shares of other Oppenheimer funds or through OppenheimerFunds sponsored
401(k) plans). A list showing which funds offer which class can be
obtained by calling the Distributor at 1-800-525-7048.
Class A shares of the Oppenheimer funds may be exchanged at net asset
value for shares of any Money Market Fund. Shares of any Money Market
Fund purchased without a sales charge may be exchanged for shares of
Oppenheimer funds offered with a sales charge upon payment of the sales
charge (or, if applicable, may be used to purchase shares of Oppenheimer
funds subject to a contingent deferred sales charge). However, shares of
Oppenheimer Money Market Fund, Inc. purchased with the redemption proceeds
of shares of other mutual funds (other than funds managed by the Manager
or its subsidiaries) redeemed within the 12 months prior to that purchase
may subsequently be exchanged for shares of other Oppenheimer funds
without being subject to an initial or contingent deferred sales charge,
whichever is applicable. To qualify for that privilege, the investor or
the investor's dealer must notify the Distributor of eligibility for this
privilege at the time the shares of Oppenheimer Money Market Fund, Inc.,
are purchased, and, if requested, must supply proof of entitlement to this
privilege.
Shares of this Fund acquired by reinvestment of dividends or
distributions from any other of the Oppenheimer funds or from any unit
investment trust for which reinvestment arrangements have been made with
the Distributor may be exchanged at net asset value for shares of any of
the Oppenheimer funds. No contingent deferred sales charge is imposed on
exchanges of shares of either class purchased subject to a contingent
deferred sales charge. However, when Class A shares acquired by exchange
of Class A shares of other Oppenheimer funds purchased subject to a Class
A contingent deferred sales charge are redeemed within 18 months of the
end of the calendar month of the initial purchase of the exchanged Class
A shares, the Class A contingent deferred sales charge is imposed on the
redeemed shares (see "Class A Contingent Deferred Sales Charge" in the
Prospectus). The Class B contingent deferred sales charge is imposed on
Class B shares acquired by exchange if they are redeemed within 6 years
of the initial purchase of the exchanged Class B shares. The Class C
contingent deferred sales charge is imposed on Class C shares acquired by
exchange if they are redeemed within 12 months of the initial purchase of
the exchanged Class C shares.
When Class B or Class C shares are redeemed to effect an exchange,
the priorities described in "How To Buy Shares" in the Prospectus for the
imposition of the Class B or Class C contingent deferred sales charge will
be followed in determining the order in which the shares are exchanged.
Shareholders should take into account the effect of any exchange on the
applicability and rate of any contingent deferred sales charge that might
be imposed in the subsequent redemption of remaining shares. Shareholders
owning shares of more than one class must specify whether they intend to
exchange Class A, Class B or Class C shares.
The Fund reserves the right to reject telephone or written exchange
requests submitted in bulk by anyone on behalf of 10 or more accounts. The
Fund may accept requests for exchanges of up to 50 accounts per day from
representatives of authorized dealers that qualify for this privilege. In
connection with any exchange request, the number of shares exchanged may
be less than the number requested if the exchange or the number requested
would include shares subject to a restriction cited in the Prospectus or
this Statement of Additional Information or would include shares covered
by a share certificate that is not tendered with the request. In those
cases, only the shares available for exchange without restriction will be
exchanged.
When exchanging shares by telephone, a shareholder must either have
an existing account in, or obtain and acknowledge receipt of a prospectus
of, the fund to which the exchange is to be made. For full or partial
exchanges of an account made by telephone, any special account features
such as Asset Builder Plans, Automatic Withdrawal Plans, Checkwriting, if
available, and retirement plan contributions will be switched to the new
account unless the Transfer Agent is instructed otherwise. If all
telephone lines are busy (which might occur, for example, during periods
of substantial market fluctuations), shareholders might not be able to
request exchanges by telephone and would have to submit written exchange
requests.
Shares to be exchanged are redeemed on the regular business day the
Transfer Agent receives an exchange request in proper form (the
"Redemption Date"). Normally, shares of the fund to be acquired are
purchased on the Redemption Date, but such purchases may be delayed by
either fund up to five business days if it determines that it would be
disadvantaged by an immediate transfer of the redemption proceeds. The
Fund reserves the right, in its discretion, to refuse any exchange request
that may disadvantage it (for example, if the receipt of multiple exchange
requests from a dealer might require the disposition of portfolio
securities at a time or at a price that might be disadvantageous to the
Fund).
The different Oppenheimer funds available for exchange have different
investment objectives, policies and risks, and a shareholder should assure
that the Fund selected is appropriate for his or her investment and should
be aware of the tax consequences of an exchange. For federal income tax
purposes, an exchange transaction is treated as a redemption of shares of
one fund and a purchase of shares of another. "Reinvestment Privilege,"
above, discusses some of the tax consequences of reinvestment of
redemption proceeds in such cases. The Fund, the Distributor, and the
Transfer Agent are unable to provide investment, tax or legal advice to
a shareholder in connection with an exchange request or any other
investment transaction.
Dividends, Capital Gains and Taxes
Tax Status of the Fund's Dividends and Distributions. The Federal tax
treatment of the Fund's dividends and capital gains distributions is
explained in the Prospectus under the caption "Dividends, Capital Gains
and Taxes." Special provisions of the Internal Revenue Code govern the
eligibility of the Fund's dividends for the dividends-received deduction
for corporate shareholders. Long-term capital gains distributions are not
eligible for the deduction. In addition, the amount of dividends paid by
the Fund which may qualify for the deduction is limited to the aggregate
amount of qualifying dividends that the Fund derives from its portfolio
investments that the Fund has held for a minimum period, usually 46 days.
A corporate shareholder will not be eligible for the deduction on
dividends paid on Fund shares held for 45 days or less. To the extent the
Fund's dividends are derived from gross income from option premiums,
interest income or short-term gains from the sale of securities or
dividends from foreign corporations, those dividends will not qualify for
the deduction.
Under the Internal Revenue Code, by December 31 each year, the Fund
must distribute 98% of its taxable investment income earned from January
1 through December 31 of that year and 98% of its capital gains realized
in the period from November 1 of the prior year through October 31 of the
current year, or else the Fund must pay an excise tax on the amounts not
distributed. While it is presently anticipated that the Fund will meet
those requirements, the Fund's Board of Trustees and the Manager might
determine in a particular year that it would be in the best interest of
shareholders for the Fund not to make such distributions at the required
levels and to pay the excise tax on the undistributed amounts. That would
reduce the amount of income or capital gains available for
distribution to shareholders.
If the Fund has more than 50% of its total assets invested in foreign
securities at the end of its fiscal year, it may elect the application of
Section 853 of the Internal Revenue Code to permit shareholders to take
a credit (or, at their option, a deduction) for foreign taxes paid by the
Fund. Under Section 853, shareholders would be entitled to treat the
foreign taxes withheld from interest and dividends paid to the Fund from
its foreign investments as a credit on their federal income taxes. As an
alternative, shareholders could, if to their advantage, treat the foreign
tax withheld as a deduction from gross income in computing taxable income
rather than as a tax credit. In substance, the Fund's election would
enable shareholders to benefit from the same foreign tax credit or
deduction that would be received if they had been the record owners of the
Fund's foreign securities and had paid foreign taxes on the income
received.
If the Fund qualifies as a "regulated investment company" under the
Internal Revenue Code, it will not be liable for Federal income taxes on
amounts paid by it as dividends and distribution. The Fund qualified
during its last fiscal year, and intends to qualify in current and future
years, but reserves the right not to do so. The Internal Revenue Code
contains a number of complex tests relating to such qualification in which
the Fund derives 30% or more of its gross income from the sale of
securities held less than three months, it may fail to qualify (see "Tax
Aspects of Covered Calls and Hedging Instruments," above). If it did not
so qualify, the Fund would be treated for tax purposes as an ordinary
corporation and receive no tax deduction for payments made to
shareholders.
Dividends, distributions and the proceeds of the redemption of Fund
shares represented by checks returned to the Transfer Agent by the Postal
Service as undeliverable will be invested in shares of Oppenheimer Money
Market Fund, Inc., as promptly as possible after the return of such checks
to the Transfer Agent to enable the investor to earn a return on otherwise
idle funds.
Dividend Reinvestment in Another Fund. Shareholders of the Fund may elect
to reinvest all dividends and/or capital gains distributions in shares of
the same class of any of the other Oppenheimer funds listed in "Reduced
Sales Charges," above, at net asset value without sales charge. To elect
this option, a shareholder must notify the Transfer Agent in writing and
either have an existing account in the fund selected for reinvestment or
must obtain a prospectus for that fund and an application from the
Distributor to establish an account. The investment will be made at the
net asset value per share in effect at the close of business on the
payable date of the dividend or distribution. Dividends and/or
distributions from shares of other Oppenheimer funds may be invested in
shares of this Fund on the same basis.
Additional Information About the Fund
The Custodian. The Bank of New York is the Custodian of the Fund's
assets. The Custodian's responsibilities include safeguarding and
controlling the Fund's portfolio securities, collecting income on the
portfolio securities and handling the delivery of such securities to and
from the Fund. The Manager has represented to the Fund that the banking
relationships between the Manager and the Custodian have been and will
continue to be unrelated to and unaffected by the relationship between the
Fund and the Custodian. It will be the practice of the Fund to deal with
the Custodian in a manner uninfluenced by any banking relationship the
Custodian may have with the Manager and its affiliates.
Independent Auditors. The independent auditors of the Fund audit the
Fund's financial statements and perform other related audit services.
They also act as auditors for certain other funds advised by the Manager
and its affiliates.
Independent Auditors' Report
The Board of Trustees and Shareholders
Oppenheimer Enterprise Fund (formerly, Oppenheimer New Enterprise Fund):
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of
Oppenheimer Enterprise Fund (formerly, Oppenheimer New Enterprise Fund)
as of October 10, 1995. This financial statement is the responsibility
of the Fund's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on
this financial statement based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statement is free
of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis,
evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statement. Our procedures include confirmation of cash in bank by
correspondence with the custodian. An audit also includes assessing the
accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management,
as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We
believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the statement of assets and liabilities referred to above
presents fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of
Oppenheimer Enterprise Fund at October 10, 1995 in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles.
Denver, Colorado KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
October 12, 1995
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Oppenheimer Enterprise Fund
(formerly, Oppenheimer New Enterprise Fund)
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
October 10, 1995
Composite Class A Class B Class C
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
ASSETS:
Cash $102,000
Deferred Organization Costs - Note 3 13,000
Total Assets 115,000
LIABILITIES - Payable to Oppenheimer Management
Corporation - Note 3 $ 13,000
Net Assets $102,000
NET ASSETS - Applicable to 10,000 Class A shares,
100 Class B shares, and 100 Class C shares of
beneficial interest outstanding $102,000 00 $100,000 $1,000 $1,000
NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE (net assets divided by
10,000, 100, and 100 shares of beneficial interest for
Class A, Class B, and Class C, respectively). $10.00 $10.00 $10.00
MAXIMUM OFFERING PRICE PER SHARE (net asset
value plus, for Class A shares, sales charge of 5.75%
of offering price) $10.61 $10.00 $10.00
</TABLE>
Notes:
1. Oppenheimer Enterprise Fund (formerly, Oppenheimer New Enterprise Fund)
(the "Fund"), a diversified, open-end management investment company,
was formed on March 16, 1995, and has had no operations through October
10, 1995 other than those relating to organizational matters and the
sale and issuance of 10,000 Class A shares, 100 Class B shares and 100
Class C shares of beneficial interest to Oppenheimer Management
Corporation (OMC).
2. On March 16, 1995, the Fund's Board approved an Investment Advisory
Agreement with OMC, a Service Plan and Agreement for Class A shares and
Oppenheimer Enterprise Fund
(formerly, Oppenheimer New Enterprise Fund)
Statement of Assets and Liabilities (Continued)
October 10, 1995
Service and Distribution Plans and Agreements for Class B and Class C
shares of the Fund with Oppenheimer Funds Distributor, Inc. (OFDI) and a
General Distributor's Agreement with OFDI as explained in the Fund's
Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.
3.OMC will advance all organizational and start-up costs of the Fund.
Such expenses will be capitalized and amortized over a five-year period
from the date operations commence. On the first day that total assets
exceed $5 million, the Fund will reimburse OMC for all start-up expenses.
In the event that all or part of OMC's initial investment in shares of the
Fund is withdrawn during the amortization period, by any holder thereof,
the redemption proceeds will be reduced by the ratio that the number of
shares redeemed bears to the number of initial shares outstanding at the
time of such redemption.
4. The Fund intends to comply in its initial fiscal year and thereafter
with provisions of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated
investment companies and as such, will not be subject to federal income
taxes on otherwise taxable income (including net realized capital
gains) distributed to shareholders.
Appendix
Industry Classifications
Aerospace/Defense
Air Transportation
Auto Parts Distribution
Automotive
Bank Holding Companies
Banks
Beverages
Broadcasting
Broker-Dealers
Building Materials
Cable Television
Chemicals
Commercial Finance
Computer Hardware
Computer Software
Conglomerates
Consumer Finance
Containers
Convenience Stores
Department Stores
Diversified Financial
Diversified Media
Drug Stores
Drug Wholesalers
Durable Household Goods
Education
Electric Utilities
Electrical Equipment
Electronics
Energy Services & Producers
Entertainment/Film
Environmental
Food
Gas Transmission
Gas Utilities
Gold
Health Care/Drugs
Health Care/Supplies & Services
Homebuilders/Real Estate
Hotel/Gaming
Industrial Services
Insurance
Leasing & Factoring
Leisure
Manufacturing
Metals/Mining
Nondurable Household Goods
Oil - Integrated
Paper
Publishing/Printing
Railroads
Restaurants
Savings & Loans
Shipping
Special Purpose Financial
Specialty Retailing
Steel
Supermarkets
Telecommunications - Technology
Telephone - Utility
Textile/Apparel
Tobacco
Toys
Trucking
Investment Adviser
Oppenheimer Management Corporation
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048-0203
Distributor
Oppenheimer Funds Distributor, Inc.
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048-0203
Transfer Agent
Oppenheimer Shareholder Services
P.O. Box 5270
Denver, Colorado 80217
1-800-525-7048
Custodian of Portfolio Securities
The Bank of New York
One Wall Street
New York, New York 10015
Independent Auditors
KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
707 Seventeenth Street
Denver, Colorado 80202
Legal Counsel
Gordon Altman Butowsky
Weitzen Shalov & Wein
114 West 47th Street
New York, New York 10036
