<PAGE>
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MAY 28, 1999
FILE NO. 33-60829
FILE NO. 811-7311
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
-------------
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 /X/
Pre-Effective Amendment No. / /
Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 /X/
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 /X/
Amendment No. 4 /X/
-------------
VALUE LINE U.S. MULTINATIONAL COMPANY FUND, INC.
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN CHARTER)
220 East 42nd Street
New York, New York 10017-5891
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES) (ZIP CODE)
Registrant's Telephone number, including Area Code: (212) 907-1500
David T. Henigson
Value Line, Inc.
220 East 42nd Street
New York, New York 10017-5891
(NAME AND ADDRESS OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
Copy to:
Peter D. Lowenstein
Two Greenwich Plaza, Suite 100
Greenwich, CT 06830
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check
appropriate box)
/ / immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
/ / on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)
/ / 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
/ / 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
/X/ on August 1, 1999 pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
/ / on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
VALUE LINE
U.S. MULTINATIONAL COMPANY FUND, INC.
--------------------------------
PROSPECTUS
AUGUST 1, 1999
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[LOGO]
THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION HAS NOT APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THESE
SECURITIES OR PASSED
UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS, AND ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE
CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FUND SUMMARY
What is the Fund's goal? PAGE 2
What are the Fund's main investment strategies? PAGE 2
What are the main risks of investing in the Fund? PAGE 2
How has the Fund performed? PAGE 3
What are the Fund's fees and expenses? PAGE 4
HOW WE MANAGE THE FUND
Our principal investment strategies PAGE 5
The principal risks of investing in the Fund PAGE 7
WHO MANAGES THE FUND
Investment Adviser PAGE 9
Management fees PAGE 9
Portfolio management PAGE 9
ABOUT YOUR ACCOUNT
How to buy shares PAGE 10
How to sell shares PAGE 13
Special services PAGE 15
Dividends, distributions and taxes PAGE 16
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Financial Highlights PAGE 17
<PAGE>
FUND SUMMARY
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS THE FUND'S GOAL?
The Fund's investment objective is maximum total return.
Although the Fund will strive to achieve this goal, there is
no assurance that it will.
WHAT ARE THE FUND'S MAIN INVESTMENT STRATEGIES?
To achieve the Fund's goal, we invest not less than 65% of
the market value of the Fund's total assets in common stocks
or securities convertible into common stocks of U.S.
companies that derive at least 25% of their sales from
outside the United States. In selecting securities for
purchase or sale, we may rely on the Value Line
Timeliness-TM- Ranking System or the Value Line
Performance-TM- Ranking System. These Ranking Systems compare
the Adviser's estimate of the probable market performance of
each stock during the next six to twelve months relative to
all of the stocks under review and rank stocks on a scale of
1 (highest) to 5 (lowest). The common stocks in which the
Fund will usually invest are those U.S. Securities ranked 1
or 2 by either Ranking System but it may also invest in
common stocks ranked 3. There are no set limitations of
investments in any category or according to the company's
size, although the Fund generally invests in U.S. securities
issued by larger, more established companies.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND?
Investing in any mutual fund involves risk, including the
risk that you may receive little or no return on your
investment, and the risk that you may lose part or all of the
money you invest. Therefore, before you invest in this Fund
you should carefully evaluate the risks.
The chief risk that you assume when investing in the Fund is
market risk, the possibility that the securities in a certain
market will decline in value because of factors such as
economic conditions. Market risk may affect a single issuer,
industry, sector of the economy or the market as a whole.
Investments in securities of companies that have substantial
international operations may be affected by economic and
political conditions outside of the United States as well as
fluctuations in currency exchange rates.
The price of Fund shares will increase and decrease according
to changes in the value of the Fund's investments. The Fund
will be affected by changes in stock prices which tend to
fluctuate more than bond prices.
An investment in the Fund is not a complete investment
program and you should consider it just one part of your
total investment program. For a more complete discussion of
risk, please turn to page 7.
2
<PAGE>
HOW HAS THE FUND PERFORMED?
This bar chart and table can help you evaluate the potential
risks of investing in the Fund. We show how returns for the
Fund's shares have varied over the life of the Fund, as well
as the average annual returns of these shares for one year,
three years, and since inception of the Fund, all compared to
the performance of the S&P 500-Registered Trademark- Index,
which is a broad based market index. You should remember that
unlike the Fund, the index is unmanaged and does not include
the costs of buying, selling, and holding the securities. The
Fund's past performance is not necessarily an indication of
how it will perform in the future.
TOTAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31 EACH YEAR (%)
EDGAR REPRESENTATION OF DATA POINTS USED IN PRINTED GRAPHIC
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995* -1.10
1996 32.52
1997 18.97
1998 25.65
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
BEST QUARTER: Q4 1998 +26.70%
WORST QUARTER: Q3 1998 (13.50%)
*FROM 11/17/95 (COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATIONS)
</TABLE>
As of June 30, 1999, the Fund had a year-to-date total return
of %.
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS AS OF
12/31/98
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SINCE INCEPTION
1 YEAR 3 YEARS (11/17/95)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VALUE LINE U.S. MULTINATIONAL
COMPANY FUND 25.65% 25.59% 24.05%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
S&P 500-REGISTERED TRADEMARK- INDEX 28.58% 28.17% 28.26%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
3
<PAGE>
WHAT ARE THE FUND'S FEES AND EXPENSES?
These tables describe the fees and expenses you pay in
connection with an investment in the Fund.
SHAREHOLDER FEES (FEES PAID DIRECTLY FROM YOUR INVESTMENT)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
- --------------------------------------------------------
MAXIMUM SALES CHARGES (LOAD) IMPOSED ON PURCHASES NONE
AS A PERCENTAGE OF OFFERING PRICE
- --------------------------------------------------------
MAXIMUM DEFERRED SALES CHARGES (LOAD) AS A NONE
PERCENTAGE OF ORIGINAL PURCHASE PRICE OR
REDEMPTION PRICE, WHICHEVER IS LOWER
- --------------------------------------------------------
MAXIMUM SALES CHARGES (LOAD) IMPOSED ON REINVESTED
DIVIDENDS NONE
- --------------------------------------------------------
REDEMPTION FEE NONE
- --------------------------------------------------------
EXCHANGE FEE NONE
- --------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (EXPENSES THAT ARE DEDUCTED
FROM FUND ASSETS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
- ---------------------------------------------------------
MANAGEMENT FEES 0.75%
- ---------------------------------------------------------
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE (12b-1) FEES .25%
- ---------------------------------------------------------
OTHER EXPENSES .58%
- ---------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES 1.58%
- ---------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
EXAMPLE
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of
investing in the Fund to the cost of investing in other
mutual funds. We show the cumulative amount of Fund expenses
on a hypothetical investment of $10,000 with an annual 5%
return over the time shown. This is an example only, and your
actual costs may be greater or less than those shown here.
Based on these assumptions, your costs would be:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
VALUE LINE U.S. MULTINATIONAL
COMPANY FUND $161 $499 $860 $1,878
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
4
<PAGE>
HOW WE MANAGE THE FUND
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OUR PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
We analyze economic and market conditions, seeking to
identify the market sector or securities that we think make
the best investments. Because of the nature of the Fund, you
should consider an investment in it to be a long-term
investment that will best meet its objectives when held for a
number of years. The following is a description of how the
Adviser pursues the Fund's objectives.
The Fund attempts to achieve its objective by investing
primarily in U.S. multinational company equity securities,
that is securities of companies that derive at least 25% of
their sales from outside the United States. A goal of the
Fund is to maintain an equity portfolio of securities of
companies with an aggregate share of at least 50% of sales
from outside the United States, although the securities of
any individual company may represent non-United States sales
of that company of as little as 25%.
In selecting securities for purchase or sale, the Adviser may
rely on the Value Line Timeliness-TM- Ranking System or the
Value Line Performance-TM- Ranking System. The Value Line
Timeliness Ranking System has evolved after many years of
research and has been used in substantially its present form
since 1965. It is based upon historical prices and reported
earnings, recent earnings and price momentum and the degree
to which the last reported earnings deviated from estimated
earnings, among other factors. The Timeliness Rankings are
published weekly in the Standard Edition of The Value Line
Investment Survey for approximately 1,700 of the most
actively traded stocks in U.S. markets, including stocks with
large, mid and small market capitalizations. There are only a
few stocks of foreign issuers that are included and stocks
that have traded for less than two years are not ranked. On a
scale of 1 (highest) to 5 (lowest), the rankings compare an
estimate of the probable market performance of each stock
during the coming six to twelve months relative to all 1,700
stocks under review. The Rankings are updated weekly to
reflect the most recent information.
The Value Line Performance Ranking System for common stocks
was introduced in 1995. It is a variation of the Value Line
Small-Capitalization Ranking System, which has been employed
in managing pension client assets since 1981, and in managing
the Value Line Small-Cap Growth Fund, Inc. since 1993. The
Performance Ranking System evaluates the approximately 1,800
stocks in the Expanded Edition of The Value Line Investment
Survey
5
<PAGE>
which consists of stocks with mostly smaller market
capitalizations (under $1 billion) and only a few stocks of
foreign issuers. This stock ranking system relies on factors
similar to those found in the Value Line Timeliness Ranking
System except that it does not utilize earnings estimates.
The Performance Ranks use a scale of 1 (highest) to 5
(lowest) to compare the Adviser's estimate of the probable
market performance of each Expanded Edition stock during the
coming six to twelve months relative to all 1,800 stocks
under review in the Expanded Edition.
Neither the Value Line Timeliness Ranking System nor the
Value Line Performance Ranking System eliminates market risk,
but the Adviser believes that they provide objective
standards for determining expected relative performance for
the next six to twelve months. The Fund will usually invest
in common stocks ranked 1 or 2 but it may also invest in
common stocks ranked 3. Although there are no set limitations
on investments in the portfolio, U.S. securities ranked 1, 2
or 3 of any size will usually constitute a substantial
portion of the Fund's portfolio. The utilization of these
Rankings is no assurance that the Fund will perform more
favorably than the market in general over any particular
period.
TEMPORARY DEFENSIVE POSITION
From time to time in response to adverse market, economic,
political or other conditions, up to 35% of the Fund's total
assets may be held in cash, U.S. Government securities or
money market instruments rated in the top two categories by a
nationally recognized rating organization for temporary
defensive purposes. This could help the Fund avoid losses,
but it may result in lost opportunities. If this becomes
necessary, the Fund may not achieve its investment
objectives.
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading of
portfolio securities in order to take advantage of better
investment opportunities to achieve its investment objectives
which would result in higher brokerage commissions and other
expenses. High portfolio turnover may negatively affect the
Fund's performance.
6
<PAGE>
THE PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND
/ / Because the Fund may invest substantially all of its assets
in common stocks, the value of the stocks in its portfolio
might decrease in response to the activities of an
individual company or in response to general market or
economic conditions. If this occurs, the Fund's share price
may decrease.
/ / Investments in securities of U.S. multinational companies
that have substantial international operations may be
affected by economic and political conditions in foreign
countries and fluctuations in currency exchange rates. In
addition, in some foreign countries, there is the
possibility of government controls or restrictions,
expropriation of assets or confiscating taxation.
/ / Certain securities may be difficult or impossible to sell
at the time and price that the Fund would like. The Fund
may have to lower the price, sell other securities instead
or forego an investment opportunity. This could have a
negative effect on the Fund's performance.
/ / The Fund's use of the Value Line Ranking Systems involves
the risk that over certain periods of time the price of
securities not covered by the Ranking Systems, or lower
ranked securities, may appreciate to a greater extent than
those securities in the Fund's portfolio.
/ / Please see the Statement of Additional Information for a
further discussion of risks. Information on the Fund's
recent holdings can be found in the Fund's current annual
or semi-annual report.
YEAR 2000 RISKS
Like other mutual funds, the Fund could be adversely affected
if the computer systems used by the Adviser and other service
providers do not properly process and calculate date-related
information and data from and after January 1, 2000. This is
commonly known as the "Year 2000 Problem." The Adviser is
taking steps that it believes are reasonably designed to
address the Year 2000 Problem with respect to the computer
systems that it uses and to obtain satisfactory assurances
that comparable steps are being taken by the Fund's other
major service providers. At this time, however, there can be
no assurance that these steps will be sufficient to avoid any
adverse impact to the Fund.
7
<PAGE>
The Year 2000 Problem is expected to impact corporations,
which may include issuers of portfolio securities held by the
Fund, to varying degrees based upon various factors,
including, but not limited to, the corporation's industry
sector and degree of technological sophistication. The Fund
is unable to predict what impact, if any, the Year 2000
Problem will have on issuers of the portfolio securities held
by the Fund.
8
<PAGE>
WHO MANAGES THE FUND
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The business and affairs of the Fund are managed by the
Fund's officers under the direction of the Fund's Board of
Directors.
INVESTMENT ADVISER
Value Line, Inc., 220 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017,
serves as the Fund's investment adviser and manages the
Fund's business affairs. Value Line also acts as investment
adviser to the other Value Line mutual funds and furnishes
investment counseling services to private and institutional
clients resulting in combined assets under management of over
$5 billion.
The Adviser was organized in 1982 and is the successor to
substantially all of the operations of Arnold Bernhard & Co.,
Inc. which with its predecessor has been in business since
1931. Value Line Securities, Inc., the Fund's distributor, is
a subsidiary of the Adviser. Another subsidiary of the
Adviser publishes The Value Line Investment Survey and other
publications.
MANAGEMENT FEES
For managing the Fund and its investments, the Adviser is
paid a yearly fee of 0.75% of the Fund's average daily net
assets.
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
A committee of employees of the Investment Adviser is jointly
and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of
the Fund's portfolio.
9
<PAGE>
ABOUT YOUR ACCOUNT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO BUY SHARES
/ / BY TELEPHONE
Once you have opened an account, you can buy additional
shares by calling 800-243-2729 between 9:00 a.m. and
4:00 p.m. New York time. You must pay for these shares
within three business days of placing your order.
/ / BY WIRE
If you are making an initial purchase by wire, you must
call us at 800-243-2729 so we can assign you an account
number. Request your bank to wire the amount you want to
invest to State Street Bank and Trust Company, ABA
#011000028, attention DDA # 99049868. Include your name,
account number, tax identification number and the name
of the fund in which you want to invest.
/ / THROUGH A BROKER-DEALER
You can open an account and buy shares through a
broker-dealer, who may charge a fee for this service.
/ / BY MAIL
Complete the Account Application and mail it with your
check payable to NFDS, Agent, to Value Line Funds, c/o
National Financial Data Services, Inc., P.O. Box 419729,
Kansas City, MO 64141-6729. If you are making an initial
purchase by mail, you must include a completed Account
Application or an appropriate retirement plan
application if you are opening a retirement account,
with your check.
/ / MINIMUM/ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS
Once you have completed an application, you can open an
account with an initial investment of $1,000, and make
additional investments at any time for as little as
$100. The price you pay for shares will depend on when
we receive your purchase order.
/ / TIME OF PURCHASE
Your price for Fund shares is the Fund's net asset value
per share (NAV), which is generally calculated as of the
close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange
(currently 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) every day the
Exchange is open
10
<PAGE>
for business. The Exchange is currently closed on New
Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President's
Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor
Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day and on the
preceding Friday or subsequent Monday if any of those
days falls on a Saturday or Sunday, respectively. Your
order will be priced at the next NAV calculated after
your order is accepted by the Fund. We reserve the
right to reject any purchase order and to waive the
initial and subsequent investment minimums at any time.
Fund shares may be purchased through various third-party
intermediaries including banks, brokers, financial
advisers and financial supermarkets. When the
intermediary is authorized by the Fund, orders will be
priced at the NAV next computed after receipt by the
intermediary.
/ / DISTRIBUTION CHARGES
The Fund has adopted a plan under rule 12b-1 of the
Investment Company Act of 1940 for the payment of
certain expenses incurred by Value Line Securities,
Inc., the Fund's distributor, in advertising, marketing
and distributing the Fund's shares and for servicing the
Fund's shareholders at an annual rate of 0.25% of the
Fund's average daily net assets. Under the plan, the
distributor may make payments to securities dealers,
banks, financial institutions and other organizations
which render distribution and administrative services
with respect to the distribution of the Fund's shares.
Such services may include, among other things, answering
investor inquiries regarding the Fund; processing new
shareholder account applications and redemption
transactions; responding to shareholder inquiries; and
such other services as the Fund may request to the
extent permitted by applicable statute, rule or
regulation. The plan also provides that the Adviser may
make such payments out of its advisory fee, its past
profits or any other source available to it. The fees
payable to the distributor under the plan are payable
without regard to actual expenses incurred. Because
these fees are paid out of the Fund's assets on an
on-going basis, over time these fees will increase the
cost of your investment and may cost you more than
paying other types of sales charges.
11
<PAGE>
/ / NET ASSET VALUE
We determine the Fund's net asset value (NAV) per share
as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock
Exchange each day that exchange is open for business. We
calculate NAV by adding the market value of all the
securities and assets in the Fund's portfolio, deducting
all liabilities, and dividing the resulting number by
the number of shares outstanding. The result is the net
asset value per share. We price securities for which
market prices or quotations are available at their
market value. We price securities for which market
valuations are not available at their fair market value
as determined by the Board of Directors. Any investments
which have a maturity of less than 60 days we price at
amortized cost. The amortized cost method of valuation
involves valuing a security at its cost and accruing any
discount or premium over the period until maturity,
regardless of the impact of fluctuating interest rates
on the market value of the security.
12
<PAGE>
HOW TO SELL SHARES
/ / BY MAIL
You can redeem your shares (sell them back to the Fund)
by mail by writing to: Value Line Funds, c/o National
Financial Data Services, Inc., P.O. Box 419729, Kansas
City, MO 64141-6729. The request must be signed by all
owners of the account, and you must include a signature
guarantee for each owner. Signature guarantees are also
required when redemption proceeds are going to anyone
other than the account holder(s) of record. If you hold
your shares in certificates, you must submit the
certificates properly endorsed with signature guaranteed
with your request to sell the shares. A signature
guarantee can be obtained from most banks or securities
dealers, but not from a notary public. A signature
guarantee helps protect against fraud.
/ / THROUGH A BROKER-DEALER
You may sell your shares through a broker-dealer, who
may charge a fee for this service.
The Fund has authorized certain brokers to accept
purchase and redemption orders on behalf of the Fund.
The Fund has also authorized these brokers to designate
others to accept purchase and redemption orders on
behalf of the Fund.
We treat any order to buy or sell shares that you place
with one of these brokers, or anyone they have
designated, as if you had placed it directly with the
Fund. The shares that you buy or sell through brokers or
anyone they have designated are priced at the next net
asset value that is computed after they receive your
order.
/ / BY EXCHANGE
You can exchange all or part of your investment in the
Fund for shares in other Value Line funds. You may have
to pay taxes on your exchange. When you exchange shares,
you are purchasing shares in another fund so you should
be sure to get a copy of that fund's prospectus and read
it carefully before buying shares through an exchange.
To execute an exchange, call 800-243-2729.
13
<PAGE>
When you send us a properly completed request to sell or
exchange shares, you will receive the net asset value
that is next determined after we receive your request.
For each account involved, you should provide the
account name, number, name of fund and exchange or
redemption amount. You may have to pay taxes on the gain
from your sale of shares. We will pay you promptly,
normally the next business day, but no later than seven
days after we receive your request to sell your shares.
If you purchased your shares by check, we will wait
until your check has cleared, which can take up to 15
days from the day of purchase, before we send the
proceeds to you.
ACCOUNT MINIMUM
If as a result of redemptions your account balance falls
below $500, the Fund may ask you to increase your
balance within 30 days. If your account is not at the
minimum by the required time, the Fund may redeem your
account, after first notifying you in writing.
REDEMPTION IN KIND
The Fund reserves the right to make a redemption in
kind--payment in portfolio securities rather than
cash--if the amount being redeemed is large enough to
affect Fund operations.
14
<PAGE>
SPECIAL SERVICES
To help make investing with us as easy as possible, and
to help you build your investments, we offer the
following special services. You can get further
information about these programs by calling Shareholder
Services at 800-223-0818.
/ / Valu-Matic-Registered Trademark- allows you to make
regular monthly investments of $25 or more automatically
from your checking account.
/ / Through our Systematic Cash Withdrawal Plan you can
arrange a regular monthly or quarterly payment from your
account payable to you or someone you designate. If your
account is $5,000 or more, you can have monthly or
quarterly withdrawals of $25 or more.
/ / You may buy shares in the Fund for your individual or
group retirement plan, including your Regular or Roth
IRA. You may establish your IRA account even if you
already are a member of an employer-sponsored retirement
plan. Not all contributions to an IRA account are tax
deductible: consult your tax advisor about the tax
consequences of your contribution.
15
<PAGE>
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
The Fund intends to pay dividends from its net
investment income quarterly, and to distribute any
capital gains that it has realized annually. We
automatically reinvest all dividends and any capital
gains, unless you instruct us otherwise in your
application to purchase shares.
You will generally be taxed on distributions you
receive, regardless of whether you reinvest them or
receive them in cash. Dividends from short-term capital
gains and net investment income will be taxable as
ordinary income. Dividends designated by the Fund as
capital gains distributions will be taxable at your
long-term capital gains tax rate, no matter how long you
have owned your Fund shares. In addition, you may be
subject to state and local taxes on distributions.
We will send you a statement by January 31 each year
detailing the amount and nature of all dividends and
capital gains that you received during the prior year.
If you hold your Fund shares in a tax-deferred
retirement account, such as an IRA, you generally will
not have to pay tax on distributions until they are
distributed from the account. These accounts are subject
to complex tax rules, and you should consult your tax
adviser about investment through a tax-deferred account.
You will generally have a capital gain or loss if you
dispose of your Fund shares by redemption, exchange or
sale. Your gain or loss will be long-term or short-term,
generally depending upon how long you owned your shares.
As with all mutual funds, the Fund may be required to
withhold U.S. federal income tax at the rate of 31% of
all taxable distributions payable to you if you fail to
provide the Fund with your correct taxpayer
indentification number or to make required
certifications, or if you have been notified by the IRS
that you are subject to backup withholding. Backup
withholding is not an additional tax; rather, it is a
way in which the IRS ensures it will collect taxes
otherwise due. Any amounts withheld may be credited
against your U.S. federal income tax liability.
The above discussion is meant only as a summary, and we
urge you to consult your tax adviser about your
particular tax situation and how it might be affected by
current tax law.
16
<PAGE>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The financial highlights table is intended to help you
understand the Fund's financial performance for the life of
the Fund. Certain information reflects financial results for
a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent
the rate that an investor would have earned or lost on an
investment in the Fund assuming reinvestment of all dividends
and distributions. This information has been audited by
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, whose report, along with the
Fund's financial statements, is included in the Fund's annual
report, which is available upon request by calling
800-223-0818.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOVEMBER 17,
YEAR ENDED MARCH 31,
1995
(COMMENCEMENT
OF OPERATIONS)
TO MARCH 31,
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1999 1998 1997 1996
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF
PERIOD $16.27 $12.34 $10.55 $10.00
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INCOME (LOSS) FROM
INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:
Net investment income
(loss) (.13) (.08) .12(1) .07(1)
Net gains on securities
(both realized and
unrealized) 3.61 4.80 1.82 .52
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total from investment
operations 3.48 4.72 1.94 .59
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS:
Dividends from net
investment income -- -- (.14) (.04)
Distributions from capital
gains -- (.79) (.01) --
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total distributions -- (.79) (.15) (.04)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD $19.75 $16.27 $12.34 $10.55
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL RETURN 21.39% 39.17% 18.36% 5.93%+
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Net assets, end of period (in
thousands) $34,103 $29,675 $18,081 $12,448
Ratio of expenses to average
net assets 1.58%(4) 1.69%(4) 1.97%(2)(3) 2.45%*(2)(3)
Ratio of net investment income
(loss) to average net assets (0.76)% (0.60)% (0.64)%(2)(3) (0.32)%*(2)(3)
Portfolio turnover rate 36% 49% 56% 17%+
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1) Net of custody fee credits, expense reimbursement and
fees waived by the Adviser. Had these expenses been
fully paid by the Fund for the periods ended March 31,
1997 and 1996, net investment loss per share would have
been $(.07) and $(.001), respectively.
(2) Due to the reimbursement of expenses and waiver of fees
by the Adviser, data are not indicative of future
periods.
(3) Before custody fee credits, expense reimbursement and
fees waived by the Adviser. After expense reimbursement
and fees waived for the periods ended March 31, 1997 and
1996, ratio of expenses to average net assets was 0.40%
and 0%*, respectively; and ratio of net investment
income to average net assets was 0.93% and 2.13%*,
respectively.
(4) Before offset of custody credits. The ratio of expenses
to average net assets would not have changed net of
custody credits.
* Annualized.
+ Not annualized.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17
<PAGE>
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Additional information about the Fund's investments is
available in the Fund's annual and semi-annual reports to
shareholders. In the Fund's annual report, you will find a
discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies
that significantly affected the Fund's performance during its
last fiscal year. You can find more detailed information
about the Fund in the current Statement of Additional
Information dated August 1, 1999, which we have filed
electronically with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC) and which is legally a part of this prospectus. If you
want a free copy of the Statement of Additional Information,
the annual or semi-annual report, or if you have any
questions about investing in this Fund, you can write to us
at 220 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017-5891 or call
toll-free 800-223-0818. You may also obtain the prospectus
from our Internet site at
http:// www.valueline.com.
You can find reports and other information about the Fund on
the SEC Web site (http:// www.sec.gov), or you can get copies
of this information, after payment of a duplicating fee, by
writing to the Public Reference Section of the SEC,
Washington, D.C. 20549-6009. Information about the Fund,
including its Statement of Additional Information, can be
reviewed and copied at the Securities and Exchange
Commission's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. You
can get information on operation of the public reference room
by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
INVESTMENT ADVISER SERVICE AGENT
Value Line, Inc. State Street Bank and Trust Company
220 East 42nd Street c/o NFDS
New York, NY 10017-5891 P.O. Box 419729
Kansas City, MO 64141-6729
CUSTODIAN DISTRIBUTOR
State Street Bank and Trust Company Value Line Securities, Inc.
225 Franklin Street 220 East 42nd Street
Boston, MA 02110 New York, NY 10017-5891
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Value Line Securities, Inc.
220 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017-5891 File no. 811-7311
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
VALUE LINE U.S. MULTINATIONAL COMPANY FUND, INC.
220 East 42nd Street, New York, New York 10017-5891
1-800-223-0818 or 1-800-243-2729
www.valueline.com
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
AUGUST 1, 1999
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus and should be
read in conjunction with the Prospectus of Value Line U.S. Multinational Company
Fund, Inc. dated August 1, 1999, a copy of which may be obtained without charge
by writing or telephoning the Fund. The financial statements, accompanying notes
and report of independent accountants appearing in the Fund's 1999 Annual Report
to Shareholders are incorporated by reference in this Statement. A copy of the
Annual Report is available from the Fund upon request and without charge by
calling 800-223-0818.
--------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
---------
<S> <C>
Description of the Fund and Its Investments and Risks............................... B-2
Management of the Fund.............................................................. B-6
Investment Advisory and Other Services.............................................. B-7
Service and Distribution Plan....................................................... B-9
Brokerage Allocation and Other Practices............................................ B-9
Capital Stock....................................................................... B-10
Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Shares.......................................... B-10
Taxes............................................................................... B-11
Performance Data.................................................................... B-14
Financial Statements................................................................ B-14
</TABLE>
B-1
<PAGE>
DESCRIPTION OF THE FUND AND ITS INVESTMENTS AND RISKS
HISTORY AND CLASSIFICATION. The Fund is an open-end, diversified management
investment company incorporated in Maryland in 1995. The Fund's investment
adviser is Value Line, Inc. (the "Adviser").
NON-PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND ASSOCIATED RISKS.
- RESTRICTED SECURITIES. On occasion, the Fund may purchase securities
which would have to be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 if they were
to be publicly distributed. However, it will not do so if the value of such
securities or/and other securities which are not readily marketable (including
repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days) would exceed 15% of the
market value of its net assets. It is management's policy to permit the
occasional acquisition of such restricted securities only if (except in the case
of short-term non-convertible debt securities) there is an agreement by the
issuer to register such securities, ordinarily at the issuer's expense, when
requested to do so by the Fund. The acquisition in limited amounts of restricted
securities is believed to be helpful toward the attainment of the Fund's
investment objective without unduly restricting its liquidity or freedom in the
management of its portfolio. However, because restricted securities may only be
sold privately or in an offering registered under the Securities Act of 1933, or
pursuant to an exemption from such registration, substantial time may be
required to sell such securities, and there is greater than usual risk of price
decline prior to sale.
In addition, the Fund may purchase certain restricted securities ("Rule 144A
securities") for which there is a secondary market of qualified institutional
buyers, as contemplated by Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933. Rule 144A
provides an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act
for the resale of certain restricted securities to qualified institutional
buyers.
The Adviser, under the supervision of the Board of Directors, will consider
whether securities purchased under Rule 144A are liquid or illiquid for purposes
of the Fund's limitation on investment in securities which are not readily
marketable or are illiquid. Among the factors to be considered are the frequency
of trades and quotes, the number of dealers and potential purchasers, dealer
undertakings to make a market and the nature of the security and the time needed
to dispose of it.
To the extent that the liquid Rule 144A securities that the Fund holds
become illiquid, due to lack of sufficient qualified institutional buyers or
market or other conditions, the percentage of the Fund's assets invested in
illiquid assets would increase. The Adviser, under the supervision of the Board
of Directors, will monitor the Fund's investments in Rule 144A securities and
will consider appropriate measures to enable the Fund to maintain sufficient
liquidity for operating purposes and to meet redemption requests.
- REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. The Fund may invest temporary cash balances in
repurchase agreements. A repurchase agreement involves a sale of securities to
the Fund, with the concurrent agreement of the seller (a member bank of the
Federal Reserve System or a securities dealer which the Adviser believes to be
financially sound) to repurchase the securities at the same price plus an amount
equal to an agreed-upon interest rate, within a specified time, usually less
than one week, but, on occasion, at a later time. The Fund will make payment for
such securities only upon physical
B-2
<PAGE>
delivery or evidence of book-entry transfer to the account of the custodian or a
bank acting as agent for the Fund. Repurchase agreements may also be viewed as
loans made by the Fund which are collateralized by the securities subject to
repurchase. The value of the underlying securities will be at least equal at all
times to the total amount of the repurchase obligation, including the interest
factor. In the event of a bankruptcy or other default of a seller of a
repurchase agreement, the Fund could experience both delays in liquidating the
underlying securities and losses, including: (a) possible decline in the value
of the underlying security during the period while the Fund seeks to enforce its
rights thereto; (b) possible subnormal levels of income and lack of access to
income during this period; and (c) expenses of enforcing its rights. The Board
of Directors monitors the creditworthiness of parties with which the Fund enters
into repurchase agreements.
- LENDING PORTFOLIO SECURITIES. The Fund may lend its portfolio securities
to broker-dealers or institutional investors if as a result thereof the
aggregate value of all securities loaned does not exceed 33 1/3% of the total
assets of the Fund (including the loan collateral). The loans will be made in
conformity with applicable regulatory policies and will be 100% collateralized
by cash or liquid securities on a daily basis in an amount equal to the market
value of the securities loaned and interest earned. The Fund will retain the
right to call, upon notice, the loaned securities and intends to call loaned
voting securities in anticipation of any important or material matter to be
voted on by shareholders. While there may be delays in recovery or even loss of
rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially, the loans will be
made only to firms deemed by the Adviser to be of good standing and will not be
made unless, in the judgment of the Adviser, the consideration which can be
earned from such loan justifies the risk. The Fund may pay reasonable custodian
and administrative fees in connection with the loans.
- SHORT SALES. The Fund may from time to time make short sales of
securities or maintain a short position, provided that at all times when a short
position is open the Fund owns an equal amount of such securities or securities
convertible into or exchangeable for an equivalent amount of such securities. No
more than 10% of the value of the Fund net assets taken at market may at any one
time be held as collateral for such sales.
- COVERED CALL OPTIONS. The Fund may write covered call options on stocks
held in its portfolio ("covered options"). When the Fund writes a covered call
option, it gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy the underlying
security at the price specified in the option (the "exercise price") at any time
during the option period. If the option expires unexercised, the Fund will
realize income to the extent of the amount received for the option (the
"premium"). If the option is exercised, a decision over which the Fund has no
control, the Fund must sell the underlying security to the option holder at the
exercise price. By writing a covered option, the Fund foregoes, in exchange for
the premium less the commission ("net premium"), the opportunity to profit
during the option period from an increase in the market value of the underlying
security above the exercise price. The Fund will not write call options in an
aggregate amount greater than 25% of its net assets.
The Fund will purchase call options only to close out a position. When an
option is written on securities in the Fund's portfolio and it appears that the
purchaser of that option is likely to exercise the option and purchase the
underlying security, it may be considered appropriate to avoid liquidating the
Fund's position, or the Fund may wish to extinguish a call option sold by it so
as to be free to sell the underlying security. In such instances the Fund may
purchase a call option on the same security with the same exercise price and
expiration date which had been previously written. Such a purchase would have
the effect of closing out the option which the Fund has written. The Fund
B-3
<PAGE>
realizes a gain if the amount paid to purchase the call option is less than the
premium received for writing a similar option and a loss if the amount paid to
purchase a call option is greater than the premium received for writing a
similar option. Generally, the Fund realizes a short-term capital loss if the
amount paid to purchase the call option with respect to a stock is greater than
the premium received for writing the option. If the underlying security has
substantially risen in value, it may be difficult or expensive to purchase the
call option for the closing transaction.
FUND POLICIES.
(i)
The Fund may not issue senior securities or borrow money in excess
of 10% of the value of its net assets and then only as a temporary
measure to meet unusually heavy redemption requests or for other
extraordinary or emergency purposes. Securities will not be purchased while
borrowings are outstanding. No assets of the Fund may be pledged, mortgaged
or otherwise encumbered, transferred or assigned to secure a debt.
(ii)
The Fund may not engage in the underwriting of securities except to
the extent that the Fund may be deemed an underwriter as to
restricted securities under the Securities Act of 1933 in selling portfolio
securities.
(iii)
The Fund may not invest 25% or more of its assets in securities of
issuers in any one industry.
(iv)
The Fund may not purchase securities of other investment companies
except in mergers or other business combinations or invest in real
estate, mortgages, illiquid securities of real estate investment trusts,
real estate limited partnerships or interests in oil, gas or mineral leases,
although the Fund may purchase securities of issuers which engage in real
estate operations.
(v)
The Fund may not lend money except in connection with the purchase
of debt obligations or by investment in repurchase agreements,
provided that repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days when
taken together with other securities that are illiquid or restricted by
virtue of the absence of a readily available market do not exceed 15% of the
Fund's assets. The Fund may lend its portfolio securities to broker-dealers
and institutional investors if as a result thereof the aggregate value of
all securities loaned does not exceed 33 1/3% of the total assets of the
Fund.
(vi)
The Fund may not engage in arbitrage transactions, short sales
except as set forth herein, purchases on margin or participate on a
joint or joint and several basis in any trading account in securities.
(vii)
The Fund may not invest more than 5% of its total assets in the
securities of any one issuer or purchase more than 10% of the
outstanding voting securities, or any other class of securities, of any one
issuer. For purposes of this restriction, all outstanding debt securities of
an issuer are considered as one class, and all preferred stock of an issuer
is considered as one class. This restriction does not apply to obligations
issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or
instrumentalities.
B-4
<PAGE>
(viii)
The Fund may not invest more than 5% of its total assets in
securities of issuers having a record, together with its
predecessors, of less than three years of continuous operation. This
restriction does not apply to any obligation issued or guaranteed by the
U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities.
(ix)
The Fund may not purchase securities for the purpose of exercising
control over another company.
(x)
The Fund may not invest in commodities or commodity contracts
including futures contracts.
(xi)
The Fund may not purchase the securities of any issuer if, to the
knowledge of the Fund, those officers and directors of the Fund and
of the Adviser, who each owns more than 0.5% of the outstanding securities
of such issuer, together own more than 5% of such securities.
(xii)
The Fund may not invest more than 2% of the value of its total
assets in warrants (valued at the lower of cost or market), except
that warrants attached to other securities are not subject to these
limitations.
(xiii)
The primary investment objective of the Fund is maximum total
return.
If a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of investment, a later
change in percentage resulting from changes in values or assets will not be
considered a violation of the restriction. For purposes of industry
classifications, the Fund follows the industry classifications in The Value Line
Investment Survey.
The policies set forth above may not be changed without the affirmative vote
of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund which means the
lesser of (1) the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of capital
stock of the Fund or (2) 67% of the shares present if more than 50% of the
shares are present at a meeting in person or by proxy.
B-5
<PAGE>
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
The business and affairs of the Fund are managed by the Fund's officers
under the direction of the Board of Directors. Set forth below is certain
information regarding the Directors and Officers of the Fund.
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, ADDRESS AND AGE POSITION WITH FUND PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS DURING PAST 5 YEARS
- ---------------------------------- --------------------- ---------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
*Jean Bernhard Buttner Chairman of the Board Chairman, President and Chief Executive
Age 64 of Directors and Officer of the Adviser and Value Line Pub-
President lishing, Inc. Chairman and President of the
Value Line Funds and Value Line Securities,
Inc. (the "Distributor"); Chairman and
President of each of the 15 Value Line Funds.
Francis C. Oakley Director Professor of History, Williams College, 1961
54 Scott Hill Road to present and President Emeritus since 1994;
Williamstown, MA 01267 President of Williams College, 1985-1993;
Age 67 Director, Berkshire Life Insurance Company.
Marion N. Ruth Director Real Estate Executive; President, Ruth Realty
5 Outrider Road (real estate broker).
Rolling Hills, CA 90274
Age 64
Frances T. Newton Director Computer Programming Professional, Duke Power
4921 Buckingham Drive Company.
Charlotte, NC 28209
Age 58
Alan N. Hoffman Vice President Portfolio Manager with the Adviser.
Age 45
Nancy Bendig Vice President Portfolio Manager with the Adviser.
Age 43
David T. Henigson Vice President, Director, Vice President and Compliance
Age 41 Secretary and Officer of the Adviser. Director and Vice
Treasurer President of the Distributor. Vice Presi-
dent, Secretary and Treasurer of each of the
15 Value Line Funds.
</TABLE>
- --------------
* "Interested" director as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the
"1940 Act").
Unless otherwise indicated, the address for each of the above is 220 East 42nd
Street, New York, NY.
Directors of the Fund are also directors of two other Value Line Funds.
B-6
<PAGE>
The following table sets forth information regarding compensation of
Directors by the Fund and by the Fund and the two other Value Line Funds of
which each of the Directors was a director for the fiscal year ended March 31,
1999. Directors who are officers or employees of the Adviser do not receive any
compensation from the Fund or any of the Value Line Funds.
COMPENSATION TABLE
FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 1999
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TOTAL
PENSION OR ESTIMATED COMPENSATION
RETIREMENT ANNUAL FROM FUND
AGGREGATE BENEFITS BENEFITS AND FUND
COMPENSATION ACCRUED AS PART UPON COMPLEX
NAME OF PERSONS FROM FUND OF FUND EXPENSES RETIREMENT (3 FUNDS)
- ------------------------------------------- --------------- ------------------ ----------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Jean B. Buttner............................ $ -0- N/A N/A $ -0-
Francis C. Oakley.......................... 5,834 N/A N/A 20,000
Marion N. Ruth............................. 5,834 N/A N/A 20,000
Frances T. Newton.......................... 5,834 N/A N/A 20,000
</TABLE>
As of April 30, 1999, no person owned of record or, to the knowledge of the
Fund, owned beneficially, 5% or more of the outstanding stock of the Fund other
than the Adviser and affiliated companies which owned 1,414,486 shares of the
Fund's capital stock or 81.8% of the outstanding shares. In addition, First
Union National Bank, as Trustee of the Value Line, Inc. Profit Sharing and
Savings Plan, owned 19,204 shares (less than 1%) and Jean B. Buttner, Chairman
of the Board of Directors and President, owned 119,151 shares or 6.9%. Other
officers and directors of the Fund owned 478 shares of capital stock,
representing less than 1% of the outstanding shares.
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES
The Fund's investment adviser is Value Line, Inc. (the "Adviser"). Arnold
Bernhard & Co., Inc., 220 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017, a holding
company, owns approximately 81% of the outstanding shares of the Adviser's
common stock. Jean Bernhard Buttner, Chairman, President and Chief Executive
Officer of the Adviser and Chairman and President of the Fund, owns all of the
voting stock of Arnold Bernhard & Co., Inc.
The investment advisory agreement between the Fund and the Adviser, dated
September 21, 1995, provides for an advisory fee at an annual rate of 0.75% of
the Fund's average daily net assets during the year. During the fiscal years
ended March 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999, the Fund paid or accrued to the Adviser
advisory fees of $114,141 (of which $81,240 was voluntarily waived by the
Adviser), $188,194 and $220,277, respectively.
The investment advisory agreement provides that the Adviser shall render
investment advisory and other services to the Fund including, at its expense,
all administrative services, office space and the services of all officers and
employees of the Fund. The Fund pays all other expenses not assumed by the
Adviser including taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, insurance premiums,
fees and expenses of the custodian and shareholder servicing agents, legal,
audit and Fund accounting expenses and fees, fees and expenses in connection
with qualification under federal
B-7
<PAGE>
and state securities laws and costs of shareholder reports and proxy materials.
The Fund has agreed that it will use the words "Value Line" in its name only so
long as Value Line, Inc. serves as investment adviser to the Fund. The agreement
will terminate upon its assignment.
The Adviser acts as investment adviser to 14 other investment companies
constituting The Value Line Family of Funds and furnishes investment counseling
services to private and institutional accounts resulting in combined assets
under management in excess of $5 billion.
Certain of the Adviser's clients may have investment objectives similar to
the Fund and certain investments may be appropriate for the Fund and for other
clients advised by the Adviser. From time to time, a particular security may be
bought or sold for only one client or in different amounts and at different
times for more than one but less than all such clients. In addition, a
particular security may be bought for one or more clients when one or more other
clients are selling such security, or purchases or sales of the same security
may be made for two or more clients at the same time. In such event, such
transactions, to the extent practicable, will be averaged as to price and
allocated as to amount in proportion to the amount of each order. In some cases,
this procedure could have a detrimental effect on the price or amount of the
securities purchased or sold by the Fund. In other cases, however, it is
believed that the ability of the Fund to participate, to the extent permitted by
law, in volume transactions will produce better results for the Fund.
The Adviser and/or its affiliates, officers, directors and employees may
from time to time own securities which are also held in the portfolio of the
Fund. The Adviser has imposed rules upon itself and such persons requiring
monthly reports of security transactions for their respective accounts and
restricting trading in various types of securities in order to avoid possible
conflicts of interest. The Adviser may from time to time, directly or through
affiliates, enter into agreements to furnish for compensation special research
or financial services to companies, including services in connection with
acquisitions, mergers or financings. In the event that such agreements are in
effect with respect to issuers of securities held in the portfolio of the Fund,
specific reference to such agreements will be made in the "Schedule of
Investments" in shareholder reports of the Fund. As of the date of this
Statement of Additional Information, no such agreements exist.
The Fund has entered into a distribution agreement with Value Line
Securities, Inc. (the "Distributor") whose address is 220 East 42nd Street, New
York, NY 10017, pursuant to which the Distributor acts as principal underwriter
and distributor of the Fund for the sale and distribution of its shares. The
Distributor is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser. For its services under
the agreement, the Distributor is not entitled to receive any compensation. The
Distributor also serves as distributor to the other Value Line funds. Jean
Bernhard Buttner is Chairman and President of the Distributor.
The Adviser has retained State Street Bank and Trust Company ("State
Street") to provide certain bookkeeping and accounting services for the Fund.
The Adviser pays State Street $32,400 per annum for each Value Line fund for
which State Street provides these services. State Street, whose address is 225
Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110, also acts as the Fund's custodian, transfer
agent and dividend-paying agent. As custodian, State Street is responsible for
safeguarding the Fund's cash and securities, handling the receipt and delivery
of securities and collecting interest and dividends on the Fund's investments.
As transfer agent and dividend-paying agent, State Street effects transfers of
Fund shares by the registered owners and transmits payments for dividends and
distributions declared by the Fund. National Financial Data Services, Inc., a
State Street affiliate, whose address is 330 W. 9th Street, Kansas City, MO
64105, provides certain transfer agency
B-8
<PAGE>
functions to the Fund as an agent for State Street. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP,
whose address is 1177 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036, acts as the
Fund's independent accountants and also performs certain tax preparation
services.
SERVICE AND DISTRIBUTION PLAN
The Service and Distribution Plan (12b-1 Plan) provides for the payment of
certain expenses incurred by Value Line Securities, Inc. (the "Distributor") in
advertising, marketing and distributing Fund shares and for servicing Fund
shareholders at an annual rate of .25% of the Fund's average daily net assets.
During the fiscal year ended March 31, 1999, the Fund paid fees of $73,418 to
the Distributor under the Plan, the Distributor paid $238 to other
broker-dealers and incurred $5,842 in advertising and other marketing expenses.
The fees payable to the Distributor under the Plan are payable without regard to
actual expenses incurred.
BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES
Orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities are placed with
brokers and dealers who, in the judgment of the Adviser, are able to execute
them as expeditiously as possible and at the best obtainable price. Debt
securities are traded principally in the over-the-counter market on a net basis
through dealers acting for their own account and not as brokers. Purchases and
sales of securities which are not listed or traded on a securities exchange will
ordinarily be executed with primary market makers acting as principal, except
when it is determined that better prices and executions may otherwise be
obtained. The Adviser is also authorized to place purchase or sale orders with
brokers or dealers who may charge a commission in excess of that charged by
other brokers or dealers if the amount of the commission charged is reasonable
in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided. Such
allocation will be in such amounts and in such proportions as the Adviser may
determine. Orders may also be placed with brokers or dealers who sell shares of
the Fund or other funds for which the Adviser acts as investment adviser, but
this fact, or the volume of such sales, is not a consideration in their
selection. During the fiscal years ended March 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999, the Fund
paid brokerage commissions of $12,421, $18,535 and $15,454, respectively, of
which $5,661 (46%), $13,913 (75%) and $10,509 (68%), respectively, was paid to
Value Line Securities, Inc., the Fund's distributor and a subsidiary of the
Adviser. Value Line Securities, Inc. clears transactions for the Fund through
unaffiliated broker-dealers.
The Board of Directors has adopted procedures incorporating the standards of
Rule 17e-1 under the 1940 Act which requires that the commissions paid to Value
Line Securities or any other "affiliated person" be "reasonable and fair"
compared to the commissions paid to other brokers in connection with comparable
transactions. The procedures require that the Adviser furnish reports to the
Directors with respect to the payment of commissions to affiliated brokers and
maintain records with respect thereto. During the fiscal year ended March 31,
1999, $11,584 (75%) of the Fund's brokerage commissions were paid to brokers or
dealers solely for their services in obtaining the best prices and executions;
the balance, or $3,870 (25%), went to brokers or dealers who provided
information or services to the Adviser and, therefore, indirectly to the Fund
and to shareholders of the Value Line funds. The information and services
furnished to the Adviser include the furnishing of research reports and
statistical compilations and computations and the providing of current
quotations for securities. The services and information were furnished to the
Adviser at no cost to it; no such services or information were furnished
directly to the Fund, but certain of these services might have relieved the Fund
of expenses which it would otherwise have had to pay. Such information and
B-9
<PAGE>
services are considered by the Adviser, and brokerage commissions are allocated
in accordance with its assessment of such information and services, but only in
a manner consistent with the placing of purchase and sale orders with brokers
and/or dealers, which, in the judgment of the Adviser, are able to execute such
orders as expeditiously as possible and at the best obtainable price. The Fund
is advised that the receipt of such information and services has not reduced in
any determinable amount the overall expenses of the Adviser.
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER. The Fund's annual portfolio turnover rate may exceed
100%. A rate of portfolio turnover of 100% would occur if all of the Fund's
portfolio were replaced in a period of one year. To the extent that the Fund
engages in short-term trading in attempting to achieve its objective, it may
increase portfolio turnover and incur higher brokerage commissions and other
expenses than might otherwise be the case. The Fund's portfolio turnover rate
for recent fiscal years is shown under "Financial Highlights" in the Fund's
Prospectus.
CAPITAL STOCK
Each share of the Fund's common stock, $.01 par value, has one vote with
fractional shares voting proportionately. Shares have no preemptive rights, are
freely transferable, are entitled to dividends as declared by the Directors and,
if the Fund were liquidated, would receive the net assets of the Fund.
PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES
PURCHASES: Shares of the Fund are purchased at the net asset value next
calculated after receipt of a purchase order. Minimum orders are $1,000 for an
initial purchase and $100 for each subsequent purchase. The Fund reserves the
right to reduce or waive the minimum purchase requirements in certain cases such
as pursuant to payroll deduction plans, etc., where subsequent and continuing
purchases are contemplated.
AUTOMATIC PURCHASES: The Fund offers a free service to its shareholders,
Valu-Matic, through which monthly investments of $25 or more may be made
automatically into the shareholder's Fund account. The required form to enroll
in this program is available upon request from the Distributor.
RETIREMENT PLANS: Shares of the Fund may be purchased as the investment medium
for various tax-sheltered retirement plans. Upon request, the Distributor will
provide information regarding eligibility and permissible contributions. Because
a retirement plan is designed to provide benefits in future years, it is
important that the investment objectives of the Fund be consistent with the
participant's retirement objectives. Premature withdrawals from a retirement
plan may result in adverse tax consequences. For more complete information,
contact Shareholder Services at 1-800-223-0818.
REDEMPTION: The right of redemption may be suspended, or the date of payment
postponed beyond the normal seven-day period, by the Fund under the following
conditions authorized by the 1940 Act: (1) For any period (a) during which the
New York Stock Exchange is closed, other than customary weekend and holiday
closing, or (b) during which trading on the New York Stock Exchange is
restricted; (2) For any period during which an emergency exists as a result of
which (a) disposal by the Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably
practical, or (b) it is not reasonably practical for the Fund to determine the
fair value of its net assets; (3) For such other periods as the Securities and
Exchange Commission may by order permit for the protection of the Fund's
shareholders.
B-10
<PAGE>
The value of shares of the Fund on redemption may be more or less than the
shareholder's cost, depending upon the market value of the Fund's assets at the
time. Shareholders should note that if a loss has been realized on the sale of
shares of the Fund, the loss may be disallowed for tax purposes if shares of the
same Fund are purchased within (before or after) 30 days of the sale.
It is possible that conditions may exist in the future which would, in the
opinion of the Board of Directors, make it undesirable for the Fund to pay for
redemptions in cash. In such cases the Board may authorize payment to be made in
portfolio securities or other property of the Fund. However, the Fund has
obligated itself under the 1940 Act to redeem for cash all shares presented for
redemption by any one shareholder up to $250,000 (or 1% of the Fund's net assets
if that is less) in any 90-day period. Securities delivered in payment of
redemptions are valued at the same value assigned to them in computing the net
asset value per share. Shareholders receiving such securities may incur
brokerage costs on their sales.
The net asset value of the Fund's shares for purposes of both purchases and
redemptions is determined once daily as of the close of regular trading on the
New York Stock Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m., New York time) on each day that
the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading except on days on which no
orders to purchase, sell or redeem Fund shares have been received. The New York
Stock Exchange is currently closed on New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr.
Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day,
Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day and on the preceding Friday or subsequent
Monday if one of those days falls on a Saturday or Sunday, respectively. The net
asset value per share is determined by dividing the total value of the
investments and other assets of the Fund, less any liabilities, by the total
outstanding shares. Securities listed on a securities exchange and
over-the-counter securities traded on the NASDAQ national market are valued at
the closing sales price on the date as of which the net asset value is being
determined. In the absence of closing sales prices for such securities and for
securities traded in the over-the-counter market, the security is valued at the
midpoint between the latest available and representative asked and bid prices.
Securities for which market quotations are not readily available or which are
not readily marketable and all other assets of the Fund are valued at fair value
as the Board of Directors or persons acting at their direction may determine in
good faith. Short-term instruments with maturities of 60 days or less at the
date of purchase are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.
TAXES
(SEE "DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES" IN THE FUND'S PROSPECTUS)
Set forth below is a discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax issues
concerning the Fund and the purchase, ownership and disposition of Fund shares.
This discussion does not purport to be complete or to deal with all aspects of
federal income taxation that may be relevant to shareholders in light of their
particular circumstances, nor to certain types of shareholders subject to
special treatment under the federal income tax laws. This discussion is based
upon present provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"), the regulations promulgated thereunder and judicial and administrative
ruling authorities, all of which are subject to change, which change may be
retroactive. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors with
regard to the federal tax consequences of the purchase, ownership, or
disposition of Fund shares, as well as the tax consequences arising under the
laws of any state, foreign country, or other taxing jurisdiction.
B-11
<PAGE>
FUND STATUS. The Fund intends to qualify and elect to be treated each year
as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code. Accordingly,
the Fund generally must, among other things, (i) derive in each taxable year at
least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, payments from certain
securities loans, and gains from the sale of stock, securities or foreign
currencies or other income (such as gains from options, futures or forward
contracts) from investing in stock, securities or currencies; and (ii) hold as
of the close of each quarter, at least 50% of its assets in certain investment
assets, such as cash, U.S. Government securities, securities of other regulated
investment companies and other securities, with such other securities limited as
to any issuer to not more than 5% of the value of the Fund's total assets and
10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and hold not more than
25% of the value of the Fund's assets in the securities of any issuer (other
than U.S. Government securities or securities of other regulated investment
companies).
FUND DISTRIBUTIONS. As a regulated investment company, the Fund generally
will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on income and gains that it
distributes to shareholders, if at least 90% of the Fund's investment company
income -- dividends, interest and net short-term capital gains in excess of net
long-term capital losses -- for the taxable year is distributed. The Fund
intends to distribute substantially all of its investment company income and net
capital gains to shareholders for federal income tax purposes although such
distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Fund
unless the shareholder has requested otherwise.
Amounts not timely distributed by the Fund are subject to a nondeductible 4%
excise tax at the Fund level. To avoid the tax, the Fund must distribute during
a calendar year at least 98% of its ordinary income, 98% of its capital gains in
excess of capital losses for the one year period ended October 31 of such year,
and all ordinary income and capital gains for previous years that were not
distributed in earlier years. The Fund will satisfy the annual distribution
requirement if it distributes the required amount on or before December 31 of
such year or if the distribution is declared in October, November or December of
such year with a record date within such period and paid by the Fund during
January of the following calendar year. Such distributions will be taxable to
shareholders in the calendar year in which the distributions are declared,
rather than the calendar year in which the distributions are received. The Fund
anticipates that it will make sufficient timely distributions to avoid
imposition of the excise tax.
Options, futures contracts and short sales entered into by the Fund will be
subject to special tax rules. These rules may accelerate income to the Fund,
defer Fund losses, cause adjustments in the holding periods of Fund securities,
convert capital gain into ordinary income and convert short-term capital losses
into long-term capital losses. As a result, these rules could affect the amount,
timing and character of Fund distributions.
Distributions of investment company taxable income are taxable to a U.S.
shareholder as ordinary income, whether paid in cash or reinvested. Dividends
paid to a corporate shareholder may qualify for the dividends-received
deduction, to the extent such dividends are attributable to dividends received
from a U.S. corporation. It is expected that dividends from U.S. corporations
will constitute most of the Fund's gross income and that a substantial portion
of the dividends paid by the Fund will qualify for the dividends-received
deduction for corporate shareholders of the Fund. Upon request, the Fund will
advise Fund shareholders of the amount of dividends which qualify for the
dividends-received deduction.
B-12
<PAGE>
Distributions of net capital gains (the excess of net long-term capital
gains over net short-term capital losses), if any, designated as capital gain
dividends will be taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gains, regardless
of how long the shareholder has held the Fund's shares. Distributions of capital
gain from the sale of assets held for one year or less will generally be taxed
as ordinary income.
Investors purchasing Fund shares prior to a distribution should be aware of
the tax consequences of purchasing such Fund shares. The purchase price paid for
such shares may reflect the amount of the forthcoming distribution. Although
distributions from the Fund shortly after the purchase of Fund shares may be
viewed in substance as a return of capital, nevertheless, such a distribution
will be attributed to the dividend or capital gain income of the Fund and,
therefore, be taxable to the shareholder.
REDEMPTION, SALE OR EXCHANGE OF FUND SHARES. Upon a redemption or sale of
shares of the Fund, a shareholder may realize a gain or loss for federal income
tax purposes depending upon his or her basis in the shares. A gain or loss will
be treated as capital gain or loss if the shares are capital assets in the
shareholder's hands and will be long-term or short-term, depending upon the
shareholder's holding period for the shares. Any loss realized on a redemption
or sale of Fund shares will be disallowed to the extent the Fund shares disposed
of are replaced (including through reinvestment of dividends) within a period of
61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the Fund shares are
disposed of. In such a case, the basis of the Fund shares acquired will be
adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss. If a shareholder held Fund shares for
six months or less and during that period received a distribution taxable to the
shareholder as long-term capital gain, any loss realized on the sale of such
Fund shares during such six-month period would be a long-term loss to the extent
of such distribution.
An exchange of shares in the Fund for shares of another Value Line fund will
be treated as a taxable sale of the exchanged Fund shares. Accordingly, a
shareholder may recognize a gain or loss for federal income tax purposes
depending upon his or her basis in the Fund shares exchanged. A gain or loss
will be treated as capital gain or loss if the shares are capital assets in the
shareholder's hands and will be long-term or short-term, depending upon the
shareholder's holding period for the shares. The shareholder will have a tax
basis in the newly-acquired Fund shares equal to the amount invested and will
begin a new holding period for federal income tax purposes.
If a shareholder exchanges shares in the Fund for shares in another Value
Line fund pursuant to a reinvestment right, the sales charge incurred in the
purchase of the Fund shares exchanged may not be added to tax basis in
determining gain or loss for federal income tax purposes. Instead, the sales
charge for the exchanged Fund shares shall be added to basis for purposes of
determining gain or loss on the disposition of the newly-acquired Fund shares,
if such newly-acquired Fund shares are not disposed of in a similar exchange
transaction.
REPORTING AND BACKUP WITHHOLDING. The Fund will be required to report to
the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") all distributions and gross proceeds from
the redemption of the Fund's shares, except in the case of certain exempt
shareholders. The Fund may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax at
the rate of 31% of all taxable distributions and redemption proceeds payable to
shareholders who fail to provide the Fund with their correct taxpayer
identification number or to make certain certifications or who have been
notified by the IRS that they are subject to backup withholding. Corporate
shareholders and certain other shareholders specified in the Code
B-13
<PAGE>
generally are exempt from such backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an
additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder's
U.S. federal income tax. If the backup withholding provisions are applicable to
a shareholder, distributions and gross proceeds payable to such shareholder will
be reduced by the amounts required to be withheld, regardless of whether such
distributions are paid or reinvested.
PERFORMANCE DATA
From time to time, the Fund may state its total return in advertisements and
investor communications. Total return may be stated for any relevant period as
specified in the advertisement or communication. Any statements of total return
or other performance data on the Fund will be accompanied by information on the
Fund's average annual compounded rate of return for the periods of one year,
five years and ten years, all ended on the last day of a recent calendar
quarter. The Fund may also advertise aggregate total return information for
different periods of time.
The Fund's average annual compounded rate of return is determined by
reference to a hypothetical $1,000 investment that includes capital appreciation
and depreciation for the stated period, according to the following formula:
P(1+T) to the power of n = ERV
Where: P = a hypothetical initial purchase order of
$1,000
T = average annual total return
n = number of years
ERV = ending redeemable value of the
hypothetical $1,000 purchase at the end
of the period.
The Fund's average annual total returns as of March 31, 1999, for the one
year, three years and the period since inception were 21.39%, 25.98% and 24.94%,
respectively.
The Fund's total return may be compared to relevant indices and data from
Lipper Analytical Services, Inc., Morningstar or Standard & Poor's Indices.
From time to time, evaluations of the Fund's performance by independent
sources may also be used in advertisements and in information furnished to
present or prospective investors in the Fund.
Investors should note that the investment results of the Fund will fluctuate
over time, and any presentation of the Fund's current yield, total return or
distribution rate for any period should not be considered as a representation of
what an investment may earn or what an investor's total return, yield or
distribution rate may be in any future period.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Fund's financial statements for the year ended March 31, 1999, including
the financial highlights for each of the three fiscal years in the period ended
March 31, 1999, and for the period November 17, 1995 (commencement of
operations) through March 31, 1996, appearing in the 1999 Annual Report to
Shareholders and the report thereon of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent
accountants, appearing therein, are incorporated by reference in this Statement
of Additional Information.
B-14
<PAGE>
PART C: OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 23. EXHIBITS.
(a) Articles of Incorporation.
(b) By-laws.
(c) Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders. Reference is made to
Article Fifth of the Articles of Incorporation filed as Exhibit (a)
hereto.
(d) Investment Advisory Agreement.
(e) Distribution Agreement.
(f) Not applicable.
(g) Custodian Agreement and Amendment thereto.
(h) Not applicable.
(i) Legal Opinion.
(j) Not Applicable.
(k) Not applicable.
(l) Not applicable.
(m) Service and Distribution (12b-1) Plan.
(n) Financial data schedule.
(o) Not applicable.
ITEM 24. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH REGISTRANT.
None.
ITEM 25. INDEMNIFICATION.
Incorporated by reference to Article VIII of the Articles of Incorporation
filed as Exhibit (a) hereto.
ITEM 26. BUSINESS OR OTHER CONNECTIONS OF INVESTMENT ADVISER.
Value Line, Inc., Registrant's investment adviser, acts as investment
adviser for a number of individuals, trusts, corporations and institutions, in
addition to the registered investment companies in the Value Line Family of
Funds listed in Item 27.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
POSITION WITH
NAME THE ADVISER OTHER EMPLOYMENT
- -------------------------- -------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Jean Bernhard Buttner Chairman of the Board, President Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
and Chief Executive Officer of Arnold Bernhard & Co., Inc. and Chairman of the
Value Line Funds and the Distributor
Samuel Eisenstadt Senior Vice President and ---------------------------------------------
Director
David T. Henigson Vice President, Treasurer and Vice President and a Director of Arnold Bernhard &
Director Co., Inc. and the Distributor
Howard A. Brecher Vice President, Secretary and Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and a Director
Director of Arnold Bernhard & Co., Inc.
</TABLE>
C-1
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
POSITION WITH
NAME THE ADVISER OTHER EMPLOYMENT
- -------------------------- -------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Harold Bernard, Jr. Director Retired Administrative Law Judge
W. Scott Thomas Director Partner, Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison, attorneys,
One Market Plaza, San Francisco, CA 94105
Linda S. Wilson Director President, Radcliffe College, 10 Garden Street,
Cambridge, MA 02138
</TABLE>
ITEM 27. PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITERS.
(a) Value Line Securities, Inc., acts as principal underwriter for the
following Value Line funds, including the Registrant: The Value Line
Fund, Inc.; Value Line Income and Growth Fund, Inc.; The Value Line
Special Situations Fund, Inc.; Value Line Leveraged Growth Investors,
Inc.; The Value Line Cash Fund, Inc.; Value Line U.S. Government
Securities Fund, Inc.; Value Line Centurion Fund, Inc.; The Value Line
Tax Exempt Fund, Inc.; Value Line Convertible Fund, Inc.; Value Line
Aggressive Income Trust; Value Line New York Tax Exempt Trust; Value Line
Strategic Asset Management Trust; Value Line Small-Cap Growth Fund, Inc.;
Value Line Asset Allocation Fund, Inc.; Value Line U.S. Multinational
Company Fund, Inc.
(b)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(2)
POSITION AND (3)
(1) OFFICES POSITION AND
NAME AND PRINCIPAL WITH VALUE LINE OFFICES WITH
BUSINESS ADDRESS SECURITIES, INC. REGISTRANT
- ------------------------- ------------------ --------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Jean Bernhard Buttner Chairman of the Chairman of the
Board Board and President
David T. Henigson Vice President, Vice President,
Secretary, Secretary and
Treasurer and Treasurer
Director
Stephen LaRosa Asst. Vice Asst. Treasurer
President
</TABLE>
The business address of each of the officers and directors is 220 East
42nd Street, NY 10017-5891.
(c) Not applicable.
ITEM 28. LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS.
Value Line, Inc.
220 East 42nd Street
New York, NY 10017
For records pursuant to:
Rule 31a-1(b)(4),(5),(6),(7),(10),(11)
Rule 31a-1(f)
State Street Bank and Trust Company
c/o NFDS
P.O. Box 419729
Kansas City, MO 64141
For records pursuant to Rule 31a-1(b)(2)(iv)
C-2
<PAGE>
State Street Bank and Trust Company
225 Franklin Street
Boston, MA 02110
For all other records
ITEM 29. MANAGEMENT SERVICES.
None.
ITEM 30. UNDERTAKINGS.
None.
--------------
C-3
<PAGE>
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus and
Statement of Additional Information constituting parts of this Post-Effective
Amendment No. 4 to the registration statement on Form N-1A (the "Registration
Statement") of our report dated May 17, 1999, relating to the financial
statements and financial highlights appearing in the March 31, 1999 Annual
Report to Shareholders of Value Line U.S. Multinational Company Fund, Inc.,
which are also incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement. We
also consent to the references to us under the heading "Financial Highlights" in
the Prospectus and under the headings "Investment Advisory and Other Services"
and "Financial Statements" in the Statement of Additional Information.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York
May 24, 1999
C-4
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this Amendment to
its Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, and State of New York, on
the 24th day of May, 1999.
VALUE LINE U.S. MULTINATIONAL COMPANY
FUND, INC.
By: /s/ DAVID T. HENIGSON
.......................................
DAVID T. HENIGSON, VICE PRESIDENT
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment
has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the
dates indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURES TITLE DATE
------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------- ---------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
*JEAN B. BUTTNER Chairman and Director; President; May 24, 1999
(JEAN B. BUTTNER) Principal Executive Officer
*FRANCIS C. OAKLEY Director May 24, 1999
(FRANCIS C. OAKLEY)
*MARION N. RUTH Director May 24, 1999
(MARION N. RUTH)
*FRANCES T. NEWTON Director May 24, 1999
(FRANCES T. NEWTON)
/s/ DAVID T. HENIGSON Treasurer; Principal Financial May 24, 1999
................................................ and Accounting Officer
(DAVID T. HENIGSON)
</TABLE>
*By /s/ DAVID T. HENIGSON
...................................
(DAVID T. HENIGSON,
ATTORNEY-IN-FACT)
C-5
<PAGE>
Exhibit 99.(a)
STATE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENTS
AND TAXATION
APPROVED FOR RECORD
9/06/95 at 2:16 p.m.
VALUE LINE AMERICAN WORLDWIDE FUND, INC.
ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT
Value Line American Worldwide Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation having its
principal office in Baltimore City, Maryland (hereinafter called "Corporation"),
hereby certifies to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland
that:
FIRST: The articles of Incorporation of the Corporation are amended by
striking out Article TWO and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
"TWO: The name of the Corporation is Value Line
U.S. Multinational Company Fund, Inc."
SECOND: The board of directors of the Corporation, by written consent to
such action signed by all the members thereof and filed with the minutes of
proceedings of the board, adopted a resolution in which was set forth the
foregoing amendment to the Articles of Incorporation declaring that the said
amendment to the Articles of Incorporation was advisable.
THIRD: The amendment of the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation,
as hereinabove set forth, was approved by a majority of the entire board of
directors.
FOURTH: No stock entitled to be voted on the matter was outstanding or
subscribed for at the time of the approval.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this instrument to be signed
in its name and on its behalf by its President, David T. Henigson, and attested
by its Secretary, Stephen LaRosa, on the 31st day of August, 1995.
The undersigned acknowledges these Articles of Amendment to be the
corporate act of the Corporation and states that, to the best of his knowledge,
information and belief, the matters and facts set forth therein with respect to
the authorization and approval thereof are true in all material respects and
that this statement is made under the penalties of perjury.
VALUE LINE AMERICAN
WORLDWIDE FUND, INC.
By: /s/ David T. Henigson
------------------------------------
David T. Henigson
President
ATTEST:
/s/ Stephen LaRosa
- -----------------------------------
Stephen LaRosa
Secretary
RECEIVED
'95 SEP 6 PM 2 16
ASSESS. & TAX
aww-mnf
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STATE OF MARYLAND
I hereby certify that this is a true and complete copy of the 2 page document on
file in this office. DATED: 9/6/95.
STATE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENTS AND TAXATION
BY: [ILLEGIBLE], Custodian
This stamp replaces our previous certification system. Effective 6/95
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
STATE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENTS
AND TAXATION
APPROVED FOR RECORD
6/12/95 at 10:50a.m.
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
OF
VALUE LINE AMERICAN WORLDWIDE FUND, INC.
ARTICLE I
INCORPORATION
The undersigned, David T. Henigson, whose address is 220 East 42nd Street,
New York, New York 10017, being at least 18 years of age, does hereby act as an
incorporator and forms a corporation, under and by virtue of the Maryland
General Corporation Law.
ARTICLE II
NAME
The name of the Corporation is Value Line American Worldwide Fund, Inc.
ARTICLE III
PURPOSES AND POWERS
The Corporation is formed to conduct and carry on the business of an
investment company.
ARTICLE IV
PRINCIPAL OFFICE AND RESIDENT AGENT
The post office address of the principal office of the Corporation in the
State of Maryland is c/o The Prentice-Hall Corporation System, Maryland, 11 East
Chase Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. The name and address of the resident
agent of the Corporation in the State of Maryland is The Prentice-Hall
Corporation System, Maryland; a Maryland Corporation, 11 East Chase Street,
Baltimore, Maryland 21202.
ARTICLE V
CAPITAL STOCK
(1) The total number of shares of capital stock that the Corporation shall
have authority to issue is fifty million (50,000,000) shares, of the par value
of one cent ($.01) per share and of the aggregate par value of five hundred
thousand dollars ($500,000), all of which fifty million (50,000,000) shares are
designated Common Stock.
(2) The Corporation may issue fractional shares. Any fractional share shall
carry proportionately the rights of a whole share including, without limitation,
the right to vote and the right to receive dividends. A fractional share shall
not, however, have the right to receive a certificate evidencing it.
(3) All persons who shall acquire stock in the Corporation shall acquire
the same subject to the provisions of this Charter and the By-Laws of the
Corporation.
1
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STATE OF MARYLAND
I hereby certify that this is a true and complete copy of the 7 page document
on file in this office. DATED: 6-12-95.
STATE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENTS AND TAXATION
BY: [ILLEGIBLE], Custodian
This stamp replaces our previous certification system. Effective: 6/95
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
(4) No holder of stock of the Corporation by virtue of being such a holder
shall have any right to purchase or subscribe for any shares of the
Corporation's capital stock or any other security that the Corporation may issue
or sell (whether out of the number of shares authorized by this Charter or out
of any shares of the Corporation's capital stock that the Corporation may
acquire) other than a right that the Board of Directors in its discretion may
determine to grant.
(5) The Board of Directors shall have authority by resolution to classify
and reclassify any authorized but unissued shares of capital stock from time to
time by setting or changing in any one or more respects the preferences,
conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitation as to
dividends, qualifications of terms or conditions of redemption of the capital
stock.
(6) Notwithstanding any provision of law requiring any action to be taken
or authorized by the affirmative vote of a greater proportion of the votes of
all classes or of any class of stock of the Corporation, such actions shall be
effective and valid if taken or authorized by the affirmative vote of a majority
of the total number of votes entitled to be cast thereon, except as otherwise
provided in this Charter.
(7) The presence in person or by proxy of the holders of shares entitled to
cast one-third of the votes entitled to be cast (without regard to class) shall
constitute a quorum at any meeting of the stockholders, except with respect to
any matter which, under applicable statutes or regulatory requirements or the
Corporation's Charter, requires approval by a separate vote of one or more
classes of stock, in which case the presence in person or by proxy of the
holders of shares entitled to cast one-third of the votes entitled to be cast
separately on the matter shall constitute a quorum.
(8) On each matter submitted to a vote of the stockholders, each holder of
a share of stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share standing in his
name on the books of the corporation irrespective of the class thereof. All
holders of shares of stock shall vote as a single class except as may otherwise
be required by law pursuant to any applicable order, rule or interpretation
issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, or otherwise, or except with
respect to any matter which affects only one or more classes of stock, in which
case only the holders of shares of the class or classes affected shall be
entitled to vote.
ARTICLE VI
REDEMPTION
Each holder of shares of the Corporation's capital stock shall be entitled
to require the Corporation to redeem all or any part of the shares of capital
stock of the Corporation standing in the name of the holder on the books of the
Corporation, and all shares of capital stock issued by the Corporation shall be
subject to redemption by the Corporation, at the net asset value of the shares
as in effect from time to time, subject to any redemption or liquidation charge,
contingent deferred service charge or other
2
<PAGE>
charge on redemption, all as may be determined by or pursuant to the direction
of the Board of Directors of the Corporation in accordance with the provisions
of Article VII, subject to the right of the Board of Directors of the
Corporation to suspend the right of redemption or postpone the date of payment
of the redemption price in accordance with the provisions of applicable law.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Corporation shall, to the
extent permitted by applicable law, have the right at any time to redeem the
shares owned by any holder of capital stock of the Corporation (i) if the
redemption is, in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the Corporation,
desirable in order to prevent the Corporation from being deemed a "personal
holding company" within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or (ii)
if the value of the shares in the account maintained by the Corporation or its
transfer agent for any class of stock for the stockholder is $500 (five hundred
dollars) or less and the stockholder has been given at least 60 (sixty) days'
written notice of the redemption and has failed to make additional purchases of
shares in an amount sufficient to bring the value in his account to $500 (five
hundred dollars) or more before the redemption is effected by the Corporation.
Payment of the redemption price shall be made in cash by the Corporation at the
time and in the manner as may be determined from time to time by the Board of
Directors of the Corporation unless, in the opinion of the Board of Directors,
which shall be conclusive, conditions exist that make payment wholly in cash
unwise or undesirable; in such event the Corporation may make payment wholly or
partly by securities or other property included in the assets belonging or
allocable to the class of the shares redemption of which is being sought, the
value of which shall be determined as provided herein. The Board of Directors
may establish procedures for redemption of shares.
ARTICLE VII
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
(1) The number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall be
one (1) or such other number as may be set forth in the By-laws or determined by
the Board of Directors pursuant to the By-laws. David T. Henigson is the initial
director of the Corporation and shall hold office until the first annual meeting
of stockholders or until his successor is elected and qualifies.
(2) In furtherance, and not in limitation, of the powers conferred by the
laws of the State of Maryland, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized:
(i) To make, alter or repeal the By-laws of the Corporation, except
where such power is reserved by the By-laws to the stockholders, and except as
otherwise required by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(ii) From time to time to determine whether and to what extent and
at what times and places and under what conditions and regulations the books and
accounts of the Corporation, or any of them other than the stock ledger, shall
be open to the inspection of the stockholders. No stockholder shall have any
right to inspect any account of book or documents of the Corporation, except as
conferred by law or authorized by resolution of the Board of Directors.
3
<PAGE>
(iii) Without the assent or vote of the stockholders, to authorize
the issuance from time to time of shares of the stock of any class of the
Corporation, whether now or hereafter authorized, and securities convertible
into shares of stock of the Corporation of any class or classes, whether now or
hereafter authorized, for such consideration as the Board of Directors may deem
advisable.
(iv) Notwithstanding anything in this Charter to the contrary, to
establish in its absolute discretion the basis or method for determining the
value of the assets belonging to any class, the amount of the liabilities
belonging to any class and the net asset value of each share of any class of the
Corporation's stock.
(v) To determine what constitutes net profits, earnings, surplus or
net assets in excess of capital, and to determine what accounting periods shall
be used by the Corporation for any purpose; to set apart out of any funds of the
Corporation reserves for such purposes as it shall determine and to abolish the
same; to declare and pay any dividends and distributions in cash, securities or
other property from surplus or any funds legally available therefor, at such
intervals as it shall determine; to declare dividends or distributions by means
of a formula or other method of determination, at meetings held not less
frequently than the established payment dates for dividends or any other
distributions on any basis, including dates occurring not less frequently than
the effectiveness of declaration thereof.
(3) Any determination made in good faith, and in accordance with accepted
accounting practices, if applicable, by or pursuant to the direction of the
Board of Directors, with respect to the amount of assets, obligations or
liabilities of the Corporation, as to the amount of net income of the
Corporation from dividends and interest for any period or amounts at any time
legally available for the payment of dividends, as to the amount of any reserves
or charges set up and the propriety thereof, as to the time or purpose for
creating reserves or as to the use, alteration or cancellation of any reserves
or charges (whether or not any obligation or liability for which the reserves or
charges have been created has been paid or discharged or is then or thereafter
required to be paid or discharged), as to the value of any security owned by the
Corporation, the determination of the net asset value of shares of any class of
the Corporation's capital stock, or as to any other matters relating to the
issuance, sale or the acquisition or disposition of securities or shares of
capital stock of the Corporation, and any reasonable determination made in good
faith by the Board of Directors whether any transaction constitutes a purchase
of securities on "margin," a sale of securities "short," or an underwriting or
the sale of, or a participation in any underwriting or selling group in
connection with the public distribution of, any securities, shall be final and
conclusive, and shall be binding upon the Corporation and all holders of its
capital stock, past, present and future, and shares of the capital stock of the
Corporation are issued and sold on the condition and understanding, evidenced by
the purchase of shares of capital stock or acceptance of share certificates,
that any and all such determinations shall be binding as aforesaid. No provision
of this Charter of the Corporation shall be effective to (i) require a waiver of
compliance with any provision of the Securities Act of
4
<PAGE>
1933, as amended, or the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or of any
valid rule, regulation or order of the Securities and Exchange Commission under
those Acts or (ii) protect or purport to protect any director or officer of the
Corporation against any liability to the Corporation or its security holders to
which he would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith,
gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of
his office.
ARTICLE VIII
LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION
(1) To the full extent that limitations on the liability of directors and
officers are permitted by the Maryland General Corporation Law, no director or
officer of the Corporation shall have any liability to the Corporation or its
stockholders for money damages. This limitation on liability applies to events
occurring at the time a person serves as a director or officer of the
Corporation whether or not that person is a director or officer at the time of
any proceeding in which liability is asserted.
(2) The Corporation shall indemnify and advance expenses to its currently
acting and its former directors to the full extent that indemnification of
directors and advancement of expenses is permitted by the Maryland General
Corporation Law. The Corporation shall indemnify and advance expenses to its
officers to the same extent as its directors and may do so to such further
extent as is consistent with law. The Board of Directors may by By-law,
resolution or agreement make further provision for indemnification of directors,
officers, employees and agents to the full extent permitted by the Maryland
General Corporation Law.
(3) No provision of this Article EIGHTH shall be effective to protect or
purport to protect any director or officer of the Corporation against any
liability to the Corporation or its stockholders to which he would otherwise be
subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or
reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office.
(4) Reference to the Maryland General Corporation law in this Article
EIGHTH are to that law as from time to time amended. No amendment to the Charter
of the Corporation shall affect any right of any person under this Article
EIGHTH based on any event, omission or proceeding prior to the amendment.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
The Corporation reserves the right from time to time to make any amendment
to its Charter, now or hereafter authorized by law, including any amendment that
alters the contract rights, as expressly set forth in this Charter, of any
outstanding stock.
5
<PAGE>
AN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have adopted and signed these Articles of
Incorporation and do hereby acknowledge that the adoption and signing are my
act.
By: /s/ David T. Henigson
------------------------------------
David T. Henigson
Incorporator
Dated the 7th day of June, 1995
6
<PAGE>
Exhibit 99.(b)
BY-LAWS
OF
VALUE LINE U.S. MULTINATIONAL COMPANY FUND, INC.
A Maryland Corporation
ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS
SECTION 1. Annual Meetings. No annual meeting of the stockholders of the
Corporation shall be held in any year in which the election of directors is not
required to be acted upon under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,
unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors. An annual meeting may be
held at any place within the United States as may be determined by the Board of
Directors and as shall be designated in the notice of the meeting, and at the
time specified by the Board of Directors. Any business of the Corporation may be
transacted at an annual meeting without being specifically designated in the
notice unless otherwise provided by statute, the Corporation's Articles of
Incorporation or these By-Laws.
SECTION 2. Special Meeting. Special meetings of the stockholders for any
purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by statute or by the
Corporation's Articles of Incorporation, may be held at any place within the
United States, and may be called at any time by the Board of Directors or by the
President, and shall be called by the President or Secretary at the request in
writing of a majority of the Board of Directors or at the request in writing of
stockholders entitled to cast at least 10 (ten) percent of the votes entitled to
be cast at the meeting upon payment by such stockholders to the Corporation of
the reasonably estimated cost of preparing and mailing a notice of the meeting
(which estimated cost shall be provided to such stockholders by the Secretary of
the Corporation). Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless requested by
stockholders entitled to cast a majority of the votes entitled to be cast at the
meeting, a special meeting of the stockholders need not be called at the request
of stockholders to consider any matter which is substantially the same as a
matter voted on at any special meeting of the stockholders held during the
preceding 12 (twelve) months. A written request shall state the purpose or
purposes of the proposed meeting.
SECTION 3. Notice of Meetings. Written or printed notice of the purpose or
purposes and of the time and place of every meeting of the stockholders shall be
given by the Secretary of the Corporation to each stockholder of record entitled
to vote at the meeting and to such other stockholders entitled to notice of the
meeting, by placing the notice in the mail at least 10 (ten) days, but not more
than 90 (ninety) days, prior to the date designated for the meeting addressed to
each stockholder at his address appearing on the books of the Corporation or
supplied by the stockholder to the Corporation for the purpose of notice. The
notice of any meeting of stockholders may be accompanied by a form of proxy
approved by the Board of Directors in favor of the actions or persons as the
Board of Directors may select. Notice of any meeting of stockholders shall be
deemed waived by any stockholder
1
<PAGE>
who attends the meeting in person or by proxy, or who before or after the
meeting submits a signed waiver of notice that is filed with the records of the
meeting.
SECTION 4. Quorum. Except as otherwise provided by statute or by the
Corporation's Articles of Incorporation, the presence in person or by proxy of
stockholders of the Corporation entitled to cast at least one-third of the votes
entitled to be cast without regard to class or, in the event a separate vote of
one or more classes is required, one-third of the votes entitled to be cast
separately, shall constitute a quorum at each meeting of the stockholders and
all questions shall be decided by a majority of the votes cast on the question
(except for the election of directors, which shall be by plurality vote). In the
absence of a quorum, the stockholders present in person or by proxy, by majority
vote and without further notice other than by announcement at the meeting, may
adjourn the meeting from time to time as provided in Section 5 of this Article I
until a quorum shall attend. The stockholders present at any duly organized
meeting may continue to do business until adjournment, notwithstanding the
withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum. The absence from
any meeting in person or by proxy of holders of the number of shares of stock of
the Corporation in excess of the number that may be required by the laws of the
State of Maryland, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or other
applicable statute, the Corporation's Articles of Incorporation or these
By-Laws, for action upon any given matter shall not prevent action at the
meeting on any other matter or matters that may properly come before the
meeting, so long as there are present, in person or by proxy, holders of the
number of shares of stock of the Corporation required for action upon the other
matter or matters.
SECTION 5. Adjournment. Any meeting of the stockholders may be adjourned
from time to time, without notice other than by announcement at the meeting at
which the adjournment is taken. At any adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall
be present any action may be taken that could have been taken at the meeting
originally called. A meeting of the stockholders may not be adjourned, without
further notice and the establishing of a new record date, to a date more than
120 (one hundred twenty) days after the original record date.
SECTION 6. Organization. At every meeting of the stockholders, the Chairman
of the Board, or in his absence or inability to act, the President, or in his
absence or inability to act, a Vice President, or in the absence or inability to
act of the Chairman of the Board, the President and all the Vice Presidents, a
chairman chosen by the stockholders, shall act as Chairman of the meeting. The
Secretary, or in his absence or inability to act, a person appointed by the
chairman of the meeting, shall act as secretary of the meeting and keep the
minutes of the meeting.
SECTION 7. Order of Business. The order of business at all meetings of the
stockholders shall be as determined by the chairman of the meeting.
SECTION 8. Voting. Except as otherwise provided by the Corporation's
Articles of Incorporation, each holder of record of shares of stock of the
Corporation having voting power shall be
2
<PAGE>
entitled at each meeting of the stockholders to one vote for every share of
stock standing in his name on the records of the Corporation as of the record
date determined pursuant to Section 9 of this Article I. Each stockholder
entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders may authorize another person or
persons to act for him by a proxy signed by the stockholder or his
attorney-in-fact. No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of eleven months
from the date thereof, unless otherwise provided in the proxy. Every proxy shall
be revocable at the pleasure of the stockholder executing it, except in those
cases in which the proxy states that it is irrevocable and in which an
irrevocable proxy is permitted by law. If a vote shall be taken on any question
other than the election of directors, which shall be by written ballot, then
unless required by statute or these By-Laws, or determined by the chairman of
the meeting to be advisable, any such vote need not be by ballot. On a vote by
ballot, each ballot shall be signed by the stockholder voting, or by his proxy,
and shall state the number of shares voted.
SECTION 9. Fixing of Record Date. The Board of Directors may set a record
date for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled notice of and to vote
at any meeting of the stockholders. The record date for a particular meeting
shall be not more than 90 (ninety) nor fewer than 10 (ten) days before the date
of the meeting. All persons who were holders of record of shares as of the
record date of a meeting, and no others, shall be entitled to notice of and to
vote at such meeting and any adjournment thereof.
SECTION 10. Inspectors. The Board of Directors may, in advance of any
meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting or
at any adjournment of the meeting. If the inspectors shall not be so appointed
or if any of them shall fail to appear or act, the chairman of the meeting may,
and on the request of any stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting shall,
appoint inspectors. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his
duties, shall take and sign an oath to execute faithfully the duties of
inspector at the meeting with strict impartiality and according to the best of
his ability. The inspectors shall determine the number of shares outstanding and
the voting power of each share, the number of shares represented at the meeting,
the existence of a quorum and the validity and effect of proxies, and shall
receive votes, ballots or consents, hear and determine all challenges and
questions arising in connection with the right to vote, count and tabulate all
votes, ballots or consents, determine the result, and do those acts as are
proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all stockholders. On
request of the chairman of the meeting or any stockholder entitled to vote at
the meeting, the inspectors shall make a report in writing of any challenge,
request or matter determined by them and shall execute a certificate of any fact
found by them. No director or candidate for the office of director shall act as
inspector of an election of directors. Inspectors need not be stockholders of
the Corporation.
SECTION 11. Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting. Except as otherwise
provided by statute or the Corporation's Articles of Incorporation, any action
required to be taken at any meeting of stockholders, or any action that may be
taken at any meeting of the stockholders, may be taken without a meeting,
3
<PAGE>
without prior notice and without a vote, if the following are filed with the
records of stockholders' meetings: (i) a unanimous written consent that sets
forth the action and is signed by each stockholder entitled to vote on the
matter and (ii) a written waiver of any right to dissent signed by each
stockholder entitled to notice of the meeting but not entitled to vote at the
meeting.
SECTION 12. Notice of Stockholder Business.
(a) At any Annual or Special Meeting of the Stockholders, only such
business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the
meeting. To be properly brought before an Annual or Special Meeting business
must be (A) (i) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto)
given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (ii) otherwise properly
brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or
(iii) subject to the provisions of Section 13 of this Article I, otherwise
properly brought before the meeting by a Stockholder and (B) a proper subject
under applicable law for Stockholder action.
(b) For business to be properly brought before an Annual or Special Meeting
by a Stockholder, the Stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in
writing to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, any such notice must
be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the
Corporation not later than 60 days prior to the date of the meeting; provided,
however, that if less than 70 days' notice or prior public disclosure of the
date of the meeting is given or made to Stockholders, any such notice by a
Stockholder to be timely must be so received not later than the close of
business on the 10th day following the day on which notice of the date of the
Annual or Special Meeting was given or such public disclosure was made.
(c) Any such notice by a Stockholder shall set forth as to each matter the
Stockholder proposes to bring before the Annual or Special Meeting (i) a brief
description of the business desired to be brought before the Annual or Special
Meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the Annual or Special
Meeting, (ii) the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation's books,
of the Stockholder proposing such business, (iii) the class and number of shares
of the capital stock of the Corporation which are beneficially owned by the
Stockholder, and (iv) any material interest of the Stockholder in such business.
(d) Notwithstanding anything in the By-Laws to the contrary, no business
shall be conducted at any Annual or Special Meeting except in accordance with
the procedures set forth in this Section 12. The Chairman of the Annual or
Special Meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the
meeting that business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance
with the provisions of this Section 12, and if he should so determine, he shall
so declare to the meeting and any such business not properly brought before the
meeting shall not be considered or transacted.
4
<PAGE>
SECTION 13. Stockholder Business not Eligible for Consideration.
(a) Notwithstanding anything in these By-Laws to the contrary, any proposal
that is otherwise properly brought before an Annual or Special Meeting by a
Stockholder will not be eligible for consideration by the Stockholders at such
Annual or Special Meeting if such proposal is substantially the same as a matter
properly brought before such Annual or Special Meeting by or at the direction of
the Board of Directors of the Corporation. The Chairman of such Annual or
Special Meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare that a
Stockholder proposal is substantially the same as a matter properly brought
before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, and, if he
should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and any such Stockholder
proposal shall not be considered at the meeting.
(b) This Section 13 shall not be construed or applied to make ineligible
for consideration by the Stockholders at any Annual or Special Meeting any
Stockholder proposal required to be included in the Corporation's proxy
statement relating to such meeting pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, or any successor rule thereto.
ARTICLE II
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SECTION 1. General Powers. Except as otherwise provided in the
Corporation's Articles of Incorporation, the business and affairs of the
Corporation shall be managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. All
powers of the Corporation may be exercised by or under authority of the Board of
Directors except as conferred on or reserved to the stockholders by law, by the
Corporation's Articles of Incorporation or by these By-Laws.
SECTION 2. Number of Directors. The number of directors shall be fixed from
time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors adopted by a majority of
the entire Board of Directors; provided, however, that the number of directors
shall in no event be fewer than the number permitted by Maryland law nor more
than fifteen. Any vacancy created by an increase in Directors may be filled in
accordance with Section 6 of this Article II. No reduction in the number of
directors shall have the effect of removing any director from office prior to
the expiration of his term unless the director is specifically removed pursuant
to Section 5 of this Article II at the time of the decrease. A director need not
be a stockholder of the Corporation, a citizen of the United States or a
resident of the State of Maryland.
SECTION 3. Election and Term of Directors. The term of office of each
director shall be from the time of his election and qualification until his
successor shall have been elected and shall have qualified, or until his death,
or until he shall have resigned or have been removed as provided in these
By-laws, or as otherwise provided by statute or the Corporation's Articles of
Incorporation.
SECTION 3.1 Director Nominations.
(a) Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the
5
<PAGE>
procedures set forth in this Section 3.1 shall be eligible for election or
re-election as Directors. Nominations of persons for election or re-election to
the Board of Directors of the Corporation may be made at a meeting of
Stockholders by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or by any
Stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote for the election of such
nominee at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in
this Section 3.1.
(b) Such nominations, other than those made by or at the direction of the
Board of Directors, shall be made pursuant to timely notice delivered in writing
to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, any such notice by a
Stockholder must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal
executive offices of the Corporation not later than 60 days prior to the
meeting; provided, however, that if less than 70 days' notice or prior public
disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to Stockholders, any such
notice by a Stockholder to be timely must be so received not later than the
close of business on the 10th day following the day on which notice of the date
of the meeting was given or such public disclosure was made.
(c) Any such notice by a Stockholder shall set forth (i) as to each person
whom the Stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a
Director, (A) the name, age, business address and residence address of such
person, (B) the principal occupation or employment of such person, (C) the class
and number of shares of the capital stock of the Corporation which are
beneficially owned by such person and (D) any other information relating to such
person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for the
election of Directors pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 or any successor regulation thereto (including without limitation
such persons' written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee
and to serving as a Director if elected and whether any person intends to seek
reimbursement from the Corporation of the expenses of any solicitation of
proxies should such person be elected a Director of the Corporation); and (ii)
as to the Stockholder giving the notice (A) the name and address, as they appear
on the Corporation's books, of such Stockholder and (B) the class and number of
shares of the capital stock of the Corporation which are beneficially owned by
such Stockholder. At the request of the Board of Directors any person nominated
by the Board of Directors for election as a Director shall furnish to the
Secretary of the Corporation that information required to be set forth in a
Stockholder's notice of nomination which pertains to the nominee.
(d) If a notice by a Stockholder is required to be given pursuant to this
Section 3.1, no person shall be entitled to receive reimbursement from the
Corporation of the expenses of a solicitation of proxies for the election as a
Director of a person named in such notice unless such notice states that such
reimbursement will be sought from the Corporation. No person shall be eligible
for election as a Director of the Corporation unless nominated in accordance
with the procedures set forth in this Section 3.1. The Chairman of the meeting
shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a
nomination was not made in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the
By-Laws, and if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the
6
<PAGE>
meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded for all purposes.
SECTION 4. Resignation. A director of the Corporation may resign at any
time by giving written notice of his resignation to the Board of Directors or
the Chairman of the Board or to the President or the Secretary of the
Corporation. Any resignation shall take effect at the time specified in it or,
should the time when it is to become effective not be specified in it,
immediately upon its receipt. Acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary
to make it effective unless the resignation states otherwise.
SECTION 5. Removal of Directors. Any director of the Corporation may be
removed by the stockholders with or without cause at any time by a vote of a
majority of the votes entitled to be cast for the election of directors.
SECTION 6. Vacancies. Subject to the provisions of the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended, any vacancies in the Board of Directors, whether
arising from death, resignation, removal or any other cause except an increase
in the number of directors, shall be filled by a vote of the majority of the
Board of Directors then in office even though that majority is less than a
quorum, provided that no vacancy or vacancies shall be filled by action of the
remaining directors if, after the filling of the vacancy or vacancies, fewer
than two-thirds of the directors then holding office shall have been elected by
the stockholders of the Corporation. A majority of the entire Board in office
prior to the increase may fill a vacancy which results from an increase in the
number of directors. In the event that at any time a vacancy exists in any
office of a director that may not be filled by the remaining directors, a
special meeting of the stockholders shall be held as promptly as possible and in
any event within 60 (sixty) days, for the purpose of filling the vacancy or
vacancies. Any director elected or appointed to fill a vacancy shall hold office
until a successor has been chosen and qualifies or until his earlier resignation
or removal.
SECTION 7. Place of Meetings. Meetings of the Board may be held at any
place that the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or that is
specified in the notice of the meeting.
SECTION 8. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may
be held without notice at the time and place determined by the Board of
Directors.
SECTION 9. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may
be called by two or more directors of the Corporation or by the Chairman of the
Board or the President.
SECTION 10. Notice of Special Meetings. Notice of each special meeting of
the Board of Directors shall be given by the Secretary as hereinafter provided.
Each notice shall state the time and place of the meeting and shall be delivered
to each director, either personally or by telephone or other standard form of
telecommunication, at least 24 (twenty-four) hours before the time at which the
meeting is to be held, or by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the
director at his residence or
7
<PAGE>
usual place of business, and mailed at least 3 (three) days before the day on
which the meeting is to be held.
SECTION 11. Waiver of Notice of Meetings. Notice of any special meeting
need not be given to any director who shall, either before or after the meeting,
sign a written waiver of notice that is filed with the records of the meeting or
who shall attend the meeting.
SECTION 12. Quorum and Voting. One-third of the members of the entire Board
of Directors shall be present in person at any meeting of the Board in order to
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the meeting, provided
that a quorum shall be no less than two Directors, except where the Board
consists of only one Director, a quorum shall be one Director, and except as
otherwise expressly required by statute, the Corporation's Articles of
Incorporation, these By-Laws, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or
any other applicable statute, the act of a majority of the directors present at
any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board. In the
absence of a quorum at any meeting of the Board, a majority of the directors
present may adjourn the meeting to another time and place until a quorum shall
be present. Notice of the time and place of any adjourned meeting shall be given
to the directors who were not present at the time of the adjournment and, unless
the time and place were announced at the meeting at which the adjournment was
taken, to the other directors. At any adjourned meeting at which a quorum is
present, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the
meeting as originally called.
SECTION 13. Organization. The Board of Directors may, by resolution adopted
by a majority of the entire Board, designate a Chairman of the Board, who shall
preside at each meeting of the Board. In the absence or inability of the
Chairman of the Board to act, the President, or, in his absence or inability to
act, another director chosen by a majority of the directors present, shall act
as chairman of the meeting and preside at the meeting. The Secretary, or, in his
absence or inability to act, any person appointed by the chairman, shall act as
secretary of the meeting and keep the minutes thereof.
SECTION 14. Committees. The Board of Directors may designate one or more
committees of the Board of Directors, each consisting of 2 (two) or more
directors. To the extent provided in the resolution, and permitted by law, the
committee or committees shall have and may exercise the powers of the Board of
Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation and
may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers that may
require it. Any committee or committees shall have the name or names determined
from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors. Each
committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the
Board of Directors when required. The members of a committee present at any
meeting, whether or not they constitute a quorum, may appoint a director to act
in the place of an absent member.
SECTION 15. Written Consent of Directors in Lieu of a Meeting. Subject to
the provisions of the Investment Company Act
8
<PAGE>
of 1940, as amended, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting
of the Board of Directors or of any committee of the Board may be taken without
a meeting if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent
thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of
the proceedings of the Board or committee.
SECTION 16. Telephone Conference. Members of the Board of Directors or any
committee of the Board may participate in any Board or committee meeting (other
than a meeting at which the investment advisory agreement is approved) by means
of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which
all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time.
Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
SECTION 17. Compensation. Each director shall be entitled to receive
compensation, if any, as may from time to time be fixed by the Board of
Directors, including a fee for each meeting of the Board or any committee
thereof, regular or special, he attends. Directors may also be reimbursed by the
Corporation for all reasonable expenses incurred in traveling to and from the
place of a Board or committee meeting.
ARTICLE III
OFFICERS, AGENTS AND EMPLOYEES
SECTION 1. Number and Qualifications. The officers of the Corporation shall
be a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer, each of whom shall be elected by
the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may elect or appoint one or more
Vice Presidents and may also appoint any other officers, agents and employees it
deems necessary or proper. Any two or more offices may be held by the same
person, except the offices of President and Vice President, but no officer shall
execute, acknowledge or verify any instrument in more than one capacity.
Officers shall be elected by the Board of Directors each year at its first
meeting held after the annual meeting of stockholders, each to hold office until
the meeting of the Board following the next annual meeting of the stockholders
and until his successor shall have been duly elected and shall have qualified,
or until his death, or until he shall have resigned or have been removed, as
provided in these By-Laws. The Board of Directors may from time to time elect,
or designate to the President the power to appoint, such officers (including one
or more Assistant Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant Treasurers and one or
more Assistant Secretaries) and such agents as may be necessary or desirable for
the business of the Corporation. Such other officers and agents shall have such
duties and shall hold their offices for such terms as may be prescribed by the
Board or by the appointing authority.
SECTION 2. Resignations. Any officer of the Corporation may resign at any
time by giving written notice of his resignation to the Board of Directors, the
Chairman of the Board, the President or the Secretary. Any resignation shall
take effect at the time specified therein or, if the time when it shall become
effective is not specified therein, immediately upon its receipt. Acceptance of
a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless the resignation
states otherwise.
9
<PAGE>
SECTION 3. Removal of Officer, Agent or Employee. Any officer, agent or
employee of the Corporation may be removed by the Board of Directors with or
without cause at any time, and the Board may delegate the power of removal as to
agents and employees not elected or appointed by the Board of Directors. Removal
shall be without prejudice to the person's contract rights, if any, but the
appointment of any person as an officer, agent or employee of the Corporation
shall not of itself create contract rights.
SECTION 4. Vacancies. A vacancy in any office whether arising from death,
resignation, removal or any other cause, may be filled for the unexpired portion
of the term of the office that shall be vacant, in the manner prescribed in
these By-Laws for the regular election or appointment to the office.
SECTION 5. Compensation. The compensation of the officers of the
Corporation shall be fixed by the Board of Directors, but this power may be
delegated to any officer with respect to other officers under his control.
SECTION 6. Bonds or Other Security. If required by the Board, any officer,
agent or employee of the Corporation shall give a bond or other security for the
faithful performance of his duties, in an amount and with any surety or sureties
as the Board may require.
SECTION 7. President. The President shall be the chief executive officer of
the Corporation. In the absence or inability of the Chairman of the Board (or if
there is none) to act, the President shall preside at all meetings of the
stockholders and of the Board of Directors. The President shall have, subject to
the control of the Board of Directors, general charge of the business and
affairs of the Corporation, and may employ and discharge employees and agents of
the Corporation, except those elected or appointed by the Board, and he may
delegate these powers.
SECTION 8. Vice President. Each Vice President shall have the powers and
perform the duties that the Board of Directors or the President may from time to
time prescribe.
SECTION 9. Treasurer. Subject to the provisions of any contract that may be
entered into with any custodian pursuant to authority granted by the Board of
Directors, the Treasurer shall have charge of all receipts and disbursements of
the Corporation and shall have or provide for the custody of the Corporation's
funds and securities; he shall have full authority to receive and give receipts
for all money due and payable to the Corporation, and to endorse checks, drafts
and warrants, in its name and on its behalf and to give full discharge for the
same; he shall deposit all funds of the Corporation, except those that may be
required for current use, in such banks or other places of deposit as the Board
of Directors may from time to time designate; and, in general, he shall perform
all duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as may from
time to time be assigned to him by the Board of Directors or the President.
SECTION 10. Secretary. The Secretary shall
(a) keep or cause to be kept in one or more books provided for the purpose,
the minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors,
10
<PAGE>
the committees of the Board and the stockholders;
(b) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions
of these By-Laws and as required by law;
(c) be custodian of the records and the seal of the Corporation and affix
and attest the seal to all stock certificates of the Corporation (unless the
seal of the Corporation on such certificates shall be a facsimile, as
hereinafter provided) and affix and attest the seal to all other documents to be
executed on behalf of the Corporation under its seal;
(d) see that the books, reports, statements, certificates and other
documents and records required by law to be kept and filed are properly kept and
filed; and
(e) in general, perform all the duties incident to the office of Secretary
and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board
of Directors or the President.
SECTION 11. Delegation of Duties. In case of the absence of any officer of
the Corporation, or for any other reason that the Board of Directors may deem
sufficient, the Board may confer for the time being the powers or duties, or any
of them, of such officer upon any other officer or upon any director.
ARTICLE IV
STOCK
SECTION 1. Stock Certificates. Each holder of stock of the Corporation
shall be entitled upon specific written request to such person as may be
designated by the Corporation to have a certificate or certificates, in a form
approved by the Board, representing the number of shares of stock of the
Corporation owned by him; provided, however, that certificates for fractional
shares will not be delivered in any case. The certificates representing shares
of stock shall be signed by or in the name of the Corporation by the Chairman,
the President or a Vice President and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary
or the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer and sealed with the seal of the
Corporation. Any or all of the signatures or the seal on the certificate may be
facsimiles. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or
whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased
to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate shall be
issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such
officer, transfer agent or registrar were still in office at the date of issue.
SECTION 2. Books of Account and Record of Stockholders. There shall be kept
at the principal executive office of the Corporation correct and complete books
and records of account of all the business and transactions of the Corporation.
SECTION 3. Transfers of Shares. Transfers of shares of stock of the
Corporation shall be made on the stock records of the Corporation only by the
registered holder thereof, or by his attorney thereunto authorized by power of
attorney duly executed and filed with the Secretary or with a transfer agent or
transfer
11
<PAGE>
clerk, and on surrender of the certificate or certificates, if issued, for the
shares properly endorsed or accompanied by a duly executed stock transfer power
and the payment of all taxes thereon. Except as otherwise provided by law, the
Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person in
whose name any share or shares stand on the record of stockholders as the owner
of the share or shares for all purposes, including, without limitation, the
rights to receive dividends or other distributions and to vote as the owner, and
the Corporation shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or legal claim to
or interest in any such share or shares on the part of any other person.
SECTION 4. Regulations. The Board of Directors may make any additional
rules and regulations, not inconsistent with these By-Laws, as it may deem
expedient concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificates for
shares of stock of the Corporation. It may appoint, or authorize any officer or
officers to appoint, one or more transfer agents or one or more transfer clerks
and one or more registrars and may require all certificates for shares of stock
to bear the signature or signatures of any of them.
SECTION 5. Stolen. Lost, Destroyed or Mutilated Certificates. The holder of
any certificate representing shares of stock of the Corporation shall
immediately notify the Corporation of its theft, loss, destruction or mutilation
and the Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock in the place of any
certificate issued by it that has been alleged to have been stolen, lost or
destroyed or that shall have been mutilated. The Board may, in its discretion,
require the owner (or his legal representative) of a stolen, lost, destroyed or
mutilated certificate: to give to the Corporation a bond in a sum, limited or
unlimited, and in a form and with any surety or sureties, as the Board in its
absolute discretion shall determine, to indemnify the Corporation against any
claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged theft, loss or
destruction of any such certificate, or issuance of a new certificate. Anything
herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Board of Directors, in its absolute
discretion, may refuse to issue any such new certificate, except pursuant to
legal proceedings under the laws of the State of Maryland.
SECTION 6. Fixing of Record Date for Dividends, Distributions, etc. The
Board may fix, in advance, a date not more than 90 (ninety) days preceding the
date fixed for the payment of any dividend or the making of any distribution or
the allotment of rights to subscribe for securities of the Corporation, or for
the delivery of evidences of rights or evidences of interests arising out of any
change, conversion or exchange of common stock or other securities, as the
record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to receive any
such dividend, distribution, allotment, rights or interests, and in such case
only the stockholders of record at the time so fixed shall be entitled to
receive such dividend, distribution, allotment, rights or interests.
SECTION 7. Information to Stockholders and Others. Any stockholder of the
Corporation or his agent may inspect and copy during the Corporation's usual
business hours the Corporation's By-Laws, minutes of the proceedings of its
stockholders, annual
12
<PAGE>
statements of its affairs and voting trust agreements on file at its principal
office.
ARTICLE V
INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE
SECTION 1. Indemnification of Directors and Officers. Any person who was or
is a party or is threatened to be made a party in any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is a current or former
director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving while a director or
officer of the Corporation at the request of the Corporation as a director,
officer, partner, trustee, employee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or employee benefit plan, shall be
indemnified by the Corporation against judgments, penalties, fines, excise
taxes, settlements and reasonable expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually
incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding to
the full extent permissible under the Maryland General Corporation Law, the
Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as such statutes
are now or hereafter in force, except that such indemnity shall not protect any
such person against any liability to the Corporation or any stockholder thereof
to which such person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties
involved in the conduct of his office ("disabling conduct").
SECTION 2. Advances. Any current or former director or officer of the
Corporation claiming indemnification within the scope of this Article V shall be
entitled to advances from the Corporation for payment of the reasonable expenses
incurred by him in connection with proceedings to which he is a party in the
manner and to the full extent permissible under the Maryland General Corporation
Law, the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as such
statutes are now or hereafter in force; provided however, that the person
seeking indemnification shall provide to the Corporation a written affirmation
of his good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for
indemnification by the Corporation has been met and a written undertaking to
repay any such advance unless it is ultimately determined that he is entitled to
indemnification, and provided further that at least one of the following
additional conditions is met: (1) the person seeking indemnification shall
provide a security in form and amount acceptable to the Corporation for his
undertaking; (2) the Corporation is insured against losses arising by reason of
the advance; or (3) a majority of a quorum of directors of the Corporation who
are neither "interested persons" as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, nor parties to the proceeding
("disinterested non-party directors"), or independent legal counsel, in a
written opinion, shall determine, based on a review of facts readily available
to the Corporation at the time the advance is proposed to be made, that there is
reason to believe that the person seeking indemnification will ultimately be
found to be entitled to indemnification.
13
<PAGE>
SECTION 3. Procedure. At the request of any current or former director or
officer, or any employee or agent whom the Corporation proposes to indemnify,
the Board of Directors shall determine, or cause to be determined, in a manner
consistent with the Maryland General Corporation Law, the Securities Act of 1933
and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as such statutes are now or hereafter in
force, whether the standards required by this Article V have been met; provided,
however, that indemnification shall be made only following: (1) a final decision
on the merits by a court or other body before whom the proceeding was brought
that the person to be indemnified was not liable by reason of disabling conduct
or (2) in the absence of such a decision, a reasonable determination, based upon
a review of the facts, that the person to be indemnified was not liable by
reason of disabling conduct, by (a) the vote of a majority of a quorum of
disinterested non-party directors or (b) an independent legal counsel in a
written opinion.
SECTION 4. Indemnification of Employees and Agents. Employees and agents
who are not officers or directors of the Corporation may be indemnified, and
reasonable expenses may be advanced to such employees or agents, in accordance
with the procedures set forth in this Article V to the extent permissible under
the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Securities Act of 1933 and the Maryland
General Corporation Law, as such statutes are now or hereafter in force, and to
such further extent, consistent with the foregoing, as may be provided by action
of the Board of Directors or by contract.
SECTION 5. Other Rights. The indemnification provided by this Article V
shall not be deemed exclusive of any other right, in respect of indemnification
or otherwise, to which those seeking such indemnification may be entitled under
any insurance or other agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested
directors or otherwise, both as to action by a director or officer of the
Corporation in his official capacity and as to action by such person in another
capacity while holding such office or position and shall continue as to a person
who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the
heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
SECTION 6. Insurance. The Corporation shall have the power to purchase and
maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer,
employee or agent of the Corporation, or who, while a director, officer,
employee or agent of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the
Corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, agent or
fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise
or employee benefit plan, against any liability asserted against and incurred by
him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, provided that no
insurance may be obtained by the Corporation for liabilities against which it
would not have the power to indemnify him under this Article V or applicable
law.
SECTION 7. Constituent, Resulting or Surviving Corporations. For the
purposes of this Article V, references to the "Corporation" shall include all
constituent corporations absorbed in a consolidation or merger as well the
resulting or surviving corporation so that any person who is or was a director,
officer,
14
<PAGE>
employee or agent of a constituent corporation or is or was serving at the
request of a constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent
of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise
shall stand in the same position under this Article V with respect to the
resulting or surviving corporation as he would if he had served the resulting or
surviving corporation in the same capacity.
ARTICLE VI
SEAL
The seal of the Corporation shall be circular in form and shall bear the
name of the Corporation, the year of its incorporation, the words "Corporate
Seal" and "Maryland" and any emblem or device approved by the Board of
Directors. The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile to be impressed or
affixed or in any other manner reproduced, or by placing the word "(seal)"
adjacent to the signature of the authorized officer of the Corporation.
ARTICLE VII
FISCAL YEAR
The Corporation's fiscal year shall be fixed by the Directors.
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS
These By-Laws may be amended or repealed by the affirmative vote of a
majority of the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting of the
Board of Directors, subject to the requirements of the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended.
15
<PAGE>
Exhibit 99.(d)
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of the 21st day of September, 1995, between VALUE LINE
U.S. MULTINATIONAL COMPANY, FUND, INC. a Maryland corporation (hereinafter
called "the Fund"), and VALUE LINE, INC., a New York corporation (hereinafter
called "the Company");
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Fund desires to have the Company act as its investment adviser and
provide it with investment research, advice, supervision and management; and
WHEREAS, the Company is willing to undertake the same upon the terms and
conditions set forth herein.
NOW THEREFORE, it is hereby agreed by and between the parties hereto as
follows:
1. Duties. The Company shall provide the Fund with such investment
research, data advice and supervision as the latter may from time to time
consider necessary for proper supervision of its funds. The Company shall act as
manager and investment adviser of the Fund and, as such, shall furnish
continuously an investment program and shall determine from time to time what
securities shall be purchased or sold by the Fund, and what portion of the
assets of the Fund shall be held uninvested, subject always to the provisions of
the Fund's Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, to the Fund's fundamental
investment policies as in effect from time to time, and to the control and
review by the Fund's Board of Directors. The Company shall take, on behalf of
the Fund, all actions which it deems necessary to carry into effect the
investment policies determined as provided above, and to that end the Company
may designate a person or persons who are to be authorized by the Fund as the
representative or representatives of the Fund, to give instructions to the
Custodian of the assets of the Fund as to deliveries of securities and payments
of cash for the account of the Fund.
2. Allocation of Charges and Expenses; Brokerage. The Company shall furnish
at its own expense all administrative services, office space, equipment and
administrative and clerical personnel necessary for managing the affairs of the
Fund. The Company shall also provide persons satisfactory to the Fund's Board of
Directors to act as officers and employees of the Fund and shall pay the
salaries and wages of all officers and employees of the Fund who are also
officers and employees of the Company or of an affiliated person (as defined in
the Investment Company Act of 1940) other than the Fund. All other costs and
expenses not expressly assumed by the Company under this Agreement, or to be
paid by the Distributor or Distributors of the shares of the Fund, shall be paid
by the Fund, including (i) interest and taxes; (ii) brokerage commissions and
other costs in connection with the purchase or sale of securities; (iii)
insurance premiums for fidelity and other coverage requisite to its operations;
(iv) compensation and expenses of its directors other than those affiliated with
the Company; (v) legal, audit and
<PAGE>
fund accounting expenses; (vi) custodian and shareholder servicing agent fees
and expenses; (viii) expenses incident to the issuance of its shares against
payment therefor by or on behalf of the subscribers thereto, including printing
of stock certificates; (ix) fees and expenses incident to the registration under
the Securities Act of 1933 or under any state securities laws of shares of the
Fund for public sale and fees imposed on the Fund under the Investment Company
Act of 1940; (x) expenses of printing and mailing prospectuses, reports and
notices and proxy material to shareholders of the Fund; (xi) all other expenses
incidental to holding meetings of the Fund's shareholders; (xii) a pro rata
share, based on relative net asset value of the Fund and other investment
companies for which the Company also acts as manager and investment adviser, of
50% of the fees or dues of the Investment Company Institute; (xiii) fees and
expenses in connection with registration of the Fund or qualification of its
shares under the securities laws of states and foreign jurisdictions and (xiv)
such non-recurring expenses as may arise, including actions, suits or
proceedings to which the Fund is a party and the legal obligation which the Fund
may have to indemnify its officers and directors with respect thereto.
The Company shall place purchase and sale orders for portfolio transactions
of the Fund with brokers and/or dealers including, where permitted by law, the
Fund's Distributor or affiliates thereof or of the Company, which, in the
judgment of the Company, are able to execute such orders as expeditiously as
possible and at the best obtainable price. Purchases and sales of securities
which are not listed or traded on a securities exchange shall ordinarily be
executed with primary market makers acting as principal except when it is
determined that better prices and executions may otherwise be obtained,
provided, that the Company may cause the Fund to pay a member of a securities
exchange, broker or dealer an amount of commission another member of an
exchange, broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if
the Company determines in good faith that such amount of commission was
reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services
provided by such member, broker or dealer, viewed in terms of that particular
transaction or the Company's overall responsibilities. As used herein,
"brokerage and research services" shall have the same meaning as in Section
28(e) (3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as such Section may be amended
from time to time, and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder by the
Securities and Exchange Commission. It is understood that, consistent with the
Company's fiduciary duty to the Fund, it is the intent of this Agreement to
allow the Company the widest discretion permitted by law in determining the
manner and means by which portfolio securities' transactions can be affected in
the best interests of the Fund.
3. Compensation. (a) For its services and for the facilities to be
furnished as provided herein, the Fund shall pay to the Company an advisory fee
payable monthly, computed at the annual rate of .75% of the Fund's average daily
net assets during the year, pro rated for any portion of a year during which the
Agreement is in effect. For this purpose, the value of the Fund's net assets
shall be determined in the same manner as for the purchase and redemption of
<PAGE>
Fund shares as described in the Fund's current Prospectus.
(b) If the Fund's Distributor receives fees in connection with the tender
of portfolio securities of the Fund, the gross amount of the advisory fee
computed in accordance with the preceding paragraph 3(a) shall be reduced by the
amount of tender fees received; if the amount of such tender fees exceeds the
amount of advisory fees computed in accordance with paragraph 3 (a), the excess
shall be paid by the Company to the Fund.
(c) In the event that the total expenses of the Fund, excluding interest,
taxes, brokerage commissions and extraordinary expenses, exceeds in any fiscal
year the lowest applicable percentage limitation prescribed by any state in
which shares of the Fund are sold, the compensation of the Company, computed in
accordance with the preceding two paragraphs 3(a) and 3(b), shall be reduced by
the amount of such excess.
4. Duration and Termination of Agreement. This Agreement shall become
effective on the date set forth above and shall continue in effect for a period
of more than two years from the date of its execution only so long as such
continuance is specifically approved at least annually in accordance with the
Investment Company Act of 1940. This Agreement may be terminated on sixty days
written notice by either party. This Agreement shall terminate automatically in
the event of its assignment as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.
5. Name of Fund. The Company consents to the use by the Fund of the name
"Value Line U.S. Multinational Company Fund, Inc." so long, and only so long, as
this Agreement (or any agreement with any organization which has succeeded to
the business of the Company) or any extension, renewal or amendment thereof,
remains in effect. The Fund agrees that if and when no such agreement is in
effect, (a) it will cease to use said name or any name indicating or suggesting
that the Fund is advised by or otherwise connected with the Company and (b) it
will not thereafter refer to the former association between the Company and the
Fund.
6. Company May Act for Others. Nothing herein contained shall limit the
freedom of the Company or any affiliated person of the Company to render
investment supervisory or corporate administrative services to other investment
companies, to act as investment adviser or investment counselor to other
persons, firms or corporations, and to engage in other business activities.
7. Amendment of Agreement. This Agreement may not be amended except
pursuant to a direction given by the vote of the holders of a majority (as
defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940) of the outstanding shares of the
Fund.
8. Liability. The Company shall not be liable for any error of judgment, or
mistake of law, or any loss suffered by the Fund, in connection with the matters
to which this Agreement relates, except for loss resulting from willful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence of the Company in the performance of
its duties or from
<PAGE>
reckless disregard by the Company of its obligations and duties hereunder.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their duly authorized officers as of the date and year first above
written.
VALUE LINE U.S. MULTINATIONAL
COMPANY INC.
By: /s/ David T. Henigson
-------------------------------------
VALUE LINE, INC.
By: /s/ Jean B. Buttner
-------------------------------------
<PAGE>
Exhibit 99.(e)
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
Between
VALUE LINE U.S. MULTINATIONAL COMPANY FUND, INC.
and
VALUE LINE SECURITIES, INC.
September 21, 1995
Value Line Securities, Inc.
220 East 42nd Street
New York, N.Y. 10017
Dear Sirs:
VALUE LINE U.S. MULTINATIONAL COMPANY FUND, INC. (the "Fund"), a Maryland
corporation, is registered as an Investment Company under the Investment Company
Act of 1940 and has registered an indefinite number of shares of common stock
under the Securities Act of 1933, Registration Number 33-60829, to be offered
continuously for sale to the public in accordance with terms and conditions set
forth in the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement as it may be
amended from time to time.
In this connection, the Fund desires that your firm act as principal
underwriter and distributor (herein "distributor") of the Fund for the sale and
distribution of shares which have been registered as described above and any
additional shares which may become registered during the term of this Agreement.
You have advised the Fund that you are willing to act as distributor, and it is,
accordingly, agreed between us as follows:
1. The Fund hereby appoints you distributor for the sale of its shares,
pursuant to the aforesaid continuous public offering in connection with any
sales made to Fund investors in any states and/or jurisdictions in which you are
or shall from time to time become qualified as a broker/dealer, or through
securities dealers with whom you have entered into sales agreements.
2. You hereby accept such appointment and agree to use your best efforts to
sell such shares, provided, however, that when requested by the Fund at any time
because of market or other economic considerations or abnormal circumstances of
any kind, you will suspend such efforts. The Fund may also withdraw the offering
of the shares at any time when required by the provisions of any statute, order,
rule or regulation of any governmental body having jurisdiction. It is
understood that you do not undertake to sell all or any specific portion of the
shares of the Fund.
3. The shares shall be sold by you at net asset value as determined in the
Fund's Prospectus effective at the time of sale. Shares may be sold directly to
prospective purchasers or through securities dealers who have entered into sales
agreement with you. However, in no event will shares be issued prior to the
receipt by us of full payment for such shares.
<PAGE>
4. You agree that the Fund shall have the right to accept or reject orders
for the purchase of shares of the Fund. Any consideration which you may receive
in connection with a rejected purchase order will be returned promptly. In the
event that any cancellation of a share purchase order, cancellation of a
redemption order or error in the timing of the acceptance of purchase or
redemption orders shall result in a gain or loss, you agree promptly to
reimburse the Fund for any amount by which losses shall exceed gains so arising;
to retain any net gains so arising for application against losses so arising in
future periods and, on the termination of this Agreement, to pay over to the
Fund the amount of any such net gains which may have accumulated. The Fund shall
register or cause to be registered all shares sold by you pursuant to the
provisions hereof in such name or names and amounts as you may request from time
to time, and the Fund shall issue or cause to be issued certificates evidencing
such shares for delivery to you or pursuant to your direction if, and to the
extent that, the shareholder requests issuance of such share certificate.
5. The Fund has delivered to you a copy of its initial Prospectus dated as
of the effective date of its Registration Statement pursuant to the Securities
Act of 1933. It agrees that it will use its best efforts to continue the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933.
The Fund further agrees to prepare and file any amendments to its Registration
Statement as may be necessary and any supplemental data in order to comply with
the Securities Act of 1933.
6. The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as an
investment company, and it will use its best efforts to maintain such
registration and to comply with the requirements of said Act.
7. You agree:
(a) That neither you nor any of your officers will take any short
position in the shares of the Fund.
(b) To furnish to the Fund any pertinent information required to be
included with respect to you as distributor within the meaning of the Securities
Act of 1933 in any reports or registration required to be filed with any
governmental authority.
(c) You will not give any information or make any representations
other than as contained in the Registration Statement or Prospectus filed under
the Securities Act of 1933, as in effect from time to time, or in any
supplemental sales literature authorized by the Fund for use in connection with
the sale of shares.
8. You shall pay all usual expenses of distribution, including advertising
and the costs of printing and mailing of Prospectuses, other than those
furnished to existing shareholders.
<PAGE>
9. This Agreement will continue in effect for a period of two years and
shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter provided:
(a) Such continuation shall be specifically approved at least annually
by the Board of Directors, including the vote of majority of the Directors of
the Fund who are not parties to this Agreement or "interested persons" (as
defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940) of any such persons cast in
person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval or by vote
of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund
and by such vote of the Board of Directors.
(b) You shall have notified the Fund in writing at least sixty days
prior to the termination date that you shall not desire such continuation.
(c) We shall not have notified you in writing at least sixty days
prior to the termination date that we do not desire your continuation.
10. This Agreement may not be amended or changed except in writing and
shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and
their respective successors, but this Agreement shall not be assigned by either
party and shall automatically terminate upon its assignment.
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, kindly so
indicate by signing in the space provided below.
VALUE LINE U.S. MULTINATIONAL
COMPANY FUND, INC.
By: /s/ Jean B. Buttner
-------------------------------------
Accepted:
Value Line Securities, Inc.
/s/ David T. Henigson
- -----------------------------------
<PAGE>
Exhibit 99.(g)
CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
Dated as of:
Between
VALUE LINE U.S. MULTINATIONAL COMPANY FUND, INC.
and
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
----
<S> <C>
1 Bank Appointed Custodian ............................................. 1
2. Definitions .......................................................... 1
(a) Authorized Person ............................................. 1
(b) Security ...................................................... 1
(c) Portfolio Security ............................................ 1
(d) Officers' Certificate ......................................... 2
(e) Book-Entry System and Depository .............................. 2
3. A. Proper Instructions ........................................... 2
B. Bank's Communications with Fund ............................... 3
4. Separate Accounts .................................................... 3
5. Certification as to Authorized Persons ............................... 3
6. Custody of Cash and Securities ....................................... 4
A. Cash ............................................................ 4
(a) Purchase of Securities .................................. 4
(b) Redemptions ............................................. 4
(c) Distributions and Expenses of Fund ...................... 4
(d) Payment in Respect of Securities ........................ 4
(e) Repayment of Cash ....................................... 5
(f) Other Authorized Payments ............................... 5
(g) Termination ............................................. 5
B. Securities .................................................... 5
(a) Book-Entry System ....................................... 6
(b) Use of Direct Paper System for Commercial
Paper ................................................... 7
C. Options and Futures Transactions .............................. 8
(a) Puts and Calls Traded on Securities
Exchanges, NASDAQ or Over-the-Counter ................... 8
(b) Puts, Calls and Futures Traded on
Commodities Exchanges ................................... 9
(c) Segregated Account ...................................... 10
<PAGE>
D. Segregated Account for "when issued", "forward commitment"
and Reverse Repurchase Agreement Transactions ................. 10
7. Transfer of Securities ............................................... 11
8. Redemptions .......................................................... 12
9. Merger, Dissolution, etc. of Fund .................................... 12
10. Actions of Bank Without Prior Authorization .......................... 13
11. Maintenance of Records and Confidentiality ........................... 14
12. Concerning the Bank .................................................. 14
A. Performance of Duties ......................................... 14
B. Responsibility of Custodian ................................... 14
C. No Duty of Bank ............................................... 15
D. Fees and Expenses of Bank ..................................... 15
E. Advances by Bank .............................................. 16
13. Termination .......................................................... 16
14. Notices .............................................................. 17
15. Amendments ........................................................... 18
16. Parties .............................................................. 18
17. Governing Law ........................................................ 18
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of this 5th day of October, 1995 between VALUE LINE U.S.
MULTINATIONAL COMPANY FUND, INC., a corporation established under the laws of
Maryland (the "Fund"), and STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY ("Bank").
The Fund, an open-end management investment company, desires to place and
maintain its portfolio securities and cash in the custody of the Bank. The Bank
has at least the minimum qualifications required by Section 17(f)(1) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940 to act as custodian of the portfolio securities
and cash of the Fund, and has indicated its willingness to so act, subject to
the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual
agreements contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Bank Appointed Custodian. The Fund hereby appoints the Bank as custodian
of its portfolio securities and cash delivered to the Bank as hereinafter
described, and the Bank agrees to act as such upon the terms and conditions
hereinafter set forth.
2. Definitions. Whenever used herein, the terms listed below will have the
following meaning:
(a) Authorized Person. Authorized person will mean any of the persons
duly authorized to give Proper Instructions or otherwise act on behalf of the
Fund by appropriate resolution of the Board of Directors.
(b) Security. The term security as used herein will have the same
meaning as when such term is used in the Securities Act of 1933 as amended,
including, without limitation, any note, stock, treasury stock, bond, debenture,
evidence of indebtedness, certificate of interest or participation in any profit
sharing agreement, collateral-trust certificate, pre-organization certificate or
subscription, transferable share, investment contract, voting-trust certificate,
certificate of deposit for a security, fractional undivided interest in oil,
gas, or other mineral rights, any put, call, straddle, option, or privilege on
any security, certificate of deposit, or group or index of securities (including
any interest therein or based on the value thereof), or any put. call, straddle,
option, or privilege entered into on a national securities exchange relating to
a foreign currency, or, in general, any interest or instrument commonly known as
a "security", or any certificate of interest or participation in, temporary or
interim certificate for, receipt for, guarantee of, or warrant or right to
subscribe to, or option contract to purchase or sell any of the foregoing and
futures, forward contracts and options thereon.
(c) Portfolio Security. Portfolio security will mean any security
owned by the Fund.
<PAGE>
(d) Officers' Certificate. Officers' Certificate will mean unless
otherwise indicated, any request, direction, instruction, or certification in
writing signed by any two Authorized Persons of the Fund.
(e) Book-Entry System and Depository. Book-Entry System shall mean
the Federal Reserve-Treasury Department Book Entry System for United States
government, instrumentality and agency securities operated by the Federal
Reserve Banks, its successor or successors and its nominee or nominees.
Depository shall mean the Depository Trust Company ("DTC"), a clearing agency
registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 17A of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, its successor or successors and its nominee or
nominees. The term "Depository" shall further mean and include any other person
authorized to act as a depository under the Investment Company Act of 1940, its
successor or successors and its nominee or nominees, specifically identified in
a certified copy of a resolution of the Fund's Directors.
3A. Proper Instructions. For purposes of this Agreement, "Proper
Instructions" shall mean (i) instructions regarding the purchase or sale of
securities for the portfolio of the Fund, and payments and deliveries in
connection therewith, given by an Authorized Person as designated in an
Officers' Certificate, such instructions to be given in such form and manner as
the Bank and the Fund shall agree upon from time to time, and (ii) instructions
(which may be continuing instructions) regarding other matters signed or
initialed by such one or more persons from time to time designated in an
Officers' Certificate as having been authorized by the Directors of the Fund.
Oral instructions given by a person whom the Bank reasonably believes to be
authorized to give such instructions with respect to the transaction involved
will be considered Proper Instructions only if the Bank receives written
instructions on the stationary of the Fund or Value Line, Inc. (which may be
sent by telecopier) confirming such oral instructions, provided however that if
the Bank is notified by an Authorized Person of the Fund that the Fund is unable
to promptly confirm such oral instructions in writing, then the Bank may act
upon receipt of a second oral instruction from an Authorized Person, confirming
such prior oral instruction. The Bank shall compare the original oral
instruction with any confirmatory written or oral instruction, as the case may
be, and shall report any discrepancy to the Fund immediately, and the Bank shall
be responsible for any expense incurred in taking any action, including any
reprocessing, necessary to correct any such discrepancy or error in Proper
Instructions given by the Fund, to the extent such expense is caused by the
unreasonable delay of the Bank in reporting such discrepancy to the Fund. Except
as provided in the preceding sentence, the Fund shall be responsible, at the
Fund's expense, for taking any action, including any reprocessing, necessary to
correct any such discrepancy or error in Proper Instructions given by the Fund,
and to the extent such action requires the Bank to act, the Fund shall give the
Bank specific Proper Instructions as to the action required. The Bank shall act
upon and comply with any subsequent Proper Instructions which modifies a prior
Proper Instruction. Upon receipt of an Officers' Certificate as to the
authorization by the Directors of the Fund accompanied by a
2
<PAGE>
detailed description of procedures approved by the Fund, Proper Instructions may
include communication effected directly between electro-mechanical or electronic
devices provided that the Directors and the Bank are satisfied that such
procedures afford adequate safeguards for the Fund's assets.
3B. Bank's Communications with Fund. For purposes of this Agreement, all
communications from the Bank to the Fund shall be in writing (which may be sent
by means of a telecopier) and any such writing reasonably believed by the Fund
to be from a person authorized to make such communication on behalf of the Bank
may be relied upon by the Fund. An oral communication from a person whom the
Fund reasonably believes to be authorized to make such communication on behalf
of the Bank with respect to the transaction may be relied upon by the Fund only
if the Fund receives a written communication (which may be sent by telecopier)
confirming such oral communication, provided however, that if the Fund is
notified by such authorized person that the Bank is unable to promptly confirm
such oral communication in writing, then the Fund may act in reliance upon
receipt of a second oral communication confirming such prior oral communication.
The Fund shall compare the original oral communication with any confirmatory
written or oral communication, as the case may be, and shall report any
discrepancy to the Bank immediately, and the Fund shall be responsible for any
expense incurred in taking any action, including any reprocessing, necessary to
correct any such discrepancy or error in communications given by the Bank, to
the extent such expense is caused by the unreasonable delay of the Fund in
reporting such discrepancy to the Bank. Except as provided in the preceding
sentence, the Bank shall be responsible, at the Bank's expense, for any action
taken, including any reprocessing, necessary to correct any such discrepancy or
error in communications given by the Bank, and to the extent such action
requires the Bank to act, the Fund shall give the Bank specific Proper
Instructions as to the action required. The Fund may act in reliance upon any
subsequent communication from the Bank which modifies a prior communication.
4. Separate Accounts. If the Fund has more than one series or portfolio,
the Bank will segregate the assets of the Fund into a Separate Account for each
such series or portfolio containing the assets of such series or portfolio (and
all investment earnings thereon), all as directed from time to time by Proper
Instructions.
5. Certification as to Authorized Persons. The Secretary or Assistant
Secretary of the Fund will at all times maintain on file with the Bank his
certification to the Bank, in such form as may be acceptable to the Bank, of the
names and signatures of the Authorized Persons, it being understood that upon
the occurrence of any change in the information set forth in the most recent
certification on file (including without limitation any person named in the most
recent certification who is no longer an Authorized Person as designated
therein), the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Fund will sign a new or
amended certification setting forth the change and the new, additional or
omitted names or signatures. The Bank will be entitled to rely and act upon any
Officers' Certificate given to it by the Fund which has been signed by Officers
named in the most recent certification.
3
<PAGE>
6. Custody of Cash and Securities. As custodian for the Fund, the Bank will
keep safely all of the portfolio securities delivered to the Bank, and will
deposit to the account of the Fund all of the cash of the Fund delivered to the
Bank, as set forth below.
A. Cash. The Bank will open and maintain a separate account or
accounts in the name of the Fund or in the name of the Bank, as custodian of the
Fund, subject only to draft or order by the Bank acting pursuant to the terms of
this Agreement. The Bank will hold in such account or accounts as custodian,
subject to the provisions hereof (including sections 6(C) and 6(D), all cash
received by it, for the account of the Fund. Upon receipt by the Bank of Proper
Instructions (which may be continuing instructions) or in the case of payments
for redemptions and repurchases of outstanding shares of beneficial interest of
the Fund, notification from the Fund's transfer agent as provided in Section 8,
requesting such payment, designating the payee or the account or accounts to
which the Bank will release funds or deposit, and stating that it is for a
purpose permitted under the terms of this Section 6(A), specifying the
applicable subsection, or describing such purpose with sufficient particularity
to permit the Bank to ascertain the applicable subsection, the Bank will make
payments of cash held for the accounts of the Fund, insofar as funds are
available for that purpose, only as permitted in (a)-(g) below.
(a) Purchase of Securities: upon the purchase of securities for the
Fund, against contemporaneous receipt of such securities by the Bank
registered in the name of the Fund or in the name of, or properly endorsed
and in form for transfer to, the Bank, or a nominee of the Bank, or
receipt for the account of the Bank through use of (1) the Book-Entry
System pursuant to Section 6(B)(a)(3) below, (2) a Depository pursuant to
6(B)(b) below, or (3) Book Entry Paper pursuant to Section 6(B)(c) below,
each such payment to be made at the purchase price shown on a broker's
confirmation (or transaction report in the case of Book Entry Paper) of
purchase of the securities received by the Bank before such payment is
made, as confirmed in the Proper Instructions received by the Bank before
payment is made;
(b) Redemptions: in such amount as may be necessary for the
repurchase or redemption of shares of beneficial interest of the Fund
offered for repurchase or redemption in accordance with Section 8 of this
Agreement;
(c) Distributions and Expenses of Fund: for the payment on the
account of the Fund of dividends or other distributions to shareholders as
may from time to time be declared by the Directors of the Fund, interest,
taxes, management or supervisory fees, distribution fees, fees of the Bank
for its services hereunder and reimbursement of the expenses and
liabilities of the Bank as provided hereunder, fees of any transfer agent,
fees for legal, accounting, and auditing services, or other operating
expenses of the Fund;
(d) Payment in Respect of Securities: for payments in connection
with the conversion, exchange or surrender of portfolio securities or
securities subscribed to by the Fund held by or to be delivered to the
Bank;
4
<PAGE>
(e) Repayment of Cash: to repay the cash delivered to the Fund for
the purpose of collateralizing the obligation to return to the Fund
certificates borrowed from the Trust representing portfolio securities,
but only upon redelivery to the Bank of such borrowed certificates;
(f) Other Authorized Payments: for other authorized transactions of
the Fund, or other obligations of the Fund incurred for proper Fund
purposes; provided that before making any such payment the Bank will also
receive a certified copy of a resolution of the Directors signed by an
Authorized Person of the Fund (other than the Person certifying such
resolution) and certified by its Clerk or Assistant Clerk, naming the
person or persons to whom such payment is to be made, and either
describing the transaction for which payment is to be made and declaring
it to be an authorized transaction of the Fund, or specifying the amount
of the obligation for which payment is to be made, setting forth the
purpose for which such obligation was incurred and declaring such purpose
to be a proper corporate purpose; and
(g) Termination: upon the termination of this Agreement as
hereinafter set forth pursuant to Section 9 and Section 13 of this
Agreement.
The Bank is hereby authorized to endorse for collection and collect on
behalf of and in the name of the Fund all checks, drafts, or other negotiable or
transferable instruments or other orders for the payment of money received by it
for the account of the Fund.
B. Securities. Except as provided in subsections (a), (b) and (c) of
this Section 6(B), and in Sections 6(C) and 6(D), the Bank as custodian, will
receive and hold pursuant to the provisions hereof, in a separate account or
accounts and physically segregated at all times from those of other persons, any
and all portfolio securities which may now or hereafter be delivered to it by or
for the account of the Fund. All such portfolio securities will be held or
disposed of by the Bank for, and subject at all times to, the instructions of
the Fund pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. Subject to the specific
provisions in Subparagraphs (a), (b), and (c) relating to securities that are
not physically held by the Bank, the Bank will register all portfolio securities
(unless otherwise directed by Proper Instructions or an Officers' Certificate),
in the name of a registered nominee of the Bank as defined in the Internal
Revenue Code and any Regulations of the Treasury Department issued thereunder,
which nominee shall be exclusively assigned to the Fund, and will execute and
deliver all such certificates in connection therewith as may be required by such
laws or Regulations or under the laws of any State. The Bank will ensure that
the specific portfolio securities of the Fund held by it hereunder will be at
all times identifiable.
The Bank will use the same care with respect to the safekeeping of
portfolio securities and cash of the Fund held by it as it uses in respect of
its own similar property but it need not maintain any special insurance for the
benefit of the Fund.
5
<PAGE>
The Fund will from time to time furnish to the Bank appropriate
instruments to enable it to hold or deliver in proper form for transfer, or to
register in the name of its registered nominee, any securities which it may hold
for the account of the Fund and which may from time to time be registered in the
name of the Fund.
Neither the Bank nor any nominee of the Bank will vote any of the
portfolio securities held hereunder by or for the account of the Fund, except in
accordance with Proper Instructions of an Officers' Certificate.
The Bank will execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered,
to the Fund all notices, proxies and proxy soliciting materials with respect to
such securities, such proxies to be executed by the registered holder of such
securities (if registered otherwise than in the name of the Fund), but without
indicating the manner in which such proxies are to be voted.
(a) Book-Entry System. Provided (i) the Bank has received a
certified copy of a resolution of the Directors of the Fund specifically
approving deposits of the Fund assets in the Book-Entry System, indicating
that, and (ii) for each year following such approval, the Directors of the
Fund has reviewed and approved the arrangement and has not delivered an
Officer's Certificate to the Bank indicating that it has withdrawn its
approval:
1. The Bank may keep Securities of the Fund in the Book-Entry
System provided that such securities are represented in an account
("Account") of the Bank (or its agent) in such System which shall
not include any assets of the Bank (or such agent) other than assets
held as a fiduciary, custodian, or otherwise for customers.
2. The records of the Bank (and any such agent) with respect
to the Fund's participation in the Book-Entry System through the
Bank (or any such agent) will identify by book entry securities
belonging to the Fund which are included with other securities
deposited in the Account and shall at all times during the regular
business hours of the Bank (or such agent) be open for inspection by
duly authorized officers, employees or agents of the Fund. Where
securities are transferred to the Fund's account, the Bank shall
also, by book entry or otherwise, identify as belonging to the Fund
a quantity of securities in fungible bulk of securities (i)
registered in the name of the Bank or its nominee, or (ii) shown on
the Bank's account on the books of the Federal Reserve Bank.
3. The Bank (or its agent) shall pay for securities purchased
for the account of the Fund or shall pay cash collateral against the
return of securities loaned by the Fund upon (i) receipt of advice
from the Book-Entry System that such Securities have been
transferred to the Account, and (ii) the making of an entry on the
records of the Bank (or its agent) to reflect such
6
<PAGE>
payment and transfer for the account of the Fund. The Bank (or its
agent) shall transfer securities sold or loaned for the account of
the Fund upon
(a) receipt of advice from the Book-Entry System that
payment for Securities sold or payment of the initial cash
collateral against the delivery of securities loaned by the
Fund has been transferred to the Account, and
(b) the making of an entry on the records of the Bank
(or its agent) to reflect such transfer and payment for the
account of the Fund. Copies of all advices from the Book-Entry
System of transfers of Securities for the account of the Fund
shall identify the Fund, be maintained for the Fund by the
Bank and shall be provided to the Fund at its request. The
Bank shall send the Fund a confirmation, as defined by Rule
17f-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, of any
transfers to or from the account of the Fund.
4. The Bank will promptly provide the Fund with any report
obtained by the Bank or its agent on the Book-Entry System's
accounting system, internal accounting control and procedures for
safeguarding Securities deposited in the Book-Entry System. The Bank
will provide the Fund and cause any such agent to provide, at such
times as the Fund may reasonably require, with reports by
independent public accountants on the accounting system, internal
accounting control and procedures for safeguarding securities,
including Securities deposited in the Book-Entry System, relating to
the services provided by the Bank or such agent under the Agreement.
5. Anything to the contrary in the Agreement notwithstanding,
the Bank shall be liable to the Fund for any loss or damage to the
Fund resulting from use of the Book-Entry System by reason of any
gross negligence, willful misfeasance or bad faith of the Bank or
any of its agents or of any of its or their employees or from any
reckless disregard by the Bank or any such agent of its duty to
enforce effectively such rights as it may have against the
Book-Entry System; at the election of the Fund, it shall be entitled
to be subrogated for the Bank in any claim against the Book-Entry
System or any other person which the Bank or its agent may have as a
consequence of any such loss or damage if and to the extent that the
Fund has not been made whole for any loss or damage.
(b) Use of Direct Paper System for Commercial Paper. Provided (i)
the Bank has received a certified copy of a resolution of the Fund's
Directors specifically approving participation in a system maintained by
the Bank for the holding of commercial paper in direct paper form ("Direct
Paper") and (ii) for each year following such approval the Directors of
the Fund have received and approved the arrangements, upon receipt of
7
<PAGE>
Proper Instructions and upon receipt of confirmation from an Issuer (as
defined below) that the Fund has purchased such Issuer's Direct Paper, the
Bank shall issue and hold in direct paper form, on behalf of the Fund,
commercial paper issued by issuers with whom the Bank has entered into a
direct paper agreement (the "Issuers"). In maintaining its Direct Paper
System, the Bank agrees that:
1. the Bank will maintain all Direct Paper held by the Fund in
an account of the Bank that includes only assets held by it for
customers;
2. the records of the Bank with respect to the Fund's purchase
of Direct Paper through the Bank will identify, by book entry,
Commercial Paper belonging to the Fund which is included in the
Direct Paper System and shall at all times during the regular
business hours of the Bank be open for inspection by duly authorized
officers, employees or agents of the Fund.
3. (a) The Bank shall pay for Direct Paper purchased for the
account of the Fund upon contemporaneous (i) receipt of advice from
the Issuer that such sale of Direct Paper has been effected, and
(ii) the making of an entry on the records of the Bank to reflect
such payment and transfer for the account of the Fund.
(b) The Bank shall cancel such Direct Paper obligation upon
the maturity thereof upon contemporaneous (i) receipt of advice that
payment for such Direct Paper has been transferred to the Fund, and
(ii) the making of an entry on the records of the Bank to reflect
such payment for the account of the Fund.
4. the Bank shall transmit to the Fund a transaction journal
confirming each transaction in Direct Paper for the account of the
Fund on the next business day following the transaction;
5. the Bank will send to the Fund such reports on its system
of internal accounting control as the Fund may reasonably request
from time to time;
C. Options and Futures Transactions.
(a) Puts and Calls Traded on Securities Exchanges, NASDAQ or
Over-the-Counter.
1. The Bank shall take action as to put options ("puts") and
call options ("calls") purchased or sold (written) by the Fund
regarding escrow or other arrangements (i) in accordance with the
provisions of any agreement entered into upon receipt of Proper
Instructions between the Bank, any broker-dealer
8
<PAGE>
registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and a member of
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., and, if
necessary, the Fund relating to the compliance with the rules of the
Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national
securities exchange, or of any similar organization or
organizations.
2. Unless another agreement requires it to do so, the Bank
shall be under no duty or obligation to see that the Fund has
deposited or is maintaining adequate margin, if required, with any
broker in connection with any option, nor shall the Bank be under
any duty or obligation to present such option to the broker for
exercise unless it receives Proper Instructions from the Fund. The
Bank shall have no responsibility for the legality of any put or
call purchased or sold on behalf of the Fund, the propriety of any
such purchase or sale, or the adequacy of any collateral delivered
to a broker in connection with an option or deposited to or
withdrawn from a Segregated Account as described in sub-paragraph c
of this Section 6(C). The Bank specifically, but not by way of
limitation, shall not be under any duty or obligation to: (i)
periodically check or notify the Fund that the amount of such
collateral held by a broker or held in a Segregated Account as
described in sub-paragraph (c) of this Section 6(C) is sufficient to
protect such broker of the Fund against any loss; (ii) effect the
return of any collateral delivered to a broker; or (iii) advise the
Fund that any option it holds, has or is about to expire. Such
duties or obligations shall be the sole responsibility of the Fund.
(b) Puts, Calls and Futures Traded on Commodities Exchanges.
1. The Bank shall take action as to puts, calls and
futures contracts ("Futures") purchased or sold by the Fund in
accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the
Fund, the Bank and a Futures Commission Merchant registered
under the Commodity Exchange Act, relating to compliance with
the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and/or
any Contract Market, or any similar organization or
organizations, regarding account deposits in connection with
transactions by the Fund.
2. The responsibilities and liabilities of the Bank as
to Futures, puts and calls traded on commodities exchanges,
any Futures Commission Merchant account and the Segregated
Account shall be limited as set forth in sub-paragraph (a)(2)
of this Section 6(C) as if such sub-paragraph referred to
Futures Commission Merchants rather than brokers, and Futures
and puts and calls thereon instead of options.
9
<PAGE>
(c) Segregated Account.
The Bank shall upon receipt of Proper Instructions establish
and maintain a Segregated Account or Accounts for and on behalf of
the Fund, into which Account or Accounts may be transferred cash
and/or securities including securities maintained in an Account by
the Bank pursuant to Section 6(B) hereof, (i) in accordance with the
provisions of any agreement among the Fund, the Bank and a
broker-dealer registered under the Exchange Act and a member of the
NASD or any Futures Commission Merchant registered under the
Commodity Exchange Act, relating to compliance with the rules of the
Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national
securities exchange or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission or
any registered Contract Market, or of any similar organization or
organizations regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection
with transactions by the Fund, and (ii) for the purpose of
segregating cash or securities in connection with options purchased
or written by the Fund, or commodity futures purchased or written by
the Fund, and (iii) for the purposes of compliance by the Fund with
the procedures required by Investment Company Act Release No. 10666,
or any subsequent release or releases of the Securities and Exchange
Commission relating to the maintenance of Segregated Accounts by
registered investment companies and (iv) for other proper corporate
purposes, but only, in the case of clause (iv), upon receipt of, in
addition to Proper Instructions, a certified copy of a resolution of
the Directors of the Fund signed by an officer of the Fund and
certified by the Clerk of an Assistant Clerk, setting forth the
purpose or purposes of such Segregated Account and declaring such
purposes to be proper corporate purposes.
D. Segregated Account for "when-issued", "forward commitment" and
reverse repurchase agreement transactions. Notwithstanding the
provisions of Section 6(A), 6(B) and 6(C) hereof, the Bank will maintain a
segregated account (the "Segregated Account") in the name of the Fund (i) for
the deposit of liquid assets, such as cash, U.S. Government securities or other
high grade debt obligations, having a market value (marked to the market on a
daily basis) at all times equal to not less than the aggregate purchase price
due on the settlement dates of all the Fund's then outstanding forward
commitment or "when-issued" agreements relating to the purchase of portfolio
securities and all the Fund's then outstanding commitments under reverse
repurchase agreements entered into with broker-dealer firms, and (ii) for the
deposit of any portfolio securities which the Fund has agreed to sell on a
forward commitment basis, all in accordance with Securities and Exchange
Commission Release No. IC-10666. No assets shall be deposited in the Segregated
Account except pursuant to Proper Instructions. Assets may be withdrawn from the
segregated account pursuant to Proper Instructions only (a) for sale or delivery
to meet the Fund's obligations under outstanding firm commitment or when-issued
agreements for the purchase of portfolio securities and under reverse repurchase
agreements, (b) for exchange for other liquid assets of equal or greater value
deposited in the Segregated Account, (c) to the extent that the Fund's
outstanding forward commitment or when-issued agreements for the purchase of
portfolio securities or reverse repurchase agreements are sold to other parties
or the Fund's obligations thereunder are met from
10
<PAGE>
assets of the Fund other than those in the Segregated Account, or (d) for
delivery upon settlement of a forward commitment agreement for the sale of
portfolio securities.
7. Transfer of Securities. The Bank will transfer, exchange, deliver or
release portfolio securities held by it hereunder, insofar as such securities
are available for such purpose, provided that before making any transfer,
exchange, delivery or release under this Section the Bank will receive Proper
Instructions requesting such transfer, exchange or delivery stating that it is
for a purpose permitted under the terms of this Section 7, specifying the
applicable subsection, or describing the purpose of the transaction with
sufficient particularity to permit the Bank to ascertain the applicable
subsection, only
(a) upon sales of portfolio securities for the account of the Fund,
against contemporaneous receipt by the Bank of payment therefor in full,
each such payment to be in the amount of the sale price shown in a
broker's confirmation of sale of the portfolio securities received by the
Bank before such payment is made, as confirmed in the Proper Instructions
received by the Bank before such payment is made, provided however, that
portfolio securities may be delivered to the broker selling the same for
examination in accordance with "street delivery" custom;
(b) in exchange for or upon conversion into other securities alone
or other securities and cash pursuant to any plan or merger,
consolidation, reorganization, share split-up, change in par value,
recapitalization or readjustment or otherwise;
(c) upon conversion of portfolio securities pursuant to their terms
into other securities;
(d) upon exercise of subscription, purchase or sale or other similar
rights represented by such portfolio securities;
(e) for the purpose of redeeming in kind shares of beneficial
interest of the Fund upon authorization from the Fund;
(f) in the case of option contracts owned by the Fund, for
presentation to the endorsing broker;
(g) when such portfolio securities are called, redeemed or retired
or otherwise become payable;
(h) for the purpose of releasing certificates representing portfolio
securities of the Fund, against contemporaneous receipt by the Bank of the
fair market value of such security, as set forth in Proper Instructions
received by the Bank before such payment is made;
(i) for the purpose of tendering shares pursuant to a tender offer
therefor:
11
<PAGE>
(j) for the purpose of delivering securities lent by the Fund to a
bank or broker-dealer, but only against receipt in accordance with street
delivery custom, except as otherwise provided in Subsections 6(B)(a) and
(b) hereof, of adequate collateral as agreed upon from time to time by the
Fund and the Bank, and upon receipt of payment in connection with any
repurchase agreement relating to such securities entered into by the Fund;
(k) for other authorized transactions of the Fund or for other
proper corporate purposes; provided that before making such transfer, the
Bank will also receive a certified copy of resolution of the Directors of
the Fund, signed by an authorized officer of the Fund (other than the
officer certifying such resolution) and certified by its Secretary or
Assistant Secretary, specifying the portfolio securities to be delivered,
setting forth the transaction in or purpose for which such delivery is to
be made, declaring such transaction to be an authorized transaction of the
Fund or such purpose to be a proper corporate purpose, and naming the
person or persons to whom delivery of such securities shall be made; and
(l) upon termination of this Agreement as hereinafter set forth
pursuant to Section 9 and Section 13 of this Agreement.
As to any deliveries made by the Bank pursuant to subsections (a), (b),
(c), (d), (f), (g), (h), (i) and (j) securities or cash receivable in exchange
therefor shall be delivered to the Bank.
8. Redemptions. In the case of payment of assets of the Fund held by the
Bank in connection with redemptions and repurchases by the Fund of outstanding
shares of beneficial interest, the Bank will rely on notification by the Fund's
transfer agent if receipt of a request for redemption and certificates, if
issued, in proper form for redemption before such payment is made. Payment shall
be made in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation of the Fund, from
assets available for said purposes.
9. Merger, Dissolution, etc., of Fund. In the case of the following
transactions not in the ordinary course of business, namely, the merger of the
Fund into or the consolidation of the Fund with another investment company, the
sale by the Fund of all, or substantially all of its assets to another
investment company, or the liquidation or dissolution of the Fund and
distribution of its assets, the Bank will deliver the portfolio securities held
by it under this Agreement and disburse cash only upon the order of the Fund set
forth in an Officers' Certificate, accompanied by a certified copy of a
resolution of the Fund's Directors authorizing any of the foregoing
transactions. Upon completion of such delivery and disbursement and the payment
of the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Bank due to the Bank pursuant to
Section 12E hereof, this Agreement will terminate.
12
<PAGE>
10. Actions of Bank Without Prior Authorization. Notwithstanding anything
herein to the contrary, unless and until the Bank receives an Officers'
Certificate to the contrary, it will without prior authorization or instruction
of the Fund or the transfer agent:
(a) Receive and hold for the account of the Fund hereunder and
deposit in the account or accounts referred to in Section 6 hereof, all
income, dividends, interest and other payments or distribution of cash
with respect to the portfolio securities held thereunder;
(b) Present for payment all coupons and other income items held by
it for the account of the Fund which call for payment upon presentation
and hold the cash received by it upon such payment for the account of the
Fund in the account or accounts referred to in Section 6 hereof;
(c) Receive and hold for the account of the Fund hereunder and
deposit in the account or accounts referred to in Section 6 hereof all
securities received as a distribution on portfolio securities as a result
of a stock dividend, share split-up, reorganization, recapitalization,
merger, consolidation, readjustment, distribution of rights and similar
securities issued with respect to any portfolio securities held by it
hereunder.
(d) Execute as agent on behalf of the Fund all necessary ownership
and other certificates and affidavits required by the Internal Revenue
Code or the regulations of the Treasury Department issued thereunder, or
by the laws of any state, now or hereafter in effect, inserting the Fund's
name on such certificates as the owner of the securities covered thereby,
to the extent it may lawfully do so and as may be required to obtain
payment in respect thereof. The Bank will execute and deliver such
certificates in connection wit portfolio securities delivered to it or by
it under this Agreement as may be required under the provisions of the
Internal Revenue Code and any Regulations of the Treasury Department
issued thereunder, or under the laws of any State;
(e) Present for payment all portfolio securities which are called,
redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable, and hold cash received by
it upon payment for the account of the Fund in the account or accounts
referred to in Section 6 hereof; and
(f) Exchange interim receipts or temporary securities for definitive
securities.
The Bank will use all diligence to collect any funds which may to
its knowledge become collectible arising from such securities, including
dividends, interest and other income, and to transmit to the Fund notice
actually received by it of any call for redemption, offer of exchange, right of
subscription, reorganization or other proceedings affecting such securities.
13
<PAGE>
If portfolio securities upon which such income is payable are in default
or payment is refused after due demand or presentation, the Bank will notify the
Fund by telecopier of any default or refusal to pay no later than one business
day from the day on which it receives knowledge of such default or refusal. In
addition, the Bank will send the Fund a written report once each month showing
any income on any portfolio security held by it which is more than ten days
overdue on the date of such report and which has not previously been reported.
11. Maintenance of Records. The Bank will maintain records with respect to
transactions for which the Bank is responsible pursuant to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement and in compliance with the applicable rules and
regulations under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended, and will
furnish the Fund daily with a statement of condition of the Fund. The Bank will
furnish to the Fund at the end of every month, and at the close of each quarter
of the Fund's fiscal year, a list of the portfolio securities and the aggregate
amount of cash held by it for the Fund. The books and records of the Bank
pertaining to its actions under this Agreement and reports by the Bank or its
independent accountants concerning its accounting system, procedures for
safeguarding securities and internal accounting controls will be open to
inspection and audit at reasonable times by officers of or auditors employed by
the Fund and will be preserved by the Bank in the manner and in accordance with
the applicable rules and regulations under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
The Bank agrees to treat all records and other information relative to the
Fund and its shareholders as confidential, except it may disclose such
information after prior notification to and approval in writing by the Fund,
which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. Nothing in this Section 11
shall prevent the Bank from divulging information to bank or securities
regulatory authorities or where the Bank may be exposed to civil or criminal
contempt proceedings for failure to comply.
12. Concerning the Bank.
A. Performance of Duties.
(1) The Bank and the Fund shall each exercise reasonable care
in the performance of their respective duties and functions under
this Agreement.
(2) In its dealings with the Fund, the Bank shall be entitled
to rely upon any Officers' Certificate, Proper Instructions,
resolution of the Directors, telegram, facsimile communication,
written notice, or certificate.
B. Responsibility of Custodian. So long as and to the extent that it
is in the exercise of reasonable care, the Custodian shall not be
responsible for the title, validity or genuineness of any property or
evidence of title thereto received by it or delivered by it pursuant to
this Contract and shall beheld harmless in acting upon any notice,
request, consent, certificate or other instrument reasonably believed by
it to be genuine and to be
14
<PAGE>
signed by the proper party or parties, including any futures commission
merchant acting pursuant to the terms of a three-party futures or options
agreement. The Custodian shall be held harmless and be protected by the
Fund and shall be held to the exercise of reasonable care in carrying out
the Proper Instructions of the Fund. It shall be entitled to rely on and
may act upon advice of counsel (who may be counsel for the Fund) or
mutually acceptable to both parties on all matters, and shall be without
liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to such
advice.
C. No Duty of Bank. The Bank will be under no duty or obligation to
inquire into and will not be liable for:
(a) the validity of the issue of any portfolio securities
purchased by or for the Fund, the legality of the purchases thereof
or the propriety of the price incurred therefor;
(b) the legality of any sale of any portfolio securities by or
for the Fund or the propriety of the amount for which the same are
sold;
(c) the legality of an issue or sale of any shares of common
stock of the Fund or the sufficiency of the amount to be received
therefor provided that it reflects the net asset value as provided
by the Fund;
(d) the legality of the repurchase of any shares of common
stock of the Fund or the propriety of the amount to be paid therefor
provided that it reflects the net asset value as provided by the
Fund;
(e) the legality of the declaration of any dividend by the
Fund or the legality of the distribution of any portfolio securities
as payment in kind of such dividend; or
(f) any property or moneys of the Fund unless and until
received by it, except as otherwise provided in Section 10 hereof,
and any such property or moneys delivered or paid by it pursuant to
the terms hereof.
Moreover, the Bank will not be under any duty or obligation to ascertain
whether any portfolio securities at any time delivered to or held by it for the
account of the Fund are such as may properly be held by the Fund under the
provisions of its Agreement and Declaration of Fund or By-Laws, any federal or
state statutes or any rule or regulation of any governmental agency.
D. Fees and Expenses of Bank. The Fund will pay or reimburse the
Bank from time to time for any transfer taxes payable upon transfer of portfolio
securities made hereunder, and for the Bank's normal disbursements, expenses and
charges made or incurred by the Bank in the performance of this Agreement
(including any duties listed on any Schedule hereto, if any).
15
<PAGE>
For the services rendered by the Bank hereunder, the Fund will pay to the Bank
such compensation or fees at such rate and at such times as shall be agreed upon
in writing by the parties from time to time. The Bank will also be entitled to
reimbursement by the Fund for normal industry costs for securities transfers and
services incurred in conjunction with termination of this Agreement by the Fund.
E. Advances by Bank. The Bank may, in its sole discretion, advance
funds on behalf of the Fund to make any payment permitted by this Agreement upon
receipt of Proper Instructions as required by this Agreement for such payments
by the Fund. Should such a payment or payments, with advanced funds, result in
an overdraft (due to insufficiencies of the Fund's account with the Bank, or for
any other reason) any such related indebtedness shall be deemed a loan made by
the Bank to the Fund payable on demand and bearing interest at the current rate
charged by the Bank for such loans unless the Fund shall provide the Bank with
agreed-upon compensating balances. The Fund authorizes the Bank, in its sole
discretion, at any time to charge any overdraft or indebtedness, together with
interest due thereon, against any balance of account standing to the credit of
the Fund on the Bank's books. In addition, if the Bank, its affiliates,
subsidiaries or agents, advances cash or securities in accordance with Proper
Instructions for any purpose (including but not limited to securities
settlements, foreign exchange contracts and assumed settlement) any property at
any time held for the account of the Fund shall be security therefor and should
the Fund fail to repay the Bank promptly after proper repayment is requested,
the Bank shall be entitled to dispose of Fund assets to the extent necessary to
obtain reimbursement.
13. Termination
(a) This Agreement may be terminated at any time without penalty
upon ninety days written notice delivered by either party to the other by
means of registered mail, and upon the expiration of such ninety days this
Agreement will terminate; provided, however, that the effective date of
such termination may be postponed to a date of delivery of such notice (i)
by the Bank in order to prepare for the transfer by the Bank of all of the
assets of the Fund held hereunder, and (ii) by the Fund in order to give
the Fund an opportunity to make suitable arrangements for a successor
custodian. At any time after the termination of this Agreement, the Fund
will, at its request, have access to the records of the Bank relating to
the performance of its duties as custodian.
(b) In the event of the termination of this Agreement, the Bank will
immediately upon receipt or transmittal, as the case may be, of notice of
termination, commence and prosecute diligently to completion the transfer
of all cash and the delivery of all portfolio securities duly endorsed and
all records maintained under Section 11 to the successor custodian when
appointed by the Fund. The obligation of the Bank to deliver and transfer
over the assets of the Fund held by it directly to such successor
custodian will commence as soon as such successor is appointed and will
continue until completed as aforesaid. If the Fund does not select a
successor custodian within ninety
16
<PAGE>
days from the date of delivery of notice of termination the Bank may,
subject to the provisions of subsection (c) of this Section 13, deliver
the portfolio securities and cash of the Fund held by the Bank to a bank
or trust company of its own selection which meets the requirements of
Section 17(f)(1) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and has a reported
capital, surplus and undivided profits aggregating not less than
$2,000,000, to be held as the property of the Fund under terms similar to
those on which they were held by the Bank, whereupon such bank or trust
company so selected by the Bank will become the successor custodian of
such assets of the Fund with the same effect as though selected by the
Directors of the Fund.
(c) Prior to the expiration of ninety days after notice of
termination has been given, the Fund may furnish the Bank with an order of
the Fund advising that a successor custodian cannot be found willing and
able to act upon reasonable and customary terms and that there has been
submitted to the shareholders of the Fund the question of whether the Fund
will be liquidated or will function without a custodian for the assets of
the Fund held by the Bank. In that event the Bank will deliver the
portfolio securities and cash of the Fund held by it, subject as
aforesaid, in accordance with one of such alternatives which may be
approved by the requisite vote of shareholders, upon receipt by the Bank
of a copy of the minutes of the meeting of shareholders at which action
was taken, certified by the Fund's Secretary.
14. Notices. Any notice or other instrument in writing authorized or
required by this Agreement to be given to either party hereto will be
sufficiently given if addressed to such party and mailed or delivered to it at
its office at the address set forth below; namely:
(a) In the case of notices sent to the Fund to:
c/o Value Line Inc.
220 East 42nd Street, 6th Floor
New York, New York 10017
Attn: Treasurer
(b) In the case of notices sent to the Bank to:
State Street Bank and Trust Company
Mutual Fund Services
1776 Heritage Drive
North Quincy, MA 02171
or at such other place as such party may from time to time designate in
writing.
17
<PAGE>
15. Amendments. This Agreement may not be altered or amended, except by an
instrument in writing, executed by both parties, and in the case of the Fund,
such alteration or amendment will be authorized and approved by its Directors.
16. Parties. This Agreement will be binding upon and shall inure to the
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns;
provided, however, that this Agreement will not be assignable by the Fund
without the written consent of the Bank or by the Bank without the written
consent of the Fund, authorized and approved by its Directors; and provided
further that termination proceedings pursuant to Section 13 hereof will not be
deemed to be an assignment within the meaning of this provision.
17. Governing Law. This Agreement and all performance hereunder will be
governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
18
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed in duplicate and their respective corporate seals to be affixed hereto
as of the date first above written by their respective officers thereunto duly
authorized.
VALUE LINE U.S. MULTINATIONAL COMPANY
FUND, INC.
By: /s/ Jean B. Buttner
-------------------------------------
ATTEST:
/s/ David T. Heingson
- -----------------------------------
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
By: /s/ Russell E. Logue
-------------------------------------
ATTEST:
/s/ Francine A. Hayes
- -----------------------------------
19
<PAGE>
AMENDMENT TO CUSTODIAN CONTRACT
AMENDMENT made by and between STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY (the
"Custodian") each Fund listed on Appendix A (the "Fund").
WHEREAS, the Custodian and each Fund are parties to a Custodian Contract,
as amended (each a "Custodian Contract") governing the terms and conditions
under which the Custodian maintains custody of the securities and other assets
of the Fund; and
WHEREAS, the Custodian and each Fund desires to amend the relevant
Custodian Contract;
NOW THEREFORE, the Custodian and each Fund hereby amend and revise in its
entirety the defined term "Authorized person" in Section 2(a) of the Custodian
Contract as follows:
"Authorized person" of a Fund shall mean any of the persons duly
authorized to give Proper Instructions or otherwise act with respect to
such Fund on behalf of the Board of Trustees/Directors of such Fund by
appropriate resolution of such Board of Trustees/Directors, it being
understood that the signatures of two Authorized persons of a Fund shall
be required for the release of the assets of the Fund.
1
<PAGE>
Except as specifically superseded or modified herein, the terms and provisions
of the Custodian Contract shall continue to apply with full force and effect.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this instrument to be
executed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized representative as of the
1st day of October, 1997.
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
By: /s/ Ronald E. Logue
-------------------------------
Ronald E. Logue
Executive Vice President
Attest: /s/ Thomas M. Lenz
----------------------------
Thomas M. Lenz
Vice President
EACH FUND LISTED ON APPENDIX A
By: /s/ Jean B. Buttner
-------------------------------
Name: Jean B. Buttner
Title: Chairman/President
Attest: /s/ David T. Henigson
---------------------------
Name: David T. Henigson
Title: Secretary
2
<PAGE>
APPENDIX A
LIST OF FUNDS
Value Line Aggressive Income Trust
Value Line Asset Allocation Fund, Inc.,
Value Line Cash Fund, Inc., (The)
Value Line Centurion Fund, Inc.
Value Line Convertible Fund, Inc.
Value Line Fund, Inc. (The)
Value Line Income Fund, Inc., (The)
Value Line Leveraged Growth Investors, Inc.
Value Line New York Tax Exempt Trust
Value Line Small-Cap Growth Fund, Inc.
Value Line Special Situations Fund, Inc.
Value Line Strategic Asset Management Trust
Value Line Tax-Exempt Fund, Inc. (The)
Value Line U.S. Government Securities Fund, Inc.
Value Line U.S. Multi-National Company Fund, Inc.
3
<PAGE>
Exhibit 99.(i)
PETER D. LOWENSTEIN
ATTORNEY AT LAW
TWO GREENWICH PLAZA, SUITE 100
GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT 06830
203 622-3932
FAX 203 622-0321
May 24, 1999
Value Line U.S. Multinational Company Fund, Inc.
220 East 42nd Street
New York, NY 10017
Gentlemen:
I have acted as special counsel to Value Line U.S. Multinational Company
Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "Fund") in connection with certain
matters, including the issuance of shares of its common stock, $.001 par value
(the "Common Stock").
As special counsel for the Fund, I am familiar with its Charter and
By-laws. I have examined the prospectus included in Post-Effective Amendment No.
4 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File No. 33-60829 (the
"Registration Statement"), substantially in the form in which it is to become
effective (the "Prospectus"). I have further examined and relied upon a
certificate of the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation to the
effect that the Fund is duly incorporated and existing under the laws of the
State of Maryland and is in good standing and duly authorized to transact
business in the State of Maryland.
I have also examined and relied upon such corporate records of the Fund and
other document and certificates with respect to factual matters as I have deemed
necessary to render the opinion expressed herein. I have assumed, without
independent verification, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of
all documents submitted to me as originals and the conformity with originals of
all documents submitted to me as copies.
Based on such examination, I am of the opinion and so advise you that:
1. The Fund is duly organized and validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of
Maryland.
2. The shares of Common Stock of the Fund to be offered for sale
pursuant to the Prospectus are to the extent of the number of
shares authorized to be issued, duly authorized and, when
sold, issued and paid for as contemplated by the Prospectus,
will have been validly and legally issued and will be fully
paid and nonassessable.
<PAGE>
I am a member of the bars of the States of Connecticut and New York and I
do not purport to be an expert in, and express no opinion with respect to, the
laws of any jurisdiction other than the federal laws of the United States and
the laws of the States of Connecticut and New York.
I consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Peter D. Lowenstein
Peter D. Lowenstein
PDL:psp
<PAGE>
Exhibit 99.(m)
Value Line U.S. Multinational Company Fund, Inc.
Service and Distribution Plan (the "Plan")
The Plan is adopted as of this 21st day of September, 1995, by the Board of
Directors of Value Line U.S. Multinational Company Fund, Inc., a Maryland
corporation (the "Fund").
1. The Plan is adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act
of 1940 (the "Act") so as to allow the Fund to make payments as contemplated
herein, in conjunction with the distribution of shares of Common Stock of the
Fund ("Shares"). Payments also may be made by Value Line, Inc., the Fund's
investment adviser, out of its fees, its past profits or any other source
available to it.
2. The Plan is designed to finance activities of Value Line Securities, Inc.
("VLS") principally intended to result in sale of the Shares and to include the
following: (a) to provide incentive to securities dealers to sell Shares and to
provide administrative support services to the Fund and its shareholders; (b) to
compensate other participating financial institutions and organizations
(including individuals) for providing administrative support services to the
Fund and its shareholders; (c) to pay for costs incurred in conjunction with
advertising and marketing of Shares including expenses of preparing, printing
and distributing prospectuses and sales literature to prospective shareholders,
securities dealers and others, and for servicing the accounts of shareholders
and (d) other costs incurred in the implementation and operation of the Plan.
<PAGE>
3. As compensation for the services to be provided under this Plan, VLS shall be
paid a fee at the annual rate of 0.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets.
4. All payments to securities dealers, participating financial institutions and
other organizations shall be made pursuant to the terms of a Distribution
Agreement between VLS and such dealer, institution or organization.
5. The Board of Directors shall be provided, at least quarterly, with a written
report of all amounts expended pursuant to the Plan and the purpose for which
the amounts were expended.
6. The Plan will become effective immediately upon approval by (a) a majority of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Fund and (b) a majority of the
Board of Directors who are not "interested persons" (as defined in the Act) of
the Fund and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of
the Plan or in any agreements entered into in connection with the Plan, pursuant
to a vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the
approval of the Plan.
7. The Plan shall continue for a period of one year from its effective date,
unless earlier terminated in accordance with its terms, and thereafter shall
continue automatically for successive annual periods, provided such continuance
is approved at least annually in the manner provided by the Act.
8. The plan may be amended at any time by the Board of Directors provided that
(a) any amendment to increase materially the costs which the Fund may bear
pursuant to the Plan shall be effective only upon approval by a vote of a
majority of the outstanding
<PAGE>
voting securities of the Fund and (b) any material amendments of the terms of
the Plan shall become effective only upon approval as provided in paragraph 6
(b) hereof.
9. The Plan is terminable without penalty at any time by (a) vote of a majority
of the Board of Directors of the Fund, including a majority of the Directors who
are not "interested persons" (as defined in the Act) of the Fund and have no
direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or in any
agreements entered into in connection with the Plan, or (b) vote of a majority
of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.
10. While the Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of Directors who
are not "interested persons" (as defined in the Act) of the Fund shall be
committed to the discretion of the Directors who are not "interested persons."
11. The Fund shall preserve copies of the Plan and any related agreements and
all reports made pursuant to paragraph 5 hereof, for a period of not less than
six years from the date thereof, the first two years in an easily accessible
place.
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 6
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1999
<PERIOD-START> APR-01-1998
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 19782
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 34176
<RECEIVABLES> 19
<ASSETS-OTHER> 96
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 34291
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 136
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 52
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 188
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 18963
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 1726
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 1824
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 747
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 14393
<NET-ASSETS> 34103
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 120
<INTEREST-INCOME> 122
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 465
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (223)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 747
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 5359
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 5883
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 107
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 205
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 4428
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 220
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 467
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 29496
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 16.27
<PER-SHARE-NII> (.13)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 3.61
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 19.75
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.58
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0
</TABLE>
