INVESTMENTS, POLICIES, AND RISKS

The principal investments and policies of the Fund are discussed in the Prospectus of the Fund. The Fund also may invest in the following securities and engage in the following practices.

ADRs and EDRs — American Depositary Receipts, or ADRs, are receipts typically issued by U.S. banks. ADRs are receipts for the shares of foreign corporations that are held by the bank issuing the receipt. An ADR entitles its holder to all dividends and capital gains on the underlying foreign securities, less any fees paid to the bank. Purchasing ADRs gives the Fund the ability to purchase the functional equivalent of foreign securities without going to the foreign securities markets to do so. ADRs are bought and sold in U.S. dollars, not foreign currencies. An ADR that is “sponsored” means that the foreign corporation whose shares are represented by the ADR is actively involved in the issuance of the ADR, and generally provides material information about the corporation to the U.S. market. An “unsponsored” ADR program means that the foreign corporation whose shares are held by the bank is not obligated to disclose material information in the United States, and, therefore, the market value of the ADR may not reflect important facts known only to the foreign company. Since they mirror their underlying foreign securities, ADRs generally have the same risks as investing directly in the underlying foreign securities.

European Depositary Receipts, or EDRs, are similar to ADRs, except that they are typically issued by European banks or trust companies.

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Certificates of Deposit in Foreign Banks and U.S. Branches of Foreign Banks — The Fund may maintain time deposits in and invest in U.S. dollar denominated certificates of deposit (“CDs”) issued by foreign banks and U.S. branches of foreign banks. The Fund limits investments in foreign bank obligations to U.S. dollar denominated obligations of foreign banks which have more than $10 billion in assets, have branches or agencies in the U.S., and meet other criteria established by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (“Board”).

The Fund may also invest in bankers’ acceptances, time deposits, and certificates of deposit of U.S. branches of foreign banks and foreign branches of U.S. banks. Investments in instruments of U.S. branches of foreign banks will be made only with branches that are subject to the same regulations as U.S. banks. Investments in instruments issued by a foreign branch of a U.S. bank will be made only if the investment risk associated with such investment is the same as that involving an investment in instruments issued by the U.S. parent, with the U.S. parent unconditionally liable in the event that the foreign branch fails to pay on the investment for any reason.

Commercial Paper — Commercial paper is the term for short-term promissory notes issued by domestic corporations to meet current working capital needs. Commercial paper may be unsecured by the corporation’s assets but may be backed by a letter of credit from a bank or other financial institution. The letter of credit enhances the commercial paper’s creditworthiness. The issuer is directly responsible for payment but the bank “guarantees” that if the note is not paid at maturity by the issuer, the bank will pay the principal and interest to the buyer. The Fund’s investment advisor (“Advisor”), will consider the creditworthiness of the institution issuing the letter of credit, as well as the creditworthiness of the issuer of the commercial paper, when purchasing paper enhanced by a letter of credit. Commercial paper is sold either as interest-bearing or on a discounted basis, with maturities not exceeding 270 days.

Debt Securities — Debt securities include bonds, notes, and other securities that give the holder the right to receive fixed amounts of principal, interest, or both on a date in the future or on demand. Debt securities also are often referred to as fixed-income securities, even if the rate of interest varies over the life of the security.

Debt securities are generally subject to credit risk and market risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of the security may be unable to meet interest or principal payments or both as they come due. Market risk is the risk that the market value of the security may decline for a variety of reasons, including changes in interest rates. An increase in interest rates tends to reduce the market values of debt securities in which the Fund has invested. A decline in interest rates tends to increase the market values of debt securities in which the Fund has invested.

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Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) and Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) ratings provide a useful guide to the credit risk of many debt securities. The lower the rating of a debt security, the greater the credit risk the rating service assigns to the security. To compensate investors for accepting that greater risk, lower-rated debt securities tend to offer higher interest rates. Lower-rated debt securities are often referred to as “junk bonds.” Increasing the amount of Fund assets invested in unrated or lower-grade straight debt securities may increase the yield produced by the Fund’s debt securities but will also increase the credit risk of those securities. A debt security is considered lower-grade if it is rated Ba or less by Moody’s, BB or less by S&P at the time of purchase. Lower-rated and non-rated debt securities of comparable quality are subject to wider fluctuations in yields and market values than higher-rated debt securities and may be considered speculative. Although the Fund may invest in debt securities assigned lower grade ratings by S&P or Moody’s at the time of purchase, the Fund’s investments will generally be limited to debt securities rated B or higher by either S&P or Moody’s. Debt securities rated lower than B by either S&P or Moody’s are usually considered to be speculative. At the time of purchase, the Advisor will limit Fund investments to debt securities which the Advisor believes are not highly speculative and which are rated at least CCC by S&P or Caa by Moody’s.

A significant economic downturn or increase in interest rates may cause issuers of debt securities to experience increased financial problems which could adversely affect their ability to pay principal and interest obligations, to meet projected business goals, and to obtain additional financing. These conditions more severely impact issuers of lower-rated debt securities. The market for lower-rated straight debt securities may not be as liquid as the market for higher-rated straight debt securities. Therefore, the Advisor attempts to limit purchases of lower-rated securities to securities having an established secondary market.

Debt securities rated Caa by Moody’s may be in default or may present risks of non-payment of principal or interest. Lower-rated securities by S&P (categories BB, B, or CCC) include those which are predominantly speculative because of the issuer’s perceived capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with their terms; BB indicates the lowest degree of speculation and CCC a high degree of speculation. While such bonds will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these are usually outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions.

Although bonds in the lowest investment grade debt category (those rated BBB by S&P, Baa by Moody’s or the equivalent) are regarded as having adequate capability to pay principal and interest, they have speculative characteristics. Adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to make principal and interest payments than is the case for higher-rated bonds. Lower-rated bonds by Moody’s (categories Ba, B, or Caa) are of poorer quality and also have speculative characteristics. Bonds rated Caa may be in default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal or interest. Lower-rated bonds by S&P (categories BB, B, or CCC) include those that are regarded, on balance, as predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with their terms; BB indicates the lowest degree of speculation and CCC a high degree of speculation. While such bonds likely will have some quality and protective characteristics, these are outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions. Bonds having equivalent ratings from other rating services will have characteristics

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similar to those of the corresponding S&P and Moody’s ratings. For a specific description of S&P and Moody’s corporate bond rating categories, please refer to Appendix A.

The Fund may invest in zero coupon bonds, step-up bonds, mortgage-backed securities, and asset-backed securities. Zero coupon bonds do not make regular interest payments. Zero coupon bonds are sold at a discount from face value. Principal and accrued discount (representing interest earned but not paid) are paid at maturity in the amount of the face value. Step-up bonds initially make no (or low) cash interest payments but begin paying interest (or a higher rate of interest) at a fixed time after issuance of the bond. The market values of zero coupon and step-up bonds generally fluctuate more in response to changes in interest rates than interest-paying securities of comparable term and quality. The Fund may be required to distribute income recognized on these bonds, even though no cash may be paid to the Fund until the maturity or call date of a bond, in order for the Fund to maintain its qualification as a regulated investment company. These required distributions could reduce the amount of cash available for investment by the Fund. Mortgage-backed securities represent interests in pools of mortgages while asset-backed securities generally represent interests in pools of consumer loans. Both of these are usually set up as pass-through securities. Interest and principal payments ultimately depend on payment of the underlying loans, although the securities may be supported, at least in part, by letters of credit or other credit enhancements or, in the case of mortgage-backed securities, guarantees by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities. The underlying loans are subject to prepayments that may shorten the securities’ weighted average lives and may lower their returns.

Domestic Bank Obligations — U.S. banks (including their foreign branches) issue Certificates of Deposit (“CDs”) and bankers’ acceptances which may be purchased by the Fund if an issuing bank has total assets in excess of $5 billion and the bank otherwise meets the Fund’s credit rating requirements. CDs are issued against deposits in a commercial bank for a specified period and rate and are normally negotiable. Eurodollar CDs are certificates issued by a foreign branch (usually London) of a U.S. domestic bank, and, as such, the credit is deemed to be that of the domestic bank. Bankers’ acceptances are short-term credit instruments evidencing the promise of the bank (by virtue of the bank’s “acceptance”) to pay at maturity a draft which has been drawn on it by a customer (the “drawer”). Bankers’ acceptances are used to finance the import, export, transfer, or storage of goods and reflect the obligation of both the bank and the drawer to pay the face amount. Both types of securities are subject to the ability of the issuing bank to meet its obligations, and are subject to risks common to all debt securities. In addition, Eurodollar CDs and banker’s acceptances may be subject to foreign currency risk and certain other risks of investment in foreign securities.

Equity Securities — The Fund may invest in common, preferred, and convertible preferred stocks, and securities whose values are tied to the price of stocks, such as rights, warrants, and convertible debt securities. Common stocks and preferred stocks represent equity ownership in a corporation. Owners of stock, such as the Fund, share in a corporation’s earnings through dividends which may be declared by the corporation, although the receipt of dividends is not the principal benefit that the Fund seeks when it invests in stocks and similar instruments.

Instead, the Fund seeks to invest in stocks that will increase in market value and may be sold for more than the Fund paid to buy them. Market value is based upon constantly changing investor

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perceptions of what the company is worth compared to other companies. Although dividends are a factor in the changing market value of stocks, many companies do not pay dividends, or pay comparatively small dividends. The principal risk of investing in equity securities is that their market values fluctuate constantly, often due to factors entirely outside the control of the Fund or the company issuing the stock. At any given time, the market value of an equity security may be significantly higher or lower than the amount paid by the Fund to acquire it.

Owners of preferred stocks are entitled to dividends payable from the corporation’s earnings, which in some cases may be “cumulative” if prior dividends on the preferred stock have not been paid. Dividends payable on preferred stock have priority over distributions to holders of common stock, and preferred stocks generally have a priority on the distribution of assets in the event of the corporation’s liquidation. Preferred stocks may be “participating,” which means that they may be entitled to dividends in excess of the stated dividend in certain cases. The holders of a company’s debt securities generally are entitled to be paid by the company before it pays anything to its stockholders.

Rights and warrants are securities which entitle the holder to purchase the securities of a company (usually, its common stock) at a specified price during a specified time period. The value of a right or warrant is affected by many of the same factors that determine the prices of common stocks. Rights and warrants may be purchased directly or acquired in connection with a corporate reorganization or exchange offer.

The Fund also may purchase convertible securities including convertible debt obligations and convertible preferred stock. A convertible security entitles the holder to exchange it for a fixed number of shares of common stock (or other equity security), usually at a fixed price within a specified period of time. Until conversion, the owner of convertible securities usually receives the interest paid on a convertible bond or the dividend preference of a preferred stock.

A convertible security has an “investment value” which is a theoretical value determined by the yield it provides in comparison with similar securities without the conversion feature. Investment value changes are based upon prevailing interest rates and other factors. It also has a “conversion value,” which is the market value the convertible security would have if it were exchanged for the underlying equity security. Convertible securities may be purchased at varying price levels above or below their investment values or conversion values.

Conversion value is a simple mathematical calculation that fluctuates directly with the price of the underlying security. However, if the conversion value is substantially below the investment value, the market value of the convertible security is governed principally by its investment value. If the conversion value is near or above the investment value, the market value of the convertible security generally will rise above the investment value. In such cases, the market value of the convertible security may be higher than its conversion value, due to the combination of the convertible security’s right to interest (or dividend preference) and the possibility of capital appreciation from the conversion feature. However, there is no assurance that any premium above investment value or conversion value will be recovered because prices change and, as a result, the ability to achieve capital appreciation through conversion may be eliminated.

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Foreign Securities — Investments in the securities of foreign companies, or companies that have their principal business activities outside the United States, involve certain risks not associated with investments in U.S. companies. Non-U.S. companies generally are not subject to the same uniform accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards that apply to U.S. companies. Therefore, financial information about foreign companies may be incomplete, or may not be comparable to the information available on U.S. companies. There may also be less publicly available information about a foreign company.

Although the volume of trading in foreign securities markets is growing, securities of many non-U.S. companies may be less liquid and have greater swings in price than securities of comparable U.S. companies. The costs of buying and selling securities on foreign securities exchanges are generally significantly higher than similar costs in the United States. There is generally less government supervision and regulation of exchanges, brokers, and issuers in foreign countries than there is in the United States. Investments in non-U.S. securities may also be subject to other risks different from those affecting U.S. investments, including local political or economic developments, expropriation or nationalization of assets, confiscatory taxation, and imposition of withholding taxes on dividends or interest payments. If it becomes necessary, it may be more difficult for the Fund to obtain or to enforce a judgment against a foreign issuer than against a domestic issuer.

Securities traded on foreign markets are usually bought and sold in local currencies, not in U.S. dollars. Therefore, the market value of foreign securities acquired by the Fund can be affected — favorably or unfavorably — by changes in currency rates and exchange control regulations. Costs are incurred in converting money from one currency to another. Foreign currency exchange rates are determined by supply and demand on the foreign exchange markets. Foreign exchange markets are affected by the international balance of payments and other economic and financial conditions, government intervention, speculation, and other factors, all of which are outside the control of the Fund. Generally, the Fund’s foreign currency exchange transactions will be conducted on a cash or “spot” basis at the spot rate for purchasing or selling currency in the foreign currency exchange markets.

Futures, Options, and Other Financial Instruments

General . The Advisor may use various types of financial instruments, some of which are derivatives, to attempt to manage the risk of the Fund’s investments or, in certain circumstances, for investment ( e.g. , as a substitute for investing in securities). These financial instruments include options, futures contracts (sometimes referred to as “futures”), forward contracts, swaps, caps, floors, and collars (collectively, “Financial Instruments”). The policies in this section do not apply to other types of instruments sometimes referred to as derivatives, such as indexed securities, mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities, and stripped interest and principal of debt.

Hedging strategies can be broadly categorized as “short” hedges and “long” or “anticipatory” hedges. A short hedge involves the use of a Financial Instrument in order to partially or fully offset potential variations in the value of one or more investments held in the Fund’s portfolio. A long or anticipatory hedge involves the use of a Financial Instrument in order to partially or fully offset potential increases in the acquisition cost of one or more investments that the Fund intends

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to acquire. In an anticipatory hedge transaction, the Fund does not already own a corresponding security. Rather, the hedge relates to a security or type of security that the Fund intends to acquire. If the Fund does not eliminate the hedge by purchasing the security as anticipated, the effect on the Fund’s portfolio is the same as if a long position were entered into. Financial Instruments may also be used, in certain circumstances, for investment ( e.g., as a substitute for investing in securities).

Financial Instruments on individual securities generally are used to attempt to hedge against price movements in one or more particular securities positions that the Fund already owns or intends to acquire. Financial Instruments on indexes, in contrast, generally are used to attempt to hedge all or a portion of a portfolio against price movements of the securities within a market sector in which the Fund has invested or expects to invest.

The use of Financial Instruments is subject to applicable regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the several exchanges upon which they are traded, and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”). In addition, the Fund’s ability to use Financial Instruments will be limited by tax considerations. See “Tax Consequences of Owning Shares of the Fund.”

In addition to the instruments and strategies described below, the Advisor may use other similar or related techniques to the extent that they are consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and permitted by its investment limitations and applicable regulatory authorities. The Fund’s Prospectus or SAI will be supplemented to the extent that new products or techniques become employed involving materially different risks than those described below or in the Prospectus.

Special Risks . Financial Instruments and their use involve special considerations and risks, certain of which are described below.

(1) Financial Instruments may increase the volatility of the Fund. If the Advisor employs a Financial Instrument that correlates imperfectly with the Fund’s investments, a loss could result, regardless of whether or not the intent was to manage risk. In addition, these techniques could result in a loss if there is not a liquid market to close out a position that the Fund has entered.

(2) There might be imperfect correlation between price movements of a Financial Instrument and price movement of the investment(s) being hedged. For example, if the value of a Financial Instrument used in a short hedge increased by less than the decline in value of the hedged investment(s), the hedge would not be fully successful. This might be caused by certain kinds of trading activity that distorts the normal price relationship between the security being hedged and the Financial Instrument. Similarly, the effectiveness of hedges using Financial Instruments on indexes will depend on the degree of correlation between price movements in the index and price movements in the securities being hedged.

The Fund is authorized to use options and futures contracts related to securities with issuers, maturities or other characteristics different from the securities in which it typically invests. This

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involves a risk that the options or futures position will not track the performance of the Fund’s portfolio investments.

The direction of options and futures price movements can also diverge from the direction of the movements of the prices of their underlying instruments, even if the underlying instruments match the Fund’s investments well. Options and futures prices are affected by such factors as current and anticipated short-term interest rates, changes in volatility of the underlying instrument, and the time remaining until expiration of the contract, which may not affect security prices the same way. Imperfect correlation may also result from differing levels of demand in the options and futures markets and the securities markets, from structural differences in how options and futures and securities are traded, or from imposition of daily price fluctuation limits or trading halts. The Fund may take positions in options and futures contracts with a greater or lesser face value than the securities it wishes to hedge or intends to purchase in order to attempt to compensate for differences in volatility between the contract and the securities, although this may not be successful in all cases.

(3) If successful, the above-discussed hedging strategies can reduce risk of loss by wholly or partially offsetting the negative effect of unfavorable price movements of portfolio securities. However, such strategies can also reduce opportunity for gain by offsetting the positive effect of favorable price movements. For example, if the Fund entered into a short hedge because the Advisor projected a decline in the price of a security in the Fund’s portfolio, and the price of that security increased instead, the gain from that increase would likely be wholly or partially offset by a decline in the value of the short position in the Financial Instrument. Moreover, if the price of the Financial Instrument declined by more than the increase in the price of the security, the Fund could suffer a loss.

(4) The Fund’s ability to close out a position in a Financial Instrument prior to expiration or maturity depends on the degree of liquidity of the market or, in the absence of such a market, the ability and willingness of the other party to the transaction (the “counterparty”) to enter into a transaction closing out the position. Therefore, there is no assurance that any position can be closed out at a time and price that is favorable to the Fund.

(5) As described below, the Fund is required to maintain assets as “cover,” maintain segregated accounts or make margin payments when it takes positions in Financial Instruments involving obligations to third parties ( i.e. , Financial Instruments other than purchased options). If the Fund is unable to close out its positions in such Financial Instruments, it might be required to continue to maintain such assets or segregated accounts or make such payments until the position expired. These requirements might impair the Fund’s ability to sell a portfolio security or make an investment at a time when it would otherwise be favorable to do so, or require that the Fund sell a portfolio security at a disadvantageous time.

Cover . Positions in Financial Instruments, other than purchased options, expose the Fund to an obligation to another party. The Fund will not enter into any such transaction unless it owns (1) an offsetting (“covered”) position in securities, currencies or other options, futures contracts or forward contracts, or (2) cash and liquid assets with a value, marked-to-market daily, sufficient to cover its obligations to the extent not covered as provided in (1) above. The Fund will comply with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) guidelines regarding cover for these

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instruments and will, if the guidelines so require, designate cash or liquid assets as segregated in the prescribed amount as determined daily.

Assets used as cover or held as segregated cannot be sold while the position in the corresponding Financial Instrument is open unless they are replaced with other appropriate assets. As a result, the commitment of a large portion of the Fund’s assets to cover or to hold as segregated could impede portfolio management or the Fund’s ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.

Options . The Fund may engage in certain strategies involving options to attempt to manage the risk of its investments or, in certain circumstances, for investment ( e.g., as a substitute for investing in securities). A call option gives the purchaser the right to buy, and obligates the writer to sell the underlying investment at the agreed-upon exercise price during the option period. A put option gives the purchaser the right to sell, and obligates the writer to buy the underlying investment at the agreed-upon exercise price during the option period. Purchasers of options pay an amount, known as a premium, to the option writer in exchange for the right under the option contract. See “Options on Indexes” below with regard to cash settlement of option contracts on index values.

The purchase of call options can serve as a hedge against a price rise of the underlying security and the purchase of put options can serve as a hedge against a price decline of the underlying security. Writing call options can serve as a limited short hedge because declines in the value of the hedged investment would be offset to the extent of the premium received for writing the option. However, if the security or currency appreciates to a price higher than the exercise price of the call option, it can be expected that the option will be exercised and the Fund will be obligated to sell the security or currency at less than its market value.

Writing put options can serve as a limited long or anticipatory hedge because increases in the value of the hedged investment would be offset to the extent of the premium received for writing the option. However, if the security or currency depreciates to a price lower than the exercise price of the put option, it can be expected that the put option will be exercised and the Fund will be obligated to purchase the security or currency at more than its market value.

The value of an option position will reflect, among other things, the current market value of the underlying investment, the time remaining until expiration, the relationship of the exercise price to the market price of the underlying investment, the price volatility of the underlying investment and general market and interest rate conditions. Options that expire unexercised have no value.

The Fund may effectively terminate its right or obligation under an option by entering into a closing transaction. For example, the Fund may terminate its obligation under a call or put option that it had written by purchasing an identical call or put option, which is known as a closing purchase transaction. Conversely, the Fund may terminate a position in a put or call option it had purchased by writing an identical put or call option, which is known as a closing sale transaction. Closing transactions permit the Fund to realize profits or limit losses on an option position prior to its exercise or expiration.

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Risks of Options on Securities . Options embody the possibility of large amounts of exposure, which will result in the Fund’s net asset value being more sensitive to changes in the value of the related investment. The Fund may purchase or write both exchange-traded and OTC options. Exchange-traded options in the United States are issued by a clearing organization affiliated with the exchange on which the option is listed that, in effect, guarantees completion of every exchange-traded option transaction. In contrast, OTC options are contracts between the Fund and its counterparty (usually a securities dealer or a bank) with no clearing organization guarantee. Thus, when the Fund purchases an OTC option, it relies on the counterparty from whom it purchased the option to make or take delivery of the underlying investment upon exercise of the option. Failure by the counterparty to do so would result in the loss of any premium paid by the Fund as well as the loss of any expected benefit from the transaction.

The Fund’s ability to establish and close out positions in options depends on the existence of a liquid market. However, there can be no assurance that such a market will exist at any particular time. Closing transactions can be made for OTC options only by negotiating directly with the counterparty, or by a transaction in the secondary market if any such market exists. There can be no assurance that the Fund will in fact be able to close out an OTC option position at a favorable price prior to expiration. In the event of insolvency of the counterparty, the Fund might be unable to close out an OTC option position at any time prior to the option’s expiration. If the Fund is not able to enter into an offsetting closing transaction on an option it has written, it will be required to maintain the securities subject to the call or the liquid assets underlying the put until a closing purchase transaction can be entered into or the option expires. However, there can be no assurance that such a market will exist at any particular time.

If the Fund were unable to effect a closing transaction for an option it had purchased, it would have to exercise the option to realize any profit. The inability to enter into a closing purchase transaction for a covered call option written by the Fund could cause material losses because the Fund would be unable to sell the investment used as cover for the written option until the option expires or is exercised.

Options on Indexes . Puts and calls on indexes are similar to puts and calls on securities or futures contracts except that all settlements are in cash and changes in value depend on changes in the index in question. When the Fund writes a call on an index, it receives a premium and agrees that, prior to the expiration date, upon exercise of the call, the purchaser will receive from the Fund an amount of cash equal to the positive difference between the closing price of the index and the exercise price of the call times a specified multiple (“multiplier”), which determines the total dollar value for each point of such difference. When the Fund buys a call on an index, it pays a premium and has the same rights as to such call as are indicated above. When the Fund buys a put on an index, it pays a premium and has the right, prior to the expiration date, to require the seller of the put to deliver to the Fund an amount of cash equal to the positive difference between the exercise price of the put and the closing price of the index times the multiplier. When the Fund writes a put on an index, it receives a premium and the purchaser of the put has the right, prior to the expiration date, to require the Fund to deliver to it an amount of cash equal to the positive difference between the exercise price of the put and the closing level of the index times the multiplier.

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The risks of purchasing and selling options on indexes may be greater than options on securities. Because index options are settled in cash, when the Fund writes a call on an index it cannot fulfill its potential settlement obligations by delivering the underlying securities. The Fund can offset some of the risk of writing a call index option by holding a diversified portfolio of securities similar to those on which the underlying index is based. However, the Fund cannot, as a practical matter, acquire and hold a portfolio containing exactly the same securities as underlie the index and, as a result, bears a risk that the value of the securities held will vary from the value of the index.

Even if the Fund could assemble a portfolio that exactly reproduced the composition of the underlying index, it still would not be fully covered from a risk standpoint because of the “timing risk” inherent in writing index options. When an index option is exercised, the amount of cash that the holder is entitled to receive is determined by the difference between the exercise price and the closing index level. As with other kinds of options, the Fund as the call writer will not learn what it has been assigned until the next business day. The time lag between exercise and notice of assignment poses no risk for the writer of a covered call on a specific underlying security, such as common stock, because in that case the writer’s obligation is to deliver the underlying security, not to pay its value as of a moment in the past. In contrast, the writer of an index call will be required to pay cash in an amount based on the difference between the closing index value on the exercise date and the exercise price. By the time the Fund learns what it has been assigned, the index may have declined. This “timing risk” is an inherent limitation on the ability of index call writers to cover their risk exposure.

If the Fund has purchased an index option and exercises it before the closing index value for that day is available, it runs the risk that the level of the underlying index may subsequently change. If such a change causes the exercised option to fall out-of-the-money, the Fund nevertheless will be required to pay the difference between the closing index value and the exercise price of the option (times the applicable multiplier) to the assigned writer.

OTC Options . Unlike exchange-traded options, which are standardized with respect to the underlying instrument, expiration date, contract size, and strike price, the terms of OTC options (options not traded on exchanges) generally are established through negotiation with the other party to the option contract. While this type of arrangement allows the Fund great flexibility to tailor the option to its needs, OTC options generally involve greater risk than exchange-traded options, which are guaranteed by the clearing organization of the exchange where they are traded.

Generally, OTC foreign currency options used by the Fund are European-style options. This means that the option is only exercisable immediately prior to its expiration. This is in contrast to American-style options, which are exercisable at any time prior to the expiration date of the option.

Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts . When the Fund purchases or sells a futures contract, it incurs an obligation respectively to take or make delivery of a specified amount of the obligation underlying the contract at a specified time and price. When the Fund writes an option on a futures contract, it becomes obligated to assume a position in the futures contract at a specified exercise price at any time during the term of the option. If the Fund writes a call, on

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exercise it assumes a short futures position. If it writes a put, on exercise it assumes a long futures position.

The purchase of futures or call options on futures can serve as a long or an anticipatory hedge, and the sale of futures or the purchase of put options on futures can serve as a short hedge. Writing call options on futures contracts can serve as a limited short hedge, using a strategy similar to that used for writing call options on securities or indexes. Similarly, writing put options on futures contracts can serve as a limited long or anticipatory hedge.

In addition, futures strategies can be used to manage the “duration” (a measure of anticipated sensitivity to changes in interest rates, which is sometimes related to the weighted average maturity of a portfolio) and associated interest rate risk of the Fund’s fixed-income portfolio. If the Advisor wishes to shorten the duration of the Fund’s fixed-income portfolio (i.e., reduce anticipated sensitivity), the Fund may sell an appropriate debt futures contract or a call option thereon, or purchase a put option on that futures contract. If the Advisor wishes to lengthen the duration of the Fund’s fixed-income portfolio (i.e., increase anticipated sensitivity), the Fund may buy an appropriate debt futures contract or a call option thereon, or sell a put option thereon.

At the inception of a futures contract, the Fund is required to deposit “initial margin” in an amount generally equal to 10% or less of the contract value. Initial margin must also be deposited when writing a call or put option on a futures contract, in accordance with applicable exchange rules. Subsequent “variation margin” payments are made to and from the futures broker daily as the value of the futures or written option position varies, a process known as “marking-to-market.” Unlike margin in securities transactions, initial margin on futures contracts and written options on futures contracts does not represent a borrowing on margin, but rather is in the nature of a performance bond or good-faith deposit that is returned to the Fund at the termination of the transaction if all contractual obligations have been satisfied. Under certain circumstances, such as periods of high volatility, the Fund may be required to increase the level of initial margin deposits. If the Fund has insufficient cash to meet daily variation margin requirements, it might need to sell securities in order to do so at a time when such sales are disadvantageous.

Purchasers and sellers of futures contracts and options on futures can enter into offsetting closing transactions, similar to closing transactions on options, by selling or purchasing, respectively, an instrument identical to the instrument purchased or sold. However, there can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist for a particular contract at a particular time. In such event, it may not be possible to close a futures contract or options position.

Under certain circumstances, futures exchanges may establish daily limits on the amount that the price of a futures contract or an option on a futures contract can vary from the previous day’s settlement price; once that limit is reached, no trades may be made that day at a price beyond the limit. Daily price limits do not limit potential losses because prices could move to the daily limit for several consecutive days with little or no trading, thereby preventing liquidation of unfavorable positions.

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If the Fund were unable to liquidate a futures contract or an option on a futures contract position due to the absence of a liquid market or the imposition of price limits, it could incur substantial losses. The Fund would continue to be subject to market risk with respect to the position. In addition, except in the case of purchased options, the Fund would continue to be required to make daily variation margin payments and might be required to continue to maintain the position being hedged by the futures contract or option or to continue to maintain cash or securities in a segregated account.

To the extent that the Fund enters into futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and options on foreign currencies traded on a CFTC-regulated exchange, in each case that is not for bona fide hedging purposes (as defined by the CFTC), the aggregate initial margin and premiums required to establish these positions (excluding the amount by which options are “in-the-money” at the time of purchase) may not exceed 5% of the liquidation value of the Fund’s portfolio, after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any contracts the Fund has entered into. This policy does not limit to 5% the percentage of the Fund’s assets that are at risk in futures contracts, options on futures contracts and currency options.

Risks of Futures Contracts and Options Thereon . The ordinary spreads at a given time between prices in the cash and futures markets (including the options on futures markets), due to differences in the natures of those markets, are subject to the following factors. First, all participants in the futures market are subject to margin deposit and maintenance requirements. Rather than meeting additional margin deposit requirements, investors may close futures contracts through offsetting transactions, which could distort the normal relationship between the cash and futures markets. Second, the liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent participants decide to make or take delivery, liquidity in the futures market could be reduced, thus producing distortion. Due to the possibility of distortion, a hedge may not be successful. Although stock index futures contracts do not require physical delivery, under extraordinary market conditions, liquidity of such futures contracts also could be reduced. Additionally, the Advisor may be incorrect in its expectations as to the extent of various interest rates, currency exchange rates or stock market movements or the time span within which the movements take place.

Index Futures . The risk of imperfect correlation between movements in the price of index futures and movements in the price of the securities that are the subject of a hedge increases as the composition of the Fund’s portfolio diverges from the index. The price of the index futures may move proportionately more than or less than the price of the securities being hedged. If the price of the index futures moves proportionately less than the price of the securities that are the subject of the hedge, the hedge will not be fully effective. Assuming the price of the securities being hedged has moved in an unfavorable direction, as anticipated when the hedge was put into place, the Fund would be in a better position than if it had not hedged at all, but not as good as if the price of the index futures moved in full proportion to that of the hedged securities. However, if the price of the securities being hedged has moved in a favorable direction, this advantage will be partially offset by movement of the price of the futures contract. If the price of the futures contract moves more than the price of the securities, the Fund will experience either a loss or a gain on the futures contract that will not be completely offset by movements in the price of the securities that are the subject of the hedge.

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Where index futures are purchased in an anticipatory hedge, it is possible that the market may decline instead. If the Fund then decides not to invest in the securities at that time because of concern as to possible further market decline or for other reasons, it will realize a loss on the futures contract that is not offset by a reduction in the price of the securities it had anticipated purchasing.

Foreign Currency Hedging Strategies—Special Considerations . The Fund may use options and futures contracts on foreign currencies, as mentioned previously, and forward currency contracts, as described below, to attempt to hedge against movements in the values of the foreign currencies in which the Fund’s securities are denominated or, in certain circumstances, for investment ( e.g., as a substitute for investing in securities denominated in foreign currency). Currency hedges can protect against price movements in a security that the Fund owns or intends to acquire that are attributable to changes in the value of the currency in which it is denominated.

The Fund might seek to hedge against changes in the value of a particular currency when no Financial Instruments on that currency are available or such Financial Instruments are more expensive than certain other Financial Instruments. In such cases, the Fund may seek to hedge against price movements in that currency by entering into transactions using Financial Instruments on another currency or a basket of currencies, the value of which the Advisor believes will have a high degree of positive correlation to the value of the currency being hedged. The risk that movements in the price of the Financial Instrument will not correlate perfectly with movements in the price of the currency subject to the hedging transaction may be increased when this strategy is used.

The value of Financial Instruments on foreign currencies depends on the value of the underlying currency relative to the U.S. dollar. Because foreign currency transactions occurring in the interbank market might involve substantially larger amounts than those involved in the use of such Financial Instruments, the Fund could be disadvantaged by having to deal in the odd-lot market (generally consisting of transactions of less than $1 million) for the underlying foreign currencies at prices that are less favorable than for round lots.

There is no systematic reporting of last sale information for foreign currencies or any regulatory requirement that quotations available through dealers or other market sources be firm or revised on a timely basis. Quotation information generally is representative of very large transactions in the interbank market and thus might not reflect odd-lot transactions where rates might be less favorable. The interbank market in foreign currencies is a global, round-the-clock market. To the extent the U.S. options or futures markets are closed while the markets for the underlying currencies remain open, significant price and rate movements might take place in the underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the markets for the Financial Instruments until they reopen.

Settlement of hedging transactions involving foreign currencies might be required to take place within the country issuing the underlying currency. Thus, the Fund might be required to accept or make delivery of the underlying foreign currency in accordance with any U.S. or foreign regulations regarding the maintenance of foreign banking arrangements by U.S. residents and might be required to pay any fees, taxes and charges associated with such delivery assessed in the issuing country.

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Forward Currency Contracts and Foreign Currency Deposits . The Fund may enter into forward currency contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies for a fixed amount of U.S. dollars or another foreign currency. A forward currency contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days (term) from the date of the forward currency contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time the forward currency contract is entered. Forward currency contracts are negotiated directly between currency traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers.

Such transactions may serve as long or anticipatory hedges. For example, the Fund may purchase a forward currency contract to lock in the U.S. dollar price of a security denominated in a foreign currency that the Fund intends to acquire. Forward currency contracts may also serve as short hedges. For example, the Fund may sell a forward currency contract to lock in the U.S. dollar equivalent of the proceeds from the anticipated sale of a security or a dividend or interest payment denominated in a foreign currency.

The Fund may also use forward currency contracts to hedge against a decline in the value of existing investments denominated in foreign currency. Such a hedge would tend to offset both positive and negative currency fluctuations, but would not offset changes in security values caused by other factors. The Fund could also hedge the position by entering into a forward currency contract to sell another currency expected to perform similarly to the currency in which the Fund’s existing investments are denominated. This type of hedge could offer advantages in terms of cost, yield, or efficiency, but may not hedge currency exposure as effectively as a simple hedge against U.S. dollars. This type of hedge may result in losses if the currency used to hedge does not perform similarly to the currency in which the hedged securities are denominated.

The Fund may also use forward currency contracts in one currency or a basket of currencies to attempt to hedge against fluctuations in the value of securities denominated in a different currency if the advisor anticipates that there will be a positive correlation between the two currencies.

The cost to the Fund of engaging in forward currency contracts varies with factors such as the currency involved, the length of the contract period and the market conditions then prevailing. Because forward currency contracts are usually entered into on a principal basis, no fees or commissions are involved. When the Fund enters into a forward currency contract, it relies on the counterparty to make or take delivery of the underlying currency at the maturity of the contract. Failure by the counterparty to do so would result in the loss of some or all of any expected benefit of the transaction.

As is the case with futures contracts, purchasers and sellers of forward currency contracts can enter into offsetting closing transactions, similar to closing transactions on futures contracts, by selling or purchasing, respectively, an instrument identical to the instrument purchased or sold. Secondary markets generally do not exist for forward currency contracts, with the result that closing transactions generally can be made for forward currency contracts only by negotiating directly with the counterparty. Thus, there can be no assurance that the Fund will in fact be able to close out a forward currency contract at a favorable price prior to maturity. In addition, in the event of insolvency of the counterparty, the Fund might be unable to close out a forward

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currency contract. In either event, the Fund would continue to be subject to market risk with respect to the position, and would continue to be required to maintain a position in securities denominated in the foreign currency or to segregate cash or liquid assets.

The precise matching of forward currency contract amounts and the value of the securities, dividends, or interest payments involved generally will not be possible because the value of such securities, dividends, or interest payments, measured in the foreign currency, will change after the forward currency contract has been established. Thus, the Fund might need to purchase or sell foreign currencies in the spot (cash) market to the extent such foreign currencies are not covered by forward currency contracts. The projection of short-term currency market movements is extremely difficult, and the successful execution of a short-term hedging strategy is highly uncertain.

Forward currency contracts may substantially change the Fund’s investment exposure to changes in currency exchange rates and could result in losses to the Fund if currencies do not perform as the advisor anticipates. There is no assurance that the advisor’s use of forward currency contracts will be advantageous to the Fund or that it will hedge at an appropriate time.

The Fund may also purchase and sell foreign currency and invest in foreign currency deposits. Currency conversion involves dealer spreads and other costs, although commissions usually are not charged.

Combined Positions . The Fund may purchase and write options or futures in combination with each other, or in combination with futures or forward currency contracts, to manage the risk and return characteristics of its overall position. For example, the Fund may purchase a put option and write a call option on the same underlying instrument, in order to construct a combined position whose risk and return characteristics are similar to selling a futures contract. Another possible combined position would involve writing a call option at one strike price and buying a call option at a lower price, in order to reduce the risk of the written call option in the event of a substantial price increase. Because combined options positions involve multiple trades, they result in higher transaction costs.

Turnover . The Fund’s options and futures activities may affect their turnover rates and brokerage commission payments. The exercise of calls or puts written by the Fund, and the sale or purchase of futures contracts, may cause it to sell or purchase related investments, thus increasing its turnover rate. Once the Fund has received an exercise notice on an option it has written, it cannot effect a closing transaction in order to terminate its obligation under the option and must deliver or receive the underlying securities at the exercise price. The exercise of puts purchased by the Fund may also cause the sale of related investments, increasing turnover. Although such exercise is within the Fund’s control, holding a protective put might cause it to sell the related investments for reasons that would not exist in the absence of the put. The Fund will pay a brokerage commission each time it buys or sells a put or call or purchases or sells a futures contract. Such commissions may be higher than those that would apply to direct purchases or sales.

Swaps, Caps, Floors, and Collars . The Fund is authorized to enter into swaps, caps, floors, and collars. Swaps involve the exchange by one party with another party of their respective

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commitments to pay or receive cash flows, e.g. , an exchange of floating rate payments for fixed rate payments. The purchase of a cap or a floor entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index exceeds in the case of a cap, or falls below in the case of a floor, a predetermined value, to receive payments on a notional principal amount from the party selling such instrument. A collar combines elements of buying a cap and selling a floor.

HOLDRs — Holding Company Depositary Receipts, or HOLDRs, are trust-issued receipts that represent the Fund’s beneficial ownership of a specific group of stocks. HOLDRs involve risks similar to the risks of investing in common stock. For example, the Fund’s investment will decline in value if the underlying stocks decline in value. Because HOLDRs are not subject to concentration limits, the relative weight of an individual stock may increase substantially, causing the HOLDRs to be less diverse and creating more risk.

Illiquid Securities — Securities which do not trade on stock exchanges or in the over-the-counter market, or have restrictions on when and how they may be sold, are generally considered to be “illiquid.” An illiquid security is one that the Fund may have difficulty — or may even be legally precluded from — selling at any particular time. The Fund may invest in illiquid securities, including restricted securities and other investments which are not readily marketable. The Fund will not purchase any such security if the purchase would cause the Fund to invest more than 15% of its net assets, measured at the time of purchase, in illiquid securities. Repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days are considered illiquid for purposes of this restriction.

The principal risk of investing in illiquid securities is that the Fund may be unable to dispose of them at the time desired or at a reasonable price. In addition, in order to resell a restricted security, the Fund might have to bear the expense and incur the delays associated with registering the security with the SEC, and otherwise obtaining listing on a securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market.

Initial Public Offerings (“IPOs”) — The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in securities of companies offering shares in IPOs. IPOs may have a magnified performance impact on the Fund for as long as it has a small asset base. The impact of IPOs on the Fund’s performance likely will decrease as the Fund’s asset size increases, which could reduce the Fund’s total returns. IPOs may not be consistently available to the Fund for investment, particularly as the Fund’s asset base grows. Because IPO shares frequently are volatile in price, the Fund may hold IPO shares for a very short period of time. This may increase the turnover of the Fund’s portfolio and may lead to increased expenses for the Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs. By selling shares, the Fund may realize taxable gains it will subsequently distribute to shareholders. In addition, the market for IPO shares can be speculative and/or inactive for extended periods of time. The limited number of shares available for trading in some IPOs may make it more difficult for the Fund to buy or sell significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing prices. Shareholders in IPO shares can be affected by substantial dilution in the value of their shares, by sales of additional shares and by concentration of control in existing management and principal shareholders.

The Fund’s investments in IPO shares may include the securities of unseasoned companies (companies with less than three years of continuous operations), which present risks

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considerably greater than common stocks of more established companies. These companies may have limited operating histories and their prospects for profitability may be uncertain. These companies may be involved in new and evolving businesses and may be vulnerable to competition and changes in technology, markets, and economic conditions. They may be more dependent on key managers and third parties and may have limited product lines.

Interfund Borrowing and Lending Program — Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, dated December 21, 1999, the Fund may lend money to, and borrow money for temporary purposes from other funds advised by the Advisor or its affiliates (the “AIM Funds”). The Fund will borrow through the program only when the costs are equal to or lower than the cost of bank loans. Interfund borrowings normally extend overnight, but can have a maximum duration of seven days. Loans may be called on one day’s notice. The Fund may have to borrow from a bank at a higher interest rate if an interfund loan is unavailable, called or not renewed. The Fund will only lend money when the interest rate on interfund loans is higher than the rate on overnight repurchase agreements and the yield on the institutional class of shares of an affiliated money market fund.

Investment Company Securities — With respect to the Fund’s purchase of shares of another investment company, including Affiliated Money Market Funds (defined below), the Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of the advisory fees and other operating expenses of such investment company. The Fund has obtained an exemptive order from the SEC allowing it to invest in money market funds that have AIM or an affiliate of AIM as an investment advisor (the “Affiliated Money Market Funds”), provided that investments in Affiliated Money Market Funds do not exceed 25% of the total assets of the investing Fund. The Fund also may invest in Exchange-Traded Funds (“ETFs”). ETFs are investment companies that are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as open-end funds or Unit Investment Trusts (“UITs”). ETFs are based on specific domestic and foreign indices. ETF shares are sold and redeemed at net asset value only in large blocks. In addition, national securities exchanges list ETF shares for trading, which allows investors to purchase and sell individual ETF shares among themselves at market prices throughout the day. The 1940 Act limits investments in securities of other investment companies. The following restrictions apply to investments in other investment companies other than Affiliated Money Market Funds: (i) the Fund may not purchase more than 3% of the total outstanding voting stock of another investment company; (ii) the Fund may not invest more than 5% of its total assets in securities issued by another investment company; and (iii) the Fund may not invest more than 10% of its total assets in securities issued by other investment companies.

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Mortgage-Backed Securities — Mortgage-backed securities are interests in pools of mortgage loans that various governmental, government-related, and private organizations assemble as securities for sale to investors. Unlike most debt securities, which pay interest periodically and repay principal at maturity or on specified call dates, mortgage-backed securities make monthly payments that consist of both interest and principal payments. In effect, these payments are a “pass-through” of the monthly payments made by the individual borrowers on their mortgage loans, net of any fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of such securities. Since homeowners usually have the option of paying either part or all of the loan balance before maturity, the effective maturity of a mortgage-backed security is often shorter than is stated.

Governmental entities, private insurers, and the mortgage poolers may insure or guarantee the timely payment of interest and principal of these pools through various forms of insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, title, pool and hazard insurance and letters of credit. The advisor will consider such insurance and guarantees and the creditworthiness of the issuers thereof in determining whether a mortgage-related security meets its investment quality standards. It is possible that the private insurers or guarantors will not meet their obligations under the insurance policies or guarantee arrangements.

Although the market for such securities is becoming increasingly liquid, securities issued by certain private organizations may not be readily marketable.

Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA) . GNMA is the principal governmental guarantor of mortgage-related securities. GNMA is a wholly-owned corporation of the U.S. government and it falls within the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Securities issued by GNMA are considered the equivalent of treasury securities and are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. GNMA guarantees the timely payment of principal and interest on securities issued by institutions approved by GNMA and backed by pools of FHA-insured or VA-guaranteed mortgages. GNMA does not guarantee the market value or yield of mortgage-backed securities or the value of the Fund’s shares. To buy GNMA securities, the Fund may have to pay a premium over the maturity value of the underlying mortgages, which the Fund may lose if prepayment occurs.

Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) . FNMA is a government-sponsored corporation owned entirely by private stockholders. FNMA is regulated by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. FNMA purchases conventional mortgages from a list of approved sellers and service providers, including state and federally-chartered savings and loan associations, mutual savings banks, commercial banks and credit unions, and mortgage bankers. Securities issued by FNMA are agency securities, which means FNMA, but not the U.S. government, guarantees their timely payment of principal and interest.

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC) . FHLMC is a stockholder owned corporation chartered by Congress in 1970 to increase the supply of funds that mortgage lenders, such as commercial banks, mortgage bankers, savings institutions, and credit unions, can make available to homebuyers and multifamily investors. FHLMC issues Participation Certificates (PCs) which represent interests in conventional mortgages. FHLMC guarantees the timely payment of interest and ultimate collection of principal, but PCs are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.

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Commercial Banks, Savings And Loan Institutions, Private Mortgage Insurance Companies, Mortgage Bankers, and Other Secondary Market Issuers . Commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers, and other secondary market issuers also create pass-through pools of conventional mortgage loans. In addition to guaranteeing the mortgage-related security, such issuers may service and/or have originated the underlying mortgage loans. Pools created by these issuers generally offer a higher rate of interest than pools created by GNMA, FNMA & FHLMC because they are not guaranteed by a government agency.

Stripped Mortgage-Backed Securities . Stripped mortgage-backed securities are derivative multiple-class mortgage-backed securities. Stripped mortgage-backed securities usually have two classes that receive different proportions of interest and principal distributions on a pool of mortgage assets. Typically, one class will receive some of the interest and most of the principal, while the other class will receive most of the interest and the remaining principal. In extreme cases, one class will receive all of the interest (“interest only” or “IO” class) while the other class will receive the entire principal (“principal only” or “PO class”). The cash flow and yields on IOs and POs are extremely sensitive to the rate of principal payments (including prepayments) on the underlying mortgage loans or mortgage-backed securities. A rapid rate of principal payments may adversely affect the yield to maturity of IOs. Slower than anticipated prepayments of principal may adversely affect the yield to maturity of a PO. The yields and market risk of interest only and principal only stripped mortgage-backed securities, respectively, may be more volatile than those of other fixed income securities, including traditional mortgage-backed securities.

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (CMOs) . CMOs are hybrids between mortgage-backed bonds and mortgage pass-through securities. Similar to a bond, CMOs usually pay interest monthly and have a more focused range of principal payment dates than pass-through securities. While whole mortgage loans may collateralize CMOs, mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by GNMA, FHLMC, or FNMA and their income streams more typically collateralize them.

A Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit (“REMIC”) is a CMO that qualifies for special tax treatment under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and is an investment in certain mortgages primarily secured by interests in real property and other permitted investments.

CMOs are structured into multiple classes, each bearing a different stated maturity. Each class of CMO or REMIC certificate, often referred to as a “tranche,” is issued at a specific interest rate and must be fully retired by its final distribution date. Generally, all classes of CMOs or REMIC certificates pay or accrue interest monthly. Investing in the lowest tranche of CMOs and REMIC certificates involves risks similar to those associated with investing in equity securities.

Risks of Mortgage-Backed Securities . Yield characteristics of mortgage-backed securities differ from those of traditional debt securities in a variety of ways. For example, payments of interest and principal are more frequent (usually monthly) and their interest rates are sometimes adjustable. In addition, a variety of economic, geographic, social, and other factors, such as the sale of the underlying property, refinancing, or foreclosure, can cause investors to repay the loans underlying a mortgage-backed security sooner than expected. If the prepayment rates

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increase, the Fund may have to reinvest its principal at a rate of interest that is lower than the rate on existing mortgage-backed securities.

Asset-Backed Securities . These securities are interests in pools of a broad range of assets other than mortgages, such as automobile loans, computer leases, and credit card receivables. Like mortgage-backed securities, these securities are pass-through. In general, the collateral supporting these securities is of shorter maturity than mortgage loans and is less likely to experience substantial prepayments with interest rate fluctuations.

Asset-backed securities present certain risks that are not presented by mortgage-backed securities. Primarily, these securities may not have the benefit of any security interest in the related assets, which raises the possibility that recoveries on repossessed collateral may not be available to support payments on these securities. For example, credit card receivables are generally unsecured and the debtors are entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer credit laws, many of which allow debtors to reduce their balances by offsetting certain amounts owed on the credit cards. Most issuers of asset-backed securities backed by automobile receivables permit the servicers of such receivables to retain possession of the underlying obligations. If the servicer were to sell these obligations to another party, there is a risk that the purchaser would acquire an interest superior to that of the holders of the related asset-backed securities. Due to the quantity of vehicles involved and requirements under state laws, asset-backed securities backed by automobile receivables may not have a proper security interest in all of the obligations backing such receivables.

To lessen the effect of failures by obligors on underlying assets to make payments, the entity administering the pool of assets may agree to ensure the receipt of payments on the underlying pool in a timely fashion (“liquidity protection”). In addition, asset-backed securities may include insurance, such as guarantees, policies, or letters of credit obtained by the issuer or sponsor from third parties, for some or all of the assets in the pool (“credit support”). Delinquency or loss more than that anticipated or failure of the credit support could adversely affect the return on an investment in such a security.

The Fund may also invest in residual interests in asset-backed securities, which is the excess cash flow remaining after making required payments on the securities and paying related administrative expenses. The amount of residual cash flow resulting from a particular issue of asset-backed securities depends in part on the characteristics of the underlying assets, the coupon rates on the securities, prevailing interest rates, the amount of administrative expenses and the actual prepayment experience on the underlying assets.

Real Estate Investment Trusts - To the extent consistent with its investment objectives and policies, the Fund may invest in securities issued by real estate investment trusts (“REITs”).

REITs are trusts which sell equity or debt securities to investors and use the proceeds to invest in real estate or interests therein. A REIT may focus on particular projects, such as apartment complexes, or geographic regions, such as the Southeastern United States, or both.

To the extent that the Fund has the ability to invest in REITs, the Fund could conceivably own real estate directly as a result of a default on the securities it owns. The Fund, therefore, may be

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subject to certain risks associated with the direct ownership of real estate including difficulties in valuing and trading real estate, declines in the value of real estate, risks related to general and local economic conditions, adverse changes in the climate for real estate, environmental liability risks, increases in property taxes and operating expenses, changes in zoning laws, casualty or condemnation losses, limitations on rents, changes in neighborhood values, the appeal of properties to tenants, and increases in interest rates.

In addition to the risks described above, REITs may be affected by any changes in the value of the underlying property in their portfolios. REITs are dependent upon management skill, are not diversified, and are therefore subject to the risk of financing single or a limited number of projects. REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers, self-liquidation, and the possibility of failing to maintain an exemption from the 1940 Act. Changes in interest rates may also affect the value of debt securities held by the Fund. By investing in REITs indirectly through the Fund, a shareholder will bear not only his/her proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund, but also, indirectly, similar expenses of the REITs.

Repurchase Agreements — The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements (“REPOs”) on debt securities that the Fund is allowed to hold in its portfolio. This is a way to invest money for short periods. A REPO is an agreement under which the Fund acquires a debt security and then resells it to the seller at an agreed-upon price and date (normally, the next business day). The repurchase price represents an interest rate effective for the short period the debt security is held by the Fund, and is unrelated to the interest rate on the underlying debt security. A repurchase agreement is often considered as a loan collateralized by securities. The collateral securities held by the Fund (including accrued interest earned thereon) must have a total value in excess of the value of the repurchase agreement. The collateral securities are held by the Fund’s custodian bank until the repurchase agreement is completed.

The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with financial institutions that are creditworthy under standards established by the Advisor. The Advisor must use these standards to review the creditworthiness of any financial institution that is party to a REPO. REPOs maturing in more than seven days are considered illiquid securities. The Fund will not enter into repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days if as a result more than 15% of the Fund’s net assets would be invested in these repurchase agreements and other illiquid securities.

As noted above, the Fund uses REPOs as a means of investing cash for short periods of time. Although REPOs are considered to be highly liquid and comparatively low-risk, the use of REPOs does involve some risks. For example, if the other party to the agreement defaults on its obligation to repurchase the underlying security at a time when the value of the security has declined, the Fund may incur a loss on the sale of the collateral security. If the other party to the agreement becomes insolvent and subject to liquidation or reorganization under the Bankruptcy Code or other laws, a court may determine that the underlying security is collateral for a loan by the Fund not within the control of the Fund and therefore the realization by the Fund on such collateral may automatically be stayed. Finally, it is possible that the Fund may not be able to substantiate its interest in the underlying security and may be deemed an unsecured creditor of the other party to the agreement.

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Rule 144A Securities — The Fund also may invest in securities that can be resold to institutional investors pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”). In recent years, a large institutional market has developed for many Rule 144A securities. Institutional investors generally cannot sell these securities to the general public but instead will often depend on an efficient institutional market in which Rule 144A securities can readily be resold to other institutional investors, or on an issuer’s ability to honor a demand for repayment. Therefore, the fact that there are contractual or legal restrictions on resale to the general public or certain institutions does not necessarily mean that a Rule 144A Security is illiquid. Institutional markets for Rule 144A securities may provide both reliable market values for Rule 144A securities and enable the Fund to sell a Rule 144A investment when appropriate. For this reason, the Trust’s Board of Trustees has concluded that if a sufficient institutional trading market exists for a given Rule 144A security, it may be considered “liquid,” and not subject to the Fund’s limitations on investment in restricted securities. The Trust’s Board of Trustees has given the Advisor the day-to-day authority to determine the liquidity of Rule 144A securities, according to guidelines approved by the Board. The principal risk of investing in Rule 144A securities is that there may be an insufficient number of qualified institutional buyers interested in purchasing a Rule 144A Security held by the Fund, and the Fund might be unable to dispose of such security promptly or at reasonable prices.

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Lending Portfolio Securities — The Fund may lend its portfolio securities (principally to broker-dealers) where such loans are callable at any time and are continuously secured by segregated collateral equal to no less than the market value, determined daily, of the loaned securities. Such collateral will be cash, letters of credit, or debt securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or any of its agencies. The Fund may lend portfolio securities to the extent of one-third of its total assets.

The Fund would continue to receive the income on loaned securities and would, at the same time, earn interest on the loan collateral or on the investment of any cash collateral. A Fund will not have the right to vote securities while they are being lent, but it can call a loan in anticipation of an important vote. Any cash collateral pursuant to these loans would be invested in short-term money market instruments or Affiliated Money Market Funds. Lending securities entails a risk of loss to the Fund if and to the extent that the market value of the securities loaned increases and the collateral is not increased accordingly or in the event of default by the borrower. The Fund could also experience delays and costs in gaining access to the collateral.

Sovereign Debt — In certain emerging countries, the central government and its agencies are the largest debtors to local and foreign banks and others. Sovereign debt involves the risk that the government, as a result of political considerations or cash flow difficulties, may fail to make scheduled payments of interest or principal and may require holders to participate in rescheduling of payments or even to make additional loans. If an emerging country government defaults on its sovereign debt, there is likely to be no legal proceeding under which the debt may be ordered repaid, in whole or in part. The ability or willingness of a foreign sovereign debtor to make payments of principal and interest in a timely manner may be influenced by, among other factors, its cash flow, the magnitude of its foreign reserves, the availability of foreign exchanges on the payment date, the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the debtor’s then current relationship with the International Monetary Fund and its then current political constraints. Some of the emerging countries issuing such instruments have experienced high rates of inflation in recent years and have extensive internal debt. Among other effects, high inflation and internal debt service requirements may adversely affect the cost and availability of future domestic sovereign borrowing to finance government programs, and may have other adverse social, political, and economic consequences, including effects on the willingness of such countries to service their sovereign debt. An emerging country government’s willingness and ability to make timely payments on its sovereign debt also are likely to be heavily affected by the country’s balance of trade and its access to trade and other international credits. If a country’s exports are concentrated in a few commodities, such country would be more significantly exposed to a decline in the international prices of one or more of such commodities. A rise in protectionism on the part of its trading partners, or unwillingness by such partners to make payment for goods in hard currency, could also adversely affect the country’s ability to export its products and repay its debts. Sovereign debtors may also be dependent on expected receipts from such agencies and others abroad to reduce principal and interest arrearages on their debt. However, failure by the sovereign debtor or other entity to implement economic reforms negotiated with multilateral agencies or others, to achieve specified levels of economic performance, or to make other debt payments when due, may cause third parties to terminate their commitments to provide funds to the sovereign debtor, which may further impair such debtor’s willingness or ability to service its debts.

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The Fund may invest in debt securities issued under the “Brady Plan” in connection with restructurings in emerging country debt markets or earlier loans. These securities, often referred to as “Brady Bonds,” are, in some cases, denominated in U.S. dollars and collateralized as to principal by U.S. Treasury zero coupon bonds having the same maturity. At least one year’s interest payments, on a rolling basis, are collateralized by cash or other investments. Brady Bonds are actively traded on an over-the-counter basis in the secondary market for emerging country debt securities. Brady Bonds are lower-rated bonds and highly volatile.

Unseasoned Issuers — The Fund may purchase securities in unseasoned issuers. Securities in such issuers may provide opportunities for long term capital growth. Greater risks are associated with investments in securities of unseasoned issuers than in the securities of more established companies because unseasoned issuers have only a brief operating history and may have more limited markets and financial resources. As a result, securities of unseasoned issuers tend to be more volatile than securities of more established companies.

U.S. Government Securities — The Fund may, from time to time, purchase debt securities issued by the U.S. government. These securities include Treasury bills, notes, and bonds. Treasury bills have a maturity of one year or less, Treasury notes generally have a maturity of one to ten years, and Treasury bonds generally have maturities of more than ten years.

U.S. government debt securities also include securities issued or guaranteed by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government. Some obligations of U.S. government agencies, which are established under the authority of an act of Congress, such as Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) Participation certificates, are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. GNMA certificates are mortgage-backed securities representing part ownership of a pool of mortgage loans. These loans issued by lenders such as mortgage bankers, commercial banks, and savings and loan associations are either insured by the Federal Housing Administration or guaranteed by the Veterans Administration. A “pool” or group of such mortgages is assembled and, after being approved by GNMA, is offered to investors through securities dealers. Once approved by GNMA, the timely payment of interest and principal on each mortgage is guaranteed by GNMA and backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. The market value of GNMA certificates is not guaranteed. GNMA certificates are different from bonds because principal is paid back monthly by the borrower over the term of the loan rather than returned in a lump sum at maturity, as is the case with a bond. GNMA certificates are called “pass-through” securities because both interest and principal payments (including prepayments) are passed through to the holder of the GNMA certificate.

Other United States government debt securities, such as securities of the Federal Home Loan Banks, are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the Treasury. Others, such as bonds issued by Fannie Mae, a federally chartered private corporation, are supported only by the credit of the corporation. In the case of securities not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, the Fund must look principally to the agency issuing or guaranteeing the obligation in the event the agency or instrumentality does not meet its commitments. The U.S. government may choose not to provide financial support to U.S. government-sponsored agencies or instrumentalities if it is not legally obligated to do so. The Fund will invest in securities of

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such instrumentalities only when the Advisor is satisfied that the credit risk with respect to any such instrumentality is comparatively minimal.

The U.S. government may choose not to provide financial support to U.S. government-sponsored agencies or instrumentalities if it is not legally obligated to do so.

When-Issued/Delayed Delivery — The Fund normally buys and sells securities on an ordinary settlement basis. That means that the buy or sell order is sent, and the Fund actually takes delivery or gives up physical possession of the security on the “settlement date,” which is three business days later. However, the Fund also may purchase and sell securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis.

When-issued or delayed delivery transactions occur when securities are purchased or sold by the Fund and payment and delivery take place at an agreed-upon time in the future. The Fund may engage in this practice in an effort to secure an advantageous price and yield. However, the yield on a comparable security available when delivery actually takes place may vary from the yield on the security at the time the when-issued or delayed delivery transaction was entered into. When the Fund engages in when-issued and delayed delivery transactions, it relies on the seller or buyer to consummate the sale at the future date. If the seller or buyer fails to act as promised, that failure may result in the Fund missing the opportunity of obtaining a price or yield considered to be advantageous. No payment or delivery is made by the Fund until it receives delivery or payment from the other party to the transaction. However, fluctuation in the value of the security from the time of commitment until delivery could adversely affect the Fund.

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

The investment restrictions set forth below have been adopted by the Fund and, unless identified as non-fundamental policies, may not be changed without the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. As provided in 1940 Act, a “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund” means the affirmative vote of the lesser of (1) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund or (2) 67% or more of the shares present at a meeting, if more than 50% of the outstanding shares are represented at the meeting in person or by proxy. Except with respect to borrowing, changes in values of the Fund’s assets will not cause a violation of the following investment restrictions so long as percentage restrictions are observed by the Fund at the time it purchases any security. The Fund may not:

1. with respect to 75% of the Fund’s total assets, purchase the securities of any issuer (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities, or securities of other investment companies) if, as a result, (i) more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of that issuer, or (ii) the Fund would hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of that issuer;

2. underwrite securities of other issuers, except insofar as it may be deemed to be an underwriter under the 1933 Act in connection with the disposition of the Fund’s portfolio securities;

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3. borrow money, except that the Fund may borrow money in an amount not exceeding 33 1/3% of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) less liabilities (other than borrowings);

4. issue senior securities, except as permitted under the 1940 Act;

5. lend any security or make any loan if, as a result, more than 33 1/3% of its total assets would be lent to other parties, but this limitation does not apply to the purchase of debt securities or to repurchase agreements;

6. purchase or sell physical commodities; however, this policy shall not prevent the Fund from purchasing and selling foreign currency, futures contracts, options, forward contracts, swaps, caps, floors, collars, and other financial instruments; or

7. purchase or sell real estate unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not prevent the Fund from investing in securities or other instruments backed by real estate or securities of companies engaged in the real estate business).

8. The Fund may, notwithstanding any other fundamental investment policy or limitation, invest all of its assets in the securities of a single open-end management investment company managed by the Advisor or an affiliate or a successor thereof, with substantially the same fundamental investment objective, policies, and limitations as the Fund.

9. The Fund may not purchase the securities of any issuer (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities, or municipal securities) if, as a result, more than 25% of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of companies whose principal business activities are in the same industry.

In addition, the Fund has the following non-fundamental policies, which may be changed without shareholder approval:

A. The Fund may not sell securities short (unless it owns or has the right to obtain securities equivalent in kind and amount to the securities sold short) or purchase securities on margin, except that (i) this policy does not prevent the Fund from entering into short positions in foreign currency, futures contracts, options, forward contracts, swaps, caps, floors, collars, and other Financial Instruments, (ii) the Fund may obtain such short-term credits as are necessary for the clearance of transactions, and (iii) the Fund may make margin payments in connection with futures contracts, options, forward contracts, swaps, caps, floors, collars, and other financial instruments.

B. The Fund may borrow money only from a bank or from an open-end management investment company managed by the Advisor or an affiliate or a successor thereof for temporary or emergency purposes (not for leveraging or investing)

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or by engaging in reverse repurchase agreements with any party (reverse repurchase agreements will be treated as borrowings for purposes of fundamental limitation (3)).

C. The Fund does not currently intend to purchase any security if, as a result, more than 15% of its net assets would be invested in securities that are deemed to be illiquid because they are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale or because they cannot be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business at approximately the prices at which they are valued.

D. The Fund may invest in securities issued by other investment companies to the extent that such investments are consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and policies and permissible under the 1940 Act.

E. With respect to fundamental limitation (1), domestic and foreign banking will be considered to be different industries.

F. With respect to fundamental limitation (1), investments in obligations issued by a foreign government, including the agencies or instrumentalities of a foreign government, are considered to be investments in a specific industry.

G. The Fund may not acquire any securities of registered open-end investment companies or registered unit investment trusts in reliance on Sections 12(d)(1)(F) or 12(d)(1)(G) of the 1940 Act.