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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 17, 2007

Securities Act File No. 33-20827

Investment Company Act File No. 811-5518


U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM N-1A

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933    x
Pre-Effective Amendment No.             ¨
Post-Effective Amendment No. 123    x
and   
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT   
COMPANY ACT OF 1940    x
Amendment No. 125    x

The RBB Fund, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Bellevue Park Corporate Center

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

Registrant’s Telephone Number: (302) 791-1112

Copies to:

 

EDWARD J. ROACH   MICHAEL P. MALLOY, ESQUIRE
PFPC Inc.   Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
103 Bellevue Parkway   One Logan Square
Wilmington, DE 19809   18th and Cherry Streets
(Name and address of Agent for Service)   Philadelphia, PA 19103-6996

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)

 

¨ immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)

 

¨ on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)

 

¨ 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)

 

¨ on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)

 

x 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
¨ on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485

If appropriate, check the following box:

 

¨ This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.

Title of Securities Being Registered:                  Shares of Common Stock.

 



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Subject to Completion

Preliminary Prospectus Dated December 17, 2007

Information contained herein pertaining to the Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund of The RBB Fund, Inc. is subject to completion or amendment. A post-effective amendment to The RBB Fund, Inc.’s registration statement relating to shares of the Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Shares of the Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund may not be sold nor may offers to buy shares of such Fund be accepted prior to the time the post-effective amendment to the registration statement becomes effective. This Prospectus shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of shares of the Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state.

BEAR STEARNS MULTIFACTOR 130/30 US CORE EQUITY FUND

of

The RBB Fund, Inc.

C LASS I S HARES

PROSPECTUS

                         , 2008

The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus. Anyone who tells you otherwise is committing a criminal offense.

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

INTRODUCTION

   1

DESCRIPTION OF THE BEAR STEARNS MULTIFACTOR 130/30 US CORE EQUITY FUND

   2

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

   6

EXPENSES AND FEES

   6

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

   8

Investment Adviser

   8

Portfolio Manager

   8

Management Fees

   8

Revenue Sharing Arrangements

   9

OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS

   10

SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

   11

Pricing of Fund Shares

   11

Market Timing

   11

Purchase of Fund Shares

   12

Redemption of Fund Shares

   16

Dividends and Distributions

   18

Taxes

   18

Multi-Class Structure

   21

FOR MORE INFORMATION

   22

 


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INTRODUCTION

The Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund (the “Fund”) is an open-end, diversified investment portfolio of The RBB Fund, Inc. (the “Company”). This Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”), which is incorporated by reference into the Prospectus, relate solely to the Fund.

Bear Stearns Asset Management Inc. (“BSAM” or the “Adviser”) provides investment advisory services to the Fund.

 


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DESCRIPTION OF THE BEAR STEARNS MULTIFACTOR 130/30 US CORE EQUITY FUND

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks returns that exceed the returns of the S&P 500 Index. The Fund’s investment objective is not fundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval by the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company will provide written notice to shareholders at least 60 days prior to changing its investment objective.

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including any borrowings for investment purposes) in U.S. equity securities. The Fund will notify shareholders in writing at least 60 days prior to any change in this 80% policy. The Fund invests in equity securities of U.S. companies with minimum market capitalizations of $2.5 billion at the time of purchase. Equity securities include exchange-traded and over-the-counter common and preferred stocks, warrants, rights, convertible securities, depositary receipts and shares, trust certificates, limited partnership interests, shares of other investment companies (including exchange-traded funds) and real estate investment trusts, and equity participations. The Fund invests primarily in securities issued by U.S. companies but also may invest in foreign securities in the form of American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”). ADRs are typically issued by a U.S. bank or trust company and evidence ownership of underlying foreign securities. The Adviser expects to manage the Fund actively and anticipates an annual portfolio turnover rate of approximately 500%.

The Adviser uses a research driven process which consistently refines a multifactor approach that seeks to outperform the S&P 500 Index by using quantitative analysis and qualitative judgment to build and manage a risk-controlled portfolio which is currently represented by 90-120 long positions and around 40-60 short positions. The number of long and short positions may change based upon prevailing market conditions.

The Fund generally will invest up to 30% of the Fund’s assets in short positions. However, the short positions may range between 0% and 40% of the Fund’s assets. The Adviser generally will also use short sale proceeds to increase the Fund’s long position exposure to up to 130% of the Fund’s assets. The Fund expects to maintain an approximate net 100% long exposure to the equity market (long market value minus short market value), although the Fund’s long positions will range between 120% and 140% of the Fund’s assets.

The Adviser expects that the Fund will maintain a significant short position under normal market conditions. The size of the short position will depend on the availability of attractive short investments as well as on the Adviser’s view of the overall market for equity securities. The Adviser views short positions as both profit opportunities (which are considered speculative) for the Fund as well as a risk management technique.

The cash proceeds from short sales may be held by the lender as collateral or may be released to the Fund and used to purchase additional securities or for any other purpose. If the proceeds are released to the Fund, it may be required to pledge replacement collateral as security to the lender, and may use securities it owns to meet any such collateral obligations.

 

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A long position represents stocks or other equity securities that the Fund owns. A short position represents a sale by the Fund of a security borrowed from a third party with the expectation that the value of the security will decline. If the value of the security drops, the Fund can profit by buying the security in the open market at a lower price than the price at which it sold the security. However, if the price of the security rises, the Fund may need to cover the short position at a higher price than the price at which the Fund sold the security, which would result in a loss.

The Fund may depart from its principal investment strategies in response to adverse market, economic or political conditions by taking temporary defensive positions (up to 100% of its assets) in all types of short-term instruments, including money market and short-term debt securities. If the Fund were to take a temporary defensive position, it may be unable for a time to achieve its investment objective.

Investment Process. The universe of securities available for investment by the Fund consists of all securities of companies in the Russell 3000 Index and S&P 1500 Index as well as all ADRs, subject to a minimum market capitalization of $2.5 billion and certain other criteria.

The Fund generally invests 130% of its assets in long positions. However, the actual percentage may vary depending on market opportunities. Investment decisions are based on a quantitative process encompassing the Adviser’s proprietary multifactor model as well as qualitative due diligence. The proprietary model ranks companies based on three themes: momentum, valuation and quality on both sector and individual stock levels. Due diligence is then performed on top ranked companies to verify favorable business momentum and valuation of individual stocks. Relative attractiveness of investment ideas is balanced with market capitalization and other risk considerations. The Adviser reevaluates securities daily and will sell long positions that fall below a median rating.

The Fund generally invests 30% of its assets in short positions. However, the actual percentage may vary depending on market opportunities and risk management considerations. Short ideas are generated based on stocks that are less favorably ranked by the Adviser’s proprietary model, combined with due diligence performed to verify negative business momentum and valuation of individual stocks. The Adviser seeks underperformance in the Fund’s short positions and also actively manages them to control the overall portfolio risk. The Adviser reevaluates securities daily and will cover short positions that rise above a median rating.

The Fund may, but is not required to, use derivatives such as futures, options, forward contracts and swap agreements as a substitute for investing directly in an underlying security to increase returns, manage foreign currency risk, for hedging purposes, or as an alternative to selling a security short.

Principal Risks

You may lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency. The Fund cannot guarantee that it will achieve its stated investment objective and may underperform other possible investments or benchmarks. The Fund is also subject to various risks which could reduce the share price such as:

 

   

Stock Risk – The risk that stock prices have historically risen and fallen in periodic cycles. U.S. and foreign stock markets may experience substantial price volatility.

 

   

Market Risk – The risk that the value of the securities in which the Fund invests may go up or down in response to the prospects of individual companies, particular industry sectors or governments and/or general economic conditions. Price changes may be temporary or last for extended periods.

 

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The Fund’s investments may be overweighted from time to time in one or more industry sectors, which will increase the Fund’s exposure to risk of loss from adverse developments affecting those sectors.

 

   

Short Sales Risk – The additional risks associated with engaging in short selling. In a short sale, the Fund sells a security it does not own, in anticipation that the price of the security will fall. When the Fund sells securities short, it must borrow securities to make delivery to the buyer of those securities, which incurs costs and expenses. When the Fund borrows securities, it uses other assets including long positions as collateral for the loan. If the value of a security sold short increases, the Fund may have to cover its short position at a higher price than the short sale price, resulting in a loss. The Fund’s loss on a short sale is potentially unlimited because there is no upward limit on the price a security could attain; by comparison, for a long position, the maximum loss is the price paid for the security plus transaction costs. The Fund’s use of short sales in combination with long positions in the Fund’s portfolio may not be successful and may result in greater losses or lower positive returns than if the Fund held only long positions. It is possible that the Fund’s long equity positions will decline in value at the same time that the value of the securities the Fund sold short increases, thereby increasing potential losses to the Fund. The Fund may not always be able to borrow a security it wants to sell short. The Fund also may be unable to close out an established short position at an acceptable price. In some instances, the Fund may have to sell long positions at a disadvantageous price in order to cover or close out short positions. Engaging in short sales is a form of leverage, which increases the Fund’s assets through borrowing.

 

   

Portfolio Turnover Risk – The risk that higher portfolio turnover rates could result in lower performance due to increased brokerage commissions and other transaction costs. In addition, higher portfolio turnover rates could result in the increased realization of taxable capital gains, including short-term capital gains.

Leverage Risk – By investing the proceeds received from selling securities short, the Fund is employing a form of leverage, which creates special risks. The use of leverage may increase the Fund’s exposure to long equity positions and make any change in the Fund’s net asset value greater than it would be without the use of leverage. This could result in increased volatility of returns. There is no guarantee that the Fund will leverage its portfolio or, if it does, that the Fund’s leveraging strategy will be successful. The Fund cannot guarantee that the use of leverage will produce a higher return on investment.

 

   

Foreign Securities Risk – The additional risks associated with investments in foreign securities, such as unfavorable political and economic developments, imposition of withholding taxes, seizure of foreign deposits, fluctuating currency exchange rates and currency controls or other governmental restrictions. In addition, foreign companies are not regulated by U.S. authorities, are generally not bound by the same financial reporting standards applicable to U.S. companies and are generally the subject of less publicly available information. Foreign securities may be less liquid than U.S. securities and may be subject to less efficient trade settlement practices.

 

   

Derivatives Risk – The risk that loss may result from the Fund’s investments in futures, swaps, options and other derivative instruments. These instruments may be leveraged so that small changes in value may produce disproportionate losses to the Fund. Using derivative instruments may involve risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. The Fund’s investment in a derivative instrument could lose more than the principal amount invested. Also, suitable derivative transactions may not be available in all circumstances and there can be no assurance that the Fund will engage in these transactions to reduce exposure to other risks when they would be beneficial.

 

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Asset Segregation Risk – When engaging in short selling, the Fund will segregate assets to cover its short positions. A security held in a segregated account cannot be sold while the position it is covering is outstanding, unless it is replaced with a similar security. As a result, there is a possibility that segregation of a large percentage of the Fund’s assets could impede portfolio management or the Fund’s ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.

 

   

Management Risk – The risk that a strategy used by the Adviser may fail to produce the intended results.

Disclosure of Fund Holdings

A description of the Company’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio securities is available in the SAI.

 

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PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

The Fund has not commenced investment operations as of the date of this Prospectus. Therefore, no performance information is available.

EXPENSES AND FEES

As a shareholder, you pay certain fees and expenses. The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Class I Shares of the Fund.

 

Shareholder Fees * (fees paid directly from your investment)

  

Maximum sales charge imposed on purchases

   None  

Maximum deferred sales charge

   None  

Maximum sales charge imposed on reinvested dividends

   None  

Redemption Fee

   None  

Exchange Fee

   None  

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

  

Management fees

   1.00 %

Distribution (12b-1) fees

   None  

Other Expenses: (1)

  

Dividend Expenses on Short Sales (2)

   0.53 %

Financing Costs (3)

   1.39 %

Other (4)

   0.29 %

Total other expenses

   2.21 %

Total annual Fund operating expenses

   3.21 %

Waivers/Reimbursements (5)

   (0.04 )%

Net annual Fund operating expenses (5)

   3.17 %

 

* Shareholders requesting redemptions by wire are charged a transaction fee of $7.50.

 

(1)

Other expenses for the Fund are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.

 

(2)

Includes dividends on securities which the Fund has sold short (“short-sale dividends”). Short-sale dividends generally reduce the market value of the securities by the amount of the dividend declared, thus increasing the Fund’s unrealized gain or reducing the Fund’s unrealized loss on the securities sold short. Short-sale dividends are treated as an expense and increase the Fund’s total expense ratio, although no cash is received or paid by the Fund.

 

(3)

Financing costs represent the fees charged in connection with the use of the cash proceeds arising from the short sales used by the Fund.

 

(4)

Other expenses include audit, administration, custody, legal, registration, transfer agency, financing costs, and miscellaneous other charges.

 

(5)

The Adviser is contractually waiving a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimbursing certain expenses in order to limit annual Fund operating expenses (excluding taxes, interest, litigation, short sale dividends and financing costs associated with the use of the cash proceeds on securities sold short, extraordinary expenses, and brokerage and other transaction expenses relating to the purchase or sale of portfolio investments) to 1.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class I Shares through                      , 200_. The Adviser may recoup the amount of any management fee waivers or expense reimbursements from the Fund if such recoupment does not cause the Fund to exceed the stated expense limitation and the recoupment is made within three years after the year in which the Adviser waived fees and/or reimbursed expenses.

 

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Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in Class I Shares of the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of the period. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, that the operating expenses of the Fund remain the same, and that you reinvest all dividends and distributions. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your cost would be:

 

       1 Year    3 Years
   $ 320    $ 985

 

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MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

Investment Adviser

BSAM, located at 237 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017, serves as the Fund’s investment adviser. BSAM, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Bear Stearns Companies Inc., was established in 1985. The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. is a holding company that, through its subsidiaries (including its principal subsidiary, Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.), is a leading United States investment banking, securities trading and brokerage firm serving U.S. and foreign corporations, governments and institutional and individual investors. BSAM is a registered investment adviser and provides investment advisory and sub-advisory services to open-end investment portfolios, U.S. equity and fixed income separate accounts, alternative investment vehicles such as hedge funds, private equity funds and funds of funds. As of October 31, 2007, BSAM has approximately $34.3 billion in assets under management.

Subject to the general supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors, the Adviser manages the Fund’s investment portfolio and is responsible for the selection and management of all investments of the Fund in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and policies.

Portfolio Manager

The Fund is managed by Michael A. Rosen. Michael A. Rosen, Managing Director and Portfolio Manager at BSAM, is primarily responsible for the day to day management of the Fund’s investments. Mr. Rosen joined BSAM in June 2006, with over 10 years of industry experience, to establish and head the Quantitative Equity team. Before joining BSAM, Mr. Rosen was a Portfolio Manager at BKF Asset Management, Inc., where he was Head of the Quantitative Equity group, responsible for managing US equity portfolios. From 2001 to 2005, Mr. Rosen was a Senior Quantitative Equity Portfolio Manager at ING Investment Management, responsible for running three institutional quantitative equity portfolios. Previously, Mr. Rosen was a risk and performance analyst at Deutsche Bank, responsible for performing risk and performance analysis on defined benefit plans. Mr. Rosen began his career at Ark Asset Management where, as a performance analyst, he was responsible for conducting performance analysis on institutional clients. Mr. Rosen holds NASD series 7 and 66 licenses and is a member of the Market Technician’s Association. He received a BS in Economics and Finance from the University of Hartford.

The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager and the portfolio manager’s ownership of securities in the Fund.

Management Fees

Pursuant to an investment advisory agreement with the Company, the Adviser is entitled to receive an advisory fee at the annual rate of 1.00% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, computed daily and payable monthly. A discussion regarding the Board of Directors’ basis for approving the investment advisory agreement with respect to the Fund will be available in the Fund’s annual report for the period ended August 31, 2008 when prepared.

The Adviser is contractually waiving a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimbursing certain expenses in order to limit annual Fund operating expenses (excluding taxes, interest, litigation, dividends and interest expense on securities sold short, extraordinary expenses, and brokerage and other transaction

 

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expenses relating to the purchase or sale of portfolio investments) to 1.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class I Shares through                      , 200_. The Adviser may recoup the amount of any management fee waivers or expense reimbursements from the Fund if such recoupment does not cause the Fund to exceed the stated expense limitation and the recoupment is made within three years after the year in which the Adviser waived fees and/or reimbursed expenses.

Revenue Sharing Arrangements

The Adviser may pay compensation, out of its own funds and not as an expense of the Fund, to Bear Stearns & Co., Inc. and other unaffiliated brokers, dealers or other financial intermediaries in connection with the sale or retention of Funds shares and/or shareholder servicing. The SAI provides additional information about these revenue sharing arrangements.

 

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OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS

 

Shareholders

Distribution

and

Shareholder

Services

  

Principal Underwriter

 

PFPC Distributors, Inc.

760 Moore Road

King of Prussia, PA 19406

 

Facilitates the distribution of shares and provides administrative services to the Fund.

  

Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent

 

PFPC Inc.

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809*

 

Handles shareholder services, including recordkeeping and statements, distribution of dividends and processing of buy, sell and exchange requests.

 

*Do not use this address for purchases and redemptions. Please see “Purchase of Fund Shares” and “Redemption of Fund Shares” sections for further instructions.

Asset

Management

  

Investment Adviser

 

Bear Stearns Asset

Management Inc.

237 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10017

 

Manages the Fund’s investment activities.

  

Custodian

 

PFPC

Trust Company

8800 Tinicum Boulevard

Suite 200

Philadelphia, PA 19153

 

Holds the Fund’s assets, settles all portfolio trades and collects most of the valuation data required for calculating the Fund’s net asset value.

Fund

Operations

  

Administrator and Fund

Accounting Agent

 

PFPC Inc.

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

 

Provides facilities, equipment and personnel to carry out administrative services for the Fund and calculates the Fund’s net asset value, dividends and distributions.

  

Board of Directors

 

Supervises the Fund’s activities.

 

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SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

Pricing of Fund Shares

Class I Shares of the Fund are priced at their net asset value (“NAV”). The Fund’s NAV per share is calculated as follows:

 

NAV

       =            –       

Value of Assets Attributable to Class I Shares

Value of Liabilities Attributable to Class I Shares

         Number of Outstanding Class I Shares

The Fund’s NAV is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day that the NYSE is open (a “Business Day”). The NYSE is generally open Monday through Friday, except national holidays. The Fund will effect purchases or redemptions of Fund shares at the NAV next calculated after receipt of your order in proper form.

The Fund’s equity securities listed on any national or foreign exchange market system will be valued at the last sale price, except for the National Association of Securities Automatic Quotation System (“NASDAQ”). Equity securities listed on NASDAQ will be valued at the official closing price. Equity securities listed on NASDAQ will be valued at the mean of the last bid and asked prices prior to the market close. Fixed income securities having a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Fixed income securities having a remaining maturity of greater than 60 days are valued using an independent pricing service. When prices are not available from such services or are deemed to be unreliable, securities may be valued by dealers who make markets in such securities. Foreign securities, currencies and other securities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate of such currencies against the U.S. dollar provided by a pricing service. All assets denominated in foreign currencies will be converted into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates in effect at the time of valuation. If the Fund holds foreign equity securities, the calculation of the Fund’s NAV will not occur at the same time as the determination of the value of the foreign equity securities in the Fund’s portfolio, since these securities are traded on foreign exchanges.

If market quotations are unavailable or deemed unreliable, securities will be valued in accordance with procedures adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors. In addition, the prices of foreign securities may be affected by events that occur after the close of a foreign market but before the Fund prices its shares. In such instances, a foreign security may be fair valued in accordance with procedures adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors. Relying on prices supplied by pricing services or dealers or using fair valuation involves the risk that the values used by the Fund to price its investments may be higher or lower than the values used by other investment companies and investors to price the same instruments.

Investments in other mutual funds are valued based on the NAV of those mutual funds (which may use fair value pricing as discussed in their prospectuses).

Market Timing

In accordance with the policy adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors, the Company discourages market timing and other excessive trading practices. Purchases should be made with a view to longer-term investment only. Excessive short-term (market timing) trading practices may disrupt Fund

 

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management strategies, increase brokerage and administrative costs, harm Fund performance and result in dilution in the value of shares held by long-term shareholders. The Company and the Adviser reserve the right to reject or restrict purchase requests from any investor. The Company and the Adviser will not be liable for any loss resulting from rejected purchase orders. To minimize harm to the Company and its shareholders (or the Adviser), the Company (or the Adviser) will exercise their right if, in the Company’s (or the Adviser’s) judgment, an investor has a history of excessive trading or if an investor’s trading, in the judgment of the Company or the Adviser, has been or may be disruptive to the Fund. No waivers of the provisions of the policy established to detect and deter market timing and other excessive trading activity are permitted that would harm the Fund and its shareholders or would subordinate the interests of the Fund and its shareholders to those of the Adviser or any affiliated person or associated person of the Adviser.

Pursuant to the policy adopted by the Board of Directors, the Adviser has developed criteria that it uses to identify trading activity that may be excessive. The Adviser reviews on a regular, periodic basis available information related to the trading activity in the Fund in order to assess the likelihood that the Fund may be the target of excessive trading. As part of its excessive trading surveillance process, the Adviser, on a periodic basis, examines transactions that exceed certain monetary thresholds or numerical limits within a period of time. If, in its judgment, the Adviser detects excessive, short-term trading, the Adviser may reject or restrict a purchase request and may further seek to close an investor’s account with the Fund. The Adviser may modify its surveillance procedures and criteria from time to time without prior notice regarding the detection of excessive trading or to address specific circumstances. The Adviser will apply the criteria in a manner that, in the Adviser’s judgment, will be uniform. There is no assurance that the Adviser will be able to identify market timers, particularly if they are investing through intermediaries.

If necessary, the Company may prohibit additional purchases of Fund shares by a financial intermediary or by certain customers of the financial intermediary. Financial intermediaries may also monitor their customers’ trading activities in the Company. The criteria used by intermediaries to monitor for excessive trading may differ from the criteria used by the Company. If a financial intermediary fails to enforce the Company’s excessive trading policies, the Company may take certain actions, including terminating the relationship.

Purchase of Fund Shares

Shares representing interests in the Fund are offered continuously for sale by PFPC Distributors, Inc. (the “Underwriter”).

Purchases Through Intermediaries . Shares of the Fund may be available through certain brokerage firms, financial institutions and other industry professionals (collectively, “Service Organizations”). Certain features of the shares, such as the initial investment minimums and certain trading restrictions, may be modified or waived by Service Organizations. Service Organizations may impose transaction or administrative charges or other direct fees, which charges and fees would not be imposed if shares are purchased directly from the Company. Therefore, you should contact the Service Organization acting on your behalf concerning the fees (if any) charged in connection with a purchase or redemption of shares and should read this Prospectus in light of the terms governing your accounts with the Service Organization. Service Organizations will be responsible for promptly transmitting client or customer purchase and redemption orders to the Company in accordance with their agreements with the Company and with clients or customers. Service Organizations or, if applicable, their designees that have entered into agreements with the Company or its agent may enter confirmed purchase orders on behalf of

 

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clients and customers, with payment to follow no later than the Company’s pricing on the following Business Day. If payment is not received by such time, the Service Organization could be held liable for resulting fees or losses. The Company will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when a Service Organization, or, if applicable, its authorized designee, accepts a purchase or redemption order in good order if the order is actually received by the Company in good order not later than the next business morning. If a purchase order is not received in good order, PFPC Inc., the Fund’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”), will contact the financial intermediary to determine the status of the purchase order. Orders received by the Company in good order will be priced at the Fund’s NAV next computed after they are deemed to have been received by the Service Organization or its authorized designee.

The Company relies upon the integrity of Service Organizations to ensure that orders are timely and properly submitted. The Fund cannot assure you that a Service Organization has properly submitted to it all purchase and redemption orders received from the Service Organization’s customers before the time for determination of the Fund’s NAV in order to obtain that day’s price.

For administration, sub-accounting, transfer agency and/or other services, the Adviser or its affiliates may pay Service Organizations and certain recordkeeping organizations a fee (the “Service Fee”) of the average annual net asset value of accounts with the Company maintained by such Service Organizations or recordkeepers. The Service Fee payable to any one Service Organization is determined based upon a number of factors, including the nature and quality of services provided, the operations processing requirements of the relationship and the standardized fee schedule of the Service Organization or recordkeeper.

General . You may also purchase shares of the Fund at the NAV per share next calculated after your order is received by the Transfer Agent in good order as described below. After an initial purchase is made, the Transfer Agent will set up an account for you on the Company records. The minimum initial investment in the Fund is $1,000,000. There is no minimum requirement for subsequent investments. The minimum initial investment requirement may be reduced or waived from time to time in the Adviser’s discretion. You can only purchase shares of the Fund on days that the NYSE is open and through the means described below. For purposes of meeting the minimum initial investment requirements, purchases by clients which are part of endowments, foundations or other related groups may be combined. Shares may be purchased by principals and employees of the Adviser and its subsidiaries and by their spouses and children either directly or through any trust that has the principal, employee, spouse or child as the primary beneficiaries, their individual retirement accounts, or any pension and profit-sharing plan of the Adviser and its subsidiaries without being subject to the minimum investment requirements.

Initial Investment By Mail . You can open an account by completing and signing the application included with this Prospectus and mailing it to the Transfer Agent at the address noted below, together with a check payable to Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund. Third party checks will not be accepted.

 

Regular Mail:

   Overnight Mail:

Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30

   Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30

    US Core Equity Fund

       US Core Equity Fund

c/o PFPC Inc.

   c/o PFPC Inc.

P.O. Box 9843

   101 Sabin Street

Providence, RI 02940-8043

   Pawtucket, RI 02860-1427

 

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The name of the Fund should be designated on the application and should appear on the check. Payment for the purchase of shares received by mail will be credited to a shareholder’s account at the NAV per share of the Fund next determined after receipt of payment in good order.

Initial Investment By Wire . Shares of the Fund may be purchased by wiring federal funds to PNC Bank, N.A. (see instructions below). You must forward a completed application together with necessary supporting documentation to the Transfer Agent at the address noted above under “Initial Investment by Mail” before wiring funds. Notification must be given to the Transfer Agent at (XXX) XXX-XXXX prior to 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the wire date. (Prior notification is required even from investors with existing accounts.) Request account information and routing instructions by calling the Transfer Agent at (XXX) XXX-XXXX. Funds should be wired to:

PNC Bank, N.A.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

ABA # 0310-0005-3

Account Number 86-1172-4119

F/B/O Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund – Class I

Ref. (Account Registration)

(Fund and Account Number)

Federal funds purchases will be accepted only on days when both the NYSE and PNC Bank, N.A. are open for business.

Subsequent Investments . Subsequent investments may be made at any time by purchasing shares of the Fund at its NAV per share by mailing a check to the Transfer Agent at the address noted under “Initial Investment by Mail” (payable to Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund), or by wiring monies to PNC Bank, N.A. as outlined under “Initial Investment by Wire.” You must notify the Transfer Agent at (XXX) XXX-XXXX before 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the wire date. Initial and subsequent purchases made by check cannot be redeemed until payment of the purchase has been collected. This may take up to 15 calendar days from the date of purchase.

Automatic Investment Plan . Additional investments in shares of the Fund may be made automatically by authorizing the Transfer Agent to withdraw funds from your bank account through an Automatic Investment Plan ($50 minimum). Investors desiring to participate in an Automatic Investment Plan should call the Transfer Agent at (XXX) XXX-XXXX.

Retirement Plans . Shares may be purchased in conjunction with various retirement plans, including Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”), section 403(b) plans and retirement plans for self-employed individuals, partnerships and corporations and their employees. Detailed information concerning retirement plans is available from your Service Organization. A $15.00 custodial maintenance fee is charged per IRA account per year. For further information as to applications and annual fees, contact your Service Organization. To determine whether the benefits of an IRA are available and/or appropriate, you should consult with a tax advisor.

Other Purchase Information . The Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend the offering of shares or to reject purchase orders when, in the judgment of management, such suspension or rejection is in the best interests of the Fund. Decisions to close or open the Fund are subject to Board approval. The Adviser will monitor the Fund’s total assets and may decide to close the Fund at any time to new investments or to new accounts due to concerns that a significant increase in the size of the Fund may adversely affect the implementation of the Fund’s strategy. Subject to the Board of Directors’

 

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discretion, the Adviser may also choose to reopen the Fund to new investments at any time, and may subsequently close the Fund again should concerns regarding the Fund’s size recur. If the Fund closes to new investments, generally the Fund would be offered only to certain existing shareholders of the Fund and certain other persons, who are generally subject to cumulative, maximum purchase amounts, as follows:

a. persons who already hold shares of the Fund directly or through accounts maintained by brokers by arrangement with the Company;

b. existing and future clients of financial advisers and planners whose clients already hold shares of the Fund;

c. employees of the Adviser and their spouses, parents and children; and

d. Directors of the Company.

Other persons who are shareholders of other funds of the Company are not permitted to acquire shares of the Fund by exchange. Distributions to all shareholders of the Fund will continue to be reinvested unless a shareholder elects otherwise. The Adviser, subject to the Board of Directors’ discretion, reserves the right to implement other purchase limitations at the time of closing, including limitations on current shareholders.

Purchases of the Fund’s shares will be made in full and fractional shares of the Fund calculated to three decimal places.

The Company’s officers are authorized to waive the minimum initial investment requirements.

Good Order . You must include complete and accurate required information on your purchase request. Please see “Purchase of Fund Shares.” Purchase requests not in good order may be rejected.

Customer Identification Program . Federal law requires the Company to obtain, verify and record identifying information, which may include the name, residential or business street address, date of birth (for an individual), social security or taxpayer identification number or other identifying information for each investor who opens or reopens an account with the Company. For business entities, partnerships, trusts, or other organizations, the Company may request additional documentation including, but not limited to, certified copies of the corporate resolution, partnership agreement, or trust document, which established the entity’s identity. Applications without the required information, or without any indication that a social security or taxpayer identification number has been applied for, may not be accepted. After acceptance, to the extent permitted by applicable law or its customer identification program, the Company reserves the right (a) to place limits on transactions in any account until the identity of the investor is verified; or (b) to refuse an investment in a Company portfolio or to involuntarily redeem an investor’s shares and close an account in the event that an investor’s identity is not verified. The Company and its agents will not be responsible for any loss in an investor’s account resulting from the investor’s delay in providing all required identifying information or from closing an account and redeeming an investor’s shares when an investor’s identity cannot be verified.

 

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Redemption of Fund Shares

Normally, your investment firm will send your request to redeem shares to the Transfer Agent. Consult your investment professional for more information. You can redeem some or all of your Fund shares directly through the Fund only if the account is registered in your name. All IRA shareholders must complete an IRA withdrawal form to redeem shares from their IRA account.

You may redeem shares of the Fund at the next NAV calculated after a redemption request is received by the Transfer Agent in proper form. You can only redeem shares on days the NYSE is open and through the means described below.

See “Purchase of Fund Shares – Services Organizations” for additional information about redemptions effected through Service Organizations.

You may redeem shares of the Fund by mail, or, if you are authorized, by telephone. The value of shares redeemed may be more or less than the purchase price, depending on the market value of the investment securities held by the Fund. There is no charge for a redemption.

Redemption By Mail . Your redemption requests should be addressed to Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund, c/o PFPC Inc., P.O. Box 9843, Providence, RI 02940; for overnight delivery, requests should be addressed to Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund, c/o PFPC Inc., 101 Sabin Street, Pawtucket, RI 02860-1427 and must include:

 

   

Name of the Fund;

 

   

Account Number;

 

   

A letter of instruction specifying the number of shares or dollar amount to be redeemed, signed by all registered owners of the shares in the exact names in which they are registered; and

 

   

Other supporting legal documents, if required, in the case of estates, trusts, guardianships, custodianships, corporations, pension and profit sharing plans and other organizations.

Medallion signature guarantees are required when (i) the redemption proceeds are to be sent to someone other than the registered shareholder(s) or (ii) the redemption request is for $10,000 or more. A signature guarantee may be obtained from a domestic bank or trust company, broker, dealer, clearing agency or savings association who are participants in a Medallion Program recognized by the Securities Transfer Association. The three recognized Medallion Programs are Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program (STAMP), Stock Exchanges Medallion Program (SEMP) and New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Medallion Signature Program (MSP). Signature guarantees which are not a part of these programs will not be accepted. Please note that a notary public stamp or seal is not acceptable.

Redemption By Telephone . In order to request a telephone redemption, you must have returned your account application containing a telephone election. To add a telephone redemption option to an existing account, contact the Transfer Agent by calling (XXX) XXX-XXXX. Please note that IRA accounts are not eligible for telephone redemptions.

 

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Once you are authorized to utilize the telephone redemption option, a redemption of shares may be requested by calling the Transfer Agent at (XXX) XXX-XXXX and requesting that the redemption proceeds be mailed to the primary registration address or wired per the authorized instructions. A wire charge of $7.50 is assessed and charged to the shareholder.

To redeem by telephone, you must elect telephone redemptions in your account application and submit a list of authorized persons. If the telephone redemption option or the telephone exchange option is authorized, the Transfer Agent may act on telephone instructions from any person representing himself or herself to be an authorized person of a shareholder and believed by the Company and the Transfer Agent to be genuine. The Transfer Agent’s records of such instructions are binding and shareholders, not the Company or the Transfer Agent, bear the risk of loss in the event of unauthorized instructions reasonably believed by the Company or the Transfer Agent to be genuine. The Company and the Transfer Agent will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions communicated are genuine and, if it does not, it may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. The procedures employed by the Company and the Transfer Agent in connection with transactions initiated by telephone include tape recording of telephone instructions and requiring some form of personal identification prior to acting upon instructions received by telephone.

Systematic Withdrawal Plan . If your account has a value of at least $10,000, you may establish a Systematic Withdrawal Plan and receive regular periodic payments. A request to establish a Systematic Withdrawal Plan must be submitted to the Transfer Agent at P.O. Box 9843, Providence, RI 02940. Each withdrawal redemption will be processed on or about the 25 th of the month and mailed as soon as possible thereafter. There are no service charges for maintenance; the minimum amount that you may withdraw each period is $50. (This is merely the minimum amount allowed and should not be mistaken for a recommended amount.) The holder of a Systematic Withdrawal Plan will have any income dividends and any capital gains distributions reinvested in full and fractional shares at NAV. To provide funds for payment shares will be redeemed in such amounts as are necessary at the redemption price. The systematic withdrawal of shares may reduce or possibly exhaust the shares in your account, particularly in the event of a market decline. As with other redemptions, a systematic withdrawal payment is a sale for federal income tax purposes. Payments made pursuant to a Systematic Withdrawal Plan cannot be considered as actual yield or income since part of such payments may be a return of capital.

You will ordinarily not be allowed to make additional investments of less than the aggregate annual withdrawals under the Systematic Withdrawal Plan during the time you have the plan in effect and, while a Systematic Withdrawal Plan is in effect, you may not make periodic investments under the Automatic Investment Plan. You will receive a confirmation of each transaction and the share and cash balance remaining in your plan. The plan may be terminated on written notice by the shareholder or by the Fund and will terminate automatically if all shares are liquidated or withdrawn from the account or upon the death or incapacity of the shareholder. You may change the amount and schedule of withdrawal payments or suspend such payments by giving written notice to the Transfer Agent at least ten Business Days prior to the end of the month preceding a scheduled payment.

Involuntary Redemption . The Fund reserves the right to redeem a shareholder’s account in the Fund at any time the value of the account in the Fund falls below $500 as the result of a redemption or an exchange request. Shareholders will be notified in writing that the value of their account in the Fund is less than $500 and will be allowed 30 days to make additional investments before the redemption is processed.

 

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Other Redemption Information . Redemption proceeds for recently purchased shares paid for by check may not be distributed until payment for the purchase has been collected, which may take up to fifteen days from the purchase date. Shareholders can avoid this delay by using the wire purchase option.

Other than as described above, payment of the redemption proceeds will be made within seven days after receipt of an order for redemption. The Company may suspend the right of redemption or postpone the date for payment of redemption proceeds at times when the NYSE is closed or under any emergency circumstances as determined by the SEC.

Generally, redemption proceeds will be paid in cash, unless the Board of Directors, in its discretion, determines that it would be detrimental to the best interests of the remaining shareholders of the Fund to make payment wholly or partly in cash. In such a case, some or all of the redemption proceeds may be paid in kind, which means that the Fund would distribute readily marketable securities held by the Fund instead of cash in conformity with applicable rules of the SEC. Investors generally will incur brokerage charges on the sale of portfolio securities received in redemption of their shares. The Company has elected, however, to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the Act, so that the Fund is obligated to redeem its shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of its NAV during any 90-day period for any one shareholder of the Fund.

Proper Form . You must include complete and accurate required information on your redemption request. Please see “Redemption of Fund Shares” for instructions. Redemption requests not in proper form may be delayed.

Dividends and Distributions

The Fund will distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareholders. All distributions are reinvested in the form of additional full and fractional shares of the Fund unless a shareholder elects otherwise.

The Fund will declare and pay dividends from net investment income annually. Ordinary income for the Fund, in certain circumstances, may be “qualified dividend income” taxable to individual shareholders at a maximum 15% U.S. federal income tax rate as described below. Net realized capital gains (including net short-term capital gains), if any, will be distributed by the Fund at least annually.

The Fund may pay additional distributions and dividends at other times if necessary for the Fund to avoid U.S. federal tax. The Fund’s distributions and dividends, whether received in cash or reinvested in additional Fund shares, are subject to U.S. federal income tax.

Taxes

The following is a summary of certain United States tax considerations relevant under current law, which may be subject to change in the future. Except where otherwise indicated, the discussion relates to investors who are individual U.S. citizens or residents. You should consult your tax advisor for further information regarding federal, state, local and/or foreign tax consequences relevant to your specific situation.

Fund Distributions . The Fund contemplates distributing as dividends each year all or substantially all of its taxable income, including its net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss). Except as otherwise discussed below, you will be subject to federal income tax on Fund distributions regardless whether they are paid in cash or reinvested in additional

 

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shares. Fund distributions attributable to short-term capital gains and net investment income will generally be taxable to you as ordinary income, except as discussed below.

Distributions attributable to the net capital gain of the Fund will be taxable to you as long-term capital gain, no matter how long you have owned your Fund shares. The maximum long-term capital gain rate applicable to individuals, estates, and trusts is currently 15%. You will be notified annually of the tax status of distributions to you.

Distribution of “qualifying dividends” will also generally be taxable to you at long-term capital gain rates, as long as certain requirements are met. In general, if 95% or more of the gross income of the Fund (other than net capital gain) consists of dividends received from domestic corporations or “qualified” foreign corporations (“qualifying dividends”), then all distributions paid by the Fund to individual shareholders will be taxed at long-term capital gains rates. But, if less than 95% of the gross income of the Fund (other than net capital gain) consists of qualifying dividends, then distributions paid by the Fund to individual shareholders will be qualifying dividends only to the extent they are derived from qualifying dividends earned by the Fund. For the lower rates to apply, you must have owned your Fund shares for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning on the date that is 60 days before the Fund’s ex-dividend date (and the Fund will need to have met a similar holding period requirement with respect to the shares of the corporation paying the qualifying dividend). The amount of the Fund’s distributions that qualify for this favorable treatment may be reduced as a result of the Fund’s securities lending activities (if any), a high portfolio turnover rate or investments in debt securities or “non-qualified” foreign corporations.

Distributions from the Fund will generally be taxable to you in the taxable year in which they are paid, with one exception. Distributions declared by the Fund in October, November or December and paid in January of the following year are taxed as though they were paid on December 31.

A portion of distributions paid by the Fund to shareholders that are corporations may also qualify for the dividends-received deduction for corporations, subject to certain holding period requirements and debt financing limitations.

If you purchase shares just before a distribution, the purchase price will reflect the amount of the upcoming distribution, but you will be taxed on the entire amount of the distribution received, even though, as an economic matter, the distribution simply constitutes a return of capital. This know as “buying into a dividend.”

Sales and Exchanges . You will generally recognize taxable gain or loss for federal income tax purposes on a sale, exchange or redemption of your shares, including an exchange for shares of another Fund, based on the difference between your tax basis in the shares and the amount you receive for them. Generally, you will recognize long-term capital gain or loss if you have held your Fund shares for over twelve months at the time you dispose of them. (To aid in computing your tax basis, you should retain your account statements for the periods during which you held shares.)

Any loss realized on shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends that were received on the shares. Additionally, any loss realized on a disposition of shares of a Fund may be disallowed under “wash sale” rules to the extent the shares disposed of are replaced with other shares (or a contract or option to acquire other shares) of the same Fund within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the shares are disposed of, such as pursuant to a dividend reinvestment in shares of the Fund. If disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an upward adjustment to the basis of the shares acquired.

 

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IRAs and Other Tax-Qualified Plans . The one major exception to the preceding tax principles is that distributions on, and sales, exchanges and redemptions of, shares held in an IRA (or other tax-qualified plan) will not be currently taxable.

Backup Withholding . The Fund may be required in certain cases to withhold and remit to the Internal Revenue Service a percentage of taxable dividends or gross proceeds realized upon sale payable to shareholders who have failed to provide a correct tax identification number in the manner required, who are subject to withholding by the Internal Revenue Service for failure to properly include reportable interest or dividends on their return, or who have failed to certify to the Fund that they are no subject to backup withholding when required to do so or that they are “exempt recipients.” The current withholding rate is 28%.

U.S. Tax Treatment of Foreign Shareholders . Nonresident aliens, foreign corporations and other foreign investors in the Fund will generally be exempt from U.S. federal income tax on Fund distributions attributable to net capital gains and, for distributions attributable to the Fund’s current taxable year ending on August 31, 2008, net short-term capital gains of the Fund. Tax may apply to such capital gain distributions, however, if the recipient’s investment in the Fund is connected to a trade or business of the recipient in the United States or if the recipient is present in the United States for 183 days or more in a year and certain other conditions are met.

Fund distributions attributable to other categories of Fund income, such as dividends from portfolio companies, will generally be subject to a 30% withholding tax when paid to foreign shareholders. The withholding tax may, however, be reduced (and, in some cases, eliminated) under an applicable tax treaty between the United States and a shareholder’s country of residence or incorporation, provided that the shareholder furnishes the Fund with a properly completed Form W-8BEN to establish entitlement for these treaty benefits. Also, for the Fund’s current taxable year ending on August 31, 2008, Fund distributions attributable to U.S.-source interest income of the Fund will be exempt from U.S. federal income tax for foreign investors, but they may need to file a federal income tax return to obtain a refund of any withholding taxes.

In subsequent taxable years, the exemption of foreign investors from U.S. federal income tax on Fund distributions attributable to U.S.-source interest income and short-term capital gains will be unavailable, but distributions attributable to long-term capital gains will continue to be exempt.

All foreign investors should consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences in their country of residence of an investment in the Fund.

State and Local Taxes . You may also be subject to state and local taxes on income from Fund shares. State income taxes may not apply, however, to the portions of the Fund’s distributions, if any, that are attributable to interest on U.S. government securities. You should consult your tax advisor regarding the tax status of distributions in your state and locality.

Sunset of Tax Provisions . Some of the tax provisions described above are subject to sunset provisions. Specifically, a sunset provision provides that the 15% long-term capital gain rate and the taxation of dividends at the long-term capital gain rate will change after 2010.

More information about taxes is contained in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

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Multi-Class Structure

The Fund also offers Class A Shares in a separate prospectus. Shares of each class of the Fund represent equal pro rata interests in the Fund and accrue dividends and calculate NAV and performance quotations in the same manner. The performance of each class is quoted separately due to different actual expenses. The total return on Class I Shares can be expected to differ from the total return on Class A Share of the Fund. Information concerning Class A Shares of the Fund can be requested by calling the Fund at (XXX) XXX-XXXX.

Additional information about taxes is contained in the Fund’s SAI.

NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION NOT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR IN THE FUND’S SAI INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE, IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING MADE BY THIS PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH REPRESENTATION MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR ITS UNDERWRITER. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFERING BY THE COMPANY OR BY THE UNDERWRITER IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFERING MAY NOT LAWFULLY BE MADE.

 

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BEAR STEARNS MULTIFACTOR 130/30

US CORE EQUITY FUND OF THE RBB FUND, INC.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

This Prospectus contains important information you should know before you invest. Read it carefully and keep it for future reference. More information about the Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund is available free of charge, upon request, including:

Annual/Semi-Annual Reports

These reports contain additional information about the Fund’s investments, describe the Fund’s performance, list portfolio holdings, and discuss recent market conditions and economic trends. The Annual Report includes the Fund’s strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during the last fiscal year.

Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”)

An SAI has been filed with the SEC. The SAI, which includes additional information about the Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund, may be obtained free of charge, along with the annual and semi-annual reports, by calling (XXX) XXX-XXXX. The SAI, as supplemented from time to time, is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus (and is legally part of the Prospectus).

Shareholder Inquiries

Representatives are available to discuss account balance information, mutual fund prospectuses, literature programs and services available. Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern time) Monday-Friday. Call (XXX) XXX-XXXX. The Fund makes copies of its SAI and Annual/Semi-Annual Reports to shareholders available on the Adviser’s website at www.bearstearns.com.

Purchases and Redemptions

Call (XXX) XXX-XXXX.

Written Correspondence

Street Address:

Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund, c/o PFPC Inc., 101 Sabin

Street, Pawtucket, RI 02860-1427.

P.O. Box Address:

Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund, c/o PFPC Inc., P.O. Box 9843,

Providence, RI 02940-8043.

Securities and Exchange Commission

You may also view and copy information about the Company and the Portfolios, including the SAI, by visiting the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC or the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at www.sec.gov. You may also obtain copies of Fund documents by paying a duplicating fee and sending an electronic request to the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by sending your written request and a duplicating fee to the SEC’s Public Reference Section, Washington, DC 20549-0102. You may obtain information on the operation of the public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-202-551-8090.

Investment Company Act File number 811-05518

 

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Subject to Completion

Preliminary Prospectus Dated December 17, 2007

Information contained herein pertaining to the Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund of The RBB Fund, Inc. is subject to completion or amendment. A post-effective amendment to The RBB Fund, Inc.’s registration statement relating to shares of the Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Shares of the Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund may not be sold nor may offers to buy shares of such Fund be accepted prior to the time the post-effective amendment to the registration statement becomes effective. This Prospectus shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of shares of the Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state.

BEAR STEARNS MULTIFACTOR 130/30 US CORE EQUITY FUND

of

The RBB Fund, Inc.

C LASS  A S HARES

PROSPECTUS

                         , 2008

The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus. Anyone who tells you otherwise is committing a criminal offense.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

INTRODUCTION

   1

DESCRIPTION OF THE BEAR STEARNS MULTIFACTOR 130/30 US CORE EQUITY FUND

   2

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

   6

EXPENSES AND FEES

   6

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

   8

Investment Adviser

   8

Portfolio Manager

   8

Management Fees

   8

Revenue Sharing Arrangements

   9

OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS

   10

SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

   11

Pricing of Fund Shares

   11

Sales Charges

   12

Market Timing

   14

Purchase of Fund Shares

   14

Redemption of Fund Shares

   18

Dividends and Distributions

   21

Taxes

   21

Multi-Class Structure

   23

FOR MORE INFORMATION

   24

 


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INTRODUCTION

The Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund (the “Fund”) is an open-end, diversified investment portfolio of The RBB Fund, Inc. (the “Company”). This Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”), which is incorporated by reference into the Prospectus, relate solely to the Fund.

Bear Stearns Asset Management Inc. (“BSAM” or the “Adviser”) provides investment advisory services to the Fund.

 


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DESCRIPTION OF THE BEAR STEARNS MULTIFACTOR 130/30 US CORE EQUITY FUND

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks returns that exceed the returns of the S&P 500 Index. The Fund’s investment objective is not fundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval by the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company will provide written notice to shareholders at least 60 days prior to changing its investment objective.

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including any borrowings for investment purposes) in U.S. equity securities. The Fund will notify shareholders in writing at least 60 days prior to any change in this 80% policy. The Fund invests in equity securities of U.S. companies with minimum market capitalizations of $2.5 billion at the time of purchase. Equity securities include exchange-traded and over-the-counter common and preferred stocks, warrants, rights, convertible securities, depositary receipts and shares, trust certificates, limited partnership interests, shares of other investment companies (including exchange-traded funds) and real estate investment trusts, and equity participations. The Fund invests primarily in securities issued by U.S. companies but also may invest in foreign securities in the form of American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”). ADRs are typically issued by a U.S. bank or trust company and evidence ownership of underlying foreign securities. The Adviser expects to manage the Fund actively and anticipates an annual portfolio turnover rate of approximately 500%.

The Adviser uses a research driven process which consistently refines a multifactor approach that seeks to outperform the S&P 500 Index by using quantitative analysis and qualitative judgment to build and manage a risk-controlled portfolio which is currently represented by 90-120 long positions and around 40-60 short positions. The number of long and short positions may change based upon prevailing market conditions.

The Fund generally will invest up to 30% of the Fund’s assets in short positions. However, the short positions may range between 0% and 40% of the Fund’s assets. The Adviser generally will also use short sale proceeds to increase the Fund’s long position exposure to up to 130% of the Fund’s assets. The Fund expects to maintain an approximate net 100% long exposure to the equity market (long market value minus short market value), although the Fund’s long positions will range between 120% and 140% of the Fund’s assets.

The Adviser expects that the Fund will maintain a significant short position under normal market conditions. The size of the short position will depend on the availability of attractive short investments as well as on the Adviser’s view of the overall market for equity securities. The Adviser views short positions as both profit opportunities (which are considered speculative) for the Fund as well as a risk management technique.

The cash proceeds from short sales may be held by the lender as collateral or may be released to the Fund and used to purchase additional securities or for any other purpose. If the proceeds are released to the Fund, it may be required to pledge replacement collateral as security to the lender, and may use securities it owns to meet any such collateral obligations.

 

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A long position represents stocks or other equity securities that the Fund owns. A short position represents a sale by the Fund of a security borrowed from a third party with the expectation that the value of the security will decline. If the value of the security drops, the Fund can profit by buying the security in the open market at a lower price than the price at which it sold the security. However, if the price of the security rises, the Fund may need to cover the short position at a higher price than the price at which the Fund sold the security, which would result in a loss.

The Fund may depart from its principal investment strategies in response to adverse market, economic or political conditions by taking temporary defensive positions (up to 100% of its assets) in all types of short-term instruments, including money market and short-term debt securities. If the Fund were to take a temporary defensive position, it may be unable for a time to achieve its investment objective.

Investment Process. The universe of securities available for investment by the Fund consists of all securities of companies in the Russell 3000 Index and S&P 1500 Index as well as all ADRs, subject to a minimum market capitalization of $2.5 billion and certain other criteria.

The Fund generally invests 130% of its assets in long positions. However, the actual percentage may vary depending on market opportunities. Investment decisions are based on a quantitative process encompassing the Adviser’s proprietary multifactor model as well as qualitative due diligence. The proprietary model ranks companies based on three themes: momentum, valuation and quality on both sector and individual stock levels. Due diligence is then performed on top ranked companies to verify favorable business momentum and valuation of individual stocks. Relative attractiveness of investment ideas is balanced with market capitalization and other risk considerations. The Adviser reevaluates securities daily and will sell long positions that fall below a median rating.

The Fund generally invests 30% of its assets in short positions. However, the actual percentage may vary depending on market opportunities and risk management considerations. Short ideas are generated based on stocks that are less favorably ranked by the Adviser’s proprietary model, combined with due diligence performed to verify negative business momentum and valuation of individual stocks. The Adviser seeks underperformance in the Fund’s short positions and also actively manages them to control the overall portfolio risk. The Adviser reevaluates securities daily and will cover short positions that rise above a median rating.

The Fund may, but is not required to, use derivatives such as futures, options, forward contracts and swap agreements as a substitute for investing directly in an underlying security to increase returns, manage foreign currency risk, for hedging purposes, or as an alternative to selling a security short.

Principal Risks

You may lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency. The Fund cannot guarantee that it will achieve its stated investment objective and may underperform other possible investments or benchmarks. The Fund is also subject to various risks which could reduce the share price such as:

 

   

Stock Risk – The risk that stock prices have historically risen and fallen in periodic cycles. U.S. and foreign stock markets may experience substantial price volatility.

 

   

Market Risk – The risk that the value of the securities in which the Fund invests may go up or down in response to the prospects of individual companies, particular industry sectors or governments and/or general economic conditions. Price changes may be temporary or last for extended periods.

 

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The Fund’s investments may be overweighted from time to time in one or more industry sectors, which will increase the Fund’s exposure to risk of loss from adverse developments affecting those sectors.

 

   

Short Sales Risk – The additional risks associated with engaging in short selling. In a short sale, the Fund sells a security it does not own, in anticipation that the price of the security will fall. When the Fund sells securities short, it must borrow securities to make delivery to the buyer of those securities, which incurs costs and expenses. When the Fund borrows securities, it uses other assets including long positions as collateral for the loan. If the value of a security sold short increases, the Fund may have to cover its short position at a higher price than the short sale price, resulting in a loss. The Fund’s loss on a short sale is potentially unlimited because there is no upward limit on the price a security could attain; by comparison, for a long position, the maximum loss is the price paid for the security plus transaction costs. The Fund’s use of short sales in combination with long positions in the Fund’s portfolio may not be successful and may result in greater losses or lower positive returns than if the Fund held only long positions. It is possible that the Fund’s long equity positions will decline in value at the same time that the value of the securities the Fund sold short increases, thereby increasing potential losses to the Fund. The Fund may not always be able to borrow a security it wants to sell short. The Fund also may be unable to close out an established short position at an acceptable price. In some instances, the Fund may have to sell long positions at a disadvantageous price in order to cover or close out short positions. Engaging in short sales is a form of leverage, which increases the Fund’s assets through borrowing.

 

   

Portfolio Turnover Risk – The risk that higher portfolio turnover rates could result in lower performance due to increased brokerage commissions and other transaction costs. In addition, higher portfolio turnover rates could result in the increased realization of taxable capital gains, including short-term capital gains.

Leverage Risk – By investing the proceeds received from selling securities short, the Fund is employing a form of leverage, which creates special risks. The use of leverage may increase the Fund’s exposure to long equity positions and make any change in the Fund’s net asset value greater than it would be without the use of leverage. This could result in increased volatility of returns. There is no guarantee that the Fund will leverage its portfolio or, if it does, that the Fund’s leveraging strategy will be successful. The Fund cannot guarantee that the use of leverage will produce a higher return on investment.

 

   

Foreign Securities Risk – The additional risks associated with investments in foreign securities, such as unfavorable political and economic developments, imposition of withholding taxes, seizure of foreign deposits, fluctuating currency exchange rates and currency controls or other governmental restrictions. In addition, foreign companies are not regulated by U.S. authorities, are generally not bound by the same financial reporting standards applicable to U.S. companies and are generally the subject of less publicly available information. Foreign securities may be less liquid than U.S. securities and may be subject to less efficient trade settlement practices.

 

   

Derivatives Risk – The risk that loss may result from the Fund’s investments in futures, swaps, options and other derivative instruments. These instruments may be leveraged so that small changes in value may produce disproportionate losses to the Fund. Using derivative instruments may involve risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. The Fund’s investment in a derivative instrument could lose more than the principal amount invested. Also, suitable derivative transactions may not be available in all circumstances and there can be no assurance that the Fund will engage in these transactions to reduce exposure to other risks when they would be beneficial.

 

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Asset Segregation Risk – When engaging in short selling, the Fund will segregate assets to cover its short positions. A security held in a segregated account cannot be sold while the position it is covering is outstanding, unless it is replaced with a similar security. As a result, there is a possibility that segregation of a large percentage of the Fund’s assets could impede portfolio management or the Fund’s ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.

 

   

Management Risk – The risk that a strategy used by the Adviser may fail to produce the intended results.

Disclosure of Fund Holdings

A description of the Company’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio securities is available in the SAI.

 

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PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

The Fund has not commenced investment operations as of the date of this Prospectus. Therefore, no performance information is available.

EXPENSES AND FEES

As a shareholder, you pay certain fees and expenses. The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Class A Shares of the Fund.

 

Shareholder Fees* (fees paid directly from your investment)

  

Maximum sales charge imposed on purchases

   5.75 %

Maximum deferred sales charge

   None (1)

Maximum sales charge imposed on reinvested dividends

   None  

Redemption Fee

   None  

Exchange Fee

   None  

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

  

Management fees

   1.00 %

Distribution (12b-1) fees

   0.25 %

Other Expenses: (2)

  

Dividend Expenses on Short Sales (3)

   0.53 %

Financing Costs (4)

   1.39 %

Other (5)

   0.29 %

Total other expenses

   2.21 %

Total annual Fund operating expenses

   3.46 %

Waivers/Reimbursements (6)

   (0.04 )%

Net annual Fund operating expenses (6)

   3.42 %

 

* Shareholders requesting redemptions by wire are charged a transaction fee of $7.50.

 

(1)

Shares bought without an initial sales charge as part of an investment of $1 million or more may be charged a contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% if redeemed within one year of purchase.

 

(2)

Other expenses for the Fund are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.

 

(3)

Includes dividends on securities which the Fund has sold short (“short-sale dividends”). Short-sale dividends generally reduce the market value of the securities by the amount of the dividend declared, thus increasing the Fund’s unrealized gain or reducing the Fund’s unrealized loss on the securities sold short. Short-sale dividends are treated as an expense and increase the Fund’s total expense ratio, although no cash is received or paid by the Fund.

 

(4)

Financing costs represent the fees charged in connection with the use of the cash proceeds arising from the short sales used by the Fund.

 

(5)

Other expenses include audit, administration, custody, legal, registration, transfer agency, financing costs, and miscellaneous other charges.

 

(6)

The Adviser is contractually waiving a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimbursing certain expenses in order to limit annual Fund operating expenses (excluding taxes, interest, litigation, short sale dividends and financing costs associated with the use of the cash proceeds on securities sold short, extraordinary expenses, and brokerage and other transaction expenses relating to the purchase or sale of portfolio investments) to 1.50% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class A Shares through                      , 200_. The Adviser may recoup the amount of any management fee waivers or expense reimbursements from the Fund if such recoupment does not cause the Fund to exceed the stated expense limitation and the recoupment is made within three years after the year in which the Adviser waived fees and/or reimbursed expenses.

 

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Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in Class A Shares of the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of the period. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, that the operating expenses of the Fund remain the same, and that you reinvest all dividends and distributions. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your cost would be:

 

       1 Year    3 Years
   $ 345    $ 1,059

 

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MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

Investment Adviser

BSAM, located at 237 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017, serves as the Fund’s investment adviser. BSAM, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Bear Stearns Companies Inc., was established in 1985. The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. is a holding company that, through its subsidiaries (including its principal subsidiary, Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.), is a leading United States investment banking, securities trading and brokerage firm serving U.S. and foreign corporations, governments and institutional and individual investors. BSAM is a registered investment adviser and provides investment advisory and sub-advisory services to open-end investment portfolios, U.S. equity and fixed income separate accounts, alternative investment vehicles such as hedge funds, private equity funds and funds of funds. As of October 31, 2007, BSAM has approximately $34.3 billion in assets under management.

Subject to the general supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors, the Adviser manages the Fund’s investment portfolio and is responsible for the selection and management of all investments of the Fund in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and policies.

Portfolio Manager

The Fund is managed by Michael A. Rosen. Michael A. Rosen, Managing Director and Portfolio Manager at BSAM, is primarily responsible for the day to day management of the Fund’s investments. Mr. Rosen joined BSAM in June 2006, with over 10 years of industry experience, to establish and head the Quantitative Equity team. Before joining BSAM, Mr. Rosen was a Portfolio Manager at BKF Asset Management, Inc., where he was Head of the Quantitative Equity group, responsible for managing US equity portfolios. From 2001 to 2005, Mr. Rosen was a Senior Quantitative Equity Portfolio Manager at ING Investment Management, responsible for running three institutional quantitative equity portfolios. Previously, Mr. Rosen was a risk and performance analyst at Deutsche Bank, responsible for performing risk and performance analysis on defined benefit plans. Mr. Rosen began his career at Ark Asset Management where, as a performance analyst, he was responsible for conducting performance analysis on institutional clients. Mr. Rosen holds NASD series 7 and 66 licenses and is a member of the Market Technician’s Association. He received a BS in Economics and Finance from the University of Hartford.

The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager and the portfolio manager’s ownership of securities in the Fund.

Management Fees

Pursuant to an investment advisory agreement with the Company, the Adviser is entitled to receive an advisory fee at the annual rate of 1.00% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, computed daily and payable monthly. A discussion regarding the Board of Directors’ basis for approving the investment advisory agreement with respect to the Fund will be available in the Fund’s annual report for the period ended August 31, 2008 when prepared.

The Adviser is contractually waiving a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimbursing certain expenses in order to limit annual Fund operating expenses (excluding taxes, interest, litigation, dividends and interest expense on securities sold short, extraordinary expenses, and brokerage and other transaction

 

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expenses relating to the purchase or sale of portfolio investments) to 1.50% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class A Shares through                      , 200_. The Adviser may recoup the amount of any management fee waivers or expense reimbursements from the Fund if such recoupment does not cause the Fund to exceed the stated expense limitation and the recoupment is made within three years after the year in which the Adviser waived fees and/or reimbursed expenses.

Revenue Sharing Arrangements

The Adviser may pay compensation, out of its own funds and not as an expense of the Fund, to Bear Stearns & Co., Inc. and other unaffiliated brokers, dealers or other financial intermediaries in connection with the sale or retention of Funds shares and/or shareholder servicing. The SAI provides additional information about these revenue sharing arrangements.

 

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OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS

 

   Shareholders

Distribution

and

Shareholder

Services

  

Principal Underwriter

 

PFPC Distributors, Inc.

760 Moore Road

King of Prussia, PA 19406

 

Facilitates the distribution of shares and provides administrative services to the Fund.

  

Transfer Agent and Dividend

Disbursing Agent

 

PFPC Inc.

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809*

 

Handles shareholder services, including recordkeeping and statements, distribution of dividends and processing of buy, sell and exchange requests.

 

*Do not use this address for purchases and redemptions. Please see “Purchase of Fund Shares” and “Redemption of Fund Shares” sections for further instructions.

Asset

Management

  

Investment Adviser

 

Bear Stearns Asset

Management Inc.

237 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10017

 

Manages the Fund’s investment activities.

  

Custodian

 

PFPC

Trust Company

8800 Tinicum Boulevard

Suite 200

Philadelphia, PA 19153

 

Holds the Fund’s assets, settles all portfolio trades and collects most of the valuation data required for calculating the Fund’s net asset value.

Fund

Operations

  

Administrator and Fund

Accounting Agent

 

PFPC Inc.

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

 

Provides facilities, equipment and personnel to carry out administrative services for the Fund and calculates the Fund’s net asset value, dividends and distributions.

  
  

Board of Directors

 

Supervises the Fund’s activities.

 

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SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

Pricing of Fund Shares

Class A Shares of the Fund are priced at their net asset value (“NAV”) plus a front-end sales charge, if applicable. This is commonly referred to as the “public offering price.” The Fund’s NAV per share is calculated as follows:

 

NAV

       =            –       

Value of Assets Attributable to Class A Shares

Value of Liabilities Attributable to Class A Shares

         Number of Outstanding Class A Shares

The Fund’s NAV is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day that the NYSE is open (a “Business Day”). The NYSE is generally open Monday through Friday, except national holidays. The Fund will effect purchases of Fund shares at the public offering price next determined after receipt of your order or request in proper form. The Fund will effect purchases or redemptions of Fund shares at the NAV next calculated after receipt of your order in proper form.

The Fund’s equity securities listed on any national or foreign exchange market system will be valued at the last sale price, except for the National Association of Securities Automatic Quotation System (“NASDAQ”). Equity securities listed on NASDAQ will be valued at the official closing price. Equity securities listed on NASDAQ will be valued at the mean of the last bid and asked prices prior to the market close. Fixed income securities having a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Fixed income securities having a remaining maturity of greater than 60 days are valued using an independent pricing service. When prices are not available from such services or are deemed to be unreliable, securities may be valued by dealers who make markets in such securities. Foreign securities, currencies and other securities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate of such currencies against the U.S. dollar provided by a pricing service. All assets denominated in foreign currencies will be converted into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates in effect at the time of valuation. If the Fund holds foreign equity securities, the calculation of the Fund’s NAV will not occur at the same time as the determination of the value of the foreign equity securities in the Fund’s portfolio, since these securities are traded on foreign exchanges.

If market quotations are unavailable or deemed unreliable, securities will be valued in accordance with procedures adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors. In addition, the prices of foreign securities may be affected by events that occur after the close of a foreign market but before the Fund prices its shares. In such instances, a foreign security may be fair valued in accordance with procedures adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors. Relying on prices supplied by pricing services or dealers or using fair valuation involves the risk that the values used by the Fund to price its investments may be higher or lower than the values used by other investment companies and investors to price the same instruments.

Investments in other mutual funds are valued based on the NAV of those mutual funds (which may use fair value pricing as discussed in their prospectuses).

 

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Sales Charges

General . Purchases of the Fund’s shares are subject to a front-end sales charge of 5.75% of the total purchase price; however sales charges may be reduced for large purchases as indicated below. Sales charges are not imposed on shares that are purchased with reinvested dividends or other distributions. The table below indicates the front-end sales charge as a percentage of both the offering price and the net amount invested. The term “offering price” includes the front-end sales charge.

 

Amount of Purchase

  

Sales Charge as a

% of Offering Price

   

Sales Charge as a %

of Net Amount Invested

 

Less than $50,000

   5.75 %   6.10 %

At least $50,000 but less than $100,000

   4.50 %   4.71 %

At least $100,000 but less than $250,000

   3.50 %   3.63 %

At least $250,000 but less than $500,000

   2.50 %   2.56 %

At least $500,000 but less than $1,000,000

   2.00 %   2.04 %

No sales charge is payable at the time of purchase on investments of $1 million or more; however, a 1% contingent deferred sales charge is imposed in the event of redemption within 12 months following any such purchase. See the section entitled “Contingent Deferred Sales Charge on Certain Redemptions.” The Fund’s distributor may pay a commission at the rate of 1% to certain brokerage firms, financial institutions and other industry professionals, including affiliates of the Adviser (collectively, “Service Organizations”), who initiate and are responsible for purchases of $1 million or more.

Combined Purchase Privilege . Certain purchases of Fund shares made at the same time by you, your spouse and your children under age 25 may be combined for purposes of determining the “Amount of Purchase.” The combined purchase privilege may also apply to certain employee benefit plans and trust estates. The following purchases may be combined for purposes of determining the “Amount of Purchase:” (a) individual purchases, if made at the same time, by a single purchaser, the purchaser’s spouse and children under the age of 25 purchasing shares for their own accounts, including shares purchased by a qualified retirement plan(s) exclusively for the benefit of such individual(s) (such as an IRA, individual-type section 403(b) plan or single-participant Keogh-type plan) or by a “Company,” as defined in section 2(a)(8) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), solely controlled, as defined in the 1940 Act, by such individual(s), or (b) individual purchases by trustees or other fiduciaries purchasing shares (i) for a single trust estate or a single fiduciary account, including an employee benefit plan, or (ii) concurrently by two or more employee benefit plans of a single employer or of employers affiliated with each other in accordance with Section 2(a)(3)(C) of the 1940 Act (excluding in either case an employee benefit plan described in (a) above), provided such trustees or other fiduciaries purchase shares in a single payment. Purchases made for nominee or street name accounts may not be combined with purchases made for such other accounts. You may also further discuss the combined purchase privilege with your investment broker or other Service Organization. In order to take advantage of the combined purchase privilege, the purchases combined must be brought to the attention of your investment broker or other Service Organization at the time of your purchase.

Cumulative Quantity Discount . You may combine the value of shares held in the Fund, along with the dollar amount of shares being purchased, to qualify for a cumulative quantity discount. The value of shares held is the higher of their current cost or current net asset value. For example, if you hold

 

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shares having a value of $475,000 and purchase $25,000 of additional shares, the sale charge applicable to the additional investment would be 2.00%, the rate applicable to a single purchase of $500,000. In order to receive the cumulative quantity discount, the value of shares held must be brought to the attention of your investment broker or other Service Organization at the time of purchase.

Letter of Intent . If you anticipate purchasing at least $500,000 of shares within a 13-month period, the shares may be purchased at a reduced sales charge by completing and returning a Letter of Intent (the “Letter”), which can be provided to you by your investment broker or other Service Organization. The reduced sales charge may also be obtained on shares purchased within the 90 days prior to the date of receipt of the Letter. Shares purchased under the Letter are eligible for the same reduced sales charge that would have been available had all the shares been purchased at the same time. There is no obligation to purchase the full amount of shares indicated in the Letter. Should you invest more or less than indicated in the Letter during the 13-month period, the sales charge will be recalculated based on the actual amount purchased. A portion of the amount of the intended purchase normally will be held in escrow in the form of Fund shares pending completion of the intended purchase.

Sales Charge Waivers . The Fund sells shares at NAV without imposition of a sales charge to the following persons:

 

   

full-time or part-time employees, and their family members, of the Adviser or any of its affiliates;

 

   

board members of the Adviser or its affiliates;

 

   

Directors of the Company;

 

   

full-time employees, and their family members, of financial institutions that have entered into selling agreements with the Fund’s distributor;

 

   

“wrap” account for the benefit of clients of financial institutions, provided they have entered into an agreement with the Fund’s distributor specifying operating policies and standards;

 

   

qualified separate accounts maintained by an insurance company; any state, county or city or instrumentality thereof; charitable organizations investing $50,000 or more in Fund shares; and charitable remainder trusts; and

 

   

members of qualified affinity groups who purchase Class A Shares directly through the Fund’s distributor, provided that the qualified affinity group has entered into an affinity agreement with the distributor.

In order to take advantage of a sales charge waiver, a purchaser must certify to the Service Organization eligibility for a waiver and must notify the Service Organization whenever eligibility for a waiver ceases to exist. A Service Organization reserves the right to request additional information from a purchaser in order to verify that such purchaser is so eligible. Such information may include account statements or other records regarding shares of the Fund held by you or your immediate family household members.

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge on Certain Redemptions . Purchases of $1 million or more are not subject to an initial sales charge; however, a contingent deferred sales charge is payable on these investments in the event of a share redemption within 12 months following the share purchase, at the rate

 

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of 1% of the lesser of the value of the shares redeemed (exclusive of reinvested dividends and capital gain distributions) or the total cost of such shares. In determining whether a contingent deferred sales charge is payable, and the amount of the charge, it is assumed that shares purchased with reinvested dividends and capital gain distributions and then other shares held the longest are the first redeemed. The contingent deferred sales charge is further discussed in the SAI.

Market Timing

In accordance with the policy adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors, the Company discourages market timing and other excessive trading practices. Purchases should be made with a view to longer-term investment only. Excessive short-term (market timing) trading practices may disrupt Fund management strategies, increase brokerage and administrative costs, harm Fund performance and result in dilution in the value of shares held by long-term shareholders. The Company and the Adviser reserve the right to reject or restrict purchase requests from any investor. The Company and the Adviser will not be liable for any loss resulting from rejected purchase orders. To minimize harm to the Company and its shareholders (or the Adviser), the Company (or the Adviser) will exercise their right if, in the Company’s (or the Adviser’s) judgment, an investor has a history of excessive trading or if an investor’s trading, in the judgment of the Company or the Adviser, has been or may be disruptive to the Fund. No waivers of the provisions of the policy established to detect and deter market timing and other excessive trading activity are permitted that would harm the Fund and its shareholders or would subordinate the interests of the Fund and its shareholders to those of the Adviser or any affiliated person or associated person of the Adviser.

Pursuant to the policy adopted by the Board of Directors, the Adviser has developed criteria that it uses to identify trading activity that may be excessive. The Adviser reviews on a regular, periodic basis available information related to the trading activity in the Fund in order to assess the likelihood that the Fund may be the target of excessive trading. As part of its excessive trading surveillance process, the Adviser, on a periodic basis, examines transactions that exceed certain monetary thresholds or numerical limits within a period of time. If, in its judgment, the Adviser detects excessive, short-term trading, the Adviser may reject or restrict a purchase request and may further seek to close an investor’s account with the Fund. The Adviser may modify its surveillance procedures and criteria from time to time without prior notice regarding the detection of excessive trading or to address specific circumstances. The Adviser will apply the criteria in a manner that, in the Adviser’s judgment, will be uniform. There is no assurance that the Adviser will be able to identify market timers, particularly if they are investing through intermediaries.

If necessary, the Company may prohibit additional purchases of Fund shares by a financial intermediary or by certain customers of the financial intermediary. Financial intermediaries may also monitor their customers’ trading activities in the Company. The criteria used by intermediaries to monitor for excessive trading may differ from the criteria used by the Company. If a financial intermediary fails to enforce the Company’s excessive trading policies, the Company may take certain actions, including terminating the relationship.

Purchase of Fund Shares

Shares representing interests in the Fund are offered continuously for sale by PFPC Distributors, Inc. (the “Underwriter”). The Board of Directors has approved a Distribution Agreement and adopted a Plan of Distribution for the shares (the “Plan”) pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Plan the Underwriter is entitled to receive from the Fund a distribution fee with respect to the Fund’s shares, which is accrued daily and paid monthly, of up to 0.25% on an annualized basis of the average

 

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daily net assets of the Fund. The actual amount of such compensation under the Plan is agreed upon by the Company’s Board of Directors and by the Underwriter. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of you investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.

Amounts paid to the Underwriter under the Plan may be used by the Underwriter to cover expenses that are related to (i) the sale of the Fund’s shares, (ii) ongoing servicing and/or maintenance of the accounts of shareholders, and (iii) sub-transfer agency services, sub-accounting services or administrative services related to the sale of the Fund’s shares, all as set forth in the Plan. Ongoing servicing and/or maintenance of accounts of shareholders may include updating and mailing prospectuses and shareholder reports, responding to inquiries regarding shareholder accounts and acting as agent or intermediary between shareholders and the Fund or its service providers. The Underwriter may delegate some or all of these functions to Service Organizations. See “Purchases Through Intermediaries” below.

The Plan obligates the Fund, during the period the Plan is in effect, to accrue and pay to the Underwriter on behalf of the Fund the fee agreed to under the Distribution Agreement. Payments under the Plan are not tied exclusively to expenses actually incurred by the Underwriter, and the payments may exceed distribution expenses actually incurred.

Purchases Through Intermediaries . Shares of the Fund may be available through certain brokerage firms, financial institutions and other industry professionals (collectively, “Service Organizations”). Certain features of the shares, such as the initial investment minimums and certain trading restrictions, may be modified or waived by Service Organizations. Service Organizations may impose transaction or administrative charges or other direct fees, which charges and fees would not be imposed if shares are purchased directly from the Company. Therefore, you should contact the Service Organization acting on your behalf concerning the fees (if any) charged in connection with a purchase or redemption of shares and should read this Prospectus in light of the terms governing your accounts with the Service Organization. Service Organizations will be responsible for promptly transmitting client or customer purchase and redemption orders to the Company in accordance with their agreements with the Company and with clients or customers. Service Organizations or, if applicable, their designees that have entered into agreements with the Company or its agent may enter confirmed purchase orders on behalf of clients and customers, with payment to follow no later than the Company’s pricing on the following Business Day. If payment is not received by such time, the Service Organization could be held liable for resulting fees or losses. The Company will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when a Service Organization, or, if applicable, its authorized designee, accepts a purchase or redemption order in good order if the order is actually received by the Company in good order not later than the next business morning. If a purchase order is not received in good order, PFPC Inc., the Fund’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”), will contact the financial intermediary to determine the status of the purchase order. Orders received by the Company in good order will be priced at the Fund’s NAV next computed after they are deemed to have been received by the Service Organization or its authorized designee.

The Company relies upon the integrity of Service Organizations to ensure that orders are timely and properly submitted. The Fund cannot assure you that a Service Organization has properly submitted to it all purchase and redemption orders received from the Service Organization’s customers before the time for determination of the Fund’s NAV in order to obtain that day’s price.

For administration, sub-accounting, transfer agency and/or other services, the Adviser or its affiliates may pay Service Organizations and certain recordkeeping organizations a fee (the “Service Fee”) of the average annual net asset value of accounts with the Company maintained by such Service Organizations or recordkeepers. The Service Fee payable to any one Service Organization is

 

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determined based upon a number of factors, including the nature and quality of services provided, the operations processing requirements of the relationship and the standardized fee schedule of the Service Organization or recordkeeper.

General . You may also purchase shares of the Fund at the NAV per share next calculated after your order is received by the Transfer Agent in good order as described below. After an initial purchase is made, the Transfer Agent will set up an account for you on the Company records. The minimum initial investment in the Fund is $1,000. There is no minimum requirement for subsequent investments. The minimum initial investment requirement may be reduced or waived from time to time in the Adviser’s discretion. You can only purchase shares of the Fund on days that the NYSE is open and through the means described below. For purposes of meeting the minimum initial investment requirements, purchases by clients which are part of endowments, foundations or other related groups may be combined. Shares may be purchased by principals and employees of the Adviser and its subsidiaries and by their spouses and children either directly or through any trust that has the principal, employee, spouse or child as the primary beneficiaries, their individual retirement accounts, or any pension and profit-sharing plan of the Adviser and its subsidiaries without being subject to the minimum investment requirements.

Initial Investment By Mail . You can open an account by completing and signing the application included with this Prospectus and mailing it to the Transfer Agent at the address noted below, together with a check payable to Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund. Third party checks will not be accepted.

 

Regular Mail:

   Overnight Mail:

Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30

   Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30

    US Core Equity Fund

       US Core Equity Fund

c/o PFPC Inc.

   c/o PFPC Inc.

P.O. Box 9843

   101 Sabin Street

Providence, RI 02940-8043

   Pawtucket, RI 02860-1427

The name of the Fund should be designated on the application and should appear on the check. Payment for the purchase of shares received by mail will be credited to a shareholder’s account at the NAV per share of the Fund next determined after receipt of payment in good order.

Initial Investment By Wire . Shares of the Fund may be purchased by wiring federal funds to PNC Bank, N.A. (see instructions below). You must forward a completed application together with necessary supporting documentation to the Transfer Agent at the address noted above under “Initial Investment by Mail” before wiring funds. Notification must be given to the Transfer Agent at (XXX) XXX-XXXX prior to 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the wire date. (Prior notification is required even from investors with existing accounts.) Request account information and routing instructions by calling the Transfer Agent at (XXX) XXX-XXXX. Funds should be wired to:

PNC Bank, N.A.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

ABA # 0310-0005-3

Account Number 86-1172-4119

F/B/O Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund – Class A

Ref. (Account Registration)

(Fund and Account Number)

 

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Federal funds purchases will be accepted only on days when both the NYSE and PNC Bank, N.A. are open for business.

Subsequent Investments . Subsequent investments may be made at any time by purchasing shares of the Fund at its NAV per share by mailing a check to the Transfer Agent at the address noted under “Initial Investment by Mail” (payable to Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund), or by wiring monies to PNC Bank, N.A. as outlined under “Initial Investment by Wire.” You must notify the Transfer Agent at (XXX) XXX-XXXX before 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the wire date. Initial and subsequent purchases made by check cannot be redeemed until payment of the purchase has been collected. This may take up to 15 calendar days from the date of purchase.

Automatic Investment Plan . Additional investments in shares of the Fund may be made automatically by authorizing the Transfer Agent to withdraw funds from your bank account through an Automatic Investment Plan ($50 minimum). Investors desiring to participate in an Automatic Investment Plan should call the Transfer Agent at (XXX) XXX-XXXX.

Retirement Plans . Shares may be purchased in conjunction with various retirement plans, including Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”), section 403(b) plans and retirement plans for self-employed individuals, partnerships and corporations and their employees. Detailed information concerning retirement plans is available from your Service Organization. A $15.00 custodial maintenance fee is charged per IRA account per year. For further information as to applications and annual fees, contact your Service Organization To determine whether the benefits of an IRA are available and/or appropriate, you should consult with a tax advisor.

Other Purchase Information . The Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend the offering of shares or to reject purchase orders when, in the judgment of management, such suspension or rejection is in the best interests of the Fund. Decisions to close or open the Fund are subject to Board approval. The Adviser will monitor the Fund’s total assets and may decide to close the Fund at any time to new investments or to new accounts due to concerns that a significant increase in the size of the Fund may adversely affect the implementation of the Fund’s strategy. Subject to the Board of Directors’ discretion, the Adviser may also choose to reopen the Fund to new investments at any time, and may subsequently close the Fund again should concerns regarding the Fund’s size recur. If the Fund closes to new investments, generally the Fund would be offered only to certain existing shareholders of the Fund and certain other persons, who are generally subject to cumulative, maximum purchase amounts, as follows:

a. persons who already hold shares of the Fund directly or through accounts maintained by brokers by arrangement with the Company;

b. existing and future clients of financial advisers and planners whose clients already hold shares of the Fund;

c. employees of the Adviser and their spouses, parents and children; and

d. Directors of the Company.

Other persons who are shareholders of other funds of the Company are not permitted to acquire shares of the Fund by exchange. Distributions to all shareholders of the Fund will continue to be reinvested unless a shareholder elects otherwise. The Adviser, subject to the Board of Directors’ discretion, reserves the right to implement other purchase limitations at the time of closing, including limitations on current shareholders.

 

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Purchases of the Fund’s shares will be made in full and fractional shares of the Fund calculated to three decimal places.

The Company’s officers are authorized to waive the minimum initial investment requirements.

Good Order . You must include complete and accurate required information on your purchase request. Please see “Purchase of Fund Shares.” Purchase requests not in good order may be rejected.

Customer Identification Program . Federal law requires the Company to obtain, verify and record identifying information, which may include the name, residential or business street address, date of birth (for an individual), social security or taxpayer identification number or other identifying information for each investor who opens or reopens an account with the Company. For business entities, partnerships, trusts, or other organizations, the Company may request additional documentation including, but not limited to, certified copies of the corporate resolution, partnership agreement, or trust document, which established the entity’s identity. Applications without the required information, or without any indication that a social security or taxpayer identification number has been applied for, may not be accepted. After acceptance, to the extent permitted by applicable law or its customer identification program, the Company reserves the right (a) to place limits on transactions in any account until the identity of the investor is verified; or (b) to refuse an investment in a Company portfolio or to involuntarily redeem an investor’s shares and close an account in the event that an investor’s identity is not verified. The Company and its agents will not be responsible for any loss in an investor’s account resulting from the investor’s delay in providing all required identifying information or from closing an account and redeeming an investor’s shares when an investor’s identity cannot be verified.

Redemption of Fund Shares

Normally, your investment firm will send your request to redeem shares to the Transfer Agent. Consult your investment professional for more information. You can redeem some or all of your Fund shares directly through the Fund only if the account is registered in your name. All IRA shareholders must complete an IRA withdrawal form to redeem shares from their IRA account.

You may redeem shares of the Fund at the next NAV calculated after a redemption request is received by the Transfer Agent in proper form. You can only redeem shares on days the NYSE is open and through the means described below.

See “Purchase of Fund Shares – Services Organizations” for additional information about redemptions effected through Service Organizations.

You may redeem shares of the Fund by mail, or, if you are authorized, by telephone. The value of shares redeemed may be more or less than the purchase price, depending on the market value of the investment securities held by the Fund. There is no charge for a redemption.

Redemption By Mail . Your redemption requests should be addressed to Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund, c/o PFPC Inc., P.O. Box 9843, Providence, RI 02940; for overnight delivery, requests should be addressed to Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund, c/o PFPC Inc., 101 Sabin Street, Pawtucket, RI 02860-1427 and must include:

 

   

Name of the Fund;

 

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Account Number;

 

   

A letter of instruction specifying the number of shares or dollar amount to be redeemed, signed by all registered owners of the shares in the exact names in which they are registered; and

 

   

Other supporting legal documents, if required, in the case of estates, trusts, guardianships, custodianships, corporations, pension and profit sharing plans and other organizations.

Medallion signature guarantees are required when (i) the redemption proceeds are to be sent to someone other than the registered shareholder(s) or (ii) the redemption request is for $10,000 or more. A signature guarantee may be obtained from a domestic bank or trust company, broker, dealer, clearing agency or savings association who are participants in a Medallion Program recognized by the Securities Transfer Association. The three recognized Medallion Programs are Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program (STAMP), Stock Exchanges Medallion Program (SEMP) and New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Medallion Signature Program (MSP). Signature guarantees which are not a part of these programs will not be accepted. Please note that a notary public stamp or seal is not acceptable.

Redemption By Telephone . In order to request a telephone redemption, you must have returned your account application containing a telephone election. To add a telephone redemption option to an existing account, contact the Transfer Agent by calling (XXX) XXX-XXXX. Please note that IRA accounts are not eligible for telephone redemptions.

Once you are authorized to utilize the telephone redemption option, a redemption of shares may be requested by calling the Transfer Agent at (XXX) XXX-XXXX and requesting that the redemption proceeds be mailed to the primary registration address or wired per the authorized instructions. A wire charge of $7.50 is assessed and charged to the shareholder.

To redeem by telephone, you must elect telephone redemptions in your account application and submit a list of authorized persons. If the telephone redemption option or the telephone exchange option is authorized, the Transfer Agent may act on telephone instructions from any person representing himself or herself to be an authorized person of a shareholder and believed by the Company and the Transfer Agent to be genuine. The Transfer Agent’s records of such instructions are binding and shareholders, not the Company or the Transfer Agent, bear the risk of loss in the event of unauthorized instructions reasonably believed by the Company or the Transfer Agent to be genuine. The Company and the Transfer Agent will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions communicated are genuine and, if it does not, it may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. The procedures employed by the Company and the Transfer Agent in connection with transactions initiated by telephone include tape recording of telephone instructions and requiring some form of personal identification prior to acting upon instructions received by telephone.

Systematic Withdrawal Plan . If your account has a value of at least $10,000, you may establish a Systematic Withdrawal Plan and receive regular periodic payments. A request to establish a Systematic Withdrawal Plan must be submitted to the Transfer Agent at P.O. Box 9843, Providence, RI 02940. Each withdrawal redemption will be processed on or about the 25 th of the month and mailed as soon as possible thereafter. There are no service charges for maintenance; the minimum amount that you may withdraw

 

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each period is $50. (This is merely the minimum amount allowed and should not be mistaken for a recommended amount.) The holder of a Systematic Withdrawal Plan will have any income dividends and any capital gains distributions reinvested in full and fractional shares at NAV. To provide funds for payment shares will be redeemed in such amounts as are necessary at the redemption price. The systematic withdrawal of shares may reduce or possibly exhaust the shares in your account, particularly in the event of a market decline. As with other redemptions, a systematic withdrawal payment is a sale for federal income tax purposes. Payments made pursuant to a Systematic Withdrawal Plan cannot be considered as actual yield or income since part of such payments may be a return of capital.

You will ordinarily not be allowed to make additional investments of less than the aggregate annual withdrawals under the Systematic Withdrawal Plan during the time you have the plan in effect and, while a Systematic Withdrawal Plan is in effect, you may not make periodic investments under the Automatic Investment Plan. You will receive a confirmation of each transaction and the share and cash balance remaining in your plan. The plan may be terminated on written notice by the shareholder or by the Fund and will terminate automatically if all shares are liquidated or withdrawn from the account or upon the death or incapacity of the shareholder. You may change the amount and schedule of withdrawal payments or suspend such payments by giving written notice to the Transfer Agent at least ten Business Days prior to the end of the month preceding a scheduled payment.

Involuntary Redemption . The Fund reserves the right to redeem a shareholder’s account in the Fund at any time the value of the account in the Fund falls below $500 as the result of a redemption or an exchange request. Shareholders will be notified in writing that the value of their account in the Fund is less than $500 and will be allowed 30 days to make additional investments before the redemption is processed.

Other Redemption Information . Redemption proceeds for recently purchased shares paid for by check may not be distributed until payment for the purchase has been collected, which may take up to fifteen days from the purchase date. Shareholders can avoid this delay by using the wire purchase option.

Other than as described above, payment of the redemption proceeds will be made within seven days after receipt of an order for redemption. The Company may suspend the right of redemption or postpone the date for payment of redemption proceeds at times when the NYSE is closed or under any emergency circumstances as determined by the SEC.

Generally, redemption proceeds will be paid in cash, unless the Board of Directors, in its discretion, determines that it would be detrimental to the best interests of the remaining shareholders of the Fund to make payment wholly or partly in cash. In such a case, some or all of the redemption proceeds may be paid in kind, which means that the Fund would distribute readily marketable securities held by the Fund instead of cash in conformity with applicable rules of the SEC. Investors generally will incur brokerage charges on the sale of portfolio securities received in redemption of their shares. The Company has elected, however, to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the Act, so that the Fund is obligated to redeem its shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of its NAV during any 90-day period for any one shareholder of the Fund.

Proper Form . You must include complete and accurate required information on your redemption request. Please see “Redemption of Fund Shares” for instructions. Redemption requests not in proper form may be delayed.

 

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Dividends and Distributions

The Fund will distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareholders. All distributions are reinvested in the form of additional full and fractional shares of the Fund unless a shareholder elects otherwise.

The Fund will declare and pay dividends from net investment income annually. Ordinary income for the Fund, in certain circumstances, may be “qualified dividend income” taxable to individual shareholders at a maximum 15% U.S. federal income tax rate as described below. Net realized capital gains (including net short-term capital gains), if any, will be distributed by the Fund at least annually.

The Fund may pay additional distributions and dividends at other times if necessary for the Fund to avoid U.S. federal tax. The Fund’s distributions and dividends, whether received in cash or reinvested in additional Fund shares, are subject to U.S. federal income tax.

Taxes

The following is a summary of certain United States tax considerations relevant under current law, which may be subject to change in the future. Except where otherwise indicated, the discussion relates to investors who are individual U.S. citizens or residents. You should consult your tax advisor for further information regarding federal, state, local and/or foreign tax consequences relevant to your specific situation.

Fund Distributions . The Fund contemplates distributing as dividends each year all or substantially all of its taxable income, including its net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss). Except as otherwise discussed below, you will be subject to federal income tax on Fund distributions regardless whether they are paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares. Fund distributions attributable to short-term capital gains and net investment income will generally be taxable to you as ordinary income, except as discussed below.

Distributions attributable to the net capital gain of the Fund will be taxable to you as long-term capital gain, no matter how long you have owned your Fund shares. The maximum long-term capital gain rate applicable to individuals, estates, and trusts is currently 15%. You will be notified annually of the tax status of distributions to you.

Distribution of “qualifying dividends” will also generally be taxable to you at long-term capital gain rates, as long as certain requirements are met. In general, if 95% or more of the gross income of the Fund (other than net capital gain) consists of dividends received from domestic corporations or “qualified” foreign corporations (“qualifying dividends”), then all distributions paid by the Fund to individual shareholders will be taxed at long-term capital gains rates. But, if less than 95% of the gross income of the Fund (other than net capital gain) consists of qualifying dividends, then distributions paid by the Fund to individual shareholders will be qualifying dividends only to the extent they are derived from qualifying dividends earned by the Fund. For the lower rates to apply, you must have owned your Fund shares for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning on the date that is 60 days before the Fund’s ex-dividend date (and the Fund will need to have met a similar holding period requirement with respect to the shares of the corporation paying the qualifying dividend). The amount of the Fund’s distributions that qualify for this favorable treatment may be reduced as a result of the Fund’s securities lending activities (if any), a high portfolio turnover rate or investments in debt securities or “non-qualified” foreign corporations.

 

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Distributions from the Fund will generally be taxable to you in the taxable year in which they are paid, with one exception. Distributions declared by the Fund in October, November or December and paid in January of the following year are taxed as though they were paid on December 31.

A portion of distributions paid by the Fund to shareholders that are corporations may also qualify for the dividends-received deduction for corporations, subject to certain holding period requirements and debt financing limitations.

If you purchase shares just before a distribution, the purchase price will reflect the amount of the upcoming distribution, but you will be taxed on the entire amount of the distribution received, even though, as an economic matter, the distribution simply constitutes a return of capital. This know as “buying into a dividend.”

Sales and Exchanges . You will generally recognize taxable gain or loss for federal income tax purposes on a sale, exchange or redemption of your shares, including an exchange for shares of another Fund, based on the difference between your tax basis in the shares and the amount you receive for them. Generally, you will recognize long-term capital gain or loss if you have held your Fund shares for over twelve months at the time you dispose of them. (To aid in computing your tax basis, you should retain your account statements for the periods during which you held shares.)

Any loss realized on shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends that were received on the shares. Additionally, any loss realized on a disposition of shares of a Fund may be disallowed under “wash sale” rules to the extent the shares disposed of are replaced with other shares (or a contract or option to acquire other shares) of the same Fund within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the shares are disposed of, such as pursuant to a dividend reinvestment in shares of the Fund. If disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an upward adjustment to the basis of the shares acquired.

IRAs and Other Tax-Qualified Plans . The one major exception to the preceding tax principles is that distributions on, and sales, exchanges and redemptions of, shares held in an IRA (or other tax-qualified plan) will not be currently taxable.

Backup Withholding . The Fund may be required in certain cases to withhold and remit to the Internal Revenue Service a percentage of taxable dividends or gross proceeds realized upon sale payable to shareholders who have failed to provide a correct tax identification number in the manner required, who are subject to withholding by the Internal Revenue Service for failure to properly include reportable interest or dividends on their return, or who have failed to certify to the Fund that they are no subject to backup withholding when required to do so or that they are “exempt recipients.” The current withholding rate is 28%.

U.S. Tax Treatment of Foreign Shareholders . Nonresident aliens, foreign corporations and other foreign investors in the Fund will generally be exempt from U.S. federal income tax on Fund distributions attributable to net capital gains and, for distributions attributable to the Fund’s current taxable year ending on August 31, 2008, net short-term capital gains of the Fund. Tax may apply to such capital gain distributions, however, if the recipient’s investment in the Fund is connected to a trade or business of the recipient in the United States or if the recipient is present in the United States for 183 days or more in a year and certain other conditions are met.

Fund distributions attributable to other categories of Fund income, such as dividends from portfolio companies, will generally be subject to a 30% withholding tax when paid to foreign

 

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shareholders. The withholding tax may, however, be reduced (and, in some cases, eliminated) under an applicable tax treaty between the United States and a shareholder’s country of residence or incorporation, provided that the shareholder furnishes the Fund with a properly completed Form W-8BEN to establish entitlement for these treaty benefits. Also, for the Fund’s current taxable year ending on August 31, 2008, Fund distributions attributable to U.S.-source interest income of the Fund will be exempt from U.S. federal income tax for foreign investors, but they may need to file a federal income tax return to obtain a refund of any withholding taxes.

In subsequent taxable years, the exemption of foreign investors from U.S. federal income tax on Fund distributions attributable to U.S.-source interest income and short-term capital gains will be unavailable, but distributions attributable to long-term capital gains will continue to be exempt.

All foreign investors should consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences in their country of residence of an investment in the Fund.

State and Local Taxes . You may also be subject to state and local taxes on income from Fund shares. State income taxes may not apply, however, to the portions of the Fund’s distributions, if any, that are attributable to interest on U.S. government securities. You should consult your tax advisor regarding the tax status of distributions in your state and locality.

Sunset of Tax Provisions . Some of the tax provisions described above are subject to sunset provisions. Specifically, a sunset provision provides that the 15% long-term capital gain rate and the taxation of dividends at the long-term capital gain rate will change after 2010.

More information about taxes is contained in the Statement of Additional Information.

Multi-Class Structure

The Fund also offers Class I Shares in a separate prospectus. Shares of each class of the Fund represent equal pro rata interests in the Fund and accrue dividends and calculate NAV and performance quotations in the same manner. The performance of each class is quoted separately due to different actual expenses. The total return on Class I Shares can be expected to differ from the total return on Class A Share of the Fund. Information concerning Class I Shares of the Fund can be requested by calling the Fund at (XXX) XXX-XXXX.

Additional information about taxes is contained in the Fund’s SAI.

NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION NOT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR IN THE FUND’S SAI INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE, IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING MADE BY THIS PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH REPRESENTATION MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR ITS UNDERWRITER. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFERING BY THE COMPANY OR BY THE UNDERWRITER IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFERING MAY NOT LAWFULLY BE MADE.

 

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BEAR STEARNS MULTIFACTOR 130/30

US CORE EQUITY FUND OF THE RBB FUND, INC.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

This Prospectus contains important information you should know before you invest. Read it carefully and keep it for future reference. More information about the Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund is available free of charge, upon request, including:

Annual/Semi-Annual Reports

These reports contain additional information about the Fund’s investments, describe the Fund’s performance, list portfolio holdings, and discuss recent market conditions and economic trends. The Annual Report includes the Fund’s strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during the last fiscal year.

Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”)

An SAI has been filed with the SEC. The SAI, which includes additional information about the Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund, may be obtained free of charge, along with the annual and semi-annual reports, by calling (XXX) XXX-XXXX. The SAI, as supplemented from time to time, is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus (and is legally part of the Prospectus).

Shareholder Inquiries

Representatives are available to discuss account balance information, mutual fund prospectuses, literature programs and services available. Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern time) Monday-Friday. Call (XXX) XXX-XXXX. The Fund makes copies of its SAI and Annual/Semi-Annual Reports to shareholders available on the Adviser’s website at www.bearstearns.com.

Purchases and Redemptions

Call (XXX) XXX-XXXX.

Written Correspondence

Street Address:

Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund, c/o PFPC Inc., 101 Sabin

Street, Pawtucket, RI 02860-1427.

P.O. Box Address:

Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund, c/o PFPC Inc., P.O. Box 9843,

Providence, RI 02940-8043.

Securities and Exchange Commission

You may also view and copy information about the Company and the Portfolios, including the SAI, by visiting the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC or the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at www.sec.gov. You may also obtain copies of Fund documents by paying a duplicating fee and sending an electronic request to the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by sending your written request and a duplicating fee to the SEC’s Public Reference Section, Washington, DC 20549-0102. You may obtain information on the operation of the public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-202-551-8090.

Investment Company Act File number 811-05518

 

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Subject to Completion

Preliminary Statement of Additional Information Dated December 17, 2007

Information contained herein pertaining to the Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund of The RBB Fund, Inc. is subject to completion or amendment. A post-effective amendment to The RBB Fund, Inc.’s registration statement relating to shares of the Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Shares of the Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund may not be sold nor may offers to buy shares of such Fund be accepted prior to the time the post-effective amendment to the registration statement becomes effective. This Statement of Additional Information shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of shares of the Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state.

BEAR STEARNS MULTIFACTOR 130/30 US CORE EQUITY FUND

of

The RBB Fund, Inc.

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

                     , 2008

This Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”) is not a prospectus, but should be read in conjunction with the current prospectus dated                  , 2008 (the “Prospectus”) pursuant to which shares (“Shares”) of the Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund (the “Fund”), a series of The RBB Fund, Inc. (the “Company”) are offered. This SAI is incorporated by reference in its entirety into the Prospectus. Please retain this SAI for future reference.

For a free copy of the Prospectus, please call toll-free 1-XXX-XXX-XXXX.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page

GENERAL INFORMATION

   1

INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTS AND POLICIES

   1

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

   29

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

   31

MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY

   32

CODE OF ETHICS

   39

PROXY VOTING

   39

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

   40

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

   40

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

   45

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION

   46

TELEPHONE TRANSACTION PROCEDURES

   48

VALUATION OF SHARES

   49

TAXES

   49

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING COMPANY SHARES

   51

MISCELLANEOUS

   55

APPENDIX A DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS

   A-1

APPENDIX B BSAM PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

   B-1


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GENERAL INFORMATION

The Company is an open-end management investment company currently operating twenty-two separate portfolios. The Company is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and was organized as a Maryland corporation on February 29, 1988. This SAI pertains to two classes of shares representing interests in one diversified portfolio of the Company, which is offered by the Prospectus. Bear Stearns Asset Management Inc. (“BSAM” or the “Adviser”) serves as the investment adviser to the Fund.

INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTS AND POLICIES

The following supplements the information contained in the Prospectus concerning the investment objective and policies of the Fund.

The Fund seeks returns that exceed the returns of the S&P 500 Composite Stock Price Index (the “S&P 500 Index”). Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities. The Fund invests in equity securities of companies with minimum market capitalizations of $2.5 billion at the time of purchase.

The Adviser may not necessarily invest in all of the instruments or use all of the investment techniques permitted by the Fund’s Prospectus and this SAI or invest in such instruments or engage in such techniques to the full extent permitted by the Funds’ investment policies and limitations.

Common Stock. Common stocks represent an equity (ownership) interest in a company. This ownership interest generally gives the Fund the right to vote on issues affecting the company’s organization and operations. Such investments may be diversified over a cross-section of industries and individual companies.

Short Sales. As one of its principal investment strategies, the Fund will engage in short sales to generate portfolio returns. Short sales are transactions in which the Fund sells a security it does not own in anticipation of a decline in the market value of that security. To complete such a transaction, the Fund must borrow the security to make delivery to the buyer of those securities, which incurs costs and expenses. The Fund then is obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing it at the market price at the time of replacement. The price at the time of replacement may be more or less than the price at which the security was sold short by the Fund.

Until the security is replaced, the Fund is required to pay to the lender amounts equal to any dividend which accrues during the period of the loan. To borrow the security, the Fund also may be required to pay a premium, which would increase the cost of the security sold. The Fund may not always be able to borrow a security it wants to sell short.


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Until the Fund replaces a borrowed security in connection with a short sale, the Fund will: (a) maintain daily a segregated account, containing cash, cash equivalents, or liquid marketable securities, at such a level that (i) the amount deposited in the account plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral will equal the current value of the security sold short and (ii) the amount deposited in the segregated account plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral will not be less than the market value of the security at the time it was sold short; or (b) otherwise cover its short position in accordance with positions taken by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The Fund may use other assets including long positions as collateral for the loan.

The proceeds of the short sale will be retained by the broker, to the extent necessary to meet margin requirements, until the short position is closed out.

The Fund will incur a loss as a result of the short sale if the price of the security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces the borrowed security. The Fund will realize a gain if the security declines in price between those dates. This result is the opposite of what one would expect from a cash purchase of a long position in a security. The amount of any gain will be decreased, and the amount of any loss increased, by the amount of any premium or amounts in lieu of interest the Fund may be required to pay in connection with a short sale.

The Fund’s loss on a short sale is potentially unlimited because there is no upward limit on the price a security could attain; by comparison, for a long position, the maximum loss is the price paid for the security plus transaction costs. The Fund may purchase call options to provide a hedge against an increase in the price of a security sold short by the Fund. The Fund’s strategy of using short sales in combination with long positions may result in greater losses or lower positive returns than if the Fund held only long positions.

If the Fund’s long equity positions decline in value at the same time that the value of the securities the Fund sold short increases, the Fund’s potential short sale losses may increase. The Fund also may be unable to close out an established short position at an acceptable price. In some instances, the Fund may have to sell long positions at a disadvantageous price in order to cover or close out short positions. Engaging in short sales is a form of leverage, which increases the Fund's assets through borrowing.

The Fund anticipates that the frequency of short sales will vary substantially in different periods, and it does not intend that any specified portion of its assets, as a matter of practice, will be invested in short sales. The Fund expects its short positions to range from zero to 50% of the Fund’s total assets. No securities will be sold short, however, if after giving effect to any such short sale, the total market value of all securities sold short would exceed 100% of the value of the Fund’s net assets.

Foreign Securities. The Fund may invest in securities of foreign issuers that are traded or denominated in U.S. dollars, (including equity securities of foreign issuers trading in U.S. markets), including through American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), or European Depositary Receipts. ADRs are securities, typically issued by a U.S. financial institution (a “depository”), that evidence ownership interests in a security or pool of securities issued by a foreign issuer and deposited with the depository. ADRs may be listed

 

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on a national securities exchange or may trade in the over-the-counter market. ADR prices are denominated in U.S. dollars; the underlying security may be denominated in a foreign currency. GDRs, EDRs and IDRs are securities that represent ownership interests in a security or pool of securities issued by a non-U.S. or U.S. corporation. Depositary receipts may be available through “sponsored” or “unsponsored” facilities. A sponsored facility is established jointly by the issuer of the security underlying the receipt and the depository, whereas an unsponsored facility is established by the depository without participation by the issuer of the underlying security. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all of the costs of the unsponsored facility. The depository of an unsponsored facility is frequently under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through, to the holders of the receipts, voting rights with respect to the deposited securities. The depository of unsponsored depositary receipts may provide less information to receipt holders. Investments in depositary receipts do not eliminate the risks in investing in foreign issuers. The underlying security may be subject to foreign government taxes, which would reduce the yield on such securities.

Investments in foreign securities involve higher costs than investments in U.S. securities, including higher transaction costs as well as the imposition of additional taxes by foreign governments. In addition, foreign investments may include additional risks associated with currency exchange rates, less complete financial information about the issuers, less market liquidity and political stability. Volume and liquidity in most foreign bond markets are less than in the United States and, at times, volatility or price can be greater than in the United States. Future political and economic information, the possible imposition of withholding taxes on interest income, the possible seizure or nationalization of foreign holdings, the possible establishment of exchange controls, or the adoption of other governmental restrictions, might adversely affect the payment of principal and interest on foreign obligations. Inability to dispose of Fund securities due to settlement problems could result either in losses to the Fund due to subsequent declines in value of the securities, or, if the Fund has entered into a contract to sell the securities, could result in possible liability to the purchaser. Individual foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth or gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments position.

Fixed commissions on foreign securities exchanges are generally higher than negotiated commissions on U.S. exchanges, although the Fund endeavors to achieve the most favorable net results on their portfolio transactions. There is generally less government supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers, dealers and listed companies than in the United States.

Settlement mechanics (e.g., mail service between the United States and foreign countries) may be slower or less reliable than within the United States, thus increasing the risk of delayed settlements of portfolio transactions or loss of certificates for portfolio securities. Foreign markets also have different clearance and settlement procedures, and in certain markets there have been times when settlements have been unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions, making it difficult to conduct such transactions. Such delays in settlement could

 

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result in temporary periods when a portion of the assets of the Fund is uninvested and no return is earned thereon. The inability of the Fund to make intended security purchases due to settlement problems could cause the Fund to miss attractive investment opportunities.

Although the Fund may invest in securities denominated in foreign currencies, the Fund values its securities and other assets in U.S. dollars. As a result, the NAV of the Fund’s shares may fluctuate with U.S. dollar exchange rates as well as the price changes of the Fund’s securities in the various local markets and currencies. Thus, an increase in the value of the U.S. dollar compared to the currencies in which the Fund makes its investments could reduce the effect of increases and magnify the effect of decreases in the price of the Fund’s securities in their local markets. Conversely, a decrease in the value of the U.S. dollar may have the opposite effect of magnifying the effect of increases and reducing the effect of decreases in the prices of the Fund’s securities in its foreign markets. In addition to favorable and unfavorable currency exchange rate developments, the Fund is subject to the possible imposition of exchange control regulations or freezes on convertibility of currency.

The Fund may invest in obligations of foreign branches of U.S. banks (Eurodollars) and U.S. branches of foreign banks (Yankee dollars) as well as foreign branches of foreign banks. These investments involve risks that are different from investments in securities of U.S. banks, including potential unfavorable political and economic developments, different tax provisions, seizure of foreign deposits, currency controls, interest limitations or other governmental restrictions which might affect payment of principal or interest. The Fund may also invest in Yankee bonds, which are issued by foreign governments and their agencies and foreign corporations, but pay interest in U.S. dollars and are typically issued in the United States.

Portfolio Turnover. There are no limitations on the length of time that securities must be held by the Fund and the Fund’s annual portfolio turnover rate may vary significantly from year to year. The Fund expects its portfolio turnover rate to be approximately 500% per year. A high rate of portfolio turnover (100% or more) involves correspondingly greater brokerage and other transaction costs, which would be borne by the Fund and its shareholders. A high portfolio turnover rate may also increase capital gains (including short-term capital gains) realized by the Fund which are distributed to Fund shareholders.

In determining such portfolio turnover, U.S. Government securities and all other securities (including options) which have maturities at the time of acquisition of one year or less (“short-term securities”) are excluded. The annual portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of the cost of purchases or proceeds from sales of portfolio securities for the year by the monthly average of the value of the portfolio securities owned by the Fund during the year. The monthly average is calculated by totaling the values of the portfolio securities as of the beginning and end of the first month of the year and as of the end of the succeeding 11 months and dividing the sum by 13. A turnover rate of 100% would occur if all of the Fund’s securities (other than short-term securities) were replaced once in a period of one year. It should be noted that if the Fund were to write a substantial number of options, which are exercised, the portfolio turnover rate would increase.

 

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Bank Obligations. The Fund may invest in obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. or foreign banks. Bank obligations, including without limitation, time deposits, bankers’ acceptances, letters of credit and certificates of deposit, may be general obligations of the parent bank or may be limited to the issuing branch by the terms of the specific obligations or by government regulations.

The Fund may also invest in certificates of deposit issued by savings banks or savings and loan associations that have capital, surplus and undivided profits in excess of $100 million, or less than $100 million if the principal amount of such obligations is fully insured by the U.S. Government.

Banks, savings banks and savings an loan associations are subject to extensive but different governmental regulations which may limit both the amount and types of loans which may be made and interest rates which may be charged. In addition, the profitability of the banking industry is largely dependent upon the availability and cost of funds for the purpose of financing lending operations under prevailing money market conditions. General economic conditions as well as exposure to credit losses arising from possible financial difficulties of borrowers play an important part in the operation of this industry.

Corporate Debt Obligations. The Fund may invest in corporate debt obligations, including obligations of industrial, utility and financial issuers. Corporate debt obligations include bonds, notes, debentures and other obligations of corporations to pay interest and repay principal. Corporate debt obligations are subject to the risk of an issuer’s inability to meet principal and interest payments on the obligations and may also be subject to price volatility due to such factors as market interest rates, market perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and general market liquidity.

Commercial Paper and Other Short-Term Corporate Obligations. The Fund may invest in commercial paper and other short-term obligations payable in U.S. dollars and issued or guaranteed by U.S. corporations, non-U.S. corporations or other entities. Commercial paper represents short-term unsecured promissory notes issued in bearer form by banks or bank holding companies, corporations and finance companies.

Variable and Floating Rate Obligations. The interest rates payable on certain securities in which the Fund may invest are not fixed and may fluctuate based upon changes in market rates. A variable rate obligation has an interest rate which is adjusted at pre-designated periods in response to changes in the market rate of interest on which the interest rate is based. Variable and floating rate obligations are less effective than fixed rate instruments at locking in a particular yield. Nevertheless, such obligations may fluctuate in value in response to interest rate changes if there is a delay between changes in market interest rates and the interest reset date for the obligation.

Repurchase Agreements. Repurchase agreements involve the purchase of securities subject to the seller’s agreement to repurchase them at a mutually agreed upon date and price. The repurchase price under a repurchase agreement generally equals the price paid by the Fund plus interest negotiated on the basis of current short-term rates (which may be more or less than the rate on the securities underlying the repurchase agreement). The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with counterparties that the Adviser considers creditworthy pursuant to

 

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criteria approved by the Board of Directors. The Adviser will consider the creditworthiness of a seller in determining whether to have the Fund enter into a repurchase agreement. The seller under a repurchase agreement will be required to maintain the value of the securities subject to the agreement at not less than the repurchase price plus accrued interest. The Adviser will mark to market daily the value of the securities, and will, if necessary, require the seller to maintain additional securities, to ensure that the value is not less than the repurchase price.

Default by or bankruptcy of the seller would, however, expose the Fund to possible loss because of adverse market action or delays in connection with the disposition of the underlying obligations.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may borrow money by entering into transactions called reverse repurchase agreements. Under these arrangements, the Fund will sell portfolio securities with an agreement to repurchase the security on an agreed date, price and interest payment. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the possible risk that the value of portfolio securities the Fund relinquishes may decline below the price the Fund must pay when the transaction closes. Borrowings may magnify the potential for gain or loss on amounts invested resulting in an increase in the speculative character of the Fund’s outstanding shares.

When the Fund enters into a reverse repurchase agreement, it places in a separate custodial account either liquid assets or other high grade debt securities that have a value equal to or greater than the repurchase price. The account is monitored to make sure that an appropriate value is maintained. Reverse repurchase agreements are considered to be borrowings under the 1940 Act.

U.S. Government Obligations. The Fund may purchase U.S. Government securities. Some U.S. Government securities (such as U.S. Treasury bills, notes and bonds) are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States. Others, such as obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. Government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises are supported by: (a) the ability of the issuer to borrow, provided approval is granted, from the U.S. Treasury; (b) the discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase certain obligations of the issuer; or (c) only the credit of the agency or instrumentality issuing the obligation. Such guarantees of U.S. Government securities held by the Fund do not, however, guarantee the market value of the shares of the Fund. There is no guarantee that the U.S. Government will continue to provide support to its agencies or instrumentalities in the future. U.S. Government securities that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government are subject to greater risks than those that are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. All U.S. Government securities are subject to interest rate risk.

U.S. Treasury securities include the separately traded principal and interest components of securities guaranteed or issued by the U.S. Treasury that are traded independently under the separate trading of registered interest and principal of securities program (“STRIPS”).

U.S. Treasury securities also include Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (“TIPS”) whose principal increases at the same rate as the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The interest payment is then calculated off of that inflated principal and repaid at maturity.

 

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Foreign Denominated Securities. Although the Fund may invest in securities denominated in foreign currencies, the Fund values its securities and other assets in U.S. dollars. As a result, the NAV of the Fund’s shares may fluctuate with U.S. dollar exchange rates as well as the price changes of the Fund’s securities in the various local markets and currencies. Thus, an increase in the value of the U.S. dollar compared to the currencies in which the Fund makes its investments could reduce the effect of increases and magnify the effect of decreases in the price of the Fund’s securities in their local markets. Conversely, a decrease in the value of the U.S. dollar may have the opposite effect of magnifying the effect of increases and reducing the effect of decreases in the prices of the Fund’s securities in its foreign markets. In addition to favorable and unfavorable currency exchange rate developments, the Fund is subject to the possible imposition of exchange control regulations or freezes on convertibility of currency.

The Fund may invest in obligations of foreign branches of U.S. banks (Eurodollars) and U.S. branches of foreign banks (Yankee dollars) as well as foreign branches of foreign banks. These investments involve risks that are different from investments in securities of U.S. banks, including potential unfavorable political and economic developments, different tax provisions, seizure of foreign deposits, currency controls, interest limitations or other governmental restrictions which might affect payment of principal or interest. The Fund may also invest in Yankee bonds, which are issued by foreign governments and their agencies and foreign corporations, but pay interest in U.S. dollars and are typically issued in the United States.

Investment Company Securities. The Fund may invest in securities issued by other investment companies, including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act. Under the 1940 Act, the Fund’s investments in such securities currently are limited to, subject to certain exceptions, (i) 3% of the total voting stock of any one investment company, (ii) 5% of the Fund’s total assets with respect to any one investment company and (iii) 10% of the Fund’s total assets with respect to investment companies in the aggregate. Investments in the securities of other investment companies will involve duplication of advisory fees and certain other expenses. Rule 12d1-1 under the 1940 Act permits a Fund to invest an unlimited amount of its uninvested cash in a money market fund so long as, among other things, said investment is consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies. As a shareholder in an investment company, a Fund would bear its pro rata portion of the investment company’s expenses, including advisory fees, in addition to its own expenses.

ETFs are open-end investment companies whose shares are listed for trading on a national securities exchange or the Nasdaq Market System. ETF shares typically trade like shares of common stock and provide investment results that generally correspond to the price and yield performance of the component stocks of a widely recognized index such as the S&P 500 Index. There can be no assurance, however, that this can be accomplished as it may not be possible for an ETF to replicate the composition and relative weightings of the securities of its corresponding index. ETFs are subject to risks of an investment in a broadly based portfolio of common stocks, including the risk that the general level of stock prices may decline, thereby adversely affecting the value of suck investment. Individual shares of an ETF are generally not redeemable at their NAV, but trade on an exchange during the day at prices that are normally close to, but not the same as, their NAV. There is no assurance that an active trading market will be maintained for the shares of an ETF or that market prices of the shares of an ETF will be close to their NAVs. Investments in securities of ETFs beyond the limitations discussed above are subject to certain terms and conditions set forth in an exemptive order issued by the SEC to the exchange-traded fund.

 

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The Fund may also acquire investment company shares received or acquired as dividends, through offers of exchange or as a result of reorganization, consolidation or merger.

Real Estate Securities. The Fund may invest in shares of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). REITs are pooled investment vehicles which invest primarily in real estate or real estate related loans. REITs are generally classified as equity REITs, mortgage REITs or a combination of equity and mortgage REITs. Equity REITs invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive income primarily from the collection of rents. Equity REITs can also realize capital gains by selling properties that have appreciated in value. Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages and derive income from the collection of interest payments. Like regulated investment companies such as the Funds, REITs are not taxed on income distributed to shareholders provided they comply with certain requirements under the Internal Revenue Code. A Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any expenses paid by REITs in which it invests in addition to the expenses paid by a Fund.

Investing in REITs involves certain unique risks. Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by such REITs, while mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. REITs are dependent upon management skills, are not diversified (except to the extent the Code requires), and are subject to the risks of financing projects. REITs are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, default by borrowers, self-liquidation, and the possibilities of failing to qualify for the exemption from tax for distributed income under the Code and failing to maintain their exemptions from the Act. REITs (especially mortgage REITs) are also subject to interest rate risks.

The Fund may also invest in real estate development companies, real estate operating companies (“REOCs”) and companies engaged in other real estate related businesses. A REOC is a company that derives at least 50% of its gross revenues or net profits from either (1) the ownership, development, construction, financing, management or sale of commercial, industrial or residential real estate, or (2) products or services related to the real estate industry, such as building supplies or mortgage servicing.

Borrowing. The Fund may borrow for leverage or for temporary or emergency purposes, including to meet portfolio redemption requests so as to permit the orderly disposition of portfolio securities, or to facilitate settlement transactions on portfolio securities. The Fund must maintain asset coverage of at least 300% of the amounts borrowed. Although the principal of such borrowings will be fixed, the Fund’s assets may change in value during the time the borrowing is outstanding. The Fund expects that some of its borrowings may be made on a secured basis. In such situations, either the custodian will segregate the pledged assets for the benefit of the lender or arrangements will be made with a suitable subcustodian, which may include the lender. If the securities held by the Fund should decline in value while borrowings are outstanding, the NAV of the Fund’s outstanding shares will decline in value by proportionately more than the decline in value suffered by the Fund’s securities. As a result, the

 

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Fund’s share price may be subject to greater fluctuation until the borrowing is paid off. The Fund’s short sales against the box and related borrowing are not subject to the restrictions outlined above.

Leverage. Under the 1940 Act, the Fund may borrow an amount up to 33-1/3% of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) less all liabilities other than borrowings. The Fund intends to engage in short sales, which are a form of leverage, as a principal investment strategy. Although the use of leverage by the Fund may create an opportunity for increased return, it also results in additional risks and can magnify the effect of any losses. If the income and gains earned on the securities and instruments purchased with leverage proceeds are greater than the cost of the leverage, the Fund’s return will be greater than if leverage had not been used. Conversely, if the income or gains from the securities and investments purchased with such proceeds does not cover the cost of leverage, the Fund’s return will be less than if leverage had not been used. There is no assurance that a leveraging strategy will be successful. Leverage involves risks and special considerations for the Fund including:

 

   

the likelihood of greater volatility of the Fund’s NAV than a comparable portfolio without leverage;

 

   

the risk that fluctuations in interest rates on borrowings and short-term debt will reduce the Fund’s return; and

 

   

the effect of leverage in a declining market, which is likely to cause a greater decline in the Fund’s NAV than if the Fund were not leveraged.

The Fund nevertheless may determine to continue to use leverage if the benefits to the Fund’s shareholders of maintaining the leveraged position are expected to outweigh the current reduced return.

Restricted and Illiquid Securities. The Fund does not intend to invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities, which are securities that the Adviser believes cannot be disposed of in seven days in the ordinary course of business at the approximate value at which the Fund has valued the securities. Any security can become illiquid at any time, but generally illiquid securities could include (but are not limited to): securities that are not readily marketable; repurchase agreements and other agreements with a notice or demand period of more than seven days; securities for which there is no secondary market; certain structured securities and certain swap transactions; certain over the counter options such as interest rate caps, floors and collars; and certain privately-placed securities that the Adviser determines are illiquid, based on its review of the trading markets for a specific restricted security. Securities that have legal or contractual restrictions on resale but have a readily available market are not considered illiquid for purposes of this limitation. Repurchase agreements subject to demand are deemed to have a maturity equal to the notice period.

The Fund may purchase securities which are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), but which may be sold to “qualified institutional buyers” in accordance with Rule 144A under the 1933 Act (“Rule 144A Securities”). These Rule 144A

 

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Securities will not be considered illiquid if the Adviser determines that an adequate trading market exists for the securities. As a result, the Fund could hold more illiquid securities during any period in which qualified institutional buyers become uninterested in purchasing Rule 144A Securities. The only types of restricted securities in which the Fund intends to invest are Rule 144A Securities that the Adviser has determined are not illiquid.

Normally, Rule 144A Securities are purchased and valued at a discount from the price at which such securities trade when they are not restricted, because the restriction makes them less liquid. The amount of the discount from the prevailing market price is expected to vary depending upon the type of security, the character of the issuer, the party who will bear the expenses of registering the Rule 144A Securities, and prevailing supply and demand conditions.

Mutual funds do not typically hold a significant amount of restricted or other illiquid securities because of the potential for delays on resale and uncertainty in valuation. Limitations on resale may adversely affect the marketability of portfolio securities and a mutual fund might be unable to dispose of restricted or other illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty in satisfying redemptions within seven days. A mutual fund might also have to register such restricted securities in order to dispose of them resulting in additional expense and delay. Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering of securities.

The Board of Directors has delegated to the Adviser the daily function of determining and monitoring the liquidity of the Fund’s securities in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board. The Board exercises its oversight responsibility for liquidity and remains responsible for liquidity determinations.

Securities Lending. The Fund may lend its portfolio securities to financial institutions in accordance with the investment restrictions described below. Such loans would involve risks of delay in receiving additional collateral in the event the value of the collateral decreased below the value of the securities loaned or of delay in recovering the securities loaned or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, loans will be made only to borrowers deemed by the Adviser to be of good standing and only when, in the Adviser’s judgment, the income to be earned from the loans justifies the attendant risks. Any loans of the Fund’s securities will be fully collateralized and marked to market daily.

Derivatives . Generally, derivatives can be characterized as financial instruments whose performance is derived, at least in part, from the performance of an underlying asset or assets. Types of derivatives include options, futures contracts, options on futures and forward contracts. Derivative instruments may be used for a variety of reasons, including to enhance return, hedge certain market risks, or provide a substitute for purchasing or selling particular securities. Derivatives may provide a cheaper, quicker or more specifically focused way for the Fund to invest than “traditional” securities would.

Derivatives can be volatile and involve various types and degrees of risk, depending upon the characteristics of the particular derivative and the portfolio as a whole. Derivatives permit the Fund to increase or decrease the level of risk, or change the character of the risk, to which its portfolio is exposed in much the same way as the Fund can increase or decrease the level of risk, or change the character of the risk, of its portfolio by making investments in specific securities.

 

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Derivatives may be purchased on established exchanges or through privately negotiated transactions referred to as over-the-counter derivatives. Exchange-traded derivatives generally are guaranteed by the clearing agency which is the issuer or counterparty to such derivatives. This guarantee usually is supported by a daily payment system (i.e., margin requirements) operated by the clearing agency in order to reduce overall credit risk. As a result, unless the clearing agency defaults, there is relatively little counterparty credit risk associated with derivatives purchased on an exchange. By contrast, no clearing agency guarantees over-the-counter derivatives. Therefore, each party to an over-the-counter derivative bears the risk that the counterparty will default. Accordingly, the Fund will consider the creditworthiness of counterparties to over-the-counter derivatives in the same manner as it would review the credit quality of a security to be purchased by the Fund. Over-the-counter derivatives are less liquid than exchange-traded derivatives since the other party to the transaction may be the only investor with sufficient understanding of the derivative to be interested in bidding for it.

The value of some derivative instruments in which the Fund may invest may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates, and, like the other investments of the Fund, the ability of the Fund to successfully utilize these instruments may depend in part upon the ability of the sub-adviser to forecast interest rates and other economic factors correctly. If the Adviser incorrectly forecasts such factors and has taken positions in derivative instruments contrary to prevailing market trends, the Fund could be exposed to the risk of loss.

The Fund might not employ any of the strategies described below, and no assurance can be given that any strategy used will succeed. If the Adviser incorrectly forecasts interest rates, market values or other economic factors in utilizing a derivatives strategy for the Fund, the Fund might have been in a better position if it had not entered into transaction at all. Also, suitable derivative transactions may not be available in all circumstances. The use of these strategies involves certain special risks, including a possible imperfect correlation, or even no correlation, between price movements of derivative instruments and price movements of related investments. While some strategies involving derivative instruments can reduce the risk of loss, they can also reduce the opportunity for gain or even result in losses by offsetting favorable price movements in related investments or otherwise, due to the possible inability of the Fund to purchase or sell a portfolio security at a time that otherwise would be favorable or the possible need to sell a portfolio security at a disadvantageous time because the Fund is required to maintain asset coverage or offsetting positions in connection with transactions in derivative instruments, and the possible inability of the Fund to close out or to liquidate its derivatives positions. In addition, the Fund’s use of such instruments may cause the Fund to realize higher amounts of short-term capital gains which generally cause the Fund to realize higher amounts of short-term capital gains (generally taxed at ordinary income tax rates) than if it had not used such instruments.

Options on Securities and Securities Indices. The Fund may write covered call and secured put options on any securities in which it may invest or on any domestic stock indices based on securities in which it may invest. The Fund may purchase and write such options on securities that are listed on national domestic securities exchanges or foreign securities exchanges or traded in the over-the-counter market. A call option written by the Fund obligates

 

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the Fund to sell specified securities to the holder of the option at a specified price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date, regardless of the market price of the security. All call options written by the Fund are covered, which means that the Fund will own the securities subject to the option so long as the option is outstanding or use the other methods described below. The purpose of the Fund in writing covered call options is to realize greater income than would be realized in portfolio securities transactions alone. However, in writing covered call options for additional income, the Fund may forego the opportunity to profit from an increase in the market price of the underlying security.

A put option written by the Fund obligates the Fund to purchase specified securities from the option holder at a specified price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date, regardless of the market price for the security. The purpose of writing such options is to generate additional income. However, in return for the option premium, the Fund accepts the risk that it will be required to purchase the underlying securities at a price in excess of the securities’ market value at the time of purchase.

All call and put options written by the Fund are covered. A written call option or put option may be covered by (i) maintaining cash or liquid securities, in a segregated account noted on the Fund’s records or maintained by the Fund’s custodian with a value at least equal to the Fund’s obligation under the option, (ii) entering into an offsetting forward commitment and/or (iii) purchasing an offsetting option or any other option which, by virtue of its exercise price or otherwise, reduces the Fund’s net exposure on its written option position.

The Fund may terminate its obligations under an exchange-traded call or put option by purchasing an option identical to the one it has written. Obligations under over-the-counter options may be terminated only by entering into an offsetting transaction with the counterparts to such option. Such purchases are referred to as “closing purchase transactions” and do not result in the ownership of an option. A closing purchase transaction will ordinarily be effected to realize a profit on an outstanding option, to prevent an underlying security from being called, to permit the sale of the underlying security or to permit the writing of a new option containing different terms on such underlying security. The cost of such a liquidation purchase plus transaction costs may be greater than the premium received upon the original option, in which event the Fund will have incurred a loss in the transaction.

The Fund may also write (sell) covered call and put options on any securities index composed of securities in which it may invest. Options on securities indices are similar to options on securities, except that the exercise of securities index options requires cash settlement payments and does not involve the actual purchase or sale of securities. The amount of this settlement will be equal to the difference between the closing price of the of the securities index at the time of exercise and the exercise price of the option expressed in dollars, times a specified amount. In addition, securities index options are designed to reflect price fluctuations in a group of securities or segment of the securities market rather than price fluctuations in a single security.

 

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The Fund may cover call options on a securities index by owning securities whose price changes are expected to be similar to those of the underlying index or by having an absolute and immediate right to acquire such securities without additional cash consideration (or for additional cash consideration held in a segregated account) upon conversion or exchange of other securities in its portfolio. The Fund may also cover call and put options on a securities index by using the other methods described above.

The Fund may each purchase put and call options on any securities in which it may invest or on any securities index based on securities in which it may invest, and the Fund may enter into closing sale transactions in order to realize gains or minimize losses on options it had purchased.

The Fund would normally purchase call options in anticipation of an increase, or put options in anticipation of a decrease (“protective puts”) in the market value of securities of the type in which it may invest. The purchase of a call option would entitle the Fund, in return for the premium paid, to purchase specified securities at a specified price during the option period. The Fund would ordinarily realize a gain on the purchase of a call option if, during the option period, the value of such securities exceeded the sum of the exercise price, the premium paid and transaction costs; otherwise the Fund would realize either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the call option. The purchase of a put option would entitle the Fund, in exchange for the premium paid, to sell specified securities at a specified price during the option period. The purchase of protective puts is designed to offset or hedge against a decline in the market value of the Fund’s securities. Put options may also be purchased by the Fund for the purpose of affirmatively benefiting from a decline in the price of securities which it does not own. The Fund would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of the underlying securities decreased below the exercise price sufficiently to cover the premium and transaction costs; otherwise the Fund would realize either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the put option. Gains and losses on the purchase of put options may be offset by countervailing changes in the value of the underlying portfolio securities.

The Fund may purchase put and call options on securities indices for the same purposes as it may purchase options on securities. Options on securities indices are similar to options on securities, except that the exercise of securities index options requires cash payments and does not involve the actual purchase or sale of securities. In addition, securities index options are designed to reflect price fluctuations in a group of securities or segment of the securities market rather than price fluctuations in a single security.

Transactions by the Fund in options on securities and securities indices will be subject to limitations established by each of the exchanges, boards of trade or other trading facilities on which such options are traded governing the maximum number of options in each class which may be written or purchased by a single investor or group of investors acting in concert, regardless of whether the options are written or purchased on the same or different exchanges, boards of trade or other trading facilities or are held or written in one or more accounts or through one or more brokers. Thus, the number of options that the Fund may write or purchase may be affected by options written or purchased by other investment advisory clients of the Adviser. An exchange, board of trade or other trading facility may order the liquidation of positions found to be in excess of these limits, and it may impose certain other sanctions.

 

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Although the Fund may use option transactions to seek to generate additional income and to seek to reduce the effect of any adverse price movement in the securities or currency subject to the option, they do involve certain risks that are different in some respects from investment risks associated with similar mutual funds, which do not engage in such activities. These risks include the following: for writing call options, the inability to effect closing transactions at favorable prices and the inability to participate in the appreciation of the underlying securities above the exercise price; for writing put options, the inability to effect closing transactions at favorable prices and the obligation to purchase the specified securities or to make a cash settlement on the securities index at prices which may not reflect current market values; and for purchasing call and put options, the possible loss of the entire premium paid. In addition, the effectiveness of hedging through the purchase or sale of securities index options, including options on the S&P 500 Index, will depend upon the extent to which price movements in the portion of the securities portfolio being hedged correlate with the price movements in the selected securities index. Perfect correlation may not be possible because the securities held or to be acquired by the Fund may not exactly match the composition of the securities index on which options are written. If the forecasts of the Adviser regarding movements in securities prices or interest rates are incorrect, the Fund’s investment results may have been better without the hedge transactions.

There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on a domestic or foreign options exchange will exist for any particular exchange-traded option or at any particular time. If the Fund is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction with respect to covered options it has written, the Fund will not be able to sell the underlying securities or dispose of assets held in a segregated account until the options expire or are exercised. Similarly, if the Fund is unable to effect a closing sale transaction with respect to options it has purchased, it would have to exercise the options in order to realize any profit and will incur transaction costs upon the purchase or sale of underlying securities or currencies.

Reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary market on an exchange include the following: (i) there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii) restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening transactions or closing transactions or both; (iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options; (iv) unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; (v) the facilities of an exchange or the Options Clearing Corporation may not at all times be adequate to handle current trading volume; or (vi) one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event the secondary market on that exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist although outstanding options on that exchange that had been issued by the Options Clearing Corporation as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.

The Fund’s ability to terminate over-the-counter options is more limited than with exchange-traded options and may involve the risk that broker-dealers participating in such transactions will not fulfill their obligations. The Adviser will monitor the liquidity of over-the-counter options and, if it determines that such options are not readily marketable, the Fund’s ability to enter such options will be subject to the Fund’s limitation on investments on illiquid securities.

 

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The writing and purchase of options is a highly specialized activity, which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The successful use of options for hedging purposes depends in part on the Adviser’s ability to predict future price fluctuations and the degree of correlation between the options and securities markets.

Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts. A futures contract may generally be described as an agreement between two parties to buy and sell particular financial instruments for an agreed price during a designated month (or to deliver the final cash settlement price, in the case of a contract not calling for physical delivery at the end of trading in the contract). When interest rates are rising or securities prices are falling, the Fund can seek to offset a decline in the value of its current portfolio securities through the sale of futures contracts. When interest rates are falling or securities prices are rising, the Fund, through the purchase of futures contracts, can attempt to secure better rates or prices than might later be available in the market when it effects anticipated purchases.

The Fund may purchase and sell Federal Funds, Eurodollar and Treasury futures contracts, and purchase and write call and put options on any of such futures contracts to seek to increase total return or to hedge against changes in interest rates, securities prices or to otherwise manage its term structure, sector selections and duration. The Fund may also enter into closing purchase and sale transactions with respect to any of such contracts and options. Federal Funds futures contracts are futures contracts based on the simple average of the daily effective federal funds rate during the month of the contract. The effective federal funds rate is a weighted average of all federal funds transactions for a group of federal funds brokers who report to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York each day. Eurodollar futures contracts are U.S. dollar-denominated futures contracts that are based on the implied forward LIBOR of a three-month deposit. Treasury futures are futures contracts to buy or sell the underlying Treasury securities of various maturities. The Fund will engage in futures and related options transactions for bona fide hedging purposes as described below or for purposes of seeking to increase total return, in each case, only to the extent permitted by regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”). All futures contracts entered into by the Fund are traded on U.S. exchanges.

Positions taken in the futures markets are not normally held to maturity but are instead liquidated through offsetting transactions, which may result in a profit or a loss. While futures contracts on securities will usually be liquidated in this manner, the Fund may instead make, or take, delivery of the underlying securities or currency whenever it appears economically advantageous to do so. A clearing corporation associated with the exchange on which futures on securities are traded guarantees that, if still open, the sale or purchase will be performed on the settlement date.

 

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Hedging, by use of futures contracts, seeks to establish with more certainty than would otherwise be possible the effective price or rate of return on portfolio securities or securities that the Fund proposes to acquire. The Fund may, for example, take a “short” position in the futures market by selling futures contracts to seek to hedge against an anticipated rise in interest rates or a decline in market prices that would adversely affect the value of the Fund’s securities. Such futures contracts may include contracts for the future delivery of securities held by the Fund or securities with characteristics similar to those of the Fund’s securities. If, in the opinion of the Adviser, there is a sufficient degree of correlation between price trends for a Fund’s securities and futures contracts based on other financial instruments, securities indices or other indices, the Fund may also enter into such futures contracts as part of its hedging strategy. Although under some circumstances prices of securities the Fund owns may be more or less volatile than prices of such futures contracts, the Adviser will attempt to estimate the extent of this volatility difference based on historical patterns and compensate for any such differential by having the Fund enter into a greater or lesser number of futures contracts or by seeking to achieve only a partial hedge against price changes affecting the Fund’s securities. When hedging of this character is successful, any depreciation in the value of portfolio securities will be substantially offset by appreciation in the value of the futures position. On the other hand, any unanticipated appreciation in the value of the Fund’s securities would be substantially offset by a decline in the value of the futures position.

On other occasions, the Fund may take a “long” position by purchasing futures contracts. This would be done, for example, when the Fund anticipates the subsequent purchase of particular securities when it has the necessary cash, but expects the prices then available in the applicable market to be less favorable than prices that are currently available. Additionally, long positions in futures contracts may be used to hedge certain parts of the Fund which might be adversely affected by a drop in interest rates.

The acquisition of put and call options on futures contracts will give the Fund the right (but not the obligation) for a specified price to sell or to purchase, respectively, the underlying futures contract at any time during the option period. As the purchaser of an option on a futures contract, the Fund obtains the benefit of the futures position if prices move in a favorable direction but limits its risk of loss in the event of an unfavorable price movement to the loss of the premium and transaction costs.

The writing of a call option on a futures contract generates a premium, which may partially offset a decline in the value of the Fund’s assets. By writing a call option, the Fund becomes obligated, in exchange for the premium (upon exercise of the option), to sell a futures contract if the option is exercised, which may have a value higher than the exercise price. Conversely, the writing of a put option on a futures contract generates a premium, which may partially offset an increase in the price of securities that the Fund intends to purchase. However, the Fund becomes obligated (upon exercise of the option) to purchase a futures contract if the option is exercised, which may have a value lower than the exercise price. Thus, the loss incurred by the Fund in writing options on futures is potentially unlimited and may exceed the amount of the premium received. The Fund will incur transaction costs in connection with the writing of options on futures.

 

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The holder or writer of an option on a futures contract may terminate its position by selling or purchasing an offsetting option on the same financial instrument. There is no guarantee that such closing transactions can be affected. The Fund’s ability to establish and close out positions on such options will be subject to the development and maintenance of a liquid market.

The Fund will engage in futures and related options transactions for bona fide hedging and to seek to increase total return as permitted by the CFTC regulations, which permit principals of an investment company, registered under the 1940 Act, to engage in such transactions without registering as commodity pool operators. The Fund will determine that the price fluctuations in the futures contracts and options on futures used for hedging purposes are substantially related to price fluctuations in securities held by the Fund or securities or instruments which it expects to purchase. Except as stated below, the Fund’s futures transactions will be entered into for traditional hedging purposes — i.e., futures contracts will be sold to protect against a decline in the price of securities that the Fund owns or securities purchased to protect the Fund against an increase in the price of securities it intends to purchase.

The Fund will engage in transactions in futures contracts and options only to the extent such transactions are consistent with the requirements of the Code, for maintaining its qualification as a regulated investment company for federal income tax purposes.

Transactions in futures contracts and options on futures involve brokerage costs require margin deposits and, in some cases, may require the Fund to establish a segregated account consisting of cash or liquid securities in an amount equal to the underlying value of such contracts and options.

Using futures contracts entails certain risks, including but not limited to the following: no assurance that futures contracts transactions can be offset at favorable prices; possible reduction of the Fund’s income due to the use of hedging; possible reduction in value of both the securities hedged and the hedging instrument; possible lack of liquidity due to daily limits on price fluctuations; imperfect correlation between the contract and the securities being hedged; and potential losses in excess of the amount initially invested in the futures contracts themselves. If the Adviser’s expectations regarding movements in securities prices or interest rates are incorrect, the Fund may have experienced better investment results without hedging. Using futures contracts and options on futures contracts requires special skills in addition to those needed to select portfolio securities.

While transactions in futures contracts and options on futures may reduce certain risks, such transactions themselves entail certain other risks. Thus, while the Fund may benefit from using futures and options on futures, unanticipated changes in interest rates or securities prices may result in a poorer overall performance for the Fund than if it had not entered into any futures contracts or options transactions. If there is an imperfect correlation between a futures position and a portfolio position which is intended to be protected, then the desired protection may not be obtained and the Fund may be exposed to risk of loss.

 

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Perfect correlation between the Fund’s futures positions and portfolio positions will be impossible to achieve. There are no futures contracts based upon individual securities, except certain U.S. Government securities. Other futures contracts available to hedge the Fund’s portfolio investments generally are limited to futures on various financial indices.

Transactions in futures contracts and options on futures involve brokerage costs, require margin deposits and, in some cases, may require the Fund to “set aside” (referred to sometimes as “asset segregation”) liquid assets, or engage in other measures approved by the SEC or its staff while the futures contracts and options are open. Typically, this means that the Fund will establish a segregated account consisting of cash or liquid securities in an amount equal to the aggregate underlying value of such contracts or options. In accordance with applicable federal securities laws, including the 1940 Act, related rules and various SEC and SEC staff positions, with respect to certain kinds of derivatives, the Fund must segregate assets. For example, with respect to forwards and futures contracts that are not contractually required to “cash settle,” the Fund must cover its open positions by setting aside liquid assets equal to the contracts’ full notional value. With respect to forwards, futures and index options that are contractually required to “cash settle,” however, the Fund is permitted to set aside liquid assets in an amount equal to the Fund’s daily marked-to-market (net) obligations, if any (i.e., the Fund’s daily net liability, if any), rather than the notional value. By setting aside assets equal to only its net obligations under cash settled forward, futures and index options contracts, the Fund will have the ability to employ leverage to a greater extent than if the Fund were required to segregate assets equal to the full notional value of such contracts. Using leverage involves certain risks. The Fund reserves the right to modify its asset segregation policies in the future to comply with any changes in the positions articulated from time to time by the SEC and its staff.

Equity Swaps. The Fund may enter into equity swap contracts to invest in a market without owning or taking physical custody of securities in various circumstances, including circumstances where direct investment in the securities is restricted for legal reasons or is otherwise impracticable. Equity swaps may also be used for hedging purposes or to seek to increase total return. The counterparty to an equity swap contract will typically be a bank, investment banking firm or broker/dealer. Equity swap contracts may be structured in different ways. For example, a counterparty may agree to pay the Fund the amount, if any, by which the notional amount of the equity swap contract would have increased in value had it been invested in the particular stocks (or an index of stocks), plus the dividends that would have been received on those stocks. In these cases, the Fund may agree to pay to the counterparty a floating rate of interest on the notional amount of the equity swap contract plus the amount, if any, by which that notional amount would have decreased in value had it been invested in such stocks. Therefore, the return to the Fund on the equity swap contract should be the gain or loss on the notional amount plus dividends on the stocks less the interest paid by the Fund on the notional amount. In other cases, the counterparty and the Fund may each agree to pay the other the difference between the relative investment performances that would have been achieved if the notional amount of the equity swap contract had been invested in different stocks (or indices of stocks).

The Fund will generally enter into equity swaps on a net basis, which means that the two payment streams are netted out, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. Payments may be made at the conclusion of an equity swap

 

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contract or periodically during its term. Equity swaps normally do not involve the delivery of securities or other underlying assets. Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to equity swaps is normally limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make. If the other party to an equity swap defaults, the Fund’s risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive, if any. Inasmuch as these transactions are entered into for hedging purposes or are offset by segregated cash or liquid assets to cover the Fund’s exposure, the Fund and the Adviser believe that transactions do not constitute senior securities under the 1940 Act and, accordingly, will not treat them as being subject to the Fund’s borrowing restrictions.

The Fund will not enter into swap transactions unless the unsecured commercial paper, senior debt or claims paying ability of the other party thereto is considered to be investment grade by the Adviser. The Fund’s ability to enter into certain swap transactions may be limited by tax considerations.

Interest Rate Swaps, Total Return Swaps, Credit Default Swaps, Options on Swaps and Interest Rate Caps, Floors and Collars. The Fund may enter into interest rate and total return swaps and interest rate caps, floors and collars. The Fund may also purchase and write (sell) options on swaps, commonly referred to as swaptions. The Fund may also enter into credit default swaps based on a specified underlying asset (or groups of assets or indices).

The Fund may enter into swap transactions for hedging purposes, to manage the Fund’s maturity, or to seek to increase total return. As examples, the Fund may enter into swap transactions for the purpose of attempting to obtain or preserve a particular return or spread at a lower cost than obtaining a return or spread through purchases and/or sales of instruments in other markets as a duration management technique, to protect against any increase in the price of securities the Fund anticipates purchasing at a later date, or to gain exposure to certain markets in an economical way.

Swap agreements are two party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors. In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments, which may be adjusted for an interest factor. The gross returns to be exchanged or “swapped” between the parties are generally calculated with respect to a “notional amount,” i.e., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate, in a particular security, or in a “basket” of securities representing a particular index. As examples, interest rate swaps involve the exchange by the Fund with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest, such as an exchange of fixed-rate payments for floating rate payments. Total return swaps are contracts that obligate a party to pay or receive interest in exchange for payment by the other party of the total return generated by a security, a basket of securities, an index, or an index component. When the Fund is a buyer of a credit default swap (commonly known as buying protection), it may make periodic payments to the seller of the credit default swap to obtain protection against a credit default on a specified underlying asset (or group of assets or indices). If a default occurs, the seller of a credit default swap may be required to pay the Fund the “notional value” of the credit default swap on a specified security (or group of securities or indices). On the other hand, when the Fund is a seller of a credit default swap (commonly known as selling protection), in addition to the credit exposure the Fund has on the

 

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other assets held in its portfolio, the Fund is also subject to the credit exposure on the notional amount of the swap since, in the event of a credit default, the Fund may be required to pay the “notional value” of the credit default swap on a specified security (or groups of securities or indices) to the buyer of the credit default swap. The Fund will be the seller of a credit default swap only when the credit of the underlying asset is deemed by the Adviser to meet the Fund’s minimum credit criteria at the time the swap is first entered into.

A swaption is an option to enter into a swap agreement. Like other types of options, the buyer of a swaption pays a non-refundable premium for the option and obtains the right, but not the obligation, to enter into an underlying swap on agreed-upon terms. The seller of a swaption, in exchange for the premium, becomes obligated (if the option is exercised) to enter into an underlying swap on agreed-upon terms. The purchase of an interest rate cap entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index exceeds a predetermined interest rate, to receive payment of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling such interest rate cap. The purchase of an interest rate floor entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index falls below a predetermined interest rate, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling the interest rate floor. An interest rate collar is the combination of a cap and a floor that preserves a certain return within a predetermined range of interest rates.

A great deal of flexibility is possible in the way swap transactions are structured. Generally, however, the Fund will enter into interest rate and total return, swaps on a net basis, which means that the two payment streams are netted out, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. Interest rate and total return swaps do not normally involve the delivery of securities, other underlying assets or principal. Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to interest rate and total return swaps is normally limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make. If the other party to an interest rate or total return swap defaults, the Fund’s risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that such Fund is contractually entitled to receive, if any.

To the extent that the Fund’s exposure in a transaction involving a swap, swaption or an interest rate floor, cap or collar is covered by the segregation of cash or liquid assets, or is covered by other means in accordance with SEC guidance, the Fund and the Adviser believe that the transactions do not constitute senior securities under the Act and, accordingly, will not treat them as being subject to the Fund’s borrowing restrictions.

The Fund will not enter into any interest rate or total return swap transactions unless the unsecured commercial paper, senior debt or claims-paying ability of the other party is rated either A or A-1 or better by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group (“S&P”) or A or P-1 or better by Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) or their equivalent ratings, or, if unrated by such rating organization, determined to be of comparable quality by the Adviser.

The use of interest rate and total return swaps, as well as interest rate caps, floors and collars, is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The use of a swap requires an understanding not only of the referenced asset, reference rate, or index but also of the swap itself, without the benefit of observing the performance of the swap under all possible market

 

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conditions. If the Adviser is incorrect in its forecasts of market values, credit quality, interest rates and currency exchange rates, the investment performance of the Fund would be less favorable than it would have been if these investment instruments were not used.

In addition, these transactions can involve greater risks than if the Fund had invested in the reference obligation directly because, in addition to general market risks, swaps are subject to illiquidity risk, counterparty risk, credit risk and pricing risk. Because they are two party contracts and because they may have terms of greater than seven days, swap transactions may be considered to be illiquid. Moreover, the Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement if the swap counterparty defaults or files for bankruptcy protection. Many swaps are complex and often valued subjectively. Swaps may be subject to pricing or “basis” risk, which exists when a particular swap becomes extraordinarily expensive relative to historical prices or the price of corresponding cash market instruments. Under certain market conditions it may not be economically feasible to imitate a transaction or liquidate a position in time to avoid a loss or take advantage of an opportunity. If a swap transaction is particularly large or if the relevant market is illiquid, it may not be possible to initiate a transaction or liquidate a position at an advantageous time or price, which may result in significant losses.

The swap market has grown substantially in recent years with a large number of banks and investment banking firms acting both as principals and as agents utilizing standardized swap documentation. As a result, the swap market has become relatively liquid in comparison with the markets for other similar instruments which are traded in the interbank market. The Adviser, under the supervision of the Board of Directors, is responsible for determining and monitoring the liquidity of the Fund’s transactions in swaps, swaptions, caps, floors and collars.

Interest rate swaps and total return swaps on indices and sub-indices on instruments otherwise eligible for investment, and options thereon (including swaptions), futures (Treasury, Eurodollar and Federal Funds) and options (including put and call options on financial futures contracts); options on securities otherwise eligible for investment, interest rate caps, interest rate floors and interest rate collars may constitute derivative instruments. The Fund intends to use derivative instruments to adjust the Fund’s average maturity, particularly when the Fund receives new investments or redemption requests, manage or reduce the Fund’s exposure to risks, primarily interest rate risk, and/or to generate additional return (which may be considered speculative).

Zero Coupon Bonds. To the extent consistent with its investment objective, the Fund generally may invest in zero coupon bonds, which are debt securities that have been stripped of their unmatured interest coupons, the coupons themselves or receipts or certificates representing interests in such stripped debt obligations or coupons. A portion of the discount with respect to stripped tax-exempt securities or their coupons may be taxable.

Zero coupon bonds involve the additional risk that, unlike securities that periodically pay interest to maturity, the Fund will realize no cash until a specified future payment date unless a portion of such securities is sold and, if the issuer of such securities defaults, the Fund may obtain no return at all on its investment. In addition, even though such securities may not

 

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provide for the payment of current interest in cash, the Fund is nonetheless required to accrue income on such investments for each taxable year and generally is required to distribute such accrued amounts (net of deductible expenses, if any) to avoid being subject to tax. Because no cash is generally received at the time of the accrual, the Fund may be required to liquidate other portfolio securities to obtain sufficient cash to satisfy federal tax distribution requirements applicable to the Fund. Additionally, the market prices of zero coupon bonds generally are more volatile than the market prices of interest bearing securities and are likely to respond to a greater degree to changes in interest rates than interest bearing securities having similar maturities and credit quality.

Convertible Securities and Preferred Stocks. The Fund may invest in convertible securities. A convertible security is a bond, debenture, note, preferred stock or other security that may be converted into or exchanged for a prescribed amount of common stock of the same or a different issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or formula. A convertible security entitles the holder to receive interest paid or accrued on debt or the dividend paid on preferred stock until the convertible security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged. Before conversion, convertible securities have characteristics similar to nonconvertible debt securities in that they ordinarily provide a stable stream of income with generally higher yields than those of common stocks of the same or similar issuers. Convertible securities rank senior to common stock in a corporation’s capital structure but are usually subordinated to comparable nonconvertible securities. While no securities investment is completely without risk, investments in convertible securities generally entail less risk than the corporation’s common stock, although the extent to which such risk is reduced depends in large measure upon the degree to which the convertible security sells above its value as a fixed income security. Convertible securities have unique investment characteristics in that they generally: (1) have higher yields than common stocks, but lower yields than comparable non-convertible securities; (2) are less subject to fluctuation in value than the underlying stock since they have fixed income characteristics; and (3) provide the potential for capital appreciation if the market price of the underlying common stock increases.

The value of a convertible security is a function of its “investment value” (determined by its yield in comparison with the yields of other securities of comparable maturity and quality that do not have a conversion privilege) and its “conversion value” (the security’s worth, at market value, if converted into the underlying common stock). The investment value of a convertible security is influenced by changes in interest rates, with investment value declining as interest rates increase and increasing as interest rates decline. The credit standing of the issuer and other factors also may have an effect on the convertible security’s investment value. The conversion value of a convertible security is determined by the market price of the underlying common stock. If the conversion value is low relative to the investment value, the price of the convertible security is governed principally by its investment value. Generally the conversion value decreases as the convertible security approaches maturity. To the extent the market price of the underlying common stock approaches or exceeds the conversion price, the price of the convertible security will be increasingly influenced by its conversion value. A convertible security generally will sell at a premium over its conversion value by the extent to which investors place value on the right to acquire the underlying common stock while holding a fixed income security.

 

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A convertible security might be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a price established in the convertible security’s governing instrument. If a convertible security held by a Fund is called for redemption, that Fund will be required to permit the issuer to redeem the security, convert it into the underlying common stock or sell it to a third party.

Preferred stocks are securities that represent an ownership interest in a company and provide their owner with claims on the company’s earnings and assets prior to the claims of owners of common stocks but after those of bond owners. Preferred stocks in which the Fund may invest include sinking fund, convertible, perpetual fixed and adjustable rate (including auction rate) preferred stocks. There is no minimum credit rating applicable to the Fund’s investment in preferred stocks and securities convertible into or exchangeable for common stock.

Synthetic Convertible Securities. Synthetic convertible securities are derivative positions composed of two or more different securities whose investment characteristics, taken together, resemble those of convertible securities. For example, the Fund may purchase a non-convertible debt security and a warrant or option, which enables the Fund to have a convertible-like position with respect to a company, group of companies or stock index. Synthetic convertible securities are typically offered by financial institutions and investments banks in private placement transactions. Upon conversion, the Fund generally receives an amount in cash equal to the difference between the conversion price and the then current value of the underlying security. Unlike a true convertible security, a synthetic convertible comprises two or more separate securities, each with its own market value. Therefore, the market value of a synthetic convertible is the sum of the values of its fixed-income component and its convertible component. For this reason, the values of a synthetic convertible and a true convertible security may respond differently to market fluctuations.

Structured Securities. The Fund may invest in structured securities to the extent consistent with its investment objective. The value of the principal of and/or interest on structured securities is determined by reference to changes in the value of specific currencies, commodities, securities, indices or other financial indicators (the “Reference”) or the relative change in two or more References. The interest rate or the principal amount payable upon maturity or redemption may be increased or decreased depending upon changes in the applicable Reference. Examples of structured securities include, but are not limited to, notes where the principal repayment at maturity is determined by the value of the relative change in two or more specified securities or securities indices.

The terms of some structured securities may provide that in certain circumstances no principal is due at maturity and, therefore, the Fund could suffer a total loss of its investment. Structured securities may be positively or negatively indexed, so that appreciation of the Reference may produce an increase or decrease in the interest rate or value of the security at maturity. In addition, changes in the interest rate or the value of the security at maturity may be a multiple of the changes in the value of the Reference. Consequently, structured securities may entail a greater degree of market risk than other types of securities. Structured securities may also be more volatile, less liquid and more difficult to accurately price than less complex securities due to their derivative nature.

 

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Indexed Securities. The Fund may invest in indexed securities whose value is linked to securities indices. Most such securities have values which rise and fall according to the change in one or more specified indices, and may have characteristics similar to direct investments in the underlying securities. Depending on the index, such securities may have greater volatility than the market as a whole.

Initial Public Offerings. The Fund may purchase stock in an initial public offering (“IPO”). An IPO is a company’s first offering of stock to the public. Risks associated with IPOs may include considerable fluctuation in the market value of IPO shares due to certain factors, such as the absence of a prior public market, unseasoned trading, a limited number of shares available for trading, lack of information about the issuer and limited operating history. The purchase of IPO shares may involve high transaction costs. When the Fund’s asset base is small, a significant portion of the Fund’s performance could be attributable to investments in IPOs, because such investments would have a magnified impact on the Fund. As the Fund’s assets grow, the effect of the Fund’s investments in IPOs on the Fund’s performance probably will decline, which could reduce the Fund’s performance. Because of the price volatility of IPO shares, the Fund may choose to 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 to the Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs. In addition, the Adviser cannot guarantee continued access to IPOs.

Warrants and Stock Purchase Rights. The Fund may invest in warrants or rights (in addition to those acquired in units or attached to other securities) which entitle the holder to buy equity securities at a specific price for a specific period of time. The Fund will invest in warrants and rights only if such equity securities are deemed appropriate by the Adviser for investment by the Fund. Warrants and rights have no voting rights, receive no dividends and have no rights with respect to the assets of the issuer.

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts. The Fund may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts for hedging purposes and to seek to protect against anticipated changes in future foreign currency exchange rates. A forward foreign currency exchange contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. These contracts are traded in the interbank market between currency traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers. A forward contract generally has no deposit requirement, and no commissions are generally charged at any stage for trades.

At the maturity of a forward contract the Fund may either accept or make delivery of the currency specified in the contract or, at or prior to maturity, enter into a closing transaction involving the purchase or sale of an offsetting contract. Closing transactions with respect to forward contracts are often, but not always, effected with the currency trader who is a party to the original forward contract.

 

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The Fund may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts in several circumstances. First, when the Fund enters into a contract for the purchase or sale of a security denominated or quoted in a foreign currency, or when the Fund anticipates the receipt in a foreign currency of dividend or interest payments on such a security which it holds, the Fund may desire to “lock in” the U.S. dollar price of the security or the U.S. dollar equivalent of such dividend or interest payment, as the case may be. By entering into a forward contract for the purchase or sale, for a fixed amount of dollars, of the amount of foreign currency involved in the underlying transactions, the Fund will attempt to protect itself against an adverse change in the relationship between the U.S. dollar and the subject foreign currency during the period between the date on which the security is purchased or sold, or on which the dividend or interest payment is declared, and the date on which such payments are made or received.

Additionally, when the Adviser believes that the currency of a particular foreign country may suffer a substantial decline against the U.S. dollar, it may enter into a forward contract to sell, for a fixed amount of U.S. dollars, the amount of foreign currency approximating the value of some or all of the Fund’s portfolio securities quoted or denominated in such foreign currency. The precise matching of the forward contract amounts and the value of the securities involved will not generally be possible because the future value of such securities in foreign currencies will change as a consequence of market movements in the value of those securities between the date on which the contract is entered into and the date it matures. Using forward contracts to protect the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities against a decline in the value of a currency does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities. It simply establishes a rate of exchange which the Fund can achieve at some future point in time. The precise projection of short-term currency market movements is not possible, and short-term hedging provides a means of fixing the U.S. dollar value of only a portion of the Fund’s foreign assets.

The Fund may engage in cross-hedging by using forward contracts in one currency to hedge against fluctuations in the value of securities quoted or denominated in a different currency.

Unless otherwise covered in accordance with applicable regulations, cash or liquid assets of the Fund will be segregated in an amount equal to the value of the Fund’s total assets committed to the consummation of forward foreign currency exchange contracts. If the value of the segregated assets declines, additional cash or liquid assets will be segregated so that the value of the assets will equal the amount of the Fund’s commitments with respect to such contracts.

While the Fund may enter into forward contracts to reduce currency exchange rate risks, transactions in such contracts involve certain other risks. Thus, while the Fund may benefit from such transactions, unanticipated changes in currency prices may result in a poorer overall performance for the Fund than if it had not engaged in any such transactions. Moreover, there may be imperfect correlation between the Fund’s portfolio holdings of securities quoted or denominated in a particular currency and forward contracts entered into by the Fund. Such imperfect correlation may cause the Fund to sustain losses which will prevent the Fund from achieving a complete hedge or expose the Fund to risk of foreign exchange loss.

Markets for trading foreign forward currency contracts offer less protection against defaults than is available when trading in currency instruments on an exchange. Forward contracts are subject to the risk that the counterparty to such contract will default on its obligations. Since a forward foreign currency exchange contract is not guaranteed by an

 

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exchange or clearinghouse, a default on the contract would deprive the Fund of unrealized profits, transaction costs or the benefits of a currency hedge or force the Fund to cover its purchase or sale commitments, if any, at the current market price. In addition, the institutions that deal in forward currency contracts are not required to continue to make markets in the currencies they trade and these markets can experience periods of illiquidity. The Fund will not enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts, currency swaps or other privately negotiated currency instruments unless the credit quality of the unsecured senior debt or the claims-paying ability of the counterparty is considered to be investment grade by the Adviser. To the extent that a substantial portion of the Fund’s total assets, adjusted to reflect the Fund’s net position after giving effect to currency transactions, is denominated or quoted in the currencies of foreign countries, the Fund will be more susceptible to the risk of adverse economic and political developments within those countries.

Writing and Purchasing Currency Call and Put Options. The Fund may, to the extent that it invests in foreign securities, write and purchase put and call options on foreign currencies for the purpose of protecting against declines in the U.S. dollar value of foreign portfolio securities and against increases in the U.S. dollar cost of foreign securities to be acquired. As with other kinds of option transactions, however, the writing of an option on foreign currency will constitute only a partial hedge, up to the amount of the premium received. If and when the Fund seeks to close out an option, the Fund could be required to purchase or sell foreign currencies at disadvantageous exchange rates, thereby incurring losses. The purchase of an option on foreign currency may constitute an effective hedge against exchange rate fluctuations; however, in the event of exchange rate movements adverse to the Fund’s position, the Fund may forfeit the entire amount of the premium plus related transaction costs. Options on foreign currencies may be traded on U.S. and foreign exchanges or over-the-counter.

Options on currency may also be used for cross-hedging purposes, which involves writing or purchasing options on one currency to seek to hedge against changes in exchange rates for a different currency with a pattern of correlation, or to seek to increase total return when the Adviser anticipates that the currency will appreciate or depreciate in value, but the securities quoted or denominated in that currency do not present attractive investment opportunities and are not included in the Fund’s portfolio.

A call option written by the Fund obligates the Fund to sell a specified currency to the holder of the option at a specified price if the option is exercised before the expiration date. A put option written by the Fund would obligate the Fund to purchase a specified currency from the option holder at a specified price if the option is exercised before the expiration date. The writing of currency options involves a risk that the Fund will, upon exercise of the option, be required to sell currency subject to a call at a price that is less than the currency’s market value or be required to purchase currency subject to a put at a price that exceeds the currency’s market value. Written put and call options on foreign currencies may be covered in a manner similar to written put and call options on securities and securities indices described above.

The Fund may terminate its obligations under a call or put option by purchasing an option identical to the one it has written. Such purchases are referred to as “closing purchase transactions.” The Fund may enter into closing sale transactions in order to realize gains or minimize losses on options purchased by the Fund.

 

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The Fund may purchase call options on foreign currency in anticipation of an increase in the U.S. dollar value of currency in which securities to be acquired by the Fund are quoted or denominated. The purchase of a call option would entitle the Fund, in return for the premium paid, to purchase specified currency at a specified price during the option period. The Fund would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of such currency exceeded the sum of the exercise price, the premium paid and transaction costs; otherwise the Fund would realize either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the call option.

The Fund may purchase put options in anticipation of a decline in the U.S. dollar value of currency in which securities in its portfolio are quoted or denominated (“protective puts”). The purchase of a put option would entitle the Fund, in exchange for the premium paid, to sell specified currency at a specified price during the option period. The purchase of protective puts is usually designed to offset or hedge against a decline in the dollar value of the Fund’s portfolio securities due to currency exchange rate fluctuations. The Fund would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of the underlying currency decreased below the exercise price sufficiently to more than cover the premium and transaction costs; otherwise the Fund would realize either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the put option. Gains and losses on the purchase of protective put options would tend to be offset by countervailing changes in the value of underlying currency or portfolio securities.

In addition to using options for the hedging purposes described above, the Fund may use options on currency to seek to increase total return. The Fund may write (sell) covered put and call options on any currency in order to realize greater income than would be realized on portfolio securities transactions alone. However, in writing covered call options for additional income, the Fund may forego the opportunity to profit from an increase in the market value of the underlying currency. Also, when writing put options, the Fund accepts, in return for the option premium, the risk that it may be required to purchase the underlying currency at a price in excess of the currency’s market value at the time of purchase.

An exchange traded options position may be closed out only on an options exchange that provides a secondary market for an option of the same series. Although the Fund will generally purchase or write only those options for which there appears to be an active secondary market, there is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an exchange will exist for any particular option, or at any particular time. For some options no secondary market on an exchange may exist. In such event, it might not be possible to effect closing transactions in particular options, with the result that the Fund would have to exercise its options in order to realize any profit and would incur transaction costs upon the sale of underlying securities pursuant to the exercise of put options. If the Fund as a covered call option writer is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction in a secondary market, it will not be able to sell the underlying currency (or security quoted or denominated in that currency) or dispose of the segregated assets, until the option expires or it delivers the underlying currency upon exercise.

There is no assurance that higher than anticipated trading activity or other unforeseen events might not, at times, render certain of the facilities of the Options Clearing Corporation inadequate, and thereby result in the institution by an exchange of special procedures which may interfere with the timely execution of customers’ orders.

 

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The Fund may purchase and write over-the-counter options to the extent consistent with its limitation on investments in illiquid securities. Trading in over-the-counter options is subject to the risk that the other party will be unable or unwilling to close out options purchased or written by the Fund.

The amount of the premiums which the Fund may pay or receive may be adversely affected as new or existing institutions, including other investment companies, engage in or increase their option purchasing and writing activities.

Dealer Options . Dealer options are options negotiated individually through dealers rather than traded on an exchange. Certain risks are specific to dealer options and exchange-traded options. While the Fund might look to a clearing corporation to exercise exchange-traded options, if the Fund purchases a dealer option it must rely on the selling dealer to perform if the Fund exercises the option. Failure by the dealer to do so would result in the loss of the premium paid by the Fund as well as loss of the expected benefit of the transaction.

Exchange-traded options generally have a continuous liquid market while dealer options may not. Consequently, the Fund can realize the value of a dealer option it has purchased only by exercising or reselling the option to the issuing dealer. Similarly, when the Fund writes a dealer option, the Fund can close out the option prior to its expiration only by entering into a closing purchase transaction with the dealer. While the Fund seeks to enter into dealer options only with dealers who will agree to and can enter into closing transactions with the Fund, no assurance exists that the Fund will at any time be able to liquidate a dealer option at a favorable price at any time prior to expiration. Unless the Fund, as a covered dealer call option writer, can effect a closing purchase transaction, it will not be able to liquidate securities (or other assets) used as cover until the option expires or is exercised. In the event of insolvency of the other party, the Fund might be unable to liquidate a dealer option. With respect to options written by the Fund, the inability to enter into a closing transaction may result in material losses to the Fund. For example, because the Fund must maintain a secured position with respect to any call option on a security it writes, the Fund may not sell the assets which it has segregated to secure the position while it is obligated under the option. This requirement may impair the Fund’s ability to sell portfolio securities at a time when such sale might be advantageous.

Straddles . A straddle, which may be used for hedging purposes, is a combination of put and call options on the same underlying security used for hedging purposes to adjust the risk and return characteristics of the Fund’s overall position. A possible combined position would involve writing a covered call option at one strike price and buying a call option at a lower price, in order to reduce the risk of the written covered call option in the event of a substantial price increase. Because combined options positions involve multiple trades, they result in higher transaction costs and may be more difficult to open and close out.

Private Funds and Other Instruments . U.S. or foreign private limited partnerships or other investment funds are referred to a private funds (“Private Funds”). Investments in Private Funds may be highly speculative and volatile. Because Private Funds generally are investment companies for purposes of the 1940 Act, the Fund’s ability to invest in them will be limited. In addition, the Fund’s shareholders will remain subject to the Fund’s expenses while also bearing their pro rata. share of the operating expenses of the Private Funds. The ability of the Fund to dispose of interests in Private Funds is very limited and involves risks, including loss of the Fund’s entire investment in the Private Fund.

 

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Private investment funds include a variety of pooled investments. Generally, these pooled investments are structured as a trust, a special purpose vehicle, and are exempted from registration under the 1940 Act. As an investor, the Fund owns a proportionate share of the trust. Typically, the trust does not employ a professional investment manager. Instead, the pooled investment tracks some index by investing in the issuers or securities that comprise the index. The Fund receives a stream of cash flows in the form of interest payments from the underlying assets or the proceeds from the sale of the underlying assets in the event those underlying assets are sold. However, some pooled investments may not dispose of the underlying securities regardless of the adverse events affecting the issuers depending on the investment strategy utilized. In this type of strategy, the pooled investment continues to hold the underlying securities as long as the issuers or securities remain members of the tracked index.

The pooled investments allow the Fund to synchronize the receipt of interest and principal payments and also, diversify some of the risks involved with investing in fixed-income securities. Because the trust holds securities of many issuers, the default of a few issuers would not impact the Fund significantly. However, the Fund bears any expenses incurred by the trust. In addition, the Fund assumes the liquidity risks generally associated with the privately offered pooled investments.

Pooled investments that are structured as a trust contain many similarities to Private Funds that are structured as limited partnerships. The primary difference between the trust and the limited partnership structure is the redemption of the ownership interests. The ownership interests in a typical Private Fund are redeemable only by the general partners and thus, are restricted from transferring from one party to another. Conversely, the ownership interests in the trust are generally not redeemable by the trust, except under certain circumstances, and are transferable among the general public for publicly offered securities and “qualified purchasers” or “qualified institutional buyers” for privately offered securities.

The Fund cannot assure that it can achieve better results by investing in a pooled investment versus investing directly in the individual underlying assets.

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

The Fund has adopted the following fundamental investment limitations which may not be changed without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding shares (as defined in Section 2(a)(42) of the 1940 Act). As used in this SAI and in the Prospectus, “shareholder approval” and a “majority of the outstanding shares” of the Fund means, with respect to the approval of an investment advisory agreement or a change in a fundamental investment limitation, the lesser of (1) 67% of the shares of the Fund represented at a meeting at which the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of such Fund are present in person or by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of such Fund. The Fund may not:

 

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  1. Borrow money, except the Fund may borrow money to the fullest extent permitted under the 1940 Act and, in particular, the Fund may (a) borrow from banks (as defined in the 1940 Act) or enter into reverse repurchase agreements in amounts up to 33-1/3% of the value of its total assets (including the amount borrowed); (b) to the extent permitted by applicable law, borrow up to an additional 5% of its total assets for temporary purposes; and (c) obtain such credit as may be necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of portfolio securities. The Fund may not mortgage, pledge or hypothecate any assets, except in connection with any permitted borrowing and then in amounts not in excess of the lesser of the dollar amounts borrowed or 33-1/3% of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the time of such borrowing, provided that: (a) short sales and related borrowings of securities are not subject to this restriction; and (b) for the purposes of this restriction, collateral arrangements with respect to options, short sales, futures, options on futures contracts, collateral arrangements with respect to initial and variation margin and collateral arrangements with respect to swaps and other derivatives are not deemed to be a pledge or other encumbrance of assets, and provided that any collateral arrangements with respect to the writing of options, futures contracts and options on futures contracts and collateral arrangements with respect to initial and variation margin are not deemed to be a pledge of assets. The Fund will not purchase securities while aggregate borrowings for temporary purposes exceed 5% of the Fund’s total assets. Securities held in escrow or separate accounts in connection with the Fund’s investment practices are not considered to be borrowings or deemed to be pledged for purposes of this limitation. To the extent the Fund covers its commitment under a reverse repurchase transaction (or economically similar transaction) by segregating assets determined to be liquid equal in value to the amount of the Fund’s commitment to repurchase, such an agreement would not be subject to the 300% asset coverage requirement otherwise applicable to borrowings by the Fund.

 

  2. Issue senior securities, except as described above in number 1 or as permitted under the 1940 Act;

 

  3. Act as an underwriter of securities within the meaning of the Securities Act, except insofar as it might be deemed to be an underwriter upon disposition of certain portfolio securities;

 

  4. Purchase or sell real estate (including real estate limited partnership interests), provided that the Fund may invest in securities secured by real estate or interests therein or issued by companies that invest in real estate or interests therein;

 

  5. Purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts, except that the Fund may purchase, sell or enter into options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, swap agreements and other derivative instruments;

 

  6. Make loans, except through loans of portfolio instruments and repurchase agreements, provided that for purposes of this restriction the acquisition of bonds, debentures or other debt instruments or interests therein and investment in U.S. Government obligations, loan participations and assignments, certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances shall not be deemed to be the making of a loan;

 

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  7. Invest 25% or more of its total assets, taken at market value at the time of each investment, in the securities of issuers in any particular industry (excluding the U.S. Government and its agencies and instrumentalities).

 

  8. Purchase the securities of any one issuer, other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, if immediately after and as a result of such purchase, more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer, or more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer would be owned by the Fund, except that up to 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets may be invested without regard to such limitations.

If a percentage restriction under one of the Fund’s investment policies or limitations or the use of assets is adhered to at the time a transaction is effected, later changes in percentages resulting from changing values will not be considered a violation (except with respect to any restrictions that may apply to borrowings or senior securities issued by the Fund).

The Fund’s investment objective and strategies described in the Prospectus are not fundamental and may be changed by the Company’s Board of Directors without the approval of the Fund’s shareholders upon 60 days’ notice to shareholders.

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

The Company has adopted, on behalf of the Fund, policies relating to the disclosure of the Fund’s securities. The policies relating to the disclosure of the Fund’s securities are designed to allow disclosure of portfolio holdings information where necessary to the Fund’s operation without compromising the integrity or performance of the Fund. It is the policy of the Company that disclosure of the Fund’s securities holdings to a select person or persons prior to the release of such holdings to the public (“selective disclosure”) is prohibited, unless there are legitimate business purposes for selective disclosure.

The Company discloses portfolio holdings information as required in regulatory filings and shareholder reports, discloses portfolio holdings information as required by federal and state securities laws and may disclose portfolio holdings information in response to requests by governmental authorities. As required by the federal securities laws, including the 1940 Act, the Company will disclose the Fund’s holdings in applicable regulatory filings, including shareholder reports, reports on Form N-CSR and Form N-Q or such other filings, reports or disclosure documents as the applicable regulatory authorities may require.

The Company may distribute or authorize the distribution of information about its portfolio holdings that is not publicly available to its third-party service providers of the Company, which include PFPC Trust Company, the custodian for the Fund; PFPC Inc. (“PFPC”), the administrator, accounting agent and transfer agent; Deloitte & Touche LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm; Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, legal counsel; GCom 2 Solutions and RR Donnelley, the Fund’s financial printers; and Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), the Fund’s proxy voting service. These service providers are required to keep such information confidential, and are prohibited from trading based on the

 

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information or otherwise using the information except as necessary in providing services to the Fund. Such holdings are released on conditions of confidentiality, which include appropriate trading prohibitions. “Conditions of confidentiality” include confidentiality terms included in written agreements, implied by the nature of the relationship (e.g. attorney-client relationship), or required by fiduciary or regulatory principles (e.g., custody services provided by financial institutions). Portfolio holdings may also be disclosed, upon authorization by a designated officer of the Adviser, to (i) certain independent reporting agencies recognized by the SEC as acceptable agencies for the reporting of industry statistical information, and (ii) financial consultants to assist them in determining the suitability of the Fund as an investment for their clients, in each case in accordance with the anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws and the Company’s and the Adviser’s fiduciary duties to Fund shareholders. Disclosures to financial consultants are also subject to a confidentiality agreement and/or trading restrictions as well as a 30-day time lag. The foregoing disclosures are made pursuant to the Company’s policy on selective disclosure of portfolio holdings. The Board of Directors of the Company or a committee thereof may, in limited circumstances, permit other selective disclosure of portfolio holdings subject to a confidentiality agreement and/or trading restrictions. Portfolio holdings may also be provided earlier to shareholders and their agents who receive redemptions in kind that reflect a pro rata allocation of all securities held in the Fund.

Any violations of the policy set forth above as well as any corrective action undertaken to address such violations must be reported by the Adviser, director, officer or third-party service provider to the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer, who will determine whether the violation should be reported immediately to the Board of Directors of the Company or at its next quarterly Board meeting.

MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY

The business and affairs of the Company are managed under the direction of the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company is organized under and managed pursuant to Maryland law. The Directors and executive officers of the Company, their dates of birth, business addresses and principal occupations during the past five years are set forth below.

 

Name, Address, and

Date of Birth

   Position(s)
Held with
Fund
  

Term of
Office and
Length of
Time
Served 1

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

   Number of
Portfolios in
Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Director*
  

Other

Directorships

Held by

Director

DISINTERESTED DIRECTORS

Julian A. Brodsky

Comcast Corporation

1500 Market Street,

35 th Floor

Philadelphia, PA 19102

DOB: 7/16/33

   Director    1988 to present    Since 1969, Director and Vice Chairman, Comcast Corporation (cable television and communications); Director, NDS Group PLC (provider of systems and applications for digital pay TV).    22   

Comcast

Corporation; AMDOCS Limited (service provider to telecommunications companies)

 

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Name, Address, and

Date of Birth

  

Position(s)
Held with
Fund

  

Term of
Office and
Length of
Time
Served 1

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

   Number of
Portfolios in
Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Director*
  

Other

Directorships

Held by

Director

Nicholas A. Giordano

1755 Governors Way

Blue Bell, PA 19422

DOB: 03/7/43

   Director    Since 2006    Consultant, financial services organizations from 1997 to present.    22    Kalmar Pooled Investment Trust; WT Mutual Fund; Independence Blue Cross; IntriCon Corporation (industrial furnaces and ovens); Commerce Bank

Francis J. McKay

Fox Chase Cancer Center

333 Cottman Avenue

Philadelphia, PA 19111

DOB: 12/06/35

   Director    1988 to present    Since 2000, Vice President, Fox Chase Cancer Center (biomedical research and medical care).    22    None

Arnold M. Reichman

106 Pierrepont Street

Brooklyn, NY 11201

DOB: 5/21/48

  

Chairman

Director

  

2005 to present

 

1991 to

present

   Director, Gabelli Group Capital Partners, L.P. (an investment partnership) from 2000 to 2006.    22    None

Mark A. Sargent

Villanova University School of Law

299 North Spring Mill Road

Villanova, PA 19085

DOB: 4/28/51

   Director    Since 2006    Dean and Professor of Law, Villanova University School of Law since July 1997; Member Board of Governors, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (2007 – Present).    22    WT Mutual Fund

Marvin E. Sternberg

Moyco Technologies, Inc.

200 Commerce Drive

Montgomeryville, PA 18936

DOB: 3/24/34

   Director    1991 to present    Since 1974, Chairman, Director and President, Moyco Technologies, Inc. (manufacturer of precision coated and industrial abrasives). Since 1999, Director, Pennsylvania Business Bank.    22    Moyco Technologies, Inc.

Robert A. Straniere

300 East 57 th Street

New York, NY 10022

DOB: 3/28/41

   Director    Since 2006    Member, New York State Assembly (1981-2004); Founding Partner, Straniere Law Firm (1980 to date); Partner, Gotham Strategies (consulting firm) (2005 to date); Partner, The Gotham Global Group (consulting firm) (2005 to date); President, The New York City Hot Dog Company (2005 to date); and Partner, Kanter-Davidoff (law firm) (2006 to date).    22    Reich and Tang Group (asset management); The Sparx Asia Funds (registered investment company)

 

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Name, Address, and

Date of Birth

  

Position(s)
Held with
Fund

  

Term of
Office and
Length of
Time
Served 1

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

   Number of
Portfolios in
Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Director*
  

Other

Directorships

Held by

Director

INTERESTED DIRECTORS 2

Robert Sablowsky

Oppenheimer & Company, Inc.

200 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10166

DOB: 4/16/38

   Director    1991 to present    Since July 2002, Senior Vice President and prior thereto, Executive Vice President of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., formerly Fahnestock & Co., Inc. (a registered broker-dealer). Since November 2004, Director of Kensington Funds.    22    Kensington Funds (registered investment company)

J. Richard Carnall

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 9/25/38

   Director    2002 to present    Director of PFPC Inc. from January 1987 to April 2002, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PFPC Inc. until April 2002, Executive Vice President of PNC Bank, National Association from October 1981 to April 2002, Director of PFPC International Ltd. (financial services) from August 1993 to April 2002, Director of PFPC International (Cayman) Ltd. (financial services) from September 1996 to April 2002; Governor of the Investment Company Institute (investment company industry trade organization) from July 1996 to January 2002; Director of PNC Asset Management, Inc. (investment advisory) from September 1994 to March 1998; Director of PNC National Bank from October 1995 to November 1997; Director of Haydon Bolts, Inc. (bolt manufacturer) and Parkway Real Estate Company (subsidiary of Haydon Bolts, Inc.) since 1984; and Director of Cornerstone Bank since March 2004.    22    Cornerstone Bank

 

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Name, Address, and

Date of Birth

  

Position(s)
Held with
Fund

  

Term of
Office and
Length of
Time
Served 1

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

  

Number of
Portfolios in
Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Director*

  

Other

Directorships

Held by

Director

OFFICERS

Edward J. Roach

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 6/29/24

  

President

and

Treasurer

  

1991 to present and

1988 to present

   Certified Public Accountant; Vice Chairman of the Board, Fox Chase Cancer Center; Trustee Emeritus, Pennsylvania School for the Deaf; Trustee Emeritus, Immaculata University; Managing General Partner, President since 2002, Treasurer since 1981 and Chief Compliance Officer since September 2004 of Chestnut Street Exchange Fund.    N/A    N/A

Jennifer Rogers

301 Bellevue Parkway

2nd Floor

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 7/28/74

   Secretary    2007 to present    Since 2005, Vice President and Associate Counsel, PFPC Inc. (financial services company); Associate, Stradley, Ronon, Stevens & Young, LLC (law firm) from 1999 to 2005.    N/A    N/A

Salvatore Faia, Esquire, CPA

Vigilant Compliance Services

186 Dundee Drive, Suite 700

Williamstown, NJ 08094

DOB: 12/25/62

   Chief Compliance Officer    Since 2004    President, Vigilant Compliance Services since 2004; Senior Legal Counsel, PFPC Inc. from 2002 to 2004; Chief Legal Counsel, Corviant Corporation (Investment Adviser, Broker-Dealer and Service Provider to Investment Advisers and Separate Accountant Providers) from 2001 to 2002.    N/A    N/A

 

* Each Director oversees twenty-two portfolios of the Company that are currently offered for sale.

 

1. Subject to the Company’s Retirement Policy, each Director, except Messrs. Giordano, Sargent and Straniere, may continue to serve as a Director until the last day of year 2011, unless otherwise extended by vote of the disinterested Directors, or until his successor is elected and qualified or his death, resignation or removal. Subject to the Company’s Retirement Policy, Messrs. Giordano, Sargent and Straniere may serve until the last day of the calendar year in which the applicable Director attains age 75 or until his successor is elected and qualified or his death, resignation or removal. The Board reserves the right to waive the requirements of the Policy with respect to an individual Director. Each officer holds office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors until the next annual meeting of the Company or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, or until he or she dies, resigns or is removed.

 

2. Messrs. Carnall and Sablowsky are considered “interested persons” of the Company as that term is defined in the 1940 Act. Mr. Carnall is an “interested Director” of the Company because he owns shares of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. The investment adviser to the Company’s Money Market Portfolio, BlackRock Institutional Management Corporation; the investment adviser to the Company’s Senbanc Fund, Hilliard Lyons Research Advisors, a division of J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, Inc.; and the Company’s principal underwriter, PFPC Distributors, Inc., are indirect subsidiaries of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. Mr. Sablowsky is considered an “interested Director” of the Company by virtue of his position as an officer of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., a registered broker-dealer.

 

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The Board and Standing Committees

Board. The Board of Directors is comprised of nine individuals, two of whom are considered “interested” Directors as defined by the 1940 Act. The remaining Directors are referred to as “Disinterested” or “Independent” Directors. The Board meets at least quarterly to review the investment performance of each portfolio in the mutual fund family and other operational matters, including policies and procedures with respect to compliance with regulatory and other requirements. Currently, the Board of Directors has an Audit Committee, an Executive Committee. a Nominating Committee and a Regulatory Oversight Committee. The responsibilities of each committee and its members are described below.

Audit Committee. The Board has an Audit Committee comprised only of Independent Directors. The current members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Brodsky, Giordano, McKay and Sternberg. The Audit Committee, among other things, reviews results of the annual audit and approves the firm(s) to serve as independent registered public accounting firm(s). The Audit Committee convened six times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2007.

Executive Committee. The Board has an Executive Committee comprised only of Independent Directors. The current members of the Executive Committee are Messrs. Brodsky, Reichman, Sargent and Sternberg. The Executive Committee may generally carry on and manage the business of the Company when the Board of Directors is not in session. The Executive Committee did not convene during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2007.

Nominating Committee. The Board has a Nominating Committee comprised only of Independent Directors. The current members of the Nominating Committee are Messrs. Brodsky, McKay and Sargent. The Nominating Committee recommends to the Board of Directors all persons to be nominated as Directors of the Company. The Nominating Committee will consider nominees recommended by shareholders. Recommendations should be submitted to the Committee in care of the Company’s Secretary. The Nominating Committee convened once during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2007.

Regulatory Oversight Committee. The Board has a Regulatory Oversight Committee comprised of two interested Directors and three Independent Directors. The current members of the Regulatory Oversight Committee are Messrs. Carnall, Reichman, Sargent, Sablowsky and Straniere. The Regulatory Oversight Committee monitors regulatory developments in the mutual fund industry and focuses on various regulatory aspects of the operation of the Company. The Regulatory Oversight Committee was created on May 23, 2007 by the Company’s Board of Directors and convened once during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2007.

Director Ownership of Shares of the Company

The following table sets forth the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each Director in the Fund and in all of the portfolios (which for each Director comprise all registered investment companies within the Company’s family of investment companies overseen by him), as of December 31, 2006.

 

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Name of Director

  

Dollar Range of

Equity Securities in the Fund

  

Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity

Securities in All Registered

Investment Companies Overseen
by

Director within the Family of

Investment Companies

DISINTERESTED DIRECTORS

Julian A. Brodsky

   None    Over $100,000

Nicholas A. Giordano

   None    None

Francis J. McKay

   None    Over
$100,000

Arnold M. Reichman

   None    Over
$100,000

Mark A. Sargent

   None    None

Marvin E. Sternberg

   None    None

Robert A. Straniere

   None    None
INTERESTED DIRECTORS

J. Richard Carnall

   None    None

Robert Sablowsky

   None    Over
$100,000

Directors’ and Officers’ Compensation

Since May 23, 2007, the Company pays each Director at the rate of $17,500 annually, $3,500 per meeting of the Board of Directors, and $500 for each committee meeting lasting up to one hour or $1,500 for each committee meeting lasting over one hour attended by a Director or in which he participates whether or not it is held in conjunction with a Board meeting. Prior to November 15, 2007, no Director was paid for a committee meeting if it was held in conjunction with a Board meeting. The Chairman of the Board receives an additional fee of $12,000 per year for his services in this capacity, and the Chairman of the Audit Committee, Nominating Committee and Regulatory Oversight Committee receives an additional fee of $4,000 per year for his services. From February 15, 2006 to May 23, 2007, the Company paid each Director at the rate of $17,500 annually and $3,500 per meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof that was not held in conjunction with a Board meeting. Each Director received a fee of $500 for telephonic Board or Committee meetings lasting one-half hour or less. The Chairman of the Board received an additional fee of $12,000 per year for his services in this capacity, and the Chairman of the Audit Committee received an additional fee of $4,000 per year for his services. Prior to February 15, 2006, the Company paid each Director at the rate of $16,500 annually and $1,375 per meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof that was not held in conjunction with a Board meeting. In addition, the Chairman of the Board received an additional fee of $6,600 per year for his services in this capacity.

 

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Directors are reimbursed for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof. The Company also compensates its President and Treasurer and Chief Compliance Officer for their respective services to the Company. For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2007, each of the following members of the Board of Directors and the President and Treasurer and Chief Compliance Officer received compensation from the Company in the following amounts:

 

Name of Director/Officer

   Aggregate
Compensation
from
Registrant
   Pension or
Retirement Benefits
Accrued as Part of
Fund Expenses
   Estimated
Annual Benefits
Upon
Retirement
   Total
Compensation
from Fund and
Fund Complex
Paid to
Directors or
Officers

Independent Directors:

           

Julian A. Brodsky, Director

   $ 38,500      N/A    N/A    $ 38,500

Nicholas A. Giordano, Director

   $ 33,267      N/A    N/A    $ 33,267

Francis J. McKay, Director

   $ 40,500      N/A    N/A    $ 40,500

Arnold M. Reichman, Director and Chairman

   $ 52,500      N/A    N/A    $ 52,500

Mark A. Sargent, Director

   $ 34,267      N/A    N/A    $ 34,267

Marvin E. Sternberg, Director

   $ 44,500      N/A    N/A    $ 44,500

Robert Straniere, Director

   $ 40,000      N/A    N/A    $ 40,000

Interested Directors:

           

J. Richard Carnall, Director and former Chairman

   $ 40,500      N/A    N/A    $ 40,500

Robert Sablowsky, Director

   $ 40,500      NIA    NIA    $ 40,500
Officers:            

Salvatore Faia, Esquire, CPA Chief Compliance Officer

   $ 232,171      N/A    N/A    $ 232,171

Edward J. Roach, President and Treasurer

   $ 43,000    $ 4,300    N/A    $ 47,300

As of December 31, 2006 the Independent Directors and their respective immediate family members (spouse or dependent children) did not own beneficially or of record any securities of the Company’s investment advisers or underwriter, or of any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment advisers or underwriter.

On October 24, 1990, the Company adopted, as a participating employer, the Fund Office Retirement Profit-Sharing Plan and Trust Agreement, a retirement plan for employees, pursuant to which the Company will contribute on a quarterly basis amounts equal to 10% of the quarterly compensation of each eligible employee (currently limited to Edward J. Roach). By virtue of the services performed by the Company’s investment advisers, custodians, administrators and underwriter, the Company itself requires only one part-time employee. No officer, Director or employee of the Advisers or the underwriter currently receives any compensation from the Company.

 

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Certain Interests of Independent Director

Mr. Brodsky serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Comcast Corporation (“Comcast”). Comcast has a $5 billion revolving credit facility with a lending syndicate of 27 banks, one of which is Merrill Lynch Bank USA (“ML Bank”), an affiliate of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (“Merrill Lynch”), which owns a controlling interest in BlackRock, Inc., the parent company of BIMC. ML Bank’s obligation as part of the syndicate is limited to $100 million, or approximately 2.0% of the total amount of the credit facility. The credit facility is used for working capital, capital expenditures, commercial paper backup and other lawful corporate purposes. There were no amounts outstanding on the ML Bank pro rata share of the credit facility during the period January 1, 2005 through December 31, 2006 (including any predecessor credit facility in effect during such period), based on month-end balances. There was no balance outstanding on the ML Bank pro rata share of the credit facility as of December 1, 2007. The interest rate on amounts drawn under the credit facility is based upon Comcast’s credit ratings. As of December 1, 2007, the interest rates are (i) for amounts undrawn, London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus 8 basis points; (ii) for the first draw up to 50% drawn, LIBOR plus 35 basis points; and (iii) for amounts drawn greater than 50% drawn, LIBOR plus 45 basis points. During the period January 1, 2005 through December 31, 2006, Merrill Lynch participated as an underwriter in 6 (six) Comcast debt offerings. Merrill Lynch served as a joint book-running manager in 2 (two) of those debt offerings. Comcast has advised the Company that on average its institutional debt offerings include 23 firms in the underwriting syndicate and its retail debt offerings include 53 firms in the underwriting syndicate. For the underwriting services provided during this period, Merrill Lynch received fees from Comcast of approximately $11.8 million. Merrill Lynch also serves as the administrator to Comcast’s stock option plan and restricted stock plan and received an annual fee of no more than $800,000 for each of the two years in the period January 1, 2005 through December 31, 2006.

CODE OF ETHICS

The Company, the Adviser and PFPC Distributors, Inc. (the “Underwriter”) have each adopted a code of ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act that permits personnel subject to the codes to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Company.

PROXY VOTING

The Board of Directors has delegated the responsibility of voting proxies with respect to the portfolio securities purchased and/or held by the Fund to the Adviser, subject to the Board’s continuing oversight. In exercising its voting obligations, the Adviser is guided by its general fiduciary duty to act prudently and in the interest of the Fund. The Adviser will consider factors affecting the value of the Fund’s investments and the rights of shareholders in its determination on voting portfolio securities.

 

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The Adviser has adopted proxy voting procedures with respect to voting proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the Fund. The Adviser employs ISS, a third-party service provider, to assist in the voting of proxies. These procedures have been provided to ISS, who analyzes the proxies and makes recommendations, based on the Adviser’s policy, as to how to vote such proxies. A copy of the Adviser’s Proxy Voting Policy is included with this SAI. Please see Appendix B to this SAI for further information.

Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 will be available, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-XXX-XXX-XXXX and by visiting the SEC website at www.sec.gov.

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

Prior to the date of this SAI, BSAM held all of the Fund’s outstanding shares.

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

Investment Adviser

BSAM, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. (“Bear Stearns”), a publicly-traded Delaware corporation, serves as investment adviser to the Fund pursuant to an investment advisory agreement with the Company (the “Advisory Agreement”). Under the Advisory Agreement, BSAM will provide for the overall management of the Fund including (i) the provision of a continuous investment program for the Fund, including investment research and management with respect to all securities, investments, cash and cash equivalents in the Fund, (ii) the determination from time to time of what securities and other investments will be purchased, retained, or sold by the Fund, and (iii) the placement from time to time of orders for all purchases and sales made for the Fund. The Adviser will provide the services rendered by it in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives, restrictions and policies stated in the Prospectus and SAI. BSAM will not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Fund or the Company in connection with the performance of the Advisory Agreement, except a loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the receipt of compensation for services or a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of BSAM in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard of its duties and obligations under the Advisory Agreement.

For its investment advisory services to the Fund, BSAM is entitled to receive a monthly advisory fee under the Advisory Agreement computed at an annual rate of 1.00% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. BSAM is contractually waiving a portion of its advisory fee and reimbursing certain expenses in order to limit the Fund’s total annual Fund operating expenses (excluding taxes, interest, litigation, dividends and interest expense and other financing costs associated with the use of proceeds from securities sold short, extraordinary expenses, and brokerage and other transaction expenses relating to the purchase or sale of portfolio investments) to 1.50% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class A Shares and 1.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class I Shares. The Adviser may recoup the amount of any management fee waivers or expense reimbursements from the Fund if

 

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such recoupment does not cause the Fund to exceed the stated expense limitations and the recoupment is made within three years after the year in which the Adviser waived fees and/or reimbursed expenses.

The Fund bears its own expenses not specifically assumed by BSAM. General expenses of the Company not readily identifiable as belonging to a portfolio of the Company are allocated among all investment portfolios by or under the direction of the Company’s Board of Directors in such manner as it deems to be fair and equitable. Expenses borne by the Fund include, but are not limited to, the expenses listed in the Prospectus and the following (or the Fund’s share of the following): (a) the cost (including brokerage commissions) of securities purchased or sold by the Fund and any losses incurred in connection therewith; (b) fees payable to and expenses incurred on behalf of the Fund by BSAM; (c) any costs, expenses or losses arising out of a liability of or claim for damages or other relief asserted against the Company or the Fund for violation of any law; (d) any extraordinary expenses; (e) fees, voluntary assessments and other expenses incurred in connection with membership in investment company organizations; (f) the cost of investment company literature and other publications provided by the Company to its Directors and officers; (g) organizational costs; (h) fees to the Adviser and PFPC; (i) fees and expenses of officers and Directors who are not affiliated with the Fund’s Adviser or Underwriter; (j) taxes; (k) interest; (l) legal fees; (m) custodian fees; (n) auditing fees; (o) brokerage fees and commissions; (p) certain of the fees and expenses of registering and qualifying the Fund and its shares for distribution under federal and state securities laws; (q) expenses of preparing prospectuses and statements of additional information and distributing annually to existing shareholders that are not attributable to a particular portfolio or class of shares of the Company; (r) the expense of reports to shareholders, shareholders’ meetings and proxy solicitations that are not attributable to a particular class of shares of the Company; (s) fidelity bond and directors’ and officers’ liability insurance premiums; (t) the expense of using independent pricing services; and (u) other expenses which are not expressly assumed by the Adviser under its advisory agreement with the Fund.

The Advisory Agreement was initially approved on              for a term ending              by a vote of the Company’s Board of Directors, including a majority of those Directors who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of such parties. The Advisory Agreement was approved by the sole shareholder of the Fund. The Advisory Agreement is terminable by vote of the Company’s Board of Directors or by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, at any time without penalty, on 90 days’ written notice to BSAM. The Advisory Agreement may also be terminated by BSAM on 60 days’ written notice to the Company. The Advisory Agreement terminates automatically in the event of assignment thereof.

 

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Portfolio Manager

Other Accounts. The table below discloses accounts, other than the Fund, managed by a team led by Michael A. Rosen, who is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. This information is as of November 30, 2007.

 

Fund Manager

   Registered
Investment
Companies
   Other Pooled
Investment
Vehicles
   Other Accounts
  

Number of

Accounts

  

Total

Assets

  

Number of

Accounts

  

Total

Assets

  

Number of

Accounts

  

Total

Assets

Michael A. Rosen

   0    $ 0    0    $ 0    10    $ 56 million

The accounts identified below represent accounts for which the advisory fee is based on the performance of the account.

Fund Manager

   Registered
Investment
Companies
   Other Pooled
Investment
Vehicles
   Other Accounts
  

Number of

Accounts

  

Total

Assets

  

Number of

Accounts

  

Total

Assets

  

Number of

Accounts

  

Total

Assets

Michael A. Rosen

   0    $ 0    0    $ 0    0    $ 0

Material Conflicts of Interest. Actual or potential conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has management responsibilities to more than one account (including the Fund), such as devotion of unequal time and attention to the management of the accounts, inability to allocate limited investment opportunities across a broad band of accounts and incentive to allocate opportunities to an account where the portfolio manager or Adviser has a greater financial incentive, such as a performance fee account. The Adviser has adopted policies and procedures reasonably designed to address these types of conflicts and that serve to operate in a manner that is fair and equitable among its clients, including the Fund.

Description of Compensation. In general, all investment professionals receive a base salary (paid on a bi-weekly basis) and incentive compensation (cash bonus and/or equity incentives). For employees whose contribution and competency fully meet expectations, the base salary is targeted at or above the market median (based on internal and external market data for the role being performed). Bonus pool allocations and individual bonus/equity decisions are based on a number of factors including: overall Bear Stearns performance, BSAM performance, and an evaluation of the employee’s merit and contributions to the overall operations of his or her department. As these individuals advance within the organization, the variable components generally increase as a percentage of their total compensation. Mr. Rosen is not compensated differently based on the performance of the Fund as compared to the performance of Other Accounts disclosed above. Performance is examined over market cycles which are typically trailing one-, three- and five-year periods, but more weight is given to performance during the one- and three-year periods.

 

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Securities Ownership. The Fund has not offered shares to the public as of the date of this SAI and, accordingly, the Portfolio Manager does not own any shares of the Fund as of that date.

Custodian Agreement

PFPC Trust Company, 8800 Tinicum Boulevard, Suite 200, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19153 (the “Custodian”), is the custodian of the Fund’s assets pursuant to a custodian agreement between the Custodian and the Company dated August 16, 1988, as amended and supplemented (the “Custodian Agreement”). Under the Custodian Agreement, the Custodian: (a) maintains a separate account or accounts in the name of the Fund; (b) holds and transfers portfolio securities on account of the Fund; (c) accepts receipts and makes disbursements of money on behalf of the Fund; (d) collects and receives all income and other payments and distributions on account of the Fund’s securities; and (e) makes periodic reports to the Company’s Board of Directors concerning the Fund’s operations. The Custodian is authorized to select one or more banks or trust companies to serve as sub-custodian on behalf of the Fund, provided that the Custodian remains responsible for the performance of all of its duties under the Custodian Agreement and holds the Fund harmless from the acts and omissions of any sub-custodian.

Transfer Agency Agreement

PFPC, 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809, an affiliate of the Custodian and Underwriter, serves as the transfer and dividend disbursing agent for the Fund pursuant to a transfer agency agreement dated November 5, 1991, as supplemented (the “Transfer Agency Agreement”), under which PFPC: (a) issues and redeems shares of the Fund; (b) addresses and mails all communications by the Fund to record owners of the shares, including reports to shareholders, dividend and distribution notices and proxy materials for its meetings of shareholders; (c) maintains shareholder accounts and, if requested, sub-accounts; and (d) makes periodic reports to the Company’s Board of Directors concerning the operations of the Fund. PFPC may, on 30 days’ notice to the Company, assign its duties as transfer and dividend disbursing agent to any other affiliate of PNC Bank Corp.

PFPC also provides services relating to the implementation of the Company’s Anti-Money Laundering Program. The Company pays an annual fee, ranging from $3,000—$50,000, based on the number of open accounts in each portfolio of the Company. In addition, PFPC provides services relating to the implementation of the Fund’s Customer Identification Program, including the verification of required customer information and the maintenance of records with respect to such verification. The Fund will pay PFPC $2.25 per customer verification and $.02 per month per record result maintained.

 

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Administration and Accounting Services Agreement

PFPC serves as administrator and fund accounting agent to the Fund pursuant to an administration and accounting services agreement dated                      , 2007 (the “Administration Agreement”). PFPC has agreed to furnish to the Fund statistical and research data, clerical, accounting and bookkeeping services, and certain other services required by the Fund. In addition, PFPC has agreed to prepare and file various reports with the appropriate regulatory agencies. The Administration Agreement provides that PFPC shall be obligated to exercise care and diligence in the performance of its duties, to act in good faith and to use its best efforts, within reasonable limits, in performing services thereunder. PFPC shall be responsible for failure to perform its duties under the Administration Agreement arising out of its willful misfeasance, bad faith, negligence or reckless disregard.

The Administration Agreements provide that PFPC shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or any loss suffered by the Company or the Fund in connection with the performance of the agreement, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard by it of its duties and obligations thereunder.

On June 1, 2003, the Company entered into a regulatory administration services agreement with PFPC. Under this agreement, PFPC has agreed to provide regulatory administration services to the Company. These services include the preparation and coordination of the Company’s annual post-effective amendment filing and supplements to the Fund’s registration statement, the preparation and assembly of board meeting materials, and certain other services necessary to the Company’s regulatory administration. PFPC receives an annual fee based on the average daily net assets of the portfolios of the Company.

Distribution Agreement

The Underwriter, whose principal business address is 760 Moore Road, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406, serves as the principal underwriter of the Fund pursuant to the terms of a distribution agreement, dated as of January 2, 2001, as supplemented (the “Distribution Agreement”). Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement and the related Plan of Distribution for Class A Shares (the “Plan”), which was adopted by the Company in the manner prescribed by Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, the Underwriter will use appropriate efforts to solicit orders for the sale of the Fund’s shares. Payments to the Underwriter under the Plan are to compensate it for distribution assistance and expenses assumed and activities intended to result in the sale of Class A Shares. As compensation for its distribution services, the Underwriter receives, pursuant to the terms of the Distribution Agreement, a distribution fee under the Plan, to be calculated daily and paid monthly by Class A Shares of the Fund, at the annual rate set forth in the Class A Shares Prospectus. Pursuant to the terms of the Plan, the Underwriter may also use the distribution fee to compensate financial intermediaries for distribution services and/or providing shareholder services.

Administrative Services Agreement

The Underwriter provides certain administrative services to the Fund that are not provided by PFPC, pursuant to an Administrative Services Agreement between the Company and the Underwriter. These services include acting as liaison between the Fund and various service providers and assisting with the preparation of proxy statements, annual, semi-annual and quarterly reports.

 

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For its services to the Fund pursuant to the Custodian Agreement, Transfer Agency Agreement, Administration Agreement, Administrative Services Agreement and Distribution Agreement, PFPC Trust, PFPC, and PFPC Distributors are entitled to receive a monthly fee calculated at the annual rate of:

.06% of the first $500 million of average net assets

.0375% on the next $250 million of average net assets

.0325% on the next $250 million of average net assets

.0285% on average net assets over $1 billion

There is a minimum monthly fee of $8,438 for the first 12 months and $13,125 thereafter, exclusive of custody transaction charges, shareholder account fees (if applicable) and expenses, other PFPC transaction fees and set-up costs, and out-of-pocket expenses.

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

Subject to policies established by the Board of Directors and applicable rules, the Adviser is responsible for the execution of portfolio transactions and the allocation of brokerage transactions for the Fund. In executing portfolio transactions, the Adviser seeks to obtain the best price and most favorable execution for the Fund, taking into account such factors as the price (including the applicable brokerage commission or dealer spread), size of the order, difficulty of execution and operational facilities of the firm involved. While the Adviser generally seeks reasonably competitive commission rates, payment of the lowest commission or spread is not necessarily consistent with obtaining the best price and execution in particular transactions.

The Fund has no obligation to deal with any broker or group of brokers in the execution of portfolio transactions. The Adviser may, consistent with the interests of the Fund and subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, select brokers on the basis of the research, statistical and pricing services they provide to the Fund and other clients of the Adviser. Information and research received from such brokers will be in addition to, and not in lieu of, the services required to be performed by the Adviser under its respective contracts. A commission paid to such brokers may be higher than that which another qualified broker would have charged for effecting the same transaction, provided that the Adviser determines in good faith that such commission is reasonable in terms either of the transaction or the overall responsibility of the Adviser to the Fund and its other clients and that the total commissions paid by the Fund will be reasonable in relation to the benefits to the Fund over the long-term.

Investment decisions for the Fund and for other investment accounts managed by the Adviser are made independently of each other in the light of differing conditions. However, the same investment decision may be made for two or more of such accounts. In such cases, simultaneous transactions are inevitable. Purchases or sales are then averaged as to price and allocated as to amount according to a formula deemed equitable to each such account. While in some cases this practice could have a detrimental effect upon the price or value of the security as far as the Fund is concerned, in other cases it is believed to be beneficial to the Fund.

 

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PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION

Read the Fund’s Prospectus for information regarding the purchase and redemption of Fund shares, including any applicable sales charges. The following information supplements information in the Fund’s Prospectus.

You may purchase shares through an account maintained by your brokerage firm and you may also purchase shares directly by mail or wire. Generally, redemption proceeds will be paid within seven days after the receipt of a valid redemption request; however, redemption proceeds for recently purchased Fund shares paid for by check may not be distributed until payment for the purchase has been collected, which may take up to fifteen days from the purchase date. The Company reserves the right, if conditions exist which make cash payments undesirable, to honor any request for redemption or repurchase of the Fund’s shares by making payment in whole or in part in kind, which means the Company will distribute to the redeeming shareholder securities chosen by the Company and valued in the same way as they would be valued for purposes of computing the Fund’s NAV. If payment is made in securities, a shareholder may incur transaction costs in converting these securities into cash. A shareholder will also bear any market risk or tax consequences as a result of a payment in securities. The Company has elected, however, to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act so that the Fund is obligated to redeem its shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of its NAV during any 90-day period for any one shareholder of the Fund. A shareholder will bear the risk of a decline in market value and any tax consequences associated with a redemption in securities.

Under the 1940 Act, the Company may suspend the right to redemption or postpone the date of payment upon redemption for any period during which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the “NYSE”) or the Federal Reserve System are closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings), or during which the SEC restricts trading on the NYSE or determines an emergency exists as a result of which disposal or valuation of portfolio securities is not reasonably practicable, or for such other periods as the SEC may permit. (The Company may also suspend or postpone the recordation of the transfer of its shares upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing conditions.)

Shares of the Company are subject to redemption by the Company, at the redemption price of such shares as in effect from time to time, including, without limitation: (1) to reimburse the Fund for any loss sustained by reason of the failure of a shareholder to make full payment for shares purchased by the shareholder or to collect any charge relating to a transaction effected for the benefit of a shareholder as provided in the Prospectus from time to time; (2) if such redemption is, in the opinion of the Company’s Board of Directors, desirable in order to prevent the Company or the Fund from being deemed a “personal holding company” within the meaning of the Code; (3) or if the net income with respect to any particular class of common stock should be negative or it should otherwise be appropriate to carry out the Company’s responsibilities under the 1940 Act.

 

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The computation of the hypothetical offering price per Class A Share, based on the value of the Fund’s net assets and the Fund’s shares outstanding as of the initial offering of shares is as follows:

 

NAV per Share

   $ 15.00  

Maximum Sales Charge

     5.75 %

Maximum Offering Price to Public

   $ 15.92  

Class I Shares are offered at their NAV.

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge on Certain Redemptions . Purchases of $1 million or more of Class A Shares are not subject to an initial sales charge; however, a contingent deferred sales charge is payable on these investments in the event of a share redemption within 12 months following the share purchase, at the rate of 1% of the lesser of the value of the shares redeemed (exclusive of reinvested dividends and capital gain distributions) or the total cost of such shares. In determining whether a contingent deferred sales charge is payable, and the amount of the charge, it is assumed that shares purchased with reinvested dividend and capital gain distributions and then other shares held the longest are the first redeemed. The contingent deferred sales charge is waived in the event of (a) the death or disability (as defined in Section 72(m)(7) of the Code) of the shareholder, (b) a lump sum distribution from a benefit plan qualified under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), or (c) systematic withdrawals from ERISA plans if the shareholder is at least 59  1 / 2 years old. The Fund applies the waiver for death or disability to shares held at the time of death or the initial determination of disability of either an individual shareholder or one who owns the shares of a joint tenant with the right of survivorship or as a tenant in common.

Reducing or Eliminating the Front-End Sales Charge

Class A Shares are offered to the public at NAV plus a front-end sales charge. You can reduce or eliminate the front-end sales charge on shares of the Fund as follows:

Quantity Discounts . Purchases of at least $50,000 can reduce the sales charges you pay, and purchases of at least $1,000,000 can eliminate the sales charges you pay.

Combined Purchase Privilege . The following purchases may be combined for purposes of determining the “amount of purchase”: (a) individual purchases, if made at the same time, by a single purchaser, the purchaser’s spouse and children under the age of 25 purchasing shares for their own accounts, including shares purchased by a qualified retirement plan(s) exclusively for the benefit of such individual(s) (such as an IRA, individual-type section 403(b) plan or single-participant Keogh-type plan) or by a Company, as defined in Section 2(a)(8) of the 1940 Act, solely controlled, as defined in the 1940 Act, by such individual(s), or (b) individual purchases by trustees or other fiduciaries purchasing shares (i) for a single trust estate or a single fiduciary account, including an employee benefit plan, or (ii) concurrently by two or more employee benefit plans of a single employer or of employers affiliated with each other in accordance with

 

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Section 2(a)(3)(c) of the 1940 Act (excluding in either case an employee benefit plan described in (a) above), provided such trustees or other fiduciaries purchase shares in a single payment. Purchases made for nominee or street name accounts may not be combined with purchases made for such other accounts.

Accumulated Purchases . If you make an additional purchase of Class A Shares, you can count previous shares purchased and still invested in the Fund in calculating the applicable sales charge on the additional purchase.

Letter of Intent . You can sign a Letter of Intent committing to purchase at least $500,000 (or $1,000,000) in Class A Shares within a 13-month period to combine such purchases in calculating the sales charge. A portion of your Fund shares will be held in escrow. If you complete your purchase commitments as stated in the Letter of Intent, our Fund shares held in escrow will be released to your account. If you do not fulfill the Letter of Intent, the appropriate amount of Fund shares held in escrow will be redeemed to pay the sales charges that were not applied to your purchases.

Dealer Reallowances

As shown in the table below, the Underwriter may provide dealer reallowances up to the full sales charge for purchases of the Fund’s shares in which a front-end sales charge is applicable.

 

Amount of Purchase

  

Maximum Sales Charge
Allowed to Dealers as a

Percentage of Offering Price

 

Less than $500,000

   2.25 %

At least $500,000 but less than $1,000,000

   1.75 %

$1,000,000 or greater

   0.00 %

TELEPHONE TRANSACTION PROCEDURES

The Company’s telephone transaction procedures include the following measures: (1) requiring the appropriate telephone transaction privilege forms; (2) requiring the caller to provide the names of the account owners, the account social security number and name of the Fund, all of which must match the Company’s records; (3) requiring the Company’s service representative to complete a telephone transaction form, listing all of the above caller identification information; (4) permitting exchanges (if applicable) only if the two account registrations are identical; (5) requiring that redemption proceeds be sent only by check to the account owners of record at the address of record, or by wire only to the owners of record at the bank account of record; (6) sending a written confirmation for each telephone transaction to the owners of record at the address of record within five (5) business days of the call; and (7) maintaining tapes of telephone transactions for six months, if the Company elects to record shareholder telephone transactions. For accounts held of record by broker-dealers, financial institutions, securities dealers, financial planners and other industry professionals, additional documentation or information regarding the scope of a caller’s authority is required. Finally, for telephone transactions in accounts held jointly, additional information regarding other account holders is required.

 

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VALUATION OF SHARES

Shares of the Fund are valued at their NAV. The NAV per share is calculated as follows:

 

   Value of Assets Attributable to the Share Class
NAV =    - Value of Liabilities Attributable to the Share Class
    
   Number of Outstanding Shares of the Fund

The Fund’s NAV is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. Currently, the NYSE is closed on New Year’s Day, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day and on the preceding Friday or subsequent Monday when one of those holidays falls on a Saturday or Sunday.

Subject to the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors, the Fund may employ outside organizations, which may use a matrix or formula method that takes into consideration market indices, matrices, yield curves and other specific adjustments in determining the approximate market value of portfolio investments. This may result in the securities being valued at a price that differs from the price that would have been determined had the matrix or formula method not been used. All cash, receivables, and current payables are carried on the Fund’s books at their face value. Other assets, if any, are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Company’s Valuation Committee under the direction of the Company’s Board of Directors.

TAXES

The following summarizes certain additional tax considerations generally affecting the Fund that are not described in the Prospectus.

The discussions of the federal tax consequences in the Prospectus and this SAI are based on the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) and the regulations issued under it, and court decisions and administrative interpretations as in effect on the date of this SAI. Future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly change the statements included herein, and any such changes or decisions may be retroactive.

Federal Taxes

The Fund intends to qualify in each taxable year as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of Subtitle A, Chapter 1, of the Code. As a regulated investment company, the Fund generally is exempt from federal income tax on its net investment income and realized capital gains that it distributes to shareholders. To qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company, it must meet three important tests each year.

 

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First, the Fund must derive with respect to each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, certain payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or foreign currencies, other income derived with respect to the Fund’s business of investing in stock, securities or currencies, or net income derived from interests in qualified publicly traded partnerships.

Second, generally, at the close of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s assets must consist of cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and securities of other issuers as to which the Fund has not invested more than 5% of the value of its total assets in securities of the issuer and as to which the Fund does not hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer, and no more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in the securities of (1) any one issuer (other than U.S. government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies), (2) two or more issuers that the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or (3) one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships.

Third, the Fund must distribute an amount equal to at least the sum of 90% of its investment company taxable income (net investment income and the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss) and 90% of its tax-exempt income, if any, for the year.

The Fund intends to comply with these requirements. If the Fund were to fail to make sufficient distributions, it could be liable for corporate income tax and for excise tax in respect of the shortfall or, if the shortfall is large enough, the Fund could be disqualified as a regulated investment company. If for any taxable year the Fund were not to qualify as a regulated investment company, all its taxable income would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for distributions to shareholders. In that event, shareholders would recognize dividend income on distributions to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, and corporate shareholders could be eligible for the dividends-received deduction.

The Code imposes a nondeductible 4% excise tax on regulated investment companies that fail to distribute each year an amount equal to specified percentages of their ordinary taxable income and capital gain net income (excess of capital gains over capital losses). The Fund intends to make sufficient distributions or deemed distributions of its ordinary taxable income and capital gain net income each calendar year to avoid liability for this excise tax.

State and Local Taxes

Although the Fund expects to qualify as a “regulated investment company” and to be relieved of all or substantially all federal income taxes, depending upon the extent of its activities in states and localities in which its offices are maintained, in which its agents or independent contractors are located or in which it is otherwise deemed to be conducting business, the Fund may be subject to the tax laws of such states or localities.

 

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Taxation of Certain Investments

The tax principles applicable to transactions in financial instruments and futures contracts and options that may be engaged in by the Fund, and investments in passive foreign investment companies (“PFICs”), are complex and, in some cases, uncertain. Such transactions and investments may cause the Fund to recognize taxable income prior to the receipt of cash, thereby requiring the Fund to liquidate other positions, or to borrow money, so as to make sufficient distributions to shareholders to avoid corporate-level tax. Moreover, some or all of the taxable income recognized may be ordinary income or short-term capital gain, so that the distributions may be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income.

In addition, in the case of any shares of a PFIC in which a Fund invests, the Fund may be liable for corporate-level tax on any ultimate gain or distributions on the shares if the Fund fails to make an election to recognize income annually during the period of its ownership of the shares.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING COMPANY SHARES

The Company has authorized capital of 100 billion shares of common stock at a par value of $0.001 per share. Currently, 78.073 billion shares have been classified into 120 classes as shown in the table below, however, the Company only has 35 active share classes that have begun investment operations. Under the Company’s charter, the Board of Directors has the power to classify and reclassify any unissued shares of common stock from time to time.

 

Class of Common Stock

   Number of
Authorized
Shares
(millions)
  

Class of Common Stock

   Number of
Authorized
Shares
(millions)
A (Growth & Income)    100    BBB    100
B    100    CCC    100
C (Balanced)    100    DDD (Robeco Boston Partners Institutional Small Cap Value Fund II)    100
D (Tax-Free)    100    EEE (Robeco Boston Partners Investors Small Cap Value Fund II)    100
E (Money)    500    FFF    100
F (Municipal Money)    500    GGG    100
G (Money)    500    HHH    100
H (Municipal Money)    500    III (Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Equity-Institutional Class)    100
I (Sansom Money)    1,500    JJJ (Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Equity-Investor Class)    100
J (Sansom Municipal Money)    500    KKK (Robeco Boston Partners Funds)    100
K (Sansom Government Money)    500    LLL (Robeco Boston Partners Funds)    100
L (Bedford Money)    1,500    MMM (n/i numeric Small Cap Value)    100
M (Bedford Municipal Money)    500    NNN (Bogle Investment Management Small Cap Growth – Institutional Class)    100

 

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Class of Common Stock

   Number of
Authorized
Shares
(millions)
  

Class of Common Stock

   Number of
Authorized
Shares
(millions)
N (Bedford Government Money)    500    OOO (Bogle Investment Management Small Cap Growth – Investor Class)    100
O (Bedford N.Y. Money)    500    PPP (Schneider Value Fund)    100
P (RBB Government)    100    QQQ (Institutional Liquidity Fund for Credit Unions)    2,500
Q    100    RRR (Liquidity Fund for Credit Unions)    2,500
R (Municipal Money)    500    SSS (Robeco WPG Core Bond Fund – Retirement Class)    100
S (Government Money)    500    TTT (Robeco WPG Core Bond Fund – Institutional Class)    50
T    500    UUU (Robeco WPG Small Cap Value Fund – Institutional Fund)    50
U    500    VVV (Robeco WPG 130/30 Large Cap Core Fund – Institutional Class)    50
V    500    WWW (Senbanc Fund)    50
W    100    XXX (Robeco WPG Core Bond Fund – Investor Class)    100
X    50    YYY (Bear Stearns CUFS MLP Mortgage Portfolio)    100
      ZZZ (Marvin & Palmer Large Cap Growth Fund)    100
      AAAA (Bear Stearns Enhanced Yield Fund)    50,000
      BBBB (Free Market U.S. Equity Fund)    100
      CCCC (Free Market International Equity Fund)    100
      DDDD (Free Market Fixed Income Fund)    100
      EEEE (Robeco WPG 130/30 Large Cap Core Fund - Investor Class)    100
Y    50    FFFF (SAM Sustainable Water Fund – Investor Class)    100
Z    50    GGGG (SAM Sustainable Water Fund – Institutional Class)    100
AA    50    HHHH (SAM Sustainable Water Fund – Class A)    100
BB    50    IIII –(SAM Sustainable Water Fund – Class C)    100
CC    50    JJJJ (SAM Sustainable Climate Fund – Investor Class)    100
DD    100    KKKK (SAM Sustainable Climate Fund – Institutional Class)    100
EE    100    LLLL (SAM Sustainable Climate Fund – Class A)    100
FF (n/i numeric Emerging Growth)    50    MMMM (Sustainable Climate Fund – Class C)    100
GG (n/i numeric Growth)    50    NNNN (Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 U.S. Core Equity Fund – Class A)    100
HH (n/i numeric Mid Cap)    50    OOOO (Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 U.S. Core Equity Fund – Class I)    100
II (Baker 500 Growth Fund)    100    Select (Money)    700

 

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Class of Common Stock

   Number of
Authorized
Shares
(millions)
  

Class of Common Stock

   Number of
Authorized
Shares
(millions)
JJ (Baker 500 Growth Fund)    100    Beta 2 (Municipal Money)    1
KK    100    Beta 3 (Government Money)    1
LL    100    Beta 4 (N.Y. Money)    1
MM    100    Principal Class (Money)    700
NN    100    Gamma 2 (Municipal Money)    1
OO    100    Gamma 3 (Government Money)    1
PP    100    Gamma 4 (N.Y. Money)    1
QQ (Robeco Boston Partners Institutional Large Cap)    100    Bear Stearns Money    2,500
RR (Robeco Boston Partners Investors Large Cap)    100    Bear Stearns Municipal Money    1,500
SS (Robeco Boston Partners Adviser Large Cap)    100    Bear Stearns Government Money    1,000
TT (Robeco Boston Partners Investors Mid Cap)    100    Delta 4 (N.Y. Money)    1
UU (Robeco Boston Partners Institutional Mid Cap)    100    Epsilon 1 (Money)    1
VV (Robeco Boston Partners Institutional All Cap Value)    100    Epsilon 2 (Municipal Money)    1
WW (Robeco Boston Partners Investors All Cap Value)    100    Epsilon 3 (Government Money)    1
YY (Schneider Capital Small Cap Value)    100    Epsilon 4 (N.Y. Money)    1
ZZ    100    Zeta 1 (Money)    1
AAA    100    Zeta 2 (Municipal Money)    1
      Zeta 3 (Government Money)    1
      Zeta 4 (N.Y. Money)    1
      Eta 1 (Money)    1
      Eta 2 (Municipal Money)    1
      Eta 3 (Government Money)    1
      Eta 4 (N.Y. Money)    1
      Theta 1 (Money)    1
      Theta 2 (Municipal Money)    1
      Theta 3 (Government Money)    1
      Theta 4 (N.Y. Money)    1

The classes of common stock have been grouped into separate “families.” There are ten families that currently have operating portfolios, including: the Sansom Street Family, the Bedford Family, the Schneider Capital Management Family, the Robeco Investment Funds Family, the Bogle Investment Management Family, the Hilliard Lyons Family, the Bear Stearns Family, the Marvin & Palmer Associates Family, the Abundance Technologies Family and the Sustainable Asset Management Family. The Bedford Family and the Sansom Street Family represent interests in the Money Market Portfolio; the Robeco Investment Funds Family represents interests in eight non-money market portfolios; the Bogle Investment Management Family represents interests in one non-money market portfolio; the Schneider Capital Management Family represents interests in three non-money market portfolios; the Hilliard Lyons Family represents interests in one non-money market portfolio; the Bear Steams Family represents interests in three non-money market portfolios; the Marvin & Palmer Associates Family represents interests in one non-money market portfolio; the Abundance Technologies Family represents interests in three non-money market portfolios and the Sustainable Asset Management Family represents interest in two non-money market portfolios.

 

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Each Share that represents an interest in the Fund has an equal proportionate interest in the assets belonging to such Fund with each other Share that represents an interest in the Fund. Shares of the Company do not have preemptive or conversion rights. When issued for payment as described in the Prospectus, Shares of the Fund will be fully paid and non-assessable.

The Company does not currently intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders except as required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law. The Company’s amended By-Laws provide that shareholders owning at least ten percent of the outstanding shares of all classes of common stock of the Company have the right to call for a meeting of shareholders to consider the removal of one or more directors. To the extent required by law, the Company will assist in shareholder communication in such matters.

Holders of shares of each class of the Company will vote in the aggregate and not by class on all matters, except where otherwise required by law. Further, shareholders of the Company will vote in the aggregate and not by portfolio except as otherwise required by law or when the Board of Directors determines that the matter to be voted upon affects only the interests of the shareholders of a particular portfolio. Rule 18f-2 under the 1940 Act provides that any matter required to be submitted by the provisions of such Act or applicable state law, or otherwise, to the holders of the outstanding voting securities of an investment company such as the Company shall not be deemed to have been effectively acted upon unless approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of each portfolio affected by the matter. Rule 18f-2 further provides that a portfolio shall be deemed to be affected by a matter unless it is clear that the interests of each portfolio in the matter are identical or that the matter does not affect any interest of the portfolio. Under Rule 18f-2 the approval of an investment advisory agreement or distribution plan or any change in a fundamental investment objective or fundamental investment policy would be effectively acted upon with respect to a portfolio only if approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such portfolio. However, the Rule also provides that the ratification of the selection of independent public accountants and the election of directors are not subject to the separate voting requirements and may be effectively acted upon by shareholders of an investment company voting without regard to a portfolio. Shareholders of the Company are entitled to one vote for each full share held (irrespective of class or portfolio) and fractional votes for fractional shares held. Voting rights are not cumulative and, accordingly, the holders of more than 50% of the aggregate shares of common stock of the Company may elect all of the Directors.

Notwithstanding any provision of Maryland law requiring a greater vote of shares of the Company’s common stock (or of any class voting as a class) in connection with any corporate action, unless otherwise provided by law (for example by Rule 18f-2 discussed above), or by the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, the Company may take or authorize such action upon the favorable vote of the holders of more than 50% of all of the outstanding shares of common stock voting without regard to class (or portfolio).

 

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Shareholder Approvals. As used in this SAI and in the Prospectus, “shareholder approval” and a “majority of the outstanding shares” of the Fund means, with respect to the approval of the advisory agreement or a change in the Fund’s fundamental investment limitations, the lesser of (1) 67% of the shares of the Fund represented at a meeting at which the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present in person or by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.

MISCELLANEOUS

Counsel

Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, One Logan Square, 18 th and Cherry Streets, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-6996, serves as counsel to the Company and independent legal counsel to the Disinterested Directors.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

                                     , serves as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm.

 

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APPENDIX A

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS

Short-Term Credit Ratings

A Standard & Poor’s short-term issue credit rating is a current opinion of the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation having an original maturity of no more than 365 days. The following summarizes the rating categories used by Standard & Poor’s for short-term issues:

“A-1” – Obligations are rated in the highest category and indicate that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.

“A-2” – The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory. Obligations are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in the higher rating categories.

“A-3” – Obligor has adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

“B” – An obligation is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. Ratings of “B1”, “B-2” and “B-3” may be assigned to indicate finer distinction within the “B” category.

“C” – Obligations are currently vulnerable to nonpayment and are dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

“D” – Obligations are in payment default. This rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks—Country risk considerations are a standard part of Standard & Poor’s analysis for credit ratings on any issuer or issue. Currency of repayment is a key factor in this analysis. An obligor’s capacity to repay foreign currency


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obligations may be lower than its capacity to repay obligations in its local currency due to the sovereign government’s own relatively lower capacity to repay external versus domestic debt. These sovereign risk considerations are incorporated in the debt ratings assigned to specific issues. Foreign Currency issuer ratings are also distinguished from local currency issuer ratings to identify those instances where sovereign risks make them different for the same issuer.

Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) short-term ratings are opinions of the ability of issuers to honor short-term financial obligations. Ratings may be assigned to issuers, short-term programs or to individual short-term debt instruments. Such obligations generally have an original maturity not exceeding thirteen months, unless explicitly noted.

Moody’s employs the following designations to indicate the relative repayment ability of rated issuers:

“P-1” – Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

“P-2” – Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

“P-3” – Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.

“NP” – Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

Fitch, Inc. / Fitch Ratings Ltd. (“Fitch”) short-term ratings scale applies to foreign currency and local currency ratings. A short-term rating has a time horizon of less than 13 months for most obligations, or up to three years for U.S. public finance, in line with industry standards, to reflect unique risk characteristics of bond, tax, and revenue anticipation notes that are commonly issued with terms up to three years. Short-term ratings thus place greater emphasis on the liquidity necessary to meet financial commitments in a timely manner. The following summarizes the rating categories used by Fitch for short-term obligations:

“F1” – Securities possess the highest credit quality. This designation indicates the strongest capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

“F2” – Securities possess good credit quality. This designation indicates a satisfactory capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, but the margin of safety is not as great as in the case of the higher ratings.

 

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“F3” – Securities possess fair credit quality. This designation indicates that the capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate; however, near term adverse changes could result in a reduction to non investment grade.

“B” – Securities possess speculative credit quality. This designation indicates minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

“C” – Securities possess high default risk. Default is a real possibility. This designation indicates a capacity for meeting financial commitments which is solely reliant upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.

“D” – Indicates an entity or sovereign that has defaulted on all of its financial obligations.

“NR” – This designation indicates that Fitch does not publicly rate the associated issue or issuer.

“WD” – This designation indicates that the rating has been withdrawn and is no longer maintained by Fitch.

The following summarizes the ratings used by Dominion Bond Rating Service Limited (“DBRS”) for commercial paper and short-term debt:

“R-1 (high)” Short-term debt rated “R-1 (high)” is of the highest credit quality, and indicates an entity possessing unquestioned ability to repay current liabilities as they fall due. Entities rated in this category normally maintain strong liquidity positions, conservative debt levels, and profitability that is both stable and above average. Companies achieving an “R-1 (high)” rating are normally leaders in structurally sound industry segments with proven track records, sustainable positive future results, and no substantial qualifying negative factors. Given the extremely tough definition DBRS has established for an “R-1 (high)”, few entities are strong enough to achieve this rating.

“R-1 (middle)” – Short-term debt rated “R-1 (middle)” is of superior credit quality and, in most cases, ratings in this category differ from “R-1 (high)” credits by only a small degree. Given the extremely tough definition DBRS has established for the “R-1 (high)” category, entities rated “R-1 (middle)” are also considered strong credits, and typically exemplify above average strength in key areas of consideration for the timely repayment of short-term liabilities.

“R-1 (low)” – Short-term debt rated “R-1 (low)” is of satisfactory credit quality. The overall strength and outlook for key liquidity, debt and profitability ratios is not normally as favorable as with higher rating categories, but these considerations are still respectable. Any qualifying negative factors that exist are considered manageable, and the entity is normally of sufficient size to have some influence in its industry.

 

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“R-2 (high)” – Short-term debt rated “R-2 (high)” is considered to be at the upper end of adequate credit quality. The ability to repay obligations as they mature remains acceptable, although the overall strength and outlook for key liquidity, debt, and profitability ratios is not as strong as credits rated in the “R-1 (low)” category. Relative to the latter category, other shortcomings often include areas such as stability, financial flexibility, and the relative size and market position of the entity within its industry.

“R-2 (middle)” – Short-term debt rated “R-2 (middle)” is considered to be of adequate credit quality. Relative to the “R-2 (high)” category, entities rated “R-2 (middle)” typically have some combination of higher volatility, weaker debt or liquidity positions, lower future cash flow capabilities, or are negatively impacted by a weaker industry. Ratings in this category would be more vulnerable to adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

“R-2 (low)” – Short-term debt rated “R-2 (low)” is considered to be at the lower end of adequate credit quality, typically having some combination of challenges that are not acceptable for an “R-2 (middle)” credit. However, “R-2 (low)” ratings still display a level of credit strength that allows for a higher rating than the “R-3” category, with this distinction often reflecting the issuer’s liquidity profile.

“R-3” – Short-term debt rated “R-3” is considered to be at the lowest end of adequate credit quality, one step up from being speculative. While not yet defined as speculative, the R-3 category signifies that although repayment is still expected, the certainty of repayment could be impacted by a variety of possible adverse developments, many of which would be outside the issuer’s control. Entities in this area often have limited access to capital markets and may also have limitations in securing alternative sources of liquidity, particularly during periods of weak economic conditions.

“R-4” – Short-term debt rated R-4 is speculative. R-4 credits tend to have weak liquidity and debt ratios, and the future trend of these ratios is also unclear. Due to its speculative nature, companies with R-4 ratings would normally have very limited access to alternative sources of liquidity. Earnings and cash flow would typically be very unstable, and the level of overall profitability of the entity is also likely to be low. The industry environment may be weak, and strong negative qualifying factors are also likely to be present.

“R-5” – Short-term debt rated R-5 is highly speculative. There is a reasonably high level of uncertainty as to the ability of the entity to repay the obligations on a continuing basis in the future, especially in periods of economic recession or industry adversity. In some cases, short term debt rated R-5 may have challenges that if not corrected, could lead to default.

“D” – A security rated “D” implies the issuer has either not met a scheduled payment or the issuer has made it clear that it will be missing such a payment in the near future. In some cases, DBRS may not assign a “D” rating under a bankruptcy announcement scenario, as allowances for grace periods may exist in the underlying legal documentation. Once assigned, the “D” rating will continue as long as the missed payment continues to be in arrears, and until such time as the rating is suspended, discontinued, or reinstated by DBRS.

 

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About Credit Ratings

A Standard & Poor’s issue credit rating is a current opinion of the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion evaluates the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default. The issue credit rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell, or hold a financial obligation, inasmuch as it does not comment as to market price or suitability for a particular investor.

Moody’s credit ratings must be construed solely as statements of opinion and not as statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, sell or hold any securities.

Fitch’s credit ratings provide an opinion on the relative ability of an entity to meet financial commitments, such as interest, preferred dividends, repayment of principal, insurance claims or counterparty obligations. Fitch credit ratings are used by investors as indications of the likelihood of receiving their money back in accordance with the terms on which they invested. Fitch’s credit ratings cover the global spectrum of corporate, sovereign (including supranational and sub-national), financial, bank, insurance, municipal and other public finance entities and the securities or other obligations they issue, as well as structured finance securities backed by receivables or other financial assets.

DBRS credit ratings are opinions based on the quantitative and qualitative analysis of information sourced and received by DBRS, which information is not audited or verified by DBRS. Ratings are not buy, hold or sell recommendations and they do not address the market price of a security. Ratings may be upgraded, downgraded, placed under review, confirmed and discontinued.

 

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APPENDIX B

BSAM Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

Policy

Bear Stearns Asset Management Inc. (“BSAM”) has been authorized by the vast majority of its clients to vote proxies relating to the securities held in their portfolios. This authority carries with it the responsibility on BSAM’s part to analyze the issues connected with shareholder votes, evaluate the probable impact on share prices and vote proxies in what it views to be the best interests of its clients. This duty arises from the fact that an investment adviser’s proxy votes can affect the outcome of a shareholder vote and, consequently, the value of the securities held by its clients. Proxy-voting is therefore integral to an adviser’s investment management process.

At BSAM, the duty to monitor corporate developments and vote proxies falls upon its portfolio managers. Since BSAM’s portfolio managers acquire an enormously diverse and substantial number of securities, BSAM has determined to augment its internal research on corporate governance with the services of Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”), an independent firm that specializes in analyzing shareholder voting matters, issuing research reports on such matters and making objective voting recommendations intended to maximize shareholder value. ISS currently covers domestic and foreign shareholder votes.

Voting Procedures

Authority to Vote. As part of its fiduciary duty as an investment adviser, BSAM votes proxies for all clients who have not expressly reserved proxy-voting responsibility to themselves. Employee benefit plan clients covered by ERISA may reserve the right to vote proxies to themselves only if their governing instruments expressly provide therefore.

Independent Proxy Research. All proxies received by BSAM from issuers of securities held in BSAM’s managed accounts are initially referred to ISS for its analysis and recommendation as to each matter being submitted for a vote. This referral of proxies to ISS is intended to avoid any possible conflict of interest that may exist between BSAM, BSAM’s clients and the issuers of the securities whose proxies are being voted. ISS’s recommendations are reported to the relevant BSAM portfolio managers who may or may not follow such recommendations depending upon the results of their own research and their familiarity with the companies and issues in question. Where and to the extent BSAM’s portfolio managers agree with an ISS recommendation regarding a specific vote, ISS will vote the proxies reflecting its recommendation on behalf of BSAM’s clients. Given the depth and breadth of ISS’s corporate governance research, and given its single-minded focus on the objective pursuit of shareholder value, it is expected that BSAM’s proxies will generally be voted in accordance with ISS’s recommendations.

To assure its own independence from issuers, ISS maintains and enforces a “Chinese Wall” that separates the staff and systems involved in proxy analysis operations and corporate governance consulting services. Additionally, ISS provides BSAM a representation confirming that ISS does not face a conflict of interest in respect to each issuer every time for which ISS casts a proxy vote.


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In the event that a conflict of interest does arise, ISS will inform BSAM of their inability to vote. ISS’s research group will provide a complete analytical summary, but will not issue a final vote recommendation. BSAM will have the responsibility to provide ISS with the specific voting recommendation.

Portfolio Manager Election/Proxy Committee

In certain circumstances, one or more BSAM portfolio managers may disagree with an ISS recommendation and elect to diverge from ISS’s recommendation. It is possible, that with respect to a particular vote, a BSAM portfolio manager may wish to vote proxies in accordance with ISS’s recommendations for certain of its clients and differently for other clients with different investment objectives, risk profiles or time horizons. In each such case, the portfolio manager in question must notify BSAM’s Proxy Committee of such an election before instructing ISS to vote any proxies.

The Proxy Committee is responsible for determining whether any of the portfolio managers involved in the election or BSAM has a conflict of interest which would affect the proxies being voted. BSAM’s Chief Compliance Officer (or designee) will conduct the conflict investigation on behalf of the Proxy Committee and report his findings to the other members. If a conflict is found to exist, the portfolio manager challenging the ISS recommendation in question will not be permitted to vote the proxies and the proxies will be voted in accordance with ISS’s recommendation. Where ISS does not cover a company or otherwise cannot recommend a vote, BSAM’s portfolio managers will vote the proxies solely in accordance with their own views unless the Proxy Committee determines that a conflict of interest exists. If the Proxy Committee determines that a conflict of interest exists, the portfolio manager will refer the matter to his or her clients and recommend that they vote the proxies themselves. In any such case, the referral of a voting matter to clients will be undertaken jointly by the relevant portfolio managers and a member of BSAM’s Legal & Compliance group in order to make certain that the voting issue and its implications for the company in question are described and discussed in an even-handed manner, with full disclosure of the relevant conflict of interest.

Conflicts of Interest

Any circumstance or relationship which would compromise a portfolio manager’s objectivity in voting proxies in the best interests of his/her clients would constitute a conflict of interest. Whether any such conflict exists for proxy-voting purposes will be determined by the Proxy Committee. The Proxy Committee is comprised of BSAM’s Chief Financial Officer, Head of Operations, Chief Investment Officers, General Counsel, and Chief Compliance Officer (or their respective designees). The Proxy Committee will deem a conflict to exist whenever BSAM or one of its portfolio managers has a personal or business interest in the outcome of a particular matter before shareholders. A conflict would arise, for example, in any case where BSAM has a business or financial relationship with a company whose management or shareholders are soliciting proxies. Another example of a conflict of interest would be where BSAM or one of its portfolio managers is related to an incumbent director or a candidate seeking a seat on the board.

 

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Putative conflicts of interest deemed by the Proxy Committee to be immaterial to a shareholder vote will not disable BSAM’s portfolio managers from voting proxies where they disagree with ISS or ISS has given no voting recommendation. In addition, the existence of an issue with respect to which BSAM is determined to have a conflict of interest will not prevent its portfolio managers from voting on other issues on the same proxy with respect to which BSAM does not have a conflict of interest.

In this regard, it should be noted that BSAM is a subsidiary of a world-wide, full-service investment banking and brokerage firm. As such, BSAM could be subject to a much wider array of potential conflicts of interest affecting its proxy votes on behalf of clients than if it were a stand-alone investment advisor. In order to minimize such conflicts with affiliated business units, however, BSAM has erected a Chinese Wall around itself which is designed to prevent BSAM and its affiliates from influencing each other’s businesses and which has the consequential effect of minimizing inter-unit conflicts.

As a matter of policy, BSAM’s Proxy Committee will presume the existence of a conflict of interest for proxy-voting purposes whenever:

 

   

a current BSAM client is affiliated with a company soliciting proxies or has communicated its view to BSAM on an impending proxy vote; or

 

   

the portfolio manager responsible for voting a proxy has identified a personal or business interest either in a company soliciting proxies or in the outcome of a shareholder vote; or

 

   

a third-party with an interest in the outcome of a shareholder vote has attempted to influence either BSAM or the portfolio manager responsible for voting a proxy; or

 

   

a company with respect to which proxies are being solicited is on the Bear Stearns Corporate Finance Restricted List.

Duty to Report

Any Bear Stearns employee who is aware of any actual or apparent conflict of interest relevant to, or any attempt to improperly influence, how Bear Stearns or an AR votes its proxies has a duty to disclose the existence of the situation to IA Compliance.

Client Elections

If a BSAM client who has authorized BSAM to vote proxies on its behalf nevertheless instructs BSAM to vote its proxy in a fashion different from ISS’s recommendation with respect to such vote, BSAM will vote the proxy in accordance with the client’s written instructions.

Securities on Loan

When a security held in an account managed by BSAM is loaned to a third party, the loan agreement normally provides for the borrower to vote any proxies on shareholder matters that arise during the term of the loan. If, in the opinion of BSAM’s portfolio manager responsible for the account, it is important for any such proxy to be voted on behalf of client accounts

 

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notwithstanding the economic benefits attributable to the loan, the portfolio manager will arrange to terminate the loan prior to the date on which the proxy is to be voted. If the portfolio manager in question is uncertain as to whether a loan should be terminated in order to vote a proxy, he or she may refer the matter to the Proxy Committee for its determination.

Record-Keeping

BSAM will, for a period of at least five years, maintain or have ready access to the following documents:

 

   

a copy of BSAM’s current Proxy-Voting Policies and Procedures .

 

   

a copy of each proxy statement received by BSAM regarding securities held on behalf of its clients (which may be obtained from the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (EDGAR) system and maintained by ISS).

 

   

a record of each vote cast by BSAM on behalf of its clients (maintained by ISS).

 

   

a copy of any document created by BSAM that was material to a proxy vote on behalf of clients.

 

   

a copy of each written request received from a client as to how BSAM voted proxies on its behalf and a copy of any written response from BSAM to any oral or written client request for information as to how BSAM voted proxies on its behalf.

Where BSAM relies upon ISS to maintain any of the above records, it has obtained an undertaking from ISS to provide copies of such records promptly upon BSAM’s request.

Disclosure to Client

BSAM will include a summary of its Proxy-Voting Policies and Procedures in Part II of its Form ADV. A copy of BSAM’s Proxy-Voting Policies and Procedures will also be made available to any client upon request. All BSAM clients will be provided with a contact at BSAM from whom they may obtain the proxy-voting records with respect to the securities held in their accounts.

ISS Performance Review

Since BSAM is relying to a large extent on the corporate governance research and proxy-voting recommendations of ISS, its Proxy Committee will annually review the effectiveness of ISS’s services from both substantive and administrative viewpoints. Substantive reviews will focus on evaluations by BSAM’s Proxy Committee as to whether ISS’s policies are consistent with the maximization of shareholder value and will also review any changes ISS may have made on a year on year basis. The administrative review will focus on the timeliness and completeness of ISS’s proxy-voting procedures and updates to its Proxy Voting Guidelines.

ISS Recommendations

Following are BSAM’s voting policies with respect to the most common matters submitted for shareholder votes. These policies are based on ISS’s current voting recommendations.

 

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Recordkeeping

See above

Associated Policies

BSAM Disclosure Requirements for Clients, Third Parties, and Regulatory Authorities Policies and Procedures

Regulatory Authority

Investment Advisers Act Rule 206(4)-6, Interpretative Release 2106 (2003)

 

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ISS Concise Summary of 2006 U.S. Proxy Voting Guidelines

Updated Jan. 12, 2006

1. Auditors

Ratifying Auditors

Vote FOR proposals to ratify auditors, unless:

 

   

An auditor has a financial interest in or association with the company, and is therefore not independent;

 

   

There is reason to believe that the independent auditor has rendered an opinion which is neither accurate nor indicative of the company’s financial position; or

 

   

Fees for non-audit services are excessive.

2. Board of Directors

Voting on Director Nominees in Uncontested Elections

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on director nominees, examining, but not limited to, the following factors:

 

   

Composition of the board and key board committees;

 

   

Attendance at board and committee meetings;

 

   

Corporate governance provisions and takeover activity;

 

   

Disclosures under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act;

 

   

Long-term company performance relative to a market and peer index;

 

   

Extent of the director’s investment in the company;

 

   

Existence of related party transactions;

 

   

Whether the chairman is also serving as CEO;

 

   

Whether a retired CEO sits on the board;

 

   

Number of outside boards at which a director serves.

WITHHOLD from individual directors who:

 

   

Attend less than 75 percent of the board and committee meetings without a valid excuse (such as illness, service to the nation, work on behalf of the company);

 

   

Sit on more than six public company boards;

 

   

Are CEOs of public companies who sit on the boards of more than two public companies besides their own (withhold only at their outside boards).

WITHHOLD from the entire board (except for new nominees, who should be considered on a CASE-BY-CASE basis) if:

 

   

The company’s poison pill has a dead-hand or modified dead-hand feature. Withhold every year until this feature is removed;

 

   

The board adopts or renews a poison pill without shareholder approval since the beginning of 2005, does not commit to putting it to shareholder vote within 12 months of adoption or reneges on a commitment to put the pill to a vote and has not yet been withheld from for this issue;

 

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The board failed to act on a shareholder proposal that received approval by a majority of the shares outstanding the previous year;

 

   

The board failed to act on a shareholder proposal that received approval of the majority of shares cast for the previous two consecutive years;

 

   

The board failed to act on takeover offers where the majority of the shareholders tendered their shares;

 

   

At the previous board election, any director received more than 50 percent withhold votes of the shares cast and the company has failed to address the issue(s) that caused the high withhold rate;

 

   

A Russell 3000 company underperformed its industry group (GICS group). The test will consist of the bottom performers within each industry group (GICS) based on a weighted average TSR. The weightings are as follows: 20 percent weight on 1-year TSR; 30 percent weight on 3-year TSR; and 50 percent weight on 5-year TSR. Company’s response to performance issues will be considered before withholding.

WITHHOLD from inside directors and affiliated outside directors when:

 

   

The inside or affiliated outside director serves on any of the three key committees: audit, compensation, or nominating;

 

   

The company lacks an audit, compensation, or nominating committee so that the full board functions as that committee;

 

   

The full board is less than majority independent.

WITHHOLD from the members of the Audit Committee if:

 

   

The non-audit fees paid to the auditor are excessive;

 

   

A material weakness identified in the Section 404 disclosures rises to a level of serious concern; there are chronic internal control issues and an absence of established effective control mechanisms.

WITHHOLD from the members of the Compensation Committee if:

 

   

There is a negative correlation between chief executive pay and company performance;

 

   

The company fails to submit one-time transfers of stock options to a shareholder vote;

 

   

The company fails to fulfill the terms of a burn rate commitment they made to shareholders;

 

   

The company has poor compensation practices.

WITHHOLD from directors, individually or the entire board, for egregious actions or failure to replace management as appropriate.

Classification/Declassification of the Board

Vote AGAINST proposals to classify the board. Vote FOR proposals to repeal classified boards and to elect all directors annually.

 

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Independent Chair (Separate Chair/CEO)

Generally vote FOR shareholder proposals requiring the position of chair be filled by an independent director unless there are compelling reasons to recommend against the proposal, such as a counterbalancing governance structure. This should include all of the following:

 

   

Designated lead director, elected by and from the independent board members with clearly delineated and comprehensive duties. (The role may alternatively reside with a presiding director, vice chairman, or rotating lead director; however the director must serve a minimum of one year in order to qualify as a lead director.);

 

   

Two-thirds independent board;

 

   

All-independent key committees;

 

   

Established governance guidelines;

 

   

The company does not under-perform its peers.

Majority Vote Shareholder Proposals

Generally vote FOR reasonably crafted shareholders proposals calling for directors to be elected with an affirmative majority of votes cast and/or the elimination of the plurality standard for electing directors (including binding resolutions requesting that the board amend the company’s bylaws), provided the proposal includes a carve-out for a plurality voting standard when there are more director nominees than board seats (e.g., contested elections). Consider voting AGAINST the shareholder proposal if the company has adopted a formal corporate governance policy that present a meaningful alternative to the majority voting standard and provide an adequate response to both new nominees as well as incumbent nominees who fail to receive a majority of votes cast.

At a minimum, a company’s policy should articulate the following elements to adequately address each director nominee who fails to receive an affirmative of majority of votes cast in an election:

 

   

Established guidelines disclosed annually in the proxy statement concerning the process to follow for nominees who receive majority withhold votes;

 

   

The policy needs to outline a clear and reasonable timetable for all decision-making regarding the nominee’s status;

 

   

The policy needs to specify that the process of determining the nominee’s status will be managed by independent directors and must exclude the nominee in question;

 

   

An outline of a range of remedies (for example, acceptance of the resignation, maintaining the director but curing the underlying causes of the withheld votes, etc.);

 

   

The final decision on the nominee’s status should be promptly disclosed via an SEC filing. The policy needs to include the timeframe for disclosure and require a full explanation of how the decision was reached.

In addition, the company should articulate to shareholders why its policy is the best structure for demonstrating accountability to shareholders.

 

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3. Proxy Contests

Voting for Director Nominees in Contested Elections

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on the election of directors in contested elections, considering the following factors:

 

   

Long-term financial performance of the target company relative to its industry;

 

   

Management’s track record;

 

   

Background to the proxy contest;

 

   

Qualifications of director nominees (both slates);

 

   

Strategic plan of dissident slate and quality of critique against management;

 

   

Likelihood that the proposed goals and objectives can be achieved (both slates);

 

   

Stock ownership positions.

Reimbursing Proxy Solicitation Expenses

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to reimburse proxy solicitation expenses. When voting in conjunction with support of a dissident slate, vote FOR the reimbursement of all appropriate proxy solicitation expenses associated with the election.

4. Takeover Defenses

Poison Pills

Vote FOR shareholder proposals requesting that the company submit its poison pill to a shareholder vote or redeem it UNLESS the company has: (1) A shareholder approved poison pill in place; or (2) The company has adopted a policy concerning the adoption of a pill in the future specifying that the board will only adopt a shareholder rights plan if either:

 

   

Shareholders have approved the adoption of the plan; or

 

   

The board, in its exercise of its fiduciary responsibilities, determines that it is in the best interest of shareholders under the circumstances to adopt a pill without the delay in adoption that would result from seeking stockholder approval (i.e. the “fiduciary out” provision). A poison pill adopted under this fiduciary out will be put to a shareholder ratification vote within twelve months of adoption or expire. If the pill is not approved by a majority of the votes cast on this issue, the plan will immediately terminate.

Vote FOR shareholder proposals calling for poison pills to be put to a vote within a time period of less than one year after adoption. If the company has no non-shareholder approved poison pill in place and has adopted a policy with the provisions outlined above, vote AGAINST the proposal. If these conditions are not met, vote FOR the proposal, but with the caveat that a vote within twelve months would be considered sufficient.

Vote CASE-by-CASE on management proposals on poison pill ratification, focusing on the features of the shareholder rights plan. Rights plans should contain the following attributes:

 

   

No lower than a 20 percent trigger, flip-in or flip-over;

 

   

A term of no more than three years;

 

   

No dead-hand, slow-hand, no-hand or similar feature that limits the ability of a future board to redeem the pill;

 

   

Shareholder redemption feature (qualifying offer clause); if the board refuses to redeem the pill 90 days after a qualifying offer is announced, ten percent of the shares may call a special meeting or seek a written consent to vote on rescinding the pill.

 

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Supermajority Vote Requirements

Vote AGAINST proposals to require a supermajority shareholder vote. Vote FOR proposals to lower supermajority vote requirements.

5. Mergers and Corporate Restructurings

For mergers and acquisitions, evaluate the proposed transaction based on these factors:

 

   

Valuation - Is the value to be received by the target shareholders (or paid by the acquirer) reasonable?

 

   

Market reaction - How has the market responded to the proposed deal?

 

   

Strategic rationale - Does the deal make sense strategically? Cost and revenue synergies should not be overly aggressive or optimistic, but reasonably achievable.

 

   

Negotiations and process - Were the terms of the transaction negotiated at arm's length? Was the process fair and equitable?

 

   

Conflicts of interest - Are insiders benefiting from the transaction disproportionately and inappropriately as compared to non-insider shareholders? As the result of potential conflicts, the directors and officers of the company may be more likely to vote to approve a merger than if they did not hold these interests.

 

   

Governance - Will the combined company have a better or worse governance profile than the parties to the transaction?

6. State of Incorporation

Reincorporation Proposals

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to change a company’s state of incorporation, taking into consideration both financial and corporate governance concerns, including the reasons for reincorporating, a comparison of the governance provisions, comparative economic benefits, and a comparison of the jurisdictional laws. Vote FOR reincorporation when the economic factors outweigh any neutral or negative governance changes.

7. Capital Structure

Common Stock Authorization

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance using a model developed by ISS. Vote FOR proposals to approve increases beyond the allowable increase when a company’s shares are in danger of being de-listed or if a company’s ability to continue to operate as a going concern is uncertain. In addition, for capital requests less than or equal to 300 percent of the current authorized shares that marginally fail the calculated allowable cap (i.e., exceed the allowable cap by no more than 5 percent), on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, vote FOR the increase based on the company’s performance and whether the company’s ongoing use of shares has shown prudence.

Issue Stock for Use with Rights Plan

Vote AGAINST proposals that increase authorized common stock for the explicit purpose of implementing a non-shareholder approved shareholder rights plan (poison pill).

 

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Preferred Stock

Vote AGAINST proposals authorizing the creation of new classes of preferred stock with unspecified voting, conversion, dividend distribution, and other rights (“blank check” preferred stock). Vote AGAINST proposals to increase the number of blank check preferred stock authorized for issuance when no shares have been issued or reserved for a specific purpose.

Vote FOR proposals to create “de-clawed” blank check preferred stock (stock that cannot be used as a takeover defense). Vote FOR proposals to authorize preferred stock in cases where the company specifies the voting, dividend, conversion, and other rights of such stock and the terms of the preferred stock appear reasonable. Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to increase the number of blank check preferred shares after analyzing the number of preferred shares available for issue given a company's industry and performance in terms of shareholder returns.

8. Executive and Director Compensation

Equity Compensation Plans

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on equity-based compensation plans. Vote AGAINST the plan if:

 

   

The total cost of the company’s equity plans is unreasonable;

 

   

The plan expressly permits the repricing of stock options without prior shareholder approval;

 

   

There is a disconnect between CEO pay and the company’s performance;

 

   

The company’s three year burn rate exceeds the greater of 2 percent and the mean plus 1 standard deviation of its industry group; or

 

   

The plan is a vehicle for poor pay practices.

Director Compensation

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on compensation plans for non-employee directors, based on the cost of the plans against the company’s allowable cap. Vote for the plan if ALL of the following qualitative factors in the board’s compensation plan are met and disclosed in the proxy statement:

 

   

Stock ownership guidelines with a minimum of three times the annual cash retainer.

 

   

Vesting schedule or mandatory holding/deferral period:

 

   

A minimum vesting of three years for stock options or restricted stock; or

 

   

Deferred stock payable at the end of a three-year deferral period.

 

   

A balanced mix between cash and equity. If the mix is heavier on equity, the vesting schedule or deferral period should be more stringent, with the lesser of five years or the term of directorship.

 

   

No retirement/benefits and perquisites for non-employee directors; and

 

   

A table with a detailed disclosure of the cash and equity compensation for each non-employee director for the most recent fiscal year.

Disclosure of CEO Compensation-Tally Sheet

Companies should provide better and more transparent disclosure related to CEO pay. Consider withhold votes in the future from the compensation committee and voting against equity plans if compensation disclosure is not improved and a tally sheet is not provided.

 

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Employee Stock Purchase Plans—Qualified Plans

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on qualified employee stock purchase plans. Vote FOR plans if:

 

   

Purchase price is at least 85 percent of fair market value;

 

   

Offering period is 27 months or less; and

 

   

The number of shares allocated to the plan is ten percent or less of the outstanding shares.

Employee Stock Purchase Plans—Non-Qualified Plans

Vote CASE-by-CASE on nonqualified employee stock purchase plans. Vote FOR plans with:

 

   

Broad-based participation (i.e., all employees with the exclusion of individuals with 5 percent or more of beneficial ownership of the company);

 

   

Limits on employee contribution (a fixed dollar amount or a percentage of base salary);

 

   

Company matching contribution up to 25 percent of employee’s contribution, which is effectively a discount of 20 percent from market value;

 

   

No discount on the stock price on the date of purchase since there is a company matching contribution.

Option Exchange Programs/Re-pricing Options

Vote CASE-by-CASE on management proposals seeking approval to exchange/reprice options, taking into consideration historic trading patterns, rationale for the re-pricing, value-for-value exchange treatment of surrendered options, option vesting, term of the option, exercise price and participation. Vote FOR shareholder proposals to put option re-pricing to a shareholder vote.

Severance Agreements for Executives/Golden Parachutes

Vote FOR shareholder proposals to require golden parachutes or executive severance agreements to be submitted for shareholder ratification, unless the proposal requires shareholder approval prior to entering into employment contracts. Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on proposals to ratify or cancel golden parachutes. An acceptable parachute should include:

 

   

A trigger beyond the control of management;

 

   

The amount should not exceed three times base amount (defined as the average annual taxable W-2 compensation during the five years prior to the year in which the change of control occurs;

 

   

Change-in-control payments should be double-triggered, i.e., (1) after a change in the company’s ownership structure has taken place, and (2) termination of the executive as a result of the change in control.

9. Corporate Responsibility

Animal Rights

Generally vote AGAINST proposals to phase out the use of animals in product testing unless:

 

   

The company is conducting animal testing programs that are unnecessary or not required by regulation;

 

   

The company is conducting animal testing when suitable alternatives are accepted and used at peer firms;

 

   

The company has been the subject of recent, significant controversy related to its testing programs.

Generally vote FOR proposals seeking a report on the company’s animal welfare standards.

 

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Drug Pricing and Re-importation

Generally vote AGAINST proposals requesting that companies implement specific price restraints on pharmaceutical products unless the company fails to adhere to legislative guidelines or industry norms in its product pricing. Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals requesting that the company evaluate their product pricing considering:

 

   

The existing level of disclosure on pricing policies;

 

   

Deviation from established industry pricing norms;

 

   

The company’s existing initiatives to provide its products to needy consumers;

 

   

Whether the proposal focuses on specific products or geographic regions.

Generally vote FOR proposals requesting that companies report on the financial and legal impact of their policies regarding prescription drug re-importation unless such information is already publicly disclosed. Generally vote AGAINST proposals requesting that companies adopt specific policies to encourage or constrain prescription drug re-importation.

Genetically Modified Foods

Vote AGAINST proposals asking companies to voluntarily label genetically engineered (GE) ingredients in their products or alternatively to provide interim labeling and eventually eliminate GE ingredients due to the costs and feasibility of labeling and/or phasing out the use of GE ingredients.

Tobacco

Most tobacco-related proposals (such as on second-hand smoke, advertising to youth and spin-offs of tobacco-related business) should be evaluated on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Toxic Chemicals

Generally vote FOR resolutions requesting that a company discloses its policies related to toxic chemicals. Vote CASE-BY-CASE on resolutions requesting that companies evaluate and disclose the potential financial and legal risks associated with utilizing certain chemicals.

Generally vote AGAINST resolutions requiring that a company reformulate its products within a certain timeframe unless such actions are required by law in specific markets.

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Generally vote AGAINST request for reports outlining potential environmental damage from drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) unless:

 

   

New legislation is adopted allowing development and drilling in the ANWR region;

 

   

The company intends to pursue operations in the ANWR; and

 

   

The company has not disclosed an environmental risk report for its ANWR operations.

 

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Concentrated Area Feeding Operations (CAFOs)

Vote FOR resolutions requesting that companies report to shareholders on the risks and liabilities associated with CAFOs unless:

 

   

The company has publicly disclosed guidelines for its corporate and contract farming operations, including compliance monitoring; or

 

   

The company does not directly source from CAFOs.

Global Warming and Kyoto Protocol Compliance

Generally vote FOR proposals requesting a report on greenhouse gas emissions from company operations and/or products unless this information is already publicly disclosed or such factors are not integral to the company’s line of business. Generally vote AGAINST proposals that call for reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by specified amounts or within a restrictive time frame unless the company lags industry standards and has been the subject of recent, significant fines or litigation resulting from greenhouse gas emissions.

Generally vote FOR resolutions requesting that companies outline their preparations to comply with standards established by Kyoto Protocol signatory markets unless:

 

   

The company does not maintain operations in Kyoto signatory markets;

 

   

The company already evaluates and substantially discloses such information; or,

 

   

Greenhouse gas emissions do not significantly impact the company’s core businesses.

Political Contributions

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to improve the disclosure of a company's political contributions considering: any recent significant controversy or litigation related to the company’s political contributions or governmental affairs; and the public availability of a policy on political contributions. Vote AGAINST proposals barring the company from making political contributions.

Link Executive Compensation to Social Performance

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to review ways of linking executive compensation to social factors, such as corporate downsizings, customer or employee satisfaction, community involvement, human rights, environmental performance, predatory lending, and executive/employee pay disparities.

Outsourcing/Offshoring

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals calling for companies to report on the risks associated with outsourcing, considering: the risks associated with certain international markets; the utility of such a report; and the existence of a publicly available code of corporate conduct that applies to international operations.

Human Rights Reports

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on requests for reports detailing the company’s operations in a particular country and on proposals to implement certain human rights standards at company facilities or those of its suppliers and to commit to outside, independent monitoring.

 

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10. Mutual Fund Proxies

Election of Directors

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on the election of directors and trustees, following the same guidelines for uncontested directors for public company shareholder meetings. However, mutual fund boards do not usually have compensation committees, so do not withhold for the lack of this committee.

Converting Closed-end Fund to Open-end Fund

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on conversion proposals, considering the following factors:

 

   

Past performance as a closed-end fund;

 

   

Market in which the fund invests;

 

   

Measures taken by the board to address the discount; and

 

   

Past shareholder activism, board activity, and votes on related proposals.

Establish Director Ownership Requirement

Generally vote AGAINST shareholder proposals that mandate a specific minimum amount of stock that directors must own in order to qualify as a director or to remain on the board.

Reimburse Shareholder for Expenses Incurred

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals to reimburse proxy solicitation expenses. When supporting the dissidents, vote FOR the reimbursement of the solicitation expenses.

Terminate the Investment Advisor

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to terminate the investment advisor, considering the following factors:

 

   

Performance of the fund’s net asset value;

 

   

The fund’s history of shareholder relations;

 

   

The performance of other funds under the advisor’s management.

2006 ISS Concise Global Proxy Voting Guidelines

Following is a concise summary of general policies for voting global proxies. In addition, ISS has country- and market-specific policies, which are not captured below.

Financial Results/Director and Auditor Reports

Vote FOR approval of financial statements and director and auditor reports, unless:

 

   

there are concerns about the accounts presented or audit procedures used; or

 

   

the company is not responsive to shareholder questions about specific items that should be publicly disclosed.

 

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Appointment of Auditors and Auditor Compensation

Vote FOR the reelection of auditors and proposals authorizing the board to fix auditor fees, unless:

 

   

there are serious concerns about the accounts presented or the audit procedures used;

 

   

the auditors are being changed without explanation; or

 

   

nonaudit-related fees are substantial or are routinely in excess of standard annual audit fees.

Vote AGAINST the appointment of external auditors if they have previously served the company in an executive capacity or can otherwise be considered affiliated with the company.

ABSTAIN if a company changes its auditor and fails to provide shareholders with an explanation for the change.

Appointment of Internal Statutory Auditors

Vote FOR the appointment or reelection of statutory auditors, unless:

 

   

there are serious concerns about the statutory reports presented or the audit procedures used;

 

   

questions exist concerning any of the statutory auditors being appointed; or

 

   

the auditors have previously served the company in an executive capacity or can otherwise be considered affiliated with the company.

Allocation of Income

Vote FOR approval of the allocation of income, unless:

 

   

the dividend payout ratio has been consistently below 30 percent without adequate explanation; or

 

   

the payout is excessive given the company’s financial position.

Stock (Scrip) Dividend Alternative

Vote FOR most stock (scrip) dividend proposals.

Vote AGAINST proposals that do not allow for a cash option unless management demonstrates that the cash option is harmful to shareholder value.

Amendments to Articles of Association

Vote amendments to the articles of association on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Change in Company Fiscal Term

Vote FOR resolutions to change a company’s fiscal term unless a company's motivation for the change is to postpone its AGM.

Lower Disclosure Threshold for Stock Ownership

Vote AGAINST resolutions to lower the stock ownership disclosure threshold below five percent unless specific reasons exist to implement a lower threshold.

Amend Quorum Requirements

Vote proposals to amend quorum requirements for shareholder meetings on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

 

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Transact Other Business

Vote AGAINST other business when it appears as a voting item.

Director Elections

Vote FOR management nominees in the election of directors, unless:

 

   

Adequate disclosure has not been met in a timely fashion;

 

   

There are clear concerns over questionable finances or restatements;

 

   

There have been questionable transactions with conflicts of interest;

 

   

There are any records of abuses against minority shareholder interests; and

 

   

The board fails to meet minimum corporate governance standards.

Vote FOR individual nominees unless there are specific concerns about the individual, such as criminal wrongdoing or breach of fiduciary responsibilities.

Vote AGAINST shareholder nominees unless they demonstrate a clear ability to contribute positively to board deliberations.

Vote AGAINST individual directors if repeated absences at board meetings have not been explained (in countries where this information is disclosed).

Vote AGAINST labor representatives if they sit on either the audit or compensation committee, as they are not required to be on those committees.

Director Compensation

Vote FOR proposals to award cash fees to non-executive directors unless the amounts are excessive relative to other companies in the country or industry.

Vote non-executive director compensation proposals that include both cash and share-based components on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Vote proposals that bundle compensation for both non-executive and executive directors into a single resolution on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Vote AGAINST proposals to introduce retirement benefits for non-executive directors.

Discharge of Board and Management

Vote FOR discharge of the board and management, unless:

 

   

there are serious questions about actions of the board or management for the year in question; or

 

   

legal action is being taken against the board by other shareholders.

Vote AGAINST proposals to remove approval of discharge of board and management from the agenda.

Director, Officer, and Auditor Indemnification and Liability Provisions

Vote proposals seeking indemnification and liability protection for directors and officers on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Vote AGAINST proposals to indemnify auditors.

Board Structure

Vote FOR proposals to fix board size.

 

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Vote AGAINST the introduction of classified boards and mandatory retirement ages for directors.

Vote AGAINST proposals to alter board structure or size in the context of a fight for control of the company or the board.

Share Issuance Requests

General Issuances:

Vote FOR issuance requests with preemptive rights to a maximum of 100 percent over currently issued capital.

Vote FOR issuance requests without preemptive rights to a maximum of 20 percent of currently issued capital.

Specific Issuances:

Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on all requests, with or without preemptive rights.

Increases in Authorized Capital

Vote FOR nonspecific proposals to increase authorized capital up to 100 percent over the current authorization unless the increase would leave the company with less than 30 percent of its new authorization outstanding.

Vote FOR specific proposals to increase authorized capital to any amount, unless:

 

   

the specific purpose of the increase (such as a share-based acquisition or merger) does not meet ISS guidelines for the purpose being proposed; or

 

   

the increase would leave the company with less than 30 percent of its new authorization outstanding after adjusting for all proposed issuances (and less than 25 percent for companies in Japan).

Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt unlimited capital authorizations.

Reduction of Capital

Vote FOR proposals to reduce capital for routine accounting purposes unless the terms are unfavorable to shareholders.

Vote proposals to reduce capital in connection with corporate restructuring on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Capital Structures

Vote FOR resolutions that seek to maintain or convert to a one share, one vote capital structure.

Vote AGAINST requests for the creation or continuation of dual class capital structures or the creation of new or additional supervoting shares.

Preferred Stock

Vote FOR the creation of a new class of preferred stock or for issuances of preferred stock up to 50 percent of issued capital unless the terms of the preferred stock would adversely affect the rights of existing shareholders.

Vote FOR the creation/issuance of convertible preferred stock as long as the maximum number of common shares that could be issued upon conversion meets ISS’s guidelines on equity issuance requests.

 

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Vote AGAINST the creation of a new class of preference shares that would carry superior voting rights to the common shares.

Vote AGAINST the creation of blank check preferred stock unless the board clearly states that the authorization will not be used to thwart a takeover bid.

Vote proposals to increase blank check preferred authorizations on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Debt Issuance Requests

Vote nonconvertible debt issuance requests on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, with or without preemptive rights.

Vote FOR the creation/issuance of convertible debt instruments as long as the maximum number of common shares that could be issued upon conversion meets ISS’s guidelines on equity issuance requests.

Vote FOR proposals to restructure existing debt arrangements unless the terms of the restructuring would adversely affect the rights of shareholders.

Pledging of Assets for Debt

Vote proposals to approve the pledging of assets for debt on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Increase in Borrowing Powers

Vote proposals to approve increases in a company’s borrowing powers on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Share Repurchase Plans:

Vote FOR share repurchase plans, unless:

 

   

clear evidence of past abuse of the authority is available; or

 

   

the plan contains no safeguards against selective buybacks.

Reissuance of Shares Repurchased:

Vote FOR requests to reissue any repurchased shares unless there is clear evidence of abuse of this authority in the past.

Capitalization of Reserves for Bonus Issues/Increase In Par Value :

Vote FOR requests to capitalize reserves for bonus issues of shares or to increase par value.

Reorganizations/Restructurings:

Vote reorganizations and restructurings on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Mergers and Acquisitions:

Vote FOR mergers and acquisitions, unless:

 

   

the impact on earnings or voting rights for one class of shareholders is disproportionate to the relative contributions of the group; or

 

   

the company’s structure following the acquisition or merger does not reflect good corporate governance.

Vote AGAINST if the companies do not provide sufficient information upon request to make an informed voting decision.

 

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ABSTAIN if there is insufficient information available to make an informed voting decision.

Mandatory Takeover Bid Waivers:

Vote proposals to waive mandatory takeover bid requirements on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Reincorporation Proposals:

Vote reincorporation proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Expansion of Business Activities:

Vote FOR resolutions to expand business activities unless the new business takes the company into risky areas.

Related-Party Transactions:

Vote related-party transactions on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Compensation Plans:

Vote compensation plans on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Antitakeover Mechanisms:

Vote AGAINST all antitakeover proposals unless they are structured in such a way that they give shareholders the ultimate decision on any proposal or offer.

Shareholder Proposals:

Vote all shareholder proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Vote FOR proposals that would improve the company’s corporate governance or business profile at a reasonable cost.

Vote AGAINST proposals that limit the company’s business activities or capabilities or result in significant costs being incurred with little or no benefit.

 

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THE RBB FUND, INC.

PEA 123

PART C: OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 23. EXHIBITS

 

(a)      Articles of Incorporation.
  (1)    Articles of Incorporation of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on March 24, 1988, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.
  (2)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on March 24, 1988, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.
  (3)    Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on July 12, 1988, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.
  (4)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on July 12, 1988, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.
  (5)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on April 27, 1990, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.
  (6)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on May 1, 1990, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.
  (7)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 7 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on July 15, 1992, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.
  (8)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 22, 1992, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.
  (9)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 13 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 1993, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.
  (10)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 13 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 1993, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.
  (11)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 22 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 19, 1994, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.


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  (12)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 22 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 19, 1994, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.
  (13)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 22 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 19, 1994, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.
  (14)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 22 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 19, 1994, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.
  (15)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on March 31, 1995.
  (16)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 34 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on May 16, 1996.
  (17)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 39 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 11, 1996.
  (18)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 45 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on May 9, 1997.
  (19)    Articles of Amendment to Charter of the Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 46 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 25, 1997.
  (20)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 46 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 25, 1997.
  (21)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 1998.
  (22)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 1998.
  (23)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 14, 1998.
  (24)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 14, 1998.
  (25)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 67 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 30, 1999.
  (26)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 69 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 29, 1999.
  (27)    Articles of Amendment to Charter of the Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 71 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 29, 2000.
  (28)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 71 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 29, 2000.
  (29)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 71 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 29, 2000.
  (30)    Articles of Amendment to Charter of the Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 71 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 29, 2000.

 

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  (31)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 73 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on March 15, 2001.
  (32)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant ( Boston Partners Bond Fund - Institutional Class and Boston Partners Bond Fund - Investor Class ) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 77 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on May 15, 2002.
  (33)    Articles of Amendment to Charter of the Registrant ( Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund - Institutional Class and Boston Partners Bond Fund - Institutional Class ) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 77 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on May 15, 2002.
  (34)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant ( Schneider Value Fund ) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 78 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on May 16, 2002.
  (35)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant ( Institutional Liquidity Fund for Credit Unions and Liquidity Fund for Credit Union Members ) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 84 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 29, 2003.
  (36)    Articles of Amendment to Charter of the Registrant are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 89 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 30, 2004.
  (37)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant ( Robeco WPG Core Bond Fund – Investor Class, Robeco WPG Core Bond Fund – Institutional Class, Robeco WPG Tudor Fund – Institutional Class, Robeco WPG Large Cap Growth Fund – Institutional Class ) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 93 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on March 4, 2005.
  (38)    Certificate of Correction of Registrant is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 95 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on March 23, 2005.
  (39)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant ( Robeco WPG Core Bond Fund – Investor Class, Robeco WPG Core Bond Fund – Institutional Class, Robeco WPG Tudor Fund – Institutional Class, Robeco WPG 130/30 Large Cap Core Fund f/k/a Robeco WPG Large Cap Growth Fund – Institutional Class ) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 95 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on March 23, 2005.
  (40)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant ( Senbanc Fund) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 96 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 6, 2005.
  (41)    Articles of Amendment of Registrant ( Robeco WPG Core Bond Fund – Retirement Class) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 97 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on August 19, 2005.
  (42)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant ( Robeco WPG Core Bond Fund – Investor Class) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 27, 2005.
  (43)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant (Bear Stearns CUFS MLP Mortgage Portfolio) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 104 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on July 18, 2006.
  (44)    Articles of Amendment of Registrant (Bear Stearns CUFS MLP Mortgage Portfolio) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 108 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 14, 2006.
  (45)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant (Bear Stearns Enhanced Yield Fund) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 109 to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 15, 2006.

 

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  (46)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant ( Marvin & Palmer Large Cap Growth Fund ) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 109 to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 15, 2006.
  (47)    Articles of Amendment of Registrant (Bear Stearns Enhanced Yield Fund) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 111 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on February 28, 2007.
  (48)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant (Bear Stearns Enhanced Income Fund f/k/a/ Bear Stearns Enhanced Yield Fund) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 111 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on February 28, 2007.
  (49)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant (Free Market U.S. Equity Fund, Free Market International Equity Fund, Free Market Fixed-Income Fund) incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 1, 2007.
  (50)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant (Robeco WPG 130/30 Large Cap Core Fund – Investor Class) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 113 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No.33-20827) filed on July 13, 2007.
  (51)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant ( SAM Sustainable Water Fund, SAM Sustainable Climate Fund ) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 114 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No.33-20827) filed on July 17, 2007.
  (52)    Articles of Amendment of Registrant (Robeco WPG 130/30 Large Cap Core Fund – Institutional Class) are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 116 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No.33-20827) filed on September 4, 2007.
  (53)    Articles Supplementary of Registrant (BearStearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund) is filed herewith.
(b)      By-Laws.
  (1)    By-Laws, as amended are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 89 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 30, 2004.
(c)      Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders.
  (1)    See Articles VI, VII, VIII, IX and XI of Registrant’s Articles of 1 Incorporation dated February 17, 1988 which are incorporated herein by reference to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on March 24, 1988, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.
  (2)    See Articles II, III, VI, XIII, and XIV of Registrant’s By-Laws as amended through August 25, 2004, which are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 89 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 30, 2004.
(d)      Investment Advisory Contracts.
  (1)    Investment Advisory Agreement (Money Market) between Registrant and Provident Institutional Management Corporation, dated as of August 16, 1988 is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on March 23, 1989, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.
  (2)    Sub-Advisory Agreement (Money Market) between Provident Institutional Management Corporation and Provident National Bank, dated as of August 16, 1988 is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on March 23, 1989, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.
  (3)    Assumption Agreement (Money Market Fund) between PNC Bank, N.A. and BlackRock Institutional Management Corporation (formerly PNC Institutional Management Corporation) dated April 29, 1998 is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 67 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 30, 1999.

 

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  (4)    Amended and Restated Investment Advisory Agreement ( Boston Partners Large Cap Value Fund ) between Registrant and Boston Partners Asset Management, L.P. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 105 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 30, 2006.
  (5)    Investment Advisory Agreement (Boston Partners Mid Cap Value Fund) between Registrant and Boston Partners Asset Management, L.P. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on April 8, 2003.
  (6)    Investment Advisory Agreement (Schneider Small Cap Value Fund) between Registrant and Schneider Capital Management Company is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 1998.
  (7)    Investment Advisory Agreement (Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II (formerly Micro Cap Value)) between Registrant and Boston Partners Asset Management, L.P. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on April 8, 2003.
  (8)    Investment Advisory Agreement (Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund (formerly Market Neutral)) between Registrant and Boston Partners Asset Management, L.P. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on April 8, 2003.
  (9)    Investment Advisory Agreement (Bogle Small Cap Growth Fund) between Registrant and Bogle Investment Management, L.P. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 67 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 30, 1999.
  (10)    Amended and Restated Investment Advisory Agreement ( Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund ) between Registrant and Boston Partners Asset Management, L.P. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 105 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 30, 2006.
  (11)    Investment Advisory Agreement (Schneider Value Fund) between Registrant and Schneider Capital Management Company is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 80 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 1, 2002.
  (12)    Investment Advisory Agreement (Robeco WPG Core Bond Fund) between Registrant and Weiss, Peck & Greer Investments is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 98 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on August 30, 2005.
  (13)    Investment Advisory Agreement (Senbanc Fund) dated August 31, 2005 between Registrant and Hilliard Lyons Research Advisors is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 27, 2005.
  (14)    Investment Advisory Agreement (Robeco WPG Large Cap Growth Fund) between Registrant and Weiss, Peck & Greer Investments is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 25, 2005.
  (15)    Investment Advisory Agreement (Robeco WPG Small Cap Value Fund f/k/a Robeco WPG Tudor Fund) between Registrant and Weiss, Peck & Greer Investments is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 25, 2005.
  (16)    Contractual Fee Waiver Agreement (Robeco WPG Core Bond Fund, Robeco WPG Large Cap Growth Fund and Robeco WPG Tudor Fund) dated April 29, 2005 between Registrant and Weiss, Peck & Greer Investments is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 25, 2005.

 

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  (17)    Investment Advisory Agreement (Bear Stearns CUFS MLP Mortgage Portfolio) between Registrant and Bear Stearns Asset Management Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 108 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 14, 2006.
  (18)    Interim Investment Advisory and Administration Agreement (Money Market Portfolio) between Registrant and BlackRock Institutional Management Corp. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 105 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 30, 2006.
  (19)    Investment Advisory and Administration Agreement (Money Market Portfolio) between Registrant and BlackRock Institutional Management Corp. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 1, 2007.
  (20)    Investment Advisory Agreement (Bear Stearns Enhanced Income Fund f/k/a/ Bear Stearns Enhanced Yield Fund) between Registrant and Bear Stearns Asset Management Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 1, 2007.
  (21)    Form of Investment Advisory Agreement (Marvin & Palmer Large Cap Growth Fund) between Registrant and Marvin & Palmer Associates Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 109 to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 15, 2006.
  (22)    Form of Investment Advisory Agreement ( Free Market U.S. Equity Fund, Free Market International Equity Fund, Free Market Fixed-Income Fund ) between Registrant and Abundance Technologies, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 1, 2007.
  (23)    Form of Investment Advisory Agreement ( SAM Sustainable Water Fund ) between Registrant and Sustainable Asset Management USA, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 118 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 28, 2007.
  (24)    Form of Investment Advisory Agreement ( SAM Sustainable Climate Fund ) between Registrant and Sustainable Asset Management USA, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 118 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 28, 2007.
  (25)    Contractual Fee Waiver Agreement (Schneider Small Cap Value Fund) dated October 9, 2006, between Registrant and Schneider Capital Management Company is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 110 to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 29, 2006.
  (26)    Contractual Fee Waiver Agreement (Schneider Value Fund) dated October 9, 2006, between Registrant and Schneider Capital Management Company is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 110 to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 29, 2006.
  (27)    Contractual Fee Waiver Agreement (Bogle Small Cap Growth Fund) dated October 10, 2006, between Registrant and Schneider Capital Management Company is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 110 to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 29, 2006.
  (28)    Contractual Fee Waiver Agreement ( Robeco Boston Partners Large Cap Value Fund, Robeco Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II, Robeco Boston Partners Mid Cap Value Fund, Robeco Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund, Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund, Robeco WPG Core Bond Fund, Robeco WPG Large Cap Growth Fund, and Robeco WPG Small Cap Value Fund and Robeco WPG 130/30 Large Cap Core Fund ) dated September 4, 2007 is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 116 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 4, 2007.
  (29)    Form of Contractual Fee Waiver Agreement (Free Market U.S. Equity Fund, Free Market International Equity Fund, Free Market Fixed-Income Fund) between Registrant and Abundance Technologies, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 1, 2007.

 

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  (30)    Form of Contractual Fee Waiver Agreement ( SAM Sustainable Water Fund, SAM Sustainable Climate Fund ) between Registrant and Sustainable Asset Management USA, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 118 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 28, 2007.
  (31)    Contractual Fee Waiver Agreement (Bear Stearns Enhanced Income Fund) between Registrant and Bear Stearns Asset Management to be filed by amendment.
  (32)    Assumption Agreement ( Robeco Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II, Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund, Robeco Boston Partners Large Cap Value Fund, Robeco Boston Partners Mid Cap Value Fund, Robeco Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund ) between Boston Partners Asset Management and Robeco Investment Management, Inc. dated January 1, 2007 is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 111 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on February 28, 2007.
  (33)    Assumption Agreement (Robeco WPG Core Bond Fund, Robeco WPG Large Cap Growth Fund, and Robeco WPG Small Cap Value Fund f/k/a Robeco WPG Tudor Fund) between Weiss, Peck, & Greer Investments and Robeco Investment Management, Inc. dated January 1, 2007 is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 111 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on February 28, 2007.
(e)      Underwriting Contracts.
  (1)    Distribution Agreement between Registrant and PFPC Distributors, Inc. dated as of January 2, 2001 is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 73 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on March 15, 2001.
  (2)    Distribution Agreement Supplement (Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund - Investor Class) between Registrant and PFPC Distributors, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 80 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 1, 2002.
  (3)    Distribution Agreement Supplement (Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund - Institutional Class ) between Registrant and PFPC Distributors, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 80 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 1, 2002.
  (4)    Distribution Agreement Supplement (Schneider Value Fund) between Registrant and PFPC Distributors, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 80 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 1, 2002.
  (5)    Distribution Agreement Supplement (Senbanc Fund) between Registrant and PFPC Distributors, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 25, 2005.
  (6)    Distribution Agreement Supplement (Robeco WPG Core Bond Fund – Institutional Class) between Registrant and PFPC Distributors, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 101 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 29, 2005.
  (7)    Distribution Agreement Supplement (Robeco WPG Large Cap Growth Fund – Institutional Class) between Registrant and PFPC Distributors, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 101 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 29, 2005.
  (8)    Distribution Agreement Supplement (Robeco WPG Tudor Fund - Institutional Class) between Registrant and PFPC Distributors, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 101 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 29, 2005.
  (9)    Distribution Agreement Supplement (Robeco WPG Core Bond Fund - Retirement Class) between Registrant and PFPC Distributors, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No . 103 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on July 18, 2006.
  (10)    Distribution Agreement Supplement (Robeco WPG Core Bond Fund - Investor Class) between Registrant and PFPC Distributors, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 103 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on July 18, 2006.

 

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  (11)    Distribution Agreement Supplement ( Bear Stearns CUFS MLP Mortgage Portfolio ) between Registrant and PFPC Distributors, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 108 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No.33-20827) filed on December 14, 2006.
  (12)    Distribution Agreement Supplement (Bear Stearns Enhanced Income Fund f/k/a/ Bear Stearns Enhanced Yield Fund) between Registrant and PFPC Distributors, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 1, 2007.
  (13)    Form of Distribution Agreement Supplement (Marvin & Palmer Large Cap Growth Fund) between Registrant and PFPC Distributors, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 109 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 15, 2006.
  (14)    Form of Distribution Agreement Supplement (Free Market U.S. Equity Fund, Free Market International Equity Fund, Free Market Fixed-Income Fund) between Registrant and PFPC Distributors, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 1, 2007.
  (15)    Form of Distribution Agreement Supplement ( SAM Sustainable Water Fund ) between Registrant and Sustainable Asset Management USA, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 118 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 28, 2007.
  (16)    Form of Distribution Agreement Supplement ( SAM Sustainable Climate Fund ) between Registrant and Sustainable Asset Management USA, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 118 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 28, 2007.
(f)      Bonus or Profit Sharing Contracts.
  (1)    Fund Office Retirement Profit-Sharing and Trust Agreement, dated as of October 24, 1990, as amended is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 49 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 1, 1997.
  (2)    Form of Amendment No. 1 to Fund Office Retirement Profit Sharing Plan and Trust Reflecting EGTRRA is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 80 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 1, 2002.
(g)      Custodian Agreements.
  (1)    Custodian Agreement between Registrant and Provident National Bank dated as of August 16, 1988 is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on March 23, 1989, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.
  (2)    Sub-Custodian Agreement among The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A., the Registrant and Provident National Bank, dated as of July 13, 1992, relating to custody of Registrant’s foreign securities is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 22, 1992, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.
  (3)    Amendment No. 1 to Custodian Agreement dated August 16, 1988 is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 7 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on July 15, 1992, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.
  (4)    Custodian Contract between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 28, 1994, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.

 

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  (5)    Custodian Agreement Supplement between Registrant and PNC Bank, National Association dated October 16, 1996 is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 41 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 27, 1996.
  (6)    Custodian Agreement Supplement (Boston Partners Mid Cap Value Fund) between Registrant and PNC Bank, National Association is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 46 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 25, 1997.
  (7)    Custodian Agreement Supplement (Boston Partners Bond Fund) between Registrant and PNC Bank, N.A. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 51 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 8, 1997.
  (8)    Custodian Agreement Supplement (Schneider Small Cap Value Fund) between Registrant and PNC Bank, N.A. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 1998.
  (9)    Custodian Agreement Supplement (Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II (formerly Micro Cap Value)) between Registrant and PNC Bank, N.A. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 1998.
  (10)    Custodian Agreement Supplement (Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund (formerly Market Neutral)) between Registrant and PNC Bank, N.A. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 14, 1998.
  (11)    Form of Custodian Agreement Supplement (Boston Partners Fund - formerly Long Short Equity) between Registrant and PFPC Trust Company is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 65 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on May 19, 1999.
  (12)    Custodian Agreement Supplement (Bogle Small Cap Growth Fund) between Registrant and PFPC Trust Company is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 67 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 30, 1999.
  (13)    Letter Agreement among Registrant, The Chase Manhattan Bank and PFPC Trust Company, dated as of July 2, 2001, relating to custody of Registrant’s foreign securities is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 77 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on May 15, 2002.
  (14)    Custodian Agreement Supplement (Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund) between Registrant and PFPC Trust Company is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 80 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 1, 2002.
  (15)    Custodian Agreement Supplement (Schneider Value Fund) between Registrant and PFPC Trust Company is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 80 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 1, 2002.
  (16)    Custodian Agreement ( Robeco WPG Core Bond Fund, Robeco WPG 130/30 Large Cap Core Fund f/k/a Robeco WPG Large Cap Growth Fund, and Robeco WPG Small Cap Value Fund f/k/a Robeco WPG Tudor Fund ) between Registrant and Mellon Trust of New England N.A. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 103 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on July 18, 2006.
  (17)    Custodian Agreement Supplement (Senbanc Fund) between Registrant and PFPC Trust Company is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 25, 2005.
  (18)    Custodian Agreement among Registrant, PFPC Trust Company and Citibank, N.A., dated as of September 13, 2005, relating to custody of Registrant’s foreign securities is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 101 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 29, 2005.
  (19)    Custodian Agreement Supplement (Bear Stearns CUFS MLP Mortgage Portfolio) between Registrant and PFPC Trust Company is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 108 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No.33-20827) filed on December 14, 2006.

 

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  (20)    Custodian Agreement Supplement ( Bear Stearns Enhanced Income Fund f/k/a/ Bear Stearns Enhanced Yield Fund ) between Registrant and PFPC Trust Company is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 1, 2007.
  (21)    Form of Custodian Agreement Supplement (Marvin & Palmer Large Cap Growth Fund) between Registrant and PFPC Trust Company is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 109 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 15, 2006.
  (22)    Form of Custodian Agreement Supplement (Free Market U.S. Equity Fund, Free Market International Equity Fund, Free Market Fixed-Income Fund) between Registrant and PFPC Trust Company is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 1, 2007.
  (23)    Form of Custodian Agreement Supplement ( SAM Sustainable Water Fund ) between Registrant and PFPC Trust Company is filed is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 118 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 28, 2007.
  (24)    Form of Custodian Agreement Supplement ( SAM Sustainable Climate Fund ) between Registrant and PFPC Trust Company is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 118 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 28, 2007.
(h)      Other Material Contracts.
  (1)    Transfer Agency Agreement (Sansom Street) between Registrant and Provident Financial Processing Corporation, dated as of August 16, 1988 is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on March 23, 1989, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.
  (2)    Shareholder Servicing Agreement (Sansom Street Money Market) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on March 23, 1989, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.
  (3)    Shareholder Servicing Agreement (Sansom Street Government Obligations Money Market) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on March 23, 1989, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.
  (4)    Shareholder Services Plan (Sansom Street Money Market) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on March 23, 1989, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.
  (5)    Transfer Agency Agreement (Bedford Money Market) between Registrant and Provident Financial Processing Corporation, dated as of August 16, 1988 is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on March 23, 1989, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.
  (6)    Transfer Agency Agreement and Supplements (Bradford, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, Zeta, Eta and Theta) between Registrant and Provident Financial Processing Corporation dated as of November 5, 1991 is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 7 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on July 15, 1992, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.
  (7)    Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company and PFPC Inc. dated February 1, 1995 is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 28 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 6, 1995.

 

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  (8)    Supplement to Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between Registrant, State Street Bank and Trust Company, Inc. and PFPC dated April 10, 1995 is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 28 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 6, 1995.
  (9)    Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated December 15, 1994 is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 25, 1995.
  (10)    Transfer Agreement and Service Agreement between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 37 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on July 30, 1996.
  (11)    Administration and Accounting Services Agreement (Boston Partners Large Cap Value Fund) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. dated October 16, 1996 is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 45 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on May 9, 1997.
  (12)    Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (Boston Partners Large Cap Value Fund, Institutional Class) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 41 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 27, 1996.
  (13)    Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (Boston Partners Large Cap Value Fund - Investor Class) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 41 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 27, 1996.
  (14)    Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (Boston Partners Mid Cap Value Fund - Institutional Class) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 46 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 25, 1997.
  (15)    Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (Boston Partners Mid Cap Value Fund - Investor Class) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 46 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 25, 1997.
  (16)    Administration and Accounting Services Agreement (Boston Partners Mid Cap Value Fund) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. dated, May 30, 1997 is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 46 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 25, 1997.
  (17)    Administration and Accounting Services Agreement (Schneider Small Cap Value Fund) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 1998.
  (18)    Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (Schneider Small Cap Value Fund) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 1998.
  (19)    Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II (formerly Micro Cap Value) - Institutional Class) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 1998.
  (20)    Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II (formerly Micro Cap Value) - Investor Class) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 1998.
  (21)    Administration and Accounting Services Agreement (Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II (formerly Boston Partners Micro Cap Value Fund)) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 1998.
  (22)    Administrative Services Agreement between Registrant and Provident Distributors, Inc. dated as of May 29, 1998 and relating to the n/i family of funds, Schneider Small Cap Value Fund and Institutional Shares of the Boston Partners Funds is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 25, 1998.

 

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  (23)    Administrative Services Agreement Supplement (Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund (formerly Market Neutral) - Institutional Class) between Registrant and Provident Distributors, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 14, 1998.
  (24)    Administrative and Accounting Services Agreement (Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund (formerly Market Neutral) - Institutional and Investor Classes) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 14, 1998.
  (25)    Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund (formerly Market Neutral) - Institutional and Investor Classes) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 14, 1998.
  (26)    Form of Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (Boston Partners Fund (formerly Long-Short Equity)) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 65 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on May 19, 1999.
  (27)    Form of Administrative Services Agreement Supplement (Boston Partners Fund (formerly Long-Short Equity) - Institutional Shares) between Registrant and Provident Distributors, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 65 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on May 19, 1999.
  (28)    Form of Administration and Accounting Services Agreement (Boston Partners Fund (formerly Long-Short Equity)) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 65 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on May 19, 1999.
  (29)    Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (Bogle Small Cap Growth Fund) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 67 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 30, 1999.
  (30)    Administrative Services Agreement (Bogle Small Cap Growth Fund) between Registrant and Provident Distributors, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 67 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 30, 1999.
  (31)    Non 12b-1 Shareholder Services Plan and Agreement (Bogle Small Cap Growth - Investor Shares) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 67 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 30, 1999.
  (32)    Agreement between E*TRADE Group, Inc., Registrant and Registrant’s principal underwriter is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 69 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 1, 1999.
  (33)    Fee Waiver Agreement for n/i numeric investors Funds is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 69 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 1, 1999.
  (34)    Administration and Accounting Services Agreement (Bogle Small Cap Growth Fund) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 69 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 1, 1999.
  (35)    Administrative Services Assignment Agreement between Registrant and PFPC Distributors, Inc. dated January 2, 2001 is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 73 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on March 15, 2001.
  (36)    Transfer Agency Supplement (Bear Stearns Money Market Family) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 75 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 4, 2001.

 

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  (37)    Form of Transfer Agency Supplement ( Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund ) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 80 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 1, 2002.
  (38)    Form of Administration and Accounting Services Agreement (Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 77 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on May 15, 2002.
  (39)    Administrative Services Agreement Supplement (Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund) between Registrant and PFPC Distributors, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 80 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 1, 2002.
  (40)    Transfer Agency Supplement (Schneider Value Fund) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 80 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 1, 2002.
  (41)    Form of Administration and Accounting Services Agreement (Schneider Value Fund) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 78 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on May 16, 2002.
  (42)    Administrative Services Agreement Supplement (Schneider Value Fund) between Registrant and PFPC Distributors, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 80 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 1, 2002.
  (43)    Shareholder Servicing Agreement (Bogle Small Cap Growth Fund) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 80 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 1, 2002.
  (44)    Administrative Services Agreement Supplement (Boston Partners Funds - Investor Shares) between Registrant and PFPC Distributors, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 80 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 1, 2002.
  (45)    Form of Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (Customer Identification Program) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 84 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 29, 2003.
  (46)    Regulatory Administration Services Agreement between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 84 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 29, 2003.
  (47)    Administration and Accounting Services Agreement ( Robeco WPG Core Bond Fund, Robeco WPG Large Cap Growth Fund, and Robeco WPG Tudor Fund ) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 25, 2005.
  (48)    Administrative Services Agreement Supplement (Robeco WPG Core Bond Fund) between Registrant and PFPC Distributors, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 25, 2005.
  (49)    Administrative Services Agreement Supplement (Robeco WPG Large Cap Growth Fund) between Registrant and PFPC Distributors, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 25, 2005.
  (50)    Administrative Services Agreement Supplement (Robeco WPG Tudor Fund) between Registrant and PFPC Distributors, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 25, 2005.
  (51)    Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (Robeco WPG Core Bond Fund) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 25, 2005.

 

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  (52)    Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement ( Robeco WPG Large Cap Growth Fund ) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 25, 2005.
  (53)    Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (Robeco WPG Tudor Fund) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 25, 2005.
  (54)    Non-12b-1 Shareholder Services Plan and Related Form of Shareholder Servicing Agreement (Robeco WPG Core Bond Fund – Institutional Class) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 25, 2005.
  (55)    Non-12b-1 Shareholder Services Plan and Related Form of Shareholder Servicing Agreement (Robeco WPG Large Cap Growth Fund – Institutional Class) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 25, 2005.
  (56)    Non-12b-1 Shareholder Services Plan and Related Form of Shareholder Servicing Agreement (Robeco WPG Tudor Fund – Institutional Class) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 25, 2005.
  (57)    Non-12b-1 Shareholder Services Plan and Related Form of Shareholder Servicing Agreement (Robeco WPG Core Bond Fund – Retirement Class) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 97 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on August 19, 2005.
  (58)    Administration and Accounting Services Agreement (Senbanc Fund) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 25, 2005.
  (59)    Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (Senbanc Fund) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 25, 2005.
  (60)    Administrative Services Agreement Supplement (Senbanc Fund) between Registrant and PFPC Distributors, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 25, 2005.
  (61)    Amended Schedule A to Regulatory Administration Services Agreement (Senbanc Fund) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 25, 2005.
  (62)    Administration and Accounting Services Agreement (Bear Stearns CUFS MLP Mortgage Portfolio) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 108 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 14, 2006.
  (63)    Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (Bear Stearns CUFS MLP Mortgage Portfolio) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 108 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 14, 2006.
  (64)    Administrative Services Agreement Supplement (Bear Stearns CUFS MLP Mortgage Portfolio ) between Registrant and PFPC Distributors, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 108 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 14, 2006.
  (65)    Amended Schedule A to Regulatory Administration Services Agreement ( Bear Stearns CUFS MLP Mortgage Portfolio) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 108 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 14, 2006.
  (66)    Escrow Agreement (Money Market Portfolio) between Registrant, PFPC Trust Company, and BlackRock Institutional Management Corp. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 105 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 30, 2006.

 

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  (67)    Interim Delegation Agreement ( Money Market Portfolio ) between Registrant, PFPC Inc., and BlackRock Institutional Management Corp. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 105 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 30, 2006.
  (68)    Administration and Accounting Services Agreement (Bear Stearns Enhanced Income Fund f/k/a/ Bear Stearns Enhanced Yield Fund) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 1, 2007.
  (69)    Form of Administrative Services Agreement Supplement (Bear Stearns Enhanced Income Fund f/k/a/ Bear Stearns Enhanced Yield Fund ) between Registrant and PFPC Distributors Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 109 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 15, 2006.
  (70)    Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement ( Bear Stearns Enhanced Income Fund f/k/a/ Bear Stearns Enhanced Yield Fund ) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 1, 2007.
  (71)    Amended Schedule A to Regulatory Administration Services Agreement (Bear Stearns Enhanced Income Fund f/k/a/ Bear Stearns Enhanced Yield Fund) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 1, 2007.
  (72)    Form of Administration and Accounting Services Agreement (Marvin & Palmer Large Cap Growth Fund) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 109 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 15, 2006.
  (73)    Form of Administrative Services Agreement Supplement (Marvin & Palmer Large Cap Growth Fund ) between Registrant and PFPC Distributors, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 109 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 15, 2006.
  (74)    Form of Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement ( Marvin & Palmer Large Cap Growth Fund) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 109 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 15, 2006.
  (75)    Form of Administrative Services Agreement (Free Market U.S. Equity Fund, Free Market International Equity Fund, Free Market Fixed-Income Fund ) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 1, 2007.
  (76)    Form of Administrative Services Agreement Supplement (Free Market U.S. Equity Fund, Free Market International Equity Fund, Free Market Fixed-Income Fund ) between Registrant and PFPC Distributors, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 1, 2007.
  (77)    Form of Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement (Free Market U.S. Equity Fund, Free Market International Equity Fund, Free Market Fixed-Income Fund ) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 1, 2007.
  (78)    Form of Amended Schedule A to Regulatory Administration Services Agreement (Free Market U.S. Equity Fund, Free Market International Equity Fund, Free Market Fixed-Income Fund ) between Registrant and PFPC Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 1, 2007.
  (79)    Form of Administrative Services Agreement ( SAM Sustainable Water Fund, SAM Sustainable Climate Fund ) between Registrant and PFPC Distributors, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 118 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 28, 2007.

 

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   (80)    Form of Administrative Services Agreement Supplement ( SAM Sustainable Water Fund, SAM Sustainable Climate Fund ) between Registrant and PFPC Distributors, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 118 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 28, 2007.
   (81)    Form of Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement ( SAM Sustainable Water Fund ) between Registrant and PFPC, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 118 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 28, 2007.
   (82)    Form of Transfer Agency Agreement Supplement ( SAM Sustainable Climate Fund ) between Registrant and PFPC, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 118 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 28, 2007.
   (83)    Form of Amended Schedule A to Regulatory Administration Services Agreement ( SAM Sustainable Water Fund, SAM Sustainable Climate Fund ) between Registrant and PFPC, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 118 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 28, 2007.
(i)    (1)    Opinion and Consent of Counsel is filed herewith.
   (2)    Consent of Counsel is filed herewith.
(j)    (1)    None.
(k)       None.
(l)       Initial Capital Agreements.
   (1)    Subscription Agreement, relating to Classes A through N, is incorporated herein by reference to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on July 12, 1988, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.
   (2)    Subscription Agreement between Registrant and Planco Financial Services, Inc., relating to Classes O and P is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 14, 1990.
   (3)    Subscription Agreement between Registrant and Planco Financial Services, Inc., relating to Class Q is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 14, 1990.
   (4)    Subscription Agreement between Registrant and Counsellors Securities Inc. relating to Classes R, S, and Alpha 1 through Theta 4 is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 7 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on July 15, 1992, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.
   (5)    Purchase Agreement between Registrant and Boston Partners Asset Management, L.P. relating to Classes QQ, RR and SS ( Boston Partners Large Cap Value Fund ) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 45 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on May 9, 1997.
   (6)    Purchase Agreement between Registrant and Boston Partners Asset Management, L.P. relating to Classes TT and UU (Boston Partners Mid Cap Value Fund) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 46 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 25, 1997.
   (7)    Purchase Agreement between Registrant and Boston Partners Asset Management L.P. relating to Classes VV and WW (Boston Partners Bond Fund) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 51 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 8, 1997.
   (8)    Purchase Agreement between Registrant and Schneider Capital Management Company relating to Class YY (Schneider Small Cap Value Fund) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 1998.

 

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   (9)    Purchase Agreement between Registrant and Boston Partners Asset Management, L.P. relating to Classes DDD and EEE ( Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II (formerly Micro Cap Value) ) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 1998.
   (10)    Purchase Agreement between Registrant and Boston Partners Asset Management relating to Classes III and JJJ (Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund (formerly Market Neutral)) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 14, 1998.
   (11)    Form of Purchase Agreement between Registrant and Boston Partners Asset Management, L. P. relating to Classes KKK and LLL (Boston Partners Fund (formerly Long-Short Equity)) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 65 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on May 19, 1999.
   (12)    Purchase Agreement (Bogle Small Cap Growth Fund) between Registrant and Bogle Investment Management, L.P. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 67 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 30, 1999.
   (13)    Purchase Agreement (Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund) between Registrant and Boston Partners Asset Management, L.P. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 80 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 1, 2002.
   (14)    Purchase Agreement (Schneider Value Fund) between Registrant and Schneider Capital Management Company is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 80 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 1, 2002.
   (15)    Purchase Agreement (Robeco WPG Core Bond Fund) between Registrant and Weiss, Peck & Greer Investments is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 96 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 6, 2005.
   (16)    Purchase Agreement (Robeco WPG 130/30 Large Cap Core Fund f/k/a Robeco WPG Large Cap Growth Fund) between Registrant and Weiss, Peck & Greer Investments is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 96 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 6, 2005.
   (17)    Purchase Agreement (Robeco WPG Small Cap Value Fund f/k/a Robeco WPG Tudor Fund) between Registrant and Weiss, Peck & Greer Investments is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 96 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 6, 2005.
   (18)    Purchase Agreement ( Senbanc Fund) between Registrant and Hilliard Lyons Research Advisers is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 25, 2005.
   (19)    Purchase Agreement (Bear Stearns CUFS MLP Mortgage Portfolio) between Registrant and Bear Stearns Asset Management Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 111 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on February 28, 2007.
   (20)    Purchase Agreement (Bear Stearns Enhanced Income Fund f/k/a/ Bear Stearns Enhanced Yield Fund ) between Registrant and Bear Stearns Asset Management is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 1, 2007.
   (21)    Form of Purchase Agreement (Marvin & Palmer Large Cap Growth Fund) between Registrant and Marvin & Palmer Associates Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 109 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 15, 2006.
   (22)    Form of Purchase Agreement (Free Market U.S. Equity Fund) between Registrant and Abundance Technologies, Inc., is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 1, 2007.

 

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   (23)    Form of Purchase Agreement ( Free Market International Equity Fund ) between Registrant and Abundance Technologies, Inc., is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 1, 2007.
   (24)    Form of Purchase Agreement (Free Market Fixed-Income Fund) between Registrant and Abundance Technologies, Inc., is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 1, 2007.
   (25)    Form of Purchase Agreement ( SAM Sustainable Water Fund ) between Registrant and Sustainable Asset Management USA, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 118 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 28, 2007.
   (26)    Form of Purchase Agreement ( SAM Sustainable Climate Fund ) between Registrant and Sustainable Asset Management USA, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 118 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 28, 2007.
(m)       Rule 12b-1 Plan.
   (1)    Plan of Distribution (Sansom Street Money Market) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on March 23, 1989, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.
   (2)    Plan of Distribution (Bedford Money Market) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on March 23, 1989, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.
   (3)    Amendment No. 1 to Plans of Distribution (Classes A through Q) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 6 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 24, 1991, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.
   (4)    Plan of Distribution (Zeta Money Market) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 7 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on July 15, 1992, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.
   (5)    Plan of Distribution (Eta Money Market) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 7 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on July 15, 1992, and refiled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.
   (6)    Plan of Distribution (Theta Money Market) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 7 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on July 15, 1992, and refilled electronically with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on October 30, 1998.
   (7)    Plan of Distribution (Boston Partners Large Cap Value Fund - Investor Class) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 45 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on May 9, 1997.
   (8)    Plan of Distribution (Boston Partners Mid Cap Value Fund - Investor Class) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 45 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on May 9, 1997.
   (9)    Plan of Distribution (Boston Partners Bond Fund - Investor Class) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 51 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 8, 1997.
   (10)    Plan of Distribution (Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II (formerly Micro Cap Value) - Investor Class) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 53 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on April 10, 1998.

 

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   (11)    Amendment to Plans of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 14, 1998.
   (12)    Plan of Distribution (Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund (formerly Market Neutral) - Investor Class) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 62 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 12, 1998.
   (13)    Plan of Distribution (Principal Money Market) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 29, 1998.
   (14)    Plan of Distribution (Boston Partners Fund (formerly Long Short Equity) - Investor Class) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 65 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on May 19, 1999.
   (15)    Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 80 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 1, 2002.
   (16)    Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (Senbanc Fund) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 27, 2005.
   (17)    Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (Robeco WPG Core Bond Fund - Investor Class) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 27, 2005.
   (18)    Agreement between Registrant, Bear Stearns Securities Corp. and PFPC Distributors, Inc. dated as of November 17, 2005 is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 101 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on December 29, 2005.
   (19)    Plan of Distribution Agreement pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (Robeco WPG 130/30 Large Cap Core Fund f/k/a/ Robeco WPG Large Cap Growth Fund – Investor Class) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 113 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on July 13, 2007.
   (20)    Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (SAM Sustainable Climate Fund – Investor Class) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 118 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 28, 2007.
   (21)    Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (SAM Sustainable Climate Fund – Class A) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 118 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 28, 2007.
   (22)    Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (SAM Sustainable Climate Fund – Class C) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 118 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 28, 2007.
   (23)    Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (SAM Sustainable Water Fund – Investor Class) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 118 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 28, 2007.
   (24)    Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (SAM Sustainable Water Fund – Class A) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 118 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 28, 2007.
   (25)    Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (SAM Sustainable Water Fund – Class C) is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 118 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 28, 2007.
(n)       Rule 18f-3 Plan.
   (1)    Amended Rule 18f-3 Plan is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 116 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 4, 2007.

 

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(p)      Code of Ethics.
  (1)    Code of Ethics of the Registrant is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 110 to Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 29, 2006.
  (2)    Code of Ethics of Boston Partners Asset Management, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 103 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on July 18, 2006.
  (3)    Code of Ethics of Numeric Investors LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 103 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on July 18, 2006.
  (4)    Code of Ethics of Schneider Capital Management Company is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 103 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on July 18, 2006.
  (5)    Code of Ethics of Bogle Investment Management, L.P. incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 103 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on July 18, 2006.
  (6)    Code of Ethics of PFPC Distributors, Inc is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 103 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on July 18, 2006.
  (7)    Code of Ethics of Weiss, Peck & Greer Investments is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 105 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on October 30, 2006.
  (8)    Code of Ethics of J.J.B. Hilliard W.L. Lyons, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on November 25, 2005.
  (9)    Code of Ethics of Bear Stearns Asset Management Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 103 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on July 18, 2006.
  (10)    Code of Ethics of Marvin & Palmer Associates, Inc., is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 109 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on December 15, 2006.
  (11)    Code of Ethics of Abundance Technologies, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on June 1, 2007.
  (12)    Code of Ethics of Sustainable Asset Management USA, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 118 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement (No. 33-20827) filed on September 28, 2007.

 

Item 24. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH REGISTRANT

None.

 

Item 25. INDEMNIFICATION

Sections 1, 2, 3 and 4 of Article VIII of Registrant’s Articles of Incorporation, as amended, incorporated herein by reference as Exhibits (a)(1) and (a)(3), provide as follows:

Section 1. To the fullest extent that limitations on the liability of directors and officers are permitted by the Maryland General Corporation Law, no director or officer of the Corporation shall have any liability to the Corporation or its shareholders for damages. This limitation on liability applies to events occurring at the time a person serves as a director or officer of the Corporation whether or not such person is a director or officer at the time of any proceeding in which liability is asserted.

 

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Section 2. The Corporation shall indemnify and advance expenses to its currently acting and its former directors to the fullest extent that indemnification of directors is permitted by the Maryland General Corporation Law. The Corporation shall indemnify and advance expenses to its officers to the same extent as its directors and to such further extent as is consistent with law. The Board of Directors may by law, resolution or agreement make further provision for indemnification of directors, officers, employees and agents to the fullest extent permitted by the Maryland General Corporation law.

Section 3. No provision of this Article shall be effective to protect or purport to protect any director or officer of the Corporation against any liability to the Corporation or its security holders to which he would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office.

Section 4. References to the Maryland General Corporation Law in this Article are to the law as from time to time amended. No further amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation shall decrease, but may expand, any right of any person under this Article based on any event, omission or proceeding prior to such amendment. Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

Sections 2 and 3 of the Assumption Agreement between PNC Bank, N.A. (“PNC”) and BlackRock Institutional Management Corporation (“BIMC”), dated April 29, 1998 and incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(3), provide for the indemnification of BIMC and PNC against certain losses.

Section 12 of the Investment Advisory Agreements between Registrant and Boston Partners Asset Management, LLC (“Boston Partners”), each dated October 25, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference to exhibits (d)(4), (d)(5), (d)(7), (d)(8), and (d)(10), provides for the indemnification of Boston Partners against certain losses.

Section 12 of the Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Bogle Investment Management, L.P. (“Bogle”), dated September 15, 1999 and incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(9) provides for the indemnification of Bogle against certain losses.

Section 12 of the Investment Advisory Agreements between the Registrant and Weiss, Peck & Greer Investments is incorporated herein by reference as exhibits (d)(12), (d)(14) and (d)(15) provides for the indemnification of Weiss, Peck & Greer Investments against certain losses.

Section 9 of the Distribution Agreement between Registrant and PFPC Distributors, Inc. (“PFPC”), dated January 2, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (e)(1) provides for the indemnification of PFPC Distributors against certain losses.

Section 12 of the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Hilliard Lyons Research Advisors, a division of J. J. B. Hilliard, W. L. Lyons (“Hilliard”) and incorporated herein by reference as exhibit (d)(13) provides for the indemnification of Hilliard against certain losses.

Section 12 of each of the Investment Advisory Agreements between the Registrant and Schneider Capital Management (“Schneider”) and incorporated herein by reference as exhibits (d)(6) and (d)(11) provides for the indemnification of Schneider against certain losses.

Section 12 of the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Bear Stearns Asset Management Inc., (“Bear Stearns”), on behalf of the Bear Stearns CUFS MLP Mortgage Portfolio , and incorporated herein by reference as exhibit (d)(17) provides for the indemnification of Bear Stearns against certain losses.

 

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Section 12 of the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Bear Stearns Asset Management Inc., (“Bear Stearns”), on behalf of the Bear Stearns Enhanced Income Fund f/k/a/ Bear Stearns Enhanced Yield Fund, and incorporated herein by reference as exhibit (d)(20) provides for the indemnification of Bear Stearns against certain losses.

Section 12 of the Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Marvin & Palmer Associates, Inc., (“Marvin & Palmer Associates”) and incorporated herein by reference as exhibit (d)(21) provides for the indemnification of Marvin & Palmer Associates against certain losses.

Section 12 of the Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Abundance Technologies, Inc., (“Abundance”) and incorporated herein by reference as exhibit (d)(22) provides for the indemnification of Abundance against certain losses.

Section 13 of each of the Form of Investment Advisory Agreements between the Registrant and Sustainable Asset Management USA., (“SAM”) and incorporated herein by reference as exhibits (d)(23) and (d)(24) provides for the indemnification of SAM against certain losses.

 

Item 26. BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF THE INVESTMENT ADVISERS.

 

  1. BlackRock Institutional Management Corporation:

BlackRock Institutional Management Corporation (“BIMC”) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”). Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. has a 49.80% economic interest and a 45% voting interest in BlackRock and The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. has approximately a 34% economic and voting interest in BlackRock. BIMC’s principal business address is 100 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809. BIMC is registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and serves as an investment adviser for registered investment companies. Information as to the directors and officers of BIMC is as follows:

 

Name and Position with BIMC

  

Other Company

  

Position With Other Company

Paul L. Audet

Managing Director and

Director

  

BlackRock Provident

Institutional Funds

Wilmington, DE

   Treasurer
  

BlackRock Funds

Wilmington, DE

   Treasurer
  

BlackRock Capital

Management, Inc.

Wilmington, DE

   Director
  

BlackRock Advisors, Inc.

Wilmington, DE

   Director
  

BlackRock Financial

Management, Inc.

New York, NY

   Director
  

BlackRock (Japan), Inc.

New York, NY

  

Chief Financial Officer &

Managing Director

 

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BlackRock International, Ltd.

Edinburgh, Scotland

   Chief Financial Officer & Managing Director
  

BlackRock, Inc.

New York, NY

   Chief Financial Officer & Managing Director

Steven E. Buller

Chief Financial Officer and Managing Director

  

BlackRock, Inc.

New York, NY

   Chief Financial Officer & Managing Director

Laurence J. Carolan

Managing Director and Director

  

BlackRock Capital

Management, Inc.

Wilmington, DE

   Managing Director & Director
  

BlackRock, Inc.

New York, NY

   Managing Director
  

BlackRock Advisors, Inc.

Wilmington, DE

   Managing Director & Director

Robert P. Connolly

Managing Director, General Counsel and Secretary

  

BlackRock Capital

Management, Inc.

Wilmington, DE

   Managing Director, General Counsel & Secretary
  

BlackRock, Inc.

New York, NY

   Managing Director, General Counsel & Secretary
  

BlackRock International, Ltd.

Edinburgh, Scotland

   Managing Director, General Counsel & Secretary
  

BlackRock (Japan), Inc.

New York, NY

   Managing Director, General Counsel & Secretary
  

BlackRock Advisors, Inc.

Wilmington, DE

   Managing Director, General Counsel & Secretary
  

BlackRock Financial

Management, Inc.

New York, NY

   Managing Director, General Counsel & Secretary
  

BlackRock Investments, Inc.

New York, NY

   General Counsel & Secretary

Laurence D. Fink

Chief Executive Officer

  

BlackRock Funds

Wilmington, DE

   President & Trustee

 

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BlackRock Capital

Management, Inc.

Wilmington, DE

   Chief Executive Officer
  

BlackRock, Inc.

New York, NY

   Chairman & CEO
  

BlackRock International, Ltd.

Edinburgh, Scotland

   Chairman & CEO
  

BlackRock (Japan), Inc.

New York, NY

   Chairman & CEO
  

BlackRock Investments, Inc.

New York, NY

   Chairman & CEO
  

BlackRock Advisors, Inc.

Wilmington, DE

   Chief Executive Officer
  

BlackRock Financial

Management, Inc.

New York, NY

   Chairman & CEO
  

BlackRock HPB

Management LLC

New York, NY

   Director

Charles S. Hallac

Vice Chairman

  

BlackRock, Inc.

New York, NY

   Vice Chairman, BlackRock Solutions.

Robert S. Kapito

Vice Chairman and Director

  

BlackRock Capital

Management, Inc.

Wilmington, DE

   Vice Chairman & Director
  

BlackRock International, Ltd.

Edinburgh, Scotland

   Vice Chairman & Director
  

BlackRock, Inc.

New York, NY

   Vice Chairman
  

BlackRock Advisors, Inc.

Wilmington, DE

   Vice Chairman & Director
  

BlackRock (Japan), Inc.

New York, NY

   Vice Chairman & Director
  

BlackRock Investments, Inc.

New York, NY

   Director

 

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BlackRock Financial

Management, Inc.

New York, NY

   Vice Chairman & Director

Kevin M. Klingert

Managing Director and Director

  

BlackRock Capital

Management, Inc.

Wilmington, DE

   Managing Director & Director
  

BlackRock, Inc.

New York, NY

   Managing Director
  

BlackRock Advisors, Inc.

Wilmington, DE

   Managing Director & Director
  

BlackRock Financial

Management, Inc.

New York, NY

   Managing Director

John P. Moran

Managing Director, Treasurer and Director

  

BlackRock Capital

Management, Inc.

Wilmington, DE

   Managing Director & Director
  

BlackRock, Inc.

New York, NY

   Managing Director
  

BlackRock Advisors, Inc.

Wilmington, DE

   Managing Director & Director
  

BlackRock Investments, Inc.

New York, NY

   President

Barbara G. Novick

Vice Chairman

  

BlackRock, Inc.

New York, NY

   Vice Chairman, Account Management Group, BlackRock, Inc.

Ralph L. Schlosstein

President and Director

  

BlackRock Provident

Institutional Funds

Wilmington, DE

   Chairman & President
  

BlackRock Capital

Management, Inc.

Wilmington, DE

   President & Director
  

BlackRock, Inc.

New York, NY

   President & Director
  

BlackRock International, Ltd.

Edinburgh, Scotland

   President & Director
  

BlackRock (Japan), Inc.

New York, NY

   President & Director

 

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BlackRock Investments, Inc.

New York, NY

   Director
  

BlackRock Advisors, Inc.

Wilmington, DE

   President & Director
  

BlackRock Financial

Management, Inc.

New York, NY

   President & Director
  

BlackRock HPB

Management LLC

New York, NY

   Director

Keith T. Anderson

Vice Chairman

  

BlackRock Capital

Management, Inc.

Wilmington, DE

   Managing Director
  

BlackRock, Inc.

New York, NY

   Managing Director
  

BlackRock Advisors, Inc.

Wilmington, DE

   Managing Director
  

BlackRock Financial

Management, Inc.

New York, NY

   Managing Director
  

BlackRock International, Ltd.

Edinburgh, Scotland

   Managing Director
  

BlackRock (Japan), Inc.

New York, NY

   Managing Director

Mark G. Steinberg

Managing Director and Director

   None.    None

Susan L. Wagner

Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer

  

BlackRock, Inc.

New York, NY

   Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer

 

  2. Bogle Investment Management, LP:

The sole business activity of Bogle Investment Management, LP (“Bogle”), 2310 Washington Street, Suite 310, Newton Lower Falls, MA 02462, is to serve as an investment adviser. Bogle is registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

The directors and officers have not held any positions with other companies during the last two fiscal years.

 

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  3. Schneider Capital Management Company:

The sole business activity of Schneider Capital Management Company (“Schneider”), 460 E. Swedesford Road, Suite 1080, Wayne, PA 19087, is to serve as an investment adviser. Schneider is registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

Information as to the directors and officers of Schneider is as follows:

 

Name and Position with Schneider

  

Other Company

  

Position With Other Company

Arnold C. Schneider, III

President and Chief Investment Officer

   Turnbridge Management Partners Corp.    President

Steven J. Fellin

Sr. Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

   Turnbridge Management Partners Corp.    Vice President

 

  4. Robeco Investment Management , Inc.

The sole business activity of Robeco Investment Management, Inc. LLC (“RIM”), 909 Third Avenue, New York 10022, is to serve as an investment adviser. RIM provides investment advisory services to the Robeco Boston Partners Funds and the Robeco Weiss, Peck, & Greer Funds.

RIM is registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and serves as an investment adviser to domestic and foreign institutional investors, investment companies, commingled trust funds, private investment partnerships and collective investment vehicles. Information as to the directors and officers of Robeco Investment Management, Inc. is as follows:

 

Name and Position with RIM

  

Other Company

  

Position With Other Company

William J. Kelly

Chief Executive Officer

   None    None

Mary Ann Iudice

Chief Compliance Officer

   None    None

Roland Toppen

Senior Managing Director, Chief Financial Officer

   None    None

William George Butterly

Senior Managing Director, General Counsel

   None    None

James Ramsey

Senior Managing Director, Fixed Income

   PIMCO    Senior Vice President

Joseph F. Feeney

Senior Managing Director, Equity

   None    None

 

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Paul Heathwood

Senior Managing Director, Sales and Marketing

   None    None

Davis Barr Clayson

Senior Managing Director, Client Services

   None    None

George Moeller

Director

   None    None

Franciscus L. Kusse

Director

   None    None

Cornelis Korthout

Director

   None    None

 

  5. Hilliard Lyons Research Advisors:

Hilliard Lyons Research Advisors is located at 500 West Jefferson Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202. Hilliard Lyons Research Advisors is a division of J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, Inc. (“Hilliard”). Hilliard is registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and is also a registered broker-dealer. Hilliard is wholly-owned by The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.

Information as to the directors and executive officers of Hilliard is as follows:

 

Name and Position with Hilliard

  

Other Company

  

Position With Other Company

James M. Rogers

Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Director

   None    None

James R. Allen

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

   None    None

Paul J. Moretti

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

   None    None

William S. Demchak

Director

   PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.    Vice Chairman
   Blue Mountain Credit Alternatives, Ltd    Director
   Maximus American Marine, LLC    Owner

 

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Joseph C. Guyaux

Director

   PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.    President
  

Duquesne Light Holdings, Inc.

 

Private Export Funding Corp.

 

Highmark, Inc.

  

Director

 

Director

 

Director

Joan L. Gulley

Director

   PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.    Executive Vice President

John R. Bugh

Executive Vice President

   None    None

Carmella Miller

Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and Director

   None    None

Edward J. Kelly, III

Director

  

CSX Corp

 

Hartford Financial Services Group

 

Paris Re

  

Director

 

Director

 

Director

 

  6. Bear Stearns Asset Management Inc.

Bear Stearns Asset Management Inc. (“BSAM”) serves as the investment adviser to the Bear Stearns CUFS MLP Mortgage Portfolio and the Bear Stearns Enhanced Income Fund. BSAM is located at 237 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017. BSAM is a registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. BSAM’s Form ADV is available on the SEC’s website.

Information as to the directors and officers of BSAM is as follows:

 

Name and Position with BSAM

  

Other Company

  

Position With Other Company

Jeffrey B. Lane    Long Island Jewish Medical Center    Director

 

  8. Abundance Technologies, Inc.:

The sole business activity of Abundance Technologies, Inc., 3700 Park 42 Drive, Suite 105A

Cincinnati, OH 45241, is to serve as an investment adviser. Abundance Technologies is registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

Below is a list of each executive officer and director of Abundance Technologies indicating each business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each such person has been engaged within the last two years, for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, partner or trustee.

 

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Name and Position with Abundance
Technologies

  

Name of Other Company

  

Position With Other Company

Mark E Matson

President/CEO

   Abundance Horizons LLC    50% owner

Michelle Matson

Vice President/ Secretary

   None   

A. Lawain McNeil

Vice President

   None   

 

  9. Sustainable Asset Management USA, Inc.

The sole business activity of Sustainable Asset Management USA, Inc. (“SAM US”), 909 Third Avenue, New York 10022, is to serve as an investment adviser.

SAM US is registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and serves as an investment adviser to domestic and foreign institutional investors, investment companies, commingled trust funds, private investment partnerships and collective investment vehicles. Information as to the directors and officers of SAM US is as follows:

 

Name and Position with SAM US

  

Name of Other Company

  

Position With Other Company

Hugo Steensma

Managing Director & Director

   SAM Group Holding AG    Representative USA

Reto Ringger

Director & Chairman

   SAM Group Holding AG    Director & Chief Executive Officer

Marc Paul Joye

Director, Treasurer

   SAM Group Holding AG    Chief Financial Officer

Jacques Engeli

Chief Compliance Officer

   Julius Bear Investment Funds Services    Director

Christian Werner

Chief Investment Officer

   SAM Group Holding AG    Chief Investment Officer

William George Butterly

General Counsel

   Robeco Investment Management, Inc.    Senior Managing Director, General Counsel
   Robeco Investment Management (UK) Limited    Chief Legal Officer

 

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  Robeco Institutional Asset Management US Inc.    Chief Legal Officer

 

Item 27 . Principal Underwriter

 

  (a) PFPC Distributors, Inc. (“the Underwriter”) is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as a broker-dealer and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. As of October 22, 2007, the Underwriter acted as principal underwriter for the following investment companies:

AFBA 5 Star Funds, Inc.

Aston Funds

Atlantic Whitehall Funds Trust

BHR Institutional Funds

CRM Mutual Fund Trust

E.I.I. Realty Securities Trust

FundVantage Trust

GuideStone Funds

Highland Floating Rate Fund

Highland Floating Rate Advantage Fund

Highland Funds I

Kalmar Pooled Investment Trust

Matthews Asian Funds

Metropolitan West Funds

New Alternatives Fund

Old Westbury Funds

PAX World Funds Series Trust I

The RBB Fund, Inc.

Stratton Multi-Cap Fund

Stratton Monthly Dividend REIT Shares, Inc.

The Stratton Funds, Inc.

Sterling Capital Small Cap Value Fund

The Torray Fund

Van Wagoner Funds

Wilshire Mutual Funds, Inc.

Wilshire Variable Insurance Trust

Distributed by BB&T AM Distributors, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of PFPC Distributors, Inc.:

BB&T Funds

Distributed by BlackRock Distributors, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of PFPC Distributors, Inc.:

BlackRock Funds

BlackRock Bond Allocation Target Shares

BlackRock Liquidity Funds

International Dollar Reserve Fund I, Ltd.

 

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BlackRock Senior Floating Rate Fund, Inc.

BlackRock Senior Floating Rate Fund II, Inc.

BlackRock Balanced Capital Fund, Inc.

BlackRock Basic Value Fund II, Inc.

BlackRock Basic Value Fund, Inc.

BlackRock Basic Value Principal Protected Fund

BlackRock Bond Fund, Inc.

BlackRock California Municipal Series Trust

BlackRock Core Principal Protected Fund

BlackRock Developing Capital Markets Fund, Inc.

BlackRock Equity Dividend Fund

BlackRock EuroFund

BlackRock Focus Twenty Fund, Inc.

BlackRock Focus Value Fund, Inc.

BlackRock Fundamental Growth Fund, Inc.

BlackRock Fundamental Growth Principal Protected Fund

BlackRock Global Allocation Fund, Inc.

BlackRock Global Dynamic Equity Fund

BlackRock Global Financial Services Fund, Inc.

BlackRock Global Growth Fund, Inc.

BlackRock Global SmallCap Fund, Inc.

BlackRock Global Technology Fund, Inc.

BlackRock Global Value Fund, Inc.

BlackRock Healthcare Fund, Inc.

BlackRock Index Funds, Inc.

BlackRock International Value Fund

BlackRock Large Cap Series Funds, Inc.

BlackRock Latin America Fund, Inc.

BlackRock Mid Cap Value Opportunities Series, Inc.

BlackRock Multi-State Municipal Series Trust

BlackRock Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.

BlackRock Municipal Series Trust

BlackRock Natural Resources Trust

BlackRock Pacific Fund, Inc.

BlackRock Real Investment Fund

BlackRock Series Fund, Inc.

BlackRock Series, Inc.

BlackRock Short Term Bond Series, Inc.

BlackRock Short-Term U.S. Government Fund, Inc.

BlackRock U.S. Government Fund

BlackRock U.S. High Yield Trust

BlackRock Utilities and Telecommunications Fund, Inc.

BlackRock Value Opportunities Fund, Inc.

BlackRock Variable Series Funds, Inc.

 

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BlackRock World Income Fund, Inc.

FDP Series, Inc.

Financial Institutions Series Trust

Inflation Protected Fund

Managed Account Series

Master Institutional Money Market Trust

Merrill Lynch Funds for Institutions Series

Merrill Lynch Ready Assets Trust

Merrill Lynch Retirement Series Trust

Merrill Lynch U.S. Treasury Money Fund

Merrill Lynch USA Government Reserves Fund

The GNMA Investment Accumulation Program, Inc.

Distributed by MGI Funds Distributors, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of PFPC Distributors, Inc.:

MGI Funds

Distributed by Northern Funds Distributors, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of PFPC Distributors, Inc.:

Northern Funds

Northern Institutional Funds

 

  (b) The Underwriter is a Massachusetts corporation located at 760 Moore Road, King of Prussia, PA 19406. The Underwriter is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PFPC, Inc. and an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., a publicly traded company.

The following is a list of the directors and executive officers of the Underwriter:

 

Name

  

Position(s) with Underwriter

Steven Turowski    President; Chief Executive Officer
Michael Denofrio    Director
Nicholas Marsini    Director
Rita G. Adler    Chief Compliance Officer
John Munera    Anti-Money Laundering Officer
Jodi Jamison    Chief Legal Officer
Bradley A. Stearns    Secretary; Clerk
Julie Bartos    Assistant Secretary; Assistant Clerk
Charlene Wilson    Treasurer; Chief Financial Officer;
   Financial & Operations Principal
Maria Schaffer    Assistant Treasurer; Controller
Bruno Di Stefano    Vice President
Susan K. Moscaritolo    Vice President

 

Item 28. LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS

 

(1) PFPC Trust Company (assignee under custodian agreement), 8800 Tinicum Boulevard, Suite 200, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19153 (records relating to its functions as sub-adviser and custodian).

 

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(2) PFPC Distributors, Inc., 760 Moore Road, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania 19406. (records relating to its functions as principal underwriter).

 

(3) BlackRock Institutional Management Corporation, Bellevue Corporate Center, 100 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809 (records relating to its functions as investment adviser, sub-adviser and administrator).

 

(4) PFPC Inc., Bellevue Corporate Center, 103 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809 (records relating to its functions as transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent).

 

(5) Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, One Logan Square, 18th and Cherry Streets, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 (Registrant’s Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws and Minute Books).

 

(6) Robeco Investment Management, Inc. (formerly Boston Partners Asset Management, L.L.C.), 28 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111 (records relating to its function as investment adviser).

 

(7) Schneider Capital Management Co., 460 East Swedesford Road, Suite 1080, Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087 (records relating to its function as investment adviser).

 

(8) Bogle Investment Management, L.P., 57 River Street, Suite 206, Wellesley, Massachusetts 02481 (records relating to its function as investment adviser).

 

(9) Robeco Investment Management, Inc. (formerly Weiss, Peck & Greer Investments), 909 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10022 (records relating to its function as investment adviser).

 

(10) Hilliard Lyons Research Advisors, a division of J. J. B. Hilliard, W. L. Lyons, Inc., 500 West Jefferson Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202 (records relating to its function as investment adviser).

 

(11) Bear Stearns & Co. Inc., 237 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017 (records relating to its function as investment adviser).

 

(12) Marvin & Palmer Associates, Inc., 1201 N. Market Street, Suite 2300, Wilmington, Delaware 19801-1165 (records relating to its function as investment adviser).

 

(13) Abundance Technologies, Inc., 3700 Park 42 Drive, Suite 105A, Cincinnati, OH 45241 (records relating to its function as investment adviser).

 

(14) Sustainable Asset Management USA, Inc., 909 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10022 (records relating to its function as investment adviser).

 

Item 29. MANAGEMENT SERVICES

None.

 

Item 30. UNDERTAKINGS

 

(a) Registrant hereby undertakes to hold a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of considering the removal of directors in the event the requisite number of shareholders so request.

 

(b) Registrant hereby undertakes to furnish each person to whom a prospectus is delivered a copy of Registrant’s latest annual report to shareholders upon request and without charge.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 to its Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized, in the City of Wilmington, and State of Delaware on the 17th day of December, 2007.

 

THE RBB FUND, INC.
By:   /s/ Edward J. Roach
 

Edward J. Roach

President and Treasurer

Pursuant to the requirements of the 1933 Act, this Post-Effective Amendment to Registrant’s Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.

 

SIGNATURE

  

TITLE

 

DATE

/s/ Edward J. Roach

Edward J. Roach

  

President (Principal Executive Officer) and

Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

  December 17, 2007

*J. Richard Carnall

J. Richard Carnall

   Director   December 17, 2007

*Francis J. McKay

Francis J. McKay

   Director   December 17, 2007

*Marvin E. Sternberg

Marvin E. Sternberg

   Director   December 17, 2007

*Julian A. Brodsky

Julian A. Brodsky

   Director   December 17, 2007

*Arnold M. Reichman

Arnold M. Reichman

   Director   December 17, 2007

*Robert Sablowsky

Robert Sablowsky

   Director   December 17, 2007

*Robert Straniere

Robert Straniere

   Director   December 17, 2007

*Nicholas A. Giordano

Nicholas A. Giordano

   Director   December 17, 2007

*Mark A. Sargent

Mark A. Sargent

   Director   December 17, 2007

*By: /s/ Edward J. Roach

Edward J. Roach

   Director   December 17, 2007

Attorney-in-Fact

    

 

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THE RBB FUND, INC.

(the “Company”)

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Know All Men by These Presents, that the undersigned, Francis J. McKay, hereby constitutes and appoints Edward J. Roach and Michael P. Malloy, his true and lawful attorneys, to execute in his name, place, and stead, in his capacity as Director or officer, or both, of the Company, the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto and all instruments necessary or incidental in connection therewith, and to file the same with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and said attorneys shall have full power and authority to do and perform in his name and on his behalf, in any and all capacities, every act whatsoever requisite or necessary to be done in the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, said acts of said attorneys being hereby ratified and approved.

 

DATED:   November 9, 2000
  /s/ Francis J. McKay
  Francis J. McKay

 

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THE RBB FUND, INC.

(the “Company”)

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Know All Men by These Presents, that the undersigned, Marvin E. Sternberg, hereby constitutes and appoints Edward J. Roach and Michael P. Malloy, his true and lawful attorneys, to execute in his name, place, and stead, in his capacity as Director or officer, or both, of the Company, the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto and all instruments necessary or incidental in connection therewith, and to file the same with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and said attorneys shall have full power and authority to do and perform in his name and on his behalf, in any and all capacities, every act whatsoever requisite or necessary to be done in the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, said acts of said attorneys being hereby ratified and approved.

 

DATED:   November 9, 2000
  /s/ Marvin E. Sternberg
  Marvin E. Sternberg

 

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THE RBB FUND, INC.

(the “Company”)

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Know All Men by These Presents, that the undersigned, Julian Brodsky, hereby constitutes and appoints Edward J. Roach and Michael P. Malloy, his true and lawful attorneys, to execute in his name, place, and stead, in his capacity as Director or officer, or both, of the Company, the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto and all instruments necessary or incidental in connection therewith, and to file the same with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and said attorneys shall have full power and authority to do and perform in his name and on his behalf, in any and all capacities, every act whatsoever requisite or necessary to be done in the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, said acts of said attorneys being hereby ratified and approved.

 

DATED:   November 9, 2000
  /s/ Julian Brodsky
  Julian Brodsky

 

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THE RBB FUND, INC.

(the “Company”)

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Know All Men by These Presents, that the undersigned, Arnold Reichman, hereby constitutes and appoints Edward J. Roach and Michael P. Malloy, his true and lawful attorneys, to execute in his name, place, and stead, in his capacity as Director or officer, or both, of the Company, the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto and all instruments necessary or incidental in connection therewith, and to file the same with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and said attorneys shall have full power and authority to do and perform in his name and on his behalf, in any and all capacities, every act whatsoever requisite or necessary to be done in the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, said acts of said attorneys being hereby ratified and approved.

 

DATED:   November 9, 2000
  /s/ Arnold Reichman
  Arnold Reichman

 

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THE RBB FUND, INC.

(the “Company”)

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Know All Men by These Presents, that the undersigned, Robert Sablowsky, hereby constitutes and appoints Edward J. Roach and Michael P. Malloy, his true and lawful attorneys, to execute in his name, place, and stead, in his capacity as Director or officer, or both, of the Company, the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto and all instruments necessary or incidental in connection therewith, and to file the same with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and said attorneys shall have full power and authority to do and perform in his name and on his behalf, in any and all capacities, every act whatsoever requisite or necessary to be done in the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, said acts of said attorneys being hereby ratified and approved.

 

DATED:   November 9, 2000
  /s/ Robert Sablowsky
  Robert Sablowsky

 

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THE RBB FUND, INC.

(the “Company”)

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Know All Men by These Presents, that the undersigned, J. Richard Carnall, hereby constitutes and appoints Edward J. Roach and Michael P. Malloy, his true and lawful attorneys, to execute in his name, place, and stead, in his capacity as Director or officer, or both, of the Company, the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto and all instruments necessary or incidental in connection therewith, and to file the same with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and said attorneys shall have full power and authority to do and perform in his name and on his behalf, in any and all capacities, every act whatsoever requisite or necessary to be done in the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, said acts of said attorneys being hereby ratified and approved.

 

DATED:   September 10, 2002
  /s/ J. Richard Carnall
  J. Richard Carnall

 

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Table of Contents

THE RBB FUND, INC.

(the “Company”)

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Know All Men by These Presents, that the undersigned, Robert Straniere, hereby constitutes and appoints Edward J. Roach and Michael P. Malloy, his true and lawful attorneys, to execute in his name, place, and stead, in his capacity as Director or officer, or both, of the Company, the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto and all instruments necessary or incidental in connection therewith, and to file the same with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and said attorneys shall have full power and authority to do and perform in his name and on his behalf, in any and all capacities, every act whatsoever requisite or necessary to be done in the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, said acts of said attorneys being hereby ratified and approved.

 

DATED:   June 8, 2006
  /s/ Robert Straniere
  Robert Straniere

 

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Table of Contents

THE RBB FUND, INC.

(the “Company”)

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Know All Men by These Presents, that the undersigned, Mark A. Sargent, hereby constitutes and appoints Edward J. Roach and Michael P. Malloy, his true and lawful attorneys, to execute in his name, place, and stead, in his capacity as Director or officer, or both, of the Company, the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto and all instruments necessary or incidental in connection therewith, and to file the same with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and said attorneys shall have full power and authority to do and perform in his name and on his behalf, in any and all capacities, every act whatsoever requisite or necessary to be done in the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, said acts of said attorneys being hereby ratified and approved.

 

DATED:   September 21, 2006
  /s/ Mark A. Sargent
  Mark A. Sargent

 

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Table of Contents

THE RBB FUND, INC.

(the “Company”)

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Know All Men by These Presents, that the undersigned, Nicholas A. Giordano, hereby constitutes and appoints Edward J. Roach and Michael P. Malloy, his true and lawful attorneys, to execute in his name, place, and stead, in his capacity as Director or officer, or both, of the Company, the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto and all instruments necessary or incidental in connection therewith, and to file the same with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and said attorneys shall have full power and authority to do and perform in his name and on his behalf, in any and all capacities, every act whatsoever requisite or necessary to be done in the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, said acts of said attorneys being hereby ratified and approved.

 

DATED:   September 21, 2006
  /s/ Nicholas A. Giordano
  Nicholas A. Giordano

 

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Table of Contents

PEA 123

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit  

Description

(a)(53)   Articles Supplementary (Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund).
(i)(1)   Opinion of Counsel.
(i)(2)   Consent of Counsel.

 

- 45 -

THE RBB FUND, INC.

ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY

THE RBB FUND, INC., a Maryland corporation having its principal office in Baltimore, Maryland (hereinafter called the “Corporation”), hereby certifies to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland that:

FIRST: In accordance with the requirements of Section 2-208 of the Maryland General Corporation Law, the Board of Directors of the Corporation has classified: 1) One Hundred Million (100,000,000) authorized but unclassified and unissued shares of Common Stock of the Corporation as Class NNNN shares of Common Stock representing interests in the Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund – Class A and 2) One Hundred Million (100,000,000) authorized but unclassified and unissued shares of Common Stock of the Corporation as Class OOOO shares of Common Stock representing interests in the Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund – Class I pursuant to the following resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation on July 3, 2007:

RESOLVED , that pursuant to the authority expressly given to the Board of Directors in Article VI, Section (4) of the Corporation’s Charter, the Board hereby classifies authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock of the Corporation, par value $.001 per share, and hereby fixes and determines the rights, preferences, restrictions and other matters relating to such classes of Common Stock as follows:

1. Class NNNN Shares . One Hundred Million (100,000,000) of the authorized, unissued and unclassified shares of the Corporation (par value $.001 per share) are hereby classified and designated as Class NNNN shares of Common Stock representing interests in Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund – Class A.

2. Class OOOO Shares . One Hundred Million (100,000,000) of the authorized, unissued and unclassified shares of the Corporation (par value $.001 per share) are hereby classified and designated as Class OOOO shares of Common Stock representing interests in the Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund – Class I.

FURTHER RESOLVED, that a description of the shares so classified with the preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption as set or changed by the Board of Directors of the Corporation is as set forth in Article VI,

 


section (6) of the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation and as set forth elsewhere in the Charter of the Corporation with respect to stock of the Corporation generally, and as follows:

1. To the full extent permitted by applicable law, the Corporation may, without the vote of the shares of any class of capital stock of the Corporation then outstanding and if so determined by the Board of Directors:

(A)(1) sell and convey the assets belonging to Class NNNN or Class OOOO Common Stock (each a “Class”) to another trust or corporation that is a management investment company (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) and is organized under the laws of any state of the United States for consideration, which may include the assumption of all outstanding obligations, taxes and other liabilities, accrued or contingent, belonging to such Class and which may include securities issued by such trust or corporation. Following such sale and conveyance, and after making provision for the payment of any liabilities belonging to such Class that are not assumed by the purchaser of the assets belonging to such Class, the Corporation may, at its option, redeem all outstanding shares of such Class at the net asset value thereof as determined by the Board of Directors in accordance with the provisions of applicable law, less such redemption fee or other charge, if any, as may be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Charter of the Corporation to the contrary, the redemption price may be paid in any combination of cash or other assets belonging to such Class, including but not limited to the distribution of the securities or other consideration received by the Corporation for the assets belonging to such Class upon such conditions as the Board of Directors deems, in its sole discretion, to be appropriate and consistent with applicable law and the Charter of the Corporation;

(2) sell and convert the assets belonging to a Class into money and, after making provision for the payment of all obligations, taxes and other liabilities, accrued or contingent, belonging to such Class, the Corporation may, at its option, redeem all outstanding shares of such Class at the net asset value thereof as determined by the Board of Directors in accordance with the provisions of applicable law, less such redemption fee or other charge, if any, as may be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors upon such conditions as the Board of Directors deems, in its sole discretion, to be appropriate and consistent with applicable law and the Charter of the Corporation; or

(3) combine the assets belonging to a Class with the assets belonging to any one or more other classes of capital stock of the Corporation if the Board of Directors reasonably determines that such combination will not have a material adverse effect on the stockholders of any class of capital stock of the Corporation participating in such combination. In connection with any such combination of assets, the shares of the Class then outstanding may, if so determined by the Board of Directors, be converted into shares of any other class or classes of capital stock of the Corporation with respect to which conversion is permitted by applicable law, or may be redeemed, at the option of the Corporation, at the net asset value thereof as determined by the Board of Directors in accordance with the provisions of applicable

 

-2-


law, less such redemption fee or other charge, or conversion cost, if any, as may be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors upon such conditions as the Board of Directors deems, in its sole discretion, to be appropriate and consistent with applicable law and the Charter of the Corporation. Notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles Supplementary or the Articles of Incorporation to the contrary, any redemption price, or part thereof, paid pursuant to this section may be paid in shares of any other existing or future class or classes of capital stock of the Corporation; and

(B) without limiting the foregoing, at its option, redeem shares of the Classes for any other reason if the Board of Directors has determined that it is in the best interest of the Corporation to do so. Any such redemption shall be at the net asset value of such shares of such Class being redeemed less such redemption fee or other charge, if any, as may be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors and shall be made and effective upon such terms and in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Directors at such time.

2. The shares of Class NNNN Common Stock and Class OOOO Common Stock will be issued without stock certificates.

SECOND: The shares aforesaid have been duly classified by the Board of Directors of the Corporation pursuant to authority and power contained in the Charter of the Corporation.

THIRD: (1) Immediately before the classification of additional authorized, unissued and unclassified shares of Common Stock as Class NNNN Common Stock and Class OOOO Common Stock:

(a) the Corporation had the authority to issue one hundred billion (100,000,000,000) shares of its Common Stock and the aggregate par value of all the shares of all classes was one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000); and

(b) the number of authorized shares of each class was as follows:

 

Class A

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class B

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class C

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class D

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class E

   -    five hundred million (500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class F

   -    five hundred million (500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class G

   -    five hundred million (500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

 

-3-


Class H

   -    five hundred million (500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class I

   -    one billion five hundred million (1,500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class J

   -    five hundred million (500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class K

   -    five hundred million (500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class L

   -    one billion five hundred million (1,500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class M

   -    five hundred million (500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class N

   -    five hundred million (500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class O

   -    five hundred million (500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class P

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Q

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class R

   -    five hundred million (500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class S

   -    five hundred million (500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class T

   -    five hundred million (500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class U

   -    five hundred million (500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class V

   -    five hundred million (500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class W

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class X

   -    fifty million (50,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Y

   -    fifty million (50,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Z

   -    fifty million (50,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class AA

   -    fifty million (50,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class BB

   -    fifty million (50,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class CC

   -    fifty million (50,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class DD

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

 

-4-


Class EE

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class FF

   -    fifty million (50,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class GG

   -    fifty million (50,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class HH

   -    fifty million (50,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class II

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class JJ

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class KK

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class LL

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class MM

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class NN

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class OO

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class PP

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class QQ

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class RR

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class SS

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class TT

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class UU

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class VV

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class WW

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class YY

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class ZZ

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class AAA

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class BBB

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class CCC

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

 

-5-


Class DDD

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class EEE

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class FFF

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class GGG

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class HHH

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class III

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class JJJ

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class KKK

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class LLL

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class MMM

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class NNN

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class OOO

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class PPP

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class QQQ

   -    two billion five hundred million (2,500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class RRR

   -    two billion five hundred million (2,500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class SSS

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class TTT

   -    fifty million (50,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class UUU

   -    fifty million (50,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class VVV

   -    fifty million (50,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class WWW

   -    fifty million (50,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class XXX

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class YYY

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class ZZZ

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

 

-6-


Class AAAA

   -   

fifty billion (50,000,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class BBBB

   -   

one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class CCCC

   -   

one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class DDDD

   -   

one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class EEEE

   -   

one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class FFFF

   -   

one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class GGGG

   -   

one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class HHHH

   -   

one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class IIII

   -   

one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class JJJJ

   -   

one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class KKKK

   -   

one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class LLLL

   -   

one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class MMMM

   -   

one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Select

   -   

seven hundred million (700,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Beta 2

   -   

one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Beta 3

   -   

one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Beta 4

   -   

one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Principal Money

     

seven hundred million (700,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Gamma 2

   -   

one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Gamma 3

   -   

one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Gamma 4

   -   

one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Bear Stearns

  

Money

   -   

two billion five hundred million (2,500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

 

-7-


Class Bear Stearns

     

Municipal Money

   -    one billion five hundred million (1,500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Bear Stearns

     

Government Money

   -    one billion (1,000,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Delta 4

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Epsilon 1

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Epsilon 2

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Epsilon 3

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Epsilon 4

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Zeta 1

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Zeta 2

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Zeta 3

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Zeta 4

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Eta 1

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Eta 2

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Eta 3

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Eta 4

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Theta 1

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Theta 2

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Theta 3

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Theta 4

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

for a total of seventy-seven billion eight hundred seventy-three million (77,873,000,000) shares classified into separate classes of Common Stock.

 

-8-


(2) After the classification of additional authorized, unissued and unclassified shares of Common Stock as Class NNNN and Class OOOO Common Stock:

(a) the Corporation has the authority to issue one hundred billion (100,000,000,000) shares of its Common Stock and the aggregate par value of all the shares of all classes is one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000); and

(b) the number of authorized shares of each class is now as follows:

 

Class A

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class B

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class C

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class D

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class E

   -    five hundred million (500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class F

   -    five hundred million (500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class G

   -    five hundred million (500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class H

   -    five hundred million (500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class I

   -    one billion five hundred million (1,500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class J

   -    five hundred million (500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class K

   -    five hundred million (500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class L

   -    one billion five hundred million (1,500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class M

   -    five hundred million (500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class N

   -    five hundred million (500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class O

   -    five hundred million (500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class P

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Q

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class R

   -    five hundred million (500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class S

   -    five hundred million (500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class T

   -    five hundred million (500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

 

-9-


Class U

   -    five hundred million (500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class V

   -    five hundred million (500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class W

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class X

   -    fifty million (50,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Y

   -    fifty million (50,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Z

   -    fifty million (50,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class AA

   -    fifty million (50,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class BB

   -    fifty million (50,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class CC

   -    fifty million (50,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class DD

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class EE

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class FF

   -    fifty million (50,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class GG

   -    fifty million (50,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class HH

   -    fifty million (50,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class II

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class JJ

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class KK

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class LL

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class MM

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class NN

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class OO

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class PP

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class QQ

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class RR

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

 

-10-


Class SS

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class TT

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class UU

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class VV

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class WW

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class YY

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class ZZ

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class AAA

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class BBB

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class CCC

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class DDD

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class EEE

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class FFF

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class GGG

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class HHH

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class III

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class JJJ

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class KKK

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class LLL

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class MMM

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class NNN

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class OOO

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class PPP

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

 

-11-


Class QQQ

   -    two billion five hundred million (2,500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class RRR

   -    two billion five hundred million (2,500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class SSS

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class TTT

   -    fifty million (50,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class UUU

   -    fifty million (50,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class VVV

   -    fifty million (50,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class WWW

   -    fifty million (50,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class XXX

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class YYY

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class ZZZ

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class AAAA

   -    fifty billion (50,000,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class BBBB

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class CCCC

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class DDDD

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class EEEE

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class FFFF

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class GGGG

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class HHHH

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class IIII

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class JJJJ

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class KKKK

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class LLLL

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class MMMM

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

 

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Class NNNN

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class OOOO

   -    one hundred million (100,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Select

   -    seven hundred million (700,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Beta 2

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Beta 3

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Beta 4

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Principal Money

      seven hundred million (700,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Gamma 2

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Gamma 3

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Gamma 4

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Bear Stearns

     

Money

   -    two billion five hundred million (2,500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Bear Stearns

     

Municipal Money

   -    one billion five hundred million (1,500,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Bear Stearns

     

Government Money

   -    one billion (1,000,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Delta 4

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Epsilon 1

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Epsilon 2

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Epsilon 3

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Epsilon 4

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Zeta 1

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Zeta 2

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Zeta 3

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

 

-13-


Class Zeta 4

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Eta 1

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Eta 2

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Eta 3

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Eta 4

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Theta 1

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Theta 2

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Theta 3

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

Class Theta 4

   -    one million (1,000,000), par value $.001 per share;

for a total of seventy-eight billion seventy-three million (78,073,000,000) shares classified into separate classes of Common Stock.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, The RBB Fund, Inc. has caused these presents to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its President and witnessed by its Secretary on the 17 th day of December, 2007.

 

WITNESS:     THE RBB FUND, INC.
By:  

/s/ Jennifer Rogers

    By:  

/s/ Edward J. Roach

 

Jennifer Rogers

Secretary

     

Edward J. Roach

President

 

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CERTIFICATE

THE UNDERSIGNED, President of The RBB Fund, Inc., who executed on behalf of said Corporation the foregoing Articles Supplementary to the Charter, of which this certificate is made a part, hereby acknowledges that the foregoing Articles Supplementary are the act of the said Corporation and further certifies that, to the best of his knowledge, information and belief, the matters and facts set forth therein with respect to the approval thereof are true in all material respects, under the penalties of perjury.

/s/ Edward J. Roach

Edward J. Roach

President and Treasurer

 

-15-

Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

One Logan Square

18 th and Cherry Streets

Philadelphia, PA 19103-6996

Telephone: (215) 988-2700

Fax: (215) 988-2757

www.drinkerbiddle.com

December 17, 2007

The RBB Fund, Inc.

Bellevue Park Corporate Center

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, Delaware 19809

 

  RE: Shares Registered by Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 to Registration
       Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 33-20827)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to The RBB Fund, Inc. (the “Company”) in connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 (the “Amendment”) to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Board of Directors of the Company has authorized the issuance and sale by the Company of the following classes and numbers of shares of common stock, $ .001 par value per share (collectively, the “Shares”), with respect to the Company’s Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US Core Equity Fund.

 

PORTFOLIO

   CLASS    AUTHORIZED SHARES

Bear Stearns Multifactor 130/30 US

   NNNN
   100 million

Core Equity Fund

   OOOO
   100 million

The Amendment seeks to register an indefinite number of the Shares.

We have reviewed the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, ByLaws, resolutions of its Board of Directors, and such other legal and factual matters as we have deemed appropriate. This opinion is based exclusively on the Maryland General Corporation Law and the federal law of the United States of America.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, it is our opinion that the Shares, when issued for payment as described in the Company’s Prospectuses offering the Shares and in accordance with the Company’s Articles of Incorporation for not less than $ .0001 per share, will be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable by the Company.

 


The RBB Fund, Inc.

Page 2

December 17, 2007

We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Amendment to the Company’s Registration Statement.

 

Sincerely yours,
/s/ Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

CONSENT OF COUNSEL

We hereby consent to the use of our name and to the reference to our Firm under the caption “Counsel” in the Statement of Additional Information that is included in Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 to the Registration Statement (No. 33-20827; 811-5518) on Form N-1A of The RBB Fund, Inc., under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, respectively. This consent does not constitute a consent under section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, and in consenting to the use of our name and the references to our Firm under such caption we have not certified any part of the Registration Statement and do not otherwise come within the categories of persons whose consent is required under said section 7 or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.

 

/s/ Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
DRINKER BIDDLE & REATH LLP

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

December 17, 2007