-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, P2USj/16Z+PxLKjLBfq95Oro9j4XBYBNH977SgCRUqZqiHRCh2PYWqircZHFNdB8 pSwhp45OWMcOQvXUzJpm3A== 0000907244-97-000028.txt : 19970507 0000907244-97-000028.hdr.sgml : 19970507 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000907244-97-000028 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 497 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 19970506 SROS: NONE FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: KEYSTONE HIGH INCOME BOND FUND B-4 CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000055614 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: [] IRS NUMBER: 042394421 FISCAL YEAR END: 0731 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 497 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 002-10526 FILM NUMBER: 97596221 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 200 BERKELEY STREET CITY: BOSTON STATE: MA ZIP: 02116 BUSINESS PHONE: 6173383200 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 200 BERKELEY STREET CITY: BOSTON STATE: MA ZIP: 02116 497 1 KEYSTONE HIGH INCOME BOND FUND (B-4) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PROSPECTUS NOVEMBER 29, 1996 AS SUPPLEMENTED MAY 1, 1997 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ KEYSTONE HIGH INCOME BOND FUND (B-4) 200 BERKELEY STREET, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02116-5034 CALL TOLL FREE 1-800-343-2898 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Keystone High Income Bond Fund (B-4) (the "Fund") is a mutual fund whose investment objective is generous income. The generous income sought by the Fund is ordinarily associated with high yield, high risk bonds and similar securities in the lower rating categories of the recognized rating agencies or with securities that are unrated. Your purchase payment is fully invested. There is no sales charge when you buy the Fund's shares. With certain exceptions, the Fund imposes a deferred sales charge, which declines from 4.00% to 1.00%, if you redeem your shares within four years of purchase. The Fund has adopted a Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act") under which it bears some of the costs of selling its shares to the public. This prospectus sets forth concisely the information about the Fund that you should know before investing. Please read it and retain it for future reference. Additional information about the Fund is contained in a statement of additional information dated November 29, 1996, as supplemented from time to time, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is incorporated by reference into this prospectus. For a free copy, or for other information about the Fund, write to the address or call the telephone number listed above. SHARES OF THE FUND ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR GUARANTEED OR ENDORSED BY, ANY BANK, AND SHARES ARE NOT INSURED OR OTHERWISE PROTECTED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY AND INVOLVE RISK, INCLUDING THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF PRINCIPAL. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TABLE OF CONTENTS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page Page Expense Information .............. 2 Distribution Plan ................ 12 Financial Highlights ............. 3 How to Buy Shares ................ 14 Fund Description ................. 4 How to Redeem Shares ............. 15 Investment Objective and Policies 4 Shareholder Services ............. 16 Investment Restrictions .......... 5 Performance Data ................. 18 Risk Factors ..................... 6 Fund Shares ...................... 18 Pricing Shares ................... 8 Additional Information ........... 18 Dividends and Taxes .............. 9 Additional Investment Information (i) Fund Management and Expenses ..... 10 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ EXPENSE INFORMATION KEYSTONE HIGH INCOME BOND FUND (B-4) The purpose of the fee table is to assist investors in understanding the costs and expenses that an investor in the Fund will bear directly or indirectly. For more complete descriptions of the various costs and expenses, see the following sections of this prospectus: "Fund Management and Expenses"; "How to Buy Shares"; "Distribution Plan"; and "Shareholder Services." SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTION EXPENSES Maximum Deferred Sales Charge(1) ..................... 4.00% (as a percentage of the lesser of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, as applicable) ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES(2) (as a percentage of average net assets) Management Fees ...................................... 0.56% 12b-1 Fees(3) ........................................ 1.00% Other Expenses ....................................... 0.38% ---- Total Fund Operating Expenses ........................ 1.94% ==== 1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS ------ ------- ------- -------- EXAMPLE(4) You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment, assuming (1) a 5% annual return and (2) redemption at the end of each period: ............................ $60 $81 $105 $226 You would pay the following expenses on the same investment, assuming no redemption: ........................ $20 $61 $105 $226 AMOUNTS SHOWN IN THE EXAMPLE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A REPRESENTATION OF PAST OR FUTURE EXPENSES; ACTUAL EXPENSES MAY BE GREATER OR LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN. - ---------- (1) The deferred sales charge declines from 4.00% to 1.00% of amounts redeemed within four calendar years after purchase. No deferred sales charge is imposed thereafter. (2) Expense ratios are for the Fund's fiscal year ended July 31, 1996. Total Fund Operating Expenses include indirectly paid expenses. (3) Long-term shareholders may pay more than the economic equivalent of the maximum front-end sales charges permitted by rules adopted by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD"). (4) The Securities and Exchange Commission requires use of a 5% annual return figure for purposes of this example. Actual return for the Fund may be greater or less than 5%. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS KEYSTONE HIGH INCOME BOND FUND (B-4) (For a share outstanding throughout each year) The following table contains important financial information relating to the Fund and has been audited by KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, the Fund's independent auditors. The table appears in the Fund's Annual Report and should be read in conjunction with the Fund's financial statements and related notes, which also appear, together with the independent auditors' report, in the Fund's Annual Report. The Fund's financial statements, related notes, and independent auditors' report are incorporated by reference into the statement of additional information. Additional information about the Fund's performance is contained in its Annual Report, which will be made available upon request and without charge.
YEAR ENDED JULY 31, --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ NET ASSET VALUE BEGINNING OF YEAR . $ 4.42 $ 4.68 $ 5.13 $ 4.74 $ 4.19 $ 5.02 $ 6.38 $ 6.91 $ 7.66 $ 8.08 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS Net investment income ............ 0.32 0.38 0.38 0.45 0.49 0.61 0.68 0.83 0.80 0.81 Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments ....... (0.27) (0.15) (0.38) 0.44 0.58 (0.72) (1.18) (0.51) (0.71) (0.26) ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Total from investment operations ........ 0.05 0.23 0 0.89 1.07 (0.11) (0.50) 0.32 0.09 0.55 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: Net investment income ............ (0.31) (0.37) (0.38) (0.45) (0.50) (0.72) (0.78) (0.85) (0.84) (0.90) In excess of net investment income . (0.06) (0.02) (0.07) (0.05) (0.02) 0 (0.08) 0 0 0 Tax basis return of capital ........... 0 (0.10) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Net realized gain on investments ....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (0.07) ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Total distributions (0.37) (0.49) (0.45) (0.50) (0.52) (0.72) (0.86) (0.85) (0.84) (0.97) ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ NET ASSET VALUE END OF YEAR ........... $ 4.10 $ 4.42 $ 4.68 $ 5.13 $ 4.74 $ 4.19 $ 5.02 $ 6.38 $ 6.91 $ 7.66 ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== TOTAL RETURN (a) ... 1.38% 5.66% (0.41%) 20.28% 27.25% 0.03% (7.84%) 4.95% 1.66% 7.15% RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: Total expenses .... 1.94%(b) 2.03% 1.84% 2.06% 2.17% 2.34% 2.06% 1.97% 1.82% 1.65% Net investment income .......... 7.92% 8.64% 7.57% 9.30% 10.86% 14.64% 12.77% 12.36% 11.29% 10.26% Portfolio turnover rate .............. 116% 82% 110% 125% 94% 78% 45% 75% 81% 135% NET ASSETS END OF YEAR (THOUSANDS) .. $593,681 $764,965 $766,283 $972,164 $841,757 $710,590 $820,940 $1,188,660 $1,274,673 $1,464,891 (a) Excluding applicable sales charges. (b) The expense ratio includes indirectly paid expenses for the year ended July 31, 1996. Excluding indirectly paid expenses, the expense ratio would have been 1.93%.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ FUND DESCRIPTION - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Fund is an open-end, diversified management investment company, commonly known as a mutual fund. The Fund was created under Pennsylvania law as a common law trust and has been offering its shares continuously since September 11, 1935. The Fund is one of more than thirty funds advised and managed by Keystone Investment Management Company ("Keystone"), the Fund's investment adviser. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE The Fund's investment objective is to provide shareholders with generous income. The Fund's investment objective is fundamental and cannot be changed without the approval of a majority of the Fund's outstanding shares (as defined in the 1940 Act), which means the lesser of (1) 67% of the shares represented at a meeting at which more than 50% of the outstanding shares are represented or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding shares (a "1940 Act Majority"). Any investment involves risk, and there is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. PRINCIPAL INVESTMENTS Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 65% of its total assets in bonds, debentures, and other income obligations. The Fund's portfolio ordinarily includes a substantial number of bonds, debentures, and other income obligations that are rated by Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P") or Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") as below investment grade, i.e., S&P rating below BBB and Moody's rating below BAA. While growth of capital is not a Fund objective, the Fund may purchase securities that offer the possibility of capital appreciation in addition to income, provided the acquisition of such securities does not conflict with the Fund's objective of generous income. The Fund may purchase securities with any rating or may purchase unrated securities, which are not necessarily of lower quality than rated securities, but may not be as attractive to as many buyers. While Keystone performs its own credit analyses of the Fund's investments and does not rely on ratings assigned by rating services, bonds rated below-investment grade generally involve greater volatility of price and risk of principal and income than bonds in the higher rating categories and are, on balance, considered predominantly speculative. In addition to its other investment options, the Fund may invest in limited partnerships, including master limited partnerships, and may invest up to 25% of its assets in foreign securities. The Fund may also invest in participations in bank loans. OTHER ELIGIBLE INVESTMENTS When market conditions warrant, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets for temporary or defensive purposes in short-term investments. Such investments, which must mature within one year of their purchase, consist of United States ("U.S.") government securities; instruments, including certificates of deposit, demand and time deposits and bankers' acceptances, of banks that are members of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and have assets of at least $1 billion, including U.S. branches of foreign banks and foreign branches of U.S. banks; prime commercial paper, including master demand notes; and repurchase agreements secured by U.S. government securities. When the Fund invests for defensive purposes, it seeks to limit the loss of principal and is not pursuing its investment objective. The Fund's investments may include fixed and adjustable rate or stripped bonds, including zero coupon bonds and payment-in-kind securities ("PIKs"), debentures, notes, equipment trust certificates, U.S. government securities, and debt securities convertible into or exchangeable for preferred or common stock. The Fund may continue to hold preferred or common stock received in connection with convertible or exchangeable securities. The Fund may also invest in units consisting of debt securities with stock or warrants to buy stock attached. The Fund may also invest in preferred stock, including convertible preferred stock and adjustable rate preferred stock; warrants, which may be used to create other permissible investments; and common stock of issuers that are objects of acquisition attempts, are undergoing reorganization through bankruptcy or otherwise, or are in the process of refinancing. Investments in common stocks of such issuers are expected to provide the Fund with the opportunity to receive high-yielding, fixed-income securities. Investments in common stocks will be limited to those stocks that Keystone believes will assist the Fund in achieving its investment objective. The Fund intends to follow policies of the Securities and Exchange Commission as they are adopted from time to time with respect to illiquid securities, including, at this time, (1) treating as illiquid, securities that may not be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business within seven days at approximately the value at which the Fund has valued the investment on its books and (2) limiting its holdings of such securities to 15% of net assets. The Fund may invest in restricted securities, including securities eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act"). Generally, Rule 144A establishes a safe harbor from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act for resale by large institutional investors of securities not publicly traded in the U.S. The Fund may purchase Rule 144A securities when such securities present an attractive investment opportunity and otherwise meet the Fund's selection criteria. The Board of Trustees has adopted guidelines and procedures pursuant to which the liquidity of the Fund's Rule 144A securities is determined by Keystone, and the Board of Trustees monitors Keystone's implementation of such guidelines and procedures. At the present time, the Fund cannot accurately predict exactly how the market for Rule 144A securities will develop. A Rule 144A security that was readily marketable upon purchase may subsequently become illiquid. In such an event, the Board of Trustees will consider what action, if any, is appropriate. The Fund may (i) write covered call and put options; (ii) purchase call and put options, including call and put options to close out existing positions; and (iii) employ new investment techniques with respect to such options. The Fund currently does not intend to invest more than 5% of its assets in options transactions. The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements and firm commitment and when-issued transactions for securities and currencies. In addition, the Fund may enter into currency and other financial futures contracts and related options transactions for hedging purposes and not for speculation. The Fund may also employ new investment techniques with respect to such futures contracts and related options transactions. The Fund will supplement its prospectus if appropriate in the event it employs any such new techniques. In addition to the options, futures contracts, and forwards mentioned above, the Fund may also invest in certain other types of derivative instruments, including collateralized mortgage obligations, structured notes, interest rate swaps, index swaps, currency swaps, and caps and floors. These basic vehicles can also be combined to create more complex products called hybrid derivatives or structured securities. For further information about the types of investments and investment techniques available to the Fund, including the associated risks, see the "Risk Factors" and "Additional Investment Information" sections of this prospectus as well as the statement of additional information. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Fund has adopted the fundamental restrictions summarized below, which may not be changed without the approval of a 1940 Act Majority of the Fund's outstanding shares. These restrictions and certain other fundamental and nonfundamental restrictions are set forth in detail in the statement of additional information. The Fund may not do the following: (1) with respect to 75% of its total assets, invest more than 5% of its total assets, computed at market value at the time of purchase, in the securities of any one issuer, or invest in more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer; provided that these limitations do not apply to investments in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government and (2) borrow money, except that the Fund may borrow money from banks for temporary or emergency purposes in aggregate amounts up to 10% of the value of the Fund's net assets (computed at cost), or enter into reverse repurchase agreements (bank borrowings and reverse repurchase agreements, in the aggregate, shall not exceed 10% of the value of the Fund's net assets). In addition, the Fund may, notwithstanding any other investment policy or restriction, invest all of its assets in the securities of a single open-end management investment company with substantially the same fundamental investment objective, policies, and restrictions as the Fund. The Fund does not currently intend to implement this policy and would do so only if the Board of Trustees were to determine such action to be in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders. In the event of such implementation, the Fund will comply with such requirements as to written notice to shareholders as are then in effect. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ RISK FACTORS - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Like any investment, your investment in the Fund involves an element of risk. Before you buy shares of the Fund, you should carefully evaluate your ability to assume the risks your investment in the Fund poses. YOU CAN LOSE MONEY BY INVESTING IN THE FUND. YOUR INVESTMENT IS NOT GUARANTEED. A DECREASE IN THE VALUE OF THE FUND'S PORTFOLIO SECURITIES CAN RESULT IN A DECREASE IN THE VALUE OF YOUR INVESTMENT. Certain risks related to the Fund are discussed below. To the extent not discussed in this section, specific risks attendant to individual securities or investment practices are discussed in detail in "Additional Investment Information" and the statement of additional information. By itself, the Fund does not constitute a balanced investment plan. The Fund seeks generous income ordinarily from high yield, high risk bonds, commonly known as "junk bonds." This investment approach involves risks greater than a more conservative approach. You should take into account your own investment objectives as well as your other investments when considering an investment in the Fund. Should the Fund need to raise cash to meet a large number of redemptions, it might have to sell portfolio securities at a time when it would be disadvantageous to do so. BELOW-INVESTMENT GRADE BONDS Since 1935, the Fund has had continuous experience investing in bonds selling at a substantial discount from par, convertible bonds, below- investment grade bonds, and other securities that as a class may be considered high yield, high risk securities. Prior to the 1980's, corporate bonds were primarily issued to finance growth and development. Below-investment grade bonds were predominantly bonds that often traded at discounts from par because the company's credit ratings had been downgraded. The rapid growth of the below-investment grade sector of the bond market during the 1980's was largely attributable to the issuance of such bonds to finance corporate reorganizations. An economic downturn could severely disrupt the market for high yield, high risk bonds and adversely affect the value of outstanding bonds and the ability of issuers to repay principal and interest. Although the change in the size and characteristics of the market may result in higher risks associated with individual bonds, Keystone believes that an effective program of broad diversification can, over time, enable the Fund to successfully achieve its investment objective while reducing the risk of investing in individual below-investment grade bonds. The generous income sought by the Fund is ordinarily associated with securities in the lower rating categories of the recognized rating agencies or with securities that are unrated. Such securities are generally rated BB or lower by S&P or Ba or lower by Moody's. The Fund may invest in securities that are rated as low as D by S&P and C- by Moody's. It is possible for securities rated D or C-, respectively, to have defaulted on payments of principal and/or interest at the time of investment. The section of this prospectus entitled "Additional Investment Information" describes these rating categories. The Fund intends to invest in D rated debt only in cases when, in Keystone's judgment, there is a distinct prospect of improvement in the issuer's financial position as a result of the completion of reorganization or otherwise. The Fund may also invest in unrated securities that, in Keystone's judgment, offer comparable yields and risks to those of securities that are rated, as well as in below-investment quality zero coupon bonds or PIKs. Keystone considers the ratings of Moody's and S&P assigned to various securities, but does not rely solely on those ratings because (1) Moody's and S&P assigned ratings are based largely on historical financial data and may not accurately reflect the current financial outlook of companies, and (2) there can be large differences among the current financial conditions of issuers within the same rating category. While an investment in the Fund provides opportunities to maximize return over time, investors should be aware of the following risks associated with below-investment grade bonds: (1) Securities rated BB or lower by S&P or Ba or lower by Moody's are considered predominantly speculative with respect to the ability of the issuer to meet principal and interest payments. (2) The lower ratings of certain securities held by the Fund reflect a greater possibility that adverse changes in the financial condition of the issuer or in general economic conditions, or both, or an unanticipated rise in interest rates may impair the ability of the issuer to make payments of interest and principal, especially if the issuer is highly leveraged. Such issuer's ability to meet its debt obligations may also be adversely affected by specific corporate developments, the issuer's inability to meet specific projected business forecasts, or the unavailability of additional financing. Also, an economic downturn or an increase in interest rates may increase the potential for default by the issuers of these securities. (3) Their values are more sensitive to real or perceived adverse economic, company or industry conditions and publicity than is the case for higher quality securities. (4) Their value, like those of other fixed income securities, fluctuates in response to changes in interest rates; generally rising when interest rates decline and falling when interest rates rise. For example, if interest rates increase after a fixed-income security is purchased, the security, if sold prior to maturity, may return less than its cost. The prices of below- investment grade bonds, however, are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than the prices of higher-rated bonds. (5) The secondary market for certain securities held by the Fund may be less liquid at certain times than the secondary market for higher quality debt securities, which may adversely effect (i) the market price of the security, (ii) the Fund's ability to dispose of particular issues and (iii) the Fund's ability to obtain accurate market quotations for purposes of valuing its assets. (6) Zero coupon bonds and PIKs involve additional special considerations. Zero coupon bonds do not require the periodic payment of interest. PIK bonds are debt obligations that provide that the issuer may, at its option, pay interest on such bonds in cash or in the form of additional debt obligations. Such investments may experience greater fluctuation in value due to changes in interest rates than debt obligations that pay interest currently. Even though these investments do not pay current interest in cash, the Fund is nonetheless required by tax laws to accrue interest income on such investments and to distribute such amounts at least annually to shareholders. Thus, the Fund could be required at times to liquidate investments in order to fulfill its intention to distribute substantially all of its net income as dividends. The following table shows the weighted average percentages of the Fund's assets invested at the end of each month during the last fiscal year in securities assigned to the various rating categories by S&P and in unrated securities determined by Keystone to be of comparable quality. Since the percentages in this table are based on month-end averages throughout the Fund's fiscal year, they do not reflect the Fund's holdings at any one point in time. The percentages in each category may be higher or lower on any day than those shown in the table. *UNRATED SECURITIES OF COMPARABLE RATED SECURITIES QUALITY AS AS PERCENTAGE OF PERCENTAGE OF RATING FUND'S ASSETS FUND'S ASSETS - ---- ----------------- ------------------- AAA 0.00% 0.00% AA 0.00% 0.00% A 0.00% 0.00% BBB 1.37% 0.00% BB 29.33% 0.30% B 46.49% 5.95% CCC 1.51% 4.00% CC 0.00% 0.00% C 0.00% 0.00% D 0.00% 0.19% Unrated* 10.44% U.S. governments, cash, equities and others 10.86% ------- TOTAL 100.00% ------- Since the Fund takes an aggressive approach to investing, Keystone attempts to maximize the return by controlling risk through diversification, credit analysis, review of sector and industry trends, interest rate forecasts, and economic analysis. Keystone's analysis of securities focuses on values based on factors such as interest or dividend coverage, asset values, earnings prospects, and the quality of management of the company. In making investment recommendations, Keystone also considers current income, potential for capital appreciation, maturity structure, quality guidelines, coupon structure, average yield, percentage of zeros and PIKs, percentage of non-accruing items, and yield to maturity. Income and yields on high yield, high risk securities, as on all securities, will fluctuate over time. FOREIGN RISK The Fund may invest up to 25% of its assets in securities that are principally traded in securities markets outside the U.S. While investing in foreign securities is intended to reduce risk by providing further diversification, such investments do involve the following risks: publicly available information on issuers and securities may be scarce; many foreign countries do not follow the same accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards as are used in the U.S.; market trading volumes may be smaller, resulting in less liquidity and more price volatility compared to U.S. securities of comparable quality; there may be less regulation of securities trading and its participants; the possibility may exist for expropriation, confiscatory taxation, nationalization, establishment of exchange controls, political or social instability or negative diplomatic developments; and dividend or interest withholding may be imposed at the source. Fluctuations in foreign exchange rates impose an additional level of risk, possibly affecting the value of the Fund's foreign investments and earnings, as well as gains and losses realized through trades, and the unrealized appreciation or depreciation of investments. The Fund may also incur costs when it shifts assets from one country to another. DERIVATIVE SECURITIES With respect to derivative or structured securities, the market value of such securities may vary depending on the manner in which such securities have been structured. As a result, the value of such investments may change at a more rapid rate than that of traditional fixed income securities. For more detailed information on derivatives, see "Additional Investment Information" and the statement of additional information. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PRICING SHARES - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Fund computes its net asset value as of the close of trading (currently 4:00 p.m. eastern time) on each day that the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") is open. However, the Fund does not compute its net asset value on days when changes in the value of the Fund's securities do not affect the current net asset value of its shares. The Exchange currently is closed on weekends, New Year's Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. The net asset value per share is arrived at by determining the value of all of the Fund's assets, subtracting all liabilities and dividing the result by the number of shares outstanding. Current values for the Fund's portfolio securities are determined as follows: (1) short-term investments with remaining maturities of sixty days or less are valued at amortized cost (original purchase cost as adjusted for amortization of premium or accretion of discount), which, when combined with accrued interest, approximates market; (2) short-term investments with greater than sixty days to maturity are valued at market value; and (3) all other investments are valued at market value or, when market quotations are not readily available, at fair value, as determined in good faith by the Board of Trustees. The Fund believes that reliable market quotations are generally not readily available for purposes of valuing certain fixed income securities. As a result, it is likely that most of the valuations for such securities will be based upon their fair value determined under procedures that have been approved by the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees has authorized the use of a pricing service to determine the fair value of the Fund's fixed income securities and certain other securities. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ DIVIDENDS AND TAXES - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Fund has qualified and intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company (a "RIC") under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). The Fund qualifies if, among other things, it distributes to its shareholders at least 90% of its net investment income for its fiscal year. The Fund also intends to make timely distributions, if necessary, sufficient in amount to avoid the nondeductible 4% excise tax imposed on a RIC when it fails to distribute, with respect to each calendar year, at least 98% of its ordinary income for such calendar year and 98% of its net capital gains for the one-year period ending on October 31 of such calendar year. If the Fund qualifies as a RIC and if it distributes all of its net investment income and net capital gains, if any, to shareholders, it will be relieved of any federal income tax liability. The Fund will declare dividends from its net investment income daily and will pay such dividends monthly. The Fund will distribute its net capital gains, if any, at least annually. Shareholders receive Fund distributions in the form of additional shares of the Fund or, at the shareholder's election (which must be made before the record date for the distribution), in cash. Fund distributions in the form of additional shares are made at net asset value without the imposition of a sales charge. Dividends and distributions are taxable whether they are received in cash or in shares. Income dividends and net short-term gains distributions are taxable as ordinary income. Net long-term gains distributions are taxable as capital gains regardless of how long the Fund's shares are held. If Fund shares held for less than six months are sold at a loss, however, such loss will be treated for tax purposes as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any long-term capital gains dividends received. Any taxable dividend declared in October, November, or December to shareholders of record in such month and paid by the following January 31, will be includable in the taxable income of the shareholder as if paid on December 31 of the year in which the dividend was declared. The Fund advises its shareholders annually as to the federal tax status of all distributions made during the year. Dividends and distributions also may be subject to state and local taxes. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ FUND MANAGEMENT AND EXPENSES - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ FUND MANAGEMENT The Fund's Board of Trustees has absolute and exclusive control over the management and disposition of all assets of the Fund. Subject to the authority of the Fund's Board of Trustees, Keystone provides investment advice, management and administrative services to the Fund. INVESTMENT ADVISER Keystone has provided investment advisory and management services to investment companies and private accounts since 1932. Keystone is a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Union Keystone, Inc. ("First Union Keystone"). First Union Keystone provides accounting, bookkeeping, legal, personnel and general corporate services to Keystone, its affiliates and the Keystone Families of Funds. Both First Union Keystone and Keystone are located at 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116-5034. On December 11, 1996, First Union Keystone succeeded to the business of a corporation under different ownership. First Union Keystone is a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Union National Bank of North Carolina ("FUNB"). FUNB is a subsidiary of First Union Corporation ("First Union"), the sixth largest bank holding company in the U.S. based on total assets as of December 31, 1996. First Union is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and had $140 billion in consolidated assets as of December 31, 1996. First Union and its subsidiaries provide a broad range of financial services to individuals and businesses throughout the U.S. The Capital Management Group of FUNB, together with Lieber & Company and Evergreen Asset Management Corp., wholly-owned subsidiaries of FUNB, manage or otherwise oversee the investment of over $60 billion in assets as of December 31, 1996 belonging to a wide range of clients, including the Evergreen Family of Funds. Pursuant to its Investment Advisory and Management Agreement with the Fund (the "Advisory Agreement"), Keystone manages the investment and reinvestment of the Fund's assets, supervises the operation of the Fund and provides all necessary office space, facilities and equipment. The Fund pays Keystone a fee for its services at the annual rate set forth below: AGGREGATE NET ASSET VALUE MANAGEMENT OF THE SHARES FEE INCOME OF THE FUND - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2% of gross dividend and interest income plus 0.50% of the first $100,000,000, plus 0.45% of the next $100,000,000, plus 0.40% of the next $100,000,000, plus 0.35% of the next $100,000,000, plus 0.30% of the next $100,000,000, plus 0.25% of amounts over $500,000,000; Keystone's fee is computed as of the close of business each business day and payable monthly. The Advisory Agreement continues in effect for two years from its effective date and, thereafter, from year to year only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Board of Trustees or by the vote of shareholders of the Fund. In addition, the terms and annual continuance of the Advisory Agreement must be approved by the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees (Trustees who are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Advisory Agreement may be terminated, without penalty, on 60 days' written notice by the Fund or Keystone or may be terminated by a vote of shareholders of the Fund. The Advisory Agreement will terminate automatically upon its "assignment," as defined in the 1940 Act. PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER Evergreen Keystone Distributor, Inc. ("EKD" or the "Principal Underwriter"), a subsidiary of The BISYS Group, Inc., ("BISYS") which is not affiliated with First Union, is the Fund's principal underwriter. EKD replaced Evergreen Keystone Investment Services, Inc. (formerly Keystone Investment Distributors Company) ("EKIS") as the Fund's principal underwriter. EKIS may no longer act as principal underwriter of the Fund due to regulatory restrictions imposed by the Glass-Steagall Act upon national banks such as FUNB and their affiliates, that prohibit such entities from acting as the underwriters or distributors of mutual fund shares. While EKIS may no longer act as principal underwriter of the Fund as discussed above, EKIS may continue to receive compensation from the Fund or the Principal Underwriter in respect of underwriting and distribution services performed prior to the termination of EKIS as principal underwriter. In addition, EKIS may also be compensated by the Principal Underwriter for the provision of certain marketing support services to the Principal Underwriter at an annual rate of up to 0.75% of the average daily net assets of the Fund, subject to certain restrictions. EKD is located at 125 W. 55th Street, New York 10019. SUB-ADMINISTRATOR BISYS, or an affiliate, provides officers and certain administrative services to the Fund pursuant to a sub-administrator agreement. For its services under that agreement, BISYS, or an affiliate, receives a fee from Keystone at the maximum annual rate of 0.01% of the average daily net assets of the Fund. BISYS is located at 3435 Stelzer Road, Columbus, Ohio 43219. CODE OF ETHICS The Fund has adopted a Code of Ethics incorporating policies on personal securities trading as recommended by the Investment Company Institute. PORTFOLIO MANAGER Prescott B. Crocker, a Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager, is manager of the Fund's portfolio. Prior to joining Keystone in February, 1997, Mr. Crocker was president and chief investment officer of Boston Security Counsellors, a private accounts investment management firm and a subsidiary of Advest Co. Inc. He has more than 20 years of fixed-income investment experience. FUND EXPENSES The Fund will pay all of its expenses. In addition to the investment advisory and management fees discussed above, the principal expenses that the Fund is expected to pay include, but are not limited to, expenses of its transfer agent, its custodian, its independent auditors; expenses of legal counsel for the Fund and for its Trustees in connection with legal matters relating to the Fund; expenses under its Distribution Plan; fees and expenses of its Independent Trustees (Trustees who are not interested persons, as defined in the 1940 Act, of the Fund); expenses of shareholders' and Trustees' meetings; fees payable to government agencies, including registration and qualification fees of the Fund and its shares under federal and state securities laws; expenses of preparing, printing and mailing Fund prospectuses, notices, reports, and proxy material; and certain extraordinary expenses. In addition to such expenses, the Fund pays its brokerage commissions, interest charges, and taxes. For the fiscal year ended July 31, 1996, the Fund paid 1.94% of its average net assets in expenses. During the fiscal year ended July 31, 1996, the Fund paid or accrued to Keystone Management, Inc., the Fund's former investment manager, investment management and advisory fees of $3,788,171 (0.56% of the Fund's average daily net assets). Of such amount, $3,219,945 was paid to Keystone for investment advisory services to the Fund. During the same period, the Fund paid or accrued $18,334 to Keystone for certain accounting services and $1,927,228 to Evergreen Keystone Service Company, (formerly Keystone Investor Resource Center, Inc.) ("EKSC"), for services rendered as the Fund's transfer and dividend disbursing agent. EKSC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Keystone, is located at 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116-5034. SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS Under policies established by the Board of Trustees, Keystone selects broker-dealers to execute transactions subject to the receipt of best execution. When selecting broker-dealers to execute portfolio transactions for the Fund, Keystone may consider the number of shares of the Fund sold by such broker-dealers. In addition, broker-dealers executing portfolio transactions may, from time to time, be affiliated with the Fund, First Union Keystone, Keystone, the Fund's principal underwriter, or their affiliates. The Fund may pay higher commissions to broker-dealers that provide research services. Keystone may use these services in advising the Fund as well as in advising its other clients. PORTFOLIO TURNOVER The Fund's portfolio turnover rates for the fiscal years ended July 31, 1996 and 1995 were 116% and 82%, respectively. High portfolio turnover may involve correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transaction costs, which would be borne directly by the Fund, as well as additional realized gains and/or losses to shareholders. For further information on the tax consequences of such realized gains and/or losses, see the "Dividends and Taxes" section of this prospectus. For further information about brokerage and distributions, see the statement of additional information. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ DISTRIBUTION PLAN - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Fund bears some of the costs of selling its shares under the Distribution Plan. The Fund's Distribution Plan provides that the Fund may expend up to 0.3125% quarterly (1.25% annually) of the average daily net asset value of its shares to pay distribution costs for sales of its shares and to pay shareholder service fees. The NASD currently limits such annual expenditures to 1.00% of the aggregate average daily net asset value of its shares, of which 0.75% may be used to pay such distribution costs and 0.25% may be used to pay shareholder service fees. The NASD also limits the aggregate amount that the Fund may pay for such distribution costs to 6.25% of gross share sales since the inception of the Fund's Distribution Plan, plus interest at the prime rate plus 1.00% on such amounts (less any contingent deferred sales charge (a "CDSC") paid by shareholders to the Principal Underwriter) remaining unpaid from time to time. Payments under the Distribution Plan are currently made to the Principal Underwriter or its predecessor, EKIS, (which may reallow all or part to others, such as broker-dealers) (1) as commissions for Fund shares sold; (2) as shareholder service fees in respect of shares maintained by the recipients and outstanding on the Fund's books for specified periods; and (3) interest. Amounts paid or accrued to the Principal Underwriter and its predecessor in the aggregate may not exceed the annual limitation referred to above. The Principal Underwriter generally reallows to broker-dealers or others a commission equal to 4.00% of the price paid for each Fund share sold. In addition, the Principal Underwriter generally reallows to broker-dealers or others a shareholder service fee at a rate of 0.25% per annum of the net asset value of shares maintained by such recipients and outstanding on the books of the Fund for specified periods. See also "Arrangements with Broker-Dealers and Others" below. The financing of payments made by the Principal Underwriter to compensate broker-dealers or other persons for distributing shares of the Fund will be provided by FUNB or its affiliates. If the Fund is unable to pay the Principal Underwriter a commission on a new sale because the annual maximum (0.75% of average daily net assets) has been reached, the Principal Underwriter intends, but is not obligated, to continue to accept new orders for the purchase of Fund shares and to pay or accrue commissions and service fees to broker-dealers in excess of the amount it currently receives from the Fund ("Advances"). While the Fund is under no contractual obligation to reimburse the Principal Underwriter or its predecessor for Advances, the Principal Underwriter and its predecessor intend to seek full payment of such Advances from the Fund (together with interest at the rate of prime plus 1.00%) at such time in the future as, and to the extent that, payment thereof by the Fund would be within permitted limits. EKIS currently intends to seek payment of interest only on such Advances paid or accrued by the Principal Underwriter subsequent to July 7, 1992. If the Fund's Independent Trustees authorize such payments, the effect will be to extend the period of time during which the Fund incurs the maximum amount of costs allowed by the Distribution Plan. As of July 31, 1996, the maximum uncollected amounts for which EKIS, the predecessor to the Principal Underwriter, may seek payment from the Fund under its Distribution Plan is $5,597,863 (0.94% of the Fund's net asset value). The amounts and purposes of expenditures under the Distribution Plan must be reported to the Independent Trustees quarterly. The Independent Trustees may require or approve changes in the operation of the Distribution Plan and may require that total expenditures by the Fund under the Distribution Plan be kept within limits lower than the maximum amount permitted by the Distribution Plan as stated above. Unless limited by the Independent Trustees, such costs could, for some period of time, be higher than such costs permitted by most other plans presently adopted by other investment companies. The Distribution Plan may be terminated at any time by vote of the Fund's Independent Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting shares of the Fund. If the Distribution Plan is terminated, the Principal Underwriter will ask the Independent Trustees to take whatever action they deem appropriate under the circumstances with respect to payment of Advances. Any change in the Distribution Plan that would materially increase the distribution expenses of the Fund provided for in the Distribution Plan requires shareholder approval. Otherwise, the Distribution Plan may be amended by votes of the majority of both (1) the Fund's Trustees and (2) the Independent Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such amendment. While the Distribution Plan is in effect, the Fund is required to commit the selection and nomination of candidates for Independent Trustees to the discretion of the Independent Trustees. ARRANGEMENTS WITH BROKER-DEALERS AND OTHERS Upon written notice to broker-dealers, the Principal Underwriter may, at its own expense, periodically sponsor programs that offer additional compensation in connection with sales of Fund shares. Participation in such programs may be available to all broker-dealers or to selected broker-dealers who have sold or are expected to sell significant amounts of shares. Additional compensation may also include financial assistance to broker-dealers in connection with preapproved seminars, conferences, and advertising. No such programs or additional compensation will be offered to the extent they are prohibited by the laws of any state or any self-regulatory agency, such as the NASD. The Principal Underwriter may, at its own expense, pay concessions in addition to those described above to broker-dealers that satisfy certain criteria established from time to time by the Principal Underwriter. These conditions relate to increasing sales of shares of the Keystone funds over specified periods and certain other factors. Such payments depending on the broker-dealer's satisfaction of the required conditions, may be periodic and may be up to 1.00% of the value of shares sold by such broker-dealer. The Principal Underwriter also may pay banks and other financial services firms that facilitate transactions in shares of the Fund for their clients a transaction fee up to the level of the payments made allowable to broker-dealers for the sale of such shares as described above. The Glass-Steagall Act and other banking laws and regulations presently prohibit member banks of the Federal Reserve System ("Member Banks") or their non-bank affiliates from sponsoring, organizing, controlling or distributing the shares of registered open-end investment companies such as the Fund. Such laws and regulations also prohibit banks from issuing, underwriting or distributing securities in general. However, under the Glass-Steagall Act and such other laws and regulations, a Member Bank or an affiliate thereof may act as investment adviser, transfer agent or custodian to a registered open-end investment company and may also act as agent in connection with the purchase of shares of such an investment company upon the order of its customer. Keystone and its affiliates, since they are direct or indirect subsidiaries of FUNB, are subject to and in compliance with the aforementioned laws and regulations. In the event the Glass-Steagall Act is deemed to prohibit depository institutions from accepting certain payments from the Fund, or should Congress relax current restrictions on depository institutions, the Board of Trustees will consider what action, if any, is appropriate. In addition, state securities laws on this issue may differ from the interpretations of federal law expressed herein, and banks and financial institutions may be required to register as broker-dealers pursuant to state law. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ HOW TO BUY SHARES - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ You may purchase shares of the Fund from any broker-dealer that has a selling agreement with the Principal Underwriter. In addition, you may purchase Fund shares by mailing to the Fund, c/o Evergreen Keystone Service Company, P.O. Box 2121, Boston, Massachusetts 02106-2121, a completed account application and a check payable to the Fund. You may also telephone 1-800-343-2898 to obtain the number of an account to which you can wire or electronically transfer funds and then send in a completed account application. Subsequent investments in the Fund's shares in any amount may be made by check, by wiring Federal funds, by direct deposit or by electronic funds transfer ("EFT"). The Fund's shares are sold at the public offering price, which is equal to the net asset value per share next computed after the Fund receives the purchase order. The initial purchase must be at least $1,000, except for purchases by participants in certain retirement plans for which the minimum is waived. There is no minimum for subsequent purchases. Purchase payments are fully invested at net asset value. There are no sales charges on purchases of Fund shares at the time of purchase. CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE With certain exceptions, when shares of the Fund are redeemed within four calendar years after their purchase, the Fund may charge a CDSC as follows: During the calendar year of purchase ................................... 4.00% During the first calendar year after the year of purchase .............. 3.00% During the second calendar year after the year of purchase ............. 2.00% During the third calendar year after the year of purchase .............. 1.00% Thereafter ............................................................. 0.00% If imposed, the CDSC is deducted from the redemption proceeds otherwise payable to you. CDSCs are, to the extent permitted by the NASD, paid to the Principal Underwriter or its predecessor. The CDSC is a declining percentage of the lesser of (1) the net asset value of the shares redeemed or (2) the total cost of such shares. With respect to shares purchased after January 1, 1997, no CDSC is imposed when a shareholder redeems amounts derived from (1) increases in the value of the shares redeemed account above the total cost of such shares due to increases in the net asset value per share of the Fund; (2) certain shares with respect to which the Fund did not pay a commission on issuance, including shares acquired through reinvestment of dividend income and capital gains distributions; or (3) shares held in all or part of more than four consecutive calendar years. Upon request for redemption, shares not subject to a CDSC will be redeemed first. Thereafter, shares held the longest will be the first to be redeemed. No CDSC is payable on permitted exchanges of shares between the funds in the Keystone Classic Fund Family that have adopted distribution plans pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. For purposes of computing CDSCs, when shares of one fund are exchanged for shares of another fund, the date of purchase of the shares being acquired by exchange is deemed to be the date the shares being tendered for exchange were originally purchased. WAIVER OF DEFERRED SALES CHARGE No CDSC is imposed on a redemption of shares of the Fund in the event of (1) death or disability of the shareholder; (2) a lump-sum distribution from a 401 (k) plan or other benefit plan qualified under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA"); (3) automatic withdrawals from ERISA plans if the shareholder is at least 59 1/2 years old; (4) involuntary redemptions of accounts having an aggregate net asset value of less than $1,000; (5) automatic withdrawals under a Systematic Income Plan of up to 1% per month of the shareholder's initial account balance; (6) withdrawals consisting of loan proceeds to a retirement plan participant; (7) financial hardship withdrawals made by a retirement plan participant; or (8) withdrawals consisting of returns of excess contributions or excess deferral amounts made to a retirement plan participant. Shares also may be sold, to the extent permitted by applicable law, at net asset value without the payment of commissions or the imposition of a CDSC to (1) certain Directors, Trustees, officers, and employees of the Fund, First Union Keystone, Keystone, and certain of their affiliates; (2) registered representatives of firms with dealer agreements with the Principal Underwriter; and (3) a bank or trust company acting as a trustee for a single account. For more details, see the statement of additional information. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ HOW TO REDEEM SHARES - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ You may redeem Fund shares for cash at the redemption value by writing to the Fund, c/o Evergreen Keystone Service Company, Box 2121, Boston, Massachusetts 02106-2121, and presenting a properly endorsed share certificate (if certificates have been issued) to the Fund. Your signature(s) on the written order and certificates must be guaranteed, as described below. You may also redeem your shares through your broker-dealer. The Principal Underwriter, acting as agent for the Fund, stands ready to repurchase Fund shares upon orders from broker-dealers and will calculate the net asset value on the same terms as those orders for the purchase of shares received from broker-dealers and described under "How to Buy Shares." If the Principal Underwriter has received proper documentation, it will pay the redemption proceeds, less any applicable CDSC, to the broker-dealer placing the order within seven days thereafter. The Principal Underwriter charges no fee for this service. Your broker-dealer, however, may charge a service fee. The redemption value equals the net asset value adjusted for fractions of a cent and may be more or less than your cost depending upon changes in the value of the Fund's portfolio securities between purchase and redemption. The Fund may impose a CDSC at the time of redemption of certain shares as explained in "How to Buy Shares." If imposed, the Fund deducts the CDSC from the redemption proceeds otherwise payable to you. REDEMPTION OF SHARES IN GENERAL At various times, the Fund may be requested to redeem shares for which it has not yet received good payment. In such a case, the Fund will mail the redemption proceeds upon clearance of the purchase check, which may take up to 15 days. Any delay may be avoided by purchasing shares with a certified check, by Federal Reserve or bank wire of funds, by direct deposit or by EFT. Although the mailing of a redemption check may be delayed, the redemption value will be determined and the redemption processed in the ordinary course of business upon receipt of proper documentation. In such a case, after redemption and prior to the release of the proceeds, no appreciation or depreciation will occur in the value of the redeemed shares, and no interest will be paid on the redemption proceeds. If the payment of a redemption has been delayed, the check will be mailed or the proceeds wired or sent EFT promptly after good payment has been collected. The Fund computes the amount due you at the close of the Exchange at the end of the day on which it has received all proper documentation from you. Payment of the amount due on redemption, less any applicable CDSC, will be made within seven days thereafter, except as discussed herein. For your protection, SIGNATURES ON CERTIFICATES, STOCK POWERS AND ALL WRITTEN ORDERS OR AUTHORIZATIONS MUST BE GUARANTEED BY A U.S. STOCK EXCHANGE MEMBER, A BANK OR OTHER PERSONS ELIGIBLE TO GUARANTEE SIGNATURES UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 AND EKSC'S POLICIES. The Fund and EKSC may waive this requirement or require additional documents in certain cases. Currently, the requirement for a signature guarantee has been waived on redemptions of $50,000 or less where the account address of record has been the same for a minimum period of 30 days. The Fund and EKSC reserve the right to withdraw this waiver at any time. If the Fund receives a redemption or repurchase order, but you have not clearly indicated the amount of money or number of shares involved, the Fund cannot execute the order. In such cases, the Fund will request the missing information from you and process the order on the day such information is received. TELEPHONE REDEMPTIONS Under ordinary circumstances, you may redeem up to $50,000 from your account by calling toll free 1-800-343-2898. As mentioned above, to engage in telephone transactions generally, you must complete the appropriate sections of the application. In order to insure that instructions received by EKSC are genuine when you initiate a telephone transaction, you will be asked to verify certain criteria specific to your account. At the conclusion of the transaction, you will be given a transaction number confirming your request. Written confirmation of your transaction will be mailed the next business day. Your telephone instructions will be recorded. Redemptions by telephone are allowed only if the address and bank account of record have been the same for a minimum period of 30 days. If you cannot reach the Fund by telephone, you should follow the procedures for redeeming by mail or through a broker-dealer as set forth above. SMALL ACCOUNTS Because of the high cost of maintaining small accounts, the Fund reserves the right to redeem your account if its value has fallen below $1,000, the current minimum investment level, as a result of your redemptions (but not as a result of market action). You will be notified in writing and allowed 60 days to increase the value of your account to the minimum investment level. No CDSCs are applied to such redemptions. GENERAL The Fund reserves the right at any time to terminate, suspend, or change the terms of any redemption method described in this prospectus, except redemption by mail, and to impose fees. Except as otherwise noted, neither the Fund, EKSC, nor the Principal Underwriter assumes responsibility for the authenticity of any instructions received by any of them from a shareholder over the Keystone Automated Response Line ("KARL"), or by telephone. EKSC will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions received over KARL or by telephone are genuine. Neither the Fund, EKSC, nor the Principal Underwriter will be liable when following instructions received over KARL or by telephone that EKSC reasonably believes to be genuine. The Fund may temporarily suspend the right to redeem its shares when (1) the Exchange is closed, other than customary weekend and holiday closings; (2) trading on the Exchange is restricted; (3) the Fund cannot dispose of its investments or fairly determine their value; or (4) the Securities and Exchange Commission so orders. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SHAREHOLDER SERVICES - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Details on all shareholder services may be obtained from EKSC by writing or by calling toll free 1-800-343-2898. KEYSTONE AUTOMATED RESPONSE LINE KARL offers shareholders specific fund account information and price and yield quotations as well as the ability to effect account transactions, including investments, exchanges, and redemptions. Shareholders may access KARL by dialing toll free 1-800-346-3858 on any touch-tone telephone, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. EXCHANGES If you have obtained the appropriate prospectus, you may exchange shares of the Fund for shares of any of the other funds in the Keystone Classic Fund Family, on the basis of their respective net asset values, by calling toll free 1-800-343-2898 or by writing to Evergreen Keystone Service Company at P.O. Box 2121, Boston, Massachusetts 02106-2121. (See "How to Redeem Shares" for additional information with respect to telephone transactions.) Fund shares purchased by check may be exchanged for shares of any of the funds in the Keystone Classic Fund Family, other than Keystone Precious Metals Holdings, Inc. ("KPMH"). In order to exchange Fund shares for shares of KPMH, a shareholder must have held Fund shares for a period of at least six months. All exchanges may be made without a fee. If the shares being tendered for exchange have been held for less than four years and are still subject to a deferred sales charge, such charge will carry over to the shares being acquired in the exchange transaction. The Fund reserves the right to terminate this exchange offer or to change its terms, including the right to charge for any exchange, upon notice to shareholders pursuant to applicable law. Orders to exchange shares of the Fund for shares of Keystone Liquid Trust ("KLT") will be executed by redeeming the shares of the Fund and purchasing shares of KLT at the net asset value of KLT shares determined after the proceeds from such redemption become available, which may be up to seven days after such redemption. In all other cases, orders for exchanges received by the Fund prior to 4:00 p.m. (eastern time) on any business day will be executed at the respective net asset values determined as of the close of the next business day. Orders for exchanges received after 4:00 p.m. (eastern time) on any business day will be executed at the respective net asset values determined at the close of the next business day. An excessive number of exchanges may be disadvantageous to the Fund. Therefore, the Fund, in addition to its right to reject any exchange, reserves the right to terminate the exchange privilege of any shareholder who makes more than five exchanges of shares of the funds in a year or three in a calendar quarter. An exchange order must comply with the requirements for a redemption or repurchase order and must specify the dollar value or number of shares to be exchanged. Exchanges are subject to the minimum initial purchase requirements of the fund being acquired. An exchange constitutes a sale for federal income tax purposes. The exchange privilege is available only in states where shares of the fund being acquired may legally be sold. RETIREMENT PLANS The Fund has various retirement plans available to investors, including Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs); Rollover IRAs; Simplified Employee Pension Plans (SEPs); Salary Reduction Plans (SARSEPs); Tax Sheltered Annuity Plans (TSAs); 403(b)(7) Plans; 401(k) Plans; Keogh Plans; Corporate Profit- Sharing Plans; and Money Purchase Pension Plans. For details, including fees and application forms, call EKSC toll free at 1-800-247-4075 or write to KIRC at P.O. Box 2121, Boston, Massachusetts 02106-2121. AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT PLAN With an Automatic Investment Plan, you can automatically transfer as little as $100 per month or quarter from your bank account or KLT to the Keystone fund of your choice. Your bank account will be debited for each transfer. You will receive confirmation with your next account statement. To establish or terminate an Automatic Investment Plan or to change the amount or schedule of your automatic investments, you may write to or call EKSC. Please include your account numbers. Termination of an Automatic Investment Plan may take up to 30 days. SYSTEMATIC INCOME PLAN Under a Systematic Income Plan, shareholders may arrange for regular monthly or quarterly fixed withdrawal payments. Each payment must be at least $100 and may be as much as 1% per month or 3% per quarter of the total net asset value of the Fund shares in the shareholder's account when the Systematic Income Plan is opened. Fixed withdrawal payments are not subject to a CDSC. Excessive withdrawals may decrease or deplete the value of a shareholder's account. OTHER SERVICES Under certain circumstances shareholders may, within 30 days after a redemption, reinstate their accounts at current net asset value. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PERFORMANCE DATA - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From time to time, the Fund may advertise "total return" and "current yield." BOTH FIGURES ARE BASED ON HISTORICAL EARNINGS. PAST PERFORMANCE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED REPRESENTATIVE OF RESULTS FOR ANY FUTURE PERIOD OF TIME. Total return refers to the Fund's average annual compounded rates of return over specified periods determined by comparing the initial amount invested to the ending redeemable value of that amount. The resulting equation assumes reinvestment of all dividends and distributions and deduction of all recurring charges, if any, applicable to all shareholder accounts. The deduction of the contingent deferred sales charge is reflected in the applicable years. Current yield quotations represent the yield on an investment for a stated 30-day period computed by dividing net investment income earned per share during the base period by the maximum offering price per share on the last day of the base period. The Fund may include comparative performance information in advertising or marketing the Fund's shares, such as data from Lipper Analytical Services, Inc., Morningstar, Inc., Standard & Poor's Corporation, Ibbotson Associates or other industry publications. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ FUND SHARES - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Fund currently issues one class of shares, which participate equally in dividends and distributions and have equal voting, liquidation and other rights. When issued and paid for, the shares will be fully paid and nonassessable by the Fund. Shares may be exchanged as explained under "Shareholder Services," but will have no other preference, conversion, exchange, or preemptive rights. Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each full share owned and fractional votes for fractional shares. Shares are redeemable, transferable, and freely assignable as collateral. There are no sinking fund provisions. The Fund may establish additional classes or series of shares. The Fund does not have annual meetings. The Fund will have special meetings from time to time as required under its Restatement of Trust Agreement (the "Trust Agreement") and under the 1940 Act. As provided in the Fund's Trust Agreement, shareholders have the right to remove Trustees by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the outstanding shares. A special meeting of the shareholders will be held when holders of 10% of the outstanding shares request a meeting for the purpose of removing a Trustee. The Fund is prepared to assist shareholders in communications with one another for the purpose of convening such a meeting as prescribed by Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ADDITIONAL INFORMATION - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ When the Fund determines from its records that more than one account in the Fund is registered in the name of a shareholder or shareholders having the same address, upon written notice to those shareholders, the Fund intends, when an annual report or semi-annual report of the Fund is required to be furnished, to mail one copy of such report to that address. Except as otherwise stated in this prospectus or required by law, the Fund reserves the right to change the terms of the offer stated in this prospectus without shareholder approval, including the right to impose or change fees for services provided. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT INFORMATION - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN TYPES OF INVESTMENTS AND INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES AVAILABLE TO THE FUND The Fund may engage in the following investment practices to the extent described in the prospectus and the statement of additional information. CORPORATE BOND RATINGS Higher yields are usually available on securities that are lower rated or that are unrated. Bonds rated Baa by Moody's are considered as medium grade obligations, which are neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Debt rated BBB by S&P is regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay interest and repay principal, although adverse economic conditions are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for debt in this category than in higher rated categories. Lower rated securities are usually defined as Baa or lower by Moody's or BBB or lower by S&P. The Fund may purchase unrated securities, which are not necessarily of lower quality than rated securities but may not be attractive to as many buyers. Debt rated BB, B, CCC, CC and C by S&P is regarded, on balance, as predominantly speculative with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation. BB indicates the lowest degree of speculation and C the highest degree of speculation. While such debt will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these are outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions. Debt rated CI by S&P is debt (income bonds) on which no interest is being paid. Debt rated D by S&P is in default and payment of interest and/or repayment of principal is in arrears. The Fund intends to invest in D-rated debt only in cases where, in Keystone's judgment, there is a distinct prospect of improvement in the issuer's financial position as a result of the completion of reorganization or otherwise. Bonds that are rated Caa by Moody's are of poor standing. Such issues may be in default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal or interest. Bonds that are rated Ca by Moody's represent obligations that are speculative in a high degree. Such issues are often in default or have other market shortcomings. Bonds that are rated C by Moody's are the lowest rated class of bonds, and issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing. ZERO COUPON BONDS A zero coupon "stripped" bond represents ownership in serially maturing interest payments or principal payments on specific underlying notes and bonds, including coupons relating to such notes and bonds. The interest and principal payments are direct obligations of the issuer. Coupon zero coupon bonds of any series mature periodically from the date of issue of such series through the maturity date of the securities related to such series. Principal zero coupon bonds mature on the date specified therein, which is the final maturity date of the related securities. Each zero coupon bond entitles the holder to receive a single payment at maturity. There are no periodic interest payments on a zero coupon bond. Zero coupon bonds are offered at discounts from their face amounts. In general, owners of zero coupon bonds have substantially all the rights and privileges of owners of the underlying coupon obligations or principal obligations. Owners of zero coupon bonds have the right upon default on the underlying coupon obligations or principal obligations to proceed directly and individually against the issuer and are not required to act in concert with other holders of zero coupon bonds. For federal income tax purposes, a purchaser of principal zero coupon bonds or coupon zero coupon bonds (either initially or in the secondary market) is treated as if the buyer had purchased a corporate obligation issued on the purchase date with an original issue discount equal to the excess of the amount payable at maturity over the purchase price. The purchaser is required to take into income each year as ordinary income an allocable portion of such discounts determined on a "constant yield" method. Any such income increases the holder's tax basis for the zero coupon bond, and any gain or loss on a sale of the zero coupon bonds relative to the holder's basis, as so adjusted, is a capital gain or loss. If the holder owns both principal zero coupon bonds and coupon zero coupon bonds representing interest in the same underlying issue of securities, a special basis allocation rule (requiring the aggregate basis to be allocated among the items sold and retained based on their relative fair market value at the time of sale) may apply to determine the gain or loss on a sale of any such zero coupon bonds. PAYMENT-IN-KIND SECURITIES Payment-in-kind securities pay interest in either cash or additional securities, at the issuer's option, for a specified period. The issuer's option to pay in additional securities typically ranges from one to six years, compared to an average maturity for all PIK securities of eleven years. Call protection and sinking fund features are comparable to those offered on traditional debt issues. PIKs, like zero coupon bonds, are designed to give an issuer flexibility in managing cash flow. Several PIKs are senior debt. In other cases, where PIKs are subordinated, most senior lenders view them as equity equivalents. An advantage of PIKs for the issuer -- as with zero coupon securities -- is that interest payments are automatically compounded (reinvested) at the stated coupon rate, which is not the case with cash-paying securities. However, PIKs are gaining popularity over zeros since interest payments in additional securities can be monetized and are more tangible than accretion of a discount. As a group, PIK bonds trade flat (i.e., without accrued interest). Their price is expected to reflect an amount representing accreted interest since the last payment. PIKs generally trade at higher yields than comparable cash- paying securities of the same issuer. Their premium yield is the result of the lesser desirability of non-cash interest, the more limited audience for non-cash paying securities, and the fact that many PIKs have been issued to equity investors who do not normally own or hold such securities. Calculating the true yield on a PIK security requires a discounted cash flow analysis if the security (ex interest) is trading at a premium or a discount because the realizable value of additional payments is equal to the current market value of the underlying security, not par. Regardless of whether PIK securities are senior or deeply subordinated, issuers are highly motivated to retire them because they are usually their most costly form of capital. OBLIGATIONS OF FOREIGN BRANCHES OF UNITED STATES BANKS The obligations of foreign branches of U.S. banks may be general obligations of the parent bank in addition to the issuing branch, or may be limited by the terms of a specific obligation and by government regulation. Payment of interest and principal upon these obligations may also be affected by governmental action in the country of domicile of the branch (generally referred to as sovereign risk). In addition, evidences of ownership of such securities may be held outside the U.S. and the Fund may be subject to the risks associated with the holding of such property overseas. Examples of governmental actions would be the imposition of currency controls, interest limitations, withholding taxes, seizure of assets or the declaration of a moratorium. Various provisions of federal law governing domestic branches do not apply to foreign branches of domestic banks. OBLIGATIONS OF UNITED STATES BRANCHES OF FOREIGN BANKS Obligations of U.S. branches of foreign banks may be general obligations of the parent bank in addition to the issuing branch, or may be limited by the terms of a specific obligation and by federal and state regulation as well as by governmental action in the country in which the foreign bank has its head office. In addition, there may be less publicly available information about a U.S. branch of a foreign bank than about a domestic bank. MASTER DEMAND NOTES Master demand notes are unsecured obligations that permit the investment of fluctuating amounts by the Fund at varying rates of interest pursuant to direct arrangements between the Fund, as lender, and the issuer, as borrower. Master demand notes may permit daily fluctuations in the interest rate and daily changes in the amount borrowed. The Fund has the right to increase the amount at any time up to the full amount provided by the note agreement, or to decrease the amount. The borrower may repay up to the full amount of the note without penalty. Notes purchased by the Fund permit the Fund to demand payment of principal and accrued interest at any time (on not more than seven days' notice). Notes acquired by the Fund may have maturities of more than one year, provided that (1) the Fund is entitled to payment of principal and accrued interest upon not more than seven days' notice, and (2) the rate of interest on such notes is adjusted automatically at periodic intervals, which normally will not exceed 31 days, but may extend up to one year. The notes are deemed to have a maturity equal to the longer of the period remaining to the next interest rate adjustment or the demand notice period. Because these types of notes are direct lending arrangements between the lender and the borrower, such instruments are not normally traded and there is no secondary market for these notes, although they are redeemable and thus repayable by the borrower at face value plus accrued interest at any time. Accordingly, the Fund's right to redeem is dependent on the ability of the borrower to pay principal and interest on demand. In connection with master demand note arrangements, Keystone considers, under standards established by the Board of Trustees, earning power, cash flow and other liquidity ratios of the borrower and will monitor the ability of the borrower to pay principal and interest on demand. These notes are not typically rated by credit rating agencies. Unless rated, the Fund will invest in them only if at the time of an investment the issuer meets the criteria established for commercial paper discussed in the statement of additional information (which limit such investments to commercial paper rated A-1 by S&P, Prime-1 by Moody's or F-1 by Fitch Investors Service, Inc.). REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with member banks of the Federal Reserve System having at least $1 billion in assets, primary dealers in U.S. government securities or other financial institutions believed by Keystone to be creditworthy. Such persons must be registered as U.S. government securities dealers with an appropriate regulatory organization. Under such agreements, the bank, primary dealer or other financial institution agrees, upon entering into the contract, to repurchase the security at a mutually agreed upon date and price, thereby determining the yield during the term of the agreement. This results in a fixed rate of return insulated from market fluctuations during such period. Under a repurchase agreement, the seller must maintain the value of the securities subject to the agreement at not less than the repurchase price, such value being determined on a daily basis by marking the underlying securities to their market value. Although the securities subject to the repurchase agreement might bear maturities exceeding a year, the Fund only intends to enter into repurchase agreements that provide for settlement within a year and usually within seven days. Securities subject to repurchase agreements will be held by the Fund's custodian or in the Federal Reserve book entry system. The Fund does not bear the risk of a decline in the value of the underlying security unless the seller defaults under its repurchase obligation. In the event of a bankruptcy or other default of a seller of a repurchase agreement, the Fund could experience both delays in liquidating the underlying securities and losses, including (1) possible declines in the value of the underlying securities during the period while the Fund seeks to enforce its rights thereto; (2) possible subnormal levels of income and lack of access to income during this period; and (3) expenses of enforcing its rights. The Board of Trustees has established procedures to evaluate the creditworthiness of each party with whom the Fund enters into repurchase agreements by setting guidelines and standards of review for Keystone and monitoring Keystone's actions with regard to repurchase agreements. REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS Under a reverse repurchase agreement, the Fund would sell securities and agree to repurchase them at a mutually agreed upon date and price. The Fund intends to enter into reverse repurchase agreements to avoid otherwise having to sell securities during unfavorable market conditions in order to meet redemptions. At the time the Fund enters into a reverse repurchase agreement, it will establish a segregated account with the Fund's custodian containing liquid assets, such as U.S. government securities or other high grade debt securities, having a value not less than the repurchase price (including accrued interest) and will subsequently monitor the account to ensure such value is maintained. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value of the securities the Fund is obligated to repurchase may decline below the repurchase price. "WHEN ISSUED" AND "FORWARD COMMITMENT" TRANSACTIONS The Fund may also purchase securities on a when issued or delayed delivery basis and may purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis. When issued and delayed delivery transactions arise when securities are purchased by the Fund with payment and delivery taking place in the future in order to secure what is considered to be an advantageous price and yield to the Fund at the time of purchase. A forward commitment transaction is an agreement by the Fund to purchase or sell securities at a specified future date. The Fund may also enter into foreign currency forward contracts which are described in more detail in the section of this Exhibit entitled "Foreign Currency Transactions." When the Fund engages in these transactions, the Fund relies on the buyer or seller, as the case may be, to consummate the sale. Failure to do so may result in the Fund missing the opportunity to obtain a price or yield considered to be advantageous. When issued, delayed delivery and forward commitment transactions may be expected to occur a month or more before delivery is due. However, no payment or delivery is made by the Fund until it receives payment or delivery from the other party to the transaction. The Securities and Exchange Commission has established certain requirements to assure that a Fund is able to meet its obligations under these contracts, for example a separate account of liquid assets equal to the value of such purchase commitments may be maintained until payment is made. When issued, delayed delivery and firm commitment transactions are subject to risks from changes in value based upon changes in the level of interest rates, currency rates and other market factors, both before and after delivery. The Fund does not accrue any income on such securities or currencies prior to their delivery. To the extent the Fund engages in any of these transactions, it will do so for the purpose of acquiring portfolio securities or currencies consistent with its investment objective and policies and not for the purpose of investment leverage. The Fund currently does not intend to invest more than 5% of its assets in when issued or delayed delivery transactions. LOANS OF SECURITIES TO BROKER-DEALERS The Fund may lend securities to brokers and dealers pursuant to agreements requiring that the loans be continuously secured by cash or securities of the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, or any combination of cash and such securities, as collateral equal at all times in value to at least the market value of the securities loaned. Such securities loans will not be made with respect to the Fund, if as a result, the aggregate of all outstanding securities loans exceeds 15% of the value of the Fund's total assets taken at their current value. The Fund continues to receive interest or dividends on the securities loaned and simultaneously earns interest on the investment of the cash loan collateral in U.S. Treasury notes, certificates of deposit, other high-grade, short-term obligations or interest bearing cash equivalents. Although voting rights attendant to securities loaned pass to the borrower, such loans may be called at any time and will be called so that the securities may be voted by the Fund if, in the opinion of the Fund, a material event affecting the investment is to occur. There may be risks of delay in receiving additional collateral or in recovering the securities loaned or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. Loans may only be made to borrowers deemed to be of good standing, under standards approved by the Board of Trustees, when the income to be earned from the loan justifies the attendant risks. DERIVATIVES The Fund may use derivatives in furtherance of its investment objective. Derivatives are financial contracts whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate or index. These assets, rates, and indices may include bonds, stocks, mortgages, commodities, interest rates, currency exchange rates, bond indices, and stock indices. Derivatives can be used to earn income or protect against risk, or both. For example, one party with unwanted risk may agree to pass that risk to another party who is willing to accept the risk, the second party being motivated, for example, by the desire either to earn income in the form of a fee or premium from the first party, or to reduce its own unwanted risk by attempting to pass all or part of that risk to the first party. Derivatives can be used by investors, such as the Fund, to earn income and enhance returns, to hedge or adjust the risk profile of the portfolio, and either in place of more traditional direct investments or to obtain exposure to otherwise inaccessible markets. The Fund is permitted to use derivatives for one or more of these purposes. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes entails greater risks than if derivatives were used solely for hedging purposes. The Fund uses futures contracts and related options as well as forwards for hedging purposes. Derivatives are a valuable tool, which, when used properly, can provide significant benefit to Fund shareholders. Keystone is not an aggressive user of derivatives with respect to the Fund. However, the Fund may take positions in those derivatives that are within its investment policies if, in Keystone's judgment, this represents an effective response to current or anticipated market conditions. Keystone's use of derivatives is subject to continuous risk assessment and control from the standpoint of the Fund's investment objective and policies. Derivatives may be (1) standardized, exchange-traded contracts or (2) customized, privately negotiated contracts. Exchange-traded derivatives tend to be more liquid and subject to less credit risk than those that are privately negotiated. There are four principal types of derivative instruments--options, futures, forwards, and swaps--from which virtually any type of derivative transaction can be created. Further information regarding options, futures, forwards, and swaps, is provided later in this section and is provided in the Fund's statement of additional information. Debt instruments that incorporate one or more of these building blocks for the purpose of determining the principal amount of and/or rate of interest payable on the debt instruments are often referred to as "structured securities." An example of this type of structured security is indexed commercial paper. The term is also used to describe certain securities issued in connection with the restructuring of certain foreign obligations. See "Indexed Commercial Paper" and "Structured Securities" below. The term "derivative" is also sometimes used to describe securities involving rights to a portion of the cash flows from an underlying pool of mortgages or other assets from which payments are passed through to the owner of, or that collateralize, the securities. See "Mortgage Related Securities," "Collateralized Mortgage Obligations," "Adjustable Rate Mortgage Securities," "Stripped Mortgage Securities," "Mortgage Securities - Special Considerations," and "Other Asset-Backed Securities" and the Fund's statement of additional information. While the judicious use of derivatives by experienced investment managers, such as Keystone, can be beneficial, derivatives also involve risks different from, and, in certain cases, greater than, the risks presented by more traditional investments. Following is a general discussion of important risk factors and issues concerning the use of derivatives that investors should understand before investing in the Fund. o Market Risk -- This is the general risk attendant to all investments that the value of a particular investment will decline or otherwise change in a way detrimental to the Fund's interest. o Management Risk -- Derivative products are highly specialized instruments that require investment techniques and risk analyses different from those associated with stocks and bonds. The use of a derivative requires an understanding not only of the underlying instrument, but also of the derivative itself, without the benefit of observing the performance of the derivative under all possible market conditions. In particular, the use and complexity of derivatives require the maintenance of adequate controls to monitor the transactions entered into, the ability to assess the risk that a derivative adds to the Fund's portfolio and the ability to forecast price, interest rate or currency exchange rate movements correctly. o Credit Risk -- This is the risk that a loss may be sustained by the Fund as a result of the failure of another party to a derivative (usually referred to as a "counterparty") to comply with the terms of the derivative contract. The credit risk for exchange-traded derivatives is generally less than for privately negotiated derivatives, since the clearing house, which is the issuer or counterparty to each exchange-traded derivative, provides a guarantee of performance. This guarantee is supported by a daily payment system (i.e., margin requirements) operated by the clearing house in order to reduce overall credit risk. For privately negotiated derivatives, there is no similar clearing agency guarantee. Therefore, the Fund considers the creditworthiness of each counterparty to a privately negotiated derivative in evaluating potential credit risk. o Liquidity Risk -- Liquidity risk exists when a particular instrument is difficult to purchase or sell. If a derivative transaction is particularly large or if the relevant market is illiquid (as is the case with many privately negotiated derivatives), it may not be possible to initiate a transaction or liquidate a position at an advantageous price. o Leverage Risk -- Since many derivatives have a leverage component, adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying asset, rate or index can result in a loss substantially greater than the amount invested in the derivative itself. In the case of swaps, the risk of loss generally is related to a notional principal amount, even if the parties have not made any initial investment. Certain derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment. o Other Risks -- Other risks in using derivatives include the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the inability of derivatives to correlate perfectly with underlying assets, rates, and indices. Many derivatives, in particular privately negotiated derivatives, are complex and often valued subjectively. Improper valuations can result in increased cash payment requirements to counterparties or a loss of value to the Fund. Derivatives do not always perfectly or even highly correlate or track the value of the assets, rates or indices they are designed to closely track. Consequently, the Fund's use of derivatives may not always be an effective means of, and sometimes could be counterproductive to, furthering the Fund's investment objective. OPTIONS TRANSACTIONS WRITING COVERED OPTIONS. The Fund may write (i.e., sell) covered call and put options. By writing a call option, the Fund becomes obligated during the term of the option to deliver the securities underlying the option upon payment of the exercise price. By writing a put option, the Fund becomes obligated during the term of the option to purchase the securities underlying the option at the exercise price if the option is exercised. The Fund also may write straddles (combinations of covered puts and calls on the same underlying security). The Fund may only write "covered" options. This means that so long as the Fund is obligated as the writer of a call option it will own the underlying securities subject to the option or, in the case of call options on U.S. Treasury bills, the Fund might own substantially similar U.S. Treasury bills. If the Fund has written options against all of its securities that are available for writing options, the Fund may be unable to write additional options unless it sells a portion of its portfolio holdings to obtain new securities against which it can write options. If this were to occur, higher portfolio turnover and correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transaction costs may result. The Fund does not expect, however, that this will occur. The Fund will be considered "covered" with respect to a put option it writes if, so long as it is obligated as the writer of the put option, it deposits and maintains with its custodian in a segregated account liquid assets having a value equal to or greater than the exercise price of the option. The principal reason for writing call or put options is to obtain, through a receipt of premiums, a greater current return than would be realized on the underlying securities alone. The Fund receives a premium from writing a call or put option, which it retains whether or not the option is exercised. By writing a call option, the Fund might lose the potential for gain on the underlying security while the option is open, and, by writing a put option, the Fund might become obligated to purchase the underlying security for more than its current market price upon exercise. PURCHASING OPTIONS. The Fund may purchase put or call options, including put or call options for the purpose of offsetting previously written put or call options of the same series. 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. An option position may be closed out only in a secondary market for an option of the same series. Although the Fund generally will write only those options for which there appears to be an active secondary market, there is no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular option at any particular time, and, for some options, no secondary market may exist. In such event, it might not be possible to effect a closing transaction in a particular option. Options on some securities are relatively new, and it is impossible to predict the amount of trading interest that will exist in such options. There can be no assurance that viable markets will develop or continue. The failure of such markets to develop or continue could significantly impair the Fund's ability to use such options to achieve its investment objective. OPTIONS TRADING MARKETS. Options in which the Fund will trade are generally listed on national securities exchanges. Exchanges on which such options currently are traded include the Chicago Board Options Exchange and the New York, American, Pacific, and Philadelphia Stock Exchanges. Options on some securities may not be listed on any exchange, but traded in the over-the-counter market. Options traded in the over-the-counter market involve the additional risk that securities dealers participating in such transactions could fail to meet their obligations to the Fund. The use of options traded in the over-the-counter market may be subject to limitations imposed by certain state securities authorities. In addition to the limits on its use of options discussed herein, the Fund is subject to the investment restrictions described in this prospectus and in the statement of additional information. The staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission is of the view that the premiums that the Fund pays for the purchase of unlisted options and the value of securities used to cover unlisted options written by the Fund are considered to be invested in illiquid securities or assets for the purpose of calculating whether the Fund is in compliance with its policies on illiquid securities. FUTURES TRANSACTIONS The Fund may enter into currency and other financial futures contracts and write options on such contracts. The Fund intends to enter into such contracts and related options for hedging purposes. The Fund will enter into securities, currency or index-based futures contracts in order to hedge against changes in interest or exchange rates or securities prices. A futures contract on securities or currencies is an agreement to buy or sell securities or currencies at a specified price during a designated month. A futures contract on a securities index does not involve the actual delivery of securities, but merely requires the payment of a cash settlement based on changes in the securities index. The Fund does not make payment or deliver securities upon entering into a futures contract. Instead, it puts down a margin deposit, which is adjusted to reflect changes in the value of the contract and which continues until the contract is terminated. The Fund may sell or purchase futures contracts. When a futures contract is sold by the Fund, the value of the contract will tend to rise when the value of the underlying securities or currencies declines and to fall when the value of such securities or currencies increases. Thus, the Fund sells futures contracts in order to offset a possible decline in the value of its securities or currencies. If a futures contract is purchased by the Fund, the value of the contract will tend to rise when the value of the underlying securities or currencies increases and to fall when the value of such securities or currencies declines. The Fund intends to purchase futures contracts in order to establish what is believed by Keystone to be a favorable price and rate of return for securities or favorable exchange rate for currencies the Fund intends to purchase. The Fund also intends to purchase put and call options on futures contracts for hedging purposes. A put option purchased by the Fund would give it the right to assume a position as the seller of a futures contract. A call option purchased by the Fund would give it the right to assume a position as the purchaser of a futures contract. The purchase of an option on a futures contract requires the Fund to pay a premium. In exchange for the premium, the Fund becomes entitled to exercise the benefits, if any, provided by the futures contract, but is not required to take any action under the contract. If the option cannot be exercised profitably before it expires, the Fund's loss will be limited to the amount of the premium and any transaction costs. The Fund may enter into closing purchase and sale transactions in order to terminate a futures contract and may sell put and call options for the purpose of closing out its options positions. The Fund's ability to enter into closing transactions depends on the development and maintenance of a liquid secondary market. There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular contract or at any particular time. As a result, there can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to enter into an offsetting transaction with respect to a particular contract at a particular time. If the Fund is not able to enter into an offsetting transaction, the Fund will continue to be required to maintain the margin deposits on the contract and to complete the contract according to its terms, in which case, it would continue to bear market risk on the transaction. Although futures and related options transactions are intended to enable the Fund to manage market, interest rate or exchange rate risk, unanticipated changes in interest rates, exchange rates or market prices could result in poorer performance than if it had not entered into these transactions. Even if Keystone correctly predicts interest or exchange rate movements, a hedge could be unsuccessful if changes in the value of the Fund's futures position did not correspond to changes in the value of its investments. This lack of correlation between the Fund's futures and securities or currencies positions may be caused by differences between the futures and securities or currencies markets or by differences between the securities or currencies underlying the Fund's futures position and the securities or currencies held by or to be purchased for the Fund. Keystone will attempt to minimize these risks through careful selection and monitoring of the Fund's futures and options positions. The Fund does not intend to use futures transactions for speculation or leverage. The Fund has the ability to write options on futures, but intends to write such options only to close out options purchased by the Fund. The Fund will not change these policies without supplementing the information in its prospectus and statement of additional information. FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS As discussed above, the Fund may invest in securities of foreign issuers. When the Fund invests in foreign securities, they usually will be denominated in foreign currencies, and the Fund temporarily may hold funds in foreign currencies. Thus, the value of Fund shares will be affected by changes in exchange rates. As one way of managing exchange rate risk, in addition to entering into currency futures contracts, the Fund may enter into forward currency exchange contracts (agreements to purchase or sell currencies at a specified price and date). The exchange rate for the transaction (the amount of currency the Fund will deliver or receive when the contract is completed) is fixed when the Fund enters into the contract. The Fund usually will enter into these contracts to stabilize the U.S. dollar value of a security it has agreed to buy or sell. The Fund intends to use these contracts to hedge the U.S. dollar value of a security it already owns, particularly if the Fund expects a decrease in the value of the currency in which the foreign security is denominated. Although the Fund will attempt to benefit from using forward contracts, the success of its hedging strategy will depend on Keystone's ability to predict accurately the future exchange rates between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar. The value of the Fund's investments denominated in foreign currencies will depend on the relative strength of those currencies and the U.S. dollar, and the Fund may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in the exchange rates or exchange control regulations between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates also may affect the value of dividends and interest earned, gains and losses realized on the sale of securities and net investment income and gains, if any, to be distributed to shareholders by the Fund. Although the Fund does not currently intend to do so, the Fund may also purchase and sell options related to foreign currencies. The Fund does not intend to enter into foreign currency transactions for speculation or leverage. INTEREST RATE TRANSACTIONS (SWAPS, CAPS, AND FLOORS). If the Fund enters into interest rate swap, cap or floor transactions, it expects to do so primarily for hedging purposes, which may include preserving a return or spread on a particular investment or portion of its portfolio or protecting against an increase in the price of securities the Fund anticipates purchasing at a later date. The Fund does not currently intend to use these transactions in a speculative manner. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by the Fund with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest (e.g., an exchange of floating rate payments for fixed rate payments). Interest rate caps and floors are similar to options in that the purchase of an interest rate cap or floor entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index exceeds (in the case of a cap) or falls below (in the case of a floor) a predetermined interest rate, to receive payments of interest on a contractually-based principal ("notional") amount from the party selling the interest rate cap or floor. The Fund may enter into interest rate swaps, caps, and floors on either an asset-based or liability-based basis, depending upon whether it is hedging its assets or liabilities, and will usually enter into interest rate swaps on a net basis (i.e., 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). The swap market has grown substantially in recent years, with a large number of banks and investment banking firms acting as principals and as agents utilizing standardized swap documentation. As a result, the swap market has become more established and relatively liquid. Caps and floors are less liquid than swaps. These transactions also involve the delivery of securities or other underlying assets and principal. Accordingly, the risk of loss to the Fund from interest rate transactions is limited to the net amount of interest payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make. INDEXED COMMERCIAL PAPER. Indexed commercial paper may have its principal linked to changes in foreign currency exchange rates whereby its principal amount is adjusted upwards or downwards (but not below zero) at maturity to reflect changes in the referenced exchange rate. If permitted by its investment policies, the Fund will purchase such commercial paper with the currency in which it is denominated and, at maturity, will receive interest and principal payments thereon in that currency, but the amount of principal payable by the issuer at maturity will change in proportion to the change (if any) in the exchange rate between the two specified currencies between the date the instrument is issued and the date the instrument matures. While such commercial paper entails the risk of loss of principal, the potential for realizing gains as a result of changes in foreign currency exchange rates enables the Fund to hedge (or cross-hedge) against a decline in the U.S. dollar value of investments denominated in foreign currencies while providing an attractive money market rate of return. MORTGAGE-RELATED SECURITIES. The mortgage-related securities in which the Fund may invest typically are securities representing interests in pools of mortgage loans made to home owners. Mortgage-related securities bear interest at either a fixed rate or an adjustable rate determined by reference to an index rate. The mortgage loan pools may be assembled for sale to investors (such as the Fund) by governmental or private organizations. Mortgage-related securities issued by the Government National Mortgage Association ("GNMA") are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government; those issued by Federal National Mortgage Associated ("FNMA") and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("FHLMC") are not so backed. Securities representing interests in pools created by private issuers generally offer a higher rate of interest than securities representing interests in pools created by governmental issuers because there are no direct or indirect governmental guarantees of the underlying mortgage payments. However, private issuers sometimes obtain committed loan facilities, lines of credit, letters of credit, surety bonds or other forms of liquidity and credit enhancement to support the timely payment of interest and principal with respect to their securities if the borrowers on the underlying mortgages fail to make their mortgage payments. The ratings of such non-governmental securities are generally dependent upon the ratings of the providers of such liquidity and credit support and would be adversely affected if the rating of such an enhancer were downgraded. The Fund may buy mortgage-related securities without credit enhancement if the securities meet the Fund's investment standards. Although the market for mortgage-related securities is becoming increasingly liquid, those of certain private organizations may not be readily marketable. One type of mortgage-related security is of the "pass-through" variety. The holder of a pass-through security is considered to own an undivided beneficial interest in the underlying pool of mortgage loans and receives a pro rata share of the monthly payments made by the borrowers on their mortgage loans, net of any fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of the securities. Prepayments of mortgages resulting from the sale, refinancing or foreclosure of the underlying properties are also paid to the holders of these securities. Some mortgage-related securities, such as securities issued by GNMA, are referred to as "modified pass-through" securities. The holders of these securities are entitled to the full and timely payment of principal and interest, net of certain fees, regardless of whether payments are actually made on the underlying mortgages. Another form of mortgage-related security is a "pay- through" security, which is a debt obligation of the issuer secured by a pool of mortgage loans pledged as collateral that is legally required to be paid by the issuer regardless of whether payments are actually made on the underlying mortgages. COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS ("CMOS"). CMOs are the predominant type of "pay-through" mortgage-related security. CMOs are designed to reduce the risk of prepayment for investors by issuing multiple classes of securities, each having different maturities, interest rates and payment schedules, and with the principal and interest on the underlying mortgages allocated among the several classes in various ways. The collateral securing the CMOs may consist of a pool of mortgages, but may also consist of mortgage-backed bonds or pass-through securities. CMOs may be issued by a U.S. government instrumentality or agency, or by a private issuer. Although payment of the principal of, and interest on, the underlying collateral securing privately issued CMOs may be guaranteed by GNMA, FNMA or FHLMC, these CMOs represent obligations solely of the private issuer and are not insured or guaranteed by GNMA, FNMA, FHLMC, any other governmental agency, or any other person or entity. INVERSE FLOATING RATE COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS. In addition to investing in fixed rate and adjustable rate CMOs, the Fund may also invest in CMOs with rates that move inversely to market rates ("inverse floaters"). An inverse floater bears an interst rate that resets in the opposite direction of the change in a specified interest rate index. As market interest rates rise, the interest rate on the inverse floater goes down, and vice versa. Inverse floaters tend to exhibit greater price volatility than fixed-rate bonds of similar maturity and credit quality. The interest rates on inverse floaters may be significantly reduced, even to zero, if interest rates rise. Moreover, the secondary market for inverse floaters may be limited in rising interest rate environments. ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGE SECURITIES. Another type of mortgage-related security, known as adjustable-rate mortgage securities ("ARMS"), bears interest at a rate determined by reference to a predetermined interest rate or index. There are two main categories of rates or indices: (1) rates based on the yield on U.S. Treasury securities and (2) indices derived from a calculated measure such as a cost of funds index or a moving average of mortgage rates. Some rates and indices closely mirror changes in market interest rate levels, while others tend to lag changes in market rate levels and tend to be somewhat less volatile. ARMS may be secured by adjustable-rate mortgages or fixed-rate mortgages. ARMS secured by fixed-rate mortgages generally have lifetime caps on the coupon rates of the securities. To the extent that general interest rates increase faster than the interest rates on the ARMS, these ARMS will decline in value. The adjustable-rate mortgages that secure ARMS will frequently have caps that limit the maximum amount by which the interest rate or the monthly principal and interest payments on the mortgages may increase. These payment caps can result in negative amortization (i.e., an increase in the balance of the mortgage loan). Furthermore, since many adjustable-rate mortgages only reset on an annual basis, the values of ARMS tend to fluctuate to the extent that changes in prevailing interest rates are not immediately reflected in the interest rates payable on the underlying adjustable-rate mortgages. STRIPPED MORTGAGE SECURITIES. Stripped mortgage-related securities ("SMRS") are mortgage-related securities that are usually structured with two classes of securities collateralized by a pool of mortgages or a pool of mortgaged-backed bonds or pass-through securities, with each class receiving different proportions of the principal and interest payments from the underlying assets. A common type of SMRS has one class of interest-only securities ("IOs") receiving all of the interest payments from the underlying assets, while the other class of securities, principal-only securities ("POs"), receives all of the principal payments from the underlying assets. IOs and POs are extremely sensitive to interest rate changes and are more volatile than mortgage-related securities that are not stripped. IOs tend to decrease in value as interest rates decrease, while POs generally increase in value as interest rates decrease. If prepayments of the underlying mortgages are greater than anticipated, the amount of interest earned on the overall pool will decrease due to the decreasing principal balance of the assets. Changes in the values of IOs and POs can be substantial and occur quickly, such as occurred in the first half of 1994 when the value of many POs dropped precipitously due to an increase in interest rates. For this reason, the Fund does not rely on IOs and POs as the principal means of furthering its investment objective. MORTGAGE-RELATED SECURITIES -- SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS. The value of mortgage-related securities is affected by a number of factors. Unlike traditional debt securities, which have fixed maturity dates, mortgage-related securities may be paid earlier than expected as a result of prepayment of the underlying mortgages. If property owners make unscheduled prepayments of their mortgage loans, these prepayments will result in the early payment of the applicable mortgage-related securities. In that event, the Fund may be unable to invest the proceeds from the early payment of the mortgage-related securities in an investment that provides as high a yield as the mortgage-related securities. Consequently, early payment associated with mortgage-related securities causes these securities to experience significantly greater price and yield volatility than experienced by traditional fixed-income securities. The occurrence of mortgage prepayments is affected by the level of general interest rates, general economic conditions, and other social and demographic factors. During periods of falling interest rates, the rate of mortgage prepayments tends to increase, thereby tending to decrease the life of mortgage-related securities. During periods of rising interest rates, the rate of mortgage prepayments usually decreases, thereby tending to increase the life of mortgage-related securities. If the life of a mortgage-related security is inaccurately predicted, the Fund may not be able to realize the rate of return it expected. As with fixed-income securities generally, the value of mortgage-related securities can also be adversely affected by increases in general interest rates relative to the yield provided by such securities. Such adverse effect is especially possible with fixed-rate mortgage securities. If the yield available on other investments rises above the yield of the fixed-rate mortgage securities as a result of general increases in interest rate levels, the value of the mortgage-related securities will decline. Although the negative effect could be lessened if the mortgage-related securities were to be paid earlier (thus permitting the Fund to reinvest the prepayment proceeds in investments yielding the higher current interest rate), as described above the rate of mortgage prepayments and earlier payment of mortgage-related securities generally tends to decline during a period of rising interest rates. Although the value of ARMS may not be affected by rising interest rates as much as the value of fixed-rate mortgage securities is affected by rising interest rates, ARMS may still decline in value as a result of rising interest rates. Although, as described above, the yield on ARMS varies with changes in the applicable interest rate or index, there is often a lag between increases in general interest rates and increases in the yield on ARMS as a result of relatively infrequent interest rate reset dates. In addition, adjustable-rate mortgages and ARMS often have interest rate or payment caps that limit the ability of the adjustable-rate mortgages or ARMS to fully reflect increases in the general level of interest rates. OTHER ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES. The securitization techniques used to develop mortgage-related securities are being applied to a broad range of financial assets. Through the use of trusts and special purpose corporations, various types of assets, including automobile loans and leases, credit card receivables, home equity loans, equipment leases, and trade receivables, are being securitized in structures similar to the structures used in mortgage securitizations. These asset-backed securities are subject to risks associated with changes in interest rates and prepayment of underlying obligations similar to the risks of investment in mortgage-related securities discussed above. Each type of asset-backed security also entails unique risks depending on the type of assets involved and the legal structure used. For example, credit card receivables are generally unsecured obligations of the credit card holder and the debtors are entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer credit laws, many of which give such debtors the right to set off certain amounts owed on the credit cards, thereby reducing the balance due. There have also been proposals to cap the interest rate that a credit card issuer may charge. In some transactions, the value of the asset-backed security is dependent on the performance of a third party acting as credit enhancer or servicer. Furthermore, in some transactions (such as those involving the securitization of vehicle loans or leases) it may be administratively burdensome to perfect the interest of the security issuer in the underlying collateral and the underlying collateral may become damaged or stolen. VARIABLE, FLOATING, AND LEVERAGED INVERSE FLOATING RATE INSTRUMENTS. Fixed- income securities may have fixed, variable or floating rates of interest. Variable and floating rate securities pay interest at rates that are adjusted periodically, according to a specified formula. A "variable" interest rate adjusts at predetermined intervals (e.g., daily, weekly or monthly), while a "floating" interest rate adjusts whenever a specified benchmark rate (such as the bank prime lending rate) changes. The Fund may invest in fixed-income securities that pay interest at a coupon rate equal to a base rate, plus additional interest for a certain period of time if short-term interest rates rise above a predetermined level or "cap." The amount of such an additional interest payment typically is calculated under a formula based on a short-term interest rate index multiplied by a designated factor. An inverse floater may be considered to be leveraged to the extent that its interest rate varies by a magnitude that exceeds the magnitude of the change in the index rate of interest. The higher degree of leverage inherent in inverse floaters is associated with greater volatility in market value. STRUCTURED SECURITIES. Structured securities represent interests in entities organized and operated solely for the purpose of restructuring the investment characteristics of sovereign debt obligations or foreign government securities. This type of restructuring involves the deposit with or purchase by an entity, such as a corporation or trust, of specified instruments (such as commercial bank loans or Brady Bonds) and the issuance by that entity of one or more classes of structured securities backed by, or representing interests in, the underlying instruments. The cash flow on the underlying instruments may be apportioned among the newly issued structured securities to create securities with different investment characteristics such as varying maturities, payment priorities and interest rate provisions, and the extent of the payments made with respect to structured securities is dependent on the extent of the cash flow on the underlying instruments. Because structured securities typically involve no credit enhancement, their credit risk generally will be equivalent to that of the underlying instruments. Structured securities of a given class may be either subordinated or unsubordinated to the right of payment of another class. Subordinated structured securities typically have higher yields and present greater risks than unsubordinated structured securities. BRADY BONDS. Brady Bonds are created through the exchange of existing commercial bank loans to foreign entities for new obligations in connection with debt restructurings under a plan introduced by former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Nicholas F. Brady (the "Brady Plan"). Brady Bonds have been issued only recently, and, accordingly, do not have a long payment history. They may be collateralized or uncollateralized and issued in various currencies (although most are U.S. dollar-denominated) and they are actively traded in the over-the-counter secondary market. U.S. dollar-denominated, collateralized Brady Bonds, which may be fixed-rate par bonds or floating rate discount bonds, are generally collateralized in full as to principal due at maturity by U.S. Treasury zero coupon obligations that have the same maturity as the Brady Bonds. Interest payments on these Brady Bonds generally are collateralized by cash or securities in an amount that, in the case of fixed rate bonds, is equal to at least one year of rolling interest payments based on the applicable interest rate at that time and is adjusted at regular intervals thereafter. Certain Brady Bonds are entitled to "value recovery payments" in certain circumstances, which in effect constitute supplemental interest payments, but generally are not collateralized. Brady Bonds are often viewed as having up to four valuation components: (1) collateralized repayment of principal at final maturity, (2) collateralized interest payments, (3) uncollateralized interest payments, and (4) any uncollateralized repayment of principal at maturity (these uncollateralized amounts constitute the "residual risk"). In the event of a default with respect to collateralized Brady Bonds as a result of which the payment obligations of the issuer are accelerated, the U.S. Treasury zero coupon obligations held as collateral for the payment of principal will not be distributed to investors, nor will such obligations be sold and the proceeds distributed. The collateral will be held by the collateral agent to the scheduled maturity of the defaulted Brady Bonds, which will continue to be outstanding, at which time the face amount of the collateral will equal the principal payments that would have then been due on the Brady Bonds in the normal course. In addition, in light of the residual risk of Brady Bonds and, among other factors, the history of defaults with respect to commercial bank loans by public and private entities of countries issuing Brady Bonds, investments in Brady Bonds are to be viewed as speculative. -------------------------------------- KEYSTONE CLASSIC FUND FAMILY + Quality Bond Fund (B-1) Diversified Bond Fund (B-2) High Income Bond Fund (B-4) Balanced Fund (K-1) Strategic Growth Fund (K-2) Growth and Income Fund (S-2) Mid-Cap Growth Fund (S-3) Small Company Growth Fund (S-4) International Fund Precious Metals Holdings Tax Free Fund Liquid Trust -------------------------------------- - --------------------------------- Evergreen Keystone [logo] FUNDS [logo] - --------------------------------- Evergreen Keystone Distributor, Inc. 125 W. 55th Street New York, New York 10019 B4-P Sup. 5/97 17M 540112 [recycle logo] --------------------------------------- KEYSTONE [graphic omitted] HIGH INCOME BOND FUND (B-4) --------------------------------------- [LOGO] PROSPECTUS AND APPLICATION KEYSTONE TAX FREE FUND STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION April 30, 1997 This statement of additional information is not a prospectus, but relates to, and should be read in conjunction with, the prospectus of Keystone Tax Free Fund (the "Fund") dated April 30, 1997, as supplemented from time to time. A copy of the prospectus may be obtained from Evergreen Keystone Distributor, Inc., or your broker-dealer. TABLE OF CONTENTS The Fund ............................................................3 Service Providers....................................................3 Investment Restrictions..............................................4 Valuation of Securities..............................................6 Brokerage............................................................6 Sales Charges........................................................8 Distribution Plan....................................................9 Trustees And Officers...............................................11 Investment Adviser..................................................15 Principal Underwriter...............................................17 Sub-administrator...................................................17 Declaration of Trust................................................18 Expenses............................................................19 Financial Statements................................................20 Standardized Total Return And Yield Quotations......................20 Additional Information..............................................21 Appendix...........................................................A-1 THE FUND The Fund is an open-end diversified management investment company. The Fund's investment objective is to provide shareholders with the highest possible current income, exempt from federal income taxes, while preserving capital. The Fund invests primarily in municipal bonds, but also may invest in certain other securities as described in the Appendix hereto and in the "Additional Investment Information" section of the Fund's prospectus. Certain information about the Fund is contained in its prospectus. This statement of additional information (the "SAI") provides additional information about the Fund that may be of interest to some investors. SERVICE PROVIDERS Service Provider - ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Investment adviser (referred to Keystone Investment Management Company, 200 Berkeley in this SAI as "Keystone") Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116. (Keystone is a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Union Keystone, Inc., (formerly Keystone Investments, Inc.) ("First Union Keystone") also located at 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116. Principal underwriter ( referred Evergreen Keystone Distributor, Inc. (formerly Evergreen to in this SAI as "EKD") Funds Distributor, Inc.), 125 W. 55th Street, New York, New York 10019. Marketing services agent and Evergreen Keystone Investment Services, Inc. (formerly predecessor to EKD (referred to Keystone Investment Distributors Company), 200 Berkeley in this SAI as "EKIS") Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116. Sub-administrator (referred to in BISYS Fund Services, Inc., 125 W. 55th Street, New York, this SAI as "BISYS") New York 10019. Transfer and dividend Evergreen Keystone Service Company, 200 Berkeley disbursing agent (referred to in Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116. (EKSC is a wholly- this SAI as "EKSC") owned subsidiary of Keystone.) Independent auditors KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, 99 High Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, Certified Public Accountants Custodian State Street Bank and Trust Company, 225 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS None of the restrictions enumerated in this paragraph may be changed without a vote of the holders of a majority of the Fund's outstanding shares as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act") as the lesser of (1) 67% of the shares, represented at a meeting at which more than 50% of the outstanding shares are represented or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding shares. The Fund shall not do the following: (1) purchase securities on margin, but the Fund may obtain such short-term credits as may be necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of securities; (2) make short sales of securities or maintain a short position, unless at all times when a short position is open it owns an equal amount of such securities or of securities which without payment of any further consideration are convertible into or exchangeable for securities of the same issue as, and equal in amount to, the securities sold short; (3) borrow money, except that the Fund may (a) borrow money from banks for emergency or extraordinary purposes in aggregate amounts up to one-third of its net assets, and (b) enter into reverse repurchase agreements; (4) pledge, mortgage or hypothecate its assets except to secure indebtedness permitted by subparagraph (3) above, with pledged assets to be no more than 15% of its total assets; (5) purchase any security other than United States ("U.S.") government securities of any issuer if as a result more than 25% of its total assets would be invested in a single industry, including industrial development bonds from the same facility or similar types of facilities; governmental issuers of municipal bonds are not regarded as members of an industry and the Fund may invest more than 25% of its assets in industrial development bonds; (6) purchase any security, other than U.S. government securities, if as a result more than 5% of the Fund's total assets would be invested in securities of the issuer, or the Fund would hold more than 10% of the voting securities of the issuer; (7) invest for the purpose of exercising control over or management of any company; (8) invest in securities of other investment companies, except as part of a merger, consolidation, purchase of assets or similar transaction approved by the Fund's shareholders; (9) purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts or real estate, except that it may purchase and sell securities secured by real estate and securities of companies which invest in real estate, and may engage in currency or other financial futures and related options transactions; (10) act as an underwriter except to the extent that, in connection with the disposition of its portfolio investments, it may be deemed to be an underwriter under federal securities laws; or purchase securities which are not readily marketable except for repurchase agreements; (11) purchase or retain securities of an issuer if, to the knowledge of the Fund, an officer, Trustee or Director of the Fund or Keystone owns beneficially more than 1/2 of 1% of the shares or securities of such issuer and all such officers, Trustees and Directors owning more than 1/2 of 1% of such shares or securities together own more than 5% of such shares or securities; (12) purchase securities of any issuer if the person responsible for payment, together with any predecessor, has been in operation for less than three years if, as a result, the aggregate of such investments would exceed 5% of the Fund's total assets; provided, however, that this restriction shall not apply to U.S. government securities or to any obligation the payment of which involves the credit and taxing power of any person authorized to issue municipal bonds; (13) invest in interests in oil, gas or other mineral exploration or development programs; (14) make loans, except to the extent that the purchase of debt instruments or repurchase agreements may be deemed to be loans; repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days will not exceed 10% of the Fund's total assets; and (15) purchase securities of foreign issuers. The foregoing percentage restrictions will apply at the time of the purchase of a security and shall not be considered violated unless an excess or deficiency occurs or exists immediately after and as a result of a purchase of such security. For the purpose of Investment Restrictions (5) and (6), the Fund will treat each state, territory and possession of the U.S., the District of Columbia and, if its assets and revenues are separate from those of the entity or entities creating it, each political subdivision, agency and instrumentality of any one (or more, as in the case of a multistate authority or agency) of the foregoing as an issuer of all securities that are backed primarily by its assets or revenues; each company as an issuer of all securities that are backed primarily by its assets or revenues; and each of the foregoing entities as an issuer of all securities that it guarantees; provided, however, that for the purpose of limitation (6) no entity shall be deemed to be an issuer of a security that it guarantees so long as no more than 10% of the Fund's total assets (taken at current value) are invested in securities guaranteed by the entity and securities of which it is otherwise deemed to be an issuer. The Fund does not presently intend to invest more than 25% of its total assets in (1) municipal bonds of a single state and its subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities; of a single territory or possession of the U.S. and its subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities; or of the District of Columbia and any subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof; or (2) municipal bonds the payment of which depends on revenues derived from a single facility or similar types of facilities. Since certain municipal bonds may be related in such a way that an economic, business or political development or change affecting one such security could likewise affect the other securities, a change in this policy could result in increased investment risk, but no change is presently contemplated. The Fund may invest more than 25% of its total assets in industrial development bonds. In addition, the Fund will not issue senior securities, except as appropriate to evidence indebtedness which the Fund is permitted to incur pursuant to Investment Restriction (3) above and except for shares of any additional series or portfolios which may be established by the Trustees. Notwithstanding the eighth investment restriction enumerated above or any of the other limitations above, the Fund may invest all of its assets in the securities of a single open-end management investment company with substantially the same fundamental investment objectives, policies, and restrictions as the Fund. See "Investment Objective and Policies" in the prospectus. VALUATION OF SECURITIES The Fund believes that reliable market quotations generally are not readily available for purposes of valuing municipal bonds. As a result, depending on the particular municipal bonds owned by the Fund, it is likely that most of the valuations for such bonds will be based upon their fair value determined under procedures that have been approved by the Fund's Board of Trustees. The Fund's Board of Trustees has authorized the use of a pricing service to determine the fair value of its municipal bonds and other securities. Non-tax exempt securities for which market quotations are readily available are valued on a consistent basis at that price quoted that, in the opinion of the Fund's Board of Trustees or the person designated by the Board of Trustees to make the determination, most nearly represents the market value of the particular security. Short-term investments that are purchased with maturities of sixty days or less are valued at amortized cost (original purchase cost as adjusted for amortization of premium or accretion of discount), which, when combined with accrued interest, approximates market; short-term investments maturing in more than sixty days for which market quotations are readily available are valued at current market value; and short-term investments maturing in more than sixty days when purchased that are held on the sixtieth day prior to maturity are valued at amortized cost (market value on the sixtieth day adjusted for amortization of premium or accretion of discount), which, when combined with accrued interest, approximates market and which, in any case, reflects fair value as determined by the Fund's Board of Trustees. Any securities for which market quotations are not readily available are valued on a consistent basis at fair value as determined in good faith using methods prescribed by the Fund's Board of Trustees. BROKERAGE Selection of Brokers In effecting transactions in portfolio securities for the Fund, Keystone seeks the best execution of orders at the most favorable prices. Keystone determines whether a broker has provided the Fund with best execution and price in the execution of a securities transaction by evaluating, among other things: 1. overall direct net economic result to the Fund; 2. the efficiency with which the transaction is effected; 3. the broker's ability to effect the transaction where a large block is involved; 4. the broker's readiness to execute potentially difficult transactions in the future; 5. the financial strength and stability of the broker; and 6. the receipt of research services, such as analyes and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends and other statistical and factual information ("research services.") The Fund's management weighs these considerations in determining the overall reasonableness of the brokerage commissions paid. Should the Fund or Keystone receive research services from a broker, the Fund would consider such services to be in addition to, and not in lieu of, the services Keystone is required to perform under the Advisory Agreement. Keystone believes that the cost, value and specific application of research services are indeterminable and cannot be practically allocated between the Fund and its other clients who may indirectly benefit from the availability of research services. Similarly, the Fund may indirectly benefit from information made available as a result of transactions effected for Keystone's other clients. Under the Advisory Agreement, Keystone is permitted to pay higher brokerage commissions for brokerage and research services in accordance with Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In the event Keystone follows such a practice, it will do so on a basis that is fair and equitable to the Fund. The Fund's Board of Trustees has determined that the Fund may consider sales of Fund shares as a factor when selecting brokers-dealers to execute portfolio transactions, subject to the requirements of best execution described above. Brokerage Commissions The Fund expects that purchases and sales of municipal bonds and temporary instruments usually will be principal transactions. Municipal bonds and temporary instruments are normally purchased directly from the issuer or from an underwriter or market maker for the securities. There usually will be no brokerage commissions paid by the Fund for such purchases. Purchases from underwriters will include the underwriting commission or concession, and purchases from dealers serving as market makers will include a dealer's mark up or reflect a dealer's mark down. Where transactions are made in the over-the-counter market, the Fund will deal with primary market makers unless more favorable prices are otherwise obtainable. General Brokerage Policies In order to take advantage of the availability of lower purchase prices, the Fund may participate, if and when practicable, in group bidding for the direct purchase from an issuer of certain securities. Keystone makes investment decisions for the Fund independently from those of its other clients. It may frequently develop, however, that Keystone will make the same investment decision for more than one client. Simultaneous transactions are inevitable when the same security is suitable for the investment objective of more than one account. When two or more of its clients are engaged in the purchase or sale of the same security, Keystone will allocate the transactions according to a formula that is equitable to each of its clients. Although, in some cases, this system could have a detrimental effect on the price or volume of the Fund's securities, the Fund believes that in other cases its ability to participate in volume transactions will produce better executions. The Fund does not purchase portfolio securities from or sell portfolio securities to Keystone, EKD or any of their affiliated persons, as defined in the 1940 Act. The Board of Trustees periodically reviews the Fund's brokerage policy. In the event of further regulatory developments affecting the securities exchanges and brokerage practices generally, the Board of Trustees may change, modify or eliminate any of the foregoing practices. SALES CHARGES The Fund may charge a contingent deferred sales charge (a "CDSC") when you redeem certain of its shares within four calendar years after you purchase the shares. The Fund charges a CDSC as reimbursement for certain expenses, such as commissions or shareholder servicing fees, that it has incurred in connection with the sale of its shares (see "Distribution Plan"). If imposed, the Fund deducts the CDSC from the redemption proceeds you would otherwise receive. CDSCs attributable to your shares are, to the extent permitted by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD"), paid to EKD or its predecessor. Calculating the CDSC The CDSC is a declining percentage of the lesser of (1) the net asset value of the shares you redeemed, or (2) the total cost of such shares. The CDSC is calculated according to the following schedule: Redemption Timing CDSC During the calendar year of purchase......................4.00% During the calendar year after the year of purchase........................................3.00% During the second calendar year after the year of purchase.........................2.00% During the third calendar year after the year of purchase..............................1.00% Thereafter................................................0.00% In determining whether a CDSC is payable and, if so, the percentage charge applicable, the Fund assumes that you have redeemed shares not subject to a CDSC first and then it will redeem shares you have held the longest first. CDSC Waivers. The Fund does not impose a CDSC when the amount you are redeeming represents: 1. an increase in the value of the shares redeemed above the total cost of such shares due to increases in the net asset value per share of the Fund; 2. certain shares for which the Fund did not pay a commission on issuance, including shares acquired through reinvestment of dividend income and capital gains distributions; 3. shares you have held for all or part of more than four consecutive calendar years; 4. shares that are held in the accounts of a shareholder who has died or become disabled; 5. a lump-sum distribution from a 401(k) plan or other benefit plan qualified under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA"); 6. automatic withdrawals from the ERISA plan of a shareholder who is a least 59 1/2 years old; 7. shares in an account that the Fund has closed because the account has an aggregate net asset value of less than $1,000; 8. automatic withdrawals under a Systematic Withdrawal Plan of up to 1.00% per month of your initial account balance; 9. withdrawals consisting of loan proceeds to a retirement plan participant; 10. financial hardship withdrawals made by a retirement plan participant; 11. withdrawals consisting of returns of excess contributions or excess deferral amounts made to a retirement plan; 12. shares purchased by a bank or trust company in a single account in the name of such bank or trust company as trustee if the initial investment in shares of the Fund, any other Keystone Classic fund, and/or any Evergreen Keystone fund, is at least $500,000 and any commission paid by the Fund and such other fund at the time of such purchase is not more than 1% of the amount invested; 13. shares purchased by any Director, Trustee, officer, full-time employee or sales representative of the Fund, Keystone, First Union Keystone, EKD or their affiliates, who has held such position for at least ninety days; or 14. shares purchased by pension and profit-sharing plans established by such companies and their affiliates, for the benefit of their Directors, Trustees, officers, full-time employees and sales representatives. Exchanges. The Fund does not charge a CDSC on exchanges of shares between Keystone Classic funds that have adopted distribution plans pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. If you do exchange shares of one such fund for shares of another such fund, the Fund will deem the calendar year of the exchange, for purposes of any future CDSC, to be the year the shares tendered for exchange were originally purchased. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DISTRIBUTION PLAN - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act permits investment companies, such as the Fund to use their assets to bear the expenses of distributing their shares, if they comply with various conditions, including adoption of a distribution plan containing certain provisions set forth in Rule 12b-1. The Fund bears some of the costs of selling its shares under a Distribution Plan adopted on June 1, 1983 pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (the "Distribution Plan"). The Fund's Distribution Plan provides that the Fund may expend up to 0.3125% quarterly (1.25% annually) of the average daily net asset value of its shares to pay distribution costs for sales of its shares and to pay shareholder service fees. The NASD currently limits such annual expenditures to 1.00%, of which 0.75% may be used to pay such distribution costs and 0.25% may be used to pay shareholder service fees. The NASD also limits the aggregate amount that the Fund may pay for such distribution costs to 6.25% of gross share sales since the inception of the Fund's Distribution Plan plus interest at the prime rate plus 1% on unpaid amounts thereof (less any CDSC paid by shareholders to the Principal Underwriter). Payments under the Distribution Plan are currently made to the Principal Underwriter (which may reallow all or part to others, such as broker-dealers) (1) as commissions for Fund shares sold, (2) as shareholder service fees in respect to shares maintained by the recipient and outstanding on the Fund's books for specified periods and (3) as interest. Amounts paid or accrued to the Principal Underwriter and its predecessor in the aggregate may not exceed the annual limitations referred to above. The Principal Underwriter generally reallows to broker-dealers or others a commission equal to 4.00% of the price paid for each Fund share sold as well as a shareholder service fee at a rate of 0.25% per annum of the net asset value of shares maintained by such recipient and outstanding on the books of the Fund for specified periods. If the Fund is unable to pay the Principal Underwriter a commission on a new sale because the annual maximum (0.75% of average daily net assets) has been reached, the Principal Underwriter intends, but is not obligated, to continue to accept new orders for the purchase of Fund shares and to pay or accrue commissions and service fees to broker-dealers in excess of the amount it currently receives from the Fund ("Advances"). While the Fund is under no contractual obligation to reimburse the Principal Underwriter or its predecessor for Advances, the Principal Underwriter and its predecessor intend to seek full payment for such Advances from the Fund (together with interest at the prime rate plus 1.00%) at such time in the future as, and to the extent that, payment thereof by the Fund would be within permitted limits. EKIS currently intends to seek payment of interest only on such Advances paid or accrued by EKIS subsequent to July 7, 1992. If the Fund's Independent Trustees authorize such payments, the effect would be to extend the period of time during which the Fund incurs the maximum amount of costs allowed by the Distribution Plan. The Distribution Plan may be terminated at any time by vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting shares of the Fund. If the Distribution Plan is terminated, EKD will ask the Independent Trustees to take whatever action they deem appropriate under the circumstances with respect to payment of such Advances. The total amounts paid by the Fund under the foregoing arrangements may not exceed the maximum Distribution Plan limit specified above. In addition, the amounts and purposes of expenditures under the Distribution Plan must be reported to the Fund's Independent Trustees quarterly. The Fund's Independent Trustees may require or approve changes in the implementation or operation of the Distribution Plan, and may also require that total expenditures by the Fund under the Distribution Plan be kept within limits lower than the maximum amount permitted by the Distribution Plan as stated above. If such costs are not limited by the Independent Trustees, such costs could, for some period of time, be higher than such costs permitted by most other plans presently adopted by other investment companies. The Distribution Plan may be terminated at any time by vote of the Independent Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. Any change in the Distribution Plan that would materially increase the distribution expenses of the Fund provided for in the Distribution Plan requires shareholder approval. Otherwise, the Distribution Plan may be amended by the votes of the majority of both (1) the Fund's Board of Trustees and (2) the Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such amendment. While the Distribution Plan is in effect, the Fund will be required to commit the selection and nomination of candidates for Independent Trustees to the discretion of the Independent Trustees. Whether any expenditure under the Distribution Plan is subject to a state expense limit will depend upon the nature of the expenditure and the terms of the state law, regulation or order imposing the limit. A portion of the Fund's Distribution Plan expenses may be includable in the Fund's total operating expenses for purposes of determining compliance with state expense limits. The Independent Trustees of the Fund have determined that the sales of the Fund's shares resulting from payments under the Distribution Plan have benefited the Fund. TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS The Trustees of the Fund, their principal occupations and some of their affiliations over the last five years, and the officers of the Fund are as follows: FREDERICK AMLING: Trustee of the Fund; Trustee or Director of all other funds in the Key stone Families of Funds; Professor, Finance Department, George Washington University; President, Amling & Company (investment advice); and former Member, Board of Advisers, Credito Emilano (bank ing). LAURENCE B. ASHKIN: Trustee of the Fund; Trustee or Director of all other funds in the Keystone Families of Funds; Trustee or Director of all of the funds in the Evergreen Family of Funds other than Evergreen Investment Trust; real estate developer and construction consultant; and President of Centrum Equities and Centrum Properties, Inc. CHARLES A. AUSTIN III: Trustee of the Fund; Trustee or Director of all other funds in the Keystone Families of Funds; Investment Counselor to Appleton Partners, Inc.; and former Managing Director, Seaward Management Corporation (investment advice). FOSTER BAM: Trustee of the Fund; Trustee or Director of all other funds in the Keystone Families of Funds; Trustee or Director of all of the funds in the Evergreen Family of Funds other than Evergreen Investment Trust; Partner in the law firm of Cummings & Lockwood; Director, Symmetrix, Inc. (sulphur company) and Pet Practice, Inc. (veterinary services); and former Director, Chartwell Group Ltd. (manufacturer of office furnishings and accessories), Waste Disposal Equipment Acquisition Corporation and Rehabilitation Corporation of America (rehabilitation hospitals). *GEORGE S. BISSELL: Chief Executive Officer of the Fund and each of the other funds in the Keystone Families of Funds; Chairman of the Board and Trustee of the Fund; Chairman of the Board and Trustee or Director of all other funds in the Keystone Families of Funds; Chairman of the Board and Trustee of Anatolia College; Trustee of University Hospital (and Chairman of its Investment Committee); former Director and Chairman of the Board of Hartwell Keystone; and former Chairman of the Board, Director and Chief Executive Officer of Keystone Investments, Inc. EDWIN D. CAMPBELL: Trustee of the Fund; Trustee or Director of all other funds in the Keystone Families of Funds; Principal, Padanaram Associates, Inc.; and former Executive Director, Coalition of Essential Schools, Brown University. CHARLES F. CHAPIN: Trustee of the Fund; Trustee or Director of all other funds in the Keystone Families of Funds; and former Director, Peoples Bank (Charlotte, NC). K. DUN GIFFORD: Trustee of the Fund; Trustee or Director of all other funds in the Keystone Families of Funds; Trustee, Treasurer and Chairman of the Finance Committee, Cambridge College; Chairman Emeritus and Direc tor, American Institute of Food and Wine; Chairman and President, Oldways Preservation and Exchange Trust (education); former Chairman of the Board, Director, and Executive Vice President, The London Harness Company; former Managing Partner, Roscommon Capital Corp.; former Chief Executive Officer, Gifford Gifts of Fine Foods; former Chairman, Gifford, Drescher & Associates (environmental consulting); and former Director, Keystone Investments, Inc. JAMES S. HOWELL: Trustee of the Fund; Trustee or Director of all other funds in the Keystone Families of Funds; Chairman and Trustee or Director of all of the funds in the Evergreen Family of Funds; former Chairman of the Distribution Foundation for the Carolinas; and former Vice President of Lance Inc. (food manufacturing). LEROY KEITH, JR.: Trustee of the Fund; Trustee or Director of all other funds in the Keystone Families of Funds; Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Carson Products Company; Director of Phoenix Total Return Fund and Equifax, Inc.; Trustee of Phoenix Series Fund, Phoenix Multi-Portfolio Fund, and The Phoenix Big Edge Series Fund; and former President, Morehouse College. F. RAY KEYSER, JR.: Trustee of the Fund; Trustee or Director of all other funds in the Keystone Families of Funds; Chairman and Of Counsel, Keyser, Crowley & Meub, P.C.; Member, Governor's (VT) Council of Economic Advisers; Chairman of the Board and Director, Central Vermont Public Service Corporation and Lahey Hitchcock Clinic; Director, Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation, Grand Trunk Corporation, Grand Trunk Western Railroad, Union Mutual Fire Insurance Company, New England Guaranty Insurance Company, Inc., and the Investment Company Institute; former Director and President, Associated Industries of Vermont; former Director of Keystone, Central Vermont Railway, Inc., S.K.I. Ltd., and Arrow Financial Corp.; and former Director and Chairman of the Board, Proctor Bank and Green Mountain Bank. GERALD M. MCDONNELL: Trustee of the Fund; Trustee or Director of all other funds in the Keystone Families of Funds; Trustee or Director of all of the funds in the Evergreen Family of Funds; and Sales Representative with Nucor- Yamoto, Inc. (steel producer). THOMAS L. MCVERRY: Trustee of the Fund; Trustee or Director of all other funds in the Keystone Families of Funds; Trustee or Director of all of the funds in the Evergreen Family of Funds; former Vice President and Director of Rexham Corporation; and former Director of Carolina Cooperative Federal Credit Union. *WILLIAM WALT PETTIT: Trustee of the Fund; Trustee or Director of all other funds in the Keystone Families of Funds; Trustee or Director of all of the funds in the Evergreen Family of Funds; and Partner in the law firm of Holcomb and Pettit, P.A. DAVID M. RICHARDSON: Trustee of the Fund; Trustee or Director of all other funds in the Keystone Families of Funds; Vice Chair and former Executive Vice President, DHR International, Inc. (executive recruitment); former Senior Vice President, Boyden International Inc. (executive recruit ment); and Director, Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey, 411 International, Inc., and J&M Cumming Paper Co. RUSSELL A. SALTON, III MD: Trustee of the Fund; Trustee or Director of all other funds in the Keystone Families of Funds; Trustee or Director of all of the funds in the Evergreen Family of Funds; Medical Director, U.S. Health Care/Aetna Health Services; and former Managed Health Care Consultant; former President, Primary Physician Care. MICHAEL S. SCOFIELD: Trustee of the Fund; Trustee or Director of all other funds in the Keystone Families of Funds; Trustee or Director of all of the funds in the Evergreen Family of Funds; and Attorney, Law Offices of Michael S. Scofield. RICHARD J. SHIMA: Trustee of the Fund; Trustee or Director of all other funds in the Keystone Families of Funds; Chairman, Environmental Warranty, Inc. (insurance agency); Executive Consultant, Drake Beam Morin, Inc. (executive outplacement); Director of Connecticut Natural Gas Corpora tion, Hartford Hospital, Old State House Association, Middlesex Mutual Assurance Company, and Enhance Financial Services, Inc.; Chairman, Board of Trustees, Hartford Graduate Center; Trustee, Greater Hartford YMCA; former Director, Vice Chairman and Chief Investment Officer, The Travelers Corporation; former Trustee, Kingswood-Oxford School; and former Managing Director and Consultant, Russell Miller, Inc. ANDREW J. SIMONS: Trustee of the Fund; Trustee or Director of all other funds in the Keystone Families of Funds; Partner, Farrell, Fritz, Caemmerer, Cleary, Barnosky & Armentano, P.C.; Adjunct Professor of Law and former Associate Dean, St. John's University School of Law; Adjunct Professor of Law, Touro College School of Law; and former President, Nassau County Bar Association. JOHN J. PILEGGI: President and Treasurer of the Fund; President and Treasurer of all other funds in the Keystone Families of Funds; President and Treasurer of all of the funds in the Evergreen Family of Funds; Senior Managing Director, Furman Selz LLC since 1992; Managing Director from 1984 to 1992; Consultant to BISYS Fund Services since 1996; 230 Park Avenue, Suite 910, New York, NY. GEORGE O. MARTINEZ: Secretary of the Fund; Secretary of all other funds in the Keystone Families of Funds; Secretary of all the funds in the Evergreen Family of Funds; Senior Vice President and Director of Administration and Regulatory Services, BISYS Fund Services; Vice President/Assistant General Counsel, Alliance Capital Management from 1988 to 1995; 3435 Stelzer Road, Columbus, Ohio.
* This Trustee may be considered an "interested person" of the Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, none of the affiliated or Independent Trustees and officers of the Fund received any direct remuneration from the Fund. For the year ending December 31, 1996, fees paid to Independent Trustees on a fund complex wide basis (which included approximately 60 mutual funds) were approximately $846,350. On March 29, 1996, the Trustees and officers of the Fund, as a group, beneficially owned less than 1% of the Fund's then outstanding shares. Except as set forth above, the address of all the Fund's Trustees and officers is 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116-5034. Set forth below for each of the Trustees receiving in excess of $60,000 for the fiscal period of January 1, 1996 through December 31, 1996 is the aggregate compensation paid to such Trustee by the Evergreen-Keystone Funds: Aggregate Total Compensation Compensation From Registrant from and Fund Complex Name Registrant Pd. To Trustee James S. Howell $0 $66,000 Russell A Salton, III M.D. $0 $61,000 Michael S. Scofield $0 $61,000 INVESTMENT ADVISER Subject to the general supervision of the Fund's Board of Trustees, Keystone provides investment advice, management and administrative services to the Fund. On December 11, 1996, the predecessor corporation to First Union Keystone, Keystone Investments, Inc. ("Keystone Investments") and indirectly each subsidiary of Keystone Investments, including Keystone, were acquired (the "Acquisition") by First Union National Bank of North Carolina ("FUNB"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Union Corporation ("First Union"). Keystone Investments was acquired by FUNB by merger into a wholly-owned subsidiary of FUNB, which entity then assumed the name "First Union Keystone, Inc." and succeeded to the business of the predecessor corporation. Contemporaneously with the Acquisition, the Fund entered into a new investment advisory agreement with Keystone and into a principal underwriting agreement with EKD, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The BISYS Group, Inc. The new investment management and advisory agreement (the "Advisory Agreement") was approved by the shareholders of the Fund on December 9, 1996, and became effective on December 11, 1996. As a result of the above transactions, Keystone Management, Inc. ("Keystone Management"), which, prior to the Acquisition, acted as the Fund's investment manager, no longer acts as such to the Fund. Keystone currently provides the Fund with all the services that may previously have been provided by Keystone Management. First Union Keystone and each of its subsidiaries, including Keystone, are now indirectly owned by First Union. First Union is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and had $140 billion in consolidated assets as of December 31, 1996. First Union and its subsidiaries provide a broad range of financial services to individuals and businesses throughout the United States. The Capital Management Group of FUNB, Keystone and Evergreen Asset Management Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of FUNB, manage or otherwise oversee the investment of over $60 billion in assets as of December 31, 1996, belonging to a wide range of clients, including the Evergreen Keystone Family of Funds. Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement and subject to the supervision of the Fund's Board of Trustees, Keystone furnishes to the Fund investment advisory, management and administrative services, office facilities, and equipment in connection with its services for managing the investment and reinvestment of the Fund's assets. Keystone pays for all of the expenses incurred in connection with the provision of its services. All charges and expenses, other than those specifically referred to as being borne by Keystone, will be paid by the Fund, including, but not limited to, (1) custodian charges and expenses; (2) bookkeeping and auditors' charges and expenses; (3) transfer agent charges and expenses; (4) fees and expenses of Independent Trustees; (5) brokerage commissions, brokers' fees and expenses; (6) issue and transfer taxes; (7) costs and expenses under the Distribution Plan; (8) taxes and trust fees payable to governmental agencies; (9) the cost of share certificates; (10) fees and expenses of the registration and qualification of the Fund and its shares with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") or under state or other securities laws; (11) expenses of preparing, printing and mailing prospectuses, statements of additional information, notices, reports and proxy materials to shareholders of the Fund; (12) expenses of shareholders' and Trustees' meetings; (13) charges and expenses of legal counsel for the Fund and for the Independent Trustees of the Fund on matters relating to the Fund; and (14) charges and expenses of filing annual and other reports with the Commission and other authorities, and all extraordinary charges and expenses of the Fund. The Fund pays Keystone a fee at the end of each month for its services consisting of (i) an amount calculated as set forth below: Aggregate Net Asset Management Value of the Shares Fee Income of the Fund - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0.50% of the next 2.0% of Gross Dividend $ 100,000,000, plus 0.45% of the next and Interest Income Plus $ 100,000,000, plus 0.40% of the next $ 100,000,000, plus 0.35% of the next $ 100,000,000, plus 0.30% of the next $ 100,000,000, plus 0.25% of amounts over $ 500,000.000; and (ii) an amount equal to the amount of the reimbursable expenses of Keystone accrued during such calendar month. Under the Advisory Agreement, any liability of Keystone in connection with rendering services thereunder is limited to situations involving its willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its duties. The Advisory Agreement continues in effect for two years from its effective date and, thereafter, from year to year only if approved at least annually by the Board of Trustees of the Fund or by a vote of a majority of the Fund's outstanding shares (as defined in the 1940 Act). In either case, the terms of the Advisory Agreement and continuance thereof must be approved by the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Advisory Agreement may be terminated, without penalty, on 60 days' written notice by the Fund's Board of Trustees or by a vote of a majority of outstanding shares. The Advisory Agreement will terminate automatically upon its assignment. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Fund has entered into a Principal Underwriting Agreement (the "Underwriting Agreement") with EKD. EKD, which is not affiliated with First Union, replaces EKIS as the Fund's principal underwriter. EKIS may no longer act as principal underwriter of the Fund due to regulatory restrictions imposed by the Glass-Steagall Act upon national banks such as FUNB and their affiliates, that prohibit such entities from acting as the underwriters of mutual fund shares. While EKIS may no longer act as principal underwriter of the Fund as discussed above, EKIS may continue to receive compensation from the Fund or EKD in respect of underwriting and distribution services performed prior to the termination of EKIS as principal underwriter. In addition, EKIS may also be compensated by EKD for the provision of certain marketing support services to EKD at an annual rate of up to 0.75% of the average daily net assets of the Fund, subject to certain restrictions. EKD, as agent, has agreed to use its best efforts to find purchasers for the shares. EKD may retain and employ representatives to promote distribution of the shares and may obtain orders from broker-dealers, and others, acting as principals, for sales of shares to them. The Underwriting Agreement provides that EKD will bear the expense of preparing, printing, and distributing advertising and sales literature and prospectuses used by it. In its capacity as principal underwriter, EKD or EKIS, its predecessor, may receive payments from the Fund pursuant to the Fund's Distribution Plan. The Underwriting Agreement provides that it will remain in effect as long as its terms and continuance are approved annually (i) by a vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees, and (ii) by vote of a majority of the Trustees, in each case, cast in person at a meeting called for that purpose. The Underwriting Agreement may be terminated, without penalty, on 60 days' written notice by the Board of Trustees or by a vote of a majority of outstanding shares. The Underwriting Agreement will terminate automatically upon its assignment. From time to time, if, in EKD's judgment, it could benefit the sales of Fund shares, EKD may provide to selected broker-dealers promotional materials and selling aids, including, but not limited to, personal computers, related software and Fund data files. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUB-ADMINISTRATOR - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BISYS provides personel to serve as officers of the Fund, and provides certain administrative services to the Fund pursuant to a sub-administrator agreement. For its services under that agreement, BISYS receives from Keystone a fee based on the aggregate average daily net assets of the Fund at a rate based on the total assets of all mutual funds administered by BISYS for which FUNB affiliates also serve as investment adviser. The sub-administrator fee is calculated in accordance with the following schedule: Aggregate Average Daily Net Assets Of Mutual Funds Sub-Administrator Administered By BISYS For Which Any Affiliate Of Fee FUNB Serves As Investment Adviser - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0.0100% on the first $7 billion 0.0075% on the next $3 billion 0.0050% on the next $15 billion 0.0040% on assets in excess of $25 billion The total assets of the mutual funds for which FUNB affiliates also serve as investment advisers were approximately $29.2 billion as of February 28, 1997. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DECLARATION OF TRUST - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Fund is a Massachusetts business trust originally established under a Declaration of Trust dated April 12, 1977, as amended and restated on July 27, 1993 (the "Declaration of Trust"). The Fund is similar in most respects to a business corporation. The principal distinction between the Fund and a corporation relates to the shareholder liability described below. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Declaration of Trust. Description of Shares The Declaration of Trust authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest and the creation of additional series and/or classes of series of Fund shares. Each share represents an equal proportionate interest in the Fund with each other share of that class. Upon liquidation, shares are entitled to a pro rata share in the net assets of their class of Fund shares. Shareholders shall have no preemptive or conversion rights. Shares are transferable. The Fund currently intends to issue only one class of shares. Shareholder Liability Pursuant to court decisions or other theories of law, shareholders of a Massachusetts business trust could possibly be held personally liable as partners for the obligations of the Fund. The possibility of Fund shareholders incurring financial loss for that reason appears remote, however, because the Declaration of Trust (1) contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for obligations of the Fund; (2) requires that notice of such disclaimer be given in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by the Fund or the Fund's Board of Trustees; and (3) provides for indemnification out of Fund property for any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Fund. Voting Rights Under the terms of the Declaration of Trust, the Fund does not hold annual meetings. At meetings called for the initial election of Trustees or to consider other matters, shares are entitled to one vote per share. Shares generally vote together as one class on all matters. No amendment may be made to the Declaration of Trust that adversely affects any class of shares without the approval of a majority of the shares of that class. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of Trustees. After the initial meeting as described above, no further meetings of shareholders for the purpose of electing Trustees will be held, unless required by law or until such time as less than a majority of the Trustees holding office have been elected by shareholders, at which time, the Trustees then in office will call a shareholder's meeting for the election of Trustees. Except as set forth above, the Trustees shall continue to hold office indefinitely unless otherwise required by law and may appoint successor Trustees. A Trustee may cease to hold office or may be removed from office (as the case may be) (1) at any time by a two-thirds vote of the remaining Trustees; (2) when such Trustee becomes mentally or physically incapacitated; or (3) at a special meeting of shareholders by a two-thirds vote of the outstanding shares. Any Trustee may voluntarily resign from office. Limitation of Trustees' Liability The Declaration of Trust provides that a Trustee will not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law, but nothing in the Declaration of Trust protects a Trustee against any liability to which he would otherwise be subject by any reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his duties involved in the conduct of his office. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EXPENSES - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Investment Advisory Fees For each of the Fund's last three fiscal years, the table below lists the total dollar amounts paid by (1) the Fund to Keystone Management, the Fund's former investment manager, for investment management and administrative services rendered and (2) by Keystone Management to Keystone for investment advisory services rendered. For more information, see "Investment Adviser." Percent of Fund's Fee Paid to Keystone Average Net Assets Fee Paid to Management under represented by Keystone under Fiscal Year Ended the Management Keystone the Advisory December 31, Agreement Management's Fee Agreement - ------------------------- ---------------------------- ---------------------------- ----------------------- 1996 $6,272,478 0.42% $5,331,606 1995 $5,327,202 0.44% $4,528,122 1994 $5,941,545 0.43% $5,050,313
Distribution Plan Expenses For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, the Fund paid $4,706,968 to EKD and EKIS under its Distribution Plan. For more information, see "Distribution Plan." Underwriting Commissions For each of the Fund's last three fiscal years, the table below lists the aggregate dollar amounts of underwriting commissions (distribution fees plus CDSCs) paid with respect to the public distribution of the Fund's shares. The table also indicates the aggregate dollar amount of underwriting commissions retained by EKIS and/or EKD. For more information, see "Principal Underwriter" and "Sales Charges." Aggregate Dollar Amount of Fiscal Year Ended Aggregate Dollar Amount of Underwriting Commissions December 31, Underwriting Commissions Retained by EKIS and/or EKD - -------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- 1996 $2,402,158 $632,014 1995 $2,537,213 $845,504 1994 $10,904,376 $9,742,842
Brokerage Commissions The Fund paid no brokerage commissions for the fiscal years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Fund's financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, and the report thereon of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, are incorporated by reference herein from the Fund's Annual Report, as filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 30(d) of the 1940 Act and Rule 30d-1 thereunder. You may obtain a copy of the Fund's Annual Report without charge by writing to EKSC, P.O. Box 2121, Boston, Massachusetts 02106-2121, or by calling EKSC toll free at 1-800-343-2898. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STANDARDIZED TOTAL RETURN AND YIELD QUOTATIONS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total return quotations for the Fund as they may appear from time to time in advertisements are calculated by finding the average annual compounded rates of return over the one-, five- and ten-year periods on a hypothetical $1,000 investment that would equate the initial amount invested to the ending redeemable value. To the initial investment all dividends and distributions are added, and all recurring fees charged to all shareholder accounts are deducted. The ending redeemable value assumes a complete redemption at the end of the one, five or ten year periods. The annual total return of the Fund for the one year period ended December 31, 1996, including applicable sales charge, was 0.21%. The average annual returns for the five- and ten-years ended December 31, 1996 were 5.91% and 6.64%, respectively (including CDSCs). Current yield quotations as they may appear from time to time in advertisements will consist of a quotation based on a 30-day period ended on the date of the most recent balance sheet of the Fund, computed by dividing the net investment income per share earned during the period by the maximum offering price per share on the last day of the base period. The current yield for the 30-day period ended December 31, 1996 was 5.09%. Tax equivalent yield is, in general, the current yield divided by a factor equal to one minus a stated income tax rate and reflects the yield a taxable investment would have to achieve in order to equal on an after tax-basis a tax exempt yield. The tax equivalent yield for an investor in the 31% federal tax bracket for the 30-day period ended December 31, 1996 was 7.38%. Any given yield or total return quotation should not be considered representative of the Fund's yield or total return for any future period. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Except as otherwise stated in its prospectus or required by law, the Fund reserves the right to change the terms of the offer stated in its prospectus without shareholder approval, including the right to impose or change fees for services provided. As of April 1, 1997, Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith, For Sole Benefit of its Customers, Attn: Fund Administration, 4800 Deer Lake Dr. E., 3rd Floor, Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 owned of record 12.97% of the Fund's outstanding shares. No dealer, salesman or other person is authorized to give any information or to make any representation not contained in the Fund's prospectus, this statement of additional information, or in supplemental sales literature issued by the Fund or the Principal Underwriter, and no person is entitled to rely on any information or representation not contained therein. For information on taxes, particularly with respect to dividends and the Fund's qualifications as a registered investment company, please refer to the section of your prospectus entitled "Dividends and Taxes." The Fund's prospectus and this statement of additional information omit certain information contained in the registration statement filed with the Commission, which may be obtained from the Commission's principal office in Washington, D.C. upon payment of the fee prescribed by the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission. APPENDIX CORPORATE BOND RATINGS A. S&P Corporate Bond Ratings A S&P corporate bond rating is a current assessment of the creditworthiness of an obligor, including obligors outside the U.S., with respect to a specific obligation. This assessment may take into consideration obligors such as guarantors, insurers or lessees. Ratings of foreign obligors do not take into account currency exchange and related uncertainties. The ratings are based on current information furnished by the issuer or obtained by S&P from other sources it considers reliable. The ratings are based, in varying degrees, on the following considerations: a. Likelihood of default - capacity and willingness of the obligor as to the timely payment of interest and repayment of principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation; b. Nature of and provisions of the obligation; and c. Protection afforded by and relative position of the obligation in the event of bankruptcy reorganization or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors' rights. PLUS (+) OR MINUS (-): To provide more detailed indications of credit quality, ratings from AA to BBB may be modified by the addition of a plus or minus sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories. Bond ratings are as follows: 1. AAA - Debt rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by S&P. Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong. 2. AA - Debt rated AA has a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal and differs from the higher rated issues only in small degree. 3. A - Debt rated A has a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal although it is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than debt in higher rated categories. 4. BBB - Debt rated BBB is regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Whereas it normally exhibits adequate protection parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for debt in this category than in higher rated categories. 5. BB, B, CCC, CC and C - Debt rated BB, B, CCC, CC and C is regarded, on balance, as predominantly speculative with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation. BB indicates the lowest degree of speculation and C the highest degree of speculation. While such debt will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these are outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions. 6. CI - The rating CI is reserved for income bonds on which no interest is being paid. 7. D - Debt rated D is in default, and payment of interest and/or repayment of principal is in arrears. B. Moody's Corporate Bond Ratings Moody's ratings are as follows: 1. Aaa - Bonds that are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as "gilt-edge." Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such issues. 2. Aa - Bonds that are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all standards. Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally known as high grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities or fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present that make the long term risks appear somewhat larger than in Aaa securities. 3. A - Bonds that are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes and are to be considered as upper medium grade obligations. Factors giving security to principal and interest are considered adequate but elements may be present that suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future. 4. Baa - Bonds that are rated Baa are considered as medium grade obligations, i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as well. 5. Ba - Bonds that are rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements. Their future cannot be considered as well assured. Often the protection of interest and principal payments may be very moderate and thereby not well safeguarded during both good and bad times over the future. Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this class. 6. B - Bonds that are rated B generally lack characteristics of the desirable investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be small. 7. Caa - Bonds that are rated Caa are of poor standing. Such issues may be in default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal or interest. 8. Ca - Bonds that are rated Ca represent obligations which are speculative in a high degree. Such issues are often in default or have other market shortcomings. 9. C - Bonds that are rated as C are the lowest rated class of bonds and issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing. Moody's applies numerical modifiers, 1, 2 and 3 in each generic rating classification from Aa through B in its corporate bond rating system. The modifier 1 indicates that the security ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates that the issue ranks in the lower end of its generic rating category. ZERO COUPON "STRIPPED" BONDS A zero coupon "stripped" bond represents ownership in serially maturing interest payments or principal payments on specific underlying notes and bonds, including coupons relating to such notes and bonds. The interest and principal payments are direct obligations of the issuer. Coupon zero coupon bonds of any series mature periodically from the date of issue of such series through the maturity date of the securities related to such series. Principal zero coupon bonds mature on the date specified therein, which is the final maturity date of the related securities. Each zero coupon bond entitles the holder to receive a single payment at maturity. There are no periodic interest payments on a zero coupon bond. Zero coupon bonds are offered at discounts from their face amounts. In general, owners of zero coupon bonds have substantially all the rights and privileges of owners of the underlying coupon obligations or principal obligations. Owners of zero coupon bonds have the right upon default on the underlying coupon obligations or principal obligations to proceed directly and individually against the issuer and are not required to act in concert with other holders of zero coupon bonds. For federal income tax purposes, a purchaser of principal zero coupon bonds or coupon zero coupon bonds (either initially or in the secondary market) is treated as if the buyer had purchased a corporate obligation issued on the purchase date with an original issue discount equal to the excess of the amount payable at maturity over the purchase price. The purchaser is required to take into income each year as ordinary income an allocable portion of such discounts determined on a "constant yield" method. Any such income increases the holder's tax basis for the zero coupon bond, and any gain or loss on a sale of the zero coupon bonds relative to the holder's basis, as so adjusted, is a capital gain or loss. If the holder owns both principal zero coupon bonds and coupon zero coupon bonds representing interest in the same underlying issue of securities, a special basis allocation rule (requiring the aggregate basis to be allocated among the items sold and retained based on their relative fair market values at the time of sale) may apply to determine the gain or loss on a sale of any such zero coupon bonds items. PAYMENT-IN-KIND SECURITIES Payment-in-kind ("PIK") securities pay interest in either cash or additional securities, at the issuer's option, for a specified period. The issuer's option to pay in additional securities typically ranges from one to six years, compared to an average maturity for all PIK securities of eleven years. Call protection and sinking fund features are comparable to those offered on traditional debt issues. PIKs, like zero coupon bonds, are designated to give an issuer flexibility in managing cash flow. Several PIKs are senior debt. In other cases, where PIKs are subordinated, most senior lenders view them as equity equivalents. An advantage of PIKs for the issuer - as with zero coupon securities - is that interest payments are automatically compounded (reinvested) at the stated coupon rate, which is not the case with cashpaying securities. However, PIKs are gaining popularity over zeros since interest payments in additional securities can be monetized and are more tangible than accretion of a discount. As a group, PIK bonds trade flat (i.e., without accrued interest). Their price is expected to reflect an amount representing accreted interest since the last payment. PIKs generally trade at higher yields than comparable cash-paying securities of the same issuer. Their premium yield is the result of the lesser desirability of non-cash interest, the more limited audience for non-cash paying securities, and the fact that many PIKs have been issued to equity investors who do not normally own or hold such securities. Calculating the true yield on a PIK security requires a discounted cash flow analysis if the security (ex interest) is trading at a premium or a discount, because the realizable value of additional payments is equal to the current market value of the underlying security, not par. Regardless of whether PIK securities are senior or deeply subordinated, issuers are highly motivated to retire them because they are usually their most costly form of capital. Sixty-eight percent of the PIK debentures issued prior to 1987 have already been redeemed, and approximately 35% of the over $10 billion PIK debentures issued through year-end 1988 have been retired. EQUIPMENT TRUST CERTIFICATES Equipment Trust Certificates are a mechanism for financing the purchase of transportation equipment, such as railroad cars and locomotives, trucks, airplanes and oil tankers. Under an equipment trust certificate, the equipment is used as the security for the debt and title to the equipment is vested in a trustee. The trustee leases the equipment to the user, i.e., the railroad, airline, trucking or oil company. At the same time equipment trust certificates in an aggregate amount equal to a certain percentage of the equipment's purchase price are sold to lenders. The trustee pays the proceeds from the sale of certificates to the manufacturer. In addition, the company using the equipment makes an initial payment of rent equal to their balance of the purchase price to the trustee, which the trustee then pays to the manufacturer. The trustee collects lease payments from the company and uses the payments to pay interest and principal on the certificates. At maturity, the certificates are redeemed and paid, the equipment is sold to the company and the lease is terminated. Generally, these certificates are regarded as obligations of the company that is leasing the equipment and are shown as liabilities on its balance sheet. However, the company does not own the equipment until all the certificates are redeemed and paid. In the event the company defaults under its lease, the trustee terminates the lease. If another lessee is available, the trustee leases the equipment to another user and makes payments on the certificates from new lease rentals. LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS The Fund may invest in limited and master limited partnerships. A limited partnership is a partnership consisting of one or more general partners, jointly and severally responsible as ordinary partners, and by whom the business is conducted, and one or more limited partners who contribute cash as capital to the partnership and who generally are not liable for the debts of the partnership beyond the amounts contributed. Limited partners are not involved in the day-to-day management of the partnership. They receive income, capital gains and other tax benefits associated with the partnership project in accordance with terms established in the partnership agreement. Typical limited partnerships are in real estate, oil and gas and equipment leasing, but they also finance movies, research and development and other projects. For an organization classified as a partnership under the Internal Revenue Code, each item of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit is not taxed at the partnership level but flows through to the holder of the partnership unit. This allows the partnership to avoid taxation and to pass through income to the holder of the partnership unit at lower individual rates. A master limited partnership is a publicly traded limited partnership. The partnership units are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are freely exchanged on a securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market. MOODY'S PREFERRED STOCK RATINGS Preferred stock ratings and their definitions are as follows: 1. aaa: An issue that is rated aaa is considered to be a top-quality preferred stock. This rating indicates good asset protection and the least risk of dividend impairment within the universe of preferred stocks. 2. aa: An issue that is rated aa is considered a high-grade preferred stock. This rating indicates that there is a reasonable assurance that earnings and asset protection will remain relatively well maintained in the foreseeable future. 3. a: An issue that is rated a is considered to be an upper-medium grade preferred stock. While risks are judged to be somewhat greater then in the aaa and aa classification, earnings and asset protection are, nevertheless, expected to be maintained at adequate levels. 4. baa: An issue that is rated baa is considered to be a medium-grade preferred stock, neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Earnings and asset protection appear adequate at present but may be questionable over any great length of time. 5. ba: An issue that is rated ba is considered to have speculative elements and its future cannot be considered well assured. Earnings and asset protection may be very moderate and not well safeguarded during adverse periods. Uncertainty of position characterizes preferred stocks in this class. Moody's applies numerical modifiers 1, 2 and 3 in each rating classification. The modifier 1 indicates that the security ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category. The modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking, and the modifier 3 indicates that the issue ranks in the lower end of its generic rating category. MONEY MARKET INSTRUMENTS The Fund's investments in commercial paper are limited to those rated A-1 by S&P, Prime-1 by Moody's or F-1 by Fitch Investors Service, Inc. (Fitch). These ratings and other money market instruments are described as follows: Commercial Paper Ratings Commercial paper rated A-1 by Standard & Poor's has the following characteristics: Liquidity ratios are adequate to meet cash requirements. The issuer's long-term senior debt is rated A or better, although in some cases BBB credits may be allowed. The issuer has access to at least two additional channels of borrowing. Basic earnings and cash flow have an upward trend with allowance made for unusual circumstances. Typically, the issuer's industry is well established and the issuer has a strong position within the industry. The rating Prime-1 is the highest commercial paper rating assigned by Moody's. Among the factors considered by Moody's in assigning ratings are the following: (1) evaluation of the management of the issuer; (2) economic evaluation of the issuer's industry or industries and an appraisal of speculative-type risks which may be inherent in certain areas; (3) evaluation of the issuer's products in relation to competition and customer acceptance; (4) liquidity; (5) amount and quality of long-term debt; (6) trend of earnings over a period of ten years; (7) financial strength of a parent company and the relationships which exist with the issuer; and (8) recognition by the management of obligations which may be present or may arise as a result of public preparations to meet such obligations. Relative strength or weakness of the above factors determines how the issuer's commercial paper is rated within various categories. The rating F-1 is the highest rating assigned by Fitch. Among the factors considered by Fitch in assigning this rating are: (1) the issuer's liquidity; (2) its standing in the industry; (3) the size of its debt; (4) its ability to service its debt; (5) its profitability; (6) its return on equity; (7) its alternative sources of financing; and (8) its ability to access the capital markets. Analysis of the relative strength or weakness of these factors and others determines whether an issuer's commercial paper is rated F-1. United States Government Securities Securities issued or guaranteed by the United States Government include a variety of Treasury securities that differ only in their interest rates, maturities and dates of issuance. Treasury bills have maturities of one year or less. Treasury notes have maturities of one to ten years, and Treasury bonds generally have maturities of greater than ten years at the date of issuance. Securities issued or guaranteed by the United States Government or its agencies or instrumentalities include direct obligations of the United States Treasury and securities issued or guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration, Farmers Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Small Business Administration, Government National Mortgage Association, General Services Administration, Central Bank for Cooperatives, Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Loan Mortgage Corporation, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, Federal Land Banks, Maritime Administration, The Tennessee Valley Authority, District of Columbia Armory Board and Federal National Mortgage Association. Some obligations of United States Government agencies and instrumentalities, such as Treasury bills and Government National Mortgage Association pass-through certificates, are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States; others, such as securities of Federal Home Loan Banks, by the right of the issuer to borrow from the Treasury; still others, such as bonds issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association, a private corporation, are supported only by the credit of the instrumentality. Because the United States Government is not obligated by law to provide support to an instrumentality it sponsors, the Fund will invest in the securities issued by such an instrumentality only when Keystone determines that the credit risk with respect to the instrumentality does not make its securities unsuitable investments. United States Government securities will not include international agencies or instrumentalities in which the United States Government, its agencies or instrumentalities participate, such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank or the InterAmerican Development Bank, or issues insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Certificates of Deposit Certificates of deposit are receipts issued by a bank in exchange for the deposit of funds. The issuer agrees to pay the amount deposited plus interest to the bearer of the receipt on the date specified on the certificate. The certificate usually can be traded in the secondary market prior to maturity. Certificates of deposit will be limited to U.S. dollar-denominated certificates of United States banks, including their branches abroad, and of U.S. branches of foreign banks which are members of the Federal Reserve System or the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and have at least $1 billion in deposits as of the date of their most recently published financial statements. The Fund will not acquire time deposits or obligations issued by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Asian Development Bank or the Inter-American Development Bank. Additionally, the Fund does not currently intend to purchase such foreign securities (except to the extent that certificates of deposit of foreign branches of U.S. banks may be deemed foreign securities) or purchase certificates of deposit, bankers' acceptances or other similar obligations issued by foreign banks. Bankers' Acceptances Bankers' acceptances typically arise from short term credit arrangements designed to enable businesses to obtain funds to finance commercial transactions. Generally, an acceptance is a time draft drawn on a bank by an exporter or an importer to obtain a stated amount of funds to pay for specific merchandise. The draft is then "accepted" by the bank that, in effect, unconditionally guarantees to pay the face value of the instrument on its maturity date. The acceptance may then be held by the accepting bank as an earning asset or it may be sold in the secondary market at the going rate of discount for a specific maturity. Although maturities for acceptances can be as long as 270 days, most acceptances have maturities of six months or less. Bankers' acceptances acquired by the Fund must have been accepted by U.S. commercial banks, including foreign branches of U.S. commercial banks, having total deposits at the time of purchase in excess of $1 billion and must be payable in U.S. dollars. OPTIONS TRANSACTIONS Writing Covered Options The Fund writes only covered options. Options written by the Fund will normally have expiration dates of not more than nine months from the date written. The exercise price of the options may be below, equal to, or above the current market values of the underlying securities at the times the options are written. Unless the option has been exercised, the Fund may close out an option it has written by effecting a closing purchase transaction, whereby it purchases an option covering the same underlying security and having the same exercise price and expiration date ("of the same series") as the one it has written. If the Fund desires to sell a particular security on which it has written a call option, it will effect a closing purchase transaction prior to or concurrently with the sale of the security. If the Fund is able to enter into a closing purchase transaction, the Fund will realize a profit (or loss) from such transaction if the cost of such transaction is less (or more) than the premium received from the writing of the option. An option position may be closed out only in a secondary market for an option of the same series. Although the Fund will generally write only those options for which there appears to be an active secondary market, there is no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular option at any particular time, and for some options no secondary market may exist. In such event it might not be possible to effect a closing transaction in a particular option. If the Fund as a covered call option writer is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction, it will not be able to sell the underlying securities until the option expires or it delivers the underlying securities upon exercise. Because the Fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code, the extent to which the Fund may write covered call options and enter into so-called "straddle" transactions involving put and call options may be limited. Many options are traded on registered securities exchanges. Options traded on such exchanges are issued by the Options Clearing Corporation (OCC), a clearing corporation which assumes responsibility for the completion of options transactions. Purchasing Put and Call Options The Fund can close out a put or call option it has written by effecting a closing purchase transaction; for example, the Fund may close out a put or call option it has written by buying an option identical to the one it has written. If, however, a secondary market does not exist at a time the Fund wishes to effect a closing sale transaction, the Fund will have to exercise the option to realize any profit. If a covered call option writer cannot effect a closing transaction, it cannot sell the underlying securities until the option expires or is exercised. In addition, in a transaction in which the Fund does not own the security underlying a put option it has purchased, the Fund would be required, in the absence of a secondary market, to purchase the underlying security before it could exercise the option, thereby incurring additional transaction costs. The Fund will not purchase a put option if, as a result of such purchase, more than 10% of its total assets would be invested in premiums for such options. The Fund's ability to purchase put and call options may be limited by the Internal Revenue Code's requirements for qualification as a regulated investment company. Option Writing and Related Risks The Fund may write covered call and put options. A call option gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the writer the obligation to sell, the underlying security at the exercise price during the option period. Conversely, a put option gives the purchaser the right to sell, and the writer the obligation to buy, the underlying security at the exercise price during the option period. So long as the obligation of the writer continues, the writer may be assigned an exercise notice by the broker-dealer through whom the option was sold. The exercise notice would require the writer to deliver, in the case of a call, or take delivery of, in the case of a put, the underlying security against payment of the exercise price. This obligation terminates upon expiration of the option, or at such earlier time as the writer effects a closing purchase transaction by purchasing an option of the same series as the one previously sold. Once an option has been exercised, the writer may not execute a closing purchase transaction. For options traded on national securities exchanges (Exchanges), to secure the obligation to deliver the underlying security in the case of a call option, the writer of the option is required to deposit in escrow the underlying security or other assets in accordance with the rules of the OCC, an institution created to interpose itself between buyers and sellers of options. Technically, the OCC assumes the order side of every purchase and sale transaction on an Exchange and by doing so, gives its guarantee to the transaction. The principal reason for writing options on a securities portfolio is to attempt to realize, through the receipt of premiums, a greater return than would be realized on the underlying securities alone. In return for the premium, the covered call option writer has given up the opportunity for profit from a price increase in the underlying security above the exercise price so long as the option remains open, but retains the risk of loss should the price of the security decline. Conversely, the put option writer gains a profit, in the form of a premium, so long as the price of the underlying security remains above the exercise price, but assumes an obligation to purchase the underlying security from the buyer of the put option at the exercise price, even though the price of the security may fall below the exercise price, at any time during the option period. If an option expires, the writer realizes a gain in the amount of the premium. Such a gain may, in the case of a covered call option, be offset by a decline in the market value of the underlying security during the option period. If a call option is exercised, the writer realizes a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying security. If a put option is exercised, the writer must fulfill his obligation to purchase the underlying security at the exercise price, which will usually exceed the then market value of the underlying security. In addition, the premium paid for the put effectively increases the cost of the underlying security, thus reducing the yield otherwise available from such securities. Because the Fund can write only covered options, it may at times be unable to write additional options unless it sells a portion of its portfolio holdings to obtain new debt securities against which it can write options. This may result in higher portfolio turnover and correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transaction costs. To the extent that a secondary market is available the covered option writer may close out options it has written prior to the assignment of an exercise notice by purchasing, in a closing purchase transaction, an option of the same series as the option previously written. If the cost of such a closing purchase, plus transaction costs, is greater than the premium received upon writing the original option, the writer will incur a loss on the transaction. Options Trading Markets Options which the Fund will trade are generally listed on Exchanges. Exchanges on which such options currently are traded are the Chicago Board Options Exchange and the American, New York, Pacific, and Philadelphia Stock Exchanges. Options on some securities may not be listed on any Exchange but traded in the over-the-counter market. Options traded in the over-the-counter market involve the additional risk that securities dealers participating in such transactions would fail to meet their obligations to the Fund. The use of options traded in the over-the-counter market may be subject to limitations imposed by certain state securities authorities. In addition to the limits on its use of options discussed herein, the Fund is subject to the investment restrictions described in the prospectus and the statement of additional information. The staff of the Commission is of the view that the premiums which the Fund pays for the purchase of unlisted options, and the value of securities used to cover unlisted options written by the Fund are considered to be invested in illiquid securities or assets for the purpose of calculating whether the Fund is in compliance with its fundamental investment restriction prohibiting it from investing more than 10% of its total assets (taken at current value) in any combination of illiquid assets and securities. The Fund intends to request that the Commission staff reconsider its view. It is the intention of the Fund to comply with the staff's current position and the outcome of such reconsideration. Special Considerations Applicable to Options On Treasury Bonds and Notes. Because trading interest in U.S. Treasury bonds and notes tends to center on the most recently auctioned issues, new series of options with expirations to replace expiring options on particular issues will not be introduced indefinitely. Instead, the expirations introduced at the commencement of options trading on a particular issue will be allowed to run their course, with the possible addition of a limited number of new expirations as the original ones expire. Options trading on each series of bonds or notes will thus be phased out as new options are listed on the more recent issues, and a full range of expiration dates will not ordinarily be available for every series on which options are traded. On Treasury Bills. Because the deliverable U.S. Treasury bill changes from week to week, writers of U.S. Treasury bill call options cannot provide in advance for their potential exercise settlement obligations by acquiring and holding the underlying security. However, if the Fund holds a long position in U.S. Treasury bills with a principal amount corresponding to the option contract size, the Fund may be hedged from a risk standpoint. In addition, the Fund will maintain in a segregated account with its Custodian liquid assets maturing no later than those which would be deliverable in the event of an assignment of an exercise notice to ensure that it can meet its open option obligations. On GNMA Certificates. Options on GNMA certificates are not currently traded on any Exchange. However, the Fund may purchase and write such options in the over-the-counter market or, should they commence trading, on any Exchange. Since the remaining principal balance of GNMA certificates declines each month as a result of mortgage payments, the Fund, as a writer of a covered GNMA call holding GNMA certificates as "cover" to satisfy its delivery obligation in the event of assignment of an exercise notice, may find that its GNMA certificates no longer have a sufficient remaining principal balance for this purpose. Should this occur, the Fund will enter into a closing purchase transaction or will purchase additional GNMA certificates from the same pool (if obtainable) or replacement GNMA certificates in the cash market in order to remain covered. A GNMA certificate held by the Fund to cover an option position in any but the nearest expiration month may cease to present cover for the option in the event of a decline in the GNMA coupon rate at which new pools are originated under the FHA/VA loan ceiling in effect at any given time. Should this occur, the Fund will no longer be covered, and the Fund will either enter into a closing purchase transaction or replace the GNMA certificate with a certificate which represents cover. When the Fund closes its position or replaces the GNMA certificate, it may realize an unanticipated loss and incur transaction costs. Risks Pertaining to the Secondary Market. An option position may be closed out only in 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 will exist for any particular option at any particular time, and for some options no secondary market 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 might incur transaction costs in connection therewith. 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 security until the option expires or it delivers the underlying security upon exercise. Reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary market include the following: (i) insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii) restrictions imposed on transactions; (iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options or underlying securities; (iv) interruption of the normal operations on an Exchange or by a broker; (v) inadequacy of the facilities of an Exchange, the OCC or a broker handle current trading volume; or (vi) a decision by one or more Exchanges or a broker to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event the secondary market in that class or series of options would cease to exist, although outstanding options that had been issued as a result of trades would generally continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms. The hours of trading for options on U.S. government securities may not conform to the hours during which the underlying securities are traded. To the extent that the option markets close before the markets for the underlying securities, significant price and rate movements can take place in the underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the option markets. FUTURES CONTRACTS AND RELATED OPTIONS TRANSACTIONS The Fund intends to enter into currency and other financial futures contracts as a hedge against changes in prevailing levels of interest or currency exchange rates to seek relative stability of principal and to establish more definitely the effective return on securities held or intended to be acquired by the Fund or as a hedge against changes in the prices of securities or currencies held by the Fund or to be acquired by the Fund. The Fund's hedging may include sales of futures as an offset against the effect of expected increases in interest or currency exchange rates or securities prices and purchases of futures as an offset against the effect of expected declines in interest or currency exchange rates. For example, when the Fund anticipates a significant market or market sector advance, it will purchase a stock index futures contract as a hedge against not participating in such advance at a time when the Fund is not fully invested. The purchase of a futures contract serves as a temporary substitute for the purchase of individual securities which may then be purchased in an orderly fashion. As such purchases are made, an equivalent amount of index based futures contracts would be terminated by offsetting sales. In contrast, the Fund would sell stock index futures contracts in anticipation of or in a general market or market sector decline that may adversely affect the market value of the Fund's portfolio. To the extent that the Fund's portfolio changes in value in correlation with a given index, the sale of futures contracts on that index would substantially reduce the risk to the portfolio of a market decline or change in interest rates, and, by so doing, provide an alternative to the liquidation of the Fund's securities positions and the resulting transaction costs. The Fund intends to engage in options transactions which are related to commodity futures contracts for hedging purposes and in connection with the hedging strategies described above. Although techniques other than sales and purchases of futures contracts and related options transactions could be used to reduce the Fund's exposure to interest rate and/or market fluctuations, the Fund may be able to hedge its exposure more effectively and perhaps at a lower cost through using futures contracts and related options transactions. While the Fund does not intend to take delivery of the instruments underlying futures contracts it holds, the Fund does not intend to engage in such futures contracts for speculation. Futures Contracts Futures contracts are transactions in the commodities markets rather than in the securities markets. A futures contract creates an obligation by the seller to deliver to the buyer the commodity specified in the contract at a specified future time for a specified price. The futures contract creates an obligation by the buyer to accept delivery from the seller of the commodity specified at the specified future time for the specified price. In contrast, a spot transaction creates an immediate obligation for the seller to deliver and the buyer to accept delivery of and pay for an identified commodity. In general, futures contracts involve transactions in fungible goods such as wheat, coffee and soybeans. However, in the last decade an increasing number of futures contracts have been developed which specify currencies, financial instruments or financially based indices as the underlying commodity. U.S. futures contracts are traded only on national futures exchanges and are standardized as to maturity date and underlying financial instrument. The principal financial futures exchanges in the United States are The Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the International Monetary Market (a division of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange), the New York Futures Exchange and the Kansas City Board of Trade. Each exchange guarantees performance under contract provisions through a clearing corporation, a nonprofit organization managed by the exchange membership, which is also responsible for handling daily accounting of deposits or withdrawals of margin. A futures commission merchant ("Broker") effects each transaction in connection with futures contracts for a commission. Futures exchanges and trading are regulated under the Commodity Exchange Act by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC") and National Futures Association ("NFA"). Interest Rate Futures Contracts The sale of an interest rate futures contract creates an obligation by the Fund, as seller, to deliver the type of financial instrument specified in the contract at a specified future time for a specified price. The purchase of an interest rate futures contract creates an obligation by the Fund, as purchaser, to accept delivery of the type of financial instrument specified at a specified future time for a specified price. The specific securities delivered or accepted, respectively, at settlement date, are not determined until at or near that date. The determination is in accordance with the rules of the exchange on which the futures contract sale or purchase was made. Currently interest rate futures contracts can be purchased or sold on 90-day U.S. Treasury bills, U.S. Treasury bonds, U.S. Treasury notes with maturities between 6 1/2 and 10 years, Government National Mortgage Association ("GNMA") certificates, 90-day domestic bank certificates of deposit, 90- day commercial paper, and 90-day Eurodollar certificates of deposit. It is expected that futures contracts trading in additional financial instruments will be authorized. The standard contract size is $100,000 for futures contracts in U.S. Treasury bonds, U.S. Treasury notes and GNMA certificates, and $1,000,000 for the other designated contracts. While U.S. Treasury bonds, U.S. Treasury bills and U.S. Treasury notes are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government and GNMA certificates are guaranteed by a U.S. government agency, the futures contracts in U.S. government securities are not obligations of the U.S. Treasury. Index Based Futures Contracts Stock Index Futures Contracts A stock index assigns relative values to the common stocks included in the index. The index fluctuates with changes in the market values of the common stocks so included. A stock index futures contract is a bilateral agreement by which two parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount of cash equal to a specified dollar amount times the difference between the closing value of the stock index on the expiration date of the contract and the price at which the futures contract is originally made. No physical delivery of the underlying stocks in the index is made. Currently, stock index futures contracts can be purchased or sold on the Standard and Poor's Corporation ("S&P") Index of 500 Stocks, the S&P Index of 100 Stocks, the New York Stock Exchange Composite Index, the Value Line Index and the Major Market Index. It is expected that futures contracts trading in additional stock indices will be authorized. The standard contract size is $500 times the value of the index. The Fund does not believe that differences between existing stock indices will create any differences in the price movements of the stock index futures contracts in relation to the movements in such indices. However, such differences in the indices may result in differences in correlation of the futures with movements in the value of the securities being hedged. Other Index Based Futures Contracts It is expected that bond index and other financially based index futures contracts will be developed in the future. It is anticipated that such index based futures contracts will be structured in the same way as stock index futures contracts but will be measured by changes in interest rates, related indices or other measures, such as the consumer price index. In the event that such futures contracts are developed the Fund will sell interest rate index and other index based futures contracts to hedge against changes which are expected to affect the Fund's portfolio. The purchase or sale of a futures contract differs from the purchase or sale of a security, in that no price or premium is paid or received. Instead, to initiate trading an amount of cash, cash equivalents, money market instruments, or U.S. Treasury bills equal to approximately 1 1/2% (up to 5%) of the contract amount must be deposited by the Fund with the Broker. This amount is known as initial margin. The nature of initial margin in futures transactions is different from that of margin in security transactions. Futures contract margin does not involve the borrowing of funds by the customer to finance the transactions. Rather, the initial margin is in the nature of a performance bond or good faith deposit on the contract which is returned to the Fund upon termination of the futures contract assuming all contractual obligations have been satisfied. The margin required for a particular futures contract is set by the exchange on which the contract is traded, and may be significantly modified from time to time by the exchange during the term of the contract. Subsequent payments, called variation margin, to the Broker and from the Broker, are made on a daily basis as the value of the underlying instrument or index fluctuates making the long and short positions in the futures contract more or less valuable, a process known as mark-to-market. For example, when the Fund has purchased a futures contract and the price of the underlying financial instrument or index has risen, that position will have increased in value and the Fund will receive from the Broker a variation margin payment equal to that increase in value. Conversely, where the Fund has purchased a futures contract and the price of the underlying financial instrument or index has declined, the position would be less valuable and the Fund would be required to make a variation margin payment to the Broker. At any time prior to expiration of the futures contract, the Fund may elect to close the position. A final determination of variation margin is then made, additional cash is required to be paid to or released by the Broker, and the Fund realizes a loss or gain. The Fund intends to enter into arrangements with its custodian and with Brokers to enable its initial margin and any variation margin to be held in a segregated account by its custodian on behalf of the Broker. Although interest rate futures contracts by their terms call for actual delivery or acceptance of financial instruments, and index based futures contracts call for the delivery of cash equal to a specified dollar amount times the difference between the closing value of the index on the expiration date of the contract and the price at which the futures contract is originally made, in most cases such futures contracts are closed out before the settlement date without the making or taking of delivery. Closing out a futures contract sale is effected by an offsetting transaction in which the Fund enters into a futures contract purchase for the same aggregate amount of the specific type of financial instrument or index and same delivery date. If the price in the sale exceeds the price in the offsetting purchase, the Fund is paid the difference and thus realizes a gain. If the offsetting purchase price exceeds the sale price, the Fund pays the difference and realizes a loss. Similarly, the closing out of a futures contract purchase is effected by an offsetting transaction in which the Fund enters into a futures contract sale. If the offsetting sale price exceeds the purchase price, the Fund realizes a gain. If the purchase price exceeds the offsetting sale price the Fund realizes a loss. The amount of the Fund's gain or loss on any transaction is reduced or increased, respectively, by the amount of any transaction costs incurred by the Fund. As an example of an offsetting transaction, the contractual obligations arising from the sale of one contract of September U.S. Treasury bills on an exchange may be fulfilled at any time before delivery of the contract is required (i.e., on a specified date in September, the "delivery month") by the purchase of one contract of September U.S. Treasury bills on the same exchange. In such instance the difference between the price at which the futures contract was sold and the price paid for the offsetting purchase after allowance for transaction costs represents the profit or loss to the Fund. There can be no assurance, however, that the Fund will be able to enter into an offsetting transaction with respect to a particular contract at a particular time. If the Fund is not able to enter into an offsetting transaction, the Fund will continue to be required to maintain the margin deposits on the contract and to complete the contract according to its terms. Options on Currency and Other Financial Futures The Fund intends to purchase call and put options on currency and other financial futures contracts and sell such options to terminate an existing position. Options on currency and other financial futures contracts are similar to options on stocks except that an option on a currency or other financial futures contract gives the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in a futures contract (a long position if the option is a call and a short position if the option is a put) rather than to purchase or sell stock, currency or other financial instruments at a specified exercise price at any time during the period of the option. Upon exercise of the option, the delivery of the futures position by the writer of the option to the holder of the option will be accompanied by delivery of the accumulated balance in the writer's futures margin account. This amount represents the amount by which the market price of the futures contract at exercise exceeds, in the case of a call, or is less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the option on the futures contract. If an option is exercised the last trading day prior to the expiration date of the option, the settlement will be made entirely in cash equal to the difference between the exercise price of the option and value of the futures contract. The Fund intends to use options on currency and other financial futures contracts in connection with hedging strategies. In the future the Fund may use such options for other purposes. Purchase of Put Options on Futures Contracts The purchase of protective put options on commodity futures contracts is analogous to the purchase of protective puts on individual stocks, where an absolute level of protection is sought below which no additional economic loss would be incurred by the Fund. Put options may be purchased to hedge a portfolio of stocks or debt instruments or a position in the futures contract upon which the put option is based. Purchase of Call Options on Futures Contracts The purchase of a call option on a currency or other financial futures contract represents a means of obtaining temporary exposure to market appreciation at limited risk. It is analogous to the purchase of a call option on an individual stock which can be used as a substitute for a position in the stock itself. Depending on the pricing of the option compared to either the futures contract upon which it is based, or upon the price of the underlying financial instrument or index itself, the purchase of a call option may be less risky than the ownership of the interest rate or index based futures contract or the underlying securities. Call options on currency or other financial futures contracts may be purchased to hedge against an interest rate increase or a market advance when the Fund is not fully invested. Use of New Investment Techniques Involving Currency and Other Financial Futures Contracts or Related Options The Fund may employ new investment techniques involving currency and other financial futures contracts and related options. The Fund intends to take advantage of new techniques in these areas which may be developed from time to time and which are consistent with the Fund's investment objective. The Fund believes that no additional techniques have been identified for employment by the Fund in the foreseeable future other than those described above. Limitations on Purchase and Sale of Futures Contracts and Related Options on Such Futures Contracts The Fund will not enter into a futures contract if, as a result thereof, more than 5% of the Fund's total assets (taken at market value at the time of entering into the contract) would be committed to margin deposits on such futures contracts. The Fund intends that its futures contracts and related options transactions will be entered into for traditional hedging purposes. That is, futures contracts will be sold to protect against a decline in the price of securities that the Fund owns or futures contracts will be purchased to protect the Fund against an increase in the price of securities it intends to purchase. The Fund does not intend to enter into futures contracts for speculation. In instances involving the purchase of futures contracts by the Fund, an amount of cash and cash equivalents, equal to the market value of the futures contracts will be deposited in a segregated account with the Fund's Custodian and/or in a margin account with a Broker to collateralize the position and thereby insure that the use of such futures is unleveraged. Federal Income Tax Treatment For federal income tax purposes, the Fund is required to recognize as income for each taxable year its net unrealized gains and losses on futures contracts as of the end of the year as well as those actually realized during the year. Any gain or loss recognized with respect to a futures contract is considered to be 60% long term and 40% short term, without regard to the holding period of the contract. In the case of a futures transaction classified as a "mixed straddle," the recognition of losses may be deferred to a later taxable year. The federal income tax treatment of gains or losses from transactions in options on futures is unclear. In order for the Fund to continue to qualify for federal income tax treatment as a regulated investment company, at least 90% of its gross income for a taxable year must be derived from qualifying income. Any net gain realized from the closing out of futures contracts, for purposes of the 90% requirement, will be qualifying income. In addition, gains realized on the sale or other disposition of securities held for less than three months must be limited to less than 30% of the Fund's annual gross income. The 1986 Tax Act added a provision which effectively treats both positions in certain hedging transactions as a single transaction for the purpose of the 30% requirement. The provision provides that, in the case of any "designated hedge," increases and decreases in the value of positions of the hedge are to be netted for the purposes of the 30% requirement. However, in certain situations, in order to avoid realizing a gain within a three month period, the Fund may be required to defer the closing out of a contract beyond the time when it would otherwise be advantageous to do so. Risks of Futures Contracts Currency and other financial futures contracts prices are volatile and are influenced, among other things, by changes in stock prices, market conditions, prevailing interest rates and anticipation of future stock prices, market movements or interest rate changes, all of which in turn are affected by economic conditions, such as government fiscal and monetary policies and actions, and national and international political and economic events. At best, the correlation between changes in prices of futures contracts and of the securities being hedged can be only approximate. The degree of imperfection of correlation depends upon circumstances, such as variations in speculative market demand for futures contracts and for securities, including technical influences in futures contracts trading; differences between the securities being hedged and the financial instruments and indices underlying the standard futures contracts available for trading, in such respects as interest rate levels, maturities and creditworthiness of issuers, or identities of securities comprising the index and those in the Fund's portfolio. A decision of whether, when and how to hedge involves the exercise of skill and judgment, and even a well-conceived hedge may be unsuccessful to some degree because of market behavior or unexpected interest rate trends. Because of the low margin deposits required, futures trading involves an extremely high degree of leverage. As a result, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in immediate and substantial loss, as well as gain, to the investor. For example, if at the time of purchase, 10% of the value of the futures contract is deposited as margin, a 10% decrease in the value of the futures contract would result in a total loss of the margin deposit, before any deduction for the transaction costs, if the account were then closed out, and a 15% decrease would result in a loss equal to 150% of the original margin deposit. Thus, a purchase or sale of a futures contract may result in losses in excess of the amount invested in the futures contract. However, the Fund would presumably have sustained comparable losses if, instead of entering into the futures contract, it had invested in the underlying financial instrument. Furthermore, in order to be certain that the Fund has sufficient assets to satisfy its obligations under a futures contract, the Fund will establish a segregated account in connection with its futures contracts which will hold cash or cash equivalents equal in value to the current value of the underlying instruments or indices less the margins on deposit. Most U.S. futures exchanges limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in futures contract prices during a single trading day. The daily limit establishes the maximum amount that the price of a futures contract may vary either up or down from the previous day's settlement price at the end of a trading session. Once the daily limit has been reached in a particular type of contract, no trades may be made on that day at a price beyond that limit. The daily limit governs only price movement during a particular trading day and therefore does not limit potential losses because the limit may prevent the liquidation of unfavorable positions. Futures contract prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of futures positions and subjecting some futures traders to substantial losses. Risks of Options on Futures Contracts In addition to the risks described above for currency and other financial futures contracts, there are several special risks relating to options on futures contracts. The ability to establish and close out positions on such options will be subject to the development and maintenance of a liquid secondary market. There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular contract or at any particular time. The Fund will not purchase options on any futures contract unless and until it believes that the market for such options has developed sufficiently that the risks in connection with such options are not greater than the risks in connection with the futures contracts. Compared to the use of futures contracts, the purchase of options on such futures involves less potential risk to the Fund because the maximum amount at risk is the premium paid for the options (plus transaction costs). However, there may be circumstances when the use of an option on a futures contract would result in a loss to the Fund, even though the use of a futures contract would not, such as when there is no movement in the level of the futures contract. FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS The Fund may invest in securities of foreign issuers. When the Fund invests in foreign securities they usually will be denominated in foreign currencies and the Fund temporarily may hold funds in foreign currencies. Thus, the Fund's share value will be affected by changes in exchange rates. Forward Currency Contracts As one way of managing exchange rate risk, the Fund may engage in forward currency exchange contracts (agreements to purchase or sell currencies at a specified price and date). Under the contract, the exchange rate for the transaction (the amount of currency the Fund will deliver or receive when the contract is completed) is fixed when the Fund enters into the contract. The Fund usually will enter into these contracts to stabilize the U.S. dollar value of a security it has agreed to buy or sell. The Fund also may use these contracts to hedge the U.S. dollar value of a security it already owns, particularly if the Fund expects a decrease in the value of the currency in which the foreign security is denominated. Although the Fund will attempt to benefit from using forward contracts, the success of its hedging strategy will depend on Keystone's ability to predict accurately the future exchange rate between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar. The value of the Fund's investments denominated in foreign currencies will depend on the relative strength of those currencies and the U.S. dollar, and the Fund may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in the exchange rate or exchange control regulations between foreign currencies and the dollar. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates also may affect the value of dividends and interest earned, gains and losses realized on the sale of securities and net investment income and gains, if any, to be distributed to shareholders by the Fund. Currency Futures Contracts Currency futures contracts are bilateral agreements under which two parties agree to take or make delivery of a specified amount of a currency at a specified future time for a specified price. Trading of currency futures contracts in the United States is regulated under the Commodity Exchange Act by the CFTC and NFA. Currently, the only national futures exchange on which currency futures are traded is the International Monetary Market of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Foreign currency futures trading is conducted in the same manner and subject to the same regulations as trading in interest rate and index based futures. The Fund intends to engage in currency futures contracts only for hedging purposes, and not for speculation. The Fund may enter into currency futures contracts for other purposes if authorized to do so by the Board. The hedging strategies which will be used by the Fund in connection with foreign currency futures contracts are similar to those described above for forward foreign currency exchange contracts. Currently, currency futures contracts for the British pound sterling, Canadian dollar, Dutch guilder, Deutsche mark, Japanese yen, Mexican peso, Swiss franc and French franc can be purchased or sold for U.S. dollars through the International Monetary Market. It is expected that futures contracts trading in additional currencies will be authorized. The standard contract sizes are L125,000 for the pound, 125,000 for the guilder, mark and Swiss and French francs, C$100,000 for the Canadian dollar, Y12,500,000 for the yen, and 1,000,000 for the peso. In contrast to Forward Currency Exchange Contracts which can be traded at any time, only four value dates per year are available, the third Wednesday of March, June, September and December. Foreign Currency Options Transactions Foreign currency options (as opposed to futures) are traded in a variety of currencies in both the United States and Europe. On the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, for example, contracts for half the size of the corresponding futures contracts on the Chicago Board Options Exchange are traded with up to nine months maturity in marks, sterling, yen, Swiss francs and Canadian dollars. Options can be exercised at any time during the contract life and require a deposit subject to normal margin requirements. Since a futures contract must be exercised, the Fund must continually make up the margin balance. As a result, a wrong price move could result in the Fund losing more than the original investment as it cannot walk away from the futures contract as it can an option contract. The Fund will purchase call and put options and sell such options to terminate an existing position. Options on foreign currency are similar to options on stocks except that an option on an interest rate and/or index based futures contract gives the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to purchase or sell foreign currency, rather than to purchase or sell stock, at a specified exercise price at any time during the period of the option. The Fund intends to use foreign currency option transactions in connection with hedging strategies. Purchase of Put Options on Foreign Currencies The purchase of protective put options on a foreign currency is analagous to the purchase of protective puts on individual stocks, where an absolute level of protection is sought below which no additional economic loss would be incurred by the Fund. Put options may be purchased to hedge a portfolio of foreign stocks or foreign debt instruments or a position in the foreign currency upon which the put option is based. Purchase of Call Options on Foreign Currencies The purchase of a call option on foreign currency represents a means of obtaining temporary exposure to market appreciation at limited risk. It is analogous to the purchase of a call option on an individual stock which can be used as a substitute for a position in the stock itself. Depending on the pricing of the option compared to either the foreign currency upon which it is based, or upon the price of the foreign stock or foreign debt instruments, the purchase of a call option may be less risky than the ownership of the foreign currency or the foreign securities. The Fund would purchase a call option on a foreign currency to hedge against an increase in the foreign currency or a foreign market advance when the Fund is not fully invested. The Fund may employ new investment techniques involving forward foreign currency exchange contracts, foreign currency futures contracts and options on foreign currencies in order to take advantage of new techniques in these areas which may be developed from time to time and which are consistent with the Fund's investment objective. The Fund believes that no additional techniques have been identified for employment by the Fund in the foreseeable future other than those described above. Currency Trading Risks Currency exchange trading may involve significant risks. The four major types of risk the Fund faces are exchange rate risk, interest rate risk, credit risk and country risk. Exchange Rate Risk Exchange rate risk results from the movement up and down of foreign currency values in response to shifting market supply and demand. When the Fund buys or sells a foreign currency, an exposure called an open position is created. Until the time that position can be "covered" by selling or buying an equivalent amount of the same currency, the Fund is exposed to the risk that the exchange rate might move against it. Since exchange rate changes can readily move in one direction, a position carried overnight or over a number of days involves greater risk than one carried a few minutes or hours. Techniques such as foreign currency forward and futures contracts and options on foreign currency are intended to be used by the Fund to reduce exchange rate risk. Maturity Gaps and Interest Rate Risk Interest rate risk arises whenever there are mismatches or gaps in the maturity structure of the Fund's foreign exchange currency holdings, which is the total of its outstanding spot and forward or futures contracts. Foreign currency transactions often involve borrowing short term and lending longer term to benefit from the normal tendency of interest rates to be higher for longer maturities. However in foreign exchange trading, while the maturity pattern of interest rates for one currency is important, it is the differential between interest rates for two currencies that is decisive. Credit Risk Whenever the Fund enters into a foreign exchange contract, it faces a risk, however small, that the counterparty will not perform under the contract. As a result there is a credit risk, although no extension of "credit" is intended. To limit credit risk, the Fund intends to evaluate the creditworthiness of each other party. The Fund does not intend to trade more than 5% of its net assets under foreign exchange contracts with one party. Credit risk exists because the Fund's counterparty may be unable or unwilling to fulfill its contractual obligations as a result of bankruptcy or insolvency or when foreign exchange controls prohibit payment. In any foreign exchange transaction, each party agrees to deliver a certain amount of currency to the other on a particular date. In establishing its hedges a Fund relies on each contract being completed. If the contract is not performed, then the Fund's hedge is eliminated, and the Fund is exposed to any changes in exchange rates since the contract was originated. To put itself in the same position it would have been in had the contract been performed, the Fund must arrange a new transaction. However, the new transaction may have to be arranged at an adverse exchange rate. The trustee for a bankrupt company may elect to perform those contracts which are advantageous to the company but disclaim those contracts which are disadvantageous, resulting in losses to the Fund. Another form of credit risk stems from the time zone differences between the U.S. and foreign nations. If the Fund sells sterling it generally must pay pounds to a counterparty earlier in the day than it will be credited with dollars in New York. In the intervening hours, the buyer can go into bankruptcy or can be declared insolvent. Thus, the dollars may never be credited to the Fund. Country Risk At one time or another, virtually every country has interfered with international transactions in its currency. Interference has taken the form of regulation of the local exchange market, restrictions on foreign investment by residents or limits on inflows of investment funds from abroad. Governments take such measures for example, to improve control over the domestic banking system or to influence the pattern of receipts and payments between residents and foreigners. In those cases, restrictions on the exchange market or on international transactions are intended to affect the level or movement of the exchange rate. Occasionally a serious foreign exchange shortage may lead to payment interruptions or debt servicing delays, as well as interference in the exchange market. It has become increasingly difficult to distinguish foreign exchange or credit risk from country risk. Changes in regulations or restrictions usually do have an important exchange market impact. Most disruptive are changes in rules which interfere with the normal payments mechanism. If government regulations change and a counterparty is either forbidden to perform or is required to do something extra, then the Fund might be left with an unintended open position or an unintended maturity mismatch. Dealing with such unintended long or short positions could result in unanticipated costs to the Fund. Other changes in official regulations influence international investment transactions. If one of the factors affecting the buying or selling of a currency changes, the exchange rate is likely to respond. Changes in such controls often are unpredictable and can create a significant exchange rate response. Many major countries have moved toward liberalization of exchange and payments restrictions in recent years or accepted the principle that restrictions should be relaxed. A few industrial countries have moved in the other direction. Important liberalizations were carried out by Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Japan. They dismantled mechanisms for restricting either foreign exchange inflows (Switzerland), outflows (Britain) or elements of both (Japan). By contrast, France and Mexico have recently tightened foreign exchange controls. Overall, many exchange markets are still heavily restricted. Several countries limit access to the forward market to companies financing documented export or import transactions in an effort to insulate the market from purely speculative activities. Some of these countries permit local traders to enter into forward contracts with residents but prohibit certain forward transactions with nonresidents. By comparison, other countries have strict controls on exchange transactions by residents, but permit free exchange transactions between local traders and non-residents. A few countries have established tiered markets, funneling commercial transactions through one market and financial transactions through another. Outside the major industrial countries, relatively free foreign exchange markets are rare and controls on foreign currency transactions are extensive. Another aspect of country risk has to do with the possibility that the Fund may be dealing with a foreign trader whose home country is facing a payments problem. Even though the foreign trader intends to perform on its foreign exchange contracts, the contracts are tied to other external liabilities the country has incurred. As a result performance may be delayed, and can result in unanticipated cost to the Fund. This aspect of country risk is a major element in the Fund's credit judgment as to with whom it will deal and in what amounts. -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----