485BPOS 1 fefform.htm FEDERATED EQUITY FUNDS


                                          1933 Act File No. 2-91090
                                          1940 Act File No. 811-4017

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20549

                                    Form N-1A

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933             X

    Pre-Effective Amendment No.      .......................

    Post-Effective Amendment No.  57_.......................        X

                                     and/or

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940     X

    Amendment No.  50 ......................................        X

                             FEDERATED EQUITY FUNDS

               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

                            Federated Investors Funds
                              5800 Corporate Drive
                       Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15237-7000
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                                 (412) 288-1900
                         (Registrant's Telephone Number)

                           John W. McGonigle, Esquire,
                            Federated Investors Tower
                       Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-3779
                     (Name and Address of Agent for Service)

It is proposed that this filing will become effective:

___ immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
X   on December 27, 2002 pursuant to paragraph (b)
    60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a) (i)
    on _________________ pursuant to paragraph (a) (i).
 _ 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii)
    on _________________ pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii) of Rule 485.

If appropriate, check the following box:

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

                                    Copy to:

                           Matthew G. Maloney, Esquire
                   Dickstein Shapiro Morin & Oshinsky, LLP
                                2101 L Street, NW
                              Washington, DC 20037



[Logo of Federated]

Federated Capital Appreciation Fund

A Portfolio of Federated Equity Funds

PROSPECTUS

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December 31, 2002

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CLASS A SHARES
CLASS B SHARES
CLASS C SHARES

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A mutual fund seeking to provide capital appreciation by investing primarily in equity securities of large and mid-cap companies.

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As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

NOT FDIC INSURED * MAY LOSE VALUE * NO BANK GUARANTEE

CONTENTS

Risk/Return Summary      1

What are the Fund's Fees and Expenses?

  4

What are the Fund's Investment Strategies?

  5

What are the Principal Securities in Which the Fund Invests?

  6

What are the Specific Risks of Investing in the Fund?

  7

What do Shares Cost?

  8

How is the Fund Sold?

  11

How to Purchase Shares

  12

How to Redeem and Exchange Shares

  14

Account and Share Information

  17

Who Manages the Fund?

  18
Financial Information   19

Risk/Return Summary

WHAT IS THE FUND'S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE?

The Fund's investment objective is to provide capital appreciation. While there is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective, it endeavors to do so by following the strategies and policies described in this prospectus.

WHAT ARE THE FUND'S MAIN INVESTMENT STRATEGIES?

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The Fund pursues its investment objective by investing primarily in common stock of companies with large and medium market capitalizations that offer superior growth prospects or of companies whose stock is undervalued.

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WHAT ARE THE MAIN RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND?

All mutual funds take investment risks. Therefore, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. The primary factors that may reduce the Fund's returns include:

  • Stock Market Risks. The value of equity securities in the Fund's portfolio will fluctuate and, as a result, the Fund's share price may decline suddenly or over a sustained period of time.
  • Liquidity Risks. The equity securities in which the Fund invests may be less readily marketable and may be subject to greater fluctuation in price than other securities.
  • Risks Related to Company Size. Because the smaller companies in which the Fund may invest may have unproven track records, a limited product or service base and limited access to capital, they may be more likely to fail than larger companies.
  • Sector Risks. Because the Fund may allocate relatively more assets to certain industry sectors than others, the Fund's performance may be more susceptible to any developments which affect those sectors emphasized by the Fund.
  • Risks of Investing in American Depositary Receipts. Because the Fund may invest in American Depositary Receipts issued by foreign companies, the Fund's share price may be more affected by foreign economic and political conditions, taxation policies and accounting and auditing standards, than would otherwise be the case.

The Shares offered by this prospectus are not deposits or obligations of any bank, are not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. government, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board, or any other government agency.

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Risk/Return Bar Chart and Table

The performance information shown below will help you analyze the Fund's investment risks in light of its historical returns. The bar chart shows the variability of the Fund's Class A Shares total returns on a calendar year-by-year basis. The Average Annual Total Return table shows returns averaged over the stated periods, and includes comparative performance information. The Fund's performance will fluctuate, and past performance (before and after taxes) is no guarantee of future results.

The total returns shown in the bar chart do not reflect the payment of any sales charges or recurring shareholder account fees. If these charges or fees had been included, the return shown would have been lower.

The Fund's total return for the nine-month period from January 1, 2002 to September 30, 2002 was (24.08)%.

Within the periods shown in the bar chart, the Fund's Class A Shares highest quarterly return was 27.57% (quarter ended December 31, 1999). Its lowest quarterly return was (15.34)% (quarter ended September 30, 1998).

Average Annual Total Return Table

The Average Annual Total Returns for the Fund's Class A, Class B and Class C Shares are reduced to reflect applicable sales charges. Return Before Taxes is shown for all classes. In addition, Return After Taxes is shown for Class A Shares to illustrate the effect of federal taxes on Fund returns. Actual after-tax returns depend on each investor's personal tax situation, and are likely to differ from those shown. The table also shows returns for the Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500), a broad-based market index and the Lipper Multi Cap Core Funds Average (LMCCFA), an average of funds with similar objectives. Index and average returns do not reflect taxes, sales charges, expenses or other fees that the SEC requires to be reflected in the Fund's performance. Indexes and averages are unmanaged, and it is not possible to invest directly in an index or average.

(For the periods ended December 31, 2001)

      1 Year   5 Years   10 Years   Start of
Performance1
Class A Shares:                                
Return Before Taxes   (11.35)%   13.92%   14.44%   --
Return After Taxes on Distributions2   (11.63)%   12.27%   12.69%   --
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares2   (6.91)%   11.10%   11.67%   --
Class B Shares:                                
Return Before Taxes   (12.04)%   14.15%   --   14.73%
Class C Shares:                                
Return Before Taxes   (7.82)%   14.36%   --   14.81%
S&P 500     (11.88)%   10.70%   12.93%   --
LMCCFA     (11.97)%   9.63%   11.68%   --

1 The Fund's Class B and Class C Shares start of performance dates were January 4, 1996 and January 4, 1996, respectively.

2 After-tax returns are calculated using a standard set of assumptions. The stated returns assume the highest historical federal income and capital gains tax rates. Return After Taxes on Distributions assumes a continued investment in the Fund and shows the effect of taxes on Fund distributions. Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares assumes all shares were redeemed at the end of each measurement period, and shows the effect of any taxable gain (or offsetting loss) on redemption, as well as the effects of taxes on Fund distributions. These after-tax returns do not reflect the effect of any applicable state and local taxes. After-tax returns for Class B and Class C Shares will differ from those shown above for Class A Shares. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors holding Shares through tax-deferred programs, such as IRA or 401(k) plans.

What are the Fund's Fees and Expenses?

FEDERATED CAPITAL APPRECIATION FUND

FEES AND EXPENSES

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold the Fund's Class A, Class B and Class C Shares.

Shareholder Fees   Class A   Class B   Class C
Fees Paid Directly From Your Investment            
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)   5.50%   None   None
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, as applicable)   None   5.50%   1.00%
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends (and other Distributions) (as a percentage of offering price)   None   None   None
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed, if applicable)   None   None   None
Exchange Fee   None   None   None
             
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Before Waiver)1                        
Expenses That are Deducted From Fund Assets (as a percentage of average net assets)            
Management Fee   0.75%   0.75%   0.75%
Distribution (12b-1) Fee2   0.25%   0.75%   0.75%
Shareholder Services Fee   0.25%   0.25%   0.25%
Other Expenses   0.23%   0.23%   0.23%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses   1.48%   1.98%3   1.98%
1 Although not contractually obligated to do so, the distributor waived certain amounts. These are shown below along with the net expenses the Fund actually paid for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2002.
Total Waiver of Fund Expenses   0.25%   0.00%   0.00%
Total Actual Annual Fund Operating Expenses (after waiver)   1.23%   1.98%   1.98%
2 Class A Shares did not pay or accrue the distribution (12b-1) fee for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2002. Class A Shares have no present intention of paying or accruing the distribution (12b-1) fee for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2003.
3 After Class B Shares have been held for eight years from the date of purchase, they will automatically convert to Class A Shares on or about the last day of the following month. Class A Shares pay lower operating expenses than Class B Shares.

EXAMPLE

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Class A, Class B, and Class C Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund's Class A, Class B, and Class C Shares for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your Shares at the end of those periods. Expenses assuming no redemption are also shown. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's Class A, Class B, and Class C Shares operating expenses are before waiver as shown in the table and remain the same. Although your actual costs and returns may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Share Class      1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years
Class A:                
Expenses assuming redemption   $692   $   992   $1,314   $2,221
Expenses assuming no redemption   $692   $   992   $1,314   $2,221
Class B:                
Expenses assuming redemption   $751   $1,021   $1,268   $2,177
Expenses assuming no redemption   $201   $   621   $1,068   $2,177
Class C:                
Expenses assuming redemption   $301   $   621   $1,068   $2,306
Expenses assuming no redemption   $201   $   621   $1,068   $2,306

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What are the Fund's Investment Strategies?

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The Fund pursues its investment objective by investing primarily in common stock (including American Depositary Receipts) of companies with large and medium market capitalizations that offer superior growth prospects or of companies whose stock is undervalued. This includes companies with market capitalizations in excess of $500 million. Market capitalization is determined by multiplying the number of outstanding shares by the current market price per share. The Fund also invests in convertible securities issued by these companies. A description of the various principal types of securities in which the Fund invests, and their risks, immediately follows this strategy section.

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Using its own quantitative process, the Adviser rates the future performance potential of companies. The Adviser evaluates each company's earnings quality in light of their current valuation to narrow the list of attractive companies. The Adviser then evaluates product positioning, management quality and sustainability of current growth trends of those companies. Using this type of fundamental analysis, the Adviser selects the most promising companies for the Fund's portfolio.

The Fund may also seek capital appreciation by buying securities in initial public offerings. The Fund will participate in such offerings without regard to the issuer's market capitalizations. The Adviser may select initial public offerings based on its fundamental analysis of the issuer.

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PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

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The Fund actively trades its portfolio securities in an attempt to achieve its investment objective. Active trading will cause the Fund to have an increased portfolio turnover rate, which is likely to generate shorter-term gains (losses) for its shareholders, which are taxed at a higher rate than longer-term gains (losses). Actively trading portfolio securities increases the Fund's trading costs and may have an adverse impact on the Fund's performance.

TEMPORARY DEFENSIVE INVESTMENTS

The Fund may temporarily depart from its principal investment strategies by investing its assets in cash and shorter-term debt securities and similar obligations. It may do this to minimize potential losses and maintain liquidity to meet shareholder redemptions during adverse market conditions. This may cause the Fund to give up greater investment returns to maintain the safety of principal, that is, the original amount invested by shareholders.

What are the Principal Securities in Which the Fund Invests?

EQUITY SECURITIES

Equity securities represent a share of an issuer's earning and assets, after the issuer pays its liabilities. The Fund cannot predict the income it will receive from equity securities because issuers generally have discretion as to the payment of any dividends or distributions. However, equity securities offer greater potential for appreciation than many other types of securities, because their value increases directly with the value of the issuer's business. The following describes the types of equity securities in which the Fund may invest.

Common Stocks

Common stocks are the most prevalent type of equity security. Common stocks receive the issuer's earnings after the issuer pays its creditors and any preferred stockholders. As a result, changes in an issuer's earnings directly influence the value of its common stock.

American Depositary Receipts

American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) represent interests in underlying securities issued by a foreign company but are not traded in the United States. ADRs provide a way to buy shares of foreign-based companies in the United States rather than in overseas markets. ADRs are also traded in U.S. dollars, eliminating the need for foreign exchange transactions.

Convertible Securities

Convertible securities are fixed income securities that the Fund has the option to exchange for equity securities at a specified conversion price. The option allows the Fund to realize additional returns if the market price of the equity securities exceeds the conversion price. For example, the Fund may hold fixed income securities that are convertible into shares of common stock at a conversion price of $10 per share. If the market value of the shares of common stock reached $12, the Fund could realize an additional $2 per share by converting its fixed income securities.

Convertible securities have lower yields than comparable fixed income securities. In addition, at the time a convertible security is issued the conversion price exceeds the market value of the underlying equity securities. Thus, convertible securities may provide lower returns than non-convertible fixed income securities or equity securities depending upon changes in the price of the underlying equity securities. However, convertible securities permit the Fund to realize some of the potential appreciation of the underlying equity securities with less risk of losing its initial investment.

The Fund treats convertible securities as both fixed income and equity securities for purposes of its investment policies and limitations, because of their unique characteristics.

INVESTING IN SECURITIES OF OTHER INVESTMENT COMPANIES

The Fund may invest its assets in securities of other investment companies, including the securities of affiliated money market funds, as an efficient means of carrying out its investment policies and managing its uninvested cash.

What are the Specific Risks of Investing in the Fund?

STOCK MARKET RISKS

  • The value of equity securities in the Fund's portfolio will rise and fall. These fluctuations could be a sustained trend or a drastic movement. The Fund's portfolio will reflect changes in prices of individual portfolio stocks or general changes in stock valuations. Consequently, the Fund's share price may decline.
  • The Adviser attempts to manage market risk by limiting the amount the Fund invests in each company's equity securities. However, diversification will not protect the Fund against widespread or prolonged declines in the stock market.

LIQUIDITY RISKS

  • Trading opportunities are more limited for equity securities that are not widely held. This may make it more difficult to sell or buy a security at a favorable price or time. Consequently, the Fund may have to accept a lower price to sell a security, sell other securities to raise cash or give up an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on the Fund's performance. Infrequent trading of securities may also lead to an increase in their price volatility.

RISKS RELATED TO COMPANY SIZE

  • Generally, the smaller the market capitalization of a company, the fewer the number of shares traded daily, the less liquid its stock and the more volatile its price. Market capitalization is determined by multiplying the number of its outstanding shares by the current market price per share.
  • Companies with smaller market capitalizations also tend to have unproven track records, a limited product or service base and limited access to capital. These factors also increase risks and make these companies more likely to fail than companies with larger market capitalizations.

SECTOR RISKS

  • Companies with similar characteristics may be grouped together in broad categories called sectors. Sector risk is the possibility that a certain sector may underperform other sectors or the market as a whole. As the Adviser allocates more of the Fund's portfolio holdings to a particular sector, the Fund's performance will be more susceptible to any economic, business or other developments which generally affect that sector.

RISKS OF INVESTING IN AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS

  • Because the Fund may invest in American Depositary Receipts issued by foreign companies, the Fund's share price may be more affected by foreign economic and political conditions, taxation policies and accounting and auditing standards, than would otherwise be the case.

What do Shares Cost?

You can purchase, redeem or exchange Shares any day the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open. When the Fund receives your transaction request in proper form (as described in this prospectus) it is processed at the next calculated net asset value (NAV) plus any applicable front-end sales charge (public offering price). From time to time the Fund may purchase foreign securities that trade in foreign markets on days the NYSE is closed. The value of the Fund's assets may change on days you cannot purchase or redeem Shares. NAV is determined at the end of regular trading (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) each day the NYSE is open. The Fund generally values equity securities according to the last sale price in the market in which they are primarily traded (either a national securities exchange or the over-the-counter market).

The Fund's current NAV and public offering price may be found in the mutual funds section of certain local newspapers under "Federated."

The following table summarizes the minimum required investment amount and the maximum sales charge, if any, that you will pay on an investment in the Fund. Keep in mind that investment professionals may charge you fees for their services in connection with your Share transactions.

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        Minimum
Initial/Subsequent
Investment
Amounts1
    Maximum Sales Charge
Shares Offered     Front-End
Sales Charge2
    Contingent
Deferred
Sales Charge3
Class A Shares   $1,500/$100   5.50%   0.00%
Class B Shares   $1,500/$100   None   5.50%
Class C Shares   $1,500/$100   None   1.00%

1 The minimum initial and subsequent investment amounts for retirement plans are $250 and $100, respectively. The minimum subsequent investment amounts for Systematic Investment Programs (SIP) is $50. Investment professionals may impose higher or lower minimum investment requirements on their customers than those imposed by the Fund. Orders for $250,000 or more will be invested in Class A Shares instead of Class B Shares to maximize your return and minimize the sales charges and marketing fees. Accounts held in the name of an investment professional may be treated differently. After Class B Shares have been held for eight years from the date of purchase, they will automatically convert to Class A Shares on or about the last day of the following month. This conversion is a non-taxable event.

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2 Front-End Sales Charge is expressed as a percentage of public offering price. See "Sales Charge When You Purchase."

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3 See "Sales Charge When You Redeem."

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SALES CHARGE WHEN YOU PURCHASE

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Class A Shares
Purchase Amount      Sales Charge
as a Percentage
of Public
Offering Price
     Sales Charge
as a Percentage
of NAV
Less than $50,000   5.50%   5.82%
$50,000 but less than $100,000   4.50%   4.71%
$100,000 but less than $250,000   3.75%   3.90%
$250,000 but less than $500,000   2.50%   2.56%
$500,000 but less than $1 million   2.00%   2.04%
$1 million or greater1   0.00%   0.00%

1 A contingent deferred sales charge of 0.75% of the redemption amount applies to Class A Shares redeemed up to 24 months after purchase under certain investment programs where an investment professional received an advance payment on the transaction.

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If your investment qualifies for a reduction or elimination of the sales charge as described below, you or your investment professional should notify the Fund's Distributor at the time of purchase. If the Distributor is not notified, you will receive the reduced sales charge only on additional purchases, and not retroactively on previous purchases.

The sales charge at purchase may be reduced or eliminated by:

  • purchasing Shares in greater quantities to reduce the applicable sales charge;
  • combining concurrent purchases of Shares:

    --by you, your spouse, and your children under age 21; or

    --of the same share class of two or more Federated Funds (other than money market funds);

  • accumulating purchases (in calculating the sales charge on an additional purchase, include the current value of previous Share purchases still invested in the Fund); or
  • signing a letter of intent to purchase a specific dollar amount of Shares within 13 months (call your investment professional or the Fund for more information).

The sales charge will be eliminated when you purchase Shares:

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  • within 120 days of redeeming Shares of an equal or greater amount;

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  • by exchanging shares from the same share class of another Federated Fund (other than a money market fund);
  • through wrap accounts or other investment programs where you pay the investment professional directly for services;
  • through investment professionals that receive no portion of the sales charge;
  • as a Federated Life Member (Class A Shares only) and their immediate family members; or
  • as a Trustee or employee of the Fund, the Adviser, the Distributor and their affiliates, and the immediate family members of these individuals.

SALES CHARGE WHEN YOU REDEEM

Your redemption proceeds may be reduced by a sales charge, commonly referred to as a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC).

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Class A Shares (Purchase amount of $1 million or greater):        
A CDSC of 0.75% of the redemption amount applies to Class A Shares redeemed up to 24 months after purchase under certain investment programs where an investment professional received an advance payment on the transaction.
Class B Shares:
Shares Held Up To:   CDSC
1 Year   5.50%
2 Years   4.75%
3 Years   4.00%
4 Years   3.00%
5 Years   2.00%
6 Years   1.00%
7 Years or More   0.00%
Class C Shares:
You will pay a 1% CDSC if you redeem Shares within one year of the purchase date.

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If your investment qualifies for a reduction or elimination of the CDSC as described below, you or your investment professional should notify the Distributor at the time of redemption. If the Distributor is not notified, the CDSC will apply.

You will not be charged a CDSC when redeeming Shares:

  • purchased with reinvested dividends or capital gains;
  • purchased within 120 days of redeeming Shares of an equal or lesser amount;
  • that you exchanged into the same share class of another Federated Fund if the shares were held for the applicable CDSC holding period (other than a money market fund);
  • purchased through investment professionals who did not receive advanced sales payments;
  • if, after you purchase Shares, you become disabled as defined by the IRS;
  • if the Fund redeems your Shares and closes your account for not meeting the minimum balance requirement;
  • if your redemption is a required retirement plan distribution; or
  • upon the death of the last surviving shareholder of the account. The beneficiary on an account with a Transfer on Death registration is deemed the last surviving shareholder of the account.

To keep the sales charge as low as possible, the Fund redeems your Shares in this order:

  • Shares that are not subject to a CDSC; and
  • Shares held the longest (to determine the number of years your Shares have been held, include the time you held shares of other Federated Funds that have been exchanged for Shares of this Fund).

The CDSC is then calculated using the share price at the time of purchase or redemption, whichever is lower.

How is the Fund Sold?

The Fund offers three share classes: Class A Shares, Class B Shares and Class C Shares, each representing interests in a single portfolio of securities.

The Fund's Distributor, Federated Securities Corp., markets the Shares described in this prospectus to institutions or to individuals, directly or through investment professionals. When the Distributor receives marketing fees and sales charges, it may pay some or all of them to investment professionals. The Distributor and its affiliates may pay out of their assets other amounts (including items of material value) to investment professionals for marketing and servicing Shares. The Distributor is a subsidiary of Federated Investors, Inc. (Federated).

RULE 12B-1 PLAN

The Fund has adopted a Rule 12b-1 Plan, which allows it to pay marketing fees to the Distributor and investment professionals for the sale, distribution and customer servicing of the Fund's Class A Shares, Class B Shares and Class C Shares. Because these Shares pay marketing fees on an ongoing basis, your investment cost may be higher over time than other shares with different sales charges and marketing fees.

How to Purchase Shares

You may purchase Shares through an investment professional, directly from the Fund, or through an exchange from another Federated Fund. The Fund reserves the right to reject any request to purchase or exchange Shares.

Where the Fund offers more than one share class and you do not specify the class choice on your New Account Form or form of payment (e.g., Federal Reserve wire or check) you automatically will receive Class A Shares.

THROUGH AN INVESTMENT PROFESSIONAL

  • Establish an account with the investment professional; and
  • Submit your purchase order to the investment professional before the end of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). You will receive the next calculated NAV if the investment professional forwards the order to the Fund on the same day and the Fund receives payment within three business days. You will become the owner of Shares and receive dividends when the Fund receives your payment.

Investment professionals should send payments according to the instructions in the sections "By Wire" or "By Check."

DIRECTLY FROM THE FUND

  • Establish your account with the Fund by submitting a completed New Account Form; and
  • Send your payment to the Fund by Federal Reserve wire or check.

You will become the owner of Shares and your Shares will be priced at the next calculated NAV after the Fund receives your wire or your check. If your check does not clear, your purchase will be canceled and you could be liable for any losses or fees incurred by the Fund or Federated Shareholder Services Company, the Fund's transfer agent.

An institution may establish an account and place an order by calling the Fund and the Shares will be priced at the next calculated NAV after the Fund receives the order.

By Wire

Send your wire to:

State Street Bank and Trust Company
Boston, MA
Dollar Amount of Wire
ABA Number 011000028
Attention: EDGEWIRE
Wire Order Number, Dealer Number or Group Number
Nominee/Institution Name
Fund Name and Number and Account Number

You cannot purchase Shares by wire on holidays when wire transfers are restricted.

By Check

Make your check payable to The Federated Funds, note your account number on the check, and mail it to:

Federated Shareholder Services Company
P.O. Box 8600
Boston, MA 02266-8600

If you send your check by a private courier or overnight delivery service that requires a street address, mail it to:

Federated Shareholder Services Company
1099 Hingham Street
Rockland, MA 02370-3317

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Payment should be made in U.S. dollars and drawn on a U.S. bank. The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase request. For example, to protect against check fraud the Fund may reject any purchase request involving a check that is not made payable to The Federated Funds (including, but not limited to, requests to purchase Shares using third-party checks), or involving temporary checks or credit card checks.

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THROUGH AN EXCHANGE

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You may purchase Shares through an exchange from the same Share class of another Federated fund. You must meet the minimum initial investment requirement for purchasing Shares and both accounts must have identical registrations.

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BY SYSTEMATIC INVESTMENT PROGRAM

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Once you have opened an account, you may automatically purchase additional Shares on a regular basis by completing the Systematic Investment Program section of the New Account Form or by contacting the Fund or your investment professional.

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BY AUTOMATED CLEARING HOUSE (ACH)

Once you have opened an account, you may purchase additional Shares through a depository institution that is an ACH member. This purchase option can be established by completing the appropriate sections of the New Account Form.

RETIREMENT INVESTMENTS

You may purchase Shares as retirement investments (such as qualified plans and IRAs or transfer or rollover of assets). Call your investment professional or the Fund for information on retirement investments. We suggest that you discuss retirement investments with your tax adviser. You may be subject to an annual IRA account fee.

How to Redeem and Exchange Shares

You should redeem or exchange Shares:

  • through an investment professional if you purchased Shares through an investment professional; or
  • directly from the Fund if you purchased Shares directly from the Fund.

THROUGH AN INVESTMENT PROFESSIONAL

Submit your redemption or exchange request to your investment professional by the end of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). The redemption amount you will receive is based upon the next calculated NAV after the Fund receives the order from your investment professional.

DIRECTLY FROM THE FUND

By Telephone

You may redeem or exchange Shares by simply calling the Fund at 1-800-341-7400.

If you call before the end of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) you will receive a redemption amount based on that day's NAV.

By Mail

You may redeem or exchange Shares by mailing a written request to the Fund.

You will receive a redemption amount based on the next calculated NAV after the Fund receives your written request in proper form.

Send requests by mail to:

Federated Shareholder Services Company
P.O. Box 8600
Boston, MA 02266-8600

Send requests by private courier or overnight delivery service to:

Federated Shareholder Services Company
1099 Hingham Street
Rockland, MA 02370-3317

All requests must include:

  • Fund Name and Share Class, account number and account registration;
  • amount to be redeemed or exchanged;
  • signatures of all shareholders exactly as registered; and
  • if exchanging, the Fund Name and Share Class, account number and account registration into which you are exchanging.

Call your investment professional or the Fund if you need special instructions.

Signature Guarantees

Signatures must be guaranteed if:

  • your redemption will be sent to an address other than the address of record;
  • your redemption will be sent to an address of record that was changed within the last 30 days;
  • a redemption is payable to someone other than the shareholder(s) of record; or
  • if exchanging (transferring) into another fund with a different shareholder registration.

A signature guarantee is designed to protect your account from fraud. Obtain a signature guarantee from a bank or trust company, savings association, credit union or broker, dealer, or securities exchange member. A notary public cannot provide a signature guarantee.

PAYMENT METHODS FOR REDEMPTIONS

Your redemption proceeds will be mailed by check to your address of record. The following payment options are available if you complete the appropriate section of the New Account Form or an Account Service Options Form. These payment options require a signature guarantee if they were not established when the account was opened:

  • an electronic transfer to your account at a financial institution that is an ACH member; or
  • wire payment to your account at a domestic commercial bank that is a Federal Reserve System member.

Redemption in Kind

Although the Fund intends to pay Share redemptions in cash, it reserves the right to pay the redemption price in whole or in part by a distribution of the Fund's portfolio securities.

LIMITATIONS ON REDEMPTION PROCEEDS

Redemption proceeds normally are wired or mailed within one business day after receiving a request in proper form. Payment may be delayed up to seven days:

  • to allow your purchase to clear;
  • during periods of market volatility; or
  • when a shareholder's trade activity or amount adversely impacts the Fund's ability to manage its assets.

You will not accrue interest or dividends on uncashed checks from the Fund if those checks are undeliverable and returned to the Fund.

REDEMPTIONS FROM RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS

In the absence of your specific instructions, 10% of the value of your redemption from a retirement account in the Fund may be withheld for taxes. This withholding only applies to certain types of retirement accounts.

EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE

You may exchange Shares of the Fund into Shares of the same class of another Federated Fund. To do this, you must:

  • ensure that the account registrations are identical;
  • meet any minimum initial investment requirements; and
  • receive a prospectus for the fund into which you wish to exchange.

An exchange is treated as a redemption and a subsequent purchase, and is a taxable transaction.

The Fund may modify or terminate the exchange privilege at any time. The Fund's management or investment adviser may determine from the amount, frequency and pattern of exchanges that a shareholder is engaged in excessive trading that is detrimental to the Fund and other shareholders. If this occurs, the Fund may terminate the availability of exchanges to that shareholder and may bar that shareholder from purchasing other Federated funds.

SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL/EXCHANGE PROGRAM

You may automatically redeem or exchange Shares in a minimum amount of $100 on a regular basis. Complete the appropriate section of the New Account Form or an Account Service Options Form or contact your investment professional or the Fund. Your account value must meet the minimum initial investment amount at the time the program is established. This program may reduce, and eventually deplete, your account. Payments should not be considered yield or income. Generally, it is not advisable to continue to purchase Class A Shares subject to a sales charge while redeeming Shares using this program.

Systematic Withdrawal Program (SWP) On Class B Shares

You will not be charged a CDSC on SWP redemptions if:

  • you redeem 12% or less of your account value in a single year;
  • you reinvest all dividends and capital gains distributions; and
  • your account has at least a $10,000 balance when you establish the SWP. (You cannot aggregate multiple Class B Share accounts to meet this minimum balance.)

You will be subject to a CDSC on redemption amounts that exceed the 12% annual limit. In measuring the redemption percentage, your account is valued when you establish the SWP and then annually at calendar year-end. You can redeem monthly, quarterly, or semi-annually.

For SWP accounts established prior to April 1, 1999, your account must be at least one year old in order to be eligible for the waiver of the CDSC.

ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS

Telephone Transactions

The Fund will record your telephone instructions. If the Fund does not follow reasonable procedures, it may be liable for losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent telephone instructions.

Share Certificates

The Fund no longer issues share certificates. If you are redeeming or exchanging Shares represented by certificates previously issued by the Fund, you must return the certificates with your written redemption or exchange request. For your protection, send your certificates by registered or certified mail, but do not endorse them.

Account and Share Information

CONFIRMATIONS AND ACCOUNT STATEMENTS

You will receive confirmation of purchases, redemptions and exchanges (except for systematic transactions). In addition, you will receive periodic statements reporting all account activity, including systematic transactions, dividends and capital gains paid.

DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAINS

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The Fund declares and pays any dividends annually to shareholders. Dividends are paid to all shareholders invested in the Fund on the record date. The record date is the date on which a shareholder must officially own Shares in order to earn a dividend.

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In addition, the Fund pays any capital gains at least annually. Your dividends and capital gains distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional Shares without a sales charge, unless you elect cash payments.

If you purchase Shares just before a Fund declares a dividend or capital gain distribution, you will pay the full price for the Shares and then receive a portion of the price back in the form of a taxable distribution, whether or not you reinvest the distribution in Shares. Therefore, you should consider the tax implications of purchasing Shares shortly before the Fund declares a dividend or capital gain. Contact your investment professional or the Fund for information concerning when dividends and capital gains will be paid.

ACCOUNTS WITH LOW BALANCES

Due to the high cost of maintaining accounts with low balances, non-retirement accounts may be closed if redemptions or exchanges cause the account balance to fall below the minimum initial investment amount. Before an account is closed, you will be notified and allowed 30 days to purchase additional Shares to meet the minimum.

TAX INFORMATION

The Fund sends an annual statement of your account activity to assist you in completing your federal, state and local tax returns. Fund distributions of dividends and capital gains are taxable to you whether paid in cash or reinvested in the Fund. Dividends are taxable as ordinary income; capital gains are taxable at different rates depending upon the length of time the Fund holds its assets.

Fund distributions are expected to be both dividends and capital gains. Redemptions and exchanges are taxable sales. Please consult your tax adviser regarding your federal, state, and local tax liability.

Who Manages the Fund?

The Board of Trustees governs the Fund. The Board selects and oversees the Adviser, Federated Investment Management Company. The Adviser manages the Fund's assets, including buying and selling portfolio securities. The Adviser's address is Federated Investors Tower, 1001 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779.

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The Adviser and other subsidiaries of Federated advise approximately 139 mutual funds and a variety of separate accounts, which totaled approximately $180 billion in assets as of December 31, 2001. Federated was established in 1955 and is one of the largest mutual fund investment managers in the United States with approximately 1,800 employees. More than 4,000 investment professionals make Federated funds available to their customers.

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THE FUND'S PORTFOLIO MANAGERS ARE:

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David P. Gilmore

David P. Gilmore has been the Fund's Portfolio Manager since September 2000. He is Vice President of the Fund. Mr. Gilmore joined Federated in August 1997 as an Investment Analyst. He was promoted to Senior Investment Analyst in July 1999 and became an Assistant Vice President of the Fund's Adviser in July 2000. Mr. Gilmore was a Senior Associate with Coopers & Lybrand from January 1992 to May 1995. Mr. Gilmore is a Chartered Financial Analyst and attended the University of Virginia, where he earned his M.B.A., from September 1995 to May 1997. Mr. Gilmore has a B.S. from Liberty University.

Linda A. Duessel

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Linda A. Duessel has been the Fund's Portfolio Manager since November 2001. Ms. Duessel joined Federated in 1991and has been a Portfolio Manager since 1995. She became a Senior Vice President of the Fund's Adviser in January 2000 and served as a Vice President of the Fund's Adviser from 1995 through 1999. Ms. Duessel was a Senior Investment Analyst and an Assistant Vice President of the Fund's Adviser from 1991 until 1995. Ms. Duessel is a Chartered Financial Analyst and received her M.S. in Industrial Administration from Carnegie Mellon University.

Advisory Fees

The Adviser receives an annual investment advisory fee of 0.75% of the Fund's average daily net assets. The Adviser may voluntarily waive a portion of its fee or reimburse the Fund for certain operating expenses.

Financial Information

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The Financial Highlights will help you understand the Fund's financial performance for its past five fiscal years. Some of the information is presented on a per share basis. Total returns represent the rate an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund, assuming reinvestment of any dividends and capital gains.

This information has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, whose report, along with the Fund's audited financial statements, is included in the Annual Report.

Financial Highlights -- Class A Shares

(For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period)

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Year Ended October 31   2002       2001       2000       1999 1   1998    
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period     $22.48         $29.05         $25.36         $18.73         $20.08    
Income From Investment Operations:                              
Net investment income   0.13 2   0.17     0.11     0.06     0.09  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and options   (3.04 )2   (4.97 )   4.96     7.46     1.01  

TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS   (2.91 )   (4.80 )   5.07     7.52     1.10  

Less Distributions:                              
Distributions from net investment income   (0.17 )   (0.08 )   (0.07 )   (0.07 )   (0.12 )
Distributions from net realized gain on investments   --     (1.69 )   (1.31 )   (0.82 )   (2.33 )

TOTAL DISTRIBUTIONS   (0.17 )   (1.77 )   (1.38 )   (0.89 )   (2.45 )

Net Asset Value, End of Period     $19.40         $22.48         $29.05         $25.36         $18.73    

Total Return3   (13.10 )%   (17.25 )%   20.61 %   41.17 %   6.23 %

                               
Ratios to Average Net Assets:                              

Expenses   1.23 %4   1.23 %   1.24 %   1.27 %   1.29 %

Net investment income   0.76 %2   0.80 %   0.41 %   0.26 %   0.44 %

Expense waiver/reimbursement5   0.00 %6   0.00 %6   0.00 %6   0.00 %6   0.02 %

Supplemental Data:                              

Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)   $1,337,564     $699,510     $637,523     $262,083     $158,587  

Portfolio turnover   71 %   61 %   126 %   55 %   68 %

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1 Beginning with the year ended October 31, 1999, the fund was audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP. Each of the previous years was audited by other auditors.

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2 Effective November 1, 2001, the Fund adopted the provisions of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Audit and Accounting Guide for Investment Companies and began accreting discount/amortizing premium on long-term debt securities. For the year ended October 31, 2002, this change had no effect on the net investment income per share, the net realized and unrealized gain/loss on investments per share or the ratio of net investment income to average net assets. Per share, ratios and supplemental data for the periods prior to November 1, 2001 have not been restated to reflect this change in presentation.

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3 Based on net asset value, which does not reflect the sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge, if applicable.

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4 The expense ratio is calculated without reduction for fees paid indirectly for directed brokerage arrangements.

5 This expense decrease is reflected in both the expense and the net investment income ratios shown above.

6 Amount is less than 0.01%.

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Further information about the Fund's performance is contained in the Fund's Annual Report, dated October 31, 2002, which can be obtained free of charge.

Financial Highlights -- Class B Shares

(For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period)

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Year Ended October 31   2002       2001       2000       1999 1     1998    
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period     $21.99         $28.58         $25.09         $18.62         $20.04    
Income From Investment Operations:                              
Net investment income (net operating loss)   0.03 2   0.04     0.01     (0.07 )   (0.03 )
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and options   (3.05 )2   (4.94 )   4.79     7.36     0.96  

TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS   (3.02 )   (4.90 )   4.80     7.29     0.93  

Less Distributions:                              
Distributions from net investment income   (0.02 )   --     --     --     (0.02 )
Distributions from net realized gain on investments   --     (1.69 )   (1.31 )   (0.82 )   (2.33 )

TOTAL DISTRIBUTIONS   (0.02 )   (1.69 )   (1.31 )   (0.82 )   (2.35 )

Net Asset Value, End of Period     $18.95         $21.99         $28.58         $25.09         $18.62    

Total Return3   (13.76 )%   (17.88 )%   19.71 %   40.12 %   5.20 %

                               
Ratios to Average Net Assets:                                                            

Expenses   1.98 %4   1.98 %   1.99 %   2.02 %   2.04 %

Net investment income (net operating loss)   0.01 %2   0.06 %   (0.32 )%   (0.49 )%   (0.31 )%

Expense waiver/reimbursement5   0.00 %6   0.00 %6   0.00 %6   0.00 %6   0.02 %

Supplemental Data:                              

Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)   $378,336     $299,814     $266,173     $106,528     $49,242  

Portfolio turnover   71 %   61 %   126 %   55 %   68 %

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1 Beginning with the year ended October 31, 1999, the fund was audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP. Each of the previous years was audited by other auditors.

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2 Effective November 1, 2001, the Fund adopted the provisions of the AICPA Audit and Accounting Guide for Investment Companies and began accreting discount/amortizing premium on long-term debt securities. For the year ended October 31, 2002, this change had no effect on the net investment income per share, the net realized and unrealized gain/loss on investments per share or the ratio of net investment income to average net assets. Per share, ratios and supplemental data for the periods prior to November 1, 2001 have not been restated to reflect this change in presentation.

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3 Based on net asset value, which does not reflect the sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge, if applicable.

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4 The expense ratio is calculated without reduction for fees paid indirectly for directed brokerage arrangements.

5 This expense decrease is reflected in both the expense and the net investment income (net operating loss) ratios shown above.

6 Amount is less than 0.01%.

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Further information about the Fund's performance is contained in the Fund's Annual Report, dated October 31, 2002, which can be obtained free of charge.

Financial Highlights -- Class C Shares

(For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period)

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Year Ended October 31   2002       2001       2000       1999 1   1998    
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period     $21.98         $28.55         $25.07         $18.61         $19.95    
Income From Investment Operations:                              
Net investment income (net operating loss)   0.04 2   0.04     0.03     (0.07 )   (0.04 )
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and options   (3.05 )2   (4.92 )   4.76     7.35     1.05  

TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS   (3.01 )   (4.88 )   4.79     7.28     1.01  

Less Distributions:                              
Distributions from net investment income   (0.03 )   --     --     --     (0.02 )
Distributions from net realized gain on investments   --     (1.69 )   (1.31 )   (0.82 )   (2.33 )

TOTAL DISTRIBUTIONS   (0.03 )   (1.69 )   (1.31 )   (0.82 )   (2.35 )

Net Asset Value, End of Period     $18.94         $21.98         $28.55         $25.07         $18.61    

Total Return3   (13.73 )%   (17.83 )%   19.68 %   40.09 %   5.67 %

                               
Ratios to Average Net Assets:                                                            

Expenses   1.98 %4   1.98 %   1.99 %   2.02 %   2.04 %

Net investment income (net operating loss)   0.01 %2   0.05 %   (0.31 )%   (0.49 )%   (0.31 )%

Expense waiver/reimbursement5   0.00 %6   0.00 %6   0.00 %6   0.00 %6   0.02 %

Supplemental Data:                              

Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)   $100,576     $51,497     $41,797     $12,866     $5,885  

Portfolio turnover   71 %   61 %   126 %   55 %   68 %

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1 Beginning with the year ended October 31, 1999, the fund was audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP. Each of the previous years was audited by other auditors.

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2 Effective November 1, 2001, the Fund adopted the provisions of the AICPA Audit and Accounting Guide for Investment Companies and began accreting discount/amortizing premium on long-term debt securities. For the year ended October 31, 2002, this change had no effect on the net investment income per share, the net realized and unrealized gain/loss on investments per share or the ratio of net investment income to average net assets. Per share, ratios and supplemental data for the periods prior to November 1, 2001 have not been restated to reflect this change in presentation.

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3 Based on net asset value, which does not reflect the sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge, if applicable.

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4 The expense ratio is calculated without reduction for fees paid indirectly for directed brokerage arrangements.

5 This expense decrease is reflected in both the expense and the net investment income (net operating loss) ratios shown above.

6 Amount is less than 0.01%.

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Further information about the Fund's performance is contained in the Fund's Annual Report, dated October 31, 2002, which can be obtained free of charge.

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A Statement of Additional Information (SAI) dated December 31, 2002, is incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Additional information about the Fund and its investments is contained in the Fund's SAI and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to shareholders as they become available. The Annual Report discusses market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund's performance during its last fiscal year. To obtain the SAI, Annual Report, Semi-Annual Report and other information without charge, and to make inquiries, call your investment professional or the Fund at 1-800-341-7400.

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You can obtain information about the Fund (including the SAI) by writing to or visiting the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. You may also access Fund information from the EDGAR Database on the SEC's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. You can purchase copies of this information by contacting the SEC by email at publicinfo@sec.gov or by writing to the SEC's Public Reference Section, Washington, DC 20549-0102. Call 1-202-942-8090 for information on the Public Reference Room's operations and copying fees.

[Logo of Federated]

Federated Capital Appreciation Fund
Federated Investors Funds
5800 Corporate Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15237-7000
www.federatedinvestors.com

Contact us at 1-800-341-7400 or
www.federatedinvestors.com/contact

Federated Securities Corp., Distributor

Investment Company Act File No. 811-4017

Federated is a registered mark of Federated Investors, Inc.
2002 ©Federated Investors, Inc.

Cusip 314172701
Cusip 314172800
Cusip 314172883

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G01489-01 (12/02)

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Federated Capital Appreciation Fund

A Portfolio of Federated Equity Funds

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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DECEMBER 31, 2002

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CLASS A SHARES
CLASS B SHARES
CLASS C SHARES

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This Statement of Additional Information (SAI) is not a prospectus. Read this SAI in conjunction with the prospectus for Federated Capital Appreciation Fund (Fund), dated December 31, 2002.

</R>

This SAI incorporates by reference the Fund's Annual Report. Obtain the prospectus or the Annual Report without charge by calling
1-800-341-7400.

[Logo of Federated]

Federated Capital Appreciation Fund
Federated Investors Funds
5800 Corporate Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15237-7000
www.federatedinvestors.com

Contact us at 1-800-341-7400 or
www.federatedinvestors.com/contact

Federated Securities Corp., Distributor

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G01489-02 (12/02)

</R>

Federated is a registered mark of Federated Investors, Inc.
2002 ©Federated Investors, Inc.

CONTENTS

How is the Fund Organized?     1
Securities in Which the Fund Invests   1
What do Shares Cost?   6
How is the Fund Sold?   7
Exchanging Securities for Shares   8
Subaccounting Services   8
Redemption in Kind   8
Massachusetts Partnership Law   9
Account and Share Information   9
Tax Information   9
Who Manages and Provides Services to the Fund?   10
How Does the Fund Measure Performance?   15
Who is Federated Investors, Inc.?   17
Financial Information   18
Investment Ratings   18
Addresses   20

How is the Fund Organized?

The Fund is a diversified portfolio of Federated Equity Funds (Trust). The Trust is an open-end, management investment company that was established under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on April 17, 1984. The Trust may offer separate series of shares representing interests in separate portfolios of securities.

The Board of Trustees (the Board) has established three classes of shares of the Fund, known as Class A Shares, Class B Shares and Class C Shares (Shares). This SAI relates to all classes of Shares. The Fund's investment adviser is Federated Investment Management Company (Adviser).

Securities in Which the Fund Invests

In pursuing its investment strategy, the Fund may invest in the following securities for any purpose that is consistent with its investment objective.

SECURITIES DESCRIPTIONS AND TECHNIQUES

Equity Securities

Equity securities represent a share of an issuer's earnings and assets, after the issuer pays its liabilities. The Fund cannot predict the income it will receive from equity securities because issuers generally have discretion as to the payment of any dividends or distributions. However, equity securities offer greater potential for appreciation than many other types of securities, because their value increases directly with the value of the issuer's business. The following describes the types of equity securities in which the Fund invests.

COMMON STOCKS

Common stocks are the most prevalent type of equity security. Common stocks receive the issuer's earnings after the issuer pays its creditors and any preferred stockholders. As a result, changes in an issuer's earnings directly influence the value of its common stock.

PREFERRED STOCKS

Preferred stocks have the right to receive specified dividends or distributions before the issuer makes payments on its common stock. Some preferred stocks also participate in dividends and distributions paid on common stock. Preferred stocks may also permit the issuer to redeem the stock. The Fund may also treat such redeemable preferred stock as a fixed income security.

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (REITS)

REITs are real estate investment trusts that lease, operate and finance commercial real estate. REITs are exempt from federal corporate income tax if they limit their operations and distribute most of their income. Such tax requirements limit a REIT's ability to respond to changes in the commercial real estate market.

WARRANTS

Warrants give the Fund the option to buy the issuer's equity securities at a specified price (the exercise price) at a specified future date (the expiration date). The Fund may buy the designated securities by paying the exercise price before the expiration date. Warrants may become worthless if the price of the stock does not rise above the exercise price by the expiration date. This increases the market risks of warrants as compared to the underlying security. Rights are the same as warrants, except companies typically issue rights to existing stockholders.

Fixed Income Securities

Fixed income securities pay interest, dividends or distributions at a specified rate. The rate may be a fixed percentage of the principal or adjusted periodically. In addition, the issuer of a fixed income security must repay the principal amount of the security, normally within a specified time. Fixed income securities provide more regular income than equity securities. However, the returns on fixed income securities are limited and normally do not increase with the issuer's earnings. This limits the potential appreciation of fixed income securities as compared to equity securities.

A security's yield measures the annual income earned on a security as a percentage of its price. A security's yield will increase or decrease depending upon whether it costs less (a discount) or more (a premium) than the principal amount. If the issuer may redeem the security before its scheduled maturity, the price and yield on a discount or premium security may change based upon the probability of an early redemption. Securities with higher risks generally have higher yields.

The following describes the types of fixed income securities in which the Fund invests.

CORPORATE DEBT SECURITIES

Corporate debt securities are fixed income securities issued by businesses. Notes, bonds, debentures and commercial paper are the most prevalent types of corporate debt securities. The Fund may also purchase interests in bank loans to companies. The credit risks of corporate debt securities vary widely among issuers.

In addition, the credit risk of an issuer's debt security may vary based on its priority for repayment. For example, higher ranking (senior) debt securities have a higher priority than lower ranking (subordinated) securities. This means that the issuer might not make payments on subordinated securities while continuing to make payments on senior securities. In addition, in the event of bankruptcy, holders of senior securities may receive amounts otherwise payable to the holders of subordinated securities. Some subordinated securities, such as trust preferred and capital securities notes, also permit the issuer to defer payments under certain circumstances. For example, insurance companies issue securities known as surplus notes that permit the insurance company to defer any payment that would reduce its capital below regulatory requirements.

COMMERCIAL PAPER

Commercial paper is an issuer's obligation with a maturity of less than nine months. Companies typically issue commercial paper to pay for current expenditures. Most issuers constantly reissue their commercial paper and use the proceeds (or bank loans) to repay maturing paper. If the issuer cannot continue to obtain liquidity in this fashion, its commercial paper may default. The short maturity of commercial paper reduces both the market and credit risks as compared to other debt securities of the same issuer.

ZERO COUPON SECURITIES

Zero coupon securities do not pay interest or principal until final maturity unlike debt securities that provide periodic payments of interest (referred to as a coupon payment). Investors buy zero coupon securities at a price below the amount payable at maturity. The difference between the purchase price and the amount paid at maturity represents interest on the zero coupon security. Investors must wait until maturity to receive interest and principal, which increases the interest rate and credit risks of a zero coupon security. A zero coupon step-up security converts to a coupon security before final maturity.

There are many forms of zero coupon securities. Some are issued at a discount and are referred to as zero coupon or capital appreciation bonds. Others are created from interest bearing bonds by separating the right to receive the bond's coupon payments from the right to receive the bond's principal due at maturity, a process known as coupon stripping. Treasury STRIPs, IOs and POs are the most common forms of stripped zero coupon securities. In addition, some securities give the issuer the option to deliver additional securities in place of cash interest payments, thereby increasing the amount payable at maturity. These are referred to as pay-in-kind or PIK securities.

BANK INSTRUMENTS

Bank instruments are unsecured interest bearing deposits with banks. Bank instruments include bank accounts, time deposits, certificates of deposit and banker's acceptances. Yankee instruments are denominated in U.S. dollars and issued by U.S. branches of foreign banks. Eurodollar instruments are denominated in U.S. dollars and issued by non-U.S. branches of U.S. or foreign banks.

DEMAND INSTRUMENTS

Demand instruments are corporate debt securities that the issuer must repay upon demand. Other demand instruments require a third party, such as a dealer or bank, to repurchase the security for its face value upon demand. The Fund treats demand instruments as short-term securities, even though their stated maturity may extend beyond one year.

CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES

Convertible securities are fixed income securities that the Fund has the option to exchange for equity securities at a specified conversion price. The option allows the Fund to realize additional returns if the market price of the equity securities exceeds the conversion price. For example, the Fund may hold fixed income securities that are convertible into shares of common stock at a conversion price of $10 per share. If the market value of the shares of common stock reached $12, the Fund could realize an additional $2 per share by converting its fixed income securities.

Convertible securities have lower yields than comparable fixed income securities. In addition, at the time a convertible security is issued the conversion price exceeds the market value of the underlying equity securities. Thus, convertible securities may provide lower returns than non-convertible fixed income securities or equity securities depending upon changes in the price of the underlying equity securities. However, convertible securities permit the Fund to realize some of the potential appreciation of the underlying equity securities with less risk of losing its initial investment.

The Fund treats convertible securities as both fixed income and equity securities for purposes of its investment policies and limitations, because of their unique characteristics.

DERIVATIVE CONTRACTS

Derivative contracts are financial instruments that require payments based upon changes in the values of designated (or underlying) securities, currencies, commodities, financial indices or other assets. Some derivative contracts (such as futures, forwards and options) require payments relating to a future trade involving the underlying asset. Other derivative contracts (such as swaps) require payments relating to the income or returns from the underlying asset. The other party to a derivative contract is referred to as a counterparty.

Many derivative contracts are traded on securities or commodities exchanges. In this case, the exchange sets all the terms of the contract except for the price. Investors make payments due under their contracts through the exchange. Most exchanges require investors to maintain margin accounts through their brokers to cover their potential obligations to the exchange. Parties to the contract make (or collect) daily payments to the margin accounts to reflect losses (or gains) in the value of their contracts. This protects investors against potential defaults by the counterparty. Trading contracts on an exchange also allows investors to close out their contracts by entering into offsetting contracts.

For example, the Fund could close out an open contract to buy an asset at a future date by entering into an offsetting contract to sell the same asset on the same date. If the offsetting sale price is more than the original purchase price, the Fund realizes a gain; if it is less, the Fund realizes a loss. Exchanges may limit the amount of open contracts permitted at any one time. Such limits may prevent the Fund from closing out a position. If this happens, the Fund will be required to keep the contract open (even if it is losing money on the contract), and to make any payments required under the contract (even if it has to sell portfolio securities at unfavorable prices to do so). Inability to close out a contract could also harm the Fund by preventing it from disposing of or trading any assets it has been using to secure its obligations under the contract.

The Fund may also trade derivative contracts over-the-counter (OTC) in transactions negotiated directly between the Fund and the counterparty. OTC contracts do not necessarily have standard terms, so they cannot be directly offset with other OTC contracts. In addition, OTC contracts with more specialized terms may be more difficult to price than exchange traded contracts.

Depending upon how the Fund uses derivative contracts and the relationships between the market value of a derivative contract and the underlying asset, derivative contracts may increase or decrease the Fund's exposure to interest rate and currency risks, and may also expose the Fund to liquidity and leverage risks. OTC contracts also expose the Fund to credit risks in the event that a counterparty defaults on the contract.

The Fund may trade in the following types of derivative contracts.

FUTURES CONTRACTS

Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of an underlying asset at a specified price, date, and time. Entering into a contract to buy an underlying asset is commonly referred to as buying a contract or holding a long position in the asset. Entering into a contract to sell an underlying asset is commonly referred to as selling a contract or holding a short position in the asset. Futures contracts are considered to be commodity contracts. Futures contracts traded OTC are frequently referred to as forward contracts.

The Fund may buy and sell the following types of futures contracts: financial futures and futures on indices.

OPTIONS

Options are rights to buy or sell an underlying asset for a specified price (the exercise price) during, or at the end of, a specified period. A call option gives the holder (buyer) the right to buy the underlying asset from the seller (writer) of the option. A put option gives the holder the right to sell the underlying asset to the writer of the option. The writer of the option receives a payment, or premium, from the buyer, which the writer keeps regardless of whether the buyer uses (or exercises) the option.

The Fund may:

  • Buy call options on foreign currency in anticipation of an increase in the value of the underlying asset.
  • Buy put options on foreign currency, portfolio securities, and futures in anticipation of a decrease in the value of the underlying asset.
  • Write call options on portfolio securities and futures to generate income from premiums, and in anticipation of a decrease or only limited increase in the value of the underlying asset. If a call written by a Fund is exercised, the Fund foregoes any possible profit from an increase in the market price of the underlying asset over the exercise price plus the premium received.

When the Fund writes options on futures contracts, it will be subject to margin requirements similar to those applied to futures contracts.

FOREIGN SECURITIES

Foreign securities are securities of issuers based outside the United States. The Fund considers an issuer to be based outside the United States if:

  • it is organized under the laws of, or has a principal office located in, another country;
  • the principal trading market for its securities is in another country; or
  • it (or its subsidiaries) derived in its most current fiscal year at least 50% of its total assets, capitalization, gross revenue or profit from goods produced, services performed, or sales made in another country.

Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies. Along with the risks normally associated with domestic securities of the same type, foreign securities are subject to currency risks and risks of foreign investing. Trading in certain foreign markets is also subject to liquidity risks.

DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS

Depositary receipts represent interests in underlying securities issued by a foreign company. Depositary receipts are not traded in the same market as the underlying security. The foreign securities underlying American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) are not traded in the United States. ADRs provide a way to buy shares of foreign-based companies in the United States rather than in overseas markets. ADRs are also traded in U.S. dollars, eliminating the need for foreign exchange transactions. The foreign securities underlying European Depositary Receipts (EDRs), Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs), and International Depositary Receipts (IDRs), are traded globally or outside the United States. Depositary receipts involve many of the same risks of investing directly in foreign securities, including currency risks and risks of foreign investing.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE CONTRACTS

In order to convert U.S. dollars into the currency needed to buy a foreign security, or to convert foreign currency received from the sale of a foreign security into U.S. dollars, the Fund may enter into spot currency trades. In a spot trade, the Fund agrees to exchange one currency for another at the current exchange rate. The Fund may also enter into derivative contracts in which a foreign currency is an underlying asset. The exchange rate for currency derivative contracts may be higher or lower than the spot exchange rate. Use of these derivative contracts may increase or decrease the Fund's exposure to currency risks.

FOREIGN GOVERNMENT SECURITIES

Foreign government securities generally consist of fixed income securities supported by national, state or provincial governments or similar political subdivisions. Foreign government securities also include debt obligations of supranational entities, such as international organizations designed or supported by governmental entities to promote economic reconstruction or development, international banking institutions and related government agencies. Examples of these include, but are not limited to, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the World Bank), the Asian Development Bank, the European Investment Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank.

Foreign government securities also include fixed income securities of quasi-governmental agencies that are either issued by entities owned by a national, state or equivalent government or are obligations of a political unit that are not backed by the national government's full faith and credit. Further, foreign government securities include mortgage-related securities issued or guaranteed by national, state or provincial governmental instrumentalities, including quasi-governmental agencies.

SPECIAL TRANSACTIONS

Repurchase Agreements

Repurchase agreements are transactions in which the Fund buys a security from a dealer or bank and agrees to sell the security back at a mutually agreed upon time and price. The repurchase price exceeds the sale price, reflecting the Fund's return on the transaction. This return is unrelated to the interest rate on the underlying security. The Fund will enter into repurchase agreements only with banks and other recognized financial institutions, such as securities dealers, deemed creditworthy by the Adviser.

The Fund's custodian or subcustodian will take possession of the securities subject to repurchase agreements. The Adviser or subcustodian will monitor the value of the underlying security each day to ensure that the value of the security always equals or exceeds the repurchase price.

Repurchase agreements are subject to credit risks.

Delayed Delivery Transactions

Delayed delivery transactions, including when issued transactions, are arrangements in which the Fund buys securities for a set price, with payment and delivery of the securities scheduled for a future time. During the period between purchase and settlement, no payment is made by the Fund to the issuer and no interest accrues to the Fund. The Fund records the transaction when it agrees to buy the securities and reflects their value in determining the price of its shares. Settlement dates may be a month or more after entering into these transactions so that the market values of the securities bought may vary from the purchase prices. Therefore, delayed delivery transactions create interest rate risks for the Fund. Delayed delivery transactions also involve credit risks in the event of a counterparty default. These transactions create leverage risks.

Securities Lending

The Fund may lend portfolio securities to borrowers that the Fund's custodian deems creditworthy. In return, the Fund receives cash or liquid securities from the borrower as collateral. The borrower must furnish additional collateral if the market value of the loaned securities increases. Also, the borrower must pay the Fund the equivalent of any dividends or interest received on the loaned securities.

The Fund will reinvest cash collateral in securities that qualify as an acceptable investment for the Fund. However, the Fund must pay interest to the borrower for the use of cash collateral.

Loans are subject to termination at the option of the Fund or the borrower. The Fund will not have the right to vote on securities while they are on loan, but it will terminate a loan in anticipation of any important vote. The Fund may pay administrative and custodial fees in connection with a loan and may pay a negotiated portion of the interest earned on the cash collateral to a securities lending agent or broker.

Securities lending activities are subject to interest rate risks and credit risks. These transactions may create leverage risks.

Inter-Fund Borrowing and Lending Arrangements

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The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has granted an exemption that permits the Fund and all other funds advised by subsidiaries of Federated Investors, Inc. (Federated funds) to lend and borrow money for certain temporary purposes directly to and from other Federated funds. Participation in this inter-fund lending program is voluntary for both borrowing and lending funds, and an inter-fund loan is only made if it benefits each participating fund. Federated Investors, Inc. (Federated) administers the program according to procedures approved by the Fund's Board, and the Board monitors the operation of the program. Any inter-fund loan must comply with certain conditions set out in the exemption, which are designed to assure fairness and protect all participating funds.

For example, inter-fund lending is permitted only (a) to meet shareholder redemption requests, and (b) to meet commitments arising from "failed" trades. All inter-fund loans must be repaid in seven days or less. The Fund's participation in this program must be consistent with its investment policies and limitations, and must meet certain percentage tests. Inter-fund loans may be made only when the rate of interest to be charged is more attractive to the lending fund than market-competitive rates on overnight repurchase agreements (Repo Rate) and more attractive to the borrowing fund than the rate of interest that would be charged by an unaffiliated bank for short-term borrowings (Bank Loan Rate), as determined by the Board. The interest rate imposed on inter-fund loans is the average of the Repo Rate and the Bank Loan Rate.

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INVESTING IN SECURITIES OF OTHER INVESTMENT COMPANIES

The Fund may invest its assets in securities of other investment companies, including the securities of affiliated money market funds, as an efficient means of carrying out its investment policies and managing its uninvested cash.

Investment Ratings for Investment Grade Securities

The Adviser will determine whether a security is investment grade based upon the credit ratings given by one or more nationally recognized rating services. For example, Standard & Poor's, a rating service, assigns ratings to investment grade securities (AAA, AA, A, and BBB) based on their assessment of the likelihood of the issuer's inability to pay interest or principal (default) when due on each security. Lower credit ratings correspond to higher credit risk. If a security has not received a rating, the Fund must rely entirely upon the Adviser's credit assessment that the security is comparable to investment grade.

If a security is downgraded below the minimum quality grade discussed above, the Adviser will reevaluate the security, but will not be required to sell it.

INVESTMENT RISKS

There are many factors which may affect an investment in the Fund. The Fund's principal risks are described in its prospectus. Additional risk factors are outlined below.

Leverage Risks

  • Leverage risk is created when an investment exposes the Fund to a level of risk that exceeds the amount invested. Changes in the value of such an investment magnify the Fund's risk of loss and potential for gain.
  • Investments can have these same results if their returns are based on a multiple of a specified index, security, or other benchmark.

Interest Rate Risks

  • Prices of fixed income securities rise and fall in response to changes in the interest rate paid by similar securities. Generally, when interest rates rise, prices of fixed income securities fall. However, market factors, such as the demand for particular fixed income securities, may cause the price of certain fixed income securities to fall while the prices of other securities rise or remain unchanged.
  • Interest rate changes have a greater effect on the price of fixed income securities with longer durations. Duration measures the price sensitivity of a fixed income security to changes in interest rates.

Credit Risks

  • Credit risk is the possibility that an issuer will default on a security by failing to pay interest or principal when due. If an issuer defaults, the Fund will lose money.
  • Many fixed income securities receive credit ratings from services such as Standard & Poor's and Moody's Investors Service, Inc. These services assign ratings to securities by assessing the likelihood of issuer default. Lower credit ratings correspond to higher credit risk. If a security has not received a rating, the Fund must rely entirely upon the Adviser's credit assessment.
  • Fixed income securities generally compensate for greater credit risk by paying interest at a higher rate. The difference between the yield of a security and the yield of a U.S. Treasury security with a comparable maturity (the spread) measures the additional interest paid for risk. Spreads may increase generally in response to adverse economic or market conditions. A security's spread may also increase if the security's rating is lowered, or the security is perceived to have an increased credit risk. An increase in the spread will cause the price of the security to decline.
  • Credit risk includes the possibility that a party to a transaction involving the Fund will fail to meet its obligations. This could cause the Fund to lose the benefit of the transaction or prevent the Fund from selling or buying other securities to implement its investment strategy.

Call Risks

  • Call risk is the possibility that an issuer may redeem a fixed income security before maturity (a call) at a price below its current market price. An increase in the likelihood of a call may reduce the security's price.
  • If a fixed income security is called, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in other fixed income securities with lower interest rates, higher credit risks, or other less favorable characteristics.

Risks Associated With Noninvestment Grade Securities

  • Securities rated below investment grade, also known as junk bonds, generally entail greater market, credit and liquidity risks than investment grade securities. For example, their prices are more volatile, economic downturns and financial setbacks may affect their prices more negatively, and their trading market may be more limited.

Currency Risks

  • Exchange rates for currencies fluctuate daily. The combination of currency risk and market risk tends to make securities traded in foreign markets more volatile than securities traded exclusively in the U.S.
  • The Adviser attempts to manage currency risk by limiting the amount the Fund invests in securities denominated in a particular currency. However, diversification will not protect the Fund against a general increase in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies.

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Liquidity Risks

  • Liquidity risk also refers to the posibility that the Fund may not be able to sell a security or close out a derivatives contract when it wants to. If this happens, the Fund will be required to continue to hold the security or keep the position open, and the Fund could incur losses. OTC derivative contracts generally carry greater liquidity risk than exchange-traded contracts.

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FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

The Fund's investment objective is to provide capital appreciation. The investment objective may not be changed by the Fund's Trustees without shareholder approval.

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

Diversification

With respect to securities comprising 75% of the value of its total assets, the Fund will not purchase securities of any one issuer (other than cash; cash items; securities issued or guaranteed by the government of the United States or its agencies or instrumentalities and repurchase agreements collateralized by such U.S. government securities; and securities of other investment companies) if, as a result, more than 5% of the value of its total assets would be invested in the securities of that issuer, or the Fund would own more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of that issuer.

Borrowing Money and Issuing Senior Securities

The Fund may borrow money, directly or indirectly, and issue senior securities to the maximum extent permitted under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act").

Investing in Real Estate

The Fund may not purchase or sell real estate, provided that this restriction does not prevent the Fund from investing in issuers which invest, deal, or otherwise engage in transactions in real estate or interests therein, or investing in securities that are secured by real estate or interests therein. The Fund may exercise its rights under agreements relating to such securities, including the right to enforce security interests and to hold real estate acquired by reason of such enforcement until that real estate can be liquidated in an orderly manner.

Underwriting

The Fund may not underwrite the securities of other issuers, except that the Fund may engage in transactions involving the acquisition, disposition or resale of its portfolio securities, under circumstances where it may be considered to be an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933.

Lending

The Fund may not make loans, provided that this restriction does not prevent the Fund from purchasing debt obligations, entering into repurchase agreements, lending its assets to broker/dealers or institutional investors and investing in loans, including assignments and participation interests.

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Commodities

The Fund may not purchase or sell physical commodities, provided that the Fund may purchase securities of companies that deal in commodities.

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Concentration

The Fund will not make investments that will result in the concentration of its investments in the securities of issuers primarily engaged in the same industry. Government securities, municipal securities and bank instruments will not be deemed to constitute an industry.

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The above limitations cannot be changed unless authorized by the Board and by the "vote of a majority of its outstanding voting securities," as defined by the 1940 Act. The following limitations, however, may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval. Shareholders will be notified before any material change in these limitations becomes effective.

Illiquid Securities

The Fund will not purchase securities for which there is no readily available market, or enter into repurchase agreements or purchase time deposits maturing in more than seven days, if immediately after and as a result, the value of such securities would exceed, in the aggregate, 15% of the Fund's net assets.

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Pledging Assets

The Fund will not mortgage, pledge, or hypothecate any assets, provided that this shall not apply to the transfer of securities in connection with any permissible borrowings or to collateral arrangements in connection with permissible activities.

For purposes of the above limitations, the Fund considers certificates of deposit and demand and time deposits issued by a U.S. branch of a domestic bank or savings association having capital, surplus, and undivided profits in excess of $100,000,000 at the time of investment to be "cash items."

Except with respect to borrowing money, if a percentage limitation is adhered to at the time of investment, a later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from any change in the value or net assets will not result in a violation of such limitation.

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

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The Fund's portfolio turnover for the period ended October 31, 2002 was 71%, as compared with portfolio turnover of 61% for the period ended October 31, 2001. This significant variation was caused by three factors: (a) a continuing decrease in technology and telecommunications sector exposure, (b) a number of corporate events impacting the Fund, such as the receipt of $170 million in IAI Regional Fund assets and (c) the inflow of a significant amount of cash into the Fund during the period.

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DETERMINING MARKET VALUE OF SECURITIES

Market values of the Fund's portfolio securities are determined as follows:

  • for equity securities, according to the last sale price in the market in which they are primarily traded (either a national securities exchange or the over-the-counter market), if available;
  • in the absence of recorded sales for equity securities, according to the mean between the last closing bid and asked prices;
  • futures contracts and options are generally valued at market values established by the exchanges on which they are traded at the close of trading on such exchanges. Options traded in the over-the-counter market are generally valued according to the mean between the last bid and the last asked price for the option as provided by an investment dealer or other financial institution that deals in the option. The Board may determine in good faith that another method of valuing such investments is necessary to appraise their fair market value;
  • for fixed income securities, according to the mean between bid and asked prices as furnished by an independent pricing service, except that fixed income securities with remaining maturities of less than 60 days at the time of purchase may be valued at amortized cost; and
  • for all other securities at fair value as determined in good faith by the Board.

Prices provided by independent pricing services may be determined without relying exclusively on quoted prices and may consider institutional trading in similar groups of securities, yield, quality, stability, risk, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics, and other market data or factors. From time to time, when prices cannot be obtained from an independent pricing service, securities may be valued based on quotes from broker-dealers or other financial institutions that trade the securities.

TRADING IN FOREIGN SECURITIES

Trading in foreign securities may be completed at times which vary from the closing of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). In computing its NAV, the Fund values foreign securities at the latest closing price on the exchange on which they are traded immediately prior to the closing of the NYSE. Certain foreign currency exchange rates may also be determined at the latest rate prior to the closing of the NYSE. Foreign securities quoted in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at current rates. Occasionally, events that affect these values and exchange rates may occur between the times at which they are determined and the closing of the NYSE. If such events materially affect the value of portfolio securities, these securities may be valued at their fair value as determined in good faith by the Fund's Board, although the actual calculation may be done by others.

What Do Shares Cost?

The Fund's net asset value (NAV) per Share fluctuates and is based on the market value of all securities and other assets of the Fund. The NAV for each class of Shares may differ due to the variance in daily net income realized by each class. Such variance will reflect only accrued net income to which the shareholders of a particular class are entitled.

REDUCING OR ELIMINATING THE FRONT-END SALES CHARGE

You can reduce or eliminate the applicable front-end sales charge, as follows:

Quantity Discounts

Larger purchases of the same Share class reduce or eliminate the sales charge you pay. You can combine purchases of Shares made on the same day by you, your spouse and your children under age 21. In addition, purchases made at one time by a trustee or fiduciary for a single trust estate or a single fiduciary account can be combined.

Accumulated Purchases

If you make an additional purchase of Shares, you can count previous Share purchases still invested in the Fund in calculating the applicable sales charge on the additional purchase.

Concurrent Purchases

You can combine concurrent purchases of the same share class of two or more Federated Funds in calculating the applicable sales charge.

Letter of Intent Class A Shares

You can sign a Letter of Intent committing to purchase a certain amount of the same class of Shares within a 13-month period to combine such purchases in calculating the sales charge. The Fund's custodian will hold Shares in escrow equal to the maximum applicable sales charge. If you complete the Letter of Intent, the Custodian will release the Shares in escrow to your account. If you do not fulfill the Letter of Intent, the Custodian will redeem the appropriate amount from the Shares held in escrow to pay the sales charges that were not applied to your purchases.

Reinvestment Privilege

You may reinvest, within 120 days, your Share redemption proceeds at the next determined NAV without any sales charge.

Purchases by Affiliates of the Fund

The following individuals and their immediate family members may buy Shares at NAV without any sales charge because there are nominal sales efforts associated with their purchases:

  • the Trustees, employees and sales representatives of the Fund, the Adviser, the Distributor and their affiliates;
  • any associated person of an investment dealer who has a sales agreement with the Distributor; and
  • trusts, pension or profit-sharing plans for these individuals.

Federated Life Members

Shareholders of the Fund known as "Federated Life Members" are exempt from paying any front-end sales charge. These shareholders joined the Fund originally:

  • through the "Liberty Account," an account for Liberty Family of Funds shareholders on February 28, 1987 (the Liberty Account and Liberty Family of Funds are no longer marketed); or
  • as Liberty Account shareholders by investing through an affinity group prior to August 1, 1987.

REDUCING OR ELIMINATING THE CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE

These reductions or eliminations are offered because: no sales commissions have been advanced to the investment professional selling Shares; the shareholder has already paid a Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (CDSC); or nominal sales efforts are associated with the original purchase of Shares.

Upon notification to the Distributor or the Fund's transfer agent, no CDSC will be imposed on redemptions:

  • following the death or post-purchase disability, as defined in Section 72(m)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, of the last surviving shareholder;
  • representing minimum required distributions from an Individual Retirement Account or other retirement plan to a shareholder who has attained the age of 70 1/2;
  • of Shares that represent a reinvestment within 120 days of a previous redemption;
  • of Shares held by the Trustees, employees, and sales representatives of the Fund, the Adviser, the Distributor and their affiliates; employees of any investment professional that sells Shares according to a sales agreement with the Distributor; and the immediate family members of the above persons;
  • of Shares originally purchased through a bank trust department, a registered investment adviser or retirement plans where the third party administrator has entered into certain arrangements with the Distributor or its affiliates, or any other investment professional, to the extent that no payments were advanced for purchases made through these entities;
  • which are involuntary redemptions processed by the Fund because the accounts do not meet the minimum balance requirements; and

Class B Shares Only

  • which are qualifying redemptions of Class B Shares under a Systematic Withdrawal Program.

How is the Fund Sold?

Under the Distributor's Contract with the Fund, the Distributor (Federated Securities Corp.) offers Shares on a continuous, best-efforts basis.

FRONT-END SALES CHARGE REALLOWANCES

The Distributor receives a front-end sales charge on certain Share sales. The Distributor generally pays up to 90% (and as much as 100%) of this charge to investment professionals for sales and/or administrative services. Any payments to investment professionals in excess of 90% of the front-end sales charge are considered supplemental payments. The Distributor retains any portion not paid to an investment professional.

RULE 12B-1 PLAN

As a compensation-type plan, the Rule 12b-1 Plan is designed to pay the Distributor (who may then pay investment professionals such as banks, broker/dealers, trust departments of banks, and registered investment advisers) for marketing activities (such as advertising, printing and distributing prospectuses, and providing incentives to investment professionals) to promote sales of Shares so that overall Fund assets are maintained or increased. This helps the Fund achieve economies of scale, reduce per share expenses, and provide cash for orderly portfolio management and Share redemptions. In addition, the Fund's service providers that receive asset-based fees also benefit from stable or increasing Fund assets. The Fund may compensate the Distributor more or less than its actual marketing expenses. In no event will the Fund pay for any expenses of the Distributor that exceed the maximum Rule 12b-1 Plan fee.

For some classes of Shares, the maximum Rule 12b-1 Plan fee that can be paid in any one year may not be sufficient to cover the marketing-related expenses the Distributor has incurred. Therefore, it may take the Distributor a number of years to recoup these expenses.

Federated and its subsidiaries may benefit from arrangements where the Rule 12b-1 Plan fees related to Class B Shares may be paid to third parties who have advanced commissions to investment professionals.

SHAREHOLDER SERVICES

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The Fund may pay Federated Shareholder Services Company, a subsidiary of Federated, for providing shareholder services and maintaining shareholder accounts. Federated Shareholder Services Company may select others to perform these services for their customers and may pay them fees.

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SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENTS

Investment professionals (such as broker/dealers or banks) may be paid fees, in significant amounts, out of the assets of the Distributor and/or Federated Shareholder Services Company. (These fees do not come out of Fund assets.) The Distributor and/or Federated Shareholder Services Company may be reimbursed by the Adviser or its affiliates.

Investment professionals receive such fees for providing distribution-related and/or shareholder services, such as advertising, providing incentives to their sales personnel, sponsoring other activities intended to promote sales, and maintaining shareholder accounts. These payments may be based upon such factors as the number or value of Shares the investment professional sells or may sell; the value of client assets invested; and/or the type and nature of sales or marketing support furnished by the investment professional.

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When an investment professional's customer purchases Shares, the investment professional may receive:

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  • an amount up to 5.50% and 1.00%, respectively, of the NAV of Class B and C Shares.

In addition, the Distributor may pay investment professionals 0.25% of the purchase price of $1 million or more of Class A Shares that its customer has not redeemed over the first year.

Class A Shares

Investment professionals purchasing Class A Shares for their customers are eligible to receive an advance payment from the Distributor based on the following breakpoints:

Amount     Advance Payments
as a Percentage of
Public Offering Price
First $1 - $5 million   0.75%
Next $5 - $20 million   0.50%
Over $20 million   0.25%

For accounts with assets over $1 million, the dealers advance payments reset annually to the first breakpoint on the anniversary of the first purchase.

Class A Share purchases under this program may be made by Letter of Intent or by combining concurrent purchases. The above advance payments will be paid only on those purchases that were not previously subject to a front-end sales charge and dealer advance payments. Certain retirement accounts may not be eligible for this program.

A contingent deferred sales charge of 0.75% of the redemption amount applies to Class A Shares redeemed up to 24 months after purchase. The CDSC does not apply under certain investment programs where the investment professional does not receive an advance payment on the transaction including, but not limited to, trust accounts and wrap programs where the investor pays an account level fee for investment management.

Exchanging Securities for Shares

You may contact the Distributor to request a purchase of Shares in exchange for securities you own. The Fund reserves the right to determine whether to accept your securities and the minimum market value to accept. The Fund will value your securities in the same manner as it values its assets. This exchange is treated as a sale of your securities for federal tax purposes.

Subaccounting Services

Certain investment professionals may wish to use the transfer agent's subaccounting system to minimize their internal recordkeeping requirements. The transfer agent may charge a fee based on the level of subaccounting services rendered. Investment professionals holding Shares in a fiduciary, agency, custodial or similar capacity may charge or pass through subaccounting fees as part of or in addition to normal trust or agency account fees. They may also charge fees for other services that may be related to the ownership of Shares. This information should, therefore, be read together with any agreement between the customer and the investment professional about the services provided, the fees charged for those services, and any restrictions and limitations imposed.

Redemption in Kind

Although the Fund intends to pay Share redemptions in cash, it reserves the right, as described below, to pay the redemption price in whole or in part by a distribution of the Fund's portfolio securities.

Because the Fund has elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act, the Fund is obligated to pay Share redemptions to any one shareholder in cash only up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net assets represented by such Share class during any 90-day period.

Any Share redemption payment greater than this amount will also be in cash unless the Fund's Board determines that payment should be in kind. In such a case, the Fund will pay all or a portion of the remainder of the redemption in portfolio securities, valued in the same way as the Fund determines its NAV. The portfolio securities will be selected in a manner that the Fund's Board deems fair and equitable and, to the extent available, such securities will be readily marketable.

Redemption in kind is not as liquid as a cash redemption. If redemption is made in kind, shareholders receiving the portfolio securities and selling them before their maturity could receive less than the redemption value of the securities and could incur certain transaction costs.

Massachusetts Partnership Law

Under certain circumstances, shareholders may be held personally liable as partners under Massachusetts law for obligations of the Fund. To protect its shareholders, the Fund has filed legal documents with Massachusetts that expressly disclaim the liability of its shareholders for acts or obligations of the Fund.

In the unlikely event a shareholder is held personally liable for the Fund's obligations, the Fund is required by the Declaration of Trust to use its property to protect or compensate the shareholder. On request, the Fundwill defend any claim made and pay any judgment against a shareholder for any act or obligation of the Fund. Therefore, financial loss resulting from liability as a shareholder will occur only if the Fund itself cannot meet its obligations to indemnify shareholders and pay judgments against them.

Account and Share Information

VOTING RIGHTS

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Each Share of the Fund gives the shareholder one vote in Trustee elections and other matters submitted to shareholders for vote.

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All Shares of the Trust have equal voting rights, except that in matters affecting only a particular Fund or class, only Shares of that Fund or class are entitled to vote.

Trustees may be removed by the Board or by shareholders at a special meeting. A special meeting of shareholders will be called by the Board upon the written request of shareholders who own at least 10% of the Trust's outstanding Shares of all series entitled to vote.

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As of December 2, 2002, the following shareholders owned of record, beneficially, or both, 5% or more of outstanding Class A Shares: Edward Jones & Co., Maryland Heights, MO, owned approximately 10,080,460 Shares (14.17%).

As of December 2, 2002, the following shareholders owned of record, beneficially, or both, 5% or more of outstanding Class B Shares: Edward Jones & Co., Maryland Heights, MO, owned approximately 2,084,422 Shares (10.17%).

As of December 2, 2002, the following shareholders owned of record, beneficially, or both, 5% or more of outstanding Class C Shares: MLPF&S for the sole benefit of its customers, Jacksonville, FL, owned approximately 1,356,584 Shares (24.44%); Edward Jones & Co., Maryland Heights, MO, owned approximately 327,859 Shares (5.91%).

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Shareholders owning 25% or more of outstanding Shares may be in control and be able to affect the outcome of certain matters presented for a vote of shareholders.

Tax Information

FEDERAL INCOME TAX

The Fund intends to meet requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies. If these requirements are not met, it will not receive special tax treatment and will be subject to federal corporate income tax.

The Fund will be treated as a single, separate entity for federal income tax purposes so that income earned and capital gains and losses realized by the Trust's other portfolios will be separate from those realized by the Fund.

FOREIGN INVESTMENTS

If the Fund purchases foreign securities, their investment income may be subject to foreign withholding or other taxes that could reduce the return on these securities. Tax treaties between the United States and foreign countries, however, may reduce or eliminate the amount of foreign taxes to which the Fund would be subject. The effective rate of foreign tax cannot be predicted since the amount of Fund assets to be invested within various countries is uncertain. However, the Fund intends to operate so as to qualify for treaty-reduced tax rates when applicable.

Distributions from a Fund may be based on estimates of book income for the year. Book income generally consists solely of the income generated by the securities in the portfolio, whereas tax-basis income includes, in addition, gains or losses attributable to currency fluctuation. Due to differences in the book and tax treatment of fixed-income securities denominated in foreign currencies, it is difficult to project currency effects on an interim basis. Therefore, to the extent that currency fluctuations cannot be anticipated, a portion of distributions to shareholders could later be designated as a return of capital, rather than income, for income tax purposes, which may be of particular concern to simple trusts.

If the Fund invests in the stock of certain foreign corporations, they may constitute Passive Foreign Investment Companies (PFIC), and the Fund may be subject to Federal income taxes upon disposition of PFIC investments.

If more than 50% of the value of the Fund's assets at the end of the tax year is represented by stock or securities of foreign corporations, the Fund will qualify for certain Code provisions that allow its shareholders to claim a foreign tax credit or deduction on their U.S. income tax returns. The Code may limit a shareholder's ability to claim a foreign tax credit. Shareholders who elect to deduct their portion of the Fund's foreign taxes rather than take the foreign tax credit must itemize deductions on their income tax returns.

Who Manages and Provides Services to the Fund?

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

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The Board is responsible for managing the Trust's business affairs and for exercising all the Trust's powers except those reserved for the shareholders. The following tables give information about each Board member and the senior officers of the Fund. Where required, the tables separately list Board members who are "interested persons" of the Fund (i.e., "Interested" Board members) and those who are not (i.e., "Independent" Board members). Unless otherwise noted, the address of each person listed is Federated Investors Tower, 1001 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA. The Trust comprises six portfolios and the Federated Fund Complex consists of 44 investment companies (comprising 139 portfolios). Unless otherwise noted, each Board member oversees all portfolios in the Federated Fund Complex; serves for an indefinite term; and also serves as a Board member of the following investment company complexes: Banknorth Funds--five portfolios; CCMI Funds--two portfolios; Regions Funds--eight portfolios; Riggs Funds--nine portfolios; and WesMark Funds--five portfolios.

As of December 2, 2002, the Fund's Board and Officers as a group owned less than 1% of the Fund's outstanding Class A, B and C Shares.

INTERESTED TRUSTEES BACKGROUND AND COMPENSATION

             
Name
Birth Date
Address
Positions Held with Trust
Date Service Began
    Principal Occupation(s) for Past Five Years,
Other Directorships Held and Previous Positions
    Aggregate
Compensation
From Trust
(past fiscal year)
    Total Compensation
From Trust and
Fund Complex
(past calendar year)
John F. Donahue*
Birth Date: July 28, 1924
CHAIRMAN AND TRUSTEE
Began serving: April 1984
  Principal Occupations: Chief Executive Officer and Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Chairman and Director, Federated Investors, Inc.; Chairman, Federated Investment Management Company, Federated Global Investment Management Corp. and Passport Research, Ltd.

Previous Positions: Trustee, Federated Investment Management Company and Chairman and Director, Federated Investment Counseling.
  $0   $0
             
J. Christopher Donahue*
Birth Date: April 11, 1949
PRESIDENT AND TRUSTEE
Began serving: January 2000
  Principal Occupations: President or Executive Vice President of the Federated Fund Complex; Director or Trustee of some of the Funds in the Federated Fund Complex; President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Federated Investors, Inc.; President, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee, Federated Investment Management Company; Trustee, Federated Investment Counseling; President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Federated Global Investment Management Corp.; President and Chief Executive Officer, Passport Research, Ltd.; Trustee, Federated Shareholder Services Company; Director, Federated Services Company.

Previous Position: President, Federated Investment Counseling.
  $0   $0
             
Lawrence D. Ellis, M.D.*
Birth Date: October 11, 1932
3471 Fifth Avenue
Suite 1111
Pittsburgh, PA
TRUSTEE
Began serving: August 1987
  Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Professor of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh; Medical Director, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Downtown; Hematologist, Oncologist and Internist, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Other Directorships Held: Member, National Board of Trustees, Leukemia Society of America.

Previous Positions: Trustee, University of Pittsburgh; Director, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
  $922.24   $117,117.17
           

* Family relationships and reasons for "interested" status: John F. Donahue is the father of J. Christopher Donahue; both are "interested" due to the positions they hold with Federated and its subsidiaries. Lawrence D. Ellis, M.D. is "interested" because his son-in-law is employed by the Fund's principal underwriter, Federated Securities Corp.

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES BACKGROUND AND COMPENSATION

             
Name
Birth Date
Address
Positions Held with Trust
Date Service Began
    Principal Occupation(s) for Past Five Years,
Other Directorships Held and Previous Positions
    Aggregate
Compensation
From Trust
(past fiscal year)
    Total Compensation
From Trust and
Fund Complex
(past calendar year)
Thomas G. Bigley
Birth Date: February 3, 1934
15 Old Timber Trail
Pittsburgh, PA
TRUSTEE
Began serving: October 1995
  Principal Occupation: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex.

Other Directorships Held: Director, Member of Executive Committee, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh; Director, Member of Executive Committee, University of Pittsburgh.

Previous Position: Senior Partner, Ernst & Young LLP.
  $1,014.51   $128,847.72
             
John T. Conroy, Jr.
Birth Date: June 23, 1937
Grubb & Ellis/Investment
Properties Corporation
3838 Tamiami Trail N.
Naples, FL
TRUSTEE
Began serving: November 1991
  Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Chairman of the Board, Investment Properties Corporation; Partner or Trustee in private real estate ventures in Southwest Florida.

Previous Positions: President, Investment Properties Corporation; Senior Vice President, John R. Wood and Associates, Inc., Realtors; President, Naples Property Management, Inc. and Northgate Village Development Corporation.
  $1,014.51   $128,847.66
             
Nicholas P. Constantakis
Birth Date: September 3, 1939
175 Woodshire Drive
Pittsburgh, PA
TRUSTEE
Began serving: February 1998
  Principal Occupation: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Partner, Andersen Worldwide SC (prior to 9/1/97).

Other Directorships Held: Director, Michael Baker Corporation (engineering and energy services worldwide).
  $1,014.51   $126,923.53
             
John F. Cunningham
Birth Date: March 5, 1943
353 El Brillo Way
Palm Beach, FL
TRUSTEE
Began serving: January 1999
  Principal Occupation: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex.

Other Directorships Held: Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Cunningham & Co., Inc. (strategic business consulting); Trustee Associate, Boston College.

Previous Positions: Director, Redgate Communications and EMC Corporation (computer storage systems); Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Computer Consoles, Inc.; President and Chief Operating Officer, Wang Laboratories; Director, First National Bank of Boston; Director, Apollo Computer, Inc.
  $922.24   $115,368.16
             
Peter E. Madden
Birth Date: March 16, 1942
One Royal Palm Way
100 Royal Palm Way
Palm Beach, FL
TRUSTEE
Began serving: November 1991
  Principal Occupation: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Management Consultant.

Previous Positions: Representative, Commonwealth of Massachusetts General Court; President, State Street Bank and Trust Company and State Street Corporation (retired); Director, VISA USA and VISA International; Chairman and Director, Massachusetts Bankers Association; Director, Depository Trust Corporation; Director, The Boston Stock Exchange.
  $922.24   $117,117.14
             
Charles F. Mansfield, Jr.
Birth Date: April 10, 1945
80 South Road
Westhampton Beach, NY
TRUSTEE
Began serving: January 1999
  Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Management Consultant; Executive Vice President, DVC Group, Inc. (marketing, communications and technology)
(prior to 9/1/00).

Previous Positions: Chief Executive Officer, PBTC International Bank; Partner, Arthur Young & Company (now Ernst & Young LLP); Chief Financial Officer of Retail Banking Sector, Chase Manhattan Bank; Senior Vice President, HSBC Bank USA (formerly, Marine Midland Bank); Vice President, Citibank; Assistant Professor of Banking and Finance, Frank G. Zarb School of Business, Hofstra University.
  $1,014.51   $128,847.66
             
John E. Murray, Jr., J.D., S.J.D.
Birth Date: December 20, 1932
Chancellor, Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA
TRUSTEE
Began serving: February 1995
  Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Chancellor and Law Professor, Duquesne University; Consulting Partner, Mollica & Murray.

Other Directorships Held: Director, Michael Baker Corp. (engineering, construction, operations and technical services).

Previous Positions: President, Duquesne University; Dean and Professor of Law, University of Pittsburgh School of Law; Dean and Professor of Law, Villanova University School of Law.
$1,093.87   $117,117.14
             
Marjorie P. Smuts
Birth Date: June 21, 1935
4905 Bayard Street
Pittsburgh, PA
TRUSTEE
Began serving: April 1984
  Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Public Relations/Marketing Consultant/Conference Coordinator.

Previous Positions: National Spokesperson, Aluminum Company of America; television producer; President, Marj Palmer Assoc.; Owner, Scandia Bord.
$922.24   $117,117.17
             
John S. Walsh
Birth Date: November 28, 1957
2604 William Drive
Valparaiso, IN
TRUSTEE
Began serving: January 1999
  Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; President and Director, Heat Wagon, Inc. (manufacturer of construction temporary heaters); President and Director, Manufacturers Products, Inc. (distributor of portable construction heaters); President, Portable Heater Parts, a division of Manufacturers Products, Inc.

Other Directorships Held: Director, Walsh & Kelly, Inc. (heavy highway contractor).

Previous Position: Vice President, Walsh & Kelly, Inc.
$922.24   $117,117.17
           

OFFICERS**

     
Name
Birth Date
Address
Positions Held with Trust
    Principal Occupation(s) and Previous Positions
Edward C. Gonzales
Birth Date: October 22, 1930
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
  Principal Occupations: President, Executive Vice President and Treasurer of some of the Funds in the Federated Fund Complex; Vice Chairman, Federated Investors, Inc.; Trustee, Federated Administrative Services.

Previous Positions: Trustee or Director of some of the Funds in the Federated Fund Complex; CEO and Chairman, Federated Administrative Services; Vice President, Federated Investment Management Company, Federated Investment Counseling, Federated Global Investment Management Corp. and Passport Research, Ltd.; Director and Executive Vice President, Federated Securities Corp.; Director, Federated Services Company; Trustee, Federated Shareholder Services Company.
     
John W. McGonigle
Birth Date: October 26, 1938
EXECECUTIVE VICE
PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY
  Principal Occupations: Executive Vice President and Secretary of the Federated Fund Complex; Executive Vice President, Secretary and Director, Federated Investors, Inc.

Previous Positions: Trustee, Federated Investment Management Company and Federated Investment Counseling; Director, Federated Global Investment Management Corp., Federated Services Company and Federated Securities Corp.
     
Richard J. Thomas
Birth Date: June 17, 1954
TREASURER
  Principal Occupations: Treasurer of the Federated Fund Complex; Senior Vice President, Federated Administrative Services.

Previous Positions: Vice President, Federated Administrative Services; held various management positions within Funds Financial Services Division of Federated Investors, Inc.
     
Richard B. Fisher
Birth Date: May 17, 1923
VICE PRESIDENT
  Principal Occupations: President or Vice President of some of the Funds in the Federated Fund Complex; Vice Chairman, Federated Investors, Inc.; Chairman, Federated Securities Corp.

Previous Positions: Director or Trustee of some of the Funds in the Federated Fund Complex; Executive Vice President, Federated Investors, Inc. and Director and Chief Executive Officer, Federated Securities Corp.
     
Stephen F. Auth
Birth Date: September 3, 1956
CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER
  Principal Occupations: Chief Investment Officer of this Fund and various other Funds in the Federated Fund Complex; Executive Vice President, Federated Investment Counseling, Federated Global Investment Management Corp., Federated Investment Management Company and Passport Research, Ltd.;

Previous Positions: Senior Vice President, Global Portfolio Management Services Division; Senior Vice President, Federated Investment Management Company and Passport Research, Ltd; Senior Managing Director and Portfolio Manager, Prudential Investments.
     
James E. Grefenstette
Birth Date: November 7, 1962
VICE PRESIDENT
  James E. Grefenstette is Vice President of the Fund. Mr. Grefenstette joined Federated in 1992 and has been a Portfolio Manager since 1994. Mr. Grefenstette became a Senior Vice President of the Fund's Adviser in January 2000. He served as a Vice President of the Fund's Adviser from 1996 through 1999 and was an Assistant Vice President of the Fund's Adviser from 1994 until 1996. Mr. Grefenstette is a Chartered Financial Analyst; he received his M.S. in Industrial Administration from Carnegie Mellon University.
     
Lawrence Auriana
Birth Date: January 8, 1944
VICE PRESIDENT.
  Lawrence Auriana is Vice President of the Trust. Mr. Auriana joined Federated in April 2001 as Co-Head of Investments/Federated Kaufmann. From August 1984 to April 2001, Mr. Auriana was President and Treasurer of Edgemont Asset Management Corp., and Chairman of the Board and Portfolio Manager to The Kaufmann Fund, Inc. (predecessor to the Federated Kaufmann Fund). Mr. Auriana earned a B.S. in economics from Fordham University and has been engaged in the securities business since 1965
     
Hans P. Utsch
Birth Date: July 3, 1936
VICE PRESIDENT
  Hans P. Utsch is Vice President of the Trust. Mr. Utsch joined Federated in April 2001 as Co-Head of Investments/Federated Kaufmann. From August 1984 to April 2001, Mr. Auriana was Chairman of the Board and Secretary of Edgemont Asset Management Corp., and President and Portfolio Manager to The Kaufmann Fund, Inc. (predecessor to the Federated Kaufmann Fund). Mr. Utsch graduated from Amherst College and holds an M.B.A. from Columbia University. He has been engaged in the securities business since 1962.
   

** Officers do not receive any compensation from the Fund.

Thomas R. Donahue, Chief Financial Officer, Vice President, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary of Federated and an officer of its various advisory and underwriting subsidiaries, has served as a Term Member on the Board of Directors of Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, since May 12, 2000. Mr. John E. Murray, Jr., an Independent Trustee of the Fund, served as President of Duquesne from 1988 until his retirement from that position in 2001, and became Chancellor of Duquesne on August 15, 2001. It should be noted that Mr. Donahue abstains on any matter that comes before Duquesne's Board that affects Mr. Murray personally.

COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD

             
Board
Committee
    Committee
Members
    Committee Functions     Meetings Held
During Last
Fiscal Year
Executive   John F. Donahue
John E. Murray, Jr., J.D., S.J.D.
  In between meetings of the full Board, the Executive Committee generally may exercise all the powers of the full Board in the management and direction of the business and conduct of the affairs of the Trust in such manner as the Executive Committee shall deem to be in the best interests of the Trust. However, the Executive Committee cannot elect or remove Board members, increase or decrease the number of Trustees, elect or remove any Officer, declare dividends, issue shares or recommend to shareholders any action requiring shareholder approval.   Two
             
Audit   Thomas G. Bigley
John T. Conroy, Jr.
Nicholas P. Constantakis
Charles F. Mansfield, Jr.
  The Audit Committee reviews and recommends to the full Board the independent auditors to be selected to audit the Fund's financial statements; meet with the independent auditors periodically to review the results of the audits and report the results to the full Board; evaluate the independence of the auditors, review legal and regulatory matters that may have a material effect on the financial statements, related compliance policies and programs, and the related reports received from regulators; review the Fund's internal audit function; review compliance with the Fund's code of conduct/ethics; review valuation issues; monitor inter-fund lending transactions; review custody services and issues and investigate any matters brought to the Committee's attention that are within the scope of its duties.   Four
             

BOARD OWNERSHIP OF SHARES IN THE FUND AND IN THE FEDERATED FAMILY OF INVESTMENT COMPANIES AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2001

Interested
Board Member Name
  Dollar Range of
Shares Owned
in Fund
  Aggregate
Dollar Range of
Shares Owned in
Federated Family of
Investment Companies
John F. Donahue   $1-$10,000   Over $100,000
J. Christopher Donahue   None   Over $100,000
Lawrence D. Ellis, M.D.   $1- $10,000   Over $100,000
         
Independent
Board Member Name
               
Thomas G. Bigley   $1-$10,000   Over $100,000
John T. Conroy, Jr.   $1-$10,000   Over $100,000
Nicholas P. Constantakis   None   Over $100,000
John F. Cunningham   None   Over $100,000
Peter E. Madden   $1-$10,000   Over $100,000
Charles F. Mansfield, Jr.   None   $50,001 - $100,000
John E. Murray, Jr., J.D., S.J.D.   None   Over $100,000
Marjorie P. Smuts   $10,001-$50,000   Over $100,000
John S. Walsh   $1-$10,000   Over $100,000

INVESTMENT ADVISER

The Adviser conducts investment research and makes investment decisions for the Fund.

The Adviser is a wholly owned subsidiary of Federated.

The Adviser shall not be liable to the Trust or any Fund shareholder for any losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding, or sale of any security or for anything done or omitted by it, except acts or omissions involving willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties imposed upon it by its contract with the Trust.

As required by the 1940 Act, the Fund's Board has reviewed the Fund's investment advisory contract. The Board's decision to approve the contract reflects the exercise of its business judgment on whether to continue the existing arrangements. During its review of the contract, the Board considers many factors, among the most material of which are: the Fund's investment objectives and long term performance; the Adviser's management philosophy, personnel, and processes; the preferences and expectations of fund shareholders and their relative sophistication; the continuing state of competition in the mutual fund industry; comparable fees in the mutual fund industry; the range and quality of services provided to the Fund and its shareholders by the Federated organization in addition to investment advisory services; and the Fund's relationship to other funds in the Federated fund family.

In assessing the Adviser's performance of its obligations, the Board also considers whether there has occurred a circumstance or event that would constitute a reason for it to not renew an advisory contract. In this regard, the Board is mindful of the potential disruptions of the Fund's operations and various risks, uncertainties and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision to terminate or not renew an advisory contract. In particular, the Board recognizes that most shareholders have invested in the Fund on the strength of the Adviser's industry standing and reputation and in the expectation that the Adviser will have a continuing role in providing advisory services to the Fund.

The Board also considers the compensation and benefits received by the Adviser. This includes fees received for services provided to the Fund by other entities in the Federated organization and research services received by the Adviser from brokers that execute fund trades, as well as advisory fees. In this regard, the Board is aware that various courts have interpreted provisions of the 1940 Act and have indicated in their decisions that the following factors may be relevant to an Adviser's compensation: the nature and quality of the services provided by the Adviser, including the performance of the Fund; the Adviser's cost of providing the services; the extent to which the Adviser may realize "economies of scale" as the Fund grows larger; any indirect benefits that may accrue to the Adviser and its affiliates as a result of the Adviser's relationship with the Fund; performance and expenses of comparable funds; and the extent to which the independent Board members are fully informed about all facts bearing on the Adviser's service and fee. The Fund's Board is aware of these factors and takes them into account in its review of the Fund's advisory contract.

The Board considers and weighs these circumstances in light of its substantial accumulated experience in governing the Fund and working with Federated on matters relating to the Federated funds, and is assisted in its deliberations by the advice of independent legal counsel. In this regard, the Board requests and receives a significant amount of information about the Fund and the Federated organization. Federated provides much of this information at each regular meeting of the Board, and furnishes additional reports in connection with the particular meeting at which the Board's formal review of the advisory contracts occurs. In between regularly scheduled meetings, the Board may receive information on particular matters as the need arises. Thus, the Board's evaluation of an advisory contract is informed by reports covering such matters as: the adviser's investment philosophy, personnel, and processes; the Fund's short- and long-term performance (in absolute terms as well as in relationship to its particular investment program and certain competitor or "peer group" funds), and comments on the reasons for performance; the Fund's expenses (including the advisory fee itself and the overall expense structure of the Fund, both in absolute terms and relative to similar and/or competing funds, with due regard for contractual or voluntary expense limitations); the use and allocation of brokerage commissions derived from trading the Fund's portfolio securities; the nature and extent of the advisory and other services provided to the Fund by the Adviser and its affiliates; compliance and audit reports concerning the funds and the Federated companies that service them; and relevant developments in the mutual fund industry and how the Federated funds and/or Federated are responding to them.

The Board also receives financial information about Federated, including reports on the compensation and benefits Federated derives from its relationships with the Federated funds. These reports cover not only the fees under the advisory contracts, but also fees received by Federated's subsidiaries for providing other services to the Federated funds under separate contracts (e.g., for serving as the Federated funds' administrator and transfer agent). The reports also discuss any indirect benefit Federated may derive from its receipt of research services from brokers who execute Federated fund trades.

The Board bases its decision to approve an advisory contract on the totality of the circumstances and relevant factors, and with a view to past and future long-term considerations. Not all of the factors and considerations identified above are relevant to every Federated fund, nor does the Board consider any one of them to be determinative. Because the totality of circumstances includes considering the relationship of each Federated fund, the Board does not approach consideration of every Federated fund's advisory contract as if that were the only fund offered by Federated.

Other Related Services

Affiliates of the Adviser may, from time to time, provide certain electronic equipment and software to institutional customers in order to facilitate the purchase of Fund Shares offered by the Distributor.

CODE OF ETHICS RESTRICTIONS ON PERSONAL TRADING

As required by SEC rules, the Fund, its Adviser, and its Distributor have adopted codes of ethics. These codes govern securities trading activities of investment personnel, Fund Trustees, and certain other employees. Although they do permit these people to trade in securities, including those that the Fund could buy, they also contain significant safeguards designed to protect the Fund and its shareholders from abuses in this area, such as requirements to obtain prior approval for, and to report, particular transactions.

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

When selecting brokers and dealers to handle the purchase and sale of portfolio instruments, the Adviser looks for prompt execution of the order at a favorable price. The Adviser will generally use those who are recognized dealers in specific portfolio instruments, except when a better price and execution of the order can be obtained elsewhere. The Adviser may select brokers and dealers based on whether they also offer research services (as described below). In selecting among firms believed to meet these criteria, the Adviser may give consideration to those firms which have sold or are selling Shares of the Fund and other funds distributed by the Distributor and its affiliates. The Adviser may also direct certain portfolio trades to a broker that, in turn, pays a portion of the Fund's operating expenses. The Adviser makes decisions on portfolio transactions and selects brokers and dealers subject to review by the Fund's Board.

Investment decisions for the Fund are made independently from those of other accounts managed by the Adviser. Except as noted below, when the Fund and one or more of those accounts invests in, or disposes of, the same security, available investments or opportunities for sales will be allocated among the Fund and the account(s) in a manner believed by the Adviser to be equitable. While the coordination and ability to participate in volume transactions may benefit the Fund, it is possible that this procedure could adversely impact the price paid or received and/or the position obtained or disposed of by the Fund. Investments for Federated Kaufmann Fund and other accounts managed by that fund's portfolio managers in initial public offerings ("IPO") are made independently from any other accounts, and much of their non-IPO trading may also be conducted independently from other accounts.

Research Services

Research services may include advice as to the advisability of investing in securities; security analysis and reports; economic studies; industry studies; receipt of quotations for portfolio evaluations; and similar services. Research services may be used by the Adviser or by affiliates of Federated in advising other accounts. To the extent that receipt of these services may replace services for which the Adviser or its affiliates might otherwise have paid, it would tend to reduce their expenses. The Adviser and its affiliates exercise reasonable business judgment in selecting those brokers who offer brokerage and research services to execute securities transactions. They determine in good faith that commissions charged by such persons are reasonable in relationship to the value of the brokerage and research services provided.

For the fiscal year ended, October 31, 2002, the Fund's Adviser directed brokerage transactions to certain brokers due to research services they provided. The total amount of these transactions was $961,539,580 for which the Fund paid $1,683,645 in brokerage commissions.

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ADMINISTRATOR

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Federated Services Company, a subsidiary of Federated, provides administrative personnel and services (including certain legal and financial reporting services) necessary to operate the Fund. Federated Services Company provides these at the following annual rate of the average aggregate daily net assets of all Federated funds as specified below:

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Maximum Administrative Fee     Average Aggregate Daily Net
Assets of the Federated Funds
0.150 of 1%   on the first $250 million
0.125 of 1%   on the next $250 million
0.100 of 1%   on the next $250 million
0.075 of 1%   on assets in excess of $750 million

The administrative fee received during any fiscal year shall be at least $125,000 per portfolio and $30,000 per each additional class of Shares. Federated Services Company may voluntarily waive a portion of its fee and may reimburse the Fund for expenses.

Federated Services Company also provides certain accounting and recordkeeping services with respect to the Fund's portfolio investments for a fee based on Fund assets plus out-of-pocket expenses.

CUSTODIAN

State Street Bank and Trust Company, Boston, Massachusetts, is custodian for the securities and cash of the Fund. Foreign instruments purchased by the Fund are held by foreign banks participating in a network coordinated by State Street Bank.

TRANSFER AGENT AND DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT

Federated Services Company, through its registered transfer agent subsidiary, Federated Shareholder Services Company, maintains all necessary shareholder records. The Fund pays the transfer agent a fee based on the size, type and number of accounts and transactions made by shareholders.

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

The independent auditor for the Fund, Deloitte & Touche LLP, conducts its audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America, which require it to plan and perform its audits to provide reasonable assurance about whether the Fund's financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement.

FEES PAID BY THE FUND FOR SERVICES

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For the Year Ended October 31     2002     2001     2000
Advisory Fee Earned   $11,863,755   $7,470,865   $4,707,785
Advisory Fee Reduction   0   0   0
Advisory Fee Reimbursement   11,848   4,666   2,230
Brokerage Commissions   3,040,110   1,256,763   1,627,238
Administrative Fee   1,189,539   750,075   472,701
12b-1 Fee:            
Class A Shares   0   --   --
Class B Shares   2,820,691   --   --
Class C Shares   601,778   --   --
Shareholder Services Fee:            
Class A Shares   2,813,762   --   --
Class B Shares   940,230   --   --
Class C Shares   200,593   --   --

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Fees are allocated among classes based on their pro rata share of Fund assets, except for marketing (Rule 12b-1) fees and shareholder services fees, which are borne only by the applicable class of Shares.

How Does the Fund Measure Performance?

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The Fund may advertise Share performance by using the SEC's standard methods for calculating performance applicable to all mutual funds. The SEC also permits this standard performance information to be accompanied by non-standard performance information.

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Share performance reflects the effect of non-recurring charges, such as maximum sales charges, which, if excluded, would increase the total return and yield. The performance of Shares depends upon such variables as: portfolio quality; average portfolio maturity; type and value of portfolio securities; changes in interest rates; changes or differences in the Fund's or any class of Shares' expenses; and various other factors.

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Share performance fluctuates on a daily basis largely because net earnings and/or the value of portfolio holdings fluctuate daily. Both net earnings and offering price per Share are factors in the computation of yield and total return.

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AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS AND YIELD

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Total returns are given for the one-year, five-year, ten-year and Start of Performance periods ended October 31, 2002.

Yield is given for the 30-day period ended October 31, 2002

Share Class     30-Day
Period
    1 Year     5 Years     10 Years        
Class A:                                        
Total Return                    
Before Taxes   N/A   (17.89)%   4.21%   11.62%    
After Taxes on Distributions   N/A   (18.11)%   2.73%   9.97%    
After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Shares   N/A   (10.95)%   3.14%   9.30%    
Yield   0.68%   N/A   N/A   N/A    
Share Class   30-Day
Period
  1 Year   5 Years   10 Years   Start of
Performance on
1/4/1996
Class B:                                        
Total Return                    
Before Taxes   N/A   (18.50)%   4.24%   N/A   9.37%
After Taxes on Distributions   N/A   (18.52)%   2.89%   N/A   7.99%
After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Shares   N/A   (11.35)%   3.26%   N/A   7.51%
Yield   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A
Class C:                                        
Total Return                    
Before Taxes   N/A   (14.59)%   4.66%   N/A   9.36%
After Taxes on Distributions   N/A   (14.63)%   3.32%   N/A   7.99%
After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Shares   N/A   (8.95)%   3.61%   N/A   7.50%
Yield   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A

TOTAL RETURN

Total return represents the change (expressed as a percentage) in the value of Shares over a specific period of time, and includes the investment of income and capital gains distributions.

The average annual total return for Shares is the average compounded rate of return for a given period that would equate a $10,000 initial investment to the ending redeemable value of that investment. The ending redeemable value is computed by multiplying the number of Shares owned at the end of the period by the NAV per Share at the end of the period. The number of Shares owned at the end of the period is based on the number of Shares purchased at the beginning of the period with $10,000, less any applicable sales charge, adjusted over the period by any additional Shares, assuming the annual reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. Total returns after taxes are calculated in a similar manner, but reflect additional standard assumptions required by the SEC.

YIELD

The yield of Shares is calculated by dividing: (i) the net investment income per Share earned by the Shares over a 30-day period; by (ii) the maximum offering price per Share on the last day of the period. This number is then annualized using semi-annual compounding. This means that the amount of income generated during the 30-day period is assumed to be generated each month over a 12-month period and is reinvested every six months. The yield does not necessarily reflect income actually earned by Shares because of certain adjustments required by the SEC and, therefore, may not correlate to the dividends or other distributions paid to shareholders.

To the extent investment professionals and broker/dealers charge fees in connection with services provided in conjunction with an investment in Shares, the Share performance is lower for shareholders paying those fees.

PERFORMANCE COMPARISONS

Advertising and sales literature may include:

  • references to ratings, rankings, and financial publications and/or performance comparisons of Shares to certain indices;
  • charts, graphs and illustrations using the Fund's returns, or returns in general, that demonstrate investment concepts such as tax-deferred compounding, dollar-cost averaging and systematic investment;
  • discussions of economic, financial and political developments and their impact on the securities market, including the portfolio manager's views on how such developments could impact the Fund; and
  • information about the mutual fund industry from sources such as the Investment Company Institute.

The Fund may compare its performance, or performance for the types of securities in which it invests, to a variety of other investments, including federally insured bank products such as bank savings accounts, certificates of deposit, and Treasury bills.

The Fund may quote information from reliable sources regarding individual countries and regions, world stock exchanges, and economic and demographic statistics.

You may use financial publications and/or indices to obtain a more complete view of Share performance. When comparing performance, you should consider all relevant factors such as the composition of the index used, prevailing market conditions, portfolio compositions of other funds, and methods used to value portfolio securities and compute offering price. The financial publications and/or indices which the Fund uses in advertising may include:

Value Line Mutual Fund Survey

Value Line Mutual Fund Survey, published by Value Line Publishing, Inc., analyzes price, yield, risk, and total return for equity and fixed income mutual funds. The highest rating is One, and ratings are effective for one month.

CDA Mutual Fund Report

CDA Mutual Fund Report, published by CDA Investment Technologies, Inc., analyzes price, current yield, risk, total return, and average rate of return (average annual compounded growth rate) over specified time periods for the mutual fund industry.

Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA)

DJIA represents share prices of selected blue-chip industrial corporations. The DJIA indicates daily changes in the average price of stock of these corporations. Because it represents the top corporations of America, the DJIA index is a leading economic indicator for the stock market as a whole.

Financial Publications

The Wall Street Journal, Business Week, Changing Times, Financial World, Forbes, Fortune and Money magazines, among others--provide performance statistics over specified time periods.

Lipper, Inc.

Lipper, Inc. ranks funds in various fund categories by making comparative calculations using total return. Total return assumes the reinvestment of all capital gains distributions and income dividends and takes into account any change in net asset value over a specified period of time.

Morningstar, Inc.

Morningstar, Inc., an independent rating service, is the publisher of the bi-weekly Mutual Fund Values, which rates more than 1,000 NASDAQ-listed mutual funds of all types, according to their risk-adjusted returns. The maximum rating is five stars, and ratings are effective for two weeks.

Standard & Poor's Daily Stock Price Index of 500 Common Stocks (S&P 500)

The S&P 500 is a composite index of common stocks in industry, transportation, and financial and public utility companies. It can be used to compare to the total returns of funds whose portfolios are invested primarily in common stocks. In addition, the S&P 500 assumes reinvestments of all dividends paid by stocks listed on its index. Taxes due on any of these distributions are not included, nor are brokerage or other fees calculated in the S&P 500 figures.

Lipper Growth Fund Average

Lipper Growth Fund Average is an average of the total returns for 580 growth funds tracked by Lipper, Inc., an independent mutual fund rating service.

Lipper Growth Fund Index

Lipper Growth Fund Index is an average of the net asset-valuated total returns for the top 30 growth funds tracked by Lipper, Inc., an independent mutual fund rating service.

Strategic Insight Mutual Fund Research and Consulting

Strategic Insight Mutual Fund Research and Consulting, ranks funds in various fund categories by making comparative calculations using total return. Total return assumes the reinvestment of all capital gains distributions and income dividends and takes into account any change in net asset value over a specified period of time. From time to time, the Fund will quote its Strategic Insight ranking in the "growth funds" category in advertising and sales literature.

Mutual Fund Source Book

Mutual Fund Source Book, published by Morningstar, Inc., analyzes price, yield, risk, and total return for equity and fixed income funds.

Value Line Composite Index

Value Line Composite Index, consists of approximately 1,700 common equity securities. It is based on a geometric average of relative price changes of the component stocks and does not include income.

Strategic Insight Growth Funds Index

Strategic Insight Growth Funds Index consists of mutual funds that invest in well-established companies primarily for long-term capital gains rather than current income.

Who is Federated Investors, Inc.?

Federated is dedicated to meeting investor needs by making structured, straightforward and consistent investment decisions. Federated investment products have a history of competitive performance and have gained the confidence of thousands of financial institutions and individual investors.

Federated's disciplined investment selection process is rooted in sound methodologies backed by fundamental and technical research. At Federated, success in investment management does not depend solely on the skill of a single portfolio manager. It is a fusion of individual talents and state-of-the-art industry tools and resources. Federated's investment process involves teams of portfolio managers and analysts, and investment decisions are executed by traders who are dedicated to specific market sectors and who handle trillions of dollars in annual trading volume.

FEDERATED FUNDS OVERVIEW

Municipal Funds

In the municipal sector, as of December 31, 2001, Federated managed 12 bond funds with approximately $2.3 billion in assets and 22 money market funds with approximately $44.8 billion in total assets. In 1976, Federated introduced one of the first municipal bond mutual funds in the industry and is now one of the largest institutional buyers of municipal securities. The Funds may quote statistics from organizations including The Tax Foundation and the National Taxpayers Union regarding the tax obligations of Americans.

Equity Funds

In the equity sector, Federated has more than 31 years' experience. As of December 31, 2001, Federated managed 40 equity funds totaling approximately $20.7 billion in assets across growth, value, equity income, international, index and sector (i.e. utility) styles. Federated's value-oriented management style combines quantitative and qualitative analysis and features a structured, computer-assisted composite modeling system that was developed in the 1970s.

Corporate Bond Funds

In the corporate bond sector, as of December 31, 2001, Federated managed 11 money market funds and 30 bond funds with assets approximating $62.3 billion and $5.4 billion, respectively. Federated's corporate bond decision making--based on intensive, diligent credit analysis--is backed by over 29 years of experience in the corporate bond sector. In 1972, Federated introduced one of the first high-yield bond funds in the industry. In 1983, Federated was one of the first fund managers to participate in the asset backed securities market, a market totaling more than $209 billion.

Government Funds

In the government sector, as of December 31, 2001, Federated managed 6 mortgage backed, 5 multi-sector government funds, 3 government/agency and 19 government money market mutual funds, with assets approximating $3.6 billion, $2.0 billion, $1.2 billion and $55.2 billion, respectively. Federated trades approximately $90.4 billion in U.S. government and mortgage backed securities daily and places approximately $35 billion in repurchase agreements each day. Federated introduced the first U.S. government fund to invest in U.S. government bond securities in 1969. Federated has been a major force in the short- and intermediate-term government markets since 1982 and currently manages approximately $50 billion in government funds within these maturity ranges.

Money Market Funds

In the money market sector, Federated gained prominence in the mutual fund industry in 1974 with the creation of the first institutional money market fund. Simultaneously, the company pioneered the use of the amortized cost method of accounting for valuing shares of money market funds, a principal means used by money managers today to value money market fund shares. Other innovations include the first institutional tax-free money market fund. As of December 31, 2001, Federated managed $136.4 billion in assets across 54 money market funds, including 19 government, 11 prime, 22 municipal and 1 euro-denominated with assets approximating $55.2 billion, $62.3 billion, $19.5 billion and $34.6 million, respectively.

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The Chief Investment Officers responsible for oversight of the various investment sectors within Federated are: Global Equity--Stephen F. Auth is responsible for overseeing the management of Federated's domestic and international equity products; Global Fixed Income--William D. Dawson III is responsible for overseeing the management of Federated's domestic and international fixed income and high yield products.

MUTUAL FUND MARKET

Forty-nine percent of American households are pursuing their financial goals through mutual funds. These investors, as well as businesses and institutions, have entrusted over $6.8 trillion to the more than 8,157 funds available, according to the Investment Company Institute.

FEDERATED CLIENTS OVERVIEW

Federated distributes mutual funds through its subsidiaries for a variety of investment purposes. Specific markets include:

Institutional Clients

Federated meets the needs of approximately 3,035 institutional clients nationwide by managing and servicing separate accounts and mutual funds for a variety of purposes, including defined benefit and defined contribution programs, cash management, and asset/liability management. Institutional clients include corporations, pension funds, tax exempt entities, foundations/endowments, insurance companies, and investment and financial advisers. The marketing effort to these institutional clients is headed by John B. Fisher, President, Institutional Sales Division, Federated Securities Corp.

Bank Marketing

Other institutional clients include more than 1,600 banks and trust organizations. Virtually all of the trust divisions of the top 100 bank holding companies use Federated Funds in their clients' portfolios. The marketing effort to trust clients is headed by Timothy C. Pillion, Senior Vice President, Bank Marketing & Sales.

Broker/Dealers and Bank Broker/Dealer Subsidiaries

Federated Funds are available to consumers through major brokerage firms nationwide--we have over 2,000 broker/dealer and bank broker/dealer relationships across the country--supported by more wholesalers than any other mutual fund distributor. Federated's service to financial professionals and institutions has earned it high ratings in several surveys performed by DALBAR, Inc. DALBAR is recognized as the industry benchmark for service quality measurement. The marketing effort to these firms is headed by James F. Getz, President, Broker/Dealer Sales Division, Federated Securities Corp.

Financial Information

The Financial Statements for the Fund for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2002 are incorporated herein by reference to the Annual Report to Shareholders of Federated Capital Appreciation Fund dated October 31, 2002.

Investment Ratings

STANDARD AND POOR'S LONG-TERM DEBT RATING DEFINITIONS

AAA--Debt rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor's. Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.

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.

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.

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.

BB--Debt rated BB has less near-term vulnerability to default than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to inadequate capacity to meet timely interest and principal payments. The BB rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied BBB rating.

B--Debt rated B has a greater vulnerability to default but currently has the capacity to meet interest payments and principal repayments. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair capacity or willingness to pay interest and repay principal. The B rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied BB or BB- rating.

CCC--Debt rated CCC has a currently identifiable vulnerability to default, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions to meet timely payment of interest and repayment of principal. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, it is not likely to have the capacity to pay interest and repay principal. The CCC rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied B or B- rating.

CC--The rating CC typically is applied to debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied CCC debt rating.

C--The rating C typically is applied to debt subordinated to senior debt which is assigned an actual or implied CCC debt rating. The C rating may be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy petition has been filed, but debt service payments are continued.

MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE LONG-TERM BOND RATING DEFINITIONS

AAA--Bonds which 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 edged. 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.

AA--Bonds which 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 which make the long-term risks appear somewhat larger than in AAA securities.

A--Bonds which 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 which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.

BAA--Bonds which 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.

BA--Bonds which are 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.

B--Bonds which 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.

CAA--Bonds which 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.

CA--Bonds which are rated CA represent obligations which are speculative in a high degree. Such issues are often in default or have other marked shortcomings.

C--Bonds which are rated 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.

FITCH RATINGS LONG-TERM DEBT RATING DEFINITIONS

AAA--Bonds considered to be investment grade and of the highest credit quality. The obligor has an exceptionally strong ability to pay interest and repay principal, which is unlikely to be affected by reasonably foreseeable events.

AA--Bonds considered to be investment grade and of very high credit quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is very strong, although not quite as strong as bonds rated AAA. Because bonds rated in the AAA and AA categories are not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable future developments, short-term debt of these issuers is generally rated F-1+.

A--Bonds considered to be investment grade and of high credit quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is considered to be strong, but may be more vulnerable to adverse changes in economic conditions and circumstances than bonds with higher ratings.

BBB--Bonds considered to be investment grade and of satisfactory credit quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is considered to be adequate. Adverse changes in economic conditions and circumstances, however, are more likely to have adverse impact on these bonds, and therefore impair timely payment. The likelihood that the ratings of these bonds will fall below investment grade is higher than for bonds with higher ratings.

BB--Bonds are considered speculative. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal may be affected over time by adverse economic changes. However, business and financial alternatives can be identified which could assist the obligor in satisfying its debt service requirements.

B--Bonds are considered highly speculative. While bonds in this class are currently meeting debt service requirements, the probability of continued timely payment of principal and interest reflects the obligor's limited margin of safety and the need for reasonable business and economic activity throughout the life of the issue.

CCC--Bonds have certain identifiable characteristics which, if not remedied, may lead to default. The ability to meet obligations requires an advantageous business and economic environment.

CC--Bonds are minimally protected. Default in payment of interest and/or principal seems probable over time.

C--Bonds are imminent default in payment of interest or principal.

MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS

Prime-1--Issuers rated Prime-1 (or related supporting institutions) have a superior capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations. Prime-1 repayment capacity will normally be evidenced by the following characteristics:
  • Leading market positions in well-established industries;
  • High rates of return on funds employed;
  • Conservative capitalization structure with moderate reliance on debt and ample asset protection;
  • Broad margins in earning coverage of fixed financial charges and high internal cash generation; and
  • Well-established access to a range of financial markets and assured sources of alternate liquidity.
Prime-2--Issuers rated Prime-2 (or related supporting institutions) have a strong capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations. This will normally be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above but to a lesser degree. Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, will be more subject to variation. Capitalization characteristics, while still appropriate, may be more affected by external conditions. Ample alternate liquidity is maintained.

STANDARD AND POOR'S COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS

A-1--This designation indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely payment is strong. Those issues determined to possess extremely strong safety characteristics are denoted with a plus sign (+) designation.

A-2--Capacity for timely payment on issues with this designation is satisfactory. However, the relative degree of safety is not as high as for issues designated A-1.

FITCH RATINGS COMMERCIAL PAPER RATING DEFINITIONS

FITCH-1--(Highest Grade) Commercial paper assigned this rating is regarded as having the strongest degree of assurance for timely payment.

FITCH-2--(Very Good Grade) Issues assigned this rating reflect an assurance of timely payment only slightly less in degree than the strongest issues.

Addresses

FEDERATED CAPITAL APPRECIATION FUND

Class A Shares
Class B Shares
Class C Shares

Federated Investors Funds
5800 Corporate Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15237-7000

Distributor

Federated Securities Corp.
Federated Investors Tower
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779

Investment Adviser

Federated Investment Management Company
Federated Investors Tower
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779

Custodian

State Street Bank and Trust Company
P.O. Box 8600
Boston, MA 02266-8600

Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent

Federated Shareholder Services Company
P.O. Box 8600
Boston, MA 02266-8600

Independent Auditors

Deloitte & Touche LLP
200 Berkeley Street
Boston, MA 02116

[Logo of Federated]

Federated Communications Technology Fund

A Portfolio of Federated Equity Funds

PROSPECTUS

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December 31, 2002

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CLASS A SHARES
CLASS B SHARES
CLASS C SHARES

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A mutual fund seeking to achieve capital appreciation by investing primarily in communications technology and communications services companies that provide advancements in voice, video and data delivery.

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As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

NOT FDIC INSURED * MAY LOSE VALUE * NO BANK GUARANTEE

CONTENTS

Risk/Return Summary     1
What are the Fund's Fees and Expenses?   5
What are the Fund's Investment Strategies?   6
What are the Principal Securities in Which the Fund Invests?   8
What are the Specific Risks of Investing in the Fund?   8
What do Shares Cost?   10
How is the Fund Sold?   13
How to Purchase Shares   14
How to Redeem and Exchange Shares   16
Account and Share Information   19
Who Manages the Fund?   20
Financial Information   21

Risk/Return Summary

WHAT IS THE FUND'S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE?

The Fund's investment objective is to achieve capital appreciation. While there is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective, it endeavors to do so by following the strategies and policies described in this prospectus.

WHAT ARE THE FUND'S MAIN INVESTMENT STRATEGIES?

The Fund invests primarily in equity securities of communications technology and communications services companies. These companies are engaged in the development, manufacturing or sale of communications services and equipment that provide advancements in voice, video and data delivery. The Adviser seeks companies that have a likelihood of growth and that therefore offer the potential for capital appreciation.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND?

All mutual funds take investment risks. Therefore, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. The primary factors that may reduce the Fund's returns include:

  • Stock Market Risks. The value of equity securities in the Fund's portfolio will fluctuate and, as a result, the Fund's share price may decline suddenly or over a sustained period of time.
  • Sector Risks. Because the Fund may allocate relatively more of its assets to one or more industry sectors than to other sectors, the Fund's performance will be more susceptible to any developments which affect the sectors emphasized by the Fund. The developing communications industry sector may be significantly affected by failure to obtain, or delay in obtaining, financing or regulatory approval, intense competition, product compatibility, consumer preferences, and rapid obsolescence.
  • Risks Related to Company Size. Because the smaller companies in which the Fund may invest may have unproven track records, a limited product or services base and limited access to capital, they may be more likely to fail than larger companies.
  • Risks Related to Investing for Growth. The Fund generally uses a "growth" style of investing and, as a result, the stocks in which the Fund invests may experience greater volatility in price, and may pay lower dividends, than stocks invested in by Funds using a different investment style.
  • Risks of Foreign Investing. Because the Fund invests in securities issued by foreign companies, the Fund's share price may be more affected by foreign economic and political conditions, taxation policies and accounting and auditing standards than would otherwise be the case.
  • Currency Risks. Because exchange rates for currencies fluctuate daily, prices of the foreign securities in which the Fund invests are more volatile than prices of securities traded exclusively in the U.S.

The Shares offered by this prospectus are not deposits or obligations of any bank, are not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. government, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board, or any other government agency.

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Risk/Return Bar Chart and Table

The performance information shown below will help you analyze the Fund's investment risks in light of its historical returns. The bar chart shows the variability of the Fund's Class A Shares total returns on a calendar year-by-year basis. The Average Annual Total Return table shows returns averaged over the stated periods, and includes comparative performance information. The Fund's performance will fluctuate, and past performance (before and after taxes) is no guarantee of future results.

The total retuns shown in the bar chart do not reflect the payment of any sales charges or recurring shareholder account fees. If these charges or fees had been included, the returns shown would have been lower.

The Fund's Class A Shares total return for the nine-month period from January 1, 2002 to September 30, 2002 was (46.62)%.

Within the period shown in the bar chart, the Fund's Class A Shares highest quarterly return was 25.03% (quarter ended March 31, 2000). Its lowest quarterly return was (39.32)% (quarter ended December 31, 2000).

Average Annual Total Return Table

The Average Annual Total Returns for the Fund's Class A, Class B and Class C Shares are reduced to reflect applicable sales charges. Return Before Taxes is shown for all classes. In addition, Return After Taxes is shown for Class A Shares to illustrate the effect of federal taxes on Fund returns. Actual after-tax returns depend on each investor's personal tax situation, and are likely to differ from those shown. The table also shows returns for the NASDAQ Telecommunications Index (NTI). Index Returns do not reflect taxes, sales charges, expenses or other fees that the SEC requires to be reflected in the Fund's performance. Indexes are unmanaged, and it is not possible to invest directly in an index

(For the periods ended December 31, 2001)

   

   

1 Year

   

Start of
Performance1

Class A Shares:

 

 

 

 

Return Before Taxes

 

(49.49)%

 

(25.09)%

Return After Taxes on Distributions2

 

(49.49)%

 

(25.12)%

Return after Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares2

 

(30.14)%

 

(19.26)%

Class B Shares:

 

 

 

 

Return Before Taxes

 

(49.86)%

 

(25.12)%

Class C Shares:

 

 

 

 

Return Before Taxes

 

(47.47)%

 

(23.77)%

NTI

 

(48.89)%

 

(35.70)%

1 The Fund's Class A, Class B and Class C Shares start of performance date was September 21, 1999.

2 After-tax returns are calculated using a standard set of assumptions. The stated returns assume the highest historical federal income and capital gains tax rates. Return After Taxes on Distributions assumes a continued investment in the Fund and shows the effect of taxes on Fund distributions. Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sales of Fund Shares assumes all shares were redeemed at the end of each measurement period, and shows the effect of any taxable gain (or offsetting loss) on redemption, as well as the effects of taxes on Fund distributions. These after-tax returns do not reflect the effect of any applicable state and local taxes. After-tax returns for Class B and Class C Shares will differ from those shown above for Class A Shares. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors holding Shares through tax-deferred programs, such as IRA or 401(k) plans.

What are the Fund's Fees and Expenses?

FEDERATED COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY FUND

FEES AND EXPENSES

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold the Fund's Class A, Class B and Class C Shares.

Shareholder Fees

   

Class A

   

Class B

   

Class C

Fees Paid Directly From Your Investment

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

 

5.50%

 

None

 

None

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, as applicable)

 

0.00%

 

5.50%

 

1.00%

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends (and other Distributions) (as a percentage of offering price)

 

None

 

None

 

None

Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed, if applicable)

 

None

 

None

 

None

Exchange Fee

 

None

 

None

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Before Waiver)1

   

   

   

   

   

   

Expenses That are Deducted From Fund Assets (as a percentage of average net assets)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Management Fee2

 

0.75%

 

0.75%

 

0.75%

Distribution (12b-1) Fee

 

0.25%

 

0.75%

 

0.75%

Shareholder Services Fee3

 

0.25%

 

0.25%

 

0.25%

Other Expenses

 

1.16%

 

1.16%

 

1.16%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

 

2.41%

 

2.91%4

 

2.91%

1 Although not contractually obligated to do so, the adviser and shareholder services provider waived certain amounts. These are shown below along with the net expenses the Fund actually paid for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2002.

Total Waivers of Fund Expenses

 

0.37%

 

0.12%

 

0.12%

Total Actual Annual Fund Operating Expenses (after waivers)

 

2.04%

 

2.79%

 

2.79%

2 The adviser has voluntarily waived a portion of the management fee. The adviser can terminate this voluntary waiver at any time. The management fee paid by the Fund (after the voluntary waiver) was 0.63%, 0.63% and 0.63% for Class A, Class B and Class C Shares, respectively, for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2002.

3 Class A Shares did not pay or accrue the shareholder services fee for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2002. Class A Shares have no present intention in paying or accruing the shareholder services fee for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2003.

4 After Class B Shares have been held for eight years from the date of purchase, they will automatically convert to Class A Shares on or about the last day of the following month. Class A Shares pay lower operating expenses than Class B Shares.

EXAMPLE

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Class A, Class B and Class C Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund's Class A, Class B and Class C Shares for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your Shares at the end of those periods. Expenses assuming no redemption are also shown. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's Class A, Class B and Class C Shares operating expenses are before waivers as shown in the table and remain the same. Although your actual costs and returns may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Share Class

   

1 Year

   

3 Years

   

5 Years

   

10 Years

Class A:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses assuming redemption

 

$781

 

$1,260

 

$1,765

 

$3,145

Expenses assuming no redemption

 

$781

 

$1,260

 

$1,765

 

$3,145

Class B:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses assuming redemption

 

$844

 

$1,301

 

$1,733

 

$3,115

Expenses assuming no redemption

 

$294

 

$ 901

 

$1,533

 

$3,115

Class C:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses assuming redemption

 

$394

 

$ 901

 

$1,533

 

$3,233

Expenses assuming no redemption

 

$294

 

$ 901

 

$1,533

 

$3,233

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What are the Fund's Investment Strategies?

The Fund's Adviser invests the Fund's assets, under normal market conditions, primarily in securities of companies principally engaged in the development, manufacturing or sale of emerging or established communications services or equipment. Generally, business related to the communications industry would directly or indirectly account for more than 50% of such a company's revenue or profit growth. "Emerging" services and equipment are those which derive from new technologies or new applications of existing technologies. They may include, for example, those related to cellular communications, software development, video conferencing, data processing, paging, personal communications networks, special mobile radio, facsimile, fiber optic transmission, semiconductors, voicemail, microwave, satellite, local and wide area networking, and other transmission electronics (each, a "subsector"). Additionally, the Fund invests in established communications companies such as traditional telephone utilities and large long distance carriers. A description of the various types of securities in which the Fund invests, and their risks, immediately follows the strategy discussion.

The Adviser attempts to identify those subsectors within the communications industry where emerging technological developments present the best opportunities for growth. The Adviser performs traditional fundamental analysis to select securities that exhibit the most promising long-term growth potential for the Fund's portfolio. In selecting securities, the Adviser focuses primarily on the projected future cash flow of the issuing company, in addition to examining each issuer's current financial condition, business and product strength, competitive position, and management expertise. In general, issuers selected by the Adviser will have a market capitalization of at least $100 million.

The Adviser uses the "growth" style of investing, selecting securities of companies which have above average potential for expected growth. Because the Adviser uses a "growth" style of investing, the price of the securities held by the Fund may, under certain market conditions, be more volatile than stocks selected primarily for their value attributes.

Companies with similar characteristics may be grouped together in broad categories called sectors. The Fund invests primarily in the communications technology sector, composed of companies engaged in developing or manufacturing products for the communications industry and companies which utilize technological advancements to provide communications services to the public. Under normal market conditions, the Adviser attempts to diversify investments by allocating among companies that develop/manufacture communications technology products and those that provide communications services.

In addition, the Adviser may invest a portion of the Fund's assets in securities of companies based outside the United States to diversify the Fund's holdings and to take advantage of opportunities in the foreign market. Securities of foreign companies may be more affected by foreign economic and political conditions, taxation policies, and accounting and auditing standards than those of U.S. companies.

Because the Fund refers to communications technology investments in its name, it will notify shareholders in advance of any change in its investment policies that would enable the Fund to normally invest less than 80% of its assets in communications technology investments.

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PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

The Fund actively trades its portfolio securities in an attempt to achieve its investment objective. Active trading will cause the Fund to have an increased portfolio turnover rate, which is likely to generate shorter-term gains (losses) for its shareholders, which are taxed at a higher rate than longer-term gains (losses). Actively trading portfolio securities increases the Fund's trading costs and may have an adverse impact on the Fund's performance.

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TEMPORARY DEFENSIVE INVESTMENTS

The Fund may temporarily depart from its principal investment strategies by investing its assets in cash and shorter-term debt securities and similar obligations. It may do this to minimize potential losses and maintain liquidity to meet shareholder redemptions during adverse market conditions. This may cause the Fund to give up greater investment returns to maintain the safety of principal, that is, the original amount invested by shareholders.

What are the Principal Securities in Which the Fund Invests?

EQUITY SECURITIES

Equity securities represent a share of an issuer's earnings and assets, after the issuer pays its liabilities. The Fund cannot predict the income it will receive from equity securities because issuers generally have discretion as to the payment of any dividends or distributions. However, equity securities offer greater potential for appreciation than many other types of securities, because their value increases directly with the value of the issuer's business. The following describes the types of equity securities in which the Fund invests:

Common Stocks

Common stocks are the most prevalent type of equity security. Common stocks receive the issuer's earnings after the issuer pays its creditors and any preferred stockholders. As a result, changes in an issuer's earnings directly influence the value of its common stock.

Foreign Securities

Foreign securities are securities of issuers based outside the United States. The Fund considers an issuer to be based outside the United States if:

  • it is organized under the laws of, or has a principal office located in, another country;
  • the principal trading market for its securities is in another country; or
  • it (or its subsidiaries) derived in its most current fiscal year at least 50% of its total assets, capitalization, gross revenue or profit from goods produced, services performed, or sales made in another country.

Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies. Along with the risks normally associated with domestic securities of the same type, foreign securities are subject to currency risks and risks of foreign investing. Trading in certain foreign markets is also subject to liquidity risks.

What are the Specific Risks of Investing in the Fund?

STOCK MARKET RISKS

  • The value of equity securities in the Fund's portfolio will rise and fall. These fluctuations could be a sustained trend or a drastic movement. The Fund's portfolio will reflect changes in prices of individual portfolio stocks or general changes in stock valuations. Consequently, the Fund's share price may decline.
  • The Adviser attempts to manage market risk by limiting the amount the Fund invests in each company's equity securities. However, diversification will not protect the Fund against widespread or prolonged declines in the stock market.

SECTOR RISKS

  • Companies with similar characteristics may be grouped together in broad categories called sectors. Sector risk is the possibility that a certain sector may underperform other sectors or the market as a whole. As the Adviser allocates more of the Fund's portfolio holdings to a particular sector, the Fund's performance will be more susceptible to any economic, business or other developments which generally affect that sector. The developing communications industry sector may be significantly affected by failure to obtain, or delay in obtaining, financing or regulatory approval, intense competition, product compatibility, consumer preferences, and rapid obsolescence.

RISKS RELATED TO COMPANY SIZE

  • Generally, the smaller the market capitalization of a company, the fewer the number of shares traded daily, the less liquid its stock and the more volatile its price. Market capitalization is determined by multiplying the number of its outstanding shares by the current market price per share.
  • Companies with smaller market capitalizations also tend to have unproven track records, a limited product or service base and limited access to capital. These factors also increase risks and make these companies more likely to fail than companies with larger market capitalizations.

RISKS RELATED TO INVESTING FOR GROWTH

  • Due to their relatively high valuations, growth stocks are typically more volatile than value stocks. For instance, the price of a growth stock may experience a larger decline on a forecast of lower earnings, a negative fundamental development, or an adverse market development. Further, growth stocks may not pay dividends or may pay lower dividends than value stocks. This means they depend more on price changes for returns and may be more adversely affected in a down market compared to value stocks that pay higher dividends.

RISKS OF FOREIGN INVESTING

  • Foreign securities pose additional risks because foreign economic or political conditions may be less favorable than those of the United States. Securities in foreign markets may also be subject to taxation policies that reduce returns for U.S. investors.
  • Foreign companies may not provide information (including financial statements) as frequently or to as great an extent as companies in the United States. Foreign companies may also receive less coverage than United States companies by market analysts and the financial press. In addition, foreign countries may lack uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards or regulatory requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. These factors may prevent the Fund and its Adviser from obtaining information concerning foreign companies that is as frequent, extensive and reliable as the information available concerning companies in the United States.
  • Foreign countries may have restrictions on foreign ownership of securities or may impose exchange controls, capital flow restrictions or repatriation restrictions which could adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund's investments.

CURRENCY RISKS

  • Exchange rates for currencies fluctuate daily. The combination of currency risk and market risk tends to make securities traded in foreign markets more volatile than securities traded exclusively in the U.S.
  • The Adviser attempts to manage currency risk by limiting the amount the Fund invests in securities denominated in a particular currency. However, diversification will not protect the Fund against a general increase in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies.

What do Shares Cost?

You can purchase, redeem or exchange Shares any day the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open. When the Fund receives your transaction request in proper form (as described in this prospectus) it is processed at the next calculated net asset value (NAV) plus any applicable front-end sales charge (public offering price). If the Fund purchases foreign securities that trade in foreign markets on days the NYSE is closed, the value of the Fund's assets may change on days you cannot purchase or redeem Shares. NAV is determined at the end of regular trading (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) each day the NYSE is open. The Fund generally values equity securities according to the last sale price in the market in which they are primarily traded (either a national securities exchange or the over-the-counter market).

The Fund's current NAV and public offering price may be found in the mutual funds section of certain local newspapers under "Federated."

The following table summarizes the minimum required investment amount and the maximum sales charge, if any, that you will pay on an investment in the Fund. Keep in mind that investment professionals may charge you fees for their services in connection with your Share transactions.

   

   

Minimum
Initial/Subsequent
Investment
Amounts1

   

Maximum Sales Charge

Shares Offered

 

 

Front-End
Sales Charge2

   

Contingent
Deferred
Sales Charge3

Class A Shares

 

$1,500/$100

 

5.50%

 

0.00%

Class B Shares

 

$1,500/$100

 

None

 

5.50%

Class C Shares

 

$1,500/$100

 

None

 

1.00%

1 The minimum initial and subsequent investment amounts for retirement plans are $250 and $100, respectively. The minimum subsequent investment amounts for Systematic Investment Programs (SIP) is $50. Investment professionals may impose higher or lower minimum investment requirements on their customers than those imposed by the Fund. Orders for $250,000 or more will be invested in Class A Shares instead of Class B Shares to maximize your return and minimize the sales charges and marketing fees. Accounts held in the name of an investment professional may be treated differently. After Class B Shares have been held for eight years from the date of purchase, they will automatically convert to Class A Shares on or about the last day of the following month. This conversion is a non-taxable event.

2 Front-End Sales Charge is expressed as a percentage of public offering price. See "Sales Charge When You Purchase."

3 See "Sales Charge When You Redeem."

SALES CHARGE WHEN YOU PURCHASE

Class A Shares

   

   

   

   

Purchase Amount

 

Sales Charge
as a Percentage
of Public
Offering Price

 

Sales Charge
as a Percentage
of NAV

Less than $50,000

 

5.50%

 

5.82%

$50,000 but less than $100,000

 

4.50%

 

4.71%

$100,000 but less than $250,000

 

3.75%

 

3.90%

$250,000 but less than $500,000

 

2.50%

 

2.56%

$500,000 but less than $1 million

 

2.00%

 

2.04%

$1 million or greater1

 

0.00%

 

0.00%

1 A contingent deferred sales charge of 0.75% of the redemption amount applies to Class A Shares redeemed up to 24 months after purchase under certain investment programs where an investment professional received an advance payment on the transaction.

If your investment qualifies for a reduction or elimination of the sales charge as described below, you or your investment professional should notify the Fund's Distributor at the time of purchase. If the Distributor is not notified, you will receive the reduced sales charge only on additional purchases, and not retroactively on previous purchases.

The sales charge at purchase may be reduced or eliminated by:

  • purchasing Shares in greater quantities to reduce the applicable sales charge;
  • combining concurrent purchases of Shares:

    --by you, your spouse, and your children under age 21; or
    --of the same share class of two or more Federated Funds (other than money market funds);

  • accumulating purchases (in calculating the sales charge on an additional purchase, include the current value of previous Share purchases still invested in the Fund); or
  • signing a letter of intent to purchase a specific dollar amount of Shares within 13 months (call your investment professional or the Fund for more information).

The sales charge will be eliminated when you purchase Shares:

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  • within 120 days of redeeming Shares of an equal or greater amount;

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  • by exchanging shares from the same share class of another Federated Fund (other than a money market fund);
  • through wrap accounts or other investment programs where you pay the investment professional directly for services;
  • through investment professionals that receive no portion of the sales charge;
  • as a Federated Life Member (Class A Shares only) and their immediate family members; or
  • as a Trustee or employee of the Fund, the Adviser, the Distributor and their affiliates, and the immediate family members of these individuals.

SALES CHARGE WHEN YOU REDEEM

Your redemption proceeds may be reduced by a sales charge, commonly referred to as a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC).

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Class A Shares (Purchase amount of $1 million or greater):

A CDSC of 0.75% of the redemption amount applies to Class A Shares redeemed up to 24 months after purchase under certain investment programs where an investment professional received an advance payment on the transaction.

Class B Shares:

Shares Held Up To:

   

CDSC

1 Year

 

5.50%

2 Years

 

4.75%

3 Years

 

4.00%

4 Years

 

3.00%

5 Years

 

2.00%

6 Years

 

1.00%

7 Years or More

 

0.00%

Class C Shares:

You will pay a 1% CDSC if you redeem Shares within one year of the purchase date.

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If your investment qualifies for a reduction or elimination of the CDSC as described below, you or your investment professional should notify the Distributor at the time of redemption. If the Distributor is not notified, the CDSC will apply.

You will not be charged a CDSC when redeeming Shares:

  • purchased with reinvested dividends or capital gains;
  • purchased within 120 days of redeeming Shares of an equal or lesser amount;
  • that you exchanged into the same share class of another Federated Fund if the shares were held for the applicable CDSC holding period (other than a money market fund);
  • purchased through investment professionals who did not receive advanced sales payments;
  • if, after you purchase Shares, you become disabled as defined by the IRS;
  • if the Fund redeems your Shares and closes your account for not meeting the minimum balance requirement;
  • if your redemption is a required retirement plan distribution; or
  • upon the death of the last surviving shareholder of the account. The beneficiary on an account with a Transfer on Death registration is deemed the last surviving shareholder of the account.

To keep the sales charge as low as possible, the Fund redeems your Shares in this order:

  • Shares that are not subject to a CDSC; and
  • Shares held the longest (to determine the number of years your Shares have been held, include the time you held shares of other Federated Funds that have been exchanged for Shares of this Fund).

The CDSC is then calculated using the share price at the time of purchase or redemption, whichever is lower.

How is the Fund Sold?

The Fund offers three share classes: Class A Shares, Class B Shares and Class C Shares, each representing interests in a single portfolio of securities. The Fund's Distributor, Federated Securities Corp., markets the Shares described in this prospectus to institutions or to individuals, directly or through investment professionals.

When the Distributor receives marketing fees and sales charges, it may pay some or all of them to investment professionals. The Distributor and its affiliates may pay out of their assets other amounts (including items of material value) to investment professionals for marketing and servicing Shares. The Distributor is a subsidiary of Federated Investors, Inc. (Federated).

RULE 12B-1 PLAN

The Fund has adopted a Rule 12b-1 Plan, which allows it to pay marketing fees to the Distributor and investment professionals for the sale, distribution and customer servicing of the Fund's Class A Shares, Class B Shares and Class C Shares. Because these Shares pay marketing fees on an ongoing basis, your investment cost may be higher over time than other shares with different sales charges and marketing fees.

How to Purchase Shares

You may purchase Shares through an investment professional, directly from the Fund, or through an exchange from another Federated Fund. The Fund reserves the right to reject any request to purchase or exchange Shares.

Where the Fund offers more than one share class and you do not specify the class choice on your New Account Form or form of payment (e.g., Federal Reserve wire or check) you automatically will receive Class A Shares.

THROUGH AN INVESTMENT PROFESSIONAL

  • Establish an account with the investment professional; and
  • Submit your purchase order to the investment professional before the end of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). You will receive the next calculated NAV if the investment professional forwards the order to the Fund on the same day and the Fund receives payment within three business days. You will become the owner of Shares and receive dividends when the Fund receives your payment.

Investment professionals should send payments according to the instructions in the sections "By Wire" or "By Check."

DIRECTLY FROM THE FUND

  • Establish your account with the Fund by submitting a completed New Account Form; and
  • Send your payment to the Fund by Federal Reserve wire or check.

You will become the owner of Shares and your Shares will be priced at the next calculated NAV after the Fund receives your wire or your check. If your check does not clear, your purchase will be canceled and you could be liable for any losses or fees incurred by the Fund or Federated Shareholder Services Company, the Fund's transfer agent.

An institution may establish an account and place an order by calling the Fund and the Shares will be priced at the next calculated NAV after the Fund receives the order.

By Wire

Send your wire to:

State Street Bank and Trust Company
Boston, MA
Dollar Amount of Wire
ABA Number 011000028
Attention: EDGEWIRE
Wire Order Number, Dealer Number or Group Number
Nominee/Institution Name
Fund Name and Number and Account Number

You cannot purchase Shares by wire on holidays when wire transfers are restricted.

By Check

Make your check payable to The Federated Funds, note your account number on the check, and mail it to:

Federated Shareholder Services Company
P.O. Box 8600
Boston, MA 02266-8600

If you send your check by a private courier or overnight delivery service that requires a street address, mail it to:

Federated Shareholder Services Company
1099 Hingham Street
Rockland, MA 02370-3317

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Payment should be made in U.S. dollars and drawn on a U.S. bank. The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase request. For example, to protect against check fraud the Fund may reject any purchase request involving a check that is not made payable to The Federated Funds (including, but not limited to, requests to purchase Shares using third-party checks), or involving temporary checks or credit card checks.

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THROUGH AN EXCHANGE

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You may purchase Shares through an exchange from the same Share class of another Federated fund. You must meet the minimum initial investment requirement for purchasing Shares and both accounts must have identical registrations.

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BY SYSTEMATIC INVESTMENT PROGRAM

Once you have opened an account, you may automatically purchase additional Shares on a regular basis by completing the Systematic Investment Program (SIP) section of the New Account Form or by contacting the Fund or your investment professional.

BY AUTOMATED CLEARING HOUSE (ACH)

Once you have opened an account, you may purchase additional Shares through a depository institution that is an ACH member. This purchase option can be established by completing the appropriate sections of the New Account Form.

RETIREMENT INVESTMENTS

You may purchase Shares as retirement investments (such as qualified plans and IRAs or transfer or rollover of assets). Call your investment professional or the Fund for information on retirement investments. We suggest that you discuss retirement investments with your tax adviser. You may be subject to an annual IRA account fee.

How to Redeem and Exchange Shares

You should redeem or exchange Shares:

  • through an investment professional if you purchased Shares through an investment professional; or
  • directly from the Fund if you purchased Shares directly from the Fund.

THROUGH AN INVESTMENT PROFESSIONAL

Submit your redemption or exchange request to your investment professional by the end of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). The redemption amount you will receive is based upon the next calculated NAV after the Fund receives the order from your investment professional.

DIRECTLY FROM THE FUND

By Telephone

You may redeem or exchange Shares by simply calling the Fund at 1-800-341-7400.

If you call before the end of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) you will receive a redemption amount based on that day's NAV.

By Mail

You may redeem or exchange Shares by mailing a written request to the Fund.

You will receive a redemption amount based on the next calculated NAV after the Fund receives your written request in proper form.

Send requests by mail to:

Federated Shareholder Services Company
P.O. Box 8600
Boston, MA 02266-8600

Send requests by private courier or overnight delivery service to:

Federated Shareholder Services Company
1099 Hingham Street
Rockland, MA 02370-3317

All requests must include:

  • Fund Name and Share Class, account number and account registration;
  • amount to be redeemed or exchanged;
  • signatures of all shareholders exactly as registered; and
  • if exchanging, the Fund Name and Share Class, account number and account registration into which you are exchanging.

Call your investment professional or the Fund if you need special instructions.

Signature Guarantees

Signatures must be guaranteed if:

  • your redemption will be sent to an address other than the address of record;
  • your redemption will be sent to an address of record that was changed within the last 30 days;
  • a redemption is payable to someone other than the shareholder(s) of record; or
  • if exchanging (transferring) into another fund with a different shareholder registration.

A signature guarantee is designed to protect your account from fraud. Obtain a signature guarantee from a bank or trust company, savings association, credit union or broker, dealer, or securities exchange member. A notary public cannot provide a signature guarantee.

PAYMENT METHODS FOR REDEMPTIONS

Your redemption proceeds will be mailed by check to your address of record. The following payment options are available if you complete the appropriate section of the New Account Form or an Account Service Options Form. These payment options require a signature guarantee if they were not established when the account was opened:

  • an electronic transfer to your account at a financial institution that is an ACH member; or
  • wire payment to your account at a domestic commercial bank that is a Federal Reserve System member.

Redemption in Kind

Although the Fund intends to pay Share redemptions in cash, it reserves the right to pay the redemption price in whole or in part by a distribution of the Fund's portfolio securities.

LIMITATIONS ON REDEMPTION PROCEEDS

Redemption proceeds normally are wired or mailed within one business day after receiving a request in proper form. Payment may be delayed up to seven days:

  • to allow your purchase to clear;
  • during periods of market volatility; or
  • when a shareholder's trade activity or amount adversely impacts the Fund's ability to manage its assets.

You will not accrue interest or dividends on uncashed checks from the Fund if those checks are undeliverable and returned to the Fund.

REDEMPTIONS FROM RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS

In the absence of your specific instructions, 10% of the value of your redemption from a retirement account in the Fund may be withheld for taxes. This withholding only applies to certain types of retirement accounts.

EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE

You may exchange Shares of the Fund into Shares of the same class of another Federated Fund. To do this, you must:

  • ensure that the account registrations are identical;
  • meet any minimum initial investment requirements; and
  • receive a prospectus for the fund into which you wish to exchange.

An exchange is treated as a redemption and a subsequent purchase, and is a taxable transaction.

The Fund may modify or terminate the exchange privilege at any time. The Fund's management or investment adviser may determine from the amount, frequency and pattern of exchanges that a shareholder is engaged in excessive trading that is detrimental to the Fund and other shareholders. If this occurs, the Fund may terminate the availability of exchanges to that shareholder and may bar that shareholder from purchasing other Federated funds.

SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL/EXCHANGE PROGRAM

You may automatically redeem or exchange Shares in a minimum amount of $100 on a regular basis. Complete the appropriate section of the New Account Form or an Account Service Options Form or contact your investment professional or the Fund. Your account value must meet the minimum initial investment amount at the time the program is established. This program may reduce, and eventually deplete, your account. Payments should not be considered yield or income.

Generally, it is not advisable to continue to purchase Class A Shares subject to a sales charge while redeeming Shares using this program.

Systematic Withdrawal Program (SWP) On Class B Shares

You will not be charged a CDSC on SWP redemptions if:

  • you redeem 12% or less of your account value in a single year;
  • you reinvest all dividends and capital gains distributions; and
  • your account has at least a $10,000 balance when you establish the SWP. (You cannot aggregate multiple Class B Share accounts to meet this minimum balance.)

You will be subject to a CDSC on redemption amounts that exceed the 12% annual limit. In measuring the redemption percentage, your account is valued when you establish the SWP and then annually at calendar year-end. You can redeem monthly, quarterly, or semi-annually.

ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS

Telephone Transactions

The Fund will record your telephone instructions. If the Fund does not follow reasonable procedures, it may be liable for losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent telephone instructions.

Share Certificates

The Fund does not issue share certificates.

Account and Share Information

CONFIRMATIONS AND ACCOUNT STATEMENTS

You will receive confirmation of purchases, redemptions and exchanges (except for systematic transactions). In addition, you will receive periodic statements reporting all account activity, including systematic transactions, dividends and capital gains paid.

DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAINS

The Fund declares and pays any dividends annually to shareholders. Dividends are paid to all shareholders invested in the Fund on the record date. The record date is the date on which a shareholder must officially own Shares in order to earn a dividend.

In addition, the Fund pays any capital gains at least annually. Your dividends and capital gains distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional Shares without a sales charge, unless you elect cash payments.

If you purchase Shares just before a Fund declares a dividend or capital gain distribution, you will pay the full price for the Shares and then receive a portion of the price back in the form of a taxable distribution, whether or not you reinvest the distribution in Shares. Therefore, you should consider the tax implications of purchasing Shares shortly before the Fund declares a dividend or capital gain. Contact your investment professional or the Fund for information concerning when dividends and capital gains will be paid.

ACCOUNTS WITH LOW BALANCES

Due to the high cost of maintaining accounts with low balances, non-retirement accounts may be closed if redemptions or exchanges cause the account balance to fall below the minimum initial investment amount. Before an account is closed, you will be notified and allowed 30 days to purchase additional Shares to meet the minimum.

TAX INFORMATION

The Fund sends an annual statement of your account activity to assist you in completing your federal, state and local tax returns. Fund distributions of dividends and capital gains are taxable to you whether paid in cash or reinvested in the Fund. Dividends are taxable as ordinary income; capital gains are taxable at different rates depending upon the length of time the Fund holds its assets.

Fund distributions are expected to be both dividends and capital gains. Redemptions and exchanges are taxable sales. Please consult your tax adviser regarding your federal, state, and local tax liability.

Who Manages the Fund?

The Board of Trustees governs the Fund. The Board selects and oversees the Adviser, Federated Investment Management Company. The Adviser manages the Fund's assets, including buying and selling portfolio securities. The Adviser's address is Federated Investors Tower, 1001 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779.

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The Adviser and other subsidiaries of Federated advise approximately 139 mutual funds and a variety of separate accounts, which totaled approximately $180 billion in assets as of December 31, 2001. Federated was established in 1955 and is one of the largest mutual fund investment managers in the United States with approximately 1,800 employees. More than 4,000 investment professionals make Federated funds available to their customers.

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THE FUND'S PORTFOLIO MANAGERS ARE:

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Michael R. Tucker

Michael R. Tucker has been the Fund's Portfolio Manager since March 2000. Mr. Tucker joined Federated in June 1993 as a Research Assistant. Mr. Tucker has been a Portfolio Manager and Assistant Vice President of the Fund's Adviser since March 2000. He served as an Analyst from December 1995 to May 1999 and became a Senior Investment Analyst in June 1999. Mr. Tucker earned his Master of Science in Industrial Administration with an emphasis on finance and strategy from Carnegie Mellon University.

Dana L. Meissner

Dana L. Meissner was named the Fund's Portfolio Manager effective January 2003. He joined Federated in May 2000 as an investment analyst of the Fund's investment adviser. Mr. Meissner was an engineering consultant with AEA Technology Engineering Software from December 1994 through August 1998. Mr. Meissner received an M.S. in Industrial Administration, with concentrations in finance and accounting, from Carnegie Mellon University in May 2000. He also holds an M.S. and B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Toledo.

ADVISORY FEES

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The Adviser receives an annual investment advisory fee of 0.75% of the Fund's average daily net assets. The Adviser may voluntarily waive a portion of its fee or reimburse the Fund for certain operating expenses.

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Financial Information

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The Financial Highlights will help you understand the Fund's financial performance for its past five fiscal years, or since inception, if the life of the Fund is shorter. Some of the information is presented on a per share basis. Total returns represent the rate an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund, assuming reinvestment of any dividends and capital gains.

This information has been audited by Deloitte & Touche, LLP, whose report, along with the Fund's audited financial statements, is included in the Annual Report.

Financial Highlights -- Class A Shares

(For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period)

Year Ended October 31

 

2002

   

 

2001

   

 

2000

   

 

1999

1

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   

$4.76

   

   

$14.64

   

   

$12.42

   

   

$10.00

   

Income From Investment Operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net operating loss

 

(0.08

)2

 

(0.11

)2

 

(0.21

)2

 

(0.01

)2

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and futures contracts

 

(1.35

)

 

(9.77

)

 

2.46

 

 

2.43

 


TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS

 

(1.43

)

 

(9.88

)

 

2.25

 

 

2.42

 


Less Distributions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Distributions from net realized gain on investments

 

--

 

 

--

 

 

(0.03

)

 

--

 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

 

$3.33

 

 

$4.76

 

 

$14.64

 

 

$12.42

 


Total Return3

 

(30.04

)%

 

(67.49

)%

 

18.10

%

 

24.20

%


   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Expenses

 

2.04

%4

 

1.67

%

 

1.30

%

 

1.20

%5


Net operating loss

 

(1.68

)%

 

(1.29

)%

 

(1.13

)%

 

(0.85

)%5


Expense waiver/reimbursement6

 

0.12

%

 

0.02

%

 

0.00

%7

 

2.14

%5


Supplemental Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)

 

$29,632

 

 

$58,423

 

 

$255,307

 

 

$13,893

 


Portfolio turnover

 

174

%

 

224

%

 

92

%

 

36

%


1 Reflects operations for the period from September 21, 1999 (date of initial public investment) to October 31,1999.

2 Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method, which more appropriately represents the per share data for the period since the use of the undistributed income method did not accord with results of operations.

3 Based on net asset value, which does not reflect the sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge, if applicable.

4 The expense ratio is calculated without reduction for fees paid indirectly for directed brokerage arrangements.

5 Computed on an annualized basis.

6 This voluntary expense decrease is reflected in both the expense and the net operating loss ratios shown above.

7 Amount is less than 0.01%.

Further information about the Fund's performance is contained in the Fund's Annual Report, dated October 31, 2002, which can be obtained free of charge.

Financial Highlights -- Class B Shares

(For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period)

Year Ended October 31

 

2002

   

 

2001

   

 

2000

   

 

1999

1

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   

$4.68

   

   

$14.53

   

   

$12.42

   

   

$10.00

   

Income From Investment Operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net operating loss

 

(0.11

)2

 

(0.16

)2

 

(0.34

)2

 

(0.02

)2

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and futures contracts

 

(1.32

)

 

(9.69

)

 

2.48

 

 

2.44

 


TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS

 

(1.43

)

 

(9.85

)

 

2.14

 

 

2.42

 


Less Distributions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributions from net realized gain on investments

 

--

 

 

--

 

 

(0.03

)

 

--

 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   

$3.25

   

   

$4.68

   

   

$14.53

   

   

$12.42

   


Total Return3

 

(30.56

)%

 

(67.79

)%

 

17.21

%

 

24.20

%


   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Expenses

 

2.79

%4

 

2.42

%

 

2.05

%

 

1.95

%5


Net operating loss

 

(2.43

)%

 

(2.04

)%

 

(1.88

)%

 

(1.60

)%5


Expense waiver/reimbursement6

 

0.12

%

 

0.02

%

 

0.00

%7

 

2.14

%5


Supplemental Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)

 

$66,179

 

 

$126,320

 

 

$458,094

 

 

$34,771

 


Portfolio turnover

 

174

%

 

224

%

 

92

%

 

36

%


1 Reflects operations for the period from September 21, 1999 (date of initial public investment) to October 31, 1999.

2 Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method, which more appropriately represents the per share data for the period since the use of undistributed income method did not accord with the results of operations.

3 Based on net asset value, which does not reflect the sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge if applicable.

4 The expense ratio is calculated without reduction for fees paid indirectly for directed brokerage arrangements.

5 Computed on an annualized basis.

6 This voluntary expense decrease is reflected in both the expense and the net operating loss ratios shown above.

7 Amount is less than 0.01%.

Further information about the Fund's performance is contained in the Fund's Annual Report, dated October 31, 2002, which can be obtained free of charge.

Financial Highlights -- Class C Shares

(For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period)

Year Ended October 31

 

2002

   

 

2001

   

 

2000

   

 

1999

1

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

 

$4.68

   

   

$14.52

   

   

$12.42

   

   

$10.00

   

Income From Investment Operations:

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

Net operating loss

 

(0.11

)2

 

(0.16

)2

 

(0.34

)2

 

(0.02

)2

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and futures contracts

 

(1.32

)

 

(9.68

)

 

2.47

 

 

2.44

 


TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS

 

(1.43

)

 

(9.84

)

 

2.13

 

 

2.42

 


Less Distributions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributions from net realized gain on investments

 

--

 

 

--

 

 

(0.03

)

 

--

 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   

$3.25

   

   

$4.68

   

   

$14.52

   

   

$12.42

   


Total Return3

 

(30.56

)%

 

(67.77

)%

 

17.13

%

 

24.20

%


   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

2.79

%4

 

2.42

%

 

2.05

%

 

1.95

%5


Net operating loss

 

(2.43

)%

 

(2.04

)%

 

(1.88

)%

 

(1.60

)%5


Expense waiver/reimbursement6

 

0.12

%

 

0.02

%

 

0.00

%7

 

2.14

%5


Supplemental Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)

 

$13,055

 

 

$25,186

 

 

$99,315

 

 

$7,265

 


Portfolio turnover

 

174

%

 

224

%

 

92

%

 

36

%


1 Reflects operations for the period from September 21, 1999 (date of initial public investment) to October 31, 1999.

2 Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method, which more appropriately represents the per share data for the period since the use of undistributed income method did not accord with the results of operations.

3 Based on net asset value, which does not reflect the sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge if applicable.

4 The expense ratio is calculated without reduction for fees paid indirectly for directed brokerage arrangements.

5 Computed on an annualized basis.

6 This voluntary expense decrease is reflected in both the expense and the net operating loss ratios shown above.

7 Amount is less than 0.01%.

Further information about the Fund's performance is contained in the Fund's Annual Report, dated October 31, 2002, which can be obtained free of charge.

A Statement of Additional Information (SAI) dated December 31, 2002, is incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Additional information about the Fund and its investments is contained in the Fund's SAI and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to shareholders as they become available. The Annual Report discusses market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund's performance during its last fiscal year. To obtain the SAI, Annual Report, Semi-Annual Report and other information without charge, and to make inquiries, call your investment professional or the Fund at 1-800-341-7400.

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You can obtain information about the Fund (including the SAI) by writing to or visiting the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. You may also access Fund information from the EDGAR Database on the SEC's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. You can purchase copies of this information by contacting the SEC by email at publicinfo@sec.gov or by writing to the SEC's Public Reference Section, Washington, DC 20549-0102. Call 1-202-942-8090 for information on the Public Reference Room's operations and copying fees.

[Logo of Federated]

Federated Communications Technology Fund
Federated Investors Funds
5800 Corporate Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15237-7000
www.federatedinvestors.com

Contact us at 1-800-341-7400 or
www.federatedinvestors.com/contact

Federated Securities Corp., Distributor

Investment Company Act File No. 811-4017

Federated is a registered mark of Federated Investors, Inc.
2002 © Federated Investors, Inc.

Cusip 314172818
Cusip 314172792
Cusip 314172784

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G02681-01 (12/02)

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[Logo of Federated]

Federated Communications Technology Fund

A Portfolio of Federated Equity Funds

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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December 31, 2002

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CLASS A SHARES
CLASS B SHARES
CLASS C SHARES

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This Statement of Additional Information (SAI) is not a prospectus. Read this SAI in conjunction with the prospectus for Federated Communications Technology Fund (Fund), dated December 31, 2002. This SAI incorporates by reference the Fund's Annual Report. Obtain the prospectus or the Annual Report without charge by calling 1-800-341-7400.

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[Logo of Federated]

Federated Communications Technology Fund
Federated Investors Funds
5800 Corporate Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15237-7000
www.federatedinvestors.com

Contact us at 1-800-341-7400 or
www.federatedinvestors.com/contact

Federated Securities Corp., Distributor

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G02681-02 (12/02)

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Federated is a registered mark of Federated Investors, Inc.
2002 ©Federated Investors, Inc.

CONTENTS

How is the Fund Organized?  
1
Securities in Which the Fund Invests  
1
What do Shares Cost?  
8
How is the Fund Sold?  
9
Exchanging Securities for Shares  
9
Subaccounting Services  
10
Redemption in Kind  
10
Massachusetts Partnership Law  
10
Account and Share Information  
10
Tax Information  
10
Who Manages and Provides Services to the Fund?  
11
How does the Fund Measure Performance?  
16
Who is Federated Investors, Inc.?  
18
Financial Information  
19
Investment Ratings  
19
Addresses  
21

How is the Fund Organized?

The Fund is a diversified portfolio of Federated Equity Funds (Trust). The Trust is an open-end, management investment company that was established under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on April 17, 1984. The Trust may offer separate series of shares representing interests in separate portfolios of securities.

The Board of Trustees (the Board) has established three classes of shares of the Fund, known as Class A Shares, Class B Shares and Class C Shares (Shares). This SAI relates to all classes of Shares. The Fund's investment adviser is Federated Investment Management Company (Adviser).

Securities in Which the Fund Invests

In pursuing its investment strategy, the Fund may invest in the following securities for any purpose that is consistent with its investment objective.

SECURITIES DESCRIPTIONS AND TECHNIQUES

Equity Securities

Equity securities represent a share of an issuer's earnings and assets, after the issuer pays its liabilities. The Fund cannot predict the income it will receive from equity securities because issuers generally have discretion as to the payment of any dividends or distributions. However, equity securities offer greater potential for appreciation than many other types of securities, because their value increases directly with the value of the issuer's business. The following describes the types of equity securities in which the Fund invests.

COMMON STOCKS

Common stocks are the most prevalent type of equity security. Common stocks receive the issuer's earnings after the issuer pays its creditors and any preferred stockholders. As a result, changes in an issuer's earnings directly influence the value of its common stock.

PREFERRED STOCKS

Preferred stocks have the right to receive specified dividends or distributions before the issuer makes payments on its common stock. Some preferred stocks also participate in dividends and distributions paid on common stock. Preferred stocks may also permit the issuer to redeem the stock. The Fund may also treat such redeemable preferred stock as a fixed income security.

INTERESTS IN OTHER LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES

Entities such as limited partnerships, limited liability companies, business trusts and companies organized outside the United States may issue securities comparable to common or preferred stock.

WARRANTS

Warrants give the Fund the option to buy the issuer's equity securities at a specified price (the exercise price) at a specified future date (the expiration date). The Fund may buy the designated securities by paying the exercise price before the expiration date. Warrants may become worthless if the price of the stock does not rise above the exercise price by the expiration date. This increases the market risks of warrants as compared to the underlying security. Rights are the same as warrants, except companies typically issue rights to existing stockholders.

Fixed Income Securities

Fixed income securities pay interest, dividends or distributions at a specified rate. The rate may be a fixed percentage of the principal or adjusted periodically. In addition, the issuer of a fixed income security must repay the principal amount of the security, normally within a specified time. Fixed income securities provide more regular income than equity securities. However, the returns on fixed income securities are limited and normally do not increase with the issuer's earnings. This limits the potential appreciation of fixed income securities as compared to equity securities.

A security's yield measures the annual income earned on a security as a percentage of its price. A security's yield will increase or decrease depending upon whether it costs less (a discount) or more (a premium) than the principal amount. If the issuer may redeem the security before its scheduled maturity, the price and yield on a discount or premium security may change based upon the probability of an early redemption. Securities with higher risks generally have higher yields.

The following describes the types of fixed income securities in which the Fund invests.

TREASURY SECURITIES

Treasury securities are direct obligations of the federal government of the United States. Treasury securities are generally regarded as having the lowest credit risks.

AGENCY SECURITIES

Agency securities are issued or guaranteed by a federal agency or other government sponsored entity acting under federal authority (a GSE). The United States supports some GSEs with its full faith and credit. Other GSEs receive support through federal subsidies, loans or other benefits. A few GSEs have no explicit financial support, but are regarded as having implied support because the federal government sponsors their activities. Agency securities are generally regarded as having low credit risks, but not as low as treasury securities.

CORPORATE DEBT SECURITIES

Corporate debt securities are fixed income securities issued by businesses. Notes, bonds, debentures and commercial paper are the most prevalent types of corporate debt securities. The Fund may also purchase interests in bank loans to companies. The credit risks of corporate debt securities vary widely among issuers.

In addition, the credit risk of an issuer's debt security may vary based on its priority for repayment. For example, higher ranking (senior) debt securities have a higher priority than lower ranking (subordinated) securities. This means that the issuer might not make payments on subordinated securities while continuing to make payments on senior securities. In addition, in the event of bankruptcy, holders of senior securities may receive amounts otherwise payable to the holders of subordinated securities. Some subordinated securities, such as trust preferred and capital securities notes, also permit the issuer to defer payments under certain circumstances. For example, insurance companies issue securities known as surplus notes that permit the insurance company to defer any payment that would reduce its capital below regulatory requirements.

COMMERCIAL PAPER

Commercial paper is an issuer's obligation with maturity of less than nine months. Companies typically issue commercial paper to pay for current expenditures. Most issuers constantly reissue their commercial paper and use the proceeds (or bank loans) to repay maturing paper. If the issuer cannot continue to obtain liquidity in this fashion, its commercial paper may default. The short maturity of commercial paper reduces both the market and credit risks as compared to other debt securities of the same issuer.

DEMAND INSTRUMENTS

Demand instruments are corporate debt securities that the issuer must repay upon demand. Other demand instruments require a third party, such as a dealer or bank, to repurchase the security for its face value upon demand. The Fund treats demand instruments as short-term securities, even though their stated maturity may extend beyond one year.

ZERO COUPON SECURITIES

Zero coupon securities do not pay interest or principal until final maturity unlike debt securities that provide periodic payments of interest (referred to as a coupon payment). Investors buy zero coupon securities at a price below the amount payable at maturity. The difference between the purchase price and the amount paid at maturity represents interest on the zero coupon security. Investors must wait until maturity to receive interest and principal, which increases the market and credit risks of a zero coupon security.

There are many forms of zero coupon securities. Some are issued at a discount and are referred to as zero coupon or capital appreciation bonds. Others are created from interest bearing bonds by separating the right to receive the bond's coupon payments from the right to receive the bond's principal due at maturity, a process known as coupon stripping. Treasury STRIPs, IOs and POs are the most common forms of stripped zero coupon securities. In addition, some securities give the issuer the option to deliver additional securities in place of cash interest payments, thereby increasing the amount payable at maturity. These are referred to as pay-in-kind or PIK securities.

Convertible Securities

Convertible securities are fixed income securities that the Fund has the option to exchange for equity securities at a specified conversion price. The option allows the Fund to realize additional returns if the market price of the equity securities exceeds the conversion price. For example, the Fund may hold fixed income securities that are convertible into shares of common stock at a conversion price of $10 per share. If the market value of the shares of common stock reached $12, the Fund could realize an additional $2 per share by converting its fixed income securities.

Convertible securities have lower yields than comparable fixed income securities. In addition, at the time a convertible security is issued the conversion price exceeds the market value of the underlying equity securities. Thus, convertible securities may provide lower returns than non-convertible fixed income securities or equity securities depending upon changes in the price of the underlying equity securities. However, convertible securities permit the Fund to realize some of the potential appreciation of the underlying equity securities with less risk of losing its initial investment.

The Fund treats convertible securities as equity securities for purposes of its investment policies and limitations, because of their unique characteristics.

Foreign Securities

Foreign securities are securities of issuers based outside the United States. The Fund considers an issuer to be based outside the United States if:

  • it is organized under the laws of, or has a principal office located in, another country;
  • the principal trading market for its securities is in another country; or
  • it (or its subsidiaries) derived in its most current fiscal year at least 50% of its total assets, capitalization, gross revenue or profit from goods produced, services performed, or sales made in another country.

Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies. Along with the risks normally associated with domestic securities of the same type, foreign securities are subject to currency risks and risks of foreign investing. Trading in certain foreign markets is also subject to liquidity risks.

DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS

Depositary receipts represent interests in underlying securities issued by a foreign company. Depositary receipts are not traded in the same market as the underlying security. The foreign securities underlying American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) are not traded in the United States. ADRs provide a way to buy shares of foreign-based companies in the United States rather than in overseas markets. ADRs are also traded in U.S. dollars, eliminating the need for foreign exchange transactions. The foreign securities underlying European Depositary Receipts (EDRs), Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs), and International Depositary Receipts (IDRs), are traded globally or outside the United States. Depositary receipts involve many of the same risks of investing directly in foreign securities, including currency risks and risks of foreign investing.

Derivative Contracts

Derivative contracts are financial instruments that require payments based upon changes in the values of designated (or underlying) securities, currencies, commodities, financial indices or other assets. Some derivative contracts (such as futures, forwards and options) require payments relating to a future trade involving the underlying asset. Other derivative contracts (such as swaps) require payments relating to the income or returns from the underlying asset. The other party to a derivative contract is referred to as a counterparty.

Many derivative contracts are traded on securities or commodities exchanges. In this case, the exchange sets all the terms of the contract except for the price. Investors make payments due under their contracts through the exchange. Most exchanges require investors to maintain margin accounts through their brokers to cover their potential obligations to the exchange. Parties to the contract make (or collect) daily payments to the margin accounts to reflect losses (or gains) in the value of their contracts. This protects investors against potential defaults by the counterparty. Trading contracts on an exchange also allows investors to close out their contracts by entering into offsetting contracts.

For example, the Fund could close out an open contract to buy an asset at a future date by entering into an offsetting contract to sell the same asset on the same date. If the offsetting sale price is more than the original purchase price, the Fund realizes a gain; if it is less, the Fund realizes a loss. Exchanges may limit the amount of open contracts permitted at any one time. Such limits may prevent the Fund from closing out a position. If this happens, the Fund will be required to keep the contract open (even if it is losing money on the contract), and to make any payments required under the contract (even if it has to sell portfolio securities at unfavorable prices to do so). Inability to close out a contract could also harm the Fund by preventing it from disposing of or trading any assets it has been using to secure its obligations under the contract.

The Fund may also trade derivative contracts over-the-counter (OTC) in transactions negotiated directly between the Fund and the counterparty. OTC contracts do not necessarily have standard terms, so they cannot be directly offset with other OTC contracts. In addition, OTC contracts with more specialized terms may be more difficult to price than exchange traded contracts.

Depending upon how the Fund uses derivative contracts and the relationships between the market value of a derivative contract and the underlying asset, derivative contracts may increase or decrease the Fund's exposure to market and currency risks, and may also expose the Fund to liquidity and leverage risks. OTC contracts also expose the Fund to credit risks in the event that a counterparty defaults on the contract.

The Fund may trade in the following types of derivative contracts.

FUTURES CONTRACTS

Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of an underlying asset at a specified price, date, and time. Entering into a contract to buy an underlying asset is commonly referred to as buying a contract or holding a long position in the asset. Entering into a contract to sell an underlying asset is commonly referred to as selling a contract or holding a short position in the asset. Futures contracts are considered to be commodity contracts. Futures contracts traded OTC are frequently referred to as forward contracts.

The Fund may buy and sell financial futures contracts.

OPTIONS

Options are rights to buy or sell an underlying asset for a specified price (the exercise price) during, or at the end of, a specified period. A call option gives the holder (buyer) the right to buy the underlying asset from the seller (writer) of the option. A put option gives the holder the right to sell the underlying asset to the writer of the option. The writer of the option receives a payment, or premium, from the buyer, which the writer keeps regardless of whether the buyer uses (or exercises) the option.

The Fund may:

  • Buy call options on portfolio securities, futures, futures on indices and financial futures contracts in anticipation of an increase in the value of the underlying asset;
  • Buy put options on portfolio securities, futures, futures on indices and financial futures contracts in anticipation of a decrease in the value of the underlying asset; and
  • Buy or write options to close out existing options positions.

The Fund may also write call options on portfolio securities, futures, futures on indices and financial futures contracts to generate income from premiums, and in anticipation of a decrease or only limited increase in the value of the underlying asset. If a call written by the Fund is exercised, the Fund foregoes any possible profit from an increase in the market price of the underlying asset over the exercise price plus the premium received.

The Fund may also write put options on portfolio securities, futures, futures on indices and financial futures contracts to generate income from premiums, and in anticipation of an increase or only limited decrease in the value of the underlying asset. In writing puts, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to take delivery of the underlying asset when its current market price is lower than the exercise price.

When the Fund writes options on futures contracts, it will be subject to margin requirements similar to those applied to futures contracts.

SWAPS

Swaps are contracts in which two parties agree to pay each other (swap) the returns derived from underlying assets with differing characteristics. Most swaps do not involve the delivery of the underlying assets by either party, and the parties might not own the assets underlying the swap. The payments are usually made on a net basis so that, on any given day, the Fund would receive (or pay) only the amount by which its payment under the contract is less than (or exceeds) the amount of the other party's payment. Swap agreements are sophisticated instruments that can take many different forms, and are known by a variety of names including caps, floors, and collars. Common swap agreements that the Fund may use include:

INTEREST RATE SWAPS

Interest rate swaps are contracts in which one party agrees to make regular payments equal to a fixed or floating interest rate times a stated principal amount of fixed income securities, in return for payments equal to a different fixed or floating rate times the same principal amount, for a specific period. For example, a $10 million LIBOR swap would require one party to pay the equivalent of the London Interbank Offer Rate of interest (which fluctuates) on $10 million principal amount in exchange for the right to receive the equivalent of a stated fixed rate of interest on $10 million principal amount.

CURRENCY SWAPS

Currency swaps are contracts which provide for interest payments in different currencies. The parties might agree to exchange the notional principal amount as well.

SPECIAL TRANSACTIONS

Repurchase Agreements

Repurchase agreements are transactions in which the Fund buys a security from a dealer or bank and agrees to sell the security back at a mutually agreed upon time and price. The repurchase price exceeds the sale price, reflecting the Fund's return on the transaction. This return is unrelated to the interest rate on the underlying security. The Fund will enter into repurchase agreements only with banks and other recognized financial institutions, such as securities dealers, deemed creditworthy by the Adviser.

The Fund's custodian or subcustodian will take possession of the securities subject to repurchase agreements. The Adviser or subcustodian will monitor the value of the underlying security each day to ensure that the value of the security always equals or exceeds the repurchase price.

Repurchase agreements are subject to credit risks.

REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

Reverse repurchase agreements are repurchase agreements in which the Fund is the seller (rather than the buyer) of the securities, and agrees to repurchase them at an agreed upon time and price. A reverse repurchase agreement may be viewed as a type of borrowing by the Fund. Reverse repurchase agreements are subject to credit risks. In addition, reverse repurchase agreements create leverage risks because the Fund must repurchase the underlying security at a higher price, regardless of the market value of the security at the time of repurchase.

DELAYED DELIVERY TRANSACTIONS

Delayed delivery transactions, including when issued transactions, are arrangements in which the Fund buys securities for a set price, with payment and delivery of the securities scheduled for a future time. During the period between purchase and settlement, no payment is made by the Fund to the issuer and no interest accrues to the Fund. The Fund records the transaction when it agrees to buy the securities and reflects their value in determining the price of its shares. Settlement dates may be a month or more after entering into these transactions so that the market values of the securities bought may vary from the purchase prices. Therefore, delayed delivery transactions create interest rate risks for the Fund. Delayed delivery transactions also involve credit risks in the event of a counterparty default.

SECURITIES LENDING

The Fund may lend portfolio securities to borrowers that the Fund's custodian deems creditworthy. In return, the Fund receives cash or liquid securities from the borrower as collateral. The borrower must furnish additional collateral if the market value of the loaned securities increases. Also, the borrower must pay the Fund the equivalent of any dividends or interest received on the loaned securities.

The Fund will reinvest cash collateral in securities that qualify as an acceptable investment for the Fund. However, the Fund must pay interest to the borrower for the use of cash collateral.

Loans are subject to termination at the option of the Fund or the borrower. The Fund will not have the right to vote on securities while they are on loan, but it will terminate a loan in anticipation of any important vote. The Fund may pay administrative and custodial fees in connection with a loan and may pay a negotiated portion of the interest earned on the cash collateral to a securities lending agent or broker.

Securities lending activities are subject to interest rate risks and credit risks. These transactions may create leverage risks.

ASSET COVERAGE

In order to secure its obligations in connection with derivatives contracts or special transactions, the Fund will either own the underlying assets, enter into an offsetting transaction or set aside readily marketable securities with a value that equals or exceeds the Fund's obligations. Unless the Fund has other readily marketable assets to set aside, it cannot trade assets used to secure such obligations without entering into an offsetting derivative contract or terminating a special transaction. This may cause the Fund to miss favorable trading opportunities or to realize losses on derivative contracts or special transactions.

Inter-Fund Borrowing and Lending Arrangements

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The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has granted an exemption that permits the Fund and all other funds advised by subsidiaries of Federated Investors, Inc. (Federated funds) to lend and borrow money for certain temporary purposes directly to and from other Federated funds. Participation in this inter-fund lending program is voluntary for both borrowing and lending funds, and an inter-fund loan is only made if it benefits each participating fund. Federated Investors, Inc. (Federated) administers the program according to procedures approved by the Fund's Board, and the Board monitors the operation of the program. Any inter-fund loan must comply with certain conditions set out in the exemption, which are designed to assure fairness and protect all participating funds.

For example, inter-fund lending is permitted only (a) to meet shareholder redemption requests, and (b) to meet commitments arising from "failed" trades. All inter-fund loans must be repaid in seven days or less. The Fund's participation in this program must be consistent with its investment policies and limitations, and must meet certain percentage tests. Inter-fund loans may be made only when the rate of interest to be charged is more attractive to the lending fund than market-competitive rates on overnight repurchase agreements (Repo Rate) and more attractive to the borrowing fund than the rate of interest that would be charged by an unaffiliated bank for short-term borrowings (Bank Loan Rate), as determined by the Board. The interest rate imposed on inter-fund loans is the average of the Repo Rate and the Bank Loan Rate.

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INVESTING IN SECURITIES OF OTHER INVESTMENT COMPANIES

The Fund may invest its assets in securities of other investment companies, including the securities of affiliated money market funds, as an efficient means of carrying out its investment policies and managing its uninvested cash.

INVESTMENT RISKS

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There are many factors which may affect an investment in the Fund. The Fund's principal risks are described in its prospectus. Additional risk factors are outlined below.

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EQUITY SECURITIES INVESTMENT RISKS

Stock Market Risks

  • The value of equity securities in the Fund's portfolio will rise and fall. These fluctuations could be a sustained trend or a drastic movement. The Fund's portfolio will reflect changes in prices of individual portfolio stocks or general changes in stock valuations. Consequently, the Fund's share price may decline.
  • The Adviser attempts to manage market risk by limiting the amount the Fund invests in each company's equity securities. However, diversification will not protect the Fund against widespread or prolonged declines in the stock market.

Sector Risks

  • Companies with similar characteristics may be grouped together in broad categories called sectors. Sector risk is the possibility that a certain sector may underperform other sectors or the market as a whole. As the Adviser allocates more of the Fund's portfolio holdings to a particular sector, the Fund's performance will be more susceptible to any economic, business or other developments which generally affect that sector. The developing communications industry sector may be significantly affected by failure to obtain, or delay in obtaining, financing or regulatory approval, intense competition, product compatibility, consumer preferences, and rapid obsolescence.

Risks Related to Investing for Growth

  • Due to their relatively high valuations, growth stocks are typically more volatile than value stocks. For instance, the price of a growth stock may experience a larger decline on a forecast of lower earnings, a negative fundamental development, or an adverse market development. Further, growth stocks may not pay dividends or may pay lower dividends than value stocks. This means they depend more on price changes for returns and may be more adversely affected in a down market compared to value stocks that pay higher dividends.

Liquidity Risks

  • Trading opportunities are more limited for equity securities that are not widely held. This may make it more difficult to sell or buy a security at a favorable price or time. Consequently, the Fund may have to accept a lower price to sell a security, sell other securities to raise cash or give up an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on the Fund's performance. Infrequent trading of securities may also lead to an increase in their price volatility.

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  • Liquidity risk also refers to the possibility that the Fund may not be able to sell a security when it wants to. If this happens, the Fund will be required to continue to hold the security and the Fund could incur losses. OTC derivative contracts generally carry greater liquidity risk than exchange-traded contracts.

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Risks Related to Company Size

  • Generally, the smaller the market capitalization of a company, the fewer the number of shares traded daily, the less liquid its stock and the more volatile its price. Market capitalization is determined by multiplying the number of its outstanding shares by the current market price per share.
  • Companies with smaller market capitalizations also tend to have unproven track records, a limited product or service base and limited access to capital. These factors also increase risks and make these companies more likely to fail than companies with larger market capitalizations.

Currency Risks

  • Exchange rates for currencies fluctuate daily. The combination of currency risk and market risk tends to make securities traded in foreign markets more volatile than securities traded exclusively in the U.S.
  • The Adviser attempts to manage currency risk by limiting the amount the Fund invests in securities denominated in a particular currency. However, diversification will not protect the Fund against a general increase in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies.

Euro Risks

  • The Fund may make significant investments in securities denominated in the Euro, the new single currency of the European Monetary Union (EMU). Therefore, the exchange rate between the Euro and the U.S. dollar will have a significant impact on the value of the Fund's investments.
  • With the advent of the Euro, the participating countries in the EMU can no longer follow independent monetary policies. This may limit these countries' ability to respond to economic downturns or political upheavals, and consequently reduce the value of their foreign government securities.

Risks of Foreign Investing

  • Foreign securities pose additional risks because foreign economic or political conditions may be less favorable than those of the United States. Securities in foreign markets may also be subject to taxation policies that reduce returns for U.S. investors.
  • Foreign companies may not provide information (including financial statements) as frequently or to as great an extent as companies in the United States. Foreign companies may also receive less coverage than United States companies by market analysts and the financial press. In addition, foreign countries may lack uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards or regulatory requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. These factors may prevent the Fund and its Adviser from obtaining information concerning foreign companies that is as frequent, extensive and reliable as the information available concerning companies in the United States.
  • Foreign countries may have restrictions on foreign ownership of securities or may impose exchange controls, capital flow restrictions or repatriation restrictions which could adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund's investments.

Leverage Risks

  • Leverage risk is created when an investment exposes the Fund to a level of risk that exceeds the amount invested. Changes in the value of such an investment magnify the Fund's risk of loss and potential for gain.

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  • Investments can have these same results if their returns are based on a multiple of a specified index, security, or other benchmark.

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Credit Risks

  • Credit risk includes the possibility that a party to a transaction involving the Fund will fail to meet its obligations. This could cause the Fund to lose the benefit of the transaction or prevent the Fund from selling or buying other securities to implement its investment strategy.

FIXED INCOME SECURITIES INVESTMENT RISKS

Interest Rate Risks

  • Prices of fixed income securities rise and fall in response to changes in the interest rate paid by similar securities. Generally, when interest rates rise, prices of fixed income securities fall. However, market factors, such as the demand for particular fixed income securities, may cause the price of certain fixed income securities to fall while the prices of other securities rise or remain unchanged.
  • Interest rate changes have a greater effect on the price of fixed income securities with longer durations. Duration measures the price sensitivity of a fixed income security to changes in interest rates.

Credit Risks

  • Credit risk is the possibility that an issuer will default on a security by failing to pay interest or principal when due. If an issuer defaults, the Fund will lose money.
  • Many fixed income securities receive credit ratings from services such as Standard & Poor's and Moody's Investors Service, Inc. These services assign ratings to securities by assessing the likelihood of issuer default. Lower credit ratings correspond to higher credit risk. If a security has not received a rating, the Fund must rely entirely upon the Adviser's credit assessment.
  • Fixed income securities generally compensate for greater credit risk by paying interest at a higher rate. The difference between the yield of a security and the yield of a U.S. Treasury security with a comparable maturity (the spread) measures the additional interest paid for risk. Spreads may increase generally in response to adverse economic or market conditions. A security's spread may also increase if the security's rating is lowered, or the security is perceived to have an increased credit risk. An increase in the spread will cause the price of the security to decline.
  • Credit risk includes the possibility that a party to a transaction involving the Fund will fail to meet its obligations. This could cause the Fund to lose the benefit of the transaction or prevent the Fund from selling or buying other securities to implement its investment strategy.

Call Risks

  • Call risk is the possibility that an issuer may redeem a fixed income security before maturity (a call) at a price below its current market price. An increase in the likelihood of a call may reduce the security's price.
  • If a fixed income security is called, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in other fixed income securities with lower interest rates, higher credit risks, or other less favorable characteristics.

Liquidity Risks

  • Trading opportunities are more limited for fixed income securities that have not received any credit ratings, have received ratings below investment grade or are not widely held.
  • Liquidity risk also refers to the possibility that the Fund may not be able to sell a security when it wants to. If this happens, the Fund will be required to continue to hold the security and the Fund could incur losses.

Sector Risks

  • A substantial part of the Fund's portfolio may be comprised of securities issued or credit enhanced by companies in similar businesses, or with other similar characteristics. As a result, the Fund will be more susceptible to any economic, business, political, or other developments which generally affect these issuers.

Risks Associated with Noninvestment Grade Securities

  • Securities rated below investment grade, also known as junk bonds, generally entail greater market, credit and liquidity risks than investment grade securities. For example, their prices are more volatile, economic downturns and financial setbacks may affect their prices more negatively, and their trading market may be more limited.

FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

The investment objective of the Fund is to achieve capital appreciation. The investment objective may not be changed by the Fund's Trustees without shareholder approval.

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

Diversification

With respect to securities comprising 75% of the value of its total assets, the Fund will not purchase securities of any one issuer (other than cash; cash items; securities issued or guaranteed by the government of the United States or its agencies or instrumentalities and repurchase agreements collateralized by such U.S. government securities; and securities of other investment companies) if, as a result, more than 5% of the value of its total assets would be invested in the securities of that issuer, or the Fund would own more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of that issuer.

Concentration of Investments

The Fund will not invest more than 25% of its total assets (valued at the time of investment) in securities of companies engaged principally in any one industry other than the communications technology industry, except that this restriction does not apply to cash or cash items and securities issued or guaranteed by the United States government or its agencies or instrumentalities.

Underwriting

The Fund may not underwrite the securities of other issuers, except that the Fund may engage in transactions involving the acquisition, disposition or resale of its portfolio securities, under circumstances where it may be considered to be an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933.

Investing in Commodities

The Fund may not purchase or sell physical commodities, provided that the Fund may purchase securities of companies that deal in commodities. For purposes of this restriction, investments in transactions involving futures contracts and options, forward currency contracts, swap transactions and other financial contracts that settle by payment of cash are not deemed to be investments in commodities.

Investing in Real Estate

The Fund may not purchase or sell real estate, provided that this restriction does not prevent the Fund from investing in issuers which invest, deal, or otherwise engage in transactions in real estate or interests therein, or investing in securities that are secured by real estate or interests therein. The Fund may exercise its rights under agreements relating to such securities, including the right to enforce security interests and to hold real estate acquired by reason of such enforcement until that real estate can be liquidated in an orderly manner.

Borrowing Money and Issuing Senior Securities

The Fund may borrow money, directly or indirectly, and issue senior securities to the maximum extent permitted under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (1940 Act), any rule or order thereunder, or any SEC staff interpretation thereof.

Lending

The Fund may not make loans, provided that this restriction does not prevent the Fund from purchasing debt obligations, entering into repurchase agreements, lending its assets to broker/dealers or institutional investors and investing in loans, including assignments and participation interests.

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The above limitations cannot be changed unless authorized by the Board and by the "vote of a majority of its outstanding voting securities," as defined by the 1940 Act. The following limitations, however, may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval. Shareholders will be notified before any material change in these limitations becomes effective.

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Investing in Other Investment Companies

The Fund may invest its assets in securities of other investment companies as an efficient means of carrying out its investment policies. It should be noted that investment companies incur certain expenses, such as management fees, and, therefore, any investment by the Fund in shares of other investment companies may be subject to such duplicate expenses. At the present time, the Fund expects that its investments in other investment companies may include shares of money market funds, including funds affiliated with the Fund's investment adviser.

The Fund may invest in the securities of affiliated money market funds as an efficient means of managing the Fund's uninvested cash.

Purchases on Margin

The Fund will not purchase securities on margin, provided that the Fund may obtain short-term credits necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of securities, and further provided that the Fund may make margin deposits in connection with its use of financial options and futures, forward and spot currency contracts, swap transactions and other financial contracts or derivative instruments.

Pledging Assets

The Fund will not mortgage, pledge, or hypothecate any of its assets, provided that this shall not apply to the transfer of securities in connection with any permissible borrowing or to collateral arrangements in connection with permissible activities.

Illiquid Securities

The Fund will not purchase securities for which there is no readily available market, or enter into repurchase agreements or purchase time deposits maturing in more than seven days, if immediately after and as a result, the value of such securities would exceed, in the aggregate, 15% of the Fund's net assets.

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For purposes of the above limitations, the Fund considers certificates of deposit and demand and time deposits issued by a U.S. branch of a domestic bank or savings association having capital, surplus and undivided profits in excess of $100,000,000 at the time of investment to be "cash items." Except with respect to borrowing money, if a percentage limitations is adhered to at the time of investment, a later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from any change in value or net assets will not result in a violation of such limitation.

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DETERMINING MARKET VALUE OF SECURITIES

Market values of the Fund's portfolio securities are determined as follows:

  • for equity securities, according to the last sale price in the market in which they are primarily traded (either a national securities exchange or the over-the-counter market), if available;
  • in the absence of recorded sales for equity securities, according to the mean between the last closing bid and asked prices;

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  • futures contracts and options are generally valued at market values established by the exchanges on which they are traded at the close of trading on such exchanges. Options traded in the over-the-counter market are generally valued according to the mean between the last bid and the last asked price for the option as provided by an investment dealer or other financial institution that deals in the option. The Board may determine in good faith that another method of valuing such investments is necessary to appraise their fair market value;

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  • for fixed income securities, according to the mean between bid and asked prices as furnished by an independent pricing service, except that fixed income securities with remaining maturities of less than 60 days at the time of purchase may be valued at amortized cost; and
  • for all other securities at fair value as determined in good faith by the Board.

Prices provided by independent pricing services may be determined without relying exclusively on quoted prices and may consider institutional trading in similar groups of securities, yield, quality, stability, risk, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics, and other market data or factors. From time to time, when prices cannot be obtained from an independent pricing service, securities may be valued based on quotes from broker-dealers or other financial institutions that trade the securities.

TRADING IN FOREIGN SECURITIES

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Trading in foreign securities may be completed at times which vary from the closing of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). In computing its NAV, the Fund values foreign securities at the latest closing price on the exchange on which they are traded immediately prior to the closing of the NYSE. Certain foreign currency exchange rates may also be determined at the latest rate prior to the closing of the NYSE. Foreign securities quoted in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at current rates. Occasionally, events that affect these values and exchange rates may occur between the times at which they are determined and the closing of the NYSE. If such events materially affect the value of portfolio securities, these securities may be valued at their fair value as determined in good faith by the Fund's Board, although the actual calculation may be done by others.

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What do Shares Cost?

The Fund's net asset value (NAV) per Share fluctuates and is based on the market value of all securities and other assets of the Fund.

The NAV for each class of Shares may differ due to the variance in daily net income realized by each class. Such variance will reflect only accrued net income to which the shareholders of a particular class are entitled.

REDUCING OR ELIMINATING THE FRONT-END SALES CHARGE

You can reduce or eliminate the applicable front-end sales charge, as follows:

Quantity Discounts

Larger purchases of the same Share class reduce or eliminate the sales charge you pay. You can combine purchases of Shares made on the same day by you, your spouse and your children under age 21. In addition, purchases made at one time by a trustee or fiduciary for a single trust estate or a single fiduciary account can be combined.

Accumulated Purchases

If you make an additional purchase of Shares, you can count previous Share purchases still invested in the Fund in calculating the applicable sales charge on the additional purchase.

Concurrent Purchases

You can combine concurrent purchases of the same share class of two or more Federated Funds in calculating the applicable sales charge.

Letter of Intent Class A Shares

You can sign a Letter of Intent committing to purchase a certain amount of the same class of Shares within a 13-month period to combine such purchases in calculating the sales charge. The Fund's custodian will hold Shares in escrow equal to the maximum applicable sales charge. If you complete the Letter of Intent, the Custodian will release the Shares in escrow to your account. If you do not fulfill the Letter of Intent, the Custodian will redeem the appropriate amount from the Shares held in escrow to pay the sales charges that were not applied to your purchases.

Reinvestment Privilege

You may reinvest, within 120 days, your Share redemption proceeds at the next determined NAV without any sales charge.

Purchases by Affiliates of the Fund

The following individuals and their immediate family members may buy Shares at NAV without any sales charge because there are nominal sales efforts associated with their purchases:

  • the Trustees, employees and sales representatives of the Fund, the Adviser, the Distributor and their affiliates;
  • any associated person of an investment dealer who has a sales agreement with the Distributor; and
  • trusts, pension or profit-sharing plans for these individuals.

Federated Life Members

Shareholders of the Fund known as "Federated Life Members" are exempt from paying any front-end sales charge. These shareholders joined the Fund originally:

  • through the "Liberty Account," an account for Liberty Family of Funds shareholders on February 28, 1987 (the Liberty Account and Liberty Family of Funds are no longer marketed); or
  • as Liberty Account shareholders by investing through an affinity group prior to August 1, 1987.

REDUCING OR ELIMINATING THE CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE

These reductions or eliminations are offered because: no sales commissions have been advanced to the investment professional selling Shares; the shareholder has already paid a Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (CDSC); or nominal sales efforts are associated with the original purchase of Shares.

Upon notification to the Distributor or the Fund's transfer agent, no CDSC will be imposed on redemptions:

  • following the death or post-purchase disability, as defined in Section 72(m)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, of the last surviving shareholder;
  • representing minimum required distributions from an Individual Retirement Account or other retirement plan to a shareholder who has attained the age of 70-1/2;
  • of Shares that represent a reinvestment within 120 days of a previous redemption;
  • of Shares held by the Trustees, employees, and sales representatives of the Fund, the Adviser, the Distributor and their affiliates; employees of any investment professional that sells Shares according to a sales agreement with the Distributor; and the immediate family members of the above persons;
  • of Shares originally purchased through a bank trust department, a registered investment adviser or retirement plans where the third party administrator has entered into certain arrangements with the Distributor or its affiliates, or any other investment professional, to the extent that no payments were advanced for purchases made through these entities;
  • which are involuntary redemptions processed by the Fund because the accounts do not meet the minimum balance requirements; and

Class B Shares Only

  • which are qualifying redemptions of Class B Shares under a Systematic Withdrawal Program.

How is the Fund Sold?

Under the Distributor's Contract with the Fund, the Distributor (Federated Securities Corp.) offers Shares on a continuous, best-efforts basis.

FRONT-END SALES CHARGE REALLOWANCES

The Distributor receives a front-end sales charge on certain Share sales. The Distributor generally pays up to 90% (and as much as 100%) of this charge to investment professionals for sales and/or administrative services. Any payments to investment professionals in excess of 90% of the front-end sales charge are considered supplemental payments. The Distributor retains any portion not paid to an investment professional.

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RULE 12B-1 PLAN

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As a compensation-type plan, the Rule 12b-1 Plan is designed to pay the Distributor (who may then pay investment professionals such as banks, broker/dealers, trust departments of banks, and registered investment advisers) for marketing activities (such as advertising, printing and distributing prospectuses, and providing incentives to investment professionals) to promote sales of Shares so that overall Fund assets are maintained or increased. This helps the Fund achieve economies of scale, reduce per share expenses, and provide cash for orderly portfolio management and Share redemptions. In addition, the Fund's service providers that receive asset-based fees also benefit from stable or increasing Fund assets.

The Fund may compensate the Distributor more or less than its actual marketing expenses. In no event will the Fund pay for any expenses of the Distributor that exceed the maximum Rule 12b-1 Plan fee.

For some classes of Shares, the maximum Rule 12b-1 Plan fee that can be paid in any one year may not be sufficient to cover the marketing-related expenses the Distributor has incurred. Therefore, it may take the Distributor a number of years to recoup these expenses.

Federated and its subsidiaries may benefit from arrangements where the Rule 12b-1 Plan fees related to Class B Shares may be paid to third parties who have advanced commissions to investment professionals.

SHAREHOLDER SERVICES

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The Fund may pay Federated Shareholder Services Company, a subsidiary of Federated, for providing shareholder services and maintaining shareholder accounts. Federated Shareholder Services Company may select others to perform these services for their customers and may pay them fees.

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SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENTS

Investment professionals (such as broker/dealers or banks) may be paid fees, in significant amounts, out of the assets of the Distributor and/or Federated Shareholder Services Company. (These fees do not come out of Fund assets.) The Distributor and/or Federated Shareholder Services Company may be reimbursed by the Adviser or its affiliates.

Investment professionals receive such fees for providing distribution-related and/or shareholder services, such as advertising, providing incentives to their sales personnel, sponsoring other activities intended to promote sales, and maintaining shareholder accounts. These payments may be based upon such factors as the number or value of Shares the investment professional sells or may sell; the value of client assets invested; and/or the type and nature of sales or marketing support furnished by the investment professional.

When an investment professional's customer purchases Shares, the investment professional may receive:

  • an amount up to 5.50% and 1.00%, respectively, of the NAV of Class B and C Shares.

In addition, the Distributor may pay investment professionals 0.25% of the purchase price of $1 million or more of Class A Shares that its customer has not redeemed over the first year.

Class A Shares

Investment professionals purchasing Class A Shares for their customers are eligible to receive an advance payment from the Distributor based on the following breakpoints:

Amount

 

Advance Payments as a Percentage
of Public Offering Price

First $1 - $5 million

 

0.75%

Next $5 - $20 million

 

0.50%

Over $20 million

 

0.25%

For accounts with assets over $1 million, the dealers advance payments reset annually to the first breakpoint on the anniversary of the first purchase.

Class A Share purchases under this program may be made by Letter of Intent or by combining concurrent purchases. The above advance payments will be paid only on those purchases that were not previously subject to a front-end sales charge and dealer advance payments. Certain retirement accounts may not be eligible for this program.

A contingent deferred sales charge of 0.75% of the redemption amount applies to Class A Shares redeemed up to 24 months after purchase. The CDSC does not apply under certain investment programs where the investment professional does not receive an advance payment on the transaction including, but not limited to, trust accounts and wrap programs where the investor pays an account level fee for investment management.

Exchanging Securities for Shares

You may contact the Distributor to request a purchase of Shares in exchange for securities you own. The Fund reserves the right to determine whether to accept your securities and the minimum market value to accept. The Fund will value your securities in the same manner as it values its assets. This exchange is treated as a sale of your securities for federal tax purposes.

Subaccounting Services

Certain investment professionals may wish to use the transfer agent's subaccounting system to minimize their internal recordkeeping requirements. The transfer agent may charge a fee based on the level of subaccounting services rendered. Investment professionals holding Shares in a fiduciary, agency, custodial or similar capacity may charge or pass through subaccounting fees as part of or in addition to normal trust or agency account fees. They may also charge fees for other services that may be related to the ownership of Shares. This information should, therefore, be read together with any agreement between the customer and the investment professional about the services provided, the fees charged for those services, and any restrictions and limitations imposed.

Redemption in Kind

Although the Fund intends to pay Share redemptions in cash, it reserves the right, as described below, to pay the redemption price in whole or in part by a distribution of the Fund's portfolio securities.

Because the Fund has elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act, the Fund is obligated to pay Share redemptions to any one shareholder in cash only up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net assets represented by such Share class during any 90-day period.

Any Share redemption payment greater than this amount will also be in cash unless the Fund's Board determines that payment should be in kind. In such a case, the Fund will pay all or a portion of the remainder of the redemption in portfolio securities, valued in the same way as the Fund determines its NAV. The portfolio securities will be selected in a manner that the Fund's Board deems fair and equitable and, to the extent available, such securities will be readily marketable.

Redemption in kind is not as liquid as a cash redemption. If redemption is made in kind, shareholders receiving the portfolio securities and selling them before their maturity could receive less than the redemption value of the securities and could incur certain transaction costs.

Massachusetts Partnership Law

Under certain circumstances, shareholders may be held personally liable as partners under Massachusetts law for obligations of the Trust. To protect its shareholders, the Trust has filed legal documents with Massachusetts that expressly disclaim the liability of its shareholders for acts or obligations of the Trust.

In the unlikely event a shareholder is held personally liable for the Trust's obligations, the Trust is required by the Declaration of Trust to use its property to protect or compensate the shareholder. On request, the Trustwill defend any claim made and pay any judgment against a shareholder for any act or obligation of the Trust. Therefore, financial loss resulting from liability as a shareholder will occur only if the Trust itself cannot meet its obligations to indemnify shareholders and pay judgments against them.

Account and Share Information

VOTING RIGHTS

Each Share of the Fund gives the shareholder one vote in Trustee elections and other matters submitted to shareholders for vote.

All Shares of the Trust have equal voting rights, except that in matters affecting only a particular Fund or class, only Shares of that Fund or class are entitled to vote.

Trustees may be removed by the Board or by shareholders at a special meeting. A special meeting of shareholders will be called by the Board upon the written request of shareholders who own at least 10% of the Trust's outstanding Shares of all series entitled to vote.

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As of December 2, 2002, the following shareholders owned of record, beneficially, or both, 5% or more of outstanding Class A Shares: MLPF&S for the sole benefit of its customers, Jacksonville, FL, owned approximately 540,181 Shares (5.68%).

As of December 2, 2002, the following shareholders owned of record, beneficially, or both, 5% or more of outstanding Class C Shares: MLPF&S for the sole benefit of its customers, Jacksonville, FL, owned approximately 506,007 Shares (12.25%).

Shareholders owning 25% or more of outstanding Shares may be in control and be able to affect the outcome of certain matters presented for a vote of shareholders.

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Tax Information

FEDERAL INCOME TAX

The Fund intends to meet requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies. If these requirements are not met, it will not receive special tax treatment and will be subject to federal corporate income tax.

The Fund will be treated as a single, separate entity for federal income tax purposes so that income earned and capital gains and losses realized by the Trust's other portfolios will be separate from those realized by the Fund.

FOREIGN INVESTMENTS

If the Fund purchases foreign securities, their investment income may be subject to foreign withholding or other taxes that could reduce the return on these securities. Tax treaties between the United States and foreign countries, however, may reduce or eliminate the amount of foreign taxes to which the Fund would be subject. The effective rate of foreign tax cannot be predicted since the amount of Fund assets to be invested within various countries is uncertain. However, the Fund intends to operate so as to qualify for treaty-reduced tax rates when applicable.

Distributions from a Fund may be based on estimates of book income for the year. Book income generally consists solely of the income generated by the securities in the portfolio, whereas tax-basis income includes, in addition, gains or losses attributable to currency fluctuation. Due to differences in the book and tax treatment of fixed-income securities denominated in foreign currencies, it is difficult to project currency effects on an interim basis. Therefore, to the extent that currency fluctuations cannot be anticipated, a portion of distributions to shareholders could later be designated as a return of capital, rather than income, for income tax purposes, which may be of particular concern to simple trusts.

If the Fund invests in the stock of certain foreign corporations, they may constitute Passive Foreign Investment Companies (PFIC), and the Fund may be subject to Federal income taxes upon disposition of PFIC investments.

If more than 50% of the value of the Fund's assets at the end of the tax year is represented by stock or securities of foreign corporations, the Fund will qualify for certain Code provisions that allow its shareholders to claim a foreign tax credit or deduction on their U.S. income tax returns. The Code may limit a shareholder's ability to claim a foreign tax credit. Shareholders who elect to deduct their portion of the Fund's foreign taxes rather than take the foreign tax credit must itemize deductions on their income tax returns.

Who Manages and Provides Services to the Fund?

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

<R>

The Board is responsible for managing the Trust's business affairs and for exercising all the Trust's powers except those reserved for the shareholders. The following tables give information about each Board member and the senior officers of the Fund. Where required, the tables separately list Board members who are "interested persons" of the Fund (i.e., "Interested" Board members) and those who are not (i.e., "Independent" Board members). Unless otherwise noted, the address of each person listed is Federated Investors Tower, 1001 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA. The Trust comprises six portfolios and the Federated Fund Complex consists of 44 investment companies (comprising 139 portfolios). Unless otherwise noted, each Board member oversees all portfolios in the Federated Fund Complex; serves for an indefinite term; and also serves as a Board member of the following investment company complexes: Banknorth Funds--five portfolios; CCMI Funds--two portfolios; Regions Funds--eight portfolios; Riggs Funds--nine portfolios; and WesMark Funds--five portfolios.

As of December 2, 2002, the Fund's Board and Officers as a group owned less than 1% of the Fund's outstanding Class A, Class B and Class C Shares.

INTERESTED TRUSTEES BACKGROUND AND COMPENSATION


Name
Birth Date
Address
Positions Held with Trust
Date Service Began

    

Principal Occupation(s) for Past Five Years,
Other Directorships Held and Previous Positions

   

Aggregate
Compensation
From Trust
(past fiscal year)

    

Total Compensation
From Trust and
Fund Complex
(past calendar year)


John F. Donahue*
Birth Date: July 28, 1924
CHAIRMAN AND TRUSTEE
Began serving: April 1984

 

Principal Occupations: Chief Executive Officer and Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Chairman and Director, Federated Investors, Inc.; Chairman, Federated Investment Management Company, Federated Global Investment Management Corp. and Passport Research, Ltd.

Previous Positions: Trustee, Federated Investment Management Company and Chairman and Director, Federated Investment Counseling.

 

$0

 

$0


J. Christopher Donahue*
Birth Date: April 11, 1949
PRESIDENT AND TRUSTEE
Began serving: January 2000

 

Principal Occupations: President or Executive Vice President of the Federated Fund Complex; Director or Trustee of some of the Funds in the Federated Fund Complex; President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Federated Investors, Inc.; President, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee, Federated Investment Management Company; Trustee, Federated Investment Counseling; President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Federated Global Investment Management Corp.; President and Chief Executive Officer, Passport Research, Ltd.; Trustee, Federated Shareholder Services Company; Director, Federated Services Company.

Previous Position: President, Federated Investment Counseling.

 

$0

 

$0


Lawrence D. Ellis, M.D.*
Birth Date: October 11, 1932
3471 Fifth Avenue
Suite 1111
Pittsburgh, PA
TRUSTEE
Began serving: August 1987

 

Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Professor of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh; Medical Director, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Downtown; Hematologist, Oncologist and Internist, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Other Directorships Held: Member, National Board of Trustees, Leukemia Society of America.

Previous Positions: Trustee, University of Pittsburgh; Director, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

 

$271.77

 

$117,117.17


* Family relationships and reasons for "interested" status: John F. Donahue is the father of J. Christopher Donahue; both are "interested" due to the positions they hold with Federated and its subsidiaries. Lawrence D. Ellis, M.D. is "interested" because his son-in-law is employed by the Fund's principal underwriter, Federated Securities Corp.

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES BACKGROUND AND COMPENSATION


Name
Birth Date
Address
Positions Held with Trust
Date Service Began

   

Principal Occupation(s) for Past Five Years,
Other Directorships Held and Previous Positions

   

Aggregate
Compensation
From Trust
(past fiscal year)

   

Total Compensation
From Trust and
Fund Complex
(past calendar year)


Thomas G. Bigley
Birth Date: February 3, 1934
15 Old Timber Trail
Pittsburgh, PA
TRUSTEE
Began serving: October 1995

 

Principal Occupation: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex.

Other Directorships Held: Director, Member of Executive Committee, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh; Director, Member of Executive Committee, University of Pittsburgh.

Previous Position: Senior Partner, Ernst & Young LLP.

 

$298.97

 

$128,847.72


John T. Conroy, Jr.
Birth Date: June 23, 1937
Grubb & Ellis/Investment
Properties Corporation
3838 Tamiami Trail N.
Naples, FL
TRUSTEE
Began serving: November 1991

 

Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Chairman of the Board, Investment Properties Corporation; Partner or Trustee in private real estate ventures in Southwest Florida.

Previous Positions: President, Investment Properties Corporation; Senior Vice President, John R. Wood and Associates, Inc., Realtors; President, Naples Property Management, Inc. and Northgate Village Development Corporation.

 

$298.97

 

$128,847.66


Nicholas P. Constantakis
Birth Date: September 3, 1939
175 Woodshire Drive
Pittsburgh, PA
TRUSTEE
Began serving: February 1998

 

Principal Occupation: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Partner, Andersen Worldwide SC (prior to 9/1/97).

Other Directorships Held: Director, Michael Baker Corporation (engineering and energy services worldwide).

 

$298.97

 

$126,923.53


John F. Cunningham
Birth Date: March 5, 1943
353 El Brillo Way
Palm Beach, FL
TRUSTEE
Began serving: January 1999

 

Principal Occupation: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex.

Other Directorships Held: Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Cunningham & Co., Inc. (strategic business consulting); Trustee Associate, Boston College.

Previous Positions: Director, Redgate Communications and EMC Corporation (computer storage systems); Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Computer Consoles, Inc.; President and Chief Operating Officer, Wang Laboratories; Director, First National Bank of Boston; Director, Apollo Computer, Inc.

 

$271.77

 

$115,368.16


Peter E. Madden
Birth Date: March 16, 1942
One Royal Palm Way
100 Royal Palm Way
Palm Beach, FL
TRUSTEE
Began serving: November 1991

 

Principal Occupation: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Management Consultant.

Previous Positions: Representative, Commonwealth of Massachusetts General Court; President, State Street Bank and Trust Company and State Street Corporation (retired); Director, VISA USA and VISA International; Chairman and Director, Massachusetts Bankers Association; Director, Depository Trust Corporation; Director, The Boston Stock Exchange.

 

$271.77

 

$117,117.14


Charles F. Mansfield, Jr.
Birth Date: April 10, 1945
80 South Road
Westhampton Beach, NY
TRUSTEE
Began serving: January 1999

 

Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Management Consultant; Executive Vice President, DVC Group, Inc. (marketing, communications and technology) (prior to 9/1/00).

Previous Positions: Chief Executive Officer, PBTC International Bank; Partner, Arthur Young & Company (now Ernst & Young LLP); Chief Financial Officer of Retail Banking Sector, Chase Manhattan Bank; Senior Vice President, HSBC Bank USA (formerly, Marine Midland Bank); Vice President, Citibank; Assistant Professor of Banking and Finance, Frank G. Zarb School of Business, Hofstra University.

 

$298.97

 

$128,847.66


John E. Murray, Jr., J.D., S.J.D.
Birth Date: December 20, 1932
Chancellor, Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA
TRUSTEE
Began serving: February 1995

 

Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Chancellor and Law Professor, Duquesne University; Consulting Partner, Mollica & Murray.

Other Directorships Held: Director, Michael Baker Corp. (engineering, construction, operations and technical services).

Previous Positions: President, Duquesne University; Dean and Professor of Law, University of Pittsburgh School of Law; Dean and Professor of Law, Villanova University School of Law.

 

$320.70

 

$117,117.14


Marjorie P. Smuts
Birth Date: June 21, 1935
4905 Bayard Street
Pittsburgh, PA
TRUSTEE
Began serving: April 1984

 

Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Public Relations/Marketing Consultant/Conference Coordinator.

Previous Positions: National Spokesperson, Aluminum Company of America; television producer; President, Marj Palmer Assoc.; Owner, Scandia Bord.

 

$271.77

 

$117,117.17


John S. Walsh
Birth Date: November 28, 1957
2604 William Drive
Valparaiso, IN
TRUSTEE
Began serving: January 1999

 

Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; President and Director, Heat Wagon, Inc. (manufacturer of construction temporary heaters); President and Director, Manufacturers Products, Inc. (distributor of portable construction heaters); President, Portable Heater Parts, a division of Manufacturers Products, Inc.

Other Directorships Held: Director, Walsh & Kelly, Inc. (heavy highway contractor).

Previous Position: Vice President, Walsh & Kelly, Inc.

 

$271.77

 

$117,117.17


OFFICERS**


Name
Birth Date
Address
Positions Held with Trust

   

Principal Occupation(s) and Previous Positions


Edward C. Gonzales
Birth Date: October 22, 1930
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

 

Principal Occupations: President, Executive Vice President and Treasurer of some of the Funds in the Federated Fund Complex; Vice Chairman, Federated Investors, Inc.; Trustee, Federated Administrative Services.

Previous Positions: Trustee or Director of some of the Funds in the Federated Fund Complex; CEO and Chairman, Federated Administrative Services; Vice President, Federated Investment Management Company, Federated Investment Counseling, Federated Global Investment Management Corp. and Passport Research, Ltd.; Director and Executive Vice President, Federated Securities Corp.; Director, Federated Services Company; Trustee, Federated Shareholder Services Company.


John W. McGonigle
Birth Date: October 26, 1938
EXECECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
AND SECRETARY

 

Principal Occupations: Executive Vice President and Secretary of the Federated Fund Complex; Executive Vice President, Secretary and Director, Federated Investors, Inc.

Previous Positions: Trustee, Federated Investment Management Company and Federated Investment Counseling; Director, Federated Global Investment Management Corp., Federated Services Company and Federated Securities Corp.


Richard J. Thomas
Birth Date: June 17, 1954
TREASURER

 

Principal Occupations: Treasurer of the Federated Fund Complex; Senior Vice President, Federated Administrative Services.

Previous Positions: Vice President, Federated Administrative Services; held various management positions within Funds Financial Services Division of Federated Investors, Inc.


Richard B. Fisher
Birth Date: May 17, 1923
VICE PRESIDENT

 

Principal Occupations: President or Vice President of some of the Funds in the Federated Fund Complex; Vice Chairman, Federated Investors, Inc.; Chairman, Federated Securities Corp.

Previous Positions: Director or Trustee of some of the Funds in the Federated Fund Complex; Executive Vice President, Federated Investors, Inc. and Director and Chief Executive Officer, Federated Securities Corp.


Stephen F. Auth
Birth Date: September 3, 1956
CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER

 

Principal Occupations: Chief Investment Officer of this Fund and various other Funds in the Federated Fund Complex; Executive Vice President, Federated Investment Counseling, Federated Global Investment Management Corp., Federated Investment Management Company and Passport Research, Ltd.;

Previous Positions: Senior Vice President, Global Portfolio Management Services Division; Senior Vice President, Federated Investment Management Company and Passport Research, Ltd; Senior Managing Director and Portfolio Manager, Prudential Investments.


James E. Grefenstette
Birth Date: November 7, 1962
VICE PRESIDENT

 

James E. Grefenstette is Vice President of the Fund. Mr. Grefenstette joined Federated in 1992 and has been a Portfolio Manager since 1994. Mr. Grefenstette became a Senior Vice President of the Fund's Adviser in January 2000. He served as a Vice President of the Fund's Adviser from 1996 through 1999 and was an Assistant Vice President of the Fund's Adviser from 1994 until 1996. Mr. Grefenstette is a Chartered Financial Analyst; he received his M.S. in Industrial Administration from Carnegie Mellon University.


Lawrence Auriana
Birth Date: January 8, 1944
VICE PRESIDENT

 

Lawrence Auriana is Vice President of the Trust. Mr. Auriana joined Federated in April 2001 as Co-Head of Investments/Federated Kaufmann. From August 1984 to April 2001, Mr. Auriana was President and Treasurer of Edgemont Asset Management Corp., and Chairman of the Board and Portfolio Manager to The Kaufmann Fund, Inc. (predecessor to the Federated Kaufmann Fund). Mr. Auriana earned a B.S. in economics from Fordham University and has been engaged in the securities business since 1965.


Hans P. Utsch
Birth Date: July 3, 1936
VICE PRESIDENT

 

Hans P. Utsch is Vice President of the Trust. Mr. Utsch joined Federated in April 2001 as Co-Head of Investments/Federated Kaufmann. From August 1984 to April 2001, Mr. Auriana was Chairman of the Board and Secretary of Edgemont Asset Management Corp., and President and Portfolio Manager to The Kaufmann Fund, Inc. (predecessor to the Federated Kaufmann Fund). Mr. Utsch graduated from Amherst College and holds an M.B.A. from Columbia University. He has been engaged in the securities business since 1962.


** Officers do not receive any compensation from the Fund.

Thomas R. Donahue, Chief Financial Officer, Vice President, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary of Federated and an officer of its various advisory and underwriting subsidiaries, has served as a Term Member on the Board of Directors of Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, since May 12, 2000. Mr. John E. Murray, Jr., an Independent Trustee of the Fund, served as President of Duquesne from 1988 until his retirement from that position in 2001, and became Chancellor of Duquesne on August 15, 2001. It should be noted that Mr. Donahue abstains on any matter that comes before Duquesne's Board that affects Mr. Murray personally.

COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD


Board
Committee

    

Committee
Members

   

Committee Functions

   

Meetings Held
During Last
Fiscal Year


Executive

 

John F. Donahue
John E. Murray, Jr., J.D., S.J.D.

 

In between meetings of the full Board, the Executive Committee generally may exercise all the powers of the full Board in the management and direction of the business and conduct of the affairs of the Fund in such manner as the Executive Committee shall deem to be in the best interests of the Fund. However, the Executive Committee cannot elect or remove Board members, increase or decrease the number of Directors, elect or remove any Officer, declare dividends, issue shares or recommend to shareholders any action requiring shareholder approval.

 

Two


Audit

 

Thomas G. Bigley
John T. Conroy, Jr.
Nicholas P. Constantakis
Charles F. Mansfield, Jr.

 

The Audit Committee reviews and recommends to the full Board the independent auditors to be selected to audit the Fund's financial statements; meets with the independent auditors periodically to review the results of the audits and reports the results to the full Board; evaluates the independence of the auditors, reviews legal and regulatory matters that may have a material effect on the financial statements, related compliance policies and programs, and the related reports received from regulators; reviews the Fund's internal audit function; reviews compliance with the Fund's code of conduct/ethics; reviews valuation issues; monitors inter-fund lending transactions; reviews custody services and issues and investigate any matters brought to the Committee's attention that are within the scope of its duties.

 

Four


BOARD OWNERSHIP OF SHARES IN THE FUND AND IN THE FEDERATED FAMILY OF INVESTMENT COMPANIES AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2001

Interested
Board Member Name

 

Dollar Range of
Shares Owned
in Fund

 

Aggregate
Dollar Range of
Shares Owned in
Federated Family of
Investment Companies

John F. Donahue

 

None

 

Over $100,000

J. Christopher Donahue

 

$10,001-$50,000

 

Over $100,000

Lawrence D. Ellis, M.D.

 

None

 

Over $100,000

 

 

 

 

 

Independent
Board Member Name

   

   

   

   

Thomas G. Bigley

 

None

 

Over $100,000

John T. Conroy, Jr.

 

$50,001-$100,000

 

Over $100,000

Nicholas P. Constantakis

 

$10,001-$50,000

 

Over $100,000

John F. Cunningham

 

None

 

Over $100,000

Peter E. Madden

 

None

 

Over $100,000

Charles F. Mansfield, Jr.

 

$1-$10,000

 

$50,001 - $100,000

John E. Murray, Jr., J.D., S.J.D.

 

$10,001-$50,000

 

Over $100,000

Marjorie P. Smuts

 

$1-$10,000

 

Over $100,000

John S. Walsh

 

None

 

Over $100,000

</R>

INVESTMENT ADVISER

The Adviser conducts investment research and makes investment decisions for the Fund.

The Adviser is a wholly owned subsidiary of Federated.

The Adviser shall not be liable to the Trust or any Fund shareholder for any losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding, or sale of any security or for anything done or omitted by it, except acts or omissions involving willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties imposed upon it by its contract with the Trust.

<R>

As required by the 1940 Act, the Fund's Board has reviewed the Fund's investment advisory contract. The Board's decision to approve the contract reflects the exercise of its business judgment on whether to continue the existing arrangements. During its review of the contract, the Board considers many factors, among the most material of which are: the Fund's investment objectives and long term performance; the Adviser's management philosophy, personnel, and processes; the preferences and expectations of fund shareholders and their relative sophistication; the continuing state of competition in the mutual fund industry; comparable fees in the mutual fund industry; the range and quality of services provided to the Fund and its shareholders by the Federated organization in addition to investment advisory services; and the Fund's relationship to other funds in the Federated fund family.

In assessing the Adviser's performance of its obligations, the Board also considers whether there has occurred a circumstance or event that would constitute a reason for it to not renew an advisory contract. In this regard, the Board is mindful of the potential disruptions of the Fund's operations and various risks, uncertainties and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision to terminate or not renew an advisory contract. In particular, the Board recognizes that most shareholders have invested in the Fund on the strength of the Adviser's industry standing and reputation and in the expectation that the Adviser will have a continuing role in providing advisory services to the Fund.

The Board also considers the compensation and benefits received by the Adviser. This includes fees received for services provided to the Fund by other entities in the Federated organization and research services received by the Adviser from brokers that execute fund trades, as well as advisory fees. In this regard, the Board is aware that various courts have interpreted provisions of the 1940 Act and have indicated in their decisions that the following factors may be relevant to an Adviser's compensation: the nature and quality of the services provided by the Adviser, including the performance of the Fund; the Adviser's cost of providing the services; the extent to which the Adviser may realize "economies of scale" as the Fund grows larger; any indirect benefits that may accrue to the Adviser and its affiliates as a result of the Adviser's relationship with the Fund; performance and expenses of comparable funds; and the extent to which the independent Board members are fully informed about all facts bearing on the Adviser's service and fee. The Fund's Board is aware of these factors and takes them into account in its review of the Fund's advisory contract.

The Board considers and weighs these circumstances in light of its substantial accumulated experience in governing the Fund and working with Federated on matters relating to the Federated funds, and is assisted in its deliberations by the advice of independent legal counsel. In this regard, the Board requests and receives a significant amount of information about the Fund and the Federated organization. Federated provides much of this information at each regular meeting of the Board, and furnishes additional reports in connection with the particular meeting at which the Board's formal review of the advisory contracts occurs. In between regularly scheduled meetings, the Board may receive information on particular matters as the need arises. Thus, the Board's evaluation of an advisory contract is informed by reports covering such matters as: the adviser's investment philosophy, personnel, and processes; the Fund's short- and long-term performance (in absolute terms as well as in relationship to its particular investment program and certain competitor or "peer group" funds), and comments on the reasons for performance; the Fund's expenses (including the advisory fee itself and the overall expense structure of the Fund, both in absolute terms and relative to similar and/or competing funds, with due regard for contractual or voluntary expense limitations); the use and allocation of brokerage commissions derived from trading the Fund's portfolio securities; the nature and extent of the advisory and other services provided to the Fund by the Adviser and its affiliates; compliance and audit reports concerning the funds and the Federated companies that service them; and relevant developments in the mutual fund industry and how the Federated funds and/or Federated are responding to them.

The Board also receives financial information about Federated, including reports on the compensation and benefits Federated derives from its relationships with the Federated funds. These reports cover not only the fees under the advisory contracts, but also fees received by Federated's subsidiaries for providing other services to the Federated funds under separate contracts (e.g., for serving as the Federated funds' administrator and transfer agent). The reports also discuss any indirect benefit Federated may derive from its receipt of research services from brokers who execute Federated fund trades.

The Board bases its decision to approve an advisory contract on the totality of the circumstances and relevant factors, and with a view to past and future long-term considerations. Not all of the factors and considerations identified above are relevant to every Federated fund, nor does the Board consider any one of them to be determinative. Because the totality of circumstances includes considering the relationship of each Federated fund, the Board does not approach consideration of every Federated fund's advisory contract as if that were the only fund offered by Federated.

</R>

Other Related Services

Affiliates of the Adviser may, from time to time, provide certain electronic equipment and software to institutional customers in order to facilitate the purchase of Fund Shares offered by the Distributor.

CODE OF ETHICS RESTRICTIONS ON PERSONAL TRADING

As required by SEC rules, the Fund, its Adviser, and its Distributor have adopted codes of ethics. These codes govern securities trading activities of investment personnel, Fund Trustees, and certain other employees. Although they do permit these people to trade in securities, including those that the Fund could buy, they also contain significant safeguards designed to protect the Fund and its shareholders from abuses in this area, such as requirements to obtain prior approval for, and to report, particular transactions.

<R>

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

When selecting brokers and dealers to handle the purchase and sale of portfolio instruments, the Adviser looks for prompt execution of the order at a favorable price. The Adviser will generally use those who are recognized dealers in specific portfolio instruments, except when a better price and execution of the order can be obtained elsewhere. The Adviser may select brokers and dealers based on whether they also offer research services (as described below). In selecting among firms believed to meet these criteria, the Adviser may give consideration to those firms which have sold or are selling Shares of the Fund and other funds distributed by the Distributor and its affiliates. The Adviser may also direct certain portfolio trades to a broker that, in turn, pays a portion of the Fund's operating expenses. The Adviser makes decisions on portfolio transactions and selects brokers and dealers subject to review by the Fund's Board.

Investment decisions for the Fund are made independently from those of other accounts managed by the Adviser. Except as noted below, when the Fund and one or more of those accounts invests in, or disposes of, the same security, available investments or opportunities for sales will be allocated among the Fund and the account(s) in a manner believed by the Adviser to be equitable. While the coordination and ability to participate in volume transactions may benefit the Fund, it is possible that this procedure could adversely impact the price paid or received and/or the position obtained or disposed of by the Fund. Investments for Federated Kaufmann Fund and other accounts managed by that fund's portfolio managers in initial public offerings ("IPO") are made independently from any other accounts, and much of their non-IPO trading may also be conducted independently from other accounts.

</R>

Research Services

Research services may include advice as to the advisability of investing in securities; security analysis and reports; economic studies; industry studies; receipt of quotations for portfolio evaluations; and similar services. Research services may be used by the Adviser or by affiliates of Federated in advising other accounts. To the extent that receipt of these services may replace services for which the Adviser or its affiliates might otherwise have paid, it would tend to reduce their expenses. The Adviser and its affiliates exercise reasonable business judgment in selecting those brokers who offer brokerage and research services to execute securities transactions. They determine in good faith that commissions charged by such persons are reasonable in relationship to the value of the brokerage and research services provided.

<R>

For the fiscal year ended, October 31, 2002, the Fund's Adviser directed brokerage transactions to certain brokers due to research services they provided. The total amount of these transactions was $53,780,989 for which the Fund paid $220,450 in brokerage commissions.

</R>

ADMINISTRATOR

Federated Services Company, a subsidiary of Federated, provides administrative personnel and services (including certain legal and financial reporting services) necessary to operate the Fund. Federated Services Company provides these at the following annual rate of the average aggregate daily net assets of all Federated funds as specified below:

Maximum Administrative Fee

   

Average Aggregate Daily Net
Assets of the Federated Funds

0.150 of 1%

 

on the first $250 million

0.125 of 1%

 

on the next $250 million

0.100 of 1%

 

on the next $250 million

0.075 of 1%

 

on assets in excess of $750 million

The administrative fee received during any fiscal year shall be at least $125,000 per portfolio and $30,000 per each additional class of Shares. Federated Services Company may voluntarily waive a portion of its fee and may reimburse the Fund for expenses.

Federated Services Company also provides certain accounting and recordkeeping services with respect to the Fund's portfolio investments for a fee based on Fund assets plus out-of-pocket expenses.

CUSTODIAN

State Street Bank and Trust Company, Boston, Massachusetts, is custodian for the securities and cash of the Fund. Foreign instruments purchased by the Fund are held by foreign banks participating in a network coordinated by State Street Bank.

TRANSFER AGENT AND DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT

Federated Services Company, through its registered transfer agent subsidiary, Federated Shareholder Services Company, maintains all necessary shareholder records. The Fund pays the transfer agent a fee based on the size, type and number of accounts and transactions made by shareholders.

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

<R>

The independent auditor for the Fund, Deloitte & Touche LLP, conducts its audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America, which require it to plan and perform its audits to provide reasonable assurance about whether the Fund's financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement.

</R>

FEES PAID BY THE FUND FOR SERVICES

<R>

For the Year Ended October 31

   

2002

   

2001

   

2000

Advisory Fee Earned

 

$1,321,240

 

$3,029,041

 

$5,582,883

Advisory Fee Reduction

 

199,815

 

56,916

 

0

Advisory Fee Reimbursement

 

2, 989

 

1,970

 

895

Brokerage Commissions

 

728,966

 

1,126,000

 

592,152

Administrative Fee

 

185,000

 

304,116

 

560,520

12b-1 Fee:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A Shares

 

118,394

 

--

 

--

Class B Shares

 

808,656

 

--

 

--

Class C Shares

 

157,403

 

--

 

--

Shareholder Services Fee:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A Shares

 

0

 

--

 

--

Class B Shares

 

269,552

 

--

 

--

Class C Shares

 

52,468

 

--

 

--

</R>

Fees are allocated among classes based on their pro rata share of Fund assets, except for marketing (Rule 12b-1) fees and shareholder services fees, which are borne only by the applicable class of Shares.

How does the Fund Measure Performance?

<R>

The Fund may advertise Share performance by using the SEC's standard methods for calculating performance applicable to all mutual funds. The SEC also permits this standard performance information to be accompanied by non-standard performance information.

</R>

Share performance reflects the effect of non-recurring charges, such as maximum sales charges, which, if excluded, would increase the total return and yield. The performance of Shares depends upon such variables as: portfolio quality; average portfolio maturity; type and value of portfolio securities; changes in interest rates; changes or differences in the Fund's or any class of Shares' expenses; and various other factors.

<R>

Share performance fluctuates on a daily basis largely because net earnings and/or the value of portfolio holdings fluctuate daily. Both net earnings and offering price per Share are factors in the computation of yield and total return.

</R>

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS AND YIELD

<R>

Total returns are given for the one-year and Start of Performance periods ended October 31, 2002.

</R>

Yield is given for the 30-day period ended October 31, 2002.

<R>

Share Class

 

30-Day
Period

 

1 Year

 

Start of
Performance on
9/21/1999

Class A:

   

   

   

   

   

   

Total Return

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before Taxes

 

(33.93)%

 

N/A

 

(31.01)%

After Taxes on Distributions

 

(33.93)%

 

N/A

 

(31.02)%

After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Shares

 

(20.83)%

 

N/A

 

(22.51)%

Yield

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

Class B:

   

   

   

   

   

   

Total Return

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before Taxes

 

(34.38)%

 

N/A

 

(30.97)%

After Taxes on Distributions

 

(34.38)%

 

N/A

 

(30.99)%

After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Shares

 

(21.11)%

 

N/A

 

(22.49)%

Yield

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

Class C:

   

   

   

   

   

   

Total Return

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before Taxes

 

(31.25)%

 

N/A

 

(30.29)%

After Taxes on Distributions

 

(31.25)%

 

N/A

 

(30.31)%

After Taxes on Distributions and
Sale of Shares

 

(19.19)%

 

N/A

 

(22.06)%

Yield

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

</R>

TOTAL RETURN

Total return represents the change (expressed as a percentage) in the value of Shares over a specific period of time, and includes the investment of income and capital gains distributions.

<R>

The average annual total return for Shares is the average compounded rate of return for a given period that would equate a $10,000 initial investment to the ending redeemable value of that investment. The ending redeemable value is computed by multiplying the number of Shares owned at the end of the period by the NAV per Share at the end of the period. The number of Shares owned at the end of the period is based on the number of Shares purchased at the beginning of the period with $10,000, less any applicable sales charge, adjusted over the period by any additional Shares, assuming the annual reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. Total returns after taxes are calculated in a similar manner, but reflect additional standard assumptions required by the SEC.

</R>

YIELD

The yield of Shares is calculated by dividing: (i) the net investment income per Share earned by the Shares over a 30-day period; by (ii) the maximum offering price per Share on the last day of the period. This number is then annualized using semi-annual compounding. This means that the amount of income generated during the 30-day period is assumed to be generated each month over a 12-month period and is reinvested every six months. The yield does not necessarily reflect income actually earned by Shares because of certain adjustments required by the SEC and, therefore, may not correlate to the dividends or other distributions paid to shareholders.

To the extent investment professionals and broker/dealers charge fees in connection with services provided in conjunction with an investment in Shares, the Share performance is lower for shareholders paying those fees.

PERFORMANCE COMPARISONS

Advertising and sales literature may include:

  • references to ratings, rankings, and financial publications and/or performance comparisons of Shares to certain indices;
  • charts, graphs and illustrations using the Fund's returns, or returns in general, that demonstrate investment concepts such as tax-deferred compounding, dollar-cost averaging and systematic investment;
  • discussions of economic, financial and political developments and their impact on the securities market, including the portfolio manager's views on how such developments could impact the Fund; and
  • information about the mutual fund industry from sources such as the Investment Company Institute.

The Fund may compare its performance, or performance for the types of securities in which it invests, to a variety of other investments, including federally insured bank products such as bank savings accounts, certificates of deposit, and Treasury bills.

The Fund may quote information from reliable sources regarding individual countries and regions, world stock exchanges, and economic and demographic statistics.

You may use financial publications and/or indices to obtain a more complete view of Share performance. When comparing performance, you should consider all relevant factors such as the composition of the index used, prevailing market conditions, portfolio compositions of other funds, and methods used to value portfolio securities and compute offering price. The financial publications and/or indices which the Fund uses in advertising may include:

Standard & Poor's Daily Stock Price Index of 500 Common Stocks (S&P 500)

Standard & Poor's Daily Stock Price Index of 500 Common Stocks (S&P 500) is a composite index of common stocks in industry, transportation, and financial and public utility companies. Can be used to compare to the total returns of funds whose portfolios are invested primarily in common stocks. In addition, the S&P 500 assumes reinvestments of all dividends paid by stocks listed on its index. Taxes due on any of these distributions are not included, nor are brokerage or other fees calculated in the S&P figures.

NASDAQ Telecommunications Index

NASDAQ Telecommunications Index is a capitalization-weighted index designed to measure the performance of all NASDAQ stocks in the telecommunications sector.

Goldman Sachs Technology Industry Composite Index

Goldman Sachs Technology Industry Composite Index is a modified capitalization-weighted index of selected technology stocks.

Merrill Lynch 100 Technology Index

The Merrill Lynch 100 Technology Index is an unmanaged, equally weighted index of the 100 largest technology stocks, as defined by the market capitalization and trading volume.

NASDAQ Composite Index

The NASDAQ Composite Index (Composite) measures all NASDAQ domestic and non-U.S. based common stocks listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market. The index is market value weighted. This means that each company's security affects the index in proportion to its market value. The market value, which is the last sale price multiplied by total shares outstanding, is calculated throughout the trading day, and is related to the total value of the index. Today, the Composite includes over 5,000 companies, more than most other stock market indexes. Because it is so broad-based, the Composite is one of the most widely followed and quoted major market indexes.

Lipper Averages

Lipper Averages represent the average total returns reported by all mutual funds designated by Lipper Analytical Services as falling into the respective categories indicated.

Who is Federated Investors, Inc.?

Federated is dedicated to meeting investor needs by making structured, straightforward and consistent investment decisions. Federated investment products have a history of competitive performance and have gained the confidence of thousands of financial institutions and individual investors.

Federated's disciplined investment selection process is rooted in sound methodologies backed by fundamental and technical research. At Federated, success in investment management does not depend solely on the skill of a single portfolio manager. It is a fusion of individual talents and state-of-the-art industry tools and resources. Federated's investment process involves teams of portfolio managers and analysts, and investment decisions are executed by traders who are dedicated to specific market sectors and who handle trillions of dollars in annual trading volume.

FEDERATED FUNDS OVERVIEW

Municipal Funds

<R>

In the municipal sector, as of December 31, 2001, Federated managed 12 bond funds with approximately $2.3 billion in assets and 22 money market funds with approximately $44.8 billion in total assets. In 1976, Federated introduced one of the first municipal bond mutual funds in the industry and is now one of the largest institutional buyers of municipal securities. The Funds may quote statistics from organizations including The Tax Foundation and the National Taxpayers Union regarding the tax obligations of Americans.

</R>

Equity Funds

<R>

In the equity sector, Federated has more than 31 years' experience. As of December 31, 2001, Federated managed 40 equity funds totaling approximately $20.7 billion in assets across growth, value, equity income, international, index and sector (i.e. utility) styles. Federated's value-oriented management style combines quantitative and qualitative analysis and features a structured, computer-assisted composite modeling system that was developed in the 1970s.

</R>

Corporate Bond Funds

<R>

In the corporate bond sector, as of December 31, 2001, Federated managed 11 money market funds and 30 bond funds with assets approximating $62.3 billion and $5.4 billion, respectively. Federated's corporate bond decision making--based on intensive, diligent credit analysis--is backed by over 29 years of experience in the corporate bond sector. In 1972, Federated introduced one of the first high-yield bond funds in the industry. In 1983, Federated was one of the first fund managers to participate in the asset backed securities market, a market totaling more than $209 billion.

</R>

Government Funds

<R>

In the government sector, as of December 31, 2001, Federated managed 6 mortgage backed, 5 multi-sector government funds, 3 government/agency and 19 government money market mutual funds, with assets approximating $3.6 billion, $2.0 billion, $1.2 billion and $55.2 billion, respectively. Federated trades approximately $90.4 billion in U.S. government and mortgage backed securities daily and places approximately $35 billion in repurchase agreements each day. Federated introduced the first U.S. government fund to invest in U.S. government bond securities in 1969. Federated has been a major force in the short- and intermediate-term government markets since 1982 and currently manages approximately $50 billion in government funds within these maturity ranges.

</R>

Money Market Funds

<R>

In the money market sector, Federated gained prominence in the mutual fund industry in 1974 with the creation of the first institutional money market fund. Simultaneously, the company pioneered the use of the amortized cost method of accounting for valuing shares of money market funds, a principal means used by money managers today to value money market fund shares. Other innovations include the first institutional tax-free money market fund. As of December 31, 2001, Federated managed $136.4 billion in assets across 54 money market funds, including 19 government, 11 prime, 22 municipal and 1 euro-denominated with assets approximating $55.2 billion, $62.3 billion, $19.5 billion and $34.6 million, respectively.

The Chief Investment Officers responsible for oversight of the various investment sectors within Federated are: Global Equity--Stephen F. Auth is responsible for overseeing the management of Federated's domestic and international equity products; Global Fixed Income--William D. Dawson III is responsible for overseeing the management of Federated's domestic and international fixed income and high yield products.

</R>

MUTUAL FUND MARKET

<R>

Forty-nine percent of American households are pursuing their financial goals through mutual funds. These investors, as well as businesses and institutions, have entrusted over $6.8 trillion to the more than 8,157 funds available, according to the Investment Company Institute.

</R>

FEDERATED CLIENTS OVERVIEW

Federated distributes mutual funds through its subsidiaries for a variety of investment purposes. Specific markets include:

Institutional Clients

<R>

Federated meets the needs of approximately 3,035 institutional clients nationwide by managing and servicing separate accounts and mutual funds for a variety of purposes, including defined benefit and defined contribution programs, cash management, and asset/liability management. Institutional clients include corporations, pension funds, tax exempt entities, foundations/endowments, insurance companies, and investment and financial advisers. The marketing effort to these institutional clients is headed by John B. Fisher, President, Institutional Sales Division, Federated Securities Corp.

</R>

Bank Marketing

Other institutional clients include more than 1,600 banks and trust organizations. Virtually all of the trust divisions of the top 100 bank holding companies use Federated Funds in their clients' portfolios. The marketing effort to trust clients is headed by Timothy C. Pillion, Senior Vice President, Bank Marketing & Sales.

Broker/Dealers and Bank Broker/Dealer Subsidiaries

Federated Funds are available to consumers through major brokerage firms nationwide--we have over 2,000 broker/dealer and bank broker/dealer relationships across the country--supported by more wholesalers than any other mutual fund distributor. Federated's service to financial professionals and institutions has earned it high ratings in several surveys performed by DALBAR, Inc. DALBAR is recognized as the industry benchmark for service quality measurement. The marketing effort to these firms is headed by James F. Getz, President, Broker/Dealer Sales Division, Federated Securities Corp.

Financial Information

<R>

The Financial Statements for the Fund for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2002 are incorporated herein by reference to the Annual Report to Shareholders of Federated Communications Technology Fund dated October 31, 2002.

</R>

Investment Ratings

STANDARD AND POOR'S LONG TERM DEBT RATING DEFINITIONS

AAA--Debt rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor's. Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.

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.

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.

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.

BB--Debt rated BB has less near-term vulnerability to default than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to inadequate capacity to meet timely interest and principal payments. The BB rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied BBB rating.

B--Debt rated B has a greater vulnerability to default but currently has the capacity to meet interest payments and principal repayments. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair capacity or willingness to pay interest and repay principal. The B rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied BB or BB- rating.

CCC--Debt rated CCC has a currently identifiable vulnerability to default, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions to meet timely payment of interest and repayment of principal. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, it is not likely to have the capacity to pay interest and repay principal. The CCC rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied B or B- rating.

CC--The rating CC typically is applied to debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied CCC debt rating.

C--The rating C typically is applied to debt subordinated to senior debt which is assigned an actual or implied CCC debt rating. The C rating may be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy petition has been filed, but debt service payments are continued.

MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE LONG-TERM BOND RATING DEFINITIONS

AAA--Bonds which 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 edged. 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.

AA--Bonds which 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 which make the long-term risks appear somewhat larger than in AAA securities.

A--Bonds which 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 which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.

BAA--Bonds which 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.

BA--Bonds which are 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.

B--Bonds which 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.

CAA--Bonds which 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.

CA--Bonds which are rated CA represent obligations which are speculative in a high degree. Such issues are often in default or have other marked shortcomings.

C--Bonds which are rated 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.

<R>

FITCH RATINGS LONG-TERM DEBT RATING DEFINITIONS

</R>

AAA--Bonds considered to be investment grade and of the highest credit quality. The obligor has an exceptionally strong ability to pay interest and repay principal, which is unlikely to be affected by reasonably foreseeable events.

AA--Bonds considered to be investment grade and of very high credit quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is very strong, although not quite as strong as bonds rated AAA. Because bonds rated in the AAA and AA categories are not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable future developments, short-term debt of these issuers is generally rated F-1+.

A--Bonds considered to be investment grade and of high credit quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is considered to be strong, but may be more vulnerable to adverse changes in economic conditions and circumstances than bonds with higher ratings.

BBB--Bonds considered to be investment grade and of satisfactory credit quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is considered to be adequate. Adverse changes in economic conditions and circumstances, however, are more likely to have adverse impact on these bonds, and therefore impair timely payment. The likelihood that the ratings of these bonds will fall below investment grade is higher than for bonds with higher ratings.

BB--Bonds are considered speculative. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal may be affected over time by adverse economic changes. However, business and financial alternatives can be identified which could assist the obligor in satisfying its debt service requirements.

B--Bonds are considered highly speculative. While bonds in this class are currently meeting debt service requirements, the probability of continued timely payment of principal and interest reflects the obligor's limited margin of safety and the need for reasonable business and economic activity throughout the life of the issue.

CCC--Bonds have certain identifiable characteristics which, if not remedied, may lead to default. The ability to meet obligations requires an advantageous business and economic environment.

CC--Bonds are minimally protected. Default in payment of interest and/or principal seems probable over time.

C--Bonds are imminent default in payment of interest or principal.

MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS

Prime-1--Issuers rated Prime-1 (or related supporting institutions) have a superior capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations. Prime-1 repayment capacity will normally be evidenced by the following characteristics:

  • Leading market positions in well-established industries;
  • High rates of return on funds employed;
  • Conservative capitalization structure with moderate reliance on debt and ample asset protection;
  • Broad margins in earning coverage of fixed financial charges and high internal cash generation; and
  • Well-established access to a range of financial markets and assured sources of alternate liquidity.

Prime-2--Issuers rated Prime-2 (or related supporting institutions) have a strong capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations. This will normally be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above but to a lesser degree. Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, will be more subject to variation. Capitalization characteristics, while still appropriate, may be more affected by external conditions. Ample alternate liquidity is maintained.

STANDARD AND POOR'S COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS

A-1--This designation indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely payment is strong. Those issues determined to possess extremely strong safety characteristics are denoted with a plus sign (+) designation.

A-2--Capacity for timely payment on issues with this designation is satisfactory. However, the relative degree of safety is not as high as for issues designated A-1.

<R>

FITCH RATINGS COMMERCIAL PAPER RATING DEFINITIONS

</R>

FITCH-1--(Highest Grade) Commercial paper assigned this rating is regarded as having the strongest degree of assurance for timely payment.

FITCH-2--(Very Good Grade) Issues assigned this rating reflect an assurance of timely payment only slightly less in degree than the strongest issues.

Addresses

FEDERATED COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY FUND

Class A Shares
Class B Shares
Class C Shares

Federated Investors Funds
5800 Corporate Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15237-7000

Distributor

Federated Securities Corp.
Federated Investors Tower
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779

Investment Adviser

Federated Investment Management Company
Federated Investors Tower
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779

Custodian

State Street Bank and Trust Company
P.O. Box 8600
Boston, MA 02266-8600

Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent

Federated Shareholder Services Company
P.O. Box 8600
Boston, MA 02266-8600

Independent Auditors

Deloitte & Touche LLP
200 Berkeley Street
Boston, MA 02116

[Logo of Federated]

Federated Growth Strategies Fund

A Portfolio of Federated Equity Funds

PROSPECTUS

<R>

December 31, 2002

</R>

CLASS A SHARES
CLASS B SHARES
CLASS C SHARES

A mutual fund seeking appreciation of capital by investing primarily in growth equity securities.

As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

NOT FDIC INSURED * MAY LOSE VALUE * NO BANK GUARANTEE

CONTENTS

Risk/Return Summary     1
What are the Fund's Fees and Expenses?   4
What are the Fund's Investment Strategies?   5
What are the Principal Securities in Which the Fund Invests?   6
What are the Specific Risks of Investing in the Fund?   7
What do Shares Cost?   8
How is the Fund Sold?   11
How to Purchase Shares   11
How to Redeem and Exchange Shares   13
Account and Share Information   16
Who Manages the Fund?   17
Financial Information   18

Risk/Return Summary

WHAT IS THE FUND'S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE?

The Fund's investment objective is appreciation of capital. While there is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective, it endeavors to do so by following the strategies and policies described in this prospectus.

WHAT ARE THE FUND'S MAIN INVESTMENT STRATEGIES?

The Fund pursues its investment objective by investing primarily in common stock (including American Depositary Receipts (ADRs)) of companies with market capitalizations above $100 million that offer superior growth prospects.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND?

All mutual funds take investment risks. Therefore, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. The primary factors that may reduce the Fund's returns include:

  • Stock Market Risks. The value of equity securities in the Fund's portfolio will fluctuate and, as a result, the Fund's share price may decline suddenly or over a sustained period of time.
  • Risks Related to Investing for Growth. Due to their relatively high valuations, growth stocks are typically more volatile than value stocks. For instance, the price of a growth stock may experience a larger decline on a forecast of lower earnings, a negative fundamental development, or an adverse market development. Further, growth stocks may not pay dividends or may pay lower dividends than value stocks. This means they depend more on price changes for returns and may be more adversely affected in a down market compared to value stocks that pay higher dividends.
  • Risks Related to Company Size. Because the smaller companies in which the Fund may invest may have unproven track records, a limited product or service base and limited access to capital, they may be more likely to fail than larger companies.
  • Sector Risks. Because the Fund may allocate relatively more assets to certain industry sectors than others, the Fund's performance may be more susceptible to any developments which affect those sectors emphasized by the Fund.
  • Liquidity Risks. The equity securities which the Fund invests may be less readily marketable and may be subject to greater fluctuation in price than other securities.
  • Risks of Investing in American Depositary Receipts. Because the Fund may invest in ADRs issued by foreign companies, the Fund's share price may be more affected by foreign economic and political conditions, taxation policies and accounting and auditing standards, than would otherwise be the case.

The Shares offered by this prospectus are not deposits or obligations of any bank, are not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. government, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board, or any other government agency.

<R>

Risk/Return Bar Chart and Table

The performance information shown below will help you analyze the Fund's investment risks in light of its historical returns. The bar chart shows the variability of the Fund's Class A Shares total returns on a calendar year-by-year basis. The Average Annual Total Return table shows returns averaged over the stated periods, and includes comparative performance information. The Fund's performance will fluctuate, and past performance (before and after taxes) is no guarantee of future results.

The total returns shown in the bar chart do not reflect the payment of any sales charges or recurring shareholder account fees. If these charges or fees had been included, the returns shown would have been lower.

The Fund's Class A Shares total return for the nine-month period from January 1, 2002 to September 30, 2002 was (28.92%).

Within the periods shown in the bar chart, the Fund's Class A Shares highest quarterly return was 41.95% (quarter ended December 31, 1999). Its lowest quarterly return was (20.85)% (quarter ended December 31, 2000).

Average Annual Total Return Table

The Average Annual Total Returns for the Fund's Class A, Class B and Class C Shares are reduced to reflect applicable sales charges. Return Before Taxes is shown for all classes. In addition, Return After Taxes are shown for Class A Shares to illustrate the effect of federal taxes on Fund returns. Actual after-tax returns depend on each investor's personal tax situation, and are likely to differ from those shown. The table also shows returns for the Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500), a broad-based market index and the Lipper Growth Fund Index (LGFI), an average of funds with similar objectives. Total returns for the indexes shown do not reflect sales charges, expenses or other fees that the SEC requires to be reflected in the Fund's performance. Indexes are unmanaged, and it is not possible to invest directly in an index.

(For the periods ended December 31, 2001)

   

   

1 Year

   

5 Years

   

10 Years

   

Start of
Performance1

Class A Shares:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Return Before Taxes

 

(26.82)%

 

8.28%

 

10.13%

 

--

Return After Taxes on Distributions2

 

(26.82)%

 

6.27%

 

7.68%

 

--

Return after Taxes on Distributions and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sale of Fund Shares2

 

(16.34)%

 

6.54%

 

7.61%

 

--

Class B Shares:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Return Before Taxes

 

(27.37)%

 

8.40%

 

--

 

11.62%

Class C Shares:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Return Before Taxes

 

(23.91)%

 

8.80%

 

--

 

11.74%

S&P 500

 

(11.88)%

 

10.70%

 

12.93%

 

--

LGFI

 

(17.98)%

 

8.52%

 

10.78%

 

--

1 The Fund's Class B and Class C Shares start of performance date was August 16, 1995.

2 After-tax returns are calculated using a standard set of assumptions. The stated returns assume the highest historical federal income and capital gains tax rates. Return After Taxes on Distributions assumes a continued investment in the Fund and show the effect of taxes on Fund distributions. Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sales of Fund Shares assumes all shares were redeemed at the end of each measurement period, and shows the effect of any taxable gain (or offsetting loss) on redemption, as well as the effects of taxes on Fund distributions. These after-tax returns do not reflect the effect of any applicable state and local taxes. After-tax returns for Class B and Class C Shares will differ from those shown above for Class A Shares. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors holding Shares through tax-deferred programs, such as IRA or 401(k) plans.

What are the Fund's Fees and Expenses?

FEDERATED GROWTH STRATEGIES FUND

FEES AND EXPENSES

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold the Fund's Class A, Class B and Class C Shares.

Shareholder Fees

 

Class A

 

Class B

 

Class C

Fees Paid Directly From Your Investment

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

 

5.50%

 

None

 

None

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, as applicable)

 

0.00%

 

5.50%

 

1.00%

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends (and other Distributions) (as a percentage of offering price)

 

None

 

None

 

None

Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed, if applicable)

 

None

 

None

 

None

Exchange Fee

 

None

 

None

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Before Waiver)

   

   

   

   

   

   

Expenses That are Deducted From Fund Assets (as a percentage of average net assets)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Management Fee

 

0.75%

 

0.75%

 

0.75%

Distribution (12b-1) Fee

 

None

 

0.75%

 

0.75%

Shareholder Services Fee

 

0.25%

 

0.25%

 

0.25%

Other Expenses

 

0.34%

 

0.34%

 

0.34%

Total Actual Annual Fund Operating Expenses

 

1.34%

 

2.09%1

 

2.09%

1 After Class B Shares have been held for eight years from the date of purchase, they will automatically convert to Class A Shares on the 15th of the following month. Class A Shares pay lower operating expenses than Class B Shares.

EXAMPLE

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Class A, Class B and Class C Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund's Class A, Class B and Class C Shares for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your Shares at the end of those periods. Expenses assuming no redemption are also shown. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's Class A, Class B and Class C Shares operating expenses are as shown in the table and remain the same. Although your actual costs and returns may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Share Class

   

1 Year

   

3 Years

   

5 Years

   

10 Years

Class A:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses assuming redemption

 

$679

 

$ 951

 

$1,244

 

$2,074

Expenses assuming no redemption

 

$679

 

$ 951

 

$1,244

 

$2,074

Class B:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses assuming redemption

 

$762

 

$1,055

 

$1,324

 

$2,230

Expenses assuming no redemption

 

$212

 

$ 655

 

$1,124

 

$2,230

Class C:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses assuming redemption

 

$312

 

$ 655

 

$1,124

 

$2,421

Expenses assuming no redemption

 

$212

 

$ 655

 

$1,124

 

$2,421

</R>

What are the Fund's Investment Strategies?

The Fund pursues its investment objective by investing primarily in common stock of companies with market capitalizations above $100 million that offer superior growth prospects. Using its own quantitative process, the Adviser rates the future performance potential of companies. The Adviser evaluates each company's earnings quality in light of their current valuation to narrow the list of attractive companies. The Adviser then evaluates product positioning, management quality and sustainability of current growth trends of those companies. Using this type of fundamental analysis, the Adviser selects the most promising companies for the Fund's portfolio. A description of the various types of securities in which the Fund invests, and their risks, immediately follows the strategy discussion.

Companies with similar characteristics may be grouped together in broad categories called sectors. In determining the amount to invest in a security, and in order to manage sector risk, the Adviser limits the Fund's exposure to each major sector in the S&P 500 Index (Index), as a general matter, to not less than 50% nor more than 200% of the Index's allocation to that sector. The Fund may also seek capital appreciation by buying securities in initial public offerings. The Fund will participate in such offerings without regard to the issuer's market capitalization The Adviser may select initial public offerings based on its fundamental analysis of the issuer.

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

The Fund actively trades its portfolio securities in an attempt to achieve its investment objective. Active trading will cause the Fund to have an increased portfolio turnover rate, which is likely to generate shorter-term gains (losses) for its shareholders, which are taxed at a higher rate than longer-term gains (losses). Actively trading portfolio securities increases the Fund's trading costs and may have an adverse impact on the Fund's performance.

TEMPORARY DEFENSIVE INVESTMENTS

The Fund may temporarily depart from its principal investment strategies by investing its assets in cash and shorter-term debt securities and similar obligations. It may do this to minimize potential losses and maintain liquidity to meet shareholder redemptions during adverse market conditions. This may cause the Fund to give up greater investment returns to maintain the safety of principal, that is, the original amount invested by shareholders.

What are the Principal Securities in Which the Fund Invests?

EQUITY SECURITIES

Equity securities represent a share of an issuer's earnings and assets, after the issuer pays its liabilities. The Fund cannot predict the income it will receive from equity securities because issuers generally have discretion as to the payment of any dividends or distributions. However, equity securities offer greater potential for appreciation than many other types of securities, because their value increases directly with the value of the issuer's business. The following describes the types of equity securities in which the Fund invests:

Common Stocks

Common stocks are the most prevalent type of equity security. Common stocks receive the issuer's earnings after the issuer pays its creditors and any preferred stockholders. As a result, changes in an issuer's earnings directly influence the value of its common stock.

American Depositary Receipts

ADRs represent interests in underlying securities issued by a foreign company. Depositary receipts are not traded in the same market as the underlying security. The foreign securities underlying ADRs are not traded in the United States. ADRs provide a way to buy shares of foreign-based companies in the United States rather than in overseas markets. ADRs are also traded in U.S. dollars, eliminating the need for foreign exchange transactions.

What are the Specific Risks of Investing in the Fund?

STOCK MARKET RISKS

  • The value of equity securities in the Fund's portfolio will rise and fall. These fluctuations could be a sustained trend or a drastic movement. The Fund's portfolio will reflect changes in prices of individual portfolio stocks or general changes in stock valuations. Consequently, the Fund's share price may decline.
  • The Adviser attempts to manage market risk by limiting the amount the Fund invests in each company's equity securities. However, diversification will not protect the Fund against widespread or prolonged declines in the stock market.

RISKS RELATED TO INVESTING FOR GROWTH

  • Due to their relatively high valuations, growth stocks are typically more volatile than value stocks. For instance, the price of a growth stock may experience a larger decline on a forecast of lower earnings, a negative fundamental development, or an adverse market development. Further, growth stocks may not pay dividends or may pay lower dividends than value stocks. This means they depend more on price changes for returns and may be more adversely affected in a down market compared to value stocks that pay higher dividends.

RISKS RELATED TO COMPANY SIZE

  • Generally, the smaller the market capitalization of a company, the fewer the number of shares traded daily, the less liquid its stock and the more volatile its price. Market capitalization is determined by multiplying the number of its outstanding shares by the current market price per share.
  • Companies with smaller market capitalizations also tend to have unproven track records, a limited product or service base and limited access to capital. These factors also increase risks and make these companies more likely to fail than companies with larger market capitalizations.

SECTOR RISKS

  • Companies with similar characteristics may be grouped together in broad categories called sectors. Sector risk is the possibility that a certain sector may underperform other sectors or the market as a whole. As the Adviser allocates more of the Fund's portfolio holdings to a particular sector, the Fund's performance will be more susceptible to any economic, business or other developments, which generally affect that sector.

LIQUIDITY RISKS

  • Trading opportunities are more limited for equity securities that are not widely held. This may make it more difficult to sell or buy a security at a favorable price or time. Consequently, the Fund may have to accept a lower price to sell a security, sell other securities to raise cash or give up an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on the Fund's performance. Infrequent trading of securities may also lead to an increase in their price volatility.

RISKS OF INVESTING IN AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS

  • Because the Fund may invest in ADRs issued by foreign companies, the Fund's share price may be more affected by foreign economic and political conditions, taxation policies and accounting and auditing standards, than would otherwise be the case.

What do Shares Cost?

You can purchase, redeem or exchange Shares any day the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open. When the Fund receives your transaction request in proper form (as described in this prospectus) it is processed at the next calculated net asset value (NAV) plus any applicable front-end sales charge (public offering price). NAV is determined at the end of regular trading (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) each day the NYSE is open. The Fund generally values equity securities according to the last sale price in the market in which they are primarily traded (either a national securities exchange or the over-the-counter market).

The Fund's current NAV and public offering price may be found in the mutual funds section of certain local newspapers under "Federated."

The following table summarizes the minimum required investment amount and the maximum sales charge, if any, that you will pay on an investment in the Fund. Keep in mind that investment professionals may charge you fees for their services in connection with your Share transactions.

   

   

Minimum
Initial/Subsequent
Investment
Amounts1

   

Maximum Sales Charge

Shares Offered

 

 

Front-End
Sales Charge2

   

Contingent
Deferred
Sales Charge3

Class A Shares

 

$1,500/$100

 

5.50%

 

0.00%

Class B Shares

 

$1,500/$100

 

None

 

5.50%

Class C Shares

 

$1,500/$100

 

None

 

1.00%

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1 The minimum initial and subsequent investment amounts for retirement plans are $250 and $100, respectively. The minimum subsequent investment amounts for Systematic Investment Programs (SIP) is $50. Investment professionals may impose higher or lower minimum investment requirements on their customers than those imposed by the Fund. Orders for $250,000 or more will be invested in Class A Shares instead of Class B Shares to maximize your return and minimize the sales charges and marketing fees. Accounts held in the name of an investment professional may be treated differently. After Class B Shares have been held for eight years from the date of purchase, they will automatically convert to Class A Shares on or about the last day of the following month. This conversion is a non-taxable event.

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2 Front-End Sales Charge is expressed as a percentage of public offering price. See "Sales Charge When You Purchase."

3 See "Sales Charge When You Redeem."

SALES CHARGE WHEN YOU PURCHASE

Class A Shares

Purchase Amount

   

Sales Charge
as a Percentage
of Public
Offering Price

   

Sales Charge
as a Percentage
of NAV

Less than $50,000

 

5.50%

 

5.82%

$50,000 but less than $100,000

 

4.50%

 

4.71%

$100,000 but less than $250,000

 

3.75%

 

3.90%

$250,000 but less than $500,000

 

2.50%

 

2.56%

$500,000 but less than $1 million

 

2.00%

 

2.04%

$1 million or greater1

 

0.00%

 

0.00%

1 A contingent deferred sales charge of 0.75% of the redemption amount applies to Class A Shares redeemed up to 24 months after purchase under certain investment programs where an investment professional received an advance payment on the transaction.

If your investment qualifies for a reduction or elimination of the sales charge as described below, you or your investment professional should notify the Fund's Distributor at the time of purchase. If the Distributor is not notified, you will receive the reduced sales charge only on additional purchases, and not retroactively on previous purchases.

The sales charge at purchase may be reduced or eliminated by:

  • purchasing Shares in greater quantities to reduce the applicable sales charge;
  • combining concurrent purchases of Shares:

    --by you, your spouse, and your children under age 21; or
    --of the same share class of two or more Federated Funds (other than money market funds);

  • accumulating purchases (in calculating the sales charge on an additional purchase, include the current value of previous Share purchases still invested in the Fund); or
  • signing a letter of intent to purchase a specific dollar amount of Shares within 13 months (call your investment professional or the Fund for more information).

The sales charge will be eliminated when you purchase Shares:

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  • within 120 days of redeeming Shares of an equal or greater amount;

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  • by exchanging shares from the same share class of another Federated Fund (other than a money market fund);
  • through wrap accounts or other investment programs where you pay the investment professional directly for services;
  • through investment professionals that receive no portion of the sales charge;
  • as a Federated Life Member (Class A Shares only) and their immediate family members; or
  • as a Trustee or employee of the Fund, the Adviser, the Distributor and their affiliates, and the immediate family members of these individuals.

SALES CHARGE WHEN YOU REDEEM

Your redemption proceeds may be reduced by a sales charge, commonly referred to as a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC).

Class A Shares (Purchase amount of $1 million or greater):

A CDSC of 0.75% of the redemption amount applies to Class A Shares redeemed up to 24 months after purchase under certain investment programs where an investment professional received an advance payment on the transaction.

Class B Shares:

Shares Held Up To:

 

CDSC

1 Year

 

5.50%

2 Years

 

4.75%

3 Years

 

4.00%

4 Years

 

3.00%

5 Years

 

2.00%

6 Years

 

1.00%

7 Years or More

 

0.00%

Class C Shares:

   

   

You will pay a 1% CDSC if you redeem Shares within one year of the purchase date.

If your investment qualifies for a reduction or elimination of the CDSC as described below, you or your investment professional should notify the Distributor at the time of redemption. If the Distributor is not notified, the CDSC will apply.

You will not be charged a CDSC when redeeming Shares:

  • purchased with reinvested dividends or capital gains;
  • purchased within 120 days of redeeming Shares of an equal or lesser amount;
  • that you exchanged into the same share class of another Federated Fund if the shares were held for the applicable CDSC holding period (other than a money market fund);
  • purchased through investment professionals who did not receive advanced sales payments;
  • if, after you purchase Shares, you become disabled as defined by the IRS;
  • if the Fund redeems your Shares and closes your account for not meeting the minimum balance requirement;
  • if your redemption is a required retirement plan distribution; or
  • upon the death of the last surviving shareholder of the account. The beneficiary on an account with a Transfer on Death registration is deemed the last surviving shareholder of the account.

To keep the sales charge as low as possible, the Fund redeems your Shares in this order:

  • Shares that are not subject to a CDSC; and
  • Shares held the longest (to determine the number of years your Shares have been held, include the time you held shares of other Federated Funds that have been exchanged for Shares of this Fund).

The CDSC is then calculated using the share price at the time of purchase or redemption, whichever is lower.

How is the Fund Sold?

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The Fund offers three share classes: Class A Shares, Class B Shares and Class C Shares, each representing interests in a single portfolio of securities.

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The Fund's Distributor, Federated Securities Corp., markets the Shares described in this prospectus to institutions or to individuals, directly or through investment professionals.

When the Distributor receives marketing fees and sales charges, it may pay some or all of them to investment professionals. The Distributor and its affiliates may pay out of their assets other amounts (including items of material value) to investment professionals for marketing and servicing Shares. The Distributor is a subsidiary of Federated Investors, Inc. (Federated).

RULE 12B-1 PLAN

The Fund has adopted a Rule 12b-1 Plan, which allows it to pay marketing fees to the Distributor and investment professionals for the sale, distribution and customer servicing of the Fund's Class B and Class C Shares. Because these Shares pay marketing fees on an ongoing basis, your investment cost may be higher over time than other shares with different sales charges and marketing fees.

How to Purchase Shares

You may purchase Shares through an investment professional, directly from the Fund, or through an exchange from another Federated Fund. The Fund reserves the right to reject any request to purchase or exchange Shares.

Where the Fund offers more than one share class and you do not specify the class choice on your New Account Form or form of payment (e.g., Federal Reserve wire or check) you automatically will receive Class A Shares.

THROUGH AN INVESTMENT PROFESSIONAL

  • Establish an account with the investment professional; and
  • Submit your purchase order to the investment professional before the end of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). You will receive the next calculated NAV if the investment professional forwards the order to the Fund on the same day and the Fund receives payment within three business days. You will become the owner of Shares and receive dividends when the Fund receives your payment.

Investment professionals should send payments according to the instructions in the sections "By Wire" or "By Check."

DIRECTLY FROM THE FUND

  • Establish your account with the Fund by submitting a completed New Account Form; and
  • Send your payment to the Fund by Federal Reserve wire or check.

You will become the owner of Shares and your Shares will be priced at the next calculated NAV after the Fund receives your wire or your check. If your check does not clear, your purchase will be canceled and you could be liable for any losses or fees incurred by the Fund or Federated Shareholder Services Company, the Fund's transfer agent.

An institution may establish an account and place an order by calling the Fund and the Shares will be priced at the next calculated NAV after the Fund receives the order.

By Wire

Send your wire to:

State Street Bank and Trust Company
Boston, MA
Dollar Amount of Wire
ABA Number 011000028
Attention: EDGEWIRE
Wire Order Number, Dealer Number or Group Number
Nominee/Institution Name
Fund Name and Number and Account Number

You cannot purchase Shares by wire on holidays when wire transfers are restricted.

By Check

Make your check payable to The Federated Funds, note your account number on the check, and mail it to:

Federated Shareholder Services Company
P.O. Box 8600
Boston, MA 02266-8600

If you send your check by a private courier or overnight delivery service that requires a street address, mail it to:

Federated Shareholder Services Company
1099 Hingham Street
Rockland, MA 02370-3317

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Payment should be made in U.S. dollars and drawn on a U.S. bank. The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase request. For example, to protect against check fraud the Fund may reject any purchase request involving a check that is not made payable to The Federated Funds (including, but not limited to, requests to purchase Shares using third-party checks), or involving temporary checks or credit card checks.

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THROUGH AN EXCHANGE

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You may purchase Shares through an exchange from the same Share class of another Federated fund. You must meet the minimum initial investment requirement for purchasing Shares and both accounts must have identical registrations.

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BY SYSTEMATIC INVESTMENT PROGRAM

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Once you have opened an account, you may automatically purchase additional Shares on a regular basis by completing the Systematic Investment Program section of the New Account Form or by contacting the Fund or your investment professional.

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BY AUTOMATED CLEARING HOUSE (ACH)

Once you have opened an account, you may purchase additional Shares through a depository institution that is an ACH member. This purchase option can be established by completing the appropriate sections of the New Account Form.

RETIREMENT INVESTMENTS

You may purchase Shares as retirement investments (such as qualified plans and IRAs or transfer or rollover of assets). Call your investment professional or the Fund for information on retirement investments. We suggest that you discuss retirement investments with your tax adviser. You may be subject to an annual IRA account fee.

How to Redeem and Exchange Shares

You should redeem or exchange Shares:

  • through an investment professional if you purchased Shares through an investment professional; or
  • directly from the Fund if you purchased Shares directly from the Fund.

THROUGH AN INVESTMENT PROFESSIONAL

Submit your redemption or exchange request to your investment professional by the end of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). The redemption amount you will receive is based upon the next calculated NAV after the Fund receives the order from your investment professional.

DIRECTLY FROM THE FUND

By Telephone

You may redeem or exchange Shares by simply calling the Fund at 1-800-341-7400.

If you call before the end of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) you will receive a redemption amount based on that day's NAV.

By Mail

You may redeem or exchange Shares by mailing a written request to the Fund.

You will receive a redemption amount based on the next calculated NAV after the Fund receives your written request in proper form.

Send requests by mail to:

Federated Shareholder Services Company
P.O. Box 8600
Boston, MA 02266-8600

Send requests by private courier or overnight delivery service to:

Federated Shareholder Services Company
1099 Hingham Street
Rockland, MA 02370-3317

All requests must include:

  • Fund Name and Share Class, account number and account registration;
  • amount to be redeemed or exchanged;
  • signatures of all shareholders exactly as registered; and
  • if exchanging, the Fund Name and Share Class, account number and account registration into which you are exchanging.

Call your investment professional or the Fund if you need special instructions.

Signature Guarantees

Signatures must be guaranteed if:

  • your redemption will be sent to an address other than the address of record;
  • your redemption will be sent to an address of record that was changed within the last 30 days;
  • a redemption is payable to someone other than the shareholder(s) of record; or
  • if exchanging (transferring) into another fund with a different shareholder registration.

A signature guarantee is designed to protect your account from fraud. Obtain a signature guarantee from a bank or trust company, savings association, credit union or broker, dealer, or securities exchange member. A notary public cannot provide a signature guarantee.

PAYMENT METHODS FOR REDEMPTIONS

Your redemption proceeds will be mailed by check to your address of record. The following payment options are available if you complete the appropriate section of the New Account Form or an Account Service Options Form. These payment options require a signature guarantee if they were not established when the account was opened:

  • an electronic transfer to your account at a financial institution that is an ACH member; or
  • wire payment to your account at a domestic commercial bank that is a Federal Reserve System member.

Redemption in Kind

Although the Fund intends to pay Share redemptions in cash, it reserves the right to pay the redemption price in whole or in part by a distribution of the Fund's portfolio securities.

LIMITATIONS ON REDEMPTION PROCEEDS

Redemption proceeds normally are wired or mailed within one business day after receiving a request in proper form. Payment may be delayed up to seven days:

  • to allow your purchase to clear;
  • during periods of market volatility; or
  • when a shareholder's trade activity or amount adversely impacts the Fund's ability to manage its assets.

You will not accrue interest or dividends on uncashed checks from the Fund if those checks are undeliverable and returned to the Fund.

REDEMPTIONS FROM RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS

In the absence of your specific instructions, 10% of the value of your redemption from a retirement account in the Fund may be withheld for taxes. This withholding only applies to certain types of retirement accounts.

EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE

You may exchange Shares of the Fund into Shares of the same class of another Federated Fund. To do this, you must:

  • ensure that the account registrations are identical;
  • meet any minimum initial investment requirements; and
  • receive a prospectus for the fund into which you wish to exchange.

An exchange is treated as a redemption and a subsequent purchase, and is a taxable transaction.

<R>

The Fund may modify or terminate the exchange privilege at any time. The Fund's management or investment adviser may determine from the amount, frequency and pattern of exchanges that a shareholder is engaged in excessive trading that is detrimental to the Fund and other shareholders. If this occurs, the Fund may terminate the availability of exchanges to that shareholder and may bar that shareholder from purchasing other Federated funds.

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SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL/EXCHANGE PROGRAM

You may automatically redeem or exchange Shares in a minimum amount of $100 on a regular basis. Complete the appropriate section of the New Account Form or an Account Service Options Form or contact your investment professional or the Fund. Your account value must meet the minimum initial investment amount at the time the program is established. This program may reduce, and eventually deplete, your account. Payments should not be considered yield or income.

Generally, it is not advisable to continue to purchase Class A Shares subject to a sales charge while redeeming Shares using this program.

Systematic Withdrawal Program (SWP) On Class B Shares

You will not be charged a CDSC on SWP redemptions if:

  • you redeem 12% or less of your account value in a single year;
  • you reinvest all dividends and capital gains distributions; and
  • your account has at least a $10,000 balance when you establish the SWP. (You cannot aggregate multiple Class B Share accounts to meet this minimum balance.)

You will be subject to a CDSC on redemption amounts that exceed the 12% annual limit. In measuring the redemption percentage, your account is valued when you establish the SWP and then annually at calendar year-end. You can redeem monthly, quarterly, or semi-annually.

For SWP accounts established prior to April 1, 1999, your account must be at least one year old in order to be eligible for the waiver of the CDSC.

ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS

Telephone Transactions

The Fund will record your telephone instructions. If the Fund does not follow reasonable procedures, it may be liable for losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent telephone instructions.

Share Certificates

The Fund no longer issues share certificates. If you are redeeming or exchanging Shares represented by certificates previously issued by the Fund, you must return the certificates with your written redemption or exchange request. For your protection, send your certificates by registered or certified mail, but do not endorse them.

Account and Share Information

CONFIRMATIONS AND ACCOUNT STATEMENTS

You will receive confirmation of purchases, redemptions and exchanges (except for systematic transactions). In addition, you will receive periodic statements reporting all account activity, including systematic transactions, dividends and capital gains paid.

DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAINS

The Fund declares and pays any dividends quarterly to shareholders. Dividends are paid to all shareholders invested in the Fund on the record date. The record date is the date on which a shareholder must officially own Shares in order to earn a dividend.

In addition, the Fund pays any capital gains at least annually. Your dividends and capital gains distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional Shares without a sales charge, unless you elect cash payments.

If you purchase Shares just before a Fund declares a dividend or capital gain distribution, you will pay the full price for the Shares and then receive a portion of the price back in the form of a taxable distribution, whether or not you reinvest the distribution in Shares. Therefore, you should consider the tax implications of purchasing Shares shortly before the Fund declares a dividend or capital gain. Contact your investment professional or the Fund for information concerning when dividends and capital gains will be paid.

ACCOUNTS WITH LOW BALANCES

Due to the high cost of maintaining accounts with low balances, non-retirement accounts may be closed if redemptions or exchanges cause the account balance to fall below the minimum initial investment amount. Before an account is closed, you will be notified and allowed 30 days to purchase additional Shares to meet the minimum.

TAX INFORMATION

The Fund sends an annual statement of your account activity to assist you in completing your federal, state and local tax returns. Fund distributions of dividends and capital gains are taxable to you whether paid in cash or reinvested in the Fund. Dividends are taxable as ordinary income; capital gains are taxable at different rates depending upon the length of time the Fund holds its assets.

Fund distributions are expected to be both dividends and capital gains. Redemptions and exchanges are taxable sales. Please consult your tax adviser regarding your federal, state, and local tax liability.

Who Manages the Fund?

The Board of Trustees governs the Fund. The Board selects and oversees the Adviser, Federated Investment Management Company. The Adviser manages the Fund's assets, including buying and selling portfolio securities. The Adviser's address is Federated Investors Tower, 1001 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779.

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The Adviser and other subsidiaries of Federated advise approximately 139 mutual funds and a variety of separate accounts, which totaled approximately $180 billion in assets as of December 31, 2001. Federated was established in 1955 and is one of the largest mutual fund investment managers in the United States with approximately 1,800 employees. More than 4,000 investment professionals make Federated funds available to their customers.

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THE FUND'S PORTFOLIO MANAGERS ARE:

James E. Grefenstette

James E. Grefenstette has been the Fund's Portfolio Manager since December 1994. He is Vice President of the Trust. Mr. Grefenstette joined Federated in 1992 and has been a Portfolio Manager since 1994. Mr. Grefenstette became a Senior Vice President of the Fund's Adviser in January 2000. He served as a Vice President of the Fund's Adviser from 1996 through 1999 and was an Assistant Vice President of the Fund's Adviser from 1994 until 1996. Mr. Grefenstette is a Chartered Financial Analyst; he received his M.S. in Industrial Administration from Carnegie Mellon University.

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Angela Kohler

Angela Kohler was named the Fund's Portfolio Manager effective January 2003. Ms. Kohler joined Federated in July 1997 as an Investment Analyst. Ms. Kohler was promoted to Senior Investment Analyst in July 1999 and to Assistant Vice President of the Fund's investment adviser in July 2000. Ms. Kohler was previously employed by SunTrust Capital Markets, serving as Manager of Investment Strategies from 1996 through June of 1997 and as Investment Strategies Consultant from 1994 to 1996. Ms. Kohler is a Chartered Financial Analyst. She earned a B.S. from Jacksonville University and an M.B.A. in finance from Georgia State University.

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ADVISORY FEES

The Adviser receives an annual investment advisory fee of 0.75% of the Fund's average daily net assets The Adviser may voluntarily waive a portion of its fee or reimburse the Fund for certain operating expenses.

Financial Information

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The Financial Highlights will help you understand the Fund's financial performance for its past five fiscal years. Some of the information is presented on a per share basis. Total returns represent the rate an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund, assuming reinvestment of any dividends and capital gains.

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This information has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, whose report, along with the Fund's audited financial statements, is included in the Annual Report.

Financial Highlights -- Class A Shares

(For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period)

Year Ended October 31

 

2002

      

 

2001

   

 

2000

   

 

1999

1

 

1998

   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   

$23.34

   

   

$40.66

   

   

$37.70

   

   

$23.53

   

   

$31.54

   

Income From Investment Operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net operating loss

 

(0.13

)2

 

(0.15

)2

 

(0.33

)2

 

(0.25

)2

 

(0.14

)2

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency transactions

 

(4.19

)

 


(14.48

)

 

7.62

 

 

14.42

 

 

(1.48

)


TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS

 

(4.32

)

 

(14.63

)

 

7.29

 

 

14.17

 

 

(1.62

)


Less Distributions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributions from net realized gain on investments

 

--

 

 

(2.69

)

 

(4.33

)

 

--

 

 

(6.39

)


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   

$19.02

   

   

$23.34

   

   

$40.66

   

   

$37.70

   

   

$23.53

   


Total Return3

 

(18.51

)%

 

(38.31

)%

 

20.47

%

 

60.22

%

 

(6.12

)%


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Expenses

 

1.34

%4

 

1.27

%

 

1.20

%

 

1.24

%

 

1.20

%


Net operating loss

 

(0.56

)%

 

(0.51

)%

 

(0.76

)%

 

(0.80

)%

 

(0.54

)%


Supplemental Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)

 

$439,072

 

 

$665,021

 

 

$1,216,669

 

 

$776,828

 

 

$510,552

 


Portfolio turnover

 

207

%

 

211

%

 

115

%

 

125

%

 

119

%


1 Beginning with the year ended October 31, 1999, the Fund was audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP. The prior year was audited by other auditors.

2 Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method, which more appropriately represents the per share data for the period since the use of undistributed income method did not accord with the results of operations.

3 Based on net asset value, which does not reflect the sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge, if applicable.

4 The expense ratio is calculated without reduction for fees paid indirectly for directed brokerage arrangements. The expense ratio is 1.32% after taking into account these expense reductions.

Further information about the Fund's performance is contained in the Fund's Annual Report, dated October 31, 2002, which can be obtained free of charge.

Financial Highlights -- Class B Shares

(For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period)

Year Ended October 31

 

2002

      

 

2001

   

 

2000

   

 

1999

1

 

1998

   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period:

   

$22.02

   

   

$38.79

   

   

$36.38

   

   

$22.88

   

   

$31.02

   

Income From Investment Operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net operating loss

 

(0.28

)2

 

(0.35

)2

 

(0.63

)2

 

(0.47

)2

 

(0.34

)2

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency transactions

 

(3.94

)

 


(13.73

)

 

7.37

 

 

13.97

 

 

(1.41

)


TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS

 

(4.22

)

 

(14.08

)

 

6.74

 

 

13.50

 

 

(1.75

)


Less Distributions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributions from net realized gain on investments

 

--

 

 

(2.69

)

 

(4.33

)

 

--

 

 

(6.39

)


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   

$17.80

   

   

$22.02

   

   

$38.79

   

   

$36.38

   

   

$22.88

   


Total Return3

 

(19.16

)%

 

(38.77

)%

 

19.61

%

 

59.00

%

 

(6.78

)%


                               

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Expenses

 

2.09

%4

 

2.02

%

 

1.95

%

 

1.99

%

 

1.96

%


Net operating loss

 

(1.31

)%

 

(1.26

)%

 

(1.50

)%

 

(1.55

)%

 

(1.34

)%


Supplemental Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)

 

$147,013

 

 

$237,630

 

 

$425,398

 

 

$177,091

 

 

$77,975

 


Portfolio turnover

 

207

%

 

211

%

 

115

%

 

125

%

 

119

%


1 Beginning the year ended October 31, 1999, the Fund was audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP. The prior year was audited by other auditors.

2 Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method, which more appropriately represents the per share data for the period since the use of undistributed income method did not accord with the results of operations.

3 Based on net asset value, which does not reflect the sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge, if applicable.

4 The expense ratio is calculated without reduction for fees paid indirectly for directed brokerage arrangements. The expense ratio is 2.07% after taking into account these expense reductions.

Further information about the Fund's performance is contained in the Fund's Annual Report, dated October 31, 2002, which can be obtained free of charge.

Financial Highlights -- Class C Shares

(For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period)

Year Ended October 31

   

2002

      

 

2001

   

 

2000

   

 

1999

1

   

1998

   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   

$22.23

   

   

$39.14

   

   

$36.62

   

   

$23.02

   

   

$31.16

   

Income From Investment Operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net operating loss

 

(0.28

)2

 

(0.35

)2

 

(0.62

)2

 

(0.47

)2

 

(0.34

)2

Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) on investments and foreign currency transactions

 

(3.97

)

 


(13.87

)

 

7.47

 

 

14.07

 

 

(1.41

)


TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS

 

(4.25

)

 

(14.22

)

 

6.85

 

 

13.60

 

 

(1.75

)


Less Distributions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributions from net realized gain on investments

 

--

 

 

(2.69

)

 

(4.33

)

 

--

 

 

(6.39

)


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   

$17.98

   

   

$22.23

   

   

$39.14

   

   

$36.62

   

   

$23.02

   


Total Return3

 

(19.12

)%

 

(38.78

)%

 

19.81

%

 

59.08

%

 

(6.74

)%


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Expenses

 

2.09

%4

 

2.02

%

 

1.93

%

 

1.97

%

 

1.94

%


Net operating loss

 

(1.31

)%

 

(1.26

)%

 

(1.48

)%

 

(1.53

)%

 

(1.34

)%


Expense waiver/reimbursement5

 

--

 

 

0.00

%6

 

0.02

%

 

0.02

%

 

0.02

%


Supplemental Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)

 

$30,194

 

 

$46,173

 

 

$73,385

 

 

$30,096

 

 

$12,654

 


Portfolio turnover

 

207

%

 

211

%

 

115

%

 

125

%

 

119

%


1 Beginning the year ended October 31, 1999, the Fund was audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP. The prior year was audited by other auditors.

2 Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method, which more appropriately represents the per share data for the period since the use of undistributed income method did not accord with the results of operations.

3 Based on net asset value, which does not reflect the sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge, if applicable.

4 The expense ratio is calculated without reduction for fees paid indirectly for directed brokerage arrangements. The expense ratio is 2.07% after taking into account these expense reductions.

5 This expense decrease is reflected in both the expense and the net operating loss ratios shown above.

6 Amount does not round to 0.01%

Further information about the Fund's performance is contained in the Fund's Annual Report, dated October 31, 2002, which can be obtained free of charge.

A Statement of Additional Information (SAI) dated December 31, 2002, is incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Additional information about the Fund and its investments is contained in the Fund's SAI and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to shareholders as they become available. The Annual Report discusses market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund's performance during its last fiscal year. To obtain the SAI, Annual Report, Semi-Annual Report and other information without charge, and to make inquiries, call your investment professional or the Fund at 1-800-341-7400.

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You can obtain information about the Fund (including the SAI) by writing to or visiting the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. You may also access Fund information from the EDGAR Database on the SEC's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. You can purchase copies of this information by contacting the SEC by email at publicinfo@sec.gov or by writing to the SEC's Public Reference Section, Washington, DC 20549-0102. Call 1-202-942-8090 for information on the Public Reference Room's operations and copying fees.

[Logo of Federated]

Federated Growth Strategies Fund
Federated Investors Funds
5800 Corporate Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15237-7000
www.federatedinvestors.com

Contact us at 1-800-341-7400 or
www.federatedinvestors.com/contact

Federated Securities Corp., Distributor

Investment Company Act File No. 811-4017

Federated is a registered mark of Federated Investors, Inc.
2002 © Federated Investors, Inc.

Cusip 314172107
Cusip 314172206
Cusip 314172305

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G01228-01 (12/02)

</R>

Federated Growth Strategies Fund

A Portfolio of Federated Equity Funds

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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December 31, 2002

</R>   

CLASS A SHARES
CLASS B SHARES
CLASS C SHARES

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This Statement of Additional Information (SAI) is not a prospectus. Read this SAI in conjunction with the prospectus for Federated Growth Strategies Fund (Fund), dated December 31, 2002. This SAI incorporates by reference the Fund's Annual Report. Obtain the prospectus or the Annual Report without charge by calling 1-800-341-7400.

</R>

[Logo of Federated]

Federated Growth Strategies Fund
Federated Investors Funds
5800 Corporate Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15237-7000
www.federatedinvestors.com


Contact us at 1-800-341-7400 or
www.federatedinvestors.com/contact

Federated Securities Corp., Distributor

<R>

G01228-02 (12/02)

</R>

Federated is a registered mark
of Federated Investors, Inc.
2002 ©Federated Investors, Inc.

CONTENTS  
How is the Fund Organized? 1
Securities in Which the Fund Invests 1
What do Shares Cost? 7
How is the Fund Sold? 8
Exchanging Securities for Shares 9
Subaccounting Services 9
Redemption in Kind 9
Massachusetts Partnership Law 9
Account and Share Information 9
Tax Information 10
Who Manages and Provides Services to the Fund?    11
How Does the Fund Measure Performance? 16
Who is Federated Investors, Inc.? 18
Financial Information 19
Investment Ratings 19
Addresses 22

 

How is the Fund Organized?

The Fund is a diversified portfolio of Federated Equity Funds (Trust). The Trust is an open-end, management investment company that was established under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on April 17, 1984. The Trust may offer separate series of shares representing interests in separate portfolios of securities.

The Board of Trustees (the Board) has established three classes of shares of the Fund, known as Class A Shares, Class B Shares and Class C Shares (Shares). This SAI relates to all classes of Shares. The Fund's investment adviser is Federated Investment Management Company (Adviser).

Securities in Which the Fund Invests

In pursuing its investment strategy, the Fund may invest in the following securities for any purpose that is consistent with its investment objective.

SECURITIES DESCRIPTIONS AND TECHNIQUES

Equity Securities

Equity securities represent a share of an issuer's earnings and assets, after the issuer pays its liabilities. The Fund cannot predict the income it will receive from equity securities because issuers generally have discretion as to the payment of any dividends or distributions. However, equity securities offer greater potential for appreciation than many other types of securities, because their value increases directly with the value of the issuer's business. The following describes the types of equity securities in which the Fund invests.

COMMON STOCKS

Common stocks are the most prevalent type of equity security. Common stocks receive the issuer's earnings after the issuer pays its creditors and any preferred stockholders. As a result, changes in an issuer's earnings directly influence the value of its common stock.

PREFERRED STOCKS

Preferred stocks have the right to receive specified dividends or distributions before the issuer makes payments on its common stock. Some preferred stocks also participate in dividends and distributions paid on common stock. Preferred stocks may also permit the issuer to redeem the stock. The Fund may also treat such redeemable preferred stock as a fixed income security.

WARRANTS

Warrants give the Fund the option to buy the issuer's equity securities at a specified price (the exercise price) at a specified future date (the expiration date). The Fund may buy the designated securities by paying the exercise price before the expiration date. Warrants may become worthless if the price of the stock does not rise above the exercise price by the expiration date. This increases the market risks of warrants as compared to the underlying security. Rights are the same as warrants, except companies typically issue rights to existing stockholders.

Fixed Income Securities

Fixed income securities pay interest, dividends or distributions at a specified rate. The rate may be a fixed percentage of the principal or adjusted periodically. In addition, the issuer of a fixed income security must repay the principal amount of the security, normally within a specified time. Fixed income securities provide more regular income than equity securities. However, the returns on fixed income securities are limited and normally do not increase with the issuer's earnings. This limits the potential appreciation of fixed income securities as compared to equity securities.

A security's yield measures the annual income earned on a security as a percentage of its price. A security's yield will increase or decrease depending upon whether it costs less (a discount) or more (a premium) than the principal amount. If the issuer may redeem the security before its scheduled maturity, the price and yield on a discount or premium security may change based upon the probability of an early redemption. Securities with higher risks generally have higher yields.

The following describes the types of fixed income securities in which the Fund may invest.

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TREASURY SECURITIES

Treasury securities are direct obligations of the federal government of the United States. Treasury securities are generally regarded as having the lowest credit risks.

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CORPORATE DEBT SECURITIES

Corporate debt securities are fixed income securities issued by businesses. Notes, bonds, debentures and commercial paper are the most prevalent types of corporate debt securities. The Fund may also purchase interests in bank loans to companies. The credit risks of corporate debt securities vary widely among issuers.

In addition, the credit risk of an issuer's debt security may vary based on its priority for repayment. For example, higher ranking (senior) debt securities have a higher priority than lower ranking (subordinated) securities. This means that the issuer might not make payments on subordinated securities while continuing to make payments on senior securities. In addition, in the event of bankruptcy, holders of senior securities may receive amounts otherwise payable to the holders of subordinated securities. Some subordinated securities, such as trust preferred and capital securities notes, also permit the issuer to defer payments under certain circumstances. For example, insurance companies issue securities known as surplus notes that permit the insurance company to defer any payment that would reduce its capital below regulatory requirements.

DEMAND INSTRUMENTS

Demand instruments are corporate debt securities that the issuer must repay upon demand. Other demand instruments require a third party, such as a dealer or bank, to repurchase the security for its face value upon demand. The Fund treats demand instruments as short-term securities, even though their stated maturity may extend beyond one year.

CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES

Convertible securities are fixed income securities that the Fund has the option to exchange for equity securities at a specified conversion price. The option allows the Fund to realize additional returns if the market price of the equity securities exceeds the conversion price. For example, the Fund may hold fixed income securities that are convertible into shares of common stock at a conversion price of $10 per share. If the market value of the shares of common stock reached $12, the Fund could realize an additional $2 per share by converting its fixed income securities.

Convertible securities have lower yields than comparable fixed income securities. In addition, at the time a convertible security is issued the conversion price exceeds the market value of the underlying equity securities. Thus, convertible securities may provide lower returns than non-convertible fixed income securities or equity securities depending upon changes in the price of the underlying equity securities. However, convertible securities permit the Fund to realize some of the potential appreciation of the underlying equity securities with less risk of losing its initial investment.

The Fund treats convertible securities as both fixed income and equity securities for purposes of its investment policies and limitations, because of their unique characteristics.

Derivative Contracts

Derivative contracts are financial instruments that require payments based upon changes in the values of designated (or underlying) securities, currencies, commodities, financial indices or other assets. Some derivative contracts (such as futures, forwards and options) require payments relating to a future trade involving the underlying asset. Other derivative contracts (such as swaps) require payments relating to the income or returns from the underlying asset. The other party to a derivative contract is referred to as a counterparty.

Many derivative contracts are traded on securities or commodities exchanges. In this case, the exchange sets all the terms of the contract except for the price. Investors make payments due under their contracts through the exchange. Most exchanges require investors to maintain margin accounts through their brokers to cover their potential obligations to the exchange. Parties to the contract make (or collect) daily payments to the margin accounts to reflect losses (or gains) in the value of their contracts. This protects investors against potential defaults by the counterparty. Trading contracts on an exchange also allows investors to close out their contracts by entering into offsetting contracts.

For example, the Fund could close out an open contract to buy an asset at a future date by entering into an offsetting contract to sell the same asset on the same date. If the offsetting sale price is more than the original purchase price, the Fund realizes a gain; if it is less, the Fund realizes a loss. Exchanges may limit the amount of open contracts permitted at any one time. Such limits may prevent the Fund from closing out a position. If this happens, the Fund will be required to keep the contract open (even if it is losing money on the contract), and to make any payments required under the contract (even if it has to sell portfolio securities at unfavorable prices to do so). Inability to close out a contract could also harm the Fund by preventing it from disposing of or trading any assets it has been using to secure its obligations under the contract.

The Fund may also trade derivative contracts over-the-counter (OTC) in transactions negotiated directly between the Fund and the counterparty. OTC contracts do not necessarily have standard terms, so they cannot be directly offset with other OTC contracts. In addition, OTC contracts with more specialized terms may be more difficult to price than exchange traded contracts.

Depending upon how the Fund uses derivative contracts and the relationships between the market value of a derivative contract and the underlying asset, derivative contracts may increase or decrease the Fund's exposure to market and currency risks, and may also expose the Fund to liquidity and leverage risks. OTC contracts also expose the Fund to credit risks in the event that a counterparty defaults on the contract.

The Fund may trade in the following types of derivative contracts.

FUTURES CONTRACTS

Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of an underlying asset at a specified price, date, and time. Entering into a contract to buy an underlying asset is commonly referred to as buying a contract or holding a long position in the asset. Entering into a contract to sell an underlying asset is commonly referred to as selling a contract or holding a short position in the asset. Futures contracts are considered to be commodity contracts. Futures contracts traded OTC are frequently referred to as forward contracts.

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The Fund may buy and sell financial futures contracts.

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OPTIONS

Options are rights to buy or sell an underlying asset for a specified price (the exercise price) during, or at the end of, a specified period. A call option gives the holder (buyer) the right to buy the underlying asset from the seller (writer) of the option. A put option gives the holder the right to sell the underlying asset to the writer of the option. The writer of the option receives a payment, or premium, from the buyer, which the writer keeps regardless of whether the buyer uses (or exercises) the option.

The Fund may:

<R>

  • Buy call options on portfolio securities, futures, futures on indices and financial futures contracts in anticipation of an increase in the value of the underlying asset;
  • Buy put options on portfolio securities, futures, futures on indices and financial futures contracts in anticipation of a decrease in the value of the underlying asset; and

</R>

  • Buy or write options to close out existing options positions.

<R>

The Fund may also write call options on portfolio securities, futures, futures on indices and financial futures contracts to generate income from premiums, and in anticipation of a decrease or only limited increase in the value of the underlying asset. If a call written by the Fund is exercised, the Fund foregoes any possible profit from an increase in the market price of the underlying asset over the exercise price plus the premium received.

The Fund may also write put options on portfolio securities, futures, futures on indices and financial futures contracts to generate income from premiums, and in anticipation of an increase or only limited decrease in the value of the underlying asset. In writing puts, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to take delivery of the underlying asset when its current market price is lower than the exercise price.

When the Fund writes options on futures contracts, it will be subject to margin requirements similar to those applied to futures contracts.

SWAPS

Swaps are contracts in which two parties agree to pay each other (swap) the returns derived from underlying assets with differing characteristics. Most swaps do not involve the delivery of the underlying assets by either party, and the parties might not own the assets underlying the swap. The payments are usually made on a net basis so that, on any given day, the Fund would receive (or pay) only the amount by which its payment under the contract is less than (or exceeds) the amount of the other party's payment. Swap agreements are sophisticated instruments that can take many different forms, and are known by a variety of names including caps, floors, and collars. Common swap agreements that the Fund may use include:

INTEREST RATE SWAPS

Interest rate swaps are contracts in which one party agrees to make regular payments equal to a fixed or floating interest rate times a stated principal amount of fixed income securities, in return for payments equal to a different fixed or floating rate times the same principal amount, for a specific period. For example, a $10 million LIBOR swap would require one party to pay the equivalent of the London Interbank Offer Rate of interest (which fluctuates) on $10 million principal amount in exchange for the right to receive the equivalent of a stated fixed rate of interest on $10 million principal amount.

CURRENCY SWAPS

Currency swaps are contracts which provide for interest payments in different currencies. The parties might agree to exchange the notional principal amount as well.

</R>

FOREIGN SECURITIES

Foreign securities are securities of issuers based outside the United States. The Fund considers an issuer to be based outside the United States if:

  • it is organized under the laws of, or has a principal office located in, another country;
  • the principal trading market for its securities is in another country; or
  • it (or its subsidiaries) derived in its most current fiscal year at least 50% of its total assets, capitalization, gross revenue or profit from goods produced, services performed, or sales made in another country.
  • Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies. Along with the risks normally associated with domestic securities of the same type, foreign securities are subject to currency risks and risks of foreign investing. Trading in certain foreign markets is also subject to liquidity risks.

DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS

Depositary receipts represent interests in underlying securities issued by a foreign company. Depositary receipts are not traded in the same market as the underlying security. The foreign securities underlying American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) are not traded in the United States. ADRs provide a way to buy shares of foreign-based companies in the United States rather than in overseas markets. ADRs are also traded in U.S. dollars, eliminating the need for foreign exchange transactions. The foreign securities underlying European Depositary Receipts (EDRs), Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs), and International Depositary Receipts (IDRs), are traded globally or outside the United States. Depositary receipts involve many of the same risks of investing directly in foreign securities, including currency risks and risks of foreign investing.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE CONTRACTS

In order to convert U.S. dollars into the currency needed to buy a foreign security, or to convert foreign currency received from the sale of a foreign security into U.S. dollars, the Fund may enter into spot currency trades. In a spot trade, the Fund agrees to exchange one currency for another at the current exchange rate. The Fund may also enter into derivative contracts in which a foreign currency is an underlying asset. The exchange rate for currency derivative contracts may be higher or lower than the spot exchange rate. Use of these derivative contracts may increase or decrease the Fund's exposure to currency risks.

FOREIGN GOVERNMENT SECURITIES

Foreign government securities generally consist of fixed income securities supported by national, state or provincial governments or similar political subdivisions. Foreign government securities also include debt obligations of supranational entities, such as international organizations designed or supported by governmental entities to promote economic reconstruction or development, international banking institutions and related government agencies. Examples of these include, but are not limited to, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the World Bank), the Asian Development Bank, the European Investment Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank.

Foreign government securities also include fixed income securities of quasi-governmental agencies that are either issued by entities owned by a national, state or equivalent government or are obligations of a political unit that are not backed by the national government's full faith and credit. Further, foreign government securities include mortgage-related securities issued or guaranteed by national, state or provincial governmental instrumentalities, including quasi-governmental agencies.

SPECIAL TRANSACTIONS

Repurchase Agreements

Repurchase agreements are transactions in which the Fund buys a security from a dealer or bank and agrees to sell the security back at a mutually agreed upon time and price. The repurchase price exceeds the sale price, reflecting the Fund's return on the transaction. This return is unrelated to the interest rate on the underlying security. The Fund will enter into repurchase agreements only with banks and other recognized financial institutions, such as securities dealers, deemed creditworthy by the Adviser.

The Fund's custodian or subcustodian will take possession of the securities subject to repurchase agreements. The Adviser or subcustodian will monitor the value of the underlying security each day to ensure that the value of the security always equals or exceeds the repurchase price.

Repurchase agreements are subject to credit risks.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

Reverse repurchase agreements are repurchase agreements in which the Fund is the seller (rather than the buyer) of the securities, and agrees to repurchase them at an agreed upon time and price. A reverse repurchase agreement may be viewed as a type of borrowing by the Fund. Reverse repurchase agreements are subject to credit risks. In addition, reverse repurchase agreements create leverage risks because the Fund must repurchase the underlying security at a higher price, regardless of the market value of the security at the time of repurchase.

Delayed Delivery Transactions

Delayed delivery transactions, including when issued transactions, are arrangements in which the Fund buys securities for a set price, with payment and delivery of the securities scheduled for a future time. During the period between purchase and settlement, no payment is made by the Fund to the issuer and no interest accrues to the Fund. The Fund records the transaction when it agrees to buy the securities and reflects their value in determining the price of its shares. Settlement dates may be a month or more after entering into these transactions so that the market values of the securities bought may vary from the purchase prices. Therefore, delayed delivery transactions create interest rate risks for the Fund. Delayed delivery transactions also involve credit risks in the event of a counterparty default. These transactions create leverage risks.

Securities Lending

The Fund may lend portfolio securities to borrowers that the Fund's Custodian deems creditworthy. In return, the Fund receives cash or liquid securities from the borrower as collateral. The borrower must furnish additional collateral if the market value of the loaned securities increases. Also, the borrower must pay the Fund the equivalent of any dividends or interest received on the loaned securities.

The Fund will reinvest cash collateral in securities that qualify as an acceptable investment for the Fund. However, the Fund must pay interest to the borrower for the use of cash collateral.

Loans are subject to termination at the option of the Fund or the borrower. The Fund will not have the right to vote on securities while they are on loan, but it will terminate a loan in anticipation of any important vote. The Fund may pay administrative and custodial fees in connection with a loan and may pay a negotiated portion of the interest earned on the cash collateral to a securities lending agent or broker.

Securities lending activities are subject to interest rate risks and credit risks. These transactions may create leverage risks.

Inter-Fund Borrowing and Lending Arrangements

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The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has granted an exemption that permits the Fund and all other funds advised by subsidiaries of Federated Investors, Inc. (Federated funds) to lend and borrow money for certain temporary purposes directly to and from other Federated funds. Participation in this inter-fund lending program is voluntary for both borrowing and lending funds, and an inter-fund loan is only made if it benefits each participating fund. Federated Investors, Inc. (Federated) administers the program according to procedures approved by the Fund's Board, and the Board monitors the operation of the program. Any inter-fund loan must comply with certain conditions set out in the exemption, which are designed to assure fairness and protect all participating funds.

For example, inter-fund lending is permitted only (a) to meet shareholder redemption requests, and (b) to meet commitments arising from "failed" trades. All inter-fund loans must be repaid in seven days or less. The Fund's participation in this program must be consistent with its investment policies and limitations, and must meet certain percentage tests. Inter-fund loans may be made only when the rate of interest to be charged is more attractive to the lending fund than market-competitive rates on overnight repurchase agreements (Repo Rate) and more attractive to the borrowing fund than the rate of interest that would be charged by an unaffiliated bank for short-term borrowings (Bank Loan Rate), as determined by the Board. The interest rate imposed on inter-fund loans is the average of the Repo Rate and the Bank Loan Rate.

</R>

Investing in Securities of Other Investment Companies

The Fund may invest its assets in securities of other investment companies, including the securities of affiliated money market funds, as an efficient means of carrying out its investment policies and managing its uninvested cash.

<R>

INVESTMENT RATINGS

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Investment Ratings for Investment Grade Securities

The Adviser will determine whether a security is investment grade based upon the credit ratings given by one or more nationally recognized rating services. For example, Standard & Poor's, a rating service, assigns ratings to investment grade securities (AAA, AA, A, and BBB) based on their assessment of the likelihood of the issuer's inability to pay interest or principal (default) when due on each security. Lower credit ratings correspond to higher credit risk. If a security has not received a rating, the Fund must rely entirely upon the Adviser's credit assessment that the security is comparable to investment grade.

If a security is downgraded below the minimum quality grade discussed above, the Adviser will reevaluate the security, but will not be required to sell it.

INVESTMENT RISKS

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There are many factors which may affect an investment in the Fund. The Fund's principal risks are described in its prospectus. Additional risk factors are outlined below.

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Interest Rate Risks

  • Prices of fixed income securities rise and fall in response to changes in the interest rate paid by similar securities. Generally, when interest rates rise, prices of fixed income securities fall. However, market factors, such as the demand for particular fixed income securities, may cause the price of certain fixed income securities to fall while the prices of other securities rise or remain unchanged.
  • Interest rate changes have a greater effect on the price of fixed income securities with longer durations. Duration measures the price sensitivity of a fixed income security to changes in interest rates.

Credit Risks

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  • Credit risk includes the possibility that a party to transaction involving the Fund will fail to meet its obligations. This could cause the Fund to lose benefit of the transaction or prevent the Fund from selling or buying other securities to implement its investment strategy.

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  • Many fixed income securities receive credit ratings from services such as Standard & Poor's and Moody's Investors Service. These services assign ratings to securities by assessing the likelihood of issuer default. Lower credit ratings correspond to higher credit risk. If a security has not received a rating, the Fund must rely entirely upon the Adviser's credit assessment.
  • Fixed income securities generally compensate for greater credit risk by paying interest at a higher rate. The difference between the yield of a security and the yield of a U.S. Treasury security with a comparable maturity (the spread) measures the additional interest paid for risk. Spreads may increase generally in response to adverse economic or market conditions. A security's spread may also increase if the security's rating is lowered, or the security is perceived to have an increased credit risk. An increase in the spread will cause the price of the security to decline.
  • Credit risk includes the possibility that a party to a transaction involving the Fund will fail to meet its obligations. This could cause the Fund to lose the benefit of the transaction or prevent the Fund from selling or buying other securities to implement its investment strategy.

Call Risks

  • Call risk is the possibility that an issuer may redeem a fixed income security before maturity (a call) at a price below its current market price. An increase in the likelihood of a call may reduce the security's price.
  • If a fixed income security is called, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in other fixed income securities with lower interest rates, higher credit risks, or other less favorable characteristics.

Risks Associated with Noninvestment Grade Securities

  • Securities rated below investment grade, also known as junk bonds, generally entail greater market, credit and liquidity risks than investment grade securities. For example, their prices are more volatile, economic downturns and financial setbacks may affect their prices more negatively, and their trading market may be more limited.

Risks of Foreign Investing

  • Foreign securities pose additional risks because foreign economic or political conditions may be less favorable than those of the United States. Securities in foreign markets may also be subject to taxation policies that reduce returns for U.S. investors.
  • Foreign companies may not provide information (including financial statements) as frequently or to as great an extent as companies in the United States. Foreign companies may also receive less coverage than U.S. companies by market analysts and the financial press. In addition, foreign countries may lack uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards or regulatory requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. These factors may prevent the Fund and its Adviser from obtaining information concerning foreign companies that is as frequent, extensive and reliable as the information available concerning companies in the United States.
  • Foreign countries may have restrictions on foreign ownership of securities or may impose exchange controls, capital flow restrictions or repatriation restrictions, which could adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund's investments.

Currency Risks

  • Exchange rates for currencies fluctuate daily. The combination of currency risk and market risk tends to make securities traded in foreign markets more volatile than securities traded exclusively in the U.S.
  • The Adviser attempts to manage currency risk by limiting the amount the Fund invests in securities denominated in a particular currency. However, diversification will not protect the Fund against a general increase in the value of the United States dollar relative to other currencies.

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Liquidity Risks

  • Liquidity risk also refers to the possibility that the Fund may not be able to sell a security or close out a derivatives contract when it wants to. If this happens, the Fund will be required to continue to hold the security or keep the position open, and the Fund could incur losses. OTC derivative contracts generally carry greater liquidity risk than exchange-traded contracts.

Leverage Risks

  • Leverage risk is created when an investment exposes the Fund to a level of risk that exceeds the amount invested. Changes in the value of such an investment magnify the Fund's risk of loss and potential for gain.
  • Investments can have these same results if their returns are based on a multiple of a specified index, security, or other benchmark.

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FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

The Fund's investment objective is appreciation of capital. The investment objective may not be changed by the Fund's Trustees without shareholder approval.

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

Diversification

With respect to securities comprising 75% of the value of its total assets, the Fund will not purchase securities of any one issuer (other than cash; cash items; securities issued or guaranteed by the government of the United States or its agencies or instrumentalities and repurchase agreements collateralized by such U.S. government securities; and securities of other investment companies) if, as a result, more than 5% of the value of its total assets would be invested in the securities of that issuer, or the Fund would own more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of that issuer.

Borrowing Money and Issuing Senior Securities

The Fund may borrow money, directly or indirectly, and issue senior securities to the maximum extent permitted under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (1940 Act).

Investing in Real Estate

The Fund may not purchase or sell real estate, provided that this restriction does not prevent the Fund from investing in issuers which invest, deal, or otherwise engage in transactions in real estate or interests therein, or investing in securities that are secured by real estate or interests therein. The Fund may exercise its rights under agreements relating to such securities, including the right to enforce security interests and to hold real estate acquired by reason of such enforcement until that real estate can be liquidated in an orderly manner.

Investing in Commodities

The Fund may not purchase or sell physical commodities, provided that the Fund may purchase securities of companies that deal in commodities.

Underwriting

The Fund may not underwrite the securities of other issuers, except that the Fund may engage in transactions involving the acquisition, disposition or resale of its portfolio securities, under circumstances where it may be considered to be an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933.

Lending

The Fund may not make loans, provided that this restriction does not prevent the Fund from purchasing debt obligations, entering into repurchase agreements, lending its assets to broker/dealers or institutional investors and investing in loans, including assignments and participation interests.

Concentration

The Fund will not make investments that will result in the concentration of its investments in the securities of issuers primarily engaged in the same industry. Government securities, municipal securities and bank instruments will not be deemed to constitute an industry.

The above limitations cannot be changed unless authorized by the Board and by the "vote of a majority of its outstanding voting securities," as defined by the 1940 Act. The following limitations, however, may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval. Shareholders will be notified before any material change in these limitations becomes effective.

Concentration

In applying the concentration restriction (a) utility companies will be divided according to their services, for example, gas, gas transmission, electric and telephone will each be considered a separate industry; (b) financial service companies will be classified according to the end users of their services, for example, automobile finance, bank finance and diversified finance will each be considered a separate industry; and (c) asset-backed securities will be classified according to the underlying assets securing such securities.

To conform to the current view of the SEC that only domestic bank instruments may be excluded from industry concentration limitations, as a matter of non-fundamental policy, the Fund will not exclude foreign bank instruments from industry concentration limits as long as the policy of the SEC remains in effect. In addition, investments in bank instruments, and investments in certain industrial development bonds funded by activities in a single industry, will be deemed to constitute investment in an industry, except when held for temporary defensive purposes. The investment of more than 25% of the value of the Fund's total assets in any one industry will constitute "concentration."

Investing in Commodities

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For purposes of the commodities limitation, investments in transactions involving futures contracts and options, forward currency contracts, swaps transactions and other financial contracts that settle by payment of cash are not deemed to be investments in commodities.

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Pledging Assets

The Fund will not mortgage, pledge, or hypothecate any assets, provided that this shall not apply to the transfer of securities in connection with any permissible borrowings or to collateral arrangements in connection with permissible activities.

Purchases on Margin

The Fund will not purchase securities on margin, provided that the Fund may obtain short-term credits necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of securities, and further provided that the Fund may make margin deposits in connection with its use of financial options and futures, forward and spot currency contracts, swaps transactions and other financial contracts or derivative instruments.

Illiquid Securities

The Fund will not purchase securities for which there is no readily available market, or enter into repurchase agreements or purchase time deposits maturing in more than seven days, if immediately after and as a result, the value of such securities would exceed, in the aggregate, 15% of the Fund's net assets.

Diversification

In determining the amount to invest in a security, the Adviser limits the Fund's exposure to major sectors that comprise the S&P 500 Index.

For purposes of the above limitations, the Fund considers certificates of deposit and demand and time deposits issued by a U.S. branch of a domestic bank or savings association having capital, surplus and undivided profits in excess of $100,000,000 at the time of investment to be "cash items." Except with respect to borrowing money, if a percentage limitations is adhered to at the time of investment, a later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from any change in value or net assets will not result in a violation of such limitation.

DETERMINING MARKET VALUE OF SECURITIES

Market values of the Fund's portfolio securities are determined as follows:

  • for equity securities, according to the last sale price in the market in which they are primarily traded (either a national securities exchange or the over-the-counter market), if available;
  • in the absence of recorded sales for equity securities, according to the mean between the last closing bid and asked prices;
  • futures contracts and options are generally valued at market values established by the exchanges on which they are traded at the close of trading on such exchanges. Options traded in the over-the-counter market are generally valued according to the mean between the last bid and the last asked price for the option as provided by an investment dealer or other financial institution that deals in the option. The Board may determine in good faith that another method of valuing such investments is necessary to appraise their fair market value;
  • for fixed income securities, according to the mean between bid and asked prices as furnished by an independent pricing service, except that fixed income securities with remaining maturities of less than 60 days at the time of purchase may be valued at amortized cost; and
  • for all other securities at fair value as determined in good faith by the Board.

Prices provided by independent pricing services may be determined without relying exclusively on quoted prices and may consider institutional trading in similar groups of securities, yield, quality, stability, risk, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics, and other market data or factors. From time to time, when prices cannot be obtained from an independent pricing service, securities may be valued based on quotes from broker-dealers or other financial institutions that trade the securities.

TRADING IN FOREIGN SECURITIES

Trading in foreign securities may be completed at times which vary from the closing of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). In computing its NAV, the Fund values foreign securities at the latest closing price on the exchange on which they are traded immediately prior to the closing of the NYSE. Certain foreign currency exchange rates may also be determined at the latest rate prior to the closing of the NYSE. Foreign securities quoted in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at current rates. Occasionally, events that affect these values and exchange rates may occur between the times at which they are determined and the closing of the NYSE. If such events materially affect the value of portfolio securities, these securities may be valued at their fair value as determined in good faith by the Fund's Board, although the actual calculation may be done by others.

What do Shares Cost?

The Fund's net asset value (NAV) per Share fluctuates and is based on the market value of all securities and other assets of the Fund. The NAV for each class of Shares may differ due to the variance in daily net income realized by each class. Such variance will reflect only accrued net income to which the shareholders of a particular class are entitled.

REDUCING OR ELIMINATING THE FRONT-END SALES CHARGE

You can reduce or eliminate the applicable front-end sales charge, as follows:

Quantity Discounts

Larger purchases of the same Share class reduce or eliminate the sales charge you pay. You can combine purchases of Shares made on the same day by you, your spouse and your children under age 21. In addition, purchases made at one time by a trustee or fiduciary for a single trust estate or a single fiduciary account can be combined.

Accumulated Purchases

If you make an additional purchase of Shares, you can count previous Share purchases still invested in the Fund in calculating the applicable sales charge on the additional purchase.

Concurrent Purchases

You can combine concurrent purchases of the same share class of two or more Federated Funds in calculating the applicable sales charge.

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Letter of Intent Class A Shares

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You can sign a Letter of Intent committing to purchase a certain amount of the same class of Shares within a 13-month period to combine such purchases in calculating the sales charge. The Fund's custodian will hold Shares in escrow equal to the maximum applicable sales charge. If you complete the Letter of Intent, the Custodian will release the Shares in escrow to your account. If you do not fulfill the Letter of Intent, the Custodian will redeem the appropriate amount from the Shares held in escrow to pay the sales charges that were not applied to your purchases.

Reinvestment Privilege

You may reinvest, within 120 days, your Share redemption proceeds at the next determined NAV without any sales charge.

Purchases by Affiliates of the Fund

The following individuals and their immediate family members may buy Shares at NAV without any sales charge because there are nominal sales efforts associated with their purchases:

  • the Trustees, employees and sales representatives of the Fund, the Adviser, the Distributor and their affiliates;
  • any associated person of an investment dealer who has a sales agreement with the Distributor; and
  • trusts, pension or profit-sharing plans for these individuals.

Federated Life Members

Shareholders of the Fund known as "Federated Life Members" are exempt from paying any front-end sales charge. These shareholders joined the Fund originally:

  • through the "Liberty Account," an account for Liberty Family of Funds shareholders on February 28, 1987 (the Liberty Account and Liberty Family of Funds are no longer marketed); or
  • as Liberty Account shareholders by investing through an affinity group prior to August 1, 1987.

REDUCING OR ELIMINATING THE CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE

These reductions or eliminations are offered because: no sales commissions have been advanced to the investment professional selling Shares; the shareholder has already paid a Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (CDSC); or nominal sales efforts are associated with the original purchase of Shares.

Upon notification to the Distributor or the Fund's transfer agent, no CDSC will be imposed on redemptions:

  • following the death or post-purchase disability, as defined in Section 72(m)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, of the last surviving shareholder;
  • representing minimum required distributions from an Individual Retirement Account or other retirement plan to a shareholder who has attained the age of 70-1/2;
  • of Shares that represent a reinvestment within 120 days of a previous redemption;
  • of Shares held by the Trustees, employees, and sales representatives of the Fund, the Adviser, the Distributor and their affiliates; employees of any investment professional that sells Shares according to a sales agreement with the Distributor; and the immediate family members of the above persons;
  • of Shares originally purchased through a bank trust department, a registered investment adviser or retirement plans where the third party administrator has entered into certain arrangements with the Distributor or its affiliates, or any other investment professional, to the extent that no payments were advanced for purchases made through these entities;
  • which are involuntary redemptions processed by the Fund because the accounts do not meet the minimum balance requirements; and

Class B Shares Only

  • which are qualifying redemptions of Class B Shares under a Systematic Withdrawal Program.

How is the Fund Sold?

Under the Distributor's Contract with the Fund, the Distributor (Federated Securities Corp.) offers Shares on a continuous, best-efforts basis.

FRONT-END SALES CHARGE REALLOWANCES

The Distributor receives a front-end sales charge on certain Share sales. The Distributor generally pays up to 90% (and as much as 100%) of this charge to investment professionals for sales and/or administrative services. Any payments to investment professionals in excess of 90% of the front-end sales charge are considered supplemental payments. The Distributor retains any portion not paid to an investment professional.

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RULE 12B-1 PLAN CLASS B SHARES AND CLASS C SHARES

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As a compensation-type plan, the Rule 12b-1 Plan is designed to pay the Distributor (who may then pay investment professionals such as banks, broker/dealers, trust departments of banks, and registered investment advisers) for marketing activities (such as advertising, printing and distributing prospectuses, and providing incentives to investment professionals) to promote sales of Shares so that overall Fund assets are maintained or increased. This helps the Fund achieve economies of scale, reduce per share expenses, and provide cash for orderly portfolio management and Share redemptions. In addition, the Fund's service providers that receive asset-based fees also benefit from stable or increasing Fund assets.

The Fund may compensate the Distributor more or less than its actual marketing expenses. In no event will the Fund pay for any expenses of the Distributor that exceed the maximum Rule 12b-1 Plan fee.

For some classes of Shares, the maximum Rule 12b-1 Plan fee that can be paid in any one year may not be sufficient to cover the marketing-related expenses the Distributor has incurred. Therefore, it may take the Distributor a number of years to recoup these expenses.

Federated and its subsidiaries may benefit from arrangements where the Rule 12b-1 Plan fees related to Class B Shares may be paid to third parties who have advanced commissions to investment professionals.

SHAREHOLDER SERVICES

The Fund may pay Federated Shareholder Services Company, a subsidiary of Federated, for providing shareholder services and maintaining shareholder accounts. Federated Shareholder Services Company may select others to perform these services for their customers and may pay them fees.

SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENTS

Investment professionals (such as broker/dealers or banks) may be paid fees, in significant amounts, out of the assets of the Distributor and/or Federated Shareholder Services Company. (These fees do not come out of Fund assets.) The Distributor and/or Federated Shareholder Services Company may be reimbursed by the Adviser or its affiliates.

Investment professionals receive such fees for providing distribution-related and/or shareholder services, such as advertising, providing incentives to their sales personnel, sponsoring other activities intended to promote sales, and maintaining shareholder accounts. These payments may be based upon such factors as the number or value of Shares the investment professional sells or may sell; the value of client assets invested; and/or the type and nature of sales or marketing support furnished by the investment professional.

When an investment professional's customer purchases Shares, the investment professional may receive:

  • an amount up to 5.50% and 1.00%, respectively, of the NAV of Class B and C Shares.

In addition, the Distributor may pay investment professionals 0.25% of the purchase price of $1 million or more of Class A Shares that its customer has not redeemed over the first year.

Class A Shares

Investment professionals purchasing Class A Shares for their customers are eligible to receive an advance payment from the Distributor based on the following breakpoints:

Amount     Advance Payments
as a Percentage of
Public Offering Price
First $1 - $5 million   0.75%
Next $5 - $20 million   0.50%
Over $20 million   0.25%

For accounts with assets over $1 million, the dealers advance payments reset annually to the first breakpoint on the anniversary of the first purchase.

Class A Share purchases under this program may be made by Letter of Intent or by combining concurrent purchases. The above advance payments will be paid only on those purchases that were not previously subject to a front-end sales charge and dealer advance payments. Certain retirement accounts may not be eligible for this program.

A contingent deferred sales charge of 0.75% of the redemption amount applies to Class A Shares redeemed up to 24 months after purchase. The CDSC does not apply under certain investment programs where the investment professional does not receive an advance payment on the transaction including, but not limited to, trust accounts and wrap programs where the investor pays an account level fee for investment management.

Exchanging Securities for Shares

You may contact the Distributor to request a purchase of Shares in exchange for securities you own. The Fund reserves the right to determine whether to accept your securities and the minimum market value to accept. The Fund will value your securities in the same manner as it values its assets. This exchange is treated as a sale of your securities for federal tax purposes.

Subaccounting Services

Certain investment professionals may wish to use the transfer agent's subaccounting system to minimize their internal recordkeeping requirements. The transfer agent may charge a fee based on the level of subaccounting services rendered. Investment professionals holding Shares in a fiduciary, agency, custodial or similar capacity may charge or pass through subaccounting fees as part of or in addition to normal trust or agency account fees. They may also charge fees for other services that may be related to the ownership of Shares. This information should, therefore, be read together with any agreement between the customer and the investment professional about the services provided, the fees charged for those services, and any restrictions and limitations imposed.

Redemption in Kind

Although the Fund intends to pay Share redemptions in cash, it reserves the right, as described below, to pay the redemption price in whole or in part by a distribution of the Fund's portfolio securities.

Because the Fund has elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act, the Fund is obligated to pay Share redemptions to any one shareholder in cash only up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net assets represented by such Share class during any 90-day period.

Any Share redemption payment greater than this amount will also be in cash unless the Fund's Board determines that payment should be in kind. In such a case, the Fund will pay all or a portion of the remainder of the redemption in portfolio securities, valued in the same way as the Fund determines its NAV. The portfolio securities will be selected in a manner that the Fund's Board deems fair and equitable and, to the extent available, such securities will be readily marketable.

Redemption in kind is not as liquid as a cash redemption. If redemption is made in kind, shareholders receiving the portfolio securities and selling them before their maturity could receive less than the redemption value of the securities and could incur certain transaction costs.

Massachusetts Partnership Law

Under certain circumstances, shareholders may be held personally liable as partners under Massachusetts law for obligations of the Fund. To protect its shareholders, the Fund has filed legal documents with Massachusetts that expressly disclaim the liability of its shareholders for acts or obligations of the Fund.

In the unlikely event a shareholder is held personally liable for the Fund's obligations, the Fund is required by the Declaration of Trust to use its property to protect or compensate the shareholder. On request, the Fund will defend any claim made and pay any judgment against a shareholder for any act or obligation of the Fund. Therefore, financial loss resulting from liability as a shareholder will occur only if the Fund itself cannot meet its obligations to indemnify shareholders and pay judgments against them.

Account and Share Information

VOTING RIGHTS

Each Share of the Fund gives the shareholder one vote in Trustee elections and other matters submitted to shareholders for vote.

All Shares of the Trust have equal voting rights, except that in matters affecting only a particular Fund or class, only Shares of that Fund or class are entitled to vote.

Trustees may be removed by the Board or by shareholders at a special meeting. A special meeting of shareholders will be called by the Board upon the written request of shareholders who own at least 10% of the Trust's outstanding Shares of all series entitled to vote.

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As of December 2, 2002, the following shareholders owned of record, beneficially, or both, 5% or more of outstanding Class A Shares: Edward Jones & Co., Maryland, Heights, MO, owned approximately 4,147,571 Shares (18.29%).

As of December 2, 2002, the following shareholders owned of record, beneficially, or both, 5% or more of outstanding Class B Shares: Edward Jones & Co., Maryland, Heights, MO, owned approximately 890,301 Shares (10.92%).

As of December 2, 2002, the following shareholders owned of record, beneficially, or both, 5% or more of outstanding Class C Shares: Edward Jones & Co., Maryland, Heights, MO, owned approximately 195,564 Shares (11.73%); MLPF&S for the sole benefit of its customers, Jacksonville, FL, owned approximately 113,521 Shares (6.79%).

Shareholders owning 25% or more of outstanding Shares may be in control and be able to affect the outcome of certain matters presented for a vote of shareholders.

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Tax Information

FEDERAL INCOME TAX

The Fund intends to meet requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies. If these requirements are not met, it will not receive special tax treatment and will be subject to federal corporate income tax. The Fund will be treated as a single, separate entity for federal income tax purposes so that income earned and capital gains and losses realized by the Trust's other portfolios will be separate from those realized by the Fund.

The Fund is entitled to a loss carry-forward, which may reduce the taxable income or gain that the Fund would realize, and to which the shareholder would be subject, in the future.

FOREIGN INVESTMENTS

If the Fund purchases foreign securities, their investment income may be subject to foreign withholding or other taxes that could reduce the return on these securities. Tax treaties between the United States and foreign countries, however, may reduce or eliminate the amount of foreign taxes to which the Fund would be subject. The effective rate of foreign tax cannot be predicted since the amount of Fund assets to be invested within various countries is uncertain. However, the Fund intends to operate so as to qualify for treaty-reduced tax rates when applicable.

Distributions from a Fund may be based on estimates of book income for the year. Book income generally consists solely of the income generated by the securities in the portfolio, whereas tax-basis income includes, in addition, gains or losses attributable to currency fluctuation. Due to differences in the book and tax treatment of fixed-income securities denominated in foreign currencies, it is difficult to project currency effects on an interim basis. Therefore, to the extent that currency fluctuations cannot be anticipated, a portion of distributions to shareholders could later be designated as a return of capital, rather than income, for income tax purposes, which may be of particular concern to simple trusts.

If the Fund invests in the stock of certain foreign corporations, they may constitute Passive Foreign Investment Companies (PFIC), and the Fund may be subject to Federal income taxes upon disposition of PFIC investments.

If more than 50% of the value of the Fund's assets at the end of the tax year is represented by stock or securities of foreign corporations, the Fund will qualify for certain Code provisions that allow its shareholders to claim a foreign tax credit or deduction on their U.S. income tax returns. The Code may limit a shareholder's ability to claim a foreign tax credit. Shareholders who elect to deduct their portion of the Fund's foreign taxes rather than take the foreign tax credit must itemize deductions on their income tax returns.

Who Manages and Provides Services to the Fund?

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

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The Board is responsible for managing the Trust's business affairs and for exercising all the Trust's powers except those reserved for the shareholders. The following tables give information about each Board member and the senior officers of the Fund. Where required, the tables separately list Board members who are "interested persons" of the Fund (i.e., "Interested" Board members) and those who are not (i.e., "Independent" Board members). Unless otherwise noted, the address of each person listed is Federated Investors Tower, 1001 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA. The Trust comprises six portfolios and the Federated Fund Complex consists of 44 investment companies (comprising 139 portfolios). Unless otherwise noted, each Board member oversees all portfolios in the Federated Fund Complex; serves for an indefinite term; and also serves as a Board member of the following investment company complexes: Banknorth Funds-five portfolios; CCMI Funds-two portfolios; Regions Funds-eight p ortfolios; Riggs Funds-nine portfolios; and WesMark Funds-five portfolios.

As of December 2, 2002, the Fund's Board and Officers as a group owned less than 1% of the Fund's outstanding Class A, B and C Shares.

INTERESTED TRUSTEES BACKGROUND AND COMPENSATION

Name
Birth Date
Address
Positions Held with Trust
Date Service Began
    Principal Occupation(s) for Past Five Years,
Other Directorships Held and Previous Positions
    Aggregate
Compensation
From Trust
(past fiscal year)
    Total Compensation
From Trust and
Fund Complex
(past calendar year)
John F. Donahue*
Birth Date: July 28, 1924
CHAIRMAN AND TRUSTEE
Began serving: April 1984
  Principal Occupations: Chief Executive Officer and Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Chairman and Director, Federated Investors, Inc.; Chairman, Federated Investment Management Company, Federated Global Investment Management Corp. and Passport Research, Ltd.

Previous Positions: Trustee, Federated Investment Management Company and Chairman and Director, Federated Investment Counseling.
  $0   $0
             
J. Christopher Donahue*
Birth Date: April 11, 1949
PRESIDENT AND TRUSTEE
Began serving: January 2000
  Principal Occupations: President or Executive Vice President of the Federated Fund Complex; Director or Trustee of some of the Funds in the Federated Fund Complex; President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Federated Investors, Inc.; President, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee, Federated Investment Management Company; Trustee, Federated Investment Counseling; President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Federated Global Investment Management Corp.; President and Chief Executive Officer, Passport Research, Ltd.; Trustee, Federated Shareholder Services Company; Director, Federated Services Company.

Previous Position: President, Federated Investment Counseling.
  $0   $0
             
Lawrence D. Ellis, M.D.*
Birth Date: October 11, 1932
3471 Fifth Avenue
Suite 1111
Pittsburgh, PA
TRUSTEE
Began serving: August 1987
  Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Professor of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh; Medical Director, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Downtown; Hematologist, Oncologist and Internist, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Other Directorships Held: Member, National Board of Trustees, Leukemia Society of America.

Previous Positions: Trustee, University of Pittsburgh; Director, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
  $737.33   $117,117.17

* Family relationships and reasons for "interested" status: John F. Donahue is the father of J. Christopher Donahue; both are "interested" due to the positions they hold with Federated and its subsidiaries. Lawrence D. Ellis, M.D. is "interested" because his son-in-law is employed by the Fund's principal underwriter, Federated Securities Corp.

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES BACKGROUND AND COMPENSATION

Name
Birth Date
Address
Positions Held with Trust
Date Service Began
    Principal Occupation(s) for Past Five Years,
Other Directorships Held and Previous Positions
    Aggregate
Compensation
From Trust
(past fiscal year)
    Total Compensation
From Trust and
Fund Complex
(past calendar year)
Thomas G. Bigley
Birth Date: February 3, 1934
15 Old Timber Trail
Pittsburgh, PA
TRUSTEE
Began serving: October 1995
  Principal Occupation: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex.

Other Directorships Held: Director, Member of Executive Committee, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh; Director, Member of Executive Committee, University of Pittsburgh.

Previous Position: Senior Partner, Ernst & Young LLP.
  $811.08   $128,847.72
             
John T. Conroy, Jr.
Birth Date: June 23, 1937
Grubb & Ellis/Investment
Properties Corporation
3838 Tamiami Trail N.
Naples, FL
TRUSTEE
Began serving: November 1991
  Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Chairman of the Board, Investment Properties Corporation; Partner or Trustee in private real estate ventures in Southwest Florida.

Previous Positions: President, Investment Properties Corporation; Senior Vice President, John R. Wood and Associates, Inc., Realtors; President, Naples Property Management, Inc. and Northgate Village Development Corporation.
  $811.08   $128,847.66
             
Nicholas P. Constantakis
Birth Date: September 3, 1939
175 Woodshire Drive
Pittsburgh, PA
TRUSTEE
Began serving: February 1998
  Principal Occupation: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Partner, Andersen Worldwide SC (prior to 9/1/97).

Other Directorships Held: Director, Michael Baker Corporation (engineering and energy services worldwide).
  $811.08   $126,923.53
             
John F. Cunningham
Birth Date: March 5, 1943
353 El Brillo Way
Palm Beach, FL
TRUSTEE
Began serving: January 1999
  Principal Occupation: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex.

Other Directorships Held: Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Cunningham & Co., Inc. (strategic business consulting); Trustee Associate, Boston College.

Previous Positions: Director, Redgate Communications and EMC Corporation (computer storage systems); Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Computer Consoles, Inc.; President and Chief Operating Officer, Wang Laboratories; Director, First National Bank of Boston; Director, Apollo Computer, Inc.
  $737.33   $115,368.16
             
Peter E. Madden
Birth Date: March 16, 1942
One Royal Palm Way
100 Royal Palm Way
Palm Beach, FL
TRUSTEE
Began serving: November 1991
  Principal Occupation: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Management Consultant.

Previous Positions: Representative, Commonwealth of Massachusetts General Court; President, State Street Bank and Trust Company and State Street Corporation (retired); Director, VISA USA and VISA International; Chairman and Director, Massachusetts Bankers Association; Director, Depository Trust Corporation; Director, The Boston Stock Exchange.
  $737.33   $117,117.14
             
Charles F. Mansfield, Jr.
Birth Date: April 10, 1945
80 South Road
Westhampton Beach, NY
TRUSTEE
Began serving: January 1999
  Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Management Consultant; Executive Vice President, DVC Group, Inc. (marketing, communications and technology) (prior to 9/1/00).

Previous Positions: Chief Executive Officer, PBTC International Bank; Partner, Arthur Young & Company (now Ernst & Young LLP); Chief Financial Officer of Retail Banking Sector, Chase Manhattan Bank; Senior Vice President, HSBC Bank USA (formerly, Marine Midland Bank); Vice President, Citibank; Assistant Professor of Banking and Finance, Frank G. Zarb School of Business, Hofstra University.
  $811.08   $128,847.66
             
John E. Murray, Jr., J.D., S.J.D.
Birth Date: December 20, 1932
Chancellor, Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA
TRUSTEE
Began serving: February 1995
  Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Chancellor and Law Professor, Duquesne University; Consulting Partner, Mollica & Murray.

Other Directorships Held: Director, Michael Baker Corp. (engineering, construction, operations and technical services).

Previous Positions: President, Duquesne University; Dean and Professor of Law, University of Pittsburgh School of Law; Dean and Professor of Law, Villanova University School of Law.
  $870.70   $117,117.14
             
Marjorie P. Smuts
Birth Date: June 21, 1935
4905 Bayard Street
Pittsburgh, PA
TRUSTEE
Began serving: April 1984
  Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Public Relations/Marketing Consultant/Conference Coordinator.

Previous Positions: National Spokesperson, Aluminum Company of America; television producer; President, Marj Palmer Assoc.; Owner, Scandia Bord.
  $737.33   $117,117.17
             
John S. Walsh
Birth Date: November 28, 1957
2604 William Drive
Valparaiso, IN
TRUSTEE
Began serving: January 1999
  Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; President and Director, Heat Wagon, Inc. (manufacturer of construction temporary heaters); President and Director, Manufacturers Products, Inc. (distributor of portable construction heaters); President, Portable Heater Parts, a division of Manufacturers Products, Inc.

Other Directorships Held: Director, Walsh & Kelly, Inc. (heavy highway contractor).

Previous Position: Vice President, Walsh & Kelly, Inc.
  $737.33   $117,117.17

OFFICERS**

Name
Birth Date
Address
Positions Held with Trust
    Principal Occupation(s) and Previous Positions
Edward C. Gonzales
Birth Date: October 22, 1930
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
  Principal Occupations: President, Executive Vice President and Treasurer of some of the Funds in the Federated Fund Complex; Vice Chairman, Federated Investors, Inc.; Trustee, Federated Administrative Services.

Previous Positions: Trustee or Director of some of the Funds in the Federated Fund Complex; CEO and Chairman, Federated Administrative Services; Vice President, Federated Investment Management Company, Federated Investment Counseling, Federated Global Investment Management Corp. and Passport Research, Ltd.; Director and Executive Vice President, Federated Securities Corp.; Director, Federated Services Company; Trustee, Federated Shareholder Services Company.
     
John W. McGonigle
Birth Date: October 26, 1938
EXECECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
AND SECRETARY
  Principal Occupations: Executive Vice President and Secretary of the Federated Fund Complex; Executive Vice President, Secretary and Director, Federated Investors, Inc.

Previous Positions: Trustee, Federated Investment Management Company and Federated Investment Counseling; Director, Federated Global Investment Management Corp., Federated Services Company and Federated Securities Corp.
     
Richard J. Thomas
Birth Date: June 17, 1954
TREASURER
  Principal Occupations: Treasurer of the Federated Fund Complex; Senior Vice President, Federated Administrative Services.

Previous Positions: Vice President, Federated Administrative Services; held various management positions within Funds Financial Services Division of Federated Investors, Inc.
     
Richard B. Fisher
Birth Date: May 17, 1923
VICE PRESIDENT
  Principal Occupations: President or Vice President of some of the Funds in the Federated Fund Complex; Vice Chairman, Federated Investors, Inc.; Chairman, Federated Securities Corp.

Previous Positions: Director or Trustee of some of the Funds in the Federated Fund Complex; Executive Vice President, Federated Investors, Inc. and Director and Chief Executive Officer, Federated Securities Corp.
     
Stephen F. Auth
Birth Date: September 3, 1956
CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER
  Principal Occupations: Chief Investment Officer of this Fund and various other Funds in the Federated Fund Complex; Executive Vice President, Federated Investment Counseling, Federated Global Investment Management Corp., Federated Investment Management Company and Passport Research, Ltd.;

Previous Positions: Senior Vice President, Global Portfolio Management Services Division; Senior Vice President, Federated Investment Management Company and Passport Research, Ltd; Senior Managing Director and Portfolio Manager, Prudential Investments.
     
James E. Grefenstette
Birth Date: November 7, 1962
VICE PRESIDENT
  James E. Grefenstette is Vice President of the Trust. Mr. Grefenstette joined Federated in 1992 and has been a Portfolio Manager since 1994. Mr. Grefenstette became a Senior Vice President of the Fund's Adviser in January 2000. He served as a Vice President of the Fund's Adviser from 1996 through 1999 and was an Assistant Vice President of the Fund's Adviser from 1994 until 1996. Mr. Grefenstette is a Chartered Financial Analyst; he received his M.S. in Industrial Administration from Carnegie Mellon University.
     
Lawrence Auriana
Birth Date: January 8, 1944
VICE PRESIDENT
  Lawrence Auriana is Vice President of the Trust. Mr. Auriana joined Federated in April 2001 as Co-Head of Investments/Federated Kaufmann. From August 1984 to April 2001, Mr. Auriana was President and Treasurer of Edgemont Asset Management Corp., and Chairman of the Board and Portfolio Manager to The Kaufmann Fund, Inc. (predecessor to the Federated Kaufmann Fund). Mr. Auriana earned a B.S. in economics from Fordham University and has been engaged in the securities business since 1965.
     
Hans P. Utsch
Birth Date: July 3, 1936
VICE PRESIDENT
  Hans P. Utsch is Vice President of the Trust. Mr. Utsch joined Federated in April 2001 as Co-Head of Investments/Federated Kaufmann. From August 1984 to April 2001, Mr. Auriana was Chairman of the Board and Secretary of Edgemont Asset Management Corp., and President and Portfolio Manager to The Kaufmann Fund, Inc. (predecessor to the Federated Kaufmann Fund). Mr. Utsch graduated from Amherst College and holds an M.B.A. from Columbia University. He has been engaged in the securities business since 1962.

** Officers do not receive any compensation from the Fund.

Thomas R. Donahue, Chief Financial Officer, Vice President, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary of Federated and an officer of its various advisory and underwriting subsidiaries, has served as a Term Member on the Board of Directors of Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, since May 12, 2000. Mr. John E. Murray, Jr., an Independent Trustee of the Fund, served as President of Duquesne from 1988 until his retirement from that position in 2001, and became Chancellor of Duquesne on August 15, 2001. It should be noted that Mr. Donahue abstains on any matter that comes before Duquesne's Board that affects Mr. Murray personally.

COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD

Board
Committee
    Committee
Members
    Committee Functions     Meetings Held
During Last
Fiscal Year
Executive   John F. Donahue
John E. Murray, Jr., J.D., S.J.D.
  In between meetings of the full Board, the Executive Committee generally may exercise all the powers of the full Board in the management and direction of the business and conduct of the affairs of the Trust in such manner as the Executive Committee shall deem to be in the best interests of the Trust. However, the Executive Committee cannot elect or remove Board members, increase or decrease the number of Trustees, elect or remove any Officer, declare dividends, issue shares or recommend to shareholders any action requiring shareholder approval.   Two
             
Audit   Thomas G. Bigley
John T. Conroy, Jr.
Nicholas P. Constantakis
Charles F. Mansfield, Jr.
  The Audit Committee reviews and recommends to the full Board the independent auditors to be selected to audit the Fund's financial statements; meet with the independent auditors periodically to review the results of the audits and report the results to the full Board; evaluate the independence of the auditors, review legal and regulatory matters that may have a material effect on the financial statements, related compliance policies and programs, and the related reports received from regulators; review the Fund's internal audit function; review compliance with the Fund's code of conduct/ethics; review valuation issues; monitor inter-fund lending transactions; review custody services and issues and investigate any matters brought to the Committee's attention that are within the scope of its duties.   Four

BOARD OWNERSHIP OF SHARES IN THE FUND AND IN THE FEDERATED FAMILY OF INVESTMENT COMPANIES AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2001

Interested
Board Member Name
    Dollar Range of
Shares Owned
in Fund
    Aggregate
Dollar Range of
Shares Owned in
Federated Family of
Investment Companies
John F. Donahue   None   Over $100,000
J. Christopher Donahue   Over $100,000   Over $100,000
Lawrence D. Ellis, M.D.   $1- $10,000   Over $100,000
         
Independent
Board Member Name
           
Thomas G. Bigley   None   Over $100,000
John T. Conroy, Jr.   None   Over $100,000
Nicholas P. Constantakis   None   Over $100,000
John F. Cunningham   None   Over $100,000
Peter E. Madden   None   Over $100,000
Charles F. Mansfield, Jr.   None   $50,001 - $100,000
John E. Murray, Jr., J.D., S.J.D.   None   Over $100,000
Marjorie P. Smuts   None   Over $100,000
John S. Walsh   $1-$10,000   Over $100,000

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INVESTMENT ADVISER

The Adviser conducts investment research and makes investment decisions for the Fund.

The Adviser is a wholly owned subsidiary of Federated.

The Adviser shall not be liable to the Trust or any Fund shareholder for any losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding, or sale of any security or for anything done or omitted by it, except acts or omissions involving willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties imposed upon it by its contract with the Trust.

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As required by the 1940 Act, the Fund's Board has reviewed the Fund's investment advisory contract. The Board's decision to approve the contract reflects the exercise of its business judgment on whether to continue the existing arrangements. During its review of the contract, the Board considers many factors, among the most material of which are: the Fund's investment objectives and long term performance; the Adviser's management philosophy, personnel, and processes; the preferences and expectations of fund shareholders and their relative sophistication; the continuing state of competition in the mutual fund industry; comparable fees in the mutual fund industry; the range and quality of services provided to the Fund and its shareholders by the Federated organization in addition to investment advisory services; and the Fund's relationship to other funds in the Federated fund family.

In assessing the Adviser's performance of its obligations, the Board also considers whether there has occurred a circumstance or event that would constitute a reason for it to not renew an advisory contract. In this regard, the Board is mindful of the potential disruptions of the Fund's operations and various risks, uncertainties and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision to terminate or not renew an advisory contract. In particular, the Board recognizes that most shareholders have invested in the Fund on the strength of the Adviser's industry standing and reputation and in the expectation that the Adviser will have a continuing role in providing advisory services to the Fund.

The Board also considers the compensation and benefits received by the Adviser. This includes fees received for services provided to the Fund by other entities in the Federated organization and research services received by the Adviser from brokers that execute fund trades, as well as advisory fees. In this regard, the Board is aware that various courts have interpreted provisions of the 1940 Act and have indicated in their decisions that the following factors may be relevant to an Adviser's compensation: the nature and quality of the services provided by the Adviser, including the performance of the Fund; the Adviser's cost of providing the services; the extent to which the Adviser may realize "economies of scale" as the Fund grows larger; any indirect benefits that may accrue to the Adviser and its affiliates as a result of the Adviser's relationship with the Fund; performance and expenses of comparable funds; and the extent to which the independent Board members are fully informed about all f acts bearing on the Adviser's service and fee. The Fund's Board is aware of these factors and takes them into account in its review of the Fund's advisory contract.

The Board considers and weighs these circumstances in light of its substantial accumulated experience in governing the Fund and working with Federated on matters relating to the Federated funds, and is assisted in its deliberations by the advice of independent legal counsel. In this regard, the Board requests and receives a significant amount of information about the Fund and the Federated organization. Federated provides much of this information at each regular meeting of the Board, and furnishes additional reports in connection with the particular meeting at which the Board's formal review of the advisory contracts occurs. In between regularly scheduled meetings, the Board may receive information on particular matters as the need arises. Thus, the Board's evaluation of an advisory contract is informed by reports covering such matters as: the adviser's investment philosophy, personnel, and processes; the Fund's short- and long-term performance (in absolute terms as well as in relationship to its particul ar investment program and certain competitor or "peer group" funds), and comments on the reasons for performance; the Fund's expenses (including the advisory fee itself and the overall expense structure of the Fund, both in absolute terms and relative to similar and/or competing funds, with due regard for contractual or voluntary expense limitations); the use and allocation of brokerage commissions derived from trading the Fund's portfolio securities; the nature and extent of the advisory and other services provided to the Fund by the Adviser and its affiliates; compliance and audit reports concerning the funds and the Federated companies that service them; and relevant developments in the mutual fund industry and how the Federated funds and/or Federated are responding to them.

The Board also receives financial information about Federated, including reports on the compensation and benefits Federated derives from its relationships with the Federated funds. These reports cover not only the fees under the advisory contracts, but also fees received by Federated's subsidiaries for providing other services to the Federated funds under separate contracts (e.g., for serving as the Federated funds' administrator and transfer agent). The reports also discuss any indirect benefit Federated may derive from its receipt of research services from brokers who execute Federated fund trades.

The Board bases its decision to approve an advisory contract on the totality of the circumstances and relevant factors, and with a view to past and future long-term considerations. Not all of the factors and considerations identified above are relevant to every Federated fund, nor does the Board consider any one of them to be determinative. Because the totality of circumstances includes considering the relationship of each Federated fund, the Board does not approach consideration of every Federated fund's advisory contract as if that were the only fund offered by Federated.

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Other Related Services

Affiliates of the Adviser may, from time to time, provide certain electronic equipment and software to institutional customers in order to facilitate the purchase of Fund Shares offered by the Distributor.

CODE OF ETHICS RESTRICTIONS ON PERSONAL TRADING

As required by SEC rules, the Fund, its Adviser, and its Distributor have adopted codes of ethics. These codes govern securities trading activities of investment personnel, Fund Trustees, and certain other employees. Although they do permit these people to trade in securities, including those that the Fund could buy, they also contain significant safeguards designed to protect the Fund and its shareholders from abuses in this area, such as requirements to obtain prior approval for, and to report, particular transactions.

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

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When selecting brokers and dealers to handle the purchase and sale of portfolio instruments, the Adviser looks for prompt execution of the order at a favorable price. The Adviser will generally use those who are recognized dealers in specific portfolio instruments, except when a better price and execution of the order can be obtained elsewhere. The Adviser may select brokers and dealers based on whether they also offer research services (as described below). In selecting among firms believed to meet these criteria, the Adviser may give consideration to those firms which have sold or are selling Shares of the Fund and other funds distributed by the Distributor and its affiliates. The Adviser may also direct certain portfolio trades to a broker that, in turn, pays a portion of the Fund's operating expenses. The Adviser makes decisions on portfolio transactions and selects brokers and dealers subject to review by the Fund's Board.

Investment decisions for the Fund are made independently from those of other accounts managed by the Adviser. Except as noted below, when the Fund and one or more of those accounts invests in, or disposes of, the same security, available investments or opportunities for sales will be allocated among the Fund and the account(s) in a manner believed by the Adviser to be equitable. While the coordination and ability to participate in volume transactions may benefit the Fund, it is possible that this procedure could adversely impact the price paid or received and/or the position obtained or disposed of by the Fund. Investments for Federated Kaufmann Fund and other accounts managed by that fund's portfolio managers in initial public offerings ("IPO") are made independently from any other accounts, and much of their non-IPO trading may also be conducted independently from other accounts.

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Research Services

Research services may include advice as to the advisability of investing in securities; security analysis and reports; economic studies; industry studies; receipt of quotations for portfolio evaluations; and similar services. Research services may be used by the Adviser or by affiliates of Federated in advising other accounts. To the extent that receipt of these services may replace services for which the Adviser or its affiliates might otherwise have paid, it would tend to reduce their expenses. The Adviser and its affiliates exercise reasonable business judgment in selecting those brokers who offer brokerage and research services to execute securities transactions. They determine in good faith that commissions charged by such persons are reasonable in relationship to the value of the brokerage and research services provided.

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For the fiscal year ended, October 31, 2002, the Fund's Adviser directed brokerage transactions to certain brokers due to research services they provided. The total amount of these transactions was $2,653,601,490 for which the Fund paid $5,503,046 in brokerage commissions.

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ADMINISTRATOR

Federated Services Company, a subsidiary of Federated, provides administrative personnel and services (including certain legal and financial reporting services) necessary to operate the Fund. Federated Services Company provides these at the following annual rate of the average aggregate daily net assets of all Federated funds as specified below:

Maximum Administrative Fee     Average Aggregate Daily Net
Assets of the Federated Funds
0.150 of 1%   on the first $250 million
0.125 of 1%   on the next $250 million
0.100 of 1%   on the next $250 million
0.075 of 1%   on assets in excess of $750 million

The administrative fee received during any fiscal year shall be at least $125,000 per portfolio and $30,000 per each additional class of Shares. Federated Services Company may voluntarily waive a portion of its fee and may reimburse the Fund for expenses.

Federated Services Company also provides certain accounting and recordkeeping services with respect to the Fund's portfolio investments for a fee based on Fund assets plus out-of-pocket expenses.

CUSTODIAN

State Street Bank and Trust Company, Boston, Massachusetts, is custodian for the securities and cash of the Fund. Foreign instruments purchased by the Fund are held by foreign banks participating in a network coordinated by State Street Bank.

TRANSFER AGENT AND DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT

Federated Services Company, through its registered transfer agent subsidiary, Federated Shareholder Services Company, maintains all necessary shareholder records. The Fund pays the transfer agent a fee based on the size, type and number of accounts and transactions made by shareholders.

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

The independent auditor for the Fund, Deloitte & Touche LLP, conducts its audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America, which require it to plan and perform its audits to provide reasonable assurance about whether the Fund's financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement.

FEES PAID BY THE FUND FOR SERVICES

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For the Year Ended October 31     2002     2001     2000
Advisory Fee Earned   $6,340,874   $9,561,789   $11,655,341
Advisory Fee Reduction   0   0   0
Advisory Fee Reimbursement   7,913   3,469   2,004
Brokerage Commissions   6,197,682   5,004,609   2,069,246
Administrative Fee   635,778   960,003   1,170,300
12b-1 Fee:            
Class B Shares   1,574,104   --   --
Class C Shares   306,814   --   --
Shareholder Services Fee:            
Class A Shares   1,486,652   --   --
Class B Shares   524,701   --   --
Class C Shares   102,271   --   --

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Fees are allocated among classes based on their pro rata share of Fund assets, except for marketing (Rule 12b-1) fees and shareholder services fees, which are borne only by the applicable class of Shares.

How Does the Fund Measure Performance?

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The Fund may advertise Share performance by using the SEC's standard methods for calculating performance applicable to all mutual funds. The SEC also permits this standard performance information to be accompanied by non-standard performance information.

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Share performance reflects the effect of non-recurring charges, such as maximum sales charges, which, if excluded, would increase the total return and yield. The performance of Shares depends upon such variables as: portfolio quality; average portfolio maturity; type and value of portfolio securities; changes in interest rates; changes or differences in the Fund's or any class of Shares' expenses; and various other factors.

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Share performance fluctuates on a daily basis largely because net earnings and/or the value of portfolio holdings fluctuate daily. Both net earnings and offering price per Share are factors in the computation of yield and total return.

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AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS AND YIELD

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Total returns are given for the one-year, five-year, ten-year and Start of Performance periods ended October 31, 2002.

Yield is given for the 30-day period ended October 31, 2002.

Shares Class     30-Day
Period
    1 Year     5 Years     10 Years        
Class A:                                        
Total Return                    
Before Taxes   N/A   (23.00)%   (2.95)%   6.99%    
After Taxes on Distributions   N/A   (23.00)%   (4.76)%   4.64%    
After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Shares   N/A   (14.12)%   (2.18)%   5.24%    
Yield   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A    
                     
Shares Class     30-Day
Period
    1 Year     5 Years     10 Years     Start of
Performance on
8/16/1995
Class B:                                        
Total Return                    
Before Taxes   N/A   (23.61)%   (2.83)%   N/A   5.67%
After Taxes on Distributions   N/A   (23.61)%   (4.71)%   N/A   2.85%
After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Shares   N/A   (14.50)%   (2.03)%   N/A   4.15%
Yield   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A
                     
Shares Class     30-Day
Period
    1 Year     5 Years     10 Years     Start of
Performance on
8/16/1995
Class C:                                        
Total Return                    
Before Taxes   N/A   (19.93)%   (2.52)%   N/A   5.78%
After Taxes on Distributions   N/A   (19.93)%   (4.37)%   N/A   2.96%
After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Shares   N/A   (12.24)%   (1.79)%   N/A   4.23%
Yield   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A

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TOTAL RETURN

Total return represents the change (expressed as a percentage) in the value of Shares over a specific period of time, and includes the investment of income and capital gains distributions.

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The average annual total return for Shares is the average compounded rate of return for a given period that would equate a $10,000 initial investment to the ending redeemable value of that investment. The ending redeemable value is computed by multiplying the number of Shares owned at the end of the period by the NAV per Share at the end of the period. The number of Shares owned at the end of the period is based on the number of Shares purchased at the beginning of the period with $10,000, less any applicable sales charge, adjusted over the period by any additional Shares, assuming the annual reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. Total returns after taxes are calculated in a similar manner, but reflect additional standard assumptions required by the SEC.

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YIELD

The yield of Shares is calculated by dividing: (i) the net investment income per Share earned by the Shares over a 30-day period; by (ii) the maximum offering price per Share on the last day of the period. This number is then annualized using semi-annual compounding. This means that the amount of income generated during the 30-day period is assumed to be generated each month over a 12-month period and is reinvested every six months. The yield does not necessarily reflect income actually earned by Shares because of certain adjustments required by the SEC and, therefore, may not correlate to the dividends or other distributions paid to shareholders.

To the extent investment professionals and broker/dealers charge fees in connection with services provided in conjunction with an investment in Shares, the Share performance is lower for shareholders paying those fees.

PERFORMANCE COMPARISONS

Advertising and sales literature may include:

  • references to ratings, rankings, and financial publications and/or performance comparisons of Shares to certain indices;
  • charts, graphs and illustrations using the Fund's returns, or returns in general, that demonstrate investment concepts such as tax-deferred compounding, dollar-cost averaging and systematic investment;
  • discussions of economic, financial and political developments and their impact on the securities market, including the portfolio manager's views on how such developments could impact the Fund; and
  • information about the mutual fund industry from sources such as the Investment Company Institute.

The Fund may compare its performance, or performance for the types of securities in which it invests, to a variety of other investments, including federally insured bank products such as bank savings accounts, certificates of deposit, and Treasury bills.

The Fund may quote information from reliable sources regarding individual countries and regions, world stock exchanges, and economic and demographic statistics.

You may use financial publications and/or indices to obtain a more complete view of Share performance. When comparing performance, you should consider all relevant factors such as the composition of the index used, prevailing market conditions, portfolio compositions of other funds, and methods used to value portfolio securities and compute offering price. The financial publications and/or indices which the Fund uses in advertising may include:

Standard & Poor's Low-Priced Index

Standard & Poor's Low-Priced Index compares a group of approximately twenty actively traded stocks priced under $25 for one month periods and year-to-date.

Value Line Mutual Fund Survey

Value Line Mutual Fund Survey, published by Value Line Publishing, Inc., analyzes price, yield, risk, and total return for equity and fixed income mutual funds. The highest rating is One, and ratings are effective for one month.

CDA Mutual Fund Report

CDA Mutual Fund Report, published by CDA Investment Technologies, Inc., analyzes price, current yield, risk, total return, and average rate of return (average annual compounded growth rate) over specified time periods for the mutual fund industry.

Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA)

DJIA represents share prices of selected blue-chip industrial corporations. The DJIA indicates daily changes in the average price of stock of these corporations. Because it represents the top corporations of America, the DJIA index is a leading economic indicator for the stock market as a whole.

Financial Publications

The Wall Street Journal, Business Week, Changing Times, Financial World, Forbes, Fortune, and Money Magazines, among others-- provide performance statistics over specified time periods.

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Lipper, Inc.

Lipper, Inc. ranks funds in various fund categories by making comparative calculations using total return. Total return assumes the reinvestment of all capital gains distributions and income dividends and takes into account any change in NAV over a specified period of time.

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Morningstar, Inc.

Morningstar, Inc., an independent rating service, is the publisher of the bi-weekly Mutual Fund Values. Mutual Fund Values, which rates more than 1,000 NASDAQ-listed mutual funds of all types, according to their risk-adjusted returns. The maximum rating is five stars, and ratings are effective for two weeks.

Standard & Poor's Daily Stock Price Index of 500 Common Stocks (S&P 500)

The S&P 500 is a Composite index of common stocks in industry, transportation, and financial and public utility companies. It can be used to compare to the total returns of funds whose portfolios are invested primarily in common stocks. In addition, the S&P 500 assumes reinvestments of all dividends paid by stocks listed on its index. Taxes due on any of these distributions are not included, nor are brokerage or other fees calculated in the S&P figures.

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Russell Midcap Growth Index

Russell Midcap Growth Index Measures the performance of those Russell Midcap companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. The stocks are also members of the Russell 1000 Growth index.

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Lipper Growth Fund Average

Lipper Growth Fund Average is an average of the total returns for 580 growth funds tracked by Lipper Analytical Services, Inc., an independent mutual fund rating service.

Lipper Growth Fund Index

Lipper Growth Fund Index is an average of the net asset-valuated total returns for the top 30 growth funds tracked by Lipper Analytical Services, Inc., an independent mutual fund rating service.

Strategic Insight Mutual Fund Research and Consulting

Strategic Insight Mutual Fund Research and Consulting, ranks funds in various fund categories by making comparative calculations using total return. Total return assumes the reinvestment of all capital gains distributions and income dividends and takes into account any change in NAV over a specified period of time. From time to time, the Fund will quote its Strategic Insight ranking in the "growth funds" category in advertising and sales literature.

Mutual Fund Source Book

Mutual Fund Source Book, published by Morningstar, Inc., analyzes price, yield, risk, and total return for equity and fixed income funds.

Value Line Composite Index

Value Line Composite Index consists of approximately 1,700 common equity securities. It is based on a geometric average of relative price changes of the component stocks and does not include income.

Strategic Insight Growth Funds Index

Strategic Insight Growth Funds Index consists of mutual funds that invest in well-established companies primarily for long-term capital gains rather than current income.

Who is Federated Investors, Inc.?

Federated is dedicated to meeting investor needs by making structured, straightforward and consistent investment decisions. Federated investment products have a history of competitive performance and have gained the confidence of thousands of financial institutions and individual investors.

Federated's disciplined investment selection process is rooted in sound methodologies backed by fundamental and technical research. At Federated, success in investment management does not depend solely on the skill of a single portfolio manager. It is a fusion of individual talents and state-of-the-art industry tools and resources. Federated's investment process involves teams of portfolio managers and analysts, and investment decisions are executed by traders who are dedicated to specific market sectors and who handle trillions of dollars in annual trading volume.

FEDERATED FUNDS OVERVIEW

Municipal Funds

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In the municipal sector, as of December 31, 2001, Federated managed 12 bond funds with approximately $2.3 billion in assets and 22 money market funds with approximately $44.8 billion in total assets. In 1976, Federated introduced one of the first municipal bond mutual funds in the industry and is now one of the largest institutional buyers of municipal securities. The Funds may quote statistics from organizations including The Tax Foundation and the National Taxpayers Union regarding the tax obligations of Americans.

</R>

Equity Funds

<R>

In the equity sector, Federated has more than 31 years' experience. As of December 31, 2001, Federated managed 40 equity funds totaling approximately $20.7 billion in assets across growth, value, equity income, international, index and sector (i.e. utility) styles. Federated's value-oriented management style combines quantitative and qualitative analysis and features a structured, computer-assisted composite modeling system that was developed in the 1970s.

</R>

Corporate Bond Funds

<R>

In the corporate bond sector, as of December 31, 2001, Federated managed 11 money market funds and 30 bond funds with assets approximating $62.3 billion and $5.4 billion, respectively. Federated's corporate bond decision making--based on intensive, diligent credit analysis--is backed by over 29 years of experience in the corporate bond sector. In 1972, Federated introduced one of the first high-yield bond funds in the industry. In 1983, Federated was one of the first fund managers to participate in the asset backed securities market, a market totaling more than $209 billion.

</R>

Government Funds

<R>

In the government sector, as of December 31, 2001, Federated managed 6 mortgage backed, 5 multi-sector government funds, 3 government/agency and 19 government money market mutual funds, with assets approximating $3.6 billion, $2.0 billion, $1.2 billion and $55.2 billion, respectively. Federated trades approximately $90.4 billion in U.S. government and mortgage backed securities daily and places approximately $35 billion in repurchase agreements each day. Federated introduced the first U.S. government fund to invest in U.S. government bond securities in 1969. Federated has been a major force in the short- and intermediate-term government markets since 1982 and currently manages approximately $50 billion in government funds within these maturity ranges.

</R>

Money Market Funds

<R>

In the money market sector, Federated gained prominence in the mutual fund industry in 1974 with the creation of the first institutional money market fund. Simultaneously, the company pioneered the use of the amortized cost method of accounting for valuing shares of money market funds, a principal means used by money managers today to value money market fund shares. Other innovations include the first institutional tax-free money market fund. As of December 31, 2001, Federated managed $136.4 billion in assets across 54 money market funds, including 19 government, 11 prime, 22 municipal and 1 euro-denominated with assets approximating $55.2 billion, $62.3 billion, $19.5 billion and $34.6 million, respectively.

The Chief Investment Officers responsible for oversight of the various investment sectors within Federated are: Global Equity -- Stephen F. Auth is responsible for overseeing the management of Federated's domestic and international equity products; Global Fixed Income -- William D. Dawson III is responsible for overseeing the management of Federated's domestic and international fixed income and high yield products.

</R>

MUTUAL FUND MARKET

<R>

Forty-nine percent of American households are pursuing their financial goals through mutual funds. These investors, as well as businesses and institutions, have entrusted over $6.8 trillion to the more than 8,157 funds available, according to the Investment Company Institute.

</R>

FEDERATED CLIENTS OVERVIEW

Federated distributes mutual funds through its subsidiaries for a variety of investment purposes. Specific markets include:

Institutional Clients

<R>

Federated meets the needs of approximately 3,035 institutional clients nationwide by managing and servicing separate accounts and mutual funds for a variety of purposes, including defined benefit and defined contribution programs, cash management, and asset/liability management. Institutional clients include corporations, pension funds, tax exempt entities, foundations/endowments, insurance companies, and investment and financial advisers. The marketing effort to these institutional clients is headed by John B. Fisher, President, Institutional Sales Division, Federated Securities Corp.

</R>

Bank Marketing

Other institutional clients include more than 1,600 banks and trust organizations. Virtually all of the trust divisions of the top 100 bank holding companies use Federated Funds in their clients' portfolios. The marketing effort to trust clients is headed by Timothy C. Pillion, Senior Vice President, Bank Marketing & Sales.

Broker/Dealers and Bank Broker/Dealer Subsidiaries

Federated Funds are available to consumers through major brokerage firms nationwide--we have over 2,000 broker/dealer and bank broker/dealer relationships across the country--supported by more wholesalers than any other mutual fund distributor. Federated's service to financial professionals and institutions has earned it high ratings in several surveys performed by DALBAR, Inc. DALBAR is recognized as the industry benchmark for service quality measurement. The marketing effort to these firms is headed by James F. Getz, President, Broker/Dealer Sales Division, Federated Securities Corp.

Financial Information

<R>

The Financial Statements for the Fund for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2002, are incorporated herein by reference to the Annual Report to Shareholders of Federated Growth Strategies Fund dated October 31, 2002.

</R>

Investment Ratings

STANDARD AND POOR'S LONG-TERM DEBT RATING DEFINITIONS

AAA--Debt rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor's. Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.

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.

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.

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.

BB--Debt rated BB has less near-term vulnerability to default than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to inadequate capacity to meet timely interest and principal payments. The BB rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied BBB rating.

B--Debt rated B has a greater vulnerability to default but currently has the capacity to meet interest payments and principal repayments. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair capacity or willingness to pay interest and repay principal. The B rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied BB or BB- rating.

CCC--Debt rated CCC has a currently identifiable vulnerability to default, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions to meet timely payment of interest and repayment of principal. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, it is not likely to have the capacity to pay interest and repay principal. The CCC rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied B or B- rating.

CC--The rating CC typically is applied to debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied CCC debt rating.

C--The rating C typically is applied to debt subordinated to senior debt which is assigned an actual or implied CCC debt rating. The C rating may be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy petition has been filed, but debt service payments are continued.

MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE LONG-TERM BOND RATING DEFINITIONS

AAA--Bonds which 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 edged. 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.

AA--Bonds which 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 which make the long-term risks appear somewhat larger than in AAA securities.

A--Bonds which 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 which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.

BAA--Bonds which 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.

BA--Bonds which are 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.

B--Bonds which 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.

CAA--Bonds which 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.

CA--Bonds which are rated CA represent obligations which are speculative in a high degree. Such issues are often in default or have other marked shortcomings.

C--Bonds which are rated 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.

<R>

FITCH RATINGS LONG-TERM DEBT RATING DEFINITIONS

</R>

AAA--Bonds considered to be investment grade and of the highest credit quality. The obligor has an exceptionally strong ability to pay interest and repay principal, which is unlikely to be affected by reasonably foreseeable events.

AA--Bonds considered to be investment grade and of very high credit quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is very strong, although not quite as strong as bonds rated AAA. Because bonds rated in the AAA and AA categories are not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable future developments, short-term debt of these issuers is generally rated F-1+.

A--Bonds considered to be investment grade and of high credit quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is considered to be strong, but may be more vulnerable to adverse changes in economic conditions and circumstances than bonds with higher ratings.

BBB--Bonds considered to be investment grade and of satisfactory credit quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is considered to be adequate. Adverse changes in economic conditions and circumstances, however, are more likely to have adverse impact on these bonds, and therefore impair timely payment. The likelihood that the ratings of these bonds will fall below investment grade is higher than for bonds with higher ratings.

BB--Bonds are considered speculative. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal may be affected over time by adverse economic changes. However, business and financial alternatives can be identified which could assist the obligor in satisfying its debt service requirements.

B--Bonds are considered highly speculative. While bonds in this class are currently meeting debt service requirements, the probability of continued timely payment of principal and interest reflects the obligor's limited margin of safety and the need for reasonable business and economic activity throughout the life of the issue.

CCC--Bonds have certain identifiable characteristics which, if not remedied, may lead to default. The ability to meet obligations requires an advantageous business and economic environment.

CC--Bonds are minimally protected. Default in payment of interest and/or principal seems probable over time.

C--Bonds are imminent default in payment of interest or principal.

MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS

Prime-1--Issuers rated Prime-1 (or related supporting institutions) have a superior capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations. Prime-1 repayment capacity will normally be evidenced by the following characteristics:

  • Leading market positions in well-established industries;
  • High rates of return on funds employed;
  • Conservative capitalization structure with moderate reliance on debt and ample asset protection;
  • Broad margins in earning coverage of fixed financial charges and high internal cash generation; and
  • Well-established access to a range of financial markets and assured sources of alternate liquidity.

Prime-2--Issuers rated Prime-2 (or related supporting institutions) have a strong capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations. This will normally be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above but to a lesser degree. Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, will be more subject to variation. Capitalization characteristics, while still appropriate, may be more affected by external conditions. Ample alternate liquidity is maintained.

STANDARD AND POOR'S COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS

A-1--This designation indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely payment is strong. Those issues determined to possess extremely strong safety characteristics are denoted with a plus sign (+) designation.

A-2--Capacity for timely payment on issues with this designation is satisfactory. However, the relative degree of safety is not as high as for issues designated A-1.

<R>

FITCH RATINGS COMMERCIAL PAPER RATING DEFINITIONS

</R>

FITCH-1--(Highest Grade) Commercial paper assigned this rating is regarded as having the strongest degree of assurance for timely payment.

FITCH-2--(Very Good Grade) Issues assigned this rating reflect an assurance of timely payment only slightly less in degree than the strongest issues.

Addresses

FEDERATED GROWTH STRATEGIES FUND

Class A Shares
Class B Shares
Class C Shares

Federated Investors Funds
5800 Corporate Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15237-7000

Distributor

Federated Securities Corp.
Federated Investors Tower
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779

Investment Adviser

Federated Investment Management Company
Federated Investors Tower
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779

Custodian

State Street Bank and Trust Company
P.O. Box 8600
Boston, MA 02266-8600

Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent

Federated Shareholder Services Company
P.O. Box 8600
Boston, MA 02266-8600

Independent Auditors

Deloitte & Touche LLP
200 Berkeley Street
Boston, MA 02116

Federated Investors
World-Class Investment Manager

Federated Kaufmann Fund

A Portfolio of Federated Equity Funds

 

PROSPECTUS

<R>

December 31, 2002

</R>

CLASS K SHARES

A mutual fund seeking capital appreciation by investing principally in common stocks.

As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

NOT FDIC INSURED * MAY LOSE VALUE * NO BANK GUARANTEE

CONTENTS

Risk/Return Summary 1

What are the Fund's Fees and Expenses? 5

What are the Fund's Investment Strategies? 6

What are the Principal Securities in Which the Fund Invests? 7

What are the Specific Risks of Investing in the Fund? 9

What Do Shares Cost? 12

How is the Fund Sold? 13

How to Purchase Shares 13

How to Redeem and Exchange Shares 16

Account and Share Information 19

Who Manages the Fund? 20

Financial Information 21

Risk/Return Summary

WHAT IS THE FUND'S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE?

The Fund's investment objective is capital appreciation. While there is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective, it endeavors to do so by following the strategies and policies described in this prospectus.

WHAT ARE THE FUND'S MAIN INVESTMENT STRATEGIES?

<R>

To achieve its objective, the Fund invests primarily in the stocks of small- and medium-sized companies that are traded on national security exchanges, the NASDAQ stock market and on the over-the-counter market. Up to 25% of the Fund's net assets may be invested in foreign securities.

</R>

WHAT ARE THE MAIN RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND?

All mutual funds take investment risks. Therefore, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. The primary factors that may reduce the Fund's returns include:

  • Stock Market Risks. The value of equity securities in the Fund's portfolio will fluctuate and, as a result, the Fund's share price may decline suddenly or over a sustained period of time.
  • Risks Related to Investing for Growth. Due to their relatively high valuations, growth stocks are typically more volatile than value stocks. For instance, the price of a growth stock may experience a larger decline on a forecast of lower earnings, a negative fundamental development, or an adverse market development. Further, growth stocks may not pay dividends or may pay lower dividends than value stocks. This means they depend more on price changes for returns and may be more adversely affected in a down market compared to value stocks that pay higher dividends.
  • Risks Related to Company Size. Because the smaller companies in which the Fund may invest may have unproven track records, a limited product or service base and limited access to capital, they may be more likely to fail than larger companies.
  • Sector Risks. Because the Fund may allocate relatively more assets to certain industry sectors than others, the Fund's performance may be more susceptible to any developments which affect those sectors emphasized by the Fund.
  • Liquidity Risks. The equity securities in which the Fund invests may be less readily marketable and may be subject to greater fluctuation in price than other securities.
  • Risks of Foreign Investing. Because the Fund invests in securities issued by foreign companies, the Fund's share price may be more affected by foreign economic and political conditions, taxation policies and accounting and auditing standards than could otherwise be the case.
  • <R>
  • Currency Risks. Exchange rates for currencies fluctuate daily. Foreign securities are normally denominated and traded in foreign currencies. As a result, the value of the Fund's foreign investments and the value of the Shares may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar.
  • </R>

<R>

The Shares offered by this prospectus are not deposits or obligations of any bank, are not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other government agency.

</R>

Risk/Return Bar Chart and Table

<R>

The Fund is the successor to The Kaufmann Fund, Inc. (Kaufmann Fund) pursuant to a reorganization that took place on or about April 20, 2001. Prior to that date, the Fund had no investment operations. Accordingly, the performance information and financial information provided in this prospectus for periods prior to April 20, 2001, is historical information of the Kaufmann Fund. The Kaufmann Fund was managed by Edgemont Asset Management Corp. and had the same investment objectives and strategies as the Fund and substantially the same investment policies as the Fund. Kaufmann Fund shareholders received Class K Shares of the Fund as a result of the reorganization.

</R>

<R>

The performance information shown below will help you analyze the Fund's investment risks in light of its historical returns. The bar chart shows the variability of the Fund's Class K Shares total returns on a calendar year-by-year basis. The total return of the Fund's Class K Shares is the total return of the Fund's predecessor, the Kaufmann Fund. The Average Annual Total Return table shows returns averaged over the stated periods, and includes comparative performance information. The Fund's performance will fluctuate, and past performance (before and after taxes) is no guarantee of future results.

</R>

 

<R>

The total returns shown in the bar chart for the Fund's Class K Shares do not reflect the payment of any sales charges or recurring shareholder account fees. If these charges or fees had been included, the returns shown would have been lower.

</R>

<R>

The Fund's Class K Shares total return for the nine-month period from January 1, 2002 to September 30, 2002 was (21.87)%.

</R>

<R>

Within the periods shown in the bar chart, the Fund's Class K Shares highest quarterly return was 20.67% (quarter ended March 31, 2000). Its lowest quarterly return was (12.82)% (quarter ended September 30, 2001).

</R>

Average Annual Total Return Table

<R>

The Average Annual Total Returns for the Fund's Class K Shares are reduced to reflect applicable sales charges. Returns Before Taxes is shown. In addition, Return After Taxes is shown for Class K Shares to illustrate the effect of federal taxes on Fund returns. Actual after-tax returns depend on each investor's personal tax situation, and are likely to differ from those shown. The table also shows returns for the Russell Mid-Cap Growth Index (RMGI) and the Lipper Multi-Cap Growth Index (LMCGI), which are broad-based market indexes. Index returns do not reflect taxes, sales charges, expenses or other fees that the SEC requires to be reflected in the Fund's performance. Indexes are unmanaged, and it is not possible to invest directly in an index.

</R>

<R>

(For the periods ended December 31, 2001)

</R>

 

  

<R>1 Year</R>

  

<R>5 Years</R>

  

<R>10 Years</R>

<R>Class K Shares:</R>

<R>Return Before Taxes</R>

 

<R> 7.64%</R>

 

<R>11.26%</R>

 

<R>15.00%</R>

<R>Return After Taxes on Distributions1</R>

 

<R> 5.69%</R>

 

<R> 7.67%</R>

 

<R>12.90%</R>

<R>Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares1</R>

 

<R> 5.91%</R>

 

<R> 8.54%</R>

 

<R>12.53%</R>

<R>RMGI</R>

 

<R>(20.15)%</R>

 

<R> 9.02%</R>

 

<R>11.10%</R>

<R>LMCGI</R>

 

<R>(25.16)%</R>

 

<R> 8.13%</R>

 

<R>10.81%</R>

<R>

1 After-tax returns are calculated using a standard set of assumptions. The stated returns assume the highest historical federal income and capital gains tax rates. Return After Taxes on Distributions assumes a continued investment in the Fund and shows the effect of taxes on Fund distributions. Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares assumes all shares were redeemed at the end of each measurement period, and shows the effect of any taxable gain (or offsetting loss) on redemption, as well as the effects of taxes on Fund distributions. These after-tax returns do not reflect the effect of any applicable state and local taxes. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors holding Shares through tax-deferred programs, such as IRA or 401(k) plans.

</R>

What are the Fund's Fees and Expenses?

FEDERATED KAUFMANN FUND

FEES AND EXPENSES

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Shares of the Class K Shares of the Fund.

 

Shareholder Fees

  

Fees Paid Directly From Your Investment

 

 

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

 

None

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, as applicable)

 

None

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends (and other Distributions) (as a percentage of offering price)

 

None

Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed, if applicable)

 

0.20%

 

 

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Before Waivers)1

Expenses That are Deducted From Fund Assets (as a percentage of average net assets)

 

 

Management Fee2

 

1.425%

Distribution (12b-1) Fee3

 

0.500%

Shareholder Services Fee

 

0.250%

Other Expenses

 

0.220%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

 

2.395%

1 The adviser has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses so that on an annual basis the total net expenses of the Fund's Class K Shares do not exceed 1.95% for two years from its commencement of operations. The net expenses the Fund actually paid for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2002 are shown below.

Total Waivers of Fund Expenses

 

0.445%

Total Actual Annual Fund Operating Expenses (after waivers)

 

1.950%

2 The adviser voluntarily waived a portion of the management fee. The adviser can terminate this voluntary waiver at any time, provided it limits the total net expenses of Class K Shares as described above. The management fee paid by the Fund (after the voluntary waiver) was 1.275% for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2002.

3 A portion of the distribution (12b-1) fee has been voluntarily waived. This voluntary waiver can be terminated at any time. The distribution (12b-1) fee paid by the Fund's Class K Shares (after the voluntary waiver) was 0.205% for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2002.

EXAMPLE

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Class K Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

<R>

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund's Class K Shares for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your Shares at the end of those periods. Expenses assuming no redemption are also shown. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's Class K Shares operating expenses are before waivers as shown in the table and remain the same. Although your actual costs and returns may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

</R>

 

<R></R>

  

1 Year

  

3 Years

  

5 Years

  

10 Years

Expenses assuming redemption

   

<R>$263</R>

   

<R>$767</R>

   

<R>$1,298</R>

   

<R>$2,751</R>


<R>Expenses assuming no redemption</R>

   

<R>$243</R>

   

<R>$747</R>

   

<R>$1,278</R>

   

<R>$2,731</R>


<R>

What are the Fund's Investment Strategies?

</R>

<R>

In seeking to meet its objective, the Fund invests primarily in the stocks of small- and medium-sized companies that are traded on national security exchanges, NASDAQ Stock Market and on the over-the-counter market. Up to 25% of the Fund's net assets may be invested in foreign securities. When deciding which securities to buy, the Fund considers:

</R>

  • the growth prospects of existing products and new product development;
  • the economic outlook of the industry;
  • the price of the security and its estimated fundamental value; and
  • relevant market, economic and political environments.

The Fund's Adviser and Sub-Adviser (collectively, "Adviser") use a bottom-up approach to portfolio management. There is an emphasis on individual stock selection rather than trying to time the highs and lows of the market or concentrating in certain industries or sectors. This hands-on approach means that in addition to sophisticated computer analysis, the Adviser may conduct in-depth meetings with management, industry analysts and consultants. Through this interaction with companies the Adviser seeks to develop a thorough knowledge of the dynamics of the businesses in which the Fund invests.

The Fund assesses individual companies from the perspective of a long-term investor. It buys stocks of companies that it believes:

  • are profitable and leaders in the industry;
  • have distinct products and services which address substantial markets;
  • can grow annual earnings by at least 20% for the next three to five years; and
  • have superior proven management and solid balance sheets.

<R>

Typically, the Fund sells an individual security when the company fails to meet expectations, there is a deterioration of underlying fundamentals or the intermediate- and long-term prospects become poor.

</R>

The Fund may loan up to 30% of its total assets in the form of its portfolio securities to unaffiliated broker-dealers, banks or other recognized institutional borrowers to generate additional income. The Fund receives cash, U.S. Treasury obligations, and/or other liquid securities as collateral. The Fund also may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.

TEMPORARY DEFENSIVE INVESTMENTS

The Fund may temporarily depart from its principal investment strategies by investing its assets in cash and shorter-term debt securities and similar obligations. It may do this to minimize potential losses and maintain liquidity to meet shareholder redemptions during adverse market conditions. This may cause the Fund to give up greater investment returns to maintain the safety of principal, that is, the original amount invested by shareholders.

What are the Principal Securities in Which the Fund Invests?

EQUITY SECURITIES

Equity securities represent a share of an issuer's earnings and assets, after the issuer pays its liabilities. The Fund cannot predict the income it will receive from equity securities because issuers generally have discretion as to the payment of any dividends or distributions. However, equity securities offer greater potential for appreciation than many other types of securities, because their value increases directly with the value of the issuer's business. The following describes the types of equity securities in which the Fund may invest.

Common Stocks

Common stocks are the most prevalent type of equity security. Common stocks receive the issuer's earnings after the issuer pays its creditors and any preferred stockholders. As a result, changes in an issuer's earnings directly influence the value of its common stock.

Foreign Securities

Foreign securities are securities of issuers based outside the United States. The Fund considers an issuer to be based outside the United States if:

  • it is organized under the laws of, or has a principal office located in, another country;
  • the principal trading market for its securities is in another country; or
  • it (or its subsidiaries) derived in its most current fiscal year at least 50% of its total assets, capitalization, gross revenue or profit from goods produced, services performed, or sales made in another country.

Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies. Along with the risks normally associated with domestic securities of the same type, foreign securities are subject to currency risks and risks of foreign investing. Trading in certain foreign markets is also subject to liquidity risks.

ILLIQUID SECURITIES

Illiquid securities are securities for which there is no readily available market or securities with legal or contractual restrictions. These may include private placements, repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days, and securities eligible for resale under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933.

FIXED INCOME SECURITIES

Fixed income securities pay interest, dividends or distributions at a specified rate. The rate may be a fixed percentage of the principal or adjusted periodically. In addition, the issuer of a fixed income security must repay the principal amount of the security, normally within a specified time. Fixed income securities provide more regular income than equity securities. However, the returns on fixed income securities are limited and normally do not increase with the issuer's earnings. This limits the potential appreciation of fixed income securities as compared to equity securities.

A security's yield measures the annual income earned on a security as a percentage of its price. A security's yield will increase or decrease depending upon whether it costs less (a discount) or more (a premium) than the principal amount. If the issuer may redeem the security before its scheduled maturity, the price and yield on a discount or premium security may change based upon the probability of an early redemption. Securities with higher risks generally have higher yields.

Treasury Securities

The Fund may receive Treasury securities as collateral on portfolio securities loans and may invest in Treasury securities on a short-term basis. Treasury securities are direct obligations of the federal government of the United States. Treasury securities are generally regarded as having the lowest credit risks.

Special Transactions

SECURITIES LENDING

The Fund may lend portfolio securities to borrowers that the Fund's custodian deems creditworthy. In return, the Fund receives cash, U.S. Treasury obligations or other liquid securities from the borrower as collateral. The borrower must furnish additional collateral if the market value of the loaned securities increases. Also, the borrower must pay the Fund the equivalent of any dividends or interest received on the loaned securities.

The Fund will reinvest cash collateral in securities that qualify as an acceptable investment for the Fund. However, the Fund must pay interest to the borrower for the use of cash collateral.

Loans are subject to termination at the option of the Fund or the borrower. The Fund will not have the right to vote on securities while they are on loan, but it will terminate a loan in anticipation of any important vote. The Fund may pay administrative and custodial fees in connection with a loan and may pay a negotiated portion of the interest earned on the cash collateral to a securities lending agent or broker.

Securities lending activities are subject to interest rate risks and credit risks. These transactions may create leverage risks.

What are the Specific Risks of Investing in the Fund?

STOCK MARKET RISKS

The value of equity securities in the Fund's portfolio will rise and fall. These fluctuations could be a sustained trend or a drastic movement. The Fund's portfolio will reflect changes in prices of individual portfolio stocks or general changes in stock valuations. Consequently, the Fund's share price may decline.

The Adviser attempts to manage market risk by limiting the amount the Fund invests in each company's equity securities. However, diversification will not protect the Fund against widespread or prolonged declines in the stock market.

RISKS RELATED TO INVESTING FOR GROWTH

Due to their relatively high valuations, growth stocks are typically more volatile than value stocks. For instance, the price of a growth stock may experience a larger decline on a forecast of lower earnings, a negative fundamental development, or an adverse market development. Further, growth stocks may not pay dividends or may pay lower dividends than value stocks. This means they depend more on price changes for returns and may be more adversely affected in a down market compared to value stocks that pay higher dividends.

RISKS RELATED TO COMPANY SIZE

Generally, the smaller the market capitalization of a company, the fewer the number of shares traded daily, the less liquid its stock and the more volatile its price. Market capitalization is determined by multiplying the number of its outstanding shares by the current market price per share.

Companies with smaller market capitalizations also tend to have unproven track records, a limited product or service base and limited access to capital. These factors also increase risks and make these companies more likely to fail than companies with larger market capitalizations.

SECTOR RISKS

Companies with similar characteristics may be grouped together in broad categories called sectors. Sector risk is the possibility that a certain sector may underperform other sectors or the market as a whole. As the Adviser allocates more of the Fund's portfolio holdings to a particular sector, the Fund's performance will be more susceptible to any economic, business or other developments which generally affect that sector.

LIQUIDITY RISKS

Trading opportunities are more limited for equity securities that are not widely held. This may make it more difficult to sell or buy a security at a favorable price or time. Consequently, the Fund may have to accept a lower price to sell a security, sell other securities to raise cash or give up an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on the Fund's performance. Infrequent trading of securities may also lead to an increase in their price volatility.

Liquidity risk also refers to the possibility that the Fund may not be able to sell a security or close out a derivative contract when it wants to. If this happens, the Fund will be required to continue to hold the security or keep the position open, and the Fund could incur losses.

Over-the-counter (OTC) derivative contracts generally carry greater liquidity risk than exchange-traded contracts.

RISKS OF FOREIGN INVESTING

Foreign securities pose additional risks because foreign economic or political conditions may be less favorable than those of the United States. Securities in foreign markets may also be subject to taxation policies that reduce returns for U.S. investors.

Foreign companies may not provide information (including financial statements) as frequently or completely as companies in the United States. Foreign companies may also receive less coverage than U.S. companies by market analysts and the financial press. In addition, foreign countries may lack uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards or regulatory requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. These factors may prevent the Fund and its Adviser from obtaining information concerning foreign companies that is as frequent, extensive and reliable as the information available concerning companies in the United States.

Foreign countries may have restrictions on foreign ownership of securities or may impose exchange controls, capital flow restrictions or repatriation restrictions which could adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund's investments.

CURRENCY RISKS

Exchange rates for currencies fluctuate daily. Foreign securities are normally denominated and traded in foreign currencies. As a result, the value of the Fund's foreign investments and the value of the shares may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar.

The Adviser attempts to limit currency risk by limiting the amount the Fund invests in securities denominated in a particular currency. However, diversification will not protect the Fund against a general increase in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies.

CREDIT RISKS

Credit risk includes the possibility that a party to a transaction involving the Fund will fail to meet its obligations. This could cause the Fund to lose the benefit of the transaction or prevent the Fund from selling or buying other securities to implement its investment strategy.

LEVERAGE RISKS

Leverage risk is created when an investment exposes the Fund to a level of risk that exceeds the amount invested. Changes in the value of such an investment magnify the Fund's risk of loss and potential for gain.

INTEREST RATE RISKS

Prices of fixed income securities rise and fall in response to changes in the interest rate paid by similar securities. Generally when interest rates rise, prices of fixed income securities fall. However, market factors, such as the demand for particular fixed income securities, may cause the price of certain fixed income securities to fall while the prices of other securities rise or remain unchanged.

What Do Shares Cost?

You can purchase or redeem Shares any day the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open. When the Fund receives your transaction request in proper form (as described in this prospectus) it is processed at the next calculated net asset value (NAV). If the Fund purchases foreign securities that trade in foreign markets on days the NYSE is closed, the value of the Fund's assets may change on days you cannot purchase or redeem Shares. NAV is determined at the end of regular trading (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) each day the NYSE is open. The Fund does not charge a front-end sales charge on Class K Shares.

The Fund generally values equity securities according to the last sale price in the market in which they are primarily traded (either a national securities exchange or the over-the-counter market). Securities that are not traded, such as certain illiquid securities, may be valued at fair value as determined by the Fund's Board of Trustees. These values are based upon regular evaluation of all available information. They are changed only when new information is determined to have a material affect on the security's value.

The Fund's current NAV and public offering price may be found in the mutual funds section of certain local newspapers under "Federated."

The following table summarizes the minimum required investment amount and the maximum sales charge, if any, that you will pay on an investment in the Fund. Keep in mind that financial intermediaries may charge you fees for their services in connection with your Share transactions.

 

Shares Offered

  

Minimum
Initial/Subsequent
Investment
Amounts1

  

Maximum Sales Charge

  

Redemption/
Exchange Fee

Front-End
Sales Charge

  

Contingent
Deferred
Sales Charge

Class K

 

$1,500/$100

 

None

 

None

 

0.20%

1 The minimum initial and subsequent investment amounts for retirement plans are $250 and $100, respectively. The minimum subsequent investment amounts for Systematic Investment Programs is $50. Financial intermediaries may impose higher or lower minimum investment requirements on their customers than those imposed by the Fund.

FEE WHEN YOU REDEEM OR EXCHANGE

Your redemption or exchange proceeds may be reduced by a redemption/ exchange fee. Class K Shares are subject to a 0.20% redemption fee if your Kaufmann Fund (the Fund's predecessor) shares were purchased after February 1, 1985 or if you have purchased additional Class K Shares. The redemption/exchange fee is waived for shares purchased through employer-sponsored retirement plans, as discussed further in the Fund's Statement of Additional Information.

How is the Fund Sold?

The Fund offers four share classes: Class A, B, C and K, each representing interests in a single portfolio of securities. This prospectus relates only to Class K Shares. Each share class has different sales charges and other expenses, which affect their performance. Contact your financial intermediary investment professional or call 1-800-341-7400 for more information concerning the other classes.

Class K Shares of the Fund are only offered for sale to and may be purchased by, former shareholders of the Kaufmann Fund and their immediate family members; and through the financial intermediary relationships that existed for the Kaufmann Fund. The Kaufmann Fund is the Fund's predecessor.

When the Fund's Distributor, Federated Securities Corp., receives marketing fees, it may pay some or all of them to financial intermediaries. The Distributor and its affiliates may pay out of their assets other amounts (including items of material value) to financial intermediaries for marketing and servicing Shares. The Distributor is a subsidiary of Federated Investors, Inc. (Federated).

RULE 12B-1 PLAN

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The Fund has adopted a Rule 12b-1 Plan, which allows it to pay marketing fees to the Distributor and investment professionals for the sale, distribution and customer servicing of the Fund's Class K Shares. Because these Shares pay marketing fees on an ongoing basis, your investment cost may be higher over time than other shares with different sales charges marketing fees.

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How to Purchase Shares

You may purchase Shares directly from the Fund, through certain financial intermediaries or through an exchange from another Federated Fund. The Fund reserves the right to reject any request to purchase or exchange Shares.

DIRECTLY FROM THE FUND

  • Establish your account with the Fund by submitting a completed New Account Form; and
  • Send your payment to the Fund by Federal Reserve wire or check.

You will become the owner of Shares and your Shares will be priced at the next calculated NAV after the Fund receives your wire or your check. If your check does not clear, your purchase will be canceled and you could be liable for any losses or fees incurred by the Fund or Federated Shareholder Services Company, the Fund's transfer agent.

An institution may establish an account and place an order by calling the Fund and the Shares will be priced at the next calculated NAV after the Fund receives the order.

By Wire

Send your wire to:

State Street Bank and Trust Company

Boston, MA

Dollar Amount of Wire

ABA Number 011000028

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Attention: EDGEWIRE

</R>

<R>

Wire Order Number, Dealer Number or Group Number

</R>

<R>

Nominee/Institution Name

</R>

<R>

Fund Name and Number and Account Number

</R>

You cannot purchase Shares by wire on holidays when wire transfers are restricted.

By Check

Make your check payable to The Federated Funds, note your account number on the check, and mail it to:

Federated Kaufmann Fund

P.O. Box 8331

Boston, MA 02266-8331

If you send your check by a private courier or overnight delivery service that requires a street address, mail it to:

Federated Kaufmann Fund

66 Brooks Drive

<R>

Braintree, MA 02184

</R>

<R>

Payment should be made in U.S. dollars and drawn on a U.S. bank. The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase request. For example, to protect against check fraud the Fund may reject any purchase request involving a check that is not made payable to The Federated Funds (including, but not limited to, requests to purchase Shares using third-party checks), or involving temporary checks or credit card checks.

</R>

THROUGH A FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY

  • Establish an account with the financial intermediary; and
  • Submit your purchase order to the financial intermediary before the end of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). You will receive the next calculated NAV if the financial intermediary forwards the order to the Fund on the same day and the Fund receives payment within one business day. You will become the owner of Shares and receive dividends when the Fund receives your payment.

Financial intermediaries should send payments according to the instructions in the sections "By Wire" or "By Check."

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THROUGH AN EXCHANGE

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You may purchase Shares through an exchange from the same Share class of another Federated fund. You must meet the minimum initial investment requirement for purchasing Shares and both accounts must have identical registrations.

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BY SYSTEMATIC INVESTMENT PROGRAM

Once you have opened an account, you may automatically purchase additional Shares on a regular basis by completing the Systematic Investment Program (SIP) section of the New Account Form or by contacting the Fund or your investment professional. The minimum investment amount for SIPs is $100.

BY AUTOMATED CLEARING HOUSE (ACH)

Once you have opened an account, you may purchase additional Shares through a depository institution that is an ACH member. This purchase option can be established by completing the appropriate sections of the New Account Form.

RETIREMENT INVESTMENTS

<R>

You may purchase Shares as retirement investments (such as qualified plans and IRAs or transfer or rollover of assets). Call your investment professional or the Fund for information on retirement investments. We suggest that you discuss retirement investments with your tax adviser. You may be subject to an annual IRA account fee.

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How to Redeem and Exchange Shares

You should redeem or exchange Shares:

  • <R>
  • through an investment professional if you purchased Shares through an investment professional; or
  • </R>
  • <R>
  • directly from the Fund if you purchased Shares directly from the Fund.
  • </R>

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THROUGH AN INVESTMENT PROFESSIONAL

</R>

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Submit your redemption or exchange request to your investment professional by the end of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). The redemption amount you will receive is based upon the next calculated NAV after the Fundreceives the order from your investment professional.

</R>

DIRECTLY FROM THE FUND

By Telephone

You may redeem or exchange Shares by simply calling the Fund at 1-800-245-4770. If you call before the end of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time), you will receive a redemption amount based on that day's NAV.

By Mail

You may redeem or exchange Shares by mailing a written request to the Fund.

You will receive a redemption amount based on the next calculated NAV after the Fund receives your written request in proper form.

Send requests by mail to:

Federated Kaufmann Fund

P.O. Box 8331

Boston, MA 02266-8331

Send requests by private courier or overnight delivery service to:

Federated Kaufmann Fund

66 Brooks Drive

Braintree, MA 02184

All requests must include:

  • Fund Name and Share Class, account number and account registration;
  • amount to be redeemed or exchanged;
  • signatures of all shareholders exactly as registered; and
  • if exchanging, the Fund Name and Share Class (Class A Shares), account number and account registration into which you are exchanging.

THROUGH A FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY

Submit your redemption or exchange request to your financial intermediary by the end of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). The redemption amount you will receive is based upon the next calculated NAV after the Fund receives the order from your financial intermediary.

Call the Fund or your financial intermediary if you need special instructions.

Signature Guarantees

Signatures must be guaranteed if:

  • your redemption will be sent to an address other than the address of record;
  • your redemption will be sent to an address of record that was changed within the last 30 days;
  • a redemption is payable to someone other than the shareholder(s) of record; or
  • if exchanging (transferring) into another fund with a different shareholder registration.

A signature guarantee is designed to protect your account from fraud. Obtain a signature guarantee from a bank or trust company, savings association, credit union or broker, dealer, or securities exchange member. A notary public cannot provide a signature guarantee.

PAYMENT METHODS FOR REDEMPTIONS

Your redemption proceeds (subject to the redemption fee) will be mailed by check to your address of record. The following payment options are available if you complete the appropriate section of the New Account Form or an Account Service Options Form. These payment options require a signature guarantee if they were not established when the account was opened:

  • an electronic transfer to your account at a financial institution that is an ACH member; or
  • wire payment to your account at a domestic commercial bank that is a Federal Reserve System member.

Redemption in Kind

Although the Fund intends to pay Share redemptions in cash, it reserves the right to pay the redemption price in whole or in part by a distribution of the Fund's portfolio securities.

LIMITATIONS ON REDEMPTION PROCEEDS

Redemption proceeds normally are wired or mailed within one business day after receiving a request in proper form. Payment may be delayed up to seven days:

  • to allow your purchase to clear;
  • during periods of market volatility; or
  • when a shareholder's trade activity or amount adversely impacts the Fund's ability to manage its assets.

You will not accrue interest or dividends on uncashed checks from the Fund even if those checks are undeliverable and returned to the Fund.

REDEMPTIONS FROM RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS

In the absence of your specific instructions, 10% of the value of your redemption from a retirement account in the Fund may be withheld for taxes. This withholding only applies to certain types of retirement accounts.

EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE

You may exchange Shares of Class K into Class A Shares of another Federated Fund (subject to the redemption/exchange fee). To do this, you must:

  • ensure that the account registrations are identical;
  • meet any minimum initial investment requirements; and
  • receive a prospectus for the fund into which you wish to exchange.

An exchange is treated as a redemption and a subsequent purchase, and is a taxable transaction.

The Fund may modify or terminate the exchange privilege at any time. The Fund's management or investment adviser may determine from the amount, frequency and pattern of exchanges that a shareholder is engaged in excessive trading that is detrimental to the Fund and other shareholders. If this occurs, the Fund may terminate the availability of exchanges to that shareholder and may bar that shareholder from purchasing other Federated Funds.

SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL/EXCHANGE PROGRAM

You may automatically redeem or exchange Shares in a minimum amount of $100 on a regular basis. Complete the appropriate section of the New Account Form or an Account Service Options Form or contact your investment professional or the Fund. Your account value must meet the minimum initial investment amount at the time the program is established. This program may reduce, and eventually deplete, your account. Payments should not be considered yield or income.

ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS

Telephone Transactions

The Fund will record your telephone instructions. If the Fund does not follow reasonable procedures, it may be liable for losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent telephone instructions.

Share Certificates

The Fund does not issue share certificates.

Account and Share Information

CONFIRMATIONS AND ACCOUNT STATEMENTS

You will receive confirmation of purchases, redemptions and exchanges (except for systematic transactions). In addition, you will receive periodic statements reporting all account activity, including systematic transactions, dividends and capital gains paid.

DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAINS

The Fund declares and pays any dividends annually to shareholders. Dividends are paid to all shareholders invested in the Fund on the record date. The record date is the date on which a shareholder must officially own Shares in order to earn a dividend.

In addition, the Fund pays any capital gains at least annually. Your dividends and capital gains distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional Shares without a sales charge, unless you elect cash payments.

If you purchase Shares just before a Fund declares a dividend or capital gain distribution, you will pay the full price for the Shares and then receive a portion of the price back in the form of a taxable distribution, whether or not you reinvest the distribution in Shares. Therefore, you should consider the tax implications of purchasing Shares shortly before the Fund declares a dividend or capital gain. Contact your financial intermediary or the Fund for information concerning when dividends and capital gains will be paid.

ACCOUNTS WITH LOW BALANCES

Due to the high cost of maintaining accounts with low balances, non-retirement accounts may be closed if redemptions or exchanges cause the account balance to fall below the minimum initial investment amount. Before an account is closed, you will be notified and allowed 30 days to purchase additional Shares to meet the minimum.

TAX INFORMATION

The Fund sends an annual statement of your account activity to assist you in completing your federal, state and local tax returns. Fund distributions of dividends and capital gains are taxable to you whether paid in cash or reinvested in the Fund. Dividends are taxable as ordinary income; capital gains are taxable at different rates depending upon the length of time the Fund holds its assets.

Fund distributions are expected to be primarily capital gains. Redemptions and exchanges are taxable sales. Please consult your tax adviser regarding your federal, state and local tax liability.

Who Manages the Fund?

<R>

The Board of Trustees governs the Fund. The Board selects and oversees the Adviser, Federated Investment Management Company. The Adviser manages the Fund's assets, including buying and selling portfolio securities. The Adviser has delegated daily management of the Fund to the Sub-Adviser, Federated Global Investment Management Corp., who is paid by the Adviser and not by the Fund. The Adviser's address is Federated Investors Tower, 1001 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779. Correspondence regarding the Sub-Adviser should be sent in care of the same address.

</R>

<R>

The Adviser, Sub-Adviser and other subsidiaries of Federated advise approximately 139 mutual funds and a variety of separate accounts, which totaled approximately $180 billion in assets as of December 31, 2001. Federated was established in 1955 and is one of the largest mutual fund investment managers in the United States with approximately 1,800 employees. More than 4,000 investment professionals make Federated funds available to their customers.

</R>

THE FUND'S PORTFOLIO MANAGERS ARE:

Lawrence Auriana

Lawrence Auriana has been the Fund's portfolio manager since April 2001. He is Co-Head of Investment Area. Mr. Auriana was the portfolio manager of the Fund's predecessor, the Kaufmann Fund, from 1985 to 2001. From 1984 to 2001, he was the President and Treasurer of Edgemont Asset Management Corp., the adviser to the Kaufmann Fund. Mr. Auriana has been engaged in the securities business since 1965.

Hans P. Utsch

Hans P. Utsch has been the Fund's portfolio manager since April 2001. He is Co-Head of Investment Area. Mr. Utsch was the portfolio manager of the Fund's predecessor, the Kaufmann Fund, from 1985 to 2001. From 1984 to 2001, he was Chairman of the Board and Secretary of Edgemont Asset Management Corp., the adviser to the Kaufmann Fund. Mr. Utsch has been engaged in the securities business since 1962.

ADVISORY FEES

The Adviser receives an annual investment advisory fee of 1.425% of the Fund's average daily net assets. The Adviser may voluntarily waive a portion of its fee or reimburse the Fund for certain operating expenses.

Financial Information

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

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The following Financial Highlights will help you understand the Fund's financial performance for its past five fiscal years. Some of the information is presented on a per share basis. Total returns represent the rate an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund, assuming reinvestment of any dividends and capital gains.

</R>

This information has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, whose report, along with the Fund's audited financial statements, is included in the Annual Report.

Financial Highlights

(For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period)

 

   

   


Year Ended

   

  

10/31/2002

   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   

$4.23

   

Income From Investment Operations:

   

   

   

Net operating loss

   

(0.05

)3,4

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments, options and foreign currency transactions

   

(0.28

) 3


TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS

   

(0.33

)


Less Distributions:

   

   

   

Distributions from net realized gain on investments, options and foreign currency transactions

   

(0.36

)


TOTAL DISTRIBUTIONS

   

(0.36

)


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   

$3.54

   


Total Return5

   

(8.92

)%


 

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

   

   

   


Expenses

   

1.95

%


Net operating loss

   

(1.25

)%3


Expense waiver/reimbursement7

   

0.45

%


Supplemental Data:

   

   

   


Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)

   

$2,603,263

   


Portfolio turnover

   

65

%


1 The Fund changed its fiscal year end from December 31 to October 31. Effective April 23, 2001, Federated Investment Management Company became the Fund's investment adviser. Prior to April 23, 2001, Edgemont Asset Management Corporation served as the Fund's investment adviser.

2 Beginning with the period ended October 31, 2001, the Fund was audited by Ernst & Young LLP. Each of the previous years was audited by other auditors.

3 Effective November 1, 2001, the Fund adopted the provisions of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Audit and Accounting Guide for Investment Companies and began accreting discount/amortizing premium on long-term debt securities. For the year ended October 31, 2002, this change had no effect on the net operating loss per share, the net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments per share, or the ratio of net operating loss to average net assets. Per share, ratios and supplemental data for periods prior to November 1, 2001 have not been restated to reflect this change in presentation.

4 Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method, which more appropriately represents the per share data for the period since the use of the undistributed income method did not accord with results of operations.

5 Based on net asset value, which does not reflect the sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge, if applicable.

6 Computed on an annualized basis.

7 This voluntary expense decrease is reflected in both the expense and the net operating loss ratios shown above.

Further information about the Fund's performance is contained in the Fund's Annual Report, dated October 31, 2002, which can be obtained free of charge.

 

 

 

Period
Ended

   

   

Year Ended December 31,

10/31/2001

1,2

  

2000

   

  

1999

   

  

1998

   

  

1997

   

$4.43

   

   

$5.95

   

   

$5.68

   

   

$6.37

   

   

$5.84

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

(0.03

)4

   

(0.05

)

   

(0.06

)

   

(0.04

)

   

(0.06

)


(0.17

)

   

0.76

   

   

1.32

   

   

0.02

   

   

0.80

   


(0.20

)

   

0.71

   

   

1.26

   

   

(0.02

)

   

0.74

   


   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   


--

   

   

(2.23

)

   

(0.99

)

   

(0.67

)

   

(0.21

)


--

   

   

(2.23

)

   

(0.99

)

   

(0.67

)

   

(0.21

)


$4.23

   

   

$4.43

   

   

$5.95

   

   

$5.68

   

   

$6.37

   


(4.51

)%

   

10.86

%

   

26.01

%

   

0.72

%

   

12.59

%


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   


1.95

%6

   

1.89

%

   

1.95

%

   

1.96

%

   

1.89

%


(0.48

)%6

   

(0.80

)%

   

(1.19

)%

   

(0.66

)%

   

(1.00

)%


0.30

%6

   

0.12

%

   

0.15

%

   

0.11

%

   

0.12

%


   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   


$3,018,540

   

$3,367,994

   

$3,475,875

   

$4,621,018

   

$6,008,161

   


74

%

   

78

%

   

78

%

   

59

%

   

65

%


 

 

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A Statement of Additional Information (SAI) dated December 31, 2002, is incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Additional information about the Fund and its investments is contained in the Fund's SAI and Annual and Semi-Annual Report to shareholders as it becomes available. The Annual Report discusses market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund's performance during its last fiscal year. To obtain the SAI, Annual Report, Semi-Annual Report and other information without charge, and to make inquiries, call your investment professional or the Fund at 1-800-341-7400.

</R>

You can obtain information about the Fund (including the SAI) by writing to or visiting the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. You may also access Fund information from the EDGAR Database on the SEC's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. You can purchase copies of this information by contacting the SEC by email at publicinfo@sec.gov or by writing to the SEC's Public Reference Section, Washington, DC 20549-0102. Call 1-202-942-8090 for information on the Public Reference Room's operations and copying fees.

Federated
World-Class Investment Manager

Federated Kaufmann Fund
Federated Investors Funds
5800 Corporate Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15237-7000
www.federatedinvestors.com
Contact us at 1-800-341-7400 or
www.federatedinvestors.com/contact
Federated Securities Corp., Distributor

Investment Company Act File No. 811-4017

Federated is a registered mark of Federated Investors, Inc. 2002 ©Federated Investors, Inc.

 

Cusip 314172644

<R>

26104 (12/02)

</R>

 

Federated Kaufmann Fund

A Portfolio of Federated Equity Funds

 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

<R>

December 31, 2002

</R>

CLASS A SHARES
CLASS B SHARES
CLASS C SHARES
CLASS K SHARES

<R>

This Statement of Additional Information (SAI) is not a prospectus. Read this SAI in conjunction with the prospectuses for Class A, B, C and K Shares of the Federated Kaufmann Fund (Fund), dated December 31, 2002. This SAI incorporates by reference the Fund's Annual Report. Obtain the prospectuses or the Annual Report without charge by calling 1-800-341-7400.

</R>

<R>

Federated
World-Class Investment Manager

Federated Kaufmann Fund
Federated Investors Funds
5800 Corporate Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15237-7000
www.federatedinvestors.com
Contact us at 1-800-341-7400 or
www.federatedinvestors.com/contact
Federated Securities Corp., Distributor

26105 (12/02)

Federated is a registered mark of Federated Investors, Inc. 2002 ©Federated Investors, Inc.

 

</R>

CONTENTS

How is the Fund Organized? 1

Securities in Which the Fund Invests 1

What Do Shares Cost? 8

How is the Fund Sold? 9

Exchanging Securities for Shares 10

Subaccounting Services 10

Redemption in Kind 10

Massachusetts Partnership Law 10

Account and Share Information 10

Tax Information 11

Who Manages and Provides Services to the Fund? 12

How Does the Fund Measure Performance? 18

Who is Federated Investors, Inc.? 20

Financial Information 21

Addresses 21

How is the Fund Organized?

The Fund is a diversified portfolio of Federated Equity Funds (Trust). The Trust is an open-end, management investment company that was established under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on April 17, 1984. The Trust may offer separate series of shares representing interests in separate portfolios of securities.

The Fund is the successor to the Kaufmann Fund, Inc. (Kaufmann Fund) pursuant to a reorganization that took place on or about April 20, 2001. Prior to that date, the Fund had no investment operations. Accordingly, the performance information and financial information provided in the prospectus and this SAI for periods prior to April 20, 2001, is historical information of the Kaufmann Fund. The Kaufmann Fund was managed by Edgemont Asset Management Corp. (Edgemont) and had the same investment objectives and strategies as the Fund and substantially the same investment policies as the Fund. Kaufmann Fund shareholders received Class K Shares of the Fund as a result of the reorganization.

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The Board of Trustees (the "Board") has established four classes of shares of the Fund, known as Class A, Class B, Class C, and Class K (Shares). This SAI relates to all classes of Shares. The Fund's investment adviser is Federated Investment Management Company and the Fund's sub-adviser is Federated Global Investment Management Corp. (collectively, the "Adviser").

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Securities in Which the Fund Invests

In pursuing its investment strategy, the Fund may invest in the following securities for any purpose that is consistent with its investment objective.

SECURITIES DESCRIPTIONS AND TECHNIQUES

Equity Securities

Equity securities represent a share of an issuer's earnings and assets, after the issuer pays its liabilities. The Fund cannot predict the income it will receive from equity securities because issuers generally have discretion as to the payment of any dividends or distributions. However, equity securities offer greater potential for appreciation than many other types of securities, because their value increases directly with the value of the issuer's business. The following describes the types of equity securities in which the Fund may invest.

COMMON STOCKS

Common stocks are the most prevalent type of equity security. Common stocks receive the issuer's earnings after the issuer pays its creditors and any preferred stockholders. As a result, changes in an issuer's earnings directly influence the value of its common stock.

PREFERRED STOCKS

Preferred stocks have the right to receive specified dividends or distributions before the issuer makes payments on its common stock. Some preferred stocks also participate in dividends and distributions paid on common stock. Preferred stocks may also permit the issuer to redeem the stock. The Fund may also treat such redeemable preferred stock as a fixed income security.

INTERESTS IN OTHER LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES

Entities such as limited partnerships, limited liability companies, business trusts and companies organized outside the United States may issue securities comparable to common or preferred stock.

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (REITS)

REITs are real estate investment trusts that lease, operate and finance commercial real estate. REITs are exempt from federal corporate income tax if they limit their operations and distribute most of their income. Such tax requirements limit a REIT's ability to respond to changes in the commercial real estate market.

WARRANTS

Up to 5% of the Fund's assets may be invested in warrants. Warrants give the Fund the option to buy the issuer's equity securities at a specified price (the exercise price) at a specified future date (the expiration date). The Fund may buy the designated securities by paying the exercise price before the expiration date. Warrants may become worthless if the price of the stock does not rise above the exercise price by the expiration date. This increases the market risks of warrants as compared to the underlying security. Rights are the same as warrants, except companies typically issue rights to existing stockholders.

Convertible Securities

Convertible securities are fixed income securities that the Fund has the option to exchange for equity securities at a specified conversion price. The option allows the Fund to realize additional returns if the market price of the equity securities exceeds the conversion price. For example, the Fund may hold fixed income securities that are convertible into shares of common stock at a conversion price of $10 per share. If the market value of the shares of common stock reached $12, the Fund could realize an additional $2 per share by converting its fixed income securities.

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Convertible securities have lower yields than comparable fixed income securities. In addition, at the time a convertible security is issued the conversion price exceeds the market value of the underlying equity securities. Thus, convertible securities may provide lower returns than non-convertible fixed income securities or equity securities depending upon changes in the price of the underlying equity securities. However, convertible securities permit the Fund to realize some of the potential appreciation of the underlying equity securities with less risk of losing its initial investment.

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The Fund treats convertible securities as both fixed income and equity securities for purposes of its investment policies and limitations, because of their unique characteristics.

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Fixed Income Securities

Fixed income securities pay interest, dividends or distributions at a specified rate. The rate may be a fixed percentage of the principal or adjusted periodically. In addition, the issuer of a fixed income security must repay the principal amount of the security, normally within a specified time. Fixed income securities provide more regular income than equity securities. However, the returns on fixed income securities are limited and normally do not increase with the issuer's earnings. This limits the potential appreciation of fixed income securities as compared to equity securities.

A security's yield measures the annual income earned on a security as a percentage of its price. A security's yield will increase or decrease depending upon whether it costs less (a discount) or more (a premium) than the principal amount. If the issuer may redeem the security before its scheduled maturity, the price and yield on a discount or premium security may change based upon the probability of an early redemption. Securities with higher risks generally have higher yields.

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TREASURY SECURITIES

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Treasury securities are direct obligations of the federal government of the United States. Treasury securities are generally regarded as having the lowest credit risks. The Fund may receive Treasury securities as collateral on portfolio securities loans and may invest in Treasury securities on a short-term basis. The Fund also may invest in the following types of fixed income securities.

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AGENCY SECURITIES

Agency securities are issued or guaranteed by a federal agency or other government sponsored entity acting under federal authority (a "GSE"). The United States supports some GSEs with its full faith and credit. Other GSEs receive support through federal subsidies, loans or other benefits. A few GSEs have no explicit financial support, but are regarded as having implied support because the federal government sponsors their activities. Agency securities are generally regarded as having low credit risks, but not as low as treasury securities.

The Fund treats mortgage backed securities guaranteed by GSEs as agency securities. Although a GSE guarantee protects against credit risks, it does not reduce the interest rate and prepayment risks of these mortgage backed securities.

Corporate Debt Securities

Corporate debt securities are fixed income securities issued by businesses. Notes, bonds, debentures and commercial paper are the most prevalent types of corporate debt securities. The Fund may also purchase interests in bank loans to companies. The credit risks of corporate debt securities vary widely among issuers.

In addition, the credit risk of an issuer's debt security may vary based on its priority for repayment. For example, higher ranking (senior) debt securities have a higher priority than lower ranking (subordinated) securities. This means that the issuer might not make payments on subordinated securities while continuing to make payments on senior securities. In addition, in the event of bankruptcy, holders of senior securities may receive amounts otherwise payable to the holders of subordinated securities. Some subordinated securities, such as trust preferred and capital securities notes, also permit the issuer to defer payments under certain circumstances. For example, insurance companies issue securities known as surplus notes that permit the insurance company to defer any payment that would reduce its capital below regulatory requirements.

Commercial Paper

Commercial paper is an issuer's obligation with a maturity of less than nine months. Companies typically issue commercial paper to pay for current expenditures. Most issuers constantly reissue their commercial paper and use the proceeds (or bank loans) to repay maturing paper. If the issuer cannot continue to obtain liquidity in this fashion, its commercial paper may default. The short maturity of commercial paper reduces both the market and credit risks as compared to other debt securities of the same issuer.

Bank Instruments

Bank instruments are unsecured interest bearing deposits with banks. Bank instruments include bank accounts, time deposits, certificates of deposit and banker's acceptances. Yankee instruments are denominated in U.S. dollars and issued by U.S. branches of foreign banks. Eurodollar instruments are denominated in U.S. dollars and issued by non-U.S. branches of U.S. or foreign banks.

Foreign Securities

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Foreign securities are securities of issuers based outside the United States. The Fund considers an issuer to be based outside the United States if:

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  • it is organized under the laws of, or has a principal office located in, another country;
  • the principal trading market for its securities is in another country; or
  • it (or its subsidiaries) derived in its most current fiscal year at least 50% of its total assets, capitalization, gross revenue or profit from goods produced, services performed, or sales made in another country.

Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies. Along with the risks normally associated with domestic securities of the same type, foreign securities are subject to currency risks and risks of foreign investing. Trading in certain foreign markets is also subject to liquidity risks.

DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS

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Depositary receipts represent interests in underlying securities issued by a foreign company. Depositary receipts are not traded in the same market as the underlying security. The foreign securities underlying American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) are not traded in the United States. ADRs provide a way to buy shares of foreign-based companies in the United States rather than in overseas markets. ADRs are also traded in U.S. dollars, eliminating the need for foreign exchange transactions. The foreign securities underlying European Depositary Receipts (EDRs), Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs), and International Depositary Receipts (IDRs), are traded globally or outside the United States. Depositary receipts involve many of the same risks of investing directly in foreign securities, including currency risks and risks of foreign investing.

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FOREIGN EXCHANGE CONTRACTS

In order to convert U.S. dollars into the currency needed to buy a foreign security, or to convert foreign currency received from the sale of a foreign security into U.S. dollars, the Fund may enter into spot currency trades. In a spot trade, the Fund agrees to exchange one currency for another at the current exchange rate. The Fund may also enter into derivative contracts in which a foreign currency is an underlying asset. The exchange rate for currency derivative contracts may be higher or lower than the spot exchange rate. Use of these derivative contracts may increase or decrease the Fund's exposure to currency risks.

Derivative Contracts

Derivative contracts are financial instruments that require payments based upon changes in the values of designated (or underlying) securities, currencies, commodities, financial indices or other assets. Some derivative contracts (such as futures, forwards and options) require payments relating to a future trade involving the underlying asset. Other derivative contracts (such as swaps) require payments relating to the income or returns from the underlying asset. The other party to a derivative contract is referred to as a counterparty.

Many derivative contracts are traded on securities or commodities exchanges. In this case, the exchange sets all the terms of the contract except for the price. Investors make payments due under their contracts through the exchange. Most exchanges require investors to maintain margin accounts through their brokers to cover their potential obligations to the exchange. Parties to the contract make (or collect) daily payments to the margin accounts to reflect losses (or gains) in the value of their contracts. This protects investors against potential defaults by the counterparty. Trading contracts on an exchange also allows investors to close out their contracts by entering into offsetting contracts.

For example, the Fund could close out an open contract to buy an asset at a future date by entering into an offsetting contract to sell the same asset on the same date. If the offsetting sale price is more than the original purchase price, the Fund realizes a gain; if it is less, the Fund realizes a loss. Exchanges may limit the amount of open contracts permitted at any one time. Such limits may prevent the Fund from closing out a position. If this happens, the Fund will be required to keep the contract open (even if it is losing money on the contract), and to make any payments required under the contract (even if it has to sell portfolio securities at unfavorable prices to do so). Inability to close out a contract could also harm the Fund by preventing it from disposing of or trading any assets it has been using to secure its obligations under the contract.

The Fund may also trade derivative contracts over-the-counter (OTC) in transactions negotiated directly between the Fund and the counterparty. OTC contracts do not necessarily have standard terms, so they cannot be directly offset with other OTC contracts. In addition, OTC contracts with more specialized terms may be more difficult to price than exchange traded contracts.

Depending upon how the Fund uses derivative contracts and the relationships between the market value of a derivative contract and the underlying asset, derivative contracts may increase or decrease the Fund's exposure to stock market and currency risks, and may also expose the Fund to liquidity and leverage risks. OTC contracts also expose the Fund to credit risks in the event that a counterparty defaults on the contract.

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The Fund may trade in the following types of derivative contracts.

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Options

The Fund may use up to 10% of its net assets to purchase and sell put and call options. Options are rights to buy or sell an underlying asset for a specified price (the exercise price) during, or at the end of, a specified period. A call option gives the holder (buyer) the right to buy the underlying asset from the seller (writer) of the option. A put option gives the holder the right to sell the underlying asset to the writer of the option. The writer of the option receives a payment, or premium, from the buyer, which the writer keeps regardless of whether the buyer uses (or exercises) the option.

The Fund may:

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  • buy call options on portfolio securities and currencies in anticipation of an increase in the value of the underlying asset;
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  • buy put options on portfolio securities and currencies in anticipation of a decrease in the value of the underlying asset; and
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  • buy or write options to close out existing options positions.
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The Fund may also write call options on portfolio securities and currencies to generate income from premiums, and in anticipation of a decrease or only limited increase in the value of the underlying asset. If a call written by the Fund is exercised, the Fund foregoes any possible profit from an increase in the market price of the underlying asset over the exercise price plus the premium received.

The Fund may also write put options on portfolio securities and currencies to generate income from premiums, and in anticipation of an increase or only limited decrease in the value of the underlying asset. In writing puts, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to take delivery of the underlying asset when its current market price is lower than the exercise price.

Futures Contracts

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Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of an underlying asset at a specified price, date, and time. Entering into a contract to buy an underlying asset is commonly referred to as buying a contract or holding a long position in the asset. Entering into a contract to sell an underlying asset is commonly referred to as selling a contract or holding a short position in the asset. Futures contracts are considered to be commodity contracts. Futures contracts traded OTC are frequently referred to as forward contracts.

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The Fund may buy and sell the following type of futures contracts: financial futures (including futures on stock indices).

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SWAPS

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Swaps are contracts in which two parties agree to pay each other (swap) the returns derived from underlying assets with differing characteristics. Most swaps do not involve the delivery of the underlying assets by either party, and the parties might not own the assets underlying the swap. The payments are usually made on a net basis so that, on any given day, the Fund would receive (or pay) only the amount by which its payment under the contract is less than (or exceeds) the amount of the other party's payment. Swap agreements are sophisticated instruments that can take many different forms, and are known by a variety of names including caps, floors, and collars. Common swap agreements that the Fund may use include:

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INTEREST RATE SWAPS

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Interest rate swaps are contracts in which one party agrees to make regular payments equal to a fixed or floating interest rate times a stated principal amount of fixed income securities, in return for payments equal to a different fixed or floating rate times the same principal amount, for a specific period. For example, a $10 million LIBOR swap would require one party to pay the equivalent of the London Interbank Offer Rate of interest (which fluctuates) on $10 million principal amount in exchange for the right to receive the equivalent of a stated fixed rate of interest on $10 million principal amount.

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CURRENCY SWAPS

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Currency swaps are contracts which provide for interest payments in different currencies. The parties might agree to exchange the notional principal amount as well.

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SPECIAL TRANSACTIONS

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Repurchase Agreements

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Repurchase agreements are transactions in which the Fund buys a security from a dealer or bank and agrees to sell the security back at a mutually agreed-upon time and price. The repurchase price exceeds the sale price, reflecting the Fund's return on the transaction. This return is unrelated to the interest rate on the underlying security. The Fund will enter into repurchase agreements only with banks and other recognized financial institutions, such as securities dealers, deemed creditworthy by the Adviser.

The Fund's custodian or subcustodian will take possession of the securities subject to repurchase agreements. The Adviser or subcustodian will monitor the value of the underlying security each day to ensure that the value of the security always equals or exceeds the repurchase price.

Repurchase agreements are subject to credit risks.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

Reverse repurchase agreements are repurchase agreements in which the Fund is the seller (rather than the buyer) of the securities, and agrees to repurchase them at an agreed-upon time and price. A reverse repurchase agreement may be viewed as a type of borrowing by the Fund. Reverse repurchase agreements are subject to credit risks. In addition, reverse repurchase agreements create leverage risks because the Fund must repurchase the underlying security at a higher price, regardless of the market value of the security at the time of repurchase.

Delayed Delivery Transactions

Delayed delivery transactions, including when-issued transactions, are arrangements in which the Fund buys securities for a set price, with payment and delivery of the securities scheduled for a future time. During the period between purchase and settlement, no payment is made by the Fund to the issuer and no interest accrues to the Fund. The Fund records the transaction when it agrees to buy the securities and reflects their value in determining the price of its shares. Settlement dates may be a month or more after entering into these transactions so that the market values of the securities bought may vary from the purchase prices. Therefore, delayed delivery transactions create interest rate risks for the Fund. Delayed delivery transactions also involve credit risks in the event of a counterparty default. These transactions create leverage risks.

Securities Lending

The Fund may lend portfolio securities to borrowers that the Fund's custodian deems creditworthy. In return, the Fund receives cash or liquid securities from the borrower as collateral. The borrower must furnish additional collateral if the market value of the loaned securities increases. Also, the borrower must pay the Fund the equivalent of any dividends or interest received on the loaned securities.

The Fund will reinvest cash collateral in securities that qualify as an acceptable investment for the Fund. However, the Fund must pay interest to the borrower for the use of cash collateral.

Loans are subject to termination at the option of the Fund or the borrower. The Fund will not have the right to vote on securities while they are on loan, but it will terminate a loan in anticipation of any important vote. The Fund may pay administrative and custodial fees in connection with a loan and may pay a negotiated portion of the interest earned on the cash collateral to a securities lending agent or broker.

Securities lending activities are subject to interest rate risks and credit risks. These transactions may create leverage risks.

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Inter-Fund Borrowing and Lending Arrangements

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The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has granted an exemption that permits the Fund and all other funds advised by subsidiaries of Federated Investors, Inc. (Federated funds) to lend and borrow money for certain temporary purposes directly to and from other Federated funds. Participation in this inter-fund lending program is voluntary for both borrowing and lending funds, and an inter-fund loan is only made if it benefits each participating fund. Federated Investors, Inc. (Federated) administers the program according to procedures approved by the Fund's Board, and the Board monitors the operation of the program. Any inter-fund loan must comply with certain conditions set out in the exemption, which are designed to assure fairness and protect all participating funds.

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For example, inter-fund lending is permitted only: (a) to meet shareholder redemption requests; and (b) to meet commitments arising from "failed" trades. All inter-fund loans must be repaid in seven days or less. The Fund's participation in this program must be consistent with its investment policies and limitations, and must meet certain percentage tests. Inter-fund loans may be made only when the rate of interest to be charged is more attractive to the lending fund than market-competitive rates on overnight repurchase agreements (Repo Rate) and more attractive to the borrowing fund than the rate of interest that would be charged by an unaffiliated bank for short-term borrowings (Bank Loan Rate), as determined by the Board. The interest rate imposed on inter-fund loans is the average of the Repo Rate and the Bank Loan Rate.

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Asset Coverage

In order to secure its obligations in connection with derivatives contracts or special transactions, the Fund will either own the underlying assets, enter into an offsetting transaction or set aside readily marketable securities with a value that equals or exceeds the Fund's obligations. Unless the Fund has other readily marketable assets to set aside, it cannot trade assets used to secure such obligations without entering into an offsetting derivative contract or terminating a special transaction. This may cause the Fund to miss favorable trading opportunities or to realize losses on derivative contracts or special transactions.

Investing in Securities of Other Investment Companies

The Fund may invest its assets in securities of other investment companies, including the securities of affiliated money market funds, as an efficient means of carrying out its investment policies and managing its uninvested cash.

Illiquid Securities

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The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities. Illiquid securities are securities for which there is no readily available market or securities with legal or contractual restrictions. These may include private placements, repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days, and securities eligible for resale under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933 ("1933 Act"). Rule 144A allows certain qualified institutional investors to trade privately placed securities despite the fact that such securities are not registered under the 1933 Act. In deciding whether to purchase such securities, the Fund, acting pursuant to guidelines approved by the Board, will consider the frequency of such trades and quotes, the number of dealers and potential purchasers, dealer undertakings to make a market, the nature of the securities and the marketplace trades.

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Borrowing for Leverage

The Fund may borrow from banks for temporary or emergency purposes, clearing transactions or for other investment purposes. Borrowing to purchase securities is a speculative practice known as leveraging, which increases stock market risk by magnifying the effect of any change in the market value of the Fund's portfolio. Interest paid on any borrowed funds may have the effect of lowering the Fund's return. In addition, the Fund may have to sell the securities when it would normally keep them in order to make interest payments.

Short Sales

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The Fund may make short sales of securities listed on one or more national exchanges or on the NASDAQ stock market. A short sale means selling a security the Fund does not own to take advantage of an anticipated decline in the stock's price. Once the Fund sells the security short, it has an obligation to replace the borrowed security. If it can buy the security back at a lower price, a profit results. In no event will the Fund engage in short sales transactions if it would cause the market value of all of the Fund's securities sold short to exceed 25% of its net assets. The value of the securities of any one issuer that may be shorted by the Fund is limited to the lesser of 2% of the value of the Fund's net assets or 2% of the securities of any class of the issuer. The Fund may also "sell short against the box," i.e., the Fund owns securities identical to those sold short. Short sales against the box are not subject to the 25% limitation. A capital gain is recognized immediately upon entering into a short sale against the box with respect to an appreciated security. Short sales are speculative in nature, and may reduce returns or increase volatility.

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INVESTMENT RISKS

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There are many factors which may affect an investment in the Fund. The Fund's principal risks are described in its prospectus. Additional risk factors are outlined below.

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Stock Market Risks

  • The value of equity securities in the Fund's portfolio will rise and fall. These fluctuations could be a sustained trend or a drastic movement. The Fund's portfolio will reflect changes in prices of individual portfolio stocks or general changes in stock valuations. Consequently, the Fund's share price may decline.
  • The Adviser attempts to manage market risk by limiting the amount the Fund invests in each company's equity securities. However, diversification will not protect the Fund against widespread or prolonged declines in the stock market.

Liquidity Risks

  • Trading opportunities are more limited for equity securities that are not widely held. This may make it more difficult to sell or buy a security at a favorable price or time. Consequently, the Fund may have to accept a lower price to sell a security, sell other securities to raise cash or give up an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on the Fund's performance. Infrequent trading of securities may also lead to an increase in their price volatility.
  • Liquidity risk also refers to the possibility that the Fund may not be able to sell a security or close out a derivative contract when it wants to. If this happens, the Fund will be required to continue to hold the security or keep the position open, and the Fund could incur losses.
  • Over-the-counter (OTC) derivative contracts generally carry greater liquidity risk than exchange-traded contracts.

Risks of Foreign Investing

  • Foreign securities pose additional risks because foreign economic or political conditions may be less favorable than those of the United States. Securities in foreign markets may also be subject to taxation policies that reduce returns for U.S. investors.
  • Foreign companies may not provide information (including financial statements) as frequently or to as great an extent as companies in the United States. Foreign companies may also receive less coverage than U.S. companies by market analysts and the financial press. In addition, foreign countries may lack uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards or regulatory requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. These factors may prevent the Fund and its Adviser from obtaining information concerning foreign companies that is as frequent, extensive and reliable as the information available concerning companies in the United States.
  • Foreign countries may have restrictions on foreign ownership of securities or may impose exchange controls, capital flow restrictions or repatriation restrictions which could adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund's investments.

Currency Risks

  • Exchange rates for currencies fluctuate daily. Foreign securities are normally denominated and traded in foreign currencies. As a result, the value of the Fund's foreign investments and the value of the shares may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar.
  • The Adviser attempts to limit currency risk by limiting the amount the Fund invests in securities denominated in a particular currency. However, diversification will not protect the Fund against a general increase in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies.

Leverage Risks

  • Leverage risk is created when an investment exposes the Fund to a level of risk that exceeds the amount invested. Changes in value of such an investment magnify the Fund's risk of loss and potential for gain.

Credit Risks

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  • Credit risk includes the possibility that a party to a transaction involving the Fund will fail to meet its obligations. This could cause the Fund to lose the benefit of the transaction or prevent the Fund from selling or buying other securities to implement its investment strategy.
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Interest Rate Risks

  • Prices of fixed income securities rise and fall in response to changes in the interest rate paid by similar securities. Generally, when interest rates rise, prices of fixed income securities fall. However, market factors, such as the demand for particular fixed income securities, may cause the price of certain fixed income securities to fall while the prices of other securities rise or remain unchanged.

FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

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The Fund's investment objective is to provide capital appreciation. The investment objective may not be changed by the Fund's Board without shareholder approval.

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Diversification

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With respect to securities comprising 75% of the value of its total assets, the Fund will not purchase securities of any one issuer (other than cash; cash items; securities issued or guaranteed by the government of the United States or its agencies or instrumentalities and repurchase agreements collateralized by such U.S. government securities; and securities of other investment companies) if, as a result, more than 5% of the value of its total assets would be invested in the securities of that issuer, or the Fund would own more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of that issuer.

Concentration

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The Fund will not make investments that will result in the concentration of its investments in the securities of issuers primarily engaged in the same industry. For purposes of this restriction, the term concentration has the meaning set forth in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended ("1940 Act") any rule or order thereunder, or any SEC staff interpretation thereof. Government securities and municipal securities will not be deemed to constitute an industry.

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Underwriting

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The Fund may not underwrite the securities of other issuers, except that the Fund may engage in transactions involving the acquisition, disposition or resale of its portfolio securities, under circumstances where it may be considered to be an underwriter under the 1933 Act.

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Investing in Commodities

The Fund may not purchase or sell physical commodities, provided that the Fund may purchase securities of companies that deal in commodities. For purposes of this restriction, investments in transactions involving futures contracts and options, forward currency contracts, swap transactions and other financial contracts that settle by payment of cash are not deemed to be investments in commodities.

Investing in Real Estate

The Fund may not purchase or sell real estate, provided that this restriction does not prevent the Fund from investing in issuers which invest, deal, or otherwise engage in transactions in real estate or interests therein, or investing in securities that are secured by real estate or interests therein. The Fund may exercise its rights under agreements relating to such securities, including the right to enforce security interests and to hold real estate acquired by reason of such enforcement until that real estate can be liquidated in an orderly manner.

Borrowing Money and Issuing Senior Securities

The Fund may borrow money, directly or indirectly, and issue senior securities to the maximum extent permitted under the 1940 Act, any rule or order thereunder, or any SEC staff interpretation thereof.

Lending

The Fund may not make loans, provided that this restriction does not prevent the Fund from purchasing debt obligations, entering into repurchase agreements, lending its assets to broker/dealers or institutional investors and investing in loans, including assignments and participation interests.

The above limitations cannot be changed unless authorized by the Board and by the "vote of a majority of its outstanding voting securities," as defined by the 1940 Act. The following limitations, however, may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval. Shareholders will be notified before any material change in these limitations becomes effective.

Illiquid Securities

The Fund will not purchase securities for which there is no readily available market, or enter into repurchase agreements or purchase time deposits maturing in more than seven days, if immediately after and as a result, the value of such securities would exceed, in the aggregate, 15% of the Fund's net assets.

Investing in Other Investment Companies

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The Fund may invest its assets in securities of other investment companies as an efficient means of carrying out its investment policies. It should be noted that investment companies incur certain expenses, such as management fees, and, therefore, any investment by the Fund in shares of other investment companies may be subject to such duplicate expenses. At the present time, the Fund expects that its investments in other investment companies may include shares of money market funds, including funds affiliated with the Fund's Adviser.

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The Fund may invest in the securities of affiliated money market funds as an efficient means of managing the Fund's uninvested cash.

Purchases on Margin

The Fund will not purchase securities on margin, provided that the Fund may obtain short-term credits necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of securities, and further provided that the Fund may make margin deposits in connection with its use of financial options and futures, forward and spot currency contracts, swap transactions and other financial contracts or derivative instruments.

Pledging Assets

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The Fund will not mortgage, pledge, or hypothecate any of its assets, provided that this shall not apply to the transfer of securities in connection with any permissible borrowing or to collateral arrangements in connection with permissible activities.

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For purposes of the above limitations, the Fund considers certificates of deposit and demand and time deposits issued by a U.S. branch of a domestic bank or savings association having capital, surplus and undivided profits in excess of $100,000,000 at the time of investment to be "cash items." Except with respect to borrowing money, if a percentage limitation is adhered to at the time of investment, a later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from any change in value or net assets will not result in a violation of such limitation.

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DETERMINING MARKET VALUE OF SECURITIES

Market values of the Fund's portfolio securities are determined as follows:

  • for equity securities, according to the last sale price in the market in which they are primarily traded (either a national securities exchange or the over-the-counter market), if available;
  • in the absence of recorded sales for equity securities, according to the mean between the last closing bid and asked prices;
  • options are generally valued at market values established by the exchanges on which they are traded at the close of trading on such exchanges. Options traded in the over-the-counter market are generally valued according to the mean between the last bid and the last asked price for the option as provided by an investment dealer or other financial institution that deals in the option. The Board may determine in good faith that another method of valuing such investments is necessary to appraise their fair market value;
  • for fixed income securities, according to the mean between bid and asked prices as furnished by an independent pricing service, except that fixed income securities with remaining maturities of less than 60 days at the time of purchase may be valued at amortized cost; and
  • for all other securities at fair value as determined in good faith by the Board.

Prices provided by independent pricing services may be determined without relying exclusively on quoted prices and may consider institutional trading in similar groups of securities, yield, quality, stability, risk, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics, and other market data or factors. From time to time, when prices cannot be obtained from an independent pricing service, securities may be valued based on quotes from broker-dealers or other financial institutions that trade the securities.

TRADING IN FOREIGN SECURITIES

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Trading in foreign securities may be completed at times which vary from the closing of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). In computing its net asset value (NAV), the Fund values foreign securities at the latest closing price on the exchange on which they are traded immediately prior to the closing of the NYSE. Certain foreign currency exchange rates may also be determined at the latest rate prior to the closing of the NYSE. Foreign securities quoted in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at current rates. Occasionally, events that affect these values and exchange rates may occur between the times at which they are determined and the closing of the NYSE. If such events materially affect the value of portfolio securities, these securities may be valued at their fair value as determined in good faith by the Fund's Board, although the actual calculation may be done by others.

</R>

What Do Shares Cost?

<R>

The Fund's NAV per Share fluctuates and is based on the market value of all securities and other assets of the Fund. The NAV for each class of Shares may differ due to the variance in daily net income realized by each class. Such variance will reflect only accrued net income to which the shareholders of a particular class are entitled.

</R>

REDUCING OR ELIMINATING THE FRONT-END SALES CHARGE (CLASS A SHARES)

You can reduce or eliminate the applicable front-end sales charge, as follows:

Quantity Discounts

Larger purchases of the same Share class reduce or eliminate the sales charge you pay. You can combine purchases of Shares made on the same day by you, your spouse and your children under age 21. In addition, purchases made at one time by a trustee or fiduciary for a single trust estate or a single fiduciary account can be combined.

Accumulated Purchases

If you make an additional purchase of Shares, you can count previous Share purchases still invested in the Fund in calculating the applicable sales charge on the additional purchase.

Concurrent Purchases

You can combine concurrent purchases of the same share class of two or more Federated Funds in calculating the applicable sale charge.

Letter of Intent Class A Shares

You can sign a Letter of Intent committing to purchase a certain amount of the same class of Shares within a 13-month period to combine such purchases in calculating the sales charge. The Fund's custodian will hold Shares in escrow equal to the maximum applicable sales charge. If you complete the Letter of Intent, the Custodian will release the Shares in escrow to your account. If you do not fulfill the Letter of Intent, the Custodian will redeem the appropriate amount from the Shares held in escrow to pay the sales charges that were not applied to your purchases.

Reinvestment Privilege

You may reinvest, within 120 days, your Share redemption proceeds at the next determined NAV without any sales charge.

Purchases by Affiliates of the Fund

The following individuals and their immediate family members may buy Shares at NAV without any sales charge because there are nominal sales efforts associated with their purchases:

  • the Trustees, employees and sales representatives of the Fund, the Adviser, the Distributor and their affiliates;
  • any associated person of an investment dealer who has a sales agreement with the Distributor; and
  • trusts, pension or profit-sharing plans for these individuals.

Federated Life Members

Shareholders of the Fund known as "Federated Life Members" are exempt from paying any front-end sales charge. These shareholders joined the Fund originally:

  • through the "Liberty Account," an account for Liberty Family of Funds shareholders on February 28, 1987 (the Liberty Account and Liberty Family of Funds are no longer marketed); or
  • as Liberty Account shareholders by investing through an affinity group prior to August 1, 1987.

REDUCING OR ELIMINATING THE CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE (CLASSES B AND C)

These reductions or eliminations are offered because: no sales commissions have been advanced to the investment professional selling Shares; the shareholder has already paid a Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (CDSC); or nominal sales efforts are associated with the original purchase of Shares.

Upon notification to the Distributor or the Fund's transfer agent, no CDSC will be imposed on redemptions:

  • following the death or post-purchase disability, as defined in Section 72(m)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, of the last surviving shareholder;
  • representing minimum required distributions from an Individual Retirement Account or other retirement plan to a shareholder who has attained the age of 70-1/2;
  • of Shares that represent a reinvestment within 120 days of a previous redemption;
  • of Shares held by the Trustees, employees, and sales representatives of the Fund, the Adviser, the Distributor and their affiliates; employees of any investment professional that sells Shares according to a sales agreement with the Distributor; and the immediate family members of the above persons;
  • <R>
  • of Shares originally purchased through a bank trust department, a registered investment adviser or retirement plans where the third party administrator has entered into certain arrangements with the Distributor or its affiliates, or any other investment professional, to the extent that no payments were advanced for purchases made through these entities;
  • </R>
  • which are involuntary redemptions processed by the Fund because the accounts do not meet the minimum balance requirements; and

Class B Shares Only

  • which are qualifying redemptions of Class B Shares under a Systematic Withdrawal Program.

SPECIAL REDEMPTION AND EXCHANGE INFORMATION (CLASS K SHARES)

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Class K Shares are redeemable at a price equal to 99.8% of the then current NAV per share. This 0.2% reduction, referred to in the prospectus and this SAI as a redemption/exchange fee, directly affects the amount a shareholder who is subject to the reduction receives upon exchange or redemption. It is intended to encourage long-term investment in the Fund, to offset transaction and other expenses caused by redemptions, and to facilitate portfolio management. The fee will be applied to offset expenses incurred or amounts expended in connection with a redemption or exchange of Class K Shares, with any balance paid over to the Fund; the fee is not a deferred sales charge, nor is it paid to the Adviser or its affiliates. The Fund reserves the right to modify the terms of or terminate this fee at any time.

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The redemption/exchange fee will be waived for shares purchased through employer-sponsored retirement plans, such as 401(k) plans. However, if shares are purchased for a retirement plan account through a broker, financial institution, or other intermediary maintaining an omnibus account for the shares, the waiver may not apply. (Before purchasing shares, please check with your account representative concerning the availability of the fee waiver.) In addition, this waiver does not apply to individual retirement accounts, such as Traditional, Roth and SEP-IRAs.

How is the Fund Sold?

Under the Distributor's Contract with the Fund, the Distributor (Federated Securities Corp.) offers Shares on a continuous, best-efforts basis.

FRONT-END SALES CHARGE REALLOWANCES

The Distributor receives a front-end sales charge on certain Share sales. The Distributor generally pays up to 90% (and as much as 100%) of this charge to investment professionals for sales and/or administrative services. Any payments to investment professionals in excess of 90% of the front-end sales charge are considered supplemental payments. The Distributor retains any portion not paid to an investment professional.

RULE 12B-1 PLAN

As a compensation-type plan, the Rule 12b-1 Plan is designed to pay the Distributor (who may then pay investment professionals such as banks, broker/dealers, trust departments of banks, and registered investment advisers) for marketing activities (such as advertising, printing and distributing prospectuses, and providing incentives to investment professionals) to promote sales of Shares so that overall Fund assets are maintained or increased. This helps the Fund achieve economies of scale, reduce per share expenses, and provide cash for orderly portfolio management and Share redemptions. In addition, the Fund's service providers that receive asset-based fees also benefit from stable or increasing Fund assets.

The Fund may compensate the Distributor more or less than its actual marketing expenses. In no event will the Fund pay for any expenses of the Distributor that exceed the maximum Rule 12b-1 Plan fee.

For some classes of Shares, the maximum Rule 12b-1 Plan fee that can be paid in any one year may not be sufficient to cover the marketing-related expenses the Distributor has incurred. Therefore, it may take the Distributor a number of years to recoup these expenses.

Federated and its subsidiaries may benefit from arrangements where the Rule 12b-1 Plan fees related to Class B Shares may be paid to third parties who have advanced commissions to investment professionals.

SHAREHOLDER SERVICES

The Fund may pay Federated Shareholder Services Company, a subsidiary of Federated, for providing shareholder services and maintaining shareholder accounts. Federated Shareholder Services Company may select others to perform these services for their customers and may pay them fees.

SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENTS

Investment professionals (such as broker/dealers or banks) may be paid fees, in significant amounts, out of the assets of the Distributor and/or Federated Shareholder Services Company. (These fees do not come out of Fund assets.) The Distributor and/or Federated Shareholder Services Company may be reimbursed by the Adviser or its affiliates.

Investment professionals receive such fees for providing distribution-related and/or shareholder services, such as advertising, providing incentives to their sales personnel, sponsoring other activities intended to promote sales, and maintaining shareholder accounts. These payments may be based upon such factors as the number or value of Shares the investment professional sells or may sell; the value of client assets invested; and/or the type and nature of sales or marketing support furnished by the investment professional.

<R>

When an investment professional's customer purchases Shares, the investment professional may receive:

</R>

  • an amount up to 5.50% and 1.00%, respectively, of the NAV of Class B and C Shares.
  • an amount on the NAV of Shares purchased as follows: up to 1% on purchases below $2 million; 0.50% on purchases from $2 million but below $5 million; and 0.25% on purchases of $5 million or more.

In addition, the Distributor may pay investment professionals 0.25% of the purchase price of $1 million or more of Class A Shares that its customer has not redeemed over the first year.

Class A Shares

Investment professionals purchasing Class A Shares for their customers are eligible to receive an advance payment from the Distributor based on the following breakpoints:

 

Amount

  

Advance Payments
as a Percentage of
Public Offering Price

First $1 - $5 million

 

0.75%

Next $5 - $20 million

 

0.50%

Over $20 million

 

0.25%

For accounts with assets over $1 million, the dealers advance payments reset annually to the first breakpoint on the anniversary of the first purchase.

Class A Share purchases under this program may be made by Letter of Intent or by combining concurrent purchases. The above advance payments will be paid only on those purchases that were not previously subject to a front-end sales charge and dealer advance payments. Certain retirement accounts may not be eligible for this program.

A contingent deferred sales charge of 0.75% of the redemption amount applies to Class A Shares redeemed up to 24 months after purchase. The CDSC does not apply under certain investment programs where the investment professional does not receive an advance payment on the transaction including, but not limited to, trust accounts and wrap programs where the investor pays an account level fee for investment management.

Exchanging Securities for Shares

You may contact the Distributor to request a purchase of Shares in exchange for securities you own. The Fund reserves the right to determine whether to accept your securities and the minimum market value to accept. The Fund will value your securities in the same manner as it values its assets. This exchange is treated as a sale of your securities for federal tax purposes.

Subaccounting Services

Certain investment professionals may wish to use the transfer agent's subaccounting system to minimize their internal recordkeeping requirements. The transfer agent may charge a fee based on the level of subaccounting services rendered. Investment professionals holding Shares in a fiduciary, agency, custodial or similar capacity may charge or pass through subaccounting fees as part of or in addition to normal trust or agency account fees. They may also charge fees for other services that may be related to the ownership of Shares. This information should, therefore, be read together with any agreement between the customer and the investment professional about the services provided, the fees charged for those services, and any restrictions and limitations imposed.

Redemption in Kind

Although the Fund intends to pay Share redemptions in cash, it reserves the right, as described below, to pay the redemption price in whole or in part by a distribution of the Fund's portfolio securities.

Because the Fund has elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act, the Fund is obligated to pay Share redemptions to any one shareholder in cash only up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net assets represented by such Share class during any 90-day period.

Any Share redemption payment greater than this amount will also be in cash unless the Fund's Board determines that payment should be in kind. In such a case, the Fund will pay all or a portion of the remainder of the redemption in portfolio securities, valued in the same way as the Fund determines its NAV. The portfolio securities will be selected in a manner that the Fund's Board deems fair and equitable and, to the extent available, such securities will be readily marketable.

Redemption in kind is not as liquid as a cash redemption. If redemption is made in kind, shareholders receiving the portfolio securities and selling them before their maturity could receive less than the redemption value of the securities and could incur certain transaction costs.

Massachusetts Partnership Law

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Under certain circumstances, shareholders may be held personally liable as partners under Massachusetts law for obligations of the Fund. To protect its shareholders, the Fund has filed legal documents with Massachusetts that expressly disclaim the liability of its shareholders for acts or obligations of the Fund.

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<R>

In the unlikely event a shareholder is held personally liable for the Fund's obligations, the Fund is required by the Declaration of Trust to use its property to protect or compensate the shareholder. On request, the Fund will defend any claim made and pay any judgment against a shareholder for any act or obligation of the Fund. Therefore, financial loss resulting from liability as a shareholder will occur only if the Fund itself cannot meet its obligations to indemnify shareholders and pay judgments against them.

</R>

Account and Share Information

VOTING RIGHTS

<R>

Each Share of the Fund gives the shareholder one vote in Trustee elections and other matters submitted to shareholders for vote. All Shares of the Trust have equal voting rights, except that in matters affecting only a particular Fund or class, only Shares of that Fund or class are entitled to vote.

</R>

<R>

Trustees may be removed by the Board or by shareholders at a special meeting. A special meeting of shareholders will be called by the Board upon the written request of shareholders who own at least 10% of the Trust's outstanding Shares of all series entitled to vote.

</R>

<R>

As of December 2, 2002, the following shareholders owned of record, beneficially, or both, 5% or more of outstanding Class A Shares: Edward Jones & Co., Maryland Hts., owned approximately 21,489,966 Shares (16.92%); and MLPF&S, Jacksonville, FL, owned approximately 8,852,470 Shares (6.97%).

</R>

<R>

As of December 2, 2002, the following shareholders owned of record, beneficially, or both, 5% or more of outstanding Class C Shares: MLPF&S, Jacksonville, FL, owned approximately 8,981,762 Shares (23.39%).

</R>

<R>

As of December 2, 2002, the following shareholders owned of record, beneficially, or both, 5% or more of outstanding Class K Shares: Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., San Francisco, CA, owned approximately 96,097,866 Shares (13.11%); and National Financial Services, New York, NY, owned approximately 48,879,965 Shares (6.67%).

</R>

<R>

Shareholders owning 25% or more of outstanding Shares may be in control and be able to affect the outcome of certain matters presented for a vote of shareholders.

</R>

Tax Information

FEDERAL INCOME TAX

The Fund intends to meet requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies. If these requirements are not met, it will not receive special tax treatment and will be subject to federal corporate income tax. The Fund will be treated as a single, separate entity for federal income tax purposes so that income earned and capital gains and losses realized by the Trust's other portfolios will be separate from those realized by the Fund.

FOREIGN INVESTMENTS

If the Fund purchases foreign securities, their investment income may be subject to foreign withholding or other taxes that could reduce the return on these securities. Tax treaties between the United States and foreign countries, however, may reduce or eliminate the amount of foreign taxes to which the Fund would be subject. The effective rate of foreign tax cannot be predicted since the amount of Fund assets to be invested within various countries is uncertain. However, the Fund intends to operate so as to qualify for treaty-reduced tax rates when applicable.

Distributions from a Fund may be based on estimates of book income for the year. Book income generally consists solely of the income generated by the securities in the portfolio, whereas tax-basis income includes, in addition, gains or losses attributable to currency fluctuation. Due to differences in the book and tax treatment of fixed-income securities denominated in foreign currencies, it is difficult to project currency effects on an interim basis. Therefore, to the extent that currency fluctuations cannot be anticipated, a portion of distributions to shareholders could later be designated as a return of capital, rather than income, for income tax purposes, which may be of particular concern to simple trusts.

If the Fund invests in the stock of certain foreign corporations, they may constitute Passive Foreign Investment Companies (PFIC), and the Fund may be subject to Federal income taxes upon disposition of PFIC investments.

If more than 50% of the value of the Fund's assets at the end of the tax year is represented by stock or securities of foreign corporations, the Fund will qualify for certain Code provisions that allow its shareholders to claim a foreign tax credit or deduction on their U.S. income tax returns. The Code may limit a shareholder's ability to claim a foreign tax credit. Shareholders who elect to deduct their portion of the Fund's foreign taxes rather than take the foreign tax credit must itemize deductions on their income tax returns.

Who Manages and Provides Services to the Fund?

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

<R>

The Board is responsible for managing the Trust's business affairs and for exercising all the Trust's powers except those reserved for the shareholders. The following tables give information about each Board member and the senior officers of the Fund. Where required, the tables separately list Board members who are "interested persons" of the Fund (i.e., "Interested" Board members) and those who are not (i.e., "Independent" Board members). Unless otherwise noted, the address of each person listed is Federated Investors Tower, 1001 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA. The Trust comprises six portfolios and the Federated Fund Complex consists of44 investment companies (comprising 139 portfolios). Unless otherwise noted, each Board member oversees all portfolios in the Federated Fund Complex; serves for an indefinite term; and also serves as a Board member of the following investment company complexes: Banknorth Funds--five portfolios; CCMI Funds--two portfolios; Regions Funds--eight portfolios; Riggs Funds--nine portfolios; and WesMark Funds--five portfolios.

</R>

<R>

As of December 2, 2002, the Fund's Board and Officers as a group owned less than 1% of the Fund's outstanding Class A, B, C and K Shares.

</R>

INTERESTED TRUSTEES BACKGROUND AND COMPENSATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Name
Birth Date
Address
Positions Held with Trust
Date Service Began

  

Principal Occupation(s) for Past Five Years,
Other Directorships Held and Previous Positions

  

Aggregate
Compensation
From Fund
(past fiscal year)

  

Total Compensation
From Trust and
Fund Complex
(past calendar year)

John F. Donahue*
Birth Date: July 28, 1924
CHAIRMAN AND TRUSTEE
Began serving: April 1984

 

Principal Occupations: Chief Executive Officer and Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Chairman and Director, Federated Investors, Inc.; Chairman, Federated Investment Management Company, Federated Global Investment Management Corp. and Passport Research, Ltd.

Previous Positions: Trustee, Federated Investment Management Company and Chairman and Director, Federated Investment Counseling.

 

$0

 

$0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


J. Christopher Donahue*
Birth Date: April 11, 1949
PRESIDENT AND TRUSTEE
Began serving: August 2000

 

Principal Occupations: President or Executive Vice President of the Federated Fund Complex; Director or Trustee of some of the Funds in the Federated Fund Complex; President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Federated Investors, Inc.; President, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee, Federated Investment Management Company; Trustee, Federated Investment Counseling; President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Federated Global Investment Management Corp.; President and Chief Executive Officer, Passport Research, Ltd.; Trustee, Federated Shareholder Services Company; Director, Federated Services Company.

Previous Position: President, Federated Investment Counseling.

 

$0

 

$0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Lawrence D. Ellis, M.D.*
Birth Date: October 11, 1932
3471 Fifth Avenue
Suite 1111
Pittsburgh, PA
TRUSTEE
Began serving: August 1987

 

Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Professor of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh; Medical Director, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Downtown; Hematologist, Oncologist and Internist, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Other Directorships Held: Member, National Board of Trustees, Leukemia Society of America.

Previous Positions: Trustee, University of Pittsburgh; Director, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

 

$1,183.42

 

$117,117.17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


* Family relationships and reasons for "interested" status: John F. Donahue is the father of J. Christopher Donahue; both are "interested" due to the positions they hold with Federated and its subsidiaries. Lawrence D. Ellis, M.D. is "interested" because his son-in-law is employed by the Fund's principal underwriter, Federated Securities Corp.

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES BACKGROUND AND COMPENSATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Name
Birth Date
Address
Positions Held with Trust
Date Service Began

  

Principal Occupation(s) for Past Five Years,
Other Directorships Held and Previous Positions

  

Aggregate
Compensation
From Fund
(past fiscal year)

  

Total Compensation
From Trust and
Fund Complex
(past calendar year)

Thomas G. Bigley
Birth Date: February 3, 1934
15 Old Timber Trail
Pittsburgh, PA
TRUSTEE
Began serving: October 1995

 

Principal Occupation: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex.

Other Directorships Held: Director, Member of Executive Committee, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh; Director, Member of Executive Committee, University of Pittsburgh.

Previous Position: Senior Partner, Ernst & Young LLP.

 

$1,301.75

 

$128,847.72

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


John T. Conroy, Jr.
Birth Date: June 23, 1937
Grubb & Ellis/Investment
Properties Corporation
3838 Tamiami Trail North
Naples, FL
TRUSTEE
Began serving: November 1991

 

Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Chairman of the Board, Investment Properties Corporation; Partner or Trustee in private real estate ventures in Southwest Florida.

Previous Positions: President, Investment Properties Corporation; Senior Vice President, John R. Wood and Associates, Inc., Realtors; President, Naples Property Management, Inc. and Northgate Village Development Corporation.

 

$1,301.75

 

$128,847.66

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Nicholas P. Constantakis
Birth Date: September 3, 1939
175 Woodshire Drive
Pittsburgh, PA
TRUSTEE
Began serving: February 1998

 

Principal Occupation: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Partner, Andersen Worldwide SC (prior to 9/1/97).

Other Directorships Held: Director, Michael Baker Corporation (engineering and energy services worldwide).

 

$1,301.75

 

$126,923.53

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


John F. Cunningham
Birth Date: March 5, 1943
353 El Brillo Way
Palm Beach, FL
TRUSTEE
Began serving: January 1999

 

Principal Occupation: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex.

Other Directorships Held: Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Cunningham & Co., Inc. (strategic business consulting); Trustee Associate, Boston College.

Previous Positions: Director, Redgate Communications and EMC Corporation (computer storage systems); Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Computer Consoles, Inc.; President and Chief Operating Officer, Wang Laboratories; Director, First National Bank of Boston; Director, Apollo Computer, Inc.

 

$1,183.42

 

$115,368.16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Peter E. Madden
Birth Date: March 16, 1942
One Royal Palm Way
100 Royal Palm Way
Palm Beach, FL
TRUSTEE
Began serving: November 1991

 

Principal Occupation: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Management Consultant.

Previous Positions: Representative, Commonwealth of Massachusetts General Court; President, State Street Bank and Trust Company and State Street Corporation (retired); Director, VISA USA and VISA International; Chairman and Director, Massachusetts Bankers Association; Director, Depository Trust Corporation; Director, The Boston Stock Exchange.

 

$1,183.42

 

$117,117.14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Charles F. Mansfield, Jr.
Birth Date: April 10, 1945
80 South Road
Westhampton Beach, NY
TRUSTEE
Began serving: January 1999

 

Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Management Consultant; Executive Vice President, DVC Group, Inc. (marketing, communications and technology) (prior to 9/1/00).

Previous Positions: Chief Executive Officer, PBTC International Bank; Partner, Arthur Young & Company (now Ernst & Young LLP); Chief Financial Officer of Retail Banking Sector, Chase Manhattan Bank; Senior Vice President, HSBC Bank USA (formerly, Marine Midland Bank); Vice President, Citibank; Assistant Professor of Banking and Finance, Frank G. Zarb School of Business, Hofstra University.

 

$1,301.75

 

$128,847.66

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


John E. Murray, Jr., J.D., S.J.D.
Birth Date: December 20, 1932
Chancellor, Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA
TRUSTEE
Began serving: February 1995

 

Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Chancellor and Law Professor, Duquesne University; Consulting Partner, Mollica & Murray.

Other Directorships Held: Director, Michael Baker Corp. (engineering, construction, operations and technical services).

Previous Positions: President, Duquesne University; Dean and Professor of Law, University of Pittsburgh School of Law; Dean and Professor of Law, Villanova University School of Law.

 

$1,420.09

 

$117,117.14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Name
Birth Date
Address
Positions Held with Trust
Date Service Began

  

Principal Occupation(s) for Past Five Years,
Other Directorships Held and Previous Positions

  

Aggregate
Compensation
From Fund
(past fiscal year)

  

Total Compensation
From Trust and
Fund Complex
(past calendar year)

Marjorie P. Smuts
Birth Date: June 21, 1935
4905 Bayard Street
Pittsburgh, PA
TRUSTEE
Began serving: April 1984

 

Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Public Relations/Marketing Consultant/Conference Coordinator.

Previous Positions: National Spokesperson, Aluminum Company of America; television producer; President, Marj Palmer Assoc.; Owner, Scandia Bord.

 

$1,183.42

 

$117,117.17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


John S. Walsh
Birth Date: November 28, 1957
2604 William Drive
Valparaiso, IN
TRUSTEE
Began serving: January 1999

 

Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; President and Director, Heat Wagon, Inc. (manufacturer of construction temporary heaters); President and Director, Manufacturers Products, Inc. (distributor of portable construction heaters); President, Portable Heater Parts, a division of Manufacturers Products, Inc.

Other Directorships Held: Director, Walsh & Kelly, Inc. (heavy highway contractor).

Previous Position: Vice President, Walsh & Kelly, Inc.

 

$1,183.42

 

$117,117.17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


OFFICERS**

 

 

 

 


Name
Birth Date
Positions Held with Trust

  

Principal Occupation(s) and Previous Positions

Edward C. Gonzales
Birth Date: October 22, 1930
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

 

Principal Occupations: President, Executive Vice President and Treasurer of some of the Funds in the Federated Fund Complex; Vice Chairman, Federated Investors, Inc.; Trustee, Federated Administrative Services.

Previous Positions: Trustee or Director of some of the Funds in the Federated Fund Complex; CEO and Chairman, Federated Administrative Services; Vice President, Federated Investment Management Company, Federated Investment Counseling, Federated Global Investment Management Corp. and Passport Research, Ltd.; Director and Executive Vice President, Federated Securities Corp.; Director, Federated Services Company; Trustee, Federated Shareholder Services Company.

 

 

 


John W. McGonigle
Birth Date: October 26, 1938
EXECECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
AND SECRETARY

 

Principal Occupations: Executive Vice President and Secretary of the Federated Fund Complex; Executive Vice President, Secretary and Director, Federated Investors, Inc.

Previous Positions: Trustee, Federated Investment Management Company and Federated Investment Counseling; Director, Federated Global Investment Management Corp., Federated Services Company and Federated Securities Corp.

 

 

 


Richard J. Thomas
Birth Date: June 17, 1954
TREASURER

 

Principal Occupations: Treasurer of the Federated Fund Complex; Senior Vice President, Federated Administrative Services.

Previous Positions: Vice President, Federated Administrative Services; held various management positions within Funds Financial Services Division of Federated Investors, Inc.

 

 

 


Richard B. Fisher
Birth Date: May 17, 1923
VICE PRESIDENT

 

Principal Occupations: President or Vice President of some of the Funds in the Federated Fund Complex; Vice Chairman, Federated Investors, Inc.; Chairman, Federated Securities Corp.

Previous Positions: Director or Trustee of some of the Funds in the Federated Fund Complex; Executive Vice President, Federated Investors, Inc. and Director and Chief Executive Officer, Federated Securities Corp.

 

 

 


James E. Grefenstette
Birth Date: November 7, 1962
VICE PRESIDENT

 

James E. Grefenstette is Vice President of the Fund. Mr. Grefenstette joined Federated in 1992 and has been a Portfolio Manager since 1994. Mr. Grefenstette became a Senior Vice President of the Fund's Adviser in January 2000. He served as a Vice President of the Fund's Adviser from 1996 through 1999 and was an Assistant Vice President of the Fund's Adviser from 1994 until 1996. Mr. Grefenstette is a Chartered Financial Analyst; he received his M.S. in Industrial Administration from Carnegie Mellon University.

 

 

 


Lawrence Auriana
Birth Date: January 8, 1944
VICE PRESIDENT

 

Lawrence Auriana is Vice President of the Trust. Mr. Auriana joined Federated in April 2001 as Co-Head of Investments/Federated Kaufmann. From August 1984 to April 2001, Mr. Auriana was President and Treasurer of Edgemont Asset Management Corp., and Chairman of the Board and Portfolio Manager to The Kaufmann Fund, Inc. (predecessor to the Federated Kaufmann Fund). Mr. Auriana earned a B.S. in economics from Fordham University and has been engaged in the securities business since 1965.

 

 

 


Hans P. Utsch
Birth Date: July 3, 1936
VICE PRESIDENT

 

Hans P. Utsch is Vice President of the Trust. Mr. Utsch joined Federated in April 2001 as Co-Head of Investments/Federated Kaufmann. From August 1984 to April 2001, Mr. Utsch was Chairman of the Board and Secretary of Edgemont Asset Management Corp., and President and Portfolio Manager to The Kaufmann Fund, Inc. (predecessor to the Federated Kaufmann Fund). Mr. Utsch graduated from Amherst College and holds an M.B.A. from Columbia University. He has been engaged in the securities business since 1962.

 

 

 


** Officers do not receive any compensation from the Fund.

<R>

Thomas R. Donahue, Chief Financial Officer, Vice President, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary of Federated and an officer of its various advisory and underwriting subsidiaries, has served as a Term Member on the Board of Directors of Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, since May 12, 2000. Mr. John E. Murray, Jr., an Independent Trustee of the Fund, served as President of Duquesne from 1988 until his retirement from that position in 2001, and became Chancellor of Duquesne on August 15, 2001. It should be noted that Mr. Donahue abstains on any matter that comes before Duquesne's Board that affects Mr. Murray personally.

</R>

COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD

 

Board
Committee

  

Committee
Members

  

Committee Functions

  

Meetings Held
During Last
Fiscal Year

Executive

 

John F. Donahue
John E. Murray, Jr., J.D., S.J.D.

 

In between meetings of the full Board, the Executive Committee generally may exercise all the powers of the full Board in the management and direction of the business and conduct of the affairs of the Trust in such manner as the Executive Committee shall deem to be in the best interests of the Trust. However, the Executive Committee cannot elect or remove Board members, increase or decrease the number of Trustees, elect or remove any Officer, declare dividends, issue shares or recommend to shareholders any action requiring shareholder approval.

 

Two

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Audit

 

Thomas G. Bigley
John T. Conroy, Jr.
Nicholas P. Constantakis
Charles F. Mansfield, Jr.

 

The Audit Committee reviews and recommends to the full Board the independent auditors to be selected to audit the Fund's financial statements; meet with the independent auditors periodically to review the results of the audits and report the results to the full Board; evaluate the independence of the auditors, review legal and regulatory matters that may have a material effect on the financial statements, related compliance policies and programs, and the related reports received from regulators; review the Fund's internal audit function; review compliance with the Fund's code of conduct/ethics; review valuation issues; monitor inter-fund lending transactions; review custody services and issues and investigate any matters brought to the Committee's attention that are within the scope of its duties.

 

Four

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


<R>

BOARD OWNERSHIP OF SHARES IN THE FUND AND IN THE FEDERATED FAMILY OF INVESTMENT COMPANIES AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2001

</R>

 

<R>Interested
Board Member Name</R>

  

<R>Dollar Range of
Shares Owned
in Fund</R>

  

<R>Aggregate
Dollar Range of
Shares Owned in
Federated Family of
Investment Companies</R>

<R>John F. Donahue</R>

   

<R>None</R>

   

<R>Over $100,000 </R>


<R>J. Christopher Donahue</R>

   

<R>Over $100,000 </R>

   

<R>Over $100,000 </R>


<R>Lawrence D. Ellis, M.D.</R>

   

<R>None</R>

   

<R>Over $100,000 </R>


 

 

 

 

 

<R>Independent
Board Member Name</R>

   

   

   

   

<R>Thomas G. Bigley</R>

   

<R>$50,001-$100,000</R>

   

<R>Over $100,000 </R>


<R>John T. Conroy, Jr.</R>

   

<R>None</R>

   

<R>Over $100,000 </R>


<R>Nicholas P. Constantakis</R>

   

<R>$10,001-$50,000</R>

   

<R>Over $100,000 </R>


<R>John F. Cunningham</R>

   

<R>None </R>

   

<R>Over $100,000 </R>


<R>Peter E. Madden</R>

   

<R>None</R>

   

<R>Over $100,000 </R>


<R>Charles F. Mansfield, Jr.</R>

   

<R>None </R>

   

<R>$50,001 - $100,000 </R>


<R>John E. Murray, Jr., J.D., S.J.D.</R>

   

<R>None </R>

   

<R>Over $100,000 </R>


<R>Marjorie P. Smuts</R>

   

<R>$1-$10,000</R>

   

<R>Over $100,000 </R>


<R>John S. Walsh</R>

   

<R>$10,001-$50,000 </R>

   

<R>Over $100,000 </R>


INVESTMENT ADVISER

The Adviser conducts investment research and makes investment decisions for the Fund.

The Adviser is a wholly owned subsidiary of Federated.

The Adviser shall not be liable to the Trust or any Fund shareholder for any losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding, or sale of any security or for anything done or omitted by it, except acts or omissions involving willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties imposed upon it by its contract with the Trust.

<R>

As required by the 1940 Act, the Fund's Board has reviewed the Fund's investment advisory contract and subadvisory contract. The Board's decision to approve these contracts reflects the exercise of its business judgment on whether to continue the existing arrangements. During its review of these contracts, the Board considers many factors, among the most material of which are: the Fund's investment objectives and long-term performance; the Adviser's and subadviser's management philosophy, personnel, and processes; the preferences and expectations of fund shareholders and their relative sophistication; the continuing state of competition in the mutual fund industry; comparable fees in the mutual fund industry; the range and quality of services provided to the Fund and its shareholders by the Federated organization in addition to investment advisory services; and the Fund's relationship to other funds in the Federated funds.

</R>

<R>

In assessing the Adviser's and subadviser's performance of its obligations, the Board also considers whether there has occurred a circumstance or event that would constitute a reason for it to not renew an advisory contract. In this regard, the Board is mindful of the potential disruptions of the Fund's operations and various risks, uncertainties and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision to terminate or not renew an advisory contract. In particular, the Board recognizes that most shareholders have invested in the Fund on the strength of the Adviser's industry standing and reputation and in the expectation that the Adviser will have a continuing role in providing advisory services to the Fund.

</R>

<R>

The Board also considers the compensation and benefits received by the Adviser and subadviser. This includes fees received for services provided to the Fund by other entities in the Federated organization and research services received by the Adviser from brokers that execute fund trades, as well as advisory fees. In this regard, the Board is aware that various courts have interpreted provisions of the 1940 Act and have indicated in their decisions that the following factors may be relevant to an Adviser's compensation: the nature and quality of the services provided by the Adviser, including the performance of the Fund; the Adviser's cost of providing the services; the extent to which the Adviser may realize "economies of scale" as the Fund grows larger; any indirect benefits that may accrue to the Adviser and its affiliates as a result of the Adviser's relationship with the Fund; performance and expenses of comparable funds; and the extent to which the independent Board members are fully informed about all facts bearing on the Adviser's service and fee. The Fund's Board is aware of these factors and takes them into account in its review of the Fund's advisory contract.

</R>

<R>

The Board considers and weighs these circumstances in light of its substantial accumulated experience in governing the Fund and working with Federated on matters relating to the Federated funds, and is assisted in its deliberations by the advice of independent legal counsel. In this regard, the Board requests and receives a significant amount of information about the Fund and the Federated organization. Federated provides much of this information at each regular meeting of the Board, and furnishes additional reports in connection with the particular meeting at which the Board's formal review of the advisory contracts occurs. In between regularly scheduled meetings, the Board may receive information on particular matters as the need arises. Thus, the Board's evaluation of an advisory contract is informed by reports covering such matters as: the adviser's investment philosophy, personnel, and processes; the Fund's short- and long-term performance (in absolute terms as well as in relationship to its particular investment program and certain competitor or "peer group" funds), and comments on the reasons for performance; the Fund's expenses (including the advisory fee itself and the overall expense structure of the Fund, both in absolute terms and relative to similar and/or competing funds, with due regard for contractual or voluntary expense limitations); the use and allocation of brokerage commissions derived from trading the Fund's portfolio securities; the nature and extent of the advisory and other services provided to the Fund by the Adviser and its affiliates; compliance and audit reports concerning the Federated funds and the Federated companies that service them; and relevant developments in the mutual fund industry and how the Federated funds and/or Federated are responding to them.

</R>

<R>

The Board also receives financial information about Federated, including reports on the compensation and benefits Federated derives from its relationships with the Federated funds. These reports cover not only the fees under the advisory contracts, but also fees received by Federated's subsidiaries for providing other services to the Federated funds under separate contracts (e.g., for serving as the Federated funds' administrator and transfer agent). The reports also discuss any indirect benefit Federated may derive from its receipt of research services from brokers who execute Federated fund trades.

</R>

<R>

The Board bases its decision to approve an advisory contract on the totality of the circumstances and relevant factors, and with a view to past and future long-term considerations. Not all of the factors and considerations identified above are relevant to every Federated fund, nor does the Board consider any one of them to be determinative. Because the totality of circumstances includes considering the relationship of each Federated fund, the Board does not approach consideration of every Federated fund's advisory contract as if that were the only Federated fund offered by Federated.

</R>

Other Related Services

Affiliates of the Adviser may, from time to time, provide certain electronic equipment and software to institutional customers in order to facilitate the purchase of Fund Shares offered by the Distributor.

CODE OF ETHICS RESTRICTIONS ON PERSONAL TRADING

As required by SEC rules, the Fund, its Adviser, and its Distributor have adopted codes of ethics. These codes govern securities trading activities of investment personnel, Fund Trustees, and certain other employees. Although they do permit these people to trade in securities, including those that the Fund could buy, they also contain significant safeguards designed to protect the Fund and its shareholders from abuses in this area, such as requirements to obtain prior approval for, and to report, particular transactions.

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

<R>

When selecting brokers and dealers to handle the purchase and sale of portfolio instruments, the Adviser looks for prompt execution of the order at a favorable price. The Adviser will generally use those who are recognized dealers in specific portfolio instruments, except when a better price and execution of the order can be obtained elsewhere. The Adviser may select brokers and dealers based on whether they also offer research services (as described below). In selecting among firms believed to meet these criteria, the Adviser may give consideration to those firms which have sold or are selling Shares of the Fund and other funds distributed by the Distributor and its affiliates. The Adviser may also direct certain portfolio trades to a broker that, in turn, pays a portion of the Fund's operating expenses. The Adviser makes decisions on portfolio transactions and selects brokers and dealers subject to review by the Fund's Board.

</R>

<R>

Investment decisions for the Fund are made independently from those of other accounts managed by the Adviser. All of the Fund's trading in initial public offerings ("IPO") will be done independently from any other accounts. Although the Fund also expects to engage in non-IPO trading independently from any other accounts, when the Fund and one or more of those accounts do invest in, or dispose of, the same security, available investments or opportunities for sales may be allocated among the Fund and the account(s) in a manner believed by the Adviser to be equitable. While the coordination and ability to participate in volume transactions may benefit the Fund, it is possible that this procedure could adversely impact the price paid or received and/or the position obtained or disposed of by the Fund. Conversely, it is possible that independent trading activity by the Fund could adversely impact the prices paid or received and/or positions obtained or disposed of by the Fund.

</R>

Research Services

Research services may include advice as to the advisability of investing in securities; security analysis and reports; economic studies; industry studies; receipt of quotations for portfolio evaluations; and similar services. Research services may be used by the Adviser or by affiliates of Federated in advising other accounts. To the extent that receipt of these services may replace services for which the Adviser or its affiliates might otherwise have paid, it would tend to reduce their expenses. The Adviser and its affiliates exercise reasonable business judgment in selecting those brokers who offer brokerage and research services to execute securities transactions. They determine in good faith that commissions charged by such persons are reasonable in relationship to the value of the brokerage and research services provided.

In all brokerage orders, the Fund's managers seek the most favorable prices and executions. Determining what may constitute the most favorable price and execution in a brokerage order involves a number of factors, including the overall direct net economic result to the Fund (involving both price paid or received and any commissions or other costs paid) and the efficiency with which the transaction is effected. The managers also consider the ongoing brokerage and research services provided to the Fund. The Fund will pay broker/dealers a commission for executing a particular transaction for the Fund that may be in excess of the amount of commission those or other broker/dealers may normally charge other institutional investors if the managers determine, in good faith, that such commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker/dealer, viewed in terms of the particular transaction or of the overall benefits to the Fund.

<R>

For the fiscal year ended, October 31, 2002, the Fund's Adviser directed brokerage transactions to certain brokers due to research services they provided. The total amount of these transactions was $3,271,469,266 for which the Fund paid $9,964,673 in brokerage commissions.

</R>

<R>

Kaufmann Fund Affiliated Brokerage

</R>

<R>

As permitted by Section 17(e) of the 1940 Act and Rule 17e-1 there under, Bowling Green Securities ("Bowling Green") acted as a broker to the Kaufmann Fund (prior to its reorganization into the Fund) in connection with the sale of various securities traded on an exchange. Bowling Green was an affiliate of Messrs. Utsch and Auriana; Hans P. Utsch was the sole shareholder of Bowling Green and Lawrence Auriana was a registered representative thereof. Pursuant to conditions and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors of the Kaufmann Fund, in accordance with Rule 17e-1, the Kaufmann Fund's investment adviser was required to ascertain that any commissions, fees or other remuneration paid to Bowling Green were reasonable and fair compared to those of other brokers in connection with transactions involving similar securities purchased or sold on a securities exchange during a comparable period of time. Bowling Green does not act as a broker to the Fund.

</R>

Bowling Green was required to provide regular brokerage services to the Kaufmann Fund at competitive rates that are in accordance with Section 11(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The SEC is authorized to regulate or prohibit broker/dealers such as Bowling Green from effecting transactions in securities owned by an account such as the Kaufmann Fund, over which the principals of Bowling Green have investment discretion. Bowling Green could not buy or sell portfolio securities as a principal from or to the Kaufmann Fund. The Kaufmann Fund was also permitted to purchase underwritten securities during the existence of an underwriting syndicate of which Bowling Green was a member, subject to restrictions of applicable law and the Kaufmann Fund's policies.

<R>

To the extent that portfolio transactions were effected through Bowling Green as broker, any activity was beneficial to that firm (and its principal shareholder, Mr. Utsch) because of brokerage commissions payable in connection therewith. For 2002, 2001, and 2000, the Kaufmann Fund paid $10,408,687, $6,563,337 and $6,946,534, respectively, in brokerage commissions.

</R>

The Board of the Kaufmann Fund received quarterly reports, prepared by the Kaufmann Fund's independent public accountants, to review the exchange trades executed by Bowling Green at the end of each quarter, and reviewed the appropriateness of the conditions and procedures on an annual basis.

The affiliations of Hans P. Utsch and Lawrence E. Auriana as: (1) a Director and Officer of the Kaufmann Fund; (2) a 50% Shareholder and Officer of Edgemont; and (3) a sole shareholder (Mr. Utsch) and affiliate (Mr. Auriana) of Bowling Green; created, for each of them, an inherent potential conflict of interest. The Kaufmann Fund's Directors, who are not interested persons, were aware of these potential conflicts and did not perceive them as detrimental to the Kaufmann Fund.

ADMINISTRATOR

<R>

Federated Services Company, a subsidiary of Federated, provides administrative personnel and services (including certain legal and financial reporting services) necessary to operate the Fund. Federated Services Company provides these at the following annual rate of the average aggregate daily net assets of all Federated funds as specified below:

</R>

 

Maximum Administrative Fee

  

Average Aggregate Daily
Net Assets of the Federated Funds

0.150 of 1%

 

on the first $250 million

0.125 of 1%

 

on the next $250 million

0.100 of 1%

 

on the next $250 million

0.075 of 1%

 

on assets in excess of $750 million

The administrative fee received during any fiscal year shall be at least $125,000 per portfolio and $30,000 per each additional class of Shares. Federated Services Company may voluntarily waive a portion of its fee and may reimburse the Fund for expenses.

Federated Services Company also provides certain accounting and recordkeeping services with respect to the Fund's portfolio investments for a fee based on Fund assets plus out-of-pocket expenses.

CUSTODIAN

State Street Bank and Trust Company, Boston, Massachusetts, is custodian for the securities and cash of the Fund. Foreign instruments purchased by the Fund are held by foreign banks participating in a network coordinated by State Street Bank.

TRANSFER AGENT AND DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT

Federated Services Company, through its registered transfer agent subsidiary, Federated Shareholder Services Company, maintains all necessary shareholder records. The Fund pays the transfer agent a fee based on the size, type and number of accounts and transactions made by shareholders.

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

<R>

The independentauditorfor the Fund, Ernst & Young LLP, conducts its audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America, which require it to plan and perform its audits to provide reasonable assurance about whether the Fund's financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement.

</R>

FEES PAID BY THE FUND FOR SERVICES

 

  

<R>Year Ended
10/31/2002</R>

  

<R>Period Ended
10/31/2001</R>

1

<R>Year Ended
12/31/2000</R>

Advisory Fee Earned

   

<R>$51,846,168</R>

   

<R>$40,104,743</R>

  

<R>$54,426,558</R>


Advisory Fee Reduction

   

<R> 5,420,829</R>

   

<R> 3,959,878</R>

   

<R> 4,500,662</R>


Advisory Fee Reimbursement

   

<R> 81,479</R>

   

<R> 18,160</R>

   

0


Sub-Advisory Fee

   

<R> 37,863,240</R>

   

<R> 18,651,888</R>

   

0


Sub-Advisory Fee Waiver

   

0

   

0

   

0


Brokerage Commissions

   

<R> 10,408,687</R>

   

<R> 6,563,337</R>

   

<R> 6,946,534</R>


Administrative Fee

   

<R> 2,736,022</R>

   

<R> 1,341,673</R>

   

0


12b-1 Fee:

   

   

   

   

   

   


Class A Shares

   

<R>604,919</R>

   

--

   

--


Class B Shares

   

<R>2,034,053</R>

   

--

   

--


Class C Shares

   

<R>558,839</R>

   

--

   

--


Class K Shares

   

<R>6,210,021</R>

   

--

   

--


Shareholder Services Fee:

   

   

   

   

   

   


Class A Shares

   

<R>672,641</R>

   

--

   

--


Class B Shares

   

<R>684,115</R>

   

--

   

--


Class C Shares

   

<R>188,062</R>

   

--

   

--


Class K Shares

   

<R>7,551,003</R>

   

--

   

--


1 The Fund changed its fiscal year from December 31 to October 31.

<R>

Fees are allocated among classes based on their pro rata share of Fund assets, except for marketing (Rule 12b-1) fees and shareholder services fees, which are borne only by the applicable class of Shares.

</R>

If the Fund's expenses are capped at a particular level, the cap does not include reimbursement to the Fund of any expenses incurred by shareholders who use the transfer agent's subaccounting facilities.

How Does the Fund Measure Performance?

<R>

The Fund may advertise Share performance by using the SEC's standard methods for calculating performance applicable to all mutual funds. The SEC also permits this standard performance information to be accompanied by non-standard performance information.

</R>

Share performance reflects the effect of non-recurring charges, such as maximum sales charges, which, if excluded, would increase the total return and yield. The performance of Shares depends upon such variables as: portfolio quality; average portfolio maturity; type and value of portfolio securities; changes in interest rates; changes or differences in the Fund's or any class of Shares' expenses; and various other factors.

<R>

Share performance fluctuates on a daily basis largely because net earnings and/or the value of portfolio holdings fluctuate daily. Both net earnings and offering price per Share are factors in the computation of yield and total return.

</R>

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS AND YIELD

<R>

The total returns shown for the Fund's Class K Shares are those of the Fund's predecessor, the Kaufmann Fund. The Fund's Class A Shares, Class B Shares and Class C Shares are also those of the Kaufmann Fund, but have been adjusted to reflect the sales charges or CDSC and expenses applicable to that Class. Total returns are given for the one-year, five-year and ten-year periods ended October 31, 2002.

</R>

<R>

Yield is given for the 30-day period ended October 31, 2002.

</R>

 

Share Class

  

30-Day
Period

  

1 Year

  

5 Years

  

10 Years

Class A:

Total Return:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

<R>Before Taxes</R>

 

<R>NA</R>

 

<R>(13.91)%</R>

 

<R> 2.64%</R>

 

<R>12.20%</R>

<R>After Taxes on Distributions</R>

 

<R>NA</R>

 

<R>(15.47)%</R>

 

<R>(0.67)%</R>

 

<R>10.15%</R>

<R>After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Shares</R>

<R>NA</R>

<R> (7.11)%</R>

<R> 1.89%</R>

<R>10.29%</R>

Yield

 

<R>0.00%</R>

 

<R>NA</R>

 

<R>NA</R>

 

<R>NA</R>

Class B:

Total Return:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

<R>Before Taxes</R>

 

<R>NA</R>

 

<R>(13.79)%</R>

 

<R> 3.15%</R>

 

<R>12.38%</R>

<R>After Taxes on Distributions</R>

 

<R>NA</R>

 

<R>(15.43)%</R>

 

<R>(0.21)%</R>

 

<R>10.33%</R>

<R>After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Shares</R>

<R>NA</R>

<R> (6.94)%</R>

<R> 2.33%</R>

<R>10.47%</R>

Yield

 

<R>0.00%</R>

 

<R>NA</R>

 

<R>NA</R>

 

<R>NA</R>

Class C:

Total Return:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

<R>Before Taxes</R>

 

<R>NA</R>

 

<R>(10.03)%</R>

 

<R> 3.33%</R>

 

<R>12.30%</R>

<R>After Taxes on Distributions</R>

 

<R>NA</R>

 

<R>(11.68)%</R>

 

<R>(0.00)%</R>

 

<R>10.25%</R>

<R>After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Shares</R>

<R>NA</R>

<R> (4.63)%</R>

<R> 2.48%</R>

<R>10.40%</R>

Yield

 

<R>0.00%</R>

 

<R>NA</R>

 

<R>NA</R>

 

<R>NA</R>

Class K:

Total Return:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

<R>Before Taxes</R>

 

<R>NA</R>

 

<R> (9.10)%</R>

 

<R>3.96%</R>

 

<R>13.07%</R>

<R>After Taxes on Distributions</R>

 

<R>NA</R>

 

<R>(10.74)%</R>

 

<R>0.61%</R>

 

<R>11.01%</R>

<R>After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Shares</R>

<R>NA</R>

<R> (4.06)%</R>

<R>2.97%</R>

<R>11.09%</R>

Yield

 

<R>0.00%</R>

 

<R>NA</R>

 

<R>NA</R>

 

<R>NA</R>

TOTAL RETURN

Total return represents the change (expressed as a percentage) in the value of Shares over a specific period of time, and includes the investment of income and capital gains distributions.

<R>

The average annual total return for Shares is the average compounded rate of return for a given period that would equate a $10,000 initial investment to the ending redeemable value of that investment. The ending redeemable value is computed by multiplying the number of Shares owned at the end of the period by the NAV per Share at the end of the period. The number of Shares owned at the end of the period is based on the number of Shares purchased at the beginning of the period with $10,000, less any applicable sales charge, adjusted over the period by any additional Shares, assuming the annual reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. Total returns after taxes are calculated in a similar manner, but reflect additional standard assumptions required by the SEC.

</R>

YIELD

The yield of Shares is calculated by dividing: (i) the net investment income per Share earned by the Shares over a 30-day period; by (ii) the maximum offering price per Share on the last day of the period. This number is then annualized using semi-annual compounding. This means that the amount of income generated during the 30-day period is assumed to be generated each month over a 12-month period and is reinvested every six months. The yield does not necessarily reflect income actually earned by Shares because of certain adjustments required by the SEC and, therefore, may not correlate to the dividends or other distributions paid to shareholders.

To the extent investment professionals and broker/dealers charge fees in connection with services provided in conjunction with an investment in Shares, the Share performance is lower for shareholders paying those fees.

PERFORMANCE COMPARISONS

Advertising and sales literature may include:

  • references to ratings, rankings, and financial publications and/or performance comparisons of Shares to certain indices;
  • charts, graphs and illustrations using the Fund's returns, or returns in general, that demonstrate investment concepts such as tax-deferred compounding, dollar-cost averaging and systematic investment;
  • discussions of economic, financial and political developments and their impact on the securities market, including the portfolio manager's views on how such developments could impact the Fund; and
  • information about the mutual fund industry from sources such as the Investment Company Institute.

<R>

The Fund may compare its performance, or performance for the types of securities in which it invests, to a variety of other investments, including federally insured bank products such as bank savings accounts, certificates of deposit, and Treasury bills.

</R>

The Fund may quote information from reliable sources regarding individual countries and regions, world stock exchanges, and economic and demographic statistics.

You may use financial publications and/or indices to obtain a more complete view of Share performance. When comparing performance, you should consider all relevant factors such as the composition of the index used, prevailing market conditions, portfolio compositions of other funds, and methods used to value portfolio securities and compute offering price. The financial publications and/or indices which the Fund uses in advertising may include:

<R>

Russell Midcap Growth Index measures the performance of those Russell Midcap companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. The stocks are also members of the Russell 1000 Growth Index.

</R>

Russell 2000 Index measures the performance of the 2,000 smallest companies in the Russell 3000 Index, which represents approximately 8% of the total market capitalization of the Russell 3000 Index. As of the latest reconstitution, the average market capitalization was approximately $580 million; the median market capitalization was approximately $466 million. The largest company in the index had an approximate market capitalization of $1.5 billion.

Morningstar, Inc., an independent rating service, is the publisher of the bi-weekly Mutual Fund Values. Mutual Fund Values, which rates more than 1,000 NASDAQ-listed mutual funds of all types, according to their risk-adjusted returns. The maximum rating is five stars, and ratings are effective for two weeks.

Consumer Price Index is a measure of change in consumer prices, as determined by a monthly survey of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Gross National Product is a measure, based on current market prices, of the total of all goods and services produced in the United States over a particular period of time, usually one year, with the amount expressed in dollars.

Who is Federated Investors, Inc.?

Federated is dedicated to meeting investor needs by making structured, straightforward and consistent investment decisions. Federated investment products have a history of competitive performance and have gained the confidence of thousands of financial institutions and individual investors.

Federated's disciplined investment selection process is rooted in sound methodologies backed by fundamental and technical research. At Federated, success in investment management does not depend solely on the skill of a single portfolio manager. It is a fusion of individual talents and state-of-the-art industry tools and resources. Federated's investment process involves teams of portfolio managers and analysts, and investment decisions are executed by traders who are dedicated to specific market sectors and who handle trillions of dollars in annual trading volume.

FEDERATED FUNDS OVERVIEW

Municipal Funds

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In the municipal sector, as of December 31, 2001, Federated managed 12 bond funds with approximately $2.3 billion in assets and 22 money market funds with approximately $44.8 billion in total assets. In 1976, Federated introduced one of the first municipal bond mutual funds in the industry and is now one of the largest institutional buyers of municipal securities. The Funds may quote statistics from organizations including The Tax Foundation and the National Taxpayers Union regarding the tax obligations of Americans.

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Equity Funds

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In the equity sector, Federated has more than 31 years' experience. As of December 31, 2001, Federated managed 40 equity funds totaling approximately $20.7 billion in assets across growth, value, equity income, international, index and sector (i.e. utility) styles. Federated's value-oriented management style combines quantitative and qualitative analysis and features a structured, computer-assisted composite modeling system that was developed in the 1970s.

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Corporate Bond Funds

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In the corporate bond sector, as of December 31, 2001, Federated managed 11 money market funds and 30bond funds with assets approximating $62.3 billion and $5.4 billion, respectively. Federated's corporate bond decision making--based on intensive, diligent credit analysis--is backed by over 29 years of experience in the corporate bond sector. In 1972, Federated introduced one of the first high-yield bond funds in the industry. In 1983, Federated was one of the first fund managers to participate in the asset backed securities market, a market totaling more than $209 billion.

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Government Funds

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In the government sector, as of December 31, 2001, Federated managed 6 mortgage backed, 5 multi-sector government funds, 3 government/agency and 19 government money market mutual funds, with assets approximating $3.6 billion, $2.0 billion, $1.2 billion and $55.2 billion, respectively. Federated trades approximately $90.4 billion in U.S. government and mortgage backed securities daily and places approximately$35 billion in repurchase agreements each day. Federated introduced the first U.S. government fund to invest in U.S. government bond securities in 1969. Federated has been a major force in the short- and intermediate-term government markets since 1982 and currently manages approximately$50 billion in government funds within these maturity ranges.

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Money Market Funds

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In the money market sector, Federated gained prominence in the mutual fund industry in 1974 with the creation of the first institutional money market fund. Simultaneously, the company pioneered the use of the amortized cost method of accounting for valuing shares of money market funds, a principal means used by money managers today to value money market fund shares. Other innovations include the first institutional tax-free money market fund. As of December 31, 2001, Federated managed $136.4 billion in assets across 54 money market funds, including 19 government, 11 prime, 22 municipal and 1 euro-denominated with assets approximating $55.2 billion, $62.3 billion, $19.5 billion and $34.6 million, respectively.

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The Chief Investment Officers responsible for oversight of the various investment sectors within Federated are: Global Equity--Stephen F. Auth is responsible for overseeing the management of Federated's domestic and international equity products; Global Fixed Income--William D. Dawson III is responsible for overseeing the management of Federated's domestic and international fixed income and high yield products.

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MUTUAL FUND MARKET

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Forty-nine percent of American households are pursuing their financial goals through mutual funds. These investors, as well as businesses and institutions, have entrusted over $6.8 trillion to the more than 8,157 funds available, according to the Investment Company Institute.

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FEDERATED CLIENTS OVERVIEW

Federated distributes mutual funds through its subsidiaries for a variety of investment purposes. Specific markets include:

Institutional Clients

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Federated meets the needs of approximately 3,035 institutional clients nationwide by managing and servicing separate accounts and mutual funds for a variety of purposes, including defined benefit and defined contribution programs, cash management, and asset/liability management. Institutional clients include corporations, pension funds, tax exempt entities, foundations/endowments, insurance companies, and investment and financial advisers. The marketing effort to these institutional clients is headed by John B. Fisher, President, Institutional Sales Division, Federated Securities Corp.

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Bank Marketing

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Other institutional clients include more than 1,600 banks and trust organizations. Virtually all of the trust divisions of the top 100 bank holding companies use Federated Funds in their clients' portfolios. The marketing effort to trust clients is headed by Timothy C. Pillion, Senior Vice President, Bank Marketing & Sales.

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Broker/Dealers and Bank Broker/Dealer Subsidiaries

Federated Funds are available to consumers through major brokerage firms nationwide--we have over 2,000 broker/dealer and bank broker/dealer relationships across the country--supported by more wholesalers than any other mutual fund distributor. Federated's service to financial professionals and institutions has earned it high ratings in several surveys performed by DALBAR, Inc. DALBAR is recognized as the industry benchmark for service quality measurement. The marketing effort to these firms is headed by James F. Getz, President, Broker/Dealer Sales Division, Federated Securities Corp.

Financial Information

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The Financial Statements for the Fund for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2002 are incorporated herein by reference to the Annual Report to Shareholders of the Federated Kaufmann Fund dated October 31, 2002.

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Addresses

FEDERATED KAUFMANN FUND

Class A Shares
Class B Shares
Class C Shares
Class K Shares

Federated Investors Funds
5800 Corporate Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15237-7000

Distributor

Federated Securities Corp.
Federated Investors Tower
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779

Investment Adviser

Federated Investment Management Company
Federated Investors Tower
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779

Sub-Adviser

Federated Global Investment Management Corp.
175 Water Street
New York, NY 10038-4965

Custodian

State Street Bank and Trust Company
P.O. Box 8600
Boston, MA 02266-8600

Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent

Federated Shareholder Services Company
P.O. Box 8600
Boston, MA 02266-8600

Independent Auditors

Ernst & Young LLP
200 Clarendon Street
Boston, MA 02116-5072

 

[Logo of Federated]

Federated Large Cap Growth Fund

A Portfolio of Federated Equity Funds

PROSPECTUS

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December 31, 2002

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CLASS A SHARES
CLASS B SHARES
CLASS C SHARES

A mutual fund seeking capital appreciation by investing primarily in large, well-established companies.

As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

NOT FDIC INSURED * MAY LOSE VALUE * NO BANK GUARANTEE

CONTENTS

Risk/Return Summary     1
What are the Fund's Fees and Expenses?   4
What are the Fund's Investment Strategies?   5
What are the Principal Securities in Which the Fund Invests?   7
What are the Specific Risks of Investing in the Fund?   7
What do Shares Cost?   8
How is the Fund Sold?   11
How to Purchase Shares   12
How to Redeem and Exchange Shares   14
Account and Share Information   17
Who Manages the Fund?   18
Financial Information   19

Risk/Return Summary

WHAT IS THE FUND'S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE?

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The Fund's investment objective is capital appreciation. While there is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective, it endeavors to do so by following the strategies and policies described in this prospectus. This investment objective may be changed by the Fund's Board of Trustees without shareholder approval.

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WHAT ARE THE FUND'S MAIN INVESTMENT STRATEGIES?

The Fund pursues its investment objective by investing principally in common stocks of the largest growth companies traded in the U.S. based upon price to earnings ratio, price to book ratio and estimated earnings growth.

When possible, the Fund will employ tax management techniques which are designed to enhance after-tax returns.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND?

All mutual funds take investment risks. Therefore, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. The primary factors that may reduce the Fund's returns include:

  • Stock Market Risks. The value of equity securities in the Fund's portfolio will fluctuate and, as a result, the Fund's share price may decline suddenly or over a sustained period of time.
  • Sector Risks. Because the Fund may allocate relatively more assets to certain industry sectors than others, the Fund's performance may be more susceptible to any developments which affect those sectors emphasized by the Fund.
  • Risks Related to Investing for Growth. The growth stocks in which the Fund invests are typically more volatile than value stocks and may depend more on price changes than dividends for returns.
  • Risks of Investing in American Depositary Receipts. Because the Fund may invest in American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) issued by foreign companies, the Fund's share price may be more affected by foreign economic and political conditions, taxation policies and accounting and auditing standards, than would otherwise be the case.

The Shares offered by this prospectus are not deposits or obligations of any bank, are not endorsed or guaranteed by any bank and are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. government, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board, or any other government agency.

Risk/Return Bar Chart and Table

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The performance information shown below will help you analyze the Fund's investment risks in light of its historical returns. The bar chart shows the variability of the Fund's Class A Shares total returns on a calendar year-by-year basis. The Average Annual Total Return table shows returnsaveraged over the stated periods, and includes comparative performance information. The Fund's performance will fluctuate, and past performance (before and after taxes) is no guarantee of future results.

The total returns shown in the bar chart do not reflect the payment of any sales charges or recurring shareholder account fees. If these charges or fees had been included, the return shown would have been lower.

The Fund's Class A Shares total return for the nine-month period from January 1, 2002 to September 30, 2002 was (30.48)%.

Within the periods shown in the bar chart, the Fund's Class A Shares highest quarterly return was 36.80% (quarter ended December 31, 1999). Its lowest quarterly return was (20.10)% (quarter ended March 31, 2001).

Average Annual Total Return Table

The Average Annual Total Returns for the Fund's Class A, Class B and Class C Shares are reduced to reflect applicable sales charges. Return Before Taxes is shown for all classes. In addition, Return After Taxes are shown for Class A Shares to illustrate the effect of federal taxes on Fund returns. Actual after-tax returns depend on each investor's personal tax situation, and are likely to differ from those shown. The table also shows returns for the Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500) and Lipper Large-Cap Growth Funds Index (LLCGF), a broad-based market index. Index returns do not reflect taxes, sales charges, expenses or other fees that the SEC requires to be reflected in the Fund's performance. Indexes are unmanaged, and it is not possible to invest directly in an index.

(For the periods ended December 31, 2001)

   

 

1 Year

 

Start of
Performance1

Class A Shares:

   

   

   

   

Return Before Taxes

 

(30.37)%

 

(6.08)%

Return After Taxes on Distributions2

 

(30.37)%

 

(6.08)%

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares2

 

(18.49)%

 

(4.80)%

Class B Shares:

   

   

   

   

Return Before Taxes

 

(30.89)%

 

(5.85)%

Class C Shares:

   

   

   

   

Return Before Taxes

 

(27.54)%

 

(4.89)%

S&P 500

 

(11.88)%

 

(1.03)%

LLCGF

 

(23.87)%

 

(6.27)%

1 The Fund's Class A, Class B and Class C Shares start of performance date was December 30, 1998.

2 After-tax returns are calculated using a standard set of assumptions. The stated returns assume the highest historical federal income and capital gains tax rates. Return After Taxes on Distributions assumes a continued investment in the Fund and show the effect of taxes on Fund distributions. Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sales of Fund Shares assumes all shares were redeemed at the end of each measurement period, and shows the effect of any taxable gain (or offsetting loss) on redemption, as well as the effects of taxes on Fund distributions. These after-tax returns do not reflect the effect of any applicable state and local taxes. After-tax returns for Class B and Class C Shares will differ from those shown above for Class A Shares. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors holding Shares through tax-deferred programs, such as IRA or 401(k) plans.

What are the Fund's Fees and Expenses?

FEDERATED LARGE CAP GROWTH FUND

FEES AND EXPENSES

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold the Fund's Class A, Class B and Class C Shares.

Shareholder Fees

 

Class A

 

Class B

 

Class C

Fees Paid Directly From Your Investment

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

 

5.50%

 

None

 

None

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, as applicable)

 

0.00%

 

5.50%

 

1.00%

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends (and other Distributions) (as a percentage of offering price)

 

None

 

None

 

None

Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed, if applicable)

 

None

 

None

 

None

Exchange Fee

 

None

 

None

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Before Waiver) 1

   

   

   

   

   

   

Expenses That are Deducted From Fund Assets (as a percentage of average net assets)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Management Fee

 

0.75%

 

0.75%

 

0.75%

Distribution (12b-1) Fee

 

0.25%

 

0.75%

 

0.75%

Shareholder Services Fee2

 

0.25%

 

0.25%

 

0.25%

Other Expenses

 

0.56%

 

0.56%

 

0.56%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

 

1.81%

 

2.31%3

 

2.31%

1 Although not contractually obligated to do so, the shareholder services provider will waive certain amounts. These are shown below along with the net expenses the Fund expects to pay for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2003.

Total Waiver of Fund Expenses

 

0.25%

 

0.00%

 

0.00%

Total Actual Annual Fund Operating Expenses (after waiver)4

 

1.56%

 

2.31%

 

2.31%

2 Class A Shares have no present intention of paying or accruing the shareholder services fee for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2003.

3 After Class B Shares have been held for eight years from the date of purchase, they will automatically convert to Class A Shares on the 15th of the following month. Class A Shares pay lower operating expenses than Class B Shares.

4 Total Actual Fund Operating Expenses (after waiver) were 1.46%, 2.21% and 2.21% for Class A, Class B and Class C Shares, respectively, for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2002.

EXAMPLE

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund's Class A, Class B and Class C Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund's Class A, Class B and Class C Shares for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. Expenses assuming no redemption are also shown. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's Class A, Class B and Class C Shares operating expenses are before the waiver as estimated in the table and remain the same. Although your actual costs and returns may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Share Class

 

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

10 Years

Class A:

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

Expenses assuming redemption

 

$724

 

$1,088

 

$1,476

 

$2,560

Expenses assuming no redemption

 

$724

 

$1,088

 

$1,476

 

$2,560

Class B:

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

Expenses assuming redemption

 

$784

 

$1,121

 

$1,435

 

$2,521

Expenses assuming no redemption

 

$234

 

$   721

 

$1,235

 

$2,521

Class C:

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

Expenses assuming redemption

 

$334

 

$   721

 

$1,235

 

$2,646

Expenses assuming no redemption

 

$234

 

$   721

 

$1,235

 

$2,646

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What are the Fund's Investment Strategies?

The Fund pursues its investment objective by investing in equity securities, primarily common stocks, of the largest growth companies traded in the U.S. stock markets. To identify these companies, the Adviser will examine the expected price to earnings ratio, price to book ratio and estimated earnings growth and categorize each stock as growth or value. The Adviser will then pick the largest growth stocks based on market capitalization. The Adviser will also analyze each company's financial performance and business fundamentals to determine how much the Fund should invest in each company. A description of the various types of securities in which the Fund invests and their risks immediately follows the strategy discussion.

The Adviser performs traditional fundamental analysis to select securities that exhibit the most promising long-term growth potential for the Fund's portfolio. In selecting securities, the Adviser focuses primarily on the projected future cash flow of the issuing company, in addition to examining each issuer's current financial condition, business and product strength, competitive position, and management expertise. Stocks in the Fund's portfolio will be sold if they no longer fall within the category of the largest growth stocks.

Companies with similar characteristics may be grouped together in broad categories called sectors. The Adviser diversifies the Fund's investments, limiting the Fund's risk exposure with respect to individual securities and industry sectors.

The Adviser uses the "growth" style of investing, selecting securities of companies which have above average potential for expected growth. Because the Adviser uses a "growth" style of investing, the price of the securities held by the Fund may, under certain market conditions, be more volatile than stocks selected primarily for their value attributes.

The Adviser may invest in ADRs, which represent interests in underlying securities issued by a foreign company, but which are not traded in the United States. The Adviser invests primarily in ADRs of companies with significant operations within the United States. Securities of foreign companies may be more affected by foreign economic and political conditions, taxation policies, and accounting and auditing standards than those of U.S. companies.

The Fund may also seek capital appreciation by buying securities in initial public offerings. The Fund will participate in such offerings without regard to the issuer's market capitalization. The Adviser may select initial public offerings based on its fundamental analysis of the issuer.

The Fund will employ tax management techniques which are designed to minimize capital gains distributions while maximizing after-tax returns. For example, it will generally buy securities that it intends to hold over the long term, and avoid short-term trading. In deciding which securities to sell, the Fund's Adviser will consider their capital gain or loss situation, and may attempt to offset capital gains by selling securities that have gone down in value or that have the highest cost basis. Also, the Fund's Adviser generally will consider selling any security that has not met its expectations for growth, in which case the capital gain would be relatively small. Successful application of this strategy will result in shareholders incurring capital gains when they ultimately sell their shares.

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Because the Fund refers to large-capitalization investments in its name, it will notify shareholders in advance of any change in its investment policies that would enable the Fund to normally invest less than 80% of its assets in large-capitalization investments.

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

The Fund actively trades its portfolio securities in an attempt to achieve its investment objective. Active trading will cause the Fund to have an increased portfolio turnover rate, which is likely to generate shorter-term gains (losses) for its shareholders, which are taxed at a higher rate than longer-term gains (losses). Actively trading portfolio securities increases the Fund's trading costs and may have an adverse impact on the Fund's performance.

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TEMPORARY DEFENSIVE INVESTMENTS

The Fund may temporarily depart from its principal investment strategies by investing its assets in cash and shorter-term debt securities and similar obligations. It may do this to minimize potential losses and maintain liquidity to meet shareholder redemptions during adverse market conditions. This may cause the Fund to give up greater investment returns to maintain the safety of principal, that is, the original amount invested by shareholders.

What are the Principal Securities in Which the Fund Invests?

EQUITY SECURITIES

Equity securities represent a share of an issuer's earnings and assets, after the issuer pays its liabilities. The Fund cannot predict the income it will receive from equity securities because issuers generally have discretion as to the payment of any dividends or distributions. However, equity securities offer greater potential for appreciation than many other types of securities, because their value increases directly with the value of the issuer's business. The following describes the types of equity securities in which the Fund invests.

Common Stocks

Common stocks are the most prevalent type of equity security. Common stocks receive the issuer's earnings after the issuer pays its creditors and any preferred stockholders. As a result, changes in an issuer's earnings directly influence the value of its common stock.

American Depositary Receipts

ADRs represent interests in underlying securities issued by a foreign company, but are not traded in the United States. ADRs provide a way to buy shares of foreign-based companies in the United States rather than in overseas markets. ADRs are also traded in U.S. dollars, eliminating the need for foreign exchange transactions.

What are the Specific Risks of Investing in the Fund?

STOCK MARKET RISKS

  • The value of equity securities in the Fund's portfolio will rise and fall. These fluctuations could be a sustained trend or a drastic movement. The Fund's portfolio will reflect changes in prices of individual portfolio stocks or general changes in stock valuations. Consequently, the Fund's share price may decline.
  • The Adviser attempts to manage market risk by limiting the amount the Fund invests in each company's equity securities. However, diversification will not protect the Fund against widespread or prolonged declines in the stock market.

SECTOR RISKS

  • Companies with similar characteristics may be grouped together in broad categories called sectors. Sector risk is the possibility that a certain sector may underperform other sectors or the market as a whole. As the Adviser allocates more of the Fund's portfolio holdings to a particular sector, the Fund's performance will be more susceptible to any economic, business or other developments which generally affect that sector.

RISKS RELATED TO INVESTING FOR GROWTH

  • Due to their relatively high valuations, growth stocks are typically more volatile than value stocks. For instance, the price of a growth stock may experience a larger decline on a forecast of lower earnings, a negative fundamental development, or an adverse market development. Further, growth stocks may not pay dividends or may pay lower dividends than value stocks. This means they depend more on price changes for returns and may be more adversely affected in a down market compared to value stocks that pay higher dividends.

RISKS OF INVESTING IN AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS

  • Because the Fund may invest in ADRs issued by foreign companies, the Fund's share price may be more affected by foreign economic and political conditions, taxation policies and accounting and auditing standards, than would otherwise be the case.

What do Shares Cost?

You can purchase, redeem or exchange Shares any day the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open. When the Fund receives your transaction request in proper form (as described in this prospectus) it is processed at the next calculated net asset value (NAV) plus any applicable front-end sales charge (public offering price). If the Fund purchases foreign securities that trade in foreign markets on days the NYSE is closed, the value of the Fund's assets may change on days you cannot purchase or redeem Shares. NAV is determined at the end of regular trading (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) each day the NYSE is open. The Fund generally values equity securities according to the last sale price in the market in which they are primarily traded (either a national securities exchange or the over-the-counter market).

The Fund's current NAV and public offering price may be found in the mutual funds section of certain local newspapers under "Federated."

The following table summarizes the minimum required investment amount and the maximum sales charge, if any, that you will pay on an investment in the Fund. Keep in mind that investment professionals may charge you fees for their services in connection with your Share transactions.

Shares Offered

   

Minimum
Initial/Subsequent
Investment
Amounts1

 

Maximum Sales Charge

    

Front-End
Sales Charge2

   

Contingent
Deferred
Sales Charge3

Class A Shares

 

$1,500/$100

 

5.50%

 

0.00%

Class B Shares

 

$1,500/$100

 

None

 

5.50%

Class C Shares

 

$1,500/$100

 

None

 

1.00%

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1 The minimum initial and subsequent investment amounts for retirement plans are $250 and $100, respectively. The minimum subsequent investment amounts for Systematic Investment Programs (SIP) is $50. Investment professionals may impose higher or lower minimum investment requirements on their customers than those imposed by the Fund. Orders for $250,000 or more will be invested in Class A Shares instead of Class B Shares to maximize your return and minimize the sales charges and marketing fees. Accounts held in the name of an investment professional may be treated differently. After Class B Shares have been held for eight years from the date of purchase, they will automatically convert to Class A Shares on or about the last day of the following month. This conversion is a non-taxable event.

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2 Front-End Sales Charge is expressed as a percentage of public offering price. See "Sales Charge When You Purchase."

3 See "Sales Charge When You Redeem."

SALES CHARGE WHEN YOU PURCHASE

Class A Shares

Purchase Amount

   

Sales Charge
as a Percentage
of Public
Offering Price

   

Sales Charge
as a Percentage
of NAV

Less than $50,000

 

5.50%

 

5.82%

$50,000 but less than $100,000

 

4.50%

 

4.71%

$100,000 but less than $250,000

 

3.75%

 

3.90%

$250,000 but less than $500,000

 

2.50%

 

2.56%

$500,000 but less than $1 million

 

2.00%

 

2.04%

$1 million or greater1

 

0.00%

 

0.00%

1 A contingent deferred sales charge of 0.75% of the redemption amount applies to Class A Shares redeemed up to 24 months after purchase under certain investment programs where an investment professional received an advance payment on the transaction.

If your investment qualifies for a reduction or elimination of the sales charge as described below, you or your investment professional should notify the Fund's Distributor at the time of purchase. If the Distributor is not notified, you will receive the reduced sales charge only on additional purchases, and not retroactively on previous purchases.

The sales charge at purchase may be reduced or eliminated by:

  • purchasing Shares in greater quantities to reduce the applicable sales charge;
  • combining concurrent purchases of Shares:

    -- by you, your spouse, and your children under age 21; or
    -- of the same share class of two or more Federated Funds (other than money market funds);

  • accumulating purchases (in calculating the sales charge on an additional purchase, include the current value of previous Share purchases still invested in the Fund); or
  • signing a letter of intent to purchase a specific dollar amount of Shares within 13 months (call your investment professional or the Fund for more information).

The sales charge will be eliminated when you purchase Shares:

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  • within 120 days of redeeming Shares of an equal or greater amount;

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  • by exchanging shares from the same share class of another Federated Fund (other than a money market fund);
  • through wrap accounts or other investment programs where you pay the investment professional directly for services;
  • through investment professionals that receive no portion of the sales charge;
  • as a Federated Life Member (Class A Shares only) and their immediate family members; or
  • as a Trustee or employee of the Fund, the Adviser, the Distributor and their affiliates, and the immediate family members of these individuals.

SALES CHARGE WHEN YOU REDEEM

Your redemption proceeds may be reduced by a sales charge, commonly referred to as a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC).

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Class A Shares (Purchase amount of $1 million or greater) :

A CDSC of 0.75% of the redemption amount applies to Class A Shares redeemed up to 24 months after purchase under certain investment programs where an investment professional received an advance payment on the transaction.

Class B Shares:

Shares Held Up To:

    

CDSC

1 Year

 

5.50%

2 Years

 

4.75%

3 Years

 

4.00%

4 Years

 

3.00%

5 Years

 

2.00%

6 Years

 

1.00%

7 Years or More

 

0.00%

Class C Shares:

You will pay a 1% CDSC if you redeem Shares within one year of the purchase date.

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If your investment qualifies for a reduction or elimination of the CDSC as described below, you or your investment professional should notify the Distributor at the time of redemption. If the Distributor is not notified, the CDSC will apply.

You will not be charged a CDSC when redeeming Shares:

  • purchased with reinvested dividends or capital gains;
  • purchased within 120 days of redeeming Shares of an equal or lesser amount;
  • that you exchanged into the same share class of another Federated Fund if the shares were held for the applicable CDSC holding period (other than a money market fund);
  • purchased through investment professionals who did not receive advanced sales payments;
  • if, after you purchase Shares, you become disabled as defined by the IRS;
  • if the Fund redeems your Shares and closes your account for not meeting the minimum balance requirement;
  • if your redemption is a required retirement plan distribution; or
  • upon the death of the last surviving shareholder of the account. The beneficiary on an account with a Transfer on Death registration is deemed the last surviving shareholder of the account.

To keep the sales charge as low as possible, the Fund redeems your Shares in this order:

  • Shares that are not subject to a CDSC; and
  • Shares held the longest (to determine the number of years your Shares have been held, include the time you held shares of other Federated Funds that have been exchanged for Shares of this Fund).

The CDSC is then calculated using the share price at the time of purchase or redemption, whichever is lower.

How is the Fund Sold?

The Fund offers three share classes: Class A Shares, Class B Shares and Class C Shares, each representing interests in a single portfolio of securities.

The Fund's Distributor, Federated Securities Corp., markets the Shares described in this prospectus to institutions or to individuals, directly or through investment professionals.

When the Distributor receives marketing fees and sales charges, it may pay some or all of them to investment professionals. The Distributor and its affiliates may pay out of their assets other amounts (including items of material value) to investment professionals for marketing and servicing Shares.The Distributor is a subsidiary of Federated Investors, Inc. (Federated).

RULE 12B-1 PLAN

The Fund has adopted a Rule 12b-1 Plan, which allows it to pay marketing fees to the Distributor and investment professionals for the sale, distribution and customer servicing of the Fund's Class A Shares, Class B Shares, and Class C Shares. Because these Shares pay marketing fees on an ongoing basis, your investment cost may be higher over time than other shares with different sales charges and marketing fees.

How to Purchase Shares

You may purchase Shares through an investment professional, directly from the Fund, or through an exchange from another Federated Fund. The Fund reserves the right to reject any request to purchase or exchange Shares. Where the Fund offers more than one share class and you do not specify the class choice on your New Account Form or form of payment (e.g., Federal Reserve wire or check) you automatically will receive Class A Shares.

THROUGH AN INVESTMENT PROFESSIONAL

  • Establish an account with the investment professional; and
  • Submit your purchase order to the investment professional before the end of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). You will receive the next calculated NAV if the investment professional forwards the order to the Fund on the same day and the Fund receives payment within three business days. You will become the owner of Shares and receive dividends when the Fund receives your payment.

Investment professionals should send payments according to the instructions in the sections "By Wire" or "By Check."

DIRECTLY FROM THE FUND

  • Establish your account with the Fund by submitting a completed New Account Form; and
  • Send your payment to the Fund by Federal Reserve wire or check.

You will become the owner of Shares and your Shares will be priced at the next calculated NAV after the Fund receives your wire or your check. If your check does not clear, your purchase will be canceled and you could be liable for any losses or fees incurred by the Fund or Federated Shareholder Services Company, the Fund's transfer agent.

An institution may establish an account and place an order by calling the Fund and the Shares will be priced at the next calculated NAV after the Fund receives the order.

By Wire

Send your wire to:

State Street Bank and Trust Company
Boston, MA
Dollar Amount of Wire
ABA Number 011000028
Attention: EDGEWIRE
Wire Order Number, Dealer Number or Group Number
Nominee/Institution Name
Fund Name and Number and Account Number

You cannot purchase Shares by wire on holidays when wire transfers are restricted.

By Check

Make your check payable to The Federated Funds, note your account number on the check, and mail it to:

Federated Shareholder Services Company
P.O. Box 8600
Boston, MA 02266-8600

If you send your check by a private courier or overnight delivery service that requires a street address, mail it to:

Federated Shareholder Services Company
1099 Hingham Street
Rockland, MA 02370-3317

Payment should be made in U.S. dollars and drawn on a U.S. bank. The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase request. For example, to protect against check fraud the Fund may reject any purchase request involving a check that is not made payable to The Federated Funds (including, but not limited to, requests to purchase Shares using third-party checks), or involving temporary checks or credit card checks.

THROUGH AN EXCHANGE

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You may purchase Shares through an exchange from the same Share class of another Federated fund. You must meet the minimum initial investment requirement for purchasing Shares and both accounts must have identical registrations.

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BY SYSTEMATIC INVESTMENT PROGRAM

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Once you have opened an account, you may automatically purchase additional Shares on a regular basis by completing the SIP section of the New Account Form or by contacting the Fund or your investment professional.

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BY AUTOMATED CLEARING HOUSE (ACH)

Once you have opened an account, you may purchase additional Shares through a depository institution that is an ACH member. This purchase option can be established by completing the appropriate sections of the New Account Form.

RETIREMENT INVESTMENTS

You may purchase Shares as retirement investments (such as qualified plans and IRAs or transfer or rollover of assets). Call your investment professional or the Fund for information on retirement investments. We suggest that you discuss retirement investments with your tax adviser. You may be subject to an annual IRA account fee.

How to Redeem and Exchange Shares

You should redeem or exchange Shares:

  • through an investment professional if you purchased Shares through an investment professional; or
  • directly from the Fund if you purchased Shares directly from the Fund.

THROUGH AN INVESTMENT PROFESSIONAL

Submit your redemption or exchange request to your investment professional by the end of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). The redemption amount you will receive is based upon the next calculated NAV after the Fund receives the order from your investment professional.

DIRECTLY FROM THE FUND

By Telephone

You may redeem or exchange Shares by simply calling the Fund at 1-800-341-7400.

If you call before the end of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) you will receive a redemption amount based on that day's NAV.

By Mail

You may redeem or exchange Shares by mailing a written request to the Fund.

You will receive a redemption amount based on the next calculated NAV after the Fund receives your written request in proper form.

Send requests by mail to:

Federated Shareholder Services Company
P.O. Box 8600
Boston, MA 02266-8600

Send requests by private courier or overnight delivery service to:

Federated Shareholder Services Company
1099 Hingham Street
Rockland, MA 02370-3317

All requests must include:

  • Fund Name and Share Class, account number and account registration;
  • amount to be redeemed or exchanged;
  • signatures of all shareholders exactly as registered; and
  • if exchanging, the Fund Name and Share Class, account number and account registration into which you are exchanging.

Call your investment professional or the Fund if you need special instructions.

Signature Guarantees

Signatures must be guaranteed if:

  • your redemption will be sent to an address other than the address of record;
  • your redemption will be sent to an address of record that was changed within the last 30 days;
  • a redemption is payable to someone other than the shareholder(s) of record; or
  • if exchanging (transferring) into another fund with a different shareholder registration.

A signature guarantee is designed to protect your account from fraud. Obtain a signature guarantee from a bank or trust company, savings association, credit union or broker, dealer, or securities exchange member. A notary public cannot provide a signature guarantee.

PAYMENT METHODS FOR REDEMPTIONS

Your redemption proceeds will be mailed by check to your address of record. The following payment options are available if you complete the appropriate section of the New Account Form or an Account Service Options Form. These payment options require a signature guarantee if they were not established when the account was opened:

  • an electronic transfer to your account at a financial institution that is an ACH member; or
  • wire payment to your account at a domestic commercial bank that is a Federal Reserve System member.

Redemption in Kind

Although the Fund intends to pay Share redemptions in cash, it reserves the right to pay the redemption price in whole or in part by a distribution of the Fund's portfolio securities.

LIMITATIONS ON REDEMPTION PROCEEDS

Redemption proceeds normally are wired or mailed within one business day after receiving a request in proper form. Payment may be delayed up to seven days:

  • to allow your purchase to clear;
  • during periods of market volatility; or
  • when a shareholder's trade activity or amount adversely impacts the Fund's ability to manage its assets.

You will not accrue interest or dividends on uncashed checks from the Fund if those checks are undeliverable and returned to the Fund.

REDEMPTIONS FROM RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS

In the absence of your specific instructions, 10% of the value of your redemption from a retirement account in the Fund may be withheld for taxes. This withholding only applies to certain types of retirement accounts.

EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE

You may exchange Shares of the Fund into Shares of the same class of another Federated Fund. To do this, you must:

  • ensure that the account registrations are identical;
  • meet any minimum initial investment requirements; and
  • receive a prospectus for the fund into which you wish to exchange.

An exchange is treated as a redemption and a subsequent purchase, and is a taxable transaction.

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The Fund may modify or terminate the exchange privilege at any time. The Fund's management or investment adviser may determine from the amount, frequency and pattern of exchanges that a shareholder is engaged in excessive trading that is detrimental to the Fund and other shareholders. If this occurs, the Fund may terminate the availability of exchanges to that shareholder and may bar that shareholder from purchasing other Federated funds.

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SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL/EXCHANGE PROGRAM

You may automatically redeem or exchange Shares in a minimum amount of $100 on a regular basis. Complete the appropriate section of the New Account Form or an Account Service Options Form or contact your investment professional or the Fund. Your account value must meet the minimum initial investment amount at the time the program is established. This program may reduce, and eventually deplete, your account. Payments should not be considered yield or income. Generally, it is not advisable to continue to purchase Class A Shares subject to a sales charge while redeeming Shares using this program.

Systematic Withdrawal Program (SWP) On Class B Shares

You will not be charged a CDSC on SWP redemptions if:

  • you redeem 12% or less of your account value in a single year;
  • you reinvest all dividends and capital gains distributions; and
  • your account has at least a $10,000 balance when you establish the SWP. (You cannot aggregate multiple Class B Share accounts to meet this minimum balance.)

You will be subject to a CDSC on redemption amounts that exceed the 12% annual limit. In measuring the redemption percentage, your account is valued when you establish the SWP and then annually at calendar year-end. You can redeem monthly, quarterly, or semi-annually.

For SWP accounts established prior to April 1, 1999, your account must be at least one year old in order to be eligible for the waiver of the CDSC.

ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS

Telephone Transactions

The Fund will record your telephone instructions. If the Fund does not follow reasonable procedures, it may be liable for losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent telephone instructions.

Share Certificates

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The Fund does not issue share certificates.

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Account and Share Information

CONFIRMATIONS AND ACCOUNT STATEMENTS

You will receive confirmation of purchases, redemptions and exchanges (except for systematic transactions). In addition, you will receive periodic statements reporting all account activity, including systematic transactions, dividends and capital gains paid.

DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAINS

The Fund declares and pays any dividends annually to shareholders. Dividends are paid to all shareholders invested in the Fund on the record date. The record date is the date on which a shareholder must officially own Shares in order to earn a dividend.

In addition, the Fund pays any capital gains at least annually. Your dividends and capital gains distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional Shares without a sales charge, unless you elect cash payments.

If you purchase Shares just before a Fund declares a dividend or capital gain distribution, you will pay the full price for the Shares and then receive a portion of the price back in the form of a taxable distribution, whether or not you reinvest the distribution in Shares. Therefore, you should consider the tax implications of purchasing Shares shortly before the Fund declares a dividend or capital gain. Contact your investment professional or the Fund for information concerning when dividends and capital gains will be paid.

ACCOUNTS WITH LOW BALANCES

Due to the high cost of maintaining accounts with low balances, non-retirement accounts may be closed if redemptions or exchanges cause the account balance to fall below the minimum initial investment amount. Before an account is closed, you will be notified and allowed 30 days to purchase additional Shares to meet the minimum.

TAX INFORMATION

The Fund sends an annual statement of your account activity to assist you in completing your federal, state and local tax returns. Fund distributions of dividends and capital gains are taxable to you whether paid in cash or reinvested in the Fund. Dividends are taxable as ordinary income; capital gains are taxable at different rates depending upon the length of time the Fund holds its assets.

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Fund distributions are expected to be both dividends and capital gains. Redemptions and exchanges are taxable sales. Please consult your tax adviser regarding your federal, state, and local tax liability.

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TAX-SENSITIVE APPROACH TO INVESTING

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When possible, and when doing so does not jeopardize the primary objective of the Fund, the Fund will be managed in an attempt to keep its distributions of capital gains relatively low. Whenever a mutual fund sells a stock out of its portfolio, it is likely to "realize" either a capital gain (if the stock has risen in value) or a capital loss (if the stock has fallen in value) equal to the difference between the price the fund paid to acquire the stock and the price at which it sells the stock. Each year, mutual funds are required to determine if their capital gains exceed their capital losses, and generally must distribute any such "net capital gains" to their shareholders. Shareholders must then pay capital gains taxes on these distributions. The Fund will try to keep its capital gains distributions relatively low. Successful application of this approach may result in shareholders incurring relatively large amounts of capital gains when they ultimately sell their Shares.

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Who Manages the Fund?

The Board of Trustees governs the Fund. The Board selects and oversees the Adviser, Federated Investment Management Company. The Adviser manages the Fund's assets, including buying and selling portfolio securities. The Adviser's address is Federated Investors Tower, 1001 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779.

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The Adviser and other subsidiaries of Federated advise approximately 139 mutual funds and a variety of separate accounts, which totaled approximately $180 billion in assets as of December 31, 2001. Federated was established in 1955 and is one of the largest mutual fund investment managers in the United States with approximately 1,800 employees. More than 4,000 investment professionals make Federated funds available to their customers.

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THE FUND'S PORTFOLIO MANAGERS ARE:

Angela Kohler

Angela Kohler has been the Fund's Portfolio Manager since September 2000. Ms. Kohler joined Federated in July 1997 as an Investment Analyst. Ms. Kohler was promoted to Senior Investment Analyst in July 1999 and to Assistant Vice President of the Fund's investment adviser in July 2000. Ms. Kohler was previously employed by SunTrust Capital Markets, serving as Manager of Investment Strategies from 1996 through June of 1997 and as Investment Strategies Consultant from 1994 to 1996. Ms. Kohler is a Chartered Financial Analyst. She earned a B.S. from Jacksonville University and an M.B.A. in finance from Georgia State University.

James E. Grefenstette

James E. Grefenstette has been the Fund's Portfolio Manager since inception. He is Vice President of the Trust. Mr. Grefenstette joined Federated in 1992 and has been a Portfolio Manager since 1994. Mr. Grefenstette became a Senior Vice President of the Fund's Adviser in January 2000. He served as a Vice President of the Fund's Adviser from 1996 through 1999 and was an Assistant Vice President of the Fund's Adviser from 1994 until 1996. Mr. Grefenstette is a Chartered Financial Analyst; he received his M.S. in Industrial Administration from Carnegie Mellon University.

ADVISORY FEES

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The Adviser receives an annual investment advisory fee of 0.75% of the Fund's average daily net assets. The Adviser may voluntarily waive a portion of its fee or reimburse the Fund for certain operating expenses.

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Financial Information

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The Financial Highlights will help you understand the Fund's financial performance for its past five fiscal year, or since inception, if the life of the Fund is shorter. Some of the information is presented on a per share basis. Total returns represent the rate an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund, assuming reinvestment of any dividends and capital gains.

This information has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, whose report, along with the Fund's audited financial statements, is included in the Annual Report.

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Financial Highlights -- Class A Shares

(For a Share Outstanding Through Each Period)

   

   

Year Ended October 31,

   

Period
Ended

   

   

 

2002

   

 

2001

   

 

2000

   

 

10/31/1999

1

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   

$ 7.95

   

   

$13.37

   

   

$12.78

   

   

$10.00

   

Income From Investment Operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net operating loss

 

(0.04

)2

 

(0.06

)

 

(0.13

)2

 

(0.08

)2

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

 

(1.44

)

 

(5.36

)

 

0.72

 

 

2.86

 


TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS

 

(1.48

)

 

(5.42

)

 

0.59

 

 

2.78

 


Less Distributions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributions from net investment income

 

--

 

 

--

 

 

--

 

 

(0.00

)3


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   

$ 6.47

   

   

$ 7.95

   

   

$13.37

   

   

$12.78

   


Total Return4

 

(18.62

)%

 

(40.54

)%

 

4.62

%

 

27.83

%


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Expenses

 

1.46

%5

 

1.37

%

 

1.25

%

 

1.20

%6


Net operating loss

 

(0.47

)%

 

(0.60

)%

 

(0.84

)%

 

(0.82

)%6


Expense waiver/reimbursement7

 

0.00

%8

 

0.00

%8

 

0.00

%8

 

0.39

%6


Supplemental Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)

 

$144,499

 

 

$228,433

 

 

$427,514

 

 

$105,338

 


Portfolio turnover

 

233

%

 

221

%

 

173

%

 

36

%


1 Reflects operations for the period from December 29, 1998 (date of initial public investment) to October 31, 1999.

2 Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method, which more appropriately represents the per share data for the period since the use of undistributed income method did not accord with the results of operations.

3 Amount represents less than $0.01 per share.

4 Based on net asset value, which does not reflect the sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge, if applicable.

5 The expense ratio is calculated without reduction for fees paid indirectly for directed brokerage arrangements. The expense ratio is 1.44% after taking into account these expense reductions.

6 Computed on an annualized basis.

7 This expense decrease is reflected in both the expense and the net operating loss ratios shown above.

8 Amount represents less than 0.01%.

Further information about the Fund's performance is contained in the Fund's Annual Report, dated October 31, 2002, which can be obtained free of charge.

Financial Highlights -- Class B Shares

(For a Share Outstanding Through Each Period)

   

   

Year Ended October 31,

   

Period Ended

   

   

 

2002

   

 

2001

   

 

2000

   

 

10/31/1999

1

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   

$ 7.82

   

   

$13.24

   

   

$12.75

   

   

$10.00

   

Income From Investment Operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net operating loss

 

(0.09

)2

 

(0.16

)

 

(0.24

)2

 

(0.15

)2

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

 

(1.42

)

 

(5.26

)

 

0.73

 

 

2.90

 


TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS

 

(1.51

)

 

(5.42

)

 

0.49

 

 

2.75

 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   

$ 6.31

   

   

$ 7.82

   

   

$13.24

   

   

$12.75

   


Total Return3

 

(19.31

)%

 

(40.94

)%

 

3.84

%

 

27.53

%


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Expenses

 

2.21

%4

 

2.12

%

 

2.00

%

 

1.95

%5


Net operating loss

 

(1.22

)%

 

(1.35)

%

 

(1.59

)%

 

(1.57

)%5


Expense waiver/reimbursement6

 

0.00

%7

 

0.00

%7

 

0.00

%7

 

0.39

%5


Supplemental Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)

 

$121,572

 

 

$205,699

 

 

$400,171

 

 

$145,310

 


Portfolio turnover

 

233

%

 

221

%

 

173

%

 

36

%


1 Reflects operations for the period from December 29, 1998 (date of initial public investment) to October 31, 1999.

2 Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method, which more appropriately represents the per share data for the period since the use of undistributed income method did not accord with the results of operations.

3 Based on net asset value, which does not reflect the sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge, if applicable.

4 The expense ratio is calculated without reduction for fees paid indirectly for directed brokerage arrangements. The expense ratio is 2.19% after taking into account these expense reductions.

5 Computed on an annualized basis.

6 This expense decrease is reflected in both the expense and the net operating loss ratios shown above.

7 Amount represents less than 0.01%.

Further information about the Fund's performance is contained in the Fund's Annual Report, dated October 31, 2002, which can be obtained free of charge.

Financial Highlights -- Class C Shares

(For a Share Outstanding Through Each Period)

   

   

Year Ended October 31,

   

Period Ended

   

   

 

2002

   

 

2001

   

 

2000

   

 

10/31/1999

1

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   

$ 7.82

   

   

$13.23

   

   

$12.75

   

   

$10.00

   

Income From Investment Operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net operating loss

 

(0.09

)2

 

(0.15)

 

 

(0.24

)2

 

(0.15

)2

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

 

(1.42

)

 

(5.26

)

 

0.72

 

 

2.90

 


TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS

 

(1.51

)

 

(5.41

)

 

0.48

 

 

2.75

 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   

$ 6.31

   

   

$ 7.82

   

   

$13.23

   

   

$12.75

   


Total Return3

 

(19.31

)%

 

(40.89

)%

 

3.76

%

 

27.53

%


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Expenses

 

2.21

%4

 

2.12

%

 

2.00

%

 

1.95

%5


Net operating loss

 

(1.22

)%

 

(1.35

)%

 

(1.59

)%

 

(1.57

)%5


Expense waiver/reimbursement6

 

0.00

%7

 

0.00

%7

 

0.00

%7

 

0.39

%5


Supplemental Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)

 

$16,067

 

 

$30,148

 

 

$57,560

 

 

$14,892

 


Portfolio turnover

 

233

%

 

221

%

 

173

%

 

36

%


1 Reflects operations for the period from December 29, 1998 (date of initial public investment) to October 31, 1999.

2 Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method, which more appropriately represents the per share data for the period since the use of undistributed income method did not accord with the results of operations.

3 Based on net asset value, which does not reflect the sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge, if applicable.

4 The expense ratio is calculated without reduction for fees paid indirectly for directed brokerage arrangements. The expense ratio is 2.19% after taking into account these expense reductions.

5 Computed on an annualized basis.

6 This expense decrease is reflected in both the expense and the net operating loss ratios shown above.

7 Amount represents less than 0.01%.

Further information about the Fund's performance is contained in the Fund's Annual Report, dated October 31, 2002, which can be obtained free of charge.

A Statement of Additional Information (SAI) dated December 31, 2002, is incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Additional information about the Fund and its investments is contained in the Fund's SAI and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to shareholders as they become available. The Annual Report discusses market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund's performance during its last fiscal year. To obtain the SAI, Annual Report, Semi-Annual Report and other information without charge, and to make inquiries, call your investment professional or the Fund at
1-800-341-7400.

</R>

You can obtain information about the Fund (including the SAI) by writing to or visiting the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. You may also access Fund information from the EDGAR Database on the SEC's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. You can purchase copies of this information by contacting the SEC by email at publicinfo@sec.gov or by writing to the SEC's Public Reference Section, Washington, DC 20549-0102. Call 1-202-942-8090 for information on the Public Reference Room's operations and copying fees.

[Logo of Federated]

Federated Large Cap Growth Fund
Federated Investors Funds
5800 Corporate Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15237-7000
www.federatedinvestors.com

Contact us at 1-800-341-7400 or
www.federatedinvestors.com/contact

Federated Securities Corp., Distributor

Investment Company Act File No. 811-4017

Federated is a registered mark of Federated Investors, Inc.
2002 © Federated Investors, Inc.

Cusip 314172842
Cusip 314172834

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Cusip 314172826

G02515-01 (12/02)

</R>

Federated Large Cap Growth Fund

A Portfolio of Federated Equity Funds

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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December 31, 2002

</R>

CLASS A SHARES
CLASS B SHARES
CLASS C SHARES

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This Statement of Additional Information (SAI) is not a prospectus. Read this SAI in conjunction with the prospectus for Federated Large Cap Growth Fund (Fund), dated December 31, 2002.

</R>

This SAI incorporates by reference the Fund's Annual Report. Obtain the prospectus or the Annual Report without charge by calling 1-800-341-7400.

[Logo of Federated]

<R>

Federated Large Cap Growth Fund
Federated Investors Funds
5800 Corporate Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15237-7000
www.federatedinvestors.com

</R>

Contact us at 1-800-341-7400 or
www.federatedinvestors.com/contact

Federated Securities Corp., Distributor

<R>

G02515-02 (12/02)

</R>

Federated is a registered mark
of Federated Investors, Inc.
2002 ©Federated Investors, Inc.

CONTENTS    
How is the Fund Organized? 1
Securities in Which the Fund Invests 1
What do Shares Cost? 7
How is the Fund Sold? 8
Exchanging Securities for Shares 9
Subaccounting Services 9
Redemption in Kind 9
Massachusetts Partnership Law 9
Account and Share Information 9
Tax Information 9
Who Manages and Provides Services to the Fund?    10
How Does the Fund Measure Performance? 15
Who is Federated Investors, Inc.? 17
Financial Information 18
Investment Ratings 18
Addresses 20

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How is the Fund Organized?

The Fund is a diversified portfolio of Federated Equity Funds (the "Trust"). The Trust is an open-end, management investment company that was established under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on April 17, 1984. The Trust may offer separate series of shares representing interests in separate portfolios of securities.

</R>

The Board of Trustees (the Board) has established three classes of shares of the Fund, known as Class A Shares, Class B Shares and Class C Shares (Shares). This SAI relates to all classes of Shares. The Fund's investment adviser is Federated Investment Management Company (Adviser).

Securities in Which the Fund Invests

In pursuing its investment strategy, the Fund may invest in the following securities for any purpose that is consistent with its investment objective.

SECURITIES DESCRIPTIONS AND TECHNIQUES

Equity Securities

Equity securities represent a share of an issuer's earnings and assets, after the issuer pays its liabilities. The Fund cannot predict the income it will receive from equity securities because issuers generally have discretion as to the payment of any dividends or distributions. However, equity securities offer greater potential for appreciation than many other types of securities, because their value increases directly with the value of the issuer's business. The following describes the types of equity securities in which the Fund invests.

Common Stocks

Common stocks are the most prevalent type of equity security. Common stocks receive the issuer's earnings after the issuer pays its creditors and any preferred stockholders. As a result, changes in an issuer's earnings directly influence the value of its common stock.

Preferred Stocks

Preferred stocks have the right to receive specified dividends or distributions before the issuer makes payments on its common stock. Some preferred stocks also participate in dividends and distributions paid on common stock. Preferred stocks may also permit the issuer to redeem the stock. The Fund may also treat such redeemable preferred stock as a fixed income security.

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

REITs are real estate investment trusts that lease, operate and finance commercial real estate. REITs are exempt from federal corporate income tax if they limit their operations and distribute most of their income. Such tax requirements limit a REIT's ability to respond to changes in the commercial real estate market.

Warrants

Warrants give the Fund the option to buy the issuer's equity securities at a specified price (the exercise price) at a specified future date (the expiration date). The Fund may buy the designated securities by paying the exercise price before the expiration date. Warrants may become worthless if the price of the stock does not rise above the exercise price by the expiration date. This increases the market risks of warrants as compared to the underlying security. Rights are the same as warrants, except companies typically issue rights to existing stockholders.

Fixed Income Securities

Fixed income securities pay interest, dividends or distributions at a specified rate. The rate may be a fixed percentage of the principal or adjusted periodically. In addition, the issuer of a fixed income security must repay the principal amount of the security, normally within a specified time. Fixed income securities provide more regular income than equity securities. However, the returns on fixed income securities are limited and normally do not increase with the issuer's earnings. This limits the potential appreciation of fixed income securities as compared to equity securities.

A security's yield measures the annual income earned on a security as a percentage of its price. A security's yield will increase or decrease depending upon whether it costs less (a discount) or more (a premium) than the principal amount. If the issuer may redeem the security before its scheduled maturity, the price and yield on a discount or premium security may change based upon the probability of an early redemption. Securities with higher risks generally have higher yields.

The following describes the types of fixed income securities in which the Fund invests.

Treasury Securities

Treasury securities are direct obligations of the federal government of the United States. Treasury securities are generally regarded as having the lowest credit risks.

Agency Securities

Agency securities are issued or guaranteed by a federal agency or other government sponsored entity acting under federal authority (a GSE). The United States supports some GSEs with its full faith and credit. Other GSEs receive support through federal subsidies, loans or other benefits. A few GSEs have no explicit financial support, but are regarded as having implied support because the federal government sponsors their activities. Agency securities are generally regarded as having low credit risks, but not as low as treasury securities.

The Fund treats mortgage backed securities guaranteed by GSEs as agency securities. Although a GSE guarantee protects against credit risks, it does not reduce the market and prepayment risks of these mortgage backed securities.

Bank Instruments

Bank instruments are unsecured interest bearing deposits with banks. Bank instruments include bank accounts, time deposits, certificates of deposit and banker's acceptances. Yankee instruments are denominated in U.S. dollars and issued by U.S. branches of foreign banks. Eurodollar instruments are denominated in U.S. dollars and issued by non-U.S. branches of U.S. or foreign banks.

Convertible Securities

Convertible securities are fixed income securities that the Fund has the option to exchange for equity securities at a specified conversion price. The option allows the Fund to realize additional returns if the market price of the equity securities exceeds the conversion price. For example, the Fund may hold fixed income securities that are convertible into shares of common stock at a conversion price of $10 per share. If the market value of the shares of common stock reached $12, the Fund could realize an additional $2 per share by converting its fixed income securities.

Convertible securities have lower yields than comparable fixed income securities. In addition, at the time a convertible security is issued the conversion price exceeds the market value of the underlying equity securities. Thus, convertible securities may provide lower returns than non-convertible fixed income securities or equity securities depending upon changes in the price of the underlying equity securities. However, convertible securities permit the Fund to realize some of the potential appreciation of the underlying equity securities with less risk of losing its initial investment.

The Fund treats convertible securities as both fixed income and equity securities for purposes of its investment policies and limitations, because of their unique characteristics.

Foreign Securities

Foreign securities are securities of issuers based outside the United States. The Fund considers an issuer to be based outside the United States if:

  • it is organized under the laws of, or has a principal office located in, another country;
  • the principal trading market for its securities is in another country; or
  • it (or its subsidiaries) derived in its most current fiscal year at least 50% of its total assets, capitalization, gross revenue or profit from goods produced, services performed, or sales made in another country.

Foreign securities are primarily denominated in foreign currencies. Along with the risks normally associated with domestic securities of the same type, foreign securities are subject to currency risks and risks of foreign investing. Trading in certain foreign markets is also subject to liquidity risks.

Depositary Receipts

Depositary receipts represent interests in underlying securities issued by a foreign company. Depositary receipts are not traded in the same market as the underlying security. The foreign securities underlying American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) are not traded in the United States. ADRs provide a way to buy shares of foreign-based companies in the United States rather than in overseas markets. ADRs are also traded in U.S. dollars, eliminating the need for foreign exchange transactions. The foreign securities underlying European Depositary Receipts (EDRs), Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs), and International Depositary Receipts (IDRs), are traded globally or outside the United States. Depositary receipts involve many of the same risks of investing directly in foreign securities, including currency risks and risks of foreign investing.

Derivative Contracts

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Derivative contracts are financial instruments that require payments based upon changes in the values of designated (or underlying) securities, currencies, commodities, financial indices or other assets. Some derivative contracts (such as futures, forwards and options) require payments relating to a future trade involving the underlying asset. Other derivative contracts (such as swaps) require payments relating to the income or returns from the underlying asset. The other party to a derivative contract is referred to as a counterparty.

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Many derivative contracts are traded on securities or commodities exchanges. In this case, the exchange sets all the terms of the contract except for the price. Investors make payments due under their contracts through the exchange. Most exchanges require investors to maintain margin accounts through their brokers to cover their potential obligations to the exchange. Parties to the contract make (or collect) daily payments to the margin accounts to reflect losses (or gains) in the value of their contracts. This protects investors against potential defaults by the counterparty. Trading contracts on an exchange also allows investors to close out their contracts by entering into offsetting contracts.

For example, the Fund could close out an open contract to buy an asset at a future date by entering into an offsetting contract to sell the same asset on the same date. If the offsetting sale price is more than the original purchase price, the Fund realizes a gain; if it is less, the Fund realizes a loss. Exchanges may limit the amount of open contracts permitted at any one time. Such limits may prevent the Fund from closing out a position. If this happens, the Fund will be required to keep the contract open (even if it is losing money on the contract), and to make any payments required under the contract (even if it has to sell portfolio securities at unfavorable prices to do so). Inability to close out a contract could also harm the Fund by preventing it from disposing of or trading any assets it has been using to secure its obligations under the contract.

The Fund may also trade derivative contracts over-the-counter (OTC) in transactions negotiated directly between the Fund and the counterparty. OTC contracts do not necessarily have standard terms, so they cannot be directly offset with other OTC contracts. In addition, OTC contracts with more specialized terms may be more difficult to price than exchange traded contracts.

Depending upon how the Fund uses derivative contracts and the relationships between the market value of a derivative contract and the underlying asset, derivative contracts may increase or decrease the Fund's exposure to interest rate and currency risks, and may also expose the Fund to liquidity and leverage risks. OTC contracts also expose the Fund to credit risks in the event that a counterparty defaults on the contract.

The Fund may trade in the following types of derivative contracts.

Futures Contracts

Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of an underlying asset at a specified price, date, and time. Entering into a contract to buy an underlying asset is commonly referred to as buying a contract or holding a long position in the asset. Entering into a contract to sell an underlying asset is commonly referred to as selling a contract or holding a short position in the asset. Futures contracts are considered to be commodity contracts. Futures contracts traded OTC are frequently referred to as forward contracts.

The Fund may buy and sell the following types of futures contracts: stock indexes and futures on portfolio securities.

Options

Options are rights to buy or sell an underlying asset for a specified price (the exercise price) during, or at the end of, a specified period. A call option gives the holder (buyer) the right to buy the underlying asset from the seller (writer) of the option. A put option gives the holder the right to sell the underlying asset to the writer of the option. The writer of the option receives a payment, or premium, from the buyer, which the writer keeps regardless of whether the buyer uses (or exercises) the option.

The Fund may:

  • Buy call options on portfolio securities and securities indexes in anticipation of an increase in the value of the underlying asset.
  • Buy put options on portfolio securities and securities indexes in anticipation of a decrease in the value of the underlying asset.
  • Write call options on portfolio securities and securities indexes to generate income from premiums, and in anticipation of a decrease or only limited increase in the value of the underlying asset. If a call written by the Fund is exercised, the Fund foregoes any possible profit from an increase in the market price of the underlying asset over the exercise price plus the premium received.
  • Write put options on portfolio securities and securities indexes to generate income from premiums, and in anticipation of an increase or only limited decrease in the value of the underlying asset. In writing puts, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to take delivery of the underlying asset when its current market price is lower than the exercise price.

When the Fund writes options on futures contracts, it will be subject to margin requirements similar to those applied to futures contracts.

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SWAPS

Swaps are contracts in which two parties agree to pay each other (swap) the returns derived from underlying assets with differing characteristics. Most swaps do not involve the delivery of the underlying assets by either party, and the parties might not own the assets underlying the swap. The payments are usually made on a net basis so that, on any given day, the Fund would receive (or pay) only the amount by which its payment under the contract is less than (or exceeds) the amount of the other party's payment. Swap agreements are sophisticated instruments that can take many different forms, and are known by a variety of names including caps, floors, and collars. Common swap agreements that the Fund may use include:

INTEREST RATE SWAPS

Interest rate swaps are contracts in which one party agrees to make regular payments equal to a fixed or floating interest rate times a stated principal amount of fixed income securities, in return for payments equal to a different fixed or floating rate times the same principal amount, for a specific period. For example, a $10 million LIBOR swap would require one party to pay the equivalent of the London Interbank Offer Rate of interest (which fluctuates) on $10 million principal amount in exchange for the right to receive the equivalent of a stated fixed rate of interest on $10 million principal amount.

CURRENCY SWAPS

Currency swaps are contracts which provide for interest payments in different currencies. The parties might agree to exchange the notional principal amount as well.

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SPECIAL TRANSACTIONS

Repurchase Agreements

Repurchase agreements are transactions in which the Fund buys a security from a dealer or bank and agrees to sell the security back at a mutually agreed upon time and price. The repurchase price exceeds the sale price, reflecting the Fund's return on the transaction. This return is unrelated to the interest rate on the underlying security. The Fund will enter into repurchase agreements only with banks and other recognized financial institutions, such as securities dealers, deemed creditworthy by the Adviser.

The Fund's custodian or subcustodian will take possession of the securities subject to repurchase agreements. The Adviser or subcustodian will monitor the value of the underlying security each day to ensure that the value of the security always equals or exceeds the repurchase price.

Repurchase agreements are subject to credit risks.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

Reverse repurchase agreements are repurchase agreements in which the Fund is the seller (rather than the buyer) of the securities, and agrees to repurchase them at an agreed upon time and price. A reverse repurchase agreement may be viewed as a type of borrowing by the Fund. Reverse repurchase agreements are subject to credit risks. In addition, reverse repurchase agreements create leverage risks because the Fund must repurchase the underlying security at a higher price, regardless of the market value of the security at the time of repurchase.

Delayed Delivery Transactions

Delayed delivery transactions, including when issued transactions, are arrangements in which the Fund buys securities for a set price, with payment and delivery of the securities scheduled for a future time. During the period between purchase and settlement, no payment is made by the Fund to the issuer and no interest accrues to the Fund. The Fund records the transaction when it agrees to buy the securities and reflects their value in determining the price of its shares. Settlement dates may be a month or more after entering into these transactions so that the market values of the securities bought may vary from the purchase prices. Therefore, delayed delivery transactions create interest rate risks for the Fund. Delayed delivery transactions also involve credit risks in the event of a counterparty default. These transactions create leverage risks.

To Be Announced Securities (TBAs)

As with other delayed delivery transactions, a seller agrees to issue a TBA security at a future date. However, the seller does not specify the particular securities to be delivered. Instead, the Fund agrees to accept any security that meets specified terms. For example, in a TBA mortgage backed transaction, the Fund and the seller would agree upon the issuer, interest rate and terms of the underlying mortgages. The seller would not identify the specific underlying mortgages until it issues the security. TBA mortgage backed securities increase interest rate risks because the underlying mortgages may be less favorable than anticipated by the Fund.

Securities Lending

The Fund may lend portfolio securities to borrowers that the Fund's custodian deems creditworthy. In return, the Fund receives cash or liquid securities from the borrower as collateral. The borrower must furnish additional collateral if the market value of the loaned securities increases. Also, the borrower must pay the Fund the equivalent of any dividends or interest received on the loaned securities.

The Fund will reinvest cash collateral in securities that qualify as an acceptable investment for the Fund. However, the Fund must pay interest to the borrower for the use of cash collateral.

Loans are subject to termination at the option of the Fund or the borrower. The Fund will not have the right to vote on securities while they are on loan, but it will terminate a loan in anticipation of any important vote. The Fund may pay administrative and custodial fees in connection with a loan and may pay a negotiated portion of the interest earned on the cash collateral to a securities lending agent or broker.

Securities lending activities are subject to interest rate risks and credit risks. These transactions may create leverage risks.

Asset Coverage

In order to secure its obligations in connection with derivatives contracts or special transactions, the Fund will either own the underlying assets, enter into an offsetting transaction or set aside readily marketable securities with a value that equals or exceeds the Fund's obligations. Unless the Fund has other readily marketable assets to set aside, it cannot trade assets used to secure such obligations without entering into an offsetting derivative contract or terminating a special transaction. This may cause the Fund to miss favorable trading opportunities or to realize losses on derivative contracts or special transactions.

Inter-Fund Borrowing and Lending Arrangements

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The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has granted an exemption that permits the Fund and all other funds advised by subsidiaries of Federated Investors, Inc. (Federated funds) to lend and borrow money for certain temporary purposes directly to and from other Federated funds. Participation in this inter-fund lending program is voluntary for both borrowing and lending funds, and an inter-fund loan is only made if it benefits each participating fund. Federated Investors, Inc. (Federated) administers the program according to procedures approved by the Fund's Board, and the Board monitors the operation of the program. Any inter-fund loan must comply with certain conditions set out in the exemption, which are designed to assure fairness and protect all participating funds.

For example, inter-fund lending is permitted only (a) to meet shareholder redemption requests, and (b) to meet commitments arising from "failed" trades. All inter-fund loans must be repaid in seven days or less. The Fund's participation in this program must be consistent with its investment policies and limitations, and must meet certain percentage tests. Inter-fund loans may be made only when the rate of interest to be charged is more attractive to the lending fund than market-competitive rates on overnight repurchase agreements (Repo Rate) and more attractive to the borrowing fund than the rate of interest that would be charged by an unaffiliated bank for short-term borrowings (Bank Loan Rate), as determined by the Board. The interest rate imposed on inter-fund loans is the average of the Repo Rate and the Bank Loan Rate.

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INVESTING IN SECURITIES OF OTHER INVESTMENT COMPANIES

The Fund may invest its assets in securities of other investment companies, including the securities of affiliated money market funds, as an efficient means of carrying out its investment policies and managing its uninvested cash.

INVESTMENT RISKS

There are many factors which may affect an investment in the Fund. The Fund's principal risks are described in its prospectus. Additional risk factors are outlined below.

Stock Market Risks

  • The value of equity securities in the Fund's portfolio will rise and fall. These fluctuations could be a sustained trend or a drastic movement. The Fund's portfolio will reflect changes in prices of individual portfolio stocks or general changes in stock valuations. Consequently, the Fund's share price may decline.
  • The Adviser attempts to manage market risk by limiting the amount the Fund invests in each company's equity securities. However, diversification will not protect the Fund against widespread or prolonged declines in the stock market.

Sector Risks

  • Companies with similar characteristics may be grouped together in broad categories called sectors. Sector risk is the possibility that a certain sector may underperform other sectors or the market as a whole. As the Adviser allocates more of the Fund's portfolio holdings to a particular sector, the Fund's performance will be more susceptible to any economic, business or other developments which generally affect that sector.

Liquidity Risks

  • Trading opportunities are more limited for equity securities that are not widely held. This may make it more difficult to sell or buy a security at a favorable price or time. Consequently, the Fund may have to accept a lower price to sell a security, sell other securities to raise cash or give up an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on the Fund's performance. Infrequent trading of securities may also lead to an increase in their price volatility.
  • Liquidity risk also refers to the possibility that the Fund may not be able to sell a security or close out a derivative contract when it wants to. If this happens, the Fund will be required to continue to hold the security or keep the position open, and the Fund could incur losses.
  • OTC derivative contracts generally carry greater liquidity risk than exchange-traded contracts.

Currency Risks

  • Exchange rates for currencies fluctuate daily. The combination of currency risk and market risk tends to make securities traded in foreign markets more volatile than securities traded exclusively in the U.S.
  • The Adviser attempts to manage currency risk by limiting the amount the Fund invests in securities denominated in a particular currency. However, diversification will not protect the Fund against a general increase in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies.

Risks of Investing in American Depositary Receipts

  • Because the Fund may invest in ADRs issued by foreign companies, the Fund's share price may be more affected by foreign economic and political conditions, taxation policies and accounting and auditing standards, than would otherwise be the case.

Risks of Foreign Investing

  • Foreign securities pose additional risks because foreign economic or political conditions may be less favorable than those of the United States. Securities in foreign markets may also be subject to taxation policies that reduce returns for U.S. investors.
  • Foreign companies may not provide information (including financial statements) as frequently or to as great an extent as companies in the United States. Foreign companies may also receive less coverage than United States companies by market analysts and the financial press. In addition, foreign countries may lack uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards or regulatory requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. These factors may prevent the Fund and its Adviser from obtaining information concerning foreign companies that is as frequent, extensive and reliable as the information available concerning companies in the United States.
  • Foreign countries may have restrictions on foreign ownership of securities or may impose exchange controls, capital flow restrictions or repatriation restrictions which could adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund's investments.

Leverage Risks

  • Leverage risk is created when an investment exposes the Fund to a level of risk that exceeds the amount invested. Changes in the value of such an investment magnify the Fund's risk of loss and potential for gain.
  • Investments can have these same results if their returns are based on a multiple of a specified index, security, or other benchmark.

Interest Rate Risks

  • Prices of fixed income securities rise and fall in response to changes in the interest rate paid by similar securities. Generally, when interest rates rise, prices of fixed income securities fall. However, market factors, such as the demand for particular fixed income securities, may cause the price of certain fixed income securities to fall while the prices of other securities rise or remain unchanged.
  • Interest rate changes have a greater effect on the price of fixed income securities with longer durations. Duration measures the price sensitivity of a fixed income security to changes in interest rates.

Credit Risks

  • Credit risk is the possibility that an issuer will default on a security by failing to pay interest or principal when due. If an issuer defaults, the Fund will lose money.
  • Many fixed income securities receive credit ratings from services such as Standard & Poor's and Moody's Investors Service, Inc. These services assign ratings to securities by assessing the likelihood of issuer default. Lower credit ratings correspond to higher credit risk. If a security has not received a rating, the Fund must rely entirely upon the Adviser's credit assessment.
  • Fixed income securities generally compensate for greater credit risk by paying interest at a higher rate. The difference between the yield of a security and the yield of a U.S. Treasury security with a comparable maturity (the spread) measures the additional interest paid for risk. Spreads may increase generally in response to adverse economic or market conditions. A security's spread may also increase if the security's rating is lowered, or the security is perceived to have an increased credit risk. An increase in the spread will cause the price of the security to decline.
  • Credit risk includes the possibility that a party to a transaction involving the Fund will fail to meet its obligations. This could cause the Fund to lose the benefit of the transaction or prevent the Fund from selling or buying other securities to implement its investment strategy.

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

Diversification

With respect to securities comprising 75% of the value of its total assets, the Fund will not purchase securities of any one issuer (other than cash; cash items; securities issued or guaranteed by the government of the United States or its agencies or instrumentalities and repurchase agreements collateralized by such U.S. government securities; and securities of other investment companies) if, as a result, more than 5% of the value of its total assets would be invested in the securities of that issuer, or the Fund would own more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of that issuer.

Borrowing Money and Issuing Senior Securities

The Fund may borrow money, directly or indirectly, and issue senior securities to the maximum extent permitted under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (1940 Act), as amended.

Investing in Real Estate

The Fund may not purchase or sell real estate, provided that this restriction does not prevent the Fund from investing in issuers which invest, deal, or otherwise engage in transactions in real estate or interests therein, or investing in securities that are secured by real estate or interests therein. The Fund may exercise its rights under agreements relating to such securities, including the right to enforce security interests and to hold real estate acquired by reason of such enforcement until that real estate can be liquidated in an orderly manner.

Investing in Commodities

The Fund may not purchase or sell physical commodities, provided that the Fund may purchase securities of companies that deal in commodities.

Underwriting

The Fund may not underwrite the securities of other issuers, except that the Fund may engage in transactions involving the acquisition, disposition or resale of its portfolio securities, under circumstances where it may be considered to be an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933.

Lending

The Fund may not make loans, provided that this restriction does not prevent the Fund from purchasing debt obligations, entering into repurchase agreements, lending its assets to broker/dealers or institutional investors and investing in loans, including assignments and participation interests.

Concentration

The Fund will not make investments that will result in the concentration of its investments in the securities of issuers primarily engaged in the same industry. Government securities, municipal securities and bank instruments will not be deemed to constitute an industry.

The above limitations cannot be changed unless authorized by the Board and by the "vote of a majority of its outstanding voting securities,'' as defined by the 1940 Act. The following limitations, however, may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval. Shareholders will be notified before any material change in these limitations becomes effective.

Concentration

In applying the concentration restriction: (1) utility companies will be divided according to their services, for example, gas, gas transmission, electric and telephone will each be considered a separate industry; (2) financial service companies will be classified according to the end users of their services, for example, automobile finance, bank finance and diversified finance will each be considered a separate industry; and (3) asset-backed securities will be classified according to the underlying assets securing such securities.

To conform to the current view of the SEC that only domestic bank instruments may be excluded from industry concentration limitations, as a matter of non-fundamental policy, the Fund will not exclude foreign bank instruments from industry concentration limits as long as the policy of the SEC remains in effect. In addition, investments in bank instruments, and investments in certain industrial development bonds funded by activities in a single industry, will be deemed to constitute investment in an industry, except when held for temporary defensive purposes. The investment of more than 25% of the value of the Fund's total assets in any one industry will constitute "concentration."

Investing in Commodities

Investments in transactions involving futures contracts and options, forward currency contracts, swap transactions and other financial contracts that settle by payment of cash are not deemed to be investments in commodities.

Purchases on Margin

The Fund will not purchase securities on margin, provided that the Fund may obtain short-term credits necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of securities, and further provided that the Fund may make margin deposits in connection with its use of financial options and futures, forward and spot currency contracts, swap transactions and other financial contracts or derivative instruments.

Pledging Assets

The Fund will not mortgage, pledge, or hypothecate any of its assets, provided that this shall not apply to the transfer of securities in connection with any permissible borrowing or to collateral arrangements in connection with permissible activities.

Illiquid Securities

The Fund will not purchase securities for which there is no readily available market, or enter into repurchase agreements or purchase time deposits maturing in more than seven days, if immediately after and as a result, the value of such securities would exceed, in the aggregate, 15% of the Fund's net assets.

For purposes of the above limitations, the Fund considers certificates of deposit and demand and time deposits issued by a U.S. branch of a domestic bank or savings association having capital, surplus and undivided profits in excess of $100,000,000 at the time of investment to be "cash items." Except with respect to borrowing money, if a percentage limitations is adhered to at the time of investment, a later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from any change in value or net assets will not result in a violation of such limitation.

DETERMINING MARKET VALUE OF SECURITIES

Market values of the Fund's portfolio securities are determined as follows:

  • for equity securities, according to the last sale price in the market in which they are primarily traded (either a national securities exchange or the over-the-counter market), if available;
  • in the absence of recorded sales for equity securities, according to the mean between the last closing bid and asked prices;
  • futures contracts and options are generally valued at market values established by the exchanges on which they are traded at the close of trading on such exchanges. Options traded in the over-the-counter market are generally valued according to the mean between the last bid and the last asked price for the option as provided by an investment dealer or other financial institution that deals in the option. The Board may determine in good faith that another method of valuing such investments is necessary to appraise their fair market value;
  • for fixed income securities, according to the mean between bid and asked prices as furnished by an independent pricing service, except that fixed income securities with remaining maturities of less than 60 days at the time of purchase may be valued at amortized cost; and
  • for all other securities at fair value as determined in good faith by the Board.

Prices provided by independent pricing services may be determined without relying exclusively on quoted prices and may consider institutional trading in similar groups of securities, yield, quality, stability, risk, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics, and other market data or factors. From time to time, when prices cannot be obtained from an independent pricing service, securities may be valued based on quotes from broker-dealers or other financial institutions that trade the securities.

Trading in Foreign Securities

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Trading in foreign securities may be completed at times which vary from the closing of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). In computing its NAV, the Fund values foreign securities at the latest closing price on the exchange on which they are traded immediately prior to the closing of the NYSE. Certain foreign currency exchange rates may also be determined at the latest rate prior to the closing of the NYSE. Foreign securities quoted in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at current rates. Occasionally, events that affect these values and exchange rates may occur between the times at which they are determined and the closing of the NYSE. If such events materially affect the value of portfolio securities, these securities may be valued at their fair value as determined in good faith by the Fund's Board, although the actual calculation may be done by others.

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What do Shares Cost?

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The Fund's net asset value (NAV) per Share fluctuates and is based on the market value of all securities and other assets of the Fund. The NAV for each class of Shares may differ due to the variance in daily net income realized by each class. Such variance will reflect only accrued net income to which the shareholders of a particular class are entitled.

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REDUCING OR ELIMINATING THE FRONT-END SALES CHARGE

You can reduce or eliminate the applicable front-end sales charge, as follows:

Quantity Discounts

Larger purchases of the same Share class reduce or eliminate the sales charge you pay. You can combine purchases of Shares made on the same day by you, your spouse and your children under age 21. In addition, purchases made at one time by a trustee or fiduciary for a single trust estate or a single fiduciary account can be combined.

Accumulated Purchases

If you make an additional purchase of Shares, you can count previous Share purchases still invested in the Fund in calculating the applicable sales charge on the additional purchase.

Concurrent Purchases

You can combine concurrent purchases of the same share class of two or more Federated Funds in calculating the applicable sales charge.

Letter of Intent-Class A Shares

You can sign a Letter of Intent committing to purchase a certain amount of the same class of Shares within a 13-month period to combine such purchases in calculating the sales charge. The Fund's custodian will hold Shares in escrow equal to the maximum applicable sales charge. If you complete the Letter of Intent, the Custodian will release the Shares in escrow to your account. If you do not fulfill the Letter of Intent, the Custodian will redeem the appropriate amount from the Shares held in escrow to pay the sales charges that were not applied to your purchases.

Reinvestment Privilege

You may reinvest, within 120 days, your Share redemption proceeds at the next determined NAV without any sales charge.

Purchases by Affiliates of the Fund

The following individuals and their immediate family members may buy Shares at NAV without any sales charge because there are nominal sales efforts associated with their purchases:

  • the Trustees, employees and sales representatives of the Fund, the Adviser, the Distributor and their affiliates;
  • any associated person of an investment dealer who has a sales agreement with the Distributor; and
  • trusts, pension or profit-sharing plans for these individuals.

Federated Life Members

Shareholders of the Fund known as "Federated Life Members" are exempt from paying any front-end sales charge. These shareholders joined the Fund originally:

  • through the "Liberty Account," an account for Liberty Family of Funds shareholders on February 28, 1987 (the Liberty Account and Liberty Family of Funds are no longer marketed); or
  • as Liberty Account shareholders by investing through an affinity group prior to August 1, 1987.

REDUCING OR ELIMINATING THE CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE

These reductions or eliminations are offered because: no sales commissions have been advanced to the investment professional selling Shares; the shareholder has already paid a Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (CDSC); or nominal sales efforts are associated with the original purchase of Shares.

Upon notification to the Distributor or the Fund's transfer agent, no CDSC will be imposed on redemptions:

  • following the death or post-purchase disability, as defined in Section 72(m)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, of the last surviving shareholder;
  • representing minimum required distributions from an Individual Retirement Account or other retirement plan to a shareholder who has attained the age of 70-1/2;
  • of Shares that represent a reinvestment within 120 days of a previous redemption;
  • of Shares held by the Trustees, employees, and sales representatives of the Fund, the Adviser, the Distributor and their affiliates; employees of any investment professional that sells Shares according to a sales agreement with the Distributor; and the immediate family members of the above persons;
  • of Shares originally purchased through a bank trust department, a registered investment adviser or retirement plans where the third party administrator has entered into certain arrangements with the Distributor or its affiliates, or any other investment professional, to the extent that no payments were advanced for purchases made through these entities;
  • which are involuntary redemptions processed by the Fund because the accounts do not meet the minimum balance requirements; and

Class B Shares Only

  • which are qualifying redemptions of Class B Shares under a Systematic Withdrawal Program.

How is the Fund Sold?

Under the Distributor's Contract with the Fund, the Distributor (Federated Securities Corp.) offers Shares on a continuous, best-efforts basis.

FRONT-END SALES CHARGE REALLOWANCES

The Distributor receives a front-end sales charge on certain Share sales. The Distributor generally pays up to 90% (and as much as 100%) of this charge to investment professionals for sales and/or administrative services. Any payments to investment professionals in excess of 90% of the front-end sales charge are considered supplemental payments. The Distributor retains any portion not paid to an investment professional.

RULE 12B-1 PLAN

As a compensation-type plan, the Rule 12b-1 Plan is designed to pay the Distributor (who may then pay investment professionals such as banks, broker/dealers, trust departments of banks, and registered investment advisers) for marketing activities (such as advertising, printing and distributing prospectuses, and providing incentives to investment professionals) to promote sales of Shares so that overall Fund assets are maintained or increased. This helps the Fund achieve economies of scale, reduce per share expenses, and provide cash for orderly portfolio management and Share redemptions. In addition, the Fund's service providers that receive asset-based fees also benefit from stable or increasing Fund assets.

The Fund may compensate the Distributor more or less than its actual marketing expenses. In no event will the Fund pay for any expenses of the Distributor that exceed the maximum Rule 12b-1 Plan fee.

For some classes of Shares, the maximum Rule 12b-1 Plan fee that can be paid in any one year may not be sufficient to cover the marketing-related expenses the Distributor has incurred. Therefore, it may take the Distributor a number of years to recoup these expenses.

Federated and its subsidiaries may benefit from arrangements where the Rule 12b-1 Plan fees related to Class B Shares may be paid to third parties who have advanced commissions to investment professionals.

SHAREHOLDER SERVICES

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The Fund may pay Federated Shareholder Services Company, a subsidiary Federated, for providing shareholder services and maintaining shareholder accounts. Federated Shareholder Services Company may select others to perform these services for their customers and may pay them fees.

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SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENTS

Investment professionals (such as broker/dealers or banks) may be paid fees, in significant amounts, out of the assets of the Distributor and/or Federated Shareholder Services Company. (These fees do not come out of Fund assets.) The Distributor and/or Federated Shareholder Services Company may be reimbursed by the Adviser or its affiliates.

Investment professionals receive such fees for providing distribution-related and/or shareholder services, such as advertising, providing incentives to their sales personnel, sponsoring other activities intended to promote sales, and maintaining shareholder accounts. These payments may be based upon such factors as the number or value of Shares the investment professional sells or may sell; the value of client assets invested; and/or the type and nature of sales or marketing support furnished by the investment professional.

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When an investment professional's customer purchases Shares, the investment professional may receive:

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  • an amount equal to 0.50% of the NAV of Class A Shares under certain qualified retirement plans as approved by the Distributor. (Such payments are subject to a reclaim from the investment professional should the assets leave the program with 12 months after purchase.)
  • an amount up to 5.50% and 1.00%, respectively, of the NAV of Class B and C Shares.

In addition, the Distributor may pay investment professionals 0.25% of the purchase price of $1 million or more of Class A Shares that its customer has not redeemed over the first year.

Class A Shares

Investment professionals purchasing Class A Shares for their customers are eligible to receive an advance payment from the Distributor based on the following breakpoints:

Amount

   

Advance Payments as a Percentage
of Public Offering Price
First $1 - $5 million

 

0.75%
Next $5 - $20 million

 

0.50%
Over $20 million

 

0.25%

For accounts with assets over $1 million, the dealers advance payments reset annually to the first breakpoint on the anniversary of the first purchase.

Class A Share purchases under this program may be made by Letter of Intent or by combining concurrent purchases. The above advance payments will be paid only on those purchases that were not previously subject to a front-end sales charge and dealer advance payments. Certain retirement accounts may not be eligible for this program.

A contingent deferred sales charge of 0.75% of the redemption amount applies to Class A Shares redeemed up to 24 months after purchase. The CDSC does not apply under certain investment programs where the investment professional does not receive an advance payment on the transaction including, but not limited to, trust accounts and wrap programs where the investor pays an account level fee for investment management.

Exchanging Securities for Shares

You may contact the Distributor to request a purchase of Shares in exchange for securities you own. The Fund reserves the right to determine whether to accept your securities and the minimum market value to accept. The Fund will value your securities in the same manner as it values its assets. This exchange is treated as a sale of your securities for federal tax purposes.

Subaccounting Services

Certain investment professionals may wish to use the transfer agent's subaccounting system to minimize their internal recordkeeping requirements. The transfer agent may charge a fee based on the level of subaccounting services rendered. Investment professionals holding Shares in a fiduciary, agency, custodial or similar capacity may charge or pass through subaccounting fees as part of or in addition to normal trust or agency account fees. They may also charge fees for other services that may be related to the ownership of Shares. This information should, therefore, be read together with any agreement between the customer and the investment professional about the services provided, the fees charged for those services, and any restrictions and limitations imposed.

Redemption in Kind

Although the Fund intends to pay Share redemptions in cash, it reserves the right, as described below, to pay the redemption price in whole or in part by a distribution of the Fund's portfolio securities.

Because the Fund has elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act, the Fund is obligated to pay Share redemptions to any one shareholder in cash only up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net assets represented by such Share class during any 90-day period.

Any Share redemption payment greater than this amount will also be in cash unless the Fund's Board determines that payment should be in kind. In such a case, the Fund will pay all or a portion of the remainder of the redemption in portfolio securities, valued in the same way as the Fund determines its NAV. The portfolio securities will be selected in a manner that the Fund's Board deems fair and equitable and, to the extent available, such securities will be readily marketable.

Redemption in kind is not as liquid as a cash redemption. If redemption is made in kind, shareholders receiving the portfolio securities and selling them before their maturity could receive less than the redemption value of the securities and could incur certain transaction costs.

Massachusetts Partnership Law

Under certain circumstances, shareholders may be held personally liable as partners under Massachusetts law for obligations of the Trust. To protect its shareholders, the Trust has filed legal documents with Massachusetts that expressly disclaim the liability of its shareholders for acts or obligations of the Trust.

In the unlikely event a shareholder is held personally liable for the Trust's obligations, the Trust is required by the Declaration of Trust to use its property to protect or compensate the shareholder. On request, the Trust will defend any claim made and pay any judgment against a shareholder for any act or obligation of the Trust. Therefore, financial loss resulting from liability as a shareholder will occur only if the Trust itself cannot meet its obligations to indemnify shareholders and pay judgments against them.

Account and Share Information

VOTING RIGHTS

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Each Share of the Fund gives the shareholder one vote in Trustee elections and other matters submitted to shareholders for vote.

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All Shares of the Trust have equal voting rights, except that in matters affecting only a particular Fund or class, only Shares of that Fund or class are entitled to vote.

<R>

Trustees may be removed by the Board or by shareholders at a special meeting. A special meeting of shareholders will be called by the Board upon the written request of shareholders who own at least 10% of the Trust's outstanding Shares of all series entitled to vote.

As of December 2, 2002, the following shareholders owned of record, beneficially, or both, 5% or more of outstanding Class A Shares: Edward Jones & Co., Maryland Hts., MO, owned approximately 8,909,848 Shares (40.51%); and First Citizens Bank & Trust Co., Raleigh, NC, owned approximately 4,325,199 Shares (19.67%).

As of December 2, 2002, the following shareholders owned of record, beneficially, or both, 5% or more of outstanding Class B Shares: Edward Jones & Co., Maryland Hts., MO, owned approximately 1,995,218 Shares (10.55%).

As of December 2, 2002, the following shareholders owned of record, beneficially, or both, 5% or more of outstanding Class C Shares: Edward Jones & Co., Maryland Hts., MO, owned approximately 506,455 Shares (20.15%); and MLPF&S, Jacksonville, FL, owned approximately 238,740 Shares (9.50%).

</R>

Shareholders owning 25% or more of outstanding Shares may be in control and be able to affect the outcome of certain matters presented for a vote of shareholders.

Tax Information

FEDERAL INCOME TAX

The Fund intends to meet requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies. If these requirements are not met, it will not receive special tax treatment and will be subject to federal corporate income tax.

The Fund will be treated as a single, separate entity for federal income tax purposes so that income earned and capital gains and losses realized by the Trust's other portfolios will be separate from those realized by the Fund.

The Fund is entitled to a loss carry-forward, which may reduce the taxable income or gain that the Fund would realize, and to which the shareholder would be subject, in the future.

FOREIGN INVESTMENTS

If the Fund purchases foreign securities, their investment income may be subject to foreign withholding or other taxes that could reduce the return on these securities. Tax treaties between the United States and foreign countries, however, may reduce or eliminate the amount of foreign taxes to which the Fund would be subject. The effective rate of foreign tax cannot be predicted since the amount of Fund assets to be invested within various countries is uncertain. However, the Fund intends to operate so as to qualify for treaty-reduced tax rates when applicable.

Distributions from a Fund may be based on estimates of book income for the year. Book income generally consists solely of the income generated by the securities in the portfolio, whereas tax-basis income includes, in addition, gains or losses attributable to currency fluctuation. Due to differences in the book and tax treatment of fixed-income securities denominated in foreign currencies, it is difficult to project currency effects on an interim basis. Therefore, to the extent that currency fluctuations cannot be anticipated, a portion of distributions to shareholders could later be designated as a return of capital, rather than income, for income tax purposes, which may be of particular concern to simple trusts.

If the Fund invests in the stock of certain foreign corporations, they may constitute Passive Foreign Investment Companies (PFIC), and the Fund may be subject to Federal income taxes upon disposition of PFIC investments.

If more than 50% of the value of the Fund's assets at the end of the tax year is represented by stock or securities of foreign corporations, the Fund will qualify for certain Code provisions that allow its shareholders to claim a foreign tax credit or deduction on their U.S. income tax returns. The Code may limit a shareholder's ability to claim a foreign tax credit. Shareholders who elect to deduct their portion of the Fund's foreign taxes rather than take the foreign tax credit must itemize deductions on their income tax returns.

Who Manages and Provides Services to the Fund?

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

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The Board is responsible for managing the Trust's business affairs and for exercising all the Trust's powers except those reserved for the shareholders. The following tables give information about each Board member and the senior officers of the Fund. Where required, the tables separately list Board members who are "interested persons" of the Fund (i.e., "Interested" Board members) and those who are not (i.e., "Independent" Board members). Unless otherwise noted, the address of each person listed is Federated Investors Tower, 1001 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA. The Trust comprises six portfolios and the Federated Fund Complex consists of 44 investment companies (comprising 139 portfolios). Unless otherwise noted, each Board member oversees all portfolios in the Federated Fund Complex; serves for an indefinite term; and also serves as a Board member of the following investment company complexes: Banknorth Funds--five portfolios; CCMI Funds--two portfolios; Regions Funds--eight portfolios; Riggs Funds--nine portfolios; and WesMark Funds--five portfolios.

As of December 2, 2002, the Fund's Board and Officers as a group owned less than 1% of the Fund's outstanding Class A, B and C Shares.

INTERESTED TRUSTEES BACKGROUND AND COMPENSATION

Name
Birth Date
Address
Positions Held with Trust
Date Service Began

   

Principal Occupation(s) for Past Five Years,
Other Directorships Held and Previous Positions

   

Aggregate
Compensation
From Trust
(past fiscal year)

   

Total Compensation
From Trust and
Fund Complex
(past calendar year)

John F. Donahue*
Birth Date: July 28, 1924
CHAIRMAN AND TRUSTEE
Began serving: April 1984

 

Principal Occupations: Chief Executive Officer and Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Chairman and Director, Federated Investors, Inc.; Chairman, Federated Investment Management Company, Federated Global Investment Management Corp. and Passport Research, Ltd.

Previous Positions: Trustee, Federated Investment Management Company and Chairman and Director, Federated Investment Counseling.
$0

 

$0

J. Christopher Donahue*
Birth Date: April 11, 1949
PRESIDENT AND TRUSTEE
Began serving: August 2000

 

Principal Occupations: President or Executive Vice President of the Federated Fund Complex; Director or Trustee of some of the Funds in the Federated Fund Complex; President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Federated Investors, Inc.; President, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee, Federated Investment Management Company; Trustee, Federated Investment Counseling; President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Federated Global Investment Management Corp.; President and Chief Executive Officer, Passport Research, Ltd.; Trustee, Federated Shareholder Services Company; Director, Federated Services Company.

Previous Position: President, Federated Investment Counseling.
$0

 

$0

Lawrence D. Ellis, M.D.*
Birth Date: October 11, 1932
3471 Fifth Avenue
Suite 1111
Pittsburgh, PA
TRUSTEE
Began serving: August 1987

 

Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Professor of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh; Medical Director, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Downtown; Hematologist, Oncologist and Internist, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Other Directorships Held: Member, National Board of Trustees, Leukemia Society of America.

Previous Positions: Trustee, University of Pittsburgh; Director, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
$427.01

 

$117,117.17

* Family relationships and reasons for "interested" status: John F. Donahue is the father of J. Christopher Donahue; both are "interested" due to the positions they hold with Federated and its subsidiaries. Lawrence D. Ellis, M.D. is "interested" because his son-in-law is employed by the Fund's principal underwriter, Federated Securities Corp.

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES BACKGROUND AND COMPENSATION

Name
Birth Date
Address
Positions Held with Trust
Date Service Began

   

Principal Occupation(s) for Past Five Years,
Other Directorships Held and Previous Positions

   

Aggregate
Compensation
From Trust
(past fiscal year)

   

Total Compensation
From Trust and
Fund Complex
(past calendar year)

Thomas G. Bigley
Birth Date: February 3, 1934
15 Old Timber Trail
Pittsburgh, PA
TRUSTEE
Began serving: October 1995

 

Principal Occupation: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex.

Other Directorships Held: Director, Member of Executive Committee, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh; Director, Member of Executive Committee, University of Pittsburgh.

Previous Position: Senior Partner, Ernst & Young LLP.
$469.72

 

$128,847.72

John T. Conroy, Jr.
Birth Date: June 23, 1937
Grubb & Ellis/Investment
Properties Corporation
3838 Tamiami Trail N.
Naples, FL
TRUSTEE
Began serving: November 1991

 

Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Chairman of the Board, Investment Properties Corporation; Partner or Trustee in private real estate ventures in Southwest Florida.

Previous Positions: President, Investment Properties Corporation; Senior Vice President, John R. Wood and Associates, Inc., Realtors; President, Naples Property Management, Inc. and Northgate Village Development Corporation.
$469.72

 

$128,847.66

Nicholas P. Constantakis
Birth Date: September 3, 1939
175 Woodshire Drive
Pittsburgh, PA
TRUSTEE
Began serving: February 1998

 

Principal Occupation: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Partner, Andersen Worldwide SC (prior to 9/1/97).

Other Directorships Held: Director, Michael Baker Corporation (engineering and energy services worldwide).

 

$469.72

 

$126,923.53

John F. Cunningham
Birth Date: March 5, 1943
353 El Brillo Way
Palm Beach, FL
TRUSTEE
Began serving: January 1999

 

Principal Occupation: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex.

Other Directorships Held: Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Cunningham & Co., Inc. (strategic business consulting); Trustee Associate, Boston College.

Previous Positions: Director, Redgate Communications and EMC Corporation (computer storage systems); Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Computer Consoles, Inc.; President and Chief Operating Officer, Wang Laboratories; Director, First National Bank of Boston; Director, Apollo Computer, Inc.
$427.01

 

$115,368.16

Peter E. Madden
Birth Date: March 16, 1942
One Royal Palm Way
100 Royal Palm Way
Palm Beach, FL
TRUSTEE
Began serving: November 1991

 

Principal Occupation: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Management Consultant.

Previous Positions: Representative, Commonwealth of Massachusetts General Court; President, State Street Bank and Trust Company and State Street Corporation (retired); Director, VISA USA and VISA International; Chairman and Director, Massachusetts Bankers Association; Director, Depository Trust Corporation; Director, The Boston Stock Exchange.
$427.01

 

$117,117.14

Charles F. Mansfield, Jr.
Birth Date: April 10, 1945
80 South Road
Westhampton Beach, NY
TRUSTEE
Began serving: January 1999

 

Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Management Consultant; Executive Vice President, DVC Group, Inc. (marketing, communications and technology) (prior to 9/1/00).

Previous Positions: Chief Executive Officer, PBTC International Bank; Partner, Arthur Young & Company (now Ernst & Young LLP); Chief Financial Officer of Retail Banking Sector, Chase Manhattan Bank; Senior Vice President, HSBC Bank USA (formerly, Marine Midland Bank); Vice President, Citibank; Assistant Professor of Banking and Finance, Frank G. Zarb School of Business, Hofstra University.

 

$469.72

 

$128,847.66

John E. Murray, Jr., J.D., S.J.D.
Birth Date: December 20, 1932
Chancellor, Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA
TRUSTEE
Began serving: February 1995

 

Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Chancellor and Law Professor, Duquesne University; Consulting Partner, Mollica & Murray.

Other Directorships Held: Director, Michael Baker Corp. (engineering, construction, operations and technical services).

Previous Positions: President, Duquesne University; Dean and Professor of Law, University of Pittsburgh School of Law; Dean and Professor of Law, Villanova University School of Law.
$504.24

 

$117,117.14

Marjorie P. Smuts
Birth Date: June 21, 1935
4905 Bayard Street
Pittsburgh, PA
TRUSTEE
Began serving: April 1984

 

Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; Public Relations/Marketing Consultant/Conference Coordinator.

Previous Positions: National Spokesperson, Aluminum Company of America; television producer; President, Marj Palmer Assoc.; Owner, Scandia Bord.
$427.01

 

$117,117.17

John S. Walsh
Birth Date: November 28, 1957
2604 William Drive
Valparaiso, IN
TRUSTEE
Began serving: January 1999

 

Principal Occupations: Director or Trustee of the Federated Fund Complex; President and Director, Heat Wagon, Inc. (manufacturer of construction temporary heaters); President and Director, Manufacturers Products, Inc. (distributor of portable construction heaters); President, Portable Heater Parts, a division of Manufacturers Products, Inc.

Other Directorships Held: Director, Walsh & Kelly, Inc. (heavy highway contractor).

Previous Position: Vice President, Walsh & Kelly, Inc.
$427.01

 

$117,117.17

 

OFFICERS**

Name
Birth Date
Address
Positions Held with Trust

   

Principal Occupation(s) and Previous Positions


Edward C. Gonzales
Birth Date: October 22, 1930
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

 

Principal Occupations: President, Executive Vice President and Treasurer of some of the Funds in the Federated Fund Complex; Vice Chairman, Federated Investors, Inc.; Trustee, Federated Administrative Services.

Previous Positions: Trustee or Director of some of the Funds in the Federated Fund Complex; CEO and Chairman, Federated Administrative Services; Vice President, Federated Investment Management Company, Federated Investment Counseling, Federated Global Investment Management Corp. and Passport Research, Ltd.; Director and Executive Vice President, Federated Securities Corp.; Director, Federated Services Company; Trustee, Federated Shareholder Services Company.


John W. McGonigle
Birth Date: October 26, 1938
EXECECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
AND SECRETARY

 

Principal Occupations: Executive Vice President and Secretary of the Federated Fund Complex; Executive Vice President, Secretary and Director, Federated Investors, Inc.

Previous Positions: Trustee, Federated Investment Management Company and Federated Investment Counseling; Director, Federated Global Investment Management Corp., Federated Services Company and Federated Securities Corp.


Richard J. Thomas
Birth Date: June 17, 1954
TREASURER

 

Principal Occupations: Treasurer of the Federated Fund Complex; Senior Vice President, Federated Administrative Services.

Previous Positions: Vice President, Federated Administrative Services; held various management positions within Funds Financial Services Division of Federated Investors, Inc.


Richard B. Fisher
Birth Date: May 17, 1923
VICE PRESIDENT

 

Principal Occupations: President or Vice President of some of the Funds in the Federated Fund Complex; Vice Chairman, Federated Investors, Inc.; Chairman, Federated Securities Corp.

Previous Positions: Director or Trustee of some of the Funds in the Federated Fund Complex; Executive Vice President, Federated Investors, Inc. and Director and Chief Executive Officer, Federated Securities Corp.


James E. Grefenstette
Birth Date: November 7, 1962
VICE PRESIDENT

 

James E. Grefenstette is Vice President of the Fund. Mr. Grefenstette joined Federated in 1992 and has been a Portfolio Manager since 1994. Mr. Grefenstette became a Senior Vice President of the Fund's Adviser in January 2000. He served as a Vice President of the Fund's Adviser from 1996 through 1999 and was an Assistant Vice President of the Fund's Adviser from 1994 until 1996. Mr. Grefenstette is a Chartered Financial Analyst; he received his M.S. in Industrial Administration from Carnegie Mellon University.


Lawrence Auriana
Birth Date: January 8, 1944
VICE PRESIDENT

 

Lawrence Auriana is Vice President of the Trust. Mr. Auriana joined Federated in April 2001 as Co-Head of Investments/Federated Kaufmann. From August 1984 to April 2001, Mr. Auriana was President and Treasurer of Edgemont Asset Management Corp., and Chairman of the Board and Portfolio Manager to The Kaufmann Fund, Inc. (predecessor to the Federated Kaufmann Fund). Mr. Auriana earned a B.S. in economics from Fordham University and has been engaged in the securities business since 1965.


Hans P. Utsch
Birth Date: July 3, 1936
VICE PRESIDENT

 

Hans P. Utsch is Vice President of the Trust. Mr. Utsch joined Federated in April 2001 as Co-Head of Investments/Federated Kaufmann. From August 1984 to April 2001, Mr. Auriana was Chairman of the Board and Secretary of Edgemont Asset Management Corp., and President and Portfolio Manager to The Kaufmann Fund, Inc. (predecessor to the Federated Kaufmann Fund). Mr. Utsch graduated from Amherst College and holds an M.B.A. from Columbia University. He has been engaged in the securities business since 1962.


** Officers do not receive any compensation from the Fund.

Thomas R. Donahue, Chief Financial Officer, Vice President, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary of Federated and an officer of its various advisory and underwriting subsidiaries, has served as a Term Member on the Board of Directors of Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, since May 12, 2000. Mr. John E. Murray, Jr., an Independent Trustee of the Fund, served as President of Duquesne from 1988 until his retirement from that position in 2001, and became Chancellor of Duquesne on August 15, 2001. It should be noted that Mr. Donahue abstains on any matter that comes before Duquesne's Board that affects Mr. Murray personally.

COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD

Board
Committee

   

Committee
Members

   

Committee Functions

   

Meetings Held
During Last
Fiscal Year

Executive

 

John F. Donahue
John E. Murray, Jr., J.D., S.J.D.

 

In between meetings of the full Board, the Executive Committee generally may exercise all the powers of the full Board in the management and direction of the business and conduct of the affairs of the Trust in such manner as the Executive Committee shall deem to be in the best interests of the Trust. However, the Executive Committee cannot elect or remove Board members, increase or decrease the number of Trustees, elect or remove any Officer, declare dividends, issue shares or recommend to shareholders any action requiring shareholder approval.

 

Two

Audit

 

Thomas G. Bigley
John T. Conroy, Jr.
Nicholas P. Constantakis
Charles F. Mansfield, Jr.

 

The Audit Committee reviews and recommends to the full Board the independent auditors to be selected to audit the Fund's financial statements; meets with the independent auditors periodically to review the results of the audits and reports the results to the full Board; evaluates the independence of the auditors, reviews legal and regulatory matters that may have a material effect on the financial statements, related compliance policies and programs, and the related reports received from regulators; reviews the Fund's internal audit function; reviews compliance with the Fund's code of conduct/ethics; reviews valuation issues; monitors inter-fund lending transactions; reviews custody services and issues and investigates any matters brought to the Committee's attention that are within the scope of its duties.

 

Four

 

BOARD OWNERSHIP OF SHARES IN THE FUND AND IN THE FEDERATED FAMILY OF INVESTMENT COMPANIES AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2001

Interested
Board Member Name

   

Dollar Range of
Shares Owned
in Fund

 

Aggregate
Dollar Range of
Shares Owned in
Federated Family of
Investment Companies
John F. Donahue

 

None

 

Over $100,000
J. Christopher Donahue

 

Over $100,000

 

Over $100,000
Lawrence D. Ellis, M.D.

 

None

 

Over $100,000
 

 

 

 

 
Independent
Board Member Name

   

   

   

   
Thomas G. Bigley

 

$50,001-$100,000

   

Over $100,000
John T. Conroy, Jr.

 

None

 

Over $100,000
Nicholas P. Constantakis

 

$10,000-$50,000

 

Over $100,000
John F. Cunningham

 

None

 

Over $100,000
Peter E. Madden

 

None

 

Over $100,000
Charles F. Mansfield, Jr.

 

None

 

$50,001 - $100,000
John E. Murray, Jr., J.D., S.J.D.

 

None

 

Over $100,000
Marjorie P. Smuts

 

$1-$10,000

 

Over $100,000
John S. Walsh

 

$10,001-$50,000

 

Over $100,000

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INVESTMENT ADVISER

The Adviser conducts investment research and makes investment decisions for the Fund.

The Adviser is a wholly owned subsidiary of Federated.

The Adviser shall not be liable to the Trust or any Fund shareholder for any losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding, or sale of any security or for anything done or omitted by it, except acts or omissions involving willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties imposed upon it by its contract with the Trust.

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As required by the 1940 Act, the Fund's Board has reviewed the Fund's investment advisory contract. The Board's decision to approve the contract reflects the exercise of its business judgment on whether to continue the existing arrangements. During its review of the contract, the Board considers many factors, among the most material of which are: the Fund's investment objectives and long term performance; the Adviser's management philosophy, personnel, and processes; the preferences and expectations of fund shareholders and their relative sophistication; the continuing state of competition in the mutual fund industry; comparable fees in the mutual fund industry; the range and quality of services provided to the Fund and its shareholders by the Federated organization in addition to investment advisory services; and the Fund's relationship to other funds in the Federated fund funds.

In assessing the Adviser's performance of its obligations, the Board also considers whether there has occurred a circumstance or event that would constitute a reason for it to not renew an advisory contract. In this regard, the Board is mindful of the potential disruptions of the Fund's operations and various risks, uncertainties and other effects that could occur as a result of a decision to terminate or not renew an advisory contract. In particular, the Board recognizes that most shareholders have invested in the Fund on the strength of the Adviser's industry standing and reputation and in the expectation that the Adviser will have a continuing role in providing advisory services to the Fund.

The Board also considers the compensation and benefits received by the Adviser. This includes fees received for services provided to the Fund by other entities in the Federated organization and research services received by the Adviser from brokers that execute fund trades, as well as advisory fees. In this regard, the Board is aware that various courts have interpreted provisions of the 1940 Act and have indicated in their decisions that the following factors may be relevant to an Adviser's compensation: the nature and quality of the services provided by the Adviser, including the performance of the Fund; the Adviser's cost of providing the services; the extent to which the Adviser may realize "economies of scale" as the Fund grows larger; any indirect benefits that may accrue to the Adviser and its affiliates as a result of the Adviser's relationship with the Fund; performance and expenses of comparable funds; and the extent to which the independent Board members are fully informed about all f acts bearing on the Adviser's service and fee. The Fund's Board is aware of these factors and takes them into account in its review of the Fund's advisory contract.

The Board considers and weighs these circumstances in light of its substantial accumulated experience in governing the Fund and working with Federated on matters relating to the Federated funds, and is assisted in its deliberations by the advice of independent legal counsel. In this regard, the Board requests and receives a significant amount of information about the Fund and the Federated organization. Federated provides much of this information at each regular meeting of the Board, and furnishes additional reports in connection with the particular meeting at which the Board's formal review of the advisory contracts occurs. In between regularly scheduled meetings, the Board may receive information on particular matters as the need arises. Thus, the Board's evaluation of an advisory contract is informed by reports covering such matters as: the adviser's investment philosophy, personnel, and processes; the Fund's short- and long-term performance (in absolute terms as well as in relationship to its particul ar investment program and certain competitor or "peer group" funds), and comments on the reasons for performance; the Fund's expenses (including the advisory fee itself and the overall expense structure of the Fund, both in absolute terms and relative to similar and/or competing funds, with due regard for contractual or voluntary expense limitations); the use and allocation of brokerage commissions derived from trading the Fund's portfolio securities; the nature and extent of the advisory and other services provided to the Fund by the Adviser and its affiliates; compliance and audit reports concerning the Federated funds and the Federated companies that service them; and relevant developments in the mutual fund industry and how the Federated funds and/or Federated are responding to them.

The Board also receives financial information about Federated, including reports on the compensation and benefits Federated derives from its relationships with the Federated funds. These reports cover not only the fees under the advisory contracts, but also fees received by Federated's subsidiaries for providing other services to the Federated funds under separate contracts (e.g., for serving as the Federated funds' administrator and transfer agent). The reports also discuss any indirect benefit Federated may derive from its receipt of research services from brokers who execute Federated fund trades.

The Board bases its decision to approve an advisory contract on the totality of the circumstances and relevant factors, and with a view to past and future long-term considerations. Not all of the factors and considerations identified above are relevant to every Federated fund, nor does the Board consider any one of them to be determinative. Because the totality of circumstances includes considering the relationship of each Federated fund, the Board does not approach consideration of every Federated fund's advisory contract as if that were the only Federated fund offered by Federated.

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Other Related Services

Affiliates of the Adviser may, from time to time, provide certain electronic equipment and software to institutional customers in order to facilitate the purchase of Fund Shares offered by the Distributor.

CODE OF ETHICS RESTRICTIONS ON PERSONAL TRADING

As required by SEC rules, the Fund, its Adviser, and its Distributor have adopted codes of ethics. These codes govern securities trading activities of investment personnel, Fund Trustees, and certain other employees. Although they do permit these people to trade in securities, including those that the Fund could buy, they also contain significant safeguards designed to protect the Fund and its shareholders from abuses in this area, such as requirements to obtain prior approval for, and to report, particular transactions.

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

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When selecting brokers and dealers to handle the purchase and sale of portfolio instruments, the Adviser looks for prompt execution of the order at a favorable price. The Adviser will generally use those who are recognized dealers in specific portfolio instruments, except when a better price and execution of the order can be obtained elsewhere. The Adviser may select brokers and dealers based on whether they also offer research services (as described below). In selecting among firms believed to meet these criteria, the Adviser may give consideration to those firms which have sold or are selling Shares of the Fund and other funds distributed by the Distributor and its affiliates. The Adviser may also direct certain portfolio trades to a broker that, in turn, pays a portion of the Fund's operating expenses. The Adviser makes decisions on portfolio transactions and selects brokers and dealers subject to review by the Fund's Board.

Investment decisions for the Fund are made independently from those of other accounts managed by the Adviser. Except as noted below, when the Fund and one or more of those accounts invests in, or disposes of, the same security, available investments or opportunities for sales will be allocated among the Fund and the account(s) in a manner believed by the Adviser to be equitable. While the coordination and ability to participate in volume transactions may benefit the Fund, it is possible that this procedure could adversely impact the price paid or received and/or the position obtained or disposed of by the Fund. Investments for Federated Kaufmann Fund and other accounts managed by that fund's portfolio managers in initial public offerings ("IPO") are made independently from any other accounts, and much of their non-IPO trading may also be conducted independently from other accounts.

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Research Services

Research services may include advice as to the advisability of investing in securities; security analysis and reports; economic studies; industry studies; receipt of quotations for portfolio evaluations; and similar services. Research services may be used by the Adviser or by affiliates of Federated in advising other accounts. To the extent that receipt of these services may replace services for which the Adviser or its affiliates might otherwise have paid, it would tend to reduce their expenses. The Adviser and its affiliates exercise reasonable business judgment in selecting those brokers who offer brokerage and research services to execute securities transactions. They determine in good faith that commissions charged by such persons are reasonable in relationship to the value of the brokerage and research services provided.

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For the fiscal year ended, October 31, 2002, the Fund's Adviser directed brokerage transactions to certain brokers due to research services they provided. The total amount of these transactions was $986,328,202 for which the Fund paid $1,821,854 in brokerage commissions.

ADMINISTRATOR

Federated Services Company, a subsidiary of Federated, provides administrative personnel and services (including certain legal and financial reporting services) necessary to operate the Fund. Federated Services Company provides these at the following annual rate of the average aggregate daily net assets of all Federated funds as specified below:

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Maximum Administrative Fee

   

Average Aggregate Daily Net
Assets of the Federated Funds
0.150 of 1%

 

on the first $250 million
0.125 of 1%

 

on the next $250 million
0.100 of 1%

 

on the next $250 million
0.075 of 1%

 

on assets in excess of $750 million

The administrative fee received during any fiscal year shall be at least $125,000 per portfolio and $30,000 per each additional class of Shares. Federated Services Company may voluntarily waive a portion of its fee and may reimburse the Fund for expenses.

Federated Services Company also provides certain accounting and recordkeeping services with respect to the Fund's portfolio investments for a fee based on Fund assets plus out-of-pocket expenses.

CUSTODIAN

State Street Bank and Trust Company, Boston, Massachusetts, is custodian for the securities and cash of the Fund. Foreign instruments purchased by the Fund are held by foreign banks participating in a network coordinated by State Street Bank.

TRANSFER AGENT AND DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT

Federated Services Company, through its registered transfer agent subsidiary, Federated Shareholder Services Company, maintains all necessary shareholder records. The Fund pays the transfer agent a fee based on the size, type and number of accounts and transactions made by shareholders.

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

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The independent auditor for the Fund, Deloitte & Touche LLP, conducts its audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America, which require it to plan and perform its audits to provide reasonable assurance about whether the Fund's financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement.

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FEES PAID BY THE FUND FOR SERVICES

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For the Year Ended October 31

   

2002

   

2001

   

2000
Advisory Fee Earned

 

$3,033,372

 

$4,892,421

 

$5,195,087
Advisory Fee Reduction

 

0

 

0

 

13,503
Advisory Fee Reimbursement

 

3,070

 

1,924

 

1,176
Brokerage Commissions

 

2,417,826

 

2,057,712

 

1,540,267
Administrative Fee

 

304,146

 

491,199

 

521,587
12b-1 Fee:

 

 

 

 

 

 
Class A Shares

 

502,120

 

--

 

--
Class B Shares

 

1,342,104

 

--

 

--
Class C Shares

 

184,907

 

--

 

--
Shareholder Services Fee:

 

 

 

 

 

 
Class A Shares

 

0

 

--

 

--
Class B Shares

 

447,368

 

--

 

--
Class C Shares

 

61,636

 

--

 

--

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Fees are allocated among classes based on their pro rata share of Fund assets, except for marketing (Rule 12b-1) fees and shareholder services fees, which are borne only by the applicable class of Shares.

How does the Fund Measure Performance?

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The Fund may advertise Share performance by using the SEC's standard methods for calculating performance applicable to all mutual funds. The SEC also permits this standard performance information to be accompanied by non-standard performance information.

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Share performance reflects the effect of non-recurring charges, such as maximum sales charges, which, if excluded, would increase the total return and yield. The performance of Shares depends upon such variables as: portfolio quality; average portfolio maturity; type and value of portfolio securities; changes in interest rates; changes or differences in the Fund's or any class of Shares' expenses; and various other factors.

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Share performance fluctuates on a daily basis largely because net earnings and/or the value of portfolio holdings fluctuate daily. Both net earnings and offering price per Share are factors in the computation of yield and total return.

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AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS AND YIELD

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Total returns are given for the one-year and Start of Performance periods ended October 31, 2002.

Yield is given for the 30-day period ended October 31, 2002.

Share Class

   

30-Day
Period

   

1 Year

   

Start of
Performance on
12/29/1998
Class A:

   

   

   

   

   

   
Total Return

 

 

 

 

 

 
Before Taxes

 

N/A

 

(23.07)%

 

(12.02)%
After Taxes on Distributions

 

N/A

 

(23.07)%

 

(12.02)%
After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Shares

 

N/A

 

(14.16)%

 

(9.24)%
Yield

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A
Class B:

   

   

   

   

   

   
Total Return

 

 

 

 

 

 
Before Taxes

 

N/A

 

(23.75)%

 

(12.00)%
After Taxes on Distributions

 

N/A

 

(23.75)%

 

(12.00)%
After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Shares

 

N/A

 

(14.58)%

 

(9.22)%
Yield

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A
Class C:

   

   

   

   

   

   
Total Return

 

 

 

 

 

 
Before Taxes

 

N/A

 

(20.12)%

 

(11.30)%
After Taxes on Distributions

 

N/A

 

(20.12)%

 

(11.30)%
After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Shares

 

N/A

 

(12.35)%

 

(8.71)%
Yield

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

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TOTAL RETURN

Total return represents the change (expressed as a percentage) in the value of Shares over a specific period of time, and includes the investment of income and capital gains distributions.

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The average annual total return for Shares is the average compounded rate of return for a given period that would equate a $10,000 initial investment to the ending redeemable value of that investment. The ending redeemable value is computed by multiplying the number of Shares owned at the end of the period by the NAV per Share at the end of the period. The number of Shares owned at the end of the period is based on the number of Shares purchased at the beginning of the period with $10,000, less any applicable sales charge, adjusted over the period by any additional Shares, assuming the annual reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. Total returns after taxes are calculated in a similar manner, but reflect additional standard assumptions required by the SEC.

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YIELD

The yield of Shares is calculated by dividing: (i) the net investment income per Share earned by the Shares over a 30-day period; by (ii) the maximum offering price per Share on the last day of the period. This number is then annualized using semi-annual compounding. This means that the amount of income generated during the 30-day period is assumed to be generated each month over a 12-month period and is reinvested every six months. The yield does not necessarily reflect income actually earned by Shares because of certain adjustments required by the SEC and, therefore, may not correlate to the dividends or other distributions paid to shareholders.

To the extent investment professionals and broker/dealers charge fees in connection with services provided in conjunction with an investment in Shares, the Share performance is lower for shareholders paying those fees.

PERFORMANCE COMPARISONS

Advertising and sales literature may include:

  • references to ratings, rankings, and financial publications and/or performance comparisons of Shares to certain indices;
  • charts, graphs and illustrations using the Fund's returns, or returns in general, that demonstrate investment concepts such as tax-deferred compounding, dollar-cost averaging and systematic investment;
  • discussions of economic, financial and political developments and their impact on the securities market, including the portfolio manager's views on how such developments could impact the Fund; and
  • information about the mutual fund industry from sources such as the Investment Company Institute.

The Fund may compare its performance, or performance for the types of securities in which it invests, to a variety of other investments, including federally insured bank products such as bank savings accounts, certificates of deposit, and Treasury bills.

The Fund may quote information from reliable sources regarding individual countries and regions, world stock exchanges, and economic and demographic statistics.

You may use financial publications and/or indices to obtain a more complete view of Share performance. When comparing performance, you should consider all relevant factors such as the composition of the index used, prevailing market conditions, portfolio compositions of other funds, and methods used to value portfolio securities and compute offering price. The financial publications and/or indices which the Fund uses in advertising may include:

Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA)

Represents share prices of selected blue-chip industrial corporations. The DJIA indicates daily changes in the average price of stock of these corporations. Because it represents the top corporations of America, the DJIA index is a leading economic indicator for the stock market as a whole.

Financial Publications

The Wall Street Journal, Business Week, Changing Times, Financial World, Forbes, Fortune, and Money Magazines, among others--provide performance statistics over specified time periods.

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Lipper, Inc.

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Ranks funds in various fund categories by making comparative calculations using total return. Total return assumes the reinvestment of all capital gains distributions and income dividends and takes into account any change in net asset value over a specified period of time.

Moody's Investors Service, Inc., Fitch IBCA, Inc. and Standard & Poor's

Various publications.

Morningstar, Inc.

An independent rating service, is the publisher of the bi-weekly Mutual Fund Values. Mutual Fund Values, which rates more than 1,000 NASDAQ-listed mutual funds of all types, according to their risk-adjusted returns. The maximum rating is five stars, and ratings are effective for two weeks.

Standard & Poor's Daily Stock Price Index of 500 Common Stocks (S&P 500)

Composite index of common stocks in industry, transportation, and financial and public utility companies. Can be used to compare to the total returns of funds whose portfolios are invested primarily in common stocks. In addition, the S&P 500 assumes reinvestments of all dividends paid by stocks listed on its index. Taxes due on any of these distributions are not included, nor are brokerage or other fees calculated in the S&P figures.

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Russell 1000 Growth Index

Measures the performance of those Russell 1000 companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values.

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Who is Federated Investors, Inc.?

Federated is dedicated to meeting investor needs by making structured, straightforward and consistent investment decisions. Federated investment products have a history of competitive performance and have gained the confidence of thousands of financial institutions and individual investors.

Federated's disciplined investment selection process is rooted in sound methodologies backed by fundamental and technical research. At Federated, success in investment management does not depend solely on the skill of a single portfolio manager. It is a fusion of individual talents and state-of-the-art industry tools and resources. Federated's investment process involves teams of portfolio managers and analysts, and investment decisions are executed by traders who are dedicated to specific market sectors and who handle trillions of dollars in annual trading volume.

FEDERATED FUNDS OVERVIEW

Municipal Funds

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In the municipal sector, as of December 31, 2001, Federated managed 12 bond funds with approximately $2.3 billion in assets and 22 money market funds with approximately $44.8 billion in total assets. In 1976, Federated introduced one of the first municipal bond mutual funds in the industry and is now one of the largest institutional buyers of municipal securities. The Funds may quote statistics from organizations including The Tax Foundation and the National Taxpayers Union regarding the tax obligations of Americans.

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Equity Funds

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In the equity sector, Federated has more than 31 years' experience. As of December 31, 2001, Federated managed 40 equity funds totaling approximately $20.7 billion in assets across growth, value, equity income, international, index and sector (i.e. utility) styles. Federated's value-oriented management style combines quantitative and qualitative analysis and features a structured, computer-assisted composite modeling system that was developed in the 1970s.

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Corporate Bond Funds

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In the corporate bond sector, as of December 31, 2001, Federated managed 11 money market funds and 30 bond funds with assets approximating $62.3 billion and $5.4 billion, respectively. Federated's corporate bond decision making--based on intensive, diligent credit analysis--is backed by over 29 years of experience in the corporate bond sector. In 1972, Federated introduced one of the first high-yield bond funds in the industry. In 1983, Federated was one of the first fund managers to participate in the asset backed securities market, a market totaling more than $209 billion.

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Government Funds

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In the government sector, as of December 31, 2001, Federated managed 6 mortgage backed, 5 multi-sector government funds, 3 government/agency and 19 government money market mutual funds, with assets approximating $3.6 billion, $2.0 billion, $1.2 billion and $55.2 billion, respectively. Federated trades approximately $90.4 billion in U.S. government and mortgage backed securities daily and places approximately $35 billion in repurchase agreements each day. Federated introduced the first U.S. government fund to invest in U.S. government bond securities in 1969. Federated has been a major force in the short- and intermediate-term government markets since 1982 and currently manages approximately $50 billion in government funds within these maturity ranges.

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Money Market Funds

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In the money market sector, Federated gained prominence in the mutual fund industry in 1974 with the creation of the first institutional money market fund. Simultaneously, the company pioneered the use of the amortized cost method of accounting for valuing shares of money market funds, a principal means used by money managers today to value money market fund shares. Other innovations include the first institutional tax-free money market fund. As of December 31, 2001, Federated managed $136.4 billion in assets across 54 money market funds, including 19 government, 11 prime, 22 municipal and 1 euro-denominated with assets approximating $55.2 billion, $62.3 billion, $19.5 billion and $34.6 million, respectively.

The Chief Investment Officers responsible for oversight of the various investment sectors within Federated are: Global Equity--Stephen F. Auth is responsible for overseeing the management of Federated's domestic and international equity products; Global Fixed Income--William D. Dawson III is responsible for overseeing the management of Federated's domestic and international fixed income and high yield products.

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MUTUAL FUND MARKET

<R>

Forty-nine percent of American households are pursuing their financial goals through mutual funds. These investors, as well as businesses and institutions, have entrusted over $6.8 trillion to the more than 8,157 funds available, according to the Investment Company Institute.

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FEDERATED CLIENTS OVERVIEW

Federated distributes mutual funds through its subsidiaries for a variety of investment purposes. Specific markets include:

Institutional Clients

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Federated meets the needs of approximately 3,035 institutional clients nationwide by managing and servicing separate accounts and mutual funds for a variety of purposes, including defined benefit and defined contribution programs, cash management, and asset/liability management. Institutional clients include corporations, pension funds, tax exempt entities, foundations/endowments, insurance companies, and investment and financial advisers. The marketing effort to these institutional clients is headed by John B. Fisher, President, Institutional Sales Division, Federated Securities Corp.

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Bank Marketing

Other institutional clients include more than 1,600 banks and trust organizations. Virtually all of the trust divisions of the top 100 bank holding companies use Federated Funds in their clients' portfolios. The marketing effort to trust clients is headed by Timothy C. Pillion, Senior Vice President, Bank Marketing & Sales.

Broker/Dealers and Bank Broker/Dealer Subsidiaries

Federated Funds are available to consumers through major brokerage firms nationwide--we have over 2,000 broker/dealer and bank broker/dealer relationships across the country--supported by more wholesalers than any other mutual fund distributor. Federated's service to financial professionals and institutions has earned it high ratings in several surveys performed by DALBAR, Inc. DALBAR is recognized as the industry benchmark for service quality measurement. The marketing effort to these firms is headed by James F. Getz, President, Broker/Dealer Sales Division, Federated Securities Corp.

Financial Information

<R>

The Financial Statements for the Fund for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2002, are incorporated herein by reference to the Annual Report to Shareholders of Federated Large Cap Growth Fund dated October 31, 2002.

</R>

Investment Ratings

STANDARD AND POOR'S LONG-TERM DEBT RATING DEFINITIONS

AAA--Debt rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor's. Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.

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.

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.

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.

BB--Debt rated BB has less near-term vulnerability to default than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to inadequate capacity to meet timely interest and principal payments. The BB rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied BBB rating.

B--Debt rated B has a greater vulnerability to default but currently has the capacity to meet interest payments and principal repayments. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair capacity or willingness to pay interest and repay principal. The B rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied BB or BB- rating.

CCC--Debt rated CCC has a currently identifiable vulnerability to default, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions to meet timely payment of interest and repayment of principal. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, it is not likely to have the capacity to pay interest and repay principal. The CCC rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied B or B- rating.

CC--The rating CC typically is applied to debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied CCC debt rating.

C--The rating C typically is applied to debt subordinated to senior debt which is assigned an actual or implied CCC debt rating. The C rating may be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy petition has been filed, but debt service payments are continued.

MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE LONG-TERM BOND RATING DEFINITIONS

AAA--Bonds which 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 edged. 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.

AA--Bonds which 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 which make the long-term risks appear somewhat larger than in AAA securities.

A--Bonds which 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 which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.

BAA--Bonds which 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.

BA--Bonds which are 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.

B--Bonds which 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.

CAA--Bonds which 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.

CA--Bonds which are rated CA represent obligations which are speculative in a high degree. Such issues are often in default or have other marked shortcomings.

C--Bonds which are rated 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.

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FITCH RATINGS LONG-TERM DEBT RATING DEFINITIONS

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AAA--Bonds considered to be investment grade and of the highest credit quality. The obligor has an exceptionally strong ability to pay interest and repay principal, which is unlikely to be affected by reasonably foreseeable events.

AA--Bonds considered to be investment grade and of very high credit quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is very strong, although not quite as strong as bonds rated AAA. Because bonds rated in the AAA and AA categories are not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable future developments, short-term debt of these issuers is generally rated F-1+.

A--Bonds considered to be investment grade and of high credit quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is considered to be strong, but may be more vulnerable to adverse changes in economic conditions and circumstances than bonds with higher ratings.

BBB--Bonds considered to be investment grade and of satisfactory credit quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is considered to be adequate. Adverse changes in economic conditions and circumstances, however, are more likely to have adverse impact on these bonds, and therefore impair timely payment. The likelihood that the ratings of these bonds will fall below investment grade is higher than for bonds with higher ratings.

BB--Bonds are considered speculative. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal may be affected over time by adverse economic changes. However, business and financial alternatives can be identified which could assist the obligor in satisfying its debt service requirements.

B--Bonds are considered highly speculative. While bonds in this class are currently meeting debt service requirements, the probability of continued timely payment of principal and interest reflects the obligor's limited margin of safety and the need for reasonable business and economic activity throughout the life of the issue.

CCC--Bonds have certain identifiable characteristics which, if not remedied, may lead to default. The ability to meet obligations requires an advantageous business and economic environment.

CC--Bonds are minimally protected. Default in payment of interest and/or principal seems probable over time.

C--Bonds are imminent default in payment of interest or principal.

MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS

Prime-1--Issuers rated Prime-1 (or related supporting institutions) have a superior capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations. Prime-1 repayment capacity will normally be evidenced by the following characteristics:

  • Leading market positions in well-established industries;
  • High rates of return on funds employed;
  • Conservative capitalization structure with moderate reliance on debt and ample asset protection;
  • Broad margins in earning coverage of fixed financial charges and high internal cash generation; and
  • Well-established access to a range of financial markets and assured sources of alternate liquidity.

<R>

Prime-2--Issuers rated Prime-2 (or related supporting institutions) have a strong capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations. This will normally be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above but to a lesser degree. Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, will be more subject to variation. Capitalization characteristics, while still appropriate, may be more affected by external conditions. Ample alternate liquidity is maintained.

</R>

STANDARD AND POOR'S COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS

A-1--This designation indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely payment is strong. Those issues determined to possess extremely strong safety characteristics are denoted with a plus sign (+) designation.

A-2--Capacity for timely payment on issues with this designation is satisfactory. However, the relative degree of safety is not as high as for issues designated A-1.

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FITCH RATINGS COMMERCIAL PAPER RATING DEFINITIONS

</R>

FITCH-1--(Highest Grade) Commercial paper assigned this rating is regarded as having the strongest degree of assurance for timely payment.

FITCH-2--(Very Good Grade) Issues assigned this rating reflect an assurance of timely payment only slightly less in degree than the strongest issues.

Addresses

FEDERATED LARGE CAP GROWTH FUND

Class A Shares
Class B Shares
Class C Shares

Federated Investors Funds
5800 Corporate Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15237-7000

Distributor

Federated Securities Corp.
Federated Investors Tower
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779

Investment Adviser

Federated Investment Management Company
Federated Investors Tower
1001 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779

Custodian

State Street Bank and Trust Company
P.O. Box 8600
Boston, MA 02266-8600

Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent

Federated Shareholder Services Company
P.O. Box 8600
Boston, MA 02266-8600

Independent Auditors

Deloitte & Touche LLP
200 Berkeley Street
Boston, MA 02116



PART C.    OTHER INFORMATION.

Item 23.    Exhibits
            (a)            (i) ...............Conformed copy of Amended and Restated
                           Declaration of                         Trust of the
                           Registrant; (12)
                           (ii) ..............Conformed copy of Amendment No. 8 of
                           the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the
                           Registrant; (19)
                  (iii)    Conformed copy of Amendment No. 9 of the Amended and
                           Restated Declaration of Trust of the Registrant; (21)
                   (iv)    Conformed copy of Amendment No. 10 of the Amended and
                           Restated Declaration of Trust of the Registrant; (21)
                    (v)    Conformed copy of Amendment No. 11 of the Amended and
                           Restated Declaration of Trust of the Registrant; (21)
                  (vi)     Conformed copy of Amendment No. 12 of the Amended and
                           Restated Declaration of Trust of the Registrant; (23)
                  (vii)    Conformed copy of Amendment No. 13 of the Amended and
                           Restated Declaration of Trust of the Registrant; (23)
(viii)      Conformed copy of Amendment No. 14 of the Amended and Restated
                           Declaration of Trust of the Resgistrant; (+)
(ix)        Conformed copy of Amendment No. 15 of the Amened and Restated
                           Declaration of Trust of the Registrant; (+)
(x)   Conformed copy of Amendment No. 16 of the Amended and Restated
                           Declaration of Trust of the Registrant (+)
(xi)  Conformed copy of Amendment No. 17 of the Amended and Restated
                           Declaration of the Trust of the Registrant (+)
            (b)   (i)      Copy of Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant;
                           (12)
                  (ii)     Copy of Amendment No. 5 to By-Laws of the Registrant; (18)
                  (iii)    Copy of Amendment No. 6 to By-Laws of the Registrant; (18)
(iv)  Copy of Amendment No. 7 to By-Laws of the Registrant; (18)
(v)   Copy of Amendment No. 8 to By-Laws of the Registrant; (+)
            (c)    (i)     Copy of Specimen Certificate for Shares of Beneficial
                           Interest of the Registrant (Federated Small Cap
                           Strategies Fund); (7)
                   (ii)    Copy of Specimen Certificate for Shares of Beneficial
                           Interest of the Registrant (Federated Growth Strategies
                           Fund); (8)
                  (iii)    Copy of Specimen Certificate for Shares of Beneficial
                           Interest of the Registrant (Federated Capital
                           Appreciation Fund); (9)
                  (iv)     Copy of Specimen Certificate for Shares of Beneficial
                           Interest of the Registrant (Federated Aggressive Growth
                           ..................Fund); (13)
_____________________________________________________________________________
+     All exhibits have been filed electronically
7.    Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective
            Amendment No. 21 on Form N-1A filed June 30, 1995.  (File Nos. 2-91090
      and 811-4017)
8.    Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective
      Amendment No. 22 on Form N-1A filed July 17, 1995.  (File Nos. 2-91090
      and 811-4017)
9.    Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective
      Amendment No. 25 on Form N-1A filed August 31, 1995.  (File Nos. 2-91090
      and 811-4017)
12.   Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective
      Amendment No. 31 on Form N-1A filed June 11, 1996.  (File Nos. 2-91090
      and 811-4017)
13.         Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective
            Amendment No. 34 on Form N-1A filed December 30, 1996.  (File Nos.
      2-91090
      and 811-4017)
18.         Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective
      Amendment No. 41 on Form N-1A filed November 2, 1998. (File Nos. 2-91090
      and 811-4017)
19.         Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective
            Amendment No. 44 on Form N-1A filed December 28, 1999. (File Nos.
2-91090
      and 811-4017)
21.   Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective
      Amendment No. 50 on Form N-1A filed December 29, 2000.  (File Nos. 2-91090
      and 811-4017)
23.   Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective
      Amendment No. 51 on Form N-1A filed December 27, 2001.  (File Nos. 2-91090
      and 811-4017

             (d)     (i)   Conformed copy of Investment Advisory Contract of the
                           Registrant (Federated Growth Strategies Fund); (5)
                  (ii)     Conformed copy of Investment Advisory Contract on behalf
                           of the Registrant, which includes Exhibits A and B for
                            Federated Small Cap Strategies Fund and Federated
                           Capital
                            Appreciation Fund, respectively; (10)
                    (iii)  Conformed copy of Exhibit C to the Investment Advisory
                           Contract of the Registrant (Federated Aggressive Growth
                           Fund); (14)
                   (iv)    Conformed copies of Exhibits D & E for Federated
                           Large Cap
                           Growth Fund and Federated Communications Technology
                           Fund,
                           respectively; (19)
                  (v)      Conformed copy of Exhibit F to the Investment Advisory
                           Contract for Federated New Economy Fund;(20)
(vi)  Conformed copy of Exhibit G to the Investment Advisory
                           Contract for Federated Kaufmann Fund; (23)
                  (vii)    Conformed copy of Exhibit H to the Investment Advisory
                           Contract for Federated Large Cap Tech Fund; (23)
                   (viii)  Conformed copy of Exhibit I to the Investment Advisory
                           Contract for Federated Market Opportunities Fund; (23)
                   (ix)    Conformed copy of Limited Power of Attorney of the
                           Investment Advisory Contract of the Registrant; (21)
                    (x)    Conformed copy of Schedule 1 of the Investment Advisory
                           Contract of the Registrant; (21)
                   (xi)    Conformed copy of Amendment #1 to Schedule 1 of the
                           Investment Advisory Contract of the Registrant; (21)
                  (xii)    Conformed copy of Amendment #2 to Schedule 1 of the
                           Investment Advisory Contract of the Registrant; (21)
                  (xiii)   Conformed copy of Amendment #3 to Schedule 1 of the
                           Investment Advisory Contract of the Registrant; (21)
                   (xiv)   Conformed copy of Exhibit I to Registrant's Investment
                           Advisory
                           Contract for Federated Market Opportunity Fund; (22)
                  (xv)        Conformed copy of Amendment to Investment Advisory
                           Contract
                           of the Registrant; (23)
(xvi)    Conformed copy of Sub-Advisory Agreement between Federated Investment
                           Management Company and Federated Global Investment
                           Management Corp., with Exhibit A attached thereto, dated
                           September 1, 2001; (23)
(xvii)          Conformed copy of Sub-Advisory Agreement between Federated
                           Investment Management Company and Federated Global
                           Investment Management Corp. for Federated Kaufmann Small
                           Cap Fund, with Exhibit A attached thereto, dated December
                           1, 2002; (+)
(xviii)     Conformed copy of Exhibit J to the Investment Advisory Contract
                           (Federated Kaufmann Small Cap Fund) (+)
________________________________________________________________________
+     All exhibits have been filed electronically
5     Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective
      Amendment No. 21 on Form N-1A filed June 30, 1995. (File Nos. 2-91090 and
      811-4017)
10.   Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective
      Amendment No. 26 on Form N-1A filed September 12, 1995.  (File Nos. 2-
      91090 and 811-4017)
14.   Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post Effective
      Amendment No. 29 on Form N-1A filed May 29, 1997.  (File Nos. 2-
      910090 and 811-4017)
19.   Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment
      No. 44 on Form
      N-1A filed December 28, 1999. (File Nos. 2-91090 and 811-4017)
20.   Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment
      No. 46 on Form
      N-1A filed September 15, 2000. (File Nos. 2-91090 and 811-4017)
21.   Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective
      Amendment No. 50 on Form N-1A filed December 29, 2000.  (File Nos. 2-91090
      and 811-4017)
22.   Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective
      Amendment No. 52 on Form N-1A filed March 20, 2001.  (File Nos. 2-91090
      and 811-4017)
23.   Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective
      Amendment No. 51 on Form N-1A filed December 27, 2001.  (File Nos. 2-91090
      and 811-4017

(e)
               (i)         Conformed copy of Distributor's Contract of the
                             Registrant; (10)
                  (ii)     Conformed copies of Exhibits A and C to the Distributor's
                           Contract for Federated Small Cap Strategies Fund, (Class
                           A and C Shares); (10)
                  (iii)    ..................Conformed copies of Exhibits D and F to
                           the Distributor's Contract for Federated Growth
                           Strategies Fund, (Class A and C Shares); (10)
                   (iv)    ..................Conformed copies of Exhibits G and I to
                           the Distributor's Contract for Federated Capital
                           Appreciation Fund, (Class A and C Shares); (10)
                  (v)      Conformed copies of Exhibits J and L to the Distributor's
                           Contract for Federated Aggressive Growth Fund, (Class A
                           and C Shares); (14)
                  (vi)     Conformed copy of Distributor's Contract (Class B
                           Shares); (16)
                  (vii)    ...................Conformed copies of Exhibits M and N
                           to the Distributor's Contract for Federated Large Cap
                           Growth Fund, (Class A and C Shares); (19)
                  (viii)   Conformed copies of Exhibits O and P to the Distributor's
                           Contract for Federated Communications Technology Fund,
                           (Class A and C Shares); (19)
                  (ix)     Conformed copies of Exhibits Q and R to the Distributor's
                           Contract for Federated New Economy Fund, (Class A and C
                           Shares); (20)
(x)      Conformed copy of Exhibits S & T to Registrant's Distributor
                           Contract for Class A & C Shares of Federated Market
                           Opportunity
                           Fund; (22)
                  (xi)     Conformed copy of Exhibit U to Registrant's Distributor
                           Contract for Class K Shares of Federated Kaufmann Fund;
                           (23)
                  (xii)    Conformed copy of Exhibits V & W to Registrant's
                           Distributor
                           Contract for Class A & C Shares of Federated Kaufmann
                           Fund &
                           Federated Large Cap Tech Fund; (22)
                  (xiii)   Conformed copy of Amendment to Distributor's Contract of
                           the
                           Registrant; (23)
(xiv) Conformed copy of Exhibit X to the Distributor's Contract (Federated
                           Kaufmann Small Cap Fund Class A Shares) (+)
(xv)  Conformed copy of Exhibit Y to the Distributor's Contract (Federated
                           Kaufmann Small Cap Fund Class C Shares) (+)
                  (xvi)    The Registrant hereby incorporates the conformed copy of
                           the
                           specimen Mutual Funds Sales and Service Agreement; Mutual
                           Funds
                           Service Agreement; and Plan Trustee/Mutual Funds Service
                           Agreement from Item 24(b)(6) of the Cash Trust Series II
                           Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed with the
                           Commission
                           on July 24, 1995. (File No. 33-38550 and 811-6269)
            (f)   Not applicable;
_____________________________________________________________________________
+     All exhibits have been filed electronically
10.   Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment
      No. 26 on Form N-1A filed September 12, 1995.  (File Nos. 2-91090 and 811-4017)
14.    Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post Effective
      Amendment
       No. 29 on Form N-1A filed May 29, 1997.  (File Nos. 2-910090 and 811-4017)
16.   Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment
      No. 35 on Form N-1A filed December 30, 1997. (File Nos. 2-91090 and 811-4017)
19.   Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment
      No. 44 on Form N-1A filed December 28, 1999. (File Nos. 2-91090 and 811-4017)
20.   Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment
      No. 46 on Form N-1A filed September 15, 2000. (File Nos. 2-91090 and 811-4017)
22.   Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective
      Amendment No. 52 on Form N-1A filed March 20, 2001.  (File Nos. 2-91090
      and 811-4017)
23.   Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective
      Amendment No. 51 on Form N-1A filed December 27, 2001.  (File Nos. 2-91090
      and 811-4017


             (g)    (i)    Conformed Copy of the Custodian Agreement of the
                            Registrant; (6)
                  (ii)     Conformed copy of Custodian Fee Schedule; (15)
             (h)    (i)    Conformed copy of Amended and Restated Shareholder
                           Services Agreement; (15)
                   (ii)     Conformed copy of Amended and Restated Agreement for
                           Fund Accounting Services, Administrative Services,
                           Shareholder Transfer Agency Services and Custody Services
                           Procurement; (17)
                  (iii)    Conformed copy of Amendment to Agreement for Fund
                           Accounting Services, Administrative Services, Shareholder
                           Transfer Agency Services and Custody Services
                           Procurement; (23)
                   (iv)    Conformed copy of Principal Shareholder Service's
                           Agreement (Class B Shares); (16)
                    (v)    ..................Conformed copy of Exhibit 1 to the
                           Principal Shareholder
                           Service's Agreement (Class B Shares); (23)
                   (vi)    ..................Conformed copy of Shareholder
                           Services Agreement (Class B Shares); (16)
                  (vii)    Conformed copy of Exhibit 1 to the Shareholder Services
                           Agreement (Class B Shares); (23)
                 (viii)    The Registrant hereby incorporates by reference the
                           conformed copy of the Shareholder Services Sub-Contract
                           between Fidelity and Federated Shareholder Services from
                           Item 24(b)(9)(iii) of the Federated GNMA Trust
                           Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed with the
                           Commission on March 25, 1996 (File Nos. 2-75670 and
                           811-3375).
            (i)            Conformed copy of the Opinion and Consent of Counsel
                           regarding legality of shares being registered; (6)
            (j)            Conformed copy of Consent of Independent Auditors; (+)
            (k)   Not Applicable;
            (l)            Conformed copy of Initial Capital understanding; (2)



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+     All exhibits have been filed electronically
2.    Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment
      No. 1 on Form N-1A filed February 28, 1985.  (File Nos. 2-91090 and 811-4017)
6.    Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment
      No. 20 on Form N-1A filed December 29, 1994.  (File Nos. 2-91090 and 811-4017)
10.   Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment
       No. 26 on Form N-1A filed September 12, 1995.  (File Nos. 2-91090 and
      811-4017)
15.   Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment
      No. 31 on Form N-1A filed October 30, 1997.  (File Nos. 2-91090 and 811-4017)
16.   Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective
      Amendment
      No. 35 on Form N-1A filed December 30, 1997. (File Nos. 2-91090 and 811-4017)
17.   Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective
      Amendment
      No. 40 on Form N-1A filed October 9, 1998. (File Nos. 2-91090 and
      811-4017)
23.   Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective
      Amendment No. 51 on Form N-1A filed December 27, 2001.  (File Nos. 2-91090
      and 811-4017


            (m)     (i)    Conformed Copy of Distribution Plan of the Registrant;
                           (10)
                   (ii)    Conformed copies of Exhibits A and C to the Distribution
                           Plan for Federated Small Cap Strategies Fund, (Class A
                           and C Shares); (10) (iii) Conformed copy of Exhibit E to
                           the Distribution Plan for Federated Growth Strategies
                           Fund, (Class C Shares); (10)
                   (iv)     Conformed copies of Exhibit F and H to the Distribution
                           Plan for Federated Capital Appreciation Fund, (Class A
                           and C Shares); (10)
                    (v)       Conformed copies of Exhibits I and K to the
                           Distribution Plan for Federated Aggressive Growth Fund
                           (Class A and C Shares); (14)
                           The responses described in Item 23(e)(xiv) are hereby
                           incorporated by reference;
                         (vii) ..............   Conformed copy of Amendment to the
                           Distribution Contract (Class B Shares); (23)
                 (viii)    Conformed copies of Exhibits L, M, N & O to the
                           Distribution Plan; (19)
                   (ix)    Conformed copies of Exhibits P and Q to the Distribution
                           Plan for Federated New Economy Fund, (Class A and C
                           Shares); (20)
                    (x)    Conformed copy of Exhibit B to Registrant's Distribution
                           Plan for Class B Shares of Federated Small Cap Strategies
                           Fund;(22)
                   (xi)    Conformed copy of Exhibit D to Registrant's Distribution
                           Plan for Class B Shares of Federated Growth Strategies
                           Fund; (22)
                  (xii)    Conformed copy of Exhibit G to Registrant's Distribution
                           Plan for Class B Shares of Federated Capital Appreciation
                           Fund; (22)
                 (xiii)    Conformed copy of Exhibit J to Registrant's Distribution
                           Plan for Class B Shares of Federated Aggressive Growth
                           Fund; (22)
                  (xiv)    Conformed copy of Exhibits R & S to Registrant's
                           Distribution Plan for Class A & C Shares of Federated
                           Market Opportunity Fund; (22)
                   (xv)    Conformed copy of Exhibit T to Registrant's Distribution
                           Plan for Class K Shares of Federated Kaufmann Fund; (22)
                  (xvi)    Conformed copy of Exhibits U & V to Registrant's
                           Distribution Plan for Class A & C Shares of Federated
                           Kaufmann Fund and Federated Large Cap Tech Fund; (22)
(xvi) Copy of Schedule A to the Distribution Plan; (19)
(xvii)      Conformed copy of Exhibit W to the Distribution Plan (Federated
                           Kaufmann Small Cap Fund Class A Shares) (+)
(xviii)     Conform copy of Exhibit X to the Distribution Plan (Federated
                           Kaufmann Small Cap Fund Class C Shares) (+)
            (n)     (i)      The Registrant hereby incorporates the conformed copy
                           of the specimen Multiple Class Plan from Item (n) of the
                           Federated Total Return Government Bond Fund Registration
                           Statement on Form N-1A, filed with the Commission on
                           April 24, 200. (File Nos. 33-60411 and 811-07309);
                   (ii)    Multiple Class Plan (18f-3) Exhibits; (19)
            (o)     (i)    Conformed copy of Power of Attorney of the Registrant;(19)
                  (ii)     Conformed copy of Power of Attorney of Chief
                           Investment Officer of the Registrant; (+)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+     All exhibits have been filed electronically
10.   Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment
       No. 26 on Form N-1A filed September 12, 1995.  (File Nos. 2-91090 and
      811-4017)
14.    Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post Effective
      Amendment
       No. 29 on Form N-1A filed May 29, 1997.  (File Nos. 2-910090 and 811-4017)
19.    Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective
      Amendment
      No. 44 on Form N-1A filed December 28, 1999. (File Nos. 2-91090 and 811-4017)
20.   Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment
      No. 46 on Form N-1A filed September 15, 2000. (File Nos. 2-91090 and 811-4017)
22.   Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective
      Amendment No. 52 on Form N-1A filed March 20, 2001.  (File Nos. 2-91090
      and 811-4017)
23.   Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective
      Amendment No. 51 on Form N-1A filed December 27, 2001.  (File Nos. 2-91090
      and 811-4017

(iii)    Conformed copy of Power of Attorney of Trustee of the
                           Registrant; (19)
                   (iv)    Conformed copy of Limited Power of Attorney; (19)
            (p)            The Registrant hereby incorporates the conformed copy of
                           the Code of Ethics for Access Persons from Item 23(p) of
                           the Federated Managed Allocation Portfolios Registration
                           Statement on Form N-1A filed with the Commission on
                           January 25, 2001. (File Nos. 33-51247 and 811-7129).

Item 24.    Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with the Funds

            None.

Item 25.    Indemnification:  (1)

_______________________________________________________________________________________
1.    Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective
      Amendment No. 41 on Form N-1A filed November 2, 1998. (File Nos. 2-91090
      and 811-4017)
19.   Response is incorporated by reference to Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment
      No. 44 on Form N-1A filed December 28, 1999. (File Nos. 2-91090 and 811-4017)

Item 26. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser:

         For a description of the other business of the investment adviser, see
         the section entitled "Who Manages the Fund?" in Part A. The
         affiliations with the Registrant of four of the Trustees and one of
         the Officers of the investment adviser are included in Part B of this
         Registration Statement under "Who Manages and Provides Services to the
         Fund?"  The remaining Trustees of the investment adviser and, in
         parentheses, their principal occupations are:  Thomas R. Donahue,
         (Chief Financial Officer, Federated Investors, Inc.), 1001 Liberty
         Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15222-3779 and Mark D. Olson (a principal of
         the firm, Mark D. Olson & Company, L.L.C. and Partner, Wilson,
         Halbrook & Bayard, P.A.), 800 Delaware Avenue, P.O. Box 2305,
         Wilmington, DE  19899-2305.

         The remaining Officers of the investment adviser are:

         Vice Chairman:                      J. Thomas Madden

         President/ Chief Executive
         Officer:                                  Keith M. Schappert

         Executive Vice Presidents:          William D. Dawson, III
                                             Stephen F. Auth

         Senior Vice Presidents:             Joseph M. Balestrino
                                             David A. Briggs
                                             Jonathan C. Conley
                                             Christopher F. Corapi
                                             Deborah A. Cunningham
                                             Michael P. Donnelly
                                             Linda A. Duessel
                                             Mark E. Durbiano
                                             James E. Grefenstette
                                             Robert M. Kowit
                                             Jeffrey A. Kozemchak
                                             Richard J. Lazarchic
                                             Susan M. Nason
                                             Mary Jo Ochson
                                             Robert J. Ostrowski
                                             Frank Semack
                                             Richard Tito
                                             Peter Vutz

         Vice Presidents:                    Todd A. Abraham
                                             J. Scott Albrecht
                                             Randall S. Bauer
                                             Nancy J.Belz
                                             G. Andrew Bonnewell
                                             David Burns
                                             Robert E. Cauley
                                             Regina Chi
                                             Ross M. Cohen
                                             Fred B. Crutchfield
                                             Lee R. Cunningham, II
                                             Alexandre de Bethmann
B.    Anthony Delserone, Jr.
                                             Donald T. Ellenberger
                                             Eamonn G. Folan
                                             Kathleen M. Foody-Malus
                                             Thomas M. Franks
                                             John T. Gentry
                                             David P. Gilmore
                                             Marc Halperin
                                             John W. Harris
                                             Patricia L. Heagy
                                             Susan R. Hill
                                             Nikola A. Ivanov
                                             William R. Jamison
                                             Constantine J. Kartsonas
                                             Nathan H. Kehm
                                             John C. Kerber
                                             Steven Lehman
                                             Marian R. Marinack
                                             Natalie F. Metz
                                             Thomas J. Mitchell
                                             Joseph M. Natoli
                                             John L. Nichol
                                             Mary Kay Pavuk
                                             Jeffrey A. Petro
                                             John P. Quartarolo
                                             Ihab L. Salib
                                             Roberto Sanchez-Dahl, Sr.
                                             Aash M. Shah
                                             John Sidawi
                                             Michael W. Sirianni, Jr.
                                             Christopher Smith
                                             Timothy G. Trebilcock
                                             Leonardo A. Vila
                                             Paige M. Wilhelm
                                             Richard M. Winkowski, Jr.
                                             Lori A. Wolff
                                             George B. Wright

         Assistant Vice Presidents:          Catherine A. Arendas
                                             Angela A. Auchey
                                             Nicholas P. Besh
                                             Hanan Callas
                                             David W. Cook
                                             James R. Crea, Jr.
                                             Karol M. Crummie
                                             David Dao
                                             Richard J. Gallo
                                             James Grant
                                             Anthony Han
                                             Kathryn P. Heagy
                                             Carol B. Kayworth
                                             J. Andrew Kirschler
                                             Robert P. Kozlowski
                                             Ted T. Lietz, Sr.
                                             Monica Lugani
                                             Tracey L. Lusk
                                             Theresa K. Miller
                                             Bob Nolte
                                             Rae Ann Rice
                                             Jennifer G. Setzenfand
                                             Kyle D. Stewart
                                             Mary Ellen Tesla
                                             Michael R. Tucker
                                             Steven J. Wagner
                                             Mark Weiss

         Secretary:                          G. Andrew Bonnewell

         Treasurer:                          Thomas R. Donahue

         Assistant Secretaries:              Jay S. Neuman
                                             Leslie K. Ross

         Assistant Treasurer:                Denis McAuley, III

         The business address of each of the Officers of the investment adviser
         is Federated Investors Tower, 1001 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh,
         Pennsylvania 15222-3779.  These individuals are also officers of a
         majority of the investment advisers to the investment companies in the
         Federated Fund Complex described in Part B of this Registration
         Statement.


Item 27.  Principal Underwriters:

          (a)     Federated Securities Corp. the Distributor for shares of the
                  Registrant, acts as principal underwriter for the following
                  open-end investment companies, including the Registrant:

Cash Trust Series II; Cash Trust Series, Inc.; CCMI Funds; Edward Jones Money
Market Fund; Edward Jones Tax-Free Money Market Fund; Federated American
Leaders Fund, Inc.; Federated Adjustable Rate Securities Fund; Federated Core
Trust; Federated Core Trust II, L.P.; Federated Equity Funds; Federated Equity
Income Fund, Inc.; Federated Fixed Income Securities, Inc.; Federated GNMA
Trust; Federated Government Income Securities, Inc.; Federated High Income Bond
Fund, Inc.; Federated High Yield Trust; Federated Income Securities Trust;
Federated Income Trust; Federated Index Trust; Federated Institutional Trust;
Federated Insurance Series; Federated International Series, Inc.; Federated
Investment Series Funds, Inc.; Federated Limited Duration Government Fund,
Inc.; Federated Managed Allocation Portfolios; Federated Municipal
Opportunities Fund, Inc.; Federated Municipal Securities Fund, Inc.; Federated
Municipal Securities Income Trust; Federated Short-Term Municipal Trust;
Federated Stock and Bond Fund, Inc.; Federated Stock Trust; Federated Total
Return Series, Inc.; Federated U.S. Government Bond Fund; Federated U.S.
Government Securities Fund: 1-3 Years; Federated U.S. Government Securities
Fund: 2-5 Years; Federated Total Return Government Bond Fund; Federated Utility
Fund, Inc.; Federated World Investment Series, Inc.; FirstMerit Funds; Hibernia
Funds; Intermediate Municipal Trust; Marshall Funds, Inc.; Money Market
Obligations Trust; Regions Morgan Keegan Select Funds; RIGGS Funds; SouthTrust
Funds; and Vision Group of Funds.


         (b)

        (1)                          (2)                       (3)
Positions and Offices                                 Positions and Offices
  With Distributor                   Name                With Registrant
_____________________          _________________      ______________________

Chairman:                     Richard B. Fisher          [Insert Title(s)]

Director:                     Arthur L. Cherry

President-Institutional
Sales and Director:           John B. Fisher

Executive Vice
Vice President, Assistant
Secretary and Director:       Thomas R. Donahue

President-Broker/Dealer
And Director:                 James F. Getz

Senior Vice Presidents:
                              Mark W. Bloss
                              Richard W. Boyd
                              Laura M. Deger
                              Peter W. Eisenbrandt
                              Theodore Fadool, Jr.
                              Christopher T. Fives
                              James S. Hamilton
                              James M. Heaton
                              Amy Michaliszyn
                              Keith Nixon
                              Solon A. Person, IV
                              Ronald M. Petnuch
                              Timothy C. Pillion
                              Thomas E. Territ
                              Robert F. Tousignant

Vice Presidents:              John B. Bohnet
                              Jane E. Broeren-Lambesis
                              David J. Callahan
                              Mark Carroll
                              Scott Charlton
                              Steven R. Cohen
                              Mary J. Combs
                              R. Edmond Connell, Jr.
                              Kevin J. Crenny
                              Daniel T. Culbertson
                              G. Michael Cullen
                              Marc C. Danile
                              Robert J. Deuberry
                              Ron Dorman
                              William C. Doyle
                              Donald C. Edwards
                              Timothy Franklin
                              Peter J. Germain
                              Joseph D. Gibbons
                              G. Tad Gullickson
                              Scott Gundersen
                              Dayna C. Haferkamp
                              Raymond J. Hanley
                              Vincent L. Harper, Jr.
                              Bruce E. Hastings
                              Charlene H. Jennings
                              Teresa M. Johnson
                              Christopher L. Johnston
                              H. Joseph Kennedy
                              Stephen Kittel
                              Michael W. Koenig
                              Ed Koontz
                              Christopher A. Layton
                              Michael H. Liss
                              Michael R. Manning
                              Martin J. McCaffrey
                              Maurice W. McKinney
                              Mark J. Miehl
                              Richard C. Mihm
                              Vincent T. Morrow
                              Alec H. Neilly
                              Thomas A. Peter III
                              Raleigh Peters
                              Robert F. Phillips
                              Richard A. Recker
                              Christopher Renwick
                              John Rogers
                              Brian S. Ronayne
                              Thomas S. Schinabeck
                              Edward J. Segura
                              Edward L. Smith
                              David W. Spears
                              John A. Staley
                              Colin B. Starks
                              Jeffrey A. Stewart
                              Kevin Stutz
                              Timothy A. Rosewicz
                              Greg Spralding
                              William C. Tustin
                              Paul A. Uhlman
                              Richard B. Watts
                              G. Walter Whalen
                              Patrick M. Wiethorn
                              Edward J. Wojnarowski
                              Michael P. Wolff


Assistant Vice Presidents:    Lisa Arcuri
                              Robert W. Bauman
                              Edward R. Bozek
                              Charles L. Davis, Jr.
                              Beth C. Dell
                              Jennifer Fetteroff
                              Renee L. Gebben
                              John T. Glickson
                              William Rose
                              Lynn Sherwood-Long

Treasurer:                    Denis McAuley, III

Secretary:                    Stephen A. Keen

Assistant Secretaries:        Thomas R. Donahue
                              Peter J. Germain

The business address of each of the Officers of Federated Securities Corp. is
Federated Investors Tower, 1001 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
15222-3779.

         (c)     Not applicable





Item 28.    Location of Accounts and Records:

All accounts and records required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940 and Rules 31a-1 through 31a-3 promulgated
thereunder are maintained at one of the following locations:

Registrant                                Reed Smith LLP
                                          Investment and Asset Management
                                          Group (IAMG)
                                          Federated Investors Tower
                                          12th Floor
                                          1001 Liberty Avenue
                                          Pittsburgh, PA  15222-3779
                                          (Notices should be sent to the
                                           Agent for Service at above
                                           address)

                                          Federated Investors Funds
                                          5800 Corporate Drive
                                          Pittsburgh, PA 15237-7000

Federated Shareholder Services Company    P.O. Box 8600
("Transfer Agent and Dividend             Boston, MA 02266-8600
Disbursing Agent")

Federated Services Company                Federated Investors Tower
("Administrator")                         1001 Liberty Avenue
                                          Pittsburgh, PA  15222-3779

Federated Investment Management Company   Federated Investors Tower
("Adviser")                               1001 Liberty Avenue
                                          Pittsburgh, PA  15222-3779

Federated Global Investment Management Corp.    c/o Federated Investors Tower
("Sub-Adviser to Federated Kaufmann       1001 Liberty Avenue
Small Cap Fund")                          Pittsburgh, PA  15222-3779

State Street Bank and Trust Company       P.O. Box 8600
("Custodian")                             Boston, MA 02266-8600


Item 29.    Management Services:  Not applicable.


Item 30.    Undertakings:

            Registrant hereby undertakes to comply with the provisions of
            Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act with respect to the removal of Trustees and
            the calling of special shareholder meetings by shareholders.



                                   SIGNATURES
    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant, FEDERATED EQUITY FUNDS,
certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this
Amendment to its Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 485(a) under the
Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this Amendment to its Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in
the City of Pittsburgh and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on the 24th day of
December, 2002.

                             FEDERATED EQUITY FUNDS

                  BY: /s/ Todd P. Zerega
                  Todd P. Zerega, Assistant Secretary
                  Attorney in Fact for John F. Donahue
                  December 24, 2002

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment
to its Registration Statement has been signed below by the following person in
the capacity and on the date indicated:

    NAME                            TITLE                         DATE
By: /s/ Todd P. Zerega            Attorney In Fact          December 24, 2002
    Todd P. Zerega                For the Persons
    ASSISTANT SECRETARY           Listed Below

John F. Donahue*                  Chairman and Trustee

J.    Christopher Donahue*        President and Trustee
                                  (Principal Executive Officer)

Richard J. Thomas*                Treasurer
                                  (Principal FinancialOfficer)

Stephen F. Auth*                  Chief Investment Officer

Thomas G. Bigley*                   Trustee

John T. Conroy, Jr.*                Trustee

Nicholas P. Constantakis*           Trustee

John F. Cunningham*                 Trustee

Lawrence D. Ellis, M.D.*            Trustee

Peter E. Madden*                    Trustee

Charles F. Mansfield, Jr.*          Trustee

John E. Murray, Jr., J.D., S.J.D.*  Trustee

Marjorie P. Smuts*                  Trustee

John S. Walsh*                      Trustee

*By Power of Attorney