497 1 ratings497e.htm SUPPLEMENT PURSUANT TO 497(E) PIMCO Funds

PIMCO Funds

Supplement Dated March 23, 2007 to all Current Prospectuses for PIMCO Funds

Effective immediately, PIMCO Funds (the "Trust") has changed its policies so that each series of the Trust (each a "Fund") will now be permitted to use the ratings assigned by Fitch, Inc. ("Fitch") for purposes of credit quality investment restrictions (if any). Currently, each Fund uses ratings from Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or Standard & Poor's Ratings Service ("S&P"), or, if unrated, PIMCO's determination of comparable quality to a rated security for purposes of credit quality investment restrictions (if any). Effective immediately, a Fund's credit quality restrictions (if any) will now be based on the ratings of Moody's, S&P or Fitch, or if unrated, PIMCO's determination of comparable quality to a rated security. Therefore, all currently effective prospectuses of the Trust (collectively, the "Prospectuses") are hereby supplemented as follows:

Effective immediately, a reference to "Fitch, Inc." or "Fitch," as applicable, is added to all portions of the Prospectuses regarding credit quality of investments made by a Fund that reference both "Moody's Investors Service, Inc." (or "Moody's") and "Standard & Poor's Ratings Service" (or "S&P").

Effective immediately, the first paragraph of the "Appendix A - Description of Securities Ratings" section of all Prospectuses is replaced in its entirety with the following:

A Fund's investments may range in quality from securities rated in the lowest category to securities rated in the highest category (as rated by Moody's, S&P, or Fitch, or, if unrated, determined by PIMCO to be of comparable quality). The percentage of a Fund's assets invested in securities in a particular rating category will vary. The following terms are generally used to describe the credit quality of fixed income securities:

High Quality Debt Securities are those rated in one of the two highest rating categories (the highest category for commercial paper) or, if unrated, deemed comparable by PIMCO.

Investment Grade Debt Securities are those rated in one of the four highest rating categories or, if unrated, deemed comparable by PIMCO.

Below Investment Grade, High Yield Securities ("Junk Bonds") are those rated lower than Baa by Moody's, BBB by S&P or Fitch and comparable securities. They are considered predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer's ability to repay principal and interest.

The following is a description of Moody's, S&P's and Fitch's rating categories applicable to fixed income securities.

Effective immediately, the following is added after the paragraphs under the heading "Standard & Poor's Rating Services" of the "Appendix A - Description of Securities Ratings" section of all Prospectuses:

Fitch, Inc.

Long-Term Credit Ratings

Investment Grade

AAA: Highest credit quality. "AAA" ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in case of exceptionally strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

AA: Very high credit quality. "AA" ratings denote a very low expectation of credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

A: High credit quality. "A" ratings denote a low expectation of credit risk. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to changes in circumstances or in economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

BBB: Good credit quality. "BBB" ratings indicate that there is currently a low expectation of credit risk. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse changes in circumstances and in economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity. This is the lowest investment-grade category.

Speculative Grade

BB: Speculative. "BB" ratings indicate that there is a possibility of credit risk developing, particularly as the result of adverse economic change over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met. Securities rated in this category are not investment grade.

B: Highly speculative. "B" ratings indicate that significant credit risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is contingent upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.

CCC, CC, C: High default risk. Default is a real possibility. Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon sustained, favorable business or economic developments. A "CC" rating indicates that default of some kind appears probable. "C" ratings signal imminent default.

DDD, DD, D: Default. The ratings of obligations in this category are based on their prospects for achieving partial or full recovery in a reorganization or liquidation of the obligor. While expected recovery values are highly speculative and cannot be estimated with any precision, the following serve as general guidelines. "DDD" obligations have the highest potential for recovery, around 90%-100% of outstanding amounts and accrued interest. "DD" indicates potential recoveries in the range of 50%-90%, and "D" the lowest recovery potential, i.e., below 50%. Entities rated in this category have defaulted on some or all of their obligations. Entities rated "DDD" have the highest prospect for resumption of performance or continued operation with or without a formal reorganization process. Entities rated "DD" and "D" are generally undergoing a formal reorganization or liquidation process; those rated "DD" are likely to satisfy a higher portion of their outstanding obligations, while entities rated "D" have a poor prospect for repaying all obligations.

Short-Term Credit Ratings

A short-term rating has a time horizon of less than 12 months for most obligations, or up to three years for U.S. public finance securities, and thus places greater emphasis on the liquidity necessary to meet financial commitments in a timely manner.

F1: Highest credit quality. Indicates the strongest capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added "+" to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

F2: Good credit quality. A satisfactory capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, but the margin of safety is not as great as in the case of the higher ratings.

F3: Fair credit quality. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate; however, near-term adverse changes could result in a reduction to non-investment grade.

B: Speculative. Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus vulnerability to near-term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

C: High default risk. Default is a real possibility. Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.

D: Default. Denotes actual or imminent payment default.

"+" or "-" may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. Such suffixes are not added to the "AAA" long-term rating category, to categories below "CCC," or to short-term ratings other than "F1."

"NR" indicates that Fitch does not rate the issuer or issue in question.

Withdrawn: A rating is withdrawn when Fitch deems the amount of information available to be inadequate for rating purposes, or when an obligation matures, is called, or refinanced.

Rating Watch: Ratings are placed on Rating Watch to notify investors that there is a reasonable probability of a rating change and the likely direction of such change. These are designated as "Positive", indicating a potential upgrade, "Negative," for a potential downgrade, or "Evolving," if ratings may be raised, lowered or maintained. Rating Watch is typically resolved over a relatively short period.

A Rating Outlook indicates the direction a rating is likely to move over a one to two year period. Outlooks may be positive, stable, or negative. A positive or negative Rating Outlook does not imply a rating change is inevitable. Similarly, companies whose outlooks are "stable" could be downgraded before an outlook moves to positive or negative if circumstances warrant such an action. Occasionally, Fitch may be unable to identify the fundamental trend. In these cases, the Rating Outlook may be described as evolving.