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Prospectus                                                        April 30, 1999
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Smith Barney Municipal Fund, Inc.
Common Stock
       Listed on the American Stock Exchange
       Trading symbol--SBT

      Smith Barney Municipal Fund, Inc. is a diversified, closed-end management
investment company. The fund's investment objective is to seek a high level of
current income exempt from regular federal income tax consistent with prudent
investing. The fund invests primarily in investment grade municipal debt
securities issued by state and local governments, political subdivisions,
agencies and public authorities (municipal obligations) with remaining
maturities of less than fifteen years. The fund seeks to maintain a
dollar-weighted average maturity between 3 and 10 years.

    
      Shares of closed-end funds frequently have market prices that are less
than the net asset value per share. For more information about this or other
risks of investing in the fund, see "Investment Objectives and Management
Policies--Risk Factors and Special Considerations" on page 22.
     

      The prospectus contains important information about the fund. For your
benefit and protection, please read it before you invest, and keep it on hand
for future reference.

    
      Shareholder reports can be obtained without charge from your Salomon Smith
Barney Financial Consultant or from the fund by calling 1-800-331-1710 or
writing to the fund at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013. You can
review and copy the fund's shareholder reports at the Securities and Exchange
Commission's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. The Commission charges a
duplicating fee for this service. Information about the Public Reference Room
may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330. You can get the same information free
from the Commission's Internet web site at www.sec.com
     

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these
securities or determined whether this prospectus is accurate or complete. Any
statement to the contrary is a crime.

SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC.


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Table of Contents
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Prospectus Summary                                                             3
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Fund Expenses                                                                  7
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Financial Highlights                                                           8
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The Fund                                                                      10
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The Offering                                                                  10
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Use of Proceeds                                                               10
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Investment Objective and Management Policies                                  10
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Investment Restrictions                                                       26
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Share Price Data                                                              29
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Management of the Fund                                                        30
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Securities Transactions and Turnover                                          34
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Dividends and Distributions; Dividend Reinvestment Plan                       36
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Net Asset Value                                                               37
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Taxation                                                                      38
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Description of Shares                                                         42
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Certain Provisions of the Articles of Incorporation and
  Market Discount                                                             43
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Custodian, Transfer Agent, Dividend-Paying Agent, Registrar
  and Plan Agent                                                              44
 
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Reports to Shareholders                                                       45
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Independent Auditors                                                          45
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Additional Information                                                        45
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Appendix A                                                                   A-1
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Appendix B                                                                   B-1
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2
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Prospectus Summary
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      The following is a summar of more complete information appearing later in
the prospectus. You should read the entire prospectus because it contains
details that are not in the summary. Cross references in the summary to headings
in the prospectus will help you locate information. 

THE FUND The fund is a diversified closed-end management investment company. See
"The Fund." 

 
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND PRIMARY INVESTMENTS The fund's investment objective is
a high level of current income exempt from regular federal income tax consistent
with prudent investing. The fund invests primarily in investment grade municipal
obligations with remaining maturities of less than fifteen years. Investment
grade debt securities are those rated in one of the four highest rating
categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO).
 

      Municipal obligations include bonds and notes such as:

      o     General obligation bonds issued for various public purposes and
            supported by the municipal issuer's credit and taxing power.

      o     Revenue bonds whose principal and interest is payable only from the
            revenues of a particular project or facility. Industrial revenue
            bonds depend on the credit standing of a private issuer and may be
            subject to the federal alternative minimum tax (AMT).

      o     Notes that are short-term obligations of municipalities or agencies
            sold in anticipation of a bond sale, collection of taxes or receipt
            of other revenues.

      Municipal obligations may have all types of interest rate payment and
reset terms, including fixed rate, adjustable rate, zero coupon, payment in kind
and auction rate features. See "Investment Objective and Management Policies"
and Appendix A.

TAX-EXEMPT INCOME The fund invests with the objective that dividends paid by the
fund may be excluded by shareholders from their gross incomes for federal income
tax purposes. A portion of the fund's dividends may be taxable. The fund may
invest without limit in private activity bonds. Income from these bonds may be a
special preference item for purposes of the AMT. The fund may not be a suitable
investment if you are subject to the AMT. See "Investment Objective and
Management Policies" and "Taxation."

THE OFFERING The fund's shares of common stock trade on the American Stock
Exchange. In addition, Salomon Smith Barney intends to buy and sell the fund's
shares and will make a market in the common stock. Salomon Smith Barney is not
obligated to conduct market-making activities and may stop doing so at any time
without notice to the fund or its shareholders. See "The Offering" and "Use of
Proceeds."


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Prospectus Summary (continued)
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LISTING  AMEX.

SYMBOL   SBT.

INVESTMENT MANAGER SSBC Fund Management Inc. (SSBC) (formerly Mutual Management
Corp) is the fund's investment manager. The manager selects and manages the
fund's investments in accordance with the fund's investment objective and
policies. SSBC is also the fund's administrator and oversees the fund's
non-investment operations and its relations with its service providers. For its
services, SSBC receives a fee equal on an annual basis to 0.70% of the fund's
average daily net assets.

      Peter Coffey, a vice president and investment officer of the fund, has
been primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the fund since 1992,
when the fund commenced operations. Mr. Coffey is a managing director of Salomon
Smith Barney.
   
      The manager and Salomon Smith Barney are subsidiaries of Citigroup Inc.
(Citigroup). Citigroup businesses produce a broad range of financial services -
asset management, banking and consumer finance, credit and charge cards,
insurance, investments, investment banking and trading and use diverse channels
to make them available to consumer and corporate customers around the world. See
"Management of the Fund."
     

RISK FACTORS AND SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS The value of the securities in the
fund's portfolio fluctuate in price and the value of your investment in the fund
will go up and down in value. This means that you could lose money on your
investment in the fund or the fund could perform less well than other possible
investments. In addition, the price of the shares is determined by market prices
on the AMEX and elsewhere, so you may receive a price that is less than net
asset value when you sell your shares. Specific risks associated with an
investment in the fund are described below.

      Municipal obligations. The fund invests primarily in municipal obligations
and may be affected by any of the following:

      o     Interest rates rise, causing the value of the fund's portfolio
            generally to decline

      o     When interest rates are declining, the issuer of a security
            exercises its right to prepay principal earlier than scheduled,
            forcing the fund to reinvest in lower yielding securities. This is
            known as call or prepayment risk

      o     The underlying revenue source for a municipal obligation other than
            a general obligation bond is insufficient to pay principal or
            interest in a timely manner

      o     The issuer of a security owned by the fund has its credit rating
            downgraded or defaults on its obligation to pay principal and/or
            interest


4
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Prospectus Summary (continued)
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      o     The manager's judgment about the attractiveness, value or income
            potential of a particular bond proves to be incorrect

      o     Municipal obligations fall out of favor with investors

      o     Unfavorable legislation affects the tax-exempt status of municipal
            obligations

      The fund may invest more than 25% of its assets in municipal securities
that finance the same or similar types of facilities in issuers located in the
same state. If the fund invests more than 25% of its assets in such segments, it
will be more susceptible to economic, business, political, regulatory and other
developments generally affecting issuers of those sectors of the municipal
market.

 
      Lease obligations. The fund may invest in unrated "non-appropriation"
lease obligations or installment purchase contract obligations of municipal
authorities or entities believed by the investment manager to be of comparable
quality to securities that are rated investment grade. There is no limitation on
the percentage of the fund's assets that may be invested in these lease
obligations. A lease obligation is backed by the municipality's promise to make
the payments due under the lease obligation. Lease obligations containing
"non-appropriation" clauses provide that the municipality has no obligation to
make lease installment purchase payments in future years unless money is
appropriated for such purpose on a yearly basis. It is possible that a
municipality will fail to appropriate money in the future because of political
changes, changes in the economic viability of a project or general economic
changes. While these lease obligations generally are secured by a lien on the
leased property, disposing of foreclosed property could be costly, time
consuming and the fund may not recoup its original investment.
 

      Investment grade and unrated securities. The fund invests in investment
grade debt securities, and unrated securities that the manager believes are of
comparable quality. Investment grade securities that are not in the highest
rating category may be subject to greater risk of downgrade and issuer default
than higher rated securities and may have speculative characteristics. The fund
may experience more difficulty selling unrated securities because markets for
these securities may be less liquid.

 
      Possibility of taxable income or gains. It is possible that some of the
fund's income and gains may be subject to federal taxation. The fund may realize
taxable gains on the sale of its securities, and some of the fund's income may
be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax.
 

      Derivatives. The fund holds securities or uses investment techniques that
provide for payments based on or "derived" from the performance of an underlying
asset, index or other economic benchmark.


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Prospectus Summary (continued)
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      The fund may use derivatives:

      o     To shorten or lengthen the fund's effective maturity or duration

      o     As a substitute for purchasing or selling securities

      o     To hedge against adverse changes caused by changing interest rates
            in the market value of securities held or to be bought by the fund

      A derivative contract will obligate or entitle the fund to deliver or
receive an asset or cash payment that is based on the change in value of one or
more securities or indices. Even a small investment in derivative contracts can
have a big impact on the fund's interest rate exposure. Therefore, using
derivatives can disproportionately increase losses and reduce opportunities for
gains when interest rates are changing. The fund may not fully benefit from or
may lose money on derivatives if changes in their value do not correspond
accurately to changes in the value of the fund's holdings. The other parties to
certain derivative contracts present the same types of default risk as issuers
of fixed income securities. Derivatives can also make the fund less liquid and
harder to value, especially in declining markets.

      Closed end investment company. The fund is a closed-end investment company
and its shares may trade on the AMEX at a price that is less than its net asset
value.

      Certain provisions in the fund's governing documents may limit the ability
of other entities to acquire control of the fund. This could deprive
shareholders of the opportunity to sell their shares at a premium over
prevailing market prices.

      See "Investment Objective and Policies."

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS Any dividends from net investment income (that is,
income other than net realized capital gains) are paid monthly and any
distributions of net realized capital gains are paid annually. Your dividends or
distributions are reinvested in additional fund shares through participation in
the Dividend Reinvestment Plan, unless you elect to receive cash. The number of
shares issued to you by the plan depends on the price of the shares. The price
of the shares is determined by the market price at the time the shares are
purchased.

Market Price of Fund Shares              Price of Fund Shares Issued by Plan
Greater than or equal to net             Shares issued at net asset value or 95%
asset value                              of market price, whichever is greater

Less than net asset value                Market price

      See "Dividends and Distributions; Dividend Reinvestment Plan."


6
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Prospectus Summary (continued)
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Custodian PNC Bank, National Association (PNC Bank) is the fund's custodian. See
"Custodian, Transfer Agent, Dividend-Paying Agent, Registrar and Plan Agent."

TRANSFER AGENT, DIVIDENT-PAYING AGENT, REGISTRAR AND PLAN AGENT First Data
Investor Services Group, Inc. (First Data) is the fund's transfer agent,
dividend-paying agent and registrar. See "Custodian, Transfer Agent,
Dividend-Paying Agent, Registrar and Plan Agent."

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Fund Expenses
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      The following table shows the expenses the fund pays. As a shareholder,
you indirectly bear these expenses.

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          Annual Expenses

      (as a percentage of net assets)
      Management fees                                                      0.70%
      Other expenses*                                                      0.17
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          Total Annual Operating Expenses*                                 0.87%
================================================================================
*     "Other Expenses", as shown above, is based upon amounts of expenses for
      the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998.

      An investor would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment,
assuming (1) a 5% annual return and (2) reinvestment of all dividends and
distributions at net asset value:

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               1 year            3 years           5 years           10 years
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                 $9                $28               $48               $107
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      This example assumes that all dividends and other distributions are
reinvested at net asset value and that the percentage amounts listed under
Annual Expenses remain the same in the years shown. While the example assumes a
5% annual return, the fund's performance will vary and may result in a return
greater or less than 5%. In addition, while the example assumes reinvestment of
all dividends and distributions at net asset value, participants in the fund's
dividend reinvestment plan may receive shares purchased or issued at a price or
value different from net asset value. See "Dividends and Distributions; Dividend
Reinvestment Plan." This example should not be considered a representation of
future expenses of the fund. Actual expenses may be greater or less than those
shown.


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Financial Highlights
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      The following information has been audited by KPMG LLP, independent
auditors, whose report thereon appears in the fund's annual report dated
December 31, 1998. The following information should be read in conjunction with
the financial statements and related notes that also appear in the fund's 1998
annual report to shareholders, which is incorporated by reference into this
prospectus.

For a share of capital stock outstanding throughout the year:


Smith Barney Municipal Fund, Inc.           1998      1997      1996      1995
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Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year         $15.84    $15.42    $15.75    $14.30
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Income (Loss) From Operations:                                           
  Net investment income                      0.78      0.83      0.84      0.83
  Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)    0.04      0.50     (0.32)     1.47
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Total Income (Loss) from Operations          0.82      1.33      0.52      2.30
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Less Distributions From:                                                 
  Net investment income                     (0.81)    (0.84)    (0.85)    (0.85)
  In excess of net investment income           --     (0.01)       --        --
  Net realized gains                        (0.03)    (0.06)       --        --
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  Total Distributions                       (0.84)    (0.91)    (0.85)    (0.85)
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Net Asset Value, End of Year               $15.82    $15.84    $15.42    $15.75
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Total Return, Based on                                                   
  Market Value**                             6.71%    10.18%    11.02%    15.83%
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Total Return, Based on                                                   
  Net Asset Value**                          5.69%     9.38%     3.96%    17.11%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Assets, End of Year (millions)         $   64    $   64    $   62    $   63
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Ratios to Average Net Assets:                                            
  Expenses                                   0.87%     0.85%     0.90%     0.86%
  Net investment income                      4.93      5.31      5.45      5.48
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Fund Turnover Rate                             62%       58%       30%       21%
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Market Value, End of Year                  $15.00    $14.88    $14.38    $13.75
================================================================================

        
**    The total return calculation assumes that dividends are reinvested in
      accordance with the fund's dividend reinvestment plan.


8
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Financial Highlights
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For a share of capital stock outstanding throughout the year:


Smith Barney Municipal Fund, Inc.              1994        1993     1992(a)(b)
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Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year           $ 15.85      $14.81      $15.00
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Income (Loss) From Operations:                                        
  Net investment income                         0.84        0.84        0.32*
  Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)      (1.54)       1.00       (0.21)
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Total Income (Loss) from Operations            (0.70)       1.84        0.11
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less Distributions From:                                              
  Net investment income                        (0.85)      (0.80)      (0.30)
  In excess of net investment income              --          --          --
  Net realized gains                              --          --          --
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
  Total Distributions                          (0.85)      (0.80)      (0.30)
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Asset Value, End of Year                 $ 14.30      $15.85      $14.81
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Return, Based on                                                
  Market Value**                              (12.96)%     14.30%      (3.47)%++
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Return, Based on                                                
  Net Asset Value**                            (4.09)%     12.82%       0.81%++
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Assets, End of Year (millions)           $    58      $   64      $   60
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratios to Average Net Assets:                                         
  Expenses                                      0.86%       0.85%       0.56%+*
  Net investment income                         5.59        5.42        5.22+
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fund Turnover Rate                                35%         23%         36%
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Market Value, End of Year                    $ 12.63      $15.38      $14.25
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(a)   Based on the monthly average shares outstanding for period.
 
(b)   For the period from July 31, 1992 (commencement of operations) to December
      31, 1992.
++    Total return is not annualized as it may not be representative of the
      total return for the year.
+     Annualized.
*     The Investment Manager waived a portion of its fees for the period from
      July 31, 1992 to December 31, 1992. If such fees were not waived, the per
      share decrease in net investment income would have been $0.014, and the
      ratio of expenses to average net assets would have been 0.79%
      (annualized).
**    The total return calculation assumes that dividends are reinvested in
      accordance with the fund's dividend reinvestment plan. 


                                                                               9
<PAGE>

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The Fund
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      The fund was incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland on May
19, 1992 and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
(the 1940 Act). Its principal office is located at 388 Greenwich Street, New
York, New York 10013. The fund's telephone number is (800) 331-1710.

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The Offering
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      Salomon Smith Barney currently makes a market in the common stock. This
prospectus is to be used by Salomon Smith Barney in connection with offers and
sales of the common stock in market-making transactions in the over-the-counter
market at negotiated prices related to prevailing market prices at the time of
the sale. Salomon Smith Barney is not required to make a market in the common
stock and may stop doing so at any time. You should not rely on Salomon Smith
Barney's market making activities to provide an active or liquid trading market
for the common stock.

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Use of Proceeds
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      The fund will not receive any proceeds from the sale of common stock
offered pursuant to this prospectus. Proceeds received by Salomon Smith Barney
as a result of its market-making in common stock will be utilized by Salomon
Smith Barney in connection with its secondary market operations and for general
corporate purposes.

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Investment Objective and Management Policies
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      The investment objective and principal investment policies of the fund are
discussed below. The fund may not achieve its investment objective. The fund's
investment objective may be changed only with the approval of a majority of the
fund's outstanding voting securities. Such term is defined in the 1940 Act as
the lesser of (i) more than 50% of the fund's outstanding common stock and of
any outstanding shares of preferred stock, voting by class, or (ii) 67% of the
fund's outstanding common stock and of any outstanding shares of preferred
stock, voting by class, present at a meeting at which the holders of more than
50% of the outstanding shares of each such class are present in person or by
proxy. All other investment policies or practices are considered by the fund not
to be fundamental and accordingly may be changed without shareholder approval.

      GENERAL

      The fund's investment objective is to provide shareholders a high level of


10
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Investment Objective and Management Policies (continued)
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current income exempt from regular federal income tax consistent with prudent
investing. Under normal market conditions, the fund will invest at least two
thirds of its total assets in municipal securities rated at the time of
investment A or better by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group (S&P) or by Moody's
Investors Service, Inc. (Moody's), or rated within the three highest ratings
categories by an NRSRO (or, if unrated deemed by the manager to be of comparable
quality). Under normal market conditions, the fund will also invest only in
municipal securities rated investment grade at the time of investment.
Investment grade securities are securities rated BBB or higher by S&P, Baa or
higher by Moody's or within the four highest ratings categories of an NRSRO (or,
if unrated, deemed by the manager to be of comparable quality). The fund will
not invest in any municipal securities that are rated lower than BBB by S&P or
Baa by Moody's if they are not otherwise rated investment grade by another
NRSRO.

      Securities rated BBB by S&P are regarded by S&P as having an adequate
capacity to pay interest and repay principal; whereas such securities normally
exhibit 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.
Moody's considers securities rated Baa to be medium grade obligations; they are
neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Although interest payments and
principal repayment for these securities appear adequate for the present, they
may lack certain protective elements or may be characteristically unreliable
over any great length of time. They also may lack outstanding investment
characteristics and may have speculative characteristics. The fund may be more
dependent upon the manager's investment analysis of unrated municipal securities
than is the case with respect to rated municipal securities. See "Investment
Objective and Management Policies -- Risk Factors and Special Considerations"
and Appendix A. The fund's policy is to invest at least 80% of its total assets
in municipal securities with remaining maturities of less than fifteen years.

      The fund's policies on the credit quality of its investments will apply
only at the time of the purchase of a security, and the fund will not be
required to dispose of securities in the event that S&P or Moody's or any other
NRSRO downgrades its assessment of the credit characteristics of a particular
issuer or in the event the manager reassesses its view with respect to the
credit quality of the issuer thereof.

      Municipal Securities

      Municipal securities are obligations issued by or on behalf of states,
territories and possessions of the United States and the District of Columbia
and their political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities, the interest
on which, in the opinion of bond counsel or other counsel to the issuer of such
securities is, at the time of issuance, not includable in gross income for
federal income tax purposes. Under 


                                                                              11
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Investment Objective and Management Policies (continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

normal market conditions, at least 80% of the fund's total assets will be
invested in municipal securities with remaining maturities of less than fifteen
years. This policy is fundamental and cannot be changed without shareholder
approval. 
   
      The fund has not established any limit on the percentage of its portfolio
that may be invested in municipal securities subject to the alternative minimum
tax provisions of federal tax law, and a substantial portion of the income
produced by the fund may be tax able under the alternative minimum tax. The fund
may not be a suitable investment for investors who are already subject to the
federal alternative minimum tax or who would become subject to the federal
alternative minimum tax as a result of an investment in the fund.
    
      The two principal classifications of municipal bonds are "general
obligation" bonds and "revenue" or "special obligation" bonds, which include
"industrial revenue bonds." General obligation bonds are secured by the issuer's
pledge of its faith, credit and taxing power for the payment of principal and
interest, and accordingly the capacity of the issuer of a general obligation
bond as to the timely payment of interest and the repayment of principal when
due is affected by the issuer's maintenance of its tax base. Revenue or special
obligation bonds are payable only from the revenues derived from a particular
facility or class of facilities or, in some cases, from the proceeds of a
special tax or other specific revenue source such as from the user of the
facility being financed; accordingly, the timely payment of interest and the
repayment of principal in accordance with the terms of the revenue or special
obligation bond is a function of the economic viability of such facility or such
revenue source. Although the ratings of NRSROs of the municipal securities in
the fund's portfolio are relative and subjective, and are not absolute standards
of quality, such ratings reflect the assessment of the NRSRO of the issuer's
ability, or the economic viability of the special revenue source, with respect
to the timely payment of interest and the repayment of principal in accordance
with the terms of the obligation. See Appendix A.

      Also included within the general category of municipal securities are
participations in lease obligations or installment purchase contract
obligations (hereinafter collectively called "lease obligations") of municipal
authorities or entities. Although lease obligations do not constitute general
obligations of the municipality for which the municipality's taxing power is
pledged, a lease obligation is ordinarily backed by the municipality's covenant
to budget for, appropriate and make the payments due under the lease obligation.
However, certain lease obligations contain "non-appropriation" clauses which
provide that the municipality has no obligation to make lease or installment
purchase payments in future years unless money is appropriated for such purpose
on a yearly basis. In addition to the "non-appropriation" risk, these securities
represent a relatively new type of financing that has not yet developed the
depth of marketability associated with more conventional bonds. Although
"non-appropriation" lease obligations are often secured by the 


12
<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Objective and Management Policies (continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

underlying property, disposition of the property in the event of foreclosure
might prove difficult. There is no limitation on the percentage of the fund's
assets that may be invested in "non-appropriation" lease obligations and in
unrated "non-appropriation" lease obligations believed, at the time of
investment, by the manager to have credit characteristics equivalent to, and to
be of comparable quality as, securities that are rated investment grade.

      In evaluating such unrated lease obligations, the manager will consider
such factors as it deems appropriate, including:

      o     Whether the lease can be cancelled

      o     The ability of the lease obligee to direct the sale of the
            underlying assets

      o     The general credit worthiness of the lease obligor

      o     The likelihood that the municipality will discontinue appropriating
            funding for the leased property in the event such property is no
            longer considered essential by the municipality

      o     The legal recourse of the lease obligee in the event of such a
            failure to appropriate funding, and

      o     Any limitations which are imposed on the lease obligor's ability to
            utilize substitute property or services than those covered by the
            lease obligations.

 
      Participation certificates are obligations issued by state and local
governments or authorities to finance the acquisition of equipment and
facilities. They may represent participations in a lease, an installment
purchase contract, or a conditional sales contract. Some municipal leases and
participation certificates may not be readily marketable. See "Investment
Objective and Management Policies -- Risk Factors and Special Considerations."
 

      The "issuer" of municipal securities is generally deemed to be the
governmental agency, authority, instrumentality or other political subdivision,
or the non-governmental user of a revenue bond-financed facility, the assets and
revenues of which will be used to meet the payment obligations, or the guarantee
of such payment obligations, of the municipal securities.

      Municipal securities may have fixed or variable interest rates. The fund
may purchase floating and variable rate demand notes, which are municipal
securities normally having a stated maturity in excess of one year, but which
permit the holder to tender the notes for purchase at the principal amount
thereof. The interest rate on a floating rate demand note is based on a known
lending rate, such as a bank's prime rate, and is adjusted each time such rate
is adjusted. The interest rate on a variable rate demand note is adjusted at
specified intervals. There generally is no secondary market for these notes,
although they may be tendered for redemption or remarketing at face value. See
"Investment Objectives and Management Policies -- Risk Factors and Special
Considerations." Each such note purchased by the fund will meet the criteria
established for the purchase of municipal securities.


                                                                              13
<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Objective and Management Policies (continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      The fund may invest in zero coupon bonds. A zero coupon bond pays no
interest in cash to its holder during its life, although interest is accrued
during that period. Its value to an investor consists of the difference between
its face value at the time of maturity and the price for which it was acquired,
which is generally an amount significantly less than its face value (sometimes
referred to as a "deep discount" price). Because these securities usually trade
at a deep discount, they will be subject to greater fluctuations of market value
in response to changing interest rates than debt obligations of comparable
maturities which make periodic distributions of interest. On the other hand,
because there are no periodic interest payments to be reinvested prior to
maturity, zero coupon securities eliminate the reinvestment risk and lock in a
rate of return to maturity.

      SELECTION OF INVESTMENTS

      The manager will select securities for the fund's portfolio which the
manager believes entail reasonable credit risk considered in relation to the
particular investment policies of the fund. As a result, the fund will not
necessarily invest in the highest yielding municipal securities permitted by its
investment policies if the manager determines that market risks or credit risks
associated with such investments would subject the fund's portfolio to excessive
risk. The potential for realization of capital gains resulting from possible
changes in interest rates will not be a major consideration. The fund's policy
is to invest at least 80% of its total assets in municipal securities with
remaining maturities of less than fifteen years. For this purpose, any scheduled
principal prepayments on municipal securities will be reflected in the
calculation of dollar-weighted average maturity. The manager may adjust the
average maturity of the fund's portfolio from time to time, depending on its
assessment of the relative yields available on securities of different
maturities and its expectations of future changes in interest rates.

      The fund will not invest more than 25% of its total assets in any
industry, nor will the fund invest more than 5% of its total assets in the
securities of any single issue. Governmental issuers of municipal securities are
not considered part of any "industry". However, municipal securities backed only
by the assets and revenues of nongovernmental users may for this purpose be
deemed to be issued by such nongovernmental users, and the 25% limitation would
apply to the industries of such nongovernmental users. It is nonetheless
possible that the fund may invest more than 25% of its total assets in the
following types of municipal securities: hospital and other health care
facilities obligations, housing agency revenue obligations, airport revenue
obligations, electric utility obligations, water and sewer obligations,
university and college revenue obligations, student loan obligations, bridge
authority and toll road obligations and resource recovery obligations. The fund
will invest more than 25% of its asset in such types of municipal securities if
the manager determines that the yields available from such 


14
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Investment Objective and Management Policies (continued)
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obligations justify the additional risks associated with a large investment in
such obligations. Although these obligations could be supported by the credit of
governmental users, or by the credit of nongovernmental users engaged in a
number of industries, economic, business, political and other developments
generally affecting the revenues of such users (for example, proposed
legislation or pending court decisions affecting the financing of such projects
and market factors affecting the demand for their services or products) may have
a general adverse effect on all such municipal securities. The fund may invest
more than 25% of its assets in industrial development bonds or in issuers
located in the same state, although it has no present intention to invest more
than 25% of its assets in issuers located in the same state. If the fund were to
invest more than 25% of its total assets in issuers located in the same state,
it would be more susceptible to adverse economic, business, or regulatory
conditions in that state.

      From time to time, the fund may invest in securities of a municipal issue,
most or all of which is held by the fund, by itself or together with other funds
or accounts managed by the manager. Because there may be relatively few
potential purchasers for such investments and, in some cases, there may be
contractual restrictions on resales, the fund may find it more difficult to sell
such securities at a time when the manager believes it advisable to do so.

      TEMPORARY DEFENSIVE STRATEGIES

      When the manager believes a temporary defensive posture in the market is
warranted (e.g., times when, in the manager's opinion, temporary imbalances of
supply and demand or other temporary dislocations in the municipal securities
market adversely affect the price at which municipal securities are available),
and in order to keep cash on hand fully invested, the fund may temporarily
invest to a substantial degree in high-quality, short-term municipal securities.
If these high-quality, short-term municipal securities are not available or, in
the manager's judgment, do not afford sufficient protection against adverse
market conditions, the fund may invest in the following taxable securities:
obligations of the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities; other
debt securities rated within the four highest grades by an NRSRO; commercial
paper rated in the highest category by an NRSRO; certificates of deposit, time
deposits and bankers' acceptances; or repurchase agreements with respect to any
of the foregoing investments. To the extent the fund invests in taxable
securities, the fund will not at such times be able to achieve its investment
objective of income exempt from regular federal income taxes.


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Investment Objective and Management Policies (continued)
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      INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES

      The fund may employ, among others, the investment techniques described
below, which may give rise to taxable income:

      In connection with the investment objective and policies described above,
the fund may: engage in interest rate and other hedging and risk management
transactions; purchase and sell options (including swaps, caps, floors and
collars) on municipal securities and on indices based on municipal securities
and purchase and sell municipal securities on a "when-issued" or "delayed
delivery" basis. These investment practices entail risks. The manager may use
some or all of the following hedging and risk management practices when their
use appears appropriate. Although the manager believes that these investment
practices may further the fund's investment objective, no assurance can be given
that these investment practices will achieve this result. The manager may also
decide not to engage in any of these investment practices.

      Securities Options Transactions. The fund may invest in options on
municipal securities, traded over-the-counter, and, if applicable, traded on a
national securities exchange. In general, the fund may purchase and sell (or
write) options on up to 20% of its assets. The SEC requires that obligations of
investment companies such as the fund, in connection with options sold, must
comply with certain segregation or cover requirements which are more fully
described in Appendix B. There is no limitation on the amount of the fund's
assets which can be used to comply with such segregation or cover requirements.

      A call option gives the purchaser the right to buy, and the writer the
obligation to sell, the underlying security at the agreed-upon exercise (or
"strike") price during the option period. A put option gives the purchaser the
right to sell, and the writer the obligation to buy, the underlying security at
the strike price during the option period. Purchasers of options pay an amount,
known as a premium, to the option writer in exchange for the right under the
option contract. Option contracts may be written with terms which would permit
the holder of the option to purchase or sell the underlying security only upon
the expiration date of the option.

      The fund may purchase put and call options in hedging transactions to
protect against a decline in the market value of municipal securities in the
fund's portfolio (e.g., by the purchase of a put option) and to protect against
an increase in the cost of fixed income securities that the fund may seek to
purchase in the future (e.g., by the purchase of a call option). In the event
the fund purchases put and call options, paying premiums therefor, and price
movements in the underlying securities are such that exercise of the options
would not be profitable for the fund, to the extent such underlying securities
correlate in value to the fund's portfolio securities, losses of the premiums
paid may be offset by an increase in the value of the fund's portfolio
securities (in the case of a purchase of put options) or by a decrease in the


16
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Investment Objective and Management Policies (continued)
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cost of acquisition of securities by the fund (in the case of a purchase of call
options).

      The fund may also sell put and call options in hedging transactions as a
means of providing limited protection against decreases in market value of the
fund's portfolio. When the fund sells an option, if the underlying securities do
not increase (in the case of a call option) or decrease (in the case of a put
option) to a price level that would make the exercise of the option profitable
to the holder of the option, the option generally will expire without being
exercised and the fund will realize as profit the premium received for such
option. When a call option written by the fund is exercised, the option holder
purchases the underlying security at the strike price and the fund does not
participate in any increase in the price of such securities above the strike
price. When a put option written by the fund is exercised, the fund will be
required to purchase the underlying securities at the strike price, which may be
in excess of the market value of such securities.

      OTC Options. Over-the-counter options (OTC options) differ from
exchange-traded options in several respects. They are transacted directly with
dealers and not with a clearing corporation, and there is a risk of
non-performance by the dealer. OTC options are available for a greater variety
of securities and for a wider range of expiration dates and exercise prices than
are exchange-traded options. Because OTC options are not traded on an exchange,
pricing is normally done by reference to information from a market maker, which
information is carefully monitored by the manager and verified in appropriate
cases. The fund may be required to treat certain of its OTC options transactions
as illiquid securities. See Appendix B.

      It will generally be the fund's policy, in order to avoid the exercise of
an option sold by it, to cancel its obligation under the option by entering into
a closing purchase transaction, if available, unless it is determined to be in
the fund's interest to sell (in the case of a call option) or to purchase (in
the case of a put option) the underlying securities. A closing purchase
transaction consists of the fund purchasing an option having the same terms as
the option sold by the fund and has the effect of cancelling the fund's position
as a seller. The premium which the fund will pay in executing a closing purchase
transaction may be higher than the premium received when the option was sold,
depending in large part upon the relative price of the underlying security at
the time of each transaction. To the extent options sold by the fund are
exercised and the fund either delivers portfolio securities to the holder of a
call option or liquidates securities in its portfolio as a source of funds to
purchase securities put to the fund, the fund's portfolio turnover rate will
increase, which would cause the fund to incur additional brokerage expenses.

      During the option period, the fund, as a covered call writer, gives up the
potential appreciation above the exercise price should the underlying security
rise in value, and the fund, as a secured put writer, retains the risk of loss
should the 


                                                                              17
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Investment Objective and Management Policies (continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

underlying security decline in value. For the covered call writer, substantial
appreciation in the value of the underlying security would result in the
security being "called away" at the strike price of the option which may be
substantially below the fair market value of such security. For the secured put
writer, substantial depreciation in the value of the underlying security would
result in the security being "put to" the writer at the strike price of the
option which may be substantially in excess of the fair market value of such
security. If a covered call option or a secured put option expires unexercised,
the writer realizes a gain, and the buyer a loss, in the amount of the premium.

      To the extent that an active market exists or develops, whether on a
national securities exchange or over-the-counter, in options on indices based
upon municipal securities, the fund may purchase and sell options on such
indices, subject to the limitation that the fund may purchase and sell options
on up to 20% of its assets. Through the writing or purchase of index options the
fund can achieve many of the same objectives as through the use of options on
individual securities. Options on securities indices are similar to options on
securities except that, rather than the right to take or make delivery of a
security at a specified price, an option on a securities index gives the holder
the right to receive, upon exercise of the option, an amount of cash if the
closing level of the securities index upon which the option is based is greater
than, in the case of a call, or less than, in the case of a put, the strike
price of the option.

      Price movements in securities which the fund owns or intends to purchase
will not correlate perfectly with movements in the level of an index and,
therefore, the fund bears the risk of a loss on an index option which is not
completely offset by movements in the price of such securities. Because index
options are settled in cash, a call writer cannot determine the amount of its
settlement obligations in advance and, unlike call writing on specific
securities, cannot provide in advance for, or cover, its potential settlement
obligations by acquiring and holding the underlying securities.

 
      Gains, if any, recognized or deemed to be recognized by the fund from
transactions in securities options will be taxable income of the fund. Under a
revenue ruling issued by the Internal Revenue Service, the fund is required to
allocate its designations of tax-exempt income, net capital gains and other
taxable income, if any, between common stock and preferred stock, if any, issued
by the fund on a pro rata basis for the year in which its designations of
tax-exempt income, net capital gains or other taxable income are realized. See
"Taxation" and "Dividends and Distributions; Dividend Reinvestment Plan." For a
further discussion of certain characteristics of options and risks associated
with options transactions, see Appendix B.
 

      Borrowing and Leverage. The fund is authorized to borrow amounts up to 
33 1/3% of its total assets (including the amount borrowed). The use of borrowed


18
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Investment Objective and Management Policies (continued)
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funds involves the speculative factor known as "leverage." The fund is also
permitted to issue preferred stock which would permit it to assume leverage in
an amount up to 50% of its total assets. If any preferred stock were to be
issued, it would have a priority on the income and assets of the fund over the
common stock and would have certain other rights with respect to voting and the
election of directors. See "Description of Shares." The fund will only utilize
leverage when there is an expectation that it will benefit the fund or the
holders of common stock. To the extent the income or other gain derived from
securities purchased with the proceeds of borrowings or preferred stock
issuances exceeds the interest or dividends the fund would have to pay thereon,
the fund's net income or other gain would be greater than if leverage had not
been used. Conversely, if the income or other gain from the securities purchased
through leverage is not sufficient to cover the cost of such leverage, the total
return of the fund would be less than if leverage had not been used. If leverage
is used, in certain circumstances the fund could be required to liquidate
securities it would not otherwise sell in order to satisfy dividend or interest
obligations. Leverage creates an opportunity for increased returns for the
holders of common stock, but creates special risks at the same time, including
the likelihood of greater volatility of the net asset value and market value of
the common stock, and the risk that fluctuations in the short-term dividend
rates of the preferred stock may affect the yield to the holders of common
stock. Similarly, since any decline in the net asset value of the fund's
investments would be borne entirely by the holders of common stock, the effect
of leverage in a declining market would result in a greater decrease in net
asset value to the holders of common stock than if the fund were not leveraged,
which would likely be reflected in a greater decline in the market price of the
common stock. See "Description of Shares."

      In addition to the foregoing, the fund may borrow on a short-term basis in
order to facilitate the settlement of portfolio securities transactions.

      Interest Rate and Other Hedging Transactions. In order to seek to protect
the value of its portfolio securities against declines resulting from changes in
interest rates or other market changes, the fund may enter into the following
hedging transactions: financial futures contracts and related options contracts.

      The fund may enter into various interest rate hedging transactions using
financial instruments with a high degree of correlation to the municipal
securities which the fund may purchase for its portfolio, including interest
rate futures contracts (e.g., futures contracts on U.S. Treasury securities) and
futures contracts on interest rate related indices (e.g., municipal bond
indices). The fund may also purchase and write put and call options on such
futures contracts and on the underlying instruments. The fund may enter into
these transactions in an attempt to "lock in" a return or spread on a particular
investment or portion of its portfolio, to protect against any increase in the
price of securities the fund anticipates purchasing 


                                                                              19
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Investment Objective and Management Policies (continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

at a later date, or for other risk management strategies. Financial futures and
options contracts and the risks attendant to the fund's use thereof, are more
completely described in Appendix B. The successful utilization of hedging and
risk management transactions requires skills different from those needed in the
selection of the fund's portfolio securities. The fund believes that the manager
possesses the skills necessary for the successful utilization of hedging and
risk management transactions.

      The fund will not engage in the foregoing transactions for speculative 
purposes, but only in limited circumstances as a means to hedge risks associated
with management of the fund's portfolio. Typically, investments in futures
contracts and sales of futures options contracts require the fund to deposit in
a custodial account a good faith deposit, known as "initial margin," in
connection with its obligations in an amount of cash or specified debt
securities which generally is equal to 1%-15% of the face amount of the
contract, which initial margin requirement may be revised periodically by the
applicable exchange as the volatility of the contract fluctuates. Thereafter,
the fund must make additional deposits with the applicable financial
intermediary equal to any net losses due to unfavorable price movements of the
contract, and will be credited with an amount equal to any net gains due to
favorable price movements. These additional deposits or credits are calculated
and required daily and are known as "variation margin."

 
      The SEC generally requires that when investment companies, such as the
fund, effect transactions of the foregoing nature, such funds must either
segregate cash or liquid securities in the amount of their obligations under the
foregoing transactions, or cover such obligations by maintaining positions in
portfolio securities, futures contracts or options that would serve to satisfy
or offset the risk of such obligations. When effecting transactions of the
foregoing nature, the fund will comply with such segregation or cover
requirements. There is no limitation on the percentage of the fund's assets
which may be segregated with respect to such transactions. A large percentage of
the fund's assets segregated to cover hedging transactions may impair the fund's
ability to meet current obligations and may limit the fund's flexibility to
manage its assets.
 

      The fund will not enter into a futures contract or related option if,
immediately after such investment, the sum of the amount of its initial margin
deposits and premiums on open contracts and options would exceed 5% of the fair
market value of the fund's total assets after taking into account unrealized
profits and unrealized losses on any such contracts. The fund may, however,
invest more than such amount in the future if it obtains authority to do so from
the appropriate regulatory agencies without requiring the fund to register as a
commodity pool operator or adversely affecting its status as an investment
company for federal securities law or income tax purposes.

      All of the foregoing transactions present certain risks. In particular,
the variable 


20
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Investment Objective and Management Policies (continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

degree of correlation between price movements of futures contracts and price
movements in the securities being hedged creates the possibility that losses on
the hedge may be greater than gains in the value of the fund's securities. In
addition, these instruments may not be liquid in all circumstances and generally
are closed out by entering into offsetting transactions rather than by delivery
or cash settlement at maturity. As a result, in volatile markets, the fund may
not be able to close out a transaction on favorable terms or at all. Although
the contemplated use of those contracts should tend to reduce the risk of loss
due to a decline in the value of the hedged security, at the same time the use
of these contracts could tend to limit any potential gain which might result
from an increase in the value of such security. Finally, the daily deposit
requirements for futures contracts and sales of futures options contracts create
an ongoing greater potential financial risk than do option purchase
transactions, where the exposure is limited to the cost of the premium for the
option.

      Successful use of futures contracts and options thereon by the fund is
subject to the ability of the investment manager to predict correctly movements
in the direction of interest rates and other factors affecting securities
markets. If the manager's expectations are not met, the fund would be in a worse
position than if a hedging strategy had not been pursued. For example, if the
fund has hedged against the possibility of an increase in interest rates which
would adversely affect the price of securities in its portfolio and the price of
such securities increases instead, the fund will lose part or all of the benefit
of the increased value of its securities because it will have offsetting losses
in its futures positions. In addition, in such situations, if the fund has
insufficient cash to meet daily variation margin requirements, it may have to
sell securities to meet such requirements. Such sales of securities may be, but
will not necessarily be, at increased prices which reflect the rising market.
The fund may have to sell securities at a time when it is disadvantageous to do
so.

      In addition to engaging in transactions utilizing options on futures
contracts, the fund may purchase put and call options on securities and, as
developed from time to time, on interest indices and other instruments.
Purchasing options may increase investment flexibility and improve total return,
but also risks loss of the option premium if an asset the fund has the option to
buy declines in value or if an asset the fund has the option to sell increases
in value.

      Gains, if any, recognized or deemed to be recognized by the fund from its
hedging activities will be taxable income of the fund. See "Taxation" and
"Dividends and Distributions; Dividend Reinvestment Plan."

      When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Transactions. The fund may purchase
municipal securities on a "when-issued" and "delayed delivery" basis and may
purchase or sell municipal securities on a "delayed delivery" basis in order to
hedge against anticipated changes in interest rates and prices. No income
accrues to the 


                                                                              21
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Investment Objective and Management Policies (continued)
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fund on municipal securities in connection with such transactions prior to the
date the fund actually takes delivery of such securities. These transactions are
subject to market fluctuation; the value of the municipal securities at delivery
may be more or less than their purchase price, and yields generally available on
municipal securities when delivery occurs may be higher than yields on the
municipal securities obtained pursuant to such transactions. Because the fund
relies on the buyer or seller, as the case may be, to consummate the
transaction, failure by the other party to complete the transaction may result
in the fund missing the opportunity of obtaining a price or yield considered to
be advantageous. When the fund is the buyer in such a transaction, however, it
will maintain, in a segregated account, cash, or liquid securities, having a
value equal to or greater than the fund's purchase commitments, provided such
securities have been determined by the manager to be liquid and unencumbered,
and are marked to market daily, pursuant to guidelines established by the
Directors. When the fund is the seller in such a transaction, it will cover its
commitment to deliver the security by maintaining positions in portfolio
securities that would serve to satisfy or offset the risk of such obligations.
The fund will make commitments to purchase municipal securities on such basis
only with the intention of actually acquiring these securities, but the fund may
sell such securities prior to the settlement date if such sale is considered to
be advisable.

      To the extent that the fund engages in "when-issued" and "delayed
delivery" transactions, it will do so for the purpose of acquiring securities
for the fund's portfolio consistent with the fund's investment objective and
policies. However, although the fund does not intend to engage in such
transactions for speculative purposes, purchases of securities on such basis may
involve more risk than other types of purchases. For example, if the fund
determines it is necessary to sell the "when-issued" or "delayed delivery"
securities before delivery, it may realize a gain or incur a loss because of
market fluctuations since the time the commitment to purchase such securities
was made. Subject to the requirement of maintaining a segregated account, no
specified limitation exists as to the percentage of the fund's assets which may
be used to acquire securities on a "when-issued" or "delayed delivery" basis. A
significant percentage of the fund's assets committed to the purchase of
securities on a "when-issued" "delayed delivery" basis may increase the
volatility of the fund's net asset value and may limit the flexibility to manage
the fund's investments.

      RISK FACTORS AND SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

      There are risks associated with an investment in the fund. You should
consider whether the fund is an appropriate investment for you. The fund invests
substantially all of its assets in municipal obligations, and circumstances or
events that affect the value of municipal obligations will affect the fund's net
asset value.


22
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Investment Objective and Management Policies (continued)
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      Interest rate sensitivity
 

      o     Municipal obligations are fixed-income securities which are
            sensitive to changes in interest rates. Generally, when interest
            rates are rising, the value of the fund's fixed-income securities
            can be expected to decrease. When interest rates are declining, the
            value of the fund's fixed-income securities can be expected to
            increase. The fund's net asset value may fluctuate in response to
            the increasing or decreasing value of the fund's fixed-income
            securities.

      Less liquid markets for some municipal obligations

      o     The market for municipal obligations may be less liquid than for
            corporate bonds. The market for special obligation bonds, lease
            obligations, participation certificates and variable rate
            instruments, which the fund may purchase, may be less liquid than
            for general obligation bonds.

      o     Liquid secondary trading in unrated municipal obligations may not
            exist. The fund may not be able to sell these securities when the
            manager determines it appropriate.

      o     Less liquid markets tend to be more volatile and react more
            negatively to adverse publicity and investor perception than more
            liquid markets. If markets are less liquid, the fund may not be able
            to dispose of municipal obligations in a timely manner and at a fair
            price.

      o     There may be no established trading markets for certain municipal
            obligations, and trading in these securities may be relatively
            inactive. Some of the fund's investments may be restricted as to
            resale. Although restricted securities may be sold in private
            transactions, a security's value may be less than the price
            originally paid by the fund. The ability of the manager to value
            illiquid or restricted securities will be more difficult and the
            manager's judgment may play a greater role in their valuation.

      Issuer of a municipal obligation may default on its obligation to pay

      o     The issuer of a municipal obligation may not be able to make timely
            payments of interest and principal because of general economic
            downturns or adverse allocation of government cost burdens. If an
            issuer did not make timely payments, the fund would not receive the
            anticipated income from the investment and the value of the
            investment might be reduced. This could result in a decrease in the
            fund's net asset value. This risk of default may be greater for
            private activity bonds or other municipal obligations whose payments
            are dependent upon a specific source of revenue.


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Investment Objective and Management Policies (continued)
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      o     Even if the issuer does not actually default, adverse changes in the
            issuer's financial condition may negatively affect its credit rating
            or presumed creditworthiness. These developments would adversely
            affect the market value of the issuer's obligations.

      Issuer of a municipal obligation declares bankruptcy

      o     The issuer of a municipal obligation might declare bankruptcy and
            the fund could experience delays collecting interest and principal.
            To enforce its rights, the fund might be required to take possession
            of and manage the assets securing the issuer's obligation. This may
            increase the fund's expenses, reduce its net asset value and
            increase the amount of the fund's distribution that are in taxable
            form.

      o     If the fund took possession of a bankrupt issuer's assets, income
            derived from the fund's ownership and management of the assets may
            not be tax exempt. Shareholders may receive more of the total
            distributions from the fund in taxable form.

      o     The fund might not be able to take possession of the assets of a
            bankrupt issuer because of laws protecting state and local
            institutions, limits on the investments the fund is permitted to
            make, and the nature of the income the fund is entitled to receive
            from its investments imposed on it by the Code. If the fund cannot
            take possession of the assets and enforce its rights, the value of
            the security may be greatly diminished. This could reduce the fund's
            net asset value.

      Adverse governmental action

      o     The U.S. government has enacted laws that have restricted or
            diminished the income tax exemption on some municipal obligations
            and it may do so again in the future. If this were to happen,
            shareholders could receive more of the distributions from the fund
            in taxable form.

      Other

      o     The issuer of a municipal obligation may be obligated to redeem the
            security at face value, but if the fund paid more than face value
            for the security, the fund may lose money on the security when it is
            sold.

      o     Market rates of interest may be lower for municipal obligations than
            for taxable securities but this may be offset by the federal income
            tax on income derived from taxable securities.

      o     There may be less extensive information available about the
            financial condition of issuers of municipal obligations than for
            corporate issuers with publicly traded securities.


24
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Investment Objective and Management Policies (continued)
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      The fund may invest in municipal leases that have special risks not
associated with municipal obligations.

      o     These leases frequently contain clauses that permit the governmental
            issuer to stop making interest and principal payments if money is
            not appropriated by the legislature annually or on some other
            periodic basis.

      o     These leases are less liquid than municipal obligations and may be
            difficult to value and to sell at a fair price.

      o     If the issuer is foreclosed, the assets securing these leases may be
            difficult to dispose of.

      When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Transactions

      The fund may use when-issued and delayed delivery transactions to purchase
securities. The value of securities purchased in these transactions may decrease
before they are delivered to the fund. Also, the yield on securities purchased
in these transactions may be higher in the market when the delivery takes place.

      Repurchase Agreements

      The fund may use repurchase agreements to manage its cash position. If the
other party to the agreement defaults, the fund may not be able to sell the
underlying securities. If the fund must assert its rights against the other
party to recover the securities, the fund will incur unexpected expenses, risk
losing the income on the security and bear the risk of loss in the value of the
security.

      Lending Securities

      If the party borrowing the fund's securities fails financially, the fund
may be unable to recover the loaned securities.

      Financial Futures and Options

      The fund may use financial futures contracts and options on these
contracts to protect the fund from a decline in the price of municipal
obligations it owns or an increase in the price of a municipal obligation it
plans to buy. There are risks associated with futures and options transactions.

      o     Because it is not possible to perfectly correlate the price of the
            securities being hedged with the price movement in a futures
            contract, it is not possible to provide a perfect offset on losses
            on the futures contract or the option on the contract.

 
      o     Because there is imperfect correlation between the fund's securities
            that are hedged and the futures contract, the hedge may not be fully
            effective. Losses on the fund's security may be greater than gains
            on the futures contract, or 
 


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Investment Objective and Management Policies (continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

            losses on the futures contract may be greater than gains on the
            securities subject to the hedge.

      o     To compensate for imperfect correlation, the fund may over-hedge or
            under-hedge by entering into a futures contract or options on
            futures contracts in dollar amounts greater or lesser than the
            dollar amounts of the securities being hedged. If market movements
            are not as anticipated, the fund could lose money from these
            positions.

      o     If the fund hedges against an increase in interest rates, and rates
            decline instead, the fund will lose all or part of the benefit of
            the increase in value of the securities it hedged because it will
            have offsetting losses in its futures or options positions. Also, in
            order to meet margin requirements, the fund may have to sell
            securities at a time it would not normally choose.

      The fund may concentrate its assets in municipal securities that finance
the same or similar facilities or in issuers located in the same state. If the
fund concentrates its assets, it may be more adversely affected by events
affecting those issuers than if it were investing in a broader range of
securities.

      Year 2000. The investment management services provided to the fund by the
manager and the services provided to shareholders by Salomon Smith Barney depend
on the smooth functioning of their computer systems. Many computer software
systems in use today cannot recognize the year 2000, but revert to 1900 or some
other date, due to the manner in which dates were encoded and calculated. That
failure could have a negative impact on the fund's operations, including the
handling of securities trades, pricing and account services. The cost of
addressing the year 2000 issue, if substantial, could also adversely affect the
governments and municipalities that issue securities held by the fund. The
manager and Salomon Smith Barney have advised the fund that they have been
reviewing all of their computer systems and actively working on necessary
changes to their systems to prepare for the year 2000 and expect that their
systems will be compliant before that date. In addition, the manager has been
advised by the fund's custodian, transfer agent and accounting service agent
that they are also in the process of modifying their systems with the same goal.
There can, however, be no assurance that the manager, Salomon Smith Barney or
any other service provider will be successful, or that interaction with other
non-complying computer systems will not impair fund services at that time.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Restrictions
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      The following investment restrictions of the fund are fundamental and
cannot be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of the
fund's outstanding voting securities as defined in the 1940 Act. If a percentage
restriction on


26
<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Restrictions (continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

investment or use of assets set forth below is adhered to at the time a
transaction is effected, later changes in percentage resulting from changing
market values will not be considered a deviation from policy. The fund may not:

      1. Purchase securities (other than obligations issued or guaranteed by the
      United States Government or by its agencies or instrumentalities) of any
      issuer if as a result of the purchase more than 5% of the value of the
      fund's total assets would be invested in the securities of the issuer,
      except that up to 25% of the value of the fund's total assets may be
      invested without regard to this 5% limitation.

 
      2. Invest more than 25% of its total assets in a single industry; however,
      as described above under "Investment Objective and Management Policies,"
      the fund may from time to time invest more than 25% of its total assets in
      certain types of municipal securities or in obligations of issuers located
      in the same state.
 

      3. Issue senior securities as defined in the 1940 Act, other than
      preferred stock, except to the extent such issuance might be involved with
      respect to borrowings described below or with respect to transactions
      involving futures contracts or the writing of options.

      4. Borrow money in excess of 33 1/3% of its total assets (including the
      amount of money borrowed but excluding any liabilities and indebtedness
      not constituting senior securities) except that the fund may pledge its
      assets other than to secure such borrowings or in connection with
      when-issued and forward commitment transactions and similar investment
      strategies.

      5. Make loans of money or property to any person, except to the extent
      that the securities in which the fund may invest are considered to be
      loans and except that the fund may lend money or property in connection
      with the deposit of initial or variation margin in connection with hedging
      and risk management transactions.

      6. Buy any securities "on margin." Neither the deposit of initial or
      variation margin in connection with hedging and risk management
      transactions nor short-term credits as may be necessary for the clearance
      of transactions is considered the purchase of a security on margin.

      7. Sell any securities "short," write, purchase or sell puts, calls or
      combinations thereof, or purchase or sell financial futures or options,
      except as described under the heading "Investment Objective and Management
      Policies -- Investment Techniques" and in Appendix B to this prospectus.

      8. Act as an underwriter of securities, except to the extent that the fund
      may be deemed to be an underwriter in connection with the sale of
      securities held in its portfolio.


                                                                              27
<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Restrictions (continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      9. Make investments for the purpose of exercising control or participation
      in management, except to the extent that exercise by the fund of its
      rights under agreements related to municipal securities would be deemed to
      constitute such control or participation.

      10. Invest in securities of other investment companies in an amount
      exceeding the limitation set forth in the 1940 Act and the rules
      thereunder, except as part of a merger, consolidation or other
      acquisition.

      11. Invest in equity interests in oil, gas or other mineral exploration or
      development programs except pursuant to the exercise by the fund of its
      rights under agreements relating to municipal securities.

      12. Purchase or sell real estate, except to the extent that the municipal
      securities the fund may invest in are considered to be interests in real
      estate or to the extent that the fund exercises its rights under
      agreements relating to such municipal securities (in which case the fund
      may liquidate real estate acquired as a result of default on a mortgage).

      13. Purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts, except that the
      fund may purchase or sell financial futures contracts and related options
      thereon.

      The fund generally will not engage in the trading of securities for the
purpose of realizing short-term profits, but it will adjust its portfolio as it
deems advisable in view of prevailing or anticipated market conditions to
accomplish the fund's investment objective. For example, the fund may sell
portfolio securities in anticipation of a movement in interest rates. Other than
for tax purposes, frequency of portfolio turnover will not be a limiting factor
if the fund considers it advantageous to purchase or sell securities, which must
be borne by the fund and its shareholders. High portfolio turnover may also
result in the realization of substantial net short-term capital gains, and any
distributions resulting from such gains will be taxable at ordinary income rates
for federal income tax purposes.


28
<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share Price Data
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      The fund's common stock is listed on the AMEX under the symbol "SBT."
Salomon Smith Barney also intends to make a market in the common stock.

      The following table sets forth for the fund's common stock the following
information for each quarterly period during the last two fiscal years and for
the first quarter of 1999: high and low sales prices and net asset values; sales
price and net asset value at quarter-end; and the premium (discount) of the
sales price to net asset value at quarter-end.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 AMEX
                                AMEX                NAV         Price at       NAV at
                                Price              Price        Quarter-      Quarter-       Premium
Three Months Ended              Range              Range          End           End         (Discount)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                         <C>               <C>                <C>           <C>            <C>    
 3/31/97                    $13.88 - 14.38    $15.22 - 15.60     $14.13        $15.22         (7.16)%
 6/30/97                     13.88 - 15.00     15.18 - 15.60      14.75         15.47         (4.65)
 9/30/97                     14.25 - 15.00     15.49 - 15.78      14.75         15.71         (6.11)
12/31/97                     14.06 - 15.00     15.63 - 15.89      14.88         15.84         (6.06)
 3/31/98                     14.25 - 15.44     15.72 - 16.05      14.38         15.76         (8.76)
 6/30/98                     14.00 - 15.13     15.58 - 15.89      15.06         15.79         (3.93)
 9/30/98                     14.50 - 15.13     15.74 - 16.03      15.00         16.03         (6.43)
12/31/98                     14.75 - 15.25     15.77 - 16.17      15.00         15.82         (5.18)
    
 3/31/99                     14.00 - 15.00     15.67 - 15.95      14.00         15.71        (10.88)
     
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
                                         
    
      As of April 9, 1999, the price per share of common stock as quoted on the
AMEX was $14.13, representing a 10.40% discount from the common stock's net
asset value calculated on that day.
     

      Since the fund's commencement of operations, the fund's common stock has
traded in the market at prices that were at times above, but generally were
below, net asset value.


29
<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management of the Fund
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

      The business and affairs of the fund, including the general supervision of
the duties performed by the manager under the investment management agreement,
are the responsibility of the fund's board of directors. The directors and
officers of the fund, their addresses and their principal occupations for at
least the past five years are set forth below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                Positions Held                Principal Occupations
  Name and Address              with the Fund              During Past Five Years and Age
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                             <C>                         <C>
    
*+Heath B. McLendon             Chairman of the Board of    Managing Director of Salomon
  388 Greenwich Street          Directors, Chief            Smith Barney; Director of 64
  New York, NY 10013            Executive Officer and       investment companies        
                                President                   associated with Citigroup;  
                                                            President of SSBC and       
                                                            Travelers Investment       
                                                            Adviser, Inc. ("TIA").      
                                                            Formerly Chairman of the    
                                                            Board of Smith Barney       
                                                            Strategy Advisers Inc.; 65.

 +Lee Abraham                   Director                    Retired; Formerly Chairman 
  106 Barnes Road                                           and Chief Executive Officer
  Stamford, CT 06902                                        of Associated Merchandising
                                                            Corporation, a major retail
                                                            merchandising and sourcing 
                                                            organization; 71.
                                                            
 +Allan J. Bloostein            Director                    President of Allan J.        
  27 West 67th Street                                       Bloostein Associates, a      
  New York, NY 10023                                        consulting firm; Director of 
                                                            CVS Corporation, a drugstore 
                                                            chain, and Taubman Centers   
                                                            Inc., a real estate   
                                                            development company;  
                                                            Formerly Vice Chairman and   
                                                            Director of The May          
                                                            Department Stores Company; 69.
                                                            
 +Jane F. Dasher                Director                    Investment Officer; Korsant  
  283 Greenwich Avenue                                      Partners, a family investment
  Greenwich, CT 06830                                       company; Prior to 1997,      
                                                            Independent Financial        
                                                            Consultant from 1975 to 1987,
                                                            held various positions with  
                                                            Philip Morris Companies, Inc.
                                                            including Director of        
                                                            Financial Services,          
                                                            Treasurers Department; 49.    

 +Donald R. Foley               Director                    Retired; Formerly Vice 
  3668 Freshwater Drive                                     President of Edwin Bird
  Jupiter, FL 33477                                         Wilson, Incorporated   
                                                            (advertising); 76.     

 +Richard E. Hanson, Jr.        Director                    Head of School, The New       
  58 Ivy Chase                                              Atlanta Jewish Community High 
  Atlanta, GA 30342                                         School, Atlanta, Georgia;      
                                                            Formerly Headmaster, The Peck 
                                                            School, Morristown, New       
                                                            Jersey; Prior to July 1,      
                                                            1994, Headmaster, Lawrence    
                                                            Country Day School-Woodmere   
                                                            Academy, Woodmere, New York; 57. 

 +Paul Hardin                   Director                    Professor of Law at the     
  12083 Morehead                                            University of North Carolina
  Chapel Hill, NC 27514                                     at Chapel Hill; Director of  
                                                            The Summit Bancorporation. 
                                                            Formerly Chancellor of the  
                                                            University of North Carolina
                                                            at Chapel Hill; 67.         

 +Roderick C. Rasmussen         Director                    Investment Counselor;       
  9 Cadence Court                                           Formerly Vice President of 
  Morristown, NJ 07960                                      Dresdner and Company Inc.   
                                                            (investment counselors); 72.
     
</TABLE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*     Denotes a director who is an "interested person" of the fund as defined in
      the 1940 Act.
+     Director, trustee and/or general partner of other investment companies
      registered under the 1940 Act with which Salomon Smith Barney is
      affiliated.


30
<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management of the Fund (continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                Positions Held                Principal Occupations
  Name and Address              with the Fund              During Past Five Years and Age
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                             <C>                         <C>
    
 +John P. Toolan                Director                    Retired; Trustee of John    
  13 Chadwell Place                                         Hancock Funds; Formerly     
  Morristown, NJ 07960                                      Director and Chairman of    
                                                            Smith Barney Trust  
                                                            Company, Director of 
                                                            Smith Barney Holdings Inc. 
                                                           and various subsidiaries, 
                                                            Senior Executive Vice President,   
                                                            Director and Member of the  
                                                            Executive Committee of      
                                                            Smith Barney; 68.    

  Lewis E. Daidone              Senior Vice President,      Managing Director of Salomon  
  388 Greenwich Street          Chief Financial and         Smith Barney, Senior Vice     
  New York, NY 10013            Accounting Officer          President and Treasurer of 59 
                                and Treasurer               investment companies          
                                                            associated with Citigroup;    
                                                            Director and Senior Vice      
                                                            President of SSBC and TIA; 41. 

  Peter Coffey                  Vice President and          Managing Director of Salomon 
  388 Greenwich Street          Investment Officer          Smith Barney, Vice President 
  New York, NY 10013                                        of SSBC and certain other    
                                                            investment companies         
                                                            associated with Citigroup; 54.

  Paul Brook                    Controller                  Director of Salomon Smith   
  388 Greenwich Street                                      Barney and Controller or    
  New York, NY 10013                                        Assistant Treasurer of 43   
                                                            investment companies        
                                                            associated with Citigroup   
                                                            since 1998; Prior to 1998   
                                                            Managing Director of AMT    
                                                            Capital Services Inc.; Prior
                                                            to 1997, Partner with Ernst 
                                                            & Young LLP; 45.

  Christina T. Sydor            Secretary                   Managing Director of Salomon 
  388 Greenwich Street                                      Smith Barney and Secretary of
  New York, NY 10013                                        59 investment companies      
                                                            associated with Citigroup;   
                                                            Secretary and General Counsel
                                                            of SSBC and TIA; 48.         
     
</TABLE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+     Director, trustee and/or general partner of other investment companies
      registered under the 1940 Act with which Salomon Salomon Smith Barney is
      affiliated.


                                                                              31
<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management of the Fund (continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   
Fees for directors who are not "interested persons" of the fund and who
are directors of a group of funds sponsored by Salomon Smith Barney are set at
$42,000 per annum and are allocated based on relative net assets of each fund in
the group. In addition, these directors receive $100 per fund or portfolio for
each day of board meetings attended plus travel and out-of-pocket expenses
incurred in connection with board meetings. The board meeting fees and
out-of-pocket expenses are borne equally by each individual fund or portfolio in
the group.
    
      The following table shows the compensation paid by the fund to each person
who was a director during the fund's most recent fiscal year (from January 1,
1998 to December 31, 1998).

                               COMPENSATION TABLE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
    
                                                                                       Total     
                                                                      Total           Number of 
                             Aggregate                            Compensation       Funds for   
                           Compensation         Pension or          from Fund       Which Person 
                            from Fund           Retirement          Complex         Serves Within
                            for Fiscal       Benefits Accrued     for Calendar      Fund Complex 
                            Year Ended          as part of         Year Ended           as of
  Name of Person             12/31/98         Fund Expenses         12/31/98           4/30/99
  --------------            ---------         -------------         -------         ------------
<S>                           <C>                   <C>              <C>                 <C>
Lee Abraham**                 $  0                 $0               $47,750               7
Allan J. Bloostein**             0                  0                90,500              14
Jane F. Dasher**                 0                  0                     0               7
Joseph H. Fleiss++             285                  0                32,943              10
Donald R. Foley+               749                  0                57,100              12
Richard E. Hanson, Jr.**         0                  0                47,950               7
Paul Hardin                    549                  0                71,400              14
Heath B. McLendon*               0                  0                     0              64
Roderick C. Rasmussen          749                  0                57,100              12
John P. Toolan+                649                  0                54,700              12
     
</TABLE>

-----------
*     Designates a director who is an "interested person" of the fund.
    
**    Elected at the fund's annual shareholder meeting held on April 21, 1999,
      therefore no compensation was paid by the fund through December 31, 1998.
    

+     Pursuant to a deferred compensation plan, the indicated persons elected to
      defer the following amounts of their compensation from the fund: Donald R.
      Foley: $24 and John P. Toolan: $649, and the following amounts of their
      total compensation from the Fund Complex: Donald R. Foley: $21,000 and
      John P. Toolan: $54,700. During the fund's most recent fiscal year ended
      December 31, 1998, the estate of a deceased director was paid his
      previously deferred compensation, which totaled $1,953 from the fund and
      $171,148 from the Fund Complex.
 
++    Director emeritus. Upon attainment of age 72 the fund's current directors
      may elect to change to emeritus status. Any directors elected or appointed
      to the board of directors in the future will be required to change to
      emeritus status upon attainment of age 80. Directors emeritus are entitled
      to serve in emeritus status for a maximum of 10 years during which time
      they are paid 50% of the annual retainer fee and meeting fees otherwise
      applicable to the fund Directors, together with reasonable out-of-pocket
      expenses for each meeting attended. During the fund's last fiscal year
      aggregate compensation from the fund to emeritus directors (other than Mr.
      Fleiss who is covered in the table above) totaled $69.
   
      At the close of business on April 9, 1999, 3,934,256 shares of common
stock or 97.84% of the fund's total shares outstanding on that date were held in
accounts of, but were not beneficially owned by, CEDE & Co., P.O. Box 20,
Bowling Green Station, NY, NY 10004. As of that date, the officers and Board
members of the fund beneficially owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of
the fund.
    
      INVESTMENT MANAGER

         SSBC serves as the fund's investment manager. SSBC (through its
predecessors) has been in the investment counseling business since 1934 and is a
registered investment adviser. SSBC was incorporated in 1968 and currently
manages investment companies that had total assets in excess of $114 billion as
of March 31, 1999, of which approximately $8.3 billion consisted of municipal
bond portfolios.
     

      Pursuant to the fund's investment management agreement, the fund has
retained the manager to manage the investment of the fund's assets and to
provide 


32
<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management of the Fund (continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

such investment research, advice and supervision, in conformity with the fund's
investment objective and policies, as may be necessary for the investment
activities of the fund. The manager also administers the fund's corporate
affairs subject to the supervision of the fund's board of directors and in
connection therewith furnishes the fund with office facilities together with
such ordinary clerical and bookkeeping services (e.g., prepa ration of annual
and other reports to shareholders and the SEC and filing of federal, state and
local income tax returns) as are not being furnished by the fund's custodian.

      The management agreement provides, among other things, that the manager
will bear all expenses of its employees and overhead incurred in connection
with its duties under the management agreement, other than those assumed by the
fund, as described below, and will pay all director's fees and salaries of the
fund's directors and officers who are affiliated persons (as such term is
defined in the 1940 Act) of the manager.

 
      The management agreement provides that the fund shall pay to the manager a
monthly fee in arrears equal to 0.70% per annum of the fund's average daily net
assets at the end of each month.
 

      Although the manager intends to devote such time and effort to the
business of the fund as reasonably necessary to perform its duties to the fund,
the services of the manager are not exclusive and the manager provides similar
services to other investment companies and may engage in other activities.

      The management agreement also provides that in the absence of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its
obligations thereunder, the manager is not liable to the fund or any of the
fund's shareholders for any act or omission by the manager in the supervision or
management of its investment activities or for any loss sustained by the fund or
the fund's shareholders.

 
      The management agreement will continue in effect for successive periods of
12 months, provided that each continuance is specifically approved at least
annually by both (1) the vote of a majority of the fund's board of directors or
the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the fund (as such
term is defined in the 1940 Act) and (2) by the vote of a majority of the
directors who are not parties to such agreement or interested persons (as such
term is defined in the 1940 Act) of any such party, cast in person at a meeting
called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The management agreement may
be terminated at any time by the fund, without the payment of any penalty, upon
the vote of a majority of the fund's board of directors or a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the fund or by the manager, on 60 days' written
notice by either party to the other. The management agreement will terminate
automatically in the event of its assignment (as such term is defined in the
1940 Act and the rules thereunder).
 


                                                                              33
<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management of the Fund (continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
      For the years ended December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998, the fund paid
$432,659, $436,257 and $445,553 respectively, in management fees to SSBC.
   
      Peter Coffey, Vice President and Investment Officer of the fund, is
primarily responsible for management of the fund's assets. Mr. Coffey is a Vice
President of the manager and is the senior asset manager for ten other funds in
vesting in tax-exempt securities with aggregate assets of approximately $2.3
billion as of March 31, 1999.
     

      Except as indicated above, the fund will pay all of its expenses,
including fees of the directors not affiliated with the manager and board
meeting expenses; fees of the manager; interest charges; taxes; charges and
expenses of the fund's legal counsel and independent accountants, and of the
transfer agent, registrar and dividend disbursing agent of the fund; expenses of
repurchasing shares; expenses of printing and mailing share certificates, share
holder reports, notices, proxy statements and reports to governmental offices;
brokerage and other expenses connected with the execution, recording and
settlement of portfolio security transactions; expenses connected with
negotiating of, effecting purchase or sale of, or registering privately issued
portfolio securities; fees and expenses of the fund's custodian for all services
to the fund, including safekeeping of funds and securities and maintaining
required books and accounts; expenses of calculating and publishing the net
asset value of the fund's common stock; expenses of membership in investment
company associations; expenses of fidelity bonding and other insurance premiums;
expenses of shareholders' meetings; SEC registration fees and state notice
filing fees; American Stock Exchange listing fees; and its other business and
operating expenses.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Securities Transactions and Turnover
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      GENERAL

      Subject to the general supervision of the board of directors, the manager
is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities and the selection of
broker-dealers to effect the transactions. The fund invests primarily in the
over-the-counter market. Securities are generally traded in the over-the-counter
market on a "net" basis with dealers acting as principal for their own accounts
without charging a stated commission, although the price of the security usually
includes a profit to the dealer. The fund also purchases securities at times in
underwritten offerings, where the price includes a fixed amount of compensation,
generally referred to as the underwriter's concession or discount. On occasion,
the fund may also purchase certain money market instruments directly from an
issuer, in which case no commissions or discounts are paid. The fund will not
engage in any principal transactions with Salomon Smith Barney.


34
<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Securities Transactions and Turnover (continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      The manager currently serves as investment adviser to other investment
companies, some of which invest principally in municipal securities. In the
future it may act as investment adviser to other investment companies or
accounts that invest in municipal securities. Although each investment company
is individually managed, from time to time the manager may, to the extent
permitted by law, allocate purchase or sale transactions among various
investment companies. In making such allocations the manager will consider,
among other things, the respective investment objectives, the relative size of
portfolio holdings of the same or comparable securities and the liquidity of the
portfolio.

      The fund's policy regarding purchases and sales of securities for its
portfolio is that primary consideration will be given to obtaining the most
favorable prices consistent with efficient execution of transactions in seeking
to implement the fund's policies. The manager will effect transactions with
those dealers who the manager believes provide the most favorable prices and who
are capable of providing efficient executions. Those factors that the manager
believes contribute to efficient execution include size of the order, difficulty
of execution, operational capabilities and facilities of the dealer involved,
whether that dealer has risked its own capital in positioning a block of
securities and the dealer's prior experience in effecting transactions of this
type. If the manager believes such price and execution are obtainable from more
than one dealer, it may give consideration to placing portfolio transactions
with those dealers who also furnish research and other services to the manager.
Such services may include, but are not limited to, any one or more of the
following: information as to the availability of securities for purchase or
sale; statistical or factual information or opinions pertaining to investment;
economic analysis; and appraisals or evaluations of portfolio securities.

      The information and services so received by the manager may be of benefit
to the manager in the management of other accounts and may not in all cases
benefit the fund directly. While the receipt of such information and services is
useful in varying degrees and would generally reduce the amount of research or
services otherwise performed by the manager and thus may reduce its expenses, it
is of indeterminable value and the advisory fee paid to the manager is not
reduced by any amount that may be attributable to the value of such services.

      TURNOVER

      The fund cannot accurately predict its turnover rate, but anticipates that
its annual turnover rate will not exceed 100%. The fund's turnover rate is
calculated by dividing the lesser of the fund's sales or purchases of securities
during a year (excluding any security the maturity of which at the time of
acquisition is one year or less) by the average monthly value of the fund's
securities for the year. Higher turnover rates can result in corresponding
increases in the fund's transaction costs. The fund will not consider turnover
rate a limiting factor in making investment decisions consistent with its
investment objective and policies.


                                                                              35
<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dividends and Distributions; Dividend Reinvestment Plan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      The fund generally expects to pay monthly dividends of net investment
income (income other than net realized capital gains) and to distribute net
realized capital gains, if any, annually. From time to time, when the fund makes
a substantial capital gains distribution, it may do so in lieu of paying its
regular monthly dividend. All dividends or distributions with respect to shares
of common stock are reinvested automatically in additional shares through
participation in the fund's dividend reinvestment plan, unless a shareholder
elects to receive cash.

      Under the fund's dividend reinvestment plan, a shareholder whose shares of
common stock are registered in his or her own name will have all distributions
from the fund reinvested automatically by First Data as purchasing agent under
the plan, unless the shareholder elects to receive cash. Distributions with
respect to shares registered in the name of a broker-dealer or other nominee
(that is, in "street name") will be reinvested by the broker or nominee in
additional shares under the plan, unless the service is not provided by the
broker or nominee or the shareholder elects to receive distributions in cash.
Investors who own common stock registered in street name should consult their
broker-dealers for details regarding reinvestment. All distributions to fund
shareholders who do not participate in the plan will be paid by check mailed
directly to the record holder by or under the direction of First Data as
dividend-paying agent.

      The number of shares of common stock distributed to participants in the
plan in lieu of a cash dividend is determined in the following manner. Whenever
the market price of the common stock is equal to or exceeds the net asset value
per share on the date of valuation, plan participants will be issued shares of
common stock at a price equal to the greater of (1) the net asset value per
share most recently determined as described under "Net Asset Value" or (2) 95%
of the market price.

 
      If the market price of the common stock is less than the net asset value
of the common stock at the time of valuation (which is the close of business on
the determination date), or if the fund declares a dividend or capital gains
distribution payable only in cash, First Data will buy common stock in the open
market, on the AMEX or elsewhere, for the participants' accounts. If, following
the commencement of the purchases and before First Data has completed its
purchases, the market price exceeds the net asset value of the common stock,
First Data will attempt to terminate purchases in the open market and cause the
fund to issue the remaining portion of the dividend or distribution by issuing
shares at a price equal to the greater of (a) net asset value or (b) 95% of the
then current market price. In this case, the number of shares of common stock
received by a plan participant will be based on the weighted average of prices
paid for shares purchased in the open market and the price at which the fund
issues the remaining shares. To the extent First Data is unable to stop open
market purchases and cause the fund to issue the remaining shares, the average
per share purchase price paid by First Data may exceed the net asset value of
the common stock, resulting in the acquisition of fewer shares than if the
dividend or capital gains distribution had been paid in common stock issued by
the fund at net asset value. First 
 


36
<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dividends and Distributions; Dividend Reinvestment Plan (continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Data will begin to purchase common stock on the open market as soon as
practicable after the payment date of the dividend or capital gains
distribution, but in no event shall such purchases continue later than 30 days
after that date, except when necessary to comply with applicable provisions of
the federal securities laws.

      First Data maintains all shareholder accounts in the plan and furnishes
written confirmations of all transactions in each account, including information
needed by a shareholder for personal and tax records. The automatic reinvestment
of dividends and capital gains distributions will not relieve plan participants
of any income tax that may be payable on the dividends or capital gains
distributions. Common stock in the account of each plan participant will be held
by First Data in uncertificated form in the name of each plan participant.

      Plan participants are subject to no charge for reinvesting dividends and
capital gains distributions under the plan. First Data's fees for handling the
reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions will be paid by the
fund. No brokerage charges apply with respect to shares of common stock issued
directly by the fund under the plan. Each plan participant will, however, bear a
proportionate share of brokerage commissions incurred with respect to open
market purchases made under the plan.

      Experience under the plan may indicate that changes to it are desirable.
The fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the plan as applied to any
dividend or capital gains distribution paid subsequent to written notice of the
change sent to participants at least 30 days before the record date for the
dividend or capital gains distribution. The plan also may be amended or
terminated by First Data, with the fund's prior written consent, on at least 30
days' written notice to plan participants. All correspondence concerning the
plan should be directed by mail to First Data Investor Services Group, P.O. Box
8030, Boston, Massachusetts 02266 or by telephone at 1-800-331-1710.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Asset Value
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      The net asset value per share of the fund's common stock is determined by
calculating the total value of the fund's assets, deducting its total
liabilities and dividing the result by the number of shares of common stock
outstanding. The net asset value will be computed as of the close of regular
trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on each day that the NYSE is open.
The fund reserves the right to calculate the net asset value more frequently if
deemed desirable.

      The fund's securities will be valued on the basis of bid prices provided
by a pricing service when the fund believes such prices reflect fair market
value. Pricing services generally determine value by reference to transactions
in municipal 


                                                                              37
<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Asset Value (continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

securities, quotations from municipal bond dealers, market transactions in
comparable securities and various relationships between securities. If a pricing
service is not used, municipal securities will be valued at the quoted bid
prices provided by municipal bond dealers. Short-term instruments maturing
within 60 days will be valued at cost plus amortized discount, if any, when the
board of directors has determined that amortized cost equals fair value.
Securities and other assets that are not priced by a pricing service and for
which market quotations are not available will be valued in good faith at fair
value by or under the direction of the board of directors.

      If any securities held by the fund are restricted as to resale, the
manager will determine their fair value following procedures approved by the
directors. The directors will periodically review such valuations and
procedures. The fair value of such securities generally will be determined as
the amount which the fund could reasonably expect to realize from an orderly
disposition of such securities over a reasonable period of time. The valuation
procedures applied in any specific instance are likely to vary from case to
case. However, consideration will be generally given to the financial position
of the issuer and other fundamental analytical data relating to the investment
and to the nature of the restrictions on disposition of securities (including
any registration expenses that might be borne by the fund in connection with
such disposition). In addition, specific factors also generally will be
considered, such as the cost of the investment, the market value of any
unrestricted securities of the same class (both at the time of purchase and at
the time of valuation), the size of the holding, the prices of any recent
transactions or offers with respect to such securities, and any available
analysts' reports regarding the issuer.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Taxation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      The discussion set out below of tax considerations generally affecting the
fund and its shareholders is intended to be only a summary and is not intended
as a substitute for careful tax planning by prospective shareholders.

      TAXATION OF THE FUND AND ITS INVESTMENTS

      The fund has qualified and intends to continue to qualify each year as a
"regulated investment company" under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code
(the "Code"). In addition, the fund intends to satisfy each year conditions
contained in the Code that will enable interest from municipal securities,
excluded from gross income for federal income tax purposes with respect to the
fund, to retain that tax-exempt status when distributed to the shareholders of
the fund (that is, to be classified as "exempt-interest" dividends of the fund).


38
<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Taxation (continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      As a regulated investment company, the fund pays no federal income taxes
on its taxable net investment income (that is, taxable income other than net
realized capital gains) and its net realized capital gains that are distributed
to shareholders. To qualify under Subchapter M of the Code, the fund must, among
other things: (1) distribute to its shareholders at least 90% of its taxable net
investment income (for this purpose consisting of taxable net investment income
and net realized short-term capital gain in excess of net realized long-term
capital loss) and 90% of its tax-exempt net investment income (reduced by
certain expenses); (2) derive at least 90% of its gross income from dividends,
interest, payments with respect to loans of securities, gains from the sale or
other disposition of securities, and other income (including, but not limited
to, gains from options, futures and forward contracts) derived with respect to
the fund's business of investing in securities; and (3) diversify its holdings
so that, at the end of each fiscal quarter of the fund (a) at least 50% of the
market value of the fund's assets is represented by cash, U.S. Government
securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and other
securities, with those other securities limited, with respect to any one issuer,
to an amount no greater than 5% of the fund's assets and 10% of the outstanding
voting securities of such issuer, and (b) not more than 25% of the market value
of the fund's assets is invested in the securities of any one issuer (other than
U.S. Government securities or securities of other regulated investment
companies) or of two or more issuers that the fund controls and that are
determined to be in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades
or businesses. As a regulated investment company, the fund is subject to a 4%
non-deductible excise tax measured with respect to certain undistributed amounts
of ordinary income and capital gain. The fund pays dividends and distributions
necessary to avoid the application of this excise tax.

      As described above, the fund may invest in financial futures contracts and
options on financial futures contracts that are traded on a U.S. exchange or
board of trade. As a general rule, these investment activities will increase or
decrease the amount of long-term and short-term capital gains or losses realized
by the fund and, thus, will affect the amount of capital gains distributed to
the fund's shareholders.

      For federal income tax purposes, gain or loss on the futures and options
described above (collectively referred to as "Section 1256 Contracts") would,
as a general rule, be taxed pursuant to a special "mark-to-market system." Under
the mark-to-market system, the fund may be treated as realizing a greater or
lesser amount of gains or losses than actually realized. As a general rule, gain
or loss on Section 1256 Contracts is treated as 60% long-term capital gain or
loss and 40% short-term capital gain or loss, and as a result, the
mark-to-market system will generally affect the amount of capital gains or
losses taxable to the fund and the amount of distributions taxable to a
shareholder. Moreover, if the fund invests in both Section 1256 Contracts and
offsetting positions in those contracts, then the fund might not be able to
receive the benefit of certain realized losses for an 


                                                                              39
<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Taxation (continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    
indeterminate amount of time. The fund expects that its activities with respect
to Section 1256 Contracts and offsetting positions in those Contracts (1) will
not cause it or its shareholders to be treated as receiving a materially greater
amount of capital gains or distributions than actually realized or received and
(2) will permit it to use substantially all of its losses for the fiscal years
in which the losses actually occur (to the extent it realizes corresponding
gains in such years).
     

      TAXATION OF THE FUND'S STOCKHOLDERS

      Dividends by the fund, other than dividends from taxable investments and
market discount on municipal securities and from income or gain derived from
securities transactions and from the use of certain of the investment techniques
described under "Investment Objectives and Management Policies -- Investment
Techniques," are derived from interest on municipal securities and are
exempt-interest dividends that may be excluded by shareholders from their gross
income for federal income tax purposes if the fund satisfies certain asset
percentage requirements. Distributions of the fund's net realized short-term
capital gains are taxable to shareholders of the fund as ordinary income, and
distributions of net realized long-term capital gains are taxable to
shareholders as long-term capital gains, regardless of the length of time
shareholders have held shares of common stock and whether the distributions are
received in cash or reinvested in additional shares. As a general rule, a
shareholder's gain or loss on a sale of his shares of common stock will be a
long-term gain or loss if he has held his shares for more than one year and will
be a short-term capital gain or loss if he has held his shares for one year or
less. Long-term capital gains of individual shareholders is generally subject to
a maximum 20% capital gains tax rate. Dividends and distributions paid by the
fund do not qualify for the federal dividends-received deduction for
corporations.

      EXEMPT-INTEREST DIVIDENDS

      Interest on indebtedness incurred by a shareholder to purchase or carry
shares of common stock is not deductible for federal income tax purposes to the
extent it is deemed related to exempt-interest dividends. If a share holder
receives exempt-interest dividends with respect to any share of common stock and
if the share is held by the shareholder for six months or less, then any loss on
the sale of the share may, to the extent of the exempt-interest dividends, be
disallowed. The Code may also require a shareholder, if he receives
exempt-interest dividends, to treat as taxable income a portion of certain
otherwise non-taxable social security and railroad retirement benefit payments.
In addition, the portion of any exempt-interest dividend paid by the fund that
represents income derived from private activity bonds held by the fund may not
retain its tax-exempt status in the hands of a shareholder who is a "substantial
user" of a facility financed by the bonds, or a "related person" of the
substantial user. Although the fund's exempt-interest dividends may be excluded
by shareholders from their gross income for federal 


40
<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Taxation (continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

income tax purposes, some or all of the fund's exempt-interest dividends may be
a specific preference item, or a component of an adjustment item, for purposes
of the federal individual and corporate alternative minimum taxes. The receipt
of dividends and distributions from the fund may affect a foreign corporate
shareholder's federal "branch profits" tax liability and the federal "excess net
passive income" tax liability of a shareholder of an S corporation. Shareholders
should consult their own tax advisors to determine whether they are (1)
"substantial users" with respect to a facility or "related" to those users
within the meaning of the Code or (2) subject to a federal alternative minimum
tax, the federal "branch profits" tax, or the federal "excess net passive
income" tax.

      DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN

      A shareholder of the fund receiving dividends or distributions in
additional shares purchased in the open market pursuant to the Plan should be
treated for federal income tax purposes as receiving a distribution in an amount
equal to the amount of money that a share holder receiving cash dividends or
distributions receives, and should have a cost basis in the shares received
equal to that amount. A shareholder of the fund receiving dividends or
distributions in additional shares issued directly by the fund pursuant to the
plan should be treated for federal income tax purposes as receiving a
distribution in an amount equal to the fair market value of the issued shares on
the payment date, and should have a cost basis in the shares received equal to
that amount.

      STATEMENTS AND NOTICES

      Statements as to the tax status of the dividends and distributions
received by shareholders of the fund are mailed annually. These statements show
the dollar amount of income excluded from federal income taxes and the dollar
amount, if any, subject to federal income taxes including the amount, if any, of
long-term capital gains distributions. The statements will also designate the
amount of exempt-interest dividends that are a specific preference item for
purposes of the federal individual and corporate alternative minimum taxes. The
fund will notify shareholders annually as to the interest excluded from federal
income taxes earned by the fund with respect to those states and possessions in
which the fund has or had investments. The dollar amount of dividends paid by
the fund that is excluded from federal income taxation and the dollar amount of
dividends paid by the fund that is subject to federal income taxation, if any,
will vary for each shareholder depending upon the size and duration of the
shareholder's investment in the fund. To the extent that the fund earns taxable
net investment income, it intends to designate as taxable dividends the same
percentage of each day's dividend as its taxable net investment income bears to
its total net investment income earned on that date. Therefore, the percentage
of each day's dividend designated as taxable, if any, may vary from day to day.


                                                                              41
<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Taxation (continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      BACKUP WITHHOLDING

      If a shareholder fails to furnish a correct taxpayer identification
number, fails to report fully dividend or interest income, or fails to certify
that he has provided a correct taxpayer identification number and that he is not
subject to "backup withholding," the shareholder may be subject to a 31% "backup
withholding" tax with respect to (1) taxable dividends and distributions and (2)
the proceeds of any sales or repurchases of shares of common stock. An
individual's taxpayer identification number is his social security number. The
31% backup withholding tax is not an additional tax and may be credited against
a taxpayer's federal income tax liability.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Description of Shares
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      The fund was incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland on May
19, 1992 by its articles of incorporation. The articles of incorporation
authorize issuance of the common stock. The articles of incorporation provide
that the fund shall continue without limitation of time.

      COMMON STOCK

    
                                                                  Amount
                                                               Outstanding
                                                           Exclusive of Shares
                                                           Held by Fund for Its
                                          Amount Held       Own Account as of
                            Shares       by Fund for Its         April 9,
Title of Class            Authorized      Own Account             1999
     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock              100,000,000          0              4,021,161.791
                    
      No shares, other than those currently outstanding, are offered for sale
pursuant to this prospectus.

      The fund has authorized capital of 100 million shares, all of which are
currently designated as common stock, par value $.001 per share. Unissued
shares of capital stock may be reclassified by the board of directors without a
shareholder vote into one or more classes of preferred or other stock with no
restrictions on the rights and preferences of any such classes except as may be
imposed by the 1940 Act or Maryland law.

      Shares of common stock, when issued, are fully paid and nonassessable.
Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each share of common stock held for
the election of directors and other matters submitted to shareholders. There are
no preemptive rights. Each share of common stock is entitled to participate
equally in the net distributable assets of the fund upon liquidation or
termination.

      The fund has no present intention of making a secondary offering of common
stock. Other offerings of its common stock, if made, will require approval of
the


42
<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Description of Shares (continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

fund's board of directors. Any additional offering will be subject to the
requirements of the 1940 Act that such common stock may not be issued at a
price below the then current net asset value, exclusive of underwriting
discounts and commissions, except in connection with an offering to existing
shareholders or with the consent of the holders of a majority of the fund's
outstanding voting securities.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Certain Provisions of the Articles of Incorporation and Market Discount
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS

      The fund presently has provisions in its articles of incorporation and
bylaws (commonly referred to as "anti-takeover" provisions) which may have the
effect of limiting the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control
of the fund, to cause it to engage in certain transactions or to modify its
structure.

      The board of directors is classified into three classes, each with a term
of three years with only one class of directors standing for election in any
year. Such classification may prevent replacement of a majority of the directors
for up to a two year period. Directors may be removed from office only for cause
by vote of at least 75% of the shares entitled to be voted on the matter. In
addition, unless 70% of the board of directors approves the transaction, the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% of the shares will be required
to authorize the fund's conversion from a closed-end to an open-end investment
company, or generally to authorize any of the following transactions: (i)
merger, consolidation or share exchange of the fund with or into any other
corporation; (ii) dissolution or liquidation of the fund; (iii) sale, lease,
exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the
fund; (iv) change in the nature of the business of the fund so that it would
cease to be an investment company registered under the 1940 Act; or (v) sale,
lease or exchange to the fund, in exchange for securities of the fund, of any
assets of any entity or person (except assets having an aggregate fair market
value of less than $1,000,000). The affirmative vote of at least 75% of the
shares will be required to amend the Articles of incorporation or Bylaws to
change any of the foregoing provisions.

      The percentage votes required under these provisions, which are greater
than the minimum requirements under Maryland law or the 1940 Act, will make more
difficult a change in the fund's business or management and may have the effect
of depriving shareholders of an opportunity to sell shares at a premium over
prevailing market prices by discouraging a third party from seeking to obtain
control of the fund in a tender offer or similar transaction. The fund's board
of directors, however, has considered these anti-takeover provisions and
believes they are in the best interests of shareholders.


                                                                              43
<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Certain Provisions of the Articles of Incorporation and Market 
Discount (continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      MARKET DISCOUNT

    
      Shares of common stock of closed-end investment companies frequently trade
at a discount from net asset value, or in some cases trade at a premium. Shares
of closed-end investment companies investing primarily in fixed income
securities tend to trade on the basis of income yield on the market price of the
shares and the market price may also be affected by trading volume, general
market conditions and economic conditions and other factors beyond the control
of the fund. As a result, the market price of the fund's shares may be greater
or less than the net asset value. From March 12, 1993 through April 9, 1999, the
fund's shares have traded from a premium of 1.22% to a market discount of 12.7%.
     

      Some closed-end companies have taken certain actions, including the
repurchase of common stock in the market at market prices and the making of one
or more tender offers for common stock at net asset value, in an effort to
reduce or mitigate the discount, and others have converted to an open-end
investment company, the shares of which are redeemable at net asset value.

 
      The fund's board of directors has seen no reason to adopt any of the
steps, which some other closed-end funds have used to address the discount. In
addition, the experience of many closed-end funds suggests that the effect of
many of these steps (other than open-ending) on the discount may be temporary or
insignificant. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that any of these actions
will be taken or, if undertaken, will cause the fund's shares to trade at a
price equal to their net asset value.
 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Custodian, Transfer Agent, Dividend-Paying Agent, Registrar
and Plan Agent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
      PNC Bank, located at 17th and Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
19103, acts as the fund's custodian and has custody of all securities and cash
of the fund. The custodian, among other things, attends to the collection of
principal and income, and payment for securities bought and sold by the fund.
First Data, located at One Exchange Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02109, serves
as the fund's transfer agent, dividend-paying agent and registrar. First Data
also serves as agent in connection with the Plan.
 


44
<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reports to Shareholders
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      The fund sends unaudited quarterly and audited annual reports to the
holders of its securities, including a list of investments held.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Independent Auditors
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      KPMG LLP, 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154, has been selected as
the fund's independent auditors to examine and report on the financial
statements and financial highlights of the fund for its fiscal year ending
December 31, 1999.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Additional Information
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the
registration statement filed with the SEC. The complete registration statement
may be obtained from the SEC upon payment of any applicable fee prescribed by
its rules and regulations.


                                                                              45
<PAGE>

  

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appendix A
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                         DESCRIPTION OF MOODY'S, S&P AND
                            FITCH IBCA,INC. RATINGS

      DESCRIPTION OF MOODY'S MUNICIPAL BOND RATINGS:

      Aaa -- Bonds that are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality,
carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as
`"gilt edge." Interest payments with respect to these bonds are protected by a
large or by an exceptionally stable margin, and principal is secure. Although
the various protective elements applicable to these bonds are likely to change,
those changes are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of
these bonds.

      Aa -- Bonds that are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all
standards and together with the Aaa group 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 other elements may be
present that make the long-term risks appear somewhat larger than in Aaa
securities.

      A -- Bonds that are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes
and are to be considered as upper medium grade obligations. Factors giving
security to principal and interest with respect to these bonds are considered
adequate, but elements may be present that suggest a susceptibility to
impairment sometime in the future.

      Baa -- Bonds rated Baa are considered to be medium grade obligations, that
is they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest payment 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. These bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and may
have speculative characteristics as well.

      Moody's applies the numerical modifiers 1, 2 and 3 in each generic rating
classification from Aa through B. The modifier 1 indicates that the security
ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates
a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates that the issue ranks in the
lower end of its generic rating category.


                                                                             A-1
<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appendix A (continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      DESCRIPTION OF MOODY'S MUNICIPAL NOTE RATINGS:

      Moody's ratings for state and municipal notes and other short-term loans
are designated Moody's Investment Grade (MIG) and for variable demand
obligations are designated Variable Moody's Investment Grade (VMIG). This
distinction recognizes the differences between short-term credit risk and
long-term risk. Loans bearing the designation MIG 1/VMIG 1 are of the best
quality, enjoying strong protection from established cash flows of funds for
their servicing or from established and broad-based access to the market for
refinancing, or both. Loans bearing the description MIG 2/VMIG 2 are of high
quality, with margins of protection ample, although not as large as the
preceding group. Loans bearing the designation MIG 3/VMIG 3 are of favorable
quality, with all security elements accounted for but lacking the undeniable
strength of the preceding grades. Market access for refinancing, in particular,
is likely to be less well established.

      DESCRIPTION OF MOODY'S COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS:

      The rating Prime-1 is the highest commercial paper rating assigned by
Moody's. Issuers rated Prime-1 (or related supporting institutions) are
considered to have a superior capacity for repayment of short-term promissory
obligations. Issuers rates Prime-2 (or related supporting institutions) are
considered to have a strong capacity for repayment of short-term promissory
obligations, normally evidenced by many of the characteristics of issuers rated
Prime-1 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
alternative liquidity is maintained.

      DESCRIPTION OF S&P MUNICIPAL BOND RATINGS:

      AAA -- These bonds are the obligations of the higher quality and have the
strongest capacity for timely payment of debt service.

      General Obligation Bonds rated AAA -- In a period of economic stress, the
issuers of these bonds will suffer the smallest declines in income and will be
least susceptible to autonomous decline. Debt burden is moderate. A strong
revenue structure appears more than adequate to meet future expenditure
requirements. Quality of management appears superior.


A-2
<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appendix A (continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      Revenue Bonds Rated AAA -- Debt service coverage with respect to these
bonds has been, and is expected to remain, substantial. Stability of the pledged
revenues is also exceptionally strong due to the competitive position of the
municipal enterprise or to the nature of the revenues. Basic security provisions
(including rate covenant, earnings test for issuance of additional bonds, debt
service reserve requirements) are rigorous. There is evidence of superior
management.

      AA -- The investment characteristics of bonds in this group are only
slightly less marked than those of the prime quality issues. Bonds rated AA have
the second strongest capacity for payment of debt service.

      A -- Principal and interest payments on bonds in this category are
regarded as safe although the bonds are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse
effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than bonds in higher
rated categories. This rating describes the third strongest capacity for payment
of debt service.

      General Obligation Bonds Rated A -- There is some weakness, either in the
local economic base, in debt burden, in the balance between revenues and
expenditures, or in quality of management. Under certain adverse circumstances,
any one such weakness might impair the ability of the issuer to meet debt
obligations at some future date.

      Revenue Bonds Rated A -- Debt service coverage is good, but not
exceptional. Stability of the pledged revenues could show some variations
because of increased competition or economic influences on revenues. Basic
security provisions, while satisfactory, are less stringent. Management
performance appearance appears adequate.

      BBB -- The bonds in this group are regarded as having an adequate capacity
to pay interest and repay principal. Whereas bonds in this group normally
exhibit 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. Bonds
rated BBB have the fourth strongest capacity or payment of debt service.

      S&P's letter ratings may be modified by the addition of a plus or a minus
sign, which is used to show relative standing within the major rating
categories, except in the AAA category.


                                                                             A-3
<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appendix A (continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      DESCRIPTION OF S&P MUNICIPAL NOTE RATINGS:

      Municipal notes with maturities of three years or less are usually given
note ratings (designated SP1, -2 or -3) to distinguish more clearly the credit
quality of notes as compared to bonds. Notes rated SP-1 have a very strong or
strong capacity to pay principal and interest. Those issues determined to
possess overwhelming safety characteristics are given the designation of SP-1+.
Notes rated SP-2 have a satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest.

      DESCRIPTION OF S&P COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS:

      Commercial paper rated A-1 by S&P indicates that the degree of safety
regarding timely payment is either overwhelming or very strong. Those issues
determined to possess overwhelming safety characteristics are denoted A-1+.
Capacity for timely payment on commercial paper rated A-2 is strong, but the
relative degree of safety is not as high as for issues designated A-1.

      DESCRIPTION OF FITCH IBCA, Inc. MUNICIPAL BOND RATINGS:

      AAA -- Bonds rated AAA by Fitch have the lowest expectation of credit
risk. The obligor has an exceptionally strong capacity for timely payment of
financial commitments, which is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by
foreseeable events.

      AA -- Bonds rated AA by Fitch have 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 -- Bonds rated A by Fitch are considered to have a low expectation of
credit risk. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is
considered to be strong, but may be more vulnerable to changes in economic
conditions and circumstances than bonds with higher ratings.

      BBB -- Bonds rated BBB by Fitch currently have a low expectation of credit
risk. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is considered to
be adequate. Adverse changes in economic conditions and circumstances, however,
are more likely to impair this capacity. This is the lowest investment grade
category assigned by Fitch.

      Plus and minus signs are used by Fitch to indicate the relative position
of a credit within a rating category. Plus and minus signs, however, are not
used on the AAA category.


A-4
<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appendix A (continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      DESCRIPTION OF FITCH SHORT-TERM RATINGS:

      Fitch's short-term ratings apply to debt obligations that are payable on
demand or have original maturities of generally up to three years, including
commercial paper, certificates of deposit, medium-term notes, and municipal and
investment notes.

      The short-term rating places greater emphasis than a long-term rating on
the existence of liquidity necessary to meet financial commitments in a timely
manner.

      Fitch's short-term ratings are as follows:

      F1+ -- Issues assigned this rating are regarded as having the strongest
capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. The "+" denotes an
exceptionally strong credit feature.

      F1 -- Issues assigned this rating are regarded as having the strongest
capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.

      F2 -- Issues assigned this rating have 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 -- The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is
adequate; however, near-term adverse changes could result in a reduction to
non-investment grade.


                                                                             A-5
<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appendix B
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                              OPTIONS AND FUTURES

      General. The fund may engage in futures and options transactions in
accordance with its investment objective and policies. The fund may engage in
such transactions if it appears advantageous to the manager to do so in order to
pursue its investment objective, to hedge against the effects of market
conditions and to stabilize the value of its assets. The manager may also decide
not to engage in any of these investment practices. The use of futures and
options, and the possible benefits and attendant risks are discussed below,
along with information concerning certain other investment policies and
techniques.

      Financial Futures Contracts. The fund may enter into financial futures
contracts for the future delivery of a financial instrument, such as a security,
or the cash value of a securities index. This investment technique is designed
primarily to hedge (i.e., protect) against anticipated future changes in market
conditions which otherwise might adversely affect the value of securities which
the fund holds or intends to purchase. A "sale" of a futures contract means the
undertaking of a contractual obligation to deliver the securities, or the cash
value of an index, called for by the contract at a specified price during a
specified delivery period. A "purchase" of a futures contract means the
undertaking of a contractual obligation to acquire the securities, or cash value
of an index, at a specified price during a specified delivery period. At the
time of delivery, in the case of fixed income securities pursuant to the
contract, adjustments are made to recognize differences in value arising from
the delivery of securities with a different interest rate than that specified in
the contract. In some cases, securities called for by a futures contract may not
have been issued at the time the contract was written.

      Although some financial futures contracts by their terms call for the
actual delivery or acquisition of securities, in most cases the contractual
commitment is closed out before delivery without having to make or take delivery
of the security. The offsetting of a contractual obligation is accomplished by
purchasing (or selling, as the case may be) on a commodities exchange an
identical futures contract calling for delivery in the same period. Such a
transaction cancels the obligation to make or take delivery of the securities.
All transactions in the futures market are made, offset or fulfilled through a
clearing house associated with the exchange on which the contracts are traded.
The fund will incur brokerage fees when it purchases or sells contracts, and
will be required to maintain margin deposits. Futures contracts entail risk. If
the manager's judgment about the general direction of securities markets or
interest rates is wrong, the fund's overall performance may be poorer than if
the fund had not entered into such contracts.

      There may be an imperfect correlation between movements in prices of
futures contracts and portfolio securities being hedged. In addition, the market
prices of futures contracts may be affected by certain factors. If participants
in the futures


                                                                             B-1
<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appendix B (continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

market elect to close out their contracts through offsetting transactions rather
than meet margin requirements, distortions in the normal relationship between
the securities and futures markets could result. Price distortions could also
result if investors in futures contracts decide to make or take delivery of
underlying securities rather than engage in closing transactions due to the
resultant reduction in the liquidity of the futures market. In addition, because
from the point of view of speculators, the margin requirements in the futures
market may be less onerous than margin requirements in the cash market,
increased participation by speculators in the futures market could cause
temporary price distortions. Due to the possibility of price distortions in the
futures market and because of the imperfect correlation between movements in the
prices of securities and movements in the prices of futures contracts, a correct
forecast of market trends by the manager may still not result in a successful
hedging transaction. If this should occur, the fund could lose money on the
financial futures contracts and also on the value of its portfolio securities.

      Options on Financial Futures Contracts. The fund may purchase and write
call and put options on financial futures contracts. An option on a futures
contract gives the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to
assume a position in a futures contract at a specified exercise price at any
time during the period specified in the terms of the option. Upon exercise, the
writer of the option delivers the futures contract to the holder at the exercise
price. The fund would be required to deposit with its custodian initial margin
and maintenance margin with respect to put and call options on futures contracts
written by it. Options on futures contracts involve risks similar to those risks
relating to transactions in financial futures contracts described above. Also,
an option purchased by the fund may expire worthless, in which case the fund
would lose the premium paid therefor.

      Options on Securities. The fund may write covered call options so long as
it owns securities which are acceptable for escrow purposes and may write
secured put options, which means that so long as the fund is obligated as a
writer of a put option, it will invest an amount, not less than the exercise
price of the put option, in securities consistent with the fund's investment
objective and policies and restrictions on investment. See "Investment Objective
and Management Policies" and "Investment Restrictions." A call option gives the
purchaser the right to buy, and the writer the obligation to sell, the
underlying security at the exercise price during the period specified in the
terms of the option. A put option gives the purchaser the right to sell, and the
writer the obligation to buy, the underlying security at the exercise price
during the period specified in the terms of the option. The premium received for
writing an option will reflect, among other things, the current market price of
the underlying security, the relationship of the exercise price to the market
price, the price volatility of the underlying security, the option period,
supply and demand and interest rates. The Fund may write or purchase spread


B-2
<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appendix B (continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

options, which are options for which the exercise price may be a fixed dollar
spread or yield spread between the security underlying the option and another
security that is used as a benchmark. The exercise price of an option may be
below, equal to or above the current market value of the underlying security at
the time the option is written. The buyer of a put who also owns the related
security is protected by ownership of a put option against any decline in that
security's price below the exercise price, less the amount paid for the option.
At times the fund may wish to establish a position in a security upon which call
options are available. By purchasing a call option on such security the fund
would be able to fix the cost of acquiring the security, this being the cost of
the call plus the exercise price of the option. This procedure also provides
some protection from an unexpected downturn in the market, because the fund is
only at risk for the amount of the premium paid for the call option which it
can, if it chooses, permit to expire.

      Options on Securities Indices. The fund also may purchase and write call
and put options on securities indices. Through the writing or purchase of index
options, the fund can achieve many of the same objectives as through the use of
options on individual securities. Options on securities indices are similar to
options on a security except that, rather than the right to take or make
delivery of a security at a specified price, an option on a securities index
gives the holder the right to receive, upon exercise of the option, an amount of
cash, if the closing level of the securities index upon which the option is
based is greater than, in the case of a call, or less than, in the case of a
put, the exercise price of the option. This amount of cash is equal to the
difference between the closing price of the index and the exercise price of the
option. The writer of the option is obligated, in return for the premium
received, to make delivery of this amount. Unlike options on securities (which
require, upon exercise, delivery of the underlying security), settlements of
options on securities indices, upon exercise thereof, are in cash, and the gain
or loss of an option on an index depends on price movements in the market
generally (or in a particular industry or segment of the market on which the
underlying index base) rather than price movements in individual securities, as
is the case with respect to options on securities.

      When the fund writes an option on a securities index, it will be required
to deposit with its custodian eligible securities equal in value to 100% of the
exercise price in the case of a put, or the contract's value in the case of a
call. In addition, where the fund writes a call option on a securities index at
a time when the contract value exceeds the exercise price, the fund will
segregate, until the option expires or is closed out, cash or cash equivalents
equal in value to such excess.

      Options on securities and index options involve risks similar to those
risks relating to transactions in financial futures described above. Also, an
option purchased by the fund may expire worthless, in which case the fund would
lose the premium paid therefor.


                                                                             B-3
<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appendix B (continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      Over-the-Counter Options. As previously indicated in this prospectus (see
"Investment Objectives and Management Policies -- Investment Techniques"), the
fund may deal in OTC options. The fund understands the position of the staff of
the SEC to be that purchased OTC options and the assets used as "cover" for
written OTC options are illiquid securities. The fund and the manager disagree
with this position and have found the dealers with which they engage in OTC
options transactions generally agreeable to and capable of entering into closing
transactions. The fund has adopted procedures for engaging in OTC options for
the purpose of reducing any potential adverse impact of such transactions upon
the liquidity of the fund's portfolio.

      As part of these procedures the fund will only engage in OTC options
transactions with respect to U.S. government securities with primary dealers
that have been specifically approved by the Board of Directors of the fund. The
fund will engage in OTC options transactions with respect to municipal
securities only with dealers that have been specifically approved by the Board
of Directors. The fund and its manager believe that the approved dealers should
be agreeable and able to enter into closing transactions as necessary and,
therefore, present minimal credit risks to the fund. The fund anticipates
entering into written agreements with those dealers to whom the fund may sell
OTC options, pursuant to which the fund would have the absolute right to
repurchase the OTC options from such dealers at any time at a price with respect
to U.S. Government securities determined pursuant to a formula set forth in
certain no action letters published by the SEC staff. The fund will not engage
in OTC options transactions if the amount invested by the fund in OTC options,
plus, with respect to OTC options written by the fund, the amounts required to
be treated as illiquid pursuant to the terms of such letters (and the value of
the assets used as cover with respect to OTC option sales which are not within
the scope of such letters), plus the amount invested by the fund in illiquid
securities, would exceed 25% of the fund's total assets. OTC options on
securities other than U.S. Government securities, including options on municipal
securities, may not be within the scope of such letters and, accordingly, the
amount invested by the fund in OTC options on such other securities and the
value of the assets used as cover with respect to OTC options sales regarding
such non-U.S. Government securities will be treated as illiquid and subject to
the 25% limitation on the fund's assets which may be invested in illiquid
securities.

      Regulatory Restrictions. To the extent required to comply with applicable
SEC releases and staff positions, when purchasing a futures contract or writing
a put option, the fund will maintain, in a segregated account, cash or liquid
high-grade securities equal to the value of such contracts.

      The fund will not enter into a futures contract or purchase an option
thereon if immediately thereafter the initial margin deposits for futures
contracts held by the fund plus premiums paid by it for open options on futures
would exceed 5% of the 


B-4
<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appendix B (continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

fair market value of the fund's total assets after taking into account
unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such contracts. The fund will
not engage in transactions in financial futures contracts or options thereon for
speculation, but only to attempt to hedge against changes in market conditions
affecting the values of securities which the fund holds or intends to purchase.

      Accounting and Tax Considerations. When the fund writes an option, an
amount equal to the premium received by it is included in the fund's Statement
of Assets and Liabilities as a liability. The amount of the liability is
subsequently marked to market to reflect the current market value of the option
written. When the fund purchases an option, the premium paid by the fund is
recorded as an asset and is subsequently adjusted to the current market value of
the option.

      In the case of a regulated futures contract purchased or sold by the fund,
an amount equal to the initial margin deposit is recorded as an asset. The
amount of the asset is subsequently adjusted to reflect changes in the amount of
the deposit as well as changes in the value of the contract.

      Certain listed options and futures contracts are considered "section 1256
contracts" for Federal income tax purposes. See "Taxation --Taxation of the fund
and its Investments." In general, gain or loss realized by the fund on section
1256 contracts will be considered 60% long term (and deemed to be attributable
to property held for more than 18 months) and 40% short term capital gain or
loss. Also, section 1256 contracts held by the fund at the end of each taxable
year (and at October 31 for purposes of calculating the excise tax) will be
"marked to market", that is, treated for Federal income tax purposes as though
sold for fair market value on the last business day of such taxable year. The
fund can elect to exempt its section 1256 contracts which are part of a "mixed
straddle" (as described below) from the application of section 1256.

      Gain or loss realized by the fund upon the expiration or sale of certain
over-the-counter put and call options held by the fund will be either long term
or short term capital gain or loss depending upon the fund's holding period with
respect to such option. However, gain or loss realized upon the expiration or
closing out of such options that are written by the fund will be treated as
short term capital gain or loss. In general, if the fund exercises an option, or
an option that the fund has written is exercised, gain or loss on the option
will not be separately recognized, but the premium received or paid will be
included in the calculation of gain or loss upon disposition of the property
underlying the option.

      Any security, option or futures contract, delayed delivery transaction, or
other position entered into or held by the fund in conjunction with any other
position held by the fund may constitute a "straddle" for Federal income tax
purposes. A straddle of which at least one, but not all, the positions are
section 1256 contracts will constitute a "mixed straddle". In general, straddles
are subject to certain rules that may affect the character and timing of the
funds' gains and losses with respect 


                                                                             B-5
<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appendix B (continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

to straddle positions by requiring, among other things, that loss realized on
disposition of one position of a straddle be deferred to the extent of any
unrealized gain in an offsetting position until such position is disposed of;
that the fund's holding period in certain straddle positions not begin until the
straddle is terminated (possibly resulting in gain being treated as short term
capital gain rather than long term capital gain); and that losses recognized
with respect to certain straddle positions, that otherwise constitute short term
capital losses, be treated as long term capital losses. Different elections are
available to the fund which may mitigate the effects of the straddle rules,
particularly with respect to mixed straddles.


B-6
<PAGE>

================================================================================

                                                            SALOMON SMITH BARNEY
                                                     A member of citigroup[LOGO]

 
Smith Barney Municipal Fund, Inc.
 

388 Greenwich Street
New York, New York 10013

Common Stock

      All dealers effecting transactions in the fund's securities, whether or
not participating in this distribution, may be required to give investors a
prospectus.

      If someone makes a statement about the fund that is not in this
prospectus, you should not rely upon that information. This prospectus does not
offer any security other than the fund's shares of common stock. Neither the
fund nor Salomon Smith Barney is offering to sell shares of the fund to any
person to whom the fund may not lawfully sell its shares.

      There may be changes in the fund's affairs that occur after the date of
the prospectus. The fund will publish a supplement to the prospectus if there
are any material changes in its business.

 
(Investment Company Act file no. 811-06688)

FD0620   4/99