N-CSR 1 a2153181zn-csr.txt N-CSR UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM N-CSR CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES Investment Company Act File No. 811-08921 ---------------------------------------------------- CREDIT SUISSE SELECT EQUITY FUND, INC. ------------------------------------------------------ (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter) 466 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017-3140 --------------------------------------------------- (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) J. Kevin Gao, Esq. Credit Suisse Select Equity Fund, Inc. 466 Lexington Avenue New York, New York 10017-3140 Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (212) 875-3500 Date of fiscal year end: December 31 Date of reporting period: September 1, 2004 to December 31, 2004 ITEM 1. REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS. [CREDIT SUISSE ASSET MANAGEMENT LOGO] CREDIT SUISSE FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT DECEMBER 31, 2004 - CREDIT SUISSE SELECT EQUITY FUND THE FUND'S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, RISKS, CHARGES AND EXPENSES (WHICH SHOULD BE CONSIDERED CAREFULLY BEFORE INVESTING), AND MORE COMPLETE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND, ARE PROVIDED IN THE PROSPECTUS, WHICH SHOULD BE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE INVESTING. YOU MAY OBTAIN ADDITIONAL COPIES BY CALLING 800-927-8274 OR BY WRITING TO CREDIT SUISSE FUNDS, P.O. BOX 55030, BOSTON, MA 02205-5030. CREDIT SUISSE ASSET MANAGEMENT SECURITIES, INC., DISTRIBUTOR, IS LOCATED AT 466 LEXINGTON AVE., NEW YORK, NY 10017-3140. CREDIT SUISSE FUNDS ARE ADVISED BY CREDIT SUISSE ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC. INVESTORS IN THE CREDIT SUISSE FUNDS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THEY MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO PURCHASE COMMON CLASS AND/OR ADVISOR CLASS SHARES (WHERE OFFERED) DIRECTLY OR THROUGH CERTAIN INTERMEDIARIES. SUCH SHARES ARE NOT SUBJECT TO A SALES CHARGE BUT MAY BE SUBJECT TO AN ONGOING SERVICE AND DISTRIBUTION FEE OF UP TO 0.50% OF AVERAGE DAILY NET ASSETS. INVESTORS IN THE CREDIT SUISSE FUNDS SHOULD ALSO BE AWARE THAT THEY MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR A REDUCTION OR WAIVER OF THE SALES CHARGE WITH RESPECT TO CLASS A, B OR C SHARES. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE REVIEW THE RELEVANT PROSPECTUSES OR CONSULT YOUR FINANCIAL REPRESENTATIVE. THE VIEWS OF THE FUND'S MANAGEMENT ARE AS OF THE DATE OF THE LETTER AND THE FUND HOLDINGS DESCRIBED IN THIS DOCUMENT ARE AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2004; THESE VIEWS AND FUND HOLDINGS MAY HAVE CHANGED SUBSEQUENT TO THESE DATES. NOTHING IN THIS DOCUMENT IS A RECOMMENDATION TO PURCHASE OR SELL SECURITIES. FUND SHARES ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OTHER OBLIGATIONS OF CREDIT SUISSE ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC ("CSAM") OR ANY AFFILIATE, ARE NOT FDIC-INSURED AND ARE NOT GUARANTEED BY CSAMOR ANY AFFILIATE. FUND INVESTMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO INVESTMENT RISKS, INCLUDING LOSS OF YOUR INVESTMENT. CREDIT SUISSE SELECT EQUITY FUND ANNUAL INVESTMENT ADVISER'S REPORT December 31, 2004 (unaudited) February 2, 2005 Dear Shareholder: PERFORMANCE SUMMARY 9/01/04 - 12/31/04*
SHARE CLASS/BENCHMARK PERFORMANCE Common(1) 10.70% Class A(1) 10.67% Class B(1) 10.44% Class C(1) 10.47% S&P 500 Index(2) 10.41%
* As a result of a recent change, the Fund's fiscal year now ends on December 31. The Fund's previous fiscal year end-date was August 31. Performance for the Fund's Class A Shares, Class B Shares and Class C Shares is without the maximum sales charge of 5.75%, 4.00% and 1.00%, respectively.(3) THE MARKET: LATE PERIOD RALLY FUELED BY OPTIMISM The final four months of 2004 was a positive period for the US stock market, which benefited from an end to escalating oil prices and mostly favorable employment news. In a related development, and part of a seemingly virtuous circle, a strong upturn in consumer confidence also supported the market. On the earnings front, while momentum has generally slowed, third quarter results were supportive, and the profit outlook for 2005 remained healthy in our view. STRATEGIC REVIEW: FOCUS ON COMPANY FUNDAMENTALS In this environment, the Fund modestly outperformed its benchmark. Stocks that aided its performance included its financial services, health care and industrial holdings. The Fund was also helped by stock selection in the technology sector, an area where we strengthened our research bench earlier in 2004. On the negative side in terms of relative return, we underperformed in the consumer discretionary sector, in large part due to not owning strong performers we viewed as less compelling from an economic profit perspective. Our ongoing search for companies with good or improving economic profit -- defined as return on invested capital minus the cost of that capital -- resulted in several noteworthy stock purchases in the period. We 1 added Pioneer Natural Resources (1.9% of the Fund's portfolio as of December 31, 2004). We think that healthy cash flows could sustain the company's share buyback activity. In the financial area we initiated a position in North Fork Bancorp (1.9% of the Fund's portfolio as of December 31, 2004), where we think a recent merger could lead to improved return on invested capital. Another new holding was Johnson & Johnson (1.7% of the Fund's portfolio as of December 31, 2004), whose economic profile we feel could be further improved due to a recent strategic acquisition. Our sales included Lockheed Martin, based on the threat posed by defense budget cuts to large scale programs such as its F-22 aircraft. Another noteworthy elimination was Medtronic, on our concerns over its efforts to compete in areas such as the market for drug-coated stents. We sold JC Penney on our analysis of management transition risk, following a period of improved operations. We remain committed to our stock selection disciplines, emphasizing companies we think can methodically sustain and/or improve their return on invested capital. We continue to believe that companies that deliver superior economic profit should deliver outperformance over time. The Credit Suisse Large Cap Core Team Hugh M. Neuburger Margaret D. Miller Sarah J. Dyer William D. Butler THE FUND IS PERMITTED TO INVEST A GREATER PROPORTION OF ITS ASSETS IN THE SECURITIES OF A SMALLER NUMBER OF ISSUERS. AS A RESULT, THE FUND MAY BE SUBJECT TO GREATER VOLATILITY. IN ADDITION TO HISTORICAL INFORMATION, THIS REPORT CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS, WHICH MAY CONCERN, AMONG OTHER THINGS, DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN MARKET, INDUSTRY AND ECONOMIC TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS AND GOVERNMENT REGULATION AND THEIR POTENTIAL IMPACT ON THE FUND'S INVESTMENTS. THESE STATEMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES AND ACTUAL TRENDS, DEVELOPMENTS AND REGULATIONS IN THE FUTURE AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE FUND COULD BE MATERIALLY DIFFERENT FROM THOSE PROJECTED, ANTICIPATED OR IMPLIED. THE FUND HAS NO OBLIGATION TO UPDATE OR REVISE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. 2 COMPARISON OF CHANGE IN VALUE OF $10,000 INVESTMENT IN THE CREDIT SUISSE SELECT EQUITY FUND(1) COMMON CLASS SHARES AND THE S&P 500 INDEX(2) FROM INCEPTION (10/30/98). [CHART]
CREDIT SUISSE SELECT EQUITY FUND(1) -- COMMON S&P 500 CLASS -- $12,644 INDEX(2) -- $12,233 10/30/98 $ 10,000 $ 10,000 10/31/98 $ 10,000 $ 10,117 11/30/98 $ 10,765 $ 10,731 12/31/98 $ 11,220 $ 11,355 1/31/99 $ 11,289 $ 11,823 2/28/99 $ 11,056 $ 11,455 3/31/99 $ 11,634 $ 11,916 4/30/99 $ 12,437 $ 12,369 5/31/99 $ 11,960 $ 12,083 6/30/99 $ 12,744 $ 12,744 7/31/99 $ 12,155 $ 12,356 8/31/99 $ 12,619 $ 12,298 9/30/99 $ 12,286 $ 11,958 10/31/99 $ 12,929 $ 12,718 11/30/99 $ 13,844 $ 12,978 12/31/99 $ 14,292 $ 13,741 1/31/2000 $ 13,782 $ 13,050 2/29/2000 $ 14,310 $ 12,804 3/31/2000 $ 15,568 $ 14,056 4/30/2000 $ 15,780 $ 13,633 5/31/2000 $ 15,780 $ 13,353 6/30/2000 $ 16,105 $ 13,683 7/31/2000 $ 16,000 $ 13,469 8/31/2000 $ 16,836 $ 14,305 9/30/2000 $ 16,642 $ 13,550 10/31/2000 $ 16,809 $ 13,493 11/30/2000 $ 15,260 $ 12,429 12/31/2000 $ 15,076 $ 12,490 1/31/2001 $ 15,720 $ 12,933 2/28/2001 $ 14,148 $ 11,753 3/31/2001 $ 12,841 $ 11,009 4/30/2001 $ 13,817 $ 11,864 5/31/2001 $ 14,148 $ 11,944 6/30/2001 $ 13,893 $ 11,653 7/31/2001 $ 13,438 $ 11,539 8/31/2001 $ 12,680 $ 10,816 9/30/2001 $ 11,506 $ 9,943 10/31/2001 $ 11,696 $ 10,132 11/30/2001 $ 12,832 $ 10,910 12/31/2001 $ 12,766 $ 11,005 1/31/2002 $ 12,529 $ 10,845 2/28/2002 $ 12,140 $ 10,636 3/31/2002 $ 12,539 $ 11,036 4/30/2002 $ 11,855 $ 10,367 5/31/2002 $ 12,017 $ 10,290 6/30/2002 $ 11,067 $ 9,557 7/31/2002 $ 10,128 $ 8,812 8/31/2002 $ 10,118 $ 8,870 9/30/2002 $ 9,008 $ 7,906 10/31/2002 $ 9,757 $ 8,602 11/30/2002 $ 10,374 $ 9,108 12/31/2002 $ 9,721 $ 8,573 1/31/2003 $ 9,436 $ 8,348 2/28/2003 $ 9,341 $ 8,223 3/31/2003 $ 9,465 $ 8,303 4/30/2003 $ 10,007 $ 8,987 5/31/2003 $ 10,396 $ 9,461 6/30/2003 $ 10,501 $ 9,582 7/31/2003 $ 10,757 $ 9,751 8/31/2003 $ 10,852 $ 9,941 9/30/2003 $ 10,605 $ 9,835 10/31/2003 $ 11,175 $ 10,392 11/30/2003 $ 11,327 $ 10,483 12/31/2003 $ 11,802 $ 11,033 1/31/2004 $ 11,755 $ 11,235 2/29/2004 $ 11,840 $ 11,391 3/31/2004 $ 11,660 $ 11,220 4/30/2004 $ 11,527 $ 11,043 5/31/2004 $ 11,650 $ 11,195 6/30/2004 $ 11,888 $ 11,413 7/31/2004 $ 11,479 $ 11,035 8/31/2004 $ 11,422 $ 11,080 9/30/2004 $ 11,565 $ 11,200 10/31/2004 $ 11,745 $ 11,371 11/30/2004 $ 12,268 $ 11,831 12/31/2004 $ 12,644 $ 12,233
COMPARISON OF CHANGE IN VALUE OF $10,000 INVESTMENT IN THE CREDIT SUISSE SELECT EQUITY FUND(1) CLASS A SHARES(3), CLASS B SHARES(3), CLASS C SHARES(3) AND THE S&P 500 INDEX(2) FROM INCEPTION (07/31/01). [CHART]
CREDIT SUISSE SELECT CREDIT SUISSE SELECT CREDIT SUISSE SELECT EQUITY FUND(1) -- EQUITY FUND(1) -- EQUITY FUND(1) -- CLASS A(3) -- $8,880 CLASS B(3) -- $9,095 CLASS C(3) -- $9,159 (WITH MAXIMUM (WITH MAXIMUM CONTINGENT (WITH MAXIMUM CONTINGENT S&P 500 SALES CHARGE) DEFERRED SALES CHARGE) DEFERRED SALES CHARGE) Index(2) -- $10,602 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7/31/2001 $ 9,425 $ 10,000 $ 10,000 $ 10,000 8/31/2001 $ 8,891 $ 9,429 $ 9,436 $ 9,374 9/30/2001 $ 8,068 $ 8,555 $ 8,548 $ 8,617 10/31/2001 $ 8,207 $ 8,696 $ 8,682 $ 8,781 11/30/2001 $ 9,011 $ 9,535 $ 9,521 $ 9,455 12/31/2001 $ 8,958 $ 9,477 $ 9,463 $ 9,538 1/31/2002 $ 8,792 $ 9,293 $ 9,279 $ 9,399 2/28/2002 $ 8,519 $ 8,997 $ 8,990 $ 9,217 3/31/2002 $ 8,798 $ 9,293 $ 9,279 $ 9,564 4/30/2002 $ 8,319 $ 8,778 $ 8,764 $ 8,984 5/31/2002 $ 8,432 $ 8,884 $ 8,877 $ 8,918 6/30/2002 $ 7,767 $ 8,178 $ 8,178 $ 8,283 7/31/2002 $ 7,108 $ 7,480 $ 7,473 $ 7,637 8/31/2002 $ 7,101 $ 7,473 $ 7,452 $ 7,687 9/30/2002 $ 6,323 $ 6,647 $ 6,626 $ 6,852 10/31/2002 $ 6,855 $ 7,205 $ 7,183 $ 7,455 11/30/2002 $ 7,288 $ 7,649 $ 7,628 $ 7,894 12/31/2002 $ 6,826 $ 7,162 $ 7,141 $ 7,430 1/31/2003 $ 6,626 $ 6,951 $ 6,929 $ 7,235 2/28/2003 $ 6,560 $ 6,873 $ 6,859 $ 7,127 3/31/2003 $ 6,646 $ 6,965 $ 6,943 $ 7,196 4/30/2003 $ 7,026 $ 7,353 $ 7,339 $ 7,789 5/31/2003 $ 7,305 $ 7,642 $ 7,621 $ 8,199 6/30/2003 $ 7,372 $ 7,713 $ 7,684 $ 8,304 7/31/2003 $ 7,552 $ 7,889 $ 7,868 $ 8,450 8/31/2003 $ 7,618 $ 7,953 $ 7,931 $ 8,615 9/30/2003 $ 7,452 $ 7,776 $ 7,755 $ 8,524 10/31/2003 $ 7,851 $ 8,185 $ 8,164 $ 9,006 11/30/2003 $ 7,951 $ 8,284 $ 8,263 $ 9,086 12/31/2003 $ 8,291 $ 8,630 $ 8,609 $ 9,562 1/31/2004 $ 8,257 $ 8,595 $ 8,574 $ 9,737 2/29/2004 $ 8,317 $ 8,651 $ 8,630 $ 9,872 3/31/2004 $ 8,191 $ 8,510 $ 8,489 $ 9,724 4/30/2004 $ 8,098 $ 8,411 $ 8,390 $ 9,571 5/31/2004 $ 8,178 $ 8,489 $ 8,468 $ 9,702 6/30/2004 $ 8,351 $ 8,658 $ 8,637 $ 9,891 7/31/2004 $ 8,064 $ 8,355 $ 8,341 $ 9,564 8/31/2004 $ 8,024 $ 8,312 $ 8,291 $ 9,602 9/30/2004 $ 8,118 $ 8,404 $ 8,390 $ 9,706 10/31/2004 $ 8,251 $ 8,538 $ 8,517 $ 9,855 11/30/2004 $ 8,617 $ 8,905 $ 8,884 $ 10,253 12/31/2004 $ 8,880 $ 9,095 $ 9,159 $ 10,602
3 AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2004(1)
1 YEAR 5 YEAR SINCE INCEPTION -------- -------- --------------- Common Class 7.13% (2.42)% 3.87% Class A Without Sales Charge 7.11% -- (1.72)% Class A With Maximum Sales Charge 0.94% -- (3.41)% Class B Without CDSC 6.38% -- (2.47)% Class B With CDSC 2.39% -- (2.74)% Class C Without CDSC 6.39% -- (2.53)% Class C With CDSC 5.40% -- (2.53)%
RETURNS REPRESENT PAST PERFORMANCE AND INCLUDE CHANGES IN SHARE PRICE AND REINVESTMENTS OF DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAINS. PAST PERFORMANCE CANNOT GUARANTEE FUTURE RESULTS. THE CURRENT PERFORMANCE OF THE FUND MAY BE LOWER OR HIGHER THAN THE FIGURES SHOWN. RETURNS AND SHARE PRICE WILL FLUCTUATE, AND REDEMPTION VALUE MAY BE LESS THAN ORIGINAL COST. THE PERFORMANCE RESULTS DO NOT REFLECT THE DEDUCTION OF TAXES THAT A SHAREHOLDER WOULD PAY ON FUND DISTRIBUTIONS OR THE REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES. PERFORMANCE INFORMATION CURRENT TO THE MOST RECENT MONTH-END IS AVAILABLE AT www.csam.com/us. ---------- (1) Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements reduced expenses for the Fund, without which performance would be lower. Waivers and/or reimbursements may be discontinued at any time. (2) The Standard & Poor's 500 Index is an unmanaged index (with no defined investment objective) of common stocks. It includes reinvestment of dividends, and is a registered trademark of McGraw-Hill Co., Inc. Investors cannot invest directly in an index. (3) Total return for Class A shares for the reporting period, based on offering price (with maximum sales charge of 5.75%) was 4.34%. Total return for Class B shares for the reporting period, based on redemption value (including contingent deferred sales charge of 4.00%), was 6.44%. Total return for Class C shares for the reporting period, based on redemption value (including contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00%), was 9.47%. 4 INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR FUND'S EXPENSES As an investor of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: ongoing expenses and transaction costs. Ongoing expenses include management fees, distribution and service (12b-1) fees and other Fund expenses. Examples of transaction costs include sales charges (loads), redemption fees and account maintenance fees, which are not shown in this section and which would result in higher total expenses. The following table is intended to help you understand your ongoing expenses of investing in the Fund and to help you compare these expenses with the ongoing expenses of investing in other mutual funds. The table is based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period ended December 31, 2004. The table illustrates your Fund's expenses in two ways: - ACTUAL FUND RETURN. This helps you estimate the actual dollar amount of ongoing expenses paid on a $1,000 investment in the Fund using the Fund's actual return during the period. To estimate the expenses you paid over the period, simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the "Expenses Paid per $1,000" line under the share class you hold. - HYPOTHETICAL 5% FUND RETURN. This helps you to compare your Fund's ongoing expenses with those of other mutual funds using the Fund's actual expense ratio and a hypothetical rate of return of 5% per year before expenses. Examples using a 5% hypothetical fund return may be found in the shareholder reports of other mutual funds. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. Please note that the expenses shown in these tables are meant to highlight your ongoing expenses only and do not reflect any transaction costs, such as sales charges (loads) or redemption fees. If these transaction costs had been included, your costs would have been higher. The "Expenses Paid per $1,000" line of the tables is useful in comparing ongoing expenses only and will not help you determine the relative total expenses of owning different funds. 5 EXPENSES AND VALUE OF A $1,000 INVESTMENT FOR THE SIX-MONTH PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004
COMMON CLASS CLASS A CLASS B CLASS C ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ACTUAL FUND RETURN Beginning Account Value 7/1/04 $ 1,000.00 $ 1,000.00 $ 1,000.00 $ 1,000.00 Ending Account Value 12/31/04 $ 1,063.60 $ 1,063.40 $ 1,060.30 $ 1,060.50 Expenses Paid per $1,000* $ 6.74 $ 6.74 $ 10.62 $ 10.62 HYPOTHETICAL 5% FUND RETURN Beginning Account Value 7/1/04 $ 1,000.00 $ 1,000.00 $ 1,000.00 $ 1,000.00 Ending Account Value 12/31/04 $ 1,018.60 $ 1,018.60 $ 1,014.83 $ 1,014.83 Expenses Paid per $1,000* $ 6.60 $ 6.60 $ 10.38 $ 10.38 COMMON CLASS CLASS A CLASS B CLASS C ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ANNUALIZED EXPENSE RATIOS* 1.30% 1.30% 2.05% 2.05%
---------- * EXPENSES ARE EQUAL TO THE FUND'S ANNUALIZED EXPENSE RATIO FOR EACH SHARE CLASS, MULTIPLIED BY THE AVERAGE ACCOUNT VALUE OVER THE PERIOD, MULTIPLIED BY THE NUMBER OF DAYS IN THE MOST RECENT FISCAL HALF YEAR PERIOD, THEN DIVIDED BY 366. THE "EXPENSE PAID PER $1,000" AND THE "ANNUALIZED EXPENSE RATIOS" IN THE TABLES ARE BASED ON ACTUAL EXPENSES PAID BY THE FUND DURING THE PERIOD, NET OF FEE WAIVERS AND/OR EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENTS. IF THOSE FEE WAIVERS AND/OR EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENTS HAD NOT BEEN IN EFFECT, THE FUND'S ACTUAL EXPENSES WOULD HAVE BEEN HIGHER. For more information, please refer to the Fund's prospectus. 6 [CHART] SECTOR BREAKDOWN* Financials 20.40% Industrials 20.30% Information Technology 13.50% Consumer Discretionary 13.10% Health Care 9.40% Materials 8.40% Consumer Staples 7.20% Energy 7.00% Short-Term Investments 0.70%
---------- * The Fund's sector breakdown is expressed as a percentage of total investments (excluding security lending collateral) and may vary over time. 7 CREDIT SUISSE SELECT EQUITY FUND SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS December 31, 2004
NUMBER OF SHARES VALUE --------------- --------------- COMMON STOCKS (99.6%) AEROSPACE & DEFENSE (3.5%) L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. 18,200 $ 1,332,968 United Technologies Corp. 14,800 1,529,580 --------------- 2,862,548 --------------- BANKS (7.5%) Bank of New York Company, Inc. 47,100 1,574,082 North Fork Bancorporation, Inc. 54,350 1,567,998 U.S. Bancorp 40,900 1,280,988 Wachovia Corp. 33,400 1,756,840 --------------- 6,179,908 --------------- BEVERAGES (1.4%) Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. 22,800 1,156,644 --------------- BIOTECHNOLOGY (3.1%) Biogen Idec, Inc.* 13,400 892,574 Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.^ 16,900 777,569 Gilead Sciences, Inc.* 24,100 843,259 --------------- 2,513,402 --------------- BUILDING PRODUCTS (2.1%) American Standard Companies, Inc.* 41,200 1,702,384 --------------- CHEMICALS (5.1%) Du Pont (E. I.) de Nemours & Co. 39,700 1,947,285 PPG Industries, Inc. 32,900 2,242,464 --------------- 4,189,749 --------------- COMMERCIAL SERVICES & SUPPLIES (5.4%) Avery Dennison Corp. 12,200 731,634 Cendant Corp. 71,200 1,664,656 Cintas Corp. 17,500 767,550 Monster Worldwide, Inc.*^ 37,300 1,254,772 --------------- 4,418,612 --------------- COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT (2.5%) Cisco Systems, Inc.* 63,800 1,231,340 Qualcomm, Inc. 18,600 788,640 --------------- 2,019,980 --------------- COMPUTERS & PERIPHERALS (3.6%) Dell, Inc.* 24,800 1,045,072 EMC Corp.* 72,700 1,081,049 Network Appliance, Inc.* 25,800 857,076 --------------- 2,983,197 --------------- DIVERSIFIED FINANCIALS (8.2%) Capital One Financial Corp. 15,200 1,279,992 Citigroup, Inc. 53,071 2,556,961 Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. 11,800 1,227,672 Morgan Stanley 30,600 1,698,912 --------------- 6,763,537 ---------------
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements. 8
NUMBER OF SHARES VALUE --------------- --------------- COMMON STOCKS ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT & INSTRUMENTS (1.0%) Broadcom Corp. Class A* 26,300 $ 848,964 --------------- FOOD & DRUG RETAILING (3.5%) Albertson's, Inc.^ 30,500 728,340 CVS Corp. 47,300 2,131,811 --------------- 2,860,151 --------------- FOOD PRODUCTS (1.1%) Kellogg Co. 20,000 893,200 --------------- HEALTHCARE EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES (1.6%) Beckman Coulter, Inc. 19,800 1,326,402 --------------- HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS & SERVICES (2.1%) UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 19,200 1,690,176 --------------- HOTELS, RESTAURANTS & LEISURE (1.2%) McDonald's Corp. 29,600 948,976 --------------- HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS (1.2%) Kimberly-Clark Corp. 15,100 993,731 --------------- INDUSTRIAL CONGLOMERATES (7.4%) General Electric Co. 72,100 2,631,650 Honeywell International, Inc. 42,600 1,508,466 Tyco International, Ltd. 54,600 1,951,404 --------------- 6,091,520 --------------- INSURANCE (4.7%) Allstate Corp. 33,600 1,737,792 Prudential Financial, Inc. 39,000 2,143,440 --------------- 3,881,232 --------------- MACHINERY (2.0%) Caterpillar, Inc. 17,100 1,667,421 --------------- MEDIA (6.2%) Gannett Company, Inc. 21,300 1,740,210 Tribune Co. 46,700 1,967,938 Viacom, Inc. Class B 38,600 1,404,654 --------------- 5,112,802 --------------- METALS & MINING (1.2%) Alcoa, Inc. 32,200 1,011,724 --------------- MULTILINE RETAIL (1.1%) May Department Stores Co. 31,400 923,160 --------------- OIL & GAS (7.1%) Burlington Resources, Inc. 25,800 1,122,300 Exxon Mobil Corp. 59,900 3,070,474 Pioneer Natural Resources Co. 45,700 1,604,070 --------------- 5,796,844 ---------------
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements. 9
NUMBER OF SHARES VALUE --------------- --------------- COMMON STOCKS PAPER & FOREST PRODUCTS (2.1%) MeadWestvaco Corp. 51,600 $ 1,748,724 Neenah Paper, Inc.*^ 469 15,289 --------------- 1,764,013 --------------- PHARMACEUTICALS (2.7%) Eli Lilly & Co. 14,900 845,575 Johnson & Johnson 22,000 1,395,240 --------------- 2,240,815 --------------- SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT & PRODUCTS (1.1%) Intel Corp. 37,100 867,769 --------------- SOFTWARE (5.3%) Adobe Systems, Inc. 13,200 828,168 Electronic Arts, Inc.* 14,900 919,032 Microsoft Corp. 98,500 2,630,935 --------------- 4,378,135 --------------- SPECIALTY RETAIL (4.6%) Best Buy Company, Inc. 21,800 1,295,356 Ross Stores, Inc.^ 45,400 1,310,698 TJX Companies, Inc. 46,500 1,168,545 --------------- 3,774,599 --------------- TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $69,288,748) 81,861,595 --------------- SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (2.7%) State Street Navigator Prime Fund^^ 1,673,277 1,673,277 PAR (000) ------ State Street Bank and Trust Co. Euro Time Deposit, 1.400%, 1/03/05 $ 563 563,000 --------------- TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (Cost $2,236,277) 2,236,277 TOTAL INVESTMENTS AT VALUE (102.3%) (Cost $71,525,025) 84,097,872 LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER ASSETS (-2.3%) (1,888,541) --------------- NET ASSETS (100.0%) $ 82,209,331 ===============
---------- * Non-income producing security. ^ Security or portion thereof is out on loan. ^^ Represents security purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan. See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements. 10 CREDIT SUISSE SELECT EQUITY FUND STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES December 31, 2004 ASSETS Investments at value, including collateral for securities on loan of $1,673,277 (Cost $71,525,025) (Note 1) $ 84,097,872(1) Cash 104,864 Dividend and interest receivable 66,370 Receivable for fund shares sold 229 Prepaid expenses and other assets 20,095 --------------- Total Assets 84,289,430 --------------- LIABILITIES Advisory fee payable (Note 2) 34,258 Administrative services fee payable (Note 2) 12,231 Distribution fee payable (Note 2) 27,606 Payable upon return of securities loaned (Note 1) 1,673,277 Payable for fund shares redeemed 132,759 Dividend payable 11,381 Payable for investments purchased 104,245 Other accrued expenses payable 84,342 --------------- Total Liabilities 2,080,099 --------------- NET ASSETS Capital stock, $0.001 par value (Note 5) 6,617 Paid-in capital (Note 5) 75,619,316 Undistributed net investment income 332,017 Accumulated net realized loss on investments (6,321,466) Net unrealized appreciation from investments 12,572,847 --------------- Net Assets $ 82,209,331 =============== COMMON SHARES Net assets $ 3,471,425 Shares outstanding 278,761 --------------- Net asset value, offering price, and redemption price per share $ 12.45 =============== A SHARES Net assets $ 63,159,754 Shares outstanding 5,058,939 --------------- Net asset value and redemption price per share $ 12.48 =============== Maximum offering price per share (net asset value/(1-5.75%)) $ 13.24 =============== B SHARES Net assets $ 13,713,935 Shares outstanding 1,125,924 --------------- Net asset value and offering price per share $ 12.18 =============== C SHARES Net assets $ 1,864,217 Shares outstanding 153,453 --------------- Net asset value and offering price per share $ 12.15 ===============
---------- (1) Including $1,632,621 of securities on loan. See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements. 11 CREDIT SUISSE SELECT EQUITY FUND STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS For the Period Ended December 31, 2004(1)
FOR THE PERIOD SEPTEMBER 1, 2004 FOR THE TO YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004 AUGUST 31,2004 -------------------- -------------------- INVESTMENT INCOME (Note 1) Dividends $ 725,366 $ 964,265 Interest 3,983 8,288 Securities lending 206 1,468 -------------------- -------------------- Total investment income 729,555 974,021 -------------------- -------------------- EXPENSES Investment advisory fees (Note 2) 205,974 455,402 Administrative services fees (Note 2) 32,123 68,119 Distribution fees (Note 2) Common Class 3,072 13,010 Class A 52,007 104,120 Class B 47,397 116,649 Class C 6,916 22,035 Transfer agent fees (Note 2) 47,297 140,931 Registration fees 28,943 61,750 Printing fees (Note 2) 16,859 17,871 Audit fees 13,207 15,583 Legal fees 13,109 48,475 Custodian fees 7,114 23,245 Directors' fees 6,364 18,815 Insurance expense 2,654 13,902 Commitment fees (Note 3) 444 1,914 Miscellaneous expense 2,413 6,693 -------------------- -------------------- Total expenses 485,893 1,128,514 Less: fees waived (Note 2) (88,441) (235,139) -------------------- -------------------- Net expenses 397,452 893,375 -------------------- -------------------- Net investment income 332,103 80,646 -------------------- -------------------- NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENTS Net realized gain (loss) from investments 1,756,240 14,143,446 Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) from investments 6,219,001 (16,515,698) -------------------- -------------------- Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) from investments 7,975,241 (2,372,252) -------------------- -------------------- Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations $ 8,307,344 $ (2,291,606) ==================== ====================
---------- (1) The Fund changed its fiscal year end from August 31 to December 31. See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements. 12 CREDIT SUISSE SELECT EQUITY FUND STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
FOR THE PERIOD SEPTEMBER 1, 2004 FOR THE FOR THE TO YEAR ENDED YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004(1) AUGUST 31, 2004 AUGUST 31, 2003 -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- FROM OPERATIONS Net investment income $ 332,103 $ 80,646 $ 3,330 Net realized gain (loss) from investments 1,756,240 14,143,446 (1,593,661) Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) from investments 6,219,001 (16,515,698) 1,995,917 -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations 8,307,344 (2,291,606) 405,586 -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- FROM DIVIDENDS Dividends from net investment income Common Class shares (4,071) (4,482) (7,948) Class A shares (73,821) (1,625) (478) Distributions from net realized gains Common Class shares (214,769) -- -- Class A shares (3,950,170) -- -- Class B shares (885,822) -- -- Class C shares (120,536) -- -- -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- Net decrease in net assets resulting from dividends and distributions (5,249,189) (6,107) (8,426) -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- FROM CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS (Note 5) Proceeds from sale of shares 1,038,674 3,060,914 7,762,808 Exchange value of shares due to merger -- 88,620,976 -- Reinvestment of dividends and distributions 4,593,125 5,774 7,117 Net asset value of shares redeemed (8,854,717) (15,996,481) (11,153,194) -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- Net increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions (3,222,918) 75,691,183 (3,383,269) -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- Net increase (decrease) in net assets (164,763) 73,393,470 (2,986,109) NET ASSETS Beginning of period 82,374,094 8,980,624 11,966,733 -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- End of period $ 82,209,331 $ 82,374,094 $ 8,980,624 ==================== ==================== ==================== Undistributed net investment income $ 332,017 $ 77,863 $ 3,324 ==================== ==================== ====================
---------- (1) The Fund changed its fiscal year end from August 31 to December 31. See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements. 13 CREDIT SUISSE SELECT EQUITY FUND FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (For a Common Class Share of the Fund Outstanding Throughout Each Period)
FOR THE PERIOD SEPTEMBER 1, 2004 FOR THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, TO ------------------------------------------------------------ DECEMBER 31, 2004(1) 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 -------------------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- PER SHARE DATA Net asset value, beginning of period $ 12.01 $ 11.42 $ 10.66 $ 13.39 $ 19.13 $ 20.11 -------------------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- INVESTMENT OPERATIONS Net investment income 0.05(2) 0.03(2) 0.01 0.01(2) 0.02 0.03(2) Net gain (loss) on investments (both realized and unrealized) 1.21 0.57 0.76 (2.71) (4.48) 4.76 -------------------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Total from investment operations 1.26 0.60 0.77 (2.70) (4.46) 4.79 -------------------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- LESS DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS Dividends from net investment income (0.01) (0.01) (0.01) (0.01) (0.03) (0.07) Distributions from net realized gains (0.81) -- -- (0.02) (1.25) (5.70) -------------------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Total dividends and distributions (0.82) (0.01) (0.01) (0.03) (1.28) (5.77) -------------------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD $ 12.45 $ 12.01 $ 11.42 $ 10.66 $ 13.39 $ 19.13 ==================== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== Total return(3) 10.70% 5.25% 7.26% (20.21)% (24.68)% 33.42% RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA Net assets, end of period (000s omitted) $ 3,471 $ 4,383 $ 5,653 $ 4,545 $ 7,696 $ 2,758 Ratio of expenses to average net assets(4) 1.305% 1.30% 1.25% 1.19% 1.22% 1.29% Ratio of net investment income to average net assets 1.375% 0.23% 0.17% 0.12% 0.09% 0.18% Decrease reflected in above operating expense ratios due to waivers/reimbursements 0.325% 0.40% 2.87% 2.24% 1.98% 1.83% Portfolio turnover rate 34% 168% 155% 122% 141% 235%
---------- (1) The Fund changed its fiscal year end from August 31 to December 31. (2) Per share information is calculated using the average shares outstanding method. (3) Total returns are historical and assume changes in share price and reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. Had certain expenses not been reduced during the periods shown, total returns would have been lower. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized. (4) Interest earned on uninvested cash balances may be used to offset portions of the transfer agent expense. For the period ended December 31, 2004 and the years ended August 31, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001 and 2000, there was no effect on the net operating expense ratio because of transfer agent credits. (5) Annualized. See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements. 14 CREDIT SUISSE SELECT EQUITY FUND FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (For a Class A Share of the Fund Outstanding Throughout Each Period)
FOR THE PERIOD SEPTEMBER 1, 2004 FOR THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31 TO ------------------------------------------------------ DECEMBER 31,2004(1) 2004 2003 2002 2001(2) ------------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- PER SHARE DATA Net asset value, beginning of period $ 12.04 $ 11.44 $ 10.67 $ 13.39 $ 14.19 ------------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- INVESTMENT OPERATIONS Net investment income 0.06(3) 0.04(3) 0.01 0.01(3) 0.01 Net gain (loss) on investments (both realized and unrealized) 1.20 0.57 0.77 (2.70) (0.81) ------------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Total from investment operations 1.26 0.61 0.78 (2.69) (0.80) ------------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- LESS DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS Dividends from net investment income (0.01) (0.01) (0.01) (0.01) -- Distributions from net realized gains (0.81) -- -- (0.02) -- ------------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Total dividends and distributions (0.82) (0.01) (0.01) (0.03) -- ------------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD $ 12.48 $ 12.04 $ 11.44 $ 10.67 $ 13.39 =================== ========= ======== ======== ======== Total return(4) 10.67% 5.33% 7.28% (20.13)% (5.64)% RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA Net assets, end of period (000s omitted) $ 63,160 $ 61,089 $ 1,778 $ 566 $ 64 Ratio of expenses to average net assets(5) 1.30%(6) 1.30% 1.25% 1.19% 1.19%(6) Ratio of net investment income to average net assets 1.37%(6) 0.32% 0.22% 0.09% 0.77%(6) Decrease reflected in above operating expense ratios due to waivers/ reimbursements 0.32%(6) 0.39% 2.90% 2.30% 6.44%(6) Portfolio turnover rate 34% 168% 155% 122% 141%
---------- (1) The Fund changed its fiscal year end from August 31 to December 31. (2) For the period July 31, 2001 (inception date) through August 31, 2001. (3) Per share information is calculated using the average shares outstanding method. (4) Total returns are historical and assume changes in share price, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions, and no sales charge. Had certain expenses not been reduced during the periods shown, total returns would have been lower. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized. (5) Interest earned on uninvested cash balances may be used to offset portions of the transfer agent expense. For the period ended December 31, 2004 and the years ended August 31, 2004, 2003, 2002 and 2001, there was no effect on the net operating expense ratio because of transfer agent credits. (6) Annualized See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements. 15 (For a Class B Share of the Fund Outstanding Throughout Each Period)
FOR THE PERIOD SEPTEMBER 1, 2004 FOR THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, TO ------------------------------------------------------ DECEMBER 31, 2004(1) 2004 2003 2002 2001(2) -------------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- PER SHARE DATA Net asset value, beginning of period $ 11.78 $ 11.27 $ 10.59 $ 13.38 $ 14.19 -------------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- INVESTMENT OPERATIONS Net investment income (loss) 0.02(3) (0.05)(3) (0.06)(3) (0.06)(3) 0.00(4) Net gain (loss) on investments (both realized and unrealized) 1.19 0.56 0.74 (2.71) (0.81) -------------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Total from investment operations 1.21 0.51 0.68 (2.77) (0.81) -------------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- LESS DISTRIBUTIONS Distributions from net realized gains (0.81) -- -- (0.02) -- -------------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD $ 12.18 $ 11.78 $ 11.27 $ 10.59 $ 13.38 ==================== ========= ========= ========= ========= Total return(5) 10.44% 4.53% 6.42% (20.75)% (5.71)% RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA Net assets, end of period (000s omitted) $ 13,714 $ 14,745 $ 1,109 $ 518 $ 1 Ratio of expenses to average net assets(6) 2.05%(7) 2.05% 2.00% 1.94% 1.94%(7) Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets 0.62%(7) (0.45)% (0.55)% (0.67)% (0.31)%(7) Decrease reflected in above operating expense ratios due to waivers/ reimbursements 0.32%(7) 0.39% 2.90% 2.25% 6.47%(7) Portfolio turnover rate 34% 168% 155% 122% 141%
---------- (1) The Fund changed its fiscal year end from August 31 to December 31. (2) For the period July 31, 2001 (inception date) through August 31, 2001. (3) Per share information is calculated using the average shares outstanding method. (4) This amount represents less than $0.01 per share. (5) Total returns are historical and assume changes in share price, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions, and no sales charge. Had certain expenses not been reduced during the periods shown, total returns would have been lower. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized. (6) Interest earned on uninvested cash balances may be used to offset portions of the transfer agent expense. For the period ended December 31, 2004 and the years ended August 31, 2004, 2003, 2002 and 2001, there was no effect on the net operating expense ratio because of transfer agent credits. (7) Annualized. See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements. 16 (For a Class C Share of the Fund Outstanding Throughout Each Period)
FOR THE PERIOD SEPTEMBER 1, 2004 FOR THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, TO ------------------------------------------------------ DECEMBER 31, 2004(1) 2004 2003 2002 2001(2) -------------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- PER SHARE DATA Net asset value, beginning of period $ 11.75 $ 11.24 $ 10.56 $ 13.39 $ 14.19 -------------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- INVESTMENT OPERATIONS Net investment income (loss) 0.03(3) (0.06)(3) (0.06)(3) (0.06)(3) 0.00(4) Net gain (loss) on investments (both realized and unrealized) 1.18 0.57 0.74 (2.75) (0.80) -------------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Total from investment operations 1.21 0.51 0.68 (2.81) (0.80) -------------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- LESS DISTRIBUTIONS Distributions from net realized gains (0.81) -- -- (0.02) -- -------------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD $ 12.15 $ 11.75 $ 11.24 $ 10.56 $ 13.39 ==================== ========= ========= ========= ========= Total return(5) 10.47% 4.54% 6.44% (21.03)% (5.64)% RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA Net assets, end of period (000s omitted) $ 1,864 $ 2,156 $ 441 $ 271 $ 102 Ratio of expenses to average net assets(6) 2.05%(7) 2.05% 2.00% 1.94% 1.94%(7) Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets 0.62%(7) (0.47)% (0.55)% (0.65)% (0.25)%(7) Decrease reflected in above operating expense ratios due to waivers/ reimbursements 0.32%(7) 0.39% 2.90% 2.25% 6.43%(7) Portfolio turnover rate 34% 168% 155% 122% 141%
---------- (1) The Fund changed its fiscal year end from August 31 to December 31. (2) For the period July 31, 2001 (inception date) through August 31, 2001. (3) Per share information is calculated using the average shares outstanding method. (4) This amount represents less than $0.01 per share. (5) Total returns are historical and assume changes in share price, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions, and no sales charge. Had certain expenses not been reduced during the periods shown, total returns would have been lower. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized. (6) Interest earned on uninvested cash balances may be used to offset portions of the transfer agent expense. For the period ended December 31, 2004 and the years ended August 31, 2004, 2003, 2002 and 2001, there was no effect on the net operating expense ratio because of transfer agent credits. (7) Annualized. See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements. 17 CREDIT SUISSE SELECT EQUITY FUND NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS December 31, 2004 NOTE 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Credit Suisse Select Equity Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), as a diversified, open-end management investment company. The Fund's investment objective is long-term capital appreciation. The Fund was incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland on July 31, 1998. The Fund is authorized to offer six classes of shares: Common Class, Advisor Class, Institutional Class, Class A shares, Class B shares and Class C shares. The Fund currently offers Common Class, Class A shares, Class B shares and Class C shares. Each class of shares represents an equal pro rata interest in the Fund, except that they bear different expenses which reflect the differences in the range of services provided to them. The Fund's Common Class shares are closed to new investors, other than (1) investors in employee retirement, stock, bonus, pension or profit-sharing plans, (2) investment advisory clients of Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC ("CSAM"), (3) certain registered investment advisers ("RIA"), (4) certain broker-dealers and RIAs with clients participating in comprehensive fee programs and (5) employees of CSAM or its affiliates and current and former Directors or Trustees of funds advised by CSAM or its affiliates. Any Common Class shareholder as of the close of business on December 12, 2001 can continue to buy Common Class shares of the Fund and open new accounts under the same social security number. Effective October 24, 2002, Institutional Class shares ceased operations. Class A shares are sold subject to a front-end sales charge of up to 5.75%. Class B shares are sold subject to a contingent deferred sales charge which declines from 4.00% to zero depending on the period of time the shares are held. Class C shares are sold subject to a contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% if redeemed within the first year of purchase. Effective as of the close of business on January 9, 2004, the Fund acquired all of the net assets of the Credit Suisse Tax Efficient Fund ("Tax Efficient") in a tax-free exchange of shares. The Fund was also the accounting survivor in the tax-free exchange. The shares exchanged were 58,722 Class A shares (valued at $731,097) of the Fund for 47,899 Common Class shares of Tax Efficient, 5,280,784 Class A shares (valued at $65,745,895) of the Fund for 4,294,302 Class A shares of Tax Efficient, 1,563,233 Class B shares (valued at $19,133,980) of the Fund for 1,320,686 Class B shares of Tax Efficient, and 246,518 Class C shares (valued at $3,010,004) of the Fund for 207,812 Class C shares of Tax Efficient. Tax Efficient's net assets of $88,620,976 at that date, 18 which included $21,904,658 of unrealized appreciation, were combined with those of the Fund. The aggregate net assets of Tax Efficient and the Fund immediately before the acquisition were $88,620,976 and $9,412,634, respectively, and the combined net assets of the Fund after the acquisition were $98,033,610. A) SECURITY VALUATION -- The net asset value of the Fund is determined daily as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the "Exchange") on each day the Exchange is open for business. The Fund's equity investments are valued at market value, which is generally determined using the closing price on the exchange or market on which the security is primarily traded at the time of valuation (the "Valuation Time"). If no sales are reported, equity investments are generally valued at the most recent bid quotation as of the Valuation Time or at the lowest asked quotation in the case of a short sale of securities. Debt securities with a remaining maturity greater than 60 days are valued in accordance with the price supplied by a pricing service, which may use a matrix, formula or other objective method that takes into consideration market indices, yield curves and other specific adjustments. Debt obligations that will mature in 60 days or less are valued on the basis of amortized cost, which approximates market value, unless it is determined that using this method would not represent fair value. Securities and other assets for which market quotations are not readily available, or whose values have been materially affected by events occurring before the Fund's Valuation Time but after the close of the securities' primary markets, are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by, or under the direction of, the Board of Directors under procedures established by the Board of Directors. The Fund may utilize a service provided by an independent third party which has been approved by the Board of Directors to fair value certain securities. B) SECURITY TRANSACTIONS AND INVESTMENT INCOME -- Security transactions are accounted for on a trade date basis. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Certain expenses are class-specific expenses and vary by class. Income, expenses (excluding class-specific expenses) and realized/unrealized gains/losses are allocated proportionately to each class of shares based upon the relative net asset value of the outstanding shares of that class. The cost of investments sold is determined by use of the specific identification method for both financial reporting and income tax purposes. 19 C) DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS -- Dividends from net investment income and distributions of net realized capital gains, if any, are declared and paid at least annually. However, to the extent that a net realized capital gain can be reduced by a capital loss carryforward, such gain will not be distributed. Income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). D) FEDERAL INCOME TAXES -- No provision is made for federal taxes as it is the Fund's intention to continue to qualify for and elect the tax treatment applicable to regulated investment companies under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and to make the requisite distributions to its shareholders, which will be sufficient to relieve it from federal income and excise taxes. E) USE OF ESTIMATES -- The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates. F) SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS -- The Fund, together with other funds/portfolios advised by Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC ("CSAM"), an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Credit Suisse Group, pools available cash into either a short-term variable rate time deposit issued by State Street Bank and Trust Company ("SSB"), the Fund's custodian, or a money market fund advised by CSAM. The short-term time deposit issued by SSB is a variable rate account classified as a short-term investment. G) SECURITIES LENDING -- Loans of securities are required at all times to be secured by collateral at least equal to 102% of the market value of domestic securities on loan (including any accrued interest thereon) and 105% of the market value of foreign securities on loan (including any accrued interest thereon). Cash collateral received by the Fund in connection with securities lending activity may be pooled together with cash collateral for other funds/portfolios advised by CSAM and may be invested in a variety of investments, including certain CSAM-advised funds, funds advised by SSB, the Fund's securities lending agent or money market instruments. However, in the event of default or bankruptcy by the other party to 20 the agreement, realization and/or retention of the collateral may be subject to legal proceedings. The market value of securities on loan to brokers and the value of collateral held by the Fund with respect to such loans at December 31, 2004 is as follows:
MARKET VALUE OF VALUE OF SECURITIES LOANED COLLATERAL RECEIVED ----------------- ------------------- $ 1,632,621 $ 1,673,277
Effective March 17, 2004, SSB has been engaged by the Fund to act as the Fund's securities lending agent. The Fund's securities lending arrangement provides that the Fund and SSB will share the net income earned from securities lending activities, with the Fund receiving 70% and SSB receiving 30% of the earnings from the investment of cash collateral or any other securities lending income in accordance with the provisions of the securities lending agency agreement. The Fund may also be entitled to certain minimum amounts of income from its securities lending activities. Securities lending income is accrued as earned. NOTE 2. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES AND RELATED PARTIES CSAM serves as investment adviser for the Fund. For its investment advisory services, CSAM is entitled to receive a fee from the Fund at an annual rate of 0.75% of the Fund's average daily net assets. For the period ended December 31, 2004, investment advisory fees earned and voluntarily waived were $205,974 and $88,441, respectively. CSAM will not recapture from the Fund any fees it waived during the period ended December 31, 2004. Credit Suisse Asset Management Securities, Inc. ("CSAMSI"), an affiliate of CSAM, and SSB serve as co-administrators to the Fund. For its co-administrative services, CSAMSI currently receives a fee calculated at an annual rate of 0.05% of the Fund's average daily net assets. For the period ended December 31, 2004, co-administrative services fees earned by CSAMSI were $13,729. For its co-administrative services, SSB receives a fee, exclusive of out-of-pocket expenses, based upon the following fee schedule calculated in total for all the Credit Suisse funds/portfolios co-administered by SSB and 21 allocated based upon relative average net assets of each fund/portfolio, subject to an annual minimum fee.
AVERAGE DAILY NET ASSETS ANNUAL RATE ----------------------- ---------------------------------- First $5 billion 0.050% of average daily net assets Next $5 billion 0.035% of average daily net assets Over $10 billion 0.020% of average daily net assets
For the period ended December 31, 2004, co-administrative services fees earned by SSB (including out-of-pocket expenses) were $18,394. In addition to serving as the Fund's co-administrator, CSAMSI currently serves as distributor of the Fund's shares. Pursuant to distribution plans adopted by the Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, CSAMSI receives fees for its distribution services. For the Common Class and Class A shares of the Fund, the fee is calculated at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets. For Class B and Class C shares of the Fund, the fee is calculated at an annual rate of 1.00% of average daily net assets. Certain brokers, dealers and financial representatives provide transfer agent related services to the Fund, and receive compensation from CSAM. CSAM is then reimbursed by the Fund. For the period ended December 31, 2004, the Fund reimbursed CSAM $919, which is included in the Fund's transfer agent expense. For the period ended December 31, 2004, CSAMSI and its affiliates advised the Fund that they retained $455 from commissions earned on the sale of the Fund's Class A shares. Merrill Corporation ("Merrill"), an affiliate of CSAM, has been engaged by the Fund to provide certain financial printing and fulfillment services. For the period ended December 31, 2004, Merrill was paid $194 for its services to the Fund. NOTE 3. LINE OF CREDIT The Fund, together with other funds/portfolios advised by CSAM (collectively, the "Participating Funds"), participates in a $75 million committed, unsecured line of credit facility ("Credit Facility") for temporary or emergency purposes with Deutsche Bank, A.G. as administrative agent and syndication agent and SSB as operations agent. Under the terms of the Credit Facility, the Participating Funds pay an aggregate commitment fee at a rate of 22 0.10% per annum on the average unused amount of the Credit Facility, which is allocated among the Participating Funds in such manner as is determined by the governing Boards of the Participating Funds. In addition, the Participating Funds pay interest on borrowings at the Federal Funds rate plus 0.50%. At December 31, 2004, and during the period ended December 31, 2004, the Fund had no borrowings under the Credit Facility. NOTE 4. PURCHASES AND SALES OF SECURITIES For the period ended December 31, 2004, purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) were $27,446,725 and $34,641,906, respectively. NOTE 5. CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS The Fund is authorized to issue six billion full and fractional shares of capital stock, $.001 par value per share. Transactions in capital shares for each class were as follows:
COMMON CLASS --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FOR THE PERIOD ENDED FOR THE YEAR ENDED FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004(1) AUGUST 31, 2004 AUGUST 31, 2003 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SHARES VALUE SHARES VALUE SHARES VALUE ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- Shares sold 1,230 $ 15,506 28,860 $ 339,653 534,199 $ 5,477,164 Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions 17,807 217,154 358 4,437 625 6,672 Shares redeemed (105,147) (1,287,413) (159,529) (1,923,821) (466,046) (4,865,972) ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- Net increase (decrease) (86,110) $ (1,054,753) (130,311) $ (1,579,731) 68,778 $ 617,864 ============= ============= ============= ============= ============= =============
INSTITUTIONAL CLASS ------------------------------- FOR THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2003(2) ------------------------------- SHARES VALUE -------------- -------------- Shares redeemed (563,589) $ (5,729,876) -------------- -------------- Net decrease (563,589) $ (5,729,876) -------------- --------------
23 NOTE 5. CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS
CLASS A --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FOR THE PERIOD ENDED FOR THE YEAR ENDED FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004(1) AUGUST 31, 2004 AUGUST 31, 2003 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SHARES VALUE SHARES VALUE SHARES VALUE ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- Shares sold 75,840 $ 966,295 155,404 $ 1,901,131 125,379 $ 1,315,660 Shares exchanges due to merger -- -- 5,339,506 66,476,992 -- -- Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions 286,271 3,499,528 108 1,337 42 445 Shares redeemed (375,995) (4,701,043) (577,634) (7,092,219) (22,988) (249,452) ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- Net increase (decrease) (13,884) $ (235,220) 4,917,384 $ 61,287,241 102,433 $ 1,066,653 ============= ============= ============= ============= ============= ============= CLASS B --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FOR THE PERIOD ENDED FOR THE YEAR ENDED FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004(1) AUGUST 31, 2004 AUGUST 31, 2003 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SHARES VALUE SHARES VALUE SHARES VALUE ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- Shares sold 2,407 $ 28,945 20,107 $ 240,576 59,253 $ 615,956 Shares exchanges due to merger -- -- 1,563,233 19,133,980 -- -- Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions 66,383 790,622 -- -- -- -- Shares redeemed (194,227) (2,373,273) (430,337) (5,170,229) (9,793) (99,045) ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- Net increase (decrease) (125,437) $ (1,553,706) 1,153,003 $ 14,204,327 49,460 $ 516,911 ============= ============= ============= ============= ============= ============= CLASS C --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FOR THE PERIOD ENDED FOR THE YEAR ENDED FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004(1) AUGUST 31, 2004 AUGUST 31, 2003 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SHARES VALUE SHARES VALUE SHARES VALUE ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- Shares sold 2,351 $ 27,928 48,452 $ 579,554 33,087 $ 354,028 Shares exchanges due to merger -- -- 246,518 3,010,004 -- -- Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions 7,224 85,821 -- -- -- -- Shares redeemed (39,558) (492,988) (150,796) (1,810,212) (19,507) (208,849) ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- Net increase (decrease) (29,983) $ (379,239) 144,174 $ 1,779,346 13,580 $ 145,179 ============= ============= ============= ============= ============= =============
---------- (1) The Fund changed its fiscal year end date from August 31 to December 31. (2) Effective October 24, 2002, the Institutional Class shares ceased operations. 24 On December 31, 2004, the number of shareholders that held 5% or more of the outstanding shares of each class of the Fund were as follows:
NUMBER OF APPROXIMATE PERCENTAGE SHAREHOLDERS OF OUTSTANDING SHARES ------------ ---------------------- Common Class 2 36% Class C 3 38%
Some of the shareholders are omnibus accounts, which hold shares on behalf of individual shareholders. NOTE 6. FEDERAL INCOME TAXES Income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP. These differences are primarily due to differing treatments of losses deferred due to wash sales, and additional capital loss carryforwards received from the Fund's merger with Credit Suisse Tax Efficient Fund. The tax characteristics of dividends and distributions paid during the period ended December 31, 2004 and the years ended August 31, 2004, for the Fund were as follows:
ORDINARY INCOME LONG-TERM CAPITAL GAIN ----------------------------------- ----------------------------------- DECEMBER 31, 2004 AUGUST 31, 2004 DECEMBER 31, 2004 AUGUST 31, 2004 ----------------- --------------- ----------------- --------------- $ 77,949 $ 6,107 $ 5,171,240 $ --
At December 31, 2004, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis for the Fund were as follows: Undistributed net investment income $ 332,017 Accumulated net realized loss (6,138,087) Unrealized appreciation 12,389,468 -------------- $ 6,583,398 ==============
At December 31, 2004, the Fund had capital loss carryforwards available to offset possible future capital gains as follows:
EXPIRES DECEMBER 31, ---------------------------------------------------- 2008 2009 2010 ----------- ------------ ---------- $ 1,609,466 $ 3,723,123 $ 805,498
Included in the Fund's capital loss carryforwards which expire in 2008 is $1,609,466 and in 2009 is $1,942,030 acquired in the Credit Suisse Tax Efficient Fund merger which is subject to IRS limitations. 25 During the tax year ended December 31, 2004, the Fund utilized $1,670,268 of the capital loss carryforward. It is uncertain whether the Fund will be able to realize the benefits before they expire. At December 31, 2004, the identified cost for federal income tax purposes, as well as the gross unrealized appreciation from investments for those securities having an excess of value over cost, gross unrealized depreciation from investments for those securities having an excess of cost over value and the net unrealized appreciation from investments were $71,708,404, $13,619,155, ($1,229,687) and $12,389,468, respectively. At December 31, 2004, the Fund reclassified $57 from undistributed net investment income and $175,543 from accumulated net realized loss from investments to paid in capital, to adjust for current year permanent book/tax differences which arose principally from differing book/tax treatments of dividend designations, and capital loss carryforward acquired from the merger with Credit Suisse Tax Efficient Fund. Net assets were not affected by these reclassifications. NOTE 7. CONTINGENCIES In the normal course of business, the Fund may provide general indemnifications pursuant to certain contracts and organizational documents. The Fund's maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on future claims that may be made against the Fund and, therefore, cannot be estimated; however, based on experience, the risk of loss from such claims is considered remote. NOTE 8. CHANGE IN FISCAL YEAR END The Fund changed its fiscal year end from August 31, to December 31. Accordingly, the statement of operations, the statement of changes in net assets and financial highlights reflect the period from September 1, 2004 to December 31, 2004. 26 CREDIT SUISSE SELECT EQUITY FUND REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Credit Suisse Select Equity Fund, Inc.: In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, and the related statements of operations and of changes in net assets and the financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Credit Suisse Select Equity Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") at December 31, 2004, the results of its operations, the changes in its net assets and the financial highlights for each of the periods presented, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements and financial highlights (hereafter referred to as "financial statements") are the responsibility of the Fund's management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits, which included confirmation of securities at December 31, 2004 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Baltimore, Maryland February 7, 2005 27 CREDIT SUISSE SELECT EQUITY FUND INFORMATION CONCERNING DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS (UNAUDITED)
TERM NUMBER OF OF OFFICE(1) PORTFOLIOS IN AND FUND POSITION(S) LENGTH PRINCIPAL COMPLEX OTHER NAME, ADDRESS AND HELD WITH OF TIME OCCUPATION(S) DURING OVERSEEN BY DIRECTORSHIPS DATE OF BIRTH FUND SERVED PAST FIVE YEARS DIRECTOR HELD BY DIRECTOR ------------------------- ------------- ------------ ---------------------------- ------------- -------------------------- INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS Richard H. Francis Director, Since Currently retired 41 None c/o Credit Suisse Asset Nominating 1999 Management, LLC and Audit 466 Lexington Avenue Committee New York, New York Member 10017-3140 Date of Birth: 04/23/32 Jeffrey E. Garten(2) Director, Since Dean of Yale School of 40 Director of Aetna, Inc. Box 208200 Nominating Fund Management and William (insurance company); New Haven, Connecticut and Audit Inception S. Beinecke Professor in the Director of Calpine 06520-8200 Committee Practice of International Corporation (energy Member Trade and Finance from provider); Director of Date of Birth: 10/29/46 November 1995 to present. CarMax Group (used car dealers). Peter F. Krogh Director, Since Dean Emeritus and 40 Director of Carlisle 301 ICC Nominating 2001 Distinguished Professor Companies Incorporated Georgetown University Committee of International Affairs (diversified manufacturing Washington, DC 20057 Chairman and at the Edmund A. Walsh company). Audit School of Foreign Service, Date of Birth: 02/11/37 Committee Georgetown University Member from June 1995 to present. James S. Pasman, Jr. Director, Since Currently retired 42 Director of Education c/o Credit Suisse Asset Nominating 1999 Management Corp. Management, LLC and Audit 466 Lexington Avenue Committee New York, New York Member 10017-3140 Date of Birth: 12/20/30
---------- (1) Each Director and Officer serves until his or her respective successor has been duly elected and qualified. (2) Mr. Garten was initially appointed as a Director of the Fund on February 6, 1998. He resigned as Director on February 3, 2000, and was subsequently re-appointed on December 21, 2000. 28
TERM NUMBER OF OF OFFICE(1) PORTFOLIOS IN AND FUND POSITION(S) LENGTH PRINCIPAL COMPLEX OTHER NAME, ADDRESS AND HELD WITH OF TIME OCCUPATION(S) DURING OVERSEEN BY DIRECTORSHIPS DATE OF BIRTH FUND SERVED PAST FIVE YEARS DIRECTOR HELD BY DIRECTOR ------------------------- ------------- ------------ ---------------------------- ------------- -------------------------- INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS Steven N. Rappaport Lead Director, Since Partner of Lehigh Court, 42 Director of Presstek, Lehigh Court, LLC Nominating 1999 LLC and RZ Capital Inc. (digital imaging 40 East 52nd Street Committee (private investment technologies company); New York, New York Member and firms) from July 2002 to Director of Wood 10022 Audit present; Transition Resources, LLC. (plywood Committee Adviser to SunGard manufacturing company). Date of Birth: 07/10/48 Chairman Securities Finance, Inc. from February 2002 to July 2002; President of SunGard Securities Finance, Inc. from 2001 to February 2002; President of Loanet, Inc. (on-line accounting service) from 1997 to 2001. INTERESTED DIRECTORS Michael E. Kenneally(3) Chairman Since Chairman and Global Chief 44 None Credit Suisse Asset and Chief 2004 Executive Officer of CSAM Management, LLC Executive since 2003; Chairman and 466 Lexington Avenue Officer Chief Investment Officer New York, New York of Banc of America 10017-3140 Capital Management from 1998 to March 2003. Date of Birth: 03/30/54 William W. Priest(4) Director Since Chief Executive Officer 47 Director of Globe Epoch Investment Partners 1999 of J Net Enterprises, Wireless, LLC (maritime 667 Madison Avenue Inc. (technology holdings communication-company); New York, NY 10021 company) since June 2004; Director of InfraRed X Chief Executive Officer (medical device company); Date of Birth: 09/24/41 of Epoch Investment Director of J Net Partners, Inc. since Enterprises, Inc. April 2004; Co-Managing Partner, Steinberg Priest & Sloane Capital Management, LLC from 2001 to March 2004; Chairman and Managing Director of CSAM from 2000 to February 2001; Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of CSAM from 1990 to 2000.
---------- (3) Mr. Kenneally is a Director who is an "interested person" of the Fund as defined in the 1940 Act because he is an officer of CSAM. (4) Mr. Priest is a Director who is an "interested person" of the Fund as defined in the 1940 Act because he provided consulting services to CSAM within the last two years (ended 12/31/02). 29
TERM OF OFFICE(1) AND POSITION(S) LENGTH NAME, ADDRESS AND HELD WITH OF TIME DATE OF BIRTH FUND SERVED PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) DURING PAST FIVE YEARS ------------------------- ------------- ------------ --------------------------------------------------------- OFFICERS Michael A. Pignataro Chief Since Director and Director of Fund Administration of CSAM; Credit Suisse Asset Financial 1999 Associated with CSAM since 1984; Officer of other Credit Management, LLC Officer and Suisse Funds. 466 Lexington Avenue Treasurer New York, New York 10017-3140 Date of Birth: 11/15/59 Emidio Morizio Chief Since Director and Global Head of Compliance of CSAM; Credit Suisse Asset Compliance 2004 Associated with CSAM since July 2000; Vice President and Management, LLC Officer Director of Compliance of Forstmann-Leff Associates from 466 Lexington Avenue 1998 to June 2000; Officer of other Credit Suisse Funds. New York, New York 10017-3140 Date of Birth: 09/21/66 Ajay Mehra Chief Legal Since Director and Deputy General Counsel of CSAM since Credit Suisse Asset Officer 2004 September 2004; Senior Associate of Shearman & Sterling Management, LLC LLP from September 2000 to September 2004; Senior 466 Lexington Avenue Counsel of the SEC Division of Investment Management New York, New York from June 1997 to September 2000; Officer of other Credit 10017-3140 Suisse Funds. Date of Birth: 08/14/70 J. Kevin Gao Vice Since Vice President and legal counsel of CSAM; Associated with Credit Suisse Asset President and 2004 CSAM since July 2003; Associated with the law firm of Management, LLC Secretary Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP from 1998 to 2003; Officer of 466 Lexington Avenue other Credit Suisse Funds. New York, New York 10017-3140 Date of Birth: 10/13/67 Robert M. Rizza Assistant Since Assistant Vice President of CSAM since January 2001; Credit Suisse Asset Treasurer 2002 Associated with CSAM since 1998; Officer of other Credit Management, LLC Suisse Funds. 466 Lexington Avenue New York, New York 10017-3140 Date of Birth: 12/09/65
The Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Directors and is available, without charge, upon request, by calling 800-927-2874. 30 CREDIT SUISSE SELECT EQUITY FUND TAX INFORMATION LETTER (UNAUDITED) December 31, 2004 IMPORTANT TAX INFORMATION FOR CORPORATE SHAREHOLDERS Corporate Shareholders should note for the year ended December 31, 2004, the percentage of the Fund's investment income (i.e., net investment income plus short-term capital gains) that qualified for the intercorporate dividends received deduction is 100.00%. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 certain dividends paid by Select Equity Fund may be subject to a maximum tax rate of 15%, as provided for by the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. Complete information will be reported in conjunction with your 2004 Form 1099-DIV. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, the Fund designates approximately $77,892, or up to the maximum amount of such dividends allowable pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code, as qualified dividend income eligible for reduced tax rates. These lower rates range from 5% to 15% depending on an individual's tax bracket. If the Fund pays a distribution during the calendar year 2004, complete information will be reported in conjunction with Form 1099-Div. IMPORTANT TAX INFORMATION FOR SHAREHOLDERS During the year ended December 31, 2004, the Fund declared $5,171,240 in dividends that were designated as 20% long-term capital gains dividends. 31 CREDIT SUISSE SELECT EQUITY FUND PROXY POLICY AND PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies related to its fund securities during the 12-month period ended June 30, 2004 as well as the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to its portfolio securities are available: - By calling 1-800-927-2874 - On the Fund's website, www.csam.com/us - On the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission, http://www.sec.gov. The Fund files a complete schedule of its portfolio holdings for the first and third quarters of its fiscal year with the SEC on Form N-Q. The Fund's Forms N-Q are available on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov and may be reviewed and copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the SEC's Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330. 32 P.O. BOX 55030, BOSTON, MA 02205-5030 [CREDIT SUISSE ASSET MANAGEMENT LOGO] 800-927-2874 - www.csam.com/us CREDIT SUISSE ASSET MANAGEMENT SECURITIES, INC., DISTRIBUTOR. WPSEQ-2-1204 ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS. The registrant has adopted a code of ethics applicable to its Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer, or persons performing similar functions. A copy of the code is filed as Exhibit 12(a)(1) to this Form. There were no amendments to the code during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004. There were no waivers or implicit waivers from the code granted by the registrant during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004. ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT. The registrant's governing board has determined that it has three audit committee financial experts serving on its audit committee: Richard H. Francis, James S. Pasman, Jr., and Steven N. Rappaport. Each audit committee financial expert is "independent" for purposes of this item. ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES. (a) through (d). The information in the table below is provided for services rendered to the registrant by its independent registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ("PwC"), for its fiscal years ended August 31, 2004 and December 31, 2004.
AUGUST 31, 2004 DECEMBER 31, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Audit Fees $ 10,966 $ 6,580 Audit-Related Fees(1) $ 3,000 $ 1,500 Tax Fees(2) $ 2,327 $ 1,327 All Other Fees -- -- ------------------------------------------------------------------- Total $ 16,293 $ 9,407 -------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Services for August 31, 2004 include agreed-upon procedures in connection with the registrant's semi-annual financial statements ($3,000), and for December 31, 2004 include agreed upon procedures for the registrant's third quarter 2004 Form N-Q filing ($1,500). (2) Tax services in connection with the registrant's excise tax calculations and review of the registrant's applicable tax returns. The information in the table below is provided with respect to non-audit services that directly relate to the registrant's operations and financial reporting and that were rendered by PwC to the registrant's investment adviser, Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC ("CSAM"), and any service provider to the registrant controlling, controlled by or under common control with CSAM that provided ongoing services to the registrant ("Covered Services Provider"), for the registrant's fiscal years ended August 31, 2004 and December 31, 2004.
AUGUST 31, 2004 DECEMBER 31, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Audit-Related Fees N/A N/A
2 Tax Fees N/A N/A All Other Fees N/A N/A ------------------------------------------------------------------- Total N/A N/A -------------------------------------------------------------------
(e)(1) Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures. The Audit Committee ("Committee") of the registrant is responsible for pre-approving (i) all audit and permissible non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm to the registrant and (ii) all permissible non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm to CSAM and any Covered Services Provider if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the registrant. The Committee may delegate its responsibility to pre-approve any such audit and permissible non-audit services to the Chairperson of the Committee, and the Chairperson shall report to the Committee, at its next regularly scheduled meeting after the Chairperson's pre-approval of such services, his or her decision(s). The Committee may also establish detailed pre-approval policies and procedures for pre-approval of such services in accordance with applicable laws, including the delegation of some or all of the Committee's pre-approval responsibilities to other persons (other than CSAM or the registrant's officers). Pre-approval by the Committee of any permissible non-audit services shall not be required so long as: (i) the aggregate amount of all such permissible non-audit services provided to the registrant, CSAM and any Covered Services Provider constitutes not more than 5% of the total amount of revenues paid by the registrant to its independent registered public accounting firm during the fiscal year in which the permissible non-audit services are provided; (ii) the permissible non-audit services were not recognized by the registrant at the time of the engagement to be non-audit services; and (iii) such services are promptly brought to the attention of the Committee and approved by the Committee (or its delegate(s)) prior to the completion of the audit. (e)(2) The information in the table below sets forth the percentages of fees for services (other than audit, review or attest services) rendered by PwC to the registrant for which the pre-approval requirement was waived pursuant to Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) of Regulation S-X:
AUGUST 31, 2004 DECEMBER 31, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Audit-Related Fees N/A N/A Tax Fees N/A N/A All Other Fees N/A N/A ------------------------------------------------------------------- Total N/A N/A -------------------------------------------------------------------
3 The information in the table below sets forth the percentages of fees for services (other than audit, review or attest services) rendered by PwC to CSAM and any Covered Services Provider required to be approved pursuant to Rule 2-01(c)(7)(ii)of Regulation S-X, for the registrant's fiscal years ended August 31, 2004 and December 31, 2004:
AUGUST 31, 2004 DECEMBER 31, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Audit-Related Fees N/A N/A Tax Fees N/A N/A All Other Fees N/A N/A ------------------------------------------------------------------- Total N/A N/A -------------------------------------------------------------------
(f) Not Applicable. (g) The aggregate fees billed by PwC for non-audit services rendered to the registrant, CSAM and Covered Service Providers for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2004 and December 31, 2004 were $5,327 and $2,827, respectively. (h) Not Applicable. ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS. Form N-CSR disclosure requirement is not applicable to the registrant. ITEM 6. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS. Schedule of investments is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this form. ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES. Form N-CSR disclosure requirement is not applicable to the registrant. ITEM 8. PORTFOLIO MANGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES. Form N-CSR disclosure requirement is not applicable to the registrant. 4 ITEM 9. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS. Form N-CSR disclosure requirement is not applicable to the registrant. ITEM 10. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS. The Registrant has a Nominating Committee (the "Committee"), which is responsible for selecting and nominating persons for election or appointment by the Registrant's Board as Board members. The Committee has adopted a Nominating Committee Charter (the "Charter"). Pursuant to the Charter, the Committee will consider recommendations for nominees from shareholders submitted to the Secretary of the Registrant, c/o Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC, 466 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017. A nomination submission must include information regarding the recommended nominee as specified in the Charter. This information includes all information relating to a recommended nominee that is required to be disclosed in solicitations or proxy statements for the election of Board members, as well as information sufficient to evaluate the factors to be considered by the Committee, including character and integrity, business and professional experience, and whether the person has the ability to apply sound and independent business judgment and would act in the interests of the Registrant and its shareholders. Nomination submissions are required to be accompanied by a written consent of the individual to stand for election if nominated by the Board and to serve if elected by the shareholders, and such additional information must be provided regarding the recommended nominee as reasonably requested by the Committee. ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES. (a) As of a date within 90 days from the filing date of this report, the principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Act")) were effective based on their evaluation of the disclosure controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the Act and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. (b) There were no changes in registrant's internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Act) that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting. ITEM 12. EXHIBITS. (a)(1) Registrant's Code of Ethics is an exhibit to this report. 5 (a)(2) The certifications of the registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Act are exhibits to this report. (a)(3) Not applicable. (b) The certifications of the registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Act are an exhibit to this report. 6 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. CREDIT SUISSE SELECT EQUITY FUND, INC. /s/ Michael E. Kenneally ------------------------ Name: Michael E. Kenneally Title: Chief Executive Officer Date: March 8, 2005 Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated. /s/ Michael E. Kenneally ------------------------ Name: Michael E. Kenneally Title: Chief Executive Officer Date: March 8, 2005 /s/ Michael A. Pignataro ------------------------ Name: Michael A. Pignataro Title: Chief Financial Officer Date: March 8, 2005 7