-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, KyrFqFwYwe6FpGKpIo2YUo1iTyq6lLeeh5Eq7kR83+lGZzJ2+NkihGK2PkSP552H F9IlktTDC32RvhgZdgqa5Q== 0000950124-96-002536.txt : 19960607 0000950124-96-002536.hdr.sgml : 19960607 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950124-96-002536 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 497 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 19960606 SROS: NONE FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: WASATCH ADVISORS FUNDS INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000806633 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000] STATE OF INCORPORATION: UT FISCAL YEAR END: 0930 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 497 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 033-10451 FILM NUMBER: 96577751 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 68 S MAIN ST STE 400 CITY: SALT LAKE CITY STATE: UT ZIP: 84101 BUSINESS PHONE: 8015330777 497 1 497 1 STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WASATCH FUNDS, INC. 68 South Main, Suite 400 Salt Lake City, UT 84101 January 31, 1996 WASATCH FUNDS, INC. ( "Wasatch Funds" or the "Company") is an open-end management investment company issuing shares of Common Stock in separate series or "Funds". The Company includes five Funds: the Growth Fund and Income Fund are each diversified funds; the Aggressive Equity, Micro-Cap and Mid-Cap Funds are each non-diversified funds. Each of the Funds has its own investment objective designed to meet different investment goals. This Statement of Additional Information is not a Prospectus but contains information in addition to and more detailed than that set forth in the Prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus. A Prospectus may be obtained without charge by calling or writing Wasatch Funds at P.O. Box 2172, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202-2172 at (800) 551-1700. The Statement of Additional Information and the related Prospectus are both dated January 31, 1996. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined have the same meanings as used in the Prospectus. TABLE OF CONTENTS General Information and History ..................................... 2 Investment Objectives and Policies .................................. 2 Description of Corporate Bond Ratings ............................... 3 Investment Restrictions ............................................. 4 Management of the Company ........................................... 6 Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities ................. 7 Investment Advisory and Other Services .............................. 8 Brokerage Allocation and Other Practices ............................ 10 Capital Stock and Other Securities .................................. 11 Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Securities Being Offered ........ 12 Tax Status .......................................................... 13 Calculation of Performance Data ..................................... 14 Financial Statements ................................................ 15
1 2 GENERAL INFORMATION AND HISTORY Wasatch Funds, Inc. ("Wasatch Funds" or the "Company") was incorporated under Utah law on November 18, 1986. It is an open-end management investment company composed of five separate Funds. The Growth Fund and Income Fund are each diversified funds; the Aggressive Equity Fund, the Micro-Cap Fund and Mid-Cap Fund are each non-diversified funds. The Growth Fund, Income Fund and Aggressive Equity Fund commenced operations on December 6, 1986, the Mid-Cap Fund on August 16, 1992, and the Micro-Cap Fund on June 19, 1995. INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES Wasatch Funds is a no-load mutual fund consisting of five separate series (the "Funds"), each of which has its own investment objective designed to meet different investment goals. The Wasatch Aggressive Equity Fund is designed for the investor looking for long-term growth of capital through investments in a non-diversified portfolio of companies believed by the Manager to be rapidly growing. The "Flagship" of the Wasatch Fund Family, this portfolio seeks to invest in smaller companies which the Manager believes to have the potential to become much larger. These companies are believed by the Manager to possess certain attributes which will enable them to double in size within five years. The Wasatch Micro-Cap Fund seeks long-term growth of capital. The Fund seeks this objective by investing primarily in small capitalization companies believed by the Manager to possess superior growth potential. The major distinction between the Wasatch Aggressive Equity Fund and the Wasatch Micro-Cap Fund is that the Micro-Cap Fund will normally invest primarily in common stocks of companies with market capitalizations less than $150 million at the time of initial purchase. The Wasatch Growth Fund is designed for the more conservative equity investor looking for long-term growth of capital through investments in a diversified portfolio of companies which the Manager believes to be relatively stable and offer superior growth prospects. The Manager seeks companies with the potential to become much larger and grow at a more consistent, but slower rate than the companies in the Wasatch Aggressive Equity Fund and the Wasatch Mid-Cap Fund. As a further measure of conservatism, when the market conditions warrant, the Fund will hold more cash or other fixed income investments than the Wasatch Aggressive Equity Fund and the Wasatch Mid-Cap Fund. The Wasatch Mid-Cap Fund seeks long-term growth of capital through investments in small- to mid-sized companies believed by the Manager to have exceptional growth potential. The companies in this portfolio are expected by the Manager to grow their earnings at even higher rates than the companies in the Wasatch Aggressive Equity Fund, the Wasatch Growth Fund or the Wasatch Mid-Cap Fund. These anticipated higher growth rates may cause the Wasatch Mid-Cap Fund to be more volatile than the other Wasatch Advisors Funds. The Wasatch Income Fund's primary investment objective is to receive current income at relatively lower risk by investing in fixed income securities. The secondary objective is capital appreciation. 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 assessment of future interest rate patterns. The Fund is not limited as to maturities of its portfolio investments, and to the extent consistent with its investment objective, may take full advantage of the entire range of maturities offered. However, under normal market conditions, the Fund anticipates it will maintain a dollar weighted average portfolio maturity of three years or less. 2 3 Reference is made to "INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND RISKS" in the Prospectus for a more complete discussion of the investment objectives, policies and associated risks of the Company. DESCRIPTION OF CORPORATE BOND RATINGS Each Fund may invest in corporate bonds that are rated, at the time of purchase, in the four highest categories by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's"), Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P") or other nationally recognized rating agencies or unrated securities deemed by the Manager to be of comparable quality. The following list describes the various ratings of corporate bonds: Description of corporate bond ratings of Moody's: Aaa-Bonds rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as "gilt-edge". Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such issues. Aa-Bonds rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all standards. Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally known as high grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities or fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present which make the long-term risks appear somewhat larger than in Aaa securities. A-Bonds rated A possess many favorable investment attributes and are to be considered as upper medium-grade obligations. Factors giving security to principal and interest are considered adequate but elements may be present which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future. Baa-Bonds rated Baa are considered as medium-grade obligations (i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured). Interest payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great length of time. Such Bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as well. Description of corporate bond ratings of S&P: AAA-This is the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor's to a debt obligation and indicates an extremely strong capacity to pay principal and interest. AA-Bonds rated AA also qualify as high-quality debt obligations. Capacity to pay principal and interest is very strong, and in the majority of instances they differ from AAA issues only in small degree. A-Bonds rated A have a strong capacity to pay principal and interest, although they are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions. BBB-Bonds rated BBB are regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Whereas they 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 bonds in this category than in higher rated categories. 3 4 INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS The Company has adopted the following restrictions and policies relating to the investment of assets of the Funds and their activities. These are fundamental policies and may not be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting shares of each Fund affected (which for this purpose and under the Investment Company Act of 1940 means the lesser of (i) 67% of the shares represented at a meeting at which more than 50% of the outstanding shares are represented or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares). A change in policy affecting only one Fund may be effected with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares of such Fund. The Aggressive Equity Fund and the Micro-Cap Fund may not: 1. As to 50% of the Fund's total assets, invest in individual companies in which the Fund has invested 5% of the Fund's total assets or has acquired more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such company, measured at the time of each such investment. The Mid-Cap Fund may not: 1. As to 75% of the Fund's total assets, invest in the securities of any one issuer (other than the United States Government or government agencies or instrumentalities) if immediately after and as a result of such investment, the Fund owns more than 10% of any class of securities of such issuer. The Growth Fund and the Income Fund may not: 1. As to 75% of the Fund's total assets, invest in the securities of any one issuer (other than the United States Government or government agencies or instrumentalities) if immediately after and as a result of such investment the value of the holdings of the Fund in the securities of such issuer exceeds 5% of the Fund's total assets, taken at market value. 2. As to 75% of the Fund's total assets, invest in the securities of any one issuer (other than the United States Government or government agencies or instrumentalities) if immediately after and as a result of such investment, the Fund owns more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities, or more than 10% of any class of securities, of such issuer. Each of the Aggressive Equity, Micro-Cap, Growth, Mid-Cap and Income Funds may not: 1. Make investments for the purpose of exercising control or management. 2. Invest more than 10% of its total assets in other investment companies, or invest more than 5% of its assets in a single investment company, or hold more than 3% of the total outstanding voting stock of an acquired investment company. Investments in other investment companies will be limited to Money Market Funds for the purpose of investing idle cash balances. 3. Purchase or sell real estate, provided that the Funds may invest in securities secured by real estate or interests therein or issued by companies which invest in real estate or interests therein. Each of the Funds has no current intention to invest in securities of this nature. 4. Purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts. 4 5 5. Purchase any security on margin, except that the Fund may obtain such short-term credit as may be necessary for the clearance of transactions. 6. Make short sales of securities. 7. Invest in securities which cannot be readily sold because of legal or contractual restrictions including repurchase agreements which mature in more than 7 days or which are not otherwise readily marketable if, regarding all such securities, more than 5% of its total assets, or 10% of the net asset value of the Fund, taken at market value, would be invested in such securities. Each of the Funds has no current intention to invest in securities of this nature. 8. Make loans to other persons. (The Funds however may purchase and hold debt instruments and enter into repurchase agreements in accordance with their investment objectives and policies, as in the opinion of the fund manager, these investments do not constitute the making of loans.) 9. Issue senior securities, borrow money or pledge its assets except that the Fund may borrow from a bank as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes or to meet redemptions in amounts not exceeding 5% (taken at the market value) of its total assets and pledge its assets to secure such borrowing. Each of the Funds has no current intention to borrow as a temporary measure as allowed under the above exception. 10. Underwrite securities of other issuers except insofar as the Fund may be deemed an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933 in selling portfolio securities. 11. Write, purchase or sell puts, calls, straddles, spreads or combinations thereof. 12. Purchase or sell interests in oil, gas or other mineral exploration or development programs, although it may invest in the securities of issuers which invest or sponsor such programs. 13. Invest more than 25% of its total assets (taken at market value at the time of each investment) in the securities of issuers in any particular industry. 14 Invest more than 5% of its total assets (taken at market value at the time of each investment) in warrants of which no more than 2% will be invested in non-listed issues that have warrants. 15. Invest more than 5% of its total assets (taken at market value at the time of each investment) in the securities of new issuers, who with predecessors have operating records of three (3) years or less. 16. Invest more than 5% of its total assets (taken at market value at the time of each investment) in "Special Situations", i.e., companies in the process of reorganization or buy-out. Any investment restriction or limitation, fundamental or otherwise, appearing in the Prospectus or Statement of Additional Information, which involves a maximum percentage of securities or assets shall not be considered to be violated unless an excess over the percentage occurs immediately after an acquisition of securities or utilization of assets, and such excess results therefrom. In addition, the Funds have made certain undertakings to a state securities commission which are not deemed fundamental. These include not investing in real estate mortgages, real estate limited partnerships, and oil, gas or other mineral leases. 5 6 Although a Fund cannot accurately predict its annual portfolio turnover rate, the Manager expects that, under normal circumstances, the annual portfolio turnover rate of the Micro-Cap Fund will not exceed 100%, but may be as high as 150%. The current portfolio turnover rates for the Aggressive Equity, Growth, Income and Mid-Cap Funds are set forth in the prospectus. MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY The Directors and executive officers of the Fund and their principal occupations for at least the last five years are set forth below. Unless otherwise noted, the address of each executive officer and Director is 68 South Main, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101. *Samuel S. Stewart, Jr., Ph.D., CFA - President and Director President and Director of the Company; President and Director of Research for the Manager since 1975; Professor of Finance at the University of Utah since 1975. *Roy S. Jespersen, MBA - Vice President and Director Vice President and Director of the Company; Vice President and Portfolio Manager for the Manager since 1983. *Heidi Preuss - Secretary/Treasurer Controller and Administration Adviser for the Manager since December 1990; previously, a Ph.D. candidate in Accounting at the University of Alberta, Canada. *Jeff S. Cardon, CFA - Vice President and Director Vice President and Director of the Company; Vice President and Director of the Manager since 1985; Security Analyst for the Manager since 1980. James U. Jensen - Director NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 420 Chipeta Way Salt Lake City, Utah 84108 Director of the Company; Vice President of Corporate Development and Legal Affairs, NPS Pharmaceutical; previously Chairman and a partner at Woodbury, Jensen, Kesler & Swinton, P.C. from 1986 to 1991. William R. Swinyard - Director Management Office 660 Tanner Building Brigham Young University Provo, Utah 84602 Director of the Company; Professor of Business Management, Brigham Young University since 1985; Vice President for Struman and Associates, Inc., a management consulting firm since 1983. 6 7 * Interested person, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, of the Company. The Board of Directors has appointed the officers of the Company to be responsible for the overall management and day to day operations of the Company's business affairs between board meetings. The Funds' standard method of compensating directors is to pay each disinterested director an annual fee of $3,600 for services rendered, including attending meetings of the Board of Directors. The annual fee for directors is increased to $6,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1996. The Funds also may reimburse its disinterested directors for travel expenses incurred in order to attend meetings of the Board of Directors. Officers serve in that capacity without compensation from the Company. The table below sets forth the compensation paid to the Company's directors and officers during the fiscal year ended September 30, 1995 (exclusive of out-of-pocket expenses reimbursed). COMPENSATION TABLE
Pension or Aggregate Retirement Benefits Estimated Annual Total Compensation Compensation From Accrued As Part of Benefits Upon From Company Paid Name of Person, Position Company Fund Expenses Retirement to Directors Samuel S. Stewart, Jr. President and Director $ 0 None N/A $ 0 Roy S. Jespersen, Vice President and Director $ 0 None N/A $ 0 Heidi Preuss Secretary/Treasurer $ 0 None N/A $ 0 Jeff S. Cardon, Vice President and Director $ 0 None N/A $ 0 James U. Jensen Director $3,600 None N/A $3,600 William R. Swinyard Director $3,600 None N/A $3,600
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES As of October 31, 1995, the Funds were aware that the following persons or entities owned a controlling interest (ownership of greater than 25%) or owned of record 5% or more of the outstanding shares of each of the Funds. Shareholders with a controlling interest could effect the outcome of proxy voting or the direction of management of the Company. 7 8 SERIES A - WASATCH AGGRESSIVE EQUITY FUND Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.*, 101 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA, 94104, 31%; National Financial Services Corp.*, 200 Liberty Street, One World Financial Center, New York, NY, 10281-1003, 11%. SERIES B - WASATCH GROWTH FUND Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.*, 101 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA, 94104, 45%; National Financial Services Corp.*, 200 Liberty Street, One World Financial Center, New York, NY, 10281-1003, 14%. SERIES C - WASATCH INCOME FUND Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.*, 101 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA, 94104, 22%; Firstar Trust Co., Custodian for Ray R. Christensen IRA Rollover, 175 S. West Temple, #510, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84101, 15%; Firstar Trust Co., Custodian for Dr. Jaime Mosquera IRA, 800 Pralle Lane, St. Charles, Missouri, 63303, 7%. SERIES D - WASATCH MID-CAP FUND Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.*, 101 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA, 94104, 45%; National Financial Services Corp.*, 200 Liberty Street, One World Financial Center, New York, NY, 10281-1003, 19%. SERIES E - WASATCH MICRO-CAP FUND Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.*, 101 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA, 94104, 33%; National Financial Services Corp.*, 200 Liberty Street, One World Financial Center, New York, NY, 10281-1003, 14%. As of October 31, 1995 the directors and officers as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Wasatch Funds. * Shareholders of record, not beneficial owners. INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES As described in the Prospectus, Wasatch Advisors, Inc. is the Company's manager and investment advisor, providing services under the advisory and service contracts. The Manager was organized in September 1975, has been in the business of investment management since November 1975, and currently has total assets under management including the assets of the Funds, of approximately $924 million. The principal executive officers and directors of the Manager are Samuel S. Stewart, Jr., Ph.D., President and Director; Roy S. Jespersen, Vice President and Director; Mark E. Bailey, Vice President and Director; Jeff S. Cardon, Vice President and Director; Luana Buhler, Secretary; Karolyn Barker, Director; Robert Gardiner, Director and James Milligan, Director. Dr. Samuel S. Stewart, Jr. is the only owner of the Manager who owns more than 25% of the Manger's outstanding equity and is deemed to control the Manager. Under Advisory and Service Contracts, the Aggressive Equity and Growth Funds pay the Manager a monthly fee computed on average daily net assets of each Fund at the annual rate of 1.0%, the Micro-Cap Fund pays the Manager at the annual rate of 2.0%, and the Mid-Cap Fund pays the Manager at an annual rate of 1.25%. 8 9 These fees are higher than those paid by other investment companies. The Income Fund pays the Manager a monthly fee computed on average daily net assets of the Fund at the annual rate of 0.50%. The management fees are computed and accrued daily and are payable monthly. The Manager provides an investment program for, and carries out the investment policy and manages the portfolio assets of, each Fund. The Manager is authorized, subject to the control of the Board of Directors of the Company, to determine the selection, quantities and time to buy or sell securities for each Fund. In addition to providing investment services, the Manager pays for office space and facilities for the Company. Among other expenses, the Funds pay taxes (if any), brokerage commissions on portfolio transactions, expenses of issuance and redemption of shares, charges of custodians and dividend disbursing agents, proxy material and costs of printing and engraving stock certificates, auditing and legal expenses, certain expenses of registering and qualifying shares for sale, fees of directors who are not "interested persons" of the Manager, costs of typesetting, printing and mailing the Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information and periodic reports to existing shareholders, and any other charges or fees not specifically enumerated. The Advisory and Service Contract provides that the Manager shall reimburse each Fund for expenses in excess of the most restrictive expense limitation required by state regulation. At the current time, the lowest applicable expense limitation is 2 1/2% of the first $30 million of the average net assets, 2% of the next $70 million of the average net assets, and 1 1/2% of the remaining net assets of the investment company. The Manager has voluntarily agreed to limit the Aggressive Equity Fund and the Growth Fund expenses to 1.5%, the Micro-Cap Fund expenses to 2.50%, the Mid-Cap Fund expenses to 1.75% and the Income Fund expenses to 1% of average net assets calculated on a daily basis and will pay all expenses excluding interest, taxes, extraordinary expenses, brokerage commissions and transactions costs in excess of such limitation. The Manager may rescind these limitations on expenses at any time and in the event of rescission the terms of the Advisory and Service Contract would govern. For the fiscal years ended September 30, 1995, 1994, and 1993, the Manager accrued the following management fees and waived a portion of its management fees in the following amounts (the Micro-Cap Fund commenced operations on June 19, 1995):
1995 1994 1993 Aggressive Equity Fund Gross Management Fees $1,446,523 $349,837 $174,390 Waived Management Fees 0 7,283 25,959 Growth Fund Gross Management Fees $ 195,697 $140,933 $161,673 Waived Management Fees 16,636 19,106 17,804 Income Fund Gross Management Fees $ 16,871 $ 17,515 $ 22,512 Waived Management Fees 19,946 13,802 15,999 Mid-Cap Fund Gross Management Fees $ 237,215 $ 18,382 $ 22,733 Waived Management Fees 35,750 23,141 17,299 Micro-Cap Fund Gross Management Fees $ 52,691 - - Waived Management Fees 23,438 - -
9 10 GENERAL INFORMATION Custodian and Transfer Agent UMB Bank, n.a. serves as the Funds' Custodian. The Custodian is responsible for, among other things, safeguarding and controlling the Company's cash and securities. The Funds pay a monthly fee at the annual rate of .75 basis points on combined net assets up to $500,000,000, plus .50 basis points on the combined net assets in excess of $500,000,000. Sunstone Financial Group, Inc., 207 East Buffalo Street, Suite 400, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202-2172, is the Company's Transfer Agent. The Transfer Agent keeps records of all shareholder accounts and transactions. Each Fund pays Sunstone Financial Group, Inc. a Transfer Agent fee based on the number of shareholder accounts subject to a minimum annual fee. Counsel Michael J. Radmer, Dorsey & Whitney, P.L.L.P., 220 South Sixth Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402-1498, acts as legal counsel to the Company and reviews certain legal matters for the Company in connection with the shares offered by the Prospectus. Independent Auditors Arthur Andersen LLP, 777 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53202 are the Company's independent Certified Public Accountants. In this capacity the firm is responsible for auditing the financial statements of the Company and reporting thereon. BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES The Manager is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities for the Company and for the placement of its portfolio business and the negotiation of the commissions paid on such transactions. It is the policy of the Manager to seek the best security price available with respect to each transaction. Except to the extent that the Company may pay higher brokerage commissions for brokerage and research services (as described below) on a portion of its transactions executed on securities exchanges, the Manager seeks the best security price at the most favorable commission rate. In selecting dealers and in negotiating commissions, the Manager considers the firm's reliability, the quality of its execution services on a continuing basis and its financial condition. When more than one firm are believed to meet these criteria, preference may be given to firms which also provide research services to the Company or the Manager. Pursuant to provisions of the investment advisory agreements, the Company's Board of Directors has authorized the Manager to cause the Company to incur brokerage commissions in an amount higher than the lowest available rate in return for the opinion that the continued receipt of supplemental investment research services from dealers is essential to its provision of high quality portfolio management services to the Company. The Manager undertakes that such higher commissions will not be paid by the Company unless (a) the Manager determines in good faith that the amount is reasonable in relation to the services in terms of the particular transaction or in terms of the Manager's overall responsibilities with respect to the accounts as to which it exercises investment discretion, (b) such payment is made in compliance with the provisions of Section 28(e) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and other applicable state and federal laws, and (c) in the opinion of the Manager the total commissions paid by the Company are reasonable in relation to the expected benefits to the Company over the long term. The investment advisory fees paid by the Funds under the investment advisory agreements are not reduced as a result of the Manager's receipt of research services. 10 11 Consistent with both the Rules of Fair Practice of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and such policies as the Board of Directors may determine, and subject to seeking best execution, the Manager may consider sales of shares of the Company as a factor in the selection of dealers to execute portfolio transactions for the Company. The Manager places portfolio transactions for other advisory accounts. Research services furnished by firms through which the Company effects its securities transactions may be used by the Manager in servicing all of its accounts; not all of such services may be used by the Manager in connection with the Company. In the opinion of the Manager, the benefits from research services to each of the accounts (including the Company) managed by the Manager cannot be measured separately. Because the volume and nature of the trading activities of the accounts are not uniform, the amount of commissions in excess of the lowest available rate paid by each account for brokerage and research services will vary. However, in the opinion of the Manager, such costs to the Company will not be disproportionate to the benefits received by the Company on a continuing basis. The Manager's brokerage practices are monitored on at least an annual basis by the Board of Directors including the disinterested persons (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940) of the Manager. During the years ended September 30, 1995, 1994 and 1993, the Company paid the following brokerage commissions:
1995 1994 1993 Aggressive Equity Fund $232,209 $101,516 $55,067 Micro-Cap Fund 15,947 - - Growth Fund 65,361 74,171 49,115 Income Fund 774 436 475 Mid-Cap Fund 31,846 16,241 10,639
The changes in brokerage commissions are partially the result of changes in the turnover rates of the Funds and changes in the amount of assets under management. There are no stated markups on the principal transactions of the Company. The purchases are executed at the ask price net and the sales are executed at the bid price net. CAPITAL STOCK AND OTHER SECURITIES The Company is authorized to issue shares in separate series, or "Funds." Five such Funds have been established: Series A Common - Aggressive Equity Fund Series B Common - Growth Fund Series C Common - Income Fund Series D Common - Mid-Cap Fund Series E Common - Micro-Cap Fund See "Organization of the Company" in the Prospectus, for a discussion of the relative rights and characteristics of the shares. 11 12 To illustrate the method of computing the offering price of Company shares, the offering price per share on September 30, 1995 was as follows:
Aggressive Micro-Cap Growth Mid-Cap Income Equity Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Net Assets divided by $305,311,029 $25,368,141 $53,533,465 $98,605,477 $4,035,223 Shares Outstanding 12,212,284 9,333,798 3,351,512 5,297,597 384,158 equals Net Asset Value Per Share $ 25.00 $ 2.72 $ 15.97 $ 18.61 $ 10.50 (Offering & Redemption Price)
PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SECURITIES BEING OFFERED The procedures to be followed in the purchase and redemption of shares as well as the method of determining the net asset value are fully disclosed in the Prospectus. As indicated in the Prospectus, the net asset value is calculated each day the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. The New York Stock Exchange is closed on the following national holidays: New Year's Day, President's Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Investors may exchange their shares of a Fund for the U.S. Government Money Market Fund Fund as provided in the prospectus. Sunstone, in its capacity as transfer agent for the Funds, receives a service fee from the U.S. Government Money Market Fund Fund at the annual rate of 0.25% of 1% of the average daily net asset value of the shares exchanged from the Funds into the U.S. Government Money Market Fund Fund. The Funds have filed a notification of election under Rule 18f-1 of the Investment Company Act committing itself to pay in cash all requests for redemption by any shareholder of record, limited in amount with respect to each shareholder of record during any 90-day period to the lesser of: (1) $250,000 or (2) 1% of the net asset value of each Fund at the beginning of such election period. The Funds intend to also pay redemption proceeds in excess of such lesser amount in cash, but reserve the right to pay such excess amount in kind, if it is deemed in the best interest of the Funds to do so. In making a redemption in kind, the Funds reserve the right to make a selection from each portfolio holding of a number of shares which will reflect the portfolio make-up and the value will approximate as closely as possible the value of the Funds' shares being redeemed; any shortfall will be made up in cash. Investors receiving an in kind distribution are advised that they will likely incur a brokerage charge on the sale of such securities through a broker. The values of portfolio securities distributed in kind will be the values used for the purpose of calculating the per share net asset value used in valuing the Funds' shares tendered for redemption. 12 13 TAX STATUS Reference is made to "Dividends, Capital Gain Distributions and Taxes" in the Prospectus. Each Fund will be treated as a separate entity for Federal income tax purposes since The Tax Reform Act of 1986 requires that all portfolios of a series fund be treated as separate taxpayers. Each Fund intends to qualify each year as a "regulated investment company" under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). By so qualifying, each Fund will not be subject to Federal income taxes to the extent that it distributes its net investment income and realized net capital gains. For Federal income tax purposes, distributions paid from net investment income and from any realized net short-term capital gain are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income, whether received in cash or in additional shares. Dividends are taxable as ordinary income, whereas capital gain distributions are taxable as long-term capital gains. The 70% dividends-received deduction for corporations will apply only to the proportionate share of the dividend attributable to dividends received by the Fund from domestic corporations. Any dividend or capital gain distribution paid shortly after a purchase of shares of the Fund will have the effect of reducing the per share net asset value of such shares by the amount of the dividend or distribution. Furthermore, even if the net asset value of the shares of the Fund immediately after a dividend or distribution is less than the cost of such shares to the investor, the dividend or distribution will be taxable to the investor. Redemption of shares will generally result in a capital gain or loss for income tax purposes. Such capital gain or loss will be long-term or short-term, depending upon the holding period. However, if a loss is realized on shares held for six months or less, and the investor received a capital gain distribution during that period, then such loss is treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of the capital gain distribution received. Investors may also be subject to state and local taxes The Fund is required to withhold federal income tax at a rate of 31% ("backup withholding") from dividend payments and redemption and exchange proceeds if an investor fails to furnish the Fund with his social security number or other tax identification number or fails to certify under penalty of perjury that such number is correct or that he is not subject to backup withholding due to the underreporting of income. The certification form is included as part of the share purchase application and should be completed when the account is opened. Under the Code, each fund will be subject to a 4% excise tax on a portion of its undistributed income if it fails to meet certain distribution requirements by the end of the calendar year. Each fund intends to make distributions in a timely manner and accordingly does not expect to be subject to the excise tax. Under the Code, any dividend declared by a regulated investment company in December of any calendar year and payable to shareholders of record on a specified date in such month shall be deemed to have been received by each shareholder on such date, and to have been paid by such company on such date if such dividend is actually paid by the company before February 1 of the following calendar year. The Company intends to pay all dividends during the month of December so that they will not be impacted by this rule. This section is not intended to be a full discussion of present or proposed federal income tax laws and the effect of such laws on an investor. Investors are urged to consult with their respective tax advisers for a complete review of the tax ramifications of an investment in the Fund. 13 14 CALCULATION OF PERFORMANCE DATA The Funds may occasionally advertise performance data such as total return or yield. To facilitate the comparability of these statistics from one mutual fund to another, the Securities and Exchange Commission has developed guidelines for the calculation of these statistics. The Funds will calculate their performance data in accordance with these guidelines. The total return for a mutual fund represents the average annual compounded rate of return over a specified period of time that would equate the initial amount invested to the value of the investment at the end of the period of time. This is done by dividing the ending redeemable value of a hypothetical $1,000 initial payment by $1,000 and raising the quotient to a power equal to one divided by the number of years (or fractional portion thereof) covered by the computation and subtracting one from the result. This calculation can be expressed as follows: ERV 1/n T=[(------)-1] P Where: T= average annual total return. ERV= ending redeemable value at the end of the period covered by the computation of a hypothetical $1,000 payment made at the beginning of the period. P= hypothetical initial payment of $1,000. n= period covered by the computation, expressed in terms of years. The Funds compute their aggregate total returns by determining the aggregate rates of return during specified periods that likewise equate the initial amount invested to the ending redeemable value of such investment. The formula for calculating aggregate total return is as follows: ERV T=[(------)-1] P The calculations of average annual total return and aggregate total return assume the reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions on the reinvestment dates during the period. The ending redeemable value is determined by assuming complete redemption of the hypothetical investment and the deduction of all nonrecurring charges at the end of the period covered by the computations. A yield quotation is based upon a 30 day period and is computed by dividing the net investment income per share earned during a 30-day (or one-month) period by the net asset value per share on the last day of the period and annualizing the result on a semiannual basis by adding one to the quotient, raising the sum to the power of six, subtracting one from the result and then doubling the difference. A Fund's net investment income per share earned during the period is based on the average daily number of shares outstanding during the period entitled to receive dividends and includes dividends and interest earned during the period minus expenses accrued for the period, net of reimbursements. This calculation can be expressed as follows: 14 15 a-b 6 Yield=2[(----+1) -1] cd Where: a= dividends and interest earned during the period. b= expenses accrued for the period (net of reimbursements). c= the average daily number of Units outstanding during the period that were entitled to receive dividends. d= net asset value per share on the last day of the period. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS The following information from the Annual Report for the Company for the year ended September 30, 1995 is attached hereto: (a) Schedule of Investments (b) Statements of Assets and Liabilities (c) Statements of Operations (d) Statements of Changes in Net Assets (e) Financial Highlights (f) Notes to Financial Statements (g) Independent Auditor's Report 15
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